• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.45-53
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• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of the study is to test the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of BPH, which is composed of Pini Densiflorae Nodi Lignum and Querci Acutissimae Fructus, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix, Angelicae Tenuissimae Radix. Method : Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of BPH on Propionibacterium acnes, one of anaerobic bacteria species were evaluated by measuring the levels of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) elimination and lipid peroxidation. Result : When BPH was applied to CCD-986sk (Human normal fibroblast) to confirm the level of cytokine(tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8), its level increased in proportion to that of BPH's concentration, which indicated dose-dependent relationship. Using the Disk diffusion to measure the bacterial growth inhibition zone varying BPH concentration, it was found that the antibacterial effect of BPH was less than that of erythromycin, the control group, but was higher than that of saline, and it increased with higher concentrations. In a liquid culture medium containing BPH, the growth rate of Propionibacterium acnes was decreased by more than 10% at 25% BPH. After adding P. acnes to THP-1 monocyte, and treated it with BPH, and measuring the concentration of TNF-a and IL-8, it was observed that the amount of TNF-alpha and IL-8 significantly decreased depending on the level of BPH concentration. The ability to eliminate DPPH increased with higher BPH concentration. The inhibition of lipid peroxidation was increased by BHT treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : Using Propionibacterium acnes, an anaerobic bacteria, we confirmed that BPH has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix is one of the most frequently prescribed ingredients in Oriental medicine, and Glycyrrhizae radix extract has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of programed cell death (apoptosis) by Glycyrrhizae radix are poorly defined. In the present study, it was examined the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis by water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix (GRW) in human bladder T24 cancer cells. It was found that GRW could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GRW was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2). In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of GRW induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of PARP. GRW also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the down-regulation of total Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that GRW may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• The Journal of Korean Institute of Communications and Information Sciences
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1970-1982
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• 1993

This paper describes an efficient array algorithm for parallel computation of vector-radix two-dimensional (2-D) fast discrete cosine transform (VR-FCT), and its VLSI implementation. By mapping the 2-D VR-FCT onto a 2-D array of processing elements (PEs), the butterfly structure of the VR-FCT can be efficiently importanted with high concurrency and local communication geometry. The proposed array algorithm features architectural modularity, regularity and locality, so that it is very suitable for VLSI realization. Also, no transposition memory is required, which is invitable in the conventional row-column decomposition approach. It has the time complexity of O(N+Nnzp-log2N) for (N*N) 2-D DCT, where Nnzd is the number of non-zero digits in canonic-signed digit(CSD) code, By adopting the CSD arithmetic in circuit desine, the number of addition is reduced by about 30%, as compared to the 2`s complement arithmetic. The computational accuracy analysis for finite wordlength processing is presented. From simulation result, it is estimated that (8*8) 2-D DCT (with Nnzp=4) can be computed in about 0.88 sec at 50 MHz clock frequency, resulting in the throughput rate of about 72 Mega pixels per second.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.61-74
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• 2005

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Asthma-depression and Immunoregulation with PR-HAS(Herbal-acupuncture with Platycodi Radix infusion solution) injection at Joksamni(St36) on ovalbumin-induced asthma in mice. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were sensitized and challenged with OVA(ovalbumin) for 12 weeks(once a week). The experimental group(OVA-PR-HA) wase treated with concentrations(1%) of PR-HAS at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). The second experimental group(OVA-Needle prick) was treated with Needle-Prick at Joksamni(St36) for the later 8 weeks(3times/week). Results : 1. The weight and total cells in the mice lung treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 2. Total leukocytes and eosinophils in BALF of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased remarkably compared with those of control group. 3. The sticking of collagen on histological analysis of lung sections, the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 4. The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 5. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. 6. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. 7. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5,IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. Conclusion : The concentrations of IL-4, IL-5, IgE in BALF, and IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in serum of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The number of $Gr-1^+/CD11b^+\;and\;CD11b^+$ cells in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with that of control group. The numbers of $CCR3^+\;cells,\;CD4^+\;cells\;and\;CD8^+\;cells$ in the lungs, and $CD3e^+/CD69^+$ in the lungs of the mice group treated with PR-HA decreased significantly compared with those of control group. The mRNA expression of ${\beta}-actin,\;TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the mice group treated with PR-HA with RT-PCR decreased significantly compared with those of control group. These result suggests that Platycodi Radix Herbal-acupuncture at Joksamni(St36) in C57BL/6mice may be an effictive part to OVA-induced asthma in C57BL/6 mice.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.35 no.5
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• pp.417-425
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the whitening effect of Angelicae dahuricae Radix water extract (ADWE) by its application on artificial tanning spots which were induced by 1,500 $mJ/cm^2$ of UVB radiation on the backs of brown guinea pigs weighing approximately 450~500 g. Thirty ${\mu}l$ of ADWE, at each application, were applied twice a day, 5 days a week, for 8 weeks to the guinea pigs. The artificial tanning spots were divided into 3 groups which were vehicle control group [propylene glycol: ethanol: water (5:3:2)], positive control group (2% hydroquinone) and experimental group (2% ADWE). The visible whitening effect and changes in melanin index were evaluated once a week. On completion of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed under anesthetization, and the artificial tanning spots were excised by biopsy punch and stained with Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) to observe histological change and also stained with Fontana-Masson's silver (F-M) and S-100 to observe melanin pigmentation and melanocytes. In the gross observation, the experimental group showed higher pigmentation than the positive control group but lower pigmentation than the vehicle control group. Histological observation confirmed that ADWE had a positive whitening effect by showing a lower distribution of melanin and melanocytes in the epidermis of experimental group than in the vehicle control group.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.361-374
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• 2000

