• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2008

The X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) is a member of a novel family of inhibitors of apoptosis and has several BIR domains (BIR1, BIR2, and BIR3) and a carboxy-terminal RING zinc-finger. Since suppressionof apoptosis is fundamentally important for carcinogenesis and tumor growth, we investigated the expression and function of XIAP in DEN-induced carcinogenesis using rat model. Wistar rats were injected intraperitoneally with DEN at a dose of 50 mg/kg in twice a week for 12 weeks (Group II) and 16 weeks (Group III) followed by the recovery periods, respectively. The evaluation of DEN-induced carcinogenesis carried out the blood, RT-PCR, histopathological and western blot analysis. The level of blood chemistry including GOT/GPT, albumin, and total bilirubin were significantly exchanged comparing to control and Group I/Group II. The expression of albumin and collagen mRNA were significantly exchanged (P<0.05) in both groups. In addition, AFP mRNA expression decreased more after recovery periods than Group II. XIAP was expressed constitutively in normal rat liver as well as DEN-induced Groups I and Group II. In addition, XIAP expression increased more in Group I with 4 weeks recovery periods than Group I. However, XIAP expression shown to increase in Group lI, otherwise, it was decreased in Group II with 10 weeks repair periods. Taken together, these results suggest the alteration of XIAP expression could be involved in hepatocellular carcinogenesis.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.506-512
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• 2016

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is used in traditional herbal medicine in many Asian countries for the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes, eczema, night blindness, psoriasis, and rheumatism. Especially, most reports concerning the biological activities of bitter melon have focused on its effects on diabetes and hyperglycemia. Also, bitter melon is regarded as a longevity food, suggesting that it has several beneficial effects on anti-aging and the maintenance of a healthy state. Thus, we investigated whether bitter melon could increase the capacity of exercise in this study. Interestingly, bitter melon fruit extract activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is important for regulating glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial content and exercise capacity. In addition, bitter melon extract increased the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation such as mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b (CPT1b), and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4). Moreover, exercise tolerance was much more enhanced in bitter melon treated animals compared to the non-treated control group. These results suggest that bitter melon is a promising candidate for the development of functional foods beneficial for physical strength and the enhancement of exercise capacity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.398-405
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• 2016

Statins, the inhibitors of 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, are widely used in treatments of hypercholesterolemia and newly known as anti-cancer effect of various cancer cells. Recently, several studies suggested that reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a critical role on cell death signaling. However, mechanism of ROS by rosuvastatin is currently unclear. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of apoptosis by rosuvastatin in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. Cell viability and apoptosis-related protein expression were measured by MTT assay and western blotting, respectively. In addition, the levels of apoptosis and ROS were analyzed. The results showed that rosuvastatin dramatically reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner. We confirmed that rosuvastatin induced apoptosis through reduction of procaspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in PC-3 cells. In addition, rosuvastatin stimulated ROS production in a dose-dependent manner and pre-treatment with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a ROS scavenger, significantly recovered rosuvastatin-induced ROS and apoptosis. Thus, we concluded that rosuvastain induces apoptosis through generation of ROS in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells and provides a promising approach to improve the efficacy of cancer therapy.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2006

Objectives: This study was produced to examine the effects of moxibustion that had been played important role to traditional oriental medical treatment on disease. Recently, it was reported that moxi-tar which is generated in the process of moxibustion as burning combustibles decreased nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) generation in cellular experiments. Methods: Carrageenan-induced arthritis rat model was used to test the effect of moxi-tar as a chronic pain model. Diluted moxi-tar was single injected in several acupoints or combined with electroacupuncture (l ms, 2 Hz, and 2 mA) into contralateral ST36 acupoint for 30 min to assess the synergic effects. After the treatment, behavioral tests measuring stepping force were periodically conducted during the next 12 hours. Endogenous NO and iNOS, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and c-Fos protein expression in the spinal cord were examined on a rat model of carrageenan-induced arthritis. Results : After the induction of arthritis, rats subsequently showed a reduced stepping force of the affected limb for at least the next 4 days. The reduced stepping force of the limb was presumably due to a painful knee, since oral injection of indomethacin produced temporary improvement of weight bearing. Maxi-tar produced significant improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis lasting at least 9 hours. The magnitude of this improvement was equivalent to that obtained after an oral injection of 3 mg/kg of indomethacin and this improvement of stepping force was interpreted as an analgesic effect. Maxi-tar produced the improvement of stepping force of the affected hindlimb in a dose-dependent manner. Both NO production and iNOS, COX-2 protein expression increased by arthritis were suppressed by maxi-tar. Moxi-tar on combination with electroacupuncture (EA) produced more powerful and longer lasting improvement of stepping force of the hindlimb affected by the arthritis than either moxi-tar or EA did. Conclusion : The present study suggest that maxi-tar produces a potent analgesic effect on the chronic knee arthritis pain model in the rat and that moxi-tar-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of iNOS/COX-2 protein expression.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-40
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• 2012

