• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.247-253
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• 2004

We investigated the hypoglycemic effect of formula containing Euonymus alatus (EA) and Mori Folium (MF) in multiple low dose (MLD) streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. In order to iduce hyperglycemic state 25 mg/kg of STZ was injected intraperitoneally for 5 consecutive days. SD rats were randomly divided into diabetic control and treatment groups. Treatment groups were administered with either 250 mg/kg of EA and 250 mg/kg of MF (E1Ml), or 500 mg/kg of EA mixed with same dose of MF (E2M2) for 3 weeks. Blood glucose levels and body weights were measured every 5th or 6th day. E1Ml and E2M2 both significantly reduced food intake, water intake, and fasting blood and urine glucose levels as compared to those in diabetic control group in a dose dependent manner. Body weight in diabetic control group was increased slightly after 3 weeks. Treatment group, however, showed gradual increase in body weights during 3 week-period. While plasma insulin levels of the diabetic control group were decreased to the level of 387$\pm$14 pg/ml from 534$\pm$36 pg/ml, those levels in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were both markedly increased by 13% and 26%, respectively. Urine glucose levels in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were also remarkably reduced by 17 and 26% compared to the levels of diabetic control group. While expression of membrane-bound glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) protein in skeletal muscle was reduced by 45% in diabetic control compared to the normal control, GLUT-4 protein expressions in E1Ml and E2M2-treated groups were augmented by 2 and 3.5 times compared to the diabetic control, respectively. Pancreatic HE staining experiments showed that E2M2-treated group revealed much less infiltrated mononuclear cells, indicating that E2M2 efficiently blocked insulitis induced by multiple low dose streptozotocin. Taken together, we conclude that formula containing EA and MF may prevent or delay the development of hyperglycemia through overexpression of GLUT-4 protein in skeletal muscle and prevention of insulitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.306-313
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• 2012

Herbal medicines are medicinal products containing a single or a mixture of two or more different herbal substances or herbal preparations as active principles. Recently, much attention has been paid to developing various kinds of fermented herbal extracts, a new type of traditional herbal medicine in the field of Korean traditional medicine. The fermentation of medicinal herbs is intended to exert a favorable influence on bioestability, bioavaliablilty and pharmacological activity of herbal extract in the gastrointestinal tract as well as intensifying the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of the medicinal herbs. The purpose of this study was to investigate biological activities of fermented Rehmanniae Radix by lactic acid bacteria at $30^{\circ}C$ for 3 days in comparison with those for Rehmanniae Radix The fermented Rehmanniae Radix exhibited different chemical profile to Rehmanniae Radix generated with HPLC, indicating production of new ingredients during fermentation. Rehmanniae Radix served as good nutritional sources for the growth of lactic acid bacteria showing increased number of bacteria during fermentation. Toxic effect of the fermented Rehmanniae Radix to cells were not seen judged by the MTT assay. The fermented Rehmanniae Radix exhibited better antioxidant effect than non-fermented Rehmanniae Radix analyzed by a SOD-likely assay. Both hypoglycemic and hypotensive effects of the fermented Rehmanniae Radix were also detected and better than those for Rehmanniae Radix in showing dose-dependent inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase and ACE, respectively. In conclusion, fermented Rehmanniae Radix appears to have more biological activities than non-feremented Rehmanniae Radix showing not only antioxidant effect but also cardiovascular protection.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 1997

The hypoglycemic and metabolic effects of Commelina communis L. extract were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The increased blood glucose level in the diabetic rats was sinificantly lowered with the treatments of the plant protein extract. Administration of the plant extract ellicited the significant increase of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity in liver of alloxan-induced rats. Three isozyme patterns(band I, II & III : in order decreasing mobility) of G6PD were found when normal rat liver extract were subjected to electrophoresis on native polyacrylamide gel. On the other hand, G6PD band patterns of alloxan-induced rat liver extract were found band II isozyme missing. By treatment of plant extract in alloxan-induced rats has been showed pattern the recovery of missing band patterns. This indicates that changes of the G6PD isozyme might be related to the cellular process of diabetes.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-107
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• 2018

