• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 2005.11a
• /
• pp.41-63
• /
• 2005

Ginseng has been useful for the treatment of diverse disease in oriental countries for thousands of years. In addition, a folk medicine prescribed by seven herbal drugs including Panax ginseng has been antinarcotics in the treatment of morphine-dependent patients. Many articles have been reported on these works. Therefore, we review the protective effects of Panax ginseng on the neurotoxicity induced by abuse drugs. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) extracted and isolated by Panax ginseng antagonized morphine-induced analgesia, and inhibited the development of analgesic tolerance to and physical dependence on morphine. CTS inhibited morphine-6 dehydrogenase, which catalyzes production of mophinone from morphine, and increased hepatic glutathione level responsible to toxicity. Therefore, wehypothesized that these dual actions of ginseng can be associated with the detoxication of morphine. In addition, the inhibitory or facilitated effects of GTS on electrically evoked contraction in guinea pig ileum (${\mu}$-receptors) and mouse vas deferens(${\delta}$-receptors) were not mediated through opioid receptors, suggesting non-opioid mechanisms. On the hand, antagonism of U-50,488H (${\kappa}$-agonist)-induced antinociception is mediated by serotonergic mechanisms. GTS also inhibited hyperactivity, reverse tolerance (sensitization) and conditioned place preference-induced by psychostimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and morphine. On the other hand, GTS reduced the dopamine levels induced by methamphetamine. Moreover, GTS blocked the development of dopamine receptor activation, showing antidopaminergic effect. We suggest that GTS prevent the methamphetamine-induced striatal dopaminergic neurotoxicity. In addition, Ginsenoside also attenuates morphine-induced CAMP signaling pathway. These results suggested that GTS might be useful for the therapy of the adverse actions of drugs with abuse liability.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.519-526
• /
• 2020

Methamphetamine (MA) is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the world by illegal drug users. Addiction to MA is a serious public health problem and effective therapies do not exist to date. It has also been reported that behavior induced by psychostimulants such as MA is related to histone deacetylase (HDAC). MeBib is an HDAC6 inhibitor derived from a benzimidazole scaffold. Many benzimidazole-containing compounds exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activity. In this study, we investigated whether HDAC6 inhibitor MeBib modulates the behavioral response in MA self-administered rats. Our results demonstrated that the number of active lever presses in MA self-administered rats was reduced by pretreatment with MeBib. In the hippocampus of rats, we also found MA administration promotes GluN2B, an NMDA receptor subunit, expression, which results in sequential activation of ERK/CREB/BDNF pathway, however, MeBib abrogated it. Collectively, we suggest that MeBib prevents the MA seeking response induced by MA administration and therefore, represents a potent candidate as an MA addiction inhibitor.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.25 no.2 s.38
• /
• pp.172-179
• /
• 1992

The author investigated the zinc concentrations in sera of 110 methamphetaimine abusers (male 87, female 23) and of 41 healthy official workers(male 29, female 12) using inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometer. The serum zinc concentrations were analysed according to hepatitis C virus antibody(Anti HCV), hepatitis B surface antigen(HBsAg) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) value in both groups. The analytical results were obtained as follows 1. The mean zinc concentration of MAP abuser group($298.5{\pm]246.9{\mu}g/100ml$) was 2.5 times higher than that of control group($118.8{\pm}25.4{\mu}g/100ml$). 2. The distributions of zinc concentration in both groups were skewed pattern. 3. The zinc concentrations were higher in Anti HCV-positive group and abnormal ALT value group than Anti HCV-negative group and normal ALT value group. But HBs-Ag positive group had lower zinc concentration than HBs-Ag negative group. 4. The number of anti HCV-positive subjects was increased and the zinc concentrations were decreasd in proportion to the abusing duration of MAP.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.227-230
• /
• 1993

A new device to detect methamphetamine (MA), amphetamine(A) and its metabolites in urine was developed using the paper strip method and the test tube method of dry chemical reagents. The reagent containing tetrabromophenolphthalein ethyl ester (TBPE) and borax. For the TBPE paper strip method, a device was prepared with a window at each end of the reagent paper strip ; one window is for the sample application, and the other window is for the methylene chloride. The diffused sample from one window reacts with reagent in the paper and produces color at the point where it meets with methylene chloride which has diffused form the other side. A positive smaple produces as red-purple color and the negative sample a greenish color, with a detection limit of 5-10 ppm. The result can be obtained within one minute. For the TBPE test tube method which contains dry reagents, the detection limit is 5 ppm and the result can be obtaineed within 30 seconds, however the carry-on is not as convenient as the paper strip method. The performance of both methods were evlauated by comparing with the results of gas chromatography (GC) and fluorescence polarizaiton immunoassay (FPIA). The results were proven that both methods were useful as primary screening reagents to detect MA in urine and in dry powder.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.206-213
• /
• 2007

