• 대한한의학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.66-76
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• 1999

The purpose of this study was to asses the etlect of Uncaria rhynchophylla (UR). one of the oriental herbs having a capability to block calcium channels, on affecting vestibular compensation (VC) in Sprague - Dawley rats. Animals were divided into a drug treatment group receiving, UR per oral for 10 days preceding unilateral labyrinthectomy (ULX) and a control group with saline ingestion, To evaluate behavioral changes. horizontal spontaneous nystagmus (SN) and roll head tilt (RHT) were recorded by a video camem with zoom lens in the course of vestibular compensation (VC). Immunohistochemical staining was performed by conventional ABC method to visualize cFos-like immunoreactive (cFLI) neurons in the medial vestibular nuclei (MVN) and cFLI cells were counted by image analyzer. Bodyweight was increased significantly, about 35g, by UR treatment for 10 clays before ULX. Compared with the control group, the drug group showed significant reduction of RHT 6 hrs after ULX as well as fast disappearance of SN at early stages of vestibular compensation. Also, recovery of the spatial and temporal cFLI expressions in the bilateral MVN was accelerated 24 hrs after ULX. These results suggest that Uncaria rhynchophyila has a beneficial effect to ameliorate vestibular compensation in unilateral labryinthectomized rats.

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제27권3호
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• pp.142-153
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• 2021

Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response to chronic liver injury, which is caused by the continuous and excess deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM). The aim of this study is to investigate whether Uncaria rhynchophylla water extract (UR) can ameliorate thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis. The liver fibrosis model was induced on C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal injection with TAA three times a week for 8 weeks. UR (200 mg/kg) or silymarin (50 mg/kg) was administered orally daily for 8 weeks. Biochemical analyses including AST, ALT, MPO, and Ammonia levels were measured in serum. In the mice liver tissues, western blot and histological staining were analyzed. As a result, UR dramatically reduced the levels in serum AST, ALT, MPO, and Ammonia levels. UR treatment regulated NADPH oxidase factors expression, and antioxidant enzymes except for GPx-1/2 were significantly increased via Nrf2 activation. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory mediators, such as COX-2 and iNOS were markedly suppressed through the inhibition of NF-κB activation. Expressions of ECM-related protein including α-SMA and Collagen I were noticeably decreased. The additional histological evaluation confirmed that hepatocyte damage and collagenous fiber accumulation were attenuated. Taken together, these data suggest that UR possessed hepatoprotective effects in TAA-induced liver fibrosis via the NF-κB inactivation and Nrf2 activation. Therefore, UR may act as a potential therapeutic drug against liver fibrosis.