• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.164-179
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• 2002

Object: Death rate due to hypertension, atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease and cerebral infarction induced by Westernized diet and increased average life span is on the rise. Decrease in blood circulation, activation of thrombus generation and intravascular lipid accumulation, cited as the principal causes of the above mentioned diseases in recent studies, result in circulatory disturbance and blood vessel obstruction leading to ischemic cell death of heart, brain and peripheral vessels. Method: We investigated the biochemical changes in microvascular permeability, aggregation of platelet and the intravascular lipid accumulation in induced-diabetic rat using Streptozotocin. We also studied the effects of Woohwangcheongsirn-won after oral administration on blood circulation, platelet function and lipid metabolism. The results are as follows: I. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased blood circulation in microvessels. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won increased the reduced erythrocyte deformability in diabetes. 3. Woohwangcheongsim-won induced the reduction of contents of 2, 3-DPG, but failed to affect the reduced contents of ATP in erythrocyte in diabetes. 4. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the activity of Ca/sup 2+/-ATPase in the membrane of erythrocyte. 5. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the platelet aggregation evoked by platelet agglutinin factor. 6. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of platelet-derived granules. 7. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the production of metabolites of arachidonic acid in diabetes, and also reduced the production of increased thromboxane B2. 8. Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol. In conclusion, Woohwangcheongsim-won enhanced blood circulation in microvesseles, erythrocyte deformability and inhibited the increased platelet aggregation and the synthesis of oxidized LDL-cholesterol in diabetes. Therefore Woohwangcheongsim-won is believed to positively affect blood circulation (J Korean Oriental Med 2002;23(2):164-179)

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won on neuronal death of hypoxic E18 cortical neuroblast. Methods : To evaluate the effect of Woohwangcheongsim-won on neuronal death caused by hypoxia, the survival rate of E18 cortical neuroblast was measured with MTT assay and the changes of several synaptic proteins and enzymes were investigated with the immunoblot assays. Results : The E18 cortical neuroblasts were added 50, 100, 500, 1,000, and $5,000{\mu}g/ml$ Woohwangcheongsim-won. They showed neurotoxicity, when the concentration of Woohwangcheongsim-won was above $1,000{\mu}g/ml$. The E18 cortical neuroblasts, which were added 50, 100, and $500{\mu}g/ml$ Woohwangcheongsim-won, were exposed 98% $N_2/5%\;CO_2$ for 3 hours to induce hypoxia, 3 days later, the survival rate of $50{\mu}g/ml$ Woohwangcheongsim-won was 141.5% when compared to the control group. On the immuneblot assays, the expressions of ${\alpha}$CaMKII, NR2A, NR28, PDE2, PSD-95, and eEF-$1{\alpha}$ were increased in normoxia, but those of NR2A, NR2B were decreased in hypoxia when compared to the control group. Conclusions : The data shows that the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won on neuronal death of hypoxic E18 cortical neuroblast is a significant result.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.145-163
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• 2002

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won and to study the mechanism for neuronal death protection in hypoxia with Embryonic day 20 (E20) cortical cells of a rat (Sprague Dawley). Methods: E20 cortical cells were dissociated in neurobasal media and grown for 14 days in vitro (DIV). On 14 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won was added to the culture media for 24 hrs or 72 hrs. On 17 DIV, cells were given a hypoxic shock and further incubated in normoxia for another three days. On 20 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection were evaluated by LDH assay, propidium iodide stain and phospho-H2AX immunostain and the mechanisms were studied by Bcl-2, Bak, Bax, caspase family, PKCα, ca1pain I. Results & Conclusions : 1. This study indicated that Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection in hypoxia were confirmed by LDH assay, propidium iodide stain and phospho-H2AX immunostain in culture method of Embryonic day 20(E20) cortical neuroblasts. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won's mechanisms for neuronal death protection in hypoxia are to reduce the membrane damage fraction, to restrain DNA truncate, to restrain inflow of cytochrome c into cellularity caused by Bak diminution, to reduce the caspase cascade intiator caspase-8 and the effector caspase-3, to reduce the calpain I activity and to increase PKCand its activity in the membrane fraction. (J Korean Oriental Moo 2002;23(3):145～163)

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.125-139
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• 2002

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won and to study the mechanism for neuronal death protection in OGD (oxygen-glucose deprivation) model with embryonic day 20 (E20) cortical cells of a rat (Sprague Dawley). Methods: E20 cortical cells were dissociated in neurobasal media and grown for 14 days in vitro (DIV). On 14 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won was added to the culture media for 72 hrs. On 17 DIV, cells were given an oxygen-glucose deprivation shock (2hrs and 4hrs) and further incubated in normoxia for another three days. On 20 DIV, Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection were evaluated by LDH assay and the mechanisms were studied by Bcl-2, Bak, Bax, caspase family. Results & Conclusions: 1. This study indicates that Woohwangcheongsim-won's effects for neuronal death protection in OGD model is confirmed by LDH assay in culture method of embryonic day 20(E20) cortical neuroblasts. 2. Woohwangcheongsim-won's mechanisms for neuronal death protection in OGD model are to restrain inflow of cytochrome c into cellularity caused by Bcl-2 increase (2hrs and 4hrs), to reduce the caspase cascade initiator caspase-8 (4hrs).

