• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2019

Generative and vegetative parts of the cactuses have had a long-lasting position in folk medicine and their effects could partly be confirmed in scientific experiments. Nowadays, the cactus, fruits, and cladodes are the focus of many studies because of their desirable properties. Therefore, the summarized reports of valuable properties of medicinal plants may be a good way to familiarize researches with a new source of drugs with lower side effects and higher efficacy. Opuntia dillenii, a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, is used as a medicinal plant in various countries and grows in the desert, semi-desert, tropical and sub-tropical areas. It shows diverse pharmacological activities such as: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, hypotensive etc. OD fruit also possesses valuable constitutes for instance: betalains, ascorbic acid, total phenol, protein as well as essential elements which suggest the significant potential of this plant as a complementary therapy against several pathological conditions. This review describes experimental evidence about pharmacological and therapeutic potential of OD in order to give the basis of its application in the prevention and treatment of some chronic diseases. More studies on OD can help better understanding of its pharmacological mechanism of action to explain its traditional uses and to identify its potential new therapeutic applications.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.705-712
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• 2014

The early steps of neural development in the vertebrate embryo are regulated by sets of transcription factors that control the induction of proliferative, pluripotent neural precursors, the expansion of neural plate stem cells, and their transition to differentiating neural progenitors. These early events are critical for producing a pool of multipotent cells capable of giving rise to the multitude of neurons and glia that form the central nervous system. In this review we summarize findings from gain- and loss-of-function studies in embryos that detail the gene regulatory network responsible for these early events. We discuss whether this information is likely to be similar in mammalian embryonic and induced pluripotent stem cells that are cultured according to protocols designed to produce neurons. The similarities and differences between the embryo and stem cells may provide important guidance to stem cell protocols designed to create immature neural cells for therapeutic uses.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.99-110
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• 2016

In Korea and China, traditional medicine's holistic approaches, based on the views of whole-body and whole-person, have been applied to make the solution of health problem. However, these holistic approaches of traditional korea or chinese medicine have been limited in interpreting their theories in a view of modern scientific aspects of medicine. This limitation seems to be mainly due to the reductionism approaches of modern scientific medicine. Traditionally, science has taken a reductionism approach; dissecting biological systems into their constituent parts and studying them in isolation. However, systems biology based on omics technologies is providing a new thought and method for traditional medicine's research and interpretation. Systems biology uses integrity study as the characteristic and bioinformatic technology as the key method for connecting reductionism and holism. Therefore, it has much in common with the theory of traditional medicine. It was reviewed that how systems biology is applied to traditional medicine in Korea and China. Also it was suggested that more future researches on interpretation between traditional medicine and systems biology must be focused on personalized medicine since systems biology will have a major impact on future personalized therapeutic approaches.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2012

The methods for the occlusal force measurement have long been developed. The occlusal analyzing equipment utilizing the pressure-sensitive film (Prescale) is useful for the assessment and comparison among large group of patients. On the other hand, the apparatus which uses the grid-based sensor sheet (T-scan) can be a useful assistant for acquiring the well-balanced occlusion. The device that can process the electrical input from the strain gauge which is attached to the tooth surface can collect the dynamic data of actual masticatory force. This device has been developed for the measurement of actual mastication with the food bolus and it can be a useful method for the comparison before and after the restorative treatment. Occlusal force measurement can be applied for the analysis of therapeutic action, diagnosis of crack- tooth syndrome, temporomandibul ar disease, and idiopathic implant loosening.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1752-1761
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• 2004

Recently, Despite improvements of therapeutic methods on malignancy, the need of modalities on the treatment of cancer have been increasing nowadays and Traditional Oriental Medicine have been considered as alternatives and the uses of it have continued to increase in cancer therapy. The aims of this paper is to gain the evidence of entering to the mainstream of cancer therapy and get the clue to make herbal prescription and perform the clinical trials using herbal medicines. Cheong-yeol group herbs which was intimate thought have been used most frequently and leukemia cell lines and apoptosis-releated experiments were executed mostly. A distinguished experiments were about the combination therapy on cancer and comparison between herbs and active compound derived from the same herb. With these results, we knew that molecular biology using herbs have been gained the popularity more and more and we think that we can use these results in the laboratory work and clinical work to strengthen the utilization of Traditional Oriental Medicine.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.2 s.145
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• pp.97-102
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• 2006

Garlic(Allium sativum Linn) is widely used as a common condiment for a variety of foods and beverages. It has been well known that fresh garlic and garlic supplement of commercial preparations have various therapeutic properties including antimicrobial activity, antiplatelet aggregation, antihypertension, and cholesterol-lowering effects, which contribute to its increasing uses for an alternative medicine. Allicin(diallyl thiosulfinate), the major bioactive components of garlic, is formed by alliinase cleavage of the naturally occurring alliin upon crushing or mincing of garlic, and is the progenitor of a number of other products, such as diallyl disulfide. CYP3A4, heme-containing monooxygenase, is a key enzyme responsible for drug metabolism. Therefor, in the present study, we isolated and examined the compounds with CYP3A4-inhibiting activities from garlic. Among EtOAc extracts of garlic, we found that N-p-coumaroyltyramine and N-feruloyltyramine showed remarkable CYP3A4-inhibiting activities, compared to diallyl disulfide. Structures of the isolated active compounds were established by chemical and spectroscopic means.

