• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.759-770
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• 2022

Background: Aerobic cellular respiration provides chemical energy, adenosine triphosphate (ATP), to maintain multiple cellular functions. Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) can deacetylate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1 alpha (PGC-1α) to promote mitochondrial biosynthesis. Targeting energy metabolism is a potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as cardiac and neurological disorders. Ginsenosides, one of the major bioactive constituents of Panax ginseng, have been extensively used due to their diverse beneficial effects on healthy subjects and patients with different diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of total ginsenosides (GS) on energy metabolism remain unclear. Methods: In this study, oxygen consumption rate, ATP production, mitochondrial biosynthesis, glucose metabolism, and SIRT1-PGC-1α pathways in untreated and GS-treated different cells, fly, and mouse models were investigated. Results: GS pretreatment enhanced mitochondrial respiration capacity and ATP production in aerobic respiration-dominated cardiomyocytes and neurons, and promoted tricarboxylic acid metabolism in cardiomyocytes. Moreover, GS clearly enhanced NAD⁺-dependent SIRT1 activation to increase mitochondrial biosynthesis in cardiomyocytes and neurons, which was completely abrogated by nicotinamide. Importantly, ginsenoside monomers, such as Rg1, Re, Rf, Rb1, Rc, Rh1, Rb2, and Rb3, were found to activate SIRT1 and promote energy metabolism. Conclusion: This study may provide new insights into the extensive application of ginseng for cardiac and neurological protection in healthy subjects and patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.860-864
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• 2005

Nowadays most of scholarship is based on the western model. Traditional Chinese Medical education system also follows the western medical education. In the views of medical sociology, it shows very interesting phenomenon that the modernization of traditional area follows the western model of modernization. Moreover, it provides a good chance to discuss whether modernization and westernization of tradition is real development or not. Traditional Chinese Medicine had been the only institutional medicine in China for a long time. But the status of Traditional Chinese Medicine has been changed very rapidly since modern era. Shanghai Traditional Chinese Medical School was established in 1916. But National Party government tried to abolish Traditional Chinese Medicine and it met a crisis of maintenance. But the situation has been dramatically changed when Communist Party got the power in 1949. The Communist Government needed a chief medical service. And Traditional Chinese Medicine could meet the condition. Traditional Chinese Medicine could provide also the ideology of national superiority. Therefore, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been protected and developed by the assistance of the Communist Party. In the process, Traditional Chinese Medical education has been professionalized.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.8
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• pp.422-427
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• 2013

Although BMP9 is highly capable of promoting osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cell (MSCs), the molecular mechanism involved remains to be fully elucidated. Here, we explore the possible involvement and detail role of JNKs (c-Jun N-terminal kinases) in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. It was found that BMP9 stimulated the activation of JNKs in MSCs. BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs was dramatically inhibited by JNKs inhibitor SP600125. Moreover, BMP9-activated Smads signaling was decreased by SP600125 treatment in MSCs. The effects of inhibitor are reproduced with adenoviruses expressing siRNA targeted JNKs. Taken together, our results revealed that JNKs was activated in BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. What is most noteworthy, however, is that inhibition of JNKs activity resulted in reduction of BMP9-induced osteogenic differentiation of MSCs, implying that activation of JNKs is essential for BMP9 osteoinductive activity.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1541-1542
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• 2013

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.442-452
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• 2020

Backgroud: Sleep deprivation (SD) impairs learning and memory by inhibiting hippocampal functioning at molecular and cellular levels. Abnormal autophagy and apoptosis are closely associated with neurodegeneration in the central nervous system. This study is aimed to explore the alleviative effect and the underlying molecular mechanism of stem-leaf saponins of Panax notoginseng (SLSP) on the abnormal neuronal autophagy and apoptosis in hippocampus of mice with impaired learning and memory induced by SD. Methods: Mouse spatial learning and memory were assessed by Morris water maze test. Neuronal morphological changes were observed by Nissl staining. Autophagosome formation was examined by transmission electron microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, acridine orange staining, and transient transfection of the tf-LC3 plasmid. Apoptotic event was analyzed by flow cytometry after PI/annexin V staining. The expression or activation of autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins were detected by Western blotting assay. Results: SLSP was shown to improve the spatial learning and memory of mice after SD for 48 h, accomanied with restrained excessive autophage and apoptosis, whereas enhanced activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling pathway in hippocampal neurons. Meanwhile, it improved the aberrant autophagy and apoptosis induced by rapamycin and re-activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin signaling transduction in HT-22 cells, a hippocampal neuronal cell line. Conclusion: SLSP could alleviate cognitive impairment induced by SD, which was achieved probably through suppressing the abnormal autophagy and apoptosis of hippocampal neurons. The findings may contribute to the clinical application of SLSP in the prevention or therapy of neurological disorders associated with SD.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.408-419
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• 2023

