• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9049-9058
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• 2014

Casticin (3', 5-dihydroxy-3, 4', 6, 7-tetramethoxyflavone) is an active compound isolated from roots, stems, leaves, fruits and seeds of a variety of plants. It is well known for its pharmacological properties and has been utilized as an anti-hyperprolactinemia, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotetective, analgesic and immunomodulatory agent. Recently, the anticancer activity of casticin has been extensively investigated. The resulkts showed that it exerts protective potential by targeting apoptosis, considered important for cancer therapies. In this article, our aim was to review the pharmacological and therapeutic applications of casticin with specific emphasis on its anticancer functions and related molecular mechanisms. Chemotherapeutic effects are dependent on multiple molecular pathways, which may provide a new perspective of casticin as a candidate anti-neoplastic drug. This review suggests that additional studies and preclinical trials are required to determine specific intracellular sites of action and derivative targets in order to fully understand the mechanisms of its antitumor activity and validate this compound as a medicinal agent for the prevention and treatment of various cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.18
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• pp.7527-7532
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• 2014

Saussurea involucrata is a Mongolian medicinal plant well known for its effects in promoting blood circulation, and anti-inflammation and analgesic functions. Earlier studies reported that Saussurea involucrata has anticancer activity. The purpose of this study was to confirm the anticancer activity of an ethanol extract of Saussurea involucrata against hepatic cancer and elucidate its mechanisms of action. Hepatocellular carcinoma cells were tested in vitro for cytotoxicity, AO/EB staining for apoptotic cells, apoptotic DNA fragmentation and cell cycle distribution in response to Saussurea involucrata extract (SIE). The mRNA expression of caspase-3,-9 and Cdk2 and protein expression of caspase-3,-9, PARP, XIAP, Cdk2 and p21 were analyzed through real time PCR and Western blotting. Treatment with SIE inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation dose- and time-dependently, but SIE only exerted a modest cytotoxic effect on a viability of Chang human liver cells. Cells exposed to SIE showed typical hallmarks of apoptotic cell death. Cell cycle analysis revealed that SIE caused G1-phase arrest in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, Saussurea involucrata ethanol extract has potential cytotoxic and apoptotic effects on human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Its mechanism of action might be associated with the inhibition of DNA synthesis, cell cycle (G1) arrest and apoptosis induction through up-regulation of the protein expressions of caspase-3,-9 a nd p21, degradation of PARP and down-regulation of the protein expression of Cdk2 and XIAP.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.253-262
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• 2006

This study was performed to investigate the effects of treatment for dermatitis using the herbal gel preparations. Scutellariae Radix(SR) and Zingiberis Rhizoma(ZR) were used for the purpose of herbal preparations. Baicalin, baicalein are the ingredients of SR, having biological effects like anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, anti-bacterial and antiallergic action. 6-Gingerol is one of the ingredients of ZR having biologicai effects like anti-inflammatory and analgesic action. The three types of hydrogels(SRE, SRH, SZH) were formulated with Carbopol 940, Labrasol, Triethanolamine etc. Baicalin was hydrolysed to baicalein by $\beta$-glucuronidase for the purpose to increase rate of skin permeation. Content of ingredients by HPLC determination, rate of skin permeation using Franz type diffusion cell, anti-oxidative activity for the free radical, hydroxyl radical, superoxide, anti-inflammatory by using carrageenan injection, efficacy on the dermatitis induced by 2,4-dinitro-chlorobenzene(DNCB) were experimented. Baicalein showed higher permeability than baicalin, so it is considered that baicalein was more suitable form than baicalin for transdermal absorption by its lipophilic property. In the anti-oxidative experiments, SZH gel was the most effective scavenging activity than the other gels in all experiments. In anti-inflammatory test, SRM and SZH gel more decreased edma rapidly than SRE gel. In case of using SZH gel, treatment period for the dermatitis was more declined than that of other gel groups. These results suggests that the SZH hydrogel could be suitable preparations for the treatment of dermatitis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.21-32
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• 2022

