• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4303-4310
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• 2015

Rumex vesicarius is an edible herb distributed in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The whole plant has significant value in folk medicine and it has been used to alleviate several diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major primary malignant tumor of the liver, is one of the most life-threatening human cancers. The goal of the current study was to explore the potent role of Rumex vesicarius extract against HCC induced in rats. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups: (I): Healthy animals received orally 0.9 % normal saline and served as negative control group, (II): HCC group in which rats were orally administered N-nitrosodiethylamine NDEA, (III): HCC group treated orally with R. vesicarius extract in a dose of 400 mg/kg b.wt daily for two months. ALT and AST, ALP and ${\gamma}$-GT activities were estimated. CEA, AFP, AFU, GPC-3, Gp-73 and VEGF levels were quantified. Histopathological examination of liver tissue sections was also carried out. The results of the current study showed that the treatment of the HCC group with R. vesicarius extract reversed the significant increase in liver enzymes activity, CEA, AFP, AFU, glypican 3, golgi 73 and VEGF levels in serum as compared to HCC-untreated counterparts. In addition, the favorable impact of R. vesicarius treatment was evidenced by the marked improvement in the histopathological features of the liver of the treated group. In conclusion, the present experimental setting provided evidence for the significance of R. vesicarius as anticancer candidate with a promising anticancer potential against HCC. The powerful hepatoprotective properties, the potent antiangiogenic activity and the effective antiproliferative capacity are responsible for the anticancer effect of this plant.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.27.1-27.5
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• 2014

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth. (Scrophulariaceae) is a traditional Ayurvedic herb known as Kutki. It is used as a remedy for diabetes by tribes of North Eastern Himalayan region of India. Present study was conducted to explore the mechanism of antidiabetic activity of standardized aqueous extract of Picrorhiza kurroa (PkE). PkE (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) was orally administered to streptozotocin induced diabetic rats, for 14 consecutive days. Plasma insulin levels were measured and pancreas of rat was subjected to histopathological investigations. Glucose transporter type 4 (GLUT-4) protein content in the total membrane fractions of soleus muscle was estimated by Western blot analysis. Plasma insulin level was significantly increased along with concomitant increase in GLUT-4 content of total membrane fractions of soleus muscle of diabetic rats treated with extract. There was evidence of regeneration of ${\beta}$-cells of pancreatic islets of PkE treated group in histopathological examinations. PkE increased the insulin-mediated translocation of GLUT-4 from cytosol to plasma membrane or increased GLUT-4 expression, which in turn facilitated glucose uptake by skeletal muscles in diabetic rats.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 2016

Objectives: Asiasari radix (A. radix) is a traditional herb medicine that has been used as an analgesic, antitussive, or anti-allergic remedy. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of low concentration of the Asiasarum heterotropoides extract on the morphology and proliferation of the human mesenchymal stem cells derived from periodontal tissue. Methods: Stem cells derived from gingiva were grown in the presence of A. radix at final concentrations that ranged from 0.001 to $0.01{\mu}g/mL$. The morphology of the cells was viewed under an inverted microscope and the analysis of cell proliferation was performed by using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) on days 1 and 3. Results: The control group showed fibroblast morphology. The shapes of the cells in 0.001 and $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ of A. radix were similar to that of the untreated control group. The cultures growing in the presence of A. radix at day 1 showed an increase in the CCK-8 value. The relative values of CCK-8 assays of 0.001 and $0.01{\mu}g/mL$ of A. radix are $130.6%{\pm}1.8%$ and $129.3%{\pm}1.5%$, respectively, when the CCK-8 result of the untreated control group at day 1 is considered 100% (P = 0.051). Conclusions: Within the limits of this study, low concentrations of A. radix seemed to increase the proliferation of the stem cells that were derived from the gingiva and did not have adverse effects on the morphology of the cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.51-56
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• 1980

Phytolaccae Radix (PR), Brunella Herba (BH), Akebiae Lignum (AL) and Atractylis Rhizoma (AR) are some of the diuretic agents used in Chinese medicine and folk remedy. Water or methanol extracts of them (100mg/kg) were intravenously injected to rabbits in order to re-evaluate the effects on renal function. PR water extract elicited moderate diuresis while water extracts of BH, AL and methanol extract of AR had antidiuretic effects. Influence of PR on renal hemodynamics and $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in rabbit kidney were observed in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: 1) Clearances of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid increased significantly after 15 minutes following the administration of PR water extract, but Na+ reabsorption rate was not changed. 2) The increase of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal cortex, outer and inner medulla was observed at 15 minutes after PR water fraction was given intravenously, and the change was most prominent in cortical area. 3) More than 50% of decrease in $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal tissues was observed with PR water fraction $(10^{-2}g/ml)$ in vitro experiments. However, the inhibition of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity was reversed with lower concentrations $(10^{-4}g/ml,\;10^{-6}g/ml)$ of PR water fraction in outer and inner medullary zone. These results suggest the diuretic effect of PR is due to improved renal hemodynamics, and contradictory reults concerning $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity require further investigation.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2017

