• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.298-304
• /
• 2016

Dianthus superbus (D. superbus) is a traditional crude drug used for the treatment of urethritis, carbuncles and carcinomas. The objective of this study was to confirm the cognitive enhancing effect of D. superbus in memory impairment induced mice and to elucidate the possible potential mechanism. Effect of D. superbus on scopolamine induced memory impairment on mice was evaluated using the Morris water maze and passive avoidance tests. We also investigated acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) expression in scopolamine-induced mice. HPLC-DAD analysis was performed to identify active compounds in D. superbus. The results revealed that D. superbus attenuated the learning and memory impairment induced by scopolamine. D. superbus also inhibited AChE levels in the hippocampi of the scopolamine-injected mice. Moreover, D. superbus increased BDNF expression in the hippocampus. Eight compounds were identified using HPLC-DAD analysis. The content of 4-hydroxyphenyl acetic acid was higher than contents of other compounds. These results indicated that D. superbus improved memory functioning accompanied by inhibition of AChE and upregulation of BDNF, suggesting that D. superbus may be a useful therapeutic agent for the prevention or treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.2
• /
• pp.173-183
• /
• 2004

Objectives : Oxidative stress can induce negative responses such as growth inhibition or cell death by necrosis or apoptosis due to the intensity of the oxidative stress, as well as positive responses such as cellular proliferation or activation. We examined the effect of Jihwangeumja on this process. Methods and Results : We analyzed the influence of oxidative stress and agents that modify its effect in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC). Oxidative stress was induced by $B_2O_2$. With induced oxidative stress the results obtained indicate that it has a harmful effect over cell function and viability, and that this effect is dose and time dependent. When oxidative stress increased, Jihwangeumja reduced cell damage and had protective functions. $B_2O_2$, induced the apoptosis of HUVEC through the activation of intrinsic caspases pathway as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. A significant increase in cell survival was observed in culture cells with oxidative stress when they were treated with Jihwangeumja. Conclusions : These results suggest that Jihwangeumja may be potentially useful to treat HUVEC against oxidative damages mediated by modulation of caspase protease and mitochondrial dysfunction.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.3 s.67
• /
• pp.77-87
• /
• 2006

Objectives: The present study was carried out to investigate the preventive effects of Samgijiwhang-Tang(SJT) on streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic nephropathy. Methods: SIT was given to rats through oral administration. The experimental animals were divided into a normal group of rats, a control group of STZ-induced diabetic rats, and a sample group with SIT administration. Rehmanniae Radix Preparat is combined in the original prescription of SIT, but in this experiment, Rehmanniae Radix was combined instead of Rehmanniae Radix Preparat to compare the effects of anti-diabetic nephropathy. Experimental diabetic nephropathy was induced by the injection of STZ(60mg/kg) in the rat via the peritoneum. The effect of SIT on STZ-induced diabetic nephropathy was observed by measuring the serum level of creatinine and BUN, in addition to urine secretion of albumin for 24 hours and the level of glucose found in the urine. Anti-oxidative stress of SIT administration in a living body was estimated by measuring lipid peroxide and GSH content in the cortex of kidneys. Results: STZ induced an increase of serum creatinine, urine glucose and renal cortical lipid peroxidation was lowered by Rehmanniae Radix Preparat combined SIT administration. Conclusions: The SIT treatment showed a protective effect on the rat diabetic nephropathy model, and action mechanism of the effect was thought to be concerned with anti-oxidative stress.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.324-328
• /
• 2013

Soy (Glycine max, family Leguminosae) contains isoflavones and saponins as main constituents. In our preliminary study, soybean ethanol extract (SE) ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice in the passive avoidance task. Therefore, to confirm its ameliorating effect for memory impairments, we measured its effect in scopolamine-induced memory-impaired mice in Morris water maze task. SE significantly prevented scopolamine-induced memory impairment in the Morris water maze task. SE also increased the swimming time within quadrant section of the platform on the day after the final training session test. SE protected the reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in the hippocampi of scopolamine-treated mice. However, SE did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase. To understand the possible role of soysaponins in memory impairments, we prepared soyasaponins-rich (butanol) fraction of soybean (SRF) and investigated its protective effect against in the passive avoidance and Morris water maze tasks. SRF ameliorated scopolamine-induced memory impairment in mice. The memory impairment-ameliorating effect of SRF was more effective than that of SE. Based on these findings, soybean may improve memory impairment by regulating CREB phosphorylation and BDNF expression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.84-101
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Seonpyejeongcheon-tang (SJT) on elastase-induced lung injury. Materials and Methods : The extract of SJT was treated to A549 cells and an elastase-induced lung injury mouse model. Then, various parameters such as cell-based cytoprotective activity and histopathological findings were analyzed. Results : SJT showed a protective effect on elastase-induced cytotoxicity in A549 cells. This effect was correlated with analysis for caspase 3 levels, collagen and elastin contents, protein level of cyclin B 1, Cdk1, and Erk1/2, and gene expression of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in A549 cells. SJT treatment also revealed a protective effect on elastase-induced lung injury in mouse model. This effect was evidenced via histopathological findings, including immunofluoresence stains against elastin, collagen, and caspase 3, and protein levels of cyclin B1, Cdc2, and Erk1/2 in lung tissue. Conclusion : These data suggest that SJT has pharmaceutical properties on lung injury. This study thus provides scientific evidence for the efficacy of SJT for clinical application to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.193-203
• /
• 2003