Objectives: Inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) is commonly used for mandibular dentoalveolar surgery. The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of coadministration of dexamethasone (4 mg/mL) or adrenaline (0.01 mg/mL) as an adjuvant with lignocaine 2% in IANB during third molar surgery (TMS). Patients and Methods: This double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted between March and August 2020. The investigators screened patients needing elective TMS under local anesthesia. Based on strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, patients were enrolled in this study. These patients were assigned randomly into two study groups: dexamethasone group (DXN) or adrenaline group (ADN). Outcome variables were postoperative edema, trismus, visual analogue scale (VAS), perioperative analgesia, onset time, and duration of IANB. Results: Eighty-three patients were enrolled in this study, of whom 23 (27.7%) were eliminated or excluded during follow-up. This study thus included data from 60 samples. Mean age was 32.28±11.74 years, including 28 females (46.7%) in the ADN (16 patients, 57.1%) and DXN (12 patients, 42.9%) groups. The duration of action for DXN (mean±standard deviation [SD], 4:02:07±0:34:01 hours; standard error [SE], 0:06:00 hours; log-rank P=0.001) and for ADN (mean±SD, 1:58:34±0:24:52 hours; SE, 0:04:42 hours; log-rank P=0.001) were found. Similarly, time at which 1st analgesic consume and total number of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs need to rescue postoperative analgesia was found statistically significant between study groups (t (58)=-11.95; confidence interval, -2:25:41 to -1:43:53; P=0.001). Early-hours VAS was also significantly different between the study groups. Conclusion: A single injection of dexamethasone prolongs the duration of action of lignocaine 2% IANB. Additionally, it can be used in cases where adrenaline is contraindicated.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.36-44
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• 1990

The analgesic effect of morphine was antagonized and the development of tolerance was suppressed by the modification of the neurologic function in the animals treated with ginseng saponins. The activation of the spinal descending inhibitory systems as well as the supraspinal structures by the administration of morphine was inhibited in the animals treated with ginseng saponins intracerebrally or intrathecally The development of morphine tolerance and dependence, and the abrupt expression of naloxone induced abstinence syndrome were also inhibited by ginsenoside Kbl , Rba, Rgl and Re. These results suggest that ginsenoside Kbl, Rba, Rgl and Re are the bioactive components of panax ginseng on the inhibition of the development of morphine tolerance and dependence, and the inhibition of abrupt abstinence syndrome. In addition, further research on the minor components of Panax ginseng should be investigated. A single or daily treatment with ginseng saponins did not induce any appreciable changes in the brain level of monoamines at the various time intervals and at the various day intervals, respectively The inhibitory or facilitated effects of ginseng saponins on electrically evoked contractions in guinea pig ileum (U-receptor) and mouse was definers (5·receptor) were not mediated through opioid receptors. The antagonism of a x receptor agonist, U-, iO.488H was also not mediated through opioid receptors in the animals treated with ginseng saponins, bolt mediated through serotonergic mechanisms. Ginseng saponins inhibited morphine S-dehydrogenase that catalyzed the production of morphine from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione contents for the detoxification of morphine. This result suggests that the dual action of the above plays an important role in the inhibition of the development of morphine tolerance and dependence.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1-15
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• 2002

Objective : To observe the biological responses and therapeutic effects of moxibustion and review the trend of related study. Methods : We searched and investigated the journals supplied by Pubmed online site and Je-Han Oriental Medical Academy homepage with the key word "moxibustion". Results : 1. The biological responses of moxibustion reveal on skelectal, digestive, urinary systems, especially blood, angiological systems. 2. The therapeutic effect of moxibustion are analgesic action, controls of excitation or inhibitation of nerve system, improvement of blood circulation, nutrition in organs, increase of absorption of pathlogical product, controls of secreting glands, care of tuberculosis, increase of natural healing power etc. 3. Moxibustions effects on diarrhea, edema, diabetus mellitus, hyperlipiemia, tinnitus, osteoporosis, facial palsy, myopia, pimple etc. 4. Most of moxibustion studys related on immunofunctional actions and renal functional actions. 5. To elevated quality of studies, we needs well-designed epeerimental methods, efficient secure of experimental groups, appropriate statistical verification, accumulations of knowledges about data research. Conclusions : We find out moxibustion is remakble on clinincal therapeutic effects, from now on much more studies are needed to develop this therapy.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.33-40
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• 2013

