• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.226-230
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• 1999

We have isolated a sesquiterpene lactone, cumambrin A from the dried flowers of Chrysanthemum boreale Makino and reported its chemical structure. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the exogenous administration of cumambrin A has a pharmacological effect on normalization of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In vitro studies: Relaxative response induced by cumainbrin A was increased with dose-dependent manner and showed maximizing response at a concentration of $5{\times}10^{-4}M$. Further, this relaxative response was significantly increased at a condition of endothelium present than that of endothelium denuded. In vivo studies: The normalizing effect of cumambrin A on blood pressure was also increased with time-dependent manner and then gradually recovered to normal condition at approximately 4 hrs after cumambrin A treatment.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.41-47
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• 2016

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common causes of dementia. It can exhibit a variety of clinical symptoms including cognitive decline, cognitive fluctuation, visual hallucinations, parkinsonism, REM sleep behavior disorder, hypersensitivity to neuroleptics and autonomic dysfunctions. Despite more well-known criteria for DLB, there are often misdiagnosis and inappropriate treatment. It gives a lot of clinical burden to the clinician as well as to patients and families. When reducing the misdiagnosis, the burden of all will be reduced. The special concern and solicitation are needed in order not to miss the diagnosis when the cardinal features of DLB may not be volunteered by patients and the caregivers. To control the symptoms, clinicians must find and reduce drugs that can have the negative effects on DLB symptoms. There is limited evidence about specific interventions but available data suggest cholinesterase inhibitors improve the cognitive and behavioral symptoms and menmantine slightly improves the global impression.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.274-281
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• 2011

Pharmacological approaches have been included in conventional medical treatment for insomnia or sleep disorders. However, long-term use of frequently prescribed medications can often lead to habituation, critical withdrawal symptoms and/or side effects. Some individuals with insomnia or trouble sleeping have used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to treat their conditions. Recently, CAMs or herbs have been attractive alternative medications to many patients with sleep disorders who may be averse to using conventional drugs. We reviewed the most widely available sleep-promoting herbs commonly used in the western and oriental countries.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.11-25
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• 2007

Bronchial asthma is a major public health problem worldwide and the morbidity and mortality of asthma have increased in last few decades. There is high prevalence of usage of alternative traditional system of medicines for the treatment of asthma. Large numbers of medicinal plant preparations have been reported to possess anti-asthmatic effects. Plant cells are now considered to be the chemical factories synthesizing a large variety of chemical compounds. Further, Ayurvedic system of medicine has an elaborate description of asthma from the earliest times describing it as 'Shwasa' meaning disease pertaining to breathing. This review classifies the antiasthmatics herbs based on the possible mechanism of action reported. Thus, these plants can be used to obtain a polyherbal formulation which contains various herbs acting at particular sites of the pathophysiological cascade of asthma for prophylaxis as well as for the treatment of asthma.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 1971

The histological structures of Buxus koreana were studied by cross section and compared with those of Buxus koreana var. elongata, B. koreana var. insularis, B. microphylla subsp. sinica (Taiwan) and B. liukiuensis(Okinawa). Many different points showed that B. koreana var. insularis is similar to B. microphylla subsp. sinica while B. koreana to B. liukiuensis. The extracts of Buxus koreana by three solvents are as follows: ether ext. 3.34%, dilute alcohol ext. 16.98%, water ext. 11.67%. The total alkaloid of Buxus koreana is approximately 0.01%. The general pharmacological effects of dilute alcohol ext. of Buxus koreana were studied and the following conclusions were obtained. Contraction of excised uterus of rabbit was augmented by treatment of dilute alcohol ext. Motility of excised intestine of rabbit was stopped for a moment and stimulated at once by treatment of dilute alcohol ext.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2008

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness and problems in other higher cognitive processes such as executive function deficits. Currently, there are many treatment modalities, of which pharmacotherapy is the most strongly supported by scientific and clinical evidence. Stimulants, which are first choice in the pharmacological treatment of ADHD, block dopamine reuptake by binding the dopamine transporter and so increasing the concentration of dopamine in synaptic clefts. Stimulants are effective in improving core ADHD symptoms, as well as the nonspecific symptoms, such as aggressiveness and oppositional behavior. Frequently reported short-term adverse effects are decreased appetite, sleep disturbance, headache, dizziness and irritability. Although questions have been raised about the long-term side effects of stimulants, including growth suppression, cardiovascular events, and abuse potential, there is no clear evidence to support these concerns.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 2014

Non-pharmacological treatments have long been used for paraphilia or sexual offenders, but few clinical studies were conducted. However, recently there were issued cognitive behavioral therapy of paraphilia or sexual offenders based on the research findings obtained so far. In addition, there were the changes of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder by American Psychiatric Association at 2014. The methods of cognitive behavioral therapy for paraphilia or sexual offenders were electric aversion therapy, olfactory aversion therapy, ammonia aversion therapy, covert sensitization, masturbatory reconditioning, directed masturbation, verbal satiation, social skill training, assertiveness training etc. By synthesizing the newly reported foreign guidelines for treatment and review articles, the aim of this study is to investigate the non-pharmacologic therapies used for treatment of paraphilia or sexual offenders.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.297-307
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• 2002

We have isolated a sesquiterpene lactone, cumambrin A from the dried flowers of Chrysanthemum boreale Makino and reported its chemical structure. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the exogenous administration of cumambrin A has a pharmacological effect on normalization of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In vitro studies: Relaxative response induced by cumambrin A was increased with dose-dependent manner and showed maximizing response at a concentration of 5?0-4 M. Further, this relaxative response was significantly increased at a condition of endothelium present than that of endothelium denuded. in vivo studies: The normalizing effect of cumambrin A on blood pressure was also increased with time-dependent manner and then gradually recovered to normal condition at approximately 4 hrs after cumambrin A treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2012

Sarsasapogenin (SAR) is a steroidal sapogenin that is used as starting material for the industrial synthesis of steroids. It has various pharmacological benefits, such as antitumor and antidepressant activities. Since its effect on melanin biosynthesis has not been reported, we used murine melanocyte melan-a cells to investigate whether SAR influences melanogenesis. In this study, SAR significantly increased the melanin content of the melan-a cells from 1 to 10 ${\mu}M$. Based on an enzymatic activity assay using melan-a cell lysate, SAR had no effect on tyrosinase and DOPAchrome tautomerase activities. It also did not affect the protein expression of tyrosinase-related protein 1 and DOPAchrome tautomerase. However, protein levels of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor were strongly stimulated by treatment with SAR. Therefore, our reports suggest that SAR treatment may induce melanogenesis through the stimulation of tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor expression in melan-a cells.

• The Korean Journal of Medicine
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• v.93 no.6
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• pp.501-508
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• 2018

Obesity is a chronic disorder that is a significant risk factor for diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, malignancy, and other chronic diseases. Lifestyle modifications form the basis of most treatments for obesity, but it has become clear that such modifications alone are not enough for many obese patients. When a behavioral approach is insufficient, pharmacological treatment may be recommended. In recent years, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has withdrawn several therapeutic options for obesity due to their side effects, but has approved four novel anti-obesity agents. Until recently, orlistat was the only drug approved for the management of long-term obesity, but the US FDA approved the novel anti-obesity drugs lorcaserin and phentermine/topiramate in 2012, and naltrexone/bupropion and liraglutide in 2014. The present review discusses the different pharmacotherapeutic options for the treatment of obesity.