• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.33-46
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the extracellular deposition of beta-amyloid peptide $(A{\beta})$ in cerebral plaques. $A{\beta}$ is derived from the ${\beta}-amyloid$ precursor protein (APP) by the enzymes, ${\beta}-$ and ${\eta}o-secretase$. Compounds that ${\beta}-$ or ${\eta}o-secretase$ inhibit activity, can reduce the production of $A{\beta}$ peptides, and thus have therapeutic potential in the treatment of AD. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom(BV) Acupuncture could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-{\kappa}B$. In this study, I investigated possible effects of BV on memory dysfunction caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and $A{\beta}$ through inhibition of secretases activities and $A{\beta}$ aggregation. I examined the improving effect of BV on the LPS (2.5 mg/Kg, i.p.)-induced memory dysfunction using passive avoidance response and water maze tests in the mice. BV (0.84, $1.67\;{\mu}g/ml$) reversed the LPS-induced memorial dysfunction in dose dependent manner. BV also dose-dependently attenuated LPS-induced ${\beta}$ and ${\eta}o-secretase$ activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2001

The influence of Rhodiola extract on tissue antioxidant status, plasma lipid levels, cholesterol contents of liver and fores were investigated in rats find oxidized linoleic acid. Groups of five-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats fed ad libitum with a diet containing 20% oxidized linoleic acid with or without 300 mg/kg body weight freeze-dried Rhodiola water extract. The antioxidant effect of dietary Rhodiola extract supplementation on the peroxidation potential of rats was investigated. The microsomal thiobarbiruric acid reactive substance (TBARS) contents were changed significantly by Rhodiola extract supplementation. Hepatic Catalase activities were increased in Rhodiola supplemented rats, whereas hepatic Manganese Superoxide Dismutase (MnSOD) or Copper Zinc Superoxide Dismutase (CuZnSOD) were not elevated. In addition, plasma cholesterol lowering effect was observed along with the stimulated excretion of cholesterol through the feces were observed with Rhodiola feeding. Supplementation with Rhodiola extract did not alter high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. These results support that Rhodiola extract may be effective in protection against oxidative stress, and prevention and treatment of blood dyslipidemia. It demonstntes that Rhodiola extract has a potential to exert anti-atherogenic properties antioxidative capacities .

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.16-28
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• 1995

Influences of capsaicin on the activities of cytochrome P45O of liver cell were studied in rats. Rats were provided food and water ad libitum and capsaicin and methylcellulose were gavaged for 6 days. Body weight gain and liver weight/body weight ratio, microsomal protein content and serum HDL- cholesterol content, the activity of cytochrome P450 and erythromycin demethylase, the activities of ethoxyresorufin and pentoxyresorufin O- dealkylase were determined. Capsaicin increased body weight gain but showed no significant changes on liver weight as compared with control group. Capsaicin increased the microsomal protein significantly but decreased the serum HDL- cholesterol. Capsaicin decreased the microsomal cytochrome P4SO significantly and did not show any influences on erythromycin demethylase ( cytochrome P45O III A ). Capsaicin increased the activity of pentoxyresorufin O- dealkylase ( cytochrome P45O II B) and decreased the activity of ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase ( cytochrome P45O I A). It might be concluded that capsaicin reduced the microsomal cytochrome P45O and induced the CYP III and inhibited the CYP I A. It also might be concluded that capsaicin had no influence on CYP III A and decreased serum HDL- cholesterol. In these results capsaicin can not be used as an anti- atherosclerotic agent by increasing the CYP III A and HDL- cholesterol but it is considered that the more precise study on these theme is necessary.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.117-127
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• 2006

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of neurodegenerative disease associated with aging in the human population. This disease is characterized by the following 4 structural changes : Atrophy of the Cortex, Parasympathetic, and other neural cells, the existence of Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), and the accumulation of Senile plaques. NFTs and Senile plaques is known to be the index of this disease. Senile plaques disturbs the neutro transmission and depletes of Acetylcholine. So, Recovery of Acetylcholine is the primal objective for treating Alzheimer's disease. So, Inhibiting the activity of Acetylcholine Esterase (AChE), which causes the hydrolysus of acetylcholine into choline and acetate, can be seen as a key role for treating Alzheimer's disease. Increasing body of evidence has been demonstrated that Bee Venom Acupuncture (BV) could compete with complex protein involving in multiple step of $NF-_{\kappa}B$ activation and exert the anti-inflammatory potential of combined inhibition of the prostanoid and nitric oxide synthesis systems by inhibition of IKK and $NF-_{\kappa}B$. BV dose-dependently attenuated Scopolamine-induced Acetylcholine esterase activities in cerebral cortex and hippocampus of the mice brain. This study therefore suggests that BV acupuncture method may be useful for prevention of development or progression of AD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.363-368
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• 2010

Allergies are immediate hypersensitive responses to antigens and interleukin (IL)-4 is involved in the initiation and development of allergic responses. $Rb_1$ has been known to have a variety of biological activities including anti-inflammatory activity, but the effect of $Rb_1$ on allergic responses is not known yet. The present study was undertaken to examine whether $Rb_1$ has an inhibitory effect on allergic response in mouse model. In allergic mouse model, our results showed that topical application of $Rb_1$ on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions improved skin condition and inhibited starching behaviors. In addition, $Rb_1$ application not only suppressed mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10, but also prevented the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 transcription. Moreover, $Rb_1$ application suppressed IL-4's secretion. Taken together, these results suggest that $Rb_1$ has a potent inhibitory effect in AD-related T cell cytokine production and may be a candidate for therapeutic agent in allergy.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.634-640
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• 2017

