• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1327-1333
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• 2006

Many traditional herbal remedies exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-inflammation. Panax notoginseng Buck F.H. Chen. is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promote health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharrnacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of P. notoginseng on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene expression in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results indicated that P. notoginseng concentration-dependently inhibited LPS-induced NO production. Furthermore, P. notoginseng inhibited the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 proteins without an appreciable cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells. Berberine also inhibited LPS-induced iNOS protein as potently as P. notoginseng. This was consistent with the findings that P. notoginseng and also berberine inhibited prostaglandin E2 synthesis induced by LPS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.506-510
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• 2012

Bone homeostasis is regulated by the balance between bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. Osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disease are related with up-regulated osteoclast formation and its activity. Gol-Swae-Bo(Drynariae Rhizoma) is widely used on skeletal disease. In this study, we sought to examine the effect of Drynariae Rhizoma in RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation. The extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in a dose dependent manner without cytotoxicity. receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand(RANKL) mediated $I{\kappa}B$ degradation in bone marrow macrophages(BMMs). However, the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited RANKL induced $I{\kappa}B$ degradation in BMMs. And mRNA expression of OSCAR, TRAP, c-Fos and NFATc1 was suppressed by the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma. Moreover, the extract of Drynariae Rhizoma inhibited the protein expression of NFATc1 and c-Fos induced by RANKL. After all the analysis, these results suggest that Drynariae Rhizoma may be good candidate of medicine in the treatment of bone-related disease.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.160-168
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• 2016

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) is a well-characterized medicinal herb listed in the classic oriental herbal dictionary as "Shin-nong-bon-cho-kyung." Ginseng has diverse pharmacologic and therapeutic properties. Black ginseng (BG, Ginseng Radix nigra) is produced by repeatedly steaming fresh ginseng nine times. Studies of BG have shown that prolonged heat treatment enhances the antioxidant activity with increased radical scavenging activity. Several recent studies have showed the effects of BG on increased lipid profiles in mice. In this study report the effects of water and ethanol extracts of BG on hypercholesterolemia in rats. To our knowledge, this is the first time such an effect has been reported. Methods: Experiments were conducted on male Sprague Dawley rats fed with a high-cholesterol diet supplemented with the water and ethanol extracts of BG (200 mg/kg). Their blood cholesterol levels, serum white blood cell levels, and cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes messenger RNA (mRNA) expression were determined. Liver and adipose tissues were histologically analyzed. Results: We found that BG extracts efficiently reduced the total serum cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels with increased food efficiency ratio and increased number of neutrophil cells. It also attenuated the key genes responsible for lipogenesis, that is, acetyl-coenzyme A (CoA) acetyltransferase 2, 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA reductase, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2, at the mRNA level inside liver cells. Furthermore, the BG extract also reduced the accumulation of fat in adipose tissues, and inhibited the neutral fat content in liver cells stained with hematoxylin and eosin and oil red O. Conclusion: Administration of BG extracts to Sprague Dawley rats fed with high-cholesterol diet ameliorated hypercholesterolemia, which was mediated via modulation of cholesterol-metabolizing marker genes. This data throw a light on BG's cardioprotective effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1622-1627
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• 2004

Nephrite has been widely used as a medicinal mineral resource to treat a numerous chronic diseases and to replenish vital essence and blood in the Korean traditional medicine. However, as of yet, there is little understanding of the pharmacological and biochemical mechanisms of its therapeutic effects as regards anti-inflammation. We therefore examined whether nephrite represses the expression of major inflammation mediators, such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), in LPS-stimulated murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7 by using RT-PCR. The powder suspension and water extracts of nephrite significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of the mediators, despite a little toxic effects on growth of RAW 264.7 cells within the concentration range tested. These experimental results suggested that the nephrite can be utilized as a functional mineral exerting the anti-inflammation medicinal effect.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic effect and its mechanism on Radix Aconiti(RA) extract in lung cancer cell lines. RA extract treatment decreased the cell viability in a dose-dependent fashions in lung cancer cells including A549, H460, H23 and H157 cells. Many investigators reported that A549 and H460 cells expressed wild-type p53, but H23 and H157 cells preserved mutated p53. After treatment with RA extract in A549 and H460 cells, we measured the expression of p53 protein levels using Western blot. analysis. In both cells treated with RA extracts, p53 protein expressions were increased in a dose-dependent manner. In our experiments, RA extracts also have cytotoxic effects in H23 and H157, which have mutated p53. Treatment with RA extract decreased bcl-2 protein expressions in both cells. These results suggest that RA extracts have cytotoxic effects via p53 expression increase and bcl-2 inhibitable pathways in A549, H460 cells and H23, H157 cells, respectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.629-632
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• 2003

Scutellaria barbata has been used as a traditional Chinese Herb for treating liver, lung and rectal tumors. In the present study, cytotoxic effect of Scutellaria barbata MC fradtion was investigated and it was found to inhibit proliferation of human leukemic U937 cells with an IC50 of approximately 10 μg/ml in a dose-dependent manner. We also demonstrated that Scutellaria barbata MC fraction caused apoptosis in U937 cells. In the flow cytometric assay, the MC fraction-treated U937 cells showed an increase in hypo-diplold Sub G1 DNA contents. DNA fragmentation was observed by TUNEL assay. An increase of Bax:Bcl-2 ratio, activation of caspase-9, caspase-3, and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) were demonstrated by western blot analysis. Taken together, these results exerted that the MC fraction suppressed human leukemic U937 cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.243-250
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• 2014

