• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.159-168
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effects of Dipsaci Radix on Muscle Fiber Atrophy and MyoD Expression in Gastrocnemius of MCAO Rats Methods : In order to investigate effects of Dipsaci radix on the skeletal muscle atrophy following stroke, cerebral infarct was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the rats. Water extract of Dipsaci radix (184.4 mg/100 g) was treated for 4 weeks, once a day orally, after the MCAO. Effects were evaluated with muscle fiber type composition and cross-sectioned area of muscle fibers in gastrocnemius of the unaffected & affected hind limbs. And MyoD protein expression in gastrocnemius was demonstrated with immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results : Obtained results were as follows; 1. Infarct volume was not attenuated by Dipsaci radix treatment in the MCAO rats. 2. At the affected-side hind limb of the MCAO rats, the increase of type-I fibers and the decrease of type-II fibers were induced by Dipsaci radix treatment. 3. At the affected-side hind limb of the MCAO rats, decreases of cross-sectioned areas of type-I and type-II fibers were attenuated by Dipsaci radix treatment. 4. At the affected-side hind limb of the MCAO rats, MyoD positive cells were increased by Dipsaci radix treatment. 5. At the affected-side hind limb of the MCAO rats, MyoD expressions were increased by Dipsaci radix treatment. Conclusions : These results suggest that Dipsaci radix has a protective effect against muscle atrophy, through the inhibition of the muscle cell apoptosis, following the central nervous system demage.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.128-133
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• 2000

A high molecular (more than 10 kDa) fraction, showing mitogenic and comitogenic activities in spleen cells of mouse, was isolated from water extract of ginseng. The crude protein substance prepared by 80% (NH$_4$)$_2$SO$_4$ precipitation from this fraction was purified and isolated by DEAE Sepharose column chromatography. Among the fractions eluted, it was found that four kinds of fractions eluted with 0 to 1 M NaCl gradient were glycoproteins, which induced proliferation of spleen cells and increased NO production in macrophages. Among them, F-2 fraction, which contained 35.9% protein,49.4% neutral sugar and 12.5% uronic acid, was found to show mitogenic activity as strong as that of LPS (lipopolysaccharide) at a concentration of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml and to remarkably stimulate NO production by murine macrophages at a concentration of 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. When F-2 is deproteinized, the mitogenic activity of F-2 was decreased significantly to 70.9% as compared with that of F-2. This results suggests that the protein moiety of F-2 may play an important role in immunomodulating activity of glycoprotein from the root of Panax ginseng.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2010

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been well-known as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments since ancient times, and it is well documented that enhanced garlic consumption leads to a decrease in incidences of cancer. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical structures for the maintenance of cellular polarity, acting as paracellular permeability barriers and playing an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated as possible mediators of invasiveness and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of water extract of aged black garlic (ABG) on the correlation between tightening of TJs and anti-invasive activity in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The inhibitory effects of ABG on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Additionally, the activities of MMP-2 and -9 in AGS cells were inhibited by treatment with ABG, and this was also correlated with a decrease in the expression of their mRNA and proteins. Furthermore, RT-PCR and immunoblotting results indicated that ABG repressed the levels of the claudin proteins, major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. In conclusion, these results suggest that ABG treatment may inhibit tumor metastasis and invasion, and therefore may act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of developing cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1008-1013
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is the leading underlying cause of fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women, due to the loss of estrogen-mediated suppression of bone resorption. More than 50% of adults 50 years of age or older are estimated to have osteoporosis. Osteoclast which is main target for treatment of osteoporosis is originated from hematopoietic cell line. Aloe has been widely used in worldwide country as a coadjuvant medicine. Extracts of the leaves of Aloe have been used in condition to improve dermatologic problem such as seborrheic dermatitis, aphthous stomatitis, xerosis, lichen planus and has been known to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects. However, despite the popularity of aloe as a plant food supplements, the evaluation of its efficacy as a possible therapeutic option for osteoporosis remains scarce. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Aloe on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Here we found that Aloe significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Aloe suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Aloe significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Aloe greatly inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results suggested that Aloe may be useful tool for treatment of osteoporosis by inhibition of osteoclast differentiation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.652-658
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• 2016

