• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.28-32
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• 2013

Objective: This study was performed to analyze the single-dose toxicity of D-amino acid oxidase (DAAO) extracts. Methods: All experiments were conducted at the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTR), an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of DAAO extracts, 0.1 to 0.3 cc, were administered to the experimental group, and the same doses of normal saline solution were administered to the control group. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: In all 4 groups, no deaths occurred, and the $LD_{50}$ of DAAO extracts administered by IV was over 0.3 ml/kg. No significant changes in the weight between the control group and the experimental group were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ, the results showed no significant differences in any organs or tissues. Conclusion: The above findings suggest that treatment with D-amino acid oxidase extracts is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.33-50
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was conducted to confirm validation and stability of concentration analysis method of pure melittin (Sweet Bee Venom-Sweet BV) extracted from the bee venom by utilizing protein isolation method of gel filtration. Methods : All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech, a non-clinical studies authorized institution, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Standard solutions of melittin (SIGMA, USA) and test substances were dispensed and were analyzed with HPLC for Sweet BV to secure the validation of analysis. Results : 1. Measurement of system suitability of Sweet BV satisfied criterion of below 3%. 2. Confirming Linearity of Sweet BV in 10-200${\mu}g/m\ell$ solution yielded correlation coefficient (r) of 0.995 and accuracy of 85-115% which satisfy criterion. 3. Measurement of Specificity of Sweet BV didn't yield any substance affecting the peak of test substances, but detected at 21.22min verified as the test substance. 4. Confirming Intra-day of Sweet BV, accuracy and precision of 0.1, 100${\mu}g/m\ell$ were 105.70, 95.81 and 0.66, 0.73, respectively, satisfying both criteria of accuracy (85-115%) and precision (within 10%). 5. To measure Stability in autosampler, all samples used in Intra-day reproducibility sat in the autosampler for five hours and were re-analyzed. Both variability and precision satisfied the criteria. 6. Homogeneity of Sweet BV (0.1, 100${\mu}g/m\ell$) at upper, middle, and lower layers all satisfied the accuracy and precision criteria. 7. Stability of Sweet BV (0.1, 100${\mu}g/m\ell$) at room temperature for four hours and refrigerated for 7 days all satisfied the criterion. 8. For the measurement of Quality control, QC samples measured on the first and eighth day all satisfied accuracy and precision criteria. Conclusion : Above experiment data satisfies validation and stability of concentration analysis method of Sweet BV.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2008

Objectives : Demonstrating a novel circulatory path from the acupoint(CV12) to the pancreas. Method : Alcian blue(1% solution, $20{\mu}l$, pH 7.4) was injected into the acupoint(CV12). Two hours later the surfaces of internal organs were observed by using a stereomicroscope. Results : Alcian blue arrived and colored the omental fat band(OFB) on the pancreas. The OFB connected the head and tail of the pancreas, the pancreas and the spleen, and the pancreas and the stomach. Conclusion : The existence of a novel circulatory path from the acupoint CV12 to the pancreas and its OFB was demonstrated.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.45-55
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• 2014

Objectives : The main aim of this study was to assess the comparative efficiency of two preparation types of Hwangryunhaedok decoction(HRHD-D) using distilled and mixed extraction by measuring the index components and indicators of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Methods : The antioxidant activity was assessed by comparing distilled and mixed extractions of HRHD-D using an ELISA reader. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined by measuring NO amounts in RAW 264.7 cells. The contents were analyzed with high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector(HPLC-DAD). Results : The electron donating ability of mixed and distilled extractions obtained with 500 ppm DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay) solution were 57.8 % and 4.2 %, respectively. The total phenolic content of mixed extraction was 6.9 times that of distilled extraction and total flavonoid content was 51.5 times higher. The anti-inflammatory effect was assessed by NO measurement, and was found to increase significantly dependent on concentration in all mixed extract concentrations(25, 50, 100, 200, $400{\mu}g/mL$), but the difference in distilled extraction by concentration was only significant at 200 and $400{\mu}g/mL$. The HPLC analysis results of mixed extract of HRHD-D showed detection of all four main active constituents of HRHD-D. However, they were not detected in the distilled extract of HRHD-D. Conclusions : Mixed extraction with distillation added to decoction of HRHD-D showed better efficacy in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, and ingredient quantities compared to distilled extraction. Further stability and clinical efficacy studies for standardization of mixed extractions are required.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.114-123
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• 2007

