• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.950-954
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• 2005

Phellinus linteus (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) Teng, commonly referred to as Sangwhang in Korea, is a well-known species of the genus Phellinus, which attracts great attention due to its phamarcological values. P. linteus has been reported to produce anti-tumor, anti-angiogenic, anti-mutagenic and immunomodulatory activities in vivo and in vitro. However, despite extensive biochemical studies on P. linteus, the wine produced by P. linteus fermentation (WPLF) has poorly investigated. In the present study, it was compared the in vitro cytotoxic effects of WPLF with ethanol as positive control. WPLF as well as ethanol induced the inhibition of cell proliferation and morphological changes in both HepG2 and A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, however, WPLG treatment has less cytotoxic effects than ethanol treatment. These cytotoxic effects were associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, but, WPLG treatment has less apoptotisis inducing effects than ethanol treatment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1050-1054
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• 2005

Recently, arsenic compounds were considered as novel agents for treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and malignant tumors. However, it showed severe toxicity effect on normal tissue at the same time. In this study, to investigate the possible molecular mechanism (s) of arsenic compounds as candidate of anti-cancer drugs, we compared the abilities of two arsenic compounds, tetraarsenic oxide $(AS_4O_6)$ and arsenic trioxide (diarsenic oxide, $As_2O_3$), to induce cell growth inhibition as well as apoptosis induction in A549 human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Both $As_4O_6\;and\;As_2O_3$ treatment declined the cell growth and viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of G1 arrest of the cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. However, $As_4O_6$ induced growth inhibition and apoptosis in A549 cells at much lower concentrations than $As_2O_3.\;As_4O_6$ down-regulated the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, however, the levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, were up-regulated in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, $As_4O_6$ might be a new arsenic compound which may induce apoptosis in A549 cells by modulation the Bcl-2 family and deserves further evaluation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.749-752
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• 2005

We investigated the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the expression of cyclooxygenase in the spinal cord of acute inflammatory pain model. Inflammation was induced by an intraplantar injection of 1% carrageenan into the right hind paw of Sprague-Dawley. Bilateral 2 Hz EA stimulation with 0.5 mA, 1 mA and 3 mA were delivered at those acupoints corresponding to Zusanli and Sanyinjiao in man via the needles in carrageenan-injected rats. Three hours after carrageenan injection, effects of EA on cyclooxygenase (COX) expression were observed in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord using immunohistochemical method. The immunoreaction of COX-1 tended to increase in the superficial laminae and the neck of the dorsal horn as compared with normal. The COX-2 immunoreaction in the carrageenan-injected rat was also significantly increased in the all regions of the dorsal horn as compared with normal one. However, COX-1 immunoreaction in carrageenan-injected rat were decreased in the superficial laminae and neck of the dorsal horn by low intensity of EA stimulation. Except high intensity of EA stimulation in the superficial laminae, COX-2 expression was attenuated in all regions of the dorsal horn by all types of EA treatment. It is concluded that EA treatment may attenuate inflammatory pain in carrageenan-injected rat through modulating expression of COX-2 in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.722-728
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• 2005

The DNA topoismerase I inhibitor ${\beta}-lapachone$, the product of a lapacho tree (Tabebuia avellanedae) from South America, activates a novel apoptotic response in a number of cell lines. In the present report, we investigated the effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$ on the growth of human lung in human non-small-cell-lung-cancer A549 cells. Upon treatment with ${\beta}-lapachone$, a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability and cell proliferation was observed as measured by hemocytometer counts and MTT assay. The ${\beta}-lapachone-treated$ cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including membrane shrinking, condensation of chromatin and DNA fragmentation. These apoptotic effects of ${\beta}-lapachone$ in A549 cells were associated with a marked induction of pro-apoptotic Bax expression, however the levels of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Accordingly, elevated amount of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 expression accompanied by up-regulation of tumor suppressor p53 was observed. By RT-PCR analyses, decrease in gene expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase and telomeric repeat binding factor were also observed. Thus, these findings suggest that ${\beta}-lapachone$ may be a potential anti-cancer therapeutics for the control of human lung cancer cell model.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.581-589
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• 2006

