• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.118-125
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• 2008

Gardenia jasminoides (G. jasminoides) is traditionally used to treat insomnia, jaundice, emotional disorders, hepatic disease, and inflammatory disease. Previously, we found that geniposide and the water extract of G. jasminoides increased $Cl^-$ influx in neuroblastoma. Here we examined the sychopharmacological activities of G. jasminoides and its constituents. G. jasminoides extract was orally administered at 100 and 200 mg/kg, and genipin and geniposide were intraperitoneally injected at 2, 10, and 20 mg/kg. G. jasminoides extract (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased total open field activity but increased rearing activity in the center of the open field, suggesting an increase in exploratory activity. Genipin and geniposide did not change open field activity, but geniposide (20 mg/kg) increased rearing activity in the central area. The extract (200 mg/kg) significantly decreased rotarod and wire-balancing activity, but genipin and geniposide did not. No compounds influenced thiopental-induced sleeping or electroshock-induced seizures. The extract (200 mg/kg) significantly increased staying time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze and the entry ratio into the open arms, and geniposide (20 mg/kg) also increased open arm entry. Electroshock stress decreased open arm activity, but the extract and geniposide (20 mg/kg) significantly reversed that effect. This results indicate that G. jasminoides extract and geniposide alleviated anxiety with greater efficacy in stressed animals than normal animals.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.22-42
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• 1990

Sabaiksan has been prescribed to treat various allergic diseases in herbal medicine which were induced by various vasoactive amine released from the mast cells. The constituents of Sabaiksan are Mori Cortex Radices(MCR), Lycii Cortex Radicis(LCR) and Glycyrrhizae Radix(GR). Recently, simple models of compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic shock and cutaneous reaction in vivo were developed to test various agents employed in the field of allergy and toxicology research. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of Sabaiksan on compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic stock, cutaneous reaction and mesenteric mast cell degranulation rate in ICR mice, and on compound 48/80 induced peritoneal mast cell degranulation and histamine release in vitro. Groups of ICR mice were intraperitoneally pretreated with $100{\mu}{\ell}$ of saline, $MCR(2g/m{\ell}),\;LCR(2g/m{\ell}),\;GR(g/m{\ell})$ or Sabaiksan itself(MCR+LCR+GR) at 24, 12 and 1 hour before compound 48/80 solution ($10{\mu}{\ell}/gm$ B. W) were peritoneally given into them, and then mortality within 72 hours after the compound 48/80 injection, and mesenteric mast cell degranulation rate at 15 minutes after compound 48/80 injection were calculated. In vitro experiment, $400{\mu}{\ell}$ of rat peritoneal mast cell suspension$(10^6cell/m{\ell})$ were pretreated with $50{\mu}{\ell}$ of saline, $MCR(2g/m{\ell}),\;LCR(2g/m{\ell}),\;GR(g/m{\ell})$ or Sabaiksan itself at room temperature for 30 minutes, and then $50{\mu}{\ell}$ of compound 48/80 solution $(100{\mu}g/m{\ell})$ were added into it. 30 minutes after the addition of compound 48/80 solution, histamine release assay in the supernatant of peritoneal mast cell suspension were performed employing radioisotope enzymatic assay and morphologic changes of mast cells in each regular time point were photographed. Compared with controls, compound 48/80 induced anaphylactic shock was significantly inhibited by MCR and GR pretreatment into the ICR mice. Significant inhibition of compound 48/80 induced cutaneous reaction, mesenteric mast cell degranulation rate in vivo and histamine release from the rat peritoneal mast cells in vitro was observed only in MCR pretreated group. From the above results, it is suggested that MCR component of Sabaiksan may playa key role to suppress mast cell function since it has been applied to various allergic diseases.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.483-497
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• 2017

