• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.335-342
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• 2005

The effects of ginsenosides Rg$_3$(R) , Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ (a mixture of Rg$_5$ and Rk$_1$ 1:1, w/w), which are components isolated from processed Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer (Araliaceae), on memory dysfunction were examined in mice using a passive avoidance test. The ginsenosides Rg3(R), Rg3(S) or Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$, when orally administered for 4 days, significantly ameliorated the memory impairment induced by the single oral administration of ethanol. The memory impairment induced by the intraperitoneal injection of scopolamine was also significantly recovered by ginsenosides Rg3(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$. Among the three ginsenosides tested in this study, Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ enhanced the memory function of mice most effectively in both the ethanol­and scopolamine-induced amnesia models. Moreover, the latency period of the Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$­treated mice was 1.2 times longer than that of the control (no amnesia) group in both models, implying that Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ may also exert beneficial effects in the normal brain. We also evaluated the effects of these ginsenosides on the excitotoxic and oxidative stress-induced neuronal cell damage in primary cultured rat cortical cells. The excitotoxicity induced by glutamate or N­methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) was dramatically inhibited by the three ginsenosides. Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ exhibited a more potent inhibition of excitotoxicity than did Rg$_3$(R). In contrast, these ginsenosides were all ineffective against the H$_2$O$_2$- or xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced oxidative neuronal damage. Taken together, these results indicate that ginsenosides Rg$_3$(S) and Rg$_5$/Rk$_1$ significantly reversed the memory dysfunction induced by ethanol or scopolamine, and their neuroprotective actions against excitotoxicity may be attributed to their memory enhancing effects.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2009

The effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT) on the changes of ultraviolet (UV) light B radiation-induced apoptotic sunburn cell (SBC) and epidermal ATPase-positive dendritic cell (DC) in SKH1- hr or ICR mouse were investigated. The mice were treated with UVB (200 mJ/$cm^2$) and were sacrificed 24 h later. BZYQT (50 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle (saline) was given i.p. at 36 and 12 h before irradiation, and 30 min after irradiation or BZYQT cream (0.2%) or cream base (vehicle) was topically treated at 24 h and 15 min before irradiation, and immediately after irradiation. The skin of SKH1-hr mouse prepared from the back of untreated mice exhibited about 0.3 SBC/cm length of epidermis, and 24 h after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of SBCs. But the frequency of UVB-induced SBC formation was reduced by intraperitoneal injection of BZYQT extract (p < 0.01). The numbers of DC in normal ICR mouse were 628.00 ${\pm}$ 51.56 or 663.20 ${\pm}$ 62.58 per $mm^2$ of ear epidermis. By 1 day after UVB treatment, the number of ATPase-positive cells/$mm^2$ were decreased by 39.0% or 27.1% in i.p. or topical application group with vehicle. Treatment of BZYQT was associated with increase of 33.9% in i.p. group (p < 0.05) or 2.7% in topical application group in the number of ATPase positive cells compared with the irradiation control group. The results presented herein that BZYQT administration could reduce the extent of skin damages produced by UVB.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.1390-1393
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• 2003

Measuring in vivo rate of bone collagen synthesis has so far been technically difficult and often subject to quite large errors. In the present study, bone collagen synthesis rate was measured using a precursor-product method, based on the exchange of $^2$$H_2O$ into amino acids. Mass isotopomer abundance in hydroxyproline from bone collagen was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. The $^2$$H_2O$ labeling protocol consisted of an initial intraperitoneal injection of 99.9% $^2$$H_2O$, to achieve approximately 2.5% body water enrichment followed by administration of 4% $^2$$H_2O$ in drinking water for 9 weeks. Body $^2$$H_2O$ enrichments were stable at 2.7 ∼ 3.0% over labeling Period. In growing rats, the fractional synthesis rate ( $k_{s}$) of bone collagen was 0.066 $\pm$ 0.049 w $k^{-1}$ . The unique features of stable $^2$$H_2O$ pools and label incorporation allowed the precursor-product approach to be used for measuring bone collagen synthesis rate..