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disorder mediated by inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and mast cells. Rifampicin is mainly used for the treatment of tuberculosis. Recently, it was reported that rifampicin has anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressive activities. In this study, we investigated the effect of rifampicin on atopic dermatitis in vivo and in vitro. AD was induced by treatment with 2, 4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in NC/Nga mice. A subset of mice was then treated with rifampicin by oral administration. The severity score and scratching behavior were alleviated in the rifampicin-treated group. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) levels were also ameliorated in mice treated with rifampicin. We next examined whether rifampicin has anti-atopic activity via suppression of mast cell activation. Rifampicin suppressed the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and histamine from human mast cell (HMC)-1 cultures stimulated with compound 48/80. Treatment with rifampicin also inhibited secretion of inflammatory mediators, such tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) and prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$), in mast cells activated by compound 48/80. The mRNA expression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) was reduced in the cells treated with rifampicin in a concentration-dependent manner. These results suggest that rifampicin can be used to treat atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.225-228
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• 2002

Bcl-2 is a member of large bcl-2 family and protects cells from apoptosis. Using bcl-2-expressing adenovirus vector (Ad-bc1-2), we investigated the effect of bc1-2 on UVB-induced apoptosis. Adenovirus vector efficiently introduced bc1-2 gene in cultured normal mouse keratinocytes (NMK cells); almost all NMK cells (lx10$^{6}$ ) were transfected at Ixl0$^{8}$ PFU/ml. Bcl-2-transfected NMK cells were significantly resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis with the suppressive effect dependent on bcl-2-expression level. Following UVB irradiation caspase 8, 3, 9 activities were stimulated in NMK cells, while in bc1-2-transfected cells, only caspase 8, but not caspase 3 or 9 activities were stimulated. In order to investigate the effect of bc1-2 in vivo, topical application of Ad-bc1-2 on tape-stripped mouse skin was performed. Following the application, Bc1-2 was efficiently overexpressed in almost all viable keratinocytes. The expression was transient with the maximal expression of Bc1-2 at 1st day following the application of lxl0$^{9}$ PFU in 200ml. The introduced Bc1-2 remained at least for 6 days. UVB irradiation (1250 J/m$^2$) induced apoptosis within 12 h and the maximal effect was observed at 24 h in control mouse skin. Bc1-2-transfected mice skin were resistant to UVB-induced apoptosis. Topical application of empty adenovirus vector alone had no effect on Bc1-2 expression or UVB-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that adenovirus vector is an efficient gene delivery system into keratinocytes and that Bcl-2 is a potent inhibitor of UVB-induced apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.138-145
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• 2013

Citrus fruit contain various flavonoids that have multiple biological activities. However, the content of these flavonoids are changed during maturation and immature Citrus is known to contain larger amounts than mature. Chemokines are significant mediators for cell migration, while thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) and macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC/CCL22) are well known as the typical inflammatory chemokines in atopic dermatitis (AD), a pruritic and chronic inflammatory skin disease. We reported recently that the EtOH extract of immature Citrus unshiu inhibits TARC and MDC production. Therefore, we investigated the activity of flavonoids contained in immature Citrus on TARC and MDC levels. As a result, among the various flavonoids, quercetagetin has stronger inhibitory effects on the protein and mRNA expression of TARC and MDC than other flavonoids. Quercetagetin particularly has better activity on TARC and MDC level than quercetin. In HPLC analysis, the standard peak of quercetagetin matches the peaks of extract of immature C. unshiu. This suggests that quercetagetin is an anti-inflammatory component in immature C. unshiu.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.259-264
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• 2007

Ginger(Zingiber officinale Roscoe) has been used as a raw material in many various traditional preparations since the ancient times. As a component of traditional health products, ginger is known to be effective as an appetite enhancer, and has anti-cold and anti-inflammatory activities. This study was performed to investigate the immunomodulative effects of Zingiber officinale Roscoe in mice, using ex vivo experiments. In order to elucidate ginger's immunomodulative effects of Ginger, water extracts were orally administered to mice, and isolated macrophages were used as the experimental model. To identify the ex vivo effects, six to seven week old Balb/c mice were fed a chow diet ad libitum and the ginger water extracts were administered orally every other day for two or four weeks at two different concentrations(50 and 500 mg/kg b.w.). The results show that IL-IO and $IFN-{\gamma}$ were detected in the 500 mg/kg b.w. supplemented group with LPS stimulation in all cases. Also, the $IFN-{\gamma}$ /IL-10 ratio ranged from 3~5 with mitogen stimulation such as Con A and LPS. In conclusion, this study suggests that ginger extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the cytokine(IL-10 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) production capacity of activated macrophages in mice.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.235-247
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• 2009

Objectives : Ginseng Radix Rubra water extract(RGE) has been used in vivo test for its beneficial effects on neuronal survival and neuroprotective functions, particularly in connection with APP-related dementias and Alzheimer's disease (AD). APP derived from proteolytic processing of the ${\beta}$-amyloid precursor protein (APP), including the amyloid-${\beta}$ peptide (A${\beta}$), plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's dementia. Methods : We determined that RGE inhibits formation of APP, which are the behavior, and possibly causative, feature of AD. Results and Conclusions : In the cells, RGE significantly activated antiapoptosis and decreased the activity of APP-grim, a key enzyme in the apoptosis cell-signaling cascade. These results suggest that neuronal damage in AD might be due to two factors: a direct APP toxicity and multiple cellular and molecular neuroprotective mechanisms, including attenuation of apoptosis and direct inhibition of APP, underlie the neuroprotective effects of RGE.