• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.12 no.3 s.18
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• pp.59-67
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• 2006

Aims: Acupuncture has been used for the treatment of essential hypertension, but the efficacy and the mechanism of acupuncture in prevention of hypertension are still unclear. We tested the hypothesis that electroacupuncture (EA) applied to Baekhoe (GV20) changes NO/NOS system during development of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and thereby causes the delay of development of hypertension in SHR. Methods: The male SHR rats in the developmental stages of hypertension (7-8 weeks) were randomly divided into three groups (control group, GV20 acupuncture group, and tail acupuncture group). And the age matched Wistar Koyto Rats (WKY) were randomly divided into two groups (nagative control, GV20 acupuncture group). EA treatments (10Hz, 1mA, 0.1ms) were carried out for 25 min/day for five consecutive days. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined in conscious rats by the tail-cuff method using automatic BP mornitoring system. We investigated the activations of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in nuclei of solitary tract (NTS) and rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) of SHR by the western blotting method. Results: The SBP after the termination of EA stimulation applied to the GV20 was stabilized at $169.14{\pm}3.67$ mmHg which is lower value than that of the control group. The SBP of control group was elevated to $178.14{\pm}3.49$ mmHg. In addition, we evaluated NOS activity as well as iNOS protein expression of NTS and RVLM in both of SHR and WKY. The iNOS activity in NTS was significantly higher in SHR than in WKY. Furthermore, the iNOS activity of NTS showed significant decreases in EA groups compare to that of non treated SHR group. Although iNOS expression of RVLM showed non significant changes between SHR and WKY, EA significantly enhanced the iNOS expression in SHR. Our data support the hypothesis that delayed development of hypertension and altered iNOS expression of NTS and RVLM by EA stimulations in SHR rats. Conclusions: The findings demonstrate that acupuncture can change NO/NOS system in NTS and RVLM, and exert beneficial role on development of hypertension.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2016

Objectives : The objective of this study is to evaluate the analgesic effects of Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture on formalin-induced pain in Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats. Methods : In this experiment there were four groups, each with six SD rats. In the normal group (NOR), normal saline $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right KI3, and normal saline $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right hindpaw 35 minutes later. In the control group (CON), normal saline $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right KI3, and formalin 5 % $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right hindpaw 35 minutes later. In the Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture 3 % group (DP3), Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture 3 % $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right KI3, and formalin 5 % $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right hindpaw 35 minutes later. In the Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture 5 % group (DP5), Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture 5 % $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right KI3, and formalin 5 % $40{\mu}L$ was injected at right hindpaw 35 minutes later. We analyzed ultrasonic vocalization (USV), Substance P, aspartate aminotransferase(AST), and alanine aminotransferase(ALT). Results : In the early phase of USV, both DP3 and DP5 had an analgesic effect. In the late phase, DP5 had an analgesic effect compared to CON. Substance P in DP5 was significantly decreased compared to CON. In regards to blood AST and ALT, there was no significant difference among NOR, CON, DP3 or DP5. Conclusion : These results suggest that Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture helps to reduce formalin-induced pain. It's mechanism is related to substance P, and Drosera rotundifolia L. pharmacopuncture has no influence on liver toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 2004

