• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.457-460
• /
• 2003

It has been suggested that oxidative stress of reactive oxygen species(ROS) may play an important role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorder. The aim of this study was to elucidate the oxidative stress of glucose oxidase(GO) in the cultured mouse spinal motor neurons and the preventing effect of Benincasae Semen(BS) on ROS-induced neurotoxicity. Cytotoxic effect of GO and protective effect of BS were performed by MTT assay. 30mU/ml GO decreased cell viability in dose-and time-dependent mannner, and BS diminished GO-induced neurotoxicity in these cultures. From above the results, ROS such as GO has toxic effect, and herb extract of BS is very effective against GO-induced neurotoxicity in cultured spinal motor neurons of neonatal mouse.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.67-75
• /
• 2012

Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (ZSS) have been widely used for the treatment of insomnia in Asia. This experiment was performed to investigate whether methanol extract of ZSS (MEZSS) has hypnotic effects through the ${\gamma}$-amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic systems. MEZSS inhibited the locomotor activity. MEZSS enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors. However, MEZSS itself did not induce sleep at higher dose, similar to muscimol. On the other hand, both pentobarbital and MEZSS increased the non rapid eye move (NREM) sleep, especially reducing the -wave electroencephalogram (EEG) activity in REM sleep. MEZSS showed similar effects with muscimol on potentiating chloride influx induced by pentobarbital. MEZSS significantly increased GABAA receptors ${\gamma}$-subunit expression and slightly decreased ${\beta}$-subunit expression in hypothalamus and thalamus, showing that subunit-expression was similar to diazepam. In addition, MEZSS enhanced the expression of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). In conclusion, it is suggested that MEZSS might augment pentobarbital-induced sleep behaviors through the modification of GABAergic systems.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.41-54
• /
• 2000

This study was undertaken to determine if Plantaginis Semen Herbal Acupuncture(PSA) has a protective effect against glycerol-induced acute renal failure in rats. Rats were dehydrated for 24hr and then injected with 8 ml/kg of $50\%$ glycerol, one-half of dose in each hindlimb muscle. In experiments for PSA effect, rats received 0.1 ml of PSA extraction in both sides of corresponding Shenso($BL_{23}$) of human body for 3 days after injection of glycerol. The experimental group were di vided into the Normal group, the Control group, the PSA group. Glycerol injection decreased glomerular filtration rate and increased urine volume, serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of glucose, $Na^+$, $K^+$ and $CI^-$. These result show that glycerol injection result in acute renal failure. PSA significantly increased glomerular filtration rate and significantly decreased serum creatinine, BUN level and fractional excretion of glucose, $Na^+$ and $CI^-$ as compared Control group. This suggests that PSA could be used in prevention and treatment of acute renalfailure. However, the precise mechanisms of PSA protection remain to be determined.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.191-203
• /
• 2022

Purpose : In 『Herbal Formula Science in Korean Medicine (HFSKM)』, the weight unit of Shanghanlun '1 Liǎng (一兩)' is mostly converted to 3 g. We tried to confirm whether the usages of the Shanghanlun prescriptions of HFSKM are valid in the view of safety and efficacy. Method : The toxicity of herbs in Shanghanlun were summarized. The prescriptions of HFSKM including herbs recorded by weight in Shanghanlun were compared with the pharmacopoeia usage. Domestic clinical case studies were analyzed to confirm the clinical evidence for safety and efficacy. Results : Glycyrrhizae Radix, Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Persicae Semen, Ephedrae Herba, Pinelliae Tuber, Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma, Armeniacae Semen and Scutellariae Radix have been reported to have toxicity. As a result of analyzing the 39 Shanghanlun prescriptions of HFSKM, 26 prescriptions were identified when they were within the pharmacopoeia usage, and 13 prescriptions were found in excess. As a result of analyzing the domestic clinical research papers, symptoms considered to be side effects were not mentioned, and improvement of the diseases was confirmed. As a result of measuring the actual weight, it was confirmed that the usage greatly exceeded the pharmacopoeia usage, such as 57.23 g for Pinelliae Tuber and 45.77 g for Armeniacae Semen. Conclusion : The composition of the prescription for Shanghanlun proposed in HFSKM is considered to be a reasonable dose, but continuous review and standard supplementation are necessary.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.145-159
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The object of this study was to obtain acute toxicity information (single oral dose toxicity) of Armeniacae Semen (AS), a medicinal herb used for treating constipation and various respiratory diseases, in rats. Methods : In order to observe the $LD_{50}$ (50% lethal dose), approximate lethal dosage (ALD) and target organs, AS aqueous extracts were orally administered once to female and male Sprague Dawley rats at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (control) mg/kg (body weight). The mortality, changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored for 14 days after single oral treatment of AS extracts, and the organ weights and histopathological findings of principle organs were observed after sacrifice. Results : After single oral treatment of AS 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg, all (5/5; 100%) female and male rats died within 30 minutes after treatment, while no mortalities were observed in the female and male rats treated with 500 mg/kg of AS extract. Therefore, $LD_{50}$ in female and male rats was calculated as 741.95 mg/kg. Seizure, loss of locomotion, salivation, increases of respiration and heart-beat were observed after AS extract treatment, which were observed in all rats including the lowest dosage group, 500 mg/kg in the present study. In addition, lung congestion was visible in all mortal rats with AS 2,000 and 1,000 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that AS extract ranges in Class III, because the $LD_{50}$ and ALD in both female and male rats were calculated as 741.95 mg/kg and 500~1,000 mg/kg, respectively. However, AS extract should be carefully treated at clinical applications, because salivation, increase of respiration and heart-beat were also observed in the lowest dosage group, 500 mg/kg in the present study.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 2008.04a
• /
• pp.119-142
• /
• 2008

