• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.339-344
• /
• 2011

Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Rehder (Urticales: Ulmaceae) (UD) is a tree widespread in northeast Asia. It is traditionally used for anticancer and anti-inflammatory therapy. The present study investigated the effect of an ethanol extract of UD on vascular tension and its underlying mechanism in rats. The dried root bark of UD was ground and extracted with 80% ethanol. The prepared UD extract was used in further analysis. The effect of UD on the cell viability, vasoreactivity and hemodynamics were investigated using propidium iodide staining in cultured cells, isometric tension recording and blood pressure analysis, respectively. Low dose of UD ($10{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml)$ did not affect endothelial cell viability, but high dose of UD reduced cell viability. UD induced vasorelaxation in the range of $0.1{\sim}10{\mu}g/ml$ with an $ED_{50}$ value of $2{\mu}g/ml$. UD-induced vasorelaxation was completely abolished by removal of the endothelium or by pre-treatment with L-NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. UD inhibited calcium influx induced by phenylephrine and high $K^+$ and also completely abolished the effect of L-NAME. Intravenous injection of UD extracts (10~100 mg/kg) decreased arterial and ventricular pressure in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, UD extracts reduced the ventricular contractility (+dP/dt) in anesthetized rats. However, UD-induced hypotensive actions were minimized in L-NAME-treated rats. Taken together, out results showed that UD induced vasorelaxation and has antihypertensive properties, which may be due the activation of nitric oxide synthase in endothelium.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.267-273
• /
• 2002

Background: We performed a phase IV clinical trial to examine the usefulness of a continuous infusion of nicardipine hydrochloride to control hypertension in patients with acute aortic dissection. material and Method: Systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and heart rate were monitored before and after the intravenous administration of nicardipine in 31 patients with aortic diseases. The period of nicardipine administration in each patient was from 3 to 14 days. Efficacy was evaluated by determining the average amount of blood pressure reduction on the 3rd day of drug administration. The dosage of another antihypertensive agent was slowly tapered down, and ultimately replaced by the test drug. Result: 28 patients were diagnosed as acute aortic dissection, 2 patients as rupture of the aortic arch aneurysm, and 1 patient as traumatic aortic rupture. Mean age was 53.9 $\pm$ 14.9(29~89) years, and 21 patients(67.7%) were male. 14 patients(32.3%) had complications associated with underlying aortic disease: aortic insufficiency in 7, hemopericardium in 6, acute renal failure in 1, paraplegia in 1, lower extremity ischemia in 1, and hemothorax in 1. The time needed to reach the target blood pressure was within 15 minutes in 16, from 15 to 30 minutes in 10, from 30 to 45 minutes in 3 and from 45 to 60 minutes in 2, and their baseline average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures(mmHg) were 147$\pm$23, 82.3$\pm$ 18.6, and 104 $\pm$ 18, respectively. Average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressures(mmHg) on the third day of nicardipine infusion were 119$\pm$ 12, 69$\pm$9, and 86$\pm$8, and they all showed statistically significant decrease(p<0.05). The average systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure(mmHg) after the discontinuation of the nicardipine infusion were 119 $\pm$ 15, 71 $\pm$ 14, and 86$\pm$ 13, respectively. No significant difference was observed between the average pressures measured on the third day and those measured after the discontinuation of the nicardipine infusion, and no definite side effects were observed during the study period. Conclusion: Nicardipine hydrochloride was both effective and safe at controlling blood pressure in patients with acute aortic dissection.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.8-13
• /
• 2010

The angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition effect of soybean protein isolate hydrolysate was studied using protease. Soybean protein isolate was hydrolysed by seven enzymes (Alcalase 2.4 L, Flavourzyme 500 MG, GC 106, Multifect Neutral, Neutrase 0.8 L, Papain 30,000 and Protamex), enzyme concentrations (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%), at various hydrolysis times (0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 hr) and suspension concentrations (1, 5, 7, 10 and 15%). Absorbance at 280 nm, brix and ACE inhibitory activity of soybean protein isolate hydrolysates were investigated. Absorbance at 280 nm and brix of Alcalase 2.4 L treatment were higher than other enzyme treatments. The optimum condition of hydrolysis was Alcalase 2.4 L, 1% enzyme concentration, 5% suspension concentration for 4 hr. $IC_{50}$ value of ACE inhibitory activity of soybean protein isolate hydrolysate was $79.94 {\mu}g/mL$. These results suggest that soybean isolate protein hydrolysate from Alcalase 2.4 L may be of benefit for developing antihypertensive therapeutics.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.476-481
• /
• 2017

