• BMB Reports
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.369-375
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• 2008

Polygonatum cyrtonema Lectin (PCL), which is classified as a monocot mannose-binding lectin, has received great regards for its uniquely biological activities and potentially medical applications in cancer cells. This paper was initially aimed to study apoptosis of PCL on Hela cells. Thus, 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method was carried out. Through observation of cell morphologic changes and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity-based cytotoxicity assays, PCL induced HeLa cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. To further gain structural basis, multiple alignments, homology modeling and docking experiments were performed to analyze the correlation between its biological activities and mannose-binding sites. Eventually, considering docking data, chemical modification properties on the three mannose-binding sites were analyzed by a series of biological experiments (e.g., hemagglutinating and mitogenic activity assays, fluorescence and Circular Dichrosim (CD) spectroscopy) to profoundly identify the role of some key amino acids in the structure-function relationship of PCL.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.396-401
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• 2015

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is an important redox-sensitive transcription factor that regulates the expression of several cytoprotective genes. More recently, genetic analyses of human tumors have indicated that Nrf2 may cause resistance to chemotherapy. In this study, we found that the expression levels of Nrf2 and its target genes GCLC, HO-1, NQO1 were significantly higher in cisplatin-resistant A549 (A549/CDDP) cells than those in A549 cells, and this resistance was partially reversed by Nrf2 siRNA. 3,4,5,5,7-Pentamethoxyflavone (PMF), a natural flavon extracted from Rutaceae plants, sensitized A549/CDDP to CDDP and substantially induced apoptosis compared with that of CDDP alone treated group, and this reversal effect decreased when Nrf2 was downregulated by siRNA. Mechanistically, PMF reduced Nrf2 expression leading to a reduction of Nrf2 downstream genes, and in contrast, this effect was decreased by blocking Nrf2 with siRNA. Taken together, these results demonstrated that PMF could be used as an effective adjuvant sensitizer to increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs by downregulating Nrf2 signaling pathway.

• 혜화의학회지
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• 제4권2호
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• pp.309-329
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• 1996

There are the Seven Effect of Drugs and unique processing methods in Chinese traditional medicine. The Seven Effects are single effrect(單行), additive effect(相加, 相須), synergic effect(上乘, 相使), antagonistic effect(相畏, 拮抗), inhibitory effect(相惡), neutralizing effect(相殺) and opposite effect(相反). We are interested in synergic effects of some drugs and components ; Addition of OLDENLANDIA DIFFUSA to Kilkyungtang combanation enhanced the cytotoxic activity of Kilkyungtang against A549 and B16-Fo eells by 20% and 50%, respectively. The Oldenlandia-added kilkyungtang also potentiated the cytotoxicities of mitomycine Cand 5-fluorouracil. ar-tunnerone. isolated from the root of Curcuma longa, potentiated the cytotoxic activity of sesquiphellandrene(isolated from the same root), aurapten(isolated from Aurantii semen)or cyclophosphamide by 10 times. The purpose of the processing(修治) of Chinese grugs is to remove unusable parts of plants and to eliminate toxicities as well as to produse new active components in drugs. On a occasion of study on the anthelmintic drugs against the chinese fluke(Clonorchis sinesis, (肝디스토마), we have observed that the processed mume fruit(鳥梅) possessed a very very potent clonorchicidal effect, while the methanol extract of the non-processed fruit inactive. The active component was isolated from the processed mume and identified as 5-hydroxymethylfurfuryl aldehyde. This substance dose not occur in the immature fruit and was found only in the processed one. Wehave heated the immature fruit in an oven at $90^{\circ}C$ for 52 hrs and found that the heated fruit eame clonorchidal. As demonstrated in these and other example cited in this presentation, the natural products chemistry is contributory to univeiling the drug effect ensued from the processing and the synergic effect of Oriental medical drug combinations, and to rationalization or modernization of the traditional medicine.