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.5 no.3 s.19
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• pp.139-145
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• 2005

Gastric cancer is the most prevalent cancer in Korea and comprises the second cause of cancer death. Surgery only can provide chance of cure, but most locally advanced cancers recur after a curative resection, even though important advances in the surgical and nonsurgical treatments of gastric cancer have taken place. Preoperative chemotherapy theoretically can provide the advantages of reducing the bulk of tumor, which might improve the R0 resection rate, and of treating micrometastases early. Also, preoperative chemotherapy is expected to render unresectable tumors resectable without increasing postoperative morbidity and mortality. There are many new chemo-therapeutic agents available for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer, but still the most effective agent, the optimal time and number of cycle for administration are still not known. The addition of postoperative chemotherapy through an intraperitoneal route and/or radiotherapy might affect the outcome of surgery favorably, but that hasn't been proved yet. A multicenter prospective randomized phase III trial should be peformed to answer for those questions and to improve the curability of gastric cancer treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.136-143
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• 1986

These studies were carried out to investigate effects of Lycii fructus extract on experimentally CC14-induced liver damage and alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbits and acute toxicity using mice. $LD_{50}(mg/kg)$ of Lycii fructus extract(L.F.E.) was 12.17g/kg by intraperitoneal administration in mice. L.F.E. showed more rapid recuperation compared to the control group in CC14-intoxicated rabbits and 800mg/kg was the most effective. Especially GPT activity and total bilirubin level showed an apparant decreasing effect within 6 days and 8 days, respectively in 800mg/kg. But any differences were not observed in alkaline phosphatase and total cholesterol between sample and control group. Large amount administered group exhibited more excellent hypoglycemic effect in alloxan-induced diabetes of rabbits, that is, it was significant to the control group after 4 days and adjacent to the normal level on 12th day. And GPT activity was gradually decreased and showed clear decreasing effect after 6 days. It is suggested that L.F.E. can be administered not only as therapeutic agents (such as liver tonics or antidiabetetics) but also a natural food to shorten the recovery time of hepatic function in liver diseases and decrease the abnormally elevated blood glucose such as Diabetes Mellitus.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-114
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• 2011

Objectives : The object of this study is to observe the favorable anti arthritic effects of Sowhalrack-dan($Xi\check{a}ohu\acute{o}lu\grave{o}-d\bar{a}n$)(SWRD), which has been traditionally used in Korean medicine to treat rheumatoid arthritis on Freund's complete adjuvant(FCA) induced arthritic Wistar rats. Methods : Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA(10 mg in 1 ml paraffin oil 0.1 ml/rats). Each of 8 rats showing regular ankle circumferences per group were selected in 14 days after FCA treatment to confirm the induction of rheumatoid arthritis. 300, 150 or 75 mg/kg of SWRD was orally administered once a day for 14 days from 14 days after FCA treatments. Dexamethasone was intraperitoneally administered 15 mg/kg, once a day for 14 days from 14 days after FCA treatments. Rats were sacrificed after 14 days of continuous oral treatment of SWRD or intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone, and changes were observed; the body weight, knee circumferences, gross arthritis score, inflammatory tissue $prostaglandin(PG)E_2$ levels and cartilage collagen, glucosaminoglycans compositions - chondroitin sulphate, heparin sulphate and hyaluronic acid in the present study. Results : As results of FCA treatment, classic rheumatoid arthritis featuring dramatical decreases on the body weights, cartilage collagen contents and bone glucosaminoglycans - chondroitin sulphate, heparin sulphate and hyaluronic acid contents. Also, it increases the knee circumferences, gross arthritis scores and inflammatory tissue $PGE_2$ levels. However, these changes from FCA induced rheumatoid arthritis were clearly reduced due to the dexamethasone and both two different dosages of SWRD, 300 and 150 mg/kg in the present study. Although FCA induced arthritis were more favorably inhibited by treatment of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg compared to SWRD 300 mg/kg, marked decreases of body weights were detected in dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats. Conclusions : The results obtained in this study suggest that over 150 mg/kg of SWRD showed favorable anti-arthritic effects on the FCA induced arthritis mediated by suppression of $PGE_2$. However, detailed mechanism studies are needed with the screening of the biological active compounds in SWRD. Although FCA induced arthritis were more favorably inhibited by treatment of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg compared to SWRD 300 mg/kg, marked decreases of body weights were detected in dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats, in the present study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.194-198
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• 2006

