• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.273-277
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• 1995

Several metabolic modulators on the generation of carbon monoxide (CO)from dichloromethane (DCM) was examined in adult female rats. It has been known that DCM is converted to CO by cytochrome P-450 or to carbon dioxide $(CO_2)$ by glutathione-dependent metabolic reaction. In rats treated with DCM (3 mmol/kg, ip) only, the carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) level reached a peak of approximately 10% 2 or 3 hr following the treatment. Disulfiram (300 mg/kg, ip) or allylsulfide (200 mg/kg, po), both known as a selective inhibitior for cytochrome P-450 2E1, blocked the increase in COHb concentratlons almost completely suggesting that the metabolic conversion of DCM to CO is mediated by the activity of this specific type of isozyme. YH439 (125 or 250 mg/kg, po), a potential hepatoprotective agent, decreased the COHb elevation as well indicating that this chemical is a potent inhibitor for 2E1. In rats treated with pyrazine (200 mg/kg, ip) 18 hr prior to DCM the peak COHb concentration was decreased by approximately 3 or 4%. However, pretreatment of rats with pyrazine either 24 or 48 hr before DCM increased the peak COHb concentration significantly compared to the rats treated with DCM only. The results in the present study strongly suggest that the generation of CO from DCM depends on the 2E1 activity and that the pharmacological and/or toxicological action of YH439 or pyrazine in animals or human is associated with its effect on this isozyme.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.93-98
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• 2000

This study has been carried out to investigate general pharmacological action of bamboo salt (jukyom) in terms of effects on central nervous system and cardiovascular system in experimental animals. After bamboo salt, crude salt or reagent-grade NaCl were orally administered into male ICR mice with dose of 2.0 g/kg, general behavioural syndromes such as body weight and locomotor activity, spontaneous motor activity, pento-barbital-induced sleeping time, muscle incoordination, electroshock-induced convulsion, body temperature and writhing response caused by 0.6% acetic acid solution were observed. Bamboo salt had no influences in these indices for examinition of effect on central nervous system. Additionally, conscious male Sprague Dawley rats fastened overnight won ere treated with bamboo salt, crude salt or reagent-grade NaCl (2.0 g/kg, p.o.) to examine the effect of these salts cardiovascular system. Systolic, median and diastolic food pressure and heart rate were dertemined using tail cuff indirect method. Treatment with Hydralazine (50 mg/kg, p.o) as a positive control produced the decreases in systolic, median and diastolic blood treasure and an increase in heart rate. whereas no changes were observed in bamboo salt, crude salt and reagent-grade NaCl treated groups. These results strongly suggest that bamboo salt may have no effects on general pharmacology of central nervous systems and cardio-vascular systems.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.523-528
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• 2016

Urotensin II (UII) is a potent vasoactive peptide and mitogenic agent to induce proliferation of various cells including vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In this study, we examined the effects of a novel UII receptor (UT) antagonist, KR-36676, on vasoconstriction of aorta and proliferation of aortic SMCs. In rat aorta, UII-induced vasoconstriction was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In primary human aortic SMCs (hAoSMCs), UII-induced cell proliferation was significantly inhibited by KR-36676 in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, KR-36676 decreased UII-induced phosphorylation of ERK, and UII-induced cell proliferation was also significantly inhibited by a known ERK inhibitor U0126. In mouse carotid ligation model, intimal thickening of carotid artery was dramatically suppressed by oral treatment with KR-36676 (30 mg/kg/day) for 4 weeks compared to vehicle-treated group. From these results, it is indicated that KR-36676 suppress UII-induced proliferation of VSMCs at least partially through inhibition of ERK activation, and that it also attenuates UII-induced vasoconstriction and vascular neointima formation. Our study suggest that KR-36676 may be an attractive candidate for the pharmacological management of vascular dysfunction.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2012

Actinidia arguta (Actinidiaceae) has been reported to have several pharmacological effects such as anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, and anti-oxidant activities. The present study investigated the protective activity of an ethanol extract from the leaf and stem of A. arguta against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity using cultured rat cortical neurons. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to $500{\mu}M$ glutamate for 12 h triggered neuronal cell death. A. arguta inhibited glutamate-induced neuronal death and apoptosis, which were measured by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. The increase of pro-apoptotic proteins, Bax and c-caspase-3, in glutamate-treated neurons was significantly inhibited by treatment with A. arguta. A. arguta also inhibited $500{\mu}M$ glutamate-induced elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, which were measured by fluorescent dyes, Fluo-4 AM and $H_2DCF$-DA, respectively. These results suggest that A. arguta may prevent glutamate-induced apoptotic neuronal death by inhibiting $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ elevation and ROS generation and, therefore, may have a therapeutic role for the prevention of neurodegeneration in cerebral ischemic diseases.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.261-265
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• 2012

Xanthohumol was isolated from hops (Humulus lupulus L.), and then investigated anti-oxidant effect by AAPH-induced LLC-PK1 cell and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORCA) assays and MMP-12 inhibitory effect by direct MMP-12 inhibition assay. The treatment of xanthohumol protected LLC-PK1 cells from AAPH-induced cell damage such as cell viability, SOD and GSH-px reduction in a dose dependant manner (0.1, 1, and $5{\mu}M$), the SOD value was 2.98, 4.51, and 5.77 U/mg protein, and GSH-px value was 30.12, 49.32, and 60.11 U/mg protein. ORAC value of xanthohumol was showed as 4320, 12004, and $14209{\mu}M$ TE/g at the concentration 0.1, 1, and $5{\mu}M$, respectively. The change of SOD and GSH-px values was significantly correlated with the results of ORAC assay, that is, AAPH-induced cell and ORCA assays. In addition, inhibition of MMP-12 that is known to play an important role in skin aging was 14%, 37%, 46%, and 79% at the concentration of 0.01, 0.1, 1, and $5{\mu}M$, respectively. On the basis of these results, xanthohumol from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) showed interesting biological and pharmacological activity such as anti-oxidant effect and anti-aging.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.77-81
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• 2014

