• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.199-212
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• 2005

Objective : Airway inflammation is now regarded as a defining feature of asthma. The importance of eosinophits in the airway inflammation of asthma patients is widely recognized, and eosinophils mobilization in the respiratory epithelium is activated by chemoattractants and cytokines. This study was designed to examine the extent of the ability of Moutan Cortex Radicis to inhibit eosinophil chemotaxis of pulmonary epithelium after allergic stimulation. Material and Methods : Water extracts of Moutan Cortex Radicis and pulmonary epithelial cell lines A549(human type II-like epithelial cells) and human eosinophils were used. Cytotoxic effects of Moutan Cortex Radicis were estimated via MTS assay, and the effects of Moutan Cortex Radicis on chemokines from prestimulated A549 cells were estimated by sandwich ELISA and RT-PCR. Chemotaxis assay on prestimulated eosinophils treated with Moutan Cortex Radicis. was conducted Result : In this study we demonstrated that $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4, $IL-1{\beta}$ induced the accumulation of chemokines' mRNA in the pulmonary epithelial cell lines A549 in a dose-dependent manner. Chemokines of eotaxin, ICAM-1, YCAM-1, IL-8, IL-16 were inhibited by Moutan Cortex Radicis in a dose dependent manner, but RANTES showed no inhibition due to Moutan Cortex Radicis. Eosinophil migration was inhibited at high concentrations of Moutan Cortex Radicis. Conculusion : These findings are indicative of supression of chemokines accomplished by Moutan Cortex Radicis treatment, demonstrating the potential therapeutic value of Moutan Cortex Radicis for treating diseases such as asthma.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2013

In this study, quantitative and pattern recognition analysis for the quality evaluation of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamomi Cortex using HPLC/UV was developed. For quantitative analysis, three major bioactive compounds were determined. The separation conditions employed for HPLC/UV were optimized using an ODS $C_{18}$ column ($250{\times}4.6$ mm, 5 ${\mu}m$) with gradient conditions of acetonitrile and water as the mobile phase, at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and a detection wavelength of 265 nm. This method was fully validated with respect to linearity, accuracy, precision, recovery, and robustness. The HPLC/UV method was applied successfully to the quantification of three major compounds in the extract of Cinnamomi Ramulus and Cinnamomi Cortex. The HPLC analytical method for pattern recognition analysis was validated by repeated analysis of thirty eight Cinnamomi Ramulus and thirty five Cinnamomi Cortex samples. The results indicate that the established HPLC/UV method is suitable for quantitative analysis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.68-74
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• 2010

Phytochemical investigation on the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Moutan Cortex resulted in the isolation and characterization of a new monoterpene glycoside (3) and twenty known monoterpene glycosides (1, 2, 4-21). The structure of 3 was determined by spectroscopic data interpretation and physico-chemical properties. Compounds 1 and 8 presented a remarkable inhibitory activity against lipoxygenase-1 (LOX-1) with $IC_{50}$ values of 45.2 and $37.5\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Compounds 9, 10, 13, 18, 19, and 21 showed significant 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging effect with $IC_{50}$ values of 9.8, 25.5, 6.4, 15.2, 18.7, and $23.7\;{\mu}M$, respectively. Benzoylpaeoniflorin (8), which exhibited the highest inhibitory effect with an $IC_{50}$ value of $37.5{\pm}0.7{\mu}M$, was further analyzed the inhibition kinetics by Lineweaver-Burk plots. Results indicated that 8 is a non-competitive inhibitor, and the kinetic parameter values were estimated to be ($31.04\;{\mu}M$, Ki), ($0.29\;{\mu}M/min$, $V_m$), and ($48.50\;{\mu}M$, $K_m$).

