• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2024

Objectives : This study aimed to predict the effectiveness and potential of Schizonepeta tenuifolia as an anticancer treatment for non-small cell lung cancer through network-based pharmacology and cellular experiment. Methods : To identify the major bioactive compounds in Schizonepeta tenuifolia, we used the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems. The target genes for the cancer treatment were selected using the UniProt database and the networked using Cytoscape. We performed functional enrichment analysis based on the Gene Ontology Biological Process and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes Pathways to predict the mechanisms. To investigate the effect of Schizonepeta tenuifolia on lung cancer cell growth, we treated A549 cells, a lung cancer cell line, with different concentrations of the drug and used the MTT assay for cell viability. Results : Research has shown that the most effective mechanism of active compounds from Schizonepeta tenuifolia is through the pathway of cancer. The results of the network pharmacology analysis indicate that Schizonepeta tenuifolia has potential medicinal value as an adjuvant in anticancer treatment. The concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability was observed on A549 cells. Furthermore, synergistic anticancer activity with Doxorubicin was also observed. Conclusions : Through a network pharmacological approach, Schizonepeta tenuifolia was predicted to have potential as an anticancer agent, and its efficacy was experimentally demonstrated using A549 cells. These findings suggest that Schizonepeta tenuifolia is a promising candidate for future research.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1041-1054
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• 2004

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been reported to increase pain threshold, and to enhance the NK cell activity by up-regulation of IFN-γ and endogenous β-endolphin. For the purpose of understanding the molecular mechanism of EA stimulation, we analyzed the gene expression profile of rat hypothalamus, treated on Zusanli (ST36) with EA, in comparison with control group by oligonucleotide chip microarray (Affymetrix GeneChip Rat Neurobiology U34 Array) and real-time RT-PCR. Sprague-Dawley (S-D) male rats were stimulated at the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint in restriction holder. Simultaneously the control group was given only holder stress without EA stimulation. In order to prove the appropriateness of EA treatment, we measured spleen NK cell activity with standard 51Cr release assay. NK cell activity of EA group was significantly increased comparing to control group. The microarray and PCR results show that EA treatment up-regulates expression of genes associated with 1) nerve growth such as NGF induced factor A and VGF, 2) signal transduction such as 5HT3 receptor subunit, AMPA receptor binding protein and Na-dependent neurotransmitter transporter, and 3) anti-oxidation such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase. In addition, the activity of the anti-oxidative enzyme, SOD of hypothalamus, liver and RBC was enhanced compared to that of control. The list of differentially expressed genes may implicate further insight on the mechanism of acupuncture effects.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.220-229
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• 2013

Objectives : Electroacupuncture(EA) has been used effectively in producing analgesia on ankle sprain pain of humans and animals. Currently to examine the underlying mechanisms of the EA-induced analgesia, the effects of EA on weight-bearing forces(WBR) were examined at ankle sprain classified as grade 3 in rats. Methods : The severe ankle sprain classified as grade 3 was induced surgically by ankle ligament injury in the Sprague-Dawley rats. WBR of the affected foot were examined to evaluate effects and mechanism of EA(2 Hz, 1 ms pulse width, 2 mA intensity, for 15 min) which was applied to either SI6, GB34, or GB39 acupoints. The rats were pretreated with naltrexone(10 mg/kg, i.p.) as an opioid receptor antagonist or phentolamine(5 mg/kg, i.p) as an ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptor antagonist at 30 min before EA. Results : The daily repeat EA at either SI6, GB34, or GB39 showed significant analgesic effects on the severe ankle sprain. Particularly, daily EA at GB34 showed more potent analgesic effect than the others. In addition, the naltrexone pretreatment completely blocked the analgesic effect of EA at GB34, indicating the involvement of the endogenous opioid system in mediating the effect of EA at GB34. However, the phentolamine pretreament blocked analgesic effects of EA at either SI6 or GB39, indicating the involvement of ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors in mediating the effect of EA at either SI6 or GB39. Conclusions : These data suggest that EA-induced analgesia on ankle sprain pain is mediated through either endogenous opioids or ${\alpha}$-adrenoceptors dependant on acupoint specific pattern.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2010

