• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.127-137
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of $Clematidis$ radix herbal-acupuncture solution, on collagen, adjuvant, lipopolysaccharide and phospholipase A2 induced rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Methods : Arthritis index was measured for mouse that was injected subcutaneously in solution mixed chicken type II collagen with Freund's complete adjuvant. We injected Freund's complete adjuvant into right posterior part of the sole of a ICR mouse foot, which was measured by plethysmometer. The solution mixed $CRHS$ with Tris-HCI, $CaCl_2$, substrate, enzyme was done a chemical action for thirty minutes, and then inhibitory activity of PLA2 enzyme was expressed with inhibition percentage by utilizing isolated arachidonic acid. COX-2 was induced by adding LPS to RAW 264.7 cell, and COX-2 activity was measured by western blot analysis and $PGE_2$ Biotrak kit. Results : $CRHS$ also inhibited Freund's complete adjuvant induced chronic rheumatoid arthritis in mice. $CRHS$ showed significant inhibition of type I and type II $PLA_2$ activities in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, $PGE_2$ production was decreased with $CRHS$ and lipopolysaccharide-induced COX-2 protein expression was significantly inhibited by $CRHS$. Conclusions : These results suggest that $CRHS$ has an therapeutic effect on drug induced-rheumatoic arthritis by inhibiting $PLA_2$ and COX-2 activities.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.37-49
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• 2008

Objectives : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is chronic fibrotic interstitial pneumonia and the pathogenesis is unknown. Peucedani Radix is well-known for the treatment of respiratory diseases and pulmonary hypertension. This study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Peucedani Radix on the bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model (BLFM) in mouse. Methods : We induced lung fibrosis by intratracheal instillation of bleomycin in C57BL/6J. We compared two groups BLFM without Peucedani Radix (group I) and BLFM with Peucedani Radix (group II). We performed bronchoalveolar lavages (BAL) and obtained lung specimens from both group I and II on the 7th (A) and 21st (B) day, and also for the normal group. We compared with group I and II to find BAL by using ANOVA test and to find pathologic symptoms by using semiquantitative histological index (SHI). Results : In BAL, total cell counts, lymphocytes, and neutrophils was increased in both group I and II comparing with normal group. However, lymphocyte level was decreased more in group IIB than group IB. It was statistically significant. In microscopic findings, scores of SHI in normal group, group IB and IIB were 0.33, 4.47, and 1.96 each. Conclusions : Peucedani Radix might have inhibitory effect on lung fibrosis by reducing inflammatory cells in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis model in mouse.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.4 s.131
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• pp.364-371
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• 2002

Yew (Taxus cuspidata Sibe) selected cultivation as drug, food and decorative plant in Gyong-gi province in Korea. To extract the water soluble active ingredients, as a extracting method, there was extracted with 20g of dried seeds with each 20g of butylene glycol(BG) and propylene glycol(PG), and 40 mL of water mixing 72 hours at $40{\pm}5^{\circ}C$, and then they were filtrated by 400 mesh. Appearance of extract of seeds was pale brown, $pH=4.5{\pm}0.5$, $gravity=1.013{\pm}0.05$, a reflective $index=1.373{\pm}0.05$, and yield=75%. Also, to extract the high purity oil from seeds, it minutely pulverized the dried seeds and added the hexane, mixing 2 hours at $20{\pm}57^{\circ}C$. And then, this filtrated it with 400-mesh. It got the purified oil through evaporating them at $55^{\circ}C$ during under vacuum. As the results, appearance was slightly brown, gravity=0.922 acid value=0.12, saponification value=192, and it should be obtained the $40{\pm}5%$ of yield. As the efficacy evalution of cosmetic field, the antioxidative activities by NBT method were stronger 86.0% from extract of talus seeds than 52.0% from green tea extract and 35.0% from skullcap extract as well as the antioxidative activities by DPPH method were stronger 93.7% from extract of seed than 60.3% from extract of green tea and 27.1% from extract of skullcap. These are more effective than other plant extracts. The collagen synthesis rate on the activating fibroblast for Taxus cuspidata Sibe extract showed 35.43%. As the activity of the skin elasticity, PPE(porcine pancreatic elastase)-inhibitory activities of talus extract was 50.8%. Anti-inflammatory activity was more effective to be taken 41.1% of taxus seed oil than 24.2% of steady glycyrrhetinate (SG) as a control.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.1045-1050
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• 2002