The purpose of this study explain the experimental effects of Guizhishaoyaozhimu-Tang (桂枝芍藥知母湯) that have clinical efficacy in rheumatoid Arthritis. Materials of present study were Guizhishaoyaozhimu-Tang freeze dried powder (GSZT), Sprague-dawley rats (300 g or so, male), various kinds of needing experimental studis. In order to study the therapeutic effects of GSZT, this Prescription (GSZT 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg) were administered per oral to the rats with the arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant ($0.2m{\ell}/kg$), several experimental items were measured and compared each other ; that is body weight, rate of edema, analgesic effect by hot plate method, WBC, total protein, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-10 and expression and localization of H&E, COX-2 staining in synovial tissues from rat with rheumatoid arthritis by immunohistochemical staining using polyclonal COX-2 antibodies. Rats were divided into four groups. Normal group was not treated with Freund's complete adjuvant and treated with DDW 1.0 $m{\ell}$, Control group was treated with Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 $m{\ell}/kg$ and DDW 1.0 $m{\ell}$, Sample A group was treated with Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 $m{\ell}/kg$ and GSZT (500 $mg/m{\ell}$) $1.0m{\ell}$, Sample B group was treated with Freund's complete adjuvant 0.2 $m{\ell}/kg$ and GSZT (1,000 $mg/m{\ell}$) 1.0 $m{\ell}$. 0 was day that did not start experiment, 14 was day that confirmed rheumatism induced by Freund's complete adjuvant, 28 was day that completed experiment. The following results were obtained in this study ; Sample A group was increased in body weight, escape time and paw licking time statistical significance compared with Control group, and were decreased in edema, WBC, total protein, TNF-${\alpha}$ with statistical significance compared with Control group. Sample B group was increased in escape time with statistical significance compared with Control group, and were decreased in edema, WBC, total protein with statistical significance compared with Control group. Sample A and Sample B groups were increased in IL-10 compared with Control group, and Sample B group was decreased in TNF-${\alpha}$ compared with Control group. And, Control, Sample A and Sample B groups were showed considerable reduction of positive expression in comparison to Normal group. Especially, Sample B group was most significantly reduction of positive expression than the other groups. From above results, I suggest that GuizhiShaoyaoZhimu-Tang can be used for curing rheumatoid arthritis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.433-437
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• 2005

The characteristic properties of rice breads produced from several conditions were investigated. The rice bread made in control condition (wheat flour), RF 3 (rice and wheat flour mixing) condition and RF 1 (rice, gluten and modified starch mixing) showed relatively higher volumethan others. The crust and crumb color were measured by Humter colory meter. The rice breads making on RF 5 and RF 6 condition showed higher crust L-value and the crumb L-value of the bread from RF 1 condition was higher than that from other condition. On the texture measuring by texture analyzer, hardness of the bread made from RF 1 and RF 2 conditions and cohesiveness of that from RF 3 condition were lower than control. However the significant higher level of the springiness and chewiness were showed in the bread from RF 1, RF 2 and RF 3 condition. The bread containing 85% of rice, 5% of rice, 5% of gluten and 10% of modified starch which was made in RF 1 condition obtained significant high overall acceptance score by sensory evaluation.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.62-73
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• 2006

Objective : This study aimed to investigate the effect of SHD on myelosuppression using an animal model for therapeutic evidence supporting clinical positive results. Methods : After determining the optimal concentration of 5-FU as 300 mg/kg for developing the mouse model, ICR mice or BALB/c mice were administered with SHD, and several blood parameters, including hematopoietic cytokines, colony forming activity and histological findings, were examined to evaluate the effects. Results : SHD restored the WBC and hemoglobin, and showed effects on maintaining body weight, producing GM-CSF and IL-3 and stem cell colony forming activity in accordance with histological relative entirety on bone marrow. Conclusion : SHD is an herbal drug having therapeutic effects on myelosuppression. Thus, it could be prescribed to cancer patients undergoing chemo-therapies or radio-therapies in the process of cancer treatment.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.215-227
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• 2010

