• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.43-54
• /
• 1974

The cactus family Cactaceae, numbering about 1,500 species, is a fleshy-stemmed perennial plant which is principally distributed in the south and north America. On the other hand, the cactus plant is presumed to be introduced into Korea in 1912-1945, thereafter it has been cultivated merely in favor of ornamentation with the exception of being occasionally used as medication among laymen. Opuntia elata which belongs to Opuntia genus, the Cactaceae family is one of the cacti being cultivated a great deal in Korea. Cho et. al. reported in 1974 that Opuntia dilenii manifested the cardiac inhibitory effect and oxytocic effect, and its mechanism might be partially due to the direct action. Besides this, there are few reports on the pharmacological research concerning Opuntia genus to be demonstrated in Korea. However, some other cacti have the remarkable pharmacological effects; the active ingredients, mescaline, anhalamine, anhalanine, etc. from Peyote cactus (Lophophora williamsii) belonging to Lophophora genus have the psychotomimetic and sympathomimetic effects, and the cardioactive glycosides from Cactus Grandifolius (Selenicereus grandiflorus) belonging to Cereus genus have the cardioactive and diuretic effects. The authors hereby inquired into this study to find out the propriety of the pharmacological properties of the ethanol extract of Opuntia elata (EX) on the heart, blood pressure, respiration, intestine and uterus in the experimental animals. The results of the experiment were as follows: 1. Administration of EX manifested the cardiac inhibitory effect caused by the negative inotropic action in the isolated heart of frog, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the inhibitory effect produced by EX. 2. Administration of EX manifested the transient hypotensive effect in the intact rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the hypotensive effect produced by EX. 3. Administration of the small dose of EX manifested no significant effect, but moderate dose or more the stimulating effect, and the large dose the asphyxia on the respiratory motility in the intact rabbit. 4. Administration of EX manifested the sustained augmentation of contractility in the excised duodenum of rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine did not affect the stimulating effect produced by EX. 5. Administration of EX manifested the sustained augmentation of contractility in the excised pregnant uterus of rabbit, and the pretreatment of atropine and oxytocin did not affect the oxytocic effect produced by EX, but that of barium chloride more or less stimulated the oxytocic effect produced by EX.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.911-918
• /
• 2007

Korean tea leaves (Camellia sinensis var. sinensis,), which were harvested in April, were fermented for various times, and then the changes in free amino acids (glutamic acid, GABA, arginine, theanine), pH, color values, and sensory qualities were evaluated. The pH in every sample became lower as fermentation time increased. Lightness also decreased as tea fermentation increased. Furthermore, glutamic acid, GABA, and arginine contents increased, while theanine content decreased, where it presented as 69% of the non-fermented tea leaves. GABA, a hypotensive compound, increased in the fermented tea leaves according to the degree of fermentation and hand rolling times. In terms of the theanine relaxation effect as well as taste, a shorter fermentation time is required, and for a hypotensive effect of GABA, fermentation needs to be increased. For the sensory evaluation, the preferred blend of taste and flavor was highest in the S8 tea sample.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.51 no.6
• /
• pp.503-516
• /
• 2001

Background : The present study was carried out in association with neutrophilic respiratory burst in the lung in order to clarify the pathogenesis of acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS) following acute severe hemorrhage. Because oxidative stress has been suggested as one of the principal factors causing tissue injury, the role of free radicals from neutrophils was assessed in acute hemorrhage-induced lung injury. Method : In Sprague-Dawley rats, hemorrhagic shock was induced by withdrawing blood(20 ml/kg of B.W) for 5 min and the hypotensive state was sustained for 60 min. To determine the mechanism and role of oxidative stress associated with phospholipase A2(PLA2) by neutrophils, the level of lung leakage, pulmonary myeloperoxidase(MPO), and the pulmonary PLA2 were measured. In addition, the production of free radicals was assessed in isolated neutrophils by cytochemical electron microscopy in the lung. Results : In hypotensive shock-induced acute lung injury, the pulmonary MPO, the level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals were higher. The inhibition of PLA2 with mepacrine decreased the pulmonary MPO, level of lung leakage and the production of free radicals from neutrophils. Conclusion : A. neutrophilic respiratory burst is responsible for the oxidative stress causing acute lung injury followed by acute, severe hemorrhage. PLA2 activation is the principal cause of this oxidative stress.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.66-93
• /
• 1979

Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, which has been known for more than EWO years. occupies a Particular prince in folk medicine as so called tonic remedy. The pharmacolgical investigations of ginseng, based on the scientific concepts and methodology, have been performed by many researchers through the past 50∼60 years at different parts of the world. The pharmacological action of Panax ginseng compiled from the numerous reports can be summarized as follows: 1. On central nervous system, the effect of Panax ginseng is timulatory in smaller doses and somewhat depressive in larger doses. From the psychopharmacological aspect, ginseng seems to increase the mental efficiency of man. 2. Ginseng has the effect tending to Protect organism from various physical and chemical stresses. 3. The growth and basal metabolic rates of experimental animals are stimulated by ginseng. Ginseng also prolongs the survival time of animals under adverse influences. 4. Increasing the physical and mental efficiency, ginseng postpones the onset of fatigue and increases the working capacities. 5. In the case of the intravenous administration of ginseng, a transitory and slight hypotensive effect is observed. These hypotensive effects seems to include that of a direct action and actions related to the release of histamine and/or serotonin by ginseng. 6. It is Presumed that ginseng lowers the elevated bleed ingar and cholesterol level. 7. Ginseng tends to increase the gastrointestinal motizity and tone 8. It is presumed that ginseng Promotes the iron metabolism and activates the hematopoietic factors. 9. Ginseng tends to stimulate the biosynthesis of nucleic acid and release of histamine and serotonin. 10. The toxicity end adverse reactions of ginseng appear to be nothing that warrants apprehension. 11. Anticancer erects of ginseng seem to be due to indirect action rather than direct action on cancer cell, by improving the host condition 12. Recent clinical trials of ginseng harts obtained sent good results, but Present trial is still limited in its range, so it is necessary to broaden the scope of trial covering many kinds of organs and diseases. From the above, although it appears that substantial advancements have been achieved in the studies on the Pharmacological actions of Panax ginseng there are many discrepancies noticed in the reported data. Furthermore the precise mechanisms of actions of ginseng are sometimes obscure, even unknown in other actions as the students stand now. The main reasons for this are considered to be that even though saponin has been identified at one of the active substances of ginseng, other components have not fully been identified and that the experimental approaches of the investigations varied with different researchers. Thus a thorough analysis of the chemical components and newer standardized concepts and metohds appear to be the pre-requisites for further study of the pharmacolgical effects and mechaisms of Panax ginseng.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2024

Purpose: Trauma is an important public health concern, and it is important to increase the survival rate of patients with trauma and enable them to return to society in a better condition. Initial treatment in the emergency department (ED) is closely associated with the prognosis of patients with trauma. However, studies regarding laboratory biomarker tests that can help predict the prognosis of trauma patients are limited. Presepsin is a novel biomarker of inflammation that can predict a poor prognosis in patients with sepsis. This study aimed to determine whether presepsin could be used as a prognostic indicator in patients with polytrauma. Methods: The study included patients with trauma who had visited a single regional ED from November 2021 to January 2023. Patients who had laboratory tests in the ED were included and analyzed retrospectively through chart review. Age, sex, injury mechanism, vital signs, surgery, the outcome of ED treatment (admission, discharge, transfer, or death), and trauma scores were analyzed. Results: Overall, 550 trauma patients were enrolled; 59.1% were men, and the median age was 64 years (interquartile range, 48.8-79.0 years). Patients in a hypotensive state (systolic blood pressure, <90 mmHg; n=39) had higher presepsin levels (1,061.5±2,522.7 pg/mL) than those in a nonhypotensive state (n=511, 545.7±688.4 pg/mL, P<0.001). Patients hospitalized after ED treatment had the highest presepsin levels (660.9 pg/mL), followed by those who died (652.0 pg/ mL), were transferred to other hospitals (514.9 pg/mL), and returned home (448.0 pg/mL, P=0.041). Conclusions: Serum presepsin levels were significantly higher in trauma patients in a hypotensive state than in those in a nonhypotensive state. Additionally, serum presepsin levels were the highest in hospitalized patients with trauma, followed by those who died, were transferred to other hospitals, and returned home.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.60-66
• /
• 1987