• 셀메드
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• 제2권2호
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• pp.12.1-12.11
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• 2012

Traditional Medicinal System (TMS) is one of the centuries-old practices and long-serving companions to the human kind to fight against disease and to lead a healthy life. Every indigenous people have been using their unique approaches of TMS practice where among, the Chinese, Indian and African TMSs are world-wide renowned. India has a unique Indian System of Medicines (ISM) consisting of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani, Naturopathy and Homoeopathy. Siddhars are the saints as well as the eminent scholars, who have attained Ashta-mahasiddhi [Tamil: (Ashta-Eight; Mahasiddhi-Power)] or enlightment. They have postulated, practiced, immensely contributed and have established the concept of the Tamil medicinal system called Siddha System of Medicine (SSM). From ancient time, SSM has flourished and has been widely practiced in the southern part of India particularly in Tamil Nadu. The induction of the modern medicinal system has immensely influenced the existence of SSM and has made the SSM principles and practices undervalued/extinct. However, at present, still a considerable group of people are using the SSM as a basic health-care modality. In this context, the present scrutiny deals with the TMS history, its significance with a special reference to SSM history, Siddhars, the basic concept of SSM, its diagnostic procedures, materia medica and treatment. Conclusively, Siddha is one of the most ancient indigenous health practices despite its several thorny challenges and issues, which needs to be flagged effectively and to be preserved and revitalized in the international arena in the near future.

• 한국자기학회지
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.144-148
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• 2013

만유인력 등이 발견되기 전에, 자석은 서로 떨어진 물체 사이에 작용하는 유일한(특이한) 힘을 보여주는 마법적인 물질로 생각하였다. 그런 특성 때문인지, 동아시아에서는 자석이 약재로서도 널리 쓰였다. 이 글에서는 한국사 속의 자기에 관련된 기록 중 자석의 한방 응용에 관련된 기록을 정리하였다. 자석이 약재로서 어떤 효능을 가진 것으로 이해하였는지에 대한 기록을 정리하고, 자석을 약재로 하는 처방에 대한 기록, 그리고 실제로 우리 역사 속에서 자석이 들어간 약제를 복용한 사례에 대한 기록을 문헌을 중심으로 정리하였다.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.17-24
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• 2011

Bonchoyuham Nyoryeong(本草類函要領) shows how Donguibogam(東醫寶鑑) -Mirror of Eastern Medicine- is understood, digested into Korean medicine, and at the same time how it participated in the historical shaping of Korean medicine since the publishing in the early 17th century. The author, Hyeon Jae-deok, internalized the structure, content, and significance of Donguibogam and drew out a novel, concise, but comprehensive type of medical manual, while many other medical books since the 17century in Korea are estimated to have been an abridged edition of the Donguibogam. It may well be estimated as exemplar of the extent to which Donguibogam informed Korean medicine since the 17 century. The book shows as well how Bencao Gangmu(本草綱目) -Compendium of Materia Medica- and Donguibogam are merged and set a new medical stream in the 19th century Korea. Hyeon Jae-deok looked at the Bencao Gangmu from the lens of clinical treatment and prescription such that he focused on sections, elements, or parts of procedures, treatments, and prescriptions, not on the herbal taxonomic knowledge of the book. This perspective was embodied in Bonchoyuham(本草類函), which cited simple remedies, prescriptions, or treatments from Bencao Gangmu.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
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• pp.522-530
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• 2002

We have already known, neural progenitor cells exist not only in the developing brain, but in certain spots in adult CNS in mammals, so it will be of great value to find out some compounds which can interfere these cells proliferation ability. In this research, we observed that ginsenoside $Rg_1$ can not only enhance neural progenitors' proliferation ability in vitro, but increase neurogenesis in adult mouse dentate gyrus in vivo. Firstly, we set up neural progenitor cells' culture system from embryonic rats' hippocampus and prove their feature through immunocytochemistry. Then by using MTT assay, we found that when growing with ginsenoside $Rg_1(0.5\~2.5{\mu}mol/l)$, the progenitor cells' survival rate nearly doubled, furthermore, we proved that this increase was due to the increment of cell proliferation through $^3H-thimidine$ incorporation assay, hence, we drew the first conclusion: ginsenoside Rg1 has the ability to stimulate neural progenitor cells' proliferation in vitro; in order to observe this compound's effect in vivo, we devised the following experiment: after administering ginsenoside Rg1 (5, 10 mg/kg, once a day) intraperitoneally for two weeks, we examine the number of BrdU positive cells in the dentate gyrus of mice, and found that Rg1 could increase the number of proliferation cells significantly in vivo. From these studies, we are quite sure about Rg1's effects on the proliferation ability of neural progenitor cells both in vitro and in vivo, certain targets of the compound and its underlying mechanisms are in progress.

