• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.25-33
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• 2007

Objectives : Oriental pear was used as treatment of asthma, control of blood pressure, diabetes in oriental medicine. The aim of this study was to observe the effects of Phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs to treat asthma. Methods : In order to study the effect of oral administration of phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs(Platycodon grandiflorum, Prunus armeniaca) on allergic asthma, mice were pre-treated by oral administration of the solution before antigen sensitization four times for 8 days. 2 days later, mice were actively sensitized with a subcutaneous injection of ovalbumin and 13 days later, they were provoked with ovalbumin aerosols. The animals were divided into four groups; Saline, orally administered saline. PC-A, orally administered Phenolic compound extracted from pear peel 10mg/kg/ml. PC-B, orally administered Phenolic compound extracted from pear peel and flesh 10mg/kg/ml. PC-C, orally administered pear 10m/kg/ml, Platycodon grandiflorum 24.4 mg/kg/ml and Prunus armeniaca 33.3 mg/kg/ml. Serum level of IgE, IL-4, cell numbers in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid(BALF), and in vitro isometric contractile responses of the isolated tracheal smooth muscle(TSM) to acetylcholine(ACh, $0.1-1000{\mu}M$), KCl were measured. Results : Contractile responses of TSM to ACh were decreased in PC-A group at Ach 0.1, 0.3, 1 ${\mu}M$, decreased in PC-B at 0.1 ${\mu}M$ and decreased in PC-C at 0.1, 0.3, 1, 10, 30 ${\mu}M$. The maximal contractile response of TSM to KCl was decreased in PC-C group, The cell numbers of eosinophil in BALF were decreased in PC-C group, and those of macrophages in BALF were decreased in PC-A and PC-C group. Interleukin-4 in BALF was decreased in PC-A, PC-B, PC-C group. Conclusion : Based on the above results it is assumed that oral administration of phenolic compound extracted from pear and herbal drugs can help the treatment of deficiency allergic Asthma.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.265-270
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• 2011

Procymidone is a fungicide with anti-androgenic properties widely used to protect fruits from fungal infection, which induces an excessive reactive oxygen species production in male reproductive organs. In this study, to clarify whether procymidone affect the cellular antioxidant system of prostate at onset of puberty, gene expression patterns of the representative antioxidant enzymes such as cytoplasmic glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), phospholipid hydroperoxide GPx (PHGPx), selenoprotein P (SePP), cytoplasmic copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1), and manganese SOD (SOD2) were investigated in the rat ventral prostates exposed to procymidone using real-time RT-PCR analyses. Seven-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats castrated at 6 weeks old were treated with procymidone (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg per day) orally for 7 consecutive days after testosterone propionate (0.4 mg/kg per day) administration by subcutaneous injection. As compared to normal control animals, GPx1 mRNA expression in prostates significantly increased by the administration with TP and/or procymidone. However, PHGPx and SOD1 mRNA levels significanatly decreased by over 25 mg/kg of procymidone treatment and SePP and SOD2 mRNA levels was significanatly reduced by over 50 mg/kg of procymidone treatment. These findings indicate that procymidone may affect the antioxidant system of prostatic cells in up-regulation mode of GPx1, but in down-regulation modes of PHGPx, SePP, SOD1, and SOD2, suggesting that procymidone may affect differently the cellular antioxidant system of prostate according to the exposure doses.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.355-364
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• 2009

Objectives : Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common diseases among elderly men. Though medicines such as 5${\alpha}$-reductase inhibitor (finasteride) have recently been developed for treating BPH, their adverse effects and low efficacy should not be overlooked. Curcuma longa has a long history of use in traditional medicines of Asian countries. Many reports conclude the component curcumin in Curcuma lonfa, has the potential to treat various diseases including prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects and action mechanism of Curcuma longa with a BPH rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were used with subcutaneous injection of testosterone after castration, which were histologically similar to human BPH. A total of 30 rats were equally divided into five groups: Group 1 served as control (sham-operated group): Group 2 was the model group: Group 3 and Group 4 animals were administered Curcuma longa at dose levels of 0.5g/kg and 1.0g/kg: Group 5 served as a positive control group and was treated with finasteride at a dose of 1 mg/kg. The drugs were administered orally once a day for 30 days consecutively. After 31 days, the prostates were removed, and analyzed for their prostatic weight and histological examination. Results : The oral Curcuma longa ingestion group showed statistically significant decreases in their prostatic weights compared with the BPH-induced group and the oral finasteride ingestion group (p<0.05). Curcuma longa is also very safe in liver and kidney up to a dose of lg/kg. Injected testosterone histologically led to prostatic hyperplasia in rats, but oral Curcuma longa ingestion decreased this change. Conclusions : These results suggest that Curcuma longa has a definite inhibitory effect on BPH and might be an alternative medicine for treatment and prevention of human BPH.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.315-319
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• 2020

