• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.548-556
• /
• 2006

This study was to evaluate the effect of Samjayangchin-tang (STYCT) on mouse Th1 and Th2 cells' differentiation and ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic inflammation. The proliferation of mouse CD4 T cells and the secretion of Th1/Th2 cytokines under the influence of STYCT extract were measured as well as the amount of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells and the levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 secretion in Raw264.7 cells. BALB/c mice were orally administered with STYCT extract and simultaneously inoculated with OVA to induce allergic reaction and measure the level of total IgE, OVA-specific IgE and the production of IFN- g, IL-4, IL-5 by the spleen cells. When mouse CD4 T cell were stimulated with anti-CO3 and anti-CD28 for 48 hours in various concentrations of STYCT extract, it decreased proliferation of CD4 cells. CD4 T cells under Th1/Th2 polarizing conditions for 3 days with STYCT resulted in mild decrease of IFN- g in Th1 cells and significant decrease of IL-4 in Th2 cells. STYCT extract had a dose-dependent inhibitory effect on antigen-induced release of ${\beta}-hexosaminidase$ in RBL-2H3 cells. Treatment of STYCT extract on LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells showed dose-dependent decrease in IL-6 production. Oral administration of STYCT extract on OVA-induced allergic mice showed an inhibitory effect on the levels of total serum IgE and OVA-specific IgE by 53% and 44%, respectively. Culture of spleen cells with OVA resulted in significant increase of IFN- g by 54% and significant decrease of IL-4 and IL-5 by 42%, and 29%, respectively. The results show that STYCT does not strongly induce mouse T cells to transform into Th1 or Th2 but it has an anti-allergic effect in vitro, and that it also corrects the unbalance between the reactions of Th cells in allergic diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.1134-1141
• /
• 2010

The standardized education for medical college students not only provides the opportunity to get the exclusive knowledge as a professional but also is the basis of strong professional authority. Korean Oriental medicine has pursued to standardize the education system and curricula away from the traditional education system since the modernization started. And this standardization has worked as the basis of the status advancement of Korean Oriental medicine. Through the standardization of education system and curricula, Korean Oriental medicine has been professionalized and its social status has been heightened, stabilizing itself within the establishment of institution. After this, Korean Oriental medicine has kept pursuing standardization and professionalization in the educational area. It has achieved the professionalization of curricula reflecting the specificity of Korean Oriental medicine, following the model of western medical education. This paper investigated the attitude of Korean Oriental medical doctors toward the current Korean Oriental medical education. In the survey conducted in this study, how the Korean Oriental doctors view the education of Korean Oriental college in the areas such as 'standardization', 'specificity', 'Korean Oriental medical philosophy', 'responsibility', and 'professional ethics'. And the relationship between the demographic variables of Korean Oriental medical doctors and the educational contents which should be emphasized in Korean Oriental medical school has been examined. The subjects of this study were Korean Oriental medical doctors who work as professionals after graduation of Koran Oriental Medical School and, thus, this is a meaningful study in that the contents of education which the Korean Oriental medical doctors think are needed in practice are discussed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.1034-1041
• /
• 2010