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect and pathway of contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture (EA) on pain induced by fonualin in rats. Methods : Acu-points in the right forepaws, HT 7 and PC 7 were stimulated with 3~4mA, 2ms, and 10Hz after 5% formalin (50ul) s.c. injection to the left hind paw. In addition, it was investigated whether the dorsolateral funiculus (DLF), known to be related the descending inhibition, mediates analgesic effects of the contralateral heterotropic EA or whether administration of naltrexone, an opioid antagonist, blocks the effect of EA. Results : The results showed that contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture (EA) inhibited late phase (63.311.7%) of pain induced by fonualin in the behavioral test, but sham-EA had little effect on pain behavior (85.616.8%) and no analgesic effects after transection of the dorsolateral funiculus (95.718.7%). The pretreatment of naltrexone (10mg/kg, i.p.) could not inhibit the analgesic effects of EA on formalin-induced pain behavior (70.713.1%). Also,EA suppressed formalin injection induced expression of cFos like protein (cFL) in the dorsal homo but not sham-EA. Suppressed expressions of cFL in the spinal cord were eliminated after transection of the ipsilateral dorsolateral funiculus at T10-11 leve1s. However, pretreatment of naltrexone could not prevent the suppressive expressions of cFL at the spinal cord. Conclusions : These results suggest that the analgesic effect of contralateral heterotropic electroacupuncture may be modulated through the dorsolateral funiculus constituting the descending inhibition.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.69-83
• /
• 2006

We investigated the effect of Sungmagalkun-tang (SGT) on the allergy. We conformed compound 48/80-induced active systemic anaphylatic shock, anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and ovalbumin-induced anaphylatic shock. Also observed IL-4 and GM-CSF mRNA expression in ovalbumin-induced allergic lung tissue and RBL-2H3. Histamine release is measured in RBL-2H3. SGT inhibited active systemic anaphylatic shock, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis and ovalbumin-induced anaphylatic shock by oral administration. We observed that SGT was concentration-dependently reduced IL-4 and GM-CSF mRNA expression in ovalbumin-induced allergic lung tissue and RBL-2H3 by SGT. In addition, SGT reduced histamine release in RBL-2H3. These results indicate that SGT has anti-histamic effect and controls IL-4 and GM-CSF mRNA expression on allergy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.1042-1052
• /
• 2010

This study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of Mundongcheongpye-eum (MCE) on elastase-induced lung injury. The extract of MCE was treated to A549 cells and elastase-induced lung injury mice model. Then, various parameters such as cell-based cyto-protective activity and histopathological finding were analyzed. MCE showed a protective effect on elastase-induced cytotoxicity in A549 cells. This effect was correlated with analysis for caspase 3 levels, collagen and elastin contents, protein level of cyclin B1, Cdc2, and Erk1/2, and gene expression of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ in A549 cells. MCE treatment also revealed the protective effect on elastase-induced lung injury in mice model. This effect was evidenced via histopathological finding including immunofluence stains against elastin, collagen, caspase 3, and protein level of cyclin B1, Cdc2, and Erk1/2 in lung tissue. These data suggest that MCE has a pharmaceutical properties on lung injury. This study would provide an scientific evidence for the efficacy of MCE for clinical application to patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.27-35
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to characterize the effect of the fraction of Taraxacum officinale and T.coreanum on the learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Methods : The cognition-enhancing effect of Taraxacum officinale and T.coreanum was investigated using a passive avoidance test, the Morris water maze test and Y-maze test in mice. Drug-induced amnesia was induced by treating animals with scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Results : The results showed that the Aug harvested T.offiicinale extract-treated group (200 mg/kg, p.o.) and the tacrine-treated group (10 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated scopolamine-induced amnesia based on the Passive avoidance Y-maze test and Watermaze test. And these results are same manner in DPPH radical scavenger effect and Acetylcholineseterase inhibition effect. Conclusions : These results suggest that Taraxacum officinale extract maybe a useful cognitive impairment treatment, and its beneficial effects are depending on the collecting time and origin plants. As a result, Taraxacum officinale harvested in August improve memory most.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.625-629
• /
• 2011

To investigate the protective effect of eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) and its active compound, delphinidin, we used in vitro and cellular system. The active fraction from eggplant, BuOH fraction, showed protective effect from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in WI-38 fibroblast cells. It suggests that eggplant would have the protective activity from radical-induced oxidative damage and its BuOH fraction would play the crucial role with antioxidative activity. In addition, delphinidin, the active compound from eggplant, exerted the strong 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging effect with $IC_{50}$ value of 6.59 ${\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, the cellular oxidative stress was induced by 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in LLC-$PK_1$ cells, while treatment of delphinidin atteunated AAPH-induced oxidative stress as dose-dependent manner. The present study suggests the antioxidative activity of eggplant and delphinidin against free radical-induced oxidative stress.