• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.289.1-289.1
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• 2002

Quercetin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in human diet has been reported to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of quercetin on hepatic fibrosis induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) in rats. Treatment with DMN caused a significant decrease in body and liver weight. Oral administration of quercetin (10 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks) remarkably prevented this DMN-induced loss in body and liver weight and inhibited the elevation of serum alanine transaminase. aspartate transaminase, and bilirubin levels. (omitted)

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.68-78
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• 2021

Secondary metabolites enable plants to protect themselves from herbivorous insects. Among these, cucurbitacin B (cuc-B) is a bitter-tasting compound with promising pharmacological potential. Dietary exposure to cuc-B lowered the hemolymph glucose levels of Drosophila melanogaster fed with a high carbohydrate diet, which is homologous to high blood glucose in humans, and its effect was comparable to that of metformin, a well-known glucose-lowering drug. Furthermore, cuc-B reduced tissue sugar levels and glycogen levels, as well as triacylglycerol levels. Our results thus highlight the potential applicability of this compound to treat chronic metabolic diseases such as diabetes and obesity. Additionally, we analyzed sleep quality and taste-associative memory enhancement after cuc-B and metformin treatment. Both supplements increased nighttime bout length and metformin increased memory consolidation. Therefore, discarded shell of Cucurbitaceae could be processed into health supplements.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2023

Marine bioactive substances (MBS), such as phlorotannins, collagens, peptides, sterols, and polysaccharides, are increasing attention as therapeutic agents for several diseases due to their pharmacological effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the biological activities of MBS including antibacterial, anticoagulant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory activities. Among numerous human diseases, periodontitis is one of the high-prevalence inflammatory diseases in the world. To treat periodontitis, several surgeries (bone grafting, flap surgery, and soft tissue graft) are usually used. However, the surgery for patients with chronic periodontitis induces several side effects, including additional inflammatory responses at the operated site, chronic wound healing, and secondary surgery. Therefore, this review assessed the most recent trends in MBS using Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science search engines to develop marine-derived therapeutic agents for periodontitis. Further, we summarized the current applications and therapeutic potential of MBS to serve as a reference for developing novel technologies applied to MBS against periodontitis treatment.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.117-125
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• 2022

Flavonoids are known to exert anti-inflammatory effects. Their pharmacological activities have been proved using various in vitro and in vivo models. Although their action spectrum and potencies are not adequate to alleviate acute inflammatory disorders, they have the potential to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. Recent investigations have revealed that inflammatory processes are involved in many disease processes and conditions. Some examples are skin disorders, cartilage diseases, metabolic inflammatory diseases, and aging. The effects of flavonoids on these disorders have been examined. Several possible application areas for flavonoids have been studied. Local treatment of these disorders with flavonoids is favorable to avoid systemic transformation. In this review, the findings based on the experimental results from my laboratory are summarized and the future possibility of using flavonoids clinically is discussed.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.44-51
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• 2016

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen presenting cells, and play an important role in the induction of antigen-specific adaptive immunity. However, some DC populations are involved in immune regulation and immune tolerance. These DC populations are believed to take part in the control of immune exaggeration and immune disorder, and maintain immune homeostasis in the body. Tolerogenic DCs (tolDCs) can be generated in vitro by genetic or pharmacological modification or by controlling the maturation stages of cytokine-derived DCs. These tolDCs have been investigated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in experimental animal models. In the last decade, several in vitro and in vivo approaches have been translated into clinical trials. As of 2015, three tolDC trials for RA are on the list of ClinicalTrial.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov). Other trials for RA are in progress and will be listed soon. In this review, we discuss the evolution of tolDC-based immunotherapy for RA and its limitations and future prospects.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.179-185
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• 2023

Bauhinia rufescens, Ocimum basilicum and Salvadora persica are well known plants used in African traditional medicine, especially in Chadian traditional medicine. They are mostly used in the treatment of infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, fever, and so on. Studies using various in vitro and in vivo bioassay techniques support the scientific rationale for most of these usages. In this review, ethnobotanical uses, chemistry of natural products, and pharmacological and clinical data for these plants are presented.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.166-178
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• 2024

Amid the worldwide increase in spinal surgery rates, a significant proportion of patients continue to experience refractory chronic pain, resulting in reduced quality of life and escalated healthcare demands. Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) is a clinical condition characterized by persistent or recurrent pain after one or more spinal surgeries. The diverse characteristics and stigmatizing descriptions of FBSS necessitate a reevaluation of its nomenclature to reflect its complexity more accurately. Accurate identification of the cause of FBSS is hampered by the complex nature of the syndrome and limitations of current diagnostic labels. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach that may include pharmacological treatment, physical therapy, psychological support, and interventional procedures, emphasizing realistic goal-setting and patient education. Further research is needed to increase our understanding, improve diagnostic accuracy, and develop more effective management strategies.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 2009

