• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.533-542
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• 2010

Skin aging is a natural phenomenon. There are internal and external factors of skin aging. The internal factor of skin aging is from the wearing down of the body over time. The external factors are more noticeable from habits such as smoking, excessive alcohol, malnutrition, and extended exposure to UV rays. Completely stopping skin from aging is impossible but one can slow down and treat external signs of skin aging. In western medicine, the following methods are used to reduce the appearance of skin aging: applying lotions and creams containing ingredients such as fruit acid, antioxidants, plant exracts, depigmentation, moisturizer, retinoids, and sun block; botulinum toxin injections; chemical peels, laser and other painful methods remove the top layer of skin to promote new skin growth; fillers are injected to increase soft tissue growth; surgery. In oriental medicine, the following methods are used: acupuncture into facial muscles which stimulates acupuncture point; applying topical treatments and cosmetics containing herbs are effective of preventing skin aging and wrinkles. Above all thing, medicine that helps maintain essence and blood in the skin can be fundamental.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.690-696
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is a traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. In the present study, we investigated the effect of water extract of H. cordafa (WEHC) on the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to WEHC resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and fluorescent microscope. The anti-proliferative effect of WEHC was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent fashion. We found WEHC decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 , which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.608-613
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• 2011

The aqueous Green tea comes to be used with the Oriental medicine plant, it has the numerous health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti- carcinogenic properties. Epidermal progenitor cells give rise to multiple skin lineages: hair follicle, sebaceous gland and the overlying interfollicular epidermis. Sebocytes are the cells of the sebaceous gland, which synthesize and accumulate lipid dropolets. In order to determine the effect of Green tea on lipid production, several experiments were performed in SZ95 cells (sebocytes). We found that Green tea increased lipid droplets compared with control in a dose-dependent manner. Human sebaceous glands produce sebum, a lipid mixture of squalene, wax esters, triglycerides, cholesterol esters, and free fatty acids that is secreted onto the skin. Therefore, to investigate the effects of Green tea on intracellular lipid levels, we treated SZ95 cells with Green tea, and then examined cholesterol and triglyceride levels. After treatment of the cells with Green tea, the cholesterol and triglyceride levels of SZ95 cells were increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.518-522
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• 2007

The cortex and root of Acnthopanax sessiliflorus, a herbal medicine, have been used for several diseases including cancer in Oriental countries. In the previous study, we showed that the cortex of this plant have anti-cancer activity. But its therapeutic efficacy of CORTEX ACANTHOPANAX RADICIS (CAR) is not clarified. For these reasons, we investigated immuno-potentiating and anti-cancer properties of CAR compared with CA, in terms of body and tumor weights, proliferation of thymocytes and tumor cells, and nitric oxide production from macrophages through in vitro and in vivo studies. In our results, administration of CAR reduced tumor mass and increased body weights. CAR also inhibited proliferation of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro dose-dependently. Thymocyte proliferation was accelerated by treatment with CAR and NO production was also promoted by CAR in vivo and vitro. In conclusion, we demonstrated that CAR is useful to treat for cancer as complementary or alternative medicine to Western medication, its therapeutic efficacy is involved in direct inhibition of tumor growth and immuno-potentiating activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.333-339
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• 2008

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been used as an important medicinal plant in the Orient for a long time. It has been claimed that ginseng has many beneficial bioactive effects on human health, such as antitumor, antistress, antiaging and enhancing immune functions. Red ginseng possibly have new ingredients converted during steaming and dry process from fresh ginseng. Kujeungkupo method which means 9 repetitive steaming and drying process was used for the processes of green tea, Polygonatum odoratum, and Rehmanniae radix preparata. In this study, ingredient conversion of ginseng by 9 repetitive steaming and drying process were investigated measuring conversion efficiency of brown materials, crude lipids, crude proteins and aromatic compounds. Brown materials, as an antioxidant, in red ginseng were produced through non-enzymatic reaction by heat. Repetitive steaming and drying treatments on ginseng root contiunously increased the content of brown materials and the chromaticity. Crude lipids were degraded by heat and converted into volatile aromatic ingredients. Crude lipids were degraded and decreased by 0.52% after the 5th and 7th. Crude proteins were also decomposed and converted to amino acid. Crude proteins after the 9th treatment were decreased by more than 85% as increased times of treatments. A bicyclogermacrene as aromatic material was decreased as increased treatment times, while but a aromatic caramel was increased.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.577-584
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to examine how the term Yin-Yang and Sasang categorized in the book "Huangdineijing". In order to investigate how the terms are used, we reviewed the text including the terms expressed in the manner of [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] and [Sasang]. We found three forms of expressions; [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)], [Sasang], [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)]. Two paragraphs of [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] was found in one chapter, two paragraphs of [(Sasang)] was found in two chapters, and three paragraphs of [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)] was found in three chapters. We found five types of relation between [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)], [Sasang], and five phases in "Huangdi neijing" as follows; (1) Yang within Yin, lesser Yang, and wood (2) Yang within Yang, greater Yang, and fire (3) ( ), ( ), and extreme Yin (4) Yin within Yang, lesser Yin, and metal, and (5) Yin within Yin, greater Yin, and water. And, as for the [(Yin/Yang) within (Yin/Yang)] and [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)], the classification criteria for Yin-Yang were brightness, abdomen/back or lumbar. The order of Sasang with the description form of [Sasang] or [(Sasang) within (Yin/Yang)] in "Siqi Tiaoshen Dalun" and "Liu Jie ZangXiang Theory" was lesser Yang, greater Yang, greater Yin, and lesser Yin, which is based on the meridian system or a plant-shaped change order. We discussed the results and its implication for the analysis of medical classics with the consideration of previous studies on Yin-Yang theories in "Huangdi neijing".

