• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2009

The roots of Rumecis Radix have been used for the treatment of heat phlegm, jaundice, constipation, scabies and uterine hemorrhage. The aim of this study was to confirm whether Rumecis Radix water extract (RJWE) has a preventive effect on the development of atopic dermatitis (AD) in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-applied BALB/c mice. Oral administration (12.5 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg) and topical application (0.5 mg/mouse, 1.0 mg/mouse) of RJWE decreased the development of AD-like skin lesions, ear swelling, spleen weight and total serum IgE. RJWE significantly also inhibited the infiltration of mast cells in the dorsal skin. Furthermore, the release of histamine from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs) was suppressed significantly. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of RJWE on AD might be associated with mast cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.431-437
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• 2014

Synthetic compounds that are used in the clinic to regulate skin hyperpigmentation, such as arbutin, hydroquinone, and kojic acid, are only moderately effective. But, their use is limited by side effects. As part of an effort to overcome the limitations, we developed resveratrol-enriched rice (RR) using genetic engineering technique. Each of resveratrol and rice has been reported to produce anti-melanogenic effects. Therefore, we hypothesized that RR would show more anti-melanogenic effects than those of resveratrol or rice alone. Anti-melanogenic effect of RR was done by using melan-a mouse melanocytes. The depigmenting efficacy was then observed following topical application of the RR to UVB-stimulated hyperpigmented dorsal skin of guinea pigs. Treatment with RR extract resulted a $21.4{\pm}0.7%$ decrease in tyrosinase expression at melan-a cells. Colorimetric analysis showed a significantly lower depigmenting value by day 9 following treatment with RR in UVB-irradiated guinea pigs the dorsal skin (p<0.01), indicating that RR produced a depigmentation effect. By staining with Fontana-Masson stain, we found that the RR-treated group had more effect histopathologically in epidermal melanin production than resveratrol or rice alone-treated group. RR was associated with reduction in the levels of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), and downregulation of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP-2) expression, leading to inhibit epidermal melanin production by western blot analysis. This study suggests that the resveratrol-enriched rice may be a promising candidate in regulating skin pigmentation with UVB exposure.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations in meningeal blood flow by stimulation of trigeminovascular system. An open cranial window was prepared on the right parietal bone of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Trigeminovascular system was stimulated by electrical stimulation of trigeminal ganglion (ETS), somatosensory (whisker) stimulation, or topical applications of capsaicin and neuropeptides including substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). Neonatal capsaicin pretreatment was performed with subcutaneous administration of capsaicin (50 mg/kg) within the first 24 hours after birth. Changes in regional blood flow of dural artery (rDBF) and pial artery (rPBF) were continuously measured through the cranial window by laser-Doppler flowmetry. Both ETS and capsaicin caused a chain of alterations in rPBF and rDBF responses, i.e., an immediate transient decrease followed by rapid and marked increase in rPBF, which were significantly attenuated not only by pretreatments with L-733,060, a $NK_1$ receptor blocker, $CGRP_{8-37}$, a $CGRP_1$ receptor blocker, and 7-nitroindazole monosodium salt (7-NINA), a neuronal nitric oxide synthase inhibitor but also by neonatal capsaicin treatment. Exogenous neuropeptides including substance P and CGRP increased the meningeal blood flow, which was significantly attenuated not only by pretreatment with L-733,060 and $CGRP_{8-37}$, respectively, but also by pretreatment with 7-NINA. The rPBF response to whisker stimulation was significantly attenuated not only by trigeminovascular system injuries including nasociliary nerve denervation and neonatal capsaicin treatment but also by pretreatments with L-733,060, $CGRP_{8-37}$ and 7-NINA. These results suggest that the stimulation of trigeminovascular system causes prominent alterations in meningeal blood flow, and that neuropeptides as well as nitric oxide in the trigeminovascular system are importantly implicated in the regulation of meningeal blood flow.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.152-160
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• 2004