Osteoarthritis is characterized by cartilage degradation and chondrocytes death. Chondrocyte death is induced by the apotosis through special mechanisms including the activation of caspase-3. On the basis of this background, this study was designed to examine the cartilage protective and anti-apototic effects of Aralia Cordata in in vtro and in collagenase-induced arthritis rabbit model. To conduct in vitro study, chondrocytes culturedfrom rabbit knee joint were treated by 5 ng/ml IL-1a.For in vivo experiment, collagenase-induced arthritis (CIA) rabbit model was made via intraarticular injection with 0.25 ml of collagenase solution. Aralia cordata pharmacopuncture (ACP) was administrated on bilateral Dokbi acupoint (ST35) of rabbits at a dosage of 150 ${\mu}g/kg$ once a day for 28 days after the initiation of the CIA induction. In the study by using CIA rabbit model in vivo, ACP showed the inhibition of cartilage degradation in histological analysis. Aralia cordata also showed anti-apoptotic effect both in vitro and in vivo study. In chondrocytes treated by IL-1a, Aralia cordata inhibited caspase-3 activity and enhanced the proliferation of IL-1a-induced dedifferentiated chondrocytes. ACP showed the inhibition effect on the caspase-3 expression and activity from CIA rabbit model. This study indicates that ACP inhibits the cartilage destruction and the chondrocyte apotosis through downregulation of caspase-3 activity. These data suggest that ACP has a beneficial effect on preventing articular cartilage destruction in osteoarthrtis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.63-67
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the single-dose oral toxicity of the super key (processed sulfur). Methods: All experiments were conducted at Medvill, an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. In order to investigate the oral toxicity of super key. We administered it orally to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The SD rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of super key 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 10 mL/kg, was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rates, weights, clinical signs, gross findings and necropsy findings. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. (Approval number: A01-14018). Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. Although slight decreases in the weights of some female rats were noted, no significant changes in weights or differences in the gross findings between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that administration of 500 - 2,000 mg/kg of super key did not cause any changes in the weights or in the results of necropsy examinations. Neither did it result in any mortalities. The above findings suggest that treatment with super key is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.7-15
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• 2014

Objectives: The present study investigated the toxic properties of petroleum ether extract of Wattakaka (W.) volubilis in Wistar female rats. Methods: An in vitro brine shrimp lethality bioassay was studied in A. Salina nauplii, and the lethality concentrations were assessed for petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. A water soluble portion of the test extract was used in different concentrations from $100-1000{\mu}g/mL$ of 1 mg/mL stock solution. A 24-hours incubation with a 1-mL aliquot in 50 mL of aerated sea water was considered to calculate the percentage rate of dead nauplii with test extract administration against a potassium-dichromate positive control. The acute and the sub-acute toxicities of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were evaluated orally by using gavage in female Wistar rats. Food and water intake, body weight, general behavioral changes and mortality of animals were noted. Toxicity or death was evaluated following the administration of petroleum ether extract for 28 consecutive days in the female rats. Serum biochemical parameters, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, total protein, glucose, urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and ${\alpha}$-amylase levels, were measured in the toxicity evaluations. Pathological changes in isolated organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and pancreas, were also examined using hematoxylin and eosin dye fixation after the end of the test extract's administration. Results: The results of the brine-shrimp assay indicate that the evaluated concentrations of petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis were found to be non-toxic. In the acute and the sub-acute toxicity evaluations, no significant differences were observed between the control animals and the animals treated with extract of W. volubilis. No abnormal histological changes were observed in any of the animal groups treated with petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis. Conclusion: These results suggest that petroleum ether extract of W. volubilis has a non-toxic effect in Wistar female rats.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.126-131
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• 2018

