• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.135-140
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• 2016

Background: Nephrotoxicity is a common side effect of medications. Panax ginseng is one of the best-known herbal medicines, and its individual constituents enhance renal function. Identification of its efficacy and mechanisms of action against drug-induced nephrotoxicity, as well as the specific constituents mediating this effect, have recently emerged as an interesting research area focusing on the kidney protective efficacy of P. ginseng. Methods: The present study investigated the kidney protective effect of fermented black ginseng (FBG) and its active component ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 against cisplatin (chemotherapy drug)-induced damage in pig kidney (LLC-PK1) cells. It focused on assessing the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases as important mechanistic elements in kidney protection. Results: The reduced cell viability induced by cisplatin was significantly recovered with FBG extract and ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 dose-dependently. The cisplatin-induced elevated protein levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p53, and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased after cotreatment with FBG extract or ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. The elevated percentage of apoptotic LLC-PK1 cells induced by cisplatin treatment was significantly abrogated by cotreatment with FBG and the ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3. Conclusion: FBG and its major ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3, ameliorated cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in LLC-PK1 cells by blocking the JNKep53ecaspase-3 signaling cascade.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.144-151
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• 2012

Diagnosis of nutrient disorders in cultivating crops is based on the visual symptoms and results of soil and plant analysis. This study was carried out to investigate the influence of B concentrations in fertilizer solution on the growth of and nutrient uptake by domestically bred strawberries. Tissue analysis based on the dry weight were also conducted to determine the threshold levels in plants when toxicity developed in boron. The growth was seriously restricted in the three strawberry cultivars as the B concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. The fresh and dry weights were heavier and crown diameters were thicker in the 0.25 mM boron treatment than the other treatments tested. The toxicity symptoms of boron appeared on the older leaves of three strawberry cultivars while interveinal chlorosis symptoms appeared on the young leaves of 'Keumhyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries. The toxicity symptoms in lower leaves were developed when B concentrations in fertilizer solution were higher than 2 mM in 'Keumhyang' and 0.5 mM in 'Maehyang' and 'Seolhyang' strawberries. The elevated boron concentrations in fertilizer solution did not influence the tissue K, Ca, and Mg contents, but influenced the phosphorus contents with decreasing tendency. The tissue Fe and Zn contents decreased and increased, respectively, as the B concentrations in fertilizer solution were elevated. When the concentration of boron at which the growth of a plant is retarded by 10% is regarded as a upper threshold level, the boron contents based on dry weight of above ground plant tissue should be lower than 25.1, 44.2, and 62.5 $mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$ in 'Keumhyang', 'Maehyang', and 'Seolhyang' strawberries, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF PACKAGING SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.101-109
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• 2019

The effect of packaging and storage methods in enhancing the shelf life and improving the postharvest quality of the Korean head cabbage (Brassica rapa) used for wrapping vegetables was studied at 10℃. The wrapping cabbage was packed using four types of packaging and storage materials: (A) Perforated PP film; (B) Non-perforated PP film; (C) PVC film for wrapping; and (D) non-packaged as control. The quality parameters, such as fresh appearance, weight loss, hue angle, moisture content, hardness, and SSC of wrapping cabbage were investigated. The weight loss of wrapping cabbage showed a significant difference between the one packaged with film and the non-packaged as control. The general appearance of Korean cabbage stored at 10℃ was not significantly affected by the packaging treatments. However, Korean head cabbage packaged with perforated film tend to show a better external appearance compared with those exposed to the other packaging during three weeks of storage at 10℃. The inside appearance, hue angle, moisture content, hardness, and SSC, gradually decreased during the storage period. No remarkable change in the measured items were observed in Korean cabbage packaging methods. In this experiment, the Korean cabbage packaged inside a PP film with holes, and stored at 10℃ temperature had the most desirable outcome of extending the head cabbage's shelf life and appearance quality. Results suggest that perforated packaging treatment combined with low storage temperature could be an effective method in prolonging the shelf life of Korean cabbage for wrapping vegetable.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-38
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• 2000

