• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.836-842
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• 2015

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) constitute the largest and the most physiologically important membrane protein family that recognizes a variety of environmental stimuli, and are drug targets in the treatment of numerous diseases. Recent progress on GPCR structural studies shed light on molecular mechanisms of GPCR ligand recognition, activation and allosteric modulation, as well as structural basis of GPCR dimerization. In this review, we will discuss the structural features of GPCRs and structural insights of different aspects of GPCR biological functions.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.279-287
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• 2017

The chemical property of cinnamaldehyde is unstable in vivo, although early experiments have shown its obvious therapeutic effects on viral myocarditis (VMC). To overcome this problem, we used cinnamaldehyde as a leading compound to synthesize derivatives. Five derivatives of cinnamaldehyde were synthesized: 4-methylcinnamaldehyde (1), 4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (2), 4-methoxycinnamaldehyde (3), ${\alpha}$-bromo-4-methylcinnamaldehyde (4), and ${\alpha}$-bromo-4-chlorocinnamaldehyde (5). Neonatal rat cardiomyocytes and HeLa cells infected by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) were used to evaluate their antiviral and cytotoxic effects. In vivo BALB/c mice were infected with CVB3 for establishing VMC models. Among the derivatives, compound 4 and 5 inhibited the CVB3 in HeLa cells with the half-maximal inhibitory concentrations values of $11.38{\pm}2.22{\mu}M$ and $2.12{\pm}0.37{\mu}M$, respectively. The 50% toxic concentrations of compound 4 and 5-treated cells were 39-fold and 87-fold higher than in the cinnamaldehyde group. Compound 4 and 5 effectively reduced the viral titers and cardiac pathological changes in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, compound 4 and 5 significantly inhibited the secretion, mRNA and protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in CVB3-infected cardiomyocytes, indicating that brominated cinnamaldehyde not only improved the anti-vital activities for VMC, but also had potent anti-inflammatory effects in cardiomyocytes induced by CVB3.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-21
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• 2021

Panax species have gained numerous attentions because of their various biological effects on cardiovascular, kidney, reproductive diseases known for a long time. Recently, advanced analytical methods including thin layer chromatography, high-performance thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with tandem ultraviolet, diode array detector, evaporative light scattering detector, and mass detector, two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography, high speed counter-current chromatography, high speed centrifugal partition chromatography, micellar electrokinetic chromatography, high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, ambient ionization mass spectrometry, molecularly imprinted polymer, enzyme immunoassay, 1H-NMR, and infrared spectroscopy have been used to identify and evaluate chemical constituents in Panax species. Moreover, Soxhlet extraction, heat reflux extraction, ultrasonic extraction, solid phase extraction, microwave-assisted extraction, pressurized liquid extraction, enzyme-assisted extraction, acceleration solvent extraction, matrix solid phase dispersion extraction, and pulsed electric field are discussed. In this review, a total of 219 articles published from 1980 to 2018 are investigated. Panax species including P. notoginseng, P. quinquefolius, sand P. ginseng in the raw and processed forms from different parts, geographical origins, and growing times are studied. Furthermore, the potential biomarkers are screened through the previous articles. It is expected that the review can provide a fundamental for further studies.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.1505-1508
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• 2012

Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is a key factor in negative regulation of the insulin pathway, and is a promising target for the treatment of type-II diabetes, obesity and cancer. Herein, compound ($\mathbf{4}$) was first observed to have moderate inhibitory activity against PTP1B with an $IC_{50}$ value of $13.72{\pm}1.53{\mu}M$. To obtain more potent PTP1B inhibitors, we synthesized a series of chalcone derivatives using compound ($\mathbf{4}$) as the lead compound. Compound $\mathbf{4l}$ ($IC_{50}=3.12{\pm}0.18{\mu}M$) was 4.4-fold more potent than the lead compound $\mathbf{4}$ ($IC_{50}=13.72{\pm}1.53{\mu}M$), and more potent than the positive control, ursolic acid ($IC_{50}=3.40{\pm}0.21{\mu}M$). These results may help to provide suitable drug-like lead compounds for the design of inhibitors of PTP1B as well as other PTPs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.103-115
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• 2013

Objectives: This study proposes a new form of English translation in comparison with that shown in English books related to Sasang Constitutional medicine formulae which have been published up to now. Methods: This study formulated a new form of English translation guidelines by making a comparative analysis of the English translation cases listed in "Korean-English Dictionary of Oriental Medicine", "Longevity and Life Preservation in Eastern Medicine", and "Introduction to Sasang Constitutional Medicine". Results: This study as a common rules suggested that names of preparation form should be placed at the very end of the formula name and the first letters of the major words of the formula name should be capitalized. In addition, for the sake of accuracy in English translation of the formula name, this study divided the formula names into 8 types. The 8 sorts of types include: (a) Materia Medica + Preparation Form, (b) Materia Medica + Indication + Preparation Form, (c) Materia Medica Numbers + Preparation Form, (d) Indication + Preparation Form, (e) Concept + Preparation Form, (f) Concept + Materia Medica + Preparation Form, (g) Concept + Indication + Preparation Form, (h) Etcetera. In these types, medicinal herbs should be written in scientific name, and translation of indication can follow Noun+~ing participle form. In case of the terms having a Korean-medicine-based meaning, this study aimed for source-oriented translation. Conclusions: This study provides a general English translation method and examples of the formula names for Sasang constitutional medicine.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.160-167
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• 2019

