• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.241-245
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• 2006

The biofunctional properties of traditional Doenjang supplemented with the extract of herb medicines (refer as DHM) were examined DHM divided to four groups, I, II, III and IV according to herb medicines were added. Nitrite scavenging-activities from all 4 groups of DHMs were significantly higher than that of control. Also hydrogen donating-activities from all 4 groups of DHMs were slightly higher than that of control. Antibacterial activities against pathogenic bacteria such as Streptococcus mutant and Salmonella enteritidis and fibrinolytic activity of all DHMs on fibrin plate were higher than those of control. On the other those of groups III and IV were higher in sensory score, biofunctional and antimicrobial activities than those of group I, II and control. Therefore, the usage of extract of Korean herb medicines instead of water to make Doenjang will effective in development of traditional soybean Doenjang with the biofunctional properties.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2016

An ethanolic extracts of Scutellaria Baicalensis GEORGI are used to treat cancer, infectious diseases, and inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an ESBG on the growth and survival of 5637 cells, a human bladder carcinoma cell line. Cells were treated with different concentrations of an ethanolic extract of Scutellaria Baicalensis GEORGI (ESBG), and cell death was assessed using a MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, caspase-3 and -9 activities, and mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to confirm cell death by apoptosis. ESBG had a cytotoxic effect on 5637 cells, and increased the sub G1 peak, caspase-3 and -9 activities, and mitochondrial depolarization, indicating ESBG induced apoptosis. Furthermore, MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) inhibitors suppressed this apoptosis. In an in vitro study, a combination of sub-optimal doses of ESBG and paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, or docetaxel noticeably suppressed tumor growth by 5637 cells. Our findings provide insight of the mechanisms underlying cellular apoptosis induced by ESBG, and suggest new therapeutic strategies for bladder cancer.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2001

This review showed a discussion on the biofunctional activities of citrus flavonoids. The major flavonoids of citrus species, hesperidin, hesperetin, naringin, and naringenin, were selected to evaluate their biological effects on the lipid metabolism in rats and hamsters, the proliferation of human hepatocyte HepG2 cells, and the antioxidative effect in lipid peroxidation models. These flavonoids showed hypotriglyceridemic effect in hamsters and hypochloesterolemic effect in rats. They also significantly inhibited the activities of phosphatidate phophohydrolase and acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase, which are key enzymes for biosynthesis of triglyceride and cholesterol, repectively, in vivo and in vitro experiments. These biofunctional activities by citrus flavonoids were shown more potent in the aglycone flavonoids, hespreretin and naringenin, than their corresponding glycoside flavonoids, hesperidin and naringin. These aglycone flavonoids also have inhibitory effects on proliferation of human hepatocyte cancer HepG2 cells. Hesperidin showed lowering activities of cellular triglyceride and cholesterol concentrations in HepG2 cells. Citrus flavonoids have significant importance in functional food industry as biofunctional active ingredients.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.48-58
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• 2006

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2013

We studied the modulation of pacemaker activities by Samchulkunbi-tang (SCKB) in cultured interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) from murine small intestine with the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Externally applied SCKB produced membrane depolarization in the current-clamp mode. The pretreatment with $Ca^{2+}$-free solution and thapsigargin, a $Ca^{2+}$-ATPase inhibitor in endoplasmic reticulum, abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials and suppressed the SCKB-induced action. The application of flufenamic acid (a nonselective cation channel blocker) abolished the generation of pacemaker potentials by SCKB. However, the application of niflumic acid (a chloride channel blocker) did not inhibit the generation of pacemaker potentials by SCKB. In addition, the membrane depolarizations were inhibited by not only GDP-${\beta}$-S, which permanently binds G-binding proteins, but also U-73122, an active phospholipase C inhibitor. These results suggest that SCKB modulates the pacemaker activities by nonselective cation channels and external $Ca^{2+}$ influx and internal $Ca^{2+}$ release via G-protein and phospholipase C-dependent mechanism. Therefore, the ICC are targets for SCKB and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.837-842
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to develop bathing aids as a strategic products to promote the medical tourism in Sancheong Jirisan Oriental medicinal herbs special district using medicinal herbs produced in Sancheong province, and to verify the effect of the bathing aids in vitro. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, antiaging and whitening effects of Sanchung-PNU 1 (SP1) and Sanchung-PNU 2 (SP2) made with traditional medicinal herbs. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay. We measured the inhibitory effect against tyrosinase activity to prove the whitening effect, and the inhibitory effect against elastase activity to prove the anti-aging effect. Two proposed prescriptions, SP1 and SP2, showed not significant cytotoxicity but significant (p<0.001) improvement in anti-oxidation, anti-wrinkle, and whitening effects compared to the control group. The result shows that these bathing aids have excellent DPPH radical scavenging effect and significant inhibitory effect against elastase and tyrosinase activity. These findings suggest that these bathing aids have a strong antioxidant, anti-aging, and whitening effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.603-607
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of Carthami Flos on interstitial cells of Cajal in the gastrointestinal tract. Many regions of the tunica muscularis of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract display spontaneous contraction. These spontaneous contractions are mediated by periodic generation of electrical slow waves. Recent studies have shown that the interstitial cells of Cajal (ICCs) act as pacemakers and conductors of electrical slow waves in gastrointestinal smooth muscles. We investigated the cytotoxicity activity, antioxidant activity, and pacemaking activity. The cytotoxicity activity was measured by MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Antioxidant activities were determined by DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging capacity assay and DCFH-DA (2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate) method. The effects of Carthami Flos on the pacemaker potentials in cultured ICCs from murine small intestine were investigated by using whole-cell patch-clamp techniques at $30^{\circ}C$. The addition of Carthami Flos (5, 10, $30{\mu}g$/ml) depolarized the resting membrane potentials in a concentration dependent manner. These results suggest that the GI tract can be targets for Carthami Flos, and their interaction can affect intestinal motility.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2016