Objective : The water extract of Chungsimyeonja-eum (CSYJE) has traditionally been used in treatments of heart diseases and brain diseases in Oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which CSYJE protects neuronal cells from injury damages. Therefore, in this study we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of the cytoprotective effect of the CSYJE extract on glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death. Methods : Cultured cells were pretreated with CSYJE and exposed to glutamate, cell damage was assessed by using MTT assay and propidium iodide (PI), probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining. Western blotting was performed using anti-procaspase-3 and anti-PARP, respectively. Result : We determined the elevated cell viability by CSYJE extract on glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death. Glutamate induced DNA fragmentation on C6 glial cells but pre-treatment with CSYJE inhibited DNA fragmentation. One of the main mediators of glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was known to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pre-treatment with CSYJE inhibited this ROS generation from glutamate-stimulated C6 glial cells. Also, we identified that the ROS-induced DCF-DA green fluorescence was reduced by CSYJE pre-treatment. The critical markers of apoptotic cell death are the cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins, so we checked the expression level and cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins. Glutamate-treated C6 glial cells showed the cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins and followed the reduction of expression of these proteins. Conclusion : These findings indicate that CSYJE may prevent cell death from glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death by inhibiting the ROS generation and procaspase-3 and PARP expression.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.343-347
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• 2005

Bambusae caulis in Liquamen is one of the important herbal medicine produced by heating bamboo indirectly and is used for treatment of stroke, hypertension, and diabetes etc. Recently the mechanism of clinical effects on Bambusae caulis in Liquamen has been studied. This experiment was conducted to confirm the clinical effects of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on type 1 diabetes and its related mechanism. We divided C57BL/6 mice into 3 groups and induced them to be type 1 diabetes by injection of streptozocin into peritoneum. The dosage of each group was 150 mg/kg once only, 140 mg/kg once only and 40 mg/kg for 5 days respectively. The two groups injected streptozocin for once took orally Bambusae caulis in Liquamen after the induction of diabetes, and the other one group was given Bambusae caulis in Liquamen during the diabetes inducing period. As the result, the two diabetes-induced groups showed blood glucose decreasing effect by Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on an average, but they didn't show the signiftcant differences statistically. But Bambusae caulis in Liquamen showed the anti-diabetic effect suppressing blood sugar rising trend during the diabetes inducing peried (P<0.05). The anti-oxidative effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen was measured with the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase (HX/XOD) system. The quantity of ROS was measured using DCFDA reagent indirectly. As the result, $10\%$ solution of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen showed anti-oxidative effect by scavenging $93.4\%$ superoxide as compared with control group. It is suspected that the anti-oxidative effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen suppressed the increase of blood glucose in the diabetes-inducing group. These results could be useful data to understand the effect of Bambusae caulis in Liquamen on type 1 diabetes and type 1 diabetes developing because ROS were closely connected with the induction and complications of diabetes.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.169-183
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• 2005

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-caner effect of cobrotoxin on the prostatic cancer cell line (PC-3).The goal of study is to ascertain whether cobrotoxin inhibits tile cell growth and cell cycle of PC-3, or the expression of relative genes and whether the regression of PC-3 cell growth is due to cell death or the expression of gene related to apoptosis. Methods : After the treatment of Pc-3 cells with cobrotoxin, we performed 형광현미경, MTT assay, Western blotting, Flow cytometry, PAGE electrophoresis and Surface plasmon resonance analysis to identify the cell viability, cell death, apoptosis, the changes of cell cycle and the related protein, Adk, MAP kinase. Results : 1. Compared with normal cell, the inhibition of cell growth reduced in proportion with the dose of cobrotoxin(0-16nM) in PC-3. 2. Cell viabilities of 0.1, 1, 4nM cobrotoxin treatment were decreased and those of 8, 16nM were decreased significantly. 3. S phase of cell cycle was decreased at the group of 1, 2, 4, 8, 16nM cobrotoxin, but M phase was increased at 0.1, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16nM cobrotoxin. 4. Cox-2 expression after cobrotoxin was peaked at 12hours and was decreased significantly after 6, 12, 24 hours. 5. The expression of Cdk4 was decreased dose-dependently at 1, 2, 4, 8nM cobrotoxin and was decreased siginificantly at 4, 8nM Cyclin D1 was decreased at 1, 2, 4, 8nM and Cycline E was not changed. Cycline B was decreased at 1, 2, 4, 8nM dose-dependently and was decreased siginificanlty at 2, 4, 8nM. 6. The expression of Akt was decreased at 1, 2, 4, 8nM dose-dependently and was decreased significantly at 2, 4, 8nM. 7. ERK was increased at 1, 2nM and decreased at 4, 8nM, p-ERK was increased at 1, 2, 4 nM, but decreased at 8nM. JNK and p-JNK were increased at 1, 4, 8 nM. p38 was increased at 2nM p-p38 was increased at lnM but decreased significantly at 2, 4, 8nM. 8. The nucli of normal cells were stained round and homogenous in DAPI staining, but those of PC-3 were stained condense and splitted. Apoptosis was increased dose-dependently at 2, 4, 8, 16nM and increased significantly at 2, 4, 8, 16nM. 9. Bax wasn`t changed at 1, 2, 4, 8nM and Bcl-2 was decreased significantly at 1, 2, 4, 8nM. Caspase 3 and 9 weren`t changed at 1, 2, 4nM but were decreased significantly at 8nM. Conclusions : These results indicate that cobrotoxin inhibits the growth of prostate Cancer cells, has anti-cancer effects by inducing apoptosis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.193-214
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• 2004

