• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.65-80
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• 2007

Purpose: This study is to examine anti-obesity effect and cytotoxicity of the long-term oral administration of Ephedra Sinica(Ma-hwang, ES) Methods: Using diet-induced obesity C57BL/6 mouse model, anti-obesity effect and DNA chip expression and cytotoxicity of the long-term oral administration of this herbal extract were investigated. Results: The herbal extract treated groups were arrested in weight increment only when they were lodged together. Such effects were abolished when they kept individually. ES fed mice behaved very rudely and violently. On the basis of histological studies of liver tissues and also in vitro cytotoxicity tests of the liver and kidney cell lines, no significant toxicity was found by 14 weeks of ES treatments. However, we found significant changes in gene expression profile in ES treated group by micro-array analysis. In case of ES group, up-regulated genes were 113 and down-regulated were 120. Some of lipid metabolism related genes also significantly changed in treatment groups. Conclusion: ES had effects of increasing the basal metabolic rate by stimulating the sympathetic nervous systems.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.04a
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• pp.194.1-194.1
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• 2000

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.84-95
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• 2014

Objective : Ephedra sinica (ES) has has been used as remedy of allergic diseases for a long time in Korea. In the present study, we investigated the anti-allergic effects of ES on experimental allergic asthma mouse model using ovalbumin (OVA). Methods : BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with 100 ug of OVA and 1 mg of aluminum potassium sulfate of 0.2 ml phosphate-buffered saline(PBS) intraperitoneally on day 1 and 15. mice were challenged on 3 consecutive days with 5% OVA and AHR was assessed 24 h after the last challenge. we examined the lung histology, airway hyper sensitivity, total inflammatory cell count in bronchoaveloar lavage fluid(BALF), Th2-associated cytokines production and IgE production. Results : ES potently inhibited the lung damage and the development of Penh. ES also reduced the number of BAL cells during OVA-induced allergic asthma. Furthermore, ES inhibited cytokines production such as IL-4, IL-13 productions, and IgE level of serum. Conclusion : These results suggest that ES may inhibit the production of IL-4, IL-13, IgE and infiltration of inflammatory cell and be beneficial oriental medicine for allergic asthma.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.77-83
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• 2009

Objectives : We investigated the effects of Mahuang-Chuanwu Pharmacopuncture Treatment in Obese Patients by analysing Body mass index(BMI), waist measurement and weight. Methods : We investigated on 52 volunteers consisted of 24 subjects in experiment(Mahuang-Chuanwu Pharmacopuncture) group and 28 subjects in control(Normal Saline) group. The Study form was a single-blind and placebo-controlled clinical trial. 24 subjects in experiment group were injected Mahuang-Chuanwu Pharmacopuncture with additional common treatment and 28 subjects in control group were injected Normal Saline with additional common treatment with Dietic Theraphy and Exercise. We measured BMI, waist measurement and weight on 3 times : before 1st session, after first 5 sessions, and after 10 sessions. The SPSS 13.0 for Windows was used to analyze the data and the wilcoxon signed ranks test (in group), mann Whitney u t-test(between two groups) and ${\chi}^2$-test(description of number) were used to verify the result. Results : In experiment group. BMI, waist measurement and weight were significantly low at the period of after first 5 sessions and after 10 sessions. In control group, BMI, waist measurement and weight were significantly low at the period of after 10 sessions but weren't significantly low at the period of after first 5 sessions. The changes of BMI, waist measurement and weight in experiment group were significantly more than that in control group. Conclusions : The Results suggest that Mahuang(Ephedra sinica Stapf)-Chuanwu(Aconitum carmichaeli Debx) Pharmacopuncture is effective on the treatment of obesity, compared to Normal Saline.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 2019

In this study, the in vitro hepatotoxic mechanism of Ephedra sinica (ma-huang) was investigated by measuring the degree of cell death, secretion of cytokine, and fat accumulation by treating HepG2 cells with 70% ethanolic extracts of ma-huang. Cell death was observed at concentrations of around $5-100{\mu}g/mL$ by treatment with ma-huang extracts (p<0.05). The secretion of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), which are inflammatory cytokines, were significantly promoted at concentrations of around 0.05-100 and $0.5-100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively (p<0.05). In this experiment, it was shown that the extracts of ma-huang stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-8 and M-CSF, and lead to fat accumulation in the hepatocytes, thereby causing inflammation of the hepatocytes. Hepatotoxicity was observed at around 10-500 times lower concentration than the concentration required to cause serious toxicity, such as cell death, suggesting that hepatic toxicity (hepatitis) may be induced at a low dose.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.836-844
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• 2006

