• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.20 no.10
• /
• pp.1443-1450
• /
• 2010

Honokiol is a small molecular weight ligand originally isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Magnolia officinalis, a plant used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine [9]. In a previous study, the effects of honokiol were shown to have anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive and anti-proliferative activities in a variety of cancers [1,3,4,11,13,17,24,29,30]. We showed previously that direct production of nitric oxide (NO) by treatment of NO donor, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), led to apoptosis in rabbit articular chondrocytes [15,16]. This study confirmed that NO-induced apoptosis was suppressed by honokiol treatment in a dose-dependent manner as determined by cell phenotype, MTT assay, Western blot analysis and FACS analysis in articular chondrocytes. Treatment of honokiol inhibited SNP-induced expression of p53 as well as DNA fragmentation in articular chondrocytes, but increased expressionof pro-caspase-3. Inhibition of SNP-induced apoptosis by honokiol treatment was rescued by LY294002, the specific inhibitors of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K) in articular chondrocytes. Our results indicate that honokiol inhibits NO-induced apoptosis via PI-3K/AKT pathway in rabbit articular chondrocytes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.245-251
• /
• 2013

Paeonia lactiflora is a valuable natural resource for horticulture and traditional Chinese medicine. To propose conservation strategy and future utility of the wild Paeonia lactiflora populations recently found around the Gyeongju National Park, genetic diversity analysis using microsatellite markers were performed. Three populations in and near the Gyeongju N.P. and one population from Jilin, China were analyzed for five microsatellite markers, producing 61 alleles with mean observed heterozygosity($H_o$) of 0.452. $F_{ST}$ value (0.11642) suggested moderate level of genetic differentiation among the populations, and hierarchical AMOVA suggested most of the genetic variation resides within/among the individuals rather than among-population. While AMOVA with $F_{ST}$ suggested lack of genetic differentiation between the regional (Korean vs. Chinese) populations, AMOVA with $R_{ST}$, which incorporates the allele sizes, suggested considerable differentiation between them, but without significant statistical support. STRUCTURE analysis also suggested segregation of regional populations with presence of gene flow among the three Gyeongju N.P. populations. Considering small population size and scarcity of mature individuals, further protection and long-term monitoring are needed.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.7-11
• /
• 2016

The aerial part of Trichosanthes kirilowii Maxim. (Cucurbitaceae), has long been used in traditional Korean and Chinese medicines for the treatment of heatstroke. We isolated and identified three flavones, luteolin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(1), luteolin-4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(2), luteolin(3) from its methanolic extract. In the present study, we found that luteolin attenuates the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced inflammation in BV2 microglial cells. Luteolin significantly inhibited LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide(NO) and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ in BV2 microglia in a concentration-dependent manner without cytotoxic effect. Luteolin dose-dependently suppressed the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). In addition, luteolin also showed significant induction of heme oxygenase(HO)-1. These results suggest that both the aerial part of T. kirilowii and luteolin may be good candidates to regulate LPS-induced inflammatory response.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.239-251
• /
• 2021

Traditional Chinese medicine has treated diseases and improved health in nature-based experience. Advanced nations began to be interested in naturopathic therapy in the late 19th century and it led China to research aromatherapy. This study searched previous researches related with aromatherapy and generally analyzed aroma oil, applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use. For research contents, scientific and society journals from 2000 to 2019 related with aromatherapy were searched in CNKI(www.cnki.com) and WANFANG DATE(www.wanfang.com). Finally, 30 papers were selected through 5-step qualitative evaluation and expert review and analyzed. Frequency and percentage(%) were calculated by means of the Excel 2013 Program and represented by a chart. The results of analyzing aromatherapy trends are as follows. All 30 papers were researched in the medical society. The most common symptom was irritation and anxiety that appeared in 13 papers. Lavender oil and bergamot oil were commonly used aroma oil. Commonly applied part and method were nose and nasal inhalation. For aroma oil associated with symptoms, lavender oil was the best in irritative, anxious, and negative emotion, depression, labor pain, sleep disorder, migraine, tension, and vomiting, pain, and fatigue after operation. Lemon, ginger, and peppermint oil was good for nausea. Based on the findings, this study derived applied body parts, methods of use, and period of use in aromatherapy. However, most aromatherapy was used for patients in the nursing and medical fields in the simple form of inhalation and local massage. This study will suggest a standard ground that aromatherapy is good for pain, colic pain, and tension in a short period but needs a long period for the efficacy of psychological and neurological symptoms.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.4
• /
• pp.395-404
• /
• 2024