Objective : The purpose of this study is to investigate the mechanism and effect of moxibustion with ginger objectively, to be used as the quantitative data through the measurement of temperature, and to grasp the thermodynamic characteristics of moxibustion with ginger. Methods : We have selected the indirect moxibustion with ginger among many indirect moxibustions. We produced a slice of ginger to a thickness of 3, 4, 5mm and the moxa cone having a diameter of 8mm, a height of 10mm for making a comparative study of characteristics of moxa cone according to change the density. We have made a comparative study of the thermodynamic characteristics of moxibustion with ginger with or without holes. We measured combustion times and calculated temperatures, temperature gradients in each period during a combustion of moxa. Results : 1. We found out it was not significantly influenced by the existence of the punched holes in a slice of ginger because the punched holes grow smaller immediately. 2. The duration of the preheating period became longer according to thickness of a slice of ginger and was not directly proportional to the density of moxa cone. The duration of the preheating period was extremely short when it burned a 100mg moxa cone. That was influenced by the density of moxa cone. 3. The duration of the heating period became longer according to thickness of a slice of ginger likewise the preheating period bacause the density of moxa cone had effected on the combustion characteristics. The duration of the heating period was extremely long when it burned a 100mg moxa cone. On the other hand the maximum temperature in the heating period was appeared that the combustion with a thin slice of ginger was highest and measured that the large density of moxa cone was higher. But the maximum temperature in the heating period was about $37.8^{\circ}C{\sim}44.2^{\circ}C$respectively lower in others. 4. The duration of the retaining period was some doubling shorter than that of the heating period that is concerned the shape of moxa cone. The temperature measured the close of a retaining period was $36.6^{\circ}C{\sim}41.8^{\circ}C$, that was considerably lower temperature. 5. The mean ascending temperature velocity and the mean descending temperature velocity were $0.042{\sim}0.073^{\circ}C/sec$, $-0.027{\sim}-0.064^{\circ}C/sec$ respectively. Then, the ascending temperature velocity was some faster than the ascending temperature velocity. Conclusions : The quantitative standard for obtaining the effective heating stimulation is that if the slice of ginger made a hole in it, we had to use the needle above 1.5mm diameter. The recommended size of a slice ginger is the 14mm diameter and the 2~3mm thickness. The moxa cone is formed the conical shape that the base diameter was 8mm, the height was 10mm, the density was $600mg/cm^2$.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 2011