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.77-100
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• 2020

Objectives The purpose of this study is to investigate recent clinical studies on the effect of herbal medicine for pediatric tonsillitis in China, and to seek better methods to treat and study for pediatric tonsillitis in Republic of Korea. Methods We searched clinical studies from the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) by search formula (SU='扁桃体炎'+'扁桃炎'+'扁桃腺炎'+'乳蛾'+'喉蛾'+'蚕蛾'+'石蛾'+'珠蛾'+'肉蛾'+'乳蛾風'+爛乳風'+'tonsillitis') and (SU='中樂'+'中医樂'+'本草'+'湯'+'丸'+'散'+'方'+'顆粒'+'膠囊'+'自擬'+'herb'+'herbal'+'decoction'+'remedy'+'Chinese medicine'+'Korean medicine'+'kampo'+'formula'+'herbal drug'+'Chinese drug'+'plant'+'Chinese prescription'+'traditional medicine'+'Medicine, East Asian Traditional'+'Herbal Medicine') in professional search from January 2016 to August 2020. We analyzed the literature focusing on the treatment methods and results. Results Among 1464 searched studies, 35 randomized controlled trials were selected and analyzed. In most studies, the effectiveness of oral administration of herbal medicine on pediatric tonsillitis was significant. Most commonly used herbs were Fructus Forsythiae (連翹), Radix Glycyrrhizae (甘草), Radix Scutellariae (黃芩), Herba Menthae (薄荷), Fructus Arctii (牛蒡子), Radix Scrophulariae (玄蔘), Radix Platycodi (桔梗), Flos Lonicerae (金銀花), Radix Isatidis (板藍根), Radix Bupleuri (柴胡), Fructus Gardeniae (梔子), Rhizoma Belamcandae (射干), Radix et Rhizoma Rhei (大黃), Gypsum Fibrosum (石膏). Conclusions By analyzing the improvement of indicators such as total effective rate, cured rate, symptom disappearance time and symptom score, we found that herbal medicine treatment can help improve pediatric tonsillitis. However, additional studies are needed to solidify these findings.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1272-1280
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• 2021

With changes in human dietary patterns, the proportion of high-fat and high-cholesterol foods in the daily diet has increased. As a result, the incidence rate of cholelithiasis is increasing rapidly. Many studies have reported on the crucial role that the intestinal microflora plays in the progression of gallstones. Although the whole herb of Lysimachia christinae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has long been extensively used as a remedy for cholelithiasis in China, its effects on the intestinal microflora remain unknown. Hence, in this study, we investigated the ability of the aqueous extract of L. christinae (LAE) to prevent cholesterol gallstones (CGSs) in model animals by affecting the intestinal microflora. The effects of LAE on body weight, serum lipid profile, visceral organ indexes, and histomorphology were studied in male C57BL/6J mice, which were induced by a lithogenic diet. After the 8-week study, CGSs formation was greatly reduced after LAE treatment. LAE also reduced body weight gain and hyperlipidemia and restored the histomorphological changes. Moreover, the intestinal microflora exhibited significant variation. In the model group fed the lithogenic diet, the abundances of the genera unclassified Porphyromonadaceae, Lactobacillus and Alloprevotella decreased, but in contrast, Akkermansia dramatically increased compared with the control check group, which was fed a normal diet; the administration of LAE reversed these changes. These results imply that L. christinae can be considered an efficient therapy for eliminating CGSs induced by a high-fat and high-cholesterol diet, which may be achieved by influencing the intestinal microflora.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.298-306
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• 2023

