• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.416-421
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• 2013

Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense is often used in treatment of human disease such as hemorrhage, blood congestion and inflammation. The present study has been undertaken to investigate the effect of the leaf extract from C. japonicum var. ussuriense (CLE) on the development of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA1/J mice. CLE administration suppressed markedly the arthritis incidence and arthritis score in CIA mice. Also, CLE significantly suppressed the release of $PGE_2$, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-6 in CIA mice. However, CLE significantly increased the production of IL-10, but not IL-4. These results suggest that CLE suppress inflammatory mediators and regulates Th1 and Th2 cytokines. These properties may contribute to the anti-arthritis action of CLE.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.495-500
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• 2003

Tight junctions (TJ) between adjacent Sertoli cells in testis are important for the formation of the blood testis barrier (BTB). In an effort to verify the reproductive health risk of endocrine-active chemicals (EACs), changes in the transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and the expression of TJ genes were examined by co-planar polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) treatment in cultured mouse Sertoli cells. Although the increase in TER of Sertoli cells was accelerated by 10 nM co-planar PCB, it was downregulated by 100 nM co-planar PCB. The expression of claudin-1 was downregulated by co-planar PCB in a concentration-dependent manner. On the contrary, the expression of claudin-1 was increased in the Sertoli cells by 10 nM co-planar PCB treatment. These results suggest that the structure and function of TJ may be targeted by co-planar PCB in Sertoli cells. Assessment of the structure and function of TJ in Sertoli cells might be useful for screening the reproductive health risk of EACs.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.410-413
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• 1998

The major protein (GMP) from the roots of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer was purified, using gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography followed by reversed-phase and ion exchange FPLC. Staining analysis indicated that the protein has a carbohydrate moiety, which was also shown by band shift experiments using various glycosidases. Electrophoretic and gel permeation studies showed that GMP has an apparent molecular weight of 63 kDa composed of possibly two subunits of 25 kDa containing carbohydrate moiety. GMP showed an anticomplementary activity on the hemolysis of red blood cells, which is a screening tool for inflammation mediator search.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.441-446
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• 2013

In the present study, the anti-depressant like effect of methyl gallate (MG) isolated from the stem bark of Acer barbinerve was examined in ICR mice. Body weight (BDW) and blood glucose (BDG) levels significantly decreased in the repeated restraint stress (RRS) group (2 h/day for 14 days) compared to the no stress (NS) group. To examine the effect of MG on RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia, MG (10 mg/kg) and the anti-depressant fluoxetine (10 mg/kg) were administered daily for 14 days. Orally administered MG and fluoxetine significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss and hypoglycemia. Interestingly, MG administered mice showed increased BDG levels in the normal and glucose feeding condition. Chronic RS-subjected mice showed immobilized and depressed behaviors. The effect of MG on the depressed behaviors was evaluated using the tail-suspension test (TST) and the forced swimming test (FST). In both tests, RS-induced immobilized behaviors were significantly reversed in MG and fluoxetine administered groups. Taken together, MG significantly attenuated the RS-induced BDW loss, hypoglycemia, and depressed behaviors. Considering that decreased BDG levels (hypoglycemia) can cause depression, MG may exert its anti-depressant like effect by preventing hypoglycemia. Our results suggest that MG isolated from A. barbinerve can exert anti-depressant like effect, and could be used as a new and natural anti-depressant therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2016

Abnormal localization of tumor suppressor proteins is a common feature of renal cancer. Nuclear export of these tumor suppressor proteins is mediated by chromosome region maintenance-1 (CRM1). Here, we investigated the antitumor effects of a novel reversible inhibitor of CRM1 on renal cancer cells. We found that S109 inhibits the CRM1-mediated nuclear export of RanBP1 and reduces protein levels of CRM1. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of S109 on CRM1 is reversible. Our data demonstrated that S109 significantly inhibits proliferation and colony formation of renal cancer cells. Cell cycle assay showed that S109 induced G1-phase arrest, followed by the reduction of Cyclin D1 and increased expression of p53 and p21. We also found that S109 induces nuclear accumulation of tumor suppressor proteins, Foxo1 and p27. Most importantly, mutation of CRM1 at Cys528 position abolished the effects of S109. Taken together, our results indicate that CRM1 is a therapeutic target in renal cancer and the novel reversible CRM1 inhibitor S109 can act as a promising candidate for renal cancer therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.99-106
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• 2017

