• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.59-65
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• 2008

Objectives : HRHDT has been known as a useful prescription with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and immunosuppressive activity. To evaluate anti-atopic dermatitis effect of HRHDT, we treated HRHDT in NC/Nga mice model skin induced contact hypersensitivity. Methods : Contact hypersensitivity, a local inflammatory response of skin, was induced by spreading the back skin of NC/Nga mice with 0.4${\sim}$1% DNCB. HRHDT was prepared by dissolving 3% HRHDT in solution and treated 3 weeks on the back skin. Results : HRHDT significantly reduced TEWL and erythema by 0.4${\sim}$1% of DNCB treatment compared to control group. HRHDT also reduced IgE on serum obtained from blood of DNCB-treated mice. Conclusions : These results showed that HRHDT could be used as a pharmaceutical material with anti-atopic dermatitis effect by reducing IgE in contact, hypersensitivity atopic dermatitis NC/Nga mice model by DNCB.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 2007

For a correlation to study the five tastes and efficacies in oriental medicine concepts, we used herbal medicines with bitter taste character in traditionally effective and experimental methods. In this study, we tested the in vitro effect of 20 typical kinds of herbal medicines with bitter taste on platelet aggregation induced by collagen in human whole blood using the impedance method of aggregometry. Among them, 3 kinds of hot water extracts and 2 kinds of 70% ethanol extracts showed the significant inhibiting effect on whole blood aggregation $(^{***}p<0.001)$. In particular, Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis chinensis) extracts were selected as the most effective candidate with a strong grade of bitter taste through the sensory test of trained panels. The results from this experiment provide pharmacological evidence for the traditional use of bitter tasting herbs with traditional medicine theory, suggesting that strong bitter taste herbs could be help problems of blood circulation more than mild bitter tasting herbs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.390-395
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• 2014

Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria. monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus are pathogenic bacteria that should not be detected in cosmetics and foodstuffs. Therefore, we first investigated the antimicrobial activities of extracts of Scutellariae Radix(SR), Coptidis Rhizoma (CR) and salicylic acid(SA) in these pathogenic microorganisms. Although SA has been known to exhibit anti-inflammation and antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms, a high concentration of SA may cause serious side effects such as skin redness, skin burning, peeling or tissue damage. Hence, we focused on diminishing side effects followed by treatment of a high concentration of SA and investigated whether the combinations of SA with various concentrations(25-400 mg/mL), SR and CR with a concentration(100 mg/mL) which did not show antimicrobial activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa exhibited meaningful antimicrobial effect against both strains. In our results, the combinations of SA with the lowest concentration(25 mg/mL), SR(100 mg/mL) and CR(100 mg/mL) exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against E.coli in comparison to SA alone(25 mg/mL) showing no antimicrobial activity. Moreover, the combinations of SA (100 mg/mL), SR and CR showed seven times higher antimicrobial activity against E. coli than SA alone(100 mg/mL) and exhibited a significant antimicrobial activity in comparison to ampicilin (p<0.05). The combinations of SA(100 mg/mL), SR and CR showed two times higher antimicrobial activity against P. aeruginosa than SA alone. Therefore, these results indicated that the combinations of SR, CR and SA with low concentration expressed the synergistic antimicrobial effect against E. coli and P. aeruginosa and showed great potential as an antimicrobial agent.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.241-248
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• 2011

The use of synthetic additives for preservation and enhancement of the market quality of food products has been emerging as a societal issue in terms of safety as well as changes in consumption patterns. Various research related to natural additives is being conducted to address these issues. This study examined the antibacterial effects of 79 types of medicinal herbs used as oriental remedies on bacteria isolated from beverages of damaged marketable quality. The antibacterial effects of methanol extracts on 13 Bacillus sp. and three Paenibacillus sp. were evaluated. We found that 43 of the herbal medicines analyzed had antibacterial effects on the isolated bacteria. Of those, eight were selected, and their antibacterial effects were further examined using water, ethanol, methanol, and ethyl acetate as solvents. The results revealed that Prunus mume, Rhus javanica, and Coptis japonica had excellent antibacterial effects against the isolated bacteria. In particular, they exerted greater antibacterial effects when water and ethanol were used as solvents. This result indicates the possibility of developing natural additives using these substances. Since P. mume in particular, has not been sufficiently studied compared to other herbal medicines, it presents an opportunity for additional investigation and the possibility for development as a new product in the future.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2018

