• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.36-44
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• 2023

Essential oils and aromatherapy have traditionally been used for the treatment of anxiety and depression with few side effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of essential oils from six herbal prescriptions known to be effective in treating anxiety and depression in Korean medicine. The neuroprotective and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of six essential oils, including Gamisachil-tang (GMSCT), Guibi-tang (GBT), Sihogayonggolmoryeo-tang (SYM), Danchisoyosan (DCSYS), Sihosogansan (SHSGS), and Soyosan (SYS), were examined in PC12 and BV2 cells. In corticosterone (CORT)-stimulated PC12 cells, all six essential oils ameliorated the CORT-induced decrease in cell viability at a concentration of 10 ㎍/ml. GMSCT, GBT, and SHSGS recovered CORT-induced cytotoxicity at concentrations of 1 ㎍/ml and 10 ㎍/ml. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 cells, GBT (10 ㎍/ml) decreased interleukin (IL)-1β production, whereas SHSGS (1 ㎍/ml) inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α production. In the MK-801-induced anxiety in zebrafish, electroencephalogram (EEG) assessment indicated that GMSCT and SHSGS induced recovery in the delta and beta power densities and reduced theta/beta and delta/beta ratios. DCSYS and SYS decreased theta power density and theta/beta ratio, whereas GBT and SYM showed no effects on EEG signals. In the tail suspension test (TST) in mice, GBT, DCSYS, SHSGS, and SYS exhibited antidepressant-like effects by decreasing immobility time. These results suggest that the essential oils from the six herbal prescriptions, except SYM, may have beneficial effects on anxiety and/or depression. Further studies should be conducted to investigate the molecular signaling pathways that mediate the effects of these essential oils on anxiety and depression.

• Wind and Structures
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.383-398
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• 2007

The paper describes a study of the effects of structural coupling on the wind-induced response of twin tall buildings connected by a skybridge. Development of a dual high-frequency force balance used in wind tunnel investigation and background information on the methodology employed in analysis are presented. Comparisons of the wind-induced building response (rooftop acceleration) of structurally coupled and uncoupled twin buildings are provided and the influence of structural coupling is assessed. It is found that the adverse aerodynamic interference effects caused by close proximity of the buildings can be significantly reduced by the coupling. Neglecting of such interactions may lead to excessively conservative estimates of the wind-induced response of the buildings. The presented findings suggest that structural coupling should be included in wind-resistant design of twin tall buildings.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.111-121
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• 2006

Neuroprotective properties of lithium were evaluated by using in vivo NMDA excitotoxicity model. Systemic injection of NMDA to young mice induced neuronal apoptosis mediated by both TNFR-l and Fas ligand, and long-term lithium treatment showed noticeable neuroprotection against NMDA-induced excitotoxicity: NMDA-damaged neurons expressed several apoptosis-related gene products such as TNFR-l, Fas ligand, and caspase-3, and these gene expressions were not found in the brain of mice chronically treated with lithium. Therefore, it is highly likely that the protection offered by chronic lithium treatment occurred at far upstream of caspase activation, since the chronic lithium treatment increased the expression of Bcl-2, an important antiapoptotic gene known to act upstream of caspase cascade. Timm's histochemistry indicated the complete blockade of the NMDA insults by the treatment. There was no indication of axonal regeneration, which follows synaptic degeneration induced by neuronal damage. Furthermore, this study reports for the first time that TNFR-l and Fas ligand are involved in neuroprotective effects of lithium in NMDA-induced neuronal apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.52-55
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• 2003

The present experiment was perf'3rmed to investigate the protective effects of ginseng total saponin (GTS) and possible mechanisms on the hepatocytotoxicity induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BuOOH), 4-Bromo-calciumu ionophore A23187 (Br-A23187) and KCN. Hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion of livers from fasted male Sprague Dawley rats and cultured overnight. After various treatments in Krebs-Ringer-HEPES buffer at pH 7.4, cell viability was determined by propidium iodide using fluorocytometry. GTS (5-20 ${\mu}$M) inhibited cell killing induced by t-BuOOH, and KCN, dose-dependently. However, GTS did not inhibit Br-A23187-induced cell killing. These findings support that GTS could protect the hepatocytoxicity induced by some toxic chemicals. The mechanisms of these protective effects by GTS seem to be associated with antioxidant activity and increase of cellular ATP.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.6 no.5
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• pp.235-239
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• 2002

It has been reported that lovastatin induced cell death and suppressed proliferation in various cell lines. In this study, we examined whether the cytotoxic effects of lovastatin could be prevented by Bcl-2 or $Bcl-_{XL}$ in C6 glial cells. Overexpression of human Bcl-2 or $Bcl-_{XL}$ prevented lovastatin $(25{\mu}M)-induced$ changes such as DNA fragmentation, chromatin condensation, disruption of cell membrane, and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Lovastatin-induced inhibition of cell proliferation was unaffected by Bcl-2 or $Bcl-_{XL}$ overexpression. These results suggest that Bcl-2 and $Bcl-_{XL}$ can prevent lovastatin-induced apoptosis in C6 glial cells, though the inhibition of proliferation remains unaffected by these proteins.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.452-457
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• 2008

