• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.287-295
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. The chemotherapeutic agents used to treat HCC patients are toxic and have serious side effects. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of anticancer drugs that reduce side effects by targeting tumor cells without causing cytotoxicity in healthy hepatocytes. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plant compounds, has emerged as a potential candidate for cancer treatment due to its diverse pharmacological properties. The effect of berberine on HepG2 cell viability was determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. HepG2 cell proliferation was determined through a colony-forming assay. The effects of berberine on HepG2 cell migration were evaluated using a wound-healing assay. Berberine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, as well as colony formation and migration. Berberine treatment increased the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins, including Beclin-1 and LC3-II, and elevated the activities and mRNA expression of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Additionally, in experiments utilizing the Cell-Derived Xenograft animal model, berberine treatment reduced tumor size and weight in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the potential of berberine as a versatile anticancer agent with efficacy in both cellular and animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings herein shed light on berberine's efficacy against HCC, presenting opportunities for targeted and personalized therapeutic interventions.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.698-702
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• 1998

Propentofylline (PPF, 3-methyl-1-(5-oxohexyl)-7-propylxanthine) has been reported to be effective for the treatment of both vascular dementia and dementia of the Alzheimer type. The pharmacological effects of PPF may be exerted via the stimulation of nerve growth factor, increased cerebral blood flow, and inhibition of adenosine uptake. The objectives of this experiment are to determine the kinetic behavior of PPF, to identify, and to quantify its metabolite in human. Blood samples were obtained from human volunteers following oral administration of 200mg of PPF tablets. For the identification and quantification of the metabolite, 3-methyl-1-(5-hydroxyhexyl)-7-propylxanthine (PPFOH), PPFOH was synthesized and identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) and $^1H$-nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The molecular weight of synthesized metabolite is 308 dalton. The PPF and PPFOH in plasma were extracted with diethyl ether and identified by electron impact GC/MS. The plasma concentrations of PPF and PPFOH were determined by gas chromatography/nitrogen phosphorus detector in plasma and their pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. The mean half-life of PPF was 0.74 hr. The areas under the curve (AUCs) of PPF and PPFOH were 508 and 460ng.hr/ml, respectively. $C_{max}$ of PPF was about 828.4ng/ml and the peak concentration was achieved at about 2.2 hr ($T_{max}$). These results indicate that PPF is rapidly disappeared from blood due to extensive metabolism into PPFOH.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.109-114
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• 2009

Rhubarb is the well-known and frequently used herbal medicine for the treatment of constipation, inflammation, and cancer. As described in the Korea and Chinese Pharmacopoeia, rhubarb consists of the roots and rhizomes of Rheum palmatum, R. officinale, and R. tanguticum. However, the pharmacological differences among rhubarb have not been scientifically established. In the present study, we investigated and compared the inhibitory effects of 70% ethanolic extracts from R. palmatum (RPE), R. officinale (ROE), R. nobile (RNE), and R. franzenbachii (RFE) on the production of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$), interlukin-1beta ($IL-1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$) in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. ROE, RNE, and RFE significantly inhibited the release of NO, $PGE_2$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$. RPE significantly reduced the release of $IL-1{\beta}$, but not NO, $PGE_2$, and $TNF-{\alpha}$. Overall, RFE was found to inhibit the release of $PGE_2$ and $IL-1{\beta}$, to a far greater degree than RPE, ROE, and RNE. Our results indicate that RFE possess the strongest anti-inflammatory activity among 4 tested rhubarb.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.93-97
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• 2003

Alternative or complementary medicine plays an important role in health care system. Ginseng, being one of the most popular oriental herbs, is believed to contain various steroid hormone activity. Ginseng has been demonstrated pharmacological effect in the cardiovascular, endocrine, central nervous, and immune system. Our objective was to study that total saponin might mediate some of their actions by binding to the steroid hormone receptor, as they share many of the actions of steroid hormone in various physiological system. Using total saponin from Panax Ginseng, we have studied the possibility of total saponin being a potential estrogen receptor, androgen receptor, and retinoic acid receptor ligand. Total saponin activated the transcription of both the estrogen and androgen responsive luciferase reporter plasmids at a concentration of 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml in COS cells transiently transfected with the corresponding receptor and hormone responsive receptor plasmids. And total saponin caused a concentration-dependent stimulation of estrogen receptor. Total saponin increased the expression of estrogen responsive c-fos proto-oncogene at the protein level in MCF7 cells at 24 h treatment as examined by Western analysis. The c-fos induction was used as a specific marker of estrogen responsiveness. This activation was inhibited by the specific estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182,780. However, total saponin failed to activate the retinoic acid receptor in COS cells transiently transfected with the corresponding receptor and retinoic acid responsive reporter plasmids. These results show that total saponin is capable of activating estrogen and androgen receptors.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 2008

