• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.44 no.5
• /
• pp.738-746
• /
• 2020

Background: Red ginseng contains components, including microelements, vitamins, essential oils, and fatty acids, that can be used in skincare to delay the aging process. We investigated the effects of red ginseng treatment on skin elasticity by assessing cellular stiffness and measuring collagen protein synthesis. Methods: Human dermal fibroblasts were treated with red ginseng, and the resulting changes in stiffness were investigated using atomic force microscopy. Cytoskeletal changes and mRNA expression of biomarkers of aging, including that of procollagens I and VII, elastin, and fibrillin-1, were investigated. Collagen in a human skin equivalent treated with red ginseng was visualized via hematoxylin and eosin staining, scanning electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. Results and conclusion: The stiffness of fibroblasts was significantly reduced by treatment with red ginseng concentrations of ≥ 0.8 mg/mL. The ratio of F-actin to G-actin decreased after treatment, which corresponded to a change in fibroblast stiffness. The storage modulus (G') and loss modulus (G'') of the skin equivalent were both lowered by red ginseng treatment. This result indicates that the viscoelasticity of the skin equivalent can be restored by red ginseng treatment.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.39 no.1
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 2014

This is a case report of chronic maxillary sinusitis caused by root canal overfilling of Calcipex II (Techno-Dent). A 60 year-old male complained of dull pain in the right maxillary molar area after complicated endodontic treatment using Calcipex II paste and was finally diagnosed with a chronic maxillary sinusitis through a clinical and radiological observation. In the biopsy examination, the periapical granuloma contained a lot of dark and translucent Calcipex II granules which were not stained with hematoxylin and eosin. They were usually engulfed by macrophages but rarely resorbed, resulting in scattering and migrating into antral mucosa. Most of the Calcipex II granules were also accumulated in the cytoplasms of secretory columnar epithelial cells, and small amount of Calcipex II granules were gradually secreted into sinus lumen by exocytosis. However, chronic granulomatous inflammation occurred without the additional recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and lymphocytes, and many macrophages which engulfed the Calcipex II granules were finally destroyed in the processes of cellular apoptosis. It is presumed that Calcipex II granules are likely to have a causative role to induce the granulomatous foreign body inflammation in the periapical region, and subsequently to exacerbate the chronic maxillary sinusitis in this study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.16 no.10
• /
• pp.1491-1498
• /
• 2006

The feasibility of pullulan acetate nanoparticles (PAN) with ionic strength (IS) sensitivity as a radioisotope carrier to inhibit tumor growth is demonstrated. PAN was radiolabeled with rhenium 188 (Re-188) without any chelating agents. The labeling efficiency of Re-188 into PAN (Re-188PAN) was $49.3{\pm}4.0%$ as determined by TLC. The tumor volumes of mice treated with 0.45 mCi of Re-188-PAN were measured and compared with that of free Re-188 after 5 days of intratumoral injection. For the histological evaluation of apoptotic nuclei of tumor cells, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase biotinylated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were performed. The mean tumor volume of the Re-188-PAN-treated group was decreased by 36% after 5 days, whereas that the free Re-188-treated group was decreased by only 15% (P<0.05). The mean number of TUNEL-positive cells in Re-188-PAN-treated tumors at $144.3{\pm}79.9$ cells/section was significantly greater than the control ($26.7{\pm}7.9$ cells/section, P=0.03). The numbers of leukocyte and lymphocyte were decreased in both free Re-188- and Re-188-PAN-treated mice. These results indicated that the intratumoral injection of Re-188-PAN effectively inhibits the tumor growth by prolonging Re-188 retention time in tumor site induced by the IS sensitivity.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.238-244
• /
• 2019

