• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.63-81
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• 2005

Herbal acupuncture has been used to prevent and treat the cerebrovascular accident, such as a stroke, and many studies of acupuncture and moxibustion concerning to the stroke have been undertaken in the human and various animals. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. In this study, neuroprotective effects of folium artemisiae argyi (艾葉)' herbal acupuncture on the $LR_3$ (Taechung) on the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohistochemistry and ELISA technique. Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group. These features were observed in the motor cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Also, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus ($263.26{\pm}44.56pg/ml$ extracted by water, $275.35{\pm}51.47pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar)and the cortex ($102.33{\pm}13.65pg/ml$ extracted by water, $109.54{\pm}9.37pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar) compared to the hippocampus $(134.07{\pm}2.96pg/ml)$ and the cortex $(61.16{\pm}4.11pg/ml)$ in control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia. These results suggest that pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi'herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and the herbal acupunture on $LR_3$ may be related to antioxidative function of folium artemisiae argyi.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.66-80
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• 2003

Objectives : Recently, herbal acupuncture has been developed in the Korea since the earlier 1960' applied to various diseases including the cerebrovascular accident. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination the merit of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis (釣鉤藤) has been claimed to possess sedative, anti-spasmodic actions, and treat childhood epilepsy in oriental medical preparation. Also, it has been stated that Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis was antioxidatvie effect and neuroprotection against glutamateinduced neuronal death. Methods : In this study, effects of Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis' herbal acupuncture on the $GV_{20}{\;}or{\;}LR_3$, named Baek-hue or Tae-chung, on neuroprotection after the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohistochemistry and ELISA technique. Results : Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}{\;}or{\;}LR_3$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group, respectively. These features were observed in the motor cortex and retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Especially, cFos expression was more increased at the herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}{\;}than{\;}LR_3$, but FosB expression was more decreased in $LR_3$ group than $GV_{20}$ group. Also, pretreatment with Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}{\;}or{\;}LR_3$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus ($254.88{\pm}12{\;}pg/ml{\;}in{\;}GV_{20}$ group, $245.93{\pm}44.4{\;}pg/ml{\;}in{\;}LR_3$ group) and the cortex ($85.81{\pm}3.45{\;}pg/ml{\;}in{\;}GV_{20}$ group, $111.51{\pm}15.79{\;}pg/ml{\;}in{\;}LR_3$, group) compared to the hippocampus ($134.07{\pm}2.96{\;}pg/ml$) and the cortex ($61.16{\pm}4.11{\;}pg/ml$) in control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia. Conclusion : These results suggest that pretreatment with Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis' herbal acupuncture on $GV_{20}{\;}or{\;}LR_3$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and the herbal acupunture on $GV_{20}{\;}or{\;}LR_3$ may be related to antioxidative effect and calcium channel block of Ramulus Uncariae Cum Uncis. Also, it could be mentioned there is specificity of acupoints treating ischemic injury through the difference between the herbal acupuncture of $GV_{20}{\;}and{\;}LR_3$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.81-93
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• 2003

Objectives : Recently, the new therapeutic tool, that is herbal acupuncture, has been developed and applied to various diseases including the cerebrovascular accident. The main characteristics of herbal acupuncture are a combination of acupuncture and herbal medicine. It was not well known the therapeutic effect and the mechanism of herbal acupuncture on transient forebrain ischemic injury, although it has been used frequently in clinics. The objective was to determine the effect of folium artemisiae argyi (艾葉) herbal acupuncture on the trasient forebrain ischemic injured rat. Methods : In this study, the effects of folium artemisiae argyi (艾葉) herbal acupuncture on the $LR_3$ named Taechung, on neuroprotection after the transient forebrain ischemia were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats. Expressions of cFos, FosB and BDNF protein in the hippocampus and cortex were observed at 2 hrs and 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia by immunohistochemistry and ELISA technique. Results : Expression of cFos protein was increased slightly in the hippocampus and cortex at 2 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia, but FosB protein was increased highly comparing to cFos protein. However, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased expression of cFos protein and significantly decreased expression of FosB protein compared to control group. These features were observed in the retrosplenial granular cortex as well as the hippocampus. Also, pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ significantly increased the expression of BDNF protein in the hippocampus ($263.26{\pm}44.56{\;}pg/ml$ extracted by water, $275.35{\pm}51.47{\;}pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar)and the cortex ($102.33{\pm}13.65{\;}pg/ml$ extracted by water, $109.54{\pm}9.37{\;}pg/ml$ extracted by moxa tar) compared to the hippocampus ($134.07{\pm}2.96{\;}pg/ml$) and the cortex ($61.16{\pm}4.11{\;}pg/ml$) in control group at 48 hrs after transient forebrain ischemia. Conclusions : These results suggest that pretreatment with folium artemisiae argyi' herbal acupuncture on $LR_3$ has neuroprotective effect on transient forebrain ischemia and the herbal acupunture on $LR_3$ may be related to antioxidative function of folium artemisiae argyi.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.132-138
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• 2006

Direct thrombin inhibitor, which is effective to prevent or cure the thrombosis, has been investigated in worldwide. In this study, we tried to screen antithrombosis agent from edible or medicinal plant. A strong antithrombin activity was identified from methanol or $95\%$ ethanol extract of buckwheat seeds. The solvent fractionation of buckwheat extracts using hexane, ethylacetate, butanol revealed that the butanol fraction has a prominent antithrombin activity. Thrombin time (blood-clot formation time) exceeded to over $2,000\%$ by addition of the butanol fraction at concentration of $312.5{\mu}g/mL$, whereas thrombin time extended to $336\%$ by addition of aspirin at concentration of $1,500{\mu}g/mL$. The butanol fraction showed anthrone-positive and ninhydrine-negative reaction. The active components were heat-liable, acid-unstable non-proteinous macromolecules (>30 KD). In vivo analysis using ICR male mouse showed that the buckwheat extract was superior than the aspirin in pulmonary thrombosis, KCN-induced coma and death. Our results suggest that the buckwheat is a potential as an antithrombosis agent and medicinal food.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2010

Objectives: The study aims to look into how the application of EA(Electro-acupuncture) in the initial step of ischemic brain injury affects the changes in Bax and Caspase-3 expression among forebrain apoptosis. Methods: It caused GI by using common carotid artery occlusion and conducted the test by dividing into the no applied EA group after 6 hours and 12 hours, the LI 4 EA group that applied EA to LI4, and GV 20 EA group that was applied to GV 20. After that, the following results were obtained by comparing Bax and Caspase-3 expression, which were apoptosis-related factors, with its application time through immunohistochemical staining after extracting brain of each group. Results: According to each group's Bax expression by the application time, the order of expression increase after 6 hours is shown to be the no applied EA group, LI 4 group, and GV 20 group. The stimulation after 12 hours was most lowly expressed in the GV 20 group, and the no applied EA group and LI 4 group showed similar level. Conclusions: EA stimulation in the initial step after ischemia seems to affect positively Bax and Caspase-3 expression that are index of forebrain apoptosis.