• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate effects of Syzygium aromaticum (SAE) spread on the allergic contact dermatitis caused by 2,4-dinitro-chlorobezene (DNCB). Methods : Forty-two mice were divided into six groups ; normal, negative control (DNCB-treated), positive control (DNCB + 1% pimecrolimus), experimental group I, II and III. control and experimental groups were induced allergic contact dermatitis by DNCB. Experimental group I(DNCB + 0.2% SAE), II(DNCB + 1% SAE) and III(DNCB + 5% SAE) were spread SAE and positive control was spread the 1% pimecrolimus. In this study, effect of SAE on clinical aspects on the skin, histopathological change, the blood level of IgE, cytokines, histamine were investigated. In addition, effect of SAE on spleen $CD4^+/CD8^+$ T cell subset was investigated. Results : 1. In experimental group I, II and III, erythemas and edema were more reduced than negative control. 2. In experimental group I, II and III inflammatory edema and the numbers of infiltrated inflammatory cells were more reduced than negative control. 3. In experimental group I, II and III, clinical skin score was more reduced than negative control. 4. In experimental group II and III, the thickness of skin was statistically significant reduced than negative control. 5. In experimental group II and III, histamine release was statistically significant reduced than negative control in dose-dependantly. 6. In experimental group II and III, cytokines (IL-1${\beta}$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10) were statistically significant reduced than negative control in dose-dependantly. 7. In experimental group I, II and III, the level of total IgE was statistically significant reduced than negative control in dose-dependantly. 8. In experimental group III, $CD4^+$ and $CD8^+$ T cells were statistically significant decreased similar to the positive control. Conclusions : According to above experiments, Syzygium aromaticum(SAE) was effective on allergic contact dermatitis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2014

Background: Roles of immune reaction and toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) have widely been established in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods: We evaluated the biologic efficacy of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG), urushiol, and probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus R0011 and Lactobacillus acidophilus R0052) in mouse models of ALD. Sixty C57BL/6 mice were equally divided into six feeding groups for 10 weeks: normal diet, alcohol, control, alcohol + KRG, alcohol + urushiol, and alcohol + probiotics. Alcohol was administered via a LiebereDeCarli liquid diet containing 10% alcohol. TLR-4 expression, proinflammatory cytokines, and histology, as well as the results of liver function tests were evaluated and compared. Results: No between-group differences were observed with regard to liver function. TLR-4 levels were significantly lower in the KRG, urushiol, and probiotics groups than in the alcohol group ($0.37{\pm}0.06ng/mL$, $0.39{\pm}0.12ng/mL$, and $0.33{\pm}0.07ng/mL$, respectively, vs. $0.88{\pm}0.31ng/mL$; p < 0.05). Interleukin-$1{\beta}$ levels in liver tissues were decreased among the probiotics and KRG groups. The tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ level of liver tissue was decreased in the KRG group. Conclusion: The pathological findings showed that alcohol-induced steatosis was significantly reduced by KRG and urushiol. As these agents improve immunologic capacity, they may be considered in potential anti-ALD treatments.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2010

To evaluate the skin aging inhibition effect of fermented Reynoutria elliptica, skin aging model was produced by the irradiation of UVB to hairless mice for 5 weeks. The skin erythema index for the positive control (PC), not fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract (NFR), and fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract (FR-500, 1000, 2000) groups were lower than that of the control group. However, both lipid and water capacity for the PC and FR groups were higher than those of the control group. Collagen fibers in dermis of the FR groups were almost intact with a regular arrangement which were similar to the normal (NO) group. Also, relatively much less number of mast cells and inflammatory cells were found in FR groups. The skin TBARS contents and XO activity in the FR group were significantly lower than the control group. The activities of GSH, SOD and CAT for the FR groups were significant higher than the control group. Therefore, fermented Reynoutria elliptica extract can be practically useful for the prevention or improvement of skin aging in terms of health promotion and beauty for the people.

• The Journal of Dong Guk Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 1999