Background: Ginsenoside compound K (CK), the main active metabolite in Panax ginseng, has shown good safety and bioavailability in clinical trials and exerts neuroprotective effects in cerebral ischemic stroke. However, its potential role in the prevention of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Our study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of ginsenoside CK against cerebral I/R injury. Methods: We used a combination of in vitro and in vivo models, including oxygen and glucose deprivation/reperfusion induced PC12 cell model and middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion induced rat model, to mimic I/R injury. Intracellular oxygen consumption and extracellular acidification rate were analyzed by Seahorse multifunctional energy metabolism system; ATP production was detected by luciferase method. The number and size of mitochondria were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy and MitoTracker probe combined with confocal laser microscopy. The potential mechanisms of ginsenoside CK on mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy were evaluated by RNA interference, pharmacological antagonism combined with co-immunoprecipitation analysis and phenotypic analysis. Results: Ginsenoside CK pretreatment could attenuate mitochondrial translocation of DRP1, mitophagy, mitochondrial apoptosis, and neuronal bioenergy imbalance against cerebral I/R injury in both in vitro and in vivo models. Our data also confirmed that ginsenoside CK administration could reduce the binding affinity of Mul1 and Mfn2 to inhibit the ubiquitination and degradation of Mfn2, thereby elevating the protein level of Mfn2 in cerebral I/R injury. Conclusion: These data provide evidence that ginsenoside CK may be a promising therapeutic agent against cerebral I/R injury via Mul1/Mfn2 mediated mitochondrial dynamics and bioenergy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2010

There has been a need for establishing operational curriculum for chinese characters and chinese writing used by traditional korean medicine (TKM), but it was not carefully recognized so far. We analysed the frequency of unicode chinese characters from five medical textbooks and showed prerequisite chinese characters for TKM beginners. It was found that 之, 者, 不, 也, 而, 氣, 陽, 陰, 下, 其, 病, 爲, 人, 以, 中, 則, 於, 脈, 上, 故 are the most frequently used 20 chinese characters. We also showed that adequate prerequisite chinese character should be designated for the more efficient education of TKM. This study was the first systematic approach to get essential and prerequisite chinese characters for the education of TKM. The prerequisite characters by this study will be used for the development of KEET (Korean Medicine Education Eligibility Test), entrance exam to the Colleges of Oriental Medicine and textbooks, and educational curriculum of premed students.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.145-155
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• 2022

Multidrug resistance of tumors has been a severe obstacle to the success of cancer chemotherapy. The study wants to investigate the reversal effects of imperatorin (IMP) on doxorubicin (DOX) resistance in K562/DOX leukemia cells, A2780/Taxol cells and in NOD/SCID mice, to explore the possible molecular mechanisms. K562/DOX and A2780/Taxol cells were treated with various concentrations of DOX and Taol with or without different concentrations of IMP, respectively. K562/DOX xenograft model was used to assess anti-tumor effect of IMP combined with DOX. MTT assay, Rhodamine 123 efflux assay, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis were determined in vivo and in vitro. Results showed that IMP significantly enhanced the cytotoxicity of DOX and Taxol toward corresponding resistance cells. In vivo results illustrated both the tumor volume and tumor weight were significantly decreased after 2-week treatment with IMP combined with DOX compared to the DOX alone group. Western blotting and RT-PCR analyses indicated that IMP downregulated the expression of P-gp in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. We also evaluated glycolysis and glutamine metabolism in K562/DOX cells by measuring glucose consumption and lactate production. The results revealed that IMP could significantly reduce the glucose consumption and lactate production of K562/DOX cells. Furthermore, IMP could also remarkably repress the glutamine consumption, α-KG and ATP production of K562/DOX cells. Thus, IMP may sensitize K562/DOX cells to DOX and enhance the antitumor effect of DOX in K562/DOX xenograft tumors in NOD/SCID mice. IMP may be an adjuvant therapy to mitigate the multidrug resistance in leukemia chemotherapy.

• Journal of the International Relations & Interdisciplinary Education
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.77-86
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• 2023

At present, under the background of "One Belt and One Road", great achievements have been made in cultural confidence, overseas communication, education, and modernization of Chinese medicine. However, the overseas dissemination of Chinese medicine culture has not yet fulfilled the requirements of the Cultural Power Strategy and the historical mission of Chinese medicine. Challenges are still faced in the cultural theory of traditional Chinese medicine, overseas communication mechanisms, and translation of Chinese medicine terms. Therefore, Chinese medicine practitioners must firm their faith in culture and traditional Chinese medicine, disseminate the cultural theory of traditional Chinese medicine, exert the advantages of the media and improve its mechanism, and speed up cross-cultural language exchange and research. These efforts will innovate Chinese medicine culture, strengthen overseas exchange and cooperation as well as flourish traditional Chinese medicine overseas.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.187-194
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• 2010

Objectives : There has been a need for establishing operational curriculum for chinese characters and chinese writing used by traditional Korean medicine(TKM), but it was not thoroughly recognized so far. Methods : We analysed the usage of unicode chinese characters of acupuncture & moxibustion textbook to recognize the prerequisite chinese characters for TKM studies as clinical perspectives. Results : It was found that 穴, 經, 鍼, 法, 寸, 部, 分, 刺, 下, 上, 中, 位, 氣, 陽, 灸, 脈, 陰, 治, 足, 主 are the most frequently used 20 chinese characters. We also showed that adequate prerequisite chinese character should be designated for the more efficient education of TKM. Conclusions : This study was the first systematic approach to get essential and prerequisite chinese characters for the education of TKM especially for the acupuncture & moxibustion. The prerequisite characters by this study will be used for the development of KEET (Korean Medicine Education Eligibility Test), entrance exam to the Colleges of Oriental Medicine and textbooks, and educational curriculum of premed students.