• CELLMED
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.8.1-8.6
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• 2014

Despite the remarkable advancements of the modern medicine, the traditional system of medicine (TSM) still serves as a potential primary health care modality in the in low- and middle-income countries. The recent reports suggest that there is a renewed interest has been observed towards TSM in the developed countries too, because of the adverse side-effect of modern medicines. Medicinal plants have been widely serving as a rich source of therapeutic agent. Ethiopia is one of the most reserves rich countries in the world. It is renowned for well-diversified and natural resources in terms of its unique flora and fauna. Ethiopian deep-rooted tradition and culture largely depends on the usage of plants for their religious ceremonies, impressive festivals, traditional medicinal uses and other basic necessities. The present scrutiny is an attempt to understand the omnipotent nature of an Ethiopian Ethnomedicinal plant called Tinjute [vernacular name (local native language, Amharic); Otostegia integrifolia]. There are several studies suggest that Tinjute can be used as a natural medicine or health-promoting agents for various disorders and ailments. Nevertheless, in Ethiopia, it is renowned as an insect repellent to drive-away insect vector of diseases, particularly mosquitoes in the early evening. However, there are many more issues and challenges which must be urgently addressed to scientifically formulate various potent, efficacious, safe and highly selective phytotherapeutic agents and insects' repellent from the Tinjute plant in the near future.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.57-63
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• 2005

Numerous drugs are chiral because they possess one or more chiral centers. Enantiomers may differ in their pharmacokinetic, pharmacological and toxicological properties. However, the significance of stereochemistry of drugs in their therapeutic uses has received relatively little attention until recently. The US FDA issued a guideline on stereoisomeric drugs in 1992, and the European agency describes tests for new drug substances which are optically active in an ICH(International Conference of Harmonization) guideline. According to the guidance, enantiomers may differ in their pharmacokinetic, pharmacological and toxicological properties. Therefore, in this paper, we examined the recently published Canadian guidance, stereochemical issues in chiral drug development, which will be references to make a guidance on stereochemical issues in chiral drug development in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.164-172
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• 2002

The role of botulinum toxin as a therapeutic agent is expanding rapidly in otolaryngology. Botulinum toxin is a protease that blocks the release of acetylcholine from nerve terminals. Its effects are transient and nondestructive, and largely limited to the area in which it is administered These effects are also graded according to the dose, allowing for individualized treatment of patients and disorders. Botulinum toxin has been used primarily to treat disorders of excessive or inappropriate muscle contraction. In the field of otolaryngology, these include spasmodic dysphonia, oromandibular dystonia, and blepharospasm, vocal tics and stuttering, cricopharyngeal achalasia, various tremors and tics, hemifacial spasm, temporomandibular joint disorders and a number of cosmetic applications. Botulinum toxin treatment has recently begun to show some benefit in the control of pain from migraine and tension headache. It may also prove useful in the control of autonomic dysfunction, as in Frey syndrome, sialorrhea, and rhinorrhea. In over 20 yews of use in humans, botulinum toxin has accumulated a considerable safety record, and in many cases represents relief for thousands of patients unaided by other therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.1501-1506
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• 2015

Gemcitabine is an anti-cancer drug with clinically uses in the treatment of various neoplasms, including breast, ovarian, non-small cell lung, pancreaticand cervical cancers, T-cell malignancies, germ cell tumours, and hepatocellular carcinomas. However, it has also been reported to have many adverse effects. Naturally occurring anti-mutagenic effects, especially those of plant origin, have recently become a subject of intensive research. The present study was therefore designed to investigate the anti-mutagenic effects of Salvia merjamie (Family: Lamiaceae) plant extracts against the mutagenic effects of gemcitabine. The anti-mutagenic properties of Salvia merjamie were tested in Inbred SWR/J male and female mice bone marrow cells. The mice were treated in four groups; a control group treated with 30 mg/kg body weight gemcitabine and three treatment groups, each with 30 mg/kg body weight gemcitabine together with, respectively, 50, 100 and 150 mg/kg body weight Salvia merjamie extract. Chromosomal aberration and mitotic index assays were performed with the results demonstrating that Salvia merjamie extract protects bone marrow cells in mice against gemcitabine induced mutagenicity. This information can be used for the development of a potential therapeutic anti-mutagenic agents.