• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.91-100
• /
• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Lycii Fructus water extracts (LFE) against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of LFE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation, In addition, the pretreatment of LFE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The LFE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of LFE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the LFE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.182-195
• /
• 2003

This study investigated the effects of triamcinolone acetonide by iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery on anti-inflammatory action into the rats and which had carrageenan-induced hyperalgesia and edema in the feet, trauma-induced tissue damage in the thigh. Each group was treated under the fellowing conditions. 1. Group I : Control group 2. Group II : Application of direct current 3. Group III : Application of 0.1$\%$ triamcinolone acetonide solution 4. Group IV : Iontophoresis of 0.1$\%$ triamcinolone acetonide solution The degree of anti-inflammation was evaluated by the paw withdrawal latency, the change in volume of foot the change of paw edema, histological change in rats. 1. In paw withdrawal latency, group IV showed the most significant therapeutic effect than the other groups at 0, 3, 6 and 9 hours(p < 0.001). 2. In paw edema experiment in the foot, group IV showed the most significant effect than group I at 0, 3, 6 and 9 hours. It meant that there was effective anti-inflammatory reaction in group I (p < 0.001). 3. In the light microscopic observation, group IV showed the most significant reduction of haemorrhage, hyperemia and infiltrative inflammation. From the results, the iontophoresis with triamcinolone acetonide is more effective than using each groups. It is one of the effective physical agent which delivered large molecular weight drug into the body. The continuous study is needed for many interesting issues of iontophoretic transdermal drug delivery in new future.

• Journal of the Korean earth science society
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.584-596
• /
• 2005

Morphology, surface sediments, sedimentation rates and sea-cliff erosion have been monitored, for one year to investigate the shoreline changes and tidal beach characteristics in Cheonsu Bay along the west coast of Korea. The seacliff of the bay consists of intensively weathered sedimentary rocks and soft soil, showing an erosion range of $-58.9\~73.3cm/yr$ by a weak wave forcing. Active sea-cliff erosions are recognized by peculiar geomorphic features, including saw teeth-shaped coastline, gravels, relict weathered basement-rock and 'Island Stack' exposed on the high-tide beach surface. The beach sediments show low compositional maturity at the south and north headlands and gradually high towards the central part. This observation seems to be caused by the fact that beach sediments are to originate from the both headlands in the study area and then transported by long-shore current associated with a wave action.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.297-307
• /
• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Puerarie Radix water extract (PRE) against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of PRE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation. In addition, the pretreatment of PRE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The PRE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of PRE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the PRE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• Journal of Photoscience
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.147-160
• /
• 1997

INTRODUCTION : Various types of organic reactions in the crystalline state, so-called "topochemical reaction", have been reported in this century." Among the reactions, [2+2] photocycloaddition of diolefin crystals are one of the most intensively investigated examples. In the topochemical reaction in a pure sense, the space group symmetry is perfectly preserved throughout the reaction as were demonstrated by the crystalline-state photopolymerization of 2,5-distyrylpyrazine (2,5-DSP) and photodimerization of propyl $\alpha$-cyano-4-[2-(4-pyridyl) ethenyl]cinnamate. 2,5-DSP was initially prepared by Franke and in 1958 Koelsch and Gumprecht described briefly in their article of diazine-derivatives that it was found that the compound (2,5-DsP) was converted into a colorless insoluble polymer (\ulcorner) dec. 331~331$\circ$ when the solid was exposed for a few hours to ultraviolet light. Wright described in his book as if Koelsch and Gumprecht had investigated both the structure of the photoproduct and the crystal structure 2,5-DSP in detail. However, in the paper, they have not described any study on chemically correct analysis and crystallography of the resulting photoproduct at all. In 1967, one of present authors (M. H.) independently made the same observation as Franke that brilliant yellow crystal of 2,5-DSP was converted into powdery white substance under the sunlight in the course of a preparative study of pyrazine-2,5-dicarboxylic acid from 2,5-DSP. He investigated this phenomenon and concluded for the first time that a linear highmolecular-weight polymer crystal ([$\eta$] > 3.0 in $CF_3COOH$ solution) with recurring cyclobutane units in the main chain, had been produced from 2,5-DSP crystal by the action of sunlight.on of sunlight.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.636-642
• /
• 2014

In the theory of Korean medicine, Angelicae Dahuricae Radix (ADR) can expel wind and relieve exterior syndrome, and eliminate dampness. Recently, ADR has been reported to have possibilities as anti-inflammatory agent and cosmetics. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ADR on contact dermatitis (CD). In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ADR on CD, we investigated the effects of ADR on ear thickness, ear weight, skin lesion and histopathological changes in mice with CD induced by 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). In addition, the effect on spleen weight was also measured. In our results, topical application of ADR lowered ear thickness and weight respectively. ADR treatment also improved skin lesions such as erythema and scale. In the histopathological observation, ADR-treated group showed diminished epidermal hyperplasia and immune cell infiltration in inflammed tissues compared to those of non-treated control group. In conclusion, These data suggest that ADR has anti-inflammatory action in inflammed skin tissue, resulting in improving skin lesion and histopathological abnormalities of CD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.334-343
• /
• 2016

