• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.105-108
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• 2002

To obtain a specific pharamcological effect, herbal medicines are processed based on the principle of traditional korean medicines. The problem in drug processing is the variety of methods, technics, and drug quality. In order to establish the base of standardization of processing methods, some herbal medicines(Evodiae Fructus, Scutellariae Radix, Astragali Radix, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Dioscoreae Radix, Aconiti Radix) were processed and studied the change a color tone of processed and unprocessed herbal medicines. The color tone(value and chroma) of these herbal medicines were changed after processing.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.275-297
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• 2009

Herbal medicines have been used worldwide, particularly in the Far East countries, for thousands of years. Herbal medicines comprise complex mixtures of different phytochemical substances, and their nature may vary substantially depending on many factors related to the cultivation condition, area and harvest time. The processing of the herbal medicines significantly affects their pharmacological and toxicological properties. In this paper, we discuss current research that deals with the techniques for processing Chinese herbal medicines. These results will provide a scientific basis for developing new techniques for the processing of herbal medicines.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.213-216
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• 2012

Our previous report showed that polyacetylene compound, 1-Heptadecene-11, 13-diyne-8, 9, 10-triol (PA) from the root of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense has anti-inflammatory activity. In this study we investigated the role of the PA as inhibitor of caspase-1, which converts prointerleukin-$1{\beta}$ (proIL-$1{\beta}$) to active IL-$1{\beta}$ and is activated by inflammasome involved in the inflammatory process. We tested the effect of PA on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-$1{\beta}$ in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. PA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-$1{\beta}$ production by macrophages at a dose dependent manner. PA also suppressed the activation of caspase-1. The mRNA level of ASC (apoptosis-associated spec-like protein containing a CARD), an important adaptor protein of inflammasome, was decreased in the PA treated group. Therefore our results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of PA is due to inhibit the caspase-1 activation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2011

Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense is known to have a variety of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic activity and antipyretic activity. In this study we investigated the role of polyacetylene compound, 1-Heptadecene-11, 13-diyne-8, 9, 10-triol (PA) from the root of Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense as an immune-modulator. PA was evaluated as inhibitors of some macrophage functions involved in the inflammatory process. We tested the effect of PA on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1beta (IL-$1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-$\alpha$), and nitric oxide (NO) in murine macrophage cell line, RAW264.7. There was no effect on cytokine production of macrophages by PA itself. However, PA inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-$\alpha$ production by macrophages at a dose dependent manner. PA also suppressed the NO production of macrophages by LPS. LPS-induced NF-${\kappa}B$ activity was decreased by treatment of PA. Therefore, these results suggest that PA has anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.36-47
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• 2002

Over thousands of years oriental traditional medicine has developed a theoretical and practical approach to treat and prevent diseases and to promote people's health in China and Korea. In China, the integration of traditional Chinese medicine into the national healthcare system began in the late 1950s. This was in response to national planning needs to provide comprehensive healthcare services. On contrary to China, South Korea established the parallel operation of two independent medical systems in 1952. Hence there has been a political conflict between oriental and modern medicine over issues of fee, the ability to sell and prescribe herbal medicines, and the licensing of practitioners in traditional medicines. Given this background. This study is to compare peoples' attitudes and opinions for oriental traditional medicine by ethnicity (Chinese, Korean-Chinese and Korean). Chinese and Korean-Chinese were more used and satisfied with traditional medicine treatment and traditional practitioners compared with Koreans. The proportion of Koreans who reported the cost of traditional treatments was expensive was higher than those of Chinese and Korean Chinese. Most of Chinese, Korean-Chinese, and Koreans reported that they would use traditional medicine: 1) when they would have some disease to be treated best through traditional medicine; and 2) when traditional practitioner had a reputation and lots of experiences for those diseases. Most Korean people reported that oriental and western practitioners should cooperate each other to improve the quality of care. Therefore, policy framework including integration of traditional and western medicine, regulation, etc. is needed. In addition, research is needed to determine which diseases is treated best through traditional medicine.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.55-67
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• 2003

To evaluate anti-aggregatory activity of traditional prescriptions and medicines for treatment of Ohyul symptom, 70% methanol extracts were examined using collagen stimulated in vitro platelet aggregation by impedance method in rat whole blood. The crude extracts from DoHaekSeungKiTang, BoYangHwanOhTang, Caesalpinia sappan, Rhus verniciflua, Rheum palmatum, Polygonum cuspidatum, Salvia miltiorrhiza were found to inhibit platelet aggregation. The effective crude extracts of traditional medicine were fractionated to dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous layer. Polygonum cuspidatum, Caesalpinia sappan aud Rhus verniciflua ethyl acetate fractions concentration-dependently $(250-50{\mu}m/ml)$ inhibited the aggregation of platelet in whole blood induced by collagen. These results suggested that ethyl acetate fractions of Polygonum cuspidatum, Caesalpinia sappan and Rhus verniciflua have potent anti-aggregatory activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.289-296
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• 2010

