• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.233-239
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• 2017

Intracellular calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) oscillation is an initial event in digestive enzyme secretion of pancreatic acinar cells. Reactive oxygen species are known to be associated with a variety of oxidative stress-induced cellular disorders including pancreatitis. In this study, we investigated the effect of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) on intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ accumulation in mouse pancreatic acinar cells. Perfusion of $H_2O_2$ at $300{\mu}M$ resulted in additional elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels and termination of oscillatory $Ca^{2+}$ signals induced by carbamylcholine (CCh) in the presence of normal extracellular $Ca^{2+}$. Antioxidants, catalase or DTT, completely prevented $H_2O_2$-induced additional $Ca^{2+}$ increase and termination of $Ca^{2+}$ oscillation. In $Ca^{2+}$-free medium, $H_2O_2$ still enhanced CCh-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels and thapsigargin (TG) mimicked $H_2O_2$-induced cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ increase. Furthermore, $H_2O_2$-induced elevation of intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels was abolished under sarco/endoplasmic reticulum $Ca^{2+}$ ATPase-inactivated condition by TG pretreatment with CCh. $H_2O_2$ at $300{\mu}M$ failed to affect store-operated $Ca^{2+}$ entry or $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion through plasma membrane. Additionally, ruthenium red, a mitochondrial $Ca^{2+}$ uniporter blocker, failed to attenuate $H_2O_2$-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ elevation. These results provide evidence that excessive generation of $H_2O_2$ in pathological conditions could accumulate intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ by attenuating refilling of internal $Ca^{2+}$ stores rather than by inhibiting $Ca^{2+}$ extrusion to extracellular fluid or enhancing $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization from extracellular medium in mouse pancreatic acinar cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.171-178
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• 2003

Drug interactions with food, on occasion, lead to serious nutritional and functional changes in the body as well as alterations of pharmacological effect. It, therefore, should be necessary to take drug interactions with food into consideration for effective and safe therapeutics. Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterzed by abnormal glucose homeostasis, resulting in hyperglycemia, and is associated with increased risk of microvascular, macrovascular, and neuropathic complications. However, the precise mechanism of diabetes mellitus remains unclear. Three basic objectives in the care of diabetic patients are maintaining optimal nutrition, avoiding hypo- or hyperglycemia and preventing complications. Laminaria japonica is a brown macroalgae which can be used as a functional diet due to high content of diatery fiber. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Laminaria japonica diet on the pharmacokinetics of metformin which are frequently used in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin were employed in this study. Blood concentrations of oral hypoglycemic agent, metformin, were measured by HPLC and resultant pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by RSTRIP. The mechanisms of drug interaction with food were evaluated on the basis of pharmacokinetic parameters such as $k_{a},\;t_{1/2},\;C_{max},\;t_{max}$, and AUC. Administration of metformin in normal and diabetic rats treated with Laminaria japonica diet showed significant decrease in AUC, $C_{max},\;and\;k_a$, and increase in $t_{max}$, compared to those with normal diet. This might result from adsortion of metformin on components of Laminaria japonica, causing delayed absorption. The oral glucose test showed that Laminaria japonica diet could lower blood glucose level probably through either inhibiting the activity of disaccharidases, intestinal digestive enzymes, or delaying the absorption of glucose. More studies should be followed to fully understand pharmacokinetic changes of metformin caused by long-term Laminaria japonica diet.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2003

Drug interactions with food, on occasion, lead to serious nutritional and functional changes in the body as well as alternations of pharmacological effect. It, therefore, should be necessary to take drug interactions with food into consideration for effective and safe therapeutics. Diabetes mellitus is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal glucose homeostasis, resulting in hyperglycemia, and is associated with increased risk of micovascular, macrovascular, and neuropathic complications. However, the precise mechanism of diabetes mellitus remains unclear. Three basic objectives in the care of diabetic patients are maintaining optimal nutrition, avoiding hypo- or hyperglycemia and preventing complications. The purpose of this study was to investigate thε effect of Laminaria japonica diet on the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of glipizide which are frequently used in the treatment of diabetes. Diabetic rats induced by streptozotocin were employed in this study. Blood concentrations of oral hypoglycemic agents were measured by HPLC and resultant pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by RSTRIP. The mechanisms of drug interaction with food were evaluated on the basis of pharmacokinetic parameters such as $k_{a},\;t_{1/2},\;C_{max},\;t_{max}$ and AUC. Administration of glipizide in normal rats treated with Laminaria japonica diet showed significant increase in AUC, $k_{a},\;t_{1/2},\;t_{max}$ and decrease in $C_{max}$, compared to those without Laminaria japonica diet. This might result from adsorption of glipizide on components of Laminaria japonica, causing delayed absorption. Administration of glipizide in diabetic rats treated with Laminaria japonica diet showed significant increase in $t_{1/2}\;and\;t_{max}$, and decrease in $C_{max}$, compared to those without Laminaria japonica diet. This might also result from adsorption of glipizide on components of Laminaria japonica, causing delayed absorption and flattened blood concentration of glipizide. The oral glucose test showed that Laminaria japonica diet could lower blood glucose level probably through either inhibiting the activity of disaccharidases, intestinal digestive enzymes, or delaying the absorption of glucose. More studies should be followed to fully understand pharmacokinetic changes of glipizide caused by long-term Laminaria japonica diet.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.359-366
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• 2002