Backgrounds : Androgenetic alopecia is a relatively common disorder, but its precise mechanism is not elucidated. There are two commercial drugs approved by FDA. One(finasteride) has an inhibition activity of 5$\alpha$-reductase(type 2) and the other(minoxidil) has a vasodilation activity. Objectives : A verified herbal remedy for baldness is needed for medicinal treatment or preventing alopecia, which could be demonstrated by alopecia-related in vitro & in vivo tests Methods : On the basis of oriental pharmacognosy, we classified many herbal medicines into four groups (malnutrition, aging, alopecia and gray hair) according to its effect. The mitosis induction of hairy dermal papillae cell and the metabolic inhibition for type 2 $5{\alpha}-reductase$ were tested with five herbal extracts. Also, five herbal extracts were added to the normal essence formulation (HHRHG0202-80) in ranges of 0.1~0.3%, which was applied two-mouse models to validate each hair growing activity in vivo. Results : Stimulation of follicular papillae cell proliferation was observed in treatment of three herbal extracts (Glycyrrhizae radix:159.7%, Corni fructus : 144.7%, and Coicis semen : 136.6%) at a dose of $10\mu\textrm{g}/ml$. Three herbal extracts (Biotae semen. Glycyrrhizae radix and Coicis semen) showed inhibitory activity for $5{\alpha}-reductase$(type 2) at 93.18%, 73.36% and 47.6%, respectively at the same dose. We observed the enhancement of hair growth activity in C57b1/6 mouse and the inhibition of alopecia in AGA mouse after topical administration of the hair essence. Conclusions : Hair essence product, which contains five medicinal plants, would be used for the remedy for male pattern baldness (MPB) and the other alopecia diseases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2007

Alstonia scholaris (Family: Apocynaceae) has been indicated for the treatment of various diseases, one among which is wound healing. The purpose of this study is to investigate the wound healing effect and antioxidant role of Alstonia scholaris leaves in animal models. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of Alstonia scholaris (EEAS, AEAS respectively) were tested against excision, incision and dead space wound models to evaluate the wound healing activity. In excision wound model, treatment was continued till the complete healing of wound, in incision and dead space wound models, the treatment was continued for 10 days. For topical application, 5% w/w ointment of EEAS and AEAS were prepared in 2% sodium alginate. For oral administration, EEAS was suspended in distilled water using Tween 80 and AEAS was dissolved in distilled water. The wound healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialisation, skin breaking strength, granulation strength, dry granulation tissue weight, hydroxyproline, collagen and histopathology of granulation tissue. Malondialdehyde level was also estimated to evaluate the extent of lipid peroxidation. AEAS and EEAS significantly promoted wound healing activity in all the wound models studied. Increase in the rate of wound contraction, skin breaking strength, granulation strength, dry granulation tissue weight, hydroxyproline and collagen, decrease in the period for epithelialisation and increased collagenation in histopathological section were observed with EEAS and AEAS treated groups. EEAS and AEAS also significantly decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation. The present study is suggestive that EEAS and AEAS promote wound healing activity.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.509-515
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• 2017

Background Skin flap necrosis is a common complication after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. It has been proven that nitroglycerin ointment, as a topical vasodilator, can decrease the rate of skin flap necrosis after mastectomy and breast reconstruction. However, nitroglycerin can cause several side effects, including headache, dizziness, and hypotension. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the application of a low dose of nitroglycerin ointment reduced the rate of skin flap necrosis in breast reconstruction after skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy. Methods A total of 73 cases of breast reconstruction after nipple-sparing and skin-sparing mastectomy at our institution from March 2012 to January 2017 were retrospectively studied. Of these patients, 52 received nitroglycerin ointment (4.5 mg) application to the skin around the nipple-areolar complex from August 2015 to January 2017, while 21 received fusidic acid ointment from March 2012 to August 2015. The number of patients who experienced necrosis of the breast skin flap was counted in both groups. Results Skin flap necrosis developed in 2 (3.8%) patients who were treated with nitroglycerin ointment and 5 (23.8%) patients who did not receive nitroglycerin ointment treatment. Patients who did not receive nitroglycerin ointment treatment had a significantly higher risk of mastectomy skin flap necrosis than patients who did (odds ratio=7.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.38 to 44.23; P=0.02). Conclusions Low-dose nitroglycerin ointment administration significantly decreased the rate of skin flap necrosis in patients who underwent breast reconstruction after skin-sparing or nipple-sparing mastectomy, without increasing the incidence of the side effects of nitroglycerin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.607-613
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• 2014

