• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2018

It is noted that chalcone derivatives have characteristic diverse pharmacological properties, and that precise evidence has been growing that they could regulate a tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) induced insulin resistance. The purpose of the present investigation is to elucidate the effects of the identified chalcone derivatives on adipogenesis, and to find the underlying mechanism of action in that case. Consequently, we first investigated whether the chalcone derivatives could affect the identified $PPAR{\gamma}$-induced transcriptional activity on the proliferator-activated receptor response elements (PPRE) at target promoters, and find that trans-chalcone most significantly increased the $PPAR{\gamma}$-induced transcriptional activity. Additionally, we confirmed that there were up-regulatory effects of trans-chalcone during the adipogenesis and lipid accumulation, and on the mRNA of adipogenic factors in 3T3-L1 cells. Next, we examined the effect of trans-chalcone on the inhibition induced by $TNF-{\alpha}$ on adipogenesis. To that end, we noted that the treatment with trans-chalcone attenuated the effect of $TNF-{\alpha}$ mediated secretion of various adipokines that are involved in insulin sensitivity. For this reason, we noted that this study clearly demonstrates that trans-chalcone enhanced adipogenesis, in part, by its potent effect on $PPAR{\gamma}$ activation and by its reverse effect on $TNF-{\alpha}$.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.347-352
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng (PG) has a long history of use in Asian medicine because of its multiple pharmacological activities. It has been considered that PG in a type of white ginseng may induce undesirable thermogenic effects, but not in a type of red ginseng. However, there is a lack of evidence about the correlation between ginsenoside and thermogenesis. Methods: We investigated the effects of PG with different ginsenoside compositions on body temperature, blood pressure, and thermogenesis-related factors in rats. Results: With increasing steaming time (0 h, 3 h, 6 h, and 9 h), the production of protopanaxadiol ginsenosides increased, whereas protopanaxatriol ginsenosides decreased in white ginseng. In both short- and long-term studies, administration of four ginseng extracts prepared at different steaming times did not induce significant changes in body temperature (skin, tail, and rectum) and blood pressure of rats compared to saline control. In addition, there were no significant differences in the molecular markers related to thermogenesis (p > 0.05), mRNA expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-$1{\alpha}$ and uncoupling protein 1 in brown adipose tissue, as well as the serum levels of interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nitrite among the treatment groups. Conclusion: These observations indicate that the potential undesirable effects of PG on body temperature could not be explained by the difference in ginsenoside composition.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.498-505
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• 2009

The plant Agastache rugosa Kuntze has various physiological and pharmacological activities. Especially, it has been regarded as a valuable source for the treatment of anti-inflammatory and oxidative stress-induced disorders. However, little has been known about the functional role of it on oxidative damage in mammalian cells by ROS. In this study, we investigated the DPPH radical, hydroxyl radical, hydrogen peroxide and intracellular ROS scavenging capacity, and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity of the extracts from Agastache rugosa. In addition, we evaluated whether the extract can be capable of reducing $H_2O_2$-induced DNA and cell damage in NIH 3T3 cells. These extracts showed a dose-dependent free radical scavenging capacity and a protective effect on DNA damage and the lipid peroxidation causing the cell damage by $H_2O_2$. Therefore, these results suggest that Agastache rugosa is useful as a herbal medicine for the chemoprevention against oxidative carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.188-194
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• 2014

Objectives : In this study, we investigated the effect of ethanol extract from Rosa rugosa Thunb. flowers(ERF) on the activities of antioxidant, antiwrinkle and whitening. Methods : We measured antioxidant efficacy of ERF by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) assay. Also we confirmed the inhibitory effect of ERF on collagenase activity and melanin synthesis by using collagenase assay kit and dihydroxiphenylalanine staining, respectively. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of ERF, we examined the inflammatory mediator IL-6. Results : ERF showed highly efficacy in DPPH radical scavenging activity. ERF dose-dependently suppressed collagenase activity. Ultraviolet-induced production of IL-6 decreased by ERF treatment. In B16F10 cell, ERF significantly reduced tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis. Conclusions : From the above results, it was indicated that ERF could be utilized as anti-aging and whitening cosmetic ingredients.