• 고려인삼학회:학술대회논문집
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• 고려인삼학회 2002년도 학술대회지
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• pp.456-466
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• 2002

Wild ginseng production is increasing due to forest recovery for last 30 years. Total number of Symmani (traditional mountain ginseng digger) was 558 in 2001. Provincial distribution of Symmani in 2001 was highest in Kangwon $(32\%),$ next in Choongbook $(21\%)$ and least in Jeonnam $(0.7\%)$ and Kyoungnam $(0.9\%).$ Age distribution of Symmani was $33\%\;for\;fourties,\;32\%$ for fifties and $20\%$ for sixties. There were 8 persons in eighties. Symmanies are still keeping traditional ritual for mountain god serving clothes of colored ribbons and foods. Increased production induced open market system from underground dealing of mountain ginseng. Korea Mountain Ginseng Association established mountain ginseng assessment committee with professional Symmanies in 2001. From September to November in 2001, 987 roots were requested for quality assessment to the committee and 476 roots $(48\%)$ were passed and graded and others were rejected. Highest frequency of rejection was foreign origin. Pass rate was highest $(74\%)$ in Choongnam suggesting best place for quality. Number of collected roots in each province was positively correlated (p=0.05) with number of Symmanies. There are 3 quality groups of mountain ginseng, Heaven (pure natural), Earth (from seeding of wild ginseng) and Man (from seeding or seedling of wild ginseng with slight environmental modification). The relationship between price and age was polynomial in high quality root, Heaven, Earth and seed long head of Man group, and linear in low quality group, seedling long head of Man. The best one in 2001 was 26 g, 124 years old and sold with 109 million won. Quality criteria are age, shape, weight, color and healthy outlook. Fine roots are criteria for health status of roots and taproot is criteria for efficacy and called as medicine barrel. The implication is that ginsenosides have rarely been experienced for efficacy. The quality criteria of cultivated ginseng were originated from those of mountain ginseng. It is unique for mountain ginseng that only fresh one can be on market. Since quality criteria of mountain ginseng must be based on the efficacy experience it is well expected that present criteria might almost be established at the age of Shinnong Materia Medica.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제45권6호
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• pp.726-733
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• 2021

Background: Panax notoginseng is a highly valued medicinal herb used widely in China and many Asian countries. Its root and rhizome have long been used for the treatment of cardiovascular and hematological diseases. Imaging the spatial distributions and dynamics of metabolites in heterogeneous plant tissues is significant for characterizing the metabolic networks of Panax notoginseng, and this will also provide a highly informative approach to understand the complex molecular changes in the processing of Panax notoginseng. Methods: Here, a high-sensitive MALDI-MS imaging method was developed and adopted to visualize the spatial distributions and spatiotemporal changes of metabolites in different botanical parts of Panax notoginseng. Results: A wide spectrum of metabolites including notoginsenosides, ginsenosides, amino acids, dencichine, gluconic acid, and low-molecular-weight organic acids were imaged in Panax notoginseng rhizome and root tissues for the first time. Moreover, the spatiotemporal alterations of metabolites during the steaming of Panax notoginseng root were also characterized in this study. And, a series of metabolites such as dencichine, arginine and glutamine that changed with the steaming of Panax notoginseng were successfully screened out and imaged. Conclusion: These spatially-resolved metabolite data not only enhance our understanding of the Panax notoginseng metabolic networks, but also provide direct evidence that a serious of metabolic alterations occurred during the steaming of Panax notoginseng.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.71-77
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• 2019

Previous studies have shown that spinosin was implicated in the modulation of sedation and hypnosis, while its effects on learning and memory deficits were rarely reported. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of spinosin on the improvement of cognitive impairment in model mice with Alzheimer's disease (AD) induced by $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ and determine the underlying mechanism. Spontaneous locomotion assessment and Morris water maze test were performed to investigate the impact of spinosin on behavioral activities, and the pathological changes were assayed by biochemical analyses and histological assay. After 7 days of intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration of spinosin ($100{\mu}g/kg/day$), the cognitive impairment of mice induced by $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ was significantly attenuated. Moreover, spinosin treatment effectively decreased the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) and $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ accumulation in hippocampus. $A{\beta}_{1-42}$ induced alterations in the expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), as well as inflammatory response in brain were also reversed by spinosin treatment. These results indicated that the ameliorating effect of spinosin on cognitive impairment might be mediated through the regulation of oxidative stress, inflammatory process, apoptotic program and neurotrophic factor expression,suggesting that spinosin might be beneficial to treat learning and memory deficits in patients with AD via multi-targets.