The oriental medicine Jangwonhwan, which is a boiled extract of 12 medicinal herbs/mushroom, has been prescribed for patients with cognitive dysfunction and it is originally from the Korean medical text, DonguiBogam(amnesia chapter). Recently, a modified recipe of Jangwonhwan (LMK02-Jangwonhwan) consisting of seven medicinal plants/mushroom, was shown to reduce ${\beta}$-amyloid deposition in the brain of Tg-APPswe/PS1dE9 mouse model of Alzheimer disease. The toxicity of LMK02 was investigated in SD rats by oral repeated adminstration for 4 weeks and we tried to determine test does for 13 weeks repeated study. Quality control of tablet form of LMK02 was established by estimating indicative components, Ginsenoside Rg3 of Red Ginseng and Decursin of Angelicagigas Nakai. The toxicity of LMK02 was investigated in 6 weeks old specific pathogen free (SPF) Sprageu-Dawley rats by oral administration. Each test group were consist of 5 male and 5 female and they received doses of 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day of test substance for 4 weeks. The clinical signs, death rate, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmic examination, urinalysis, hematological and serum biochemistry, organ weight and pathological changes were examined and compared with those of control group. Urinalysis : We observed increase of PRO(p<0.01), SG(p<0.01) in female rats of 1,000 mg/kg/day and 2,000 mg/kg/day(p<0.01). Also, we observed increase of pH and KET in female rats of 1,000 mg/kg/day(p<0.05) and of 2,000 mg/kg/day(p<0.01). WBC in female rats in 1,000 mg/kg/day and 2,000 mg/kg/day were on increase. Hematological test : We observed increase of MCV in male rats of 250 mg/kg/day. (p<0.05) Serum biochemistry test : We found increase of CHO in female rats of 2,000 mg/kg/day(p<0.05). During the experimental period, there were no animals dead or moribund. There were no treatment related changes of general symptom, food and water consumption, organ weight and autopsy According to the results of 4-week repeated dose range finding study, the highest dose was established as 1000 mg/kg for 13-week repeated dose toxicity study and we determined to put 2 more groups by common ratio two.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.272-277
• /
• 2010

This experimental study was performed to investigate the antitumor effect of Egg white combined-Chalcanthite (InSan 4, IS4) in xenografted nude mice with NCI-H460 human lung cancer cell. We cultured NCI-H460 cell lines and xenografted them on nude mice. These mice were divided into 3 groups; group with dose of 45 mg/kg IS4 orally, group with dose of 90 mg/kg IS4 orally, and the control group. They had been raised and treated for 28 days. We checked their body weight, tumor weight and volume twice a week, and their absolute organ weight, microhistological observation and biochemical blood analysis at the final day by sacrificing them. We also calculated their tumor inhibition rate (IR), mean survival time and percent increase in life span (% ILS). In this study, we observed that all of the IS4 treated mice have tumor regression, dosage-dependently, compared to the control group. Tumor weight and volume of high dose treated mice were smallest. IR increased in IS4 in a dose-dependent manner. Mean survival time and percent increase in life span (% ILS) in high-dose IS4 treatment group were the highest of the three groups. There was no significant difference in biochemical blood analysis, alanine phopsphatase (ALP), Calcium, creatinine (CRE), alanine transferase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels. The urea nitrogen (UN) level results significantly decreased by IS4 45 and 90 mg/kg (IS4 45 mg/kg, IS4 90 mg/kg, p<0.01). IS4 may have potential anti-tumor effect in a solid tumor induced by NCI-H460 without remarkable side effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.983-988
• /
• 2010

The present study aims to investigate a possible mechanism of electroacupuncture (EA) in the spinal dorsal horn that may underlie N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor-associated extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. The hot plate latency of the ipsilateral hindpaw of EA-treated rats was significantly decreased compared with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-injected ones. The expressions of NR1 and NR2B subuint mRNA of NMDA receptor in the whole L4-5 segments are decreased by CFA treatment, but NR2B subunit was significantly recovered by EA treatment. When we detected the expression of ERK, there were no significant difference between normal and CFA-treated rats with EA or NMDA receptor antagonist MK801. But phosphorylated ERK expressions were markedly induced by CFA, but these inductions were significantly modulated by EA treatment. Although hosphorylation of ERK was also arrested by MK801, these inductions of CFA-injected rats was markedly inhibited only by co-treatment with EA and MK801. Phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), ERK-related transcriptional factor, showed a significant increase in CFA-treated rats and this increase was slightly inhibited by EA and MK801 treatments. But immunoreaction for phosphorylated CREB were significantly increased by CFA treatment in the superficial laminae of the dorsal horn and these inductions were significantly arrested by co-treatment of EA and MK801. Consequently, the hyperalgesia induced by CFA are associated NMDA receptor and EA and MK801 may showed anti-hyperalgesia via same mechanism for inhibition of ERK and CREB phosphorylation in the dorsal horn.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.357-364
• /
• 2008

