• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.145-160
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• 2011

Objectives : Rehmannia glutinosa has been used extensively in Korean traditional medicine. Although thorough clinical trials are lacking, Various pharmacological actions for Rehmannia glutinosa has been identified newly using animal models. In addition, it was reported that reactive intermediates, potentially causing toxic effects, was isolated from one of components in Rehmannia glutinosa. In this article, it is purposed for explanation and introduction of new studies for Rehmannia glutinosa in terms of pharmacological action and toxicology. Methods : New studies for Rehmannia glutinosa were reviewed and summarized in terms of pharmacological action and toxicity. Results and Conclusions : Rhmannia glutinosa and its components including iridoids, saccharides, as well as amino acid, showed a variety of pharmacological actions on the blood system, immune system, endocrine system, cardiovascular system and the nervous system. In addition, it was identified that aucubin, one of major components of Rhmannia glutinosa was biotransformed to reactive intermediates by ${\beta}$-glycosidase and acid-hydrolysis, resulting in forming aucubigenin- albumin adduct. Even if a lot of new pharmacological actions has been identified, it should be considered for Rhmannia glutinosa to contain the material producing reactive intermediates which may induce the side effects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 1997.10a
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• pp.38-42
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• 1997

Human growth hormone is known as one of the peptide hormones which is consisted of 191 amino acids derived from the pituitary gland in humans. The objectives of this study were to supply inexpensive recombinant methionyl human growth hormones (rHGH) synthesized by the DNA technology in a yeast cell line and followed by the establishement of protein purification techniques. The next steps of the research were to study its physic-chemical properties and biological properties, and to evaluate various preclinical aspcts including pharmacokinetics sutdy, general pharmacology study, general toxicity test, and specific toxicity tests. Clinical phase I, II, III studies were also done against growth hormone dficient children to reveal that growth promoting effects were similar compared with the natural HGH extracted from pituitary glands and commercially available rHGHs. The results could be summarized that (I) this yeast dervied rHGH have had excellent physico-chemical and biological properties in comparison with a natural HGH and other synthesized rHGHs, (2) we could not see any toxic side effects when very high doses were administered to the experimental animals, and (3) this growth hormone showed effectiveness in the growth stimulating to growth hormone deficient patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.504-509
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• 2001

There are numerous agents with potential toxic effects on the lung. In particular, cytotoxic drugs constitute the largest and most important group of agents associated with lung toxicity. Bleomycin is commonly used, either alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma(head and neck, esophagus, and genitourinary tract), lymphoma, and germ cell tumor. One of the therapeutic advantages of bleomycin is its minimal bone marrow toxicity. However, pulmonary toxicity is one of the most serious adverse side effects. Classically, pulmonary toxicity manifests as a diffuse interstitial process or less commonly as a hypersensitivity reaction. This pulmonary toxicity is generally considered to be dose related and can progress to a fatal fibrosis. It is also possible that bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia(BOOP) is another manifestation of bleomycin induced toxicity. Bleomycin induced BOOP is less common and has a favorable response to steroid therapy. Here we present a case that demonstrates a BOOP, secondary to a relatively small cumulative dose of bleomycin($225mg/m^2$), may be reversible.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.1-10
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• 2023

Objective : Obesity in modern society has a significant impact on pathological, psychological and social problems. Therefore, many studies on obesity treatment using herbal extracts with fewer side effects have been conducted. This study was designed to investigate the effect of inhibiting fat accumulation in vitro in order to Mongolian medicinal plants find anti-obesity candidate among. Methods : We measured pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity in Mongolian medicinal plants extract. Cytotoxicity of these extracts was monitored in 3T3-L1 cells by MTT assay. In addition, the anti-obesity effects was confirmed at concentrations of 0.2, 0.1 and 0.05 mg/㎖ through Oil red O staining. Results : Among Mongolian medicinal plants, Rheum undulatum roots in September (RURS), Paeonia anomala L. (PAL), and Fragaria orientalis (FO) showed the highest pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity. As a result of the MTT assay, more than 80% was judged to be non-toxic, and the concentration was determined, and as a result of evaluating the lipid accumulation inhibitory effect, 6 types were selected as candidates. Conclusion : Based on these results, the top 7 species expected to be used as anti-obesity functional materials were selected. However, additional efficacy verification and mechanism of action need to be established in the future. So, it is expected that the medicinal plants verified through this will be used as functional materials for the prevention and treatment of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 2015