Objectives: The crude extracts of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) have traditionally demonstrated inhibitory effects on numerous human cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer on world. The authors investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (ESB) on the growth and survival of MKN-45 cells (a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line). Methods: The MKN-45 cells were treated with different concentrations of ESB, and cell death was examined using an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Analyses of sub-G1 peaks, caspase-3 and -9 activities, and mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to determine the anti-cancer effects of SB on MKN-45 cells. Also, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was investigated. Results: ESB inhibited the growth of MKN-45 cells, caused cell cycle arrest, and increased the sub-G1 population. In addition, ESB markedly increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the activities of caspase-3 and -9. ESB exerted anti-proliferative effects on MKN-45 cells by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and by increasing the generation of ROS. Furthermore, combinations of anti-cancer drugs plus ESB suppressed cell growth more than treatments with an agent or ESB, and this was especially true for cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin. Conclusion: ESB has a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on MKN-45 cells and this is closely associated with the induction of apoptosis. ESB-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondria-, caspase- and MAPK dependent pathways. In addition, ESB enhances ROS generation and increases the chemosensitivity of MKN-45 cells. These results suggest that treatment with ESB can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by modulating the caspase-, MAPK- and ROS-dependent pathway.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

Objectives: Buxus Microphylla var. Koreana Nakai Extract (BMKNE) is used as a folk remedy for malaria and veneral disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BMKNE in the growth and the survival of AGS cells, the most common human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines. Methods: The AGS cells were treated with varying concentrations of BMKNE. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occured by apoptosis. Also, to identify the role of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 7 channels in AGS cell growth and survival, we used human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressed with TRPM7 channels. Results: Experimental results showed that the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were increased. Therefore, BMKNE was found to induce the apoptosis of these cells, and this apoptosis was inhibited by SB203580 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor), and by a c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) II inhibitor. Furthermore, BMKNE inhibited TRPM7 currents and TRPM7 channel over-expressions in HEK 293 cells, exacerbating BMKNE-induced cell death. Conclusions: These findings indicate that BMKNE inhibits the growth and the survival of gastric cancer cells due to a blockade of the TRPM7 channel's activity and MAPK signaling. Therefore, BMKNE is a potential drug for treatment of gastric cancer, and both the TRPM7 channel and MAPK signaling may play an important role in survival in gastric cancer cells.

• The Journal of the Society of Korean Medicine Diagnostics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.72-82
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• 2005

Background and purpose: Bell‘s Palsy is a condition that causes the facial muscles to weaken or become paralyzed. It's caused by trauma to the 7th cranial nerve, and is not permanent. The aim of this study is to be convinced of differences between facial electrodermal activities of paralyzed side and those of normal side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients Methods: Electrodermal activity (EDA) was performed within 1 week after the onset of facial palsy and facial nerve electromyography (EMG) at 2 weeks after the onset. The recovery of facial nerve function was documented by House and Brackmann grading. All the patients were followed up weekly until recovery or up to 6 weeks. Results: There was significant differences (conductivity A: t=3.319, p=0.002; conductivity C: t=2.699, p=0.010) between facial electrodermal conductivities of paralyzed side and those of normal side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients (N=45). And the result showed that logarithmic scale of electrodermal conductivity A value ratio obviousely decreased with logarithmic scale of EMG zygomatic branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.472, p=0.143); logarithmic scale of capacitance B, logarithmic scale of EMG temporal branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.422, p=0.133); logarithmic scale of conductivity C, logarithmic scale of EMG buccal branch amplitude ratio (r=-0.545, p=0.083) (N=12). Conclusion: Electrodermal conductivities increased in paralyzed facial side in acute stage of Bell's Palsy patients.