• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.653-659
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• 2014

Surgery remains the preferred treatment for hydatid cyst (cystic echinococcosis, CE). Various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscolices during surgery, but most of them are associated with adverse side effects. The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro scolicidal effect of Nigella sativa (Ranunculaceae) essential oil and also its active principle, thymoquinone, against protoscolices of hydatid cysts. Protoscolices were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (0.01-10 mg/ml) and thymoquinone (0.125-1.0 mg/ml) were used for 5 to 60 min. Viability of protoscolices was confirmed by 0.1% eosin staining. Furthermore, the components of the N. sativa essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). Our study revealed that the essential oil of N. sativa at the concentration of 10 mg/ml and its main component, thymoquinone, at the concentration of 1 mg/ml had potent scolicidal activities against protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus after 10 min exposure. Moreover, thymoquinone (42.4%), p-cymene (14.1%), carvacrol (10.3%), and longifolene (6.1%) were found to be the major components of N. sativa essential oil by GC/MS analysis. The results of this study indicated the potential of N. sativa as a natural source for production of a new scolicidal agent for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, further studies will be needed to confirm these results by checking the essential oil and its active component in in vivo models.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.132-138
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• 1997

The antimicrobial activity of Manuka oil, a steam distillate from Leptospermum scoparium, was investigated, and it's MIC against ten kinds of microorganisms was determin ed. MICs against bacteria and fungi were measured by means of both two-fold dliution method and agar plate two-fold dilution method, respectively. MICs of Manuka oil against Staphylococcus aureus KCTC 1916 and Micrococcus luteus KCTC 1915, gram-positive microrganisms, were identical as 3.05 ${\mu}$g/ml, while it's antibacterial activity against gram-negative microrganisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa KCTC 2513, Escherichia coli KCFC 1682, Klebsiella pneunioniae KCTC 2001 or Proteus vulgaris KCTC 2433 was negligible(MIC: ${\geq}$ 1000 ${\mu}$g/ml), suggesting a high susceptibility of gram-positive bacteria to Manuka oil. In addition, MIC against Aspergillus niger KCTC 6077 was 24 ${\mu}$g/ml. and that against the other fungi, Tricophyton mentagrophytes KCTC 1374 and Candida albicans KCTC 1940 was ${\geq}$ 1000 ${\mu}$g/ml. When Manuka oil ointment was used in combination with other drugs. i.e.. gentamycin sulfate, chlotrimazol and hydrocortisone acetate, and diphenhydramine HCl and hydrocortisone acetate. it's antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus KCTC 1916 was higher than Manuka oil ointment or other drugs alone. In conclusion, Manuka oil possesses a selective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus KCTC 1916, and can be used as a potent antibacterial agent against it.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1561-1566
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• 2006

Sebum is secreted due to the effect of androgen, which start to be secreted at puberty. Androgens have profound effects on the physiology of the sebaceous gland, Using the human sebocyte cell line SZ95, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Chelidonii Harba (CH) on the subum production. Our results showed that numerous cytoplasmic lipid droplets were examined by Oil red staining and lipid droplets were increased markedly by testosterone. Cell viability was dose-dependently decreased by CH as compared with untreated cells, while total lipid content and cholesterol slightly were increased by CH. Testosterone significantly stimulated the synthesis of total lipid and the synthesis of specific sebaceous lipids such as cholesterol and triglyceride. Combined treatment with CH and testosterone resulted in a lower lipid synthesis than with testosterone alone. Especially cholesteol content was reduced by combined treatment with CH and testosterone. These results indicate that CH inhibits the testosterone-induced lipid synthesis in SZ95 cells and acts antagonistically to androgen at the cellular level.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-82
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• 2006

Lavandula vera is indispensable member of the herb family, used for perfumes and potpourri. Androgens have profound effects on the physiology of the sebaceous gland. Sebum is secreted due to the effect of androgen, which starts to be secreted at puberty. Using the human sebocyte cell line SZ95. the author investigated the inhibitory effect of Lavandula vera on the lipid production. Light microscopic finding were examined numerous cytoplasmic lipid droplets SZ95 cells by Oil red staining and lipid droplets were increased markedly by testosterone. On the other hand, combined treatment with Lavandula vera and testosterone resulted in a lower lipid droplets than with testosterone alone in a dose-dependent manner. These findings indicate that Lavandula vera acts antagonistically to testosterone and inhibits the lipid synthesis of SZ95 cells at the cellular level.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.319-325
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• 2009

Woolly apple aphid, Eriosoma lanigerum, overwintered as adult or nymph stage on rootstocks, and crown- and root sucker in the soil. In an un sprayed apple orchard, the number of E. lanigerum colony started to increase from mid-April, showed the 1st peak between late June and early July, thereafter decreased followed by the 2nd peak in late July, and then again peaked in late September as the size in the 1st peak. In this orchard, the number of E. lanigerum colonies per tree did not exceed 3.5 colonies during the peak occurrence period, and was maintained around 2 colonies throughout seasons. In all seasons, parasitism of Aphelinus mali on E. lanigerum was much lower on root colonies than on aerial colonies that located on shoots and tree trunks above the ground. The parasitism of E. lanigerum was high in most orchards examined, showing parasitism of > 70% in maximum in most cases. In the laboratory bioassay for the mortality effects of several insecticides on E. lanigerum, fenitrothion, dichlorphos, machine oil, methidathion, thiacloprid, and imidacloprid showed 97.8, 96.8, 95.4, 91.5, 26.7, and 7.8% morality, respectively. Also, the adult emergence rates from A. mali mummies were 51.2, 72.6, 14.2, 3.5, 72.2, and 85.4% in the treatment of the above insecticides, respectively. Insecticides belong to neonicotinoid, which are newly developed to control aphids, showed low mortality against E. lanigerum. Fenitrothion and dichlorphos were effective on E. lanigerum control and had a low toxic to A. mali. Consequently, the insecticides should be useful in integrated pest management system for E. lanigerum in apple orchards.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.29-35
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• 2024

