• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.730-738
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• 2001

Apoptosis is a morphologically and biochemically distinct form of cell death that occurs in many different cell types in a wide variety of organisms. Ajbizzia julibrissin belonging the family Leguminosae has been used for the treatment of contusion, sore throat, amnesia, and insomnia in oriental traditional medicine. This study investigates whether the water extract off julibrissin induce apoptotic cell death in Jurkat T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells. Jurkat cells were increased inhibitions of cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner by A julibrissin. This herbal medicine also caused apoptosis as measured by cell morphology and DNA fragmentation. The capability oft julibrissin to induce apoptosis was associated with proteolytic cleavage of specific target protein such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein suggesting the possible involvement of caspases. Our result skewed that Bcl-2 and Bax protein levels were not changed in all A julibrissin-treated groups compared to control group. These results suggest that A julibrissin-mediated apoptosis is independent with Bcl-2 related signaling pathway in this cells.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.253-260
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• 2004

Zosterin is a pectin from a seagrasses of the family Zosteraceae. Zosterin was given to rats intragastrically once 1h before the emotional stress or injection of indomethacin, or administration of 2, 4-D solution daily for seven days at dose of 100 mg/kg. The data obtained demonstrate that zosterin enhances resistance of the stomach tissue to various ulcerogenic factors (emotional stress, indomethacin, pesticide 2, 4-D). It was shown to possess a gastroprotective effect, which is accompanied by diminution of the number and sizes of destructive regions in the gastric mucosa during the ulcer affection, as well as reduction of ATP and glycogen deficit, decrease of lactate excess, and normalization of the energy balance in the gastric mucosa. According to its antiulcer effect, zosterin may be recommended for application in prevention and treatment of stomach diseases together with the basic therapy.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.111-124
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• 2008

In the present study, an attempt has been made to assess whether the effect of benzene extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves on the ultrastructural changes in the epithelial cells of the cauda epididymis, its subsequent recovery in the seminiferous epithelium and fertility of male albino rats. Wistar strain male albino rats were orally administered benzene extract of 250 mg/kg body weight of O. sanctum leaves followed by subsequent recovery maintaining suitable controls for 48 days. Results indicate decrease in the weights of testis, epididymis and seminal vesicles. Other accessory organs were not affected. Total count, cell and nuclei diameters of germ cells and Leydig cells were reduced. Cauda epididymis exhibited significant reduction in epithelial height and nuclei diameter of epithelial cells. Cells showed vacuolization with exhibit of signs of degeneration. Ultra study revealed that, in general, the cauda epididymis was affected and in particular, the principal, clear and basal cells were highly disturbed. Further, there was decrease in the size of lipid droplets, mitochondria, Golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum and accumulation of lysosomal bodies. Fertility performance test showed no implantation in female rats mated with O. sanctum treated rats. Moreover, their recovery after withdrawal of treatment was observed suggesting that the effect of the treatment is transient and reversible. A recovery period resulted in normal spermatogenesis and fertility, suggesting reversible antispermatogenic and antifertility effects of the plant.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The fruit of Gleditsia sinensis has been extensively used as a key ingredient of an herbal remedy for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases in traditional Korean Medicine. However, the reason of using the fruit of G. sinensis for the remedy is unclear. Since Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key anti-inflammatory transcription factor, which is activated by the fruit of G. sinesis, we examined whether other plant parts of G. sinensis are also capable of suppressing inflammatory responses by activating Nrf2. Water extracts of various parts of G. sinensis were prepared and tested for Nrf2 activation by reporter assay and western blot analysis. Our results show that the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent in activating Nrf2. Sequential organic solvent extraction of the hull show that all the fractions had a higher potency in activating Nrf2 than the water extract, albeit differential degrees. The hull originated from Korea in general activated Nrf2 strongly compared to that of China. Chloroform fraction of the hull was further examined, showing that the fraction induced nuclear localization of Nrf2, indicative of activated Nrf2, and Nrf2-dependent gene expression including NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and heme oxygenase - 1 (HO-1). Therefore, our results show that, among other plant parts examined in this study, the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent, providing the experimental basis for the use of the hull of G. sinensis as an active ingredient for an anti-inflammatory remedy.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.254-260
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• 2007

