• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.2 s.62
• /
• pp.63-76
• /
• 2005

Objectives: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of acute and longterm neurodegenerative diseases. This study was undertaken to examine whether Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS), a well-known prescription in Korean traditional medicine, might have beneficial effects on ROS-induced brain cell injury. Methods: Human neuroglioma cell line A172 and H2O2 were employed as an experimental model cell and oxidant. Results: SHCS effectively protected the cells against both the necrotic and apoptotic cell death induced by H2O2. The effect of SHCS was dose-dependent at concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 5mg/ml. SHCS significantly prevented depletion of cellular ATP and activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase induced by H2O2. It also helped mitochondria to preserve its functional integrity estimated by MTT reduction ability. Furthermore, SHCS significantly prevented H202-induced release of cytochrome c into cytosol. Determination of intracellular ROS showed that SHCS might exert its role as a powerful scavenger of intracellular ROS. Conclusions: The present study provides clear evidence for the beneficial effect of SHCS on ROS-induced neuroglial cell injury. The action of SHCS as an ROS-scavenger might underlie the mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.228-243
• /
• 1998

This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Sunghyangchungisan (SHCS) on the regulation of vascular tone. Vascular rings isolated from rabbit carotid artery were myographed isometrically in isolated organ baths and the effect of SHCS on contractile activities were determined. SHCS relaxed the arterial rings which were pre-contracted by phenylephrine(PE). The responses to SHCS were partially dose-dependent at concentrations lower than 0.5 mg/ml. When SHCS was applied prior to the exposure to PE, it inhibited the PE-induced contraction by a similar magnitude which was comparable to the relaxation of pre-contracted arterial rings. Washout of SHCS after observing its relaxant effect resulted in a full recovery of PE-induced contractions, indicating that the action mechanism is reversible. The observation that SHCS did not change the $ED_{50}$ of PE on its dose-response curve ruled out the possible interaction of SHCS and ${\alpha}-receptor$. The relaxant effect of SHCS was not affected by removal of endothelium, and pretreatment of the arterial rings with methylene blue or nitro-L-arginine. This results suggest that the action of SHCS is not mediated by endothelium nor soluble guanylate cyclase. SHCS relaxed high $K^{+}-induced$ contractions as well, whereas it failed to relax phorbol ester-induced contractions. When contraction was induced by additive application of $Ca^{2+}$ in arterial rings which were pre-depolarized by high $K^+$ in a $Ca^{2+}-free$ solution, the relaxant effect of SHCS was attenuated by increasing the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. SHCS, when applied to the arterial rings pre-contracted by PE and then relaxed by nifedipine, a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, did not show additive relaxation. From above results, it is suggested that SHCS relax PE-induced contraction of rabbit carotid artery in an endothelium-independent manner, and inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx may contribute to the underling mechanism.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 2000

Objectives : Hindered barrier function of vascular endothelium has been implicated in the initiation and progression of degenerative vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. In this study, the effect of Sunghyangchungisan(SHCS) as a protectant against oxidant-induced destruction of endothelial barrier function was assessed. Methods : Toward this end, endothelial cells derived from the human umbilical vein were cultured as monolayers on permeable membrane filters. Endothelial permeability was monitored by measuring transendothelial electrical resistance and movement of low density lipoprotein (LDL) across the endothelial monolayer. Results : Along with increased movement of LDL, $H_2O_2$-induced increase in endothelial permeability was paralleled by a decrease in transendotheliaI electrical resistance. The effect of $H_2O_2$ was mimicked by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), a potent activator of proteinkinase C. Calphostin-C, a protein kinase C inhibitor, effectively blocked the increase in endothelial permeability induced by $H_2O_2$ or PMA, indicating that activation of protein kinase C is associated with the $H_2O_2-induced$ permeability change. SHCS effectively protected the endothelial monolayer against $H_2O_2-induced$ increase in permeability, whereas, it did not affect PMA-induced change. Forskolin, a potent activator of adenylyl cyclase, antagonized $H_2O_2$ to increase endothelial permeability. In addition, in ${H_2O_2}-treated$ cens, intracenular cAMP concentration was significantly decreased, indicating that impaired cAMP production as well as activation of proteinkinase C is a mechanism underlying ${H_2O_2}>-induced$$H_2O_2$ with regard to its effect on intracellular cAMP content. However, SHCS itself did not affect resting cAMP concentration in endothelial cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that SHCS might operate as an effective protectant against oxidant-induced destruction of endothelial barrier function. The mechanism does not appear to involve direct interaction with protein kinase C- or cAMP-associated signaling mechanism.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.147-167
• /
• 2000