These studies were investigated the effects of Gamicheungpyehwadam-tang (CPHDT) on immune-cell regulation in association with bronchial asthma in OVA-induced mouse model. The administration of 400 mg/kg CPHDT significantly reduced the number of total cells in lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model. The administration of 400 mg/kg CPHDT significantly reduced $CD3^+,{\;}CD19^+$and $CD3^+,{\;}CD69^+$ cell numbers separated from lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model. CPHDT significantly reduced $CD3^+/CCR3^+,{\;}CD4^+,{\;}B220^+/IgE^+$, and $CD3^+/DX5^+$ cell numbers separated from lung, peripheral lymph node and spleen in OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model in a dose dependent manner, However, CPHDT significantly reduced $CD8^+$ cell numbers from only lung and spleen. The administration of CPHDT significantly reduced $NK^+$ cell numbers separated from lung of OVA-induced bronchial asthma mouse model in all concentrations, but 200 mg/kg CPHDT reduced $NK^+$ cell numbers separated from peripheral lymph node. These results suggest that CPHDT has anti-asthma and anti-allergy effects. In addition to, CPHDT may be useful treatment of asthma based on the further studies about the individual efficacy search of the components of CPHDT and the adding of variety drugs to CPHDT.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.346-349
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• 2008

To investigate whether aqueous extract from Aconitum koreanum (AEAK) effects in the process of melanin synthesis, the expression of tyrosinase-related proteins (TRPs) by immunohistochemical methods were performed in ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiated skin of guinea pig. The irradiation of UVB (60 mJ/day) was performed for 3 days and treated with AEAK for 15 days. About the color evaluation, the visual scores of UV B irradiated guinea pig with AEAK treatment were slightly lower than those in the UV B alone irradiated ones. At day 15 after UVB exposure, immunohistochemical analysis for TRPs expression were performed. The intensive expression of tyrosinase was mainly observed over epidermis with skin appendage and in the cells of dermis. Slight increase of these reaction was induced in response to UVB in the spinous and granular layer of epidermis, but similar expression in the AEAK treated guinea pig as normal one. The TRP-1 and TRP-2 expression were not detected in the skin of normal guinea pig. But intensive expression for TRP-1 and TRP-2, especially TRP-2, induced by UV B irradiation in the cells of dermis. These expressions were decreased in the AEAK treated guniea pig. Collectively, these results suggest that AEAK has a potential to inhibit synthesis through regulation of TRPs expression in the skin of guinea pig, but better understanding the function of AEAK, more research should be done in the effects of AEAK on the function of TRPs in melanogesis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1271-1274
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• 2006

We investigated the effects of aqueous extracts from twelve medical herbs on ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone (${\alpha}$-MSH)-induced melanogenesis in B16F10 mouse melanoma cell. The cells were incubated with ${\alpha}$-MSH and aqueous extracts 5 days and 2 days and then analysed melanin amount and tyrosinase activities, respectively. Nine aqueous extract of herbs examined at 1 mg/m${\ell}$ level decreased melanin synthesis in B16F10 cell, especially in Agastache rugosa, Leonurus siviricus and Murus bombycis. The significant decrease of released extracellular melanin were also observed in treated cells with aqueous extract from Leonurus siviricus, Murus bombycis and Ledebouriella seseioides. The ${\alpha}$-MSH-induced activation of tyrosinase was inhibited in cells treated with aqueous extract from Cuscutae semen, Angelica tenuissima and Agastache rugosa. These results suggest that herbs inhibiting melanogenesis through tyrosinase activity may apply to develop whitening drugs and cosmetics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1200-1210
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• 2006

