• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.11 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 1977

Diospyros Kaki Thunberg is the species of persimmon tree that grows in Korea. Although its fresh or dried fruits are often served as a desert, it has little been known if persimmon tree has any specific pharmacological action. The leaves and branches of persimmon tree has long been used as folk remedies for palsy and frostbite in the southern part of Korea and it is also in use for the treatment of hiccup and nocturnal enuresis in chinese herbal medicine. Recently it was reported that an intravenous administration of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg ethanol extract (KTEE) into the animals lowered arterial blood pressure. Lee concluded from his study on the mechanism of depressor action of KTEE that at least a part of depressor response he observed was caused by acetylcholine-like action of KTEE. On the other hand little study has been made on the effect of KTEE on the motility of isolated animal intestines. Therefore the present study was undertaken to investigate effect of KTEE and the mechanism of its action on the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum. Ethanol extract of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg was prepared by boiling 1 kg of dried branches of persimmon tree in 1 liter of ethanol and the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum was recorded on physiograph by means of force transducer connected with Magnus apparatus. Doses of KTEE used were $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml,\;and\;2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$. And the isolated duodenum was separately pretreated with acetylcholine $(5{\times}10^{-7}gm/ml)$, pilocarpine $(2.5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$, histamine $(5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$ and barium chloride $(2.5{\times}10^{-5}gm/ml)$ in order to find out interactions of these drugs with KTEE. The results obtained are as follows: 1. At doses of $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ KTEE reduced contractions of isolated duodenum, while tonus as well as contaction of duodenum were depressed with $2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ of KTEE. 2. Since the inhibitory effect of KTEE on the intestinal motility was not blocked by pretreatment with acetylcholine, pilocarpine, and barium chloride, it was strongly suggested that the inhibitory action of KTEE on intestinal motility is mainly Caused by its antihistamine effect. 3. It is also concluded that the principal substance of KTEE responsible for inhibition of intestinal motility may also have a vasodilating activity and would not be an acetylcholine-like substance in case it is same substance as that cause depressor responses.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.45 no.11
• /
• pp.635-640
• /
• 2012

To understand the effects of HCN as potential mediators in the pathogenesis of epilepsy that evoke long-term impaired excitability; the present study was designed to elucidate whether the alterations of HCN expression induced by status epilepticus (SE) is responsible for epileptogenesis. Although HCN1 immunoreactivity was observed in the hippocampus, its immunoreactivities were enhanced at 12 hrs following SE. Although, HCN1 immunoreactivities were reduced in all the hippocampi at 2 weeks, a re-increase in the expression at 2-3 months following SE was observed. In contrast to HCN1, HCN 4 expressions were un-changed, although HCN2 immunoreactive neurons exhibited some changes following SE. Taken together, our findings suggest that altered expressions of HCN1 following SE may be mainly involved in the imbalances of neurotransmissions to hippocampal circuits; thus, it is proposed that HCN1 may play an important role in the epileptogenic period as a compensatory response.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.101-110
• /
• 1976

1. In the rabbit and the dog, the blood pressure response to water extract and methanol extract obtained from Atractylodes rhizoma alb'a was investigated. 2. Water extract and methanol extract, when administered into the rabbit and the dog by the route of vein, produced fall of the blood pressure. 3. The depressor response of the rabbit to water extract and methanol extract was not affected by $Avicel{\circledR}$, propranolol and atropine. 4. The depressor response by water extract and methanol extract in the rabbit was not affected by guanethidine, but water extract and methanol extract produced elevation of blood pressure in this rabbit. 5. Pretreatment of rabbit with chlorisendamine or phenoxybenzamine weakened the depressor response to water extract and methanol extract, and the both extracts produced secondary elevation of blood pressure in this rabbit. 6. The pressor response of the chlorisondamine-treated rabbit to water extract and methanol extract was not affected by atropine. 7. Water extract decreased the pressor action of tyramine and depressor action of pilocarpine and isoproterenol, but did not affect the blood pressure response of nor einephrine, angiotensin and dimethylpehnyl piperazinium iodide(DMPP).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.459-470
• /
• 2006

Objectives: The aim of this experimental study is to investigate the effects of MYRISTICAE SEMEN, GRANATI PERICARPIUM and ALPINIAE KATSUMADAI SEMEN on the anticatharsis by using mice and Guinea pigs. Methods : We evaluated the effect of herbs on the extracted organs contraction, the barium sulfate transport, and the anticathartic action induced by acetylcholine chloride, barium chloride, histamine chloride, neostigmine, castor oil, pilocarpine in the ileums, large intestines, small intestines of animals. Results : In the extracted organs, all herbs showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on the constriction of extracted ileum. The transport of barium sulfate in the large and small intestine was increased in comparing with the control group. And every three herbs showed the anticathartic action. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that MYRISTICAE SEMEN, GRANATI PERICARPIUM and ALPINIAE KATSUMADAI SEMEN extracts have an advantageous effects on diarrhea induced by drugs and will contribute to the development of diarrhea treatment through further related studies.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.65-73
• /
• 1973