Recently estimating the uncertainty of an analytical result has become an essential part of quantitative analysis. This study describes the uncertainty of the measurement for the determination of methamphetamine and its major metabolite amphetamine in human hair, The method consists of washing, drying, weighing, incubation and extraction with methanolic HCI solution, clean-up, trifluoroacetyl derivatization, and qualification/quantification of residues by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Traceability of measurement was established through traceable standards and calibrated volumetric equipment and measuring instruments. Measurement uncertainty associated with each analyte in real samples was estimated using quality control (QC) data. The main source of combined standard uncertainty comprised two components, which are uncertainties associated with calibration linearity and variations in QC, while those associated with preparation of analytical standards and sample weighing were not so important considering the degree of contribution. Relative combined standard uncertainties associated with the described method ranged for individual analytes from 4.99 to5.03%.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.88-95
• /
• 2001

(+)-Methamphetamine (METH) is a psychostimulant, which has been the most popular abused drug in Korea. The rewarding mechanism in METH abuse has been reported to be mediated by dopaminergic system. Recently, it has been reported that dopamine releaser (phentermine) plays a dominant role in the discriminative stimulus effects of METH, whereas 5-HT releaser (fenfluramine) can strongly modify METH self-administration. The present study is designed to assess the behavioral changes and the changes of the serotonin receptors in the brains of rats administered repeated of self-administered METH. The repeated administration of 1.0 mg/kg/day METH for 12 days increased locomotor activities, and there was no difference between i.v. and i.p. treatment. Rats had actively acquired METH self-administration for 3 weeks at 0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg/injection. Whereas, it was taken few days to acquire sucrose pellet self-administration. The binding of [$^3$H]-8-hydroxy-DPAT (5-H $T_{1A}$ receptors) and [$^3$H]-5-carboxytryptamine (5-H $T_{1B}$ receptors) to brain sections was examined. Both passive administration and self-administration of METH did not change significantly the serotonin receptors levels in hippocampus, striatum and nucleus accumbens. These results suggest that serotonin receptors may not change in the acquisition period of METH self-administration, and we are trying to investigate the serotonin receptors levels of brain in rats maintained of METH self-administration.n.n.

• Analytical Science and Technology
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2013

Methamphetamine is an amine-containing illegal drug and is distributed unlawfully in South Korea. Finding a rapid, convenient and semi-quantitative determination method for methamphetamine is a very important issue in the area of forensic drug testing. As an effort to develop new screening method, the reactions between three organic compounds which are structurally similar to methamphetamine and N-(9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyloxy) succinimide (FMOC-NHS) were performed on silica gel ($SiO_2$) TLC plates. Three reference compounds were synthesized and used for the identification, comparison and study of the limit of detection (LOD) of the products obtained from a direct reaction on a TLC plate. As a result, FMOC-NHS as a derivatization reagent generated compounds containing highly UV-active functional groups on the TLC plate after reacting with primary- and secondary amines. In the experiment 2D the LOD of amines was in the range of 0.045 and 0.01 mg/mL ($2{\mu}L/spot$), and in 1D the LOD was in the range of 0.002 and 0.007 mg/mL ($2{\mu}L/spot$). The LODs of the compounds tested were dependent on the concentration of the derivatizing reagent.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.190-190
• /
• 2002

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.47 no.5
• /
• pp.266-270
• /
• 2003

We evaluated four commercially available methamphetamine immunoassays for their relative cross-reactivities of amphetamine analogues in human urine: Abbott TDx, Vitalab Selectra and on-site test kits (Accusign MET, SD bioline MET). High cross-reactivities were shown at designer's drugs such as methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and methylenedioxyethylamphetamine (MDEA) in all of the tested immunoassays. Methoxyphenamine, fenfluramine and phentermine were positive in TDx and Selectra, but were not positive in on-site test kits. Pseudoephedrine, norpseudoephedrine, ephedrine, norephedrine, MDMA, MDA, fenfluramine and phentermine were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry(GC/MS) in false positive urines. Since the overall specificity of any of the devices was not 100％, we found it is important to confirm any positive screening test result, so we developed simultaneous determination of amphetamine analogues in urines. After alkalinization of the urine samples with 6-N NaOH, the analytes were extracted using ethyl acetate, derivatized with pentafluoropropyl anhydride (PFPA) prior at GC/MS analysis.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.233-240
• /
• 1993

Toxic effects of chronic adminstration of methamphetamine (MA) to SD rats were studied in respect to histopathological changes induced in each organ. In experimental groups liver weight decreased and brain weights increased markedly compared with controls in the 12th month after subcutaneous injection of 0.5 mg and 5mg/kg/BW MA. Serum alkaline phosphotase levels increased, but marked decrease of cholesterol, triglyceride, and BUN levels were checked depending on both the dose of MA and duration of treatment.