• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2008

Lipid soluble ginseng extract was administered by oral route in doses of 600 mg/patient daily in cancer patients over 2 months and 6 months. The administration of ginseng extract in cancer patients maintained the ratio of CD4/CD8 and number of the natural killer cell in the normal range during the administration period. Also its administration showed a positive effect on tumor values in 87.5% of patients in 2 month-group and in 50% of patients in 6 month-group, as determined by various cancer markers. Liver and kidney functions maintained normal condition during administration period of 6 months. Although there was no statistical significance, these data suggest that lipid soluble ginseng extract may be useful as an adjuvant therapeutic agent and nutritional supplement for the improvement of immune function and health in cancer patients. This study would provide the basis for the research in which the antitumor and immunopotential activity of lipid soluble ginseng extract for cancer patients are evaluated in formal clinical trial with statistically significant patient number.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.291-301
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• 2015

This study compared the in vitro cell viability and differentiation potentials of human deciduous dental pulp cells (DPCs) on mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA)-like products (ProRoot MTA, RetroMTA and Endocem Zr). The experimental materials were prepared as circular discs, which were used to test the effects of the materials on the viability of human DPCs when placed in direct and indirect contact. Furthermore, the pH of the extracted materials was recorded, and their effect on cell differentiation potential was evaluated by evaluating the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and Alizarin Red S staining of DPCs incubated with the test materials. In direct contact, the cell viability of human DPCs was higher with ProRoot MTA and RetroMTA than with Endocem Zr. However, when in indirect contact, the cell viability of human DPCs was generally higher in Endocem Zr than in ProRoot MTA and Retro MTA. With respect to pH, the alkalinity was lower for Endocem Zr than for the other test materials. The ALP activities of the cells were not enhanced by any of the experimental materials. Alizarin Red S staining of the tested human DPCs revealed that their differentiation potential was lower than for cells incubated with osteogenic induction medium. While there were differences in the responses of the human DPCs to the test materials, all displayed degrees of cytotoxicity and were unable to enhance either the viability or differentiation of human DPCs. However, Endocem Zr exhibited better cell viability and was less alkaline than the other test materials.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.295-302
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• 2016

Background: Reactive oxygen species play critical roles in homeostasis and cell signaling. Dexmedetomidine, a specific agonist of the ${\alpha}2$-adrenoceptor, has been commonly used for sedation, and it has been reported to have a protective effect against oxidative stress. In this study, we investigated whether dexmedetomidine has a protective effect against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and the mechanism of $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in normal human fetal osteoblast (hFOB) cells. Methods: Cells were divided into three groups: control group-cells were incubated in normoxia without dexmedetomidine, hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) group-cells were exposed to $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) for 2 h, and Dex/$H_2O_2$ group-cells were pretreated with dexmedetomidine ($5{\mu}M$) for 2 h then exposed to $H_2O_2$ ($200{\mu}M$) for 2 h. Cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated. Osteoblast maturation was determined by assaying bone nodular mineralization. Expression levels of bone-related proteins were determined by western blot. Results: Cell viability was significantly decreased in the $H_2O_2$ group compared with the control group, and this effect was improved by dexmedetomidine. The Hoechst 33342 and Annexin-V FITC/PI staining revealed that dexmedetomidine effectively decreased $H_2O_2$-induced hFOB cell apoptosis. Dexmedetomidine enhanced the mineralization of hFOB cells when compared to the $H_2O_2$ group. In western blot analysis, bone-related protein was increased in the Dex/$H_2O_2$ group. Conclusions: We demonstrated the potential therapeutic value of dexmedetomidine in $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by inhibiting apoptosis and enhancing osteoblast activity. Additionally, the current investigation could be evidence to support the antioxidant potential of dexmedetomidine in vitro.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.68-70
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• 2010

Puer tea is a traditional beverage originating from Yunnam area of China. It supplies basic nutrients such as vitamin C. It has been well reported that daily drinking of Puer tea can help the digestion and ease the stomachache after food intake. Puer tea also contains various polyphenols which may exert antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Because of these functional effects on digestive system we suspected if Puer tea can display any dietary effect or decrease the obesity after long-term drinking. We employed 6-week old SD rats as experimental animal and treated them with extract of Puer tea in relation to the body weights. Rats were divided into 5 groups (NC, PC, E, E+P, E+P5). NC group was experimental control and rest of them are as follows: water only (PC), water with exercise (E), water with exercise and Puer tea extract (E+P), water with exercise and 5X extract of Puer tea (E+P5). Feeding was carried out every day for 5 weeks by oral administration. Reduction rate of body weights was highest in E group. Relative ratio of losing weight was as follows: PC group (100.78%), E group (95.57%), E+P group (94.53%) and E+P5 group (74.22%), respectively. Exercise was more helpful to control the body weight. The result strongly suggests that Puer tea is highly effective to control the body weight and could be used for pharmaceutical purpose to treat obesity without side effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-17
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• 2007