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been used as an important medicinal plant in the Orient for a long time. It has been claimed that ginseng has many beneficial bioactive effects on human health, such as antitumor, antistress, antiaging and enhancing immune functions. Red ginseng possibly have new ingredients converted during steaming and dry process from fresh ginseng. In this study, pharmacological efficacy and ingredient conversion of ginseng by 9 repetitive steaming and drying process were investigated measuring conversion efficiency of acidic-polysaccharide, phenolic compounds and inhibition of peroxide lipides. It was found that acidic-polysaccarides were increased by heat treatment. In addition, maltol of phenolic compounds, strong antioxidant, produced during the process of red ginseng by Maillard reaction. Acidic-polysaccarides and maltol were increased after the 1st and 3rd steaming and drying treatments, but they were decreased gradually after 5th, 7th, and 9th treatments. Antioxidant activity was increased as increasing treatment times of steaming and drying without significance. Effect of red ginseng extract on inhibition of peroxide was increased gradually until after the 7th treatment, but remarkably decreased after the 9th treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.2 no.1 s.2
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• pp.73-91
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• 1999

This study was carried out to invastigate the researches of Snake Venom and snakes which used in treatment 1. The fist literature that used the snake for treatment is Shin Nong Ben Cao Jing 2. Composition of Snake Venom is consist of Enzymatic proteins ; Phospholipase A(A1-2), Protease, L-amino acid oxidase etc, and Non-enzymatic proteins ; Crotamine(Cytolysin), Proteolytic factor(Hematoxin), Crotoxin(Neurotoxin) etc. 3. Main toxins in Snake Venom are Hematoxin, Cytolysin, Neurotoxin and Cardiotoxin. Lethal dose 50 value of Agkistrodon brevicaudus is $45.87{\mu}g$/18g, Agkistrodon saxatilis is $10.28{\mu}g$/18g, Agkistrodon ussuriensis is $8.68{\mu}g$/18g, therefore Agkistrodon ussuriensis has strongist Snake Venom of all in Korea. 4. Pharmacological actions of Snake Venom are anticoagulation, thrombolytic function, hypotensor etc. 5. Systemic syndromes and signs after snakebite are Dizziness(25.7%), Vomitting(23.1%), Fever(22%), Visual disturbance(18%), Headache(17.7%) and Dyspnea(17.6%), etc. 6. Local syndrome and sign after snakebite is Discoloration(54.2%), Bleeding(20.2%), Bullae(10.7%), Skinulcer(10.8%), etc. 7. Pathological syndromes after snakebite are WBC increase, Urine protein, Urine sugar, Haematuria and elevation of S-GDT, S-GPT etc. These syndromes are leaded by Hematoxin and Cytolysin. 8. Complication signs after snakebite are Cellulitis, Gastritis, Lympoma, Abscess etc. 9. Common function of Viperidae(Agkistrodon acutus or Zaocys dhumnades etc) is expelling the wind(祛風), removing obstruction in the channels(通絡), antipastic function(止痙). And it is used in order to cure hemiparesis, hemiplegia, facial palsy and CVA disease, etc. 10. Using way of snake for medical treatment is various like Herbal alchol therapy, pill, powder and injection etc. The Study on the Snake Venom should be carried out continuously for using of medical treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.6
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• pp.536-544
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• 2009

Background: A combination of salmeterol and fluticasone propionate (SFC) and tiotropium bromide (TIO) is commonly prescribed for COPD patients but there is little data on their effectiveness, particularly in COPD patients with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. This study compared the spirometric improvement based on the change in $FEV_1$, $FEV_1$/FVC, and IC as well as the clinical outcomes of the therapeutic strategies with SFC and TIO versus the individual components in patients with severe COPD and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Methods: This study examined the spirometric data and clinical outcomes of 214 patients with COPD and hyperresponsiveness, who were divided into three groups according to the therapeutic regimen (TIO only, SFC only, and a triple therapy regimen). Results: All regimen groups showed early improvement in the $FEV_1$ and IC (at 3- and 6 months after treatment). However, long-term beneficial effects were observed only in the SFC group (at 24 months after treatment). However, these beneficial effects decreased after a 36-month follow up. In all spirometric results, the 12-, 24-, and 36-months data showed a similar degree of improvement in the three groups. The triple therapy group showed higher St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire scores and lower acute exacerbations and hospitalization. Conclusion: SFC can be a more important component in the pharmacological treatment of severe COPD patients with hyperresponsiveness than TIO, particularly in the spirometric and clinical outcomes.