• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.81-95
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• 2008

Objectives: Whitmania pigra whitman (WP) has been used in herbal medicine to treat various conditions, such as eczema, skin burns and frostbites in herbal medicine. The purpose of this study is was to investigate the effect of WP on anti-allergy mechanism. Methods: To clarify the mechanism, the effect of WP on vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue and histamine and cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, $TNF-{\alpha}$) released from mast cells were observed. Results: The results were 1. the pretreatment with WP significantly decreased the compound 48/80-induced degranulation and histamine release from RPMC 2. WP did not inhibit the anti-DNP IgE-induced increment of vascular permeability of rat cutaneous tissue 3. WP significantly reduced the PMA plus A23187-induced increment of expression of IL-6, IL-8, and $TNF-{\alpha}$ in HMC-1 cells. Conclusions: The present study providesevidence that WP acid inhibits mast cell-derived inflammatory allergic reactions by blocking histamine release and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, and suggest the mechanisms of action. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effect of WP suggests a possible therapeutic application of this agent in inflammatory allergic diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.551-556
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• 2005

Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome(WAS) is an X-linked recessive immunodeficiency characterized by thrombocytopenia with small platelet volume, eczema, and recurrent infections, and is also characterized by increased incidence of auto immune diseases and malignancies. The phenotype observed in this syndrome is caused by mutation in the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein(WASP) gene localized to the proximal short arm of the X chromosome and recently isolated through positional cloning. The gene encodes a 502 amino acid protein, which contains 12 exons and spans 9 kb of genomic DNA. The function of the encoded protein is not well understood. The clinical diagnosis of WAS can be difficult and is usually confirmed by the detection of WASP gene mutations and the expression of WSAP in patient blood sample using genetic analysis. We reported a case of a 13-month old boy with WAS who was identified with the novel mutation in exon 2 of WASP gene by direct sequencing and the complete absence of WASP expression by immunoblotting.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.157-165
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate allergic diseases related to allergy caused by the exposure to indoor and outdoor sources of air pollution in primary schools. The symptoms questionnaire of allergic diseases based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) was completed by the participants. The past and present status of asthma, allergic rhinitis, eczema, and allergic conjunctivitis were investigated by providing a questionnaire to all the participating children. Questionnaires were sent to a total of 61,350 children from 438 primary schools. A total of 40,522 children responded to the questionnaire, which represents a 66.1% return rate. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), $\underline{A}$ldehydes, and Particulate Matter ($PM_{10}$) were measured and analyzed from October to December of 2006, in 82 primary schools. The final study population comprised 35,168 children with complete data which excluded incomplete questionnaire responded by 5,354 children. Based on the survey, the level of indoor air contamination did not appear to be high, but 27.2% of the schools evaluated had exceeded the $PM_{10}$ level specified by the school health guidelines ($100\;{\mu}g/m^3$). The overall mean concentration of formaldehyde was $22.07\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and 1.0% of schools (1 school) exceeded the $100\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Statistically significant relationships have been observed between indoor air quality and prevalence rate of allergic rhinitis and conjunctivitis of primary schools in Korea.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2005

Research was undertaken to compare the pharmacological activity of Lithospermi radix (LR) reported as an oriental medicine for classical uses. LR contains naphthoquinone pigments : shikonin, acetylshikonin, isobutylshikonin, etc. LR is used for the treatment of excision wound, burn, eczema, blister, scarlatina and septicemia as antifebrile, antidotic and antiphlogistic. Gardeniae fructus (GF) has been used for the treatment to jaundice, hepatic disease, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and it contains crocin, geniposide and its derivatives. The therapeutic effects of burn and excision wound healing from LR & GF hydrogel with $Nano-ATP^{\circledR}$ (GLN) were investigated. To evaluate the therapeutic value of various hydrogels, thermal burn model and excision wound mouse model were used. The burn and wound reduction rate and therapeutic period were measured to calculate the healing extent after 5 experiments. The 2nd degree burn was prepared on hairless mouse back skin and dressing with collagen. The burn and wound reduction rate of GLN hydrogel treated group decreased more rapidly than that of other gel group in animal model. Furthermore therapeutic periods of GLN hydrogel treated group was shorter than that of other gel group. In anti-inflammatory test, GLN hydrogel treated group decreased edema rapidly than that of other gel group. These results suggest that the GLN hydrogel treatment has an therapeutic effect on burn and excision wound healing.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.506-512
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• 2016

Bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is used in traditional herbal medicine in many Asian countries for the treatment of several diseases such as diabetes, eczema, night blindness, psoriasis, and rheumatism. Especially, most reports concerning the biological activities of bitter melon have focused on its effects on diabetes and hyperglycemia. Also, bitter melon is regarded as a longevity food, suggesting that it has several beneficial effects on anti-aging and the maintenance of a healthy state. Thus, we investigated whether bitter melon could increase the capacity of exercise in this study. Interestingly, bitter melon fruit extract activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which is important for regulating glucose homeostasis, mitochondrial content and exercise capacity. In addition, bitter melon extract increased the expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid oxidation such as mitochondrial uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3), carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b (CPT1b), and pyruvate dehydrogenase lipoamide kinase isozyme 4 (PDK4). Moreover, exercise tolerance was much more enhanced in bitter melon treated animals compared to the non-treated control group. These results suggest that bitter melon is a promising candidate for the development of functional foods beneficial for physical strength and the enhancement of exercise capacity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.479-486
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• 2011

