• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.183-198
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• 2005

This experimental study was performed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of Phellodendri Cortex(PC), Indigo Naturalis(IN). Alumen(AM), and Chinensis Galla(CG). These four prescriptions most frequently have been used in of oriental medicine for the external the theraphy of Gu-Chang. This study was done to evaluate the activity of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and the inhibitory effects of the formation of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}(TNF-{\alpha}),\;interlenkin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$, prostaglandin-E2(PGE2) on the monocyte and neutrophil. The results were summerized as follows. 1. IN has no cytotoxicity but PC, AM, CG have a little cytotoxicity by the increase of concentrations. 2. PC, IN, AM and CG all inhibited the formation of COX-2 in the human neutrophil. 3. $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of PC increased the formation of SOD in the human monocyte. 4. $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of PC, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of IN, $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of CG inhibited the formation of $TNF-{\alpha}$ in the human monocyte. 5. $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of PC, $1000{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of IN inhibited the formation of $IL-1\;{\beta}$ in the human monocyte. 6. PC, IN, AM and CG all did not inhibit the production of PGE2 in the human monocyte In addition, the results show that PC, IN, AM and CG all have anti-inflammatory effects and can be used fer the external theraphy of Cu-Chang.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.754-761
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• 2001

Effects of dietary fatty acids and vitamin E on antioxidant vitamin status were studied in rat brain sections. Sources of dietary fat(10t%) were safflower oil(SO) poor in $\omega$3 fatty acid and mixed oil (MO) with computer-adjustd fatty acid ratios(AA/DHA=1.4, $\omega$6/$\omega$3=6.3, P/M/S=1.0/1.5/1, AA=2.%)with (ME) and without(MO) vitamin E(500mg/kg diet). Rats were fed the three kinds of diet from 3-4 wks prior to the conception. At the age of 3 & 9wks of the 2nd generation rat, antioxidant vitamins were measured in frontal cortex(FC), corpus striatum (CS), cerebellum(CB) and hippocampus(HP) using a multiwavelength, reverse phase gradient HPLC system. The levels of antioxidant vitamins converged to the similar value in all groups at 9 wks of age. Retinol, lycopene and cryptoxanthin levels of all experimental groups were found to be the highest in hippocampus at both 3 & 9wks of age. The levels of vitamin E appeared to be higher in the order of HP>CS-CB>FC in MO & ME. Beta-carotene and retinol showed the lowest level in hippocampus of vitamin E supplemented groups, even though vitamin E level tended to be higher in other sections. It seemed that vitamin E has an inhibitory action on the uptake of beta-carotene or acts as a preferred antioxidant to beta-carotene in certain section of the brain. By improving fatty acid balance (AA/DHA = 1.4, $\omega$6/$\omega$3=6.3, P/M/S=1.0/1.5/1, AA = 2%), the levels of vitamin E, retinol, lycopene & beta=carotene tended to be higher in MO than in SO, although crytoxanthin became lower at 3wks of age. In short, dietary fatty acids and vitamin E have different influence on antioxidant vitamin status in different rat brain sections. The higher levels of antioxidant vitamins in hippocampus should be pursued further in relation to behavioral development of rats.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.326-331
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• 1993

Three antioxidants were isolated: (-)-epigallocatechin and (-)-epigallo catechin gallate from Theae Folium generally called green tea, and gallic acid from Moutan Cortex. They inhibited $Fe^{3+}-ADP/ascorbate-induced$ lipid peroxidation in rat liver microsomal fraction, showing $IC_{50}$, the concentration of antioxidants which is required to inhibit 50% of the peroxidation for microsomal membranes at 1 mg protein/ml, to be $0.2\;{\mu}g/ml$, $0.4\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $2.5\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.166-176
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• 2002