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Acanthopanacis cortex on Cytokine-inducing and and immune response in Mice. In order to investigate the effect of Acanthopanacis cortex, the following was performed; Cytotoxicity, in vitro, the fraction of $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $B220^+$ in splenic cell, gene expression of IL-12(p35), IL-12(p40), IFN-${\gamma}$, and splenic cell proliferation by Acanthopanacis cortex. Analysis of cytokine gene expression was carried out by RT-PCR amplification. Amplified PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.2% agarose gel, and the analysis (Ht) was used to 1D-density program. The results were obtained as follows. Acanthpanacis cortex showed didn't have cell toxicity under $12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group on mouse lung fibroblast cells. In an in vitro model using mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), extract of Acanthpanacis cortex induced multiple cytokine, including interleukin-12 (p35), interleukin-12 (p40), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$). The extract also enhanced the percentages of the $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ in the untreated control were $22.1{\pm}3.3$ to $38.4{\pm}2.1$, and $5.0{\pm}0.4$ to $10.7{\pm}0.3%$, respectively. From above findings, it is suggested that Acanthopanacis cortex is able to anti-cancer and activate immune response system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.145-156
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• 2003

Objective : This study is to investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture ST36 on altered transmission of afferent somatosensory information caused by amyloid-${\beta}$(A-${\beta}$) that caused Alzheimer's disease. Methods : The effects of topical application of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aggregated A-${\beta}$(aA-${\beta}$), aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 on the afferent sensory transmission to the neurons in the primary somatosensory(SI) cortex was observed in anesthetized rats. Quantitative determination of the effects of A-${\beta}$, A-${\beta}$ with ST36, aA-${\beta}$, aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 and ST36 was made by generating poststimulus time histogram of evoked response of individual cortical neuron by electrical stimulation of the receptive located in peripheral area(forepaw) Results : The results obtained in present study were summerized as follow : 1. Application of physiological concentrative 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex facilitated. 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ with ST36 exerted much stronger effects than 0.5 nM A-${\beta}$ alone. 2. Application of $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex unchangeable. But $10{\mu}M$ A-${\beta}$ with ST36 is facilitated at 30 min of post-drug period 3. Application of $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ caused afferent sensory transmission of SI cortex diminished. $10{\mu}M$ aA-${\beta}$ with ST36 is diminished after 15min of post-drug period but is facilitated after 75min.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.21-29
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• 2008

Objectives: To determine the standards for discrimination of Magnoliae Cortex, the experiment of specific external-internal characters and the physicochemical pattern analysis were performed. Methods: External characteristics was observed using a stereoscope. Paraffin-mediated sectioned materials were stained by Ju's method. Physicochemical patterns of materials were analyzed using HPLC. Results: 1. Botanical characteristics: Magnolia officinalis had one seed and a white flower, while M. obovata had two seeds and a white flower. Machilus thunbergii had berry and spherical fruits and yellowish green panicles. 2. External characteristics: M. officinalis and M obovata were dark and thick. M. officinalis was gray brown and greasy while M. obovata was light-gray, less oily and smoothly sectioned. Machilus thunbergii was thin and relatively light or yellow-brown, coarsely sectioned and faintly specific scents. 3. Internal characteristics: The bast parts of M. officinalis and M. obovata were commonly wider than Machilus thunbergii The cork cortex of M. officinalis was $10{\sim}mg/L$ cell layers with many oil cells, while that of M. obovata was $4{\sim}7$ cell layers with less oil cells. Machilus thunbergii's xylem which consisted of ring-shaped cambium at 1st and 2nd part was occupied in large portion. 4. Physicochemical pattern: Both M. officinalis and M. obovata involved honokiol and magnolol. All kinds of M. officinalis involved Magnatriol B but one kind of M. ovobata and all of Machilus thunbergii didn't. Machilus thunbergii showed different pattern of chromatogram from that of 2 species above. Conclusions: These results could be used as standards for discrimination of Magnoliae Cortex and as the method of objectification in medicinal herbs giving the basic resource for bioactivity research.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.28-34
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• 1993