Twenty $Pelibuey{\times}Katahdin$ ewes ($35{\pm}2.3kg$) were used to determine the effects of the consumption of standardized plant extract containing a mixture of quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids and protopine alkaloids (QBA+PA) on growth performance, dietary energetics, visceral mass, and ruminal epithelial health in heat-stressed ewes fed with a high-energy corn-based diet. The basal diet (13.9% crude protein and 2.09 Mcal of net energy [NE] of maintenance/kg of dry matter) contained 49.7% starch and 15.3% neutral detergent fiber. Source of QBA+PA was Sangrovit RS (SANG) which contains 3 g of quaternary benzophenathridine and protopine alkaloids per kg of product. Treatments consisted of a daily consumption of 0 or 0.5 g SANG/ewe. Ewes were grouped by weight and assigned to 10 pens (5 pens/treatment), with two ewes per pen. The experimental period lasted 70 days. The mean temperature humidity index during the course of this experiment was $81.7{\pm}1.0$ (severe heat stress). There were no treatment effects on water intake. Dry matter intake was not affected (p = 0.70) by treatments, but the group fed SANG had a numerically (11.2%) higher gain in comparison to the control group, SANG improved gain efficiency (8.3%, p = 0.04), dietary NE (5.2%, p<0.01) and the observed-to-expected NE (5.9%, p<0.01). Supplemental SANG did not affect ($p{\geq}0.12$) carcass characteristics, chemical composition of shoulder, and organ weights (g/kg empty body weight) of stomach complex, intestines, and heart/lung. Supplemental SANG decreased liver weight (10.3%, p = 0.02) and increased visceral fat (16.9%, p = 0.02). Rumen epithelium of ewes fed SANG had lower scores for cellular dropsical degeneration (2.08 vs 2.34, p = 0.02), parakeratosis (1.30 vs 1.82, p = 0.03) and neutrophil infiltration (2.08 vs 2.86, p = 0.05) than controls. It is concluded that SANG supplementation helped ameliorate the negative effects of severe heat on growth performance of feedlot ewes fed high-energy corn-based diets. Improvement in energetic efficiency may have been mediated, in part, by anti-inflammatory effects of supplemental SANG and corresponding enhancement of nutrient uptake.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.47-63
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• 2008

Objectives : Eucommiae cortex is reported that it helps bone and skeletal muscle stronger. In case of bone, many report is presented, but reports related to skeletal muscle are rarely existed. So in order to investigate effects of Eucommiae cortex on the skeletal muscle atrophy following stroke, cerebral infarct was induced by the middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in the rats. Methods : In order to induce MCAO rats, nylon suture was advanced and then blocked middle cerebral artery(MCA). Water extract of Eucommiae cortex was treated for 15 days, once a day orally, after the MCAO. Effects were evaluated with muscle weights, muscle fiber type composition, cross-sectioned area of muscle fibers in soleus and gastrocnemius of the unaffected and affected hind limbs. And MyoD protein expression in gastrocnemius was demonstrated with immunohistochemistry and western blotting. Results : In the affected hind limb of the MCAO rats, muscle weight loss of gastrocnemius and tibialis anterior muscles were attenuated by Eucommiae cortex treatment. In soleus muscle of the affected hind limb of the MCAO rats, increase of type-I fibers and decrease of type-II fibers were induced by Eucommiae cortex treatment. In soleus muscle of the affected hind limb of the MCAO rats, decrease of cross-sectioned areas of type-I fibers was attenuated by Eucommiae cortex treatment. In gastrocnemius muscle of the affected hind limb of the MCAO rats, increase of type-I fibers and decrease of type-II fibers were induced by Eucommiae cortex treatment. In gastrocnemius muscle of the affected hind limb of the MCAO rats, decreases of cross-sectioned areas of type-I and type-II fibers were attenuated by Eucommiae cortex treatment. In gastrocnemius muscle of the affected and unaffected hind limb of the MCAO rats, MyoD expressions were increased by Eucommiae cortex treatment. Conclusions : These results suggest that Eucommiae cortex has a protective effect against muscle atrophy, through the inhibition of the muscle cell apoptosis, following the central nervous system demage.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang(Huanglianjiedu-tang HHT) water extract on locomotor dysfunction induced by spinal cord injury(SCI) in rats. Methods : SCI was induced by mechanical contusion following laminectomy of 10th thoracic vertebra in Sprague-Dawley rats. HHT was orally given once a day for 14 days after SCI. Neurological behavior was examined with the Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan locomotor rating scale. Tissue damage and nerve fiber degeneration were examined with cresyl violet and luxol fast blue staining. Using immunohistochemisty, cellular damage to neurons and nerve fibers were examined against Bax and MAP-2. As inflammatory response markers, iNOS and COX-2 expressions were also examined. Results : 1. HHT ameliorated the locomotor dysfunction of the SCI-induced rats. 2. HHT attenuated the reduction of motor neurons in the ventral horn of the SCI-induced rat spinal cord. 3. HHT significantly reduced the number of Bax positive cells in the peri-lesion of the SCI-induced rat spinal cord. 4. HHT attenuated the reduction of MAP-2 positive cells in the peri-lesion of the SCI-induced rat spinal cord. 5. HHT significantly reduced the number of iNOS and COX-2 positive cells in the peri-lesion of the SCI-induced rat spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that HHT improves the locomotor dysfunction of SCI by protecting motor neurons from cell death through anti-inflammatory effect.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.174-186
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• 2007

