• Title/Summary/Keyword: natural medicine

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Allium hookeri Extract Improves Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in C57BL/KSJ Db/db Obese Mouse via Regulation of Hepatic Lipogenesis and Glucose Metabolism (삼채 추출물의 인슐린 저항성 개선 효과 및 기전 탐색)

  • Kim, Ji-Soo;Heo, Jin-Sun;Choi, Jong-Won;Kim, Gun-Do;Sohn, Kie-Ho
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.25 no.10
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    • pp.1081-1090
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    • 2015
  • Diabetes has been one of major health risks in industrialized countries. Allium hookeri is a wild herb distributed in India and Myanmar. The root of the plant has been used as food and medicine in Southeast Asia. We investigated Allium hookeri extract improves type 2 diabetes mellitus in C57BL/KSJ db/db obese mouse. C57BL/KSJ db/db obese mouse arise out of Type 2 diabetes and we treated Allium hookeri methanol extract 400 mg/kg (AH 400), 800 mg/kg (AH 800), positive control group (thiazolidinedine;TZDs) were administered orally for 8weeks. AH treated group normalized lipid enzyme system (triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol) and serum glucose, HbA1c and plasma insulin level. AH treated group recovered β-cell damage by hyperglycemia and fatty liver disease. AH treated group significantly up regulated expression of Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase4 (PDK4), Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP 1) and fork head box O1 (FOX 01) proteins in C57BL/KSJ db/db obese mouse liver. And we found that AH treated group decreased hepatic malondialdehyde formation in C57BL/KSJ db/db obese mouse liver. These results indicate that Allium hookeri methanol extract might be a potential anti-diabetic agent and could be useful in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Characteristics of Flowering and Leaf Emergence in Lycoris Species (상사화류의 개화와 출엽 특성)

  • Park, Yun-Jum;Kim, Hyun-Ju;Seo, Young-Nam;Chon, Sang-Uk;Lee, Beom-Seon;Heo, Buk-Gu
    • Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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    • v.20 no.1
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    • pp.43-49
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    • 2007
  • This study was conducted to examine the pattern and characteristics of flowering and leaf emergence for twenty two kinds of the genus of Lycoris sp. One species of Lycoris was flowered on July to August, twelve species on August, and nine species on September. Shape of flowers were as follows : Nine species belong to L. radiara-shaped flower, seven species L. squamigera-shaped flower, and seven species the intermediate type. Flower color of three kind were an order of descent red and pink. seven kind white, four kind yellow, three kind orange, and two kind purple colors. Ten Lycoris species were good fertile, and two kinds were poor fertile. The average length of pollen grain was ranged from $48.53\;to\;88.62{\mu}m$, and the width from $22.87\;to\;33.67{\mu}m$. Eleven kinds were spring-leaf emergence type, and ten kind autumn-leaf emergence types. Hunter values in leaves were as follows : $L^*$ value was ranged from 31.6 to 45.2; $a^*$ values from -6.74 to -17.46; $b^*$ values from 6.19 to 21.89 Leaf width was ranged from 0.90 to 2.35cm, and its shape was oblong. The length of epidermal cells was 0.33 to 0.75mm, and the width was $38.53\;to\;90.00{\mu}m$. Most of stomata were distributed in the back side of leaves. The length of stomata was ranged from $67.12\;to\;104.89{\mu}m$, and its width was from $14.90\;to\;71.52{\mu}m$.