In a previous study, we have shown that mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) extract MFE) and its compounds have the antioxidant effect in human red blood cells. However, the possible effect of MFE and its compounds on improvement of blood flow were not reported. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of MFE and its compounds on improvement of blood flow in a rat model of topical ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$)-induced carotid artery damage. The $FeCl_3$ treatment seriously damaged the carotid artery: the walls of the artery, blood flow rate, blood vessel diameter, blood vessel area and blood flow amount. However, administration of MFE or its compound has ameliorated the blood flow and suppressed thrombus in blood vessels. Moreover, the concentrations of serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol in the MET and its compound groups were remarkably reduced in comparison to the control group, and HDL cholesterol concentration was higher in the MET and its compound groups than in the control group. These results suggest that MFE and its compounds ameliorate the thrombosis against blood vessel damage.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.85-93
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• 2016

We already reported that genetically engineered resveratrol-enriched rice (RR) showed to down-regulate skin melanogenesis. To be developed to increase the bioactivity of RR using calli from plants, RR was adopted for mass production using plant tissue culture technologies. In addition, high-pressure homogenization (HPH) was used to increase the biocompatibility and penetration of the calli from RR into the skin. We aimed to develop anti-melanogenic agents incorporating calli of RR (cRR) and nanoparticles by high-pressure homogenization, examining the synergistic effects on the inhibition of UVB-induced hyperpigmentation. Depigmentation was observed following topical application of micro-cRR, nano-calli of normal rice (cNR), and nano-cRR to ultraviolet B (UVB)-stimulated hyperpigmented guinea pig dorsal skin. Colorimetric analysis, tyrosinase immunostaining, and Fontana-Masson staining for UVB-promoted melanin were performed. Nano-cRR inhibited changes in the melanin color index caused by UVB-promoted hyperpigmentation, and demonstrated stronger anti-melanogenic potential than micro-cRR. In epidermal skin, nano-cRR repressed UVB-promoted melanin granules, thereby suppressing hyperpigmentation. The UVB-enhanced, highly expressed tyrosinase in the basal layer of the epidermis was inhibited by nano-cRR more prominently than by micro-cRR and nano-cNR. The anti-melanogenic potency of nano-cRR also depended on pH and particle size. Nano-cRR shows promising potential to regulate skin pigmentation following UVB exposure.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.502-508
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• 2005

Titrated extract of Centella asiatica (TECA) contains three principal ingredients, asiaticoside (AS), asiatic acid (AA), and madecassic acid (MA). These components are known to be clinically effective on systemic scleroderma, abnormal scar formation, and keloids. However, one problem associated with administration of TECA is its low solubility in aqueous as well as oil medium. In this study, various nonionic surfactants and bile salts as anionic surfactant were tested and screened for solubilizing TECA with a view to developing topical hydrogel type of ointment which is stable physicochemically, and has better pharmacological effects. When TECA was incorporated into various nonionic surfactant systems, labrasol had the most potent capacity for solubilizing TECA. In cases of bile salt systems, Na-deoxycholate (Na-DOC) had foremost solubilizing capacity, even more than labrasol. In differential scanning calorimetric study, the peaks of AA, MA, AS and Na-DOC disappeared at the coprecipitate of $1\%$ TECA and $1\%$ Na-DOC, suggesting the optimum condition of Na-DOC for solubilizing TECA. When the physicochemical stability of hydrogel containing this mixture was assessed, it was stable at room temperature for at least one month. Pharmacologically it significantly decreased the size of wound area at the $9^{th}$ day when applied to the wound area of rat dorsal skin. Taken together, solubility of TECA was dramatically improved by using non ionic and anionic surfactant systems, and Na-DOC was found to be the most effective solubilizer of TECA in formulating a TECA-containing hydrogel typed ointment. Moreover this gel was considered to be applicable to clinical use for wound healing effect.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.441-443
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• 2007

Horner's syndrome is a group of clinical signs that results from interference with the sympathetic innervation of the globe and adnexa. Three dogs were presented with unilateral ptosis, miosis, enophthalmos and protrusion of the third eyelid. There were no other clinical signs on physical and neurological examination. On ophthalmic examination, the symptomatic eyes were diagnosed as Horner's syndrome. In order to localize the site of the lesion, pharmacological testing was performed through assessment of ocular response to the topical administration of 10% phenylephrine and clinical signs were resolved within 20 minutes. The pharmacological testing suggested that the deficit could be at the postganglionic neuron. Total resolution of clinical signs was observed within 6 months after their initial appearance without any treatment.