Alstonia scholaris (Family: Apocynaceae) has been indicated for the treatment of various diseases, one among which is wound healing. The purpose of this study is to investigate the wound healing effect and antioxidant role of Alstonia scholaris leaves in animal models. The ethanol and aqueous extracts of Alstonia scholaris (EEAS, AEAS respectively) were tested against excision, incision and dead space wound models to evaluate the wound healing activity. In excision wound model, treatment was continued till the complete healing of wound, in incision and dead space wound models, the treatment was continued for 10 days. For topical application, 5% w/w ointment of EEAS and AEAS were prepared in 2% sodium alginate. For oral administration, EEAS was suspended in distilled water using Tween 80 and AEAS was dissolved in distilled water. The wound healing was assessed by the rate of wound contraction, period of epithelialisation, skin breaking strength, granulation strength, dry granulation tissue weight, hydroxyproline, collagen and histopathology of granulation tissue. Malondialdehyde level was also estimated to evaluate the extent of lipid peroxidation. AEAS and EEAS significantly promoted wound healing activity in all the wound models studied. Increase in the rate of wound contraction, skin breaking strength, granulation strength, dry granulation tissue weight, hydroxyproline and collagen, decrease in the period for epithelialisation and increased collagenation in histopathological section were observed with EEAS and AEAS treated groups. EEAS and AEAS also significantly decreased the levels of lipid peroxidation. The present study is suggestive that EEAS and AEAS promote wound healing activity.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.20-38
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• 2009

The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of herb formula HDDM, a modification of Huangdan decoction that has been shown to be effective in the treatment of glomerulonephritis and chronic renal failure, on the blood glucose levels in multiple low doses (MLD; 50 mg/kg for five consecutive days) of streptozotocin (STZ)-treated female B6C3F1 mice. Initial studies were performed to compare diabetes induction in five strains (e.g., B6C3F1, NOD, CD-1, C3H/HeN and C57BL/6) of mice by MLD-STZ, and immune changes following the treatment. The results suggested that the order of susceptibility to diabetes induction was NOD $\approx$ CD-1 > B6C3F1 $\approx$ C3H > C57BL/6. Furthermore, STZ modulation of T cell development, differentiation and activation might play a role in diabetes induction by MLD-STZ treatment. MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice was moderate, which allowed the evaluation of drug-induced protection or exacerbation of diabetes to be performed. As such, modulation of blood glucose by HDDM, which consisted of Da Huang (Radix Et Rhizoma Rhei), Huang Qi (Radix Astragali Seu Hedysari), Dan Shen (Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae), Yin Yang Huo (Herba Epimedii), Yi Yi Ren (Semen Coicis or Coix lacryma-jobi), Mai Dong (Radix Ophiopogonis) and Shan Zhu Yu (Fructus Corni), was evaluated in MLD-STZ-treated female B6C3F1 mice. The results suggested that HDDM could lower the blood glucose levels, but it had no immunomodulatory activities. Additionally, HDDM-treated mice exhibited improved glucose tolerance. In conclusion, these studies have suggested that MLD-STZ-induced diabetes in female B6C3F1 mice is a useful model to evaluate drug modulation of diabetes, and that the herb formula HDDM possesses anti-diabetic effects.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.160-166
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• 2005

The present study was carried out to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of a polyherbal aqueous extract (Curcuma longa Linn., Emblica officinalis Gaertn., Trigonella foenum-graecum Linn., Enicostemma littorale Blume) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. Short term experiments showed a decrease in blood glucose levels at $2^{nd}\;hr$ of administration of the aqueous extract in alloxan-induced diabetic rats with increase in serum insulin levels. The extract did not show any effect on blood glucose or serum insulin levels in normoglycaemic rats. Treatment with the extract (1.5 g dry plant equivalent extarct/100 g body weight/day) for 20 days in diabetic rats showed a significant decrease in blood glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin levels and an increase in serum insulin levels. The aqueous extract also showed an enhanced glucose-induced insulin release at 11.1 mM glucose from isolated rat pancreatic islets. The extract did not show any toxicity at the particular dose used.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2002

The effect of the aqueous extract of Rubus coreanus Miq. (Rosaceae) fruits (AERC) on anaphylactic reaction was investigated. AERC completely inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylactic shock at dose of 0.1 to 1.0 g/kg. When AERC was pretreated at concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 1.0 g/kg, the plasma histamine levels induced by compound 48/80 were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. AERC also inhibited the histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) by compound 48/80. The level of cAMP in RPMC, when AERC (1.0 mg/ml) was added, transiently and significantly increased about 6-fold compared with that of basal cells. These results indicate that AERC may be beneficial in the treatment of non-specific anaphylactic reactions.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.5
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• pp.459-465
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• 2008