Background: Ginsenoside Rg₁ (Rg₁) is one of the main active components in Chinese medicines, Panax ginseng and Panax notoginseng. Research has shown that Rg₁ has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system, including anti-myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury, anti-apoptosis, and promotion of myocardial angiogenesis, suggesting it a potential cardiovascular agent. However, the protective mechanism involved is still not fully understood. Methods: Based on network pharmacology, ligand-based protein docking, proteomics, Western blot, protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis (UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra) techniques, potential targets and pathways for Rg₁ against myocardial ischemia (MI) were screened and explored. Results: An important target set containing 19 proteins was constructed. Two target proteins with more favorable binding activity for Rg₁ against MI were further identified by molecular docking, including mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) and adenosine kinase (ADK). Meanwhile, Rg₁ intervention on H9c2 cells injured by H₂O₂ showed an inhibitory oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The inhibition of Rg₁ on MAPK1 and OXPHOS pathway was confirmed by Western blot assay. By protein recombination and spectroscopic analysis, the binding reaction between ADK and Rg₁ was also evaluated. Conclusion: Rg₁ can effectively alleviate cardiomyocytes oxidative stress injury via targeting MAPK1 and ADK, and inhibiting oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. The present study provides scientific basis for the clinical application of the natural active ingredient, Rg₁, and also gives rise to a methodological reference to the searching of action targets and pathways of other natural active ingredients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2008

Objective : Prolonged use of systemic corticosteroids negatively impacts skin barrier function. Corticosteroids have a major role in the practical management of many diseases, so it is necessary to find the drug or supplement which could keep the skin healthy during the systemic corticosteroids therapy. Seed of Trichossnthcs kiiilowii was commonly used for pulmonary disease in traditional Chinese medicine. Many studies have investigated and found that seed of Trichosanthes kirilowii has anti-bacterial, anti-HIV, anti-tumor and immunoregulatory functions. This study was performed to investigate the effect of seed of Trichosmthes kirilowii on the Skin Barrier Method : Triamcinolone 0.4mg was injected male hairless mice for 5 weeks ( 2 times a week, totally 10 times), Just before the first injection, hairless mice were divided into 3 groups; Control ( normal saline medicated group ), GroupA( seed of Trichosuuhes kirilowii qd/day medicated group ) and GroupB( seed of Trichosuuhes kiiilowii bid/day medicated group ), Body weight of all the groups were checked during the experiment, After $10^{th}$ injection, TEWL (Transeidermal water loss) of 3 groups were artificially increased by 9 times tape stripping and the changes of TEWL were checked at before stripping, right after, 2h, 4h, 6h, 24h, 48 and 72h later after stripping, AST, ALT and CBC were also checked. Indeed, stratum corneum of 3 groups were also examined and compared with that of normal hairless mouse. Results : 1. GroupB showed significantly lower body weight among three groups 2, There was no statistical difference at AST, ALT and CBC among three groups 3. GroupB was showed significantly lower TEWL than TEWL of Control at 48h later. 4 GroupB recovered it's TEWL of before tape stripping at 24h later, GroupA recovered that at 48h and Control recovered that at 72h later at the same condition 5. Stratum corneum of GroupA and GroupB were looked almost normal and healthy. On the contrary, stratum corneum of Control was looked thin and unhealthy. Conclusions : Seed of Ttichossnthes kirilowii has some effects on skin barrier function, especially TEWL of high dose corticosteroids injected hairless mouse and the efficacy seemed to be related with the dosage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.99-105
• /
• 2000

