• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1821-1824
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• 2004

In order to investigate the effects of Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (RAB) on the growth and differentiation of human osteoblast-like cells, we supplemented the culture medium of MG-63 cells with various concentrations of RAB water extracts. RAB extracts significantly stimulated cell growth, as confirmed by the colorimetric MTT (3-dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. RAB extracts also increased the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, which is a osteoblast differentiation marker. These results suggest that RAB can stimulate osteoblastic activity and may represent new pharmacological tools for the treatment of osteoporosis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.120-126
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• 2013

Natural products have always been a pivotal source of new drug development. Dry roots of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Umbelliferae) is a perennial herb and is also known as Bang Pung in traditional medicine. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed the diverse pharmacological effects of S. divaricata and its role in the treatment of various diseases. This herb has exhibited significant inhibitory effects against inflammation and associated disorders. The present study explored the ethnopharmacological applications and molecular mechanisms behind the anti-inflammatory effects of S. divaricata herb and a single compound blockade of multi-signaling inflammatory cascades. Taken together, this review provides insight into the potential role of S. divaricata against various inflammatory diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.246-256
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• 2010

Atopic dermatitis is a common skin disease affecting up to 10% of children and approximately 2% of adults. Atopic dermatitis exhibits four major symptoms, including intense itching, dry skin, redness and exudation. The "itch-scratch-itch" cycle is one of the major features in atopic dermatitis. The pathophysiology and neurobiology of pruritus is unclear. Currently there are no single and universally effective pharmacological antipruritic drugs for treatment of atopic dermatitis. Thus, controlling of itch is a very important unmet need in patients suffering from atopic dermatitis. This article will update progress during the past 10 years of research in the field of pruritus of atopic dermatitis, focusing on aspects of pruritogens (including inflammatory lipids, histamine, serotonin, proteinases, proteinase-activating receptors, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and opioid peptides), antipruritic therapies, and emerging new targets. Based on recent progress, researchers expect to identify exciting possibilities for improved treatments and to develop new antipruritic drugs acting through novel targets, such as histamine H4 receptor, gastrin-releasing peptide receptor, MrgprA3, thromboxane A2 receptor and the putative SPC receptor.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.139-148
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• 1977

It is the purpose of this article to present a brief and systematical behavioral methods in recent developed behavioral pharmacology. Specifically, the present review has been organized around three major topics reflecting both current research emphasis in behavioral pharmacology and methodological applications to the study of psychopharmacological actions of crude drug or herb medicine. The first major topic focuses upon the appropriate experimental design especially in the study of psychopharmacology. A large number of factors should be controlled to have a bearing on design of studies reflecting to psychological effects of drugs. The second section presents several recent methodological developments in behavioral pharmacology involving Turner's screening methods and several types of conditioning techniques. The last section calls specific attention to the observation of behavioral development processes in relation to the activity of pharmacological agents and emphasizes critical period of drug treatment.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2008

Herbal medicine is the use of medicinal plants for prevention and treatment of diseases: it ranges from traditional and popular medicines of every country to the use of standardized and tritated herbal extracts. Generally cultural rootedness enduring and widespread use in a traditional medical system may indicate safety, but also efficacy of treatments, especially in herbal medicine where tradition is almost completely based on remedies containing active principles at very low and ultra low concentrations or relying on magical-energetic principles. The efficacy and safety assessments of medicines, whether modern or herbal, invariably encounter challenges or problems during the course of pre-clinical and clinical research. Some of the challenges in evidence-based herbal medicinal research are unique, and the researcher must be cognizant of them in order to safeguard the quality of the data obtained. Key challenges are: the quality of raw materials; appropriateness of biological/pharmacological activity assessment methodology, and data interpretation; standardization methodology; pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of active constituents and metabolites; clinical dosage formulation/production; and clinical study designs and outcome measures.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Military Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.920-931
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• 2011

Nerve agents are irreversible inhibitors of the cholinesterase enzyme. Exposure causes a progression of toxic signs, including hypersecretions, fasciculations, tremor, convulsions, respiratory distress, epileptiform seizures, brain injuries and death. A combined regimen of prophylaxis and therapy is the most effective medical countermeasure for dealing with the threat of nerve agent poisoning to military personnel. In this paper, the author investigated the updated technologies regarding various pre- and post-treatment drugs for nerve agents detoxification which are under development in several countries including Korea. Some characteristics of active ingredients in the formulations of drugs, their action mechanisms, and effectiveness were analyzed. Additionally, part of experimental data on the transdermal patch studied in ADD using beagle dogs was introduced.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.84-95
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• 2006

Costunolide is an active sesquiterpene lactone isolated from the root of Saussurea lappa Clarke and is known to exhibit a variety of biological activities, including anti-carcinogenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, the pharmacological pathways of costunolide have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, its cytotoxic effects were examined using AGS gastric cancer cells. Its treatment resulted in apoptosis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The effects were attributed to the regulation of pro-apoptotic molecules and suppression of anti-apoptotic molecules. These results suggest that costunolide may be a candidate to deal with gastric cancers by chemopreventive agents.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.186-192
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• 1990

This study was conducted to further purify and characterize a polysaccharide fraction from whole parts of Duchesnea indica (Andr.) Focke, which was previously reported to show an antitumor activity by us. Mild acid-treatment of the fraction by 5% acetic acid yielded three subtractions (Fr. A,B and C) on a Sephadex G-25. Fr. A was composed of uronic acid, hexose, pentose and phenolic substance, Fr. C mainly phenolic substance, and Fr. B contained hexose. All three fractions exhibited colony stimulating factor activity.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.299.3-300
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• 2002

Both of Semen (OF-Se) or stem (OF-Sf) of Opuntia ficus-indica Semen have been used as a healthful food or folk medicine in korea for the treatment of asthma. diabetes mellitus. aging, osteoporosis, rheumatic arthritis. constipation, cancer. gastric ulcer. constipation. toxic state, edema, etc, There are many reports that OF have the anti-gastric damage, wound healing, diabetes mellitus, monoamine oxidase B inhibitor etc. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.402.3-403
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• 2002

Cilostazol. a quinolinone derivative that inhibits phosphodiesterase. is used for the treatment of intermittent claudication resulting from peripheral arterial disease. In order to perform pharmacological and pharmacokinetic studies of cilostazol, specific. sensitive and reproducible analysis methods are demanded. Therefore. in the present study. an analytical method of cilostazol in human plasma was developed using semi-microbore HPLC equipped with automated column switching system. (omitted)