In November 2019 a 5-month-old mixed-breed rabbit presented to Chungbuk National University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Cheongju-si, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea (Korea) with symptoms comprising pruritus, crusts on skin, poor appetite and reduced defecation. The rabbit was purchased 2 months prior from a pet shop located in a big market, and that the symptoms were first observed about 2 weeks prior to the hospital visit. Physical examination revealed that the patient had crust formation and alopecia on the nose together with lesions on the digits. A skin scraping test was performed using mineral oil and a high density of mites was observed by microscopy. Each mite showed a round, tortoiselike body with 4 comparatively short pairs of legs. The anus was located at the terminal unlike with suspected pathogen, Notoedres cati. Based on morphological characteristics, we identified the mite as Sarcoptes sp. Ivermectin was administered weekly by subcutaneous injection at a dosage of 0.4 mg/kg, and 4 weeks of follow-up study revealed the patient was fully recovered. And no more mites were detected from the case. This is the first case report of sarcoptic mange in a pet rabbit in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.129-153
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• 2001

Background: SMG (升麻葛根湯加味方) is an herbal medicine which has been used in oriental medicine as a traditional therapeutic agent of pruritus and skin disease. Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of SMG on the anti-hypersensitivity and immune response in the murine of type I hypersensitivity induced by the experiment. Materials and Methods: Laboratory rats were primary sensitized with OA (ovalbumin); on day 1, rats of a Control group and Sample group (SMG group) were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of Al(OH)3 in a total volume of 2ml saline. The rats of the sample group were orally administered with an SMG water extract for 14 days after primary immunization. On day 14 after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling $0.9\%$ saline aerosol containing $2\%$(wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BAL fluid and peripheral blood were collected from the rats. Total cell, lymphocyte, $CD4^+\;T\;cell,\;CD8^+\;T\;cell,\;CD4^+/CD8^+$ ratio in the BALF, and IgE, $CD4^+\;T\;cell,\;CD8^+$ T cell in the peripheral blood were measured and evaluated. Results: SMG showed a suppressive effect on the immune response in the rats. 1. Total Cells in the BALF decreased in the SMG treated group in comparison group, but statistic differences were not observed. 2. Total lymphocytes in the BALF were statistically decreased in SMG treated group in comparison to the control group. 3. CD4+ T cells in the BALF were statistically decreased in SMG treated group in comparison to the control group. 4. CD8+ T cells in the BALF were decreased in SMG treated group in comparison to the control group, but statistic differences were not observed. 5. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in the BALF was statistically decreased in SMG treated group in comparison to the control group. 6. The IgE level in serum was statistically decreased in SMG treated group in comparison to the control group. 7. The ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ in peripheral blood showed undetectable differences between each group of rats. From the experiment cited above, this study shows that SMG has both anti-hypersensitivity effects and immunoregulatory effects when administered to rats. Based on this experiment, it is suggested that SMG could be a useful immunomodulator and anti-allergy agent.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.140-155
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• 2002

Background: SBP(桑白皮)is an herbal medicine which has been used in oriental medicine as a traditional therapeutic agent of bronchial asthma. Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of SBP on the anti-hypersensitivity and immune response in the murine of type I hypersensitivity induced by the experiment. Materials and Methods: Laboratory rats were primary sensitized with OA(ovalbumin); on day 1, rats of a Control group and Sample group (SBP group) were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1 mg OA and 300mg of Al(OH)3 in a total volume of 2ml saline. The rats of the sample group were orally administered with an SBP water extract for 14 days after primary immunization. On day 14 after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2%(wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BAL fluid and serum were collected from the rats. Total cell, lymphocyte, CD4+ T cell, CD8+ T cell, CD4+/CD8+ ratio in the BALF, and IgE level in serum were measured and evaluated. Results: SBP showed a suppressive effect on the immune response in the rats. 1. Total cells in the BALF decreased in the SBP treated group in comparision to the control group, but statistic differences were not observed. 2. Total lymphocytes in the BALF were statistically decreased in SBP treated group in comparision to the control group. 3. CD4+ T cells in the BALF were statistically decreased in SBP treated group in comparision to the control group. 4. CD8+ T cells in the BALF were not statistically different in SBP treated group and the control group. 5. The ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in the BALF was statistically decreased in SBP treated group in comparision to the control group. 6. The IgE level in serum decreased in the SBP treated group in comparision to the control group, but statistic differences were not observed.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.169-180
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• 2003

Background : Allergic asthma is thought to be mediated by $CD4^{+}$ T lymphocytes producing the Th2-associated cytokines. According to investigations of lung biopsies and respiratory secretions from patients, $CD4^{+}$ T cells and eosinophils are the main features of the inflammatory process. Object : This study aimed to find an inhibition effect on allergens induced by JCT (Jungchun-tang) and JCTG (Jungchuntanggagambang) through the change of $CD4^{+}$ T cells and $CD8^{+}$ T cells in BALF of rat, and to see the change of IgE m serum. Materials and Methods : Laboratory rats were primary sensitized with OA (ovalbumin); on day 1, rats of a control group and a sample group (SBP group) were systemically immunized by subcutaneous injection of 1mg OA and 300mg of A1(OH)3 in a total volume of 2 ml saline. The rats of the sample group were orally administered with an SBP water extract for 14 days after primary immunization. On day 14 after the systemic immunization, rats received local immunization by inhaling 0.9% saline aerosol containing 2%(wt/vol) OA. A day after local immunization, BAL fluid and serum were collected from the rats. Total cells, lymphocytes, $CD4^{+}$ T cells, $CD8^{+}$ T cells, and $CD4^{+}$/$CD8^{+}$ ratio in the BALF, and IgE level in serum were measured and evaluated. Results : L Total cell in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be significantly reduced but JCTG had no significant difference in comparison with the control group. 2. Lymphocytes in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. 3. $CD4^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT was observed to be more significantly reducing than JCTG in comparison with the control group. 4. $CD8^{+}$T cells in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 5. $CD4^{+}/CD8^{+}$ ratio in BALF of rat : JCT and JCTG were observed not to be significantly different than in the control group. 6. The IgE level in serum : JCT and JCTG were observed to be significantly reduced in comparison with the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that JCT inhibits allergen-induced specially select $CD4^{+}$T cell channel in BALF of rat.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.88-93
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• 2007

