• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.19-24
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• 2002

Background: Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM), a traditional oriental medicine, has been reported to have anti-tumor properties, but its exact mechanism remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated several of the molecular events that occur in human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells and human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Methods: For this purpose, we evaluated the growth-inhibitory effect of SM in association with the expressions of p53, p21, cyclin D1, and pRb, which are known to be involved in cell cycle arrest. The extent of thymidine incorporation was also examined to assess G1/S phase cell cycle arrest in both cells by $^3H$-thymidine incorporation. Results: Our results show that SM inhibits the growth and the proliferation of MCF-7 and A549 cells. Furthermore, we also observed increased expression of p21 via a p53-dependent pathway in both cell lines after treating with SM. In addition, treatment with SM for 24 hours caused the suppression of hyperphosphorylated retinoblastoma protein (pRb) expression and the dephosphorylation of pRb. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the growth inhibitory and the anti-proliferation effects of SM on MCF-7 cells and A549 cells are mediated via the decreased expression and dephosphorylation of pRB by p21 up-regulation in a p53-dependent manner. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report upon the molecular mechanisms involved in SM-induced tumor cell growth inhibition.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.73-78
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• 2022

Since Traditional Korean medicine (TKM) doctors use various knowledge systems during treatment, diagnosis results may differ for each TKM doctor. However, it is difficult to explain all the reasons for the diagnosis because TKM doctors use both explicit and implicit knowledge. In this study, an upgraded random forest (RF)-based evaluation tool was proposed to extract clinical knowledge of TKM doctors. Also, it was confirmed to what extent the professor's clinical knowledge was delivered to the trainees by using the evaluation tool. The data used to construct the evaluation tool were targeted at 106 people who visited the Sasang Constitutional Department at Kyung Hee University Korean Medicine Hospital at Gangdong. For explicit knowledge extraction, four TKM doctors were asked to express the importance of symptoms as scores. In addition, for implicit knowledge extraction, importance score was confirmed in the RF model that learned the patient's symptoms and the TKM doctor's constitutional determination results. In order to confirm the delivery of clinical knowledge, the similarity of symptoms that professors and trainees consider important when discriminating constitution was calculated using the Jaccard coefficient. As a result of the study, our proposed tool was able to successfully evaluate the clinical knowledge of TKM doctors. Also, it was confirmed that the professor's clinical knowledge was delivered to the trainee. Our tool can be used in various fields such as providing feedback on treatment, education of training TKM doctors, and development of AI in TKM.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.302-310
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• 2008

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (N.O. Meliaceae), popularly known, as 'Neem' is an indigenous tree widely available in India. Almost every part of the tree has long been used in Unani system of medicine for the treatment of a variety of human ailments. The flowers have been mentioned as a remedy useful in controlling diabetes mellitus. The present study had been designed to investigate the hypoglycemic/anti-hyperglycemic effects of the methanolic extract of the flowers of A. indica (Gule-Neem) and its different fractions on normal, glucose fed hyperglycemic, adrenaline induced hyperglycemic and alloxan induced diabetic rats. The methanolic extract was resolved into water soluble and water insoluble fractions. Water soluble portion of the methanolic extract was found to possess significant blood sugar lowering effect in glucose-fed and adrenaline-induced hyperglycemic rats but it did not show such effect in normal and alloxan induced mild and severe diabetic rats. Water-soluble portion was fractionated by employing the polarity criterion with ethyl acetate and butanol. The ethyl acetate fraction was further fractionated into phenolic and non-phenolic fractions. Hypoglycemic effect of these fractions was also evaluated. The results suggest that the flowers of A. indica contain at least two different constituents, responsible for the said activity. These investigations validate the use of flowers of A. indica in diabetes by Unani physicians.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.221-228
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• 2000

We performed this study to determine the effect of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, as a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine, and its major ingredients on jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, apopotosis in jejunal crypt cells, lethality and hematological change of mice irradiated with high and low dose of Y-radiation. Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang administration before irradiation protected the jejunal crypts (p<0.0001), increased the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.05) and reduced the frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis (p<0.05). The survival rate and mean survival time of the groups treated with Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang within 30 days after the treatment were far better than the irradiation control group. In the experiment on the effect of ingredients of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang, the result indicated that the extract of Rensan (Panax ginseng), Danggui (Angelica sinensis), Shengma (Cimicifuga heracleifolia) and Chaihu (Bupleurum falcatnosa) might have a major radioprotective effect. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that BU-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product. Further studies are needed to characterize better the protective nature of Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang extract and its ingredients.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.142-151
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• 2022

Objectives : Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder threatening the quality of life and highly occurred in over 65 years old. Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB), a traditional medicine used for the treatment of headache and convulsion, has been reported to have neuroprotective effect. This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of GEB and the proteomic changes in the substantia nigra (SN) of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated mice. Methods : Male eleven-week-old C57BL/6 mice were intraperitoneally injected with 30 mg/kg of MPTP at 24-h intervals for 5 days. Two hours after the daily MPTP injection, the mice were orally administered 800 mg/kg of GEB extract, which continued for 7 days beyond the MPTP injections, for a total of 12 consecutive days. Two hours after the final GEB administration, the brain samples were collected, and dopaminergic neuronal death and proteomic changes in the SN were evaluated. Results : GEB prevented the MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death and regulated the expression of 11 proteins including thimet oligopeptidase, T-complex protein 1, glycine tRNA ligase, and pyruvate kinase isozymes M1. Conclusions : GEB prevents MPTP-induced dopaminergic neuronal death by regulating the proteins in the SN.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.160-165
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• 2012