Bacillus polyfermenticus SCD which is commonly called as Bisroot strain is being used for functional foods through the treatment of long-term intestinal disorders, since the live strains in the form of active endospores can successfully reach the target intestine in humans. The cells of B. polyfermenticus SCD were treated for 4h in artificial gastric juice (pH 2.0,3.0) and bile acid. Final viability of the strain in artificial gastric Juice (pH 2.0, 3.0) is reached to 62.8% and 81.2% respectively B. polyfermenticus SCD is resistant to antibiotics such as streptomycin, rifampicin, nystatin and ampicilin. B. polyfermenticus SCD is well known supplies the nutrients by synthesizing vitamin $B_1$, $B_2$, C and K. B. polyfermenticus SCD produces various digestive enzymes and the enzymes enable to completely digest diets in our body. Above all, $\alpha$-amylase and pretense activities are very higher than B. subtilis KCTC 1020, about two fold and twenty five fold respectively. B. polyfermenticus SCD is very stable during long-term storage period in phosphate buffers of wide-range pH, solutions of various concentrations of sodium chloride, 5% glucose solution and water.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1 s.65
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• pp.146-154
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• 2006

Objectives : Siguan points (LI4, LR3) have been most frequently applied for various diseases, especially different digestive disorders such as constipation, abdominal pain or various intestinal inflammatory diseases. The fact that gastrointestina movement is closely connected with physiologic functions or pathologic process of alimentary canal led us to ask the question if Siguan points affects on intestinal motility. Design: To investigate the effect of Siguan acupuncture on the intestinal movement in both physiologic and pathologic conditions, we divided the experimental animals into 12 groups. Six groups were pre-treated with loperamide (0.5 mg/kg, sc) or scoploamine (0.5 mg/kg, sc) to suppress the intestinal movement and another three groups were pretreated with carbachol (0.5 mg/kg, po) to activate it, whereas the rest three groups didn't receive any pretreatment to be kept in the physiological condition. After the administration with charcoal meal, mice were acupunctured bilaterally on sham point or Siguan points as the manner of tap-stimulation, with the exception of no acupuncture groups. Methods : Mice were scarified in twenty minutes after the administration of charcoal to measure the distance of charcoal passage from stomach-duodenal junction. The effect on intestinal movement was presented by calculating the relative distance where charcoal arrived to total length of small intestine. Results : In physiological state, charcoal meal passed around 53%, and there was no significant difference between Siguan points and sham points groups. On the other hand. Siguan points-sitimulation significantly ameliorated loperamide or scoplolamine-induced suppressed travel rate of 17.3 % and 18.6% in sham point into 26% and 26.3% respectively (p<0.05). In carbachol-induced accelerated condition, Siguan points-stimulation didn't affect intestinal motility comparing to sham point group passed about 97.6%. Conclusions : These results postulate that acupuncture at Siguan points have a therapeutic effect by restoring cholinergic activity on pathogenically suppressed intestinal peristalsis, but does not affect the gastrointestinal motility in the normal or accelerated condition.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.37 no.9
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• pp.807-814
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• 2013

A fundamental study on laser-tissue interaction was conducted with the aim of developing a therapeutic medical device that can remove lesions on the intestinal wall by irradiating a high-power 808-nm infrared laser light incorporated in an endoscopic system. The perforation depth was linearly increased in the range of 1~4 mm in proportional to laser output (3~12 W) and irradiation time (5~20 s). We demonstrated that the perforation depth during laser irradiation was varied according to the tissue property of each extracted porcine organ. The measurement of the temperature distribution suggests that the energy is localized in the irradiation spot and transferred to deep tissue, which protects the surrounding tissue from thermal injury. These results can be used to set the driving parameters for a laser incision technique as an alternative to conventional surgical interventions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.143-151
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• 2010