The preventive effect of Lentinus edodes extract (LE) against constipation was studied in rats. Rats were pretreated with LE contained in drinking water at the concentration of 10%, 20% and 40% over 30 days. Constipation was induced by subcutaneous injection of loperamide (4 mg/kg/day) 3 days prior to sacrifice. Treatment of loperamide resulted in decreases in the number and wet weight of fecal pellets, and increase in the number of fecal pellet in the distal colon and cecocolon weight. In contrast, the number and wet weight of fecal pellets were increased, and the number of fecal pellet in the distal colon and the cecocolon weight were decreased in LE-pretreated groups compared to the loperamide-treated group. Blood parameters such as white blood cell, red blood cell, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration, and serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities, and blood urea nitrogen and creatinine values were not significantly different between the groups. In addition, LE (0.5 mg/mL) increased spontaneous contractile activity, which was reduced by atropine or loperamide in isolated rat ileum. Theses results suggest that the improvement of constipation symptoms in LE-pretreated rats resulted from a stimulatory effect of LE on intestine contractile activity.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2002

The current study was conducted to investigate the effects of administration of antiserum against adipocyte plasma membrane(APM) proteins into rats on body fat mass. Twenty(20) male adult Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into either control or antiserum treatment group(10 rats/treatment) and immunized with physiological saline(control group) and polyclonal antiserum (treatment group), respectively, raised in sheep against rat APM proteins(5times, 2day interval). All animals were killed 4weeks after last injection. Intraperitoneal(i.p.) administration of antiserum significantly(P=0.0054 and P=0.0019, respectively) reduced subcutaneous(21.9%) and perirenal + mesentric + epididymic(36.0%) adipose tissue mass in rats of treatment group. Although body weights of antiserum treated rats were decreased during immunization, the rats recovered their body weight after 1 week of treatment. There were no significant changes in the level of blood glucose and in the contents of muscle protein and fat in antiserum treated animals. Current results indicate that polyclonal antibodies against APM proteins could be used to manipulate body fat mass in meat animals as well as laboratory animals. Further studies, however, are necessary for the practical applications of the current results.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.201-210
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• 2003

Objective: The role of prostaglandin $E_2$ (PGE2) in the etiopathogenesis of immune and inflammatory diseases has become the subject of recent debate. To determine the role of PGE2 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we tested the effect of exogenous PGE2 on the production of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) by rheumatoid synoviocytes. Methods: Fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) were prepared from the synovial tissues of RA patients, and cultured in the presence of PGE2. The COX-2 mRNA and protein expression levels were determined by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis, respectively. The PGE2 receptor subtypes in the FLS were analyzed by RT-PCR. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to measure the NF-${\kappa}B$ binding activity for COX-2 transcription. The in vivoeffect of PGE2 on the development of arthritis was also tested in collagen induced arthritis (CIA) animals. Results: PGE2 ($10^{-11}$ to $10^{-5}M$) dose-dependently inhibited the expression of COX-2 mRNA and the COX-2 protein stimulated with IL-$1{\beta}$, but not COX-1 mRNA. NS-398, a selective COX-2 inhibitor, displayed an additive effect on PGE2-induced COX-2 downregulation. The FLS predominantly expressed the PGE2 receptor (EP) 2 and EP4, which mediated the COX-2 suppression by PGE2. Treatment with anti-IL-10 monoclonal antibodies partially reversed the PGE2-induced suppression of COX-2 mRNA, suggesting that IL-10 may be involved in modulating COX-2 by PGE2. Experiments using an inducer and an inhibitor of cyclic AMP (cAMP) suggest that cAMP is the major intracellular signal that mediates the regulatory effect of PGE2 on COX-2 expression. EMSA revealed that PGE2 inhibited the binding of NF-${\kappa}B$ in the COX-2 promoter via a cAMP dependent pathway. In addition, a subcutaneous injection of PGE2 twice daily for 2 weeks significantly reduced the incidence and severity of CIA as well as the production of IgG antibodies to type II collagen. Conclusion: Our data suggest that overproduced PGE2 in the RA joints may function as an autocrine regulator of its own synthesis by inhibiting COX-2 production and may, in part, play an anti-inflammatory role in the arthritic joints.