Zea mays Linne belonging to Graminae family has been ordinarily made use of foods and fodder. Maydis Stigma, the stigma of maize, has been discarded without any special application with the exception of being applied as diuretic in the sphere of Chinese medicine, moreover, the pharmacological research toward Maydis Stigma as a medical herb has not been regretfully undertaken at all. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to find out whether the water extract of Maydis Stigma might possess some pharmacological effect on the motility of the isolated rabbit uterus. The experiment was performed making the use of several agents related to the uterine motility such as acetylcholine, pilocarpine, epinephrine, atropine, barium chloride, quinine sulfate and oxytocin. The motility of the isolated rabbit uterus in Tyrode' solution was recorded with the electric kymograph according to Magnus method. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. The motility of the isolated pregnant and nonpregnant rabbit uterus represents the tendency of gradual contractility in proportion to the concentration of ZW $10^{-4}$, $5{\times}10^{-4}$ and $10^{-3}$. 2. The uterine contractile effect of ZW $10^{-3}$ probably seems to antagonize the effect of epinephrine $10^{-6}$. 3. ZW $10^{-3}$ does not seem to have the significance with barium chloride, quinine sulfate and oxytocin respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.47-53
• /
• 1973

Chinae Rhizoma is dried crude roots and rhizomes obtained from Smilax china Linne which belongs to Smilax Genus of Liliaceae Familia, and it has been in wife use as a folk remedy for a long time. But very little systemic studies on its pharmacological actions have been made until now. Furthermore, the effective components except saponin of Chinae Rhizoma have been not known yet. It came to the attention of the authors that Chinae Rhizoma are used as antidiarrhetics in Chinese herb medicine, therefore they attempted to observe the effects of Chinae Rhizoma Alcoholic Extracts (Chinae Rhizoma Ethanol Extract=CREE, Chinae Rhizoma Methanol Extract=CRME) from Smilax china Linne on motility of the isolated rabbit duodenum in this experiment. The results of the study were as follow: 1. The movement of the isolated rabbit duodenum was slowed down and its tonus was relaxed in proportion to the concentration of Chinae Rhizoma Alcoholic Extracts (CREE & CRME). 2. With a concentration of CREE $10^{-4}g/ml$, the contractile effects of acetylcholine $10^{-6}g/ml$, pilocarpine $10^{-5}g/ml$ and physostigmine $10^{-5}g/ml$ were remarkably blocked in the movement of isolated rabbit duodenum. 3. The concentration of the isolated rabbit duodenum induced by barium chloride $10^{-4}g/ml$ was significantly inhibited by CREE $10^{-4}g/ml$. 4. With the administrations of histamine $10^{-5}g/ml$, serotonin $10^{-6}g/ml$ and prostaglandin $A_2\;10^{-6}g/ml$ respectively, contractions were observed in the rabbit duodenum. But, treatment of CREE $10^{-4}g/ml$ inhibited markedly the tonus and motility of the duodenum pretreated with the above drugs. 5. The effects of CREE and CRME were very much alike in this experiment. From the above results, it is concluded that the mechanism of action of Chinae Rhizoma on motility of isolated rabbit duodenum was partially due to cholinergic blocking effect.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.15-25
• /
• 1972

Korean aconitum (Aconitum koreanum R. Raymond) as one of the botanical crude drugs which pertain to helleboraceae has been extensively applied in Chinese medicine during the past decades. It has been particularly used in immortal tonic among the folk remedies in China, however, its general uses comprehend diuresis, cardiotonic, analgesia, neuralgia, gout and, furthermore, even neoplastic effect. The components of aconitum have been acknowledged as aconitine, mesaconitine, hypaconitine, aconine and so on. The main ingredient, aconitine has the advantage of causing the atrial fibrillation, but, its pharmacological research has not been fully elucidated. Although there are many reports with regard to the pharmacological effects on the motility of several animal hearts, their conclusions have not been regretfully coincided yet. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to examine the relationship between the alcohol extract of Korean aconitum and the motility of the isolated clam heart, making the use of several drugs related to the heart such as serotonin, acetylcholine, pilocarpine, physostigmine, barium chloride, procaine and quinidine. The cardiac movement of the isolated clam (Meretrix lusoria) heart in the standard sea water solution was recorded with the electric kymograph according to the Magnus method. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. The motility of the isolated clam heart represents the tendency of gradual inhibition in proportion to the concentration of AK-A $10^{-4}$, $5{\times}10^{-4}$, and $10^{-3}$. 2. The cardiac inhibitory effect of AK-A $10^{-3}$ antagonizes the motility of the isolated clam heart pretreated with serotonin $10^{-6}$. 3. The cardiac inhibitory effect of AK-A $10^{-3}$ antagonizes the systolic state appealed by barium chloride $10^{-3}$. 4. The systolic state caused by quinidine $10^{-4}$ is not inhibited by AK-A $10^{-3}$.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.525-530
• /
• 2014

Transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) was originally found in sensory neurons. Recently, it has been reported that TRPV1 is expressed in salivary gland epithelial cells (SGEC). However, the physiological role of TRPV1 in salivary secretion remains to be elucidated. We found that TRPV1 is expressed in mouse and human submandibular glands (SMG) and HSG cells, originated from human submandibular gland ducts at both mRNA and protein levels. However, capsaicin (CAP), TRPV1 agonist, had little effect on intracellular free calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) in these cells, although carbachol consistently increased $[Ca^{2+}]_i$. Exposure of cells to high temperature (> $43^{\circ}C$) or acidic bath solution (pH5.4) did not increase $[Ca^{2+}]_i$, either. We further examined the role of TRPV1 in salivary secretion using TRPV1 knock-out mice. There was no significant difference in the pilocarpine (PILO)-induced salivary flow rate between wild-type and TRPV1 knock-out mice. Saliva flow rate also showed insignificant change in the mice treated with PILO plus CAP compared with that in mice treated with PILO alone. Taken together, our results suggest that although TRPV1 is expressed in SGEC, it appears not to play any direct roles in saliva secretion via transcellular pathway.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 1998

To clarify whether nizatidine, a $H_2$ receptor antagonist, has the cholinergic activity, the effects of nizatidine on the guinea pig ileum and on the acetylcholinesterase in human serum were studied. And, the mechanism of excitatory effect of nizatidine on the cholinergic system in ileum was also studied. Nizatidine caused a concentration-dependent contractile response by the guinea pig ileum. The $EC_{50}\;was\;53\;{\mu}M$ and the maximum response was at $300\;{\mu}M$. Ranitidine also caused a contractile response by the guinea pig ileum, but cimetidine and famotidine did not. The pretreatment with $H_1$ receptor antagonist did not affect the actions of nizatidine on the guinea pig ileum, but the pretreatment with atropine completely blocked them. Nizatidine significantly enhanced the acetylcholine-induced response of the guinea pig ileum, but not the pilocarpine-induced response. Nizatidine did not affect the histamine-induced response of the guinea pig ileum. Nizatidine still exerted the small excitatory effect on the guinea pig ileum pretreated with the high concentration of physostigmine. Nizatidine significantly inhibited the acetylcholinesterase in human serum. These results suggest that nizatidine exerts an excitatory effect on guinea pig ileum which seems to be associated with the cholinergic system, probably through an indirect mechanism, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and/or increased release of acetylcholine.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.61-66
• /
• 1981

In 1944 Cavallito and Bailey first extracted an essential oil, a powerful antibacterial principle, from the garlic and named it allicin. Later Stoll and Seeback elucidated that allicin was produced from alliin by the enzymatic action of arinase. Damaru observed the depressor responses following intraperitoneal administration of garlic juice in cats. And Thiersch presented evidence that garlic had a protective action against experimental arterosclerosis in cholesterol-fed animals. On the other hand it was also reported that anemias were caused by long-term ingestion of garlic as a result of reduction in hemoglobin and RBC. From the experiment in which the effect of garlic on the blood sugar level was studied, Lee insisted garlic elevated blood sugar level. However, August and Jain claimed that hypoglycemia was induced by garlic administration. Recently Bordia and Bansal suggested that essential oils extracted from onion and garlic have a strong preventive effect on hyperlipemia and prolonged coagulation time resulted from fat-feeding. Furthermore Bordia et al indicated that garlic exerted a strong fibrinolytic activity. In early 1920 s Sugihara reported that essential oil of garlic not only decreased arterial blood pressure but also had a paralytic effect on the isolated heart and intestinal strip of animals. The present study was proposed to investigate the effect of garlic juice and the mechanism of its action on the motility of the isolated rabbit duodenum. The motility of the isolated duodenum was recorded on polygraph by means of force transducer connected with Magnus apparatus. And the isolated duodenum was separtely pretreated with $acetylcholine(5{\times}10^{-7}\;gm/ml)$, $pilocarpine(2.5{\times}10^{-6}\;gm/ml)$, $histamine(5{\times}10^{-6}\;gm/ml)$ and barium $chloride(2.5{\times}10^{-5}\;gm/ml)$ in order to find out interations of these drugs with ASJ. The results obtained were as follows; At concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5% and 1.0% ASJ markedly inhibited contractions of isolated duodenum while tonus as well as contractility of the isolated intestine were decreased also with 0.5% and 1.0% ASJ. Since ASJ markedly abolished augmented motility of isolated intestine by histamine and partly reduced that by $BaCl_2$, it is strongly suggested that inhibitory action of ASJ on the intestinal motility is caused mainly by its antihistamine effect and partly by its direct action on the intestinal smooth muscle.