This study was done to elucidate the antioxidant activities of Polygoni Radix rubra(赤何首烏) by way of aqua-acupuncture methods. After 10% & 20% concentrations of liquid extract of Polygoni Radix rubra(PRR) were acupunctured on Joksamri(足三里) of rats with acute and chronic experimental oxidation by AAPH(2, 2' -azobis (aminoidinopropane), hydrochloride), various kinds of experiments were performed. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In acute oxidant experiment, the amount of TBARS was significantly increased from 0.5 hr to 1.5 hr after AAPH treatment 2. In acute oxidant experiment by AAPH, uric acid as significantly increased while the others didn't show any difference such as total protein, albumin, bilirubin. 3. In chronic oxidant experiment by AAPH, PRR significantly increased the body weight in comparison with control group, whereas liver and spleen tended to increase, lung and kidneys tended to decrease. 4. In chronic oxidant experiment by AAPH, PRR significantly decreased the GPT, hemolysis of erythrocytes, TBA and BUN, where GOT was significantly reduced in 20% PRR treated group, and TG was significantly in 10% PRR treated group. These results suggest that PRR has potent antioxidant activity and needs more studies on microsomal fraction of liver and kidney.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.325-329
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• 2012

The present study investigated the antimicrobial properties of medicinal herbs including Scutellariae Radix (SR: dried root of Scutellariae bicalensis Georgi). Among hot-water extracts of medicinal herbs tested in this study, SR extract showed the most potent antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.625 mg/mL. In particular, synergistic effects of antimicrobial activity were observed upon combined application of SR and chitooligosaccharide as indicated by MIC of 0.125 mg/mL and FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) index of 0.45. Thermal stability analysis indicated that the components responsible for antimicrobial activity was stable for 8 months at $45^{\circ}C$. Antimicrobial activity was proven to be effective in foods as well as in cosmetics as comparable to that of the chemical preservatives.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.185-192
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• 1995

Precipitation reaction occured between berberine in Coptidis Rhizoma and glycyrrhizin in Glycyrrhizae Radix when they were boiled together in aqueous solution and the supernatant solution thus obtained did not show any antibacterial activity which was derived from berberine. The content of berberine in BG and CGP by HPLC analysis were 41.1%, 8.3% respectively. BG was occured mostly at pH 5.0. The solubility of berberine was 0.15%, while that of BG and CGP was 0.07%, 0.12%, respectively. CGP shown more increased antibacterial activity to gram positive bacteria, S. dysenteriae and K. pneumoniae than berberine. The absorption rates of CGP in stomach, duodenum and jejunum of rats were compared with those of Coptidis Rhizoma water extracts (CR), which were increased more than CR. The time required for the maximum serum concentration of berberine from CGP in mice was 90 minutes after oral administration. The maximum serum concentration of berberine from CGP was higher than that from CR. The dissolution of CGP was increased more than berberine and BG in both artificial gastric and intestinal fluids. The dissolution of CGP pill made from gelatin was 63.4% in artificial gastric fluids and that made from CMC was 76.0% in artificial intestinal fluids.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.35-42
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this research is to examine the effects of Scutellariae Radix(SR) extract on immune cells in ovalbumin(OVA)-induced asthmatic mice. Methods : In vitro, C57BL/6 mice were exposed to OVA for 6 weeks. The mice lungs were taken out, chopped, grinded with collagenase and activated by rIL-3/rIL-5. The lung cells were treated with SR extract and analyzed by a flow cytometer. Results : The population of granulocytes/lymphocytes, CD3e-/CCR3+, CD69+/CD3e+, CD23+/B220+, CD4+ cells in the SR group in vitro decreased and population of CD8+ cells in the 100 and $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ SR group in vitro decreased, compared with that of control group. Conclusion : The results of this study support a role for SR as an effective treatment for asthma in its experimental success in significantly decreasing inflammation and asthma reactions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2010

Objectives : Sophorae Radix (SR), the dried root of Sophorae Flavescens Aiton, has been used to treat atherosclerosis, arrhythma and skin diseases including scabies and eczema. The present study was examined to evaluate antimicrobial activities of SR extracts against oral microorganism. Methods : Antimicrobial properties of SR extracts were determined by agar diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus and Actinomyces viscosus. Analysis of kurarinone from SR extracts was conducted using UPLC (Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography). Results : The ethanolic extracts of SR showed stronger antimicrobial effect than methanolic extracts, while the aqueous extracts of SR had no activity. In addition, the higher content of kurarinone was found in ethanolic extracts than methanolic extracts. The purified kurarinone from ethanolic extracts showed potent antimicrobial activity with the MIC value of $3.9{\sim}7.8{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Conclusion : An ethanolic extract of SR showed antimicrobial properties against several oral microorganisms, and kuranrinone contributed to antimicrobial action of SR. Thus, ethanolic extracts of SR or purified kurarinone should be beneficial for the preparation of the useful agent for treating oral disease including anticaries.