Objectives : Obesity is an imbalance between energy intake and consumption due to overeating and lack of exercise, and if it persists, it increases non-infectious diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we tried to investigate the possibility of using Chamaeneron angustifolia (CA) as a material for anti-obesity by confirming the effect of inhibiting lipid differentiation. Methods : We measured the effects of CA extract on oil-red-o staining, cell cytotoxicity evaluation activity using 3T3-L1 cells. Additionally, we assessed fat decomposition and metabolism-related protein expression through Western blot analysis. Results : In this study, the anti-obesity effects of CA extract were experimentally assessed. Results showed significant inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and accumulation at concentrations of 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2 mg/ml of oil-red-o staining, with reductions of 80% or more. CA notably increased the phosphorylation of AMPK protein expression compared to the control group across all concentrations. Additionally, phosphorylation of ACC significantly increased at a concentration of 0.2 mg/ml compared to the control. PPAR-γ, which regulates adipogenesis, exhibited a significant decrease compared to the control, while protein expression of CPT-1, involved in fatty acid oxidation, showed a concentration-dependent increase across all groups. Therefore, CA extract demonstrates potential as a functional material for anti-obesity by increasing the expression of proteins related to fat decomposition and synthesis while decreasing others. Conclusions : These results suggest that CA may also be useful as an anti-obesity functional substance.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2008

Objective : Herb medicines are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. They are used as a drug because of their various biological activities such as immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antitumor functions. Nelumbo nucifera have been applied in Chinese herbal prescriptions to improve tissue inflammation. However, it has not been elucidated on the effect of the flower of Nelumbo nucifera in cells. Method : In the present study, to examine the effect of that on glioma cells, U87, the essential oil was extracted from the flower of Nelumbo nucifera (NN essential oil). U87 cells were exposed to different concentrations of 2-40 ug/ml of NN essential oil in ethanol. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay at 24 h. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) for this antiproliferative activity of NN essential oil, phosphorylation of Akt, ERM, MAPK or p38 proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. To study long term effect of NN essential oil in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with NN essential oil for 4 days were obtained. Results and Conclusion : NN essential oil was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in glioma cells, at a broad range of concentrations of 10-40 ug/ml. The phosphorylation of Akt and Endoplasmic Reticulum Matrix (ERM) proteins which known to be involved in the cell death, were gradually decreased to 2 hours after addition 20 ug/ml of NN essential oil. However, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and p38 was found to increase in NN essential oil treated cells. NN essential oil treated cells showed decreased glioma cell number. These results provide a possible NN essential oil-induced inhibitory signal for tumor cell proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in Akt activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of p38 is required for the NN essential oil-induced inhibition of tumor proliferation.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the baby bath preparation and provide necessary information on the upcoming herbal bath preparation for atopic dermatitis. Methods: We selected 113 baby bath preparation by searching typing in "baby bath preparation" in 6 major web-search-engines, and 17 web shopping malls in Korea. 11 items were evaluated under three criteria : type of product, function and ingredient of goods. Results: Result showed that the most common type of bath preparation were liquid type. 96% of the products contained medical agents. Ingredients of the medical agents were herbal medicine, aroma oil, spring and sea ingredients, vitamin and extract. 33% of the products were bath preparation for the atopic dermatitis and 74% of the products were only for the baby. Conclusions: It is necessary to make a government level guideline for natural materials used in bath preparation, and to develop new products contained herbal medicine abide by oriental medical theory.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.203-207
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• 2002

The antifungal activities of the essential oils from Anthemis nobilis, Ciderus atlantica, Juniperus communis, Lavandula angustifolia, Pelargonium graveolens, Pogestemon patchouli, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Styrax tonkinensis which are recommended for the treatment of microbial infections in aromatherapy and complementary medicines were tested against Candida spp. The activities were measured by broth dilution method and disk diffusion assay. Most of the test oils inhibited growth of Candida albicans, C. utilis and C. tropicalis. Especially, the essential oil from Pelargonium graveolens and its main component, citronellol showed the strongest activity among the herbs except benzoic acid from Styrax tonkinensis which is well-known antimicrobial compound. As a result of checkerboard microtiter test. synergistic effect of citronellol, was shown when the component was combinated with ketoconazole, displaying a fractional inhibiting concentration (FIC) index of 0.37 against C. albicans.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.152-157
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• 2012

Angelica gigas is one of the most widely used herbal medicines in Asia. Root extract of Angelica gigas is known to have anti-oxidant activity and skin whitening effect. The aim of this study was to prepare microemulsion system of root extracts of Angelica gigas for topical delivery. Microemulsion was successfully prepared by using MCT (medium chain triglyceride) as an oil phase, Labrasol as a surfactant, and the mixture of propyleneglycol and phosphatidylcholine (4 : 1) as a cosurfactant. In vitro and in vivo skin permeation and deposition of decursin, as a marker, was determined using hairless mouse. Microemulsion significantly increased the in vitro skin permeation of decursin for up to 12 hours and was significantly higher than the control (water). Moreover, microemulsion formulation showed significantly higher skin deposition of decursin compared to the control in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Thus, microemulsion could be a useful vehicle for topical application of root extracts of Angelica gigas.