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an allergic, inflammatory skin disease characterized by chronic eczema and mechanical injury to the skin, caused by scratching. Korean red ginseng (RG) has diverse biological activities, but the molecular effects of RG on allergic diseases, like AD, are unclear. The present study was designed to investigate whether RG inhibits 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD in a mouse model. DNCB was applied topically on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. We observed the scratching behavior and examined the serum IgE level and interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10 in splenocytes compared with dexamethasone. We also evaluated the DNCB-induced mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), NF-${\kappa}B$, and Ikaros activities after RG treatment using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and ELISA. Our data showed that the topical application of RG significantly improved the AD-like skin lesions and scratching behavior. RG decreased not only the mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10, but also the secretion of IL-4 protein and serum IgE in mice. Additionally, RG treatment decreased the DNCB-induced MAPKs activity and subsequent Ikaros translocation irrespective of NF-${\kappa}B$. We suggest that RG may be useful as a therapeutic nutrition for the treatment of AD.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.2 s.33
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• pp.47-67
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• 2007

Objective : As a result of increasing amount of ultraviolet ray, skin problems including sunburn, rapid skin aging, melanoma, and even skin cancer continue to rise. In the present study, the effect of oriental herbal extract, Daehwanggo(大黃膏,DH) and Daehwanggogasnagbakpi(大黃膏加桑白皮,DS), as external application, on the skin damage, was investigated. Methods : 30 mice were equally distributed into 3 groups : control, UVB-control and UVB-irradiated and DS-treated group. Also mouse melanoma cell lines were cultured. Tyrosinase inhibition was measured to analyze the UN-protection effect. Melanogenesis in the UV-irradiated melanoma cell lines was compared in DS-treated cell line and control cell line. Sample skin from the ear tissue of the 3 groups were analyzed to observe the inflammatory response, T cell differentiation, apoptosis of keratinocytes. Results : The tyrosinase was more significantly inhibited in the DS group compared to DH group. Antioxidative effects was more prominent in DS group when superoxide dismutase was measured. Both the DS- and DH-treated cell lines showed significantly reduced melanogenesis. The reduction of external skin damage including erythematous papule, eczema, keratinocyte, pyopoiesis was observed in the DS- and DH-treated sample cells. In terms of the effect on the skin damage, sunburn cell, activated skin mast cells, secretion of IL-12, manifestation of HSP70, hyperplasia of epithelial cells, MMP-9 and destruction of the collagen were all significantly improved in the DS-treated sample cells. Melanin cells and the apoptosis in the melanoma cell line were decreased. Conclusion : DH and DS were traditionally applied externally for the scald in the oriental medicine. The present study elucidated the possibility of herbal extracts to be used as ultraviolet protectives. Further investigations are needed to assure the clinical application.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2007

Objectives : Atopic dermatitis is a recurrent or chronic eczematous skin disease with severe pruritus. Although the pathogenic mechanisms of atopic dermatitis are yet unknown, recently hyperresponsive Th2 cells in the acute phase are reported as the important mechanisms. Cheonggisan(CGS) is used in oriental clinics for curing acute skin lesions of eczema, atopic dermatitis or urticaria. There have been no studies on the therapeutic mechanism of CGS for curing atopic dermatitis. We aimed to find out the therapeutic mechanism of CGS on atopic dermatitis, so we observed Th2 cell differentiation in EL 4 cells and $NF-kB$ p65 activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Materials and Methods : EL 4 cells were induced the increase of IL-4 mRNA expression by phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate(PMA) and 4-tert-Octylphenol(OP) and treated with CGS extract. RAW 264.7 cells were induced the increase of cyclooxygenase(COX)-2 mRNA expression by lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and treated with CGS extract. Results : The PMA and OP induced IL-4 mRNA expression was dose-dependantly decreased in CGS treated EL 4 cells. The LPS-induced COX-2 mRNA expression was dose-dependantly decreased in CGS treated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : The results may suggest that the CGS inhibits Th2 cell differentiation in EL 4 cells and inhibits $NF-kB$ p65 activation in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.636-642
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• 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 Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.7-10
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• 2012

Objectives: The root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. (Lithospermi Radix, LR) is a kind of heat clearing and blood cooling medicinal herbs. It can clear away heat and cool the blood, reduce toxins and disperse maculae. LR has long been used as efficacious therapy for inflammation, burns, frostbite and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Methods: In the present study, we investigate anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of LR by using the 1-fluoro-2, 4- dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact dermatitis mouse model. Results: Topical application of 10 mg/mL of LR effectively inhibited skin lesions induced by repeated paintings with DNFB. Topical application of LR also inhibited hyperplasia, edema, spongiosis and infiltrations of mononuclear cells. In addition, production levels of total immunoglobulin and IgG1 in serum were decreased by using LR in vivo. Conclusions: These data suggest that LR acts as an antiinflammatory agent, improving skin lesions in CD mice.