• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.1518-1524
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• 2008

Ponciri Fructus (PF), the immature fruit of Poncirus trifoliata, has been used for treatment of constipation in Korean traditional medicine. It has been reported that PF has a prokinetic effect on gastrointestinal tract, but little is known about the effect on colonic contraction. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PF on spontaneous contractions of proximal and distal colon in rats. The aqueous extract of PF was centrifuged and filtered and its supernatant was used for in vitro motility study. The removed colon from rats was divided into proximal and distal segments. Each segment was mounted in a 10 ml organ bath and measured the change of the spontaneous contraction with increasing dose (1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) of PF extract administration. Also the effect of PF on the spontaneous contraction was measured under treatment of atropine, acetylcholine (Ach), and tetrodotoxin (TTX). PF increased the spontaneous phasic contraction of distal colon dose dependently, but there was no change in proximal colon. The contractile response induced by PF in distal colon was lower than that of Ach and was partially blocked by atropine ($10^{-6}M$). TTX increased the spontaneous contraction and it was reinforced with Ach addition. But the extract of PF had no or little contractile effect of TTX in colon. PF increased spontaneous contractions selectively in distal colon. The prokinetic effect of PF may be due to enhancement of cholinergic related excitatory neural system.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2011

배경 및 목적 : 봉독약침요법(bee venom pharmacopuncture, BVP)은 rheumatoid arthritis(RA)의 치료에 활용되고 있으나, RA로 인한 염증성 통증에 대한 봉독약침의 진통효과와 specific mechanism은 아직까지 명확하게 밝혀지지 않았다. 이에 본 연구에서는 RA animal model로서 collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) rat model에서 봉독약침의 a1-adrenergic, 5HT-3 그리고 muscarinic cholinergic mechanism을 확인하고자 한다. 방법 : CIA를 유도하기 위하여 male Sprague-Dawley rat에 freund's incomplete adjuvant에 유화(乳化)시킨 bovine type II collagen을 주입하고 14일 후 booster injection 시행하였다. 진통효과는 tail flick latency (TFL)로 평가하였다. 결과 : 관절염의 유도 이후 염증성 통증 역치는 시간이 지나면서 낮아지며, 5주 이후로는 통증 역치에 큰 변화가 없이 유지되었다. 첫 번째 immunization으로부터 5주 경과 후 족삼리($ST_{36}$)에 봉독약침처치(0.25 mg/ kg)를 시행하여 유의한 진통효과를 관찰하였다. 또한 봉독약침의 진통효과는 ondansetron(5HT-3 receptor antagonist, 0.5mg/kg, i.p.), atropine(muscarinic cholinergic receptor antagonist, 1mg/kg, i.p.)의 전처치에 의하여 억제되었으나, prazosin(a1-adrenergic receptor antagonist, 1mg/kg, i.p.)의 전처치에 의해서는 억제되지 않았다. 결론 : 봉독약침은 CIA로 인한 염증성 통증에 유의한 진통효과를 나타내며 그 analgesic mechanism은 5HT-3와 muscarinic cholinergic receptor에 의하여 매개되며 a1-adrenergic receptor에 의하여 매개되지는 않았다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2005

The present study examined effects of a water-soluble fraction from mulberry leaves (ML water fraction) on the circulatory and autonomic nervous systems, which were compared with those of acetylcholine (ACh) used as a reference drug in order to elucidate its mechanism of action. Intravenous administration of ACh or a ML water fraction produced temporary depressor and tachycardiac responses in a dose-dependent manner in unrestrained, conscious Sprague-Dawley rats. The systemic hemodynamic effects of ACh and a ML water fraction were almost completely blocked by pretreatment with atropine, a muscarinic antagonist. The depressor responses to ACh and a ML water fraction were slightly enhanced and prolonged by pretreatment with neostigmine, an anticholinesterase, whereas the tachycardiac responses were remarkably blocked by pretreatment with pentolinium, a ganglionic blocking agent. In vitro experiments using the ileum isolated from rats showed that ACh and a ML water fraction increased ileal contractility in a dose-dependent manner. The increases in ileal contractility were also completely abolished in the presence of atropine. Finally, the specific binding of [$^3H$]quinuclidinyl benzilate, a muscarinic antagonist, to rat cortical synaptic membranes was inhibited by a ML water fraction in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC$_{50}$ value of 9.5 mg/ml. The results suggest that the effects of a ML water fraction are mediated through direct stimulation of muscarinic cholinergic receptors by unknown cholinomimetic substance(s) contained in that fraction.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.21-26
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• 1972