Amphora coffeaeformis and Achnanthes longipes are commonly found as dominant benthic microalgae in Jeju coastal water throughout the year. In order to investigate pharmaceutical uses of these diatoms, each single species was isolated with micropipette under phase contrast microscope and subcultured with synthetic seawater media which was enriched with F/2 media, trace metal solution and $Na_2SiO_3$). Growth characteristics of these species were also determined with different combination of salinity, nutrients concentration and temperature. Thereafter, mass culture of each species was done based on the maximum growth condition. Biomass was collected after two weeks of mass culture and freeze dried for antioxidant study. The antioxidant properties of different fractions (n-hexane, chloroform and ethylacetate) obtained by solvent fractionation of 80% methanolic extract of two microalgae were investigated for free radical, reactive oxygen species scavenging (Super oxide, Hydrogen peroxide, Hydroxyl radical and Nitric oxide), metal chelating and lipid peroxidation inhibition activities. All fractions of A. longipes showed higher $DPPH^{\cdot}$ (free radical) scavenging activities (n-hexane: 89.0%, Chloroform: 76.0%, Ethylacetate: 66.0%, Methanol: 90.6% and aqueous residue: 63.0%). N-hexane fraction of A. longipes showed significantly higher activity (49.0%) on nitric-oxide. Ethylacetate fraction of A. longipes and aqueous residue of A. coffeaeformis exhibited 64.0% and 75.6% metal chelating activity which was higher than commercial antioxidants (${\alpha}$-tocopherol: 18.0% and BHT: 16.0%). The n-hexane fraction of A. coffeaeformis had 67.5% activity on $DPPH^{\cdot}$. Chloroform and n-hexane fractions of A. coffeaeformis exhibited 46.2% and 47.6% $H_2O_2$ scavenging effects which were closely similar to commercial antioxidants (${\alpha}$-tocopherol: 49.2% and BHT: 58.6%). Chloroform and ethylacetate fractions of A. longipes and fraction of n-hexane and chloroform of A. coffeaeformis showed better lipid peroxidation activities than ${\alpha}$-tocopherol. These data suggest that both organic and aqueous fractions have good antioxidative compounds with different antioxidant properties.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.347-350
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• 2011

Biofilms are surface-attached microbial communities with phenotypic and biochemical properties distinct from free-living planktonic cells. Biofilm bacteria show much greater resistance than planktonic counterparts and much higher concentration of biocide is needed to treat biofilms compared to the dosage used for planktonic bacteria. As a result, alternative strategies or more effective agents exhibiting activity against biofilm-producing micro-organisms are of great interest. Therefore, we turned our attention to control of biofilm of S. aureus. The aims of this research are to investigate substances which inhibit the formation of biofilm by S. aureus and to suggest effective materials for controlling skin problems. We coated slide glasses with human placental collagen and the coverslip was incubated with test materials and bacteria. The coverslip was stained with crystal violet and we measured optical density of each sample. The biofilm inhibitory activity was calculated by crystal violet staining degrees. In this study, S. aureus ATCC 6538 was used as test organism. Our results show that both water soluble and insoluble Hinoki cypress polysaccharide strongly inhibited biofilm formation. Whereas, green tea and sunset hibiscus root extract promoted biofilm. Xylitol showed a concentration dependent effect; high concentration (3 % and 5 %) of xylitol reduced biofilm while promoted biofilm formation at a concentration of 1 %. These results support that Hinoki cypress polysaccharide and xylitol have ability to suppress biofilm formation.