Osteoporotic fracture became a serious social problem, which related with mortality and morbidity in old age population. Osteoclast which is responsible for bone resorption is originated from hematopoietic cell line and plays a key role osteoporotic bone loss. Cynanchum wilfordii (Asclepiadaceae) roots have been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and aging progression. Also, recent studies have shown that the extract and fractions of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix have various pharmacological actions including scavenging free radicals, enhancing immunity, reducing high serum cholesterol, and anti-tumor activity. However, the effect of extract of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix in osteoclast differentiation had not been reported. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Through our study, we found that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results demonstrated that Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix may be useful treatment option of bone-related disease such as osteoporosis leads to fracture of bone and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.49-57
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• 2009

The antifertility activity of methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. stem (MECR) and Corchorus olitorius Linn. seed (MECO) were studied on male Swiss albino mice. The extracts were found to decrease sperm count, percentage of motile sperm and testosterone level in treated mice when compared with vehicle control after 17 days of treatment. The weight of gonads, epididymis were decreased whereas no significant changes of the body weight of mice were observed after methanol extract treatments. The fertility test showed 100% negative result in MECR and MECO treated mice at medium and high dose level of treatment. MECR and MECO in low (25 mg/kg and 15 mg/kg, respectively), medium (50 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg, respectively) and high (75 mg/kg and 25 mg/kg, respectively) dose level caused a simultaneous fall in testicular ${\Delta}5$-$3{\beta}$-hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activities which are involved in testicular steroidogenesis. Total cholesterol and ascorbic acid content in testis were increased significantly in gonads. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, malic dehydrogenase and ascorbic acid oxidase were reduced whereas that of carbonic anhydrase was increased significantly in the testis of MECR and MECO treated mice. All these observations indicate that the methanol extract of C. reflexa stem and C. olitorius seed produced antifertility activity in sexually matured male mice, which may be due to inhibition of gonadal steroidogenesis. This activity may be attributed due to the presence of flavonoids and steroids, respectively.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.322-330
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• 2005

The plant Bryonia laciniosa (Family: Cucurbitaceae) has been indicated for the treatment of various diseases one among which is cancer. The purpose of this study was investigating experimentally the possible anti-tumor effect and antioxidant role of Bryonia laciniosa leaves in animal model. The methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa (MEBL) administered at the doses of 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg in mice for 14 days after 24 h of tumor inoculation. The effect of MEBL on the growth of transplantable murine tumor, life span of EAC bearing mice, hematological profile and liver biochemical parameters (lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzymes) were estimated. Treatment with MEBL decreased the tumor volume and viable cell count thereby increasing the life span of EAC bearing mice and brought back the hematological parameter more or less normal level. The effect of MEBL also decreases the levels of lipid peroxidation and increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The present work indicates that the methanol extract of Bryonia laciniosa exhibited significant antitumor and antioxidant activity in vivo.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.261-273
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• 2007

We investigated the antihypertensive effect of Pet ether extract (PE) of ginger rhizome; its toluene fraction (TF) and Korean ginseng extract (KGE) in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) - salt induced and fructose induced hypertensive rats. In DOCA model, DOCA (25 mg/kg, once a week; s.c) was administered in uninephrectomised animals for 4 w. PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o), TF (10 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) were evaluated for their antihypertensive effect. In the fructose model, drinking water was replaced with fructose (10%) for five weeks to induce hypertension. PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) were assessed for its antihypertensive effect in fructose model. After completion of the treatment schedule, vascular reactivity to various agonists like 5-HT, noradrenaline, adrenaline, phenylbiguanide and acetylcholine were recorded in rats of both the models. A cumulative dose response curve (CDRC) of 5-HT was carried out in isolated rat fundus strip of the fructose induced hypertensive rats. Chronic administration of PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o), TF (10 mg/kg/day; p.o), and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) significantly reduced the blood pressure in DOCA salt whereas PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) reduced the blood pressure in fructose induced hypertensive rats. Treatment with PE (50 mg/kg/day; p.o) and KGE (30 mg/kg/day; p.o) in fructose model for five weeks shifted the CDRC towards the right on rat fundus. The mechanism of action may partly involve the serotonergic antagonistic property.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.339-348
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• 2008

Butea frondosa has been used traditionally as a topical formulation in the treatment of many diseases and disorders. Two compounds [BF-1 (crystalline flavonol quercetin) and BF-2 (tannin) from ethyl acetate fraction of ethanolic extract] were isolated from the bark of Butea frondosa. The stereostructures of the compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. BF-1 and BF-2 were screened in vitro for possible antibacterial property against 112 bacteria comprising 3 genera of Gram-positive and 12 genera of Gram-negative types. It was found that both BF-1 and BF-2 exhibited inhibitory activity against several bacteria. Most of these strains were inhibited by BF-1 at $50-200\;{\mu}g/ml$, while BF-2 ($MIC_{50}$ $400\;{\mu}g/ml$) was much less active. The bacteria could be arranged in the decreasing order of sensitivity towards BF-1 in the following manner: S. aureus, Bacillus spp., Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Shigella spp., E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. The $MIC_{50}$ of the compound was $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ while the $MIC_{90}$ was $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. The decreasing order of sensitivity towards BF-2 was V. cholerae, Bacillus spp., S. aureus, V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp. and Proteus spp. BF-1 was bactericidal in action. In vivo studies with this extract showed that it could offer statistically significant protection (p < 0.01) to mice challenged with a virulent bacterium. The inhibitory activity of Butea frondosa against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria indicates its usefulness in the treatment of common bacterial infections. The potentiality of BF-1 as an antibacterial agent may be confirmed further by pharmacological studies.