Zea mays Linne, which belongs to Graminae family, has been ordinarily used as edibles and fodder. Its stigma, Maydis Stigma, has been discarded without any special application with the exception of being used as diuretic in the sphere of Chinese medicine. Moreover, the pharmacological research toward Maydis Stigma as a medicinal herb has not been regretfully undertaken at all. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to find out whether the water extract of Maydis Stigma might possess some pharmacological effect on the blood pressure of the rats or not. $LD_{50}$ to the mice was determined and the experiment was performed making the use of several agents related to the blood pressure such as atropine, Avil, dichloroisoproterenol and hexamethonium. The blood pressure of the rats and rabbits was recorded with the equipment of polygraph (Grass model 7 DAB) and its accessory, Statham pressure transducer. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. $LD_{50}$ to the mice weighing 20g is determined 1,125 mg/kg. 2. The blood pressure manifests the gradual decrease by the rate of $-15.50{\pm}3.32,\;-22.14{\pm}8.73$ and $-46.25{\pm}5.17\;mmHg$ in proportion to ZW 25, 50 and 150mg/kg administered to the rats. 3. The blood pressure also manifests the same gradual decrease in proportion to ZW administered to the rabbits. 4. It is of significant difference to manifest the increase of $+5.14{\pm}4.65\;mmHg$ in the rats pretreated with atropine as compared with $-22.14{\pm}8.73\;mmHg$ of control group when administered each ZW 50mg/kg. 5. The administration of ZW 50 mg/kg to the rats pretreated with Avil, dichloroisoproterenol and hexamethonium does not manifest the significant difference in comparison with the control group.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2008

Background: Experimental evidence indicates that ginseng modulate the nociceptive transmission. Authors examined the role of adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the antinociceptive action of Korean red ginseng against the formalin-induced pain at the spinal level. Methods: Catheters were inserted into the intrathecal space of male Sprague-DawIey rats. Fifty ${\mu}l$ of 5% formalin solution was injected to the hindpaw for induction of pain and formalin-induced pain (flinching response) was observed. The role of spinal adrenergic and cholinergic receptors on the effect of Korean red ginseng was assessed by antagonists (Prazosin, yohimbine, atropine and mecamylamine). Results: Intrathecal Korean red ginseng produced a dose-dependent suppression of the flinching response in the rat formalin test. All of prazosin, yohimbine, atropine and mecamylamine antagonized the antinociception of Korean red ginseng. Conclusions: Spinal Korean red ginseng is effective against acute pain and facilitated pain state evoked by formalin injection. All of alpha 1, alpha 2, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors may play an important role in the antinociceptive action of Korean red ginseng at the spinal level.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.41-48
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• 1977

In 1968, Case et al. first studied the importance of cyclic AMP as an intermediate in the action of secretin and cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and they suggested that the action of secretin, not that of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin, may be mediated through cyclic AMP. Recently Albano et al. reported that in the exocrine pancreas each of the two major physiological functions is modulated a specific cyclic nucleotide, enzyme secretion by cyclic GMP, and fluid and ionic secretion by cyclic AMP. But in pancreas still conflicting results have been reported on the role of cyclic nucleotides in enzyme and electrolyte secretion. In these study, the role of cyclic nucleotides in the exocrine pancreatic secretion was examined. The results are as follows. 1) Very strong stimulation on amylase release from guinea pig pancreatic slice was produced by 1 unit of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin but as compared to that of cholecystokinin-pancreozymin very weak response was observed by 1 unit of secretion or $1\;{\mu}g$ of VIP. 2) Both cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and acetylcholine produced a rapid and marked rise in cyclic GMP as well as cyclic AMP in isolated pancreatic tissue. However, both secretin and VIP failed to alter significantly the basal level of cyclic GMP in pancreatic fragments. 3) Atropine inhibited acetylcholine mediated amylase release, but did not affect the cholecystokinin-pancreozymin response. Furthermore, atropine pretreatment produced a marked inhibitory effect on the increase of tissue cyclic nucleotides induced by cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and acetylcholine. In summary, these results suggest that whereas the pancreatic secretion produced by secretin and VIP is modulated by the formation of cyclic AMP, the pancreatic enzyme secretion in response to cholecystokinin-pancreozymin and acetylcholine is triggered by both cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.77-87
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• 1972

Korean rheum (Rheum undulatum Linne) as one of the botanical crude drugs which belong to polygonaceae family has been extensively applied in Chinese medicine during the last decades. It has been particularly used in cathartic and gastric tonic among the folk remedies. There are, however, a few reports with regard to the pharmacological effects on the motility of intestines of several animals. The authors hereby paid attention to this point of view and made experiment to examine the relationship between the alcohol extract of Korean rhei rhizoma and the motility of the isolated rabbit intestine, making the use of several drugs related to the motility of intestine such as acetylcholine, pilocarpine, atropine, papaverine, serotonin, and barium chloride. The movement of the isolated rabbit intestine in Tyrode's solution was recorded with the electric kymograph according to the Magnus method. The results of the experiment are as follows. 1. The motility of the isolated rabbit intestine represents the tendency of gradual dilatation in proportion to the concentration of R-A $10^{-4}$, $5{\times}10^{-4}$, and $10^{-3}$. 2. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ does not seem to have the significant effect with acetylcholine, pilocarpine and atropine on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 3. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly blocks the contractile effect caused by serotonin $10^{-6}$ on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 4. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly blocks the contractile effect caused by barium chloride $10^{-4}$ on motility of the isolated rabbit intestine strip. 5. R-A $5{\times}10^{-4}$ significantly synergizes the dilatative effect caused by papaverine $10^{-6}$.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.271-278
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• 1991