Mushrooms are considered not only as food but also for source of physiologically beneficial medicines. The culinary-medicinal mushrooms may important role in the prevention of age-associated neurological dysfunctions, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Hericium erinaceus (H. erinaceus), is edible mushrooms, is a parasitic fungus that grows hanging off of logs and trees and well established candidate for brain and nerve health. H. erinaceus contains high amounts of antioxidants, beta-glucan, polysaccharides and a potent catalyst for brain tissue regeneration and helps to improve memory and cognitive functions. Its fruiting bodies and the fungal mycelia exhibit various pharmacological activities, including the enhancement of the immune system, antitumor, hypoglycemic and anti-aging properties. H. erinaceus stimulates the synthesis of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) which is the primary protein nutrient responsible for enhancing and repairing neurological disorders. Especially hericenones and erinacines isolated from its fruitin body stimulate NGF, synthesis. This fungus is also utilized to regulate blood levels of glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol. H. erinaceus can be considered as useful therapeutic agents in the management and/or treatment of neurodegeneration diseases. However, this review focuses on in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials for neurodegerative disease.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.463-475
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• 1993

Pharmacological effects of lemakalim on cardiovascular system were investigated using isolated rat hearts and conscious SHRs subjected to hyperkalemic and hypokalemic condition. In the isolated hearts perfused with normal physiological salt solution(4.7 mM KCI), lemakalim increased cardiac function and coronary flow, and these effects were significantly potentiated under hypokalemic(1.2, 2.5 mM KCI), but attenuated under hyperkalemic(IO mM KCI) condition. In conscious SHRS, lemakalim(0.1, 0.2, 0.3mg/kg, p.o.) produced a dose-related decrease in systolic blood pressure, the maximal hypotensive effect being reached around 0.5 hr after dosing. The intensity and the duration of hypotensive effect of lemakalim were significantly increased when administered in combination with dihydrochlorothiazide (2 mg/kg, p.o.), but decreased with triamterene(32 mg/kg, p.o.). It appears that the differential effects of two types of diuretics on the hypotensive action of lemakalim are due to their hypokalemic and hyperkalemic action, respectively. It is conclued that the concomitant use of $K^{+}$ channel openers and hypokalemic diuretics may be an appropriate model of combination therapy in the treatment of hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1995

'Gyejakjimo-Tang(桂芍知母湯)', which is composed of Cinnamon bark(桂枝), Peony root(芍藥), Anemarrhena root(知母) and other seven herbs, is described as antipyretic, diuretic and analgesic prescription in traditional medical literatures including Geumgwe-Yoryak(金櫃要略). So it is being used in the treatment of gout clinically in oriental region. As the results of the pharmacological and biochemical trials of the prescription, it was found to have antiinflammatory and significant analgesic effects indicated by carrageenin edema, dye permeabilities and writhing behavior. And it potentiated the output of uric acid in blood and the increase of uric acid in urine of alcohol-toxicated rats, which mean the decrease of uric acid level only by excretion procedure. But the prescription didn't show any effects on the activities of adenine/guanine deaminase, purine nucleoside phosphorylase, xanthine oxidase or uricase, which are related with formation and metabolism of uric acid.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.68-77
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• 1996

Efficacy and general pharmacology of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHu-EPO), were investigated. Efficacy studies were conducted in normal, cisplatin- and acute hemorrhage-induced anemic rats. Normal and anemic animals were treated intravenously with rHu-EPO for 5 days and the changes in the numbers of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct) and reticulocytes (Ret) were examined. In normal rats, rHu-EPO significantly increased RBC, Hb, Hct and Ret at doses of 50∼ 1250 IU/kg/day. Cisplatin-induced anemic rats showed significant increase of RBC, Hb, Hct and Ret in a dose-dependent manner after administration of rHu-EPO (50∼200 lU/kg/day). And in acute hemorrhage-induced anemic rats, rHu-EPO(4∼100 Iu/kg/day) accelerated recovery of anemia with significant increase in Ret. These changes disappeared gradually after cessation of the treatment. The general pharmacological effects of rHu-EPO were investigated in mice, rats, guinea-pigs, rabbits and cats. rHu-EPO had no influences on central nervous, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and blood coagulation system. It also had no influence on the contraction of phrenic nerve-diaphragm preparation. rHu-EPO produced significant increase of urine volume at a dose of 7000 IU/kg. These results suggest that rHu-EPO might be useful for the therapy of anemia without serious side effect.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.153-162
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• 2016

Purpose: Music therapy is a non-pharmacological treatment of the behavioral and psychological symptoms. This study was conducted to contribute to the rehabilitation of patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in the areas of functionality, emotionality and sociability. Methods: The study included 35 participants, aged between 52 and 77 years, who were diagnosed with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and reported suffering from depression, chronic illness anticipated stigma, and worrying about quality of life. The patients were recruited from the department of outpatient neurology at School of Medicine, D University in B Metropolitan City. Group music therapy was performed for nine weeks. The results were analyzed by repeated measures ANOVA. Results: In terms of stigma, there were significant differences between two groups and time (p<.05). Analysis of the interaction between time and service method revealed significant differences (p<.05). Between time, and the interaction between time and service method revealed significant differences in terms of quality of life (p<.05). Conclusion: The results suggest that group music therapy will be effective on the psychosocial well-being of patients with Parkinson's disease living in assisted and independent living communities.