We analyzed the antioxidant and anti-wrinkle activities of berberine, isolated from dried rhizome of Coptis japonica Makino, to determine its cosmetic potential. We performed the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol]-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay to evaluate the toxicity of the berberine. We also measured the ROS and hyaluronic acid production, and expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-wrinkle activities of berberine, respectively. The cytotoxicity of ultraviolet light, in presence of berberine, was measured by the MTT assay using CCD-986sk fibroblasts, and no cytotoxicity was observed at concentrations less than $25{\mu}g/mL$. We also found that berberine decreased ROS production in a concentration-dependent manner and promoted the synthesis of hyaluronic acid. Further, berberine reduced the protein levels and mRNA expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are associated with wrinkle formation, and increased the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2. In addition, the inhibitory effect of berberine on $TNF-{\alpha}$, known as pro-inflammatory cytokine, was inhibited by $TNF-{\alpha}$ gene in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that berberine holds cosmetic value owing to its antioxidant activity, by inhibiting ROS production and anti-wrinkle activity by reducing MMP-2 and MMP-9 and increasing TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.145-153
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of HWANGRYUNHAEDOKTANG Pharmacopuncture and Essential Bee Venom pharmacopuncture on cervical pain caused by traffic accident. Methods The clincal study was conducted to traffic accident patients who had admitted to Dae-Jeon University Cheonan Oriental Hospital from May 17, 2014 to September 2, 2014. The patients were simple randomization and divided into two groups. In one group, patients were treated with the oriental medicine and HWANGRYUNHAEDOKTANG Pharmacopuncture, While in the other group, patients were treated with the oriental medicine therapy and Essential Bee Venom pharmacopuncture therapy. visual analogue scale (VAS), pain threshold and neck disablity index (NDI) were used To estimate the efficacy of Pharmacopuncture treatment. Results 1) HWANGRYUNHAEDOKTANG Pharmacopuncture Group showed significant decrease of VAS and NDI after 3rd times treatment than before treatment (p<0.001). Essential Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture showed significant decrease of VAS, NDI and improve ment of pain threshold after 3rd times treatment than before treatment (p<0.01, p<0.001). 2) There was no significant difference between HWANGRYUNHAEDOKTANG Pharmacopuncture group and Essential Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture group in VAS, pain threshold and NDI. Conclusions We found out that HWANGRYUNHAEDOKTANG Pharmacopuncture and Essential Bee Venom Pharmacopuncture treatment are considered to be effective and useful in cervical pain caused by traffic accident.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.9
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• pp.1131-1138
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• 2009

In this study, the breads with medicinal herbs (MH) composites showing cognitive function were prepared and their characteristics were examined. Fifteen kinds of medicinal herbs were extracted with hot water and divided into 3 groups (MH-1, MH-2, MH-3) based on their contents. All groups showed cognitive function in terms of promoting muscarinic receptor, NMDA receptor and acetylcholinesterase inhibition. In the preparation of breads containing MH extracts of various contents (0, 10, 20, 30, and 50%), there were no significant difference among loaf weight of all groups, but loaf volume of all groups were significantly (p<0.05) decreased with increasing content of MH extracts compared to the control group. The "a" and "b" values of bread crumb increased with the content of MH extracts while "L" value decreased, but these values of bread crust were similar to the control group. The most improvements in hardness, fracturability, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness of bread were noticed by the addition of 10$\sim$20% MH extracts, while adhesiveness and springiness of bread were the most by the 30% addition ones. Through the sensory evaluation, it was revealed that appearance, mouth feeling, taste, overall preference and crumb texture of bread were not significantly different (p<0.05) between control and those with the 10% addition ones. Therefore the 10% addition ones, which got similar scores to control, will make the most desirable product.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Three dietary herbs, Coptis japonica Makino (48.5%), Lonicera japonica Thunb (48.5%), and Morus alba L. (3%) were mixed and used as additives in hen's feed. One hundred-eight, 28-wk-old Lohmann Brown hens were assigned randomly with three diet treatments (0, 0.3, and 1% of herb mix). Hens were fed for 6 wks to investigate the effect of herb mix on the physicochemical quality of eggs during storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for 0, 3, 7, and 14 days. Proximate composition including the content of water, protein, fat, and ash had no difference among 3 diet treatments. Objective color of cooked whole egg from hens fed herb mix did not show any effect compared with control except for the color $a^*$- and $b^*$-values at day 3. However, color $a^*$- and $b^*$-values increased during storage regardless of treatment. From the texture analysis, eggs from hens fed with the herb mix were not different compared with control remove for springness at day 14. However, it was observed that springness and gumminess were decreased as storage period increased. Therefore, a dietary supplementation of herb mix to hen may not affect on proximate composition, color and texture of eggs.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.199-207
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture therapy with Hominis Placenta pharmacopncture therapy in hospitalized patients with peripheral facial paralysis. Methods : We investigated 34 cases of patients with peripheral facial paralysis who were admitted into the Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion of Dongshin University Suncheon Oriental Hospital from February 1, 2014 to June 31, 2015. Subjects were divided into two groups, Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture group(HR group), and Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture group(JH group). HR group was treated by Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture five times a week and JH group was treated by Hominis Placenta Pharmacopuncture five times a week. And both groups were treated by acupuncture, electroacupuncture, herbal medicine therapy, western drug therapy equally. To investigate the effectiveness of treatment, we used House-Brackmann Grading System, Yanagihara's unweighted grading system and Sunnybrook facial grading scale at before admission and after admission. Results : Each scores by 3 evaluation methods improved both in two groups. However, there were no significant differences in improvement between two groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that the Hwangryunhaedok-tang pharmacopuncture therapy is as effective as Hominis Placenta pharmacopuncture therapy to improve symptoms of peripheral facial paralysis.