• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.99-105
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• 2000

Lithium, a simple monovalent cation, is the mainstay in the treatment of manic-depressive illness, but despite extensive research, its mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. Because lithium requires chronic administration for therapeutic efficacy and because its beneficial effects last well beyond its discontinuation, it has been postulated that lithium may exert major effects at the genomic level. We have previously shown that Yungmijihwangwon (YM) increase TH protein expression through antioxidant activity and unknown effects in vivo. In the pressent study, we have sought to determine if lithium in herbal medicine also increases the expression of endogenous gene known to be regulated by AP-1 and have therefore investigated the effects of herbal medicine on tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) levels. Male mice were treated with LiCl and herbal medicine for 30 days, and TH levels and dopamine level were measured in striatum using immunoblotting and ECD-HPLC. Herbal medicine treatment resulted in statistically nonsignificant increase in TH levels in mouse striatum. The precise therapeutic relevance of these effects is presently unknown.

• 한국한의학연구원논문집
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.119-131
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• 1999

The effect of herbal medicine on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion $(MPP^+)$ and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) mediated neurotoxicity was studied in the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line PC12. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that herbal medicine can protect cells from neurotoxiciy caused by $MPP^+$ and 6-OHDA. Exposure of PC12 cells to 0.2 mM $MPP^+$ and $50\;{\mu}M$ 6-OHDA for 24h resulted in a 50% cell death with respect to the control cells. $MPP^+$ induced cell death was reduced by Yollyounggobondan (延齡固本丹), Sagunjatang (四君子湯), Palmihwan (八味丸), and Palmultang (八物湯)(P<0.05). However, herbal medicines did not protect cells from degeneration caused by the 6-OHDA. Yollyounggobondan, Yungmijihwangwon (六味地黃元), Palmihwan, and Samultang (四物湯) were effective in protecting against $MPP^+$-induced ATP loss in PC12 cells (P<0.05). Yollyounggobondan and Palmultang were effect in neurite protection against 6-OHDA treatment in differentiated PC12 cells with NGF.