The effects of red ginseng (RG) on the changes of ultraviolet (UV) light B radiation-induced apoptotic sun-burn cell (SBC) and epidermal ATPase-positive dendritic cell (DC) in SKH 1-hr or ICR mouse were investigated. The mice were treated with UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$) and were sacrificed 24 hours later. RG (50 mg/kg of body weight) or vehicle (saline) was given i.p. at 36 and 12 hours before irradiation, and 30 minutes after irradiation. RG cream (0.2%) or cream base (vehicle) was also topically treated at 24 hours and 15 minutes before irradiation, and immediately after irradiation. The skin of SKH 1-hr mouse prepared from the back of untreated mice exhibited about 0.3 SBC/cm length of epidermis, and 24 hours after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of SBCs. But the frequency of UVB-induced SBC formation was significantly reduced by intraperitoneal injection of RG extract. The numbers of DC in normal ICR mouse were $628.00{\pm}51.56\;or\;663.20{\pm}62.58\;per\;mm^2$ of ear epidermis. By 1 day after UVB treatment, the number of ATPase-positive $cells/mm^2$ were decreased by 39.0% or 27.1% in i.p. or topical application group with vehicle. The frequency of UVB ($200mJ/cm^2$)-induced DC decrease was reduced by treatment of RG as 31.3% in i.p. group and 22.4% in topical application group compared with the irradiation control group. The results presented herein that RG administration could reduce the extent of skill damages produced by UVB.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.320-324
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• 2007

This study was undertaken to assess the antinociceptive effect of Korean bee venom (BV) in mice. Korean BV was collected using BV collector devices in which an electrical impulse is used to stimulate the worker bee (Apis mellifera L.) to sting and release venom. After collection, whole BV was evaporated until dry using the BV collector. Experiments were performed on male ICR mice (weighing $30{\sim}35g$, 6 weeks old). Mice were divided into 4 groups, each comprising 8 mice. BV was diluted and amounts of 6 mg/kg body weight (BW), 0.6 mg/kg BW and 0.06 mg/kg BW were tested. BV was subcutaneously injected to produce an antinociceptive effect and the antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a writhing test in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid produced a tonic pain behavior, first observed at 3 to 9 min post-injection. This writhing response peaked at 20 min post-acetic acid injection, and then declined until it was undetectable at 60 min post-injection. The time elapse between the administration of acetic acid and the first observed pain behaviors indicated a dose-dependent suppressive effect. These results suggest that Korean BV may be used to achieve an antinociceptive effect for use in medical therapies.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.631-640
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• 2021

Houttuynia cordata Thunberg has been studied for a variety of pharmacological actions in traditional oriental medicine. In this study, we investigated the effects of Houttuynia cordata ethanol extract (HCE) on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) models induced by castration and testosterone propionate (TP) injection. Thirty rats were divided into six groups. One group was used as a normal control, and the other groups were castrated and had intraperitoneal injections of TP for 14 days to induce BPH. A positive control group was given daily doses of finasteride (5 mg/kg) to the BPH model. Rats administered HCE (0.5, 1 or 2 mg/kg) instead of finasteride were compared with controls as experimental groups. There was no statistical significance in terms of prostate weight based on 100 g of body weight. The concentrations of 5-α reductase and dehydroxytestosteronre (DHT) were determined via ELISA tests, and there was a significant decrease in all experimental groups. The 0.5 mg/kg HCE group had the lowest level of 5-α reductase, and the 2 mg/kg HCE group had the lowest level of DHT. In the histopathological observation of prostates, the control and the 2 mg/kg HCE groups had normal cell shapes and no swelling. However, in the negative control group and the 1 mg/kg HCE group, the cells were swollen, and the gap between the cells was narrowed. In particular, in the 0.5 mg/kg HCE group, some cells were bursting. Therefore, the administration of more than 2 mg/kg of HCE is suitable to protect against BPH.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2021

Background: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a major reason for stopping or changing anticancer therapy. Among the proposed pathomechanisms underlying CIPN, proinflammatory processes have attracted increasing attention. Here we assessed the role of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) signaling in cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain. Methods: CIPN was induced by intraperitoneal administration of cisplatin 2 mg/kg for 4 consecutive days using adult male Sprague-Dawley rats. PGD2 receptor DP1 and/or DP2 antagonists were administered intrathecally and the paw withdrawal thresholds were measured using von Frey filaments. Spinal expression of DP1, DP2, hematopoietic PGD synthase (H-PGDS), and lipocalin PGD synthase (L-PGDS) proteins were analyzed by western blotting. Results: The DP1 and DP2 antagonist AMG 853 and the selective DP2 antagonist CAY10471, but not the DP1 antagonist MK0524, significantly increased the paw withdrawal threshold compared to vehicle controls (P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). Western blotting analyses revealed comparable protein expression levels in DP1 and DP2 in the spinal cord. In the CIPN group the protein expression level of L-PGDS, but not of H-PGDS, was significantly increased compared to the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusions: The findings presented here indicate that enhanced PGD2 signaling, via upregulation of L-PGDS in the spinal cord, contributes to mechanical allodynia via DP2 receptors in a cisplatin-induced neuropathic pain model in rats, and that a blockade of DP2 receptor activation may present a novel therapeutic target for managing CIPN.