• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.3 s.138
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• pp.233-238
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• 2004

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase $A_2\;(Lp-PLA_2)$ is a potential biomarker of coronary heart disease and plays an important proinflammatory role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Also acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) playa key role in atherosclerosis, respectively. And so, the inhibitory activities of the methanol extracts of 42 insect resources were examined on $Lp-PLA_2$, ACAT, and LDL oxidation for screening of anti-atherogenic substances. Among them, the methanol extracts of Eurydema rugosa significantly inhibited all of upper three activities. Several kinds of tested insects having high inhibitory effect with the methanol extracts were extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and acetone, and their inhibitory activities were tested.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.427-435
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• 2007

Recently, intracranial atherosclerosis has become a major cause of ischemic stroke, appearing more frequently in Koreans than Caucasians. Symptomatic or asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis is a disease that could recur readily even during the treatment with anti-platelet agents. When the symptoms develop, ischemic stroke can not be recovered readily. Therefore, aggressive treatments such as endovascular therapy and bypass surgery are required in addition to medical treatment for the intracranial artery stenosis. Recent intracranial stenting and drug eluting stenting have shown as very advanced effective therapeutic modalities. Nevertheless, until now, a randomized controlled study has not been conducted. Regarding bypass surgery, since the failed EC-IC bypass surgery study performed 20 years ago, extensive studies on its efficacy has not been conducted yet, and thus it has to be performed strictly only in hemodynamically compromised patients. Unless breakthrough drugs that suppress the progression of intracranial atherosclerosis and the formation of thrombi, and facilitate the regression of the arterial stenosis, the treatment concept of the recovery of the blood flow of stenotic arterial territory by mechanical recanalization or bypass surgery would be remained for the prevention as well as treatment of ischemic stroke caused by intracranial atherosclerosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.373-383
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• 2021

Atherosclerosis is the deposition of plaque in the main arteries. It is an inflammatory condition involving the accumulation of macrophages and various lipids (low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol, ceramide, S1P). Moreover, endothelial cells, macrophages, leukocytes, and smooth muscle cells are the major players in the atherogenic process. Sphingolipids are now emerging as important regulators in various pathophysiological processes, including the atherogenic process. Various sphingolipids exist, such as the ceramides, ceramide-1-phosphate, sphingosine, sphinganine, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), sphingomyelin, and hundreds of glycosphingolipids. Among these, ceramides, glycosphingolipids, and S1P play important roles in the atherogenic processes. The atherosclerotic plaque consists of higher amounts of ceramide, glycosphingolipids, and sphingomyelin. The inhibition of the de novo ceramide biosynthesis reduces the development of atherosclerosis. S1P regulates atherogenesis via binding to the S1P receptor (S1PR). Among the five S1PRs (S1PR1-5), S1PR1 and S1PR3 mainly exert anti-atherosclerotic properties. This review mainly focuses on the effects of ceramide and S1P via the S1PR in the development of atherosclerosis. Moreover, it discusses the recent findings and potential therapeutic implications in atherosclerosis.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.135-144
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• 2010

The pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium have been implicated in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In fact, inflammatory responses in vascular endothelium are primarily regulated through oxidative stress-mediated signaling pathways leading to overexpression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Enhanced expression of cytokines, chemokines and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and their close interactions facilitate recruiting and adhering blood leukocytes to vessel wall, and subsequently stimulate transendothelial migration, which are thought to be critical early pathologic events in atherogenesis. Although interleukin-4 (IL-4) was traditionally considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, recent in vitro and in vivo studies have provided robust evidence that IL-4 exerts pro-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelium and may play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for IL-4-induced atherosclerosis, however, remain largely unknown. The present review focuses on the distinct sources of IL-4-mediated reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation as well as the pivotal role of ROS in IL-4-induced vascular inflammation. These studies will provide novel insights into a clear delineation of the oxidative mechanisms of IL-4-mediated stimulation of vascular inflammation and subsequent development of atherosclerosis. It will also contribute to novel therapeutic approaches for atherosclerosis specifically targeted against pro-oxidative and pro-inflammatory pathways in vascular endothelium.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.49-53
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• 2009

Objectives : The protective effect of Vasopurus, a mixture of three medicinal plants, on atherosclerosis induced by dietary cholesterol in low density lipid (LDL) receptor deficient mice was studied. Methods : Experimental groups were divided into three groups of six animals each; a normal group (N); a high cholesterol group (HC), a high cholesterol plus Vasopurus group (HCVA). The experimental groups were fed for 6 months. Results : Vasopurus supplementation significantly lowered plasma total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol conc entrations compared with the high.cholesterol (HC) diet group. In addition, supplementation with Vasopurus significantly increased fecal cholesterol contents compared to mice fed a HC diet. Mice whose diet was supplemented by Vasopurus showed considerably fewer atherosclerotic plagues in the aortic values of heart and aortas compared to mice receiving the HC diet. Conclusions : These results indicate that Vasopurus has efficacy in anti.atherosclerosis medication.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.480-487
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• 2009

Atherosclerosis, slow progressing inflammatory lesion in arteries, is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases. As mortality due to cardiovascular disease keeps increasing in Korea, researches on pathological mechanism of atherosclerosis may be beneficial in fighting against cardiovascular diseases. It is known that migration and MMP-9 secretion of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell(VSMC) play a significant part in pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, although detailed mechanism of entire process is not clarified. We investigated whether the seeds of Trichosanthes kirilowii maxim (TS), inhibit migration and MMP-9 production of HASMC(human aortic SMC), which were induced by TNF-${\alpha}$ treatment. Migration assay showed that TS inhibited the migration of HASMC induced by TNF-${\alpha}$, in dose dependent manner. Also by Zymography MMP-9 production of HASMC was found to be reduced by TS, both in time and in dose dependent manner. Western blotting results suggest TS suppress activity of MAPkinases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1055-1062
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• 2009