Everyone once in a life experience headaches as symptoms are very common. According to a study in a country of more than a week and as many as those who have experienced a headache amounts to 69.4%. In addition, the high reported prevalence of migraine in 30s for 80% of all migraine sufferers daily life interfere with work or was affected. In Western medicine, the cause of headaches is traction or deformation of pain induced tissue like scalp, subcutaneous tissue, muscle, fascia, extracranial arteriovenous, nerves, periosteum. But it turns out there are not cause why pain induced tissue is being tracted or deformated. Therefore, most of the western-therapy is mainly conducted with regimen for a temporary symptom reduction. Therefore, I examined how it has been developed in Chinese Ming Dynasty, the perception of headache, change in disease stage and an etiological cause. Oriental medicine in the treatment of headache is a more fundamental way to have an excellent treatment. The recognition of head in "素問($s{\grave{u}}$ $w{\grave{e}}n$)" and "靈樞($l{\acute{i}}ng$ $sh{\bar{u}}$)" began to appear in 'Soul-神($sh{\acute{e}}n$) dwelling place' and 'where to gather all the Yang-'諸陽之會($zh{\bar{u}}$ $y{\acute{a}}ng$ $zh{\bar{i}}$ $hu{\grave{i}}$)'. Also, head was recognized as '六腑($li{\grave{u}}f{\check{u}}$) 淸陽之氣($q{\bar{i}}ng$ $y{\acute{a}}ng$ $zh{\bar{i}}$ $q{\grave{i}}$) and 五臟($w{\check{u}}$ $z{\grave{a}}ng$) 精血($j{\bar{i}}ng$ $xu{\grave{e}}$) gathering place'. More specific structures such as the brain is considered a sea of marrow(髓海-$su{\check{i}}$ $h{\check{a}}i$) in "內經($n{\grave{e}}i$ $j{\bar{i}}ng$)" and came to recognized place where a stroke occurs. Accompanying development of the recognition about head, there had been changed about the perception of headache and the recognition of the cause and mechanism of headache. And the recognition of headache began to be completed in Ming Dynasty through Jin, Yuan Dynasty. Chinese Ming Dynasty, specially 樓英($l{\acute{o}}u$ $y{\bar{i}}ng$), in "醫學綱目($y{\bar{i}}xu{\acute{e}}$ $g{\bar{a}}ngm{\grave{u}}$)", first enumerated prescription in detail by separating postpartum headache. and proposed treatment of headache especially due to postpartum sepsis(敗血-$b{\grave{a}}i$ $xu{\grave{e}}$). 許浚($x{\check{u}}$ $j{\grave{u}}n$) accepted a variety of views without impartial opinion in explaining one kind of headache in "東醫寶鑑($d{\bar{o}}ng-y{\bar{i}}$ $b{\check{a}}oji{\grave{a}}n)$" 張景岳($zh{\bar{a}}ng$ $j{\check{i}}ng$ $yu{\grave{e}}$), in "景岳全書($j{\check{i}}ng$ $yu{\grave{e}}$ $qu{\acute{a}}nsh{\bar{u}}$)", established his own unique classification system-新舊表裏($x{\bar{i}}nji{\grave{u}}$ $bi{\check{a}}ol{\check{i}}$)-, and offered a clear way even in treatment. Acupuncture treatment of headache in the choice of meridian has been developed as a single acupuncture point. Using the classification of headache to come for future generation as a way of locating acupoints were developed. Chinese Ming Dynasty, there are special treatments like 導引按蹻法($d{\check{a}}o$ y ${\check{i}}n$ ${\grave{a}}n$ $ji{\check{a}}o$ $f{\check{a}}$), 搐鼻法($ch{\grave{u}}$ $b{\acute{i}}$ $f{\check{a}})$, 吐法($t{\check{u}}$ $f{\check{a}}$), 外貼法($w{\grave{a}}i$ $ti{\bar{e}}$ $f{\check{a}}$), 熨法($y{\grave{u}}n$ $f{\check{a}}$), 點眼法($di{\check{a}}n$ $y{\check{a}}n$ $f{\check{a}}$), 熏蒸法($x{\bar{u}}nzh{\bar{e}}ng$ $f{\check{a}}$), 香氣療法($xi{\bar{a}}ngq{\grave{i}}$ $li{\acute{a}}of{\check{a}}$). Most of this therapy in the treatment of headache, it is not used here, but if you use a good fit for today's environment can make a difference.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1 s.31
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• pp.190-211
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• 1996