Effect of FS11052, an Inhibitor of Exocytosis, on Neurite Extension in Rat Hippocampal Neurons and PC12 Cells (신경전달물질 방출 저해제 FS11052가 신경세포와 PC12 세포의 돌기신장에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee Yun-Sik;Kim Dong-Seob
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.16 no.2 s.75
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    • pp.315-322
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    • 2006
  • FS11052, a novel microbial metabolite from Streptomyces spp. was identified as a small molecular substance and shown inhibition activities for the release of neurotransmitter from rat hippocampal neuron and PC12 cells. FS11052 is an inhibitor of tritiated norepinephrine ($[^3H]-NE$) release in high $K^+$ buffer solution containing ionomycin, indicating that FS11052 inhibits neurotransmitter release after the influx of $Ca^{2+}$ ions. When examined the effect of FS11052 on glucuronidase release from guinea pig neutrophils, FS11052 inhibited glucuronidase release: when treated with $5{\mu}g/ml$ of FS11052, which was not induced cellular cytotoxicity. The fact that the glucuronidase release in neutrophil and norepinephrine release in neuron was inhibited suggests the similarity in the locations and the mechanisms of FS11052 action targets. When treated with $5{\mu}g/ml$ of FS11052, $[^3H]-NE$ release and neurite extension for both rat hippocampal neurons and PC12 cells were prevented. These observations of FS11052 functioning as an inhibitor of neurotransmitter release suggest that FS11052 has an important role in synaptic transmission in neuron.

Mathematics and Society in Koryo and Chosun (고려.조선시대의 수학과 사회)

  • Joung Ji-Ho
    • The Mathematical Education
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    • v.24 no.2
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    • pp.48-73
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    • 1986
  • Though the tradition of Korean mathematics since the ancient time up to the 'Enlightenment Period' in the late 19th century had been under the influence of the Chinese mathematics, it strove to develop its own independent of Chinese. However, the fact that it couldn't succeed to form the independent Korean mathematics in spite of many chances under the reign of Kings Sejong, Youngjo, and Joungjo was mainly due to the use of Chinese characters by Koreans. Han-gul (Korean characters) invented by King Sejong had not been used widely as it was called and despised Un-mun and Koreans still used Chinese characters as the only 'true letters' (Jin-suh). The correlation between characters and culture was such that, if Koreans used Han-gul as their official letters, we may have different picture of Korean mathematics. It is quite interesting to note that the mathematics in the 'Enlightenment Period' changed rather smoothly into the Western mathematics at the time when Han-gul was used officially with Chinese characters. In Koryo, the mathematics existed only as a part of the Confucian refinement, not as the object of sincere study. The mathematics in Koryo inherited that of the Unified Shilla without any remarkable development of its own, and the mathematicians were the Inner Officials isolated from the outside world who maintained their positions as specialists amid the turbulence of political changes. They formed a kind of Guild, their posts becoming patrimony. The mathematics in Koryo significant in that they paved the way for that of Chosun through a few books of mathematics such as 'Sanhak-Kyemong', 'Yanghwi-Sanpup' and 'Sangmyung-Sanpup'. King Sejong was quite phenomenal in his policy of promotion of mathematics. King himself was deeply interested in the study, createing an atmosphere in which all the high ranking officials and scholars highly valued mathematics. The sudden development of mathematic culture was mainly due to the personality and capacity of king who took anyone with the mathematic talent into government service regardless of his birth and against the strong opposition of the conservative officials. However, King's view of mathematics never resulted in the true development of mathematics perse and he used it only as an official technique in the tradition way. Korean mathematics in King Sejong's reign was based upon both the natural philosophy in China and the unique geo-political reality of Korean peninsula. The reason why the mathematic culture failed to develop continually against those social background was that the mathematicians were not allowed to play the vital role in that culture, they being only the instrument for the personality or politics of the king. While the learned scholar class sometimes played the important role for the development of the mathematic culture, they often as not became an adamant barrier to it. As the society in Chosun needed the function of mathematics acutely, the mathematicians formed the settled class called Jung-in (Middle-Man). Jung-in was a unique class in Chosun and we can't find its equivalent in China or Japan. These Jung-in mathematician officials lacked tendency to publish their study, since their society was strictly exclusive and their knowledge was very limited. Though they were relatively low class, these mathematicians played very important role in Chosun society. In 'Sil-Hak (the Practical Learning) period' which began in the late 16th century, especially in the reigns of Kings Youngjo and Jungjo, which was called the Renaissance of Chosun, the ambitious policy for the development of science and technology called for. the rapid increase of he number of such technocrats as mathematics, astronomy and medicine. Amid these social changes, the Jung-in mathematicians inevitably became quite ambitious and proud. They tried to explore deeply into mathematics perse beyond the narrow limit of knowledge required for their office. Thus, in this period the mathematics developed rapidly, undergoing very important changes. The characteristic features of the mathematics in this period were: Jung-in mathematicians' active study an publication, the mathematic studies by the renowned scholars of Sil-Hak, joint works by these two classes, their approach to the Western mathematics and their effort to develop Korean mathematics. Toward the 'Enlightenment Period' in the late 19th century, the Western mathematics experienced great difficulty to take its roots in the Peninsula which had been under the strong influence of Confucian ideology and traditional Korean mathematic system. However, with King Kojong's ordinance in 1895, the traditional Korean mathematics influenced by Chinese disappeared from the history of Korean mathematics, as the school system was hanged into the Western style and the Western mathematics was adopted as the only mathematics to be taught at the Schools of various levels. Thus the 'Enlightenment Period' is the period in which Korean mathematics shifted from Chinese into European.