This study examined the knowledge and understanding of integrative medicine in Korea, specifically conflicts between western and oriental medicine within Parallel (Dual) health care systems. Qualitative methodology using grounded theory guided semi-structured, in-depth interviews with Western Medical Doctors (W.M.D., n = 6), Oriental Medical Doctors (O.M.D., n = 5) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioners (T.C.M.P., n = 4). Thematic analysis was used to determine broad themes from the interviews. 15 professionals (W.M.D. (40%), O.M.D. (33%), T.C.M.P. (27%), 10 males (67%) and 5 females (33%), mean age 45) were interviewed, recorded, and transcribed. Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: systematic conflicts, integration and future directions. Subthemes of systematic conflicts included: credibility of Oriental Medicine, commercial imperatives, maintaining social standing of O.M.D., professional qualifications and lack structures supporting collaborative practice. Integration subthemes included lack of academic linkage and clarity for appropriate triage, opposing medical paradigms and limited social imperative. Future directions should include: social justification, guarantee of oriental medicine legitimacy, role of government and understanding of scientific evidence. To successfully integrate dual medical systems there is a need to address differences in social-environmental factors and perceptions of scientific understanding, as well as developing strong academic links in clinical practice.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Extract of Acanthopanax senticosus has recently been demonstrated to possess significant antidiabetic potential, in accordance with the traditional use of this plant as an antidiabetic natural health product. The present study evaluated the effects of fermented extract (FE) of this plant on glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes model. A 3 h pretreatment with FE prevented $IL-1{\beta}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ toxicity in isolated rat islets. However, it did not affect insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in C2C12 myotubes. In addition, pretreatment of mice with FE blocked the destruction of streptozotocin-induced islets and the development of type 1 diabetes. FE reduced blood glucose level, increased insulin secretion, and improved glucose tolerance in streptozotocin-treated mice, whereas nonfermented extract (NFE) had moderate effects. Immunohistochemical staining for insulin clearly showed that pretreatment with FE blocked the STZ-induced islets destruction and restored the number of islet cells that secreted insulin to the level of the control. Although the active principles and their mechanisms of action remain to be identified, FE may nevertheless represent a novel complementary therapy and a source of novel therapeutic agents against type 1 diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.76-81
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• 2014

The aim of this study was to build the diagnosis criteria of Qi deficiency using distribution of sum of 11 items for Qi deficiency in stroke patients. Between September 2006 and December 2010, 2,994 patients from 11 Korean medical hospitals were asked to complete the Korean Standard Pattern Identification for Stroke (K-SPI-Stroke) questionnaire as a part of project 'Fundamental study for the standardization and objectification of pattern identification in traditional Korean medicine for stroke (SOPI-Stroke). Each patient was independently diagnosed by two experts (traditional Korean medicine physicians) from the same site according to one of five patterns. 2,994 patients were divided modeling and testing in 70:30 ratio by stratification of pattern identification. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and odds ratio (OR) using distribution of sum of 11 items (signs and symptoms) for Qi deficiency. More than four from 11 items of Qi deficiency in modeling dataset, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR was 70.07%, 74.94%, 73.92% and 7.00, respectively. In testing dataset, 78.31%, 73.45%, 74.47% and 9.98, respectively. Although this values are not high, after values of sensitivity, specificity, accuracy and OR should be more than current value, and then we should be able to suggest as objective diagnosing criteria.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.1356-1363
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• 2007

The purpose of the study was to identify the general status of Kigong organizations introduced on Internet. We have used www.naver.com, the biggest portal site in Korea and www.nice114.co.kr, which has the longest list of the telephone numbers to look up the organizations with the index of "Kigong and Danhak" and "Mediation". Among them we screened the organizations to have the list of organizations which have been established for more than 5 years, with more than 100 trainees and whether they published books or booklets regarding Kigong by the means of telephone conversation or home page access. The number of organizations identified by telephone and Internet with the indexes of Kigongdanhak and mediation was 852. The number of organizations that passed the primary criterion was 22, and that passed the secondary criterion was 8. Among the primarily screened organization, there are 5 focusing on mediation, 5 focusing on breathing, 3 focusing on Haenggong, 4 focusing on mediation and Haenggong, 4 focusing on breathing and Haenggong and 1 focusing on mediation and breathing. In secondarily screened organizations, they called their training method as Seondo, Shinseondo or Seonhak and origin of the training method as Dangun and Hwangwung. As Sambeop training of Jigam, Josik and Geumchok provide training methods which are a little different each other, the utilization rate was low although there are some organizations that have special training using Three Bibles. It was identified that there were many texts and writings that they took as training methods other than Three Bibles. Kigong training organizations based on Korean traditional ideologies are grounded on the Three Textbooks such as , , and and the concept of Hongikingan. This ideological ground is the study of Completion of Human Beings through physical and mental training and goes with Seondo, Pungryudo and Hyunmyojido.