To investigate further whether the effects of the dihydropyridine (DHP) drugs on calcium channels are related to those of these drugs on muscarinic receptors, the binding characteristics of the DHP calcium channel agonist, Bay K 8644, on muscarinic receptors and calcium channels were compared to those of the DHP calcium channel antagonists, nicardipine and nimodipine in the dog cardiac sarcolemma. Bay K 8644, nicardipine and nimodipine inhibited the specific $[^3H]$QNB binding with $K_i$ values of 16.7\mu{M}$, 3.5\mu{M}$ and 15.5\mu{M}$ respectively. Saturation data of $[^3H]$QNB binding with $K_i$ VALUES OF 16.7\mu{M}$ 3.5\mu{M}$ and 15.5\mu{M}$ respectively. Saturation data of $[^3H]$QNB binding in the presence of these DHP drugs showed this inhibition to be competitive. Bay K 8644, like nicardipine and nimodipine, blocked the binding of $[^3H]$nitrendipine to the high affinity DHP binding sites, but atropine did not, indicating that the muscarinic receptors and the DHP binding sites m but atropine did not, indicating that the muscarinic receptors and the DHP bindings sites on calcium channels are distinct. The $K_i$ value of Bay K 8644 for the DHP binding sites was 4nM. Nicardipine and nimodipine $(K_i:0.1-0.2\;nM)$ were at least 20 times more potent than Bay K 8644 in inhibiting $[^3H]$ nitrendipine binding. Thus, the muscarinic receptors were about 4000 times less sensitive than thes high afinity DHP binding sites to Bay K 8644. These results suggest that the DHP calcium agonist Bay K 8644 binds directly to the muscarinic receptors but its interaction with the muscarinic receptors is not related to its binding to the DHP binding sites on calcium channels.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1224-1230
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• 2003

The purpose of this present study is to measure the changes of regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF) and blood pressure(BP) in rats. following the intravenous injection of drug. The measurement was continually monitored by laser-doppler flowmeter (Transonic Instrument, USA) and pressure tranducer(Grass, USA) in anesthetized adult Sprague-Dawley rats about for 2h to 2h and a half through the data acquisition system composed of MacLab and Macintosh computer. The result of this experiment was as following. 1. Fructus Schizandrae increased the changes of rCBF in rats, significantly. 2. The rCBF of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated propranolol. 3. The rCBF of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated atropine. 4. The rCBF of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated I-NNA. 5. The rCBF of Fructus Schizandrae was decreased by pretreated methylene blue. 6. The rCBF of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated indomethacin. 7. Fructus Schizandrae decreased the changes of blood pressure significantly. 8. The BP of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated propranolol. 9. The BP of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated atropine. 10. The BP of Fructus Schizandrae did nol change by pretreated I-NNA. 11. The BP of Fructus Schizandrae was decreased by pretreated methylene blue. 12. The BP of Fructus Schizandrae did not change by pretreated indomethacin. These results indicate that Fructus Schizandrae can increase the rCBF and decrease the BP, that related to guanylyl cyclase activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2000

Antidotal efficacy of physostigmine plus procyclidine, the combinational prophylactics for organophosphate poisoning, was evaluated in rats and guinea pigs. To assess the dose-response relation-ship in rats, various doses (0.3-6.0mg/kg) of procyclidine in combination with a fixed dose (0.1mg/kg) of physostigmine were pretreated subcutaneously 30 min prior to subcutaneous exposure to nerve-agents. Physostigmine alone exerted protection ratios of 2.44, 1.20, 1.50, 1.50 and 2.20 folds for tabun, sarin, soman, cyclosarin and V-agent, respectively. Interestingly, coadmnistration of procyclidine with physostigmine exhibited remarkable synergistic effects in a dose-dependent manner, leading to 4.00~8.00 folds for tabun, 2.15-8.50 folds for sarin, 1.92~507 folds for so man, 2.15~2.90 folds for cyclosarin, and 2.71~10.50 folds for V-agent. On the contrary, a low effect (l.65 fold) was achieved with the traditional antidotes atropine (17.4 mg/kg) plus 2-pralidoxime (30 mg/kg) treated immediately after soman poisoning. Noteworthy, the combinational prophylactics markedly potentiated the effect of atropine plus 2-pralidoxime to 6.13 and 12.27 folds with 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg of procyclidine, respectively, against soman poisoning. In guinea pigs, the physostigmine plus procyclidine prophylactics exerted protective effects of 3.00~4.70 folds against soman intoxcation, which were much higher at low doses (0.3~1.0 mg/kg) of procyclidine than those in rats. Taken together, it is proposed that the combinational prophylactics composed oj physostigmine and procyclidine could be a promising antidote regimen for the poisoning with organophosphates possessing diverse properties.