Magnolia obovata exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-oxidant effects. Magnolia obovata is used as a therapeutic agent to stop hemorrhages and a tonic to promoted health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main Magnolia obovata is still not accurately investigated. In present study, I examined the effects of water extracts of Magnolia obovata on atherosclerosis induced high cholesterol diet in rats in serum and abdominal aorta. A total of 3-week old 9 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 3 groups and fed with the basal diet (normal group), high cholesterol diet (atherosclerosis induced group) for 8 weeks, high cholesterol diet supplemented with water extracts of Magnolia obovata (Magnolia obovata group) for 2 weeks. And rats were sacrificed, serum lipid level, abodominal aortic anti-oxidant activities and lipid peroxide were measured. These results indicated that serum total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentration significantly lower in Magnolia obovata group than high cholesterol diet group. But HDL-cholesterol concentration had significantly higher in Magnolia obovata group than high cholesterol diet group. In conclusion, Magnolia obovata controls of lipid level of hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, thus suppresses the proliferation of intima in endothelial cells, which is risk factors of atherosclerosis induced high cholesterol diet in rats. I consider as Magnolia obovata is worth to using as atherosclerosis treatment.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.165-176
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• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish the simultaneous analysis for six compounds in Gumiganghwal-tang (GMGHT, Jiuweiqianghuo-tang) and to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effects of GMGHT in vitro. Methods : The column for separation of six compounds was used Luna $C_{18}$ column and maintained at $40^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems, 1.0% acetic acid in water and 1.0% acetic acid in acetonitrile. The analysis was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with pothodiode array (PDA) detection at 254, 280, and 320 nm. The injection volume was 10 ${\mu}L$. The antioxidant activities of GMGHT were evaluated by measuring free radical scavenging activities on 2,2'-Azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The inhibitory effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation were evaluated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid relative substances (TBARS), relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), and fragmentation of apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-100. Results : Calibration curves were acquired with $r^2{\geq}0.9998$. The contents of liquiritin, ferulic acid, baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, and wogonin in GMGHT were 1.784, 1.693, 37.899, 0.258, 1.869, and 0.034 mg/g, respectively. The GMGHT showed the radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS and DPPH radicals were 72.51 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 128.49 ${\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, GMGHT reduced the oxidation properties of LDL induced by $CuSO_4$. Conclusion : HPLC-PDA is considered as an available and convenient method for quality control and standardization of GMGH and GMGHT has potentials on anti-atherosclerosis by anti-oxidative effect and suppressive effect on LDL oxidation.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.381-386
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• 2012

Obesity increases the risk of many adult diseases, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, ischemic heart disease and breast cancer. Inhibition of adipogenesis is an effective way in the anti-obesity management. Because of main components of Saururus chinensis is flavonoid, it has been showed some improvement by its antioxidant effects on the atherosclerosis, heart disease and diabetic hyperlipidemia. But mechanism of anti-obesity effect of S. chinensis is not clear. We investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of S. chinensis on adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte. The 3T3-L1 cell line is commonly used to study adipogenesis in vitro. In this study, ethanol extracts of S. chinensis significantly decrease the lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 cells proved by measuring triglyceride contents and Oil red O staining. The proposed mechanism of inhibition of adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells with ethanol extracts of S. chinensis is down-regulation of transcriptional factors and adipocyte-specific genes such CCAAT/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) in concentration dependent pattern. These results suggest that ethanol extracts of S. chinensis inhibits adipognesis in the 3T3-L1 cells and can be used as a safe and efficient natural substance to manage anti-obesity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.29-35
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• 2016

Objectives : Blood stasis (BS) is related to be caused by blood circulation and stagnation which are cancer, atherosclerosis and hyperlipidemia in traditional medicine. We extracted 3 kinds of BS formula; Seogakjihwang-tang (SGT), Tonggyuhawlhyul-tang (THT), Hyulbuchukeo-tang (HCT). This study was conducted to investigate whether the 3 kinds of herbal formula extracts have inhibitory efficacy association with anti-adipogenesis. Methods : To investigate the anti-adipogenesis, we used the mouse fibroblast cell line, 3T3-L1 which differentiated into adipocytes in response to insulin, IBMX and dexamethasone (MDI). Cytotoxicity of herbal formula extracts were examined by CCK-8 kit. Intracellular lipid droplets were detected by Oil-Red-O staining. Triglyceride (TG) and leptin were measure using elisa kit. Results : The yield of water extracts was 14.62% (SGT), 21.27% (THT), 20.02% (HCT). Lipid accumulation was reduced significantly by 3 kinds of herbal formula compared to control. Especially, THT and HCT decreased lipid droplet, respectively at all concentration. The TG and leptin were also inhibited by 3 kinds of herbal formula. The IC50 of TG were $280.51{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (SGT), $52.62{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (THT), $313.99{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (HCT). The IC50 of leptin were $348.76{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (SGT), $164.02{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (THT), $257.00{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ (HCT). THT was better than other herbal formula on anti-adipogenesis. Conclusion : kinds of herbal formula inhibited adipogenesis in MDI-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes, as indicated by the significant reduction in TG and leptin concentration without cytotoxicity. Therefore, 3 kinds of herbal formula for BS might act as a therapeutic agent for preventing lipid diseases, such as obesity and atherosclerosis.