This study examined the effects of the daily administration of high-molecular-weight (HMW) chitosan in drinking water (0.8 %) on kidney function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic ICR mice. The HMW chitosan lowered the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum and urine creatinine levels, urine protein levels, and albuminuria and reduced the kidney weight in STZ-induced type 1 diabetic ICR mice. On histopathological findings, capillary loops are open, but narrowed, and the mesangial matrix enlarged in the STZ-induced diabetic ICR mice. By contrast, the capillary loops and mesangial matrix of the chitosan-treated ICR mice were nearly normal compared with the STZ-induced diabetic ICR mice.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.162-168
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• 2000

To investigate the effects of protein kinases on endothelin-1-induced phospholipase C activation and $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization in Rat-2 fibroblast, we measured the formation of inositol phosphates and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration with [$^3$H]inositol and Fura-2/AM, respectively. Endothelin-1 dose-dependently activated phospholipase C and increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. Protein kinase C activator PMA, significantly inhibited both phospholipase C activity and $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization induced by endothelin-1. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, inhibited both. On the other hand, cyclic nucleotide (cAMP and cGMP) did not have any influence on the signaling pathway of phospholipase C-Ca$^{2+}$ mobilization induced by endothelin-1. These results suggest that protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase counteract on the signaling pathway of phospholipase C-Ca$^{2+}$ mobilization induced by endothelin-1 in Rat-2 fibroblast. fibroblast.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.145-151
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• 2019

Methamphetamine (METH) acts strongly on the nervous system and damages neurons and is known to cause neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds present in green tea, red wine and several fruits exhibit antioxidant properties that protect neurons from oxidative damage and promote neuronal survival. Especially, epicatechin (EC) is a powerful flavonoid with antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor and antimutagenic effects as well as antioxidant effects. We therefore investigated whether EC could prevent METH-induced neurotoxicity using HT22 hippocampal neuronal cells. EC reduced METH-induced cell death of HT22 cells. In addition, we observed that EC abrogated the activation of ERK, p38 and inhibited the expression of CHOP and DR4. EC also reduced METH-induced ROS accumulation and MMP. These results suggest that EC may protect HT22 hippocampal neurons against METH-induced cell death by reducing ER stress and mitochondrial damage.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.175-185
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• 2002

To investigate effects of A. gmelini on the 14-day CCl$_4$induced hepatotoxicity, extracts were prepared in 3 ml saline at the dose of 50, 500, 5,000 mg/kg b.w. to administer orally everyday and same concentration (1 : 9, CCl$_4$: olive oil v/v) of CCl$_4$administered intraperitoneally with 2.5 ml/kg b.w. On the 7th day, hemanalysis showed following recovery values; AST 9.9∼64.6%, ALT 36.9∼71.9%, ALP 75.3∼93.7％, BUN 53.8∼59.7%, TBIL 60.4∼100.0< ％, TCHO 77.7∼100.0< ％, and TG 60.4∼100.0< ％. Even if, 14-day CCl$_4$induced hepatotoxicity recovery was found to depend on doses of extract, and recovery values of each treatment were AST 13.8∼56.4％, ALT 15.7∼68.0％, ALP 53.4∼84.4％, BUN 76.9∼100.0< ％, TBIL 60.4 ∼ 100.0< %, TCHO 82.6∼99.3< ％, and TG 56.7∼99.7%. By histological examination of liver, hydropic degeneration, fatty change, lipid accumulation and necrosis were also recovered.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 1990

These studies were conducted to investigate the effects of Tongkwan-San water extract on analgesic, sedatative, anti-inflammatory, blood pressure and vasodilating actions, the relaxing action of isolated ileums and actions on the contact dermatitis induced by picryl chloride and on the leakage of the dye into the peritoneal cavity. The results of these studies were summarized as follows: The analgesic effect of Tongkwan-San was noted. The prolongation of anesthetic time of Tongkwan-San was recognized. Spontaneous motilities of isolated ileum of mice were strongly suppressed by Tongkwan-San. It inhibited the contractions of isolated ileum of mice induced by acetylcholine and barium chloride and the contraction of isolated ileum of guinea-pig induced by histamine. Inhibition of the contact dermatitis induced by picryl chloride was recognized. Anti-inflammatory effects in the paw edema induced by histamine and dextran were significantly shown. The leakage of dye into the peritoneal cavity in mice was significantly inhibited. Hypotensive and vasodilating action due to vascular smooth muscle relaxation were noted in rats and rabbits.