The effects of Sosokmyung-tang(小續命湯) on global cerebral ischemia and cerebral in farction by MCA(middle cerebral artery) occlusion were evaluated in this study. This study was performed to investigate that Sosokmyung-tang would be useful for cerebrovascular diseases. In the case of global cerebral ischemia, ICR mice were used and divided into three group at random. Control group was treated after oral administration of normal saline, experimental group was treated after oral administration of 10.4mg/20g/day of Sosokmyung-tang extract. The multiple parameter of global cerebral ischemia included the duration of coma of KCN(potassium cyanide)-injected(1.2mg/kg, i.v) group and the survival time of KCN-injected(3.0mg/kg, i.v) group. In the case of cerebral infarction by MCA occlusion, Sprague-Dawley rats were used and divided into three group at random. Control group was given nothing before MCA occlusion, experimental group was given 157.2mg/250g/day of Sosokrnyung-tang extract before MCA occlusion. We investigated edema and ischemic ratio in 8 slices of rats' brain after MCA occlusion. The results were obtained as follows : 1. Sosokrnyung-tang significantly shortened the duration of coma of KCN-injected(1.2mg/kg,i.v) group and lengthened the survival time of KCN-injected(3.0mg/kg, i.v) group. 2. Sosokmyung-tang significantly decreased cerebral edema and ischemic ratio in rats after MCA occlusion. From the above results, it was concluded that Sosokmyung-tang can be effectively applied to cerebrovascular diseases.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2005

A trigger point injection (TPI) has been reported to have an immediate analgesic effect, and to be one of the most widely employed treatment methods of myofascial pain. There are normal saline, local anesthetics, and steroids as the solutions frequently used in TPI. They can be used separately or in combination. Local anaesthetics have myotoxicity in proportion to its concentration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microstructural changes in point of the myotoxic effects of the combined solution of lidocaine and dexamethasone (a local anesthetic and a steroid) after being injected into the muscle of BALB/c mice. And this study tested solutions with various concentration separately and in combination, to find out proper concentration of solution without muscular tissue damage. This study shows that lidocaine and dexamethasone combination is not histologically myotoxic in case of the concentration of lidocaine less than 1.5%. Also it is suggested from this study that this combined solution will have an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect. Hereafter continuous study should be performed to reveal that these results can be applied to human when lidocaine and dexamethasone combination is used as an injection modality of TrP treatment.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 1993

Panax ginseng has been extensively used in the traditional oriental medicine as a restorative, tonic and Prophylactic agent. Recently, several reports regarding to anticancer effects of Panax ginseng has accumulated. These studies emphasized the fact that the anticancer activities might be due to a glycoside group called ginsenoside or pan.u saponin which has a water soluble characteristic. However, the authors and collaborates demonstrated that a highly lipid soluble component in extract of Panax ginseng roots contains a considerable cytotoxic activities against marine leukemic cells (L1210, P388) and human censer cells (HRT-18, HT-29, HCT48). This study was devised to observe the cytotoxic activities of Petroleum-ether extract of Panax giuseng roots (crude GBD and its Partially Purified fraction from silicic acid column chromatography (7 : 3 GX) against sarcoma-180 (5-180) and Walker carcinosar- coma 256 (Walker 256) in vivo, and murine leukemic Lymphocytes (L1210) and human rectal cancer cells (HRT-18) and human colon cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT48) in vitro. Each cell-line was cultured in medium containing serial concentration of the crude GX or 7 : 3 GX in vitro. A highly lipid soluble compound in the extract of Panax ginseng root was cytocidal to murine leukemic cells and human colon and rectal cancer cells in vitro. In the meantime, ginseng saponin derivatives did not have cytotoxic effects at its corresponding concentration. The growth rates of the cancer cells in medium containing ginseng extracts were inhibited gradually to a significant degree roughly in proportion to the increase of the extract concentration. The cytotoxic activity of 7 : 3 GX was about 3 times more potent than that of crude GX, one unit of cytotoxic activity against L1210 cells being equivalent to 2.54 Ug and 058 Ug for the crude GX and 7 : 3 GX, respectively. The Ri value of the active compound on silica- gel thin layer chromatography with petroleum-ether/ethyl ether/acetic acid mixture (90 : 10 : 1, v/v/v) as a developing so lvent was 053. While, the Panaxydol and Panaxynol as active compounds were purified from Petroleum-ether extract of Panax ginseng root by Drs. Ahn and Kim, and author found out that the one unit of cytotoxic activity of the Panaxydol and Panaxynol against L1210 cells being equivalent to 056 Ug and 0.3918 respectively. The survival times of mice inoculated with S-180 cells were extended about 1.5 to 2 times by the 7 : 3 GX treatment compared with their control group. The significantly decreased hemoglobin values of rats after inoculation with Walker 256 were recovered to normal range by oral administration of the crude Gt The synthetic levels of protein, DNA and RNA in human colon and rectal cancer cells were significantly diminished by treatment with the crude GX, which can explain a part of the origin of its anticancer activity.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.100-106
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate the genotoxicity of balanced nutritional formular for patients containing various ingredients after gamma irradiation at 4 kGy. Since viable bacteria were not observed within the detection limit of 1 log CFU/g, a dose of 4 kGy was appropriate for the pasteurization of the formular. In a bacterial reverse mutation assay, both hot water and methanol extracts of the formular exhibited dose-independent responses, which was similar to those obtained from that of the negative control (distilled water or dimethyl sulfoxide). In a chromosomal aberration test using lung fibroblast cells of Chinese hamster, the numbers of normal chromosomes were comparable to those observed in the negative control, regardless of the treatment dose and metabolic activation system. Furthermore, no significant increases in the frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes were observed relative to the control, when mice were fed with the formular at doses up to 2,000 mg/kg body weight. Therefore, the balanced nutritional formular for patients did not exhibit genotoxicity when pasteurization by gamma irradiation at 4 kGy.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.633-639
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• 2012