Background: This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim pharmacopuncture on disuse muscle atrophy in the gastrocnemius muscle of rats. Methods: Thirty male 250 g Sprague-Dawley rats were distributed randomly into 3 groups. The left hindlimb immobilization was performed with casting tape for 2 weeks, and no treatment was given to the right hindlimb. Rats received pharmacopuncture and were injected daily on the BL57 with either 2 mL of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim aqueous extract (ZM-W group), 1 mL pharmacopuncture of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim ethanol extract (ZM-E group), or 2 mL normal saline (control group). After 2 weeks of immobilization, the weight of the whole gastrocnemius muscle was measured, and the morphology of both the left and the right gastrocnemius muscles were assessed by Hematoxylin and Eosin staining. To investigate the immobilization-induced muscular apoptosis, the immunohistochemical analysis of BAX and Bcl-2 was carried out. Results: ZM-W and ZM-E significantly inhibited the reduction in weight of the left gastrocnemius muscle, the reduction in the left myofibrils, and the cross-sectional area of gastrocnemius, as compared with the control. Moreover, the ZM-W and ZM-E groups showed significantly reduced immunoreactivity for BAX, and increased immunoreactivity of Bcl-2 in left gastrocnemius muscle compared with the control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that Zanthoxylum bungeanum Maxim pharmacopuncture has protective effects against immobilization-induced muscle atrophy by regulating the activity of apoptosis-associated BAX / Bcl-2 proteins in the gastrocnemius muscle.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.31-42
• /
• 2021

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Spatholobi Caulis water extract (SC) to thioacetamide (TAA)-induced acute liver injury (ALI) in rats. Methods : The rats were injected intraperitoneally with TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) and orally administered SC (100 or 200 mg/kg b.w.) daily for 3 days. Liver biomarkers were assessed by serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and ammonia levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured both serum and liver tissue. In addition, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, anti-oxidant, and inflammation-related proteins were investigated by western blot analysis. Histological examination further confirmed though hematoxylin and eosin stain. Results : The SC treatment reduced liver function markers like GOT and GPT and also remarkably decreased ammonia level. Moreover, the elevated MDA level in TAA-induced group was significantly reduced by SC treatment. NADPH oxidase expression associated with oxidative stress including NOX2, NOX4, and p47phox markedly inhibited by SC administration. SC treatment exerted anti-oxidant effect through the increase of anti-oxidant enzyme including superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). The protein expressions of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-�� (TNF-��), IL-6, and IL-1�� induced by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-��B) activation were modulated through blocking the phosphorylation of inhibitor of nuclear factor ��B�� (I��B)��. SC treatment also improved histological alterations. Conclusion : These findings suggested that SC administration may be a potential candidate for the prevention or treatment of ALI.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.83-90
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Modified Bo-Yang-Hwan-O-Tang (mBHT) is a polyherbal medicine of twelve herbs traditionally used in the treatment of cerebral and cardiac stroke and vascular dementia. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effect, pyramidal neuronal cell, inflammation and apoptosis of mBHT against global ischemia in rats. Methods : Global ischemia was produced by two-vessel occlusion(2-VO) in SD male rats. mBHT at dose of 500 mg/kg was orally administrated for 2 weeks or 6 weeks after global ischemia. The histopathological changes of ischemic brain were observed by staining of hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Nissl and immunohistochemisty with anti-GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) antibody as a astrocyte marker. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3 was determined by western blot. Results : mBHT treatment significantly inhibited the pyramidal neuronal loss in CA1 of hippocampus of global ischemic rats by 2-VO. mBHT also suppressed the activation of astrocytes in the CA1 at 6 weeks after ischemia. In addition, mBHT significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 on iscemic brain, and significantly attenuated the expression of apoptotic proteins, Bax and caspase-3. Conclusions : These results indicate that mBHT inhibits neuronal cell damage induced in global ischemia by 2-VO, suggesting that mBHT may be a potential candidate for the treatment of vascular dementia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The root bark of Morus alba L. (Mori Cortex Radidus; MCR) has been traditionally used to reduce heat from the lungs, soothe asthma, and edema and to promote urination. In this study, we investigated the effect of MCR ethanol extract on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized at day 0, 7 and 14 with 0.2% OVA and then airway challenged at day 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 to induce allergic asthma. MCR extracts at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight (bw) were orally administered during OVA challenge once per a day. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific IgE, IFN-${\gamma}$ and IL-4 were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histopathological change of lung tissues was observed with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : MCR extract significantly decreased not only the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and IL-4 compared with those of OVA control group, but significantly increased the serum level of IFN-${\gamma}$. In H&E staining, MCR extract inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells and bronchiolar damage with epithelial thickening in lung tissues of OVA-induced asthma mice. Conclusions : These results indicate that MCR extract inhibits lung damage by asthma through regulating the allergic immune response, suggesting that MCR may be used as a useful agent for the treatment of allergic asthma.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.7-15
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Interruption and subsequent restoration of blood flow into the kidney result in renal injury. As an approach to preventing the renal injury, we determined the optimal conditions and the underlying mechanisms by which supernatant of hot water extract of ground Triticum aestivum L. (extract) attenuated ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods : One hour after administration of the extract (400 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection, renal I/R injury was generated by clamping the left renal artery in rats after surgical removal of the right kidney, followed by reperfusion. The maximal difference between the vehicle-treated and the extract-treated group under ketamine/xylazine or enflurane anesthetization was assessed at varying periods of ischemia (30-45 min) and reperfusion (3-48 hr), based on the renal function assessed with serum creatinine levels, tissue injury with hematoxylin/eosin staining, and apoptosis with terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling staining. Results : Enflurane anesthetization with 40 min of ischemia and 24 hr of reperfusion was identified to be the optimal condition, under which condition serum creatinine levels and tubular damage in the extract-treated group were significantly reduced compared with those in the vehicle-treated group ($1.3{\pm}0.2$ versus $2.7{\pm}0.3$ mg/dL, P < 0.01, and average score $1.8{\pm}0.1$ versus $3.5{\pm}0.3$, P < 0.01, respectively). These beneficial effects were mediated by inhibition of apoptotic cascades through attenuation of renal tissue malondialdehyde levels, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caspase-3 levels. Conclusions : The extract conferred renal protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by scavenging reactive oxygen species and consequently blocking apoptotic cascades, plausibly augmented by enflurane protection.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.53-66
• /
• 2018

