• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.22-25
• /
• 2010

Hyangsapyeongwi-san has been used for various gastrointestinal diseases in Oriental medicine. Nevertheless, there is little known to scientific evidence for its efficacy and mechanism. This study was aimed to investigate effects of Hyangsapyeongwi-san in gastrointestinal diseases through the analysis of articles. A total of 15 articles were selected from PubMed, KTKP, and Weipu. The selected articles were analyzed according to three aspects of study types, target diseases and its efficacy, and results of clinical studies. Hyangsapyeongwi-san has positive effects in gastrointestinal disorders, such as prevent gastric mucosal injury, improve hyperacidity and dyspepsia, protect oxidative damage, and antitumor effects and enhance both cellular and humoral immunity. However, it proved insufficient to confirm its efficacy owing to lack of clinical studies of high quality. So, we need well designed studies to verify clinical efficacy of Hyangsapyeongwi-san hereafter.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-13
• /
• 2022

Kidney disease is becoming a global public health issue. Acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have serious adverse health outcomes. However, there is no effective therapy to treat these diseases. Lactoferrin (LF), a multi-functional glycoprotein, is protective against various pathophysiological conditions in various disease models. LF shows protective effects against AKI and CKD. LF reduces markers related to inflammation, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and kidney fibrosis, and induces autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis in the kidney. Although there are no clinical trials of LF to treat kidney disease, several clinical trials and studies on LF-based drug development are ongoing. In this review, we discussed the possible kidney protective mechanisms of LF, as well as the pharmacological and therapeutic advances. The evidence suggests that LF may become a potent pharmacological agent to treat kidney diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.1 no.6
• /
• pp.749-758
• /
• 1997

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is known to be mediated by reactive oxygen species. The myocardial cell is equipped with endogenous antioxidant defensive system which can be adaptively stimulated by various oxidative stress. It is postulated that an increased oxygen partial pressure induced by hyperbaric oxygenation impose an oxidative stress on the cells, resulting alterations in the endogenous antioxidant system. In this study we investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on the activities of myocardial antioxidant enzymes and observed whether the hyperbaric oxygenation could protect the ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart. Rats or rabbits were pretreated with hyperbaric $oxygenation(2{\sim}3\;atm\;O_2/1{\sim}3\;hrs/1{\sim}10\;days)$. The changes in activities of major antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phasphate dehydrogenase), functional recovery and infarct size were observed in the experimentally induced ischemia-reperfused hearts. In the hearts isolated from rats pretreated with $2\;atm\;O_2/1{\sim}2\;hrs$ for 5 days, the functional recovery after reperfusion(20 min) following global ischemia(25 min) was significantly increased without any observable oxygen toxicity. Lactate dehydrogenase release was also significantly reduced in this hyperbaric oxygenated rat hearts. In in vivo regional ischemia(30 min) model of rabbit hearts, pretreatrment with $2\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr$ for 5 days significantly limited the infarct size. Among the myocardial antioxidant enzymes of rat hearts pretreated with the hyperbaric oxygenation, the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase were increased, while those of glutathione peroxidase and reductase were not changed. There were lethal cases in the groups of rats exposed to 3 atm $3\;atm\;O_2/2{\sim}3\;hrs$ for 5 days. A lipid-peroxidation product, rnnlondialdehyde was increased in brains and livers of the rats exposed to$2\;atm\;O_2/2{\sim}3\;hrs/5\;days\;and\;3\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr/5days$. The present results suggest that the pretreatment of hyperbaric oxygenation can protect the post-ischemic rererfused hearts in association with a stimulation of the activities of myocardial antioxidant defensive enzymes, and that the hyperbaric oxygenation of $2\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr$for 5 days would be a safe condition which does not produce any oxygen toxicity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.1081-1086
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.26 no.6
• /
• pp.874-885
• /
• 2012