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of visual activation and quantitative analysis of regional cerebral blood flow. Visual activation was known to increase regional cerebral blood flow in the visual cortex in occipital lobe. We evaluated that change in the distribution of $^{99m}Tc-HMPAO$ (Hexamethyl propylene amine oxime) to reflect in regional cerebral blood flow. Materials and Methods: The six volunteers were injected with 925 MBq (mean ages: 26.75 years, n=6, 3men, 3women) underwent MRI and $^{99m}Tc-HMPAO$ SPECT during a rest state with closed eyes and visual stimulated with 8 Hz LED. We delineate the legion of interest and calculated the mean count per voxel in each of the fifteen slices to quantitative analysis. The ROI to whole brain ratio and regional index was calculated pixel to pixel subtraction visual non-activation image from visual activation image and constructed brain map using a statistical parameter map (SPM99). Results: The mean regional cerebral blood flow was increased due to visual stimulation. The increase rate of the mean regional cerebral blood flow which of the activation region in primary visual cortex of occipital lobe was $32.50{\pm}5.67%$. The significant activation sites using a statistical parameter of brain constructed a rendering image and image fusion with SPECT and MRI. Conclusion: Visual activation was revealed significant increase through quantitative analysis in visual cortex. Activation region was certified in Talairach coordinate and primary visual cortex (Ba17),visual association area (Ba18,19) of Brodmann.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.231-240
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• 2001

Purpose: Normal aging results in detectable changes in the brain structure and function. We evaluated the changes of regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the normal aging process with FDG PET. Materials and Methods: Brain PET images were obtained in 44 healthy volunteers (age range 20-69 'y'; M:F = 29:15) who had no history of neuropsychiatric disorders. On 6 representative transaxial images, ROIs were drawn in the cortical and subcortical areas. Regional FDG uptake was normalized using whole brain uptake to adjust for the injection dose and correct for nonspecific declines of glucose metabolism affecting all brain areas equally. Results: In the prefrontal, temporoparietal and primary sensorimotor cortex, the normalized FDG uptake (NFU) reached a peak in subjects in their 30s. The NFU in the prefrontal and primary sensorimotor cortex declined with age after 30s at a rate of 3.15%/decade and 1.93%/decade, respectively. However, the NFU in the temporoparietal cortex did not change significantly with age after 30s. The anterior (prefrontal) posterior (temporoparietal) gradient peaked in subjects in their 30s and declined with age thereafter at a rate of 2.35%/decade. The NFU in the caudate nucleus was decreased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.39%/decade. On the primary visual cortex, putamen, and thalamus, the NFU values did not change significantly throughout the ages covered. These patterns were not significantly different between right and left cerebral hemispheres. Of interest was that the NFU in the left cerebellar cortex was increased with age after 20s at a rate of 2.86%/decade. Conclusion: These data demonstrate regional variation of the age-related changes in the cerebral glucose metabolism, with the most prominent age-related decline of metabolism in the prefrontal cortex. The increase in the cerebellar metabolism with age might reflect a process of neuronal plasticity associated with aging.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.230-234
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• 2001

The extract of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica cortex has known as natural anti-inflammatory substance in East Asia. For the identification of antimicrobial substance, it was extracted by using methanol and fractionated by using different organic solvents. The fraction of butanol was represented the highest antimicrobial activities. Therefore, the butanol fraction was purified and identified the chemical structure by $^1$H and $^{13}$ C-NMR spectra, FT-IR and EI/MS spectroscopies. The isolated antimicrobial substance was identified as cis-2-[3,4-dihydroxy phenyl]-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-3,5,7-triol, which has commonly known as (-)epicatechin. Its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes were shown as 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1995.04a
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• pp.124-124
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• 1995

