• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.119-130
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• 2013

Objectives : Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause for vascular complications such as atherosclerosis. The present study is to investigate whether Doinseunggi-tang (DST) improves diabetic vascular dysfunction in type II diabetes. Methods : The db/db mice were treated with high fat/high cholesterol diet and DST (200 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Results : DST significantly lowered blood glucose and systolic blood pressure. In addition, DST also markedly decreased total plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol, whereas increased the HDL-cholesterol. Vascular relaxation of aortic rings by acetylcholine or SNP was ameliorated by DST in a dose-dependent manner. Damage of vascular intima and hypertrophic of media was improved by DST. Immunohistological study revealed that DST attenuated the increase of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ET-1 expression in thoracic aorta. Conclusions : Taken together, DST suppressed hyperglycemia and diabetic vascular dysfunction in type II db/db mice. The present data suggests that Doinseunggi-tang may be prevent a development of diabetic atherosclerosis.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.89-99
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• 2019

Objectives The purpose of this study is to report a case of a child with alopecia areata who was reintroduced with the same herbal treatment that was used before. Methods The patient was treated for 10 months with the herbal medicine. After a relapse, this patient took the same herbal medicine for another 2 months. Results After the treatment, the patient's hair loss and hair conditions were improved. After a relapse, alopecia areata was resolved by reintroducing the same herbal medicine treatment, and the condition was maintained well for several months even after the end of the treatment. Conclusion This study shows the effects of the herbal medicine for alopecia areata in a child. However, further studies are needed, including long-term follow-up studies after the end of the treatment.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.130-135
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• 1998

The water extracts of 83 oriental herbal medicines (Hanbang) which have been clinically used to treat bacterial infections in Korea were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity by the paper disc assay method. Two Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus SG 511, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, and two Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli 055, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027 were used as test organisms. Among the extracts tested, MeOH extract of Baenongtang showed remarkably potent antibacterial activity. Activity-guided chromatographic fractionations of the $CH_2Cl_2$ extract of Baenongtang afforded seven antibacterial compounds.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 1998

The water extracts of oriental herbal medicines which have been clinically used to treat bacterial infections in Korea were screened for in vitro antibacterial activity by the paper disc assay method. Two Gram positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus SG511, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 and two Gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli 055, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027 were used as test organisms. Among 83 of the extracts tested, 25 were active against Staphylococcus aureus SG511, 9 were active against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, while none showed inhibitory activity against Eschelichia coli 055 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 9027. Among them, Hwangyonhaedoktang plus hwangyon, Chongwisan, and Ssangbaksan showed remarkably potent antibacterial activity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.176-188
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• 2002

Objective : Sono-acupoint (SA) therapy is a new therapeutic technique that combined with acupuncture points, herbal medicine and ultrasound therapy. This study was carried out to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of sono-acupoint therapy. Methods : We performed the tail-flick test with normal rats to examine the tail-flick latency (TFL), and the Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model to examine the edema, skin temperature and serum concentration of c-reactive protein and rheumatoid factor (RF). Herbal SA (HSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the hanbang-gel made of several selected herbal drugs in Sprague-Dawley rats (male, $250{\pm}30g$). General SA (GSA) treatment was performed at bilateral Zusanli (ST36) with the gel used in ultrasound therapy. In arthritis rat model, Freund's adjuvant (50mg/ml) was injected in dorsal part of right foot, and these treatments were performed after 15 days. Results : TFL was lengthened after SA treatments. Skin temperature and RF concentration that were the evidence of arthritis in rats were decreased by HSA treatment (P < 0.05). Conclusion : These results indicate that HSA has the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in rats, and further developments will produce the advance of this new therapeutic skill.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2016

Many medicinal plants have been used for the treatment of edema, jaundice, and gonorrhea in traditional Oriental medicine. This screening study was designed to search the positive inotropic effects of herbal extracts in beating rabbit atria. Aquarius extracts of twenty six herbs were examined in atrial mechanical dynamics such as pulse pressure and stroke volume and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), one of the main hormones involved in the regulation of the body fluid and blood pressure homeostasis in perfused beating rabbit atria. Sophora flavescens Ait., Rheum officinale Baill., Acorus gramineus Sol., Chelidonium majus L., Pulsatilla koreana Nakai., Reynoutria japonica Houtt., Euphorbia lathyris L., Pyrrosia lingua (Thunb.) Farwell, Poncirus trifoliata Rafin., Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge, Kochia scoparia Schrad. significantly increased stroke volume and pulse pressure. However, those herbal extracts were not induced ANP secretion. We clarified the eleven herbal extracts for the positive inotropic effect independent of ANP secretion in beating rabbit atria. Thus these results provide a beneficial data for the treatment of the impairment of body fluid and blood pressure in traditional Oriental medicine.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2013