Ginsenf Radix (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been traditionally used as a herbal medicine for many therapeutic or prophylactic purposes in the oriental countries such as Korea, Japan and China for at least two thousand years and also extensively studied in the modern scientific field of chemistry, biochemistry and pharmacology. The herb is now also indicated for use as tonic or a prophylactic and restorative agent for enhancement of mental and physical capacities, in case of weahess exhaustion tiredness loss of concentration, impotence, cold limbs, during illiness anuor convalescence. Ginseng is commonly used in the form of detections, extract and powderl and ginseng products, in the form of capsules tablets and drinks. And also ginseng radix has been widely traditionally prescribed as an important comuonents of manny Chinese prescriptions or alone in various diseases and for health with its different dosages. Nowadays since rinsenf can be generally classified into food or medicine in many nations, it is very difficult to give any exact desnition on the dosage, which may be of particular importance in clinical applications. In addition, the establishment of the reasonable dosage is currently of great significance to meet the demand for such wide applications. Accordingly in this review paper we summarized the dosage of ginseng on the basis of oriental medical books oriental and western pharmacopeias and modern scientific clinical data. The recent survey demonstrated that the averare dosare of finsenf is considered to be three to four grams per day unless prescribed apart, while one to two grams per day in western countries from the western viewpoint of classification of ginseng as a medicine, surrorted by the dosage of not more than one gram per day in most clinical studies. For that reason, it seems likely that the dosage in western countries is ascribed to the safety of ginseng considering side or unwanted effects. Consequently whether the differences of dosage between oriental and western countries depend on dietary habits and races should be closely investigated. Besides, further studies on the pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of ginseng components in clinical trials need to be done to decide optimum dosage of ginseng.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.2
• /
• pp.335-336
• /
• 1996

Artemisinin, a new antimalarial to treat patients infected with strains of Plasmodium jalciparum, derived from the plant Artemisia annua Linn, has immunopharmacologic actions such as enhence the PHA -induced lymphocyte transformation rate, increased the weight of spleen but reduced the weight of thymus, reduced phagocytic function of peritoneal macrophage, remarkably reduced the level of serum IgG and hemolysin fonning capacity (sentitized with SRBC), inhibited the activity of Ts cells of donor mice by supraoptimal immunuization(SOI), but enhenced activity of Ts cells of recipient mice by SOI. These results suggested that Ts cells may be the target cells of artemisinin. To the serum complement C3 level of plasmodium berghei-infeted mice, artemisinin (i. m,) could remarkly increase it. The artemisinin also obviously reduced the prostaglandin E(PGE) in the mouse hind paw swelling induced by carrageenin. Numerous studies have demonstrated that pharmacologic doses of PGE attenuate the development of immunocomplex nephritis. Some autologous immune mechanisms may be invoolved In the pathogensis of some types of glomurulonephritis. Glomerular abnormalities can be induced in animals by variety of immunological manipulations. The resulting disorder has many clinical and pathogical similarities to the disease in human. Our purpose was therefore to test the ability of the artemisinin to lessen the severity of rabbit IgG accelerated nephrotoxic serum glomerulonephritis in mice model. Mice which had treated with rabbit IgG and NTS, administrated with saline, showed Significant inceases of urinary protein, cholesterol level, and decrease of serum albumin in NS group. On the contrary, By i.g. adminstration of artemisinin at dose of 12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg for 14 days after NTS injection, shown that artemisinin inhibited the nephritic changes in some parameters by means of urinary protein(p<0.05, p<0.01) and serum choleterol(p<0.05, p<0.01) and albumin (p<0.05, p<0.01), blood urea nitrogen (p<0.05, p<0.01), serum albumin(p<0.05, p<0.01); Cyclophosphamide(i.p. 10mg/kg for 14d) had almost same effect as the artemisinin had. Morphological studies shown that The picture of kidney from the mouse with NTS-nephritis accerated with rabbit IgG, treated with i.g. saline as the control, the mesangiocapillary were enlarged and proliferated; There were inflammatory cells infiltrating around the glomeruli; The ethelial cell were proliferated in the wall of Bowman's capsule. Histopatholological picture of kidney from the NTS-nephritis accerated with rabbit IgG mouse treated with i.p. 10mg/kg cyclophosphamide as the positive control. No siginicant histopathological evidence were found. Treaded with i.p. 12.5mg/kg artemisinine, the picture shown that mesangiocapillary were lightly proliferated; There were inflammatory cells infiltrating around the glomeruli; Treaded with i.p. 25mg/kg artemisinine, The picture shown that the mesangiocapillary were lightly proliferated; Treaded with i.p. 50mg/kg artemisinine, The picture shown that both the mesangiocapillary proliferated and the inflammatory cells infiltrating around the glomeruli are less than treated with saline, 12.5 and 25 mg/kg artemisinine. On the basis of these studies we conclude that the artemisinin can relieve pathological change caused by NTS-nephritis aacerated with rabbit IgG.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.51 no.2
• /
• pp.214-220
• /
• 2019