Aldose reductase (AR), the principal enzyme of the polyol pathway, has been shown to play an important role in the development of the diabetic complications. Evaluating natural sources for ARI potential may lead to the development of safer and more effective agents against diabetic complications. Sixty four Chinese herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, thirteen herbal medicines, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. (whole plant), Erigeron breviscapus (Vant.) Hand. Mazz. (whole plant), Lonicera hypoglauca Miq. (leaf, stem), Scutellaria orthocalyx Hang. Mazz. (whole plant), Berchemia floribunda Brongn. (leaf, stem), Michelia alba DC. (flower), Oroxylum indicum (seed), Punica granatum L. (peel), Elsholtzia capituligera (whole plant), Trachelospermum jasminoides (Lindl.) Lem. (whole plant), Elsholtzia strobilifera Benth. (whole plant), Agrimonia pilosa var. nepalensis (D. Don) Nakai (whole plant) and Aster poliothamnus Diels (whole plant) exhibited a significant inhibitory activity against AR. Particularly, Inula helianthus-aquatilis C. Y. Wu ex Ling. showed seven times more potent inhibitory activity than the positive control, 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.483-489
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• 2002

APA-01, which is an aqueous extract of five Chinese herbs, is a modified formula of Huoxiang-Zhengqi-San. The effect of new herb extract on immune response was investigated. The parameter examined to assess apparent immune response of APA-01 in mice included changes of body weight, relative weight of immune organs, cell proliferation and cytokine gene expression. The body weight and relative weight of immune organs were not significantly changed among the tested groups. In the spleen cell prolijeration assay, APA-01 increased the cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Methotrexate (MTX), an agent of immune suppression, inhibited the spleen cell proliferation (IC/sub 50/: 800㎍/㎖). However, APA-01 significantly inhibited the suppression of mouse spleen cell proliferation. Therefore, it seems that APA-01 has a reducing effect of immune suppression. Immunomodulatory effect of APA-01 was further investigated using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in mouse spleen cells. In RT-PCR test, APA-01 enhanced the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. In spite of immune suppression by MTX, COX-2 mRNA was induced by co-treatment with APA-01. These results suggest that APA-01 stimulates the proliferation of spleen cells, regulates the expression of COX-2 mRNA, and accelerates the recovery of inhibition of spleen cell proliferation induced by MTX, thus providing the immunological basis for clinical benefit of APA-01.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.108-118
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• 2000

According to the North Korean documents , North Korean government have emphasized the development of the Koryo medicine (traditional korean medicine) and encouraged the combination of the Koryo and the modern medicine. It is regarded that this attitude arose from the ruler's will toward independency in the medical field and at the same time the lack of modern medical resources . Combinations of the Koryo medicine and the modern medicine in the clinical textbooks are classified as follows: first, mixed medication of the Koryo and the modern medicine. Second, combination of the traditional acupuncture(or moxibustion) and the medication of modern medicines. Third, injection of modern medicines at acupoints. Forth, an intramuscular or an intravenous injection of the Koryo medicine. Fifth, anesthesia using Koryo medicine. Sixth, simple surgery at the acupoints. Lastly, combination of injection and the traditional therapy(eg. acupuncture, moxibustion and cupping) Despite of many achievements in the field of combined medical treatment, recent economic failure and severe famine for several years caused collapse of the health care delivery system in North Korea, and it is hard to find combined practices actually.

• CELLMED
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.8.1-8.5
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• 2018

Nitric oxide (NO) is a small diffusible molecule which plays an important role in various physiological activities. NO is a notable molecule, functioning as a cytotoxic agent and cellular messenger. There has been considerable interest in NO production by activated macrophages because this gaseous metabolite plays a fundamental role in the cytotoxic and cytostatic effects of macrophages towards invasive micro-organisms and tumour cells. No is a bioactive free radical that has been implicated in many physiological functions, plays a critical role during inflammation and therefore constitutes a potential target for developing therapeutics for inflammatory diseases. The use of medicinal plants by the population has been an important alternative the resource in the treatment of various diseases. Its growing acceptance in the medical community has been due to the fact that several plants with biological activities have been scientifically investigated and their efficacy and safety have been proven. In this review, discussed suppressive effects of No production by traditional medicines in RAW 264.7 and THP-1 macrophages.