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of LAB (Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum and Streptococcus thermophilus) on detoxication of damaged liver in carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) and ethanol (25%)-treated rats. Rats had been daily (twice a day) pre-treated with saline (0.5 ml/kg: untreated group), $CCl_4$ (0.5 ml/kg: other groups) for 6 days. At seventh day, after treating rat with $CCl_4$ and then, mixture of LAB ($10^{11}$/0.5 ml: LAB group), saline (0.5 ml/kg: untreated group, $CCl_4$ group), and biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (DDB) (50 mg/kg: DDB group) were treated orally with $CCl_4$ for 8 days. Ethanol is treated as the same manner instead of $CCl_4$. To investigate the hepatoprotective effect, rats treated with $CCl_4$ and ethanol were analyzed with serum GOT and GPT level. The GOT and GPT levels of LAB group was lower than the level of $CCl_4$ and DDB group. Especially, compared with data of $CCl_4$ group, GPT activity showed statistically significant result in the significance level of p < 0.05. The LAB group treated with ethanol also showed lower level of GOT and GPT than the other control groups treated with ethanol. The triglyceride level of serum decreased more in a group treated special materials (DDB and LAB group) than ethanol group. As well, the effect of LAB on the antifatigue has been investigated. The animals (10/group) were divided into 4 groups (untreated group, Carrier group, Red-ginseng group, LAB group). Each group was given carrier (0.9 mg/0.2 ml), red ginseng extract (200 mg/kg), and mixture of LAB ($10^{11}$/0.2 ml). Special materials were given for three weeks. After finishing treating through oral, horizontal wire test, rotarod test, and forced swimming test were performed. The time of resistance to fatigue of the group, fed with mixture of LAB, was longer than the time when mice treated with red-ginseng that the effect was already revealed. The result of this study revealed that LAB could decrease hepatocelluar injury compared with rats treated orally with $CCl_4$ and ethanol, and could also decrease fatigue.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2014

Objective : In this study, the addition of dried pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) was affected the anti-climacterium activity of red clover dry extracts (RC) in ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Materials and methods : After bilateral OVX surgery, RC 40 mg/kg, PCP 20 mg/kg and RC:PCP 2:1 mixture (g/g) 120, 60 and 30 mg/kg (of body weight) were orally administered, once a day for 84 days, and then the changes on the serum estradiol levels, abdominal fat pad and uterus weights were observed for estrogenic effects. In addition, liver weights, serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were also evaluated for hepatoprotective effects, and serum total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels were monitored for hypolipidemic effects. Results : As a result of OVX, the estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms, increments of abdominal fat pad weights, serum AST, ALT, TC, LDL and TG levels with decrease of uterus and liver weights, serum estradiol levels, were demonstrated. However, these estrogen-deficient climacterium symptoms induced by bilateral OVX in rats were significantly inhibited by continuous oral treatment of RC 40 mg/kg, PCP 20 mg/kg and RC:PCP 2:1 mixture (g/g) 120, 60 and 30 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusion : The results suggested that RC:PCP 2:1 mixtures synergistically increased the anti-climacterium effects of RC in OVX rats. It, therefore, is expected that RC:PCP 2:1 mixture will be promising as a new potent protective agents for relieving the climacterium symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.471-478
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• 2000

The pharmacokinetic properties of KR-V compounds, recently developed as new anti-HIV agents, were studied after i.v. and p.o. administration in rats. The concentrations of the KR-V series were determined in rat plasma using an high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV detection system. Of the 19 KR-V compounds investigated in the present study, only KR-V 3, 10, 14, 16 and 18-1 showed oral bioavailability. The plasma concentration-time data could be adequately described by an one-compartment open model. In the i.v. kinetic study (10mg/kg), the CLt of KR-V 3, 10, 14 and 16 (>4L/hr/kg) were significantly higher than that of KR-V 18-1 (1.1 L/hr/kg). The AUC of KR-V 18-1 was greater ($8.97{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml$) than that of the other compounds, but the Vd (0.58 L/kg) was lower. In the p.o. kinetic study (50mg/kg), although the t-1/2 of KR-V 18-1 was shorter than that of the other compounds, the AUC ($3.659{\mu}g{\cdot}hr/ml)$ and $C_{max}(1.891{\mu}g/ml$) were markedly higher. In a seperated in vitro experiment, only KR-V 18-1, of the 5 compounds with bioavailibility, exhibits potent activity against HIV-1 mutant strains. Therefore, KR-V 18-1 is expected to become a new potent anti-AIDS drug candidate/lead compound.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2010