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of in vivo administration of neem oil intra-peritoneally (i.p.) to mice bearing a progressively growing transplantable T cell lymphoma of spontaneous origin, designated as Daltons lymphoma (DL), on the tumor growth. Mice were administered various doses of neem oil mixed in groundnut oil, which was used as a diluting vehicle or for administration to control DL-bearing mice. Administration of neem oil resulted in an acceleration of tumor growth along with a reduction in the survival time of the tumor-bearing host. Neem oil administered DL-bearing mice showed an augmented apoptosis in splenocytes, bone marrow cells and thymocytes along with an inhibition in the anti-tumor functions of tumor-associated macrophages. Thus this study gives an altogether a novel information that neem oil instead of the popular belief of being anti-tumor and immunoaugmentary may in some tumor-bearing conditions, behave in an opposite way leading to an accelarated tumor progression along with a collapse of the host's anti-tumor machinery. These observations will thus have long lasting clinical significance, suggesting caution in use of neem oil for treatment of cancer.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.609-620
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• 1999

Over the period between January 1997 and December 1998, herbal medicine was more than three times administered to the patients coming to Na dong gyu's Oriental Medical Clinic on account of the symptom of growth deficiency. According to radiological opinions about the patients providing cooperation for measuring their height and weight as well as their bone age every three months, it was found that the growth plates were not closed. A research was conducted for 200 children randomly selected of patients in prepuberty (they grew by less than 5cm a year before treatment at a age of 12years for female children and 14years for male children). As a result, the following conclusion was drawn: 1. The randomly selected subjects were made up of 116 male and 84 female children in terms of gender. The age direstribution was most 10 to 12 years in 86 children(34.00%), followed by 8-10 years(27.50%) and 12 to 14 years(19.50%). 2. Considering the distribution of sick children's parental height, the fathers of 141 children(70.50%) measured less than 170cm high, the subaverage height, while the mothers of 172 children(86%) measured less than 160cm high, the subaverage height. It was shown that sick childen's height was genetically influenced by their parents. 3. Children patients's weight at a time of birth was most 3.1-3.5kg for 85 children(44%) and less than 2.5kg which came under the range of growth dificiency for 19 children(9.5%). 4. The highest proportian of the children patients with growth dificiency(56.33%) had the symptom of digestive disorders, of which 77 children patients(18.78%) had anorexia, 16.59% of children patients had the high level of respiratory disorders. Both the digestive disorder and the respiratory disorder put together, they had the high rate of 72.92%. Therefore, this indicates that both the digestive disorder and the respiratory disorder have a great effect on children's growth dificiency. 10.74% of chilren patients were shown to have allergic disorders, which indicates that they also exert an effect on growth deficiency. Specifically, 7.07% of the children patients had the high level of obesity, which shows that an excessive uptake of nutrition may rather induce children to have growth dificiency though an appropriate amount of nutritional uptake is necessary. 5. Comparing their bone age and their chronological age, 58 children patients(29.00%) showed that they were the same at the highest percent. 79 children patients(39.50%) showed that thier bone age was lower than their chronological age. And 63 children patients(31.50%) showed that their bone age was higher than their chronological age. 6. As regards the prescription administered to children patients for treating their growth dificiency, Growth tang A related to the kidney, the congenital factor, of the causes for growth dificiency in traditional Oriental Medicine was administered to 108 children patients(54%), whereas the Growth tang B related to the spleen, the acquired factor, was administered to 92 children patients(46%). 7. 116 male children patients with growth dificiency had the average value of growth for one year before treatment, 4.39cm, while 84 female children patients had the average value of growth for one year before treatment, 4.24cm. A total of 200 children had the average value of growth for one year before treatment, 4.33cm. The annual average value of growth in growth curve surveyed by the Korea Pediatrics Society was 5.79cm. Compared to this value, the one year average value of growth for 108 male and female children patients taking Growth tang A was shown be 8.44cm, which indicates a greater growth by 4.12cm(95.37%) in comparison with the average value of growth before treatment, 4.32cm, and a greater growth by 2.65cm(45.77%) compared to 5.79cm, the average value of growth in growth curve surveyed by the Korea Pediatrics Society. Also, the average value of growth before treatment for 92 male and female children patients taking Growth tang B was shown to be 8.47cm, which indicates a greater increase by 4.15cm(96.06%) compared to 4.32cm, the average value of growth before treatment and a greater increase by 2.67cm(46.29%) in comparison with 5.79cm, the average value of growth in growth curve surveyed by the Korea Pediatrics Society. Considering the average value of growth for male and female children patients taking Growth tang A and B, it was shown to be 8.46cm, which indicates a greater increase by 4.14cm(95.81%) compared to 4.32cm, the average value of growth before treatment, and a greater increase by 2.67cm(46.11%) compared to 5.79cm, the average value of growth in growth curve surveyed by the Korea Pediatrics Society.