• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.1-14
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• 2013

Objectives The object of this study was to observe the favorable anti-arthritic effects of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) on Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA)-induced arthritic Wistar rats. Methods Rheumatoid arthritis was induced by intradermal injection of FCA, and 300, 150 or 750 mg/kg of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) were orally administered once a day for 14 days from 14 days after FCA treatments, and 15 mg/kg of dexamethasone was intraperitoneally administered as reference drug in this experiment. All rats were sacrificed at 14 days after continuous oral treatment of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) or intraperitoneal administration of dexamethasone, and changes on the body weight, knee circumferences, gross arthritis score, inflammatory tissue prostaglandin (PG) $E_2$ levels were monitored with cartilage collagen components and glucosaminoglycans compositions - chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid in the present study. Results As results of FCA treatment, classic rheumatoid arthritis featuring dramatical decreases on the body weights, cartilage collagen contents and bone glucosaminoglycans-chondroitin sulphate, heparan sulphate and hyaluronic acid contents, with increases on the knee circumferences, gross arthritis scores and inflammatory tissue $PGE_2$ levels. However, these changes from FCA-induced rheumatoid arthritis were clearly reduced by treatment of dexamethasone and both two different dosages of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 and 150 mg/kg in the present study. Although FCA-induced arthritis were more favorably inhibited by treatment of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg as compared with Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg, marked decreases of body weights were detected in dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats, and Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg showed similar preserve effects on the cartilage glucosaminoglycan compositions in this study. Conclusions The results obtained in this study suggest that over 300 and 150 mg/kg of Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) showed favorable anti-arthritic effects on the FCA-induced arthritis mediated by suppression of $PGE_2$, a inflammatory mediator. However, detail mechanism studies should be conduced in future with the screening of the biological active compounds in this herb. Although overall anti-inflammatory effects Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg were lowered than those of dexamethasone 15 mg/kg treated rats, Samki-eum ($s\bar{a}nq\grave{i}-y\check{i}n$) 300 mg/kg treated rats showed similar preserve effects on the cartilage glucosaminoglycan compositions in this experiment.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.445-452
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• 2006

Aralia elata, a common medicinal and culinary herb, has beer consumed for centuries without any reported adverse effects. However, due to its limited safety information, we decided to investigate the repeated-dose toxicity of ethanolic extract of Aralia elata. The test was administered once daily by the gavage to male and female rats at doses of 0, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg/day for four weeks. Throughout the study, no treatment-related deaths or clinical signs were observed. Also, no apparent changes were detected in ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, serum biochemistry, hematology and gross necropsy. The test result showed a significant decrease in body and heart weight of males treated with 250 mg/kg of extract of Aralia elata compared to normal control, a significant increase in relative brain weight and adrenal weight in females treated with 250 mg/kg of extract compared to normal control. However, all these changes were not considered toxicologically important due to irrelevant dose-response relationship to gross and microscopic findings. Histopathologically, abnormal changes were not observed in any target organs. On the basis of these results, the NOAEL of extract of Aralia elata was estimated to be more than 1,000 mg/kg/day under the tested conditions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.397-402
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• 2002

Clinical studies were done treated with aroma therapy in 22cases of patients for suffering allergic rhinitis. who were treated at Dept of Oriental respiratory internal medicine in the Hospital of Taejeon University from January 2001 to May 2001. The results were as follows. 1. In distribution of sex & age. 45.5% of them were man, and 54.5% of them were woman. Of those who were attached, 2. In distribution of occupation, 59% of them were student, 18% of them were housewife, 18% of them were white color, 9% Of them were blue color. 3. In distribution of the period of the clinical history, under six months was 32%, under 1 year was 9%, under 3 years was 27%, over 3 years was 32%. 4. In distribution of the seasonal contributing factor, most of them were perenial allergic rhinitis, others generally started in spring or winter. 5. In distribution of past history, 59% of them are none, 18% of them are asthma, 18% of them are atopic dermatitis, 5% of them are allergic dermatitis. 6. In distribution of family history, 46% of them are none, 27% of them are sibling line, 18% of them are paternal line, 9% of them are maternal line. 7. In distribution of symptom, the ratio of sneezing was 90%, nasal discharge was 81 %, nasal obstruction was 46%, pruritus was 41 %, headache was 31%, asthma was 22%, digestion disorder was 18%, tears was 9%, nosebreeding was 5%. 8. In distribution of diagnosis in descending order, wind-cold evil was 5%, spleen-lung energy asthnia was 31 %, lung-kidney asthnia was 64%. 9. In distribution of Herb medicine treatment, Tonggyu-tang was the most, the second was hyunggaiyunyo-tang. 10 In emotional change of patients aroma-therapy, only 14% of them felt good. 11. The total remedial value of the 22 patients was revealed 32.9%. 12. In proportion to grow older, the remedial value were decreased. 13. In proportion to the period of the clinical history was longer, the remedial value were decreased.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.373-381
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• 2011