Mylabris is the dried body of the chinese blister beetle. The species used in medicine are Mylabris phalerata and M. cichorii. In recent studies, it has been found that Mylabris possesses antitumor properties, increases the number of leukocytes, and has irritant effects on the urinary organs. The crude extracts of Mylabris have been noted for their highly irritant action and other traditional uses of Mylabris include treatment of poor local blood circulation. The active constituent of Mylabris is cantharidin. The chemical is notable for its vesicant properties, but with severe side effects such as nephrotoxicity. This experiment examined the effect of extracts and fractions, obtained from Mylabris phalerata Pall. on hair growth activity of the C57BL/6N mice after topical application to skin. First, we examined the effect of an extracts, obtained from the alcohol extracts of dried Mylabris phalerata Pall. on hair growth activity of the C57BL/6N mice after topical application to skin. Second, we examined on hair growth activity of the cantharidin fraction of Mylabris phalerata Pall. compared to the control and 1% minoxidil groups. Third, we investigated the number of hair follicle and mast cells after topical application of extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall. to skin for 16 days. The results were as follows: Hair growth effect from the extracts of Mylabris phalerata Pall.(0.312%) was observed in 80% of mice whose hair had been removed in 13 days. Hair growth effect from the extract of Mylabris phalerata Pall.(0.312 and 0.625%) and 1% minoxidil group was observed in 100% of mice whose hair had been clipped in 20 days. Hair growth effect from the cantharidin fraction(0.5%) and water fraction(0.5%) of Mylabris phalerata Pall. was observed in 100% of mice whose hair had been clipped in 24 days. The hair growth effect on the cantharidin fraction(0.125%) was observed to be strong compared with the minoxidil(3%) group, commercial hair growth agents, in mice whose hair had been clipped in 19 days. In the spontaneous alopecia mice model, the hair growth effect from the cantharidin fraction (0.125%) was observed to be strong as compared with the states before the 13 days experiment. These experiments suggest that extracts and fractions of Mylabris phalerata Pall. may stimulate the topical hair growth activity in low doses.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.12-24
• /
• 2010

Plant metabolomics is a research field for identifying all of the metabolites found in a certain plant cell, tissue, organ, or whole plant in a given time and conditions and for studying changes in metabolic profiling as time goes or conditions change. Metabolomics is one of the most recently developed omics for holistic approach to biology and is a kind of systems biology. Metabolomics or metabolite fingerprinting techniques usually involves collecting spectra of crude solvent extracts without purification and separation of pure compounds or not in standardized conditions. Therefore, that requires a high degree of reproducibility, which can be achieved by using a standardized method for sample preparation and data acquisition and analysis. In plant biology, metabolomics is applied for various research fields including rapid discrimination between plant species, cultivar and GM plants, metabolic evaluation of commercial food stocks and medicinal herbs, understanding various physiological, stress responses, and determination of gene functions. Recently, plant metabolomics is applied for characterization of gene function often in combination with transcriptomics by analyzing tagged mutants of the model plants of Arabidopsis and rice. The use of plant metabolomics combined by transcriptomics in functional genomics will be the challenge for the coming year. This review paper attempted to introduce current status and prospects of plant metabolomics research.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
• /
• v.34 no.6
• /
• pp.912-923
• /
• 2016