Objectives : In present study, therefore, possible beneficial pharmacological activities of standard potato protein extracts (SPE) were observed on the mild diabetic obese mice. Methods : After end of 12 weeks of continuous oral administrations of three different dosages of SPE 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, or metformin 250 mg/kg, analyzed the hepatoprotective, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, nephroprotective and anti-obesity effects, separately. In addition, liver antioxidant defense systems were additionally measured with lipid metabolism-related genes expressions and hepatic glucose-regulating enzyme activities for action mechanism. Results : All of diabetes and related complications including obesity were significantly inhibited by treatment of SPE 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, dose-dependently, and they also dramatically normalized the hepatic lipid peroxidation and depletion of liver endogenous antioxidant defense system, the changes of the hepatic glucose-regulating enzyme activities, also changes of the lipid metabolism-related genes expressions including hepatic $AMPK{\alpha}1$ and $AMPK{\alpha}2$ mRNA expressions, dose-dependently. Especially, SPE 200 mg/kg constantly showed favorable inhibitory activities against type II diabetes and related complications as comparable to those of metformin 250 mg/kg in HFD mice, respectively. Conclusions : The present work demonstrated that SPE 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg showed favorable anti-diabetic and related complications including obesity refinement activities in HFD mice, through AMPK upregulation mediated hepatic glucose enzyme activity and lipid metabolism-related genes expression, antioxidant defense system and pancreatic lipid digestion enzyme modulatory activities.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.446-452
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• 2013

Chronic consumption of a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diet increases insulin resistance and results in type 2 diabetes mellitus in C57BL/6J mice. Hyperglycemia in diabetics increases oxidative stress, which is associated with a high risk of diabetic complications. The purpose of this study was to examine the hypoglycemic and antioxidant effects of chamnamul [Pimpinella brachycarpa (Kom.) Nakai] in an animal model of type 2 diabetes. The ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activity of a 70% ethanol extract of chamnamul was measured in vitro. Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a basal or HFHS diet with or without a 70% ethanol extract of chamnamul at a 0.5% level of the diet for 12 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. After sacrifice, serum glucose, insulin, adiponectin, and lipid profiles, and lipid peroxidation of the liver were determined. Homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was determined. Chamnamul extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 26.7%, which was 78.3% the strength of inhibition by acarbose at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL. Serum glucose, insulin, and cholesterol levels, as well as HOMA-IR values, were significantly lower in the chamnamul group than in the HFHS group. Chamnamul extract significantly decreased the level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in the liver compared with the HFHS group. These findings suggest that chamnamul may be useful in prevention of hyperglycemia and reduction of oxidative stress in mice fed a HFHS diet.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.158-172
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• 2017

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, family Ranunculaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for centuries throughout the world as a natural remedy. A wide range of chemical compounds found in N. sativa expresses its vast therapeutic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component (up to 50%) in the essential oil of N. sativa. Also, pinene (up to 15%), p-cymene (40%), thymohydroquinone (THQ), thymol (THY), and dithymoquinone (DTQ) are other pharmacologically active compounds of its oil. Other terpenoid compounds, such as carvacrol, carvone, 4-terpineol, limonenes, and citronellol, are also found in small quantities in its oil. The main pharmacological characteristics of this plant are immune system stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, anti-tussive, milk production, uricosuric, choleretic, anti-fertility, and spasmolytic properties. In this regard, we have searched the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with keywords of N. sativa, anti-cancer, apoptotic effect, antitumor, antioxidant, and malignancy over the period from 2000 to 2017. The effectiveness of N. sativa against cancer in the blood system, kidneys, lungs, prostate, liver, and breast and on many malignant cell lines has been shown in many studies, but the molecular mechanisms behind that anti-cancer role are still not clearly understood. From among the many effects of N. sativa, including its anti-proliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation, anti-metastasis/anti-angiogenesis effects, Akt pathway control, modulation of multiple molecular targets, including p53, p73, STAT-3, PTEN, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and activation of caspases, the main suggestive anti-cancer mechanisms of N. sativa are its free radical scavenger activity and the preservation of various anti-oxidant enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and the anti-cancer effects of N. sativa, with a focus on its molecular targets in apoptosis pathways.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.485-501
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• 1998

Cortex Mori (Moros alba L.), the root bark of mulberry tree has been used as an autiphlogistic, diuretic and expectorant in herval medicine. Recently, a few papers reported that phenolic extract of Cortex Mori had the hypotensive, hypoglycemic, antiviral and anticancer effects, and hot water extract of Cortex Mori(CM) had inhibitory effect on the degranulation and histamine release from activated mast cells. These previous studies suggest a possibility that CM has an antidotal activity against inflammation which was mediated mainly by macrophage-secreting inflammatory factors. This study was performed to evaluate the influences of CM on carrageenan-induced edema in vivo and release of inflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF and IL-1 by macrophages stimulated with LPS or $IFN-{\gamma}$ in vitro. Subcutaneous injections of carrageenan into the mouse paw rapidly induced local edema by increasing vascular permeability, but single intraperitoneal injection of CM extract at 30 minutes before carrageenan suppressed the development of edema. NO and TNF production from macrophage stimulated by LPS or $IFN-{\gamma}$ were significantly suppressed, especially TNF secretion by up to 3-4 folds. LPS stimulated IL-1 production was also inhibited, but not significantly. Cell viability assay verified that the inhibition was not due to general cell toxicity. These results suggest that reduction of NO, TNF and IL-1 production may be one of the means by which CM prevent inflammation associated diseases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.155-164
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• 2010