Objectives : This study was designed to compare the effects of acanthopanax stem bark (ASB) and acanthopanax root bark (ARB) on the monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis rats. Methods : The antioxidant activities were evaluated through radical scavenging assays using 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radicals and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Also, we examined total poly phenol and flavonoids contents. Osteoarthritis was caused by injection MIA($50{\mu}{\ell}$ with $80mg/m{\ell}$) into the knee joint cavity of rats. Rats were divided by 4 groups (normal group, control group, ASB treated group, ARB treated group, each n=6). The changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum were analyzed after experiment. Also, the anti-oxidant, inflammatory protein levels were investigated western blot analysis. Knee joint tissue, histopathological observation hematoxylin & eosin staining and safranin-O staining were measured. Results : In the present study, ARB treated group showed superior inhibitory effects on the inflammatory parameters than the ASB treated group. ARB aqueous extract was effective in antioxidant measurements. The administration of ARB showed a significant reduction of changes in relative hind paw weight distribution. Morever, it decreased ROS, ALT and AST levels in serum, compared with those of the control rats. The ARB administration inhibited the biomarkers of inflammatory in tissues. Conclusions : ASB aqueous extract and ARB aqueous extract have a great effect on osteoarthritis, and ARB aqueous extract has excellent effect on osteoarthritis through antioxidant and anti-inflammation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.123-129
• /
• 2012

Objectives : Allergy has been described as an inflammatory with hypersensitivity resulting from seasonal or perennial responses to specific allergens. The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.(Platycodi Radix; Campanulaceae) has been traditionally used to treat chronic diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we examined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Platycodi Radix (PR-E) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA inhalation to induced chronic airway inflammation, and then were intragastrically administered PR-E extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg/day from days 21 to 30 consecutively. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : PR-E extract significantly decreased the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and Th2 cytokine, IL-4 compared with those in the OVA-induced group. PE-E extract significantly increased the serum level of Th1 cytokine, IFN-${\gamma}$. Based on lung histopathological studies, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by PE-E extract administration compared to that in the OVA-induced group. Conclusions : These findings indicate that PE-E extract may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.