A procedure utilizing high pressure liquid chroatography coupled with UV detection is described for the determination of blood concentration of higenamine. Deproteinized serum was pretreated with$C_{18}$(Sep-pak $C_{18}$ cartridge) and the 70% EtOH eluent was applied onto a reversed-phase column ($\mu$ Bondapak $C_{18}]$) with a 15% acetonitrile in 0.05 N $NaH_2$$PO_4$-trichloroacetic acid mixed buffer (pH 2.8) as a mobile phase. With the UV detection at 232 nm, the retention times of higenamine and 1, 2, 3, 4-tetrahydropapaveroline, an internal standard, were 5.2 min and 3.9 min respectively. The blood concentration of higenamine was meausred at regular intervals after i. v. injection of higenamine to rabbit. A drastic decrease in higenamine concentration to 30% of the maximum value obtained immediately after the injection, was observed during the first 1-2 min period and thereafter the rate of decrease was slowed down. The analytical result seemed to coincide with the pharmacological effect of higenamine exerting the maximum chronotropic and hypotensive effect at the completion of the injections which were progressively recovered.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.203-212
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was performed to prove the anti-hypertensive and anti-diabetic effect of Mori Ramulus(MR). Methods : The examination was done on the femoral artery occlusion of the rat, and check the blood pressure. In addition, we observed therapueutic effects on diabetes rats induced by streptozotocin. Results : MR MeOH Ex, showed few effect on descending blood pressure in SD rat model. MR CHC13 layer (MRC) showed significant effect on descending blood pressure. MR was effective on the streptozotocin-induced diabetes SD rats. Especially MRC reduced the amount of serum glucose, BUN, triglyceride and insulin level. Conclusions : MRC could induce descending blood pressure in the rat model. Also, it is expected to be effective in diabetes treatment.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.28-30
• /
• 2016

Major maxillofacial bone injury itself can be life threatening from both cardiovascular point of view, as well as airway obstruction. Significant hemorrhage from facial fracture is an uncommon occurrence, and there is little in the literature to guide the management of these patients. We report a 73-year-old male driver who was transported to our hospital after a motor vehicle collision. The patient was hypotensive and tachycardic at presentation and required active fluid resuscitation and transfusion. The patient was intubated to protect the airway. All external attempts to control the bleeding, from packing to fracture reduction, were unsuccessful. Emergency angiogram revealed the bleeding to originate from terminal branches of the sphenopalatine artery, which were embolized. This was associated with cessation of bleeding and stabilization of vital signs. Despite the age and severity of injury, the patient recovered well and was discharged home at 3 months with full employment. In facial trauma patients with intractable bleeding, transcatheter arterial embolization should be considered early in the course of management to decrease mortality rate.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.552-560
• /
• 2003

In this study, Artemisia capillaris, which has been used in oriental medicine and folks remedy, was investigated to characterize the nutritional composition (protein, lipid, ash, fiber, amino acids, fatty acids, Na, K, P, Mg, Ca and Fe) and effective substance (scopoletin). Artemisia capillaris has often been cited in medical literature for its medicinal effects. The Korean Food and Drug Administration allowed Artemisia capillaris as a food stuff and indicated as In-Jin-Sook. From the view point of the subjects who eat In-Jin-Sook products, most of them ingested it for a certain pharmacological efficacy rather than as a beverage or a food. Therefore, we need to develop functional foods using In-Jin-Sook. Artemisia capillaris was superior in protein, crude fiber, amino acid and fatty acid compositions to wild greens according to Korean Nutritional Composition Table. Also scopoletin, blown for blood vessel relaxation and hypotensive effect, was detected at the level of 326.13 $\mu\textrm{g}$/g. These results demonstrated that Artemisia capillaris has both pharmaceutical effects and balanced nutritional contents. Artemisia capillaris has sufficient values to use as a food stuff for functional foods.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.127-133
• /
• 2014

Gastritis is a major disease that has the potential to grow as gastric cancer. Gastric cancer is a very common cancer, and it is related to a very high mortality rate in Korea. This disease is known to have various reasons, including infection with Helicobacter pylori, dietary habits, tobacco, and alcohol. The incidence rate of gastritis has reported to differ between age, population, and gender. However, unlike other factors, there has been no analysis based on gender. So, we examined the high risk factors of gastritis in each gender in the Korean population by focusing on sex. We performed an analysis of 120 clinical characteristics and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) using 349,184 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from the results of Anseong and Ansan cohort study in the Korea Association Resource (KARE) project. As the result, we could not prove a strong relation with these factors and gastritis or gastric ulcer in the GWAS. However, we confirmed several already-known risk factors and also found some differences of clinical characteristics in each gender using logistic regression. As a result of the logistic regression, a relation with hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, hyperlipidemia therapy, hypotensive or antihypotensive drug, diastolic blood pressure, and gastritis was seen in males; the results of this study suggest that vascular disease has a potential association with gastritis in males.