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of ethanolic extract from the fruit of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum (EN) on $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity. Orally provided daily for 7 days were 250-mg/kg or 500-mg/kg EN or vehicle, while $CCl_4$ (40 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected the day after the last treatment of EN. Twenty-four hours after injection of $CCl_4$, we measured serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activity of the liver. The antioxidant activities were measured with the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. The EN showed a strong DPPH radical scavenging activity and inhibitory effect of lipid peroxidation. The ALT and AST levels in serum were greatly enhanced by the $CCl_4$ injection. However, in the EN treatment group, the levels of ALT and AST in serum were significantly reduced. Moreover, $CCl_4$ significantly increased the MDA contents and decreased the SOD and CAT activity in liver homogenates. The EN recovered MDA contents, close to that in the normal group, while the EN increased the SOD and CAT activity. These results suggest that ethanolic extract from the fruit of Empetrum nigrum var. japonicum has significant antioxidant activity and hepatic protection potential.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.391-397
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• 1998

The toxicity evaluation of oriental herbal drugs is of great concern at present. Bojungchisup-tang (BCST, in Korean), a decocted medicine of oriental herbal mixture, is now well used in clinic at oriental hospitals for the treatment of edema of several diseases in practice. However, the toxicity of the oriental herbal decocted medicines such as genetic toxicity is not well defined until now. In this respect, to clarify the genetic toxicity of BCST, in vitro chromosome aberration assay with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblasts and in vivo supravital micronucleus assay with mouse peripheral reticulocytes were performed in this study. In the chromosome aberration assay, we used 5,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml BCST as maximum concentration because no remarkable cytotoxicity in CHL cells was observed both in the presence and absence of S-9 metabolic activation system. No statistical significant differences of chromosome aberrations were observed in CHL cells treated with 5,000, 2,500 and 1,250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml BCST for 6 hour both in the presence and absence of S-9 metabolic activation. However, very weak positive result (6.5-8.0% aberration) of BCST was obtained in the absence of S-9 metabolic activation system at 5,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml BCST when treated for 24 hour, i.e. 1.5 normal cell cycle time. And also, in vivo clastogenicity of BCST was studied by acridine orange-supravital staining micronucleus assay using mouse peripheral reticulocytes. We used 2,000 mg/kg as the highest oral dose in this micronucleus assay because no acute oral toxicity of BCST was observed in mice. The optimum induction time of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETS) was determined as 36 hours after oral administration of 2,000 mg/kg BCST. No significant differences of MNRETs between control and BCST treatment groups were observed in vivo micronucieus assay. From these results, BCST revealed very weak positive result in chromosome aberration assay in vitro with CHL cells and no clastogenicity in micronucieus assay in vivo.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.742-752
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• 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons, particularly in the substantia nigra (SN). Although circadian dysfunction has been suggested as one of the pathophysiological risk factors for PD, the exact molecular link between the circadian clock and PD remains largely unclear. We have recently demonstrated that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$, a circadian nuclear receptor, serves as a key molecular link between the circadian and DAergic systems. It competitively cooperates with NURR1, another nuclear receptor required for the optimal development and function of DA neurons, to control DAergic gene transcription. Considering our previous findings, we hypothesize that $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ may have a role in the onset and/or progression of PD. In the present study, we therefore aimed to elucidate whether genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ affects PD-related phenotypes in a mouse model of PD produced by a unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the dorsal striatum. $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ deficiency significantly exacerbated 6-OHDA-induced motor deficits as well as DAergic neuronal loss in the vertebral midbrain including the SN and the ventral tegmental area. The exacerbated DAergic degeneration likely involves neuroinflammation-mediated neurotoxicity. The $REV-erb{\alpha}$ knockout mice showed prolonged microglial activation in the SN along with the over-production of interleukin $1{\beta}$, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, in response to 6-OHDA. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates for the first time that genetic abrogation of $REV-ERB{\alpha}$ can increase vulnerability of DAergic neurons to neurotoxic insults, such as 6-OHDA, thereby implying that its normal function may be beneficial for maintaining DAergic neuron populations during PD progression.