• Journal of Korean Biological Nursing Science
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.49-57
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• 2005

There have been many trials of clinical efficacy of multi component and single component treatments for irritable bowel syndrome(IBS). We reviewed effects of non phamacological treatments in the IBS. Though the efficacy of multi-component approaches was unclear, several results suggest that cognitive behavioral therapy was effective in improving gastrointestinal symptoms of IBS. As a single component, cognitive therapy and relaxation with or without biofeedback could improve the symptoms and psychological health of IBS patients. Yoga, meditation, self-help information and hypnotherapy could be applicable to IBS.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.161-172
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• 1994

This study was conducted to examine DA-3002, a biosynthetic human growth hormone, for its acute and subacute toxicities in mice and rats. The drug was administered subcutaneously and orally at a dose level of 1.0, 3.0, 8.9, 26.7 or 80.0 lU/kg once for single dose toxicity and given subcutaneously at a dose level of 0.34, 1.7 or 8.4 lU/kg daily for 13 weeks to investigate repeated dose toxicity. In the acute toxicity study, doses up to 80 lU/kg had no adverse effect on the behavior or body weight gain. Pathological examinations revealed no abnormal changes which could be attributed to toxic effect of DA-3002. In the subacute toxicity study, the growth hormone was tolerated well in broth mice and rats. No drug related deaths occurred and all animals appeared to be normal throughout the dosing period. Increases in body weight gain, food utilisation and absolute organ weights were observed in the rats in the high dose group. Mild changes in the blood chemical parameters were also seen in the treated groups. Histopathologically, however, no abnormal changes were observed in any organ. The changes noted during the treatment periods presumably represent exaggerated pharmacological effects of the growth hormone, and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be more than 8.4 lu/kg/day.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.144-148
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• 1993

The present study was undertaken to compare the pharmacological activities of crude Lithospermi radix reported with the clinical uses in the oriental medicine. Crude Lithospermi radix uesd for the treatment of burn, eczema, blister, diuretic, scarlet fever and septicemia as antipyretic, antidotic and antiphlogistics. Therefore we tested the effects of Lithospermi radix water extract on the liver-protective activities in the rats. The results obtained from enzyme assay, measurement of serum and liver alanine. aspartate aminotransferase(ALT, AST) and lipid composition indicated that Lithospermi radix water extract showed significant liver-protective activities against benzo(a)pyrene-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.156-159
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• 2017

Some species of traditional herbal medicine has a history of use, most traditional natural herbs have been used for various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity. Among them, Passiflora incarnata L. is a traditional natural medicine, flowers as well as berries, roots, and leaves have been used as a medicine. It has been used as a natural medicine for the treatment of insomnia and anxiety for a longtime in Europe, and it has been used primarily for sedation tea in North America. Moreover, Passiflora incarnata L. is widely used anti-asthmatic, analgesic and sedation in Brazil. In other words, Passiflora incarnata L. has been used to treat a sedative, dysmenorrhea, insomnia, cancer, etc. in many countries. Present review of the plants showed a wide range of pharmacological activity in anxiolytic relax the clinical disease, such as anti-inflammatory, anxiety and antioxidant. In addition, Passiflora incarnata L. affects menopause symptoms such as vasomotor symptoms, insomnia, and depression. This review aims to provide the latest information on specific functional components of Passiflora incarnata L. especially the results of clinical trials will provide new insights into opportunities for the future development of natural medicines and doors will be used for purposes of analysis.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.427-448
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• 2019

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) and its receptor, nociceptin opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, are localized in brain areas implicated in depression including the amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, habenula, and monoaminergic nuclei in the brain stem. N/OFQ inhibits neuronal excitability of monoaminergic neurons and monoamine release from their terminals by activation of G protein-coupled inwardly rectifying $K^+$ channels and inhibition of voltage sensitive calcium channels, respectively. Therefore, NOP receptor antagonists have been proposed as a potential antidepressant. Indeed, mounting evidence shows that NOP receptor antagonists have antidepressant-like effects in various preclinical animal models of depression, and recent clinical studies again confirmed the idea that blockade of NOP receptor signaling could provide a novel strategy for the treatment of depression. In this review, we describe the pharmacological effects of N/OFQ in relation to depression and explore the possible mechanism of NOP receptor antagonists as potential antidepressants.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.64-69
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• 2006

Gap junctional channels, allowing rapid intercellular communication and synchronization of coupled cell activities, play crucial roles in many signaling processes, including a variety of cell activities. Consequently, a modulation of the gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) should be a potential pharmacological target. In the present, the GJIC of a epithelial-derived rat mammary cells (BICR-M1Rk) was assessed in the presence of ginseng saponin, by using an established method of scrape-loading dye transfer assay. The transfer of Lucifer yellow (diameter: 1.2 nm) among the neighboring BICR-M1Rk cells, in which connexin43 (Cx43) is a major gap junction channel-forming protein, was significantly retarded at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ ginseng saponin. By using both methods of RT-PCR and Western blotting, it was demonstrated that ginseng saponin modulated neither the mRNA synthesis of Cx43 nor the translational process of Cx43. This ginseng saponin-induced modification of GJIC was a similar phenomenon observed under the $\beta$-glycyrrhetinic acid treatment, a well-known gap junction channel blocker. Taken together, it is reasonable to conclude that the ginseng saponin inhibits GJIC only by modulating the gating property of gap junction channels.