Tae-Um-Jo-wee-Tang (TUJWT) and Do-Dam-Tang (DDT) have been used as an anti-obesity herbal medicine but their effect and mechanism of action have not been studied. We investigated the effects of TUJWT and DDT on energy and glucose homeostasis using Sprague Dawley female rats with diet-induced obesity. The mechanisms of action of TUJWT and DDT were studied whether they had anti-obesity effects. Rats fed a high-fat diet were divided into 3 groups: rats in each group received 2 g water extracts of modified TUJWT and DDT, or 2 g cellulose per kg body weight (a negative control) on a daily basis. A further group was fed a low-fat diet as a positive control. We found that DDT significantly decreased body weight and body fat (mesenteric fat and retroperitoneal fat) more than the control. This decrease was due to the reduction in energy intake but no changes of energy expenditure. However, DDT increased fat oxidation as a major energy source than the control. In addition, modified TUJWT and DDT improved glucose tolerance without changing serum insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test. In conclusion, DDT have a better anti-obesity effect than TUJWT by decreasing energy intake in female rats with diet-induced obesity. It also improves glucose tolerance.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.29-42
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• 1979

In order to observe metabolic effects of an oral conceptive, Norinyle, on female Guinea pig, the changes of ascorbic acid amount and alkaline phosphatase activity in the liver and serum were determined, and histochemical changes of the uterus were observed by microscopic and electronmicroscopic methods by administration of Norinyle with or without ascorbic acid. The results obtained are summerized as follows: 1) The metabolic changes were clearly influenced by the administration of Norinyle alone, but the changes were diminshed by administration of Norinyle with ascorbic acid. 2) The adimnistration of Norinyle influenced to increases the requirment of ascorbic acid in the liver. 3) The uterus weight of the Norinyle administered group was much increased, while the weight was less increased in the group of administered Norinyle with ascorbic acid than the control. 4) The Norinyle administration was brought about an atrophy of endometrium, of uterus especially, functional layer, that the formation of glands were inadequately and the fromation of basal layer and stroma were diminished. 5) An acute infarction on the all layers of the uterus was developed at 9th and 25th days of Norinyle administration and 20th day of Norinyle with ascorbic acid administration. 6) A hypertrophy of stromal and endovascular cells were observed on the groups administered of Norinyle alone(group II ) or Norinyle with ascorbic acid(group IV). 7) It was observed that amount of collagen fiber in the basal and muscular layeres of uterus were diminished under a microscopical observation by the special stained specimen on the Norinyle administered group, but the amount and distribution of reticulin fiber were not changed significantly. 8) The fille structure of outer functional layer of the uterus were significantly changed by administration of Norinyle which were shown irregurarity of nuclear membrane, poor development ana significant expansion of enaoplasmic reticulum, decreases of the amount of ribosome due to slip off, increases of the number of dense bodies, obvious formation of vaccule, an4 decreases the amount of collagen in inner and outer layer of the stroma. 9) The amount of ascorbic acid in the serum did not much changed but the amount in the liver was much decreased by the administration of Norinyle, And the administration of Norinyle with ascorbic acid induced for a significant diminishing on the changes of uterus which might be able to developed by the administration of Norinyle alone.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.71-82
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• 1996

This study has been undertaken to evaluate hydrophobic cyclodextrin(CD) derivatives as a sustained release carrier of azidothymidine(AZT), AZT, which has potent activity against AIDS and AIDS-related complex as thymidine analogue, has been reported that it has significant toxicity and short half life. Therefore, it is necessary to design sustained release oral dosage form to avoid undesirable side effects attributable to an excessive plasma concentration and to reduce the frequency of administration of AZT. Inclusion complexes of AZT with $acetyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin\;(AC{\beta}CD)$ and $triacetyl-{\beta}-cyclodextrin(TA{\beta}CD)$ were prepared by solvent evaporation method. Interactions of AZT with CD were investigated by Differential Scanning Calorimetry(DSC) and Infrared Spectrophotometry(IR). The decreasing order of water solubilities of AZT and AZT-CD inclusion complexes were as follows; $AZT\;(27.873{\pm}0.015,mg/ml)\;>\;AZT-AC{\beta}CD\;(3.377{\pm}0.003)\;>\;AZT-TA{\beta}CD\;(2.528{\pm}0.001)$. Partition coefficients of $AZT-AC{\beta}CD\;and;\AZT-TA{\beta}CD$ inclusion complexes were increased by 1.27-fold, 1.54-fold in pH 1.2 and 1.32-fold, 1.47-fold in pH 6.8 in comparison with that of AZT. The mean dissolution time (MDT, min) which represents the rapidity of dissolution rate of AZT, $AZT-AC{\beta}CD,\;AZT-TA{\beta}CD$ were 5.12, 14.02 and 19.38 min in pH 1.2 and 2.52, 15.19 and 18.19 min in pH 6.8. AZT was very rapidly and completely dissolved in pH 1.2 and pH 6.8 within 5 minutes. But AZT-CD inclusion complexes showed the sustained release pattern in comparison with AZT alone. The simultaneous in situ nasal and jejunal recirculation study to compare the intrinsic absorptivity and the property of absorption sites revealed that the absorption of $AZT-TA{\beta}CD\;(N:35.35{\pm}1.08%,\;J:27.47{\pm}1.18%)$ was more than that of $AZT\;(N:16.89{\pm}2.25%,\;J:15.86{\pm}2.33%)$. The above results suggest that $TA{\beta}CD$ which is a hydrophobic cyclodextrin may serve as sustained release carrier with absorption enhancing effect.