• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.837-842
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to develop bathing aids as a strategic products to promote the medical tourism in Sancheong Jirisan Oriental medicinal herbs special district using medicinal herbs produced in Sancheong province, and to verify the effect of the bathing aids in vitro. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, antiaging and whitening effects of Sanchung-PNU 1 (SP1) and Sanchung-PNU 2 (SP2) made with traditional medicinal herbs. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay. We measured the inhibitory effect against tyrosinase activity to prove the whitening effect, and the inhibitory effect against elastase activity to prove the anti-aging effect. Two proposed prescriptions, SP1 and SP2, showed not significant cytotoxicity but significant (p<0.001) improvement in anti-oxidation, anti-wrinkle, and whitening effects compared to the control group. The result shows that these bathing aids have excellent DPPH radical scavenging effect and significant inhibitory effect against elastase and tyrosinase activity. These findings suggest that these bathing aids have a strong antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2005

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.466-470
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Carthami Flos in some kinds of human gastric cancer cells. We used two kinds of human gastric cancer cell lines, such as AGS cells and MKN45 cells. We examined cell death by MTT assay and observed the morphological changes with Carthami Flos. Also, we showed that the combination of sub-optimal doses of Carthami Flos and cisplatin noticeably suppresses in AGS cells and doxorubicin in MKN45 cells. Furthermore, we studied the caspase 3 activity to identify the apoptosis. Therefore, our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of Carthami Flos in human gastric cancer cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.129-134
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Carthami Flos in some kinds of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. Method : We used two kinds of human colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines, such as HT-29 and WiDr cells. We examined cell death by MTT assay and observed the morphological changes with Carthami Flos. Result : We showed that the combination of sub-optimal doses of Carthami Flos and cisplatin noticeably suppresses in HT-29 cells and doxorubicin in WiDr cells. Furthermore, we studied the caspase 3 activity to identify the apoptosis. Conclusion : Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of Carthami Flos in human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and developing therapeutic agents against colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2013

Objective: Ulmi Pumilae Cortex (UPC) is a deciduous tree with uneven pinnate leaves and is classified as a subfamily of Ulmuceae and contains many pharmacologically active constituents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of UPC on the growth and survival of AGS cells, the most common human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines. Methods: The AGS cells were treated with varying concentrations of UPC. Analyses of the sub G1, caspase-3 activity, and mitochondrial depolarization were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occured by apoptosis. Furthermore, to identify the role of the transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 7 channels in AGS cell growth and survival, we used human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressed with TRPM7 channels. Results: The addition of UPC to a culture medium inhibited AGS cell growth and survival. Experimental results showed that the sub G1, caspase-3 activity, and mitochondrial depolarization were increased. Furthermore, TRPM7 channel overexpression in HEK 293 cells exacerbated UPC-induced cell death. Conclusion: These findings indicate that UPC inhibits the growth and survival of gastric cancer cells due to a blockade of the TRPM7 channel activity. Therefore, UPC is a potential drug for treatment of gastric cancer, and TRPM7 channels may play an important role in survival in cases of gastric cancer.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.314-321
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• 2015

Background: Ginseng belongs to the genus Panax. Its main active ingredients are the ginsenosides. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) are the pacemaker cells of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. To understand the effects of ginsenoside Re (GRe) on GI motility, the authors investigated its effects on the pacemaker activity of ICCs of the murine small intestine. Methods: Interstitial cells of Cajal were dissociated from mouse small intestines by enzymatic digestion. The whole-cell patch clamp configuration was used to record pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs. Changes in cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) content induced by GRe were investigated. Results: Ginsenoside Re ($20-40{\mu}M$) decreased the amplitude and frequency of ICC pacemaker activity in a concentration-dependent manner. This action was blocked by guanosine 50-[${\beta}-thio$]diphosphate [a guanosine-5'-triphosphate (GTP)-binding protein inhibitor] and by glibenclamide [an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive $K^{+}$ channel blocker]. To study the GRe-induced signaling pathway in ICCs, the effects of 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (a guanylate cyclase inhibitor) and RP-8-CPT-cGMPS (a protein kinase G inhibitor) were examined. Both inhibitors blocked the inhibitory effect of GRe on ICC pacemaker activity. L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester ($100{\mu}M$), which is a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, blocked the effects of GRe on ICC pacemaker activity and GRe-stimulated cGMP production in ICCs. Conclusion: In cultured murine ICCs, GRe inhibits the pacemaker activity of ICCs via the ATP-sensitive potassium ($K^{+}$) channel and the cGMP/NO-dependent pathway. Ginsenoside Re may be a basis for developing novel spasmolytic agents to prevent or alleviate GI motility dysfunction.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.366-371
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• 2006

In this study, we investigated the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of red algae Gloiopeltis tenax (GT). GT was extracted with methanol and then further fractionated it into four different types: methanol (GTMM), hexane (GTMH), butanol (GTMB) and aqueous (GTMA) soluble fractions. The antioxidant activity of the fractions from GT was investigated by measuring the scavenging activities of GT against reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS). Among the four fractions of GT, GTMM and GTMB showed a marked scavenging effect against ROS, but they displayed very low levels of the scavenging effect against RNS. The antimicrobial activity was increased in proportion to its concentration by the paper disc method. Among the various solvent layers, the GTMM and GTMB showed strong antimicrobial activities.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.89-101
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• 2016

Objectives In human, there is a diversity in the breathing pattern, for instance inspiratory and expiratory time, volume, breathing frequency, and breath-to-breath variation. Expecially, respiratory variability can provide important information about breathing regulation and physiological flexibility. it is significant to not only breathing index but also physiological index.Methods Thus this paper reviews the literature on respiratory variability with the aim of clinical application.Results We could find the interrelationships and respiratory variability between emotions, psychopathy, sighing, mental and physical activity.Conclusions As a result, respiratory variability can serve an important physiological index in the clinical area and reflects how our bodies act in diverse environments under various condition.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.72-82
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• 2005

Background and purpose: Bell‘s Palsy is a condition that causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not permanent. The aim of this study is to be convinced of differences between facial electrodermal activities of paralyzed side and those of normal side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients Methods: Electrodermal activity (EDA) was performed within 1 week after the onset of facial palsy and facial nerve electromyography (EMG) at 2 weeks after the onset. The recovery of facial nerve function was documented by House and Brackmann grading. All the patients were followed up weekly until recovery or up to 6 weeks. Results: There was significant differences (conductivity A: t=3.319, p=0.002; conductivity C: t=2.699, p=0.010) between facial electrodermal conductivities of paralyzed side and those of normal side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients (N=45). And the result showed that logarithmic scale of electrodermal conductivity A value ratio obviousely decreased with logarithmic scale of EMG zygomatic branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.472, p=0.143); logarithmic scale of capacitance B, logarithmic scale of EMG temporal branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.422, p=0.133); logarithmic scale of conductivity C, logarithmic scale of EMG buccal branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.545, p=0.083) (N=12). Conclusion: Electrodermal conductivities increased in paralyzed facial side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients.