• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.421-427
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• 2015

Imperatorin has been known to exert many biological functions including anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of imperatorin on the production of inflammatory mediators in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC). Imperatorin inhibited degranulation and the generation of eicosanoids (leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) and prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) in IgE/antigen (Ag)-stimulated BMMC. To elucidate the molecular mechanism involved in this process, we investigated the effect of imperatorin on intracellular signaling in BMMC. Biochemical analyses of the IgE/Ag-mediated signaling pathway demonstrated that imperatorin dramatically attenuated degranulation and the production of 5-lipoxygenase-dependent $LTC_4$ and cyclooxygenase-2-dependent $PGD_2$ through the inhibition of intracellular calcium influx/phospholipase $C{\gamma}1$, cytosolic phospholipase $A_2$/mitogen-activated protein kinases and/or nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ pathways in BMMC. These results suggest that the effects of imperatorin on inhibition of degranulation and eicosanoid generation through the suppression of multiple steps of IgE/Ag-mediated signaling pathways would be beneficial for the prevention of allergic inflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.394-402
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• 2008

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory skin disease commonly characterized by infiltration of inflammatory cells into skin lesions. Keratinocytes produce many chemokines that are involved in the pathogenesis of skin disorders. In particular, macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) and thymus and activationregulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) are Th2-type cytokines. Serum MDC and TARC levels are increased in AD patients. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect and mechanism of action of the active fraction from Prunus yedoensis bark. We evaluated their inhibitory effects on the AD-like inflammatory markers (MDC and TARC) and JAK-STAT pathway (STAT1) in HaCaT keratinocytes. The EtOAc fraction of the crude extract (80% EtOH) and the E5 sub-fraction potently inhibited the induction of MDC and TARC mRNA and protein at 50 ${\mu}g$/mL in HaCaT cells. In addition, the E5 sub-fraction inhibited the phosphorylation of STAT1 protein associated with IFN-$\gamma$ signaling transduction in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, P. yedoensis may have antiatopic activity by suppressing the inflammatory chemokines (MDC and TARC).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.80-98
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• 1994

According to the original documents, Sagungsan is considered as an effective drug for controlling the hypertensive epistaxis induced by tension of autonomic nerve and it's hyperfunction. The present experiment was designed to understand the effect of Sagungsan extract on the hemostatic action, intracranial pressure, blood pressure and cardiovascular system in experimental animals. And thus the bleeding time, prothrombin time, capillary dilation, blood pressure, Intracranial pressure, and enzymatic analysis of the ATPase activities were studied. The result obtained here were as followings: 1. Sagungsan water extract reduced the bleeding time in mouse, and prolonged the prothrombin time in rabbits. 2. The drug extract increased the tail volume by capillary dilation in rats. 3. The drug extract inhibited the increase of intracranial pressure and arterial blood pressure in rabbits. 4. At the early time, the increase of arterial blood pressure by the drug extract significantly inhibited by pretreated atropin and regitine in rabbits. 5. The drug extract relaxed the smooth muscle by stimulating the Mg2+-Ca2+-ATPase activities of gastric sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit stomach. 6. The drug extract stimulated the heart contraction by inhibiting the $Mg^{2+}-Ca^{2+}-ATPase$ activities of cardiac sarcoplasmic reticulum isolated from rabbit heart. The inhibitory mechanism was reversible and noncompatitive. 7. The drug extract increased the hepatic blood volume by stimulating the hepatic total ATPase activities and hepatic metabolism. 8. The drug extract acted as a tranquilizer by inhibiting the neural Na+-K+-ATPase activity. According to the results, Sagungsan water extract dilated the capillaries, stimulated the heart beat, and thus increased the blood flow with decreasing the intracranial pressure and blood pressure. These effects stanches the epistaxis collectively.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.281-285
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• 2015

Human neutrophil elastase (HNE) represents a good therapeutic target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases as well as invasion of microorganism. The methanol extract of a aerial part of Chelidonium majus L. showed high activity against the neutrophil elastase with an $IC_{50}$ value of $100{\mu}g/mL$. Due to its potency, subsequent bioactivity-guided fractionation of methanol extract led to six alkaloids (1-6), which were identified as dihydrosanguinarine (1), (s)-stylopine (2), arnottianamide (3), (+)-chelidonine (4), spallidamine (5), and N-trans-feruloyltyramine (6). Among of them, three alkaloids (2, 5, and 6) inhibited HNE in a dose-dependent manner with $IC_{50}$ ranging between 11.6 and $51.0{\mu}M$. Lineweaver-Burk and Dixon plots, and their secondary replots showed that alkaloids (2, 5, and 6) were mixed inhibitors of HNE. The analysis of $K_I$ and $K_{IS}$ value proved that all inhibitors (2, 5, and 6) had reversible mixed type I mechanism.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2017

