• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-95
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• 2008

Objectives: Whitmania pigra whitman (WP) has been used in herbal medicine to treat various conditions, such as eczema, skin burns and frostbites in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study is was to investigate the effect of WP on anti-allergy mechanism. Methods: To clarify the mechanism, the effect of WP on vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue and histamine and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$) released from mast cells were observed. Results: The results were 1. the pretreatment with WP significantly decreased the compound 48/80-induced degranulation and histamine release from RPMC 2. WP did not inhibit the anti-DNP IgE-induced increment of vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue 3. WP significantly reduced the PMA plus A23187-induced increment of expression of IL-6, IL-8, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: The present study providesevidence that WP acid inhibits mast cell-derived inflammatory allergic reactions by blocking histamine release and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and suggest the mechanisms of action. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of WP suggests a possible therapeutic application of this agent in inflammatory allergic diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-34
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• 2013

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of immune reaction inductive substances such as PMA, LPS, DPE, DNCB and WP, the whitman pigra extracting substance at simultaneously on the translocation of $NF{\kappa}B$ towards to the nucleus and the mRNA expression patterns of various cytokine genes in THP-1 cells, monocytes of human. Methods : To analyze the cytokine genes expressions, the RT-PCR method was used, and measuring TNF-${\alpha}$ that had been secreted during cell culture by the ELISA method. The morphological changes were observed during THP-1 cell by a scanning electron microscope and the quantitative distribution of $NF{\kappa}B$ in the cell that was analyzed through immunocytochemistry and a confocal microscopy. Results : WP showed different influences onto the mRNA expression patterns of cytokine genes with PMA, LPS. DPE and DNCB according to the types of immune inductive substances in the THP-1 cells. Upon treating PMA and DPE on the THP-1 cells at the same time or either additionally treating WP thereon, the movement of $NF{\kappa}B$ increase towards the nucleus from cell cytoplasm was able to be observed. The expressions of IL-$1{\alpha}$ and IFN-${\gamma}$ induced by PMA and PMA+DNCB were suppressed by WP while the expression of TGF-${\beta}$ was promoted. Regarding the secretion pattern of TNF-${\alpha}$ according to the treatment of PMA, its secretion amount was incredibly increased by concurrent treatment of WP, however, in case of co-treatment of WP with PMA and DNCB, it was found that the secretion amount of TNF-${\alpha}$ decreased. Conclusions : In this study, the WP extracting substance was confirmed that it had an influence on expression patterns of cytokine genes according to the actions of a variety kinds of immune reaction inductive substances treated on the THP-1 cells. Especially, WP co-treatment with PMA and DNCB was suppressed the expression of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-$1{\alpha}$, IFN-${\gamma}$ and TNF-${\alpha}$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.151-163
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• 2002

Traditionally, the Leech (Hirudo) has been used for the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases, cardiovascular diseases, women's diseases, etc. In Chinese medicine, usually Chinese medical doctors use Whitmania pigra Whitman among several species in their clinics. Because it was considered as toxic animal medicine according to related books, they used it in a parched form with Talcum powder, and this is the most general type for medication. Nowadays, however, many clinical doctors regard it as secure, so they tend to use it naturally in a capsule, in large quantities, and more frequently. We have no doubt that it is useful for diseases connected with blood stasis, especially including pulmonary diseases and allergic diseases, so we urge that many Korean oriental medical doctors use it practically in their clinics.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.260-273
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• 2004

Backgrounds : In recent years, asthma has become recognized as a chronic inflammatory disease associated pathologically with airway epithelial inflammation and airway remodeling. Objectives : To evaluate the different effects of Hirudo depending upon pharmaceutical manufactures on the expression and the activities of IL-6 and GM-CSF in airway epithelial cells, samples of Hirudo(水蛭), Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) and Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) were tested. Methods : After inducing enhanced messenger RNA(mRNA) expression and secretion of each cytokine by tumor necrosis factor-alpha(10 ng/ml) treatment, cultured human bronchial epithelial cell line BEAS-2B was added to each sample$(l,\;10,\;100\;&\;1000\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Subsequently, DNA activities were analyzed. Specifically mRNA expression and culture supernatants(protein levels) of IL-6 and GM-CSF from BEAS-2B cells, were analyzed using luciferase reporter gene assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results : Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) inhibited IL-6 activities in BEAS-2B cells remarkably, and inhibited mRNA expression levels and protein levels in supernatant of IL-6 and GM-CSF at various concentrations, significantly(p<0.05). However, Hirudo toasted with Talcum(水蛭滑石炒) had no effect on mRNA expression levels and showed a slight inhibitory effect on GM-CSF protein levels in supernatant of culture medium. Conclusions : These results strongly suggest that Hirudo toasted with Ephedrae Herba(水蛭麻黃炒) and Hirudo(水蛭) would be serve as effective medicaments in the treatment of airway inflammation and remodeling of asthmatic patients.