Background : Nowadays asthma is considered to be the inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness and pulmonary eosinophilia, and mediated by Th lymphocytes expressing the Th2 cytokine pattern. In many recent studies, molecular biological methods have been used to investigate the role of cytokines in pathogenesis and new therapeutic targets of asthma. Objective : We aimed to identify the effect of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix on the transcriptional activities of cytokine IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 involved in asthma model. Materials and Methods : RBL-2H3 cell lines were used. Cells were stimulated with calcium inophore for maximal gene expression. After 24 hours of Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix-treatment, total cellular RNAs were collected using Trizol solution method. Then transcriptional activities of IL-4, IL-S and IL-6 were measured by RT-PCR with electrophoresis. Results : In IL-4 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 48.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 45.4% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-5 study, Armeniacae Arnarum Semen treated group showed 52.7%of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 60.2% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. In IL-6 study, Armeniacae Amarum Semen treated group showed 42.3% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group and Platycodi Radix treated group showed 69.1% of transcriptional activities compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Armeniacae Arnarum Semen and Platycodi Radix have the inhibitory effect on the transcription of IL-4, IL-5 and IL-6 gene expression in RBL-2H3 cell lines. Advanced studies are required to investigate the mechanisms of inhibition by herbal medicine in asthma model.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.165-175
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• 2018

Purpose: To report on a patient with subarachnoid hemorrhage and deep vein thrombosis treated with a combination of Korean and Western medicine. Methods: A patient diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage and deep vein thrombosis was treated with herbal medicine (加減淸熱瀉濕湯 (Gagam-cheongyeolsaseub-tang)), acupuncture (GV2, GB20, LI11, LI4, TE5, GB34, ST36, SP9, ST38, GB39, SP6, LR3), moxibustion (CV6, CV9), and Western medicine for deep vein thrombosis and subarachnoid hemorrhage. To evaluate edema, one of the classic symptoms of deep vein thrombosis, we measured leg circumference at a specified time. Results: After taking Gagam-cheongyeolsaseub-tang and being treated with acupuncture, moxibustion, and Western medicine, the patient showed improvement in leg edema. The left calf circumference decreased from 37.5 cm to 34.5 cm. Conclusions: Korean medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and Western medicine may provide effective treatment for deep vein thrombosis in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, but further study is needed.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2013

We investigated characteristics and self-incompatibility genotypes of 11 crabapple cultivars to introduce a new pollinizer of 'Fuji' apple tree in Korea. Flowering dates of eleven crabapples were two to seven days earlier than that of 'Fuji'. The rate of pollen germination in vitro was ranged from 85.6% to 98.0% except 'Virginia'. Controlled pollination treatment with each crabapples to 'Fuji' increased fruit set rate about 20.4% to 34.4%, the number of seed per fruit about 13.8% to 42.3% and fruit weight about 7.4% to 16.7% compared to open pollination. Tested crabapples were resistant to peach fruit moth, brown leaf spot and sooty blotch in general. A PCR amplification method using S-RNase primers was carry out in eleven crabapples. S-alleles, $S_3$, $S_5$, $S_9$, $S_{10}$, $S_{20}$, $S_{26} from six crabapples were determinated. Through sequencing analysis, $S_5$ ('Manchurian', 'Virginia') and $S_9$ ('Yantaishagou') showed 100% homologous to previous result. Based on our results, it was recommended that 'Manchurian', 'Hopa A', 'Hanyaehanakaidou', 'Spectabilis' could be promising pollinzers for 'Fuji' apple cultivar.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.343-347
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• 2005