Liu Hejian maintained that the six types of energy can become fire and focused on the treatment of fire and heat symptoms along with the prescriptions of cryotherapy, believing that a vast majority of disease are due to fire. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of Hejian's formulae by classifying medicinal ingredients in consideration of medicinal properties and efficacy in order to examine how many cold and hot medicinal ingredients are included in the formulae of Hejian. We analysis 848 formulae among 1,055 formulae in total, excluding 207 redundant ones, which includes 366 Sunmyunglon formulae, 223 Bomyeongjip formulae, 8 Samsolon formulae, 61 Sanghanjigkyeok formulae, 68 Sanghanpyobon formulae, 22 Sanghansimyo formulae, 103 Hwalbeopgiyo formulae, 186 Bodongbiyo formulae, and 18 Gagamyoungbisippalbang formulae. In the analysis of the frequency of using each medicinal herb after classifying medicinal ingredients of Hejian's formulae by medicinal properties, we found that cold medicinal ingredients accounted for 40%, the biggest share in the formulae, and hot medicinal ingredients accounted for around 45%, which indicates that Hejian's formulae consist of both elimination and reinforcement and cold and heat, rather than cold medicinal ingredients only. As a comparison of the frequency of using each medicinal ingredients for the formulae by efficacy, we found that clear heat medicinal ingredients, totify qi and replenish blood medicinal herbs, and activate blood medicinal ingredients were most frequently used.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.139-146
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• 2009

This study was designed to examine the effect of aroma massage therapy on lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients. Methods: A total of thirty-six terminal cancer patients with lower extremity edema were divided into two groups: the aroma massage group received massage with blending oil which was applied from toes to 10 cm above the knee of the subject for 15 to 20 minutes in each turn, while the control group received sham aroma massage (applied with carrier oil only). The circumferences of the fore-foot, ankle and calf were measured before massage and 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 12 hours after massage. The blood pressure, pulse and body temperature were also measured to find the change of subject's physiologic conditions. Results: There were no significant differences in blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature and lower extremity circumferences between two groups. However, edema at each site was slightly improved in the treatment group after the aroma massage therapy, compared to baseline data (P<0.05). In addition, the reduction of lower extremity circumference was maximal at 2 hours in foot, 30 min in right ankle and 12 hours in right calf after aroma massage therapy (P<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that aroma massage therapy is not effective on the lower extremity edema of terminal cancer patients.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2 s.70
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• pp.155-165
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• 2007

Objective : The Angelica gigas Nakai ethanol extract (AGE) was investigated to compare nitric oxide (NO) production and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activity from RAW 264.7 cells, since NO and nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ $(NF-{\kappa}B)$ have been shown to be factors implicated in inflammatory disease. Method : AGE was prepared by extracting medicinal herb with 70% (v/v) ethanol solution. We investigated production of nitric oxide (NO) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression by ARE in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. We also investigated inhibition of LPS-induced activation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ on western blot. Result : LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells increased NO production and iNOS expression. Upon treatment with AGE, nitrite production was significantly inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner compared to the untreated control. AGE inhibited this LPS-induced iNOS mRNA and protein in a dose-dependent manner. AGE markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein at a concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/ml$. LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells with AGE blocked inhibitory $factor-{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation. Conclusion :This study shows that AGE seems to attenuate inflammation through inhibition of NO production and iNOS expression by blockade of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.201-218
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• 2011

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Guibi-Tang(GBT) on focal brain ischemic injury induced by intraluminal filament insertion in rats. Methods : The ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament insertion into middle cerebral artery. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups, normal group(n=8); control group was ischemia induced and no treatment(n=8); GBT 1X group was ischemia induced and administrated 42.2 mg/ml/kg of Guibi-Tang orally(n=8); GBT 3X group was ischemia induced and administrated 126.6 mg/ml/kg of Guibi-Tang orally(n=8); GBT 6X group was ischemia induced and administrated 253.2 mg/ml/kg of Guibi-Tang orally(n=8) for 21 days. mGluR5, Bax, Bcl-2 and cytochrome C were investigated to observe the effects of Guibi-Tang on apoptosis. The effects of Guibi-Tang on neuroprotective/apoptotic agents in cresyl violet, choline acetyltranferase(ChAT) with ischemic injury were investigated. Results : The intensity of mGluR5 mRNA in the hippocampal CA1 was increased in normal and GBT(Guibi-Tang) 1X groups compared with the control group. The intensity of Bax mRNA in the hippocampal CA1 was decreased in normal and GBT 1X groups compared with the control group. However it was increased unexpectedly in GBT 3X group. The intensity of Bcl-2 mRNA in the hippocampal CA1 was increased in normal and GBT 1X groups compared with the control group. The intensity of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the hippocampal CA1 was decreased in normal and GBT 1X groups compared with the control group. The intensity of cytochrome C protein in the hippocampal CA1 was decreased in normal, GBT 1X and GBT 6X groups compared with the control group. The density of neurons stained by cresyl violet and ChAT was increased in normal and GBT 1X groups compared with the control group. Conclusions : These results suggest that Guibi-Tang may have protective effect on vascular dementia.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2007