Using in vitro autoradiography with a digital autoradiography system and radioreceptor assay, the distribution and the binding characteristics of the muscarinic cholinergic receptors (mAChR) were studied in regions of rat brain. Radioreceptor assay revealed that mAChR could be measured with saturation binding assay in the brain and heart homogenates: No difference in Kd or Bmax of the brain or heart was found between the normal Wistar rats and SHR rats. Specific binding of $^3H$ quinuclidinyl benzilate (QNB) increased and saturation was reached by 2 hours after incubation with slide-mounted brain tissue. The distribution of mAChR was heterogeneous along the fields of brain. Affinity (Kd) of mAChR was not different significantly among cortex, hippocampus and caudate-putamen. No difference was found between normal rats and SHR strain. More receptors (Bmax) were found in the cortex and hippocampus than in the caudate-putamen in normal rats. More receptors were found in the cortex and caudate-putamen in SHR rats than in normal rats. Radioreceptor assay and digital autoradiographic analysis of affinity and number of mAChR gave the same results. With the above findings, we concluded that we could use digital autoradiographic system with $^3H$-QNB in the characterization of mAChR of rats and that the cortex and caudate-putamen of SHR strain rats have more receptors than those of normal rats.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.11-20
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• 2000

The morphological changes in normal and weathering hair shafts of the human scalp were investigated by using the transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The hair shaft composed of cuticular layer, cortex and medula. The surface of normal hairs are smooth and covered by imbricated cuticular scales. The cuticular layer consists of five to seven cuticle cells. These cells, which are flat and thin, measuring about $100{\mu}m$ long and $0.4{\mu}m$ thick, appears intercellular membrane complex in diameter 25 nm. The cortex composed of melanin granules and cornified cells, which multicomponent concentric microfibrils in diameter about 8 nm give rise to macrofibrils in diameter $0.5{\mu}m$ to $0.8{\mu}m$ encased in limiting membrane. The melanin granules are spherical shaped about $0.5{\mu}m$ in size and scattered between macrofibrils. The medulla in the normal hairs are $16{\mu}m$ in diameter centrally region of cortex. Normal hair shafts undergo progressive degenerative changes due to a variety of environmental insults. In the initial weathering process of hair, the cuticular scales became irregularly raised and broken, and then cuticle cells formed cytoplasmic vacuolation, following dissociated intercellular membrane complex, ultimately entirely lost and nuded cortex. Occasionally, transverse fissures were seen at hair shafts indicating that the hairs were deteriorated. Complete removal of the cuticular layer in the heavily damaged cortex portions appeared splitting of the cortical cell into its macrofibrils and scattering of melanin granules.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.463-469
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• 2010

This research is performed to obtain positive evidences of Mori cortex, a kind of oriental medicinal herbs, in the cellular levels. The extracts of M. cortex have shown anti-inflammatory effects against cutaneous inflammation and clinical effects on pulmonary asthma and congestion in oriental medicine. Thus BV2 cells were chosen because microglia are considered as the main immunocompetent cells in the central nervous system. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced microglial activation of cultured BV2 cells and subsequent release of nitric oxide (NO) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were effectively suppressed by methylene chloride extract of Morus alba L. (MEMA). From the inflammation-mediated mRNA and protein analyses, we showed that inducible NO synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) induced by LPS were markedly decreased by MEMA treatment. From the observation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-${\kappa}B$) which is controlling and mediating inflammation through COX-2 and iNOS, there showed that p65, a subunit of NF-${\kappa}B$, was increased in nuclear and $I{\kappa}B$, a competitor of NF-${\kappa}B$, was recovered in cytosol after MEMA treatment. These are corresponding with results of iNOS, COX-2, IL-$1{\kappa}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$, and confirm some suppressive effect against transcriptional activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory action of M. cortex against BV2 microglia cells is expected to protect nerve tissues through suppression of neuronal inflammation in various neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.1365-1372
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• 2019

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lycii radicis CORTEX extract on rheumatoid related factors in CIA-induced Rheumatoid Arthritis model of DBA/1 mice. Lycii radicis CORTEX extract was administered orally at doses of 200 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks after direct injection of CIA into the mice' right paw. We evaluated the treatment effects based on serum biomarkers, morphological and histopathological analyses of the paw. Compared with those in control mice, the Lycii radicis CORTEX extract treatments significantly reduced the serum concentration of cytokine, kemokine and immunoglobulin levels. In addition, the Lycii radicis CORTEX extract treatments effectively preserved the paw bone joint, that in the H&E staining and masson-trichrome staining showed that there were histopathological improvements in Lycii radicis CORTEX extract treated group compared to those of control group. The results indicate that Lycii radicis CORTEX extract alleviated rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Thus, Lycii radicis CORTEX extract may be a novel therapeutic option for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.