In Vivo and In vitro antispasmodic effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San, a Traditional Korean Polyherbal Medicineconsisted of 7 types of herbs were observed in the present study. To clarify the effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San, on accelerating small intestinal movement induced by the stimulation of cholinergic neurotransmission, we evaluated the effects of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San on In vivo carbachol (an acetylcholinergic agent)-accelerated mice small intestinal transit and on In vitro contractions induced by low-frequency electrostimulation, KCl, histamine or acetylcholine using isolated guinea pig ileum. To induce the acceleration of mice small intestinal transit, Carbachol 1 mg/kg was once subcutaneously dosed 15min before last administration of the test drugs. In the present study, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg or domperidone 20 mg/kg were orally pretreated on the carbachol-accelerated mice small intestinal transit once a day for 7 days and the small intestinal transit rateof activated charcoal powder were monitored. In vitro assays, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San1, 0.1, 0.01 and 0.001 mg/ml or domperidone $2{\times}10^{-5}M$ were treated 10min before ileal contraction was induced by filed stimulation, acetylcholine, KCl and histamine, and the % changes of contractions were observed compared to the treatment of inducer alone. In spontaneous contraction, the % changes of contractions were observed compared to treatment of vehicle alone at 10min after Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San or domperidone treatment. The efficacy of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San was compared to those of domperidone. High concentration, 1 mg/ml of Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San was found to decrease the spontaneous contraction of the isolated guinea-pig ileum. In addition, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San decrease contractions induced by electrostimulation, acetylcholine, histamine and KCl in the isolated guinea-pig ileum. In addition, Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San effectively inhibited the accelerated small intestinal movement induced by carbachol stimulation of cholinergic neurotransmission in In vivo. Based on the results, although the exact molecular or action mechanism and which herbs or compound in Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San are responsible for actions, it was concluded that Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San normalization in the accelerated intestinal motility might be interfere with a variety of muscarinic, adrenergic and histaminic receptor activities or with the mobilization of calcium ions required for smooth muscle contraction non-specificly. Therefore, it is expected that Jun-Si-Baek-Chul-San will be promising as a prescription of clinical treatment of digestive tract disorders such as accelerated the motility of intestine, diarrhea or intestinal painful contractions.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2015

In the present study, the substance that show anti-proliferation of cancer cells as well as anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effect was searched. As a results, the methanol extract of Pogostemon cablin (P. cablin), is a well-known herb for traditional medicine in Korea and China for treating the digestive disorders, less of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea, inhibited the growth of various cancer cells such as A549, HepG2, MCF7 and HT29 cells. Cytotoxic effect of methanol extraction of P. cablin was excellent in A549 cells. P. cablin extract induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase of A549 in a dose dependent manner. And it induced phosphorylation of p38 and Cdc25A and reduced expression of Cdc25A, Cdks, Cyclins and phospho-Retinoblastoma (Rb) proteins. Therefore, P. cablin extract seems to act through the p38 - Cdc25A - Cdk - Cyclin - Rb pathway in A549 cells. In addition, P. cablin extract showed anti-oxidant effect by DPPH free radical scavenging assay and anti-inflammation effect by inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that P. cablin may be used as not only candidate materials for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant, moreover, it would be possible utilized in various health functional food materials.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2005

Eosinophilic gastroenteritis is a rare clinicopathologic entity of unknown etiology with a variety of digestive symptoms. The pathogenesis is poorly understood. Diagnostic criteria include demonstration of eosinophilic infiltration of the affected bowel wall, lack of evidence of extraintestinal disease, and exclusion of various disorders that could mimic similar conditions. The disease might involve any area of the gastrointestinal tract from the esophagus to the rectum, but the stomach and the proximal small bowel are most commonly affected. The clinical features depend on which layer and site are involved. We report the case of a 59-year-old male patient with a 3-week history of post-prandial vomiting with malnutrition and weight loss. An abdominopelvic CT showed a gastric outlet obstruction with diffuse wall thickening, as with linitis plastica. Three gastrofiberscopic biopsies showed chronic gastritis. We carried out a radical total gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection. The pathologic report revealed a mural type eosinophilic gastritis with a marked hypertrophic scar formation at the proper muscle layer. We report this case with a brief review of the literature. (J Korean Gastric Cancer Assoc 2005;5:47-51)