Zizyphi Spinosi Semen (ZSS) has been widely used for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia in Korea and China. This experiment was performed to know whether sanjoinine A, one of major alkaloid compounds of ZSS has anxiolytic and hypnotic effects through the GABAergic systems. Our results showed that administration of sanjoinine A increased open arm entries and spent time in open arm in the elevated plus-maze and increased head dips in hole board test. Different from traditional anxiolytic, diazepam, sanjoinine A itself did not decrease locomotor activity and strength level in mice. Furthermore, Sanjoinine A (0.5-2.0 mg/kg) prolonged sleeping time and reduced sleeping latency induced by pentobarbital in a dose-dependent manner similar to muscimol, a $GABA_A$ receptor agonist. Sanjoinine A (0.25-1.0 mg/kg) also increased sleeping rate and sleeping time in the combined administration at the sub-hypnotic dose of pentobarbital and showed synergic effects with muscimol in potentiating sleeping onset and enhancing sleeping time induced by pentobarbital. However, sanjoinine A itself did not induce sleeping at the higher dose. In addition, both of sanjoinine A and pentobarbital increased chloride influx in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells. Sanjoinine A decreased the $GABA_A$ receptor ${\alpha}$-subunit expression and increased ${\gamma}$-subunit expression, and had no effects on abundance of ${\beta}$-subunit in primary cultured cerebellar granule cells, showing different expression of subunits from pentobarbital. In conclusion, sanjoinine A shows anxiolytic-like effects and augments pentabarbital-induced sleeping behaviors through the modification of GABAergic systems. [This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD) (The Regional Research Universities Program/Center for Healthcare Technology Development)].

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.169-175
• /
• 2018

It has been claimed that artificial insemination (AI) of cows with frozen-thawed semen treated with commercially produced kits, Wholemom (in favour of female gender) increases the birth chance of calves with desired sex ratio by approximately 85% without decrease of pregnancy rates. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of wholemom kits as combined with frozen-thawed bovine semen during in vitro fertilization on the in vitro fertilization and developmental efficiency and sex ratios such as some reproductive parameters in bovine. For this, 1,737 oocytes were in vitro fertilized and developed. Agglutination effects on bovine after treatment of Wholemom kit were observed by time passage and dose respectively. To determine sex of embryos, Bovine embryo Y-specific gene primers(ConEY) and Bovine specific universal primer(ConBV) were used as multiple PCR method. Fertilization rate of wholemom-treated group was significantly lower than its of control group[66.9% (1,156/1,737) in Wholemom-treated group; 75.0% (610/813) in control group]. However, developmental rate after fertilization of both wholemom-treated and control groups were not significantly different [26.1% (404/1,156) in Wholemom-treated group; 27.4% (224/610) in control group]. Sex ratio of in vitro fertilized embryo with frozen-thawed semen treated with wholemom kit was determined by multi PCR. Female ratio in wholemom-treated group [85.4% (173/201)] was significantly higher than its of control group [47.2% (66/141)]. In conclusion, wholemom treatments of semen used in the in vitro fertilization and development of bovine oocytes provided increase in female ratio with decrease of fertilization rate.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.37-42
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine the antioxidant effects on male mouse reproductive cells of the extract of Platycladi Semen. Methods : The extract was studied for diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, cell viability by a modified MTT assay, the effects on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity by MTT assay, lipid peroxidation by malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and super oxide dismutase (SOD), respectively. Results : The results showed that the extract scavenged DPPH radical in a dose-dependent manner by up to 74.87%. The cell viability of the extract was within 72~96% on Leydig cells and GC-2 cells at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 ug/ml. The hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity of Leydig cells was protected to 72.09% by the extract at concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. The hydrogen peroxide-induced lipid peroxidation of MDA formation was decreased to 1.80 and 1.65 nmoles/mg protein by the extract at concentrations of 50 and 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. The extract at all concentrations, SOD activity was not significantly changed. Conclusions : In conclusion, the extract of Platycladi Semen has antioxidant effects on Leydig cells and protect male reproductive system against oxidative stress.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.79-86
• /
• 2011

