• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2010

Angelica decursiva has been used in Korean traditional medicine as an antitussive, an analgesic, an antipyretic and a cough remedy. However, its anti-cancer properties have not yet been well defined. In our current study, we report the cytotoxic activity and the mechanism of cell death induced by ethanol extracts of Angelica decursiva (EEAD) against the human oral cancer cell line, KB. Treatment of KB cells with EEAD induced apoptotic cell death in both a dose- and time-dependent manner as determined by MTT assay and DNA fragmentation. However, no cytotoxic effects of EEAD against human normal oral keratinocytes (HNOK) were evident. By western blot analysis, we found that apoptosis in KB cells is associated with a decrease in procaspase-7 and -9. In addition, the activation of caspase-7 was detectable in living KB cells by fluorescence microscopy. These results suggest that EEAD exhibits anti-cancer activity in KB cells via apoptosis and thus has potential as an anticancer agent in future drug development strategies.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.185-192
• /
• 2021

Background: It is known that some analgesics as well as pain can affect the immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the analgesic effect and immunomodulation of pregabalin (PGB) in a mouse incisional pain model. Methods: A postoperative pain model was induced by hind paw plantar incision in male BALB/c mice. Mice were randomly divided into four groups (n = 8): a saline-treated incision (incision), PGB-treated incision (PGB-incision), sham controls without incision or drug treatment (control), and a PGB-treated control (PGB-control). In the PGB treated groups, PGB was administered intraperitoneally (IP) 30 minutes before and 1 hour after the plantar incision. Changes of the mechanical nociceptive thresholds following incision were investigated. Mice were euthanized for spleen harvesting 12 hours after the plantar incision, and natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity to YAC 1 cells and lymphocyte proliferation responses to phytohemagglutinin were compared among these four groups. Results: Mechanical nociceptive thresholds were decreased after plantar incision and IP PGB administration recovered these decreased mechanical nociceptive thresholds (P < 0.001). NK activity was increased by foot incision, but NK activity in the PGB-incision group was significantly lower than that in the Incision group (P < 0.001). Incisional pain increased splenic lymphocyte proliferation, but PGB did not alter this response. Conclusions: Incisional pain alters cell immunity of the spleen in BALB/c mice. PGB showed antinocieptive effect on mouse incisional pain and attenuates the activation of NK cells in this painful condition. These results suggest that PGB treatment prevents increases in pain induced NK cell activity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.37 no.5
• /
• pp.83-88
• /
• 2022

Objectives : Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) has been traditionally used to treat muscular convulsion and pain in South Korea. According to recent studies, JGT has been reported to have anti-depression, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidative, anti-diabetics, anti-spasm and analgesic effects, but studies on its anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effect have not been deeply conducted. Thus, we investigated the anti-neuroinflammatory activity of JGT on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse microglia cells. Methods : To investigate the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of JGT on BV2 microglial cells, we examined the production of nitric oxide (NO) using griess assay, and mRNA expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1𝛽, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-𝛼 using real time RT-PCR. Furthermore, to determine the regulating mechanisms of JGT, we investigated the heme oxygenase (HO)-1 by real time RT-PCR. Results : Pre-treatment of JGT effectively decreased NO production in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells at concentrations without cytotoxicity. Additionally, JGT significantly suppressed the production of IL-1𝛽, IL-6, and TNF-𝛼 in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Furthermore, JGT activated the HO-1 expression, which is one of the immunomodulatory signaling molecules. And the abolishment of HO-1 by tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP, the HO-1 inhibitor) reversed the anti- inflammatory activity of JGT in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Conclusions : Our results suggest that the JGT has anti-neuroinflammatory effect through the activation of HO-1 in LPS-stimulated BV2 cells. Thereby, JGT could expected to be used for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disease related to neuroinflammation.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.291-302
• /
• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify and relationships among quality of life, perceived health status, pain and difficulty of daily activity with degenerative arthritis living in island residents. Methods: The participants were 601 degenerative arthritis patients. Data were collected using structured questionnaires from June 23th to Oct. 08th, 2008 and analyzed using the SPSS 12.0 program. and it included descriptive statistics, t-test, $x^2$-test, Pearson correlation coefficient. Results: The mean quality of life score was 115.87, perceived health status was 4.40, pain was 6.31 and difficulty of daily activity was 77.62. On the demographic variables, age, living arrangement, level of economics showed significant difference for the quality of life and sex and age showed significant difference for the perceived health status, pain, difficulty of daily activity. On the disease-related variables, duration of disease, use of analgesic drug showed significant difference for the dependent variables. There was a significant positive correlation among the quality of life, perceived health status, significant negative correlation pain and difficulty of daily activity. Conclusions: These results suggested that nursing intervention program including pain reduction, enhancing the perceived health status, ADL abilities and quality of life were necessary for the osteoarthritis patients in island residents.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.31 no.2
• /
• pp.287-298
• /
• 2001

Recently, many natural medicines, which have advantage of less side effects and possibility of long-term use have been studied for their capacity of anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and regenerative potential of periodontal tissues. Olibanum has the effects to hemostasis, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, and it also has been traditionally used as a drug for the treatment of bone disease in oriental medicine. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Olibanum extracts on the activity and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells, alkaline phosphatase(ALP) synthesis, formation of bone nodules and expression of type I collagen of MC3T3-E1 cells. To examine the cellular activity, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with ${\alpha}-MEM(control)$ and each concentration of Olibanum for 2 days and 4 days. To compare the ALP synthesis, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured with ${\alpha}-MEM(negative\; control)$, dexamethasone(positive control), and each concentration of Olibanum for 2 days and 4 days. To compare the bone nodule formation, MC3T3-E1 ells were cultured for 21 days, and to compare the type I collagen expression, MC3T3-E1 cells were cultured for 4 days. The cellular activity of MC3T3-E1 cells treated with $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Olibanum extracts was significantly increased at 4-day(p<0.05) to control. The activity of ALP in MC3T3-E1 cells treated with $1{\mu}g/ml$ Olibanum extracts was significantly increased at 4-day(p<0.05). All the experimental groups showed much more bone nodule formation than control groups. The group treated with $1{\mu}g/ml$ of Olibanum extracts was the highest bone nodule formation, and showed much more type I collagen expression than negative control. These results indicate that Olibanum extracts may be considered effective in the activity and differentiation of MC3T3-E1 cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.72-79
• /
• 2023