Objectives : The usage of acupuncture has gained popularity as an alternative method of treatment for certain chronic pain conditions. However, the efficacy of acupuncture in various diseases has not been fully established and the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. In the present study, the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) applied to foot samli$(ST_{36})$ on the carrageenan-induced knee arthritic pain was examined. Methods : A common source of persistent pain in humans is the knee arthritis. Knee arthritis was induced by injection of 2 % carrageenan $50\;{\mu}l$ into the knee joint cavity. When rats developed pain behaviors, EA was applied for 30 min. under enflurane anesthesia with repeated train stimuli at the intensity of 10X of muscle twitch threshold. The weight bearing force of the hind limb was measured for an indicator of pain level after each manipulation. Results : The average weight borne by the hind limb during normal gait was 55% of total body weight, which was reduced to less than 10% after knee arthritis. EA improved the weight bearing of the arthritic hind limb significantly for the duration of 4 hr. EA applied to $ST_{36}$ point produced a significant improvement of stepping force of the arthritic foot lasting for at least 4 h. However, $GB_{31}$ point did not produce any significant increase of weight bearing force. The analgesic effect was specific to the acupuncture point since the analgesic effect on the knee arthritis model could not be mimicked by EA applied to a nearby point, $GB_{31}$. The relations between EA-induced analgesia and endogenous nitric oxide(NO) and inducible NO synthase(iNOS)/neuronal NOS was also examined. Results were turned out that both NO production and nNOS/iNOS protein expression which is increased by arthritis were suppressed by EA stimulation applied to $ST_{36}$ point. Conclusions : The data suggest 1) that EA produces a potent analgesic effect on the rat model of chronic knee arthritis pain in a point specific manner and 2) that EA-induced analgesia modulate endogenous NO through the suppression of nNOS/iNOS protein expression.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.57-65
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• 2005

Objectives : Circium japonicum is a pharmacologically active used in traditional Korean medicine. An aqua-acupuncture solution of the Circium japonicum was assessed to determine the mechanism of its antioxidant activity. Materials : Circium japonicum was obtained from a Dongguk Korean Medicine Hospital (Kyung-ju, Kyungbuk). The freeze-dry powder was collected (yield 5.1%) for the aqua-acupuncture solution. Scavenging activity on DPPH free radicals by the Circium japonicum aqua-acupuncture solution (CJAS) was assessed according to the method followed by Gyamfi et al.. and then scavenging activity orl superoxide radicals $(O_2^-{\cdot})$ was assessed by the method described by Gotoh et al. with slight modification. Deoxyribose assay to determine the rate constant for the reactions between either antioxidants and hydroxyl radicals or antioxidants and iron ions. We tested by; (1) Non-site-specific scavenging assay (hydroxyl radicals, OH), (2) Site-specific scavenging assay (chelate iron ions), and (3) Pro-oxidant effect of the CJAS on iron dependent hydroxyl radical generation. Finally, we determined hydroxyl radical-mediated DNA nicking formation. Conclusion : Our study demonstrated that CJAS has antioxidant activities and we investigated the potential effectiveness of CJAS in preventing oxidative stress-mediated disease further.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was aimed to find out the physiological mechanism of craniosacral therapy, especially in CV4 technique and cranial rhythmic impulses. Methods : Recent studies were reviewed for cranial rhythmic impulses, and the ancient and present text were reviewed for the therapy of sub-occiput and cranial-suture part. Results and Conclusions : 1. Suboccipital muscles releasing may have made CV4 technique to effect. 2. The mechanism of the meridians of acupuncture and craniosacral system can be cooperative together in many parts of the clinical treatments. 3. Arterial vasomotor waves have a frequency similar to reports of cranial rhythmic impulses. The methods which have relation to heart rate variability, will be useful for the study of craniosacral therapy.

• BMB Reports
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.420-427
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• 2002

Partial nerve injury is the main cause of neuropathic pain disorders in humans. Acupuncture has long been used to relieve pain. It is known to relieve pain by controlling the activities of the autonomic nervous system. Although the mechanism of neuropathic pain and analgesic effects of electroacupuncture (EA) have been studied in a rat model system, its detailed mechanism at the molecular level remains unclear. To identify genes that might serve as either markers or explain these distinct biological functions, a cDNA microarray analysis was used to compare the expression of 8,400 genes among three sample groups. Messenger RNAs that were pooled from the spinal nerves of 7 normal. 7 neuropathic pain, and 7 EA treatment rat models were compared. Sixty-eight genes were differentially expressed more than 2-fold in the neuropathic rat model when compared to the normal, and restored to the normal expression level after the EA treatment. These genes are involved in a number of biological processes, including the signal transduction, gene expression, and nociceptive pathways. Confirmation of the differential gene expression was performed by a dot-blot analysis. Dot-blotting results showed that the opioid receptor sigma was among those genes. This indicates that opioid-signaling events are involved in neuropathic pain and the analgesic effects of EA. The potential application of these data include the identification and characterization of signaling pathways that are involved in the EA treatment, studies on the role of the opioid receptor in neuropathic pain, and further exploration on the role of selected identified genes in animal models.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.175-186
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• 2009