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Shade Comparative Analysis of Natural tooth Measured by Visual and Two Colorimeters(ShadeEye®,Shadepilot®) (2종 측색기와 시각을 이용한 자연치아의 색조 비교 분석)

  • An, Jin-Hee;Choi, Mee-Ra;Shim, Hye-Won
    • Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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    • v.29 no.1
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    • pp.81-93
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    • 2013
  • The objectives were to evaluate the accuracy of shade selection by human visual system(VS) and 2 different colorimeters ($ShadeEye^{(R)}$(SE) and Shadepilot (SP)). Maxillary anterior teeth of 30 volunteers which had no caries or restorations were included in the study. Firstly, the accordance in shade selection by 3 dentists and 2 colorimeters was investigated. Secondly, the color of the teeth were measured by 1 observer's naked eye and 2 colorimeters under different illumination conditions (Sunny versus cloudy day). Additionally testing of inter-observer variability selected colors by 2 novice and 2 experienced dentists were compared. For comparing visual and 2 different colorimeters, SP(60%) showed significantly highest rate of accordance than the visual (23.3%) or SE (16.7%) and lowest mean ${\Delta}E$ ($2.62{\pm}0.74$ versus $3.83{\pm}1.38$;SE or $4.04{\pm}1.61$;VS)(p<0.001). If accuracy of shade selection were measured using VS, the mean ${\Delta}E$ value of cloudy day was higher than that of sunny day ($4.35{\pm}1.70$ versus $3.53{\pm}1.31$; p<0.001). There were no significant difference of the mean ${\Delta}E$ value between sunny and cloudy day in both SE and SP. Inter- observer repeatability was higher in 2 experienced group (73.3%) than novice group (36.7%). The mean ${\Delta}E$ of experienced group was lower than that of novice group ($3.60{\pm}1.47$ versus $4.70{\pm}1.67$; p<0.001). Colorimeters (SE or SP) is more accurate and more reproducible compared with human shade assessment. Using visual system may be limited by cloudy and inexperience of tester, then more experience and using colorimeters may be helpful of raising the accurate repeatability of shade selection.

Changes of Microclimate Responses and Chlorophyll Content(SPAD) to Different Shading Materials on Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) Bed (인삼 재배 시 차광재료에 따른 미기상 반응과 엽록소의 함량 변화)

  • An, Young-Nam;Choung, Myoung-Gun;Kang, Kwang-Hee
    • KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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    • v.54 no.4
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    • pp.397-406
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    • 2009
  • This study was carried out to investigate the microclimate (photosynthetically active radiation and temperature) response to different shading materials(shade plate, and polyethylene net) on Korean ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) bed. Photosynthetically active radiation(PAR) under polyethylene net was approximately 24 ~ 30% higher than that under shade plate on sunny day. Also, PAR was remarkably decreased from the front to the rear rows of ginseng beds. Temperature under polyethylene net was higher than that of shade plate. Internal temperature under polyethylene net was 1.9 ~ 3.1% higher than that under shade plate at the different rows of ginseng bed. Mean of total daily temperature under polyethylene net was higher at the rear rows than at the front rows, while that under shade plate was higher at the front rows than at the rear row of ginseng bed. Mean of total daily temperature on sunny days(April 15 and May 17) was 7.3% lower under shade plate than above outside but, polyethylene net was 0.7% high, while that on cloudy days(April 11 and May 15) was 1.6% higher under polyethylene net than above outside, but shade plate was 0.7% low. Also, overall mean of total daily temperature under polyethylene net was 7.0, 7.8, and 8.8 % on sunny day(April 15 and May 17), and 1.7, 1.6, and 3.5% on cloudy day(April 11 and May 15) higher than that under shade plate, respectively. The SPAD values of 6 years old ginseng at two point(front, center) in bed under shade plate showed the highest value, and the lowest under polyethylene net. The SPAD of 6 years old ginseng at rear in bed was not statistically significant under two shading materials.