1. Objectives: Pharmacopuncture according to Sasang Constitutional Medicine is new field of constitutional medicine. We investigated safety of pharmacopunctures to develop this treatment. 2. Methods: We searched for papers in fifteen Korean oriental medical journals and four online searching portal articles. Hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and general toxicity tests were investigated about one hundred thirty kinds of pharmacopunctures. 3. Results: Toxicity test about 36 kinds of 130 pharmacopunctures were investigated. 1) Hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity test of pharmacopunctures were searched in 11 of 38 Soeumin herbs, 8 of 36 Soyangin herbs, 5 of 44 Taeeumin herbs and 1 of 12 Taeyangin herbs. From among these herbs, toxicity was detected in Radix aconiti lateralis preparata(附子), Fructus alpiniae oxyphyllae(益智仁), Semen crotonis(巴豆), Radix bupleuri(柴胡) and Semen armeniacae amarum(杏仁) pharmacopunctures. 2) General toxicity test of pharmacopunctures were searched in 8 of 38 Soeumin herbs, 9 of 36 Soyangin herbs, 6 of 44 Taeeumin herbs and 2 of 12 Taeyangin herbs. from among thes herbs, toxicity was detected in Radix aconiti lateralis preparata(附子), Radix ginseng(人蔘), Semen crotonis(巴豆), Rhizoma seu radix notopterygii(羌活), Radix aralia cordatae(獨活), Semen armeniacae amarum(杏仁) and Radix scutellariae(黃芩) and Cortex acanthopanacis(五加皮) pharmacopunctures. 4. Conclusions: From these results, we must decide extraction method, concentration and dose carefully to use the toxic pharmacopuncture. More toxicity test and further study is needed about pharmacopuncture treatment in Sasang Constitutional Medicine.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.32 no.6
• /
• pp.41-48
• /
• 2017

Objectives : This study was designed to estimate the antioxidative and neuroprotective effects of Torreyae Semen hot water extracts (TS). Methods : Torreyae Semen was extracted by hot water for 2 hours with a temperature of 105 degrees. Polyphenols and total flavonoid were measured and LC-MS/MS was used to certificate anticipated antioxidative compounds. The antioxidant activities of TS were measured as scavenging effects of 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Nitrite Oxides (NO). Cell viability and proliferation rate was measured MTT assay. The toxicities to thymocytes and splenocytes were evaluated by the proliferation rate of primary cultured cells of 7 weeks, male Balb/c mice. The antioxidant activities of TS on C6 mouse glioma cells were measured by the analysis of total glutathione contents variation. The neuroprotective effects against oxidative stresses were measured by MTT assay. Results : Polyphenols of TS was $92.00{\pm}1.24{\mu}g/mg$, and total flavonoids was $0.36{\pm}0.14{\mu}g/mg$. TS includes gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, gallocatechin gallate and epigallocatechin gallate. TS included gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, gallocatechin gallate, epigallocatechin gallate. TS showed DPPH and NO scavenging effects as dose-dependent manner at the concentrations of $0-10mg/m{\ell}$. In MTT assay, TS shows no significant toxicity to C6 cells, primary cultured thymocytes and splenocytes of Balb/c mice. TS increased the level of total glutathiones. TS increased cell viabilities of C6 cells against oxidative stresses such as $H_2O_2$, sodium nitroprusside (SNP), Rotenone at the concentrations of $0-0.063mg/m{\ell}$. Conclusions : TS shows the antioxidant and neuroprotecitive effects in these experiments.