In the present study, the possibility of whether the pharmacological effects of Scutellariae Radix Aqueous Extracts(SR) were favorably changed by report that lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced rat acute lung injury was treated with Red-Koji(Monascus purpureus 12002) fermentation. Three different dosages of Red-Koji fermented SR extract(fSR), 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg were orally administered once a day for 28 days before LPS(Escherichia coli 0111:B4) treatments, and then 5 hours after LPS treatment(500 ${\mu}g$/head, intra trachea instillation), all rats were sacrificed. Changes in the body weights, lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit, arterial gas parameters(pH, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF) protein, lactate dehydrogenase(LDH) and proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$(IL-$1{\beta}$) contents, total cell numbers, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung malondialdehyde(MDA), myeloperoxidase(MPO), proinflammatory cytokine TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents were observed with histopathology of the lung, changes on luminal surface of alveolus(LSA), thickness of alveolar septum, number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils(PMNs). As results of LPS-injection, dramatical increases in lung weights, pulmonary transcapillary albumin transit increases in $PaCO_2$, decreases in pH of arterial blood and $PaO_2$, increases of BALF protein, LDH, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents, total cells, neutrophil and alveolar macrophage ratios, lung MDA, MPO, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ contents increases were detected with decreases in LSA and increases of alveolar septum and PMNs numbers, respectively as compared with intact control. Especially fSR 125 mg/kg showed quite similar favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injuries as compared with 60 mg/kg of ${\alpha}$-lipoic acid and 250 mg/kg of SR. The results suggest that over 125 mg/kg of fSR extracts showed favorable effects on the LPS-induced acute lung injury mediated by their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Moreover, increases of the pharmacological effects of SR on LPS-induced acute lung injury were observed by Red-Koji fermentation in this study, at least 2-fold higher.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.132-140
• /
• 2008

Two different sensitivity classes of black cherry (Prunus serotina) under the natural growing environmental conditions were assessed adjacent to Air Monitoring Station located at Horton research center in Giles County, Virginia, USA. Ambient ozone concentrations, leaf gas exchange, and visible foliar injury were measured on-site during the growing seasons of 2000, 2001, and 2002. Ambient ozone exposures were sufficient to induce typical foliar visible injury corresponding with the reduction in photosynthetic activities only in sensitive black cherry. There were positive correlations between increasing cumulative ozone concentration and percent reduction in maximum net photosynthetic rates ($Pn_{MAX}$) under saturating light conditions and in quantum yield for carbon reduction (${\Phi}CO_2$) of sensitive black cherry compared to tolerant black cherry. There was a negative correlation between chlorophyll content and percent leaf injury in sensitive black cherry. Furthermore, $Pn_{MAX}$ was inversely related to percent leaf injury.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.31 no.5
• /
• pp.264-269
• /
• 2017

Prunella vulgaris, well-known traditional medicinal plant, is used for the cure of abscess, scrofula, hypertension and urinary diseases. Diabetic nephropathy is the most common cause of end-stage renal disease. The pathological characteristics of diabetic nephropathy are glomerular and tubular basement membrane thickening. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of Prunella vulgaris, on diabetic glomerular injury in streptozotocin-induced diabetes rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ; 45 mg/kg) and confirmed by random glucose level higher than ${\leq}300mg/dL$. The experimental rats were divided into five groups: control group (Male SD rats), STZ group (Male SD rats injected STZ), Aminoguanidine group (Male SD rats injected STZ + AG 100 mg/kg/day), Low dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 100 mg/kg/day), High dose group (Male SD rats injected STZ + APV 300 mg/kg/day). AG or APVs were administered once a day for 8 weeks. Body weight and food/water intake were measured every four weeks. At the end of study, the kidneys were collected and cut into pieces for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. Our study showed that body weight and water/food intake were no significant differences between untreated STZ-induced diabetic rat and APV treated-STZ rat. However, phosphorylation of receptor-regulated Smads (Smad3) was significantly decreased in APV treated-STZ rat as compared with the diabetic group. In addition, APV was improved nephrin level in kidney tissue. Therefore, we suggest that APV has a protective effect against STZ-induced diabetic glomerular injury.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.335-345
• /
• 2022