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the amino-acid compositions of pharmacopuncture extracts taken from the body and from the tail of Buthus martensii Karsch, which are frequently prescribed in Oriental medicine. Methods: Amino acids in hot water and 70% ethanol extracts taken from the scorpion's whole body and from its tail were screened by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The experiments were performed with linearity, precision and accuracy. Results: The results of the amino-acid-composition analysis showed that the Buthus martensii Karsch extracts contained various amino acids such as aspartic acid, histidine, alanine, tyrosine, and cystine. The amino-acid analysis showed that the hot water extract was more beneficial than the ethanol extract, except for histidine. The amino acids from the tail and the body of the scorpion were compared, and the concentration of aspartic acid in the extract from the scorpion's tail was two times that found in the extract from its body. The results of validation experiments were all satisfactory. Conclusion: Studies on the ingredients in extracts from a scorpion other than buthotoxin may demonstrate that the antiepileptic efficacy, anticancer activity, anti-thrombotic action and analgesic effect are enhanced. Using only the tail of the scorpion when pharmacopuncture is dispensed may be beneficial because the extracts from the tail of the scorpion have higher potency than those from the whole body.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.942-947
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• 1994

Post-thoracotomy pain is so severe that lead to postoperative pulmonary complications due to the patient`s inability to cough, deep breathing and chest wall motion. Many authors have been trying to reduce the post-thoracotomy pain, but there is no method of complete satisfaction. In 1990, we reported the result that the cryoanalgesia reduce the immediate postoperative pain significantly. We try to compare the effect of cyroanalgesia with the effect of Bupivacain intercostal nerve block for the post-thoracotomy pain control. Ninety patients, who undergoing thoracotomy in Korea University Medical Center Guro Hospital between the January 1993 and September 1993, were evaluated. The patients were divided into three groups : Group A, control, the patients without pain control procedure [N=30], Group B, the patients with Bupivacain intercostal nerve block [N=30], Group C, the patients with cryoanalgesia [N=30]. Postoperative analgesic effects were evaluated by the scoring system which made arbiturary by author. The results were that the Bupivacain intercostal nerve block markedly reduced the immediate postoperative pain compare with two other groups, the cryoanalgesia reduced the immediate postoperative pain significantly compare with control group, the pain reduction effect of the two groups- cryoanalgesia and Bupivacain intercostal nerve block- were not different at postoperative seventh day, probably due to the action time of Bupivacain and the result that there were no significant complications of the procedures.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.17.1-17.10
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• 2013

Reproductive dysfunction is a major health concern amongst the inhabitants of Tana River County. An ethno botanical study was conducted in Garsen, Itsowe and Ngao sub divisions of Tana River County to document the utilization of medicinal plants for the management of female reproductive ailments. The target population was practicing herbalists from Pokomo, Ormo and Giryama communities in the study area. Structured questionnaires and focussed group discussions were used to collect data. Forty eight plant species distributed in 40 genera and 29 families were documented as being important for the management of pregnancy related complications, menstrual disorders, infertility, fibroids and as contraceptives. The species most frequently cited by the herbalists were fourteen. Fifty two percent of the plant species were probably being mentioned for the first time as being useful in reproductive health management. In conclusion, Tana River has a pool of TMPs with a wealth of indigenous knowledge that needs to be exploited. The plants used to treat dysmenorrhea for example may be important analgesic agents that need further investigation while those with anti-fertility properties may contain steroidal phyto chemical compounds. Such species therefore need further investigation to establish their efficacy and mechanism of action.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.65-69
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• 2010

Chronic perineal pain is an often encountered problem, which produces a great degree of functional impairment and frustration to the patient and a challenge to the treating physician. The reason for this problem is that the region contains diverse anatomic structures with mixed somatic, visceral and autonomic innervations affecting bladder and bowel control and sexual function. A blockade of nociceptive and sympathetic supply to the perineal region, supplied through the ganglion impar has been shown to benefit patients with chronic perineal pain. Several options to this block have been described that chemical neurolysis, radiofrequency ablation etc. Although the analgesic effect of Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) has long been considered secondary to its action for muscle relaxation, BoNT-A also affects the release of the neurotransmitters that are involved in pain perception. We describe a patient who was successfully given ganglion impar block with BoNT-A.