Background: Mahuang (Ephedra sinica STAPF) is well known as an herbal medicine and has been widely used to reduce body weight and increase athletic ability. However, as a result of reporting many cases of adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, use of dietary supplements containing ephedra was prohibited by the FDA. Objectives : The object of this study was to find the effectiveness of ephedra on weight loss without severe adverse effect. Methods : 16 healthy volunteers consisting of an ephedra group (N=8) and a placebo group (N=8) were investigated. Study form was a randomized, controlled, double-blind clinical trial. The ephedra group took 12g of ephedra while the placebo group took 12g of glutinous rice powder. Both groups were measured with BCA (body composition analysis) on weight loss and with HRV (heart rate variability) on its adverse effect before and after medication. Results : The following results were obtained after taking 12g of ephedra for 14 days. In the ephedra group, body weight reduced significantly. In the placebo group, there were no significant differences of body weight between before and after placebo treatment. There was a slight increase of heart beat rate and deactivation of cardiac activity. Parasympathetic nerves were deactivated, but balances of autonomic nervous system were well maintained. Conclusions : The results suggest that ephedra in healthy adults tends to reduce body weight and deactivation of autonomic nervous system and cardiac activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.168-180
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• 2022

Ephedra is a genus of the Ephedraceae family and is found in temperate regions, such as Central Asia and Europe. Among the various ephedra species, Ma Huang (Ephedra herb) is derived from the aerial parts of Ephedra sinica S tapf, Ephedra equisetina Bunge, and Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C.A. Mey. Ma Huang contains various ephedra alkaloids, including (-)-ephedrine, (+)-pseudoephedrine, (-)-norephedrine, (+)-norpseudoephedrine, (-)-methylephedrine, and (+)-methylpseudoephedrine, which are found naturally as single enantiomers, although they can be prepared as racemates. Although the use of Ma Huang in foods is prohibited in Korea, products containing Ma Huang can be imported, and so it is necessary to develop a suitable analytical technique for the detection of Ma Huang in foods. Herein, we report the development of analytical methods for the detection of ephedra alkaloids in products containing Ma Huang. Following sample purification by solid phase extraction, quantitative analysis was performed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Additionally, the enantiomers were successfully separated using HPLC-DAD. We successfully analyzed various food samples, where the ephedra alkaloids were qualitatively and quantitatively determined, and the enantiomers were separated. It is expected that these methods may contribute toward preventing the distribution of illegal products containing Ma Huang.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.376-392
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• 2020

In Korea, damages to wooden cultural properties by termites have been reported all over the country, including Ulleungdo Island and Jeju Island. In order to reduce the damage caused by termites, most cultural properties damaged by them are treated with fumigation or drug treatment on the soil to kill or repel them. The number of treatments is decreasing due to cost and safety problems, and new methods needed to cope with this situation. After extracting an enzyme by selecting only worker termites from the termites collected in Shinan, Jeonnam, as a result of measuring the enzyme activity using xylan of cellulose and hemicellulose that are the components of wood, the activity of termite intestinal enzymes in xylan was higher than that of cellulose having a high molecular weight. Therefore, in this study, as a result of exploring over 600 species of medicinal plant extracts that inhibit the activity of termite intestinal enzymes using xylan as a substrate, the inhibitory effect was significant in Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol. Selected Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol's extracts not only inhibited the activity of termite intestinal enzymes, but also confirmed that they have insecticidal activation and inhibitory effects on feeding in the result of the direct treatment.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.79-87
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• 2019

Although there has been many studies about the co-administration of herb formula and western medicine, there is none about obesity. The aim of this study was to report the effects of co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin on two obese patients for about 2~4 months. During the treatment, we checked body weight and body composition, and collected blood samples to evaluate liver, kidney, thyroid function and lipid profile. This treatment not only decreased body weight but also improved body composition and lipid profile in both patients. There was no hepatic or renal toxicity, nor any serious side effects of treatment. This study demonstrated that co-administration of herb formula containing ephedra sinica and lorcaserin is a safe and effective therapy to lose weight and improve metabolic parameters for obese patients. Further large-scale clinical trials are needed to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of the combination of herbal and western medicines.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.102-108
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• 2009

This study was performed to enhance anticancer activities of E. sinica, and A. gigas by ultra high pressure extraction process. The cytotoxicity of E. sinica and A. gigas on human kidney cell (HEK293) was as low as 24.94% and 25.3% in adding 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ of the sample extracted at 500 Mpa for 15 minute. Generally, the inhibition of cancer cell growth on A549 and MCF-7 was increased over 20% in the ultra high pressure samples, compared to the conventional extraction process. Under the extracts from ultra high pressure process showed not only the strongest anticancer activities, but also had better stability than normal extracts. It was also found that the extracts of A. gigas reduced the hypertrophy of the internal organs, such as adrenal and spleen caused stresses in several mouse models.