Lycii fructus is the fruit of Lycium chinense Miller and is part of the Solanaceae family. Lycii fructus produces various effects such as hypotensive, hypoglycemic, anti-pyretic, and anti-stress activities. Lycii fructus is known to contain betaine, carotene, nicotinic acid, zeaxanthin, and cerebroside. In the present study, the effects of Lycii fructus aqueous extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in murine raw 264.7 macrophage cells were investigated. In this study we utilized the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and nitric oxide (NO) detection. Lycii fructus aqueous extract suppressed NO production by inhibiting the LPS-induced expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$) mRNA and iNOS protein in murine raw 264.7 macrophage cells. Also, Lycii fructus aqueous extract suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) in the nucleus. These results demonstrated that Lycii fructus aqueous extract causes an anti-inflammatory effect that was likely produced by the suppression of iNOS expression through the down-regulation of NF-$\hat{e}B$ binding activity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.784-794
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• 2023

Background: ginsenoside Rg5 is a rare ginsenoside with known hypoglycemic effects in diabetic mice. This study aimed to explore the effects of ginsenoside Rg5 on skin wound-healing in the Lepr^db/db mutant (db/db) mice (C57BL/KsJ background) model and the underlying mechanisms. Methods: Seven-week-old male C57BL/6J, SLC7A11-knockout (KO), the littermate wild-type (WT), and db/db mice were used for in vivo and ex vivo studies. Results: Ginsenoside Rg5 provided through oral gavage in db/db mice significantly alleviated the abundance of apoptotic cells in the wound areas and facilitated skin wound healing. 50 μM ginsenoside Rg5 treatment nearly doubled the efferocytotic capability of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from db/db mice. It also reduced NF-κB p65 and SLC7A11 expression in the wounded areas of db/db mice dose-dependently. Ginsenoside Rg5 physically interacted with SLC7A11 and suppressed the cystine uptake and glutamate secretion of BMDCs from db/db and SLC7A11-WT mice but not in BMDCs from SLC7A11-KO mice. In BMDCs and conventional type 1 dendritic cells (cDC1s), ginsenoside Rg5 reduced their glycose storage and enhanced anaerobic glycolysis. Glycogen phosphorylase inhibitor CP-91149 almost abolished the effect of ginsenoside Rg5 on promoting efferocytosis. Conclusion: ginsenoside Rg5 can suppress the expression of SLC7A11 and inhibit its activity via physical binding. These effects collectively alleviate the negative regulations of SLC7A11 on anaerobic glycolysis, which fuels the efferocytosis of dendritic cells. Therefore, ginsenoside Rg5 has a potential adjuvant therapeutic reagent to support patients with wound-healing problems, such as diabetic foot ulcers.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.125-134
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• 1988

A single i.v. dose of streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) given to rats has produced a marked hyper-glycemia (>500 mg serum glucose/dl). Since the Atractylodis Rhizoma is known to have hypo-glycemic action, the water extracts of Atractylodis Rhizoma (ARWE) was given to the streptozotocin-induced (SZ) hyperglycemic rats. To determine whether ARWE has the anti-hyperglycemic effects, two different daily doses of ARWE (i.e.0.2 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg) were given orally to the SZ rats for up to 8 days. Thereupon, serum levels of glucose, insulin, amylase and cholesterol were determined on days 1, 3 and 8, following the initial and repeated daily administrations of ARWE. On day 8, glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in the liver were assayed. Results showed that ARWE decreased the serum glucose levels, which had been markedly elevated by the SZ pre-treatment. In support of this, the serum insulin level, which had been quickly lowered by the SZ pre-treatment $(20{\mu}U/ml)$, was quickly elevated in the ARWE dose dependent manner that, at 2.0 g/kg ARWE, the serum insulin level was increased $(20{\mu}U/ml)$ above the normal level $(42{\mu}U/ml)$. Also, the serum amylase level, which was steadily decreasing after the SZ pre-treatment, was restored to the normal level folowing 8 day of ARWE (2.0 g/kg) treatment. Hepatic glycogen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity, which decreased and increased, respectively in the 52 treatment group, were restored toward the normal level in SZ plus ARWE group.