Effect of Heat Processing on Thermal Stability of Kudzu (Pueraria thumbergiana Bentham) Root Isoflavones (가열처리가 칡 이소플라본의 열 안정성에 미치는 영향)

  • Choi, Sung-Won;Kim, Kyung-Seon;Hur, Nam-Yun;Kim, Kyung-Seon;Ahn, Soon-Cheol;Park, Cheon-Seok;Kim, Byung-Yong;Baik, Moo-Yeol;Kim, Dae-Ok
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.18 no.10
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    • pp.1447-1454
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    • 2008
  • Effect of heat processing on thermal stability of kudzu root isoflavone was investigated for future use such as various processed foods and functional foods. Kudzu root extracts were heated at 80, 100, 121, 140, 165, and $180^{\circ}C$ for up to 90 minutes before and after concentration, respectively. Changes in the amount of isoflavones were monitored using HPLC and thermal stability was investigated using Arrhenius equation. The amount of both daidzin and genistin decreased slightly during heating at 80, 100 and $121^{\circ}C$ but decreased significantly above $140^{\circ}C$. This indicated that daidzin and genistin are stable at temperatures near the boiling point of water. The degradation of both daidzin and genistin occurred in two steps and each step showed typical first order kinetic. The degradation rates were faster in the first step than the second step in both daidzin and genistin. Additionally, the degradation was accelerated when they heated after concentration compared to the sample heated before concentration. These results suggested that degradation of kudzu root isoflavone was highly dependent on both their concentration and heating temperature. This study provides the basic information on thermal stability of kudzu root isoflavones, which can be used for future processing of functional foods.

Anti-inflammatory Effect of Myricetin from Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz. Flowers in Lipopolysaccharide-stimulated Raw 264.7 Cells (Lipopolysaccharide로 유도된 Raw264.7 cell에서 Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz. Flower으로부터 분리한 myricetin에 의한 염증 억제효과)

  • Choi, Moo-Young;Hong, Shin-Hyup;Cho, Jun-Hyo;Park, Hye-Jin;Jo, Jae-Bum;Lee, Jae-Eun;Kim, Dong-Hee;Kim, Byung-Oh;Cho, Young-Je
    • Journal of Life Science
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    • v.26 no.11
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    • pp.1245-1252
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    • 2016
  • As a research of inflammation inhibitory activity using natural resource, the inflammation inhibitory activity by purified active compound from Rhododendron mucronulatum flower was experimented. Rhododendron mucronulatum flower components were purified and separated with Sephadex LH-20 and MCI gel CHP-20 column chromatography, Purified compound was confirmed as myricetin by $^1H-NMR$, $^{13}C-NMR$ and Fast atom bombardment (FAB)-Mass spectrum to have inhibition activity on inflammatory factors secreted by Raw 264.7 cells in response to lipopolysaccharide stimulation. Myricetin inhibited nitric oxide (NO) expression in a concentration dependent manner, approximately 40% inhibition was observed at a concentration of $50{\mu}M$. The inhibition effect of myricetin on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 protein expression was 20% and 80%, respectively, at a concentration of $25{\mu}M$. Myricetin also inhibited expression of the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6 and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ in a concentration dependent manner; a concentration of $50{\mu}M$, 70%, 80%, 80% and 95% inhibition was observed, respectively. Therefore myricetin isolated from Rhododendron mucronulatum flowers is expected to have an anti-inflammatory effect in Raw 264.7 cell induced by lipopolysaccharides. The results can be expected myricetin from Rhododendron mucronulatum flower to use as functional resource for anti-inflammatory activity.

