• 대한화장품학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.132-140
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• 1996

The effect of a novel delivery system, water in oil emulsion containing chitosan hydrogel as a inner phase (W/O-C) was evaluated, and the relationships between the skin permeation, the skin primary irritation and the skin turnover rate of AHAs were discussed. We selected glycolic acid (GA), lactic acid (LA), malic acid (MA), and tartaric acid (TA) as model AHAs. The steady state fluxes of 4 AHAs across the excised hairless mouse skin increased as the molecular weights of the AHAs decreased. (GA>LA>MA>TA). The skin turnover times were shortened in all AHAs, compared with control. The skin permeation and the skin primary irritation of the LA decreased and the skin turnover time increased, as the pH increased. The maximum therapeutic index was obtained with pH 3.8, 0.5 M LA. It was suggested that the skin permeability of LA might be a main factor for prediction of the skin irritation and the skin turnover time. On the other hand, the W/O-C containing pH 3.8, 0.5 M LA indicated a good sustained release property of LA, compared with water in oil emulsion without chitosan hydrogel (W/O) or oil in water emulsion (O/W). The skin permeability and the skin irritation of AHAs from the W/O-C edcreased, compared with W/O or O/W, however the skin turnover time showed almost the same value as W/O or O/W. In conclusion, we suggest that the control of the skin permeation of AHAs would be an important tool for reducing the skin irritation and for maintaining the positive effect of AHAs, and the W/O-C system could be a potential candidate for future cosmetological application of AHAs.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.9-21
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• 2015

Objectives: Realgar has been frequently used for skin disorders in history of herbal medicine. However, the efficacy of realgar has not been examined in atopic dermatitis(AD). In this study, the effects of realgar on AD were investigated, especially on pruritus and inflammation. Methods: AD lesions were induced in the shaved backs of BALB/c mice through repeated application of DNCB. The mice were treated for 11 days with 1% realgar ($100{\mu}L/day$). Histological changes in skin thickness were observed. The anti-pruritic effects of realgar were evaluated by the change in numbers of scratching behavior of mice and expression of substance P. The expressions of cytokines IL-4 and IL-6 were measured. Also, anti-inflammatory effects of realgar were examined on expressions of NF-${\kappa}B$, phospho-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Results: Realgar decreased skin thickness (both dermal and epidermal) 38% and 17% respectively, compared to positive control, DNCB group. The scratching behavior of mice was reduced by 42% and expression of substance P was significantly less. Cytokines IL-4 and IL-6 were significantly reduced by 52.6% and 77.6%, respectively. The expressions of NF-${\kappa}B$, phospho-$I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and MAPKs (phospho-ERK1/2, -p38 and -JNK) were significantly suppressed with marked effects on phospho-ERK1/2. Conclusions: The collective results suggest that realgar shows anti-pruritic and anti-inflammatory effects on AD. And realgar might be a potential therapeutic candidate for treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.2012-2018
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• 2016

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is the main cause of acute myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy. Plant extracts are considered as useful materials to develop new antiviral drugs. We had previously selected candidate plant extracts, which showed anti-inflammatory effects. We examined the antiviral effects by using a HeLa cell survival assay. Among these extracts, we chose the Amomi Cardamomi (Amomi) extract, which showed strong antiviral effect and preserved cell survival in CVB3 infection. We investigated the mechanisms underlying the ability of Amomi extract to inhibit CVB3 infection and replication. HeLa cells were infected by CVB3 with or without Amomi extract. Erk and Akt activities, and their correlation with virus replication were observed. Live virus titers in cell supernatants and viral positive- and negative-strand RNA amplification were measured. Amomi extract significantly increased HeLa cell survival in different concentrations ($100-10{\mu}g/ml$). CVB3 capsid protein VP1 expression (76%) and viral protease 2A-induced eIF4G1 cleavage (70%) were significantly decreased in Amomi extract ($100{\mu}g/ml$) treated cells. The levels of positive- (20%) and negative-strand (80%) RNA were dramatically decreased compared with the control, as revealed by reverse transcription-PCR. In addition, Amomi extract improved mice survival (51% vs 26%) and dramatically reduced heart inflammation in a CVB3-induced myocarditis mouse model. These results suggested that Amomi extract significantly inhibited Enterovirus replication and myocarditis damage. Amomi may be developed as a therapeutic drug for Enterovirus.