Background: Progressed tissue culture techniques have allowed us to easily obtain mass products of tissue-cultured mountain ginseng over 100 yr old (TCMG-100). We investigated the effects of TCMG-100 extract on erectile function using in vitro and in vivo studies. Methods: To examine the relaxation effects and mechanisms of action of TCMG-100 on rabbit cavernosal strips evaluated in an organ bath. To investigate the long-term treatment effect of TCMG-100, 8-wk administration was performed. After administration of TCMG-100, intracavernosal pressure, cyclic guanosine monophosphate and nitric oxide (NO) levels of cavernosal tissue, serum testosterone level, histological observation of collagen fiber, endothelium, smooth muscle cell, and transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ were investigated. Results: TCMG-100 extract displayed dose-dependent relaxation effects on precontracted rabbit corporal smooth muscle. The TCMG-100-induced relaxation was significantly reduced by removing the endothelium, and treatment with an NO synthase inhibitor or NO scavenger. Eight weeks of TCMG-100 administration increased intracavernosal pressure in a rat model. The levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and NO in the corpus callosum and serum testosterone level were also increased by TCMG-100 treatment. Furthermore, histological evaluation of collagen, smooth muscle, and endothelium showed increases in endothelium and smooth muscle, and a decrease in transforming growth factor-${\beta}1$ expression. Conclusion: These relaxation effects on corporal smooth muscle and increased erectile function suggest that TCMG-100 might be used as an alternative herbal medicine to improve erectile function.

• Animal cells and systems
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.273-278
• /
• 2000

Transforming growth factor-$\beta$ (IGF-$\beta$)s are multifunctional small polypeptides synthesized in most cell types. TGF-$\beta$ exerts pivotal effects on both bone formation and resorption. In addition, increasing lines of evidence implicate TGF-$\beta$ as a potential coupling factor between these two processes during bone remodeling. In the present study, the expression form and the activation mechanism of latent-TGF-$\beta$ were investigated using specific antibodies for each isoform. TGF-$\beta$s were observed to be synthesized and accumulated in a large amount in cultured osteoblastic cells. The estimated molecular weights of intracellular TGF-$\beta$2 and -$\beta$3 were 49 and 55 kDa, respectively. Based on proteolytic digestion study and immunofluorescence observation, these precursor forms seemed to be accumulated in distinct intracellular compartments. To examine whether the internal pool of TGF-$\beta$ was possiblely regulated by external signals, their biological activites were examined in a conditioned media of this cell. Although the intact conditioned media did not contain detectable TGF-$\beta$ activity, heat-treatment or acid-activation of the conditioned media revealed significant TGF-$\beta$ activity. Furthermore, in the presence of estrogen, this activity was dramatically diminished. It is known that activation of latent TGF-$\beta$ can be achieved by different chemical and enzymatic treatments, or by incubation with certain cell types. This extracellular activation was suggested as a key step in the regulation of TGF-$\beta$ activity. In addition to these extracellular activation, this study suggests that the synthesis and intracellular processing are important regulation steps for TGF-$\beta$ action. In addition, this regulation Is specific for TGF-$\beta$ type 2, because the change was not observed in TGF-$\beta$3 in osteoblastic cell line.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.44 no.3
• /
• pp.339-347
• /
• 2017

Sclerotium rolfsii causing southern blight on numerous vegetable and fruit crops was isolated from stems of chili peppers showing wilting symptoms. The pathogen was identified by morphological observation and DNA sequencing analysis of ITS region. To select an effective fungicide for control of southern blight, we investigated the inhibition efficacy of thirty fungicides included in nine groups of fungicides with different mechanisms of action. A fungal growth inhibition assay was conducted through an agar dilution method by using mycelial discs and sclerotia of the pathogen as inoculum, respectively. When mycelial discs were used as an inoculum, several fungicides showed good inhibitory activity against the mycelial growth of S. rolfsii 12-6. All DMI fungicides tested had a good inhibition except for prochloraz which had low inhibitory effect. All strobilurin fungicides tested except for kresoxim-methyl and all SDHI fungicides tested except for boscalid and fluopyram, had a good inhibition. Also, fludioxonil, a protective fungicide and fluazinam had a good inhibitory effect. Interestingly, when sclerotia were used as an inoculum, inhibition efficacy was increased for fluopyram, a SDHI fungicide, and for some protective fungicides such as propineb, chlorothalonil, dithianon, and folpet. All the fungicides selected in this study should be tested in the field for their control activities against stem rot for practical use in chili pepper cultivation.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.422-428
• /
• 2004

Raw-starch-digesting $\alpha$-amylase (Amyl III) was purified to an electrophoretically pure state from the extract of a koji culture of Aspergillus awamori KT-11 using wheat bran in the medium. The purified Amyl III digested not only soluble starch but also raw corn starch. The major products from the raw starch using Amyl III were maltotriose and maltose, although a small amount of glucose was produced. Amyl III acted on all raw starch granules that it has been tested on. However, it was considered that the action mode of the Amyl III on starch granules was different from that of glucoamylase judging from the observation of granules under a scanning electron microscope before and after enzyme reaction, and also from the reaction products. Glucoamylase (GA I) was also isolated and it was purified to an electrophoretically pure state from the extract. It was found that the electron micrographic features of the granules after treatment with the enzymes were quite different. A synergistic effect of Amyl III and GA I was observed for the digestion of raw starch granules.