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.36-51
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• 2014

Objectives: cDNA microarray is an effective method to snapshot gene expression. Functional clustering of gene expressions can identify herbal medicine mechanisms. Much microarray data is available for various herbal medicines. This study compares regulated genes with herbal medicines to evaluate the nature of the drugs. Methods: Published microarray data were collected. Total RNAs were prepared from dissociated hippocampal dissociate cultures which were given hypoxic shock in the presence of each herbal medicine. Up- or downregulated genes higher than Global M value 0.5 were selected, clustered in functional groups, and compared with various herbal treatments. Results: 1. Akt2 was upregulated by Acorus gramineus SOLAND, Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$ and Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$, and they belong to Araceae herb. 2. Nf-${\kappa}b1$, Cd5, $Gn{\gamma}7$ and Sgne1 were upregulated by Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$, Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$ and Rheum coreanum $N_{AKAI}$. 3. Woohwangcheongsim-won, Sohaphyang-won and Scutellaria baicalensis $G_{EORGI}$ downregulated Scp2 and upregulated Tsc2. Woohwangcheongsim-won and Sohaphyang-won upregulated Hba1 and downregulated Myf6. 4. Sohaphyang-won and Scutellaria baicalensis $G_{EORGI}$ downregulated Slc12a1. 5. Woohwangcheongsim-won and Arisaema amurense var. serratum $N_{AKAI}$ upregulated $Rar{\alpha}$, Woohwangcheongsim-won and Coptis chinensis $F_{RANCH}$ downregulated Rab5a and $Pdgfr{\alpha}$, and Woohwangcheongsim-won and Rheum coreanum $N_{AKAI}$ upregulated $Plc{\gamma}1$ and downregulated Pla2g1b and Slc10a1. Conclusions: By clustering microarray, genes are commonly identified to be either up- or downregulated. These results will provide new information to understand the efficacy of herbal medicines and to classify them at the molecular level.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.78-89
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• 2001

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won on reperfusion following MCA occlusion in rats. Methods : To evaluate the effect of Woohwangcheongsim-won on reperfusion following MCA occlusion, the volume of cerebral ischemia and edema were measured and the change of the CAI pyramidal neuron in the hippocampus was investigated by light microscopy. And the changes of several neurotransmitters and enzymes were investigated with the immunohistochemical methods. Results : 1. The volume of the control group, which was ischemic-damaged was 23.6%, and that of the sample group was 13.5%. 2. The voluminalratio of the right/left hemisphere was 116 in the control group, and that of the sample group was 107. 3. The pyramidal cells of CAI area in the control group were greatly damaged. The cells were changed into discontinuous and unsystematic forms, and nuclei, and cytoplasms were shrunk. On the other hand, the cells of the sample group were less damaged. 4. On the immunohistochemical methods, the sensitivities of GABA, NOS, DBH in the control group were increased, and those of synapsin and $eEF-l{\alpha}$ were decreased as compared with the normal group. NOS and DBH which were negative in the normal group showed positive reaction. On the other hand, the sensitivities of GABA, NOS and DBH in the sample group were decreased, but those of NPY, synapsin, CaMKII and $eEF-l{\alpha}$ were increased as compared with the control group. Conclusions : Woohwangcheongsim-won reduced the volume of cerebral ischemia and edema, and minimized the damage of pyramidal cells. The mechanism was related to protein synthesis, such as synapsin, ${\alpha}CaMKII$ and $eEF-l{\alpha}$, which resist neurotoxicity of glutamate receptors.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.123-136
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this investigation is to evaluate the effects of Woohwangcheongsim-won (WC) on the in vitro neuronal development and alteration in gene expression in a hypoxia model using cultured rat cortical cells. Methods : E/sub 18/ rat cortical cells were grown in a neurobasal medium containing B27 supplement and various concentration of WC. Initial development of growth cone was investigated by phase-contrast microscopy, while dendritic spine formation and synaptogenesis were investigated by immunocytochemistry with SynGAPα(a postsynaptic marker) and synaptophysin (presynaptic marker) antibodies. Alteration in gene expression was analyses by microarray using rat 5K-TwinChips. Results : WC suppressed the development of growth cones and WC increased the number of dendritic spines at 20 and 50㎍/mL concentration but there was no statistical significance. Instead, it significantly decreased the number at 100㎍/mL. The expression of anti-apoptosis gene Bcl2-like 1 (Bcl211) increased (Global M=0.46), while Akt1 decreased. Proapoptosis genes Bad and PDCD2 increased. The expression of hemoglobin alpha 1 (probably neuroglobin) increased (Global M=0.93). The expression of antioxidants such as catalase, heme oxygenase (HO), and PRKAG2 gene increased. The expression PKC gene increased. The expression of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) increased significantly (Global M=1.0). Conclusions : These data suggest that WC trends to suppress cellular activity slightly in normoxia and increases the expression of apoptosis-, antioxidation-, oxygen capture-related genes in hypoxia, but increases Bcl111 that anti-apoptosis gene, on the other hand increases Bad, PDCD2 that pro-apoptosis genes, too..