• 한국자원식물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국자원식물학회 2018년도 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.8-8
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• 2018

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Many conditions are associated with muscle atrophy, such as aging, denervation, disuse, starvation, severe injury and inflammation, prolonged bed rest, glucocorticoid treatment, sepsis, cancer, and other cachectic diseases. On the other hand, osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease and is wide spread in the elderly population and is characterized by erosion of articular cartilage, osteophyte formation, and subchondral bone sclerosis. The cytokine network plays an important role in the development and progression of OA with the inflammatory cytokine. Schisandrae Fructus (SF) derived from the ripe fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill. (Magnoliaceae) has been extensively used in traditional herbal medicines in Asia. It was originally used as a tonic and has been traditionally used for the treatment of many uncomfortable symptoms, such as cough, dyspnea, dysentery, insomnia, and amnesia for a long time. Previous reports have shown that SF and its related compounds possess various biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, anti-microbial, antiseptic, anti-aging, hepatoprotective and immunostimulating effects. However, the therapeutic effects of SF on muscle atrophy and OA has not yet been evaluated. In the present study, we aimed to determine whether extracts of SF, the dried fruit of S. chinensis, mitigates the development of muscle atrophy and OA.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제13권6호
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• pp.283-288
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• 2013

The pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF${\alpha}$) and interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ are crucial mediators involved in chronic inflammatory diseases. Inflammatory signal pathways regulate inflammatory cytokine expression-mediated by p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38MAPK). Therefore, considerable attention has been given to p38MAPK as a target molecule for the development of a novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics. BIRB 796, one of p38MAPK inhibitor, is a candidate of therapeutic drug for chronic inflammatory diseases. In this study, we investigated the effect of BIRB 796 on inflammatory cytokine productions by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in different immune cell types. BIRB 796 reduced LPS-mediated IL-8 production in THP-1 cells but not in Raw 264.7 cells. Further analysis of signal molecules by western blot revealed that BIRB 796 sufficiently suppressed LPS-mediated phosphorylation of p38MAPK in both cell types whereas it failed to block inhibitor of kappa B (I-${\kappa}B$) degradation in Raw 264.7 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that the anti-inflammatory function of BIRB 796 depends on cell types.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.139-157
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• 2006

In the present study, I have investigated the bee venom (BV) and melittin (a major component of BV) -mediated anti-proliferative effects, and defined its mechanisms of action in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). BV and melittin $(0.4{\sim}0.8\;{\mu}g/ml)$ effectively inhibited 50 ng/ml platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced VSMCs proliferations. The regulation of apoptosis has attracted much attention as a possible means of eliminating excessively proliferating VSMCs. In the present study, the treatment of BV and melittin strongly induced apoptosis of VSMCs. I examined the effects on $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation to investigate a possible mechanism for anti-proliferative effects of BV and melittin, the PDGF-BB-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and its degradation were potently inhibited by melittin, and DNA binding activity and nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit in response to the action of PDGF-BB were potently attenuated by melittin. In further investigations, melittin markedly inhibited the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of Akt but not ERK1/2, upstream signals of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Treatment of melittin also potently induced pro-apoptotic protein p53, Bax, and caspase-3 expression, but decreased anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of BV and melittin in VSMCs through induction of apoptosis via suppressions of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and Akt activation, and enhancement of apoptotic signal pathway. Based on these results, BV acupuncture can be a candidate as a therapeutic method for restenosis and atherosclerosis.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• 제12권4호
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• pp.268-275
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• 2014

The harshness of legionellosis differs from mild Pontiac fever to potentially fatal Legionnaire's disease. The increasing development of drug resistance against legionellosis has led to explore new novel drug targets. It has been found that phosphoglucosamine mutase, phosphomannomutase, and phosphoglyceromutase enzymes can be used as the most probable therapeutic drug targets through extensive data mining. Phosphoglucosamine mutase is involved in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. The purpose of this study was to predict the potential target of that specific drug. For this, the 3D structure of phosphoglucosamine mutase of Legionella pneumophila (strain Paris) was determined by means of homology modeling through Phyre2 and refined by ModRefiner. Then, the designed model was evaluated with a structure validation program, for instance, PROCHECK, ERRAT, Verify3D, and QMEAN, for further structural analysis. Secondary structural features were determined through self-optimized prediction method with alignment (SOPMA) and interacting networks by STRING. Consequently, we performed molecular docking studies. The analytical result of PROCHECK showed that 95.0% of the residues are in the most favored region, 4.50% are in the additional allowed region and 0.50% are in the generously allowed region of the Ramachandran plot. Verify3D graph value indicates a score of 0.71 and 89.791, 1.11 for ERRAT and QMEAN respectively. Arg419, Thr414, Ser412, and Thr9 were found to dock the substrate for the most favorable binding of S-mercaptocysteine. However, these findings from this current study will pave the way for further extensive investigation of this enzyme in wet lab experiments and in that way assist drug design against legionellosis.