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites produced by higher plants and have been used as antiallergic, anticancer, antihypertensive, antiinflammatory, antimicrobial and antioxidant agents. They are generally divided into flavonoids and non-flavonoids. The antimicrobial activity of flavonoids are stronger than that of non-flavonoids. The skeleton structures of flavonoids possessing antimicrobial activity are chalcone, flavan-3-ol (catechin), flavanone, flavone, flavonol and proanthocyanidin. The flavonols are shown antibacterial activity against several gram-positive bacteria (Actinomyces naeslundii, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Staphylococcus aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella melaninogenica and Prevotella oralis). Among of non-flavonoids, caffeic acids, ferulic acids and gallic acids showed antimicrobial activity against gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes and S. aureus) and gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). These are found to be more efficient against the E. coli, L. monocytogenes, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus than antibiotics such as gentamicin and streptomycin. The kaempferol and quercetin showed synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin and rifampicin against S. aureus and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA). Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) acts synergistically with various ${\beta}-lactam$ antibiotics against MRSA. In particular, the epicatechin, epigallocatechin (EGC), EGCG and gallocatechin gallate from Korean green tea has antibacterial activity against MRSA clinical isolates and the combination of tea polyphenols and oxacillin was synergistic for all the clinical MRSA isolates.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
• /
• v.22 no.1 s.38
• /
• pp.34-44
• /
• 1986

In our previous studies, we had clarified many pharmacological effects of majarine: the bacteriostatic effect in vitro; the potentiation of hypnotic action of alcohol; hypotensive effect in rats and hypothermic effect in mice. This study was undertaken to search for a new antihypertensive drug. Red crystalline was obtained from majarine (which was extracted from Berberis koreana Palibin) by chemical methods. And this crystalline was identified as $C_{19}H＿{16}NO＿4$ contained one hydroxy group instead of methoxy group of majarine in isoquinoline ring and named 'Majarol' (5,6-Dihydro-9-hydroxy, 10-methoxybenzo-[g]-1,3-benzodioxolo [5,6-a] quinolizinium). We examined the effects of majarol on blood pressure and heart rate in urethane ancsthetized rats and the rate and amplitude of contraction of isolated frog heart. Several drugs: atropine sulfate, diphenhydramine chloride, hexamethonium bromide, phentolamine, epinephrine, propranolol and isoproterenol were used to clarify the mechanism of the hypotensive action of majarol. The results of experimints were as follows; 1. In low dose (0.5-2mg/kg, i.v.), majarol showed a typical transient hypotensive effect and slight decrease in heart rate. In high dose (5-10 mg/kg, i.v.), majarol showed a typical transient and a subsequent prolonged hypotensive effect and a significant prolonged decrease in heart rate was followed. 2. The hypotensive effects of majarol was not abolished by the pretreatments with atropine sulfate, hexamethonium bromide and diphenhydramine. The pretreatment with phentolamine inhibited significantly the hypotensive effects of majarol and the pretreatment wtih majarol blocked markedly the hypertensive effect of epinephrine. The positive chronotropic effect of isoproterenol was not blocked by the pretreatment with majarol. 3. In low dose, majarol increased the amplitude and decreased rate of contraction, but in high dose, majarol inhibited the amplitude and rate of contraction of isolated frog heart.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.293-300
• /
• 2017