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of the CMT and MCMT hot water extract & ultra-fine powder on microglia and memory deficit model. The effects of the CMT and MCMT hot water extract on expression of IL-l${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NOS-II, COX-2, IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$1 mRNA and production of IL-lP, IL-6, TNF-a, NO, ROS in BV2 microglial cell line treated by lipopolysacchaide(LPS) ; serum glucose, uric acid, AChE activity of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine , behavior of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine and were investigated, respectively. The CMT and MCMT hot water extract suppressed the expression of IL-1${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NOS-II, COX-2 mRNA, production of IL-l${\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, NO, ROS and increased the expression of IL-10, TGF-${\beta}$l mRNA in BV2 microglial cell line treated by LPS. The MCMT hot water extract & ultra-fine powder increased glucose, decreased uric acid and AChE significantly in the serum of the memory deficit mice induced by scopolamine. The CMT and MCMT hotwater extract & ultra-fine powder groups showed significantly inhibitory effect on the scopolamine-induced impairment of memory in the experiment of Morris water maze. According to the above result, it is suggested that the CMT and MCMT hot water extract & ultra-fine powder might be usefully applied for prevention and treatment of dementia.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1187-1195
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• 2006

Panax notoginseng exhibit several beneficial effects including anti-oxidant effects. P. notoginseng is used as a therapeutic agent to stop haemorrhages and a tonic to promoted health in Korean and Chinese medicine. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the main P. notoginseng are still not accurately investigated. The exact mechanism of the anti-oxidant activitys of water extracts of P. notoginseng, however, has not been determined. in present study, I examined the effects of water extracts of P. notoginseng on high cholesterol diet atherosclerosis-induced rats in serum and abdominal aorta. A total of 3-week old 9 male rats of Sprague-Dawley were divided into 3 groups and fed with the basal diet (normal group), high cholesterol diet (atherosclerosis induced group) for 8 weeks, high cholesterol diet supplemented with water extracts of P. notoginseng (P. notoginseng group) for 4 weeks. And rats were sacrificed, serum lipid level, abodominal aortic anti-oxidant activities and lipid peroxide were measured. These results indicated that serum total cholesterl, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides concentration significently lowered in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol diet group. But HDL-cholesterol concentraion significently higher in P. notoginseng group than high cholesterol feed group. And abdominal aortic xanthine oxidase activity was significantly reduced by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Also abdominal aortic superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase activities were significantly increased by dietary water extracts of P. notoginseng supplementation (p<0.05) Especially, abdominal aortic level of lipid peroxide tended to increase in high cholesterol feed group, but water extract of P. notoginseng intake reduced the value (p<0.05).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1485-1496
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• 2006

Various kinds of related parameters on hypertension such as anti-oxygen effect, ACE, weight of body, hwart and kidney, blood pressure, heartbeat rates, contents of aldosterone, catecholamine, change rates, of plasma constituents, uric acid, BUN, creatinine were determined to verify the effects on hypertension by Kamisamul-tang (KSMT). And the results are concluded as follows. KSMT did not show any cytotoxicity at the range of concentration (1-250 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$) on the human fibroblast cell (hFCs). KSMT decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DPPH generation depending on the concentration. KSMT significantly inhibited angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) activity depending on the concentration compared with control. KSMT maintained body weight of body, heat and kidney nearly normal group in hypertensive rat induced by DOCA-salt. KSMT significantly blood pressure and heart beat rate compared with control in hypertensive rat induced by DOCA-salt. KSMT significantly decreased aldosterone, dopamine, norepineph- rine, epinephrine compared with control in hypertensive rat induced by DOCA-salt. KSMT significantly decreased the level of potassium and cloride compared with control wheareas increased that of calcium significantly in hypertensive rat induced by DOCA-salt. KSMT significantly decreased the level of uric acid and BUN compared with control in hypertensive rat induced by DOCA-salt. It is verified experimentally tat Kamisamultang(KMST) which has been used broadly as a clinical therapeutics in oriental medicine is effective for anti-hypertension mechanism. And it could be applied to develope the reliable prescriptions for anti-hypertension in the future.