The aims of this study were to detect spontaneously occurring apoptosis in cultured porcine ovarian cells, to examine the role of growth hormone (GH), tyrosine kinase (TK), protein kinase G (PKG) and cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) in the control of this process, and to determine whether the effect of GH on apoptosis is mediated by TK-, PKG- and cdc2-dependent intracellular mechanisms. We studied the action of pGH (10 ng/ml), blockers of TK (genistein, lavendustin, both 100 ng/ml), PKG (Rp-Br-PET-cGMPS, 50 nM; KT5823, 100 ng/ml) and CDK (olomoucine, $1{\mu}g/ml$), as well as combinations of GH with these blockers, on the onset of apoptosis in cultured granulosa cells isolated from antral (3-6 mm) porcine follicles. The functional characteristics of an early apoptotic event, DNA fragmentation, were determined using terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL), whilst morphological signs of advanced apoptosis such as pyknosis, chromatin marginalization, shrinkage and fragmentation of nucleus, were detected using routine light microscopy. After culture, some ovarian granulosa cells exhibited DNA fragmentation, which in some cases was associated with morphological apoptosis-related changes (pyknosis, shrinkage and fragmentation of the nucleus). GH significantly reduced the proportion of TUNEL-positive cells. Neither TK nor CDK blockers when given alone, significantly affected the percentage of TUNEL-positive cells although both PKG blockers significantly increased this index. Furthermore, TK and PKG blockers given together with GH, prevented or reversed the inhibitory effect of GH on apoptosis, whilst the CDK blocker olomoucine promoted it. These observations demonstrate apoptosis in porcine ovaries and suggest the involvement of GH, TK, PKG and CDK in the control of this process. They also suggest that the effect of GH on ovarian apoptosis is mediated or regulated by multiple signalling pathways including TK-, PKG- and CDK-dependent intracellular mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3881-3885
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• 2015

Obesity markedly increases the risk of colorectal cancer. Recently, the preventive effects of edible mushrooms on triglyceride elevation and visceral fat accumulation have been reported. Here, the effects of Pleurotus eryngii (Eringi) and Hypsizygus marmoreus (Bunashimeji) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF; precancerous lesions) in the colorectums of mice fed a high-fat diet were examined. Eringi (ER) and Bunashimeji (BU) mushroom powder samples were used. Six-week-old male C57BL/6J mice received an intraperitoneal injection of AOM (10 mg/kg) once a week for two weeks, and were sacrificed and dissected at 6 weeks after the start of the experiment. After the initiation of the experiment, they received a normal diet (ND), high-fat diet (HFD), HFD + ER (1 or 5% of diet), or HFD + BU (1 or 5% of diet). As a result, body and fat weights were significantly lower in the 5% ER and BU groups than in the HFD group. Liver triglyceride levels were also significantly lower in the 5% ER and BU groups. Total liver cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the 5% ER group. The numbers of ACF (especially large ACF) showed strong inhibitory effects in both ER and BU groups. Measurement of the cell proliferation marker Ki-67 labeling index in the colonic mucosa demonstrated more significant suppression in both ER and BU groups than in the HFD group. These results suggest that the simultaneous intake of ER and BU may inhibit colorectal tumorigenesis in HFD-fed mice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.823-833
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• 2012

Now a days, number of non alcoholic fatty liver patients are increasing more rapidly compare to past rate, and the average age of patients is getting younger, but there are no appropriate therapeutics in non alcoholic fatty liver disease. This study was aimed to analyze relationship between non alcoholic fatty liver disease and Injinho-tang. The papers were collected and analysed from domestic and international journals. The effects of Injinho-tang and constituent-herb were researched. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was induced complex causes of the metabolic syndrome. Medications that can be used in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, it should be have many effects such as anti-hepatic fibrosis, hepatocyte protection, liver cancer inhibitory effect, inflammatory cytokine regulation, improving hyperlipidemia, weight control, decrease the toxicity of the drug, antioxidant. Injinho-tang (Artemisia capillaris Thunb, Gardenia fructus, Rhei rhizome) has been widely used in disease that causes jaundice and liver biliary disease. Drugs for standardization of Injinho-tang index components(6,7-Dimethylesculetin, geniposide, rhein) have been presented. And Injinho-tang has been proven reliability in the administration of single dose toxicity. Also clinical stability in the administration of four years was reported. Injinho-tang has been reported some effects which anti-hepatic fibrosis, hepatocyte protection, liver cancer inhibitor, inflammatory cytokine regulation, improving hyperlipidemia, weight control, decrease the toxicity of the drug, and antioxidant. Therefore, Injinho-tang can be used in Non alcoholic fatty liver disease without Syndrome Differentiation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.439-446
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• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Angelica gigas Nakai on ulcerative colitis. Mice were divided into 5 groups: Control group, DSS group, 5-ASA group, 50mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group, 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. Four groups, excluding the control group, were fed a 5% solution of dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) in water for 7days to induce ulcerative colitis. Each water extract was administrated orally for 7 days in 5-ASA group, 50mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group and 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. 5 groups were evaluated by weight, length of intestine, weight of spleen, disease activity index(DAI), amount of cytokine IL-6 production, thickness of bowel wall and degree of inflammatory cell infiltration and intestinal tissue damage. Comparing to DSS group, 100 mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group showed significant suppressive effect of weight loss until 4th day of experiment while 50 mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group showed no significant effect of suppression. Decrease of intestinal length, enlargement of spleen, intestinal tissue damage and thickening of bowel wall were significantly suppressed in both 50 mg/kg and 100mg/kg Angelica gigas Nakai group. Also disease activity and cytokine IL-6 production were inhibited significantly. Based on this result, Angelica gigas Nakai seemed to have anti-inflammatory effect and also seemed to suppress histological changes and aggravation of ulcerative colitis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5587-5592
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• 2014