Generally the Myasthenia Gravis is classified into two of hereditary factor and acquement. Aquired Myasthenia Gravis was Quite well known to be caused by the autoimmune mechanism. Not in accurateness, on the hereditary, acetylcholine receptor antibody was to be analyzed very high in their parents and brothers. Also Myasthenia Gravis is a chronic disease characterized by voluntary muscle weakness and fatigue. above all, ocular Myasthenia Gravis is characterized clinically by blepharoptosis and external ophthalmoplegia and to be showed abut 90% cases and so oriental medicine can not but deal with myasthenia gravis at blepharoptosis. Accordinglv 20 out patients with Myasthenia Gravis were clinical study and observation as to the sex, age, progress state of MG, blood type, history, main symptom, liking for warm and cool food and tepidity, state of pulse, treatment of acupuncture and administration of oriental medicine etc. The results were as follows. 1. There was investigaed on the frequency of attack for sex, age, oculus dexter, oculus sinister, oculus uterque. Among the 20 patients, the number of female were 60% with 12 cases and male were 40% with 8 cases, therefore it was the rate of 6 : 4. the patients under 10 ages and 40 ages were 20% with 4 cases, 10 ages and 50 ages were 15% with 3 cases, 20, 30, 60 ages were 10% with 2 cases. And then oculus uterque was 90% with 18 cases, oculus sinister was 10% with 2 cases and oculus dexter were none of them. 2. Stage I were 50% with 10 patients, stage $II_A$ were 30% with 6 patients and stage $II_B$ were 20% with 4 patients, on the clinical stage and too class I were 20% with 4, class II were 45% with 9, class III were 35% with 7, in the functional activity the patients with chest heavy were 15% with 3 and hyperthyroidism were 10% with 2. 3. Hospital which patients had used to before came to this hospital were 10 university hospital and 6 local clinic. 4. The duration of disease was from 3 months to 30 years, the patients suffering between 3 months and within 1 year were 25% with 5 cases, 1-2 years were 30% with 6 cases, therefore within 2 years were 55%. 4-5 years were 15%, over 7 years were appeared less than 10%. 5. In the main symptom, all of patients were appeared to be heavy in opening their eyes the patients with blephroptosis were 70% with 14 cases on the oculus uterque, oculus sinisterf and oculus dexter, there were 20% with 4 eases each other in the oculogyation incomplete. visual failing, ophthalmoxerosis, strabismus etc and indigetion, frequency of urine(feel hurt), mild stools(or diarrea), oversensitiveness etc. but in addition, all of the other were 10%. 6. In the distribution of blood type, 0 types were 45% with 9 cases, A types were 25% with 5 cases, B and AB types were 15% each other. 7. For the rates of patients of liking for warm and cool food or tepidity, patients of liking for warm food possess 45% with 9 cases, and cool food possess 35% with 7 and tepidity possess 20% with 4, and then most of patients liking for warm food were females and cool food were much more males than females. 8. Hyunsae(弦細) were 40% with 8 cases, Buhurl(浮滑) were 20% with 4 cases, Hyunsak(弦數) were 15% with 3 cases, and in addition, the others were 10%, among 7 types of pulses. 9. The patients with less than 1 week were 40% with 8 cases, and there were female most of them and over 4 weeks were 20% and 1-2weeks were 15%, in the duration acupuncture treatment. 10. 15 kinds of prescriptions were administrated with oriental medicine from 1 week to 20weeks 1_2 weeks were 25.71% with 9 cases, 3 weeks were 17.14% with 6 cases and 6 weeks were 11.42% with 4 cases and also Gamibaetaugunbitang(加味培土健脾湯) were 28.57% with 10 cases, Gamijeounyongtang(加味正容湯) were 14.28% with 5 cases, Gamibojoongyigitung (加味補中益氣湯), Gamiyinsamyangyoungtung (加味人蔘養榮湯) were 8.57% with 3 cases each other and also Gamisamgitung (加味蔘?湯), Gamisamuloajatung(加味四物五子湯) Gamigoudungum (加味鉤藤飮), etc were applied.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.502-507
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• 2009

In modern oriental medicine, bee venom therapy is being used for aqua-acupuncture to relieve pain and to cure inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. Bee venom therapy has been processed and reported in many experimental studies, with regard to its effects on pain alleviation, anti-inflammation, removal of fever, anti-convulsion, suppression of tumor and immunity strengthening, etc., however, its mechanism of action, molecular targeting on prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production and telomere length regulation in human cancer remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of bee venom on the levels of cyclooxygenases (COXs) and telomere regulatory components of A549 human lung cancer cells. Bee venom-induced anti-proliferative effects of A549 cells were associated with the inhibition of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as well as human telomerase RNA (hTR), transcription factor c-myc and the activity of telomerase. In addition, bee venom treatment markedly decreased the levels of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1, which was correlated with a decrease in $PGE_2$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of bee venom.