MRSA is Staphylococcus aureus resistant to β-lactam antibiotics, and is a worldwide infectious disease. Even with the discovery of new antibiotics, resistance develops rapidly, so new alternatives are needed. Jakyakgamcho-tang (JGT) is a combination of Jakyak and Gamcho, and has been mainly used as an antispasmodic and analgesic in oriental medicine. This study was conducted to find out whether there is an effect on MRSA in relation to the anti-inflammatory effect of JGT and the antibacterial effect of Jakyak and Gamcho found in previous studies. In this study, in order to investigate the antibacterial activity of JGT and the combined effect of existing antibiotics, after extracting JGT with 70% EtoH, the disc diffusion method, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), drug combination effect (FICI), and time-kill analysis (Time-kill assay), metabolic inhibition, Western blot and qRT-PCR analysis were used to confirm the antibacterial activity mechanism of MRSA of JGT. As a result of the experiment, all of MRSA showed antibacterial activity in JGT's disc diffusion method, and the MIC was 250-1000 ㎍/mL. When existing antibiotics and JGT were combined with drugs, most had synergy or partial synergy. In addition, it was confirmed that the degree of bacterial growth was suppressed over time when simultaneous administration for 24 hours. JGT showed a synergistic effect when administered together with the ATPase-inhibitor DCCD, suggesting that it affected the inhibition of ATPase. As a result of observing the expression of PBP2a, and hla protein in the JGT-treated group and the untreated control group through wstern blot, it was confirmed that the protein expression of the JGT-treated group was significantly suppressed, and the expression levels of mecA, mecR1 and hla genes were also suppressed during JGT treatment. was observed by qRT-PCR. Combining the results of the experiment, it can be seen that JGT has antibacterial activity in MRSA, and when combined with existing antibiotics, the effect was increased compared to treatment with the drug alone. This suggests that JGT can be an alternative to treatment for antibiotic resistance of MRSA.

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

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.37-40
• /
• 1997

Earthworm extracts are known for anti-inflammatory, analgesic. antipyretic, and anticancer effects but can also influence blood circulation. It was previously shown that an earthworm, Lumbricus rubelius. contained a water-extractable anticoagulant which was a heat- and acid-stable molecule with hydrophilic property. In order to uncover the biochemical nature of this molecule, the anticoagulant was processed with various hydrolases such as trypsin, DNase, RNase. and lysozome. When the digested samples were analyzed with an in vitro coagulation test measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and agarose gel electrophoresis, the anticoagulant proved to be a relatively homogeneous DNA fragment with relative molecular size around 72 base pairs. Interestingly, the activity was further stimulated with a trypsin digestion. RNA. on the other hand, did not prolong the APTT. It was also demonstrated that the DNA accelerated the antithrombin III (AT-III) inhibition of thrombin from $IC_{50}$ of 0.34 to 0.16 unit determined with S-2238 as a substrate, whereas heparin, a popular anticoagulant. shifted the value to 0.05. Therefore, it is suggested that the DNA could be considered as an alternative antithrombotic agent to heparin, which would exhibits bleeding side effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.258-262
• /
• 1998

Background: In view of the safety and effectiveness of butorphanol as a postoperative analgesic, we designed to compare its activity and side effects with those of ketoprofen, when administered intramuscularly. Methods: Ninety four patients, scheduled for elective total abdominal hysterectomy, received either ketoprofen 100 mg (ketoprofen group) or butorphanol 2 mg (butorphanol group) intramuscularly after surgery. For the first six hours after injection of butorphanol or ketoprofen, the patients were asked to reevaluate the intensity of pain, using numeric rating scale (NRS) and pain score. If the pain score was above 2, supplemental ketoprofen was administered IM. Incidence of side effects were also checked. Results: Butorphanol group showed lower NRS and pain score for the first four hours compared to ketoprofen group, but the incidence of drowsiness was higher in butorphanol group. There were no significant difference in the incidence of other side effects such as nausea and dizziness. In both group, there were neither respiratory depression nor pruritus. Conclusions: Butorphanol gave better relief of postoperative pain compared to ketoprofen. Butorphanol might be a useful drug for postoperative analgesia after hysterectomy with minor side effects.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.99-104
• /
• 2006

Prostaglandins biosynthesis and nitric oxide production have been implicated in the process of inflammation. In this study we investigated on the effects of ethyl acetate extract of Angelica Koreana Radix (EAKR) on the activities of prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$, proteoglycan (PG) degradation and nitric oxide synthase (NO) in inflammation cytokines-activated rabbit articular chondrocytes. EAKR exhibited inhibitory activities on NO production and $PGE_2$ production as $73.08\%\;and\;89.49\%$, respectively at $20{\mu}g/ml$ and inhibited the degradation of PG in a concentration-dependent manner Zelatin zymography analysis demonstrated that EAKR significantly inhibited MMP-2, 9 expression in chondrocytes. In vivo, EAKR was shown to have inhibitory effects on acetic acid-induced pain. This study suggests that modulation of $PGE_2$, NO, PG degradation and MMP-2, 9 by EARK may be important in the prevention of inflammation and osteroarthritis.