The immune system is specifically sensitive to oxidative stress induced by ionizing radiation because of its rapid proliferative activity. For this reason, an instructive immune system is one of the best ways to minimize side effects, such immunodeficiency, of gamma radiation. Over the past few decades, several natural plants with antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties have been identified as adjuncts for nontoxic and successful radiotherapy. Hizikia fusiforme extract (HFE) containing plentiful dietary fiber and fucoidan is known for its instructive antioxidant capacity, immunomodulation abilities, and immune activation. In this study, we determined whether HFE protects radiosensitive immune cells from gamma radiation-induced damage. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated with gamma-ray. The effect of HFE on the ionizing radiation damage of immune cells was then evaluated with an MTT assay, 3H-thymidine incorporation assay, and PI staining. We found that HFE stimulated the proliferation of gamma-ray irradiated immune cells without cytotoxic effects. We also observed that HFE not only decreased DNA damage but also reduced gamma radiation-induced apoptosis of the immune cells. Our results suggest that HFE can protect immune cells from gamma-ray damage and may serve as an effective, non-toxic radioprotective agent.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 1996

Radiotherapy is an irreplaceable method of cancer treatment but, it has various side effects, especially damage to the hemopoietic system. A lot of radioprotectors have been found but they also have toxic effects. Many kinds of crude drugs(Oriental Chinese medicine)with low toxicity have been reported to promote the recovery from radiation damage. Recently, the trial to combine radiotherapy with herbal treatment of cancer patients shows a desirable result, an enhancement in recovery of the blood system.. This study was performed to determine whether prescriptions to support the healthy energy and strengthen the body resistence, Buzhongyiqi-tang and Siliu-tang, promote the recovery of splenocytes of N:GP(s) mice from radiation damage. We investigated the proliferative effect of Buzhongyiqi-tang, Siliu-tang and EIB(ethanol insoluble fraction of Buzhongyiqi-tang) on N:GP(S)mice splenocytes before or after ${\gamma}$-irradiation. We also investigated the morphology of splenocytes cultured with these herbs. Buzhongyiqi-tang and Siliu-tang promoted the proliferation of splenocytes in a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml compared with normal control(p<0.001). After 1-5Gy of ${\gamma}$-irradiation they also showed the effect of recovery of hemopoietic cells, especially in Buzhongyiqi-tang(4Gy:p<0.005; 5Gy:p<0.05). In addition, EIB(ethanol insoluble fraction of Buzhongyiqi-tang) showed the highest proliferative effect of all agents suggesting that more effective fractions could be found from crude herbs or prescriptions. These results suggest that it is possible to make use of Buzhongyiqi-tang, Siliu-tang or EIB as radio-protective agents.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.217-227
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• 2009

The present study was set to evaluate the effect of pomegranate extracts on improvement of the menopausal syndromes such as face flushing in ovariectomized rats by carrying out short- and long-term experiments. Pomegranate extracts used to feed rats were prepared from the pulp part which does not contain the rid of the pomegranate, and were dissolved in propylene glycol. From the short-term (16 days) experiment, it was clear that when the 25, 250, 1,250 mg/kg/day concentrations of pomegranate extracts were orally fed to ovariectomized rats, the body temperature of the rats in all the 3 groups were decreased with statistical significance compared to other control groups which were fed with propylene glycol only. Especially, the body temperature decreased by $2.7^{\circ}C$ compared to control groups even when the pomegranate extracts were fed at the low concentration of 25 mg/kg/day implying the usefulness of pomegranate extracts in improving face flushing troubles. In addition, the body weight of the groups fed with pomegranate extracts also decreased when compared to groups fed with only propylene glycol, and the results were also statistically significant. In case of the estradiol level in the blood of rats, the levels were somewhat higher in the groups fed with pomegranate extracts than the control groups, even though the difference was not statistically significant. As found from the results of the short-term experiment, in long-term experiment, the groups fed with pomegranate extracts showed statistically significant decrease in the body temperature and the body weight, whereas the increase of the estradiol levels in blood in each groups were statistically insignificant. During the short- and long-term experiments, no sign of toxicity was found in rats fed with pomegranate extracts indicating no toxic side effects of the pomegranate extracts when orally fed. The concentrations of pomegranate extracts 25, 250, 1250 mg/kg/day treated to ovariectomized rats in this study can be estimated to be 1.5, 15, and 75 g/day when treated to women whose body weight is 60 kg which is average for women with menopausal syndromes. Since even the 75 g/day of high concentration of pomegranate extracts did not show any toxicity in short- and long-term experiments, taking 1.5 g/day concentration of pomegranate extracts would be safe dose for not causing any side effects. Therefore, it can be concluded from the results of this study that taking 1.5 g/day of pomegranate extracts for certain period time will improve the menopausal syndromes including face flushing.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.126-144
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• 2012