The vasorelaxant effect of an extract of Lophatherum gracile Brongn (ELB) and its possible action mechanism were ascertained in aortic tissues isolated from rats. ELB relaxed endothelium-intact thoracic aorta in a dose-dependent manner. However, the induced vascular relaxation was abolished by removal in endothelium of the thoracic aorta. Pretreatment of endothelium-intact vascular tissues with $N^G$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3-$\alpha$]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) significantly inhibited vascular relaxation induced by ELB. Moreover, ELB significantly increased cGMP production in aortic tissues, which was blocked by pretreatment with L-NAME or ODQ. The vasorelaxant effect of ELB was attenuated by tetraethylammonium (TEA), and glibenclamide. ELB-induced vasorelaxation was not blocked by atropine, propranolol, indomethacin, verapamil, and diltiazem. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that ELB dilates vascular smooth muscle via an endothelium-dependent NO-cGMP signaling pathway, which may be at least in part related with the function of $K^+$ channels.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.9 no.3 s.21
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• pp.117-129
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• 2006

Objectives : The aim of this study was to find optimal conditions for producing red ginseng from cultivated wild ginseng using the Turbo Mill. Methods : Characteristics of powdered cultivated wild ginseng based on various temperature settings of the Turbo Mill were observed, and changes in the content was measured by HPLC for various ginsenosides. Results : 1. The diameter of cultivated wild ginseng powder ground by the Turbo Mill was around 10${\mu}m$. 2. As the temperature rose, pressure, Specific Mechanical Energy(SME), and density decreased, whileas Water Solubility Index(WSI) increased. 3. As the temperature rose, super fine powder showed tendency to turn into dark brown. 4. Measuring content changes by HPLC, there was no detection of ginsenoside Rg3 and ginsenosideRg1, Rb1, and Rh2 concentrations decreased with increase in temperature. Conclusions : Super fine powder of cultivated wild ginseng produced by the Turbo Mill promotes easy absorption of effective ingredients by breaking the cell walls. Using this mechanism to produce red ginseng from cultivated wild ginseng, it yielded less than satisfactory results under the current experiment setup. Further researches are needed to verify more suitable condition for the production of red ginseng.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.331-340
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• 2007

The etiology of chronic headache is not yet fully explained, the treatment of this symptom is not simple. We show the effect of Qigong therapeutics applied on chronic headache patient, in order to establish a primary data for further studies of new treatments. We treated 2 times a weeks for 3 weeks. The acupoints, (太陽穴)(Ex-HN5), (老龍穴), (大趾甲下穴), and (百會穴)(GV20) were stimulated for 10 seconds by Qigong-Acupuncture, and after that Qigong therapy was performed for 30 minutes The effects were analyzed using VAS scores, PPI(Present Pain Intensity), HI(Headache Index) and HDI(The Henry Ford Headache Disability Inventory). We concluded that Qigong therapeutics applied on chronic headache patient showed effects of relieving pain, improving general activities and changing the mood. Further researches are needed to evaluate the distinct functional mechanism of Qigong therapeutics, hut this study is meaningful in the sense that it will act as a fundamental study to build on.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.51-56
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• 2002

Induction of phase II enzymes such as quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) is considered a major mechanism of protection against initiation of carcinogenesis. The present study was performed to evaluate the chemopreventive activity of Acori Graminei Rhizoma aqua-acupuncture solution (AGRAS) and Acori Graminei Rhizoma water-extracted solution (AGRWS) by measuring the induction of phase II enzymes. AGRAS and AGRWS are potent inducers of quinone reductase activity in murine hepatoma Hepa1c1c7 cells. The levels of GSH and GST was increased sightly with AGRAS and AGRWS. These results suggest that AGRAS and AGRWS may act as blocking agents against carcinogenesis by induction of phase II enzymes.