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.441-449
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• 2015

Flavonoids are plant pigments that have been demonstrated to exert various pharmacological effects including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms in terms of exact target proteins of flavonoids are not fully elucidated yet. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of scutellarein (SCT), a flavonoid isolated from Erigeron breviscapus, Clerodendrum phlomidis and Oroxylum indicum Vent that have been traditionally used to treat various inflammatory diseases in China and Brazil. For this purpose, a nitric oxide (NO) assay, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nuclear fractionation, immunoblot analysis, a kinase assay, and an overexpression strategy were employed. Scutellarein significantly inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mRNA expression levels of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SCT also dampened nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$-driven expression of a luciferase reporter gene upon transfection of a TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF) construct into Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells; similarly, NF-${\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation was inhibited by SCT. Moreover, the phosphorylation levels of various upstream signaling enzymes involved in NF-${\kappa}B$ activation were decreased by SCT treatment in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells. Finally, SCT strongly inhibited Src kinase activity and also inhibited the autophosphorylation of overexpressed Src. Therefore, our data suggest that SCT can block the inflammatory response by directly inhibiting Src kinase activity linked to NF-${\kappa}B$ activation.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.579-589
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• 2017

Anesthetics are used extensively in surgeries and related procedures to prevent pain. However, there is some concern regarding neuronal degeneration and cognitive deficits arising from regular anesthetic exposure. Recent studies have indicated that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) are involved in learning and memory processes. Genistein, a plant-derived isoflavone, has been shown to exhibit neuroprotective effects. The present study was performed to examine the protective effect of genistein against isoflurane-induced neurotoxicity in rats. Neonatal rats were exposed to isoflurane (0.75%, 6 hours) on postnatal day 7 (P7). Separate groups of rat pups were orally administered genistein at doses of 20, 40, or 80 mg/kg body weight from P3 to P15 and then exposed to isoflurane anesthesia on P7. Neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay and FluoroJade B staining following isoflurane exposure. Genistein significantly reduced apoptosis in the hippocampus, reduced the expression of proapoptotic factors (Bad, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3), and increased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. RT-PCR analysis revealed enhanced BDNF and TrkB mRNA levels. Genistein effectively upregulated cAMP levels and phosphorylation of CREB and TrkB, leading to activation of cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB signaling. PI3K/Akt signaling was also significantly activated. Genistein administration improved general behavior and enhanced learning and memory in the rats. These observations suggest that genistein exerts neuroprotective effects by suppressing isoflurane-induced neuronal apoptosis and by activating cAMP/CREB-BDNF-TrkB-PI3/Akt signaling.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.667-679
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• 1996

Clonal forestry and reforestation programmes are especially interested now in development and application of controllable biotechnological systems based on the production of conifer somatic embryos in bioreactors with their following drilling and/or storage in the form of "artificial seeds". Modern achievements in conifer somatic embryogenesis has guided the development not only of biotechnological systems in forestry, but also of basic research in conifer embryology, cell and molecular biology. At the present time, the level of development of applied research on conifer somatic embryogenesis is well ahead our understanding of this complex phenomenon. The "bottleneck" situation in relation between basic and applied sciences will eventually lead to the appearance of "weak points" in biotechnological systems. In the present review, the major advances and the most pressing problems in the application of conifer somatic embryogenesis both to forest biotechnology and to basic research are in the focus of attention.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.217-223
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• 2011

Ischemic stroke constitutes about 80% of all stroke incidences. It is characterized by brain cell death in a region where cerebral arteries supplying blood are occluded. Under these ischemic conditions, apoptosis is responsible for the cell death, at least in part. Goat's-beard (Aruncus dioicus var. kamtschaticus) is a perennial plant that grows naturally in the alpine regions of Korea. In the present study, we first determined whether water extract of goat's-beard (HY1646) and some of its fractions prepared by partitioning with organic solvents could improve the viability of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG2) cultured under hypoxic condition by blocking apoptotic pathways. Based on the in vitro findings, we subsequently investigated whether HY1646 and the ethyl acetate fraction (EA) selected from cell culture-based screening could attenuate brain injury in a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model of ischemia (2 hr), followed by 22 hours of reperfusion. The cell number was sustained close to that initially plated in the presence of HY1646 even after 24 hr of cell culture under hypoxic condition (3% $O_2$), at which time the cell number reached almost zero in the absence of HY1646. This improvement in cell viability was attributed to the delay in apoptosis, identified by the formation of DNA ladder in gel electrophoresis. Of fractions soluble in hexane, ethyl acetate (EA) and butanol, EA was chosen for the animal experiments because EA demonstrated the best cell viability at the lowest concentration (10 ${\mu}g$/mL). HY1646 (200 mg/kg) and EA (10 and 20 mg/kg) significantly reduced infarct size, an index of brain injury, by 16.6, 40.0 and 61.0%, respectively, as assessed by 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride staining. The findings suggest that prophylactic intake of goat's beard might be beneficial for preventing ischemic stroke.