• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.162.2-162.2
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• 2001

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.239-245
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• 2016

Objectives: This study was conducted to clarify the effects of agarwood on histamine release from mast cells in rats and on the scratching behaviors in mice. Methods: Histamine release from rat mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or concanavalin A (Con A) and compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice were examined to investigate the effects of agarwood. The hyaluronidase activity and the 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels in mast cells were examined to investigate the mechanisms for the inhibition of histamine release. The correlation between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the content of its typical ingredients, a 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives, was analyzed using thin-layer chromatography. Results: Agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on mast-cell histamine release induced by compound 48/80 or Con A without any effect on hyaluronidase activity; this effect involves an increase in the cAMP levels in mast cells. Oral administration of agarwood showed an inhibitory effect on compound 48/80-induced scratching behavior in mice. The inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release were quite different, depending on the area where the agarwood was produced, its quality, and its market price. No correlation was found between the inhibitory effects of agarwood on histamine release and the typical ingredients of agarwood, which are 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromone derivatives. Conclusion: These results show that agarwood inhibits histamine release from mast cells partially through an increase in the cAMP levels in cells. We suggest that some active ingredients of agarwood must be effective on oral intake and that agarwood can be used to treat patients with a number of conditions, including urticaria, atopic dermatitis, and bronchial asthma, in which an increase in histamine release occurs. Differences in the pharmacological effects of this crude drug among markets may provide important information for the quality control of this herbal medicine.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.140.2-140.2
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• 2003

Sauchinone, a lignan isolated from Saururus chinensis (Saururaceae), is a diastereomeric lignan with cytoprotective and antioxidant activities in cultured hepatocytes. The effects of sauchinone on the iNOS, TNF-$\alpha$ and COX-2 gene expression and on the activation of transcription factors, NF-$\kappa$B, C/EBP, AP-1 and CREB were determined in Raw264.7 cells as part of the studies on its anti-inflammatory effects. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.64-64
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• 2003

It is thought that highly reactive oxygen radicals generated at the ischemia-reperfusion in case of strokes play an important role in damaging the brain. We examined the neuroprotective effects from the several medicinal herbs in the transient ischemic rat model and compared their effects with the free radical scavenging activities. Transient ischemia was induced by intraluminal occusion of the right middle cerebral artety for 120 min and reperfusion was continued for 22 h in rats. The free radical scavenging properties of medicinal herbs were examined in vitro by determination of the interaction with the 1,l-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) stable free radical. Aqueous extracts of 11 medicinal herbs (200 mg/kg) were orally administered, promptly prior to reperfusion and 2 h after reperfusion. Total infarction volume in the ipsilateral hemisphere of ischemia reperfusion rats was significantly lowered by the treatment of 7 medicinal herbs (Sophora flavescens, Lycopus lucidus, Sanguisorba officinalis, Caesalpinia sappan, Albizia julibrissin, Rubia akane, Psoralea corylifolia, Prunella vulgaris). However, all of these medicinal herbs did not show antioxidative activities. These results suggest that neuroprotective effects of several drugs are not always correlated with their antioxidative properties.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2010

The Positive List System was newly introduced in South Korea as of January 2007. This study aims to survey and compare perception of and attitudes toward the Positive List System in the process of new drug listing that health professionals and pharmaceutical companies have. 50 professionals and 52 companies answered the questionnaire regarding health policy environments, policy decision/enforcement process, policy effects and satisfaction related to introducing the Positive List System. SAS 9.1 was used for statistical analyses. The results showed that participants had the general sympathy with health policy environments for the introduction of the Positive List System into South Korea. However, the response rates of policy decision/enforcement process and effects were negative and these tendencies were more striking in pharmaceutical companies. As for policy satisfaction, participants marked positive responses more than negative ones. It is necessary to remedy and supplement problems with policy decision/enforcement policy and effects revealed in this study and to improve the Positive List System through gathering opinions among groups and organization concerned.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.10
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• pp.577-582
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• 2015

Cyclopia subternata is a medicinal plant commonly used in traditional medicine to relieve pain. Here, the anticoagulant effects of scolymoside, an active compound in C. subternata, were examined by monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), and the activities of thrombin and activated factor X (FXa). The effects of scolymoside on plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1) and tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) expression were evaluated in tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-activated human endothelial cells. Treatment with scolymoside resulted in prolonged aPTT and PT and the inhibition of thrombin and FXa activities and production. In addition, scolymoside inhibited thrombin-catalyzed fibrin polymerization and platelet aggregation. Scolymoside also elicited anticoagulant effects in mice, including a significant reduction in the PAI-1 to t-PA ratio. Collectively, these findings indicate that scolymoside possesses anticoagulant activities and could be developed as a novel anticoagulant.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.268-268
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• 1996

No Abstract, See Full Text

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.296-300
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of Lycii fructus Extract (LFE) against the acute hepatotoxicity-inducing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the liver. LFE of 100 mg/kg concentration was intraperitoneally administered into rats at dose of 1.5 ml/kg for 20 days. On the day 21, 1.5 ml/kg of LPS dissolved in saline was injected 4 hours before anesthetization. We examined the levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in serum of rats, superoxide dismutase (SOD) in mitochondrial fraction, and malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver homogenate. LPS-treatment markedly increased the levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and MDA, and significantly decreased those of SOD, CAT and GPx. But LFE-pretreatment decreased the levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and MDA, by 17.7%, 27.5%, 40.7% and 56.9%, respectively and increased those of SOD, CAT and GPx, by 90.5%, 78.9% and 83.8%, respectively. These results showed that the LFE had the preventive effects against the acute hepatotoxicity-inducing LPS in the liver.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1350-1357
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• 2005

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-$\kappa$B) regulates the expression of multiple cytokines, chemokines, and cell adhesion molecules that are involved in the pathogenesis of asthma. We investigated the anti-asthmatic effects and the mechanism of action of DA-9201, an extract of the black rice, in a mouse model of asthma. Mice immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) were administered with DA-9201 (30, 100 or 300 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (DEXA, 3 mg/kg) for 2 weeks and challenged with aerosolized OVA during the last 3 days. Anti-asthmatic effects were assessed by means of enhanced pauses, level of total lgE and Th2 cytokines in plasma or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the percentage of eosinophils in BALF, and histopathological examination. The expression of NF-$\kappa$B in nuclear and cytoplasmic fraction and its DNA-binding activity in lung tissues were analyzed by means of Western blotting and electrophoretic gel mobility shift assay (EMSA), respectively. DA-9201 significantly reduced airway hyperrespon-siveness (AHR), total lgE level in plasma and BALF, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 levels in BALF, and the percentage of eosinophils in BALF. Tissue inflammation was significantly improved by DA­9201 treatment. In addition, DA-9201 dramatically suppressed the expression of NF-$\kappa$B and its DNA-binding activity. These results suggest that DA-9201 may be useful for the treatment of asthma and its efficacy is related to suppression of NF-$\kappa$B pathway.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.246.1-246.1
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• 2000