This study was designed to extracts from Orostachys japonicas were investigated to assess anti-oxidation and biological activity. Phenolic content was maximum of $10.56{\pm}0.32mg/g$ when extracted with 50% ethanol. In anti-oxidative activity, Orostachys japonicus electric donating activity was higher than 80% in both water and ethanol extract at $200{\mu}g/mL$. 2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation decolorization of both water and ethanol extract was higher than 95.0% but antioxidant protection factor of water extract was higher than ethanol extract. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance of ethanol extract was higher than water extract. For antihypertensive effect determination, angiotesin converting enzyme of water and ethanol extract showed 6.67 and 7.98% each at $200{\mu}g/mL$. Ethanol extract of $200{\mu}g/mL$ showed xanthin oxidase inhibitory effect of 60.85% but was not shown with water extract. Orostachys japonicus ethanol extract showed higher tyrosinase inhibitory activity of 64.59% which was higher than kojic acid of control indicating higher whitening effect. In anti-wrinkle effect, ethanol extract at $50-200{\mu}g/mL$ showed collagenase inhibitory effect of 75.95-85.02% which was higher than 68.91-76.64% of epigallocatechin-gallate of control group. 50% ethanol extract showed higher elastase inhibitory activity than water extract. Therefore, Orostachys japonicus extracts were identified to have high anti-wrinkle effect. These results identify anti-oxidative activity, gout prevention, whitening effect, and anti-wrinkle effect which indicate the possibility as a source for functional material.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.284-290
• /
• 2001

Objectives : To evaluate the association of snoring and hyper-tension in a rural population. Methods : A population-based sample of 1,763 adults in Chonnam, Korea was investigated with questionnaires and height, weight, and blood pressure measurements. Information on the demographic characteristics, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension and snoring was collected through a person-to-person interview using a structured questionnaire. The level of obesity was measured by the body mass index(BMI). Hypertension was considered to be present if the average of two blood pressure measurements was greater than 140mmHg systolic or 90mmHg diastolic, or if they were currently on antihypertensive treatment. Results : The prevalence of snoring was 42.7% in men and 39.8% in women. With regard to age, snoring prevalence was 44.3% in the middle-aged group(45 to 64 years), greater than 33.9% in the younger(<45 years) group or 38.7% in the elderly($\geq65$ years) group. The snoring prevalence increased progressively with increasing BMI, but cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption was not associated with snoring. Hypertension occurred more frequently in snorers than in non-snorers (Odds ratio: 1.25, 95% confidence interval : 1.01-1.55). However after adjusting for sex, age, obesity, smoking, and alcohol use, an effect of snoring on hypertension was no longer present (Odds ratio: 1.13, 95% confidence interval = 0.90-1.41). Conclusion : These results suggest that snoring might not be associated with hypertension.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
• /
• v.63 no.1
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2018

${\gamma}$-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has antihypertensive and anti-stress effects on humans. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of glutamate concentration, bran content, and barley cultivars on GABA production and determine the optimal reaction condition. Barley bran resulted in higher GABA productivity compared with that of rice bran. The higher the bran content, the higher was the GABA productivity. Furthermore, high glutamate concentration resulted in high GABA production. However, there was a decrease in the glutamate conversion rate. The production of GABA varied with temperature and barley cultivar. The optimal condition for GABA production using barley bran was 0.15 g/mL barley content, 10 mM glutamate concentration, and $20^{\circ}C$ reaction temperature. Under optimal condition, the GABA concentration was 10.34 mM, and glutamate conversion rate was 75.1%. Furthermore, the GABA productivity of the GABA production reaction using barley bran differed depending on the cultivar. Dasong and Yeongbaekchal showed higher GABA productivity than that by other cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.76-93
• /
• 1998