Salicornia herbacea L. (Chenopodiaceae: S. herbacea) is a salt marsh plant, which has long been prescribed in traditional medicines for the treatment of intestinal ailments, nephropathy, and hepatitis in Oriental countries. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of this herb, we conducted an anti-oxidative activity, the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production, and the suppression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, with the solvent-extracts of S. herbacea. We found that both ethyl acetate and n-butanol tractions showed potent anti-oxidative effects in comparison to other fractions using xanthine oxidase assay with $IC_{50}$ values of $66.0{\pm}0.5\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $82.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. In addition, both ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions showed more electron donating activity (EDA) than other tractions, according to DPPH (2, 2-Diphenyl-lpicrylhydrazyl radical) assay. The EDA of ethyl acetate fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $117.5{\pm}3.8\;{\mu}g/ml$) is more significant than that of n-butanol fraction ($IC_{50}$ values of $375.0{\pm}12.5\;{\mu}g/ml$). Among potential anti-oxidative tractions, ethyl acetate traction dose-dependently suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS, $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cell, while n-butanol did not. As expected, ethyl acetate fraction suppressed the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in RAW264.7 cell stimulated by $0.1\;{\mu}g/ml$ of LPS. Moreover, the ethyl acetate traction suppressed the expression of interleukin-1 $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) mRNA in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Therefore, these results suggest that S. herbacea may have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities by modulating radical-induced toxicity and various pro-inflammatory responses.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.61-76
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• 2006

Purpose : This study examined the non-toxic and the anti-oxidative effect of Dioscoreae Rhizoma on PC12 cells. Sanyak(Dioscoreae Rhizoma; chinese yam, shan yao) is well-known for its curing power for kidney, lung, spleen. Tonifies and augments the spleen and stomach. Tonifies the lung gi and augments the kidney yin. Tonifies the kidneys and also stabilizes and binds. it also binds the essence and treats spermatorrhea, frequent urination, and vaginal discharge. We are therefore interested in whether Dioscoreae Rhizoma is capable of causing abnormal apoptosis processes, and whether this condition can be rectified through Dioscoreae Rhizoma herb treatment. Methods : We used aqueous extract to treat PC12 cells with different concentrations treated with a water or a MeOH extract of Dioscoreae Rhizoma (0, x10, x20, x40, x80). The MTT (3, (4, 5-dimethyl-thiazol) 2, 5-diphenyl-tetraxolium bromide) reduction assay was employed to quantify the differences in cell activity and viability. The Bax expression level was monitored using western-blotting techniques. The patterns of the changes in expression were scanned and analyzed. Results : Bax and GSK-3${\beta}$ promotes cell death and down-regulated during the development of the PC12 cells. This is indicated that Dioscoreae Rhizoma is capable of inducing apoptosis in PC12 cells. The induced cell death and significantly inhibited by Dioscoreae Rhizoma, which can be explained by the increase in the inhibition of Bax and GSK-3${\beta}$ expression. It was also shown that Dioscoreae Rhizoma inhibits the release of $H_2O_2$ and prevents lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the accumulation of wild type Bax protein significantly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner upon treatment with Dioscoreae Rhizoma. Conclusion : In conclusion, Dioscoreae Rhizoma can induce apoptosis via a Bax-dependent pathway or GSK-3${\beta}$ dependent pathway in PC12 cells into anti-oxidant and protective effect.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 2015

Citrus peel (CP) is used as a traditional herb with diverse beneficial pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-allergic effects. However, the anti-obesity effects of citrus peel are poorly defined. The aim of this study was to evaluate ethanol extracts of citrus peel (EECP) for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The aim of this study was to evaluate an EECP for its adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EECP significantly suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content and an accumulation of cellular triglyceride. EECP exhibited potential adipogenesis inhibition and downregulated the expression of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, such as sterol regulatory elementbinding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancerbinding proteins α (C/EBPα) and C/EBPβ, and adipocyte expressed genes, such as adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and Leptin. In addition, EECP treatment effectively activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway; however, compound C, a specific inhibitor of AMPK, significantly reduced the EECP-induced inhibition of adipogenesis. Taken together, these results indicate EECP showed strong anti-obesity effects through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-obesity activity of EECP.