Watermelon production is often limited by powdery mildew in areas with a large daily temperature range. Development of resistant watermelon cultivars can protect against powdery mildew; however, little is known about the characteristics of its causal agents. Here, we identified the genus and race of a causal pathogen of powdery mildew in Ansung province of South Korea, and developed molecular markers for the generation of resistant watermelon cultivars. The causal pathogen was determined to be Podosphaera xanthii based on multiple sequence alignments of internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of rDNA. The physiological race was identified as 1W, and the Ansung isolate was named P. xanthii 1W-AN. Following inoculation with the identified P. xanthii 1W-AN, we found inheritance of the resistant gene fitting a single dominant Mendelian model in a segregated population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI 254744). To develop molecular markers linked to fungus-resistant loci, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was accomplished between DNA pooled from eight near-isogenic lines (NILs; $BC_4F_6$), originated from PI 254744 and susceptible 'SBB' watermelon. After sequencing bands from RAPD were identified in all eight NILs and PI254744, 42 sequence-characterized amplifiedregion (SCAR) markers were developed. Overall, 107 $F_2$ plants derived from $BC_4F_6$ NIL-1 ${\times}$ 'SBB' were tested, and one SCAR marker was selected. Sequence comparison between the SCAR marker and the reference watermelon genome identified three Nco I restriction enzyme sites harboring a single nucleotide polymorphism, and codominant cleavage-amplified polymorphic site markers were subsequently developed. A CAPS marker was converted to a high-resolution melt (HRM) marker, which can discriminate C/T SNP (254PMR-HRM3). The 254PMR-HRM3 marker was evaluated in 138 $F_{2:3}$ plants of a segregating population ('SBA' ${\times}$ PI254744) and was presumed to be 4.3 cM from the resistance locus. These results could ensure P. xanthii 1W-AN resistance in watermelon germplasm and aid watermelon cultivar development in marker-assist breeding programs.

• Investigative Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.73-82
• /
• 1998

Purpose : A precise NMR technique for measuring the rate of water exchange and cell membrane permeability across the hepatocyte membrane using liver-specific MR contrast agent is described. Materials and Methods : The rat hepatocytes isolated by perfusion of the livers were used for the NMR measurements. All experiments were performed on an IBM field cycling relaxometer operating from 0.02MHz to 60 MHz proton Larmor frequency. spin-echo pulse sequence was empolyed to measure spin-lattice relaxation time, T1. The continuous distribution analysis of water proton T1 data from rat hepatocytes containing low concentrations of the liver specific contrast agent, Gd-EOB-DTPA, modeled by a general two compartment exchange model. Results : The mean residence time of water molecule inside the hepatocyte was approximately 250 msec. The lower limit for the permeability of the hepatocyte membrane was $(1.3{\pm}0.1){\;}{\times}{\;}10^{-3}cm/sec$. The CONTIN analysis, which seeks the natural distribution of relaxation times, reveals direct evidence of the effect of diffusive exchange. the diffusive water exchange is not small in the intracellular space in the case of hepatocytes. Conclusions : Gd-EOB-DTPA, when combined with continuous distribution analysis, provides a robust method to study water exchange and membrane permeability in hepatocytes. Water exchange in hepatocyte is much slower thatn that in red blood cells. Therefore, tissue-specific contrast agent may be used as a functional agent to give physiological information such as cell membrane permeability.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.239-245
• /
• 2017

Aging is a physiological and irreversible, progressive process involving changes in the ability to maintain cellular functionality. It affects tissues, organs and the whole organism and thus finally cause to death. Oxidative stress has been postulated to contribute significantly to the accelerated accumulation of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in collagen, which is implicated in the process of skin aging. In the present study, glycation inhibitory activity of methoxy PEG-45 thioctate (LA-PEG), and its inhibitory effect of cellular oxidation and senescence was investigated. Treatment of LA-PEG significantly showed lower fluorescent intensity induced by AGEs. In addition, LA-PEG was significantly reduced the formation of ROS induced by AGEs. High antioxidant and anti-glycation activities of LA-PEG in glycated collagen model indicated its contribution to anti-aging process. Cellular senescence leads to an increase in senescence-associated ${\beta}$-galactosidase ($SA-{\beta}-gal$) activity, which can be used as a biomarker to identify senescent cells. Treatment with LA-PEG showed a dose-dependent, statistically significant decreased in $SA-{\beta}-gal$ indicating reduced senescence. These results suggest that LA-PEG may have potent anti-aging effects and can be used as new functional materials against cellular accumulation of AGEs.