• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권2호
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• pp.667-671
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• 2016

Oridonin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid compound isolated from the traditional Chinese herb Rabdosia rubescens, has shown various pharmacological and physiological effects such as anti-tumor, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the effect of oridonin on human ovarian cancer cell lines has not been determined. In this study, we demonstrated that oridonin inhibited ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we showed oridonin inhibited tumor growth of ovarian cancer cells (SKOV3) in vivo. We then assessed mechanisms and found that oridonin specifically abrogated the phosphorylation/activation of mTOR signaling. In summary, our results indicate that oridonin is a potential inhibitor of ovarian cancer by blocking the mTOR signaling pathway.

• 수면정신생리
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.3-8
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• 1994

With the recent development of sleep medicine, insomnia has been perceived as a disease from a simple symptom. As there are various causes in a disease, proper treatment according to each cause is necessary for a more effective treatment In general, insomnia is classified into five categrories of physical, physiological, psychological, psychiatric and pharmacological aspects. However, such categorizations are often insufficient in treating insomnia. Furthermore understanding of the developmental mechanisms of insomnia is required. The function of sleep is developed and maintained through the balance of the reciprocal forces of sleep and arousal. These forces are contantly regulated by what is called a circadian rhythm. Sleep is induced by this rhythm which is affected by factors such as awakening time in the morning, amount of intellectual function, amount and time length of physical exercise and sunlight Insomnia could develop when this rhythm is delayed and leads to a "forbidden zone" which is a very difficult period for inducing sleep about two to four hours before the routine bedtime. Whereas sleep gradually develops in line with the circardian rhythm, arousal can occur very abruptly by any cause triggered by emotional discomfort or anxiety. Such characteristic and emotional factors as perfectionism, separation anxiety, secondary gain, insecurity, and negative cognition may provoke the inner anxiety and fear for insomnia, which can lead acute insomnia to a chronic one. As chronic insomnia is developed by multiple causes and factors, integrated approaches through analysis of above mentioned factors will be more effective in the treatment of insomnia than a simple administration of hypnotics.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.57-63
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• 2008

Glehnia littoralis (Umbelliferae) is the medicinal plant used traditionally for treatment of immune-related diseases. Prostaglandins and nitric oxide (NO) have been implicated as important mediators in the processes of inflammation and carcinogenesis. For understanding the mechanisms for pharmacological activities of Glehnia littoralis, we evaluated the inhibitory activity of Glehnia littoralis on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and NO production in mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells. The results showed that the extract of Glehnia littoralis inhibited LPS- induced $PGE_2$ production effectively, but not NO. Additional study revealed that the extract of Glehnia littoralis suppressed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in a dose-dependent manner. Present study suggests that Glehnia littoralis may have anti-inflammatory and/or cancer chemopreventive activity through the inhibition of $PGE_2$ production by the suppression of COX-2 activity.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.14-25
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• 2004

The current understanding of the mechanisms of pharmacotherapy for depression is characterized by an emphasis on increasing synaptic availability of serotonin, noradrenaline, and possibly dopamine, while minimizing side effects. The acute effects of current available effective antidepressants include blocking selective serotonin or noradrenaline reuptake, alpha2 autoreceptors or monoamine oxidase. Although efficacious, current treatments often produce partial or limited symptomatic improvement rather than remission. While current pharmacotherapies target monoaminergic systems, distinct neurobiological underpinnings and other systems are likely involved in the pathogenesis of depression. Recently, several promising hypotheses of depression and antidepressant action have been formulated. These hypotheses are largely based on dsyregulation of neural plasticity, CREB, BDNF, corticotropin-releasing factor, glucocorticoid, hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis and cytokines. Based on these new theories and hypotheses of depression, a number of new and novel agents, including corticotropin-releasing factor antagonists, antiglucocorticoids, and substance P antagonists show a considerable promise for refining treatment options for depression. In this article, the current available pharmacotherapies, current understanding of neurobiology and pathogenesis of depression and new and promising directions in pharmacological research on depression will be discussed.

• 생물정신의학
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.59-69
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• 2006

Bidirectional relationships exist between cancer and depression; the prevalence of depression in cancer patients is higher than in the general population, and depression predicts cancer progression and mortality. The mechanisms through which depression contributes to the progression of cancer are related with dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and impairment of immune function. However, depression in cancer patients tends to be underdiagnosed and not appropriately treated. The methods of diagnosis and assessment of depression in cancer patents have been debated because physical symptoms of depression mimic both cancer symptoms per se and the side effects of cancer treatment. Many studies have shown that various psychosocial and/or pharmacological interventions are effective at improving de-pressive symptoms and quality of life in cancer patients. Furthermore, antidepressant treatments are effective for various physical symptoms related to cancer, such as fatigue, anorexia, pain, hot flashes, and itching. This article reviews and discusses current knowledge about depression in cancer patients.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.192-200
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• 2020