Background : Behavioral stress has been suggested as one of the significant factors that is able to disrupt physiological systems and cause depression as well as changes in various body systems. The stressful events can alter cognition, learning, memory and emotional responses, resulting in mental disorders such as depression and anxiety. Results : We used a restraint stress model to evaluate the alteration of behavior and stress-related blood parameter. The animals were randomly divided into two groups of five animals each group. Furthermore, we assessed the change of body weight to evaluate the locomotor activity as well as status of emotional and anxiety in mice. After 7 days of restraint stress, the body weight had significantly decreased in the restraint stress group compared with the control group. We also observed stress-associated behavioral alterations, as there was a significant decrease in open field and forced swim test, whereas the immobilization time was significantly increased in the stress group compared to the control group. We observed the morphological changes of neuronal death and microglia by immunohistochemistry and western blot. In our study restraint stress did not cause change in neuronal cell density in the frontal cortex and CA1 hippocampus region, but there was a trend for an increased COX-2 and iNOS protein expression and microglia (CD11b) in brain, which is restraint stress. Conclusion : Our study, there were significant alterations observed in the behavioral studies. We found that mice undergoing restraint stress changed behavior, confirming the increased expression of inflammatory factors in the brain.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.141-144
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• 1989

During October-December 1987, chigger mites infested on the striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius cereae) collected at Pochun-gun, Gyeonggi Province and Chinhae city, Kyongnam Province were identified. . 1. Of 171 back-striped mice collected, chigger mites wire found from 58 mice, showing 33.9% of infestation rate. 2. Total 865 chigger mites collected were classified into seven species; Leptotrombidium pallidum (4.3%), L. palpate(23.0%), L. orienpalis(20.2%), L. xetum(19.0%), Neotrombicula tamiyai(32.9%), JV. japonica(0.25%) and Euschongastia koreaensis(0.3%). Though the most dominant species in number was N. tamiyai(32.9% of the total), this species was collected at very limited locality and for a short period. Therefore, most common species in Korea seems to be L. palpale which was found at all localities throughout the whole survey period. L. pallidum which is known as the vector species of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea was collected in a very low number(4.3% of the total chiggers collected). 3. The number of chigger mites infested on a host animal showed great variations from one chigger up to 207 chiggers. The present study has shown that there may be other Leptotrombidium species mite(s) for the vector and host of tsutsugamushi disease in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.183-192
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• 2002

Cells infected With equine herpesvirus type-1 (EHV-1) Produced both infectious and non-infectious Virus-related particles. Compared to the whole virion, non-infectious particles termed L-particles were deter-mined to lack 150 kDa protein, commonly known as nucleocapsid protein. The potential of L-particles to induce immune responses was studied in mice and foals. Intranasal immunization with L-particles or whole virions induced poor IgG antibody responses in mice. Interestingly, despite the poor antibody response, the conferred immunity protected the host from challenge infections. This was indicated by a significant reduction in virus titers in line with recovery towards normal body weight. Subsequently, the test on the usefulness of L-particles as immunizing agents was extended to foals. Immunization of specific-pathogen-free (SPF) foals resulted in similar results. As determined by a complement-fixing-antibody test (CFT), foals seroconverted when they were immunized either with inactivated L-particles or whole virions via intramuscular (i.m.) injections. The presence of the antibody correlated with the degree of protection. Beyond day 1 post challenge infection (p.i.), there was no virus shedding in the nasal mucus of foals immunized with whole EHV-1 virions. Virus shedding was observed in foals Immunized with L-particles but limited to days 6 to 8 p.i. only. In contrast, extended vim shedding was observed in non-immunized foals and it was well beyond day 14 p.i. Viremia was not detected for more than four days except in non-immunized foals. Immunization in mice via intranasal (i.n.) conferred good protection. However, compared to the i.n. route, a greater degree of protection was obtained in foals following immunization via i.m. route. Despite variation in the degree of protection due to different routes of immunization in the two animal species, our results have established significant evidence that immunization with L-particles confers protection in the natural host. It is suggested that non-infectious L-particles should be used as immunizing agents for vaccination of horses against EHV-1 infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.515-525
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• 2022