Hwangryunhaedok-tang (HT) is prescribed in oriental medicine to treat inflammation-related diseases. This study examined the anti-bacterial effect to select the index components of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) HT. The disc diffusion method and minimum inhibition concentrations (MIC) tests were conducted to measure the antibacterial activity of HT. The strains were Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Escherichia coli 23724. Berberine and geniposide were selected as the index components of HT and were analyzed quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). As a result, the inhibition ring was formed at $11.7{\pm}1.3mm$ and $8.7{\pm}0.7mm$ at HT 20 mg and 10 mg on S.aureus ATCC 25923, respectively; and $8.0{\pm}0.0mm$ at HT 20 mg on E.coli ATCC 23724. The MIC were 31.25 mg/mL in S.aureus ATCC 25923 and 125.0 mg/mL in E.coli ATCC 23724. In quantitative analysis for standardization, HT contained 16.55 mg/g of berberine and 81.85 mg/g of geniposide. Overall, when antibiotics are developed using natural products, they may reduce the side effects and inhibit resistant bacteria. If research on HT continuously proceeds, positive developments are expected to be made in oriental medicine as well as in various other industries.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.207-216
• /
• 2021

Supplement of high-protein food plays an important role in improving the symptoms of malnutrition and the immune capacity of the body, but the association of high-protein diet and gut microbiota remained unaddressed. Here, we systematically analyzed the internal organs and gut microbiota in C57(WT) or PD-1H-depleted (KO) mice (T cells were activated) fed with pupae or feed for six weeks. We observed that the body weight gain in the mice fed with pupae increased less significantly than that of the feed group, while the villi and small intestine lengths in the pupa group were reduced compared with that of mice given feed. However, the average body weight of the KO mice increased compared with that of the WT mice fed with pupae or feed. Pupae increased the concentration of blood glucose in WT, but not in KO mice. Moreover, in the feed group, there was no difference in the weight of the internal organs between the WT and KO mice, but in the pupae-fed group, liver weight was decreased and spleen weight was increased compared with that of KO mice. The amounts/plural/amounts of Melainabacteria, Chloroflexi, and Armatimonadetes were specifically upregulated by pupae, and this upregulation was weakened or eliminated by PD-1H depletion. Some bacteria with high abundance in the feed-fed KO mice, such as Deferribacteres, Melainabacteria, Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Spirochaetes and Verrucomicrobia, were decreased in pupae-fed KO mice, and Proteobacteria and Deinococcus were specifically enriched in pupae-fed KO mice. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Akkermansia were associated with weight loss in the pupae-fed group while Lachnospiraceae and Anaerobiospirillum were related glucose metabolism and energy consumption. Based on high-throughput sequencing, we discovered that some gut bacteria specifically regulated the metabolism of a high-protein diet, and PD-1H deficiency improved life quality and sustained blood glucose. Moreover, PD-1H responses to high-protein diet through modulating the type and quantity of gut bacteria. These findings provide evidence about the association among gut microbiota, T cell activation (for PD-1H depletion) and high-protein diet metabolism, have important theoretical significance for nutrition and health research.