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in the pathogenesis of a variety of life threatening conditions such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction and cerebral stroke. In this study, the effect of Sunghyangchungisan (SHCS) as a cytoproctant against ROS-induced cell injury was studied by investigating its effect on $H_{2}O_2-induced$ cell injury in cultured endothelial cells derived from the human umbilical vein. SHCS effectively proteced the cells against $H_{2}O_2-induced$ injury determined by trypan blue exclusion ability and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. The effect of SHCS was concentration-dependent and the concentrations to inhibit by 50% the cell death and LDH release were $0.9{\pm}0.1$ and $1.2{\pm}0.1\;mg/ml$, respectively. In addition, SHCS effectively protected the cells against t-butylhydroperoside- and menadione-Induced injury as well. SHCS inhibited lipid peroxidation determined by malondialdehyde production. SHCS exerted as an effective scavenger of ROS produced by exposing the cells to $H_{2}O_2$ The activities of the intracellular ROS scavenging enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were not Influenced by SHCS.These results indicate that SHCS might exert as an effective cytoprotectant against ROS-induced cell injury. Further intensive studies would provide us insights into mechanisms of the pharmacological actions of SHCS.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.377-388
• /
• 2000

Objective : This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of Sunghyangchungisan (SHCS) on the regulation of vascular tone and $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism in arterial tissues. Vascular rings isolated from rabbit carotid artery were myographed isometrically in isolated organ baths and the effect of SHCS on contractile activities, endothelial function and $Ca^{2+}$ metabolism were determined. Methods : In phentobarbital sodium-anesthetized rabbits, SHCS administered through ear vein (100 mg/Kg body wt.) or intragastric dwelling tube (300 mg/Kg body wt.) attenuated phenylephrine (PE, 10 ${\mu}g$/Kg, i.v.)-induced increases in both systolic and diastolic cartoid arterial blood pressure. Results : In experiments with isolated arterial strips, SHCS relaxed arterial rings which were pre-contracted by phenylephrine (PE, 1 ${\mu}M$). The responses to SHCS were partially dose-dependent at concentrations lower than 0.5 mg/ml. When SHCS was applied prior to the exposure to PE, it inhibited the PE-induced contraction by a similar magnitude which was comparable to the relaxation of pre-contracted arterial rings. Washout of SHCS after observing its relaxant effect resulted in a full recovery of PE-induced contractions, indicating that the action mechanism is reversible. The observation that SHCS did not change the $ED_{50)$ of PE oh its dose-response curve ruled out the possible interaction of SHCS with ${\alpha}$-receptors. The relaxant effect of SHCS was not affected by removal of endothelium or a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, L-NAME. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of the soluble guanylate cyclase, did not affect the relaxant effect of SHCS. These results suggest that the action of SHCS is not mediated by the endothelium nor soluble guanylate cyclase. Constant cGMP production determined in arterial strips in the presence or absence of SHCS is consistent with this conclusion. When contraction was induced by additive application of $Ca^{2+}$ in arterial rings which were pre-depolarized by high $K^+$ in a $Ca^{2+}$-free solution, the relaxant effect of SHCS was attenuated by increasing the $Ca^{2+}$ concentration. SHCS, when applied to the arterial rings pre-contracted by PE and then relaxed by nifedipine, a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, did not show additive relaxation. SHCS partially blocked $Ca^{2+}$ influx stimulated by PE and high $K^+$ which was determined by 5-min ^{45}Ca$ uptake, while it did not affect $Ca^{2+}$ efflux. Conclusions : From above results, it is suggested that SHCS relax PE-induced contraction of rabbit carotid artery in an endothelium independent manner, andinhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx may contribute to the underling mechanism.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.22 no.4
• /
• pp.537-546
• /
• 2001

목적: 고양이 대뇌피질 절편을 사용하여 저산소 발작을 유발한 뒤, 성향정기산이 세포의 이온 환경과 대사의 변화와 관련하여 어떤 영향을 미치는지 연구하였다. 방법: 고양이의 대뇌 피질 절편에 저산소 발작을 유발한 뒤 flame photometry scintillation, Spectrophotometry, method of Jorgensen and Skou, method of Fiske and Subbarow, oxygen monitor, luciferin-luciferase assay 등을 이용하여 세포내 이온함량과 세포대사를 측정하였다. 결과: 성향정기산은 저산소증으로 유발된 세포내의 $K^+$와 $Na^+$의 함량의 변화를 현저하게 지연시켰다. 성향정기산은 Na-K-ATPase의 억제제인 와바인 또는 대사억제제인 2.4-DNP로 유발된 세포내 $K^+$함량의 변화에 어떤 효과도 보이지 않았다. 또한, 정상 상태의 절편뿐만 아니라 저산소 상태의 절편에서 분리된 과립체의 분설에 있어서 Na-K-ATPase의 활동도에 영향을 미치지 않았다. 성향정기산은 저산소 발작하에서 산소 소비량과 세포의 ATP함량이 떨어지는 것을 현저하게 막았다. 또한 ATP를 생산하는 기능을 보호하는 저산소 조직의 사립체를 돕는데 효과적이었다. 결론: 성향정기산은 대뇌 조직의 저산소 발작하에서 세포의 이온 환경과 대사를 보호하는 유익한 효과가 있음을 알 수 있다.