Obesity is a critical risk factor for the hypertension. Although angiotensin II (Ang II) in obese individuals is known to be upregulated in obesity-induced hypertension, direct evidence that explains the underlying mechanism for increased vascular tone and consequent increase in blood pressure (BP) is largely unknown. The purpose of this study is to investigate the novel mechanism underlying Ang II-induced hyper-contractility and hypertension in obese rats. Eight-week old male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with 60% fat diet or normal diet for 4 months. Body weight, plasma lipid profile, plasma Ang II level, BP, Ang II-induced vascular contraction, and expression of regulatory proteins modulating vascular contraction with/without Ang II stimulation were measured. As a result, high fat diet (HFD) accelerated age-dependent body weight gaining along with increased plasma Ang II concentration. It also increased BP and Ang II-induced aortic contraction. Basal expression of p-CPI-17 and myosin light chain (MLC) kinase was increased by HFD along with increased phosphorylation of MLC. Ang II-induced phosphorylation of CPI-17 and MLC were also higher in HFD group than control group. In conclusion HFD-induced hypertension is through at least in part by increased vascular contractility via increased expression and activation of contractile proteins and subsequent MLC phosphorylation induced by increased Ang II.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2017

Advanced age is one of the risk factors for vascular diseases that are mainly caused by impaired nitric oxide (NO) production. It has been demonstrated that endothelial arginase constrains the activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and limits NO generation. Hence, arginase inhibition is suggested to be vasoprotective in aging. In this study, we examined the effects of intravenous injection of Piceatannol, an arginase inhibitor, on aged mice. Our results show that Piceatannol administration reduced the blood pressure in aged mice by inhibiting arginase activity, which was associated with NO production and reactive oxygen species generation. In addition, Piceatannol administration recovered $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II phosphorylation, eNOS phosphorylation and eNOS dimer stability in the aged mice. The improved NO signaling was shown to be effective in attenuating the phenylephrine-dependent contractile response and in enhancing the acetylcholine-dependent vasorelaxation response in aortic rings from the aged mice. These data suggest Piceatannol as a potential treatment for vascular disease.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.159-178
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this paper is to study the metaphor that the liver is the admiral from which strategic planning is derived in 『Suwen Linglanmidianlun』 in relation to Liver function. Methods : Annotations to the verse along with descriptions of strategic planning in classical texts and their relation were examined. Results : Previous annotators described the Admiral organ and Strategic Planning separately, in which it is difficult to fully explain the totality the two. They cannot be separated from each other, and only when they are in dependence of each other can they become complete. Liver function as described in classical texts and contemporary text books such as detoxification and sterilization all embody this meaning of strategic planning of an admiral. Conclusions : Reinterpretation of the Liver function based on an integrated understanding of the Liver as described in 『Suwen Linglanmidianlun』 is required. This will allow for better understanding of what the metaphor means, and to better connect this description to Liver physiology for an integrated understanding of the Liver itself in Korean Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.567-576
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• 2014

This study investigated the physiological effects of a diet containing calcium oxide (CaO) on the olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. The results indicate that the amount of calcium in the blood was higher in the calcium group compared with the controls. The aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels were lower in the calcium group, while lysozyme activity was higher in the calcium group. Histologically, fish in the calcium group had more hepatocytes in the liver and more intact scales. In addition, an attack experiment using Vibrio anguillarum (KCTC-2711) and Edwardsiella tarda (KCTC-3657) showed that the survival was higher in the calcium group compared with the controls. These results suggest that feeding fish CaO when they require it, such as during periods of gonadal maturation and rapid growth, will increase their immunity and resistance to pathogens.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2003

In Korean folk medicine, several herbs, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Persicae Semen, Salviae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Zanthoxyli Fructus, Ginseng Radix Alba, Cnidii Rhizoma, and Carthami Flos, are known to enhance blood circulation and have wound healing or anti-inflammatory effects. These pharmacological actions prompted us to investigate whether these herbs might stimulate hair growth. Thus, using a mixture of their extracts called SPELA 707, we investigated their effects and found that SPELA 707 possessed significant hair cycle converting activity from the telogen phase to the anagen phase in C3H mice. Furthermore, we found that SPELA 707 enhanced the hair density in subjects with hair loss and also promoted the conversion of hair into the anagen phase in subjects with androgenetic alopecia. In addition, hair growth promotion effect of SPELA 707 occurred through inhibition of steroid $5{\alpha}$-reductase activity, which is known to block hair growth. Taken together, these results suggest that SPELA 707 has a potential to be used for the treatment of hair loss.