• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.131-141
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• 2010

Objective : Benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH) is one of the most common diseased among elderly men. BPH can be treated with alpha-1 adrenergic blocker or $5{\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor(Finasteride) that reduces serum dihydrotestosterone(DHT). Phellodendri Cortex Ex has been broad studied on its chemical components, pharmacological activity, and clinical effects on anti-inflammation, anti-allergy, anti-tumor, immunity, antibacteria and other bioactivities. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Phellodendri Cortex Ex with a BPH induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is similar to human benign prostatic hyperplasia in histopathological profiles. Phellodendri Cortex as an experimental specimen, and Finasteride as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological changes, and the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Phellodendri Cortex Ex showed a diminished range of the tissue damage. In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes, Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the expression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase genes. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the suppression of $5{\alpha}$-reductase. From these results, we suggest that Phellodendri Cortex Ex could be a useful agent for treating the benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.65-81
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• 2016

Objectives : Haedoksamul-tang (HSTE), a water extract from a mixture of Phellodendri Cortex, Coptidis, Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Angelica acutiloba Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix, has been traditionally used for allergic skin diseases such as atopic dermatitis and contact dermatitis in oriental countries. However, little is known about the effects of aqueous extract of HSTE on trimellitic anhydride (TMA)-induced contact hypersensitivity (CHS) in a mouse model. Methods : In this study, we investigate the pharmacological effects of HSTE on TMA-induced CHS in Balb/c mice. Contact hypersensitivity was induced in mice by topically sensitizing and challenging with TMA in flank skin and ears during oral administration (for 17 days) and topical treatment (30 min before challenge) with HSTE. We examined the effects of HSTE on IgE and IgG1 levels, inflammatory parameters in ear tissues, CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, cytokine and chemokine production in sera, tissues, and immune cells from TMA-sensitized mice.Results : Oral and topical administration with HSTE reduced, in a dose dependent manner, thickness and leukocyte infiltration of ear tissues and IgE levels in serum from mice sensitized with TMA. In addition, auricula lymph node cells isolated from TMA-sensitized mice significantly elevated the expression ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ as well as increased the production of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ by ex vivo stimulation with antibodies against CD3 and CD28, and these inflammatory indexes, except for IFN-γ, were significantly suppressed by orally and topically administration of HSTE. Furthermore, stimulation of auricula lymph node cells from TMA-sensitized mice with antibodies against CD3 and CD28 increased the production of MCP-1/CCL2 and MIP-1α/CCL3, and these effects were inhibited in a dose-dependent manner in cells from mice treated with HSTE. Conclusions : These results suggest that HSTE can be used for treating contact hypersensitivity by inhibiting leukocyte infiltration as well as production of serum IgE and chemokine/Th2 cytokine in an animal model.