Objectives: Boswellic acid (BA), a compound isolated from the gum-resin of Boswellia carterii, is a pentacyclic terpenoid that is active against many inflammatory diseases, including cancer, arthritis, chronic colitis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, and memory impairment, but the mechanism is poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of boswellic acid on spatial learning and memory impairment induced by trimethyltin (TMT) in Wistar rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: Normal group, TMT-administrated rats (8.0 mg/kg, Intraperitoneally, i.p.) and TMT + BA (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg, i.p.)-administrated rats. BA was used daily for 21 days. To evaluate the cognitive improving of BA, we performed the Morris water maze test. Moreover, to investigate the neuroprotective effect of BA, we determined the acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level as a marker of lipid peroxidation, and the glutathione (GSH) content in the cerebral cortex. Results: Treatment with TMT impaired learning and memory, and treatment with BA at a dose of 160 mg/kg produced a significant improvement in learning and memory abilities in the water maze tasks. Consistent with behavioral data, the activity of AChE was significantly increased in the TMT-injected rats compared to the control group (P < 0.01) whereas all groups treated with BA presented a more significant inhibitory effect against AChE than the TMT-injected animals. In addition, TMT reduced the GSH content and increased the MDA level in the cerebral cortex as compared to the control group) P < 0.01). On the other hand, treatment with BA at 160 mg/kg slightly increased the GSH content and reduced the MDA level in comparison to the TMT-administered group (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The above results suggest that the effect of BA in improving the cognitive function may be mediated through its antioxidant activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2 s.30
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• pp.365-385
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• 1995

In order to prove the antitumor effect of Wekyungtang(WKT) that was originated in Bigeubchunkeumyobang(備急千金要方), Wekyungtang with Houttuyniae Herba(WKT-I) and Wekyungtang with Oldenlandiae diffusae Herba(WKT-II) experimentally, the studies were done, We evaluated the cytotoxic activity against B16- Fo as well as the synergistic effects with anticancer drugs such as cyclophophamide (CPM), cisplatin(CPT) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in vitro and measured body weight, survival time, hematological changes, changes of tissues in G57BL／6 implanted with B16-Fo. The results were obtained as follows: 1. In vitro cytotoxic effect against B16-Fo was shown in all groups as compared with control group, but the concentrations showing inhibitory growth rate below 55% of control was recognized in all concentrations of Wekyungtang(WKT) against B16-Fo and also concentration of $10^4$g／ml above in all group with cyclophophamide (CPM), concentration of $10^3$g／ml in Wekyungtang(WKT-l) with cisplatin(CPT) in synergistic effect, 2. In vivo body and tumor weight were significantly suppressed in all groups as compared with control group 3. The number of platelet, WBC, RBC were significantly increased in all groups, platelet aggregation was significantly increased in WKT-I and WKT-II as compared with control group. 4. In changes of tissues heavy infiltration oh cancer was shown in portal vein, pulmonary tissue, vein, peribronchiole, aveoli, while WKT-I was effective in antihepatic metastasis and WKT-II in pulmonary matastasis. From above results it was concluded that wekyungtang(WKT), wekyungtang with Houttuyniae Herba(WKT-I) and wekyungtang with Oldenlandiae diffusae Herba(WKT -II) had antitumor effect, and also wekyungtang combined with Houttuyniae Herba or Oldenlandiae diffusae Herba were more effective than wekyungtang only and also cyclophophamide (CPM), cisplatin(CPT) showed the more synergistic effect which suggests the necessity of continuous study on the mechanism of antitumor action of Houttuyniae Herba or Oldenlandiae diffusae Herba.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.365-373
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• 2003

