• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2024

Wogonin, extracted from the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has been shown to suppress collagen deposition in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). This study was performed to investigate the role and mechanism of wogonin underlying vascular remodeling in SHRs. After injection of SHRs with 40 mg/kg of wogonin, blood pressure in rats was measured once a week. Masson's trichrome staining was conducted to observe the changes in aortas and mesenteric arteries. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from rat thoracic aortas were treated with Angiotensin II (Ang II; 100 nM) in the presence or absence of varying concentrations of wogonin. The viability and proliferation of VSMCs were examined using Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assay, respectively. The migration of VSMCs was examined using wound healing assay and transwell assay. We found that wogonin administration alleviated hypertension, increased lumen diameter, and reduced the thickness of the arterial media in SHRs. Ang II treatment enhanced the viability of VSMCs, which was inhibited by wogonin in a concentration-dependent manner. Wogonin reversed Ang II-induced increases in the viability, proliferation, and migration of VSMCs. Moreover, wogonin inhibited Ang II-induced activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling in VSMCs. Overall, wogonin repressed the proliferative and migratory capacity of VSMCs by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway, thereby attenuating vascular remodeling in hypertensive rats, indicating that wogonin might be a therapeutic agent for the treatment of vascular diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.390-395
• /
• 2017

The present study investigated the sedative effects of Sophora flavescens (SF) and its bioactive compound, matrine through performing locomotor activity test and the electroencephalography (EEG) analysis in the rat. The underlying neural mechanism of their beneficial effects was determined by assessing c-Fos immunoreactivity and serotonin (5-HT) in the brain utilizing immunohistochemical method and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results showed that SF and matrine administration had an effect on normalization of caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoting a shift toward non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. c-Fos-immunoreactivity and 5-HT level in the ventrolateral preoptic nucleus (VLPO), a sleep promoting region, were increased in the both SF and matrine-injected groups. In conclusion, SF and its bioactive compound, matrine alleviated caffeine-induced hyperactivity and promoted NREM sleep by activating VLPO neurons and modulating serotonergic transmission. It is suggested that SF might be a useful natural alternatives for hypnotic medicine.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.65-70
• /
• 2004

Hair is based upon the skin which enroll the body of high living animals and have multiple membrane structure. This study were used rats and carried out to find out the effects of commercial permanent wave products to skin which are composed of thioglycolic acid and bases. Results were as follows. Permanent wave penetrated to 3 hours later with steady state in skins and was not significant changeable after 20hr later. In case of neutralizer with thioglycolic acid lag time and permeability coefficient in healthy skin were 3.38hr and 0.96$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr, in old skin were 3.14hr and 0.l28$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr, and in wounded skin were 3.08hr and 0.157$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{cm}^2$/hr. In conclusion, lag time and permeability coefficient in old skin and wounded skin were faster than healthy skin. In vivo which was studied by general time and method of permanent wave. We found out that fine rinkle and rash of skin were changeable in the case of treating with permanent wave drugs than normal skin. Also, permanent wave drugs could induced rash and eruption at the skin by the naked eye.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.233-244
• /
• 2006

Of many volatile organic detergents for metals, benzine(CAS No. 8030-30-6), of which the toxicity has not yet been proven, has been used as an alternative of the halide compounds in the consideration of toxic effects, global warming and the destruction of ozone layer. In order to evaluate the effects of the benzine on human body by investigating the subchronic inhalation toxicity, to obtain the basic data for establishing the criteria of exposure in working environments and to classify the hazardousness in compliance with the Industrial Safety and Health Act by evaluating the hazardousness, repeated inhalation exposure test was carried with SD rats. The rats were grouped by 10 females and males each. The repetitive inhalation exposures were carried out at 4 levels of concentration of 0 ppm, 60 ppm, 300 ppm, and 1,500 ppm, for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 13 weeks. The results are described hereunder. 1. No death of the animals of the exposed and controlled groups in the test period. Not any specific clinical symptoms, change in feed intake quantity, abnormality in eye test, or change in activity were observed. 2. In the 300 ppm and 1,500 ppm groups, weight reduction in the female groups and weight increase of liver and kidney in the male groups compared with control group were observed with statistical significance(p<0.05). 3. In the blood test, the HCT increased in the male 300 ppm group and the number of hematocyte increased, MCV and MCH decreased in the male 1,500 ppm group. In the female 1,500 ppm group, the HB decreased and the distribution width of the hematocyte particle size increased. In the blood biochemistry test, the TP in the male 1,500 ppm group and the LDH in the female 1,500 ppm group were increased with statistical significance(p<0.05). 4. Under the test conditions of the present study with SD rats, the NOEL was evaluated to be from 60 ppm to 300 ppm for both male and female groups. By extrapolation, the NOEL for human who work 8 hours a day was evaluated to be from 128 ppm to 640 ppm 5. Since the NOEL evaluated in this study do not exceed 60ppm(0.184 mg/L) the test material does not belong to the classification of the hazardous substance "NOEL${\leq}$0.5mg/L/6hr/90day(rat), for continuous inhalation of 6hours a day for 90 days" nor to the basic hazardous chemical substance class 1(0.2 mg/L/6hr/90day(rat) defined by the GHS which is a criteria of classification and identification of chemical compounds. However, considering the boiling point($30-204^{\circ}C$), flashing point($-40^{\circ}C$), vapor pressure(40 mmHg), and the inflammable range(1.0 - 6.0 %), sufficient care should be taken for handling in the safety aspects including fire or explosion.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.76-94
• /
• 2003