Objectives: Cucumis sativus L. (C. sativus) is vegetable commonly used for managing blood pressure and often consumed in combination with standard antihypertensive therapy, despite lack of scientific evidence supporting their use. Combination of herbs and standard medication could have positive or negative effects. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive activity of C. sativus and the combined effect with losartan in the hypertensive rat model induced by angiotensin II. Angiotensin II is a component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system that, upon binding to its receptor, constricts blood vessels leading to elevation of blood pressure. Methods: In an antihypertensive study, rats received C. sativus orally at doses of 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg (full dose); while in a combination study, animals received losartan 2.25 mg/kg combined by either with C. sativus 9 or 18 mg/kg. The standards group received losartan 2.25 mg/kg or 4.5 mg/kg (full dose). Results: Blood pressure was measured using the tail-cuff method. C. sativus significantly attenuated angiotensin II-induced hypertension as observed in groups receiving C. sativus at 9, 18, 27, and 36 mg/kg at 30 minutes after induction showed the average change (Δ) of systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with respect to time zero were 28.8/18.3, 24.8/15.8, 22.8/15.5, and 11.5/9.0 mmHg, respectively. Whereas the average change (Δ) of SBP and DBP in the rats receiving the combination of half doses of C. sativus and losartan were 8.8/9.0 mmHg, respectively. These diminished effects were better than a full dose of C. sativus and comparable with a full dose of losartan (6.5/7.8 mmHg). Conclusion: The present findings indicate that C. sativus dose-dependently blocks blood pressure elevation induced by angiotensin II. The combination of half dose of C. sativus and losartan has an additive effect in lowering blood pressure.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.479-489
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• 1998

This work was done for 9 patients having experience of a herb medical treatment after being diagnosed as CVA during a year from January, 1996 to December, 1996 by using an ethnographic research method. The summarized results of this research are following. Ⅰ. THE EXPERIENCE OF THE ILLNESS First, the falling-ill phase is the time that they have the first stroke of paralysis and the decision pattern of medical institution' comes out. The emotional experience in the period is something like 'flustration', 'anxiety', 'despair', and 'expectation'. Second, the active-treatment phase is the time that the patients as well as their family or care giver not only show the positive attitude and actively participate in the illness treatment but also show a lot of interest in medical institutions and activities of health recovery. There is a primary factor of the continuation of treatment as an experience of treatment and being crushed and sensitivity as an experience of the illness. Third, the rehabilitation phase is the time that the patients or their family become tired and insensitive to the treatment and recuperation, and then reduce the treatment activity. There is a primary influence factor of the discontinuance of treatment as an experience of treatment and physical experience and emotional experience as an experience of the illness. The physical experience is divided into 'personal-hygiene care', and 'the sphere of activity' The emotional experiences are 'blaming someone', 'contempt' and 'despair' as a negative experience and 'hope' as a positive experience. Ⅱ. COPING STRATEGY There are a physical coping, an emotional and mental coping, a social coping, and a spiritual coping as a coping strategy used for the patients to overcome their illness and adjust themselves to their altered life. First, the physical coping comes out as 8 categories, 'using an auxiliary tool', 'doing exercise', 'protecting', 'improving their diet', 'taking care of something', 'using subsidiary medicines', 'trying a folk remedy', and 'having interest in their health'. Second, for the emotional and mental coping, there are 'accepting' and 'trying' as a positive coping and a failure of control as a negative coping. Third, the social coping is appeared as 'being supported'. Fourth, the spiritual coping is recognized as' recourse to God' and 'preparation of death'. After all, the elderly CVA patients in an agricultural area choose the act of treatment based on the traditional belief and the relationship with a caretaker. A personal health can be maintained by taking care of themselves and controling their mind, and the overcome of the illness is decided on the basis of traditional concepts and cultural principles in which the patients as well as the family, neigbors and take carers should work out together and cooperate with each other in order to achieve that.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.361-373
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• 2016

This study tested the antioxidant activities and anti-aging effects of an extract of Orostachys japonicus, a herb used as a folk remedy for cancer for a long time. To assess the antioxidant activities of the Orostachys japonicus extract (OJE), the total polyphenol content was confirmed to have a high caffeic acid equivalent weight of 12 g by dry weight of 100g OJE and the total flavonoid content was confirmed that the quercetin equivalent of 1.7 g by dry weight of 100g OJE. DPPH free radical scavenging activity was confirmed a high scavenging activity of 79.7% at a concentration of 1%. To confirm the anti-aging effect of OJE, MMP-1 expression was decreased in $25{\mu}L/mL$ and $50{\mu}L/mL$ similar to control. In a clinical experiment, a group of subjects who used a cosmetic product containing OJE showed a significant increase in the amount of skin moisture from the forehead, left cheek, and chin. The experimental group showed a significant increase in the amount of skin sebum from the chin and maintaining pH balance of normal skin, As a result, the OJE demonstrates the efficacy of natural cosmetic material as antioxidant and anti-aging.