This study investigates the effect of a combination of homeopathic medicine and electro- acupuncture in two patients with breast cancer and severe liver disease who could not receive standard anaesthesia therapy due to liver problems. Specifically, measurable and quantifiable parameters were used to evaluate whether an integrated approach-consisting of electro- acupuncture and a homeopathic medicine diluted above Avogadro's limit (that is, above a potency of 12CH) during the pre-surgical, surgical and post-surgical phases -can improve general well-being of a patient undergoing breast cancer surgery. In breast cancer surgery, we employed an integrated approach consisting of induction with hypnotics and muscle relaxants, followed by maintenance with anaesthetic gas, combined with a homeopathic treatment (Arnica montana 15CH and Apis mellifica 15CH) before and after surgery and an electro- acupuncture treatment performed in the pre- and post-surgical phases without any analgesic/pain relieving medications. Both of the patients treated with the integrated approach improved their overall condition without need for other common pain relieving medicines. Additionally, thanks to their rapid awakening, the patients were not relocated to a protected area and the hospitalization was shorter. A multidisciplinary approach incorporating homeopathic medicine and electro-acupuncture can be a solution for patients who need or ask about a different and/or safer alternative to the standard treatment. This approach can offer a safe, much less expensive, non-invasive and viable alternative for such cases. Moreover it can be useful for an opioids free anesthesia.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 2011

호장근(Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb et Zucc.)은 관절통, 만성 기관지염, 황달, 월경분순, 고협압 등의 치료제로 사용되고 있는 약물로서, 본 연구에서는 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 호장근 약침이 류마티스 관절염에 미치는 영향에 대해 관찰하였다. 방법 : 본 연구에서는 bovine type II collagen으로 유발된 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 인체의 족삼리(ST36)에 상응하는 부위에 호장근 약침액을 주입한 후, 체중변화, 족부종의 변화, 족근관절폭의 변화, cytokine의 변화, NOS 발현 양상 등을 관찰하였다. 결과 : 족부종 감소율은 고농도 호장근 약침군에서 높았고, 족근관절폭 감소율은 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다. 족부 삼출물 내의 TNF-${\alpha}$ 함량은 고농도 호장근 약침군에서 높았고, IL-$1{\beta}$ 함량은 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 높게 관찰되었다. 대뇌 피질에서 NOS 양성 신경세포수는 고농도 및 저농도 호장근 약침군에서 대조군에 비하여 유의하게 낮게 관찰되었다. 결론 : 이상의 결과에서 호장근 약침은 type II collagen으로 유발된 흰쥐의 류마티스 관절염 병태모델에서 염증 반응을 억제하는 효과가 있는 것으로 사려된다.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.99-130
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Liriopis Tuber Herbal-Acupuncture on Diabetes Mellitus induced by streptozotocin in rat. Body weight, serum insulin, glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, free cholesterol and total protein were measured in streptozotocin induced diabetic rat injected with Liriopis Tuber Herbal-Acupuncture solution at Pisu(BL20) respectively for 30 days. In order to study the effects of Liriopis Tuber Herbal-Acupuncture at Pisu(BL20) on Diabetes Mellitus induced by Streptozotocin in rat, The groups were divided into five groups; Normal group(non treated group), N.-Saline group(administration of injection with normal saline at BL20 in 30 days after streptozotocin injection), Control group(non treated group after streptozotocin injection), H. Acup. group (administration of Liriopis Tuber Herbal-Acupuncture at BL20 in 30 days after streptozotocin injection), and Acup. group (administration of acupuncture at BL20 in 30 days after streptozotocin injection). The results obtained were summarized as follows; 1. As compared with Control group, there wae no significant tendency to diminish the rate of weight loss in H. - Acup. group. 2. As compared with Control group, there wae signiticant increase of serum insulin level in H. -Acup. group. 3. As compared with Control group, there was decrease of glucose level in H.- Acup. group. 4. As compared with Control group, there was decrease of triglyceride level in H. - Acup. group. 5. As compared with Control group, trere wae increase of HDL cholesterol level in H. - Acup. group. 6. As compared with Control group, there was significant increase of free cholesterol level in H. - Acup. group. 7. As compared with Control group, there was Increase of total protein level in H. - Acup. group. According to above mentioned results, Liriopis Tuber Herbal-Acupuncture was expected to be effective in treatment of Diabetes Mellitus and its complications.