Paclitaxel is a taxane diterpene amide, which was first extracted from the stem bark of the western yew, Taxus brevifolia. This natural product has proven to be useful in the treatment of a variety of human neoplastic disorders, including ovarian cancer, breast and lung cancer. Paclitaxel is a highly hydrophobic drug that is poorly soluble in water. It is mainly given by intravenous administration. Therefore, The pharmaceutical formulation of paclitaxel ($Taxol^{(R)}$; Bristol-Myers Squibb) contains 50% $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL and 50% dehydrated ethanol. However the ethanol/Cremophor EL vehicle required to solubilize paclitaxel in $Taxol^{(R)}$ has a pharmacological and pharmaceutical problems. To overcome these problems, new formulations for paclitaxel that do not require solubilization by $Cremophor^{(R)}$ EL are currently being developed. Therefore this study utilized a supercritical fluid antisolvent (SAS) process for cremophor-free formulation. To select hydrophilic polymers that require solubilization for paclitaxel, we evaluated polymers and the ratio of paclitaxel/polymers. HP-${\beta}$-CD was used as a hydrophilic polymer in the preparation of the paclitaxel solid dispersion. Although solubility of paclitaxel by polymers was increased, physical stability of solution after paclitaxel/polymer powder soluble in saline was unstable. To overcome this problem, we investigated the use of surfactants. At 1/20/40 of paclitaxel/hydrophilic polymer/ surfactant weight ratio, about 10 mg/mL of paclitaxel can be solubilized in this system. Compared with the solubility of paclitaxel in water ($1\;{\mu}g/mL$), the paclitaxel solid dispersion prepared by SAS process increased the solubility of paclitaxel by near 10,000 folds. The physicochemical properties was also evaluated. The particle size distribution, melting point and amophorization and shape of the powder particles were fully characterized by particle size distribution analyzer, DSC, SEM and XRD. In summary, through the SAS process, uniform nano-scale paclitaxel solid dispersion powders were obtained with excellent results compared with $Taxol^{(R)}$ for the physicochemical properties, solubility and pharmacokinetic behavior.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1073-1078
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• 2013

The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of active ingredients in cosmetics are very important. The effects are closely related to the prevention of skin aging. Among medicinal plants, Bletilla striata Reichenbach fil. has well-known pharmacological activity. Extracted samples were prepared using sequential fractionation of ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. The antioxidant effect of the fractions was confirmed by DPPH and ABTS+ radical scavenging. Among the various fractions of B. striata Reichenbach fil., ethyl acetate was associated with a reduction in nitric oxide production, which was induced by LPS (lipopolysaccharide) treatment in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the production of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) and COX-2 (cyclooxygenase-2), which are upstream regulators of nitric oxide production, was also inhibited. Thus, the ethyl acetate fraction of B. striata Reichenbach fil. appears to be a potential active ingredient for use in cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.6-13
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• 2011

Bolus intravenous injection of adenosine resulted the temporal decrease of systemic blood pressure and heart rate in the anesthetized rats. Adenosine also resulted the persistent decrease of contractility and heart rate in the isolated spontaneously beating rat right atria. Both of the above inhibition effets of adenosine were increased by the pretreatment of NBI (nitrobenzylthioinosine), whitch is an adenosine transport inhibitor, but decreased by the pretreatment of 8- phenyltheophy1line, which is an adenosine antagonist. In isolated thoracic aorta ring segment of normotensive rats, intact rings were relaxed by adenosine ($42.3{\pm}8.7%$) and ATP ($85.9{\pm}15.8%$) in the concentration of $10^{-4}M$, but rubbed rings were relaxed by adenosine ($35.2{\pm}1.9%$) and ATP ($11.3{\pm}9.0%$) in $10^{-4}M$. After pretreatment of L-NAME (N-Nitro-Larginine methyl ester), which is an NO inhibitor, adenosine-induced relaxation was not affected, but ATP-induced relax ation was significantly inhibited (P<0.01). Meanwhile, adenosine resulted almost same as vasorelaxation in isolated thoracic aorta of SHR comparing to those of normotensive rats. But, vasodilation responses of ATP in intact rings of SHR are significantly inhibited comparing to those of normotensive rats. Adenosine-induced relaxation is attenuated after 8-phenyltheophylline pretreatment, but increased after NBI pretreatment. However, ATP-induced relaxations are not affected by 8-phenyltheophylline or NBI pretreatment. These results suggested that the hypotensive effects of adenosine was due to the decrease of contractile force and heart rate through the A1 receptor and vasodilation are mediated by A2 receptor of the vascular smooth muscle. And, the heart protective and vasodilation effects of adenosine might suggest that it would be useful in the acute treatment of coronary artery disease.