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that is linked with invading intracellular pathogens. Cardiac pyroptosis has a significant role in coronary microembolization (CME), thus causing myocardial injury. Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) has powerful cardioprotective effects. Hence, this study aimed to identify the effect of Tan IIA on CME and its underlying mechanism. Forty Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly grouped into sham, CME, CME + low-dose Tan IIA, and CME + high-dose Tan IIA groups. Except for the sham group, polyethylene microspheres (42 ㎛) were injected to establish the CME model. The Tan-L and Tan-H groups received intraperitoneal Tan IIA for 7 days before CME. After CME, cardiac function, myocardial histopathology, and serum myocardial injury markers were assessed. The expression of pyroptosis-associated molecules and TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade was evaluated by qRT-PCR, Western blotting, ELISA, and IHC. Relative to the sham group, CME group's cardiac functions were significantly reduced, with a high level of serum myocardial injury markers, and microinfarct area. Also, the levels of caspase-1 p20, GSDMD-N, IL-18, IL-1β, TLR4, MyD88, p-NF-κB p65, NLRP3, and ASC expression were increased. Relative to the CME group, the Tan-H and Tan-L groups had considerably improved cardiac functions, with a considerably low level of serum myocardial injury markers and microinfarct area. Tan IIA can reduce the levels of pyroptosis-associated mRNA and protein, which may be caused by inhibiting TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade. In conclusion, Tanshinone IIA can suppress cardiomyocyte pyroptosis probably through modulating the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB/NLRP3 cascade, lowering cardiac dysfunction, and myocardial damage.

• 한국노년학
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.793-802
• /
• 2010

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of extreme heat on muscle function and muscle injury marker in elderly women. The subjects of this study were eight post-menopausal elderly women without any metabolic disease. All eight subjects were asked to perform the knee joint isokinetic exercise using isokinetic equipment (cybex) in the laboratory and experimental temperature within laboratory was adjusted to two conditions: extreme heat temperature(33±0.5℃) and normal temperature(20±0.5℃) maintained in 50±3% humidity conditions. Each experimental exercise was monitored and analyzed the change of HSP70, LDH and CK. Muscular functions (peak torque, total work, percentage of peak torque body weight, fatigue index, average power and total work) were significant differences at exercise between temperatural conditions (p<.05). In extreme heat temperature, muscular injury markers (HSP70, LDH and CK) were increased, threfore resulted in significantly higher than normal temperature(p<.05). These results show that extreme heat temperature can decrease muscle function in elderly women.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.60 no.4
• /
• pp.437-450
• /
• 2006

Background : Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is characterized by severe inflammatory pulmonary edema of unknown pathogenesis. To investigate the pathogenesis of ARDS associated with neutrophilic oxidative stress, the role of phospholipase $A_2$ ($PLA_2$) was evaluated by the inhibition of calcium channel. Methods : In Sprague-Dawley rats, acute lung injury (ALI) was induced by the instillation of E.coli endotoxin (ETX) into the trachea. At the same time, diltiazem was given 60 min prior to tracheal instillation of ETX. Parameters of ALI such as lung and neutrophil $PLA_2$, lung myeloperoxidase (MPO), BAL neutrophils, protein, surfactant were measured. Production of free radicals from neutrophils was measured also. Morphological studies with light microscope and electron microscope were carried out and electron microscopic cytochemistry for detection of free radicals was performed also. Results : Diltiazem had decreased the ALI parameters effectively in ETX given rats and decreased the production of free radicals from neutrophils and lung tissues. Morphological studies denoted the protective effects of diltiazem. Conclusion : Diltiazem, a calcium channel blocker, was effective in amelioration of ALI by the suppression of neutrophilic oxidative stress mediated by $PLA_2$ activation.