Bambusae caulis in Liquamen is one of the important herbal medicine produced by heating bamboo indirectly and is used for treatment of stroke, hypertension, and diabetes etc. Recently the mechanism of clinical effects on Bambusae caulis in Liquamen has been studied. This experiment was conducted to confirm the clinical effects of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on type 1 diabetes and its related mechanism. We divided C57BL/6 mice into 3 groups and induced them to be type 1 diabetes by injection of streptozocin into peritoneum. The dosage of each group was 150 mg/kg once only, 140 mg/kg once only and 40 mg/kg for 5 days respectively. The two groups injected streptozocin for once took orally Bambusae caulis in Liquamen after the induction of diabetes, and the other one group was given Bambusae caulis in Liquamen during the diabetes inducing period. As the result, the two diabetes-induced groups showed blood glucose decreasing effect by Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on an average, but they didn't show the signiftcant differences statistically. But Bambusae caulis in Liquamen showed the anti-diabetic effect suppressing blood sugar rising trend during the diabetes inducing peried (P<0.05). The anti-oxidative effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen was measured with the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (HX/XOD) system. The quantity of ROS was measured using DCFDA reagent indirectly. As the result, $10\%$ solution of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen showed anti-oxidative effect by scavenging $93.4\%$ superoxide as compared with control group. It is suspected that the anti-oxidative effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen suppressed the increase of blood glucose in the diabetes-inducing group. These results could be useful data to understand the effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on type 1 diabetes and type 1 diabetes developing because ROS were closely connected with the induction and complications of diabetes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3 s.63
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• pp.1-12
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• 2005

Objectives : Substantial evidence suggests that reinforcing effects of nicotine can be mediated by the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. It has been shown that repeated injections of nicotine produce an increase in locomotor activity and expression of the immediate-early gene, c-fos, in the dopaminergic target areas. Herbal medicine as a therapeutic intervention has been widely used for the treatment of mental dysfunction. Many studies have shown that Radix Scutellariae (RS) can affect the biochemical balance in the central nervous system. Tn order to investigate whether RS has an influence on nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization, we examined the effect of RS on nicotine-induced locomotor activity and c-fos expression in the striatum and nucleus accumbens utilizing the fos-tike immunohistochemistry (FLI). Methods : Male SD rats received RS (200mg/kg, i.p.) 30min before repeated daily injections of nicotine (0.4mg/kg, s.c.) for 7 days. This was followed by withdrawal for 3 days and one challenge for 1 day. Results : System challenge with nicotine produced a much larger increase in locomotor activity and accumbal FLI. Pretreatment with RS significantly inhibited nicotine-induced locomotor activity and FLI in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that reduction in locomotor activity by RS may be reflected by reduction of dopamine release and postsynaptic neuronal activity in the striatum and nucleus accumbens. Our results suggest that RS may have therapeutic effect on nicotine addiction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.137-145
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was performed to elicit the effectiveness of a herbal formula, Kamisoyo-san (Jiaweixiaoyaosan) on enhancing ovarian function in infertile woman with ovarian dysfunction. Methods: 28 patients who initially visited between November 2006 and February 2009 and were administered Kamisoyo-san until May 2009 were retrospectively evaluated for their ovarian function by means of basal FSH (b-FSH), menstrual cycle, body mass index (BMI), and body fat ratio. To identify the major factor of improving ovarian function, 28 patients were classified into two groups by criteria of patent factors, such as pre-administration b-FSH, patient age, and treatment duration, respectively. Two groups were compared in terms of pregnancy percentage, b-FSH, menstrual cycle, BMI, and body fat ratio. Results: Post-administration b-FSH significantly decreased in comparison with pre-administration (p=0.004). The higher group (b-FSH $\geq$ 25mIU/mL) in pre-administration b-FSH was more effective in decrease of post-administration b-FSH than the lower one (10mIU/mL < b-FSH < 25mIU/mL). Conclusion: Kamisoyo-san may have a therapeutic effect on the infertility of child bearing period woman with ovarian dysfunction.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.223-226
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• 2014

In the fermented soybean product known as "chungkookjang", diverse bioactive compounds are produced when the soybean proteins are degraded during fermentation. Vascular endothelial cells (EC) are crucial in vein function and the formation of new vessels. A treatment to stimulate formation of new blood vessels is needed in cerebrovascular diseases that lead to ischaemic stroke and heart attack, as well as for diabetic ulcers. VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) simulates EC formation. The effect of Chungkookjang ethanol extract (CEE) on the proliferation of EC was studied. CEE (100, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) and boiled CEE were as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the proliferation of human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVEC). The effect of CEE on the migration of HUVEC was investigated using sprout analysis. CEE ($100{\mu}g/ml$) was as effective as VEGF (10 ng/ml) for the migration of HUVEC. Isolation of specific peptides influencing the growth and migration of EC is needed.