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate Acute$\cdot$Subacute Toxicity and Anti-cancer Effect of K-Herbal-acupuncture in mice and rats. Methods : Balb/c mice were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for $LD_{50}$ and acute toxicity test. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected intraperitoneally with K-herbal-acupuncture for subacute toxicity test. K-Herbal-acupuncture was injected on abdomen of mice with S-180 cancer cell line. Result : 1. $LD_{50}$ of K-Herbal-acupuncture was limited $4{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg~$2{\times}10^{-3}$ml/kg by the test. 2. In acute toxicity test, all of mice were down to the moving reflex, but the weight of mice was increased in treatment group, compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 3. In acute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of mice, glucose was increased in treatment II group, total cholesterol was increased both treatments.(P<0.05) 4. In subacute toxicity test, the clinical signs of toxication was down to the moving reflex, but it is not severe like acute toxicity test, and observed weight loss at the treatments. 5. In subacute toxicity test, liver weight was decreased compared with the normal group. (P<0.05) 6. In subacute toxicity test of complete blood count test (CBC) of rat, HCT was decreased in treatments, compared with the normal group.(P<0.05) 7. In subacute toxicity test of serum biochemical values of rat, uric acid and triglyceride were decreased, and glucose was increased in treatment groups compared with the control group. (P<0.05) 8. Median survival time was increased about $45\%$ in treatment groups compared with the control group.(P<0.05) 9. Natural killer cell activity was increased in B16F10 lung cancer model, but it was not in sarcoma-180 abdomen cancer. 10. In interleukin-2 productivity test, treatment groups didn't show significant change in lung cancer and abdomen cancer, compared with the normal group.(P<0.005) 11. In making an examination of metastatic cancer with the naked eye, melanoma metastasized in the Lung of C57BL/6 mice. The treated group showed more Melanoma than the control in the numbers and volume. Conclusion : According to the result, K-herbal-acupuncture need further study to know the function and effect in cancer.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2010

In order to understand the effects of all-trans-RA on palate development, RA was injected into the abdominal cavity of pregnant mice and then the embryos were taken in the following days and analyzed morphologically as well as molecular biologically. When RA was administered at the stage of E11 or E15, the overall craniofacial development was retarded. The length from jaw to eye was shortened, compared to that of normal group. When the E11 embryos were exposed to RA, cleft lip was also found along with the cleft palate. In vitro palate culture experiment also revealed that RA caused cleft palate. When RT-PCR was performed, early stage administration of RA at E11 inhibited the upregulation of Hoxa7 expression at E15 through E17. Whereas in control group, high level of Hoxa7 expression was detected in the palate of E15 to E17. In the case of Bax, the expression was decreased from E16, while remaining constant in control group. When TUNEL analysis was performed following the RA treatment at E15, TUNEL positive cells were detected in the mesenchymal cells as well as epithelial cells of palatal shelves of E16 and in E17 embryos. Whereas in normal control, TUNEL positive cells were observed mostly at the epithelium around the nasal cavity and oral cavity where rugae is made. These results altogether indicate that exposure to RA during palate development causes facial deformity including cleft palate and cleft lip by modulating the expression of homeotic genes such as Hoxa7 as well as an apoptosis-related gene, Bax, and thus malregulating the apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.19-24
• /
• 2002

It is a great role that the character of man or woman could be distinguished by hair on the aspect of ornament. Hair will be support of beautifulness of human being in various permanent wave by many kinds of its drugs. Hair is based upon the skin which enroll the body of high living animals and have multiple membrane structure. This study used rat and the effects of commercial permanent wave products to skin which are composed with thioglycolic acid and bases. Results are as follows. Permanent wave penetrated to 4 hours later with steady state in skins and was not significant changeable after 20hr later. In case of neutralizer with thioglycolic acid lag time and permeability coefficient in healthy skin is 3.38hr and $0.094^{\mu}g/cm^{2}$ ${\cdot}$ hr, it old skin is 3.48hr and 0.129$^{\mu}g/cm^{2}$ ${\cdot}$ hr, and it wounded skin is 4.72hr and $0.158^{\mu}g/cm^{2}$ ${\cdot}$ hr. In conclusion, lag time and permeability coefficient in old skin and wounded skin are faster than healthy skin. In vivo which was studied by general time and method of permanent wave. We notified that fine rinkle and rash of skin were changeable in the case of treating with permanent wave drugs than normal skin. We can see even rash and eruption by the naked eye.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.43-59
• /
• 2007