Cisplatinum is often effective in cancer treatment, but potent nephrotoxicity limits its clinical use. We have, therefore, developed new anticancer drugs that contain platinum. We have synthesized six new platinum compounds based on Figure 1. Drugs were initially administrated at 5${\times}$10$\^$-4/M with 48 hours exposure in monolayer cultures of primary rabbit proximal tubular cells and human renal cortical cells with the M.T.T. endpoint to measure toxicity. Drug concentrations of 10$\^$-3/M, 10$\^$-4/M, and 10$\^$-5/M with 72 hours exposure were used for human renal cortical tissues in 7 weeks histoculture with toxicity measured by the glucose-consumption endpoint. From these studies, we determined that the new platinum drugs have lower nephrotoxicity than cisplatinum. Drugs D, E, and H. have lower nephrotoxicity than the other new drugs. We are currently measuring the anticancer efficacy of drugs D, E, and H.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.171-183
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of Erythrinae Cortex herbal-acupuncture solution(EC-HAS) at the Joksamni($ST_{36}$) of mice with collagen II-induced arthritis(CIA). Methods : The author performed several experimental procedures to observe the effects of the EC-HAS at the arthritis. The severity of arthritis, changes of cytokine level and antibody level, histological changes of the CIA mouse joint were analyzed. Results : 1. The incidence of arthritis and arthritis index were significantly decreased in the cases which were treated with the EC-HA. 2. Cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation were reduced, and the expression of the collagen fibers was similar with that of the normal group. 3. The levels of IL-6, $IFN-{\gamma}$, $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$ in serum of the CIA mice which were treated with the EC-HA were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group. 4. The levels of IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II in serum of CIA mice when they treated with the EC-HA were significantly decreased compared with those of the normal group. 5. The expression ratio of $CD4^+$ to $CD8^+$ cells in the EC-HA treated mice were maintained as much as the normal group of the lymph nodes in the CIA mice. 6. The $CD3e^+CD69^+$ and $CD11b^+Gr-1^+$ cell populations in the knee joint were significantly decreased in the EC-HA treated group. Conclusions : These results suggest that the EC-HA at the ST36 may be responsible roles to control on the synovial cell proliferation and to prevent the cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis. These results will be important supporting evidence for the practical use of the EC-HA at rheumatoid arthritis clinic in the future.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.167-181
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• 1999

Rhizoma Arisaematis, Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Folium Perillae, Radix Sophorae Subprostratae, Radixi, Radix Ledeboutriellae, Rhizoma Atractylodis, Herba Ephedrae, Radix Puerariae and Radi Aconitx Bupleuri have been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for various disease. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of several herbs on norepinephrine(NE) induced blood vessel contraction in rabbits and pigs. Rabbit(2 kg, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of each rabbit was cut into equal segments and mounted in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 2-3 g loading tension. The dose of norepinephrine(NE) which evoked 50% of maximal response $(ED_{50})$ was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for NE $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Rhizoma Arisaematis, Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Folium Perillae, Radix Sophorae Subprostratae and Herba Ephedrae in abdominal aorta. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly be Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Herba Ephedrae, Radix Puerariae and Radix Bupleuri in femoral artery. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Radix Sophorae Subprostratae, Radix Aconiti and Herba Ephedrae in renal artery. These results indicate that each herb can relax NE induced contraction of rabbit and pig blood vessel selectively, and that this relaxation relates to Gui-Gyung(歸經).

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.171-177
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• 2010

A recent report demonstrated that in human aging brain after menopause/andropause luteinizing hormone (LH) is localized in the cytoplasm of pyramidal neurons of hippocampus and a significant increase of LH is also detected in the cytoplasm of pyramidal neurons and neurofibrillary tangles of Alzheimer's disease brain compared to age-matched control brain. It was suggested that the decreased steroid hormone production and the resulting LH expression in the neurons vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease pathology may have some relevance to the development of Alzheimer's disease. It is, however, unclear whether the presence of LH in neurons of human aging and Alzheimer's disease brain is due to intracellular LH expression or to LH uptake from extracellular sources, since gonadotropins are known to cross the blood brain barrier. Moreover, there is no report by using the brain of experimental animal that LH is expressed in such neurons as found in the human brain. In the present study, we found that LH immunoreactivity is localized in the pyramidal neurons of cerebral cortex and hippocampus of 12 and 18 months old rats but can not detect any immunoreactivity for LH in the young adult (3-5 months old) rats. To confirm that these LH immunoreactivity results from de novo synthesis in the brain but not the uptake from extracellular space, we performed RT-PCR and found that mRNA for LH is detected in several regions of brain including cerebral cortex and hippocampus. These findings suggest us that LH expression in old rat brain may play an important role in aging process of rat brain.