Three hundred sixty-two(male 131, female 231) elderly aged over 65 in Chungb- uk area were interviewed to determine the disease states and drug usage patterns. The prebalence of disease was 78% and women reported more chronic diseases(83%) than men(71%). Elderly who live with spouse and have an occupation have a lower rate of disease. Average number of diseases of the elderly was $1.8\pm{1.1}$, and women$(2.1\pm{1.3)}$ have significantly higher average number of diseases than that of men$(1.4\pm{0.7)}$. Also the elderly in urban areas$(2.1\pm{1.4)}$ have significantly higher number of diseases than that of the elderly in rural areas$(1.6\pm{0.9)}$. Arthritis, hypertension, cardiovascular and gastric diseases were the most frequently listed chronic diseases in order for both men and women. Anemia and fracture of bone were relatively higher in women than in men. Particularly, the arthritis of the urban elderly have a rate of 1.5 times higher than that of the rural elderly. Fifty-two percent of the elderly were currently using drugs ; among drug users 71.2% used prescription drugs and 20.5% used nonprescription drugs. The average number taken per person was 2.1$\pm$1.4 and there was no sex or age difference. However, the elderly in rural areas $(2.7\pm{1.7)}$ consumed a significantly higher number of drugs than those in urban areas$(1.7\pm{0.7)}$. The average number of prescripti- on drugs taken was 2.0$\pm$1.4 while the average of nonprescription drugs taken was $(1.3\pm{0.6)}$. Analgesics and antihypertensive drugs were most commonly used. Vitamin and analgesics were the most frequently used self-prescribed drugs. It was noted that potential adverse drug interaction by concominant drug consumption for arthritis and antihypensive drug, abuse of digestants and antiacid without treatment of the underlying disease, and misuse of quick-acting bowel medications were problematic for the elderly. In addition drugs used for the elderly have some adverse effect on the digestive system. The types and composition of drugs used by the elderly were identified and presented. Medication compliance was poor and 13.5% reported adverse reactions such as edema, heartburn, nausea, and difficulty with eating. Seventeen percent of the elderly obtained drugs arranged by those other than medical staff. Also, even among those elderly who obtained drugs prescribed by a doctor, 69.1% of subjects had not receive instruction about potential adverse reactions. These results suggest that nutritional problems related to drug usage might exist and so dietitians, either individually or as members of health teams, need to have a better understanding of drug-nutrient interaction and closer supervision, and drug information/education service should therefore be provided to prevent or minimize adverse drug reaction in elderly users of medication.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.36-48
• /
• 2013

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of several fractions obtained from methylene chloride ($CH_2Cl_2$) extract of self-fermented pine needle (SFPNE) on the acetylcholine (ACh)-evoked CA release from the isolated perfused model of the rat adrenal medulla and to establish the mechanism of the most active fraction (Fr.)-induced inhibitory action on the CA release. We obtained 6 fractions from $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of self-fermented pine needle. For the ACh (5.32 mM)-evoked CA release, the following rank order of inhibitory potency was obtained: Fr.4-5 > Fr.8-11 ${\gg}$ Fr.3 > Fr.6 = Fr.7 > Fr.1-2. Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) perfused into an adrenal vein for 90 min produced relatively time-dependent inhibition of the CA secretory responses to ACh (5.32 mM), DMPP (100 ${\mu}M$), McN-A-343 (100 ${\mu}M$) and high $K^+$ (56 mM). Fr. 4 - 5 itself did not affect basal CA secretion. Also, in the presence of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$), the CA secretory responses to angiotensin II (AngII, 0.1 ${\mu}M$), veratridine (50 ${\mu}M$), Bay-K-8644 (10 ${\mu}M$), and cyclopiazonic acid (10 ${\mu}M$) were significantly reduced, respectively. In the simultaneous presence of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) and L-NAME (30 ${\mu}M$), the inhibitory responses of Fr. 4 - 5 on the CA secretion evoked by ACh, DMPP, high $K^+$, AngII, Bay-K-8644 and veratridine were considerably recovered to the extent of the corresponding control secretion compared with that of Fr. 4 - 5-treatment alone. The level of NO released from adrenal medulla after the treatment of Fr. 4 - 5 (60 ${\mu}g/mL$) was greatly elevated compared with the basal level. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Fr. 4 - 5 inhibits the CA secretion from the isolated perfused rat adrenal medulla evoked by stimulation of cholinergic receptors as well as by direct membrane-depolarization. It seems that this inhibitory effect of Fr. 4 - 5 is mediated by blocking the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ and $Na^+$ into the adrenomedullary chromaffin cells as well as by inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ release from the cytoplasmic calcium store, which is evoked at least partly through the increased NO production due to the activation of NO synthase. Based on these results, it is also thought that Fr. 4 - 5 isolated from $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of pine needle may contain beneficial antihypertensive components to prevent or treat hypertension.