Purpose : Astragalus membranaceus is a herb which has effectiveness of energy increase, protection against pathogenic and organ immune response control. Endometriosis has been thought to be related with immune response in uterus. Therefore in this study, the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on endometriosis were investigated. Methods : The endometrial tissue was autografted to rat's small intestine. Rats with surgically induced endometriosis was administerd with Astragalus membranaceus extracts for 40 days orally or rectally. We observed the size of ectopic uterine implants at the mesenteric with the naked eye and examined the concentrations of estradiol, progesterone, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 in serum. Also, we inquired out the efficiency between oral and rectal administration groups. Results : The size of ectopic uterine implants of oral and rectal treated groups were much smaller than those of control groups. The concentration of estradiol, progesterone. $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2 were significantly decreased in oral administration experimental group compared with the control group. The concentration of progesterone were significantly decreased in rectal administration experimental group compared with the control group. The efficiency of oral administration group was better than that of rectal administration group in the serum concentration of estradiol, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-2. Conclusion : Our data suggest that Astragalus membranaceus reduce the size of ectopic uterine implants at the mesenteric wall and inhibit the growth of ectopic uterine implants. Judging from the above results, it can be suggested that Astragalus membranaceus should be a useful agent for inhibiting the proliferation of uterine endometrial tissue. May be, oral administration of Astragalus membranaceus is more effective than rectal administration for inhibiting the proliferation of endometriosis.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.46 no.9
• /
• pp.563-573
• /
• 2008

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Simvastain, which is HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor, on proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast. Materials & Methods : Twenty-four cell culture plates containing essential medium were seeded with UMR-106 cell lines, at density of 5 x $10^4$ cells per plate. Each plates were incubated with 5% $CO^2$incubator $37^{\circ}C$. Starting from 2 days after incubation, cell culture medias were replaced with Osteogenesis induction media every 2 days, for 12 days. In some plates, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10, $100\muM$ of Simvastatin were added with Osteogenesis induction media, and classified as "test group". Those not added with Simvastatin were classified as "control group". Results : 1. When Alrizarin Red staining was observed with naked eye, control group showed normal deep red color, but test group show rapid decrease of red color as Simvastatin concentration increased more than $0.1\muM$. 2, When observed with microscope, compared to control group, amount of osteo matrix stained with Alrizarin Red decreased rapidly in Simvastatin concentration more than $0.1\muM$. 3. In optical density analysis, regarding control group as a basis, mineral deposition decreased rapidly when Simvastatin concentration increased more than $0.1\muM$. 4. In flow cytometry analysis, survival rate of UMR-106 cell showed no changes in both control group and test group. Conclusion : From the above results, we were able to identify that Simvastatin inhibited osteogenesis without effecting survival or cell number of osteoblasts.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.181-191
• /
• 2007

With the 2-Butanethiol, which is an unidentified inhalation toxic material, acute inhalation toxicity was tested with SD rats. The $LC_{50}$ was evaluated to be 2,500 ppm (9.22 mg/L) or higher which falls under the criteria of acute toxicity Category 3 (500<$LC_{50}$<2,500 ppm) in the Industrial Safety and Health Act. In the subchronical inhalation toxicity test by 0, 25, 100, and 400 ppm, 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, for 13 weeks repeated exposure, though no death or particular clinical presentation was observed, in the female 25 and 400 ppm group, including weight change, and in each concentration group including 400 ppm, change of feed rate, eye stimulation, motility change in male group, and lesions in blood and blood biochemical were observed. In the internal organs weight, 25, 100, and 400 ppm groups in male and 400 ppm group in female showed significant (p<0.05) changes in kidney, liver, thymus, and lung. In the pathological tissue test, severe cortical tubular hyaline droplets were observed in the male 400 ppm group, and all male rats of 400 ppm group and 2 female individuals showed tubular degeneration/regeneration accompanied with pigmentation, showing that the target organs of inhalation exposure of 2-Butanethiol are spleen, kidney, nasal cavity, and adrenal. Through the tests, the NOEL of 2-Butanethiol was evaluated to be 25 ppm (0.092 mg/L) or less for both male and female.