Natural products have received revived interest via traditional remedies or alternative medicine used for the treatment of various diseases. Zanthoxylum piperitum (ZP) has been utilized in traditional medicine for various medicinal purposes. The present study was conducted to evaluate whether ZP modulates allergic inflammation both in vivo and in vitro. We examined the pharmacological effects of ZP on 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms in mice. Additionally, in order to clarify the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of ZP, we elucidate the effect of ZP on the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-stimulated human mast cells (HMC-1). The results demonstrated that ZP attenuated AD clinical symptoms such as erythema, edema and dryness as well as histamine and IgE serum levels in DNCB-induced AD model mice. Additionally, ZP suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines and activation of NF-κB in AD-like skin lesions and stimulated HMC-1. These results provide experimental evidence that ZP may be useful candidate for treating allergic inflammation including AD.

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권7호
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• pp.370-375
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• 2016

Ras oncoproteins are small molecular weight GTPases known for their involvement in oncogenesis, which operate in a complex signaling network with multiple effectors. Approximately 25% of human tumors possess mutations in a member of this family. The Raf1/MEK/Erk1/2 pathway is one of the most intensively studied signaling mechanisms. Different levels of regulation account for the inactivation of MAP kinases by MAPK phosphatases in a cell type- and stimuli-dependent manner. In the present study, using three inducible Ras-expressing NIH/3T3 cell lines, we demonstrated that MKP3 upregulation requires the activation of the Erk1/2 pathway, which correlates with the shutdown of this pathway. We also demonstrated, by applying pharmacological inhibitors and effector mutants of Ras, that induction of MKP3 at the protein level is positively regulated by the oncogenic Ras/Raf/MEK/Erk1/2 signaling pathway.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.85-91
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• 1976

A chronical intake of Substantial amount of alcohol would disrupt anormal function of liver if not develop liver diseases in relatively short period. In order to out whether ginseng or ginseng plus high protein diet have any protective effects on the liver of chronical alcoholist from developing malfunction enzymatic activities of both glutamic-pyruvic and glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminases were measured on serum of rats maintained with basal low protein diet, basal diet plus 1 percent ginseng and high protein (40%) plus 1 percent ginseng and administered intraperitoneally with a Constant amount of ethanol either periodically or chronically. It was found that, unlike human subject GOT content was exceedingly high and significant difference was found either among treatment or among sexes thus indicating that either ginseng intake or high protein diet plus ginseng has a protective effect on the liver function of ethanol treated rats. From these results, it was suggested that the dietary ginseng might, have a protective effect on the alcohol hepatic disturbance. As one of probable mechanisms for the characteristic pharmacological activity, it was considered that a secondary action of the saponin of the dietary ginseng would result in the anti-inflammatory through the stimulation of de nove synthesis of certain functional proteins in hepatic organs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권5호
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• pp.1977-1981
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• 2012

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a native herb found in Southeast Asia which features various pharmacological activities against allergy, inflammation, viral and bacterial infection, and cancer. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic effect of 6 fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of alcoholic HCT extract on human leukemic Molt-4 cells and demonstrate mechanisms of cell death. Six HCT fractions were cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic Molt-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay, fraction 4 exerting the greatest effects. Treatment with $IC_{50}$ of HCT fraction 4 significantly induced Molt-4 apoptosis detected by annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide for externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of cell membrane. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced in HCT fraction 4-treated Molt-4 cells. Moreover, decreased expression of Bcl-xl and increased levels of Smac/Diablo, Bax and GRP78 proteins were noted on immunoblotting. In conclusion, HCT fraction 4 induces Molt-4 apoptosis cell through an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.243-254
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• 2020

Objectives : Network pharmacology analysis is commonly used to investigate the synergies and potential mechanisms of multiple compounds by analyzing complex, multi-layered networks. We used TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM databases to compare results of network pharmacological analysis between White Ginseng(WG) and Red Ginseng(RG). Methods : WG and RG were compared with components and their target molecules using TCMSP database, and compound-target-pathway/disease networks were compared using BATMAN-TCM database. Results : Through TCMSP, 104 kinds of target molecules were derived from WG and 38 kinds were derived from RG. Using the BATMAN-TCM database, target pathways and diseases were screened, and more target pathways and diseases were screened compared to RG due to the high composition of WG ingredients. Analysis of component-target-pathway/disease network using network analysis tools provided by BATMAN-TCM showed that WG formed more networks than RG. Conclusions : Network pharmacology analysis can be effectively performed using various databases used in system biology research, and although the materials that have been reported in the past can be used efficiently for research on diseases related to targets, the results are unreliable if prior studies are focused on limited or narrow research areas.