• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.95-117
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• 2021

Objectives : Based on the entries on each medicinal's 'specification' and the phrase '所以然' in the Shennong Bencao Baizhonglu, this paper aims to examine Xu Dachun's understanding of herbal medicinals. Methods : One hundred medicinals from the text were sorted into eight categories: Qi, flavor, color, form, quality, nature and characteristic, time of growth, and producer, then examined. Results : 1. Medicinals related to Qi were aromatic and pungent and warm. 2. Medicinals related to flavor were explained according to the Five Flavors' nature in terms of the thing and its functions theory. 3. Medicinals related to color were explained in relation to the Five Colors, whose interpretations were rather erratic. 4. Medicinals related to form were explained as it being possible to figure out their effects based on each medicinal's shape and form. 5. Medicinals related to quality were those that were used to manage dryness and dampness using their dry or wet qualities. 6. Medicinals related to nature and characteristics needed to be understood in their originality to grasp their unique abilities. 7. Both producer and time of growth were closely related to each medicinal's efficacy. Conclusions : Understanding of the application of medicinals in the Shennong Bencaojing through continuous examination into each medicinal's 'specification' and 'its reasoning', together with their clinical application, will allow for learners to build an understanding of herbal medicinals.

• International Journal of Stem Cells
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 2023

Objective: The heart contains a pool of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells which is believed to be able to regenerate. The differentiation of these progenitor cells is reliant on different physiological cues. Unraveling the underlying signals to direct differentiation of progenitor cells will be beneficial in controlling progenitor cell fate. In this regard, the role of the mitochondria in mediating cardiac progenitor cell fate remains unclear. Specifically, the association between changes in mitochondrial morphology with the differentiation status of c-kit⁺ CPCs remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the relationship between mitochondrial morphology and the differentiation status of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells. Methods and Results: c-kit⁺ CPCs were isolated from 2-month-old male wild-type FVB mice. To activate differentiation, CPCs were incubated in α-minimal essential medium containing 10 nM dexamethasone for up to 7 days. To inhibit Drp1-mediated mitochondrial fragmentation, either 10 μM or 50 μM mdivi-1 was administered once at Day 0 and again at Day 2 of differentiation. To inhibit calcineurin, either 1 μM or 5 μM ciclosporin-A (CsA) was administered once at Day 0 and again at Day 2 of differentiation. Dexamethasone-induced differentiation of c-kit⁺ progenitor cells is aligned with fragmentation of the mitochondria via a calcineurin-Drp1 pathway. Pharmacologically inhibiting mitochondrial fragmentation retains the undifferentiated state of the c-kit⁺ progenitor cells. Conclusions: The findings from this study provide an alternative view of the role of mitochondrial fusion-fission in the differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells and the potential of pharmacologically manipulating the mitochondria to direct progenitor cell fate.