Enhancing the Effects of Zerumbone on THP-1 Cell Activation (단핵구세포주의 활성에 미치는 Zerumbone의 영향)

  • Lee, Min Ho;Kim, Sa Hyun;Ryu, Sung Ryul;Lee, Pyeongjae;Moon, Cheol
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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    • v.49 no.1
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    • pp.1-7
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    • 2017
  • Zerumbone is a major component of the essential oil from Zingiber zerumbet Smith, which is a kind of wild ginger. In addition, various biological functions, such as liver protection, pain relief, atherosclerosis, and antimicrobial activity have been reported. It is also known to be effective in the proliferation of immune cells and the expression of cytokines. In this study, we investigated the effects of zerumbone on monocyte activation. First, it was confirmed that the proliferation of THP-1 cells was increased by zerumbone. The strongest increase in THP-1 proliferation after lipopolysaccharide treatment was observed at $5{\mu}M$ zerumbone treatment, and the increase of cell proliferation without lipopolysaccharide was the highest at $10{\mu}M$. Conversely, when treated with $50{\mu}M$ zerumbone, a rapid decrease of proliferation was observed regardless of the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phosphorylation of signaling protein, Erk, induced by LPS was also increased by zerumbone. The strongest increase in phosphorylation was observed when treated with $50{\mu}M$ of zerumbone with reduced proliferation. The activity of transcription factor $NF-{\kappa}B$ was not significantly altered by zerumbone alone, but increased when treated with lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, the transcription of the inflammatory cytokines $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-8, which are regulated by $NF-{\kappa}B$, is also increased by zerumbone. These results suggest that zerumbone can enhance the proliferation and activity of monocytes. Furthermore, it is believed that zerumbone can enhance rthe immune responses through increased monocyte activity in bacterial infections with LPS, thereby helping to treat effective bacteria.

Changes in the expression of cytokines and apoptosis-related genes in children with infectious mononucleosis (소아의 전염성 단핵구증에서 사이토카인과 세포자멸사 연관 유전자의 발현의 변화)

  • Jo, Dae Sun;Han, Ji Hye;Kim, Sun Young;Kim, Min Sun;Yi, Ho Keun;Lee, Dae-Yeol;Hwang, Pyoung Han
    • Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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    • v.52 no.12
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    • pp.1348-1357
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    • 2009
  • Purpose:The aims of this study were to identify the clinical characteristics and determine the changes in the expression of cytokines and apoptosis-related genes in children with infectious mononucleosis. Methods:Serological examinations of 15 pediatric patients diagnosed with infectious mononucleosis were performed prospectively. Peripheral blood from the patients was used to compare the composition of T cell subsets, cytokines, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA, and the expression of apoptosis-related genes with those in 10 healthy children. Results:Mean age of the patient group was $5.7{\pm}3.4$ (range, 3-9) years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1.5:1. Fever, sore throat, pharyngitis/tonsillitis, and cervical lymph node enlargement were the most common symptoms and signs. The proportions of CD3+ T cells, CD8+ suppressor cells, and CD56+ natural killer (NK) cells were higher in the patient group than in the control group (P<0.01). The IL-2, IL-6, and interferon $(INF)-{\gamma}$ levels were higher in the early symptomatic period (P<0.01). Mean amount of EBV DNA in the patients was $10^{2.38}copies/{\mu}g$, and the amount was the highest at the beginning of the symptomatic period and normalized during the convalescent phase. Bcl-2 expression increased during the initial phase, while Bax expression increased during the convalescent phase. Further, FasL expression increased 1 week after symptom presentation and decreased during the convalescent phase. There was no significant change in Fas expression. Conclusion:We analyzed the clinical characteristics and changes in the expression ofcytokines and apoptosis-related genes in the patients with infectious mononucleosis.