Aloe-emodin (AE), a natural anthraquinone compound, has been reported to exhibit anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines and anti-inflammatory effects in murine macrophages. In the present study, we investigated the cancer chemopreventive effects of AE in an Apc-deficient Min mouse model. In the first experiment, male Min mice were fed a basal diet or diets containing 5 ppm AE and 10 ppm AE for 12 weeks. The dietary administration of 5 ppm AE significantly reduced the number of colorectal tumors. In a second experiment, we investigated the effects of AE on colitis-related colon carcinogenesis in Min mouse treated with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS). Female Min mice were administered 1% DSS in their drinking water for 7 days. AE was given to mice in their diet at a dose of 5 or 50 ppm for 5 weeks. Feeding with AE significantly reduced the number of colorectal tumors. When proliferation of cells in normal-appearing colonic mucosa was assessed by monoclonal anti-rat Ki-67 antibody (MIB-5) immunohistochemistry in experiments 1 and 2, the AE treatment significantly decreased the mean MIB-5-labeling index. These results suggest that the dietary administration of low-dose AE may have chemopreventive effects against development of colorectal tumors in Min mice, possibly in part by reducing cell proliferation in colorectal mucosa.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.121-134
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• 2008

Objectives: Melia toosendan(MT) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine, and today it is used as a medication for colic, side aches, heartache and other disorders of liver. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of MT inhibit free radical generation such as DPPH radical, superoxide radical and nitric oxide, production of nitrite, an index of NO, PGE2, iNOS, COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods: MT extract prepared with methanol, and then fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water. Inhibitory effect of MT onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH, superoxide anions and nitric oxide scavenging activities in vitro. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt(MTS) assay. Intracelluar oxidation was analysed by DCF-DA assay. The nitric oxide(NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 expression were confirmed by western blot. And pro inflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. Results: Our results indicated that fractionated extracts, especially dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts, significantly inhibited free radical generation, the LPS-induced $H_2O_2$, NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-1${\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Conclusions: These results indicate that dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of MT have potential as an agent of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.35-40
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• 2015

Objectives : Zizyphus jujube (ZJ) has been used as a traditional medicine for various diseases. However, the inhibitory effect of ZJ on intestinal inflammation has not been fully understood, yet. The aim of this study is to investigate anti-colitis activity of ZJ in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model. Methods : To investigate the protective effects of ZJ,the colitis mice were induced by drinking water containing 5% DSS for 7 days. Mice were randomized into groups receiving ZJ (500 mg/kg), sulfasalazine (SFZ) (150 mg/kg) as a positive control, or water as a negative control. We assayed the effects of ZJ on DSS-induced the clinical signs, measuring weight loss, colon length and disease activity index (DAI). Additionally, to find a possible explanation for the anti-inflammatory effects of ZJ, we evaluated the effects of ZJ on the production of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 in colitis tissue. Results : The results showed that mice treated with DSS showed considerable clinical signs, including weight loss, and reduced colon length. However, administration of ZJ significantly reduced the weight loss, shortens colon length, and improved DAI as clinical symptoms. Moreover, ZJ inhibited the $PGE_2$ production and COX-2 expression levels in DSS-treated colon tissues. Conclusions : Collectively, the findings of this study provide us with novel insights into the pharmacological actions of ZJ as a potential molecule for use in the treatment of intestinal inflammation including ulcerative colitis.