• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.183-197
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• 1997

In order to detect the safety and effect of various aqua-acupunctures from Scutellariae Radix, the modifications of boiling, filtration and dilution were employed for the manufacture of aqua-acupunctures. We injected 0.2cc of aqua-acupunctures into Joksamri (足三里) of rat, repeatedly. We compared subacute toxicity of them with saline group, distilled water(D.W.) group, acupuncture group and control group. The results were summarized as follows: 1. The groups were all healthy and alive, and there was no special abnormality in physical condition and autopsy. And there were not any toxic symptoms in repeating application of aqua-acupunctures to the rat, including changes of body weight, organ weight, haematological examination and serum biochemical test. 2. There was slight change of body weight in acupuncture group : We could see significance after 3 days(p<0.05) and after 7 days(p<0.001) in body weight loss. After 9 days, all tested groups were suppressed in body weight increment. 3. Result of organ weight : In Palkang aqua-acupuncture(D-2 group), saline group and acupuncture group there were some statistical significance. Especially, acupuncture group revealed significant result in liver and spleen than aqua-acupunctures. From this result, we could suggest that the efficacy of acupuncture was preceded herbal medicine. 4. In serum biochemical test, we examined glucose(GLU), triglyceride(TG) and cholesterol(CHOL). In comparison with control group, the diluted 10 times of Hwanggum aqua-aqupuncture$({\times}10\;group)$ was recognized significant decrease of glucose, but the diluted 100 times of Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture$({\times}100\;group)$, D-2 group, saline group were confirmed significant increment. There was not any meaningful change of CHOL in all of tested group, excepting the acupuncture group was exhibited statistically significant decrease(p<0.05). In TG level all tested group except complex injection of standard compound(CPA group) and HG, there were significant value iii statistically. The diluted solution was more significant decrease than Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture(HG). The mutual relationship of components of aqua-acupunture tended to decrease level of TG, regardless of its concentration. In acupunture guoup, we gained some interesting result In meaningful decrease in 7G. 5. Haematological examination showed significant increment of granulocytes(GR) in all tested groups except Hwanggum aqua-acupuncture. And the diluted solutions of HG expressed very high increment of them(p<0.001). The GR and Mean Corpuscular Volume(MCV) of acupuncture group showed statistical significance.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.97-107
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• 2023

Aristolochic acid (AA), extracted from Aristolochiaceae plants, plays an essential role in traditional herbal medicines and is used for different diseases. However, AA has been found to be nephrotoxic and is known to cause aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN). AA-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a syndrome in AAN with a high morbidity that manifests mitochondrial damage as a key part of its pathological progression. Melatonin primarily serves as a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant. However, its mitochondrial protective role in AA-induced AKI is barely reported. In this study, mice were administrated 2.5 mg/kg AA to induce AKI. Melatonin reduced the increase in Upro and Scr and attenuated the necrosis and atrophy of renal proximal tubules in mice exposed to AA. Melatonin suppressed ROS generation, MDA levels and iNOS expression and increased SOD activities in vivo and in vitro. Intriguingly, the in vivo study revealed that melatonin decreased mitochondrial fragmentation in renal proximal tubular cells and increased ATP levels in kidney tissues in response to AA. In vitro, melatonin restored the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in NRK-52E and HK-2 cells and led to an elevation in ATP levels. Confocal immunofluorescence data showed that puncta containing Mito-tracker and GFP-LC3A/B were reduced, thereby impeding the mitophagy of tubular epithelial cells. Furthermore, melatonin decreased LC3A/B-II expression and increased p62 expression. The apoptosis of tubular epithelial cells induced by AA was decreased. Therefore, our findings revealed that melatonin could prevent AA-induced AKI by attenuating mitochondrial damage, which may provide a potential therapeutic method for renal AA toxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.151-160
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• 2005

In order to monitor the histological and general profiles of lung after direct expose of p,p-DDE, 1, 5 and 10 mg/ml of p,p-DDE were sprayed to male ICR mouse, and seven days after exposure, changes of body weight, lung weight, clinical signs, histological profiles of lung and total WBC in blood were investigated with changes of total cell number and their differential count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In the present study, a significant and dosage-dependent decrease of body weight was detected in p,p-DDE exposed groups and body weight gains during observational periods (7 days) were also significantly and dosage-dependently decreased in p,p-DDE exposed groups compared to that of vehicle control group. In addition general depression signs were detected in all p,p-DDE exposed groups with dosage-dependent manners, and lung weights were also increased in p,p-DDE exposed groups. Congestion, hemorrhage and severe exudate were observed in the lung of p,p-DDE exposed groups with sarcomatous changes and these signs were also showed by dosage-dependent manners. In addition, foreign body pneumonia signs were observed in the lung of p,p-DDE exposed groups in histological levels. The percentage of ALSA (Area of luminal surface of alveoli) was also significantly and dosage-dependently decreased in p,p-DDE exposed groups and total blood WBC and BALF cell numbers were significantly and dosage-dependently increased in p,p­DDE exposed groups compared to that of vehicle control group and increase percentage of neutrophil, eosinophil, and lymphocyte in BALF were monitored in p,p-DDE exposed groups compared to that of vehicle control group. In conclusion, severe allergic response and/or foreign body pneumonitic changes were induced by direct exposure of p,p-DDE containing beverage. So it is considered that strong and powerful regulation was need to control production of residence of environmental pollutant especially to p,p-DDE.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.597-603
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• 2015