• Women's Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2013

Purpose: Dysmenorrhea is a menstrual condition characterized by severe and frequent cramps and pain. Effective treatment methods for dysmenorrhea are not yet fully understood. This research compares the effects of pain killers and heated red bean pillows. Methods: Data were got on demographic data, menstrual cycle status, and activities of daily living (ADLs) limitations, dysmenorrhea severity and menstrual pain scores. Following a 10% drop-out rate, 44 young women satisfied the inclusion criteria. To prevent any bias, the experimental and control groups were selected from different campuses. We used two sizes of red bean pillows: $13{\times}11.5cm$, weighing 400g; and $15{\times}18cm$, weighing 220g. For analysis, we used IBM SPSS statistics 19.0. Results: Ninety-nine point seven percentage of total subjects reported moderate to severe dysmenorrhea and 63.6% reported as moderate to severe daily activities limitations. The mean pain score with visual analogue scale was $80.2{\pm}9.42$ of 100 and 86.4% used pain killers to alleviate menstrual discomfort in all the subjects. In both groups, all three variables showed significant improvement and the Moos's Menstrual Distress Questionnaire (MDQ) scores changed significantly between menstrual and post-menstrual time point at within groups and not significantly different at premenstrual and menstrual time point at between groups. However, the MDQ score was significantly higher in experimental group than control group at post-menstruation time point and the degree of satisfaction was higher in the control group. Conclusion: This research shows that red-bean pillows on the abdomen are effective in assisting the ADL and diminishing pain severity. With regard to its safety the study indicates it can be a convenient and safe option for female students with menstrual discomfort in schoolas a non-pharmacological self-help.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.183-193
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• 2018

Objectives : In Traditional Korean Medicine, Epimedium koreanum Nakai has diverse pharmacological activities to treat impotence, forgetfulness, cataract and exophthalmos. Present study investigated anti-fibrogenic effects of E. koreanum water extract (EKE) in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Methods : To study anti-fibrogenic effects of EKE, LX-2 cells, a human immortalized HSCs, were pre-treated with $3-300{\mu}g/mL$ of EKE, and then subsequently exposed to 5 ng/mL of transforming growth $factor-{\beta}1$ ($TGF-{\beta}1$). Expression level of ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin was determined by immunoblot analysis. Phosphorylation of Smad, transactivation of Smad, and expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) were monitored to investigate the effect of EKE on $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ signaling pathway. Results : Up to $100{\mu}g/mL$, EKE did not show any cytotoxicity on LX-2 cells. Pre-treatment of EKE ($100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited ${\alpha}-smooth$ muscle actin expression induced by $TGF-{\beta}1$. In addition, EKE significantly decreased Smad2 and Smad3 phosphorylations, Smad binding element-driven luciferase activity and PAI-1 expression by $TGF-{\beta}1$. Of three flavonoid compounds found in EKE, only quercertin ($30{\mu}M$) attenuated $TGF-{\beta}1-mediated$ PAI-1 expression. Conclusion : These results suggest that EKE has an ability to suppress fibrogenic process in HSCs via inhibition of $TGF-{\beta}1/Smad$ signaling pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 2020

Background: Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), manual acupuncture (MA), and spinal cord stimulation (SCS) are used to treat a variety of pain conditions. These non-pharmacological treatments are often thought to work through similar mechanisms, and thus should have similar effects for different types of pain. However, it is unclear if each of these treatments work equally well on each type of pain condition. The purpose of this study was to compared the effects of TENS, MA, and SCS on neuropathic, inflammatory, and non-inflammatory pain models. Methods: TENS 60 Hz, 200 ㎲, 90% motor threshold (MT), SCS was applied at 60 Hz, an intensity of 90% MT, and a 0.25 ms pulse width. MA was performed by inserting a stainless-steel needle to a depth of about 4-5 mm at the Sanyinjiao (SP6) and Zusanli (ST36) acupoints on a spared nerve injury (SNI), knee joint inflammation (3% carrageenan), and non-inflammatory muscle pain (intramuscular pH 4.0 injections) in rats. Mechanical withdrawal thresholds of the paw, muscle, and/or joint were assessed before and after induction of the pain model, and daily before and after treatment. Results: The reduced withdrawal thresholds were significantly reversed by application of either TENS or SCS (P < 0.05). MA, on the other hand, increased the withdrawal threshold in animals with SNI and joint inflammation, but not chronic muscle pain. Conclusions: TENS and SCS produce similar effects in neuropathic, inflammatory and non-inflammatory muscle pain models while MA is only effective in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models.