Objectives : Jeon-Jeung(癲證) is one of negative symptoms from schizophrenia in Western medecine, which causes flattening of affect, emotional bluntness, and avolition. Compared with positive symptoms of schizophrenia, there is no established treatments that have been proved to be effective for negative symptoms, and since negative symptoms are chronically processed, they finally lead to devastate the mental health. Since Jeon-Jeung(癲證) is usually in set in adolescent period and tends to become chronic through life time, it is important to start getting treatments in early stage by being distinguished from other diseases, such as anxiety disorder. A patient in this case was affective blunting, general weakness, and delusion when sixteen years old. However, he refused to get Western medicine treatment and wanted oriental medicine treatment. Methods : The patient in this case had been suffered from severe stress from his family since he was young and had kept having irregular and unhealthy eating habits. Therefore, he diagnosed stagnant qi transforming into fire(氣鬱化火), heart blood deficiency(心血虛), and spleen-stomach deficiency cold(脾胃虛寒) and since then he had received several treatments including herbal treatment, acupumcture treatment, supportive therapy, and family therapy. These treatments were successful and reduced the level of symptoms. After discharged from the hospital, he had continued receiving outpatient treatment with his family for 8 months and his progress had been still observed after the discharge. Results : The symptoms of patient had been almost reduced and eliminated after he received 29days of admission treatment and the patient got better and better and now lives a normal life 8 months outpatient treatment. Conclusions : This result suggests that our oriental medical treatments and family treatments was effective on schizophrenia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.63-68
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• 2015

Objectives : We applied the term weighting method used in the field of data search to quantify relevancy between symptoms and medicinal herbs, and, based on this, we aim to introduce a method of visualizing the characteristics of medicinal herbs. Methods ： We proposed HF-IFF, an adaptation of TF-IDF, which is a term weighting measurement method adapted in the field of data search. Using this method, we deduced relevancy between symptoms and medicinal herbs In Cheongkangeuigam that was published in 1984 by organizing the medical theory of Cheongkang, Kim Younghoon, and visualized this as a graph in order to compare the characteristics of medicinal herbs used for different symptoms. Results ： HF-IFF is the product of HF and IFF, where HF is the frequency of the relevant medicinal herb for a set of symptoms, and IFF is the inverse of the number of formulations (FF) containing that herb. A total of 251 types of medicinal herb are used in Cheongkangeuigam, and 1538 formulations are classified according to 67 types of symptom. The overall mean for HF-IFF was 0.491, with a maximum of 4.566 and a minimum of 0.013. Conclusions ： In spite of several limitations, we were able to use HF-IFF to measure relevancy between symptoms and medicinal herbs, with formulations as an intermediate. We were able to use the quantified results to visually express the characteristics of the herbs used for symptoms by bubble chart and word-cloud from HF-IFF.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.84-92
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• 2015

Tyrosinase is a key enzyme to control the biosynthesis of melanin pigments and has two enzyme activities, namely of 1-tyrosine hydroxylase and of 1-dopa oxidase. Thus, tyrosinase is regarded as a target in skin-whitening and therapeutic intervention of local hyperpigmentation diseases. We have tested tyrosinase inhibitory activity on the water extracts of 50 species oriental medicinal plant. Among them, five medicinal plants, Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae were investigated strong inhibition effect. Five medicinal plants were fractionated using organic solvents (methylene chloride, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, water). Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (ethyl acetate fraction) was investigated strong inhibition effect. Tyrosinase inhibitory activity below $IC_{50}\;40{\mu}g/ml$ is confirmed in five herbal plants that are Linderae Radix, Clematidis Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus and Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae. Tyrosinase inhibitory levels ($IC_{50}\;{\mu}g/ml$) of each plants were 15.56, 35.02, 25.14, 15.20 and 39.77. We also investigate the effect of effective plant's fraction. in dose of $100{\mu}g/ml$, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) EtOAc fraction significant inhibitory effect over 50%. Clematidis Radix (P-35) and Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus (P-36) MC fraction inhibit tyrosinase each 36.60% and 43.21%. inhibitory rates of Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (P-40) EtOAc and $H_2O$ fraction are 31.40% and 31.51%. Bulbus Fritillariae Cirrhosae (P-45) BuOH fraction regulate tyrosinase activity to 37.71%. We examined tyrosinase inhibitory activity of natural products and these results suggest that several herbs have potential as a new whitening material.