Objective : Lithospermum Erythrorhizon (LE) has been used as an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory agent. However, it is unclear that LE aqueous extract could show the anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of aqueous extract from LE on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - induced inflammatory response. Methods : To measure out the cytotoxicity of LE, we performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of LE, we examined the inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin, (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and (IL)-6) on RAW 264.7 cells. We also examined molecular mechanisms such as mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and nuclear factor-B (NF-${\kappa}B$) activation by western blot. Results : Aqueous Extract from LE itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. Aqueous extract from LE inhibited LPS-induced productions of inflammatory mediators such as NO, $PGE_2$, and pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 in RAW 264.7cells. In addition, LE inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 kinases (p38), c-Jun $NH_2$-terminal kinase (JNK), and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : LE down-regulated LPS-induced production of inflammatory mediators through the inhibition of p38, JNK and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Taken together, these results could provide the evidence for the anti-inflammatory effects of LE. Therefore, LE may be a novel target in the management of inflammation and help to support a potential strategy for prevention and therapy of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.291-297
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• 2017

This study was aimed to secure the basis for developing the hangbang-tea may help promote healthy blood vessels by natural herbal ingredients formulated in accordance with the basic principles of oriental medicinal theory. We investigated the vessels contracted by concentrations and safety assessment carried out by the cell viability of Taraxaci Herba, Gardeniae Fructus, Chrysanthemum indicum and Lonicerae Flos composition and concentration. We found cell survival were higher than the control group show a beneficial trend in the growth of normal liver and kidney cells. As a results of this study will be the basis to develop the hangbang-tea differentiated in the future oriental medicine resources. Medicinal resources will be hangbang-tea based on clinical trials utilizing herbal western and oriental medicine convergence principle and vascular relaxation mechanism.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.848-853
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• 2010

Bone maintains its homeostasis through balance between bone resorbing osteoclasts and bone forming osteoblasts. Thus, unusual balance between osteoclasts and osteoblasts leads to pathological bone diseases, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmune arthritis, periodontitis. Schisandra chinensis well known traditional herbal has been used for treatment of diseases in China, Korea, Japan, andothers. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that the lignans found in Schisandra chinensis stimulate osteoblasts and suggest that it may be helpful against osteoporosis. However, the inhibitory effect of water extract of Schisandra chinensis on osteoclast differentiation remains largely unknown. In this study, Water extract of Schisandra chinensis markedly suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation in cultures of BMMs without cytotoxicity. The mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, and TRAP induced by RANKL was inhibited by water extract of Schisandra chinensis. It also suppressed c-Fos and NFATc1 protein expression. Taken together, these results suggest that water extract of Schisandra chinensis has the potential to serve as a treatment of bone disease such as osteoporosis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2011

Ionizing radiation can be used to improve the color of green tea extract to brighter. As a result, the irradiated green tea extract can be applied easier and broader in food or cosmetic industry. To confirm the retention of the biological activities of the cosmetic products added with green tea polyphenols (PPs), the real cosmetic products including a skin lotion (PS) and an essence (PE) cream were manufactured. Irradiation also applied to the manufactured cosmetic products to see their improvement of color and changes of biological activity. The PP showed 72% of electron donating ability (EDA) at a 5 ppm concentration and the PS and PE containing 2% PP showed higher than 60%, which was similar inhibition activity to vitamin C. The inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of PP, PS, and PE were higher than 55% at a 500 ppm concentration and the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XOase) were also higher than 65% at a 200 ppm concentration. The measurement of lipid oxidation by addition of $Cu^{2+}$ and $Fe^{2+}$ as prooxidants showed that PP and PS had higher metal chelating ability for $Fe^{2+}$ than that of PE and the ability increased by increase of polyphenol concentration isolated from green tea. The $Cu^{2+}$ chelating ability of PP and PS showed higher than 90% at a 200 ppm concentration. Therefore, it is concluded that addition of PP in manufacturing PS and PE retains its biological activities including EDA, inhibition of XOase and SOD-like activity, and metal chelating ability in the manufactured cosmetic products. In addition, irradiation of PS and PE improved color of the products containing PP brighter without any adverse changes in biological activity of the products.