Depression is a major mood disorder. Abnormal expression of glial glutamate transporter-1 (GLT-1) is associated with depression. Schisantherin B (STB) is one bioactive of lignans isolated from Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill which has been commonly used as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years. This paper was designed to investigate the effects of STB on depressive mice induced by forced swimming test (FST). Additionally, we also assessed the impairment of FST on cognitive function in mice with different ages. FST and open field test (OFT) were used for assessing depressive symptoms, and Y-maze was used for evaluating cognition processes. Our study showed that STB acting as an antidepressant, which increased GLT-1 levels by promoting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Although the damage is reversible, short-term learning and memory impairment caused by FST test is more serious in the aged mice, and STB also exerts cognition improvement ability in the meanwhile. Our findings suggested that STB might be a promising therapeutic agent of depression by regulating the GLT-1 restoration as well as activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.82-86
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• 2016

Six compounds were isolated from the secondary metabolites of the jellyfish-derived fungus Aspergillus fumigates, whose structures were identified by chemical methods and spectroscopic analysis as pseurotin F1 (1), azaspirofurans B (2), $(22E,\;24R)-24-methyl-5{\alpha}-cholesta-7,22-diene-3{\beta},5,6{\beta}-triol$ (3), $5{\alpha},8{\alpha}-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3{\beta}-o1$ (4), $cyclo-({\small{L}}-Pro-{\small{L}}-Tyr)$ (5), fumitremorgin C (6). The compounds 1 - 5 were isolated from the fungus Aspergillus fumigates for the first time. The isolated compounds (1 - 6) were evaluated for antibiotic activity and cytotoxicity against six bacterial strains and ten human tumor cell lines, respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-126
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• 2021

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the primary source of medical treatment for the people inhabiting East Asia for thousands of years. These ancient practices have incorporated a wide variety of materia medica including plants, animals and minerals. As modern sciences, including natural products chemistry, emerged, there became increasing efforts to explore the chemistry of this materia medica to find molecules responsible for their traditional use. Insects, including beetles have played an important role in TCM. In our survey of texts and review articles on TCM materia medica, we found 48 species of beetles from 34 genera in 14 different families that are used in TCM. This review covers the chemistry known from the beetles used in TCM, or in cases where a species used in these practices has not been chemically studied, we discuss the chemistry of closely related beetles. We also found several documented uses of beetles in Traditional Korean Medicine (TKM), and included them where appropriate. There are 129 chemical constituents of beetles discussed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.358-362
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• 2005

Directional words like 'ascending(升, sheng)', 'descending(降, jiang)', 'floating(浮, fu)', 'sinking(沈, chen) are technical terminologies of Oriental Medicine to express the directions of material medica functioning-at the phase of Qi-superiorly, inferiorly, exteriorly, and interiorly in human body, and are constituting one of the major principles in prescribing medicines. Lacking the objective methodology to measure or, at least determine Qi, However, we can not expect to secure meaningful data to verify those directional terms. This problematic situation caused chaotic discrepancy between theory and practice of Oriental Medicine. Thus, adopting the method of dynamic meditation 'Hanalmomjit' of Lux Vitae meditation society, by which various state of Qi-sensational movements can be expressed, we compared its moves with the directional terms of traditional canons in Oriental Medicine. In this thesis, the experiment of expressing materia medica via 'Hanalmomjit' is resulted out and compared with the terms, confirmed to have a certain meaningfulness. The new method showed these results below: Herba Menthae, described to have the disposition of ascending and floating, showed 60% of ascending movements in 'Hanalmomjit' experiment. Radix Rehmanniae Praeparata, described to have the disposition of descending and sinking, showed 50% of descending movements. Radix Glycyrrhizae, described to have plain disposition, showed 60% of central movements. Rhizoma Atractylodis and Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae, described to have the disposition of ascending and floating, showed also ascending movements. Cortex Magnoliae Officinalis, described to have the disposition of descending and sinking, showed also descending movements. In conclusion, qi-sensational movement of 'Hanalmomjit' for materia medica showed sufficient relations described in classics, proving itself to be useful method for objective demonstration of material medica.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.2081-2086
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• 2015

Gecko is a kind of traditional Chinese medicine with remarkable antineoplastic activity. However, undefined mechanisms and ambiguity regarding active ingredients limit new drug development from gecko. This study was conducted to assess anti-angiogenic properties of the aqueous extracts of fresh gecko (AG) or macromolecular components separated from AG (M-AG). An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) approach was applied to detect the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion of the tumor cells treated with AG or M-AG. The effect of AG or M-AG on vascular endothelial cell proliferation and migratory ability was analyzed by tetrazolium dye colorimetric method, transwell and wound-healing assays. Chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assays were used to ensure the anti-angiogenic activity of M-AG in vivo. The results showed that AG or M-AG inhibited the VEGF secretion of tumor cells, the relative inhibition rates of AG and M-AG being 27.2% and 53.2% respectively at a concentration of $20{\mu}L/mL$. AG and M-AG inhibited the vascular endothelial (VE) cell proliferation with IC50 values of $11.5{\pm}0.5{\mu}L/mL$ and $12.9{\pm}0.4{\mu}L/mL$ respectively. The VE cell migration potential was inhibited significantly (p<0.01) by the AG (${\geq}24{\mu}L/mL$) or M-AG (${\geq}12\mu}L/mL$) treatment. In vivo, neovascularization of CAM treated with M-AG was inhibited significantly (p<0.05) at a concentration of ${\geq}0.4{\mu}L/mL$. This study provided evidence that anti-angiogenesis is one of the anti-tumor mechanisms of AG and M-AG, with the latter as a promising active component.