• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 1984

The exocrine pancreatic secretion is controlled mainly by gastrointestinal hormones as well as cholinergic nerves. The adrenergic influence on exocrine pancreas is thought not to he important and the evidences supporting this contention are still contradictory. In an effort to elucidate the adrenergic influence on the exocrine pancreas, we have determined the amylase release from pancreatic slices of rats treated with adrenergic drugs. The albino rats of either sex, weighing $60{\sim}80\;g$, were decapitated and the uncinate pancreata were isolated and incubated in screw top vials containing 2 ml krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer solution gassed with 95% $O_2$ and 5% $CO_2$. These vials were shaken continuously in a waterbath maintained at $37^{circ}C$, and enzyme release was stimulated with acetylcholine$(10^{-5}M)$. For chronic treatment methoxamine$(an\;{\alpha}-adrenergic\;agonist,\;5\;mg/kg)$, isoproterenol (a\;{\beta}-adrenergic\;agonist,\;10\;mg/kg) and reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) along with cholecystokinin octapeptide$(CCK-op,\;2{\mu}g/kg)$ were given i.p. in rats daily for 3, 5, 7, 9 or 12 days. For acute experiment these drugs were added directly to the incubation medium in a concentration of $10^{-5}M$ except CCK-OP $(10^{-9}M)$. The results are summarized as follows. 1) The addition of methoxamine, isoproterenol or reserpine to the incubation medium containing pancreatic slices augmented the release of amylase induced by acetylcholine and among them the effect of isoproterenol was most prominent. 2) Chronic treatment of methoxamine or reserpine caused enhancement of acetylcholine response in amylase release from pancreatic slice throughout the experimental period, but the amylase release was less than that of control by 12 days isoproterenol treatment. 3) In the pancreatic slices obtained from 12 days treatment of CCK-OP, the amylae release responding to acetylcholine was enhanced. By these finding it is suggested that methoxamine, isoproterenol and reserpine had marked influence on the exocrine pancreatic functions in rats and that these effects are due to their inherent actions rather than sympathetic nerve or adrenergic receptor function.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.630-635
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• 2014

Pine nut oil (PNO) is well known to impart beneficial effects in overweight individuals, but the mechanisms underlying PNO-mediated weight loss remain unclear. To investigate how PNO promotes weight loss, its composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, the effects of PNO on cytotoxicity, lipid accumulation, expression of lipid metabolism-related biomarkers, and leptin secretion were assessed in 3T3-L1 cells. GC-MS analyses revealed that PNO contains several components, including linoleic acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid. Moreover, PNO did not have a cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 cells. However, it inhibited the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) and adipocyte protein 2 (aP2). Finally, PNO significantly increased leptin secretion in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results support the notion that PNO is useful for weight management in overweight individuals.

• Laboraroty Animal Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.223-231
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• 2018

Regulation of gastrointestinal hormones have been reported in animal models for constipation undergoing laxative therapy when administered herbal products. We undertook to investigate whether the laxative activity of gallotannin-enriched extracts isolated from Galla Rhois (GEGR) affects the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones, by examining the concentration of four hormones and the activation of their receptors in the loperamide (Lop)-induced constipation model. Stool parameters, including number, weight and water content, were significantly recovered in the Lop+GEGR treated group, relative to the Lop+ vehicle treated group; however, food intake and water consumption were maintained at a constant level. Also, a similar recovery was detected for thickness of mucosa, muscle and flat luminal surface in the Lop+GEGR treated group. Furthermore, concentration of the four gastrointestinal hormones evaluated, namely, cholecystokinin (CCK), gastrin (GAS), somatostatin (SS) and motilin (MTL), were lower in the Lop+vehicle treated group than the No treated group, but were remarkably enhanced in the Lop+GEGR treated group. Moreover, the downstream signaling pathway of MTL and SS receptors were recovered after GEGR administration. Results of the present study therefore indicate that the laxative effects of GEGR treatment may be tightly related with the regulation of gastrointestinal hormones in the Lopinduced constipation model.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.11-17
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• 2014

Objective : Portulaca oleracea (PO) has been used as an important traditional medicine for inflammatory and bacterial diseases in East Asia. However, the protective effects of PO on acute pancreatitis (AP) is not well-known. Therefore, this study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory and prophylactic effects of PO on cerulein-induced AP. Methods : AP was induced in mice via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of the stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein ($50{\mu}g/kg$) given every hour for 6 times. Water extracts of PO (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg) was administrated intra-peritoneally 1 h prior to the first injection of cerulein. The mice were killed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Pancreas and lung were rapidly removed for morphologic and histochemical examination, myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. Blood samples were taken to determine serum amylase and lipase activities. Results : Administration of PO significantly inhibited pancreatic weight/body weight ratio, pancreas and lung histological injury. And MPO activity which indicates neutrophil infiltration was inhibited by PO extracts on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. In addition, PO administration inhibited digestive enzymes such as serum amylase and lipase activity on cerulein-induced pancreatitis. Conclusion : Our results could suggest that pre-treatment of PO reduces the severity of cerulein-induced AP, thereby, PO could be used as a protective agent against AP. Also, this study could give a clinical basis that PO could be a drug or agent to prevent AP.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.75-80
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• 2019

Objectives : Dictamni Radicis Cortex (DRC) has been used as an important traditional medicine for inflammation and fungal diseases. However, the protective effect of DRC water extract on acute pancreatitis (AP) has not been deeply reported. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the protective effects of DRC water extract on cerulein-induced AP. Methods : AP was induced via intraperitoneal injection of supramaximal concentrations of stable cholecystokinin analogue cerulein ($50{\mu}g/kg$) every hour for 6 times. DRC water extract (0.05, 0.1, or 0.2 g/kg) or saline was administrated intraperitoneally 1 h before to the first injection of cerulein. The mice were sacrificed at 6 h after the final cerulein injection. Pancreas was rapidly removed for histochemical examination and myeloperoxidase (MPO) assay. In addition, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to examine mRNA levels of proinflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and Tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Results : Administration of DRC water extract significantly inhibited the pancreatic weight to body weight ratio, pancreas histological damages and increase of pancreatic MPO activity during cerulein-induced AP. In addition, increased pancreatic mRNA levels of $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6 but not $TNF-{\alpha}$ were significantly inhibited by treatment of DRC water extract against cerulein-induced AP. Conclusions : In conclusion, we have revealed that pre-treatment of DRC water extract reduces the severity of cerulein-induced AP. Accordingly, our results could give a clinical basis that DRC could be used as a drug or agent to prevent AP.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.536-541
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• 2017

The object of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of Litsea japonica fruit flesh extract (LJF-HE) on gastritis of an stress-induced SD rat model. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: Normal (normal group), Control (stress-induced gastritis), Ranitidine (stress-induced gastritis and ranitidine 50 mg/kg), LJF-HE-L (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 30 mg/kg), LJF-HE-M (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 60 mg/kg), LJF-HE-H (stress-induced gastritis pretreated with L. japonica fruit flesh extract at 120 mg/kg). In groups treated with LJF-HE, gastric mucosal damage and pepsin activity were reduced. Additionally, there were decreases in the expression of cholecystokinin 2 receptor (CCK-2r) in the gastric lesions. The plasma levels of IL-$1{\beta}$ slightly but significantly decreased in LJF-HE treated groups compared to control. The plasma level of PGE2 was also significantly increased in LJF-HE treated groups. These results suggest that LJF-HE has the ability to reduce of the severity stress-induced gastritis.