Background: The incidence of ischemic cerebrovascular disease is increasing in recent years and has been one of the leading causes of neurological dysfunction and death. Ginsenoside Rg1 has been found to protect against neuronal damage in many neurodegenerative diseases. However, the effect and mechanism by which Rg1 protects against cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) are not fully understood. Here, we report the neuroprotective effects of Rg1 treatment on CIRI and its possible mechanisms in mice. Methods: A bilateral common carotid artery ligation was used to establish a chronic CIRI model in mice. HT22 cells were treated with Rg1 after OGD/R to study its effect on [Ca²⁺]_i. The open-field test and poleclimbing experiment were used to detect behavioral injury. The laser speckle blood flowmeter was used to measure brain blood flow. The Nissl and H&E staining were used to examine the neuronal damage. The Western blotting was used to examine MAP2, PSD95, Tau, p-Tau, NOX2, PLC, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging was used to test the level of [Ca²⁺]_i. Results: Rg1 treatment significantly improved cerebral blood flow, locomotion, and limb coordination, reduced ROS production, increased MAP2 and PSD95 expression, and decreased p-Tau, NOX2, p-PLC, CN, NFAT1, and NLRP1 expression. Calcium imaging results showed that Rg1 could inhibit calcium overload and resist the imbalance of calcium homeostasis after OGD/R in HT22 cells. Conclusion: Rg1 plays a neuroprotective role in attenuating CIRI by inhibiting oxidative stress, calcium overload, and neuroinflammation.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1987

Total 390 mice were irradiated with $2{\times}3cm$ abdominal field and $200{\times}5/wk$ regimen with orthovoltage x-ray machine. All animals were divided into 2 large groups, damage and recovery, and histopathologic changes were analyzed at various total dose level (1,000 cCy-5,000 cCy) and intervals (1 week-15 weeks). Almost acute changes such as decreased mitotic activity, villi shortening and focal erosion of mucosa recovered within 1-2 weeks in 1,000-3,000 cGy irradiated group but mild changes persisted in 4,000 and 5,000 cCy irradiated groups. Chronic delayed changes such as thickening of vessel wall with focal thrombosis, submucosal fibrosis, mucosal atrophy and chronic ulcer were observed from 2-3 week specimens in 4,000 and 5,000 cGy groups, These late changes recovered slightly, as increasing time intervals after irradiation but mild, persistant changes were observed throught all follow up period. These data suggest hat even 4,000 cCy is not completely safe for possible permanent damage and judicious modificiation of total dose, dose rate, fraction size, and field size should be considered for better results.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.213-221
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• 2010

The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is the primary endocrine system to respond to stress. The HPA axis may be affected by increased level of corticotrophin-releasing factors under chronic stress and by chronic administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether chronic MSG administration aggravates chronic variable stress (CVS)-induced behavioral and hormonal changes. Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats, weighing 200~220 g, were divided into 4 groups as follows: water administration (CON), MSG (3 g/kg) administration (MSG), CVS, and CVS with MSG (3 g/kg) administration (CVS＋MSG). In addition, for the purpose of comparing the effect on plasma corticosterone levels between chronic stress and daily care or acute stress, 2 groups were added at the end of the experiment; the 2 new groups were as follows: naive mice (n=7) and mice exposed to restraint stress for 2 h just before decapitation (A-Str, n=7). In an open field test performed after the experiment, the CVS＋MSG group significant decrease in activity. The increase in relative adrenal weights in the CVS and CVS＋MSG group was significantly greater than those in the CON and/or MSG groups. In spite of the increase in the relative adrenal weight, there was a significant decrease in the plasma corticosterone levels in the CVS＋MSG group as compared to all other groups, except the naive group. These results suggest that impaired HPA axis function as well as the decrease in the behavioral activity in adult rats can be induced by chronic MSG administration under CVS rather than CVS alone.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2024

