• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.36-50
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was to determine the protective effects of Dioscoreae Rhizoma on the Mouse Embrio Fibroblast (MEF) cells exposed to the ultraviolet rays(UVA). Methods: The samples were assigned randomly to five groups; control group without any treatments, UVA group exposed only to UVA, DR group exposed only to the Dioscoreae Rhizoma, UVA-DR group exposed to UVA before being treated with the Dioscoreae Rhizoma, and DR-UVA group treated with the Dioscoreae Rhizoma before being exposed to UVA. The survival rate of cells, metabolic rate of cells, transformation of nucleus within cells, alteration of cell cycle, effects on the apoptosis, the change of the amount of protein related to cell cycle were measured in order to determine the cell protective effects of the Dioscoreae Rhizoma on each group. Results: 1. DR-UVA group has more cell protective effects compared to the UVA group in all experiments, indicating that the Dioscoreae Rhizoma protects skin from UVA physically and chemically. 2. UVA-DR group shows more efficiency compared to UVA group in rapid recovery of damaged cell and leading highly damaged cells to apoptosis, preventing the expression of abnormal cells. Conclusions: Dioscoreae Rhizoma has effects of protecting MEF cells from UVA, of recovering cells damaged by UVA, and of prohibiting the expression of abnormal cells.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.7-10
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• 2013

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the evidence available in the literature for the safety and efficacy of Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR) for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy. Methods: Literature searches were performed in MEDLINE and three Korean medical databases up to April 2013. All studies evaluating the effects on peripheral neuropathy or the safety of DR monopreparations were considered. Results: Three studies - DR extract per os (po) on diabetic neuropathy in mice, DR extract injection on the peripheral sciatic nerve after crush injury in rats and DR extract injection to patients with peripheral facial paralysis proved that DR treatments were effective for the treatment of nerve injuries. Conclusions: In conclusion, we found the DR has a strong positive potential for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy, but studies addressing direct factors related to the nerve still remain insufficient.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.1140-1146
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the comparison of immunomodualtory effects of water-extracted Ginseng Radix(GR), Pilose Asia-bell(PA), Astragali Radix(AR), Astractylodes Rhizoma alba(AA) and Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR). The parameter examined to assess apparent immunomodulatory effect of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR included the regulation of Nitric oxide (NO), the expression of Th1/Th2 type cytokine, the change of B cell phenotype. The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR inhibited NO production and iNOS protein expression in LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In the Th1 and Th2 cytokine expression, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR induced IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression. Therefore, it seems that the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a inducing effect of Th1 type cytokines. In the Flow cytometry analysis, the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR did not change B cell phenotype (CD45R/B220). The water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR have a reducing effect of immune suppression cause by Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression. These results suggest that the immunomodulatory effects of the water-extracted GR, PA, AR, AA and DR may be, in part, associated with the inducing IL-2 and IFNr mRNA gene expression in and regulation of NO production in macrophage cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.1016-1020
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• 2007

In this study, dioscin was isolated from Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR), which is the rhizome of Dioscorea batatas DECNE. that inhabits broad areas of Korea and Japan. To determine whether dioscin induced growth hormone (GH) release, we evaluated its induction effects on GH release both in vitro and in vivo. The 70% methanol extract of DR, and its n-hexane and n-BuOH fractions, induced rat GH (rGH) release in rat pituitary cells 10-fold, 8-fold, and 5-fold higher than the control ($0.36{\pm}0.02 nM$), respectively (p < 0.05 each). The dioscin-induced rGH release of the cells was concentration-dependent and its $ED_{50}$ was $1.14{\times}10^{-5} M$. Within 90 minutes after intravenous administration of $10{\mu}g$/kg (p < 0.05 at $t_{max}$), dioscin caused the greatest increase in rGH concentration ($C_{max}$) in the rat plasma ($34.16{\pm}14.10 ng/ml$) (n = 4), which was twice as high as the control group ($12.88{\pm}3.29 ng/ml$) (n = 27).

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.181-188
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• 2012

Dioscoreae Rhizome (DR) has been used in traditional medicine to treat numerous diseases and is reported to have anti-diabetes and anti-tumor activities. To identify a bioactive traditional medicine with anti-inflammatory activity of a water extract of DR (EDR), we determined the mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages through RT-PCR and western blot analysis and performed a FACS analysis for measuring surface molecules. EDR dose-dependently decreased the production of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$, and $PGE_2$, as well as mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, and pro-inflammatory cytokines, as determined by western blot and RT-PCR analysis, respectively. The expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as B7-1 and B7-2 was also reduced by EDR. Furthermore, activation of the nuclear transcription factor, NF-${\kappa}B$, but not that of IL-4 and IL-10, in macrophages was inhibited by EDR. These results show that EDR decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines via inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$-dependent inflammatory protein level, suggesting that EDR could be a useful immunomodulatory agent for treating immunological diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2014

Simple formulas (單方) of muscle section in Donguibogam (東醫寶鑑) have long been prescribed for strengthening muscle and/or prevention of age-related muscle loss. However, biological activity and mechanisms by which they influence myoblast differentiation have not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effects of 14 simple formulas on myoblast differentiation in C2C12 myoblast cells under non-cytotoxic ($0.5mg/m{\ell}$) conditions. C2C12 cells were treated with water extracts of simple formulas for 72 h, and RT-PCR was performed to determine the gene expression levels of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs), including myoD, myogenin, MRF4, myf5, and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Treatment with Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), Pini Semen (PS), and Sesami Semen (SS) resulted in a significant increase in expression of myogenin in C2C12 cells. Treatment with Allii Macrostemi Bulbus (AM), Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), and Pini Semen (PS) also resulted in increased expression of MRF4 in C2C12 cells. In addition, enhanced expression of IGF-1 was observed in treatment with Eucommiae cortex (EC), Dioscoreae Rhizoma (DR), Colocasiae Rhizoma (CR), Pini Semen (PS), and Sesami Semen (SS) in C2C12 cells. These results indicate that simple formulas of muscle section in Donguibogam could potentially enhance myoblast differentiation at least in part via increasing expression of myogenin, and/or MRF4 and/or IGF-1.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.257-264
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• 2019

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of 70% ethanol extract (DR) on the mast cell-mediated allergic contact dermatitis induced by dinitrofluorobenzene in BALB / c mice, which affects the cell activity by antigen in RBL-2H3 mast cells Respectively. The ethanol extracts of RBL-2H3 cells activated by DNP-HSA and anti-DNP IgE antibodies inhibited the secretion of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase, histamine, and IL-4 and $TNF-{\alpha}$ Production was suppressed. In the DNFB-induced contact allergic dermatitis animal model, treatment with ethanol extract reduced ear swelling and inhibited serum histamine and IL-4 secretion, and DR treatment effectively prevented mast cell infiltration in dermatitis-induced areas. As a result, the ethanol extract may be used as a therapeutic agent for mast cell-mediated allergic diseases such as atopic dermatitis.