Background : Peripheral nerves more rapidly recover than central nerves. However, it has been known that the degree of reaction of axons of peripheral nerves is affected by distinctive characteristics of axons and environmental factors near the axons. Taxol is a widely used medicine as for ovarian, breast, lung and gastric cancer. However it causes patients difficulties under treatment due to its toxic and side effects, which include persistent pain. Objectives : This study reviewed how SJT extract in vitro and in vivo affects nerve tissues of a sciatic nerve damaged by Taxol. It also studied how SJT extract in vivo affects axons of the sciatic nerve after the sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing. Methods : After vehicle, Taxol, and Taxol plus SJT were treated respectively for tissue of the sciatic nerve in vitro and then tissues were observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, ${\beta}$-tubulin, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3 and anti-cdc2. SJT was also oral medicated by injecting Taxol into the sciatic nerve of in vivo rats. Tissues of the sciatic nerve and axons of DRG sensory nerves were then observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, ${\beta}$-tubulin, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3 and p-Erk1/2. After inflicting pressing damage to the sciatic nerve of in vivo rats, tissues of the sciatic nerve and DRG sensory nerve were observed using Neurofilament 200, Hoechst, $S100{\beta}$, caspase-3, anti-cdc2, phospho-vimentin, ${\beta}1$-integrin, Dil reverse tracking and p-Erk1/2. Results : The group of in vitro Taxol plus SJT treatment had meaningful effects after sciatic nerve tissue was damaged by Taxol. The group of in vivo SJT treatment had effects of regenerating Schwann cells and axons which were damaged by Taxol treatment. The group of in vivo SJT had effects of regenerating axons in damaged areas after the sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing, and also had variations of distribution in Schwann cells at DRG sensory nerves and axons. Conclusions : This study confirmed that SJT treatment is effective for growth of axons in the sciatic nerve tissues and improvement of Schwann cells after axons of the sciatic nerve tissues was damaged. After tissues of sciatic nerve was damaged by pressing in vivo, SJT treatment had effects on promoting regeneration of axon in the damaged area and reactional capabilities in axons of DRG sensory nerves.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 1997

Vincristine, a kind of anticancerous drugs, interferes with development of microtubles and synthesis of nucleic acid and proteins in cells, and destructs cytoplasmic membrane so that mitosis of cancer cells is inhibited. Unfortunately these anticancerous effects by vioneristime are not limited to specific cancer cells, so several side effects are produced. This study was performed to explore the effects of vincristine on the fine structure of cytoplasmic organelles and cartilagenous matrix in proximal epiphyseal plate of the tibia in rat. The results were as follows: 1. Cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) were fragmented and sacculated, and membrane-bound ribocomes of RER were detached at 3 and 6 hours after vincristine treatment. Severely dilated, fagmented and sacculated cisternae of RER were found at 12 hours after vincristine treatment, and at 24 hours after vincristine treatment a few cisternae were framented and sacculated. At 72 hours after vincristine treatment cisternae of RER were parallely well arraged. 2. Golgi complex was atrophied at 3, 6, and 12 hours after vincristine treatment, while at 72 hours after vincristine treatment the cisternae of Golgi complex were made of 5-6 layers. 3. Mitochondria with disorganized mitochondrial cristae and outer membrane-losed mitochondria were found at 3 hours after vincristine treatment. At 6 and 12 hours after vincristine treatment mitochondria had possessed disorganized cristae, and a few mitochondria with disorganized cristae were. observed at 24 hours after vincristine treatment. While at 72 hours after vincristine treatment mitochondria were shown distinct cristae and double membranes. 4. Phagosome were begun to observe at 3 hourse after vincristine treatment, and at 24 hourse after vincristine treatment many phagosomes were found, while at 72 hours after vincristine treatment a few phagosomes were observed. 5. In the cartilagenous matrix large-sized matrix granules were decreased and collagen fibrils were dispersed at 3, 6, and 12 hours after vincristine treatment, while at 72 hours after vincristine treatment many large-sized matrix granules and numerous matrix it is suggested that although vincristine may induce the degenerative changes of the chondrocyte, resulting in changes of components of the cartilagenous matirx, these toxic effects may be regressed with time.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2013

In order to construct a controlled release system of drugs and to reduce toxic side effects of 5-fluorouracil, the novel ramose chitosan-based-5-fluorouracil microspheres (CS-FU-MS) were prepared. Firstly, using chitosan (CS) as carriers and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as a model drug, ramose chitosan-based-5-fluorouracil (CS-FU) was efciently synthesized by chemical crosslinking method through microwave irradiation, drug loading was 10.6%; Secondly, CS-FU-MS were prepared by CS-FU self-assembled under the dialysis conditions and the free 5-FU was encapsulated further at the same time. The size dispersivity of particles is uniform, and the average diameter of the CS-FU-MS was $4{\mu}m$. The drug encapsulation efficiency was 76.1%, and the drug loading was increased to 26.22%. CS-FU-MS maintain the zero-order release time in PBS (pH = 7.4) and HCl/KCl (pH = 1.2) dialysis medium was 40h and 34h respectively, and the cumulative release were 58.89% and 79.33% in 182 h. The results showed that CS-FU-MS have excellent sustained release properties.