• 동아시아식생활학회지
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• 제26권6호
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• pp.481-490
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• 2016

This study was designed to examine the effects of Allium hookeri (AH) on plasma blood glucose and fat profile levels in diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats through injection of streptozotocin (STZ) dissolved in citrate buffer into tail veins at a dose of 45 mg/kg of body weight. Sprague-Dawley rats were then fed for 4weeks, with the experimental groups receiving a modified diet containing 5% or 10% powder derived from AH roots. The experimental groups were divided into four groups, consisting of a control group, STZ-control group, and diabetic fed with AH 5% & 10% treated groups. Rats' body weights, blood glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and free fatty acid (FFA) values in plasma were measured along with hematocrit (Hct) values and aminotransferase activities. Body weight losses were observed in the STZ-control group, whereas the STZ-AH group of diabetic rats gained weight. There was a significantly decrease in brain weight of the STZ-AH group but no significant differences in kidney and liver weights of the STZ-AH 5% & STZ-AH 10% groups compared to the STZ-control group. Blood glucose was significantly reduced in the STZ-AH 5% & STZ-AH 10% diabetic groups. There were no significant differences in total cholesterol and TG levels among the diabetic groups. HDL-cholesterol significantly increased while FFA significantly decreased in the STZ-AH 5% & STZ-AH 10% diabetic groups. The Hct level of the STZ-AH group was lower than that of the STZ-control group. Aspartate aminotransferase activity was significantly reduced in the STZ-AH 5% & STZ-AH 10% diabetic groups. These results indicate that supplementation with Allium hookeri root may have beneficial effects on diabetic complications as a potential therapeutic candidate.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.96-102
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• 2017

Background: Korean ginseng, Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used as a traditional oriental medicine to treat illness and promote health for several thousand years. Ginsenosides are the main constituents for the pharmacological effects of P. ginseng. Since several ginsenosides, including ginsenoside (G)-Rg3 and G-Rp1, have reported antiplatelet activity, here we investigate the ability of G-Rp4 to modulate adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced platelet aggregation. The ginsenoside Rp4, a similar chemical structure of G-Rp1, was prepared from G-Rg1 by chemical modification. Methods: To examine the effects of G-Rp4 on platelet activation, we performed several experiments, including antiplatelet ability, the modulation of intracellular calcium concentration, and P-selectin expression. In addition, we examined the activation of integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ and the phosphorylation of signaling molecules using fibrinogen binding assay and immunoblotting in rat washed platelets. Results: G-Rp4 inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation in a dose-dependent manner. We found that G-Rp4 decreased calcium mobilization and P-selectin expression in ADP-activated platelets. Moreover, fibrinogen binding to integrin ${\alpha}IIb{\beta}_3$ by ADP was attenuated in G-Rp4-treated platelets. G-Rp4 significantly attenuated phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2, p38, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, as well as protein kinase B, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and phospholipase C-${\gamma}$ phosphorylations. Conclusion: G-Rp4 significantly inhibited ADP-induced platelet aggregation and this is mediated via modulating the intracellular signaling molecules. These results indicate that G-Rp4 could be a potential candidate as a therapeutic agent against platelet-related cardiovascular diseases.

• 약학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.140-146
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• 2005

Candida albicans, a polymorphic fungus, causes systemic and local infections. Recent reports show that the fungus is a main etiological agent for the arthritis. For trea tment, antifungal drugs and/or rheumatoid drugs are used, but resistance and side effects limit application of the drugs. In search of new sources for treatment of the fungal arthritis, we choose Egb 761 (extract of Ginkgo leaves 761), one of the most popular over-the-counter herbal medicines. The Egb 761 contains two major ingredients such as terpene and flavonoid. In the present study, we examined if the terpene portion of Egb 761 had anti-inflammatory activity against C.albicans-caused arthritis. The terpene was extracted with combination of methanol and water from the Egb 761, followed by gel-permeation chromatography. Presence of terpene was determined by the Salkowski colorimetric method and HPLC analysis. For an animal model of inflammation induction, mice were given an emulsion form of C.albicans cell wall mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) by footpad-injection. Results showed that intraperitoneal administration of the water-soluble portion that contained terpene and flavonoid reduced the inflammation. Whereas the terpene had anti-inflammatory activity, flavonoid portion had no such activity, For determination of possible mechanism of the activity, the terpene seemed to be suppression of nitric oxide (NO) production from LPS-treated macrophages. Taken together the Ginkgo terpene may have anti-inflammatory effect against C.albicans-caused arthritis, possibly by blocking NO production.