Tamoxifen is an selective estrogen receptor antagonist widely used in the management of patients with breast cancer for more than 30 years. It was thought to act primarily through occupying the estrogen receptor sites in ER positive breast cancer cells and directly on cancer cell proper. These inhibitory effects, which have been shown to be independent of the ER, highlight new mechanism of therapeutic action of tamoxifen. The purposes of this study were to identify ER in oral carcinoma cell lines and to evaluate ER independent cytotoxic effect of tamoxifen. KB(SCC), HSC-3(SCC) and A253(ACC) cell line were used and capacity of cell proliferation, apoptosis, in vitro invasion and gelatin zymography were tested. ER expression of each cell line were detected by RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Dose dependent inhibition of cell proliferation and inhibition of gelatinolytic activity were observed in all oral carcinoma cell lines and significant difference of apoptotic index were observed in A253 and KB. Tamoxifen inhibited in vitro invasion in all experimental groups. ER expression was detected in KB and A253. These data suggest that tamoxifen may play a role in management of oral carcinoma by independent cytotoxic effect and more advanced research must processed confirming ER-dependent cytotoxicity.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.89-102
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was carried out to understand the immunity responses and anti-oxidation effect of the Gamidaeganghwal-tang(GDT) on rheumatoid arthritis by using the THP-1 cells and the serum of CIA mice. Methods : For this purpose, GDT was orally administerd to mice with rheumatoid arthritis induced by collagen II. To investigate the immunity responses, value of cytokine and gene expression in the THP-1 cell, levels of cytokines in the serum of CIA(collagen type II induced arthritis) mice, number of immunocyte in PBMC of CIA mice were measured. Then, anti-oxidant activity, scavenging activity on DHHP(2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical and SOD(Superoxide dismutae)-like activity of GDT was observed. Results : 1. The levels of IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1 at 100, $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of GDT were significantly reduced in the THP-1 cell. 2. The levels of TNF-${\alpha}$, COX-2 mRNA expression at 100, $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of GDT and IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 at $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ of GDT were significantly reduced in the THP-1 cell line. 3. The levels of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ were significantly reduced in the serum of CIA mice. 4. The absolute number of CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ cells were significantly induced, CD3+/CD69+, CD3+/CD49+, CD19+, B220+/CD23+ cells were significantly reduced in PBMC. 5. Scavenging activity on DPPH free radical and SOD-like activity were significantly induced in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusions : Taking all these observations, GDT considered to be effective in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore we have to survey continuously in looking for the effective substance and mechanism in the future.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.607-618
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• 2016

In order to clarify the Gosambaeksunpibokhap-bang(GBBB)'s therapeutic possibility on atopic dermatitis (AD), influences of GBBB on the changes of various immune-related factors and histological changes in NC/Nga mice were evaluated. Experimental results are as follows. Sign of recovery from AD was observed in GBBB treated group with naked eye test. The ratio of white blood cells, neutrophil, lymphocytes, monocyte in blood were decreased to 54%, 63%, 57% and 86% respectively in the GBBB group. IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, Histamine and IgE were significantly decreased to 40%, 80%, 62%, 61% and 57% respectively in the GBBB group. H&E staining showed thickness of epidermis and dermis were decreased by GBBB and inhibited the infiltration of lymphocytes. On the basis of these results, GBBB was confirmed that the possibility as an AD treatment applied externally to the skin. In the further study, immune control mechanism of GBBB will be demonstrated through the additional molecular biological research.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.180-187
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• 2017

Background: The incidence of halitosis has a prevalence of 22-50% throughout the world and is generally caused by anaerobic oral microorganisms, such as Fusobacterium nucleatum, Clostridium perfringens, and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Previous investigations on the structure-activity relationships of ginsenosides have led to contrasting results. Particularly, the antibacterial activity of less polar ginsenosides against halitosis-related bacteria has not been reported. Methods: Crude saponins extracted from the Panax quinquefolius leaf-stem (AGS) were treated at $130^{\circ}C$ for 3 h to obtain heat-transformed saponins (HTS). Five ginsenoside-enriched fractions (HTS-1, HTS-2, HTS-3, HTS-4, and HTS-5) and less polar ginsenosides were separated by HP-20 resin absorption and HPLC, and the antimicrobial activity and mechanism were investigated. Results: HPLC with diode-array detection analysis revealed that heat treatment induced an extensive conversion of polar ginsenosides (-Rg1/Re, -Rc, -Rb2, and -Rd) to less polar compounds (-Rg2, -Rg3, -Rg6, -F4, -Rg5, and -Rk1). The antimicrobial assays showed that HTS, HTS-3, and HTS-4 were effective at inhibiting the growth of F. nucleatum, C. perfringens, and P. gingivalis. Ginsenosides-Rg5 showed the best antimicrobial activity against the three bacteria, with the lowest values of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration. One major reason for this result is that less polar ginsenosides can more easily damage membrane integrity. Conclusion: The results indicated that the less polar ginsenoside-enriched fraction from heat transformation can be used as an antibacterial agent to control halitosis.