This study examined the fecal samples of striped field mice (Apodemus agrarius coreae) captured in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Fecal samples, including the colon and other intestinal organs, were collected and subjected to aerobic culture to investigate the distribution of intestinal microorganisms. Gram staining of the aerobic cultured bacterial colonies from 36 fecal samples revealed the predominant presence of gram-negative bacilli in all samples. Among the 36 samples, gram-negative bacilli were identified in 36 strains (100%), gram-positive cocci in 21 strains (58.3%), and gram-positive bacilli in 15 strains (41.7%), while no gram-negative cocci were observed. The gram-negative bacilli cultured from the 36 samples were identified using the Vitek 2 system, and all were determined to be Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains. In addition, one sample was concurrently identified with E. coli and Enterobacter cloacae strains. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the identified E. coli strains did not include all antibiotics, but one strain exhibited intermediate resistance to cefoxitin. No pathogenic bacteria were present in the fecal samples of the scrub typhus-infected rodents, which are vectors for chigger-borne diseases affecting humans and animals.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 2010

Background and Objective : Increasing interest in anti-aging and anti-wrinkling agents for the skin has triggered the recent outflow of researches and studies in this field. This study was designed to investigate the effects of bee venom on skin wrinkling and skin aging by testing the skin wrinkling, skin elasticity, trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL), free radical level, anti-oxidative agent level, and skin tissue after infusion of bee venom on hairless mouse. Materials and Methods : Fifteen hairless mice aged between 36~40 weeks were divided randomly into 3 Group; the Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group. The Bee Venom Syringe Group were injected subcutaneously with bee venom (0.1cc in total) using an insulin syringe on three spots in the lumbar spine (one spot on the center and two spots 1~2cm to the side bilaterally). The Bee Venom Needle Group were pricked with bee venom-smeared acupuncture needles on three longitudinal spots in the lumbar spine each 1cm apart, after which the needles were removed 10 minutes later. The Control Group did not receive any form of intervention. All procedures took place thrice a week for four weeks, during which the mice were allowed free access to water and fodder. The mice were measured and compared in the weight, skin wrinkling scale, skin elasticity, and TEWL before and after the experiment. After the experiment, blood samples were taken to measure the free radical and anti-oxidative agent level, and the skin tissue was sliced for examination. Data was analyzed using the SPSS program (ver 12.0). The ANOVA analysis was used to compare and contrast the three groups, and t-test for paired samples was used to evaluate skin-wrinkling before and after experiment. The cut-off p-value of significance was set at p<0.05. Results : 1. Administration of bee venom did not cause serious weight loss or gain. 2. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed a decrease in skin wrinkling scale after intervention. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant decrease (p<0.05). 3. Compared to the control group, the Bee Venom Syringe Group and the Bee Venom Needle Group both showed an increase in skin elasticity. Especially, the Bee Venom Syringe Group showed a significant increase (p<0.05). 4. No significant change in TEWL was found in the mice in all the three groups before and after experiment. 5. Free radical level was normal in all 15 mice in all the three groups, and anti-oxidative agent was not significantly different across the three groups. 6. The Bee Venom Syringe Group, the Bee Venom Needle Group, and the control group did not show any significant difference in the thickness of epidermis and dermis, infiltration of inflammatory cells, and skin wrinkling. The epidermis layer was relatively better preserved in the Bee Venom Syringe Group as compared to the Bee Venom Needle Group and the control group. Conclusion : Direct injection of bee venom on the hairless mouse using a syringe was found to improve wrinkling of the skin and increase skin elasticity but did not show effectiveness on skin dryness due to water loss. The bee venom appears to have suppressive effects on skin wrinkling, one of the symptoms of skin aging, through a process independent of suppression of free radicals or increase of anti-oxidative agent.