Synthetic cannabinoids JWH-018 and JWH-250 in 'herbal incense' also called 'spice' were first introduced in many countries. Numerous synthetic cannabinoids with similar chemical structures emerged simultaneously and suddenly. Currently there are not sufficient data on their adverse effects including neurotoxicity. There are only anecdotal reports that suggest their toxicity. In the present study, we evaluated the neurotoxicity of two synthetic cannabinoids (JWH-081 and JWH-210) through observation of various behavioral changes and analysis of histopathological changes using experimental mice with various doses (0.1, 1, 5 mg/kg). In functional observation battery (FOB) test, animals treated with 5 mg/kg of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed traction and tremor. Their locomotor activities and rotarod retention time were significantly (p<0.05) decreased. However, no significant change was observed in learning or memory function. In histopathological analysis, neural cells of the animals treated with the high dose (5 mg/kg) of JWH-081 or JWH-210 showed distorted nuclei and nucleus membranes in the core shell of nucleus accumbens, suggesting neurotoxicity. Our results suggest that JWH-081 and JWH-210 may be neurotoxic substances through changing neuronal cell damages, especially in the core shell part of nucleus accumbens. To confirm our findings, further studies are needed in the future.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2017

Objectives: Selaginella bryopteris L. (family: Selaginaceae), is often used in traditional Indian systems of medicine for the prevention and cure of several disorders and for the treatment of patient with spermatorrhoea, venereal disease, constipation, colitis, urinary tract infections, fever, epilepsy, leucorrhoea, beri-beri and cancer. It is also used as a strength tonic. This study aimed to evaluate the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of topically administered aqueous, polar and non-polar methanolic fractions ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) of Selaginella bryopteris. Methods: An acute oral toxicity study of Selaginella bryopteris at doses from 250 to 2,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) was performed. Aqueous, polar and non-polar methanolic extracts ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) applied topically for 5 days were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects against 12-tetra-O-decanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA)- induced inflammation by using the redness in the ear, the ear's weight (edema), oxidative stress parameters, such as lipid-peroxide (LPO) and nitric oxide (NO), and the pro-inflammatory cytokines involved in inflammation, such as tumour necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$ and IL-6. Indomethacine ($0.5mg/20{\mu}L$) was used for the positive control. Results: Selaginella bryopteris produced no mortalities when administered orally at doses from 250 to 2,000 mg/kg bw. Topical treatment with the non-polar methanolic fraction ($10mg/20{\mu}L$) significantly suppressed redness ($2.4{\pm}0.5$) and edema ($30.4{\pm}1$) and effectively reduced the LPO level ($32.3{\pm}3.3$). The NO level was ($8.07{\pm}0.55$), and the $TNF-{\alpha}$, $IL-1{\beta}$, and IL-6 levels were decreased to $69.6{\pm}15.5$, $7.7{\pm}4.8$ and $82.6{\pm}5.9$, respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated for the first time the mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of medicinal plants like Selaginella bryopteris and quantified the pharmacological interactions between them. The present study showed this herbal product to be a promising anti-inflammatory phytomedicine for the treatment of patients with inflammatory skin diseases.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2017

Cimicifuge dahurica (C. dahurica), Coptis chinensis (C. chinensis) and Phellodendri amurense (P. amurense) extracts has an detoxification effect and Magnol obovata bark (M. obovata) extracts has an antibacterial effect in oriental medicine. This study investigated the possibility of the extract mixture as a functional cosmetic ingredient by mixing C. dahurica, C. chinensis, P. amurense and M. obovata extracts. MTT assay was carried out for toxicity test and DPPH/ABTS experiments for antioxidant effects of the extract mixture. Results show that the extract mixture was safer and antioxidant effects in a dose-dependent manner than single extract of the mixture. The mixture effectively inhibited NO (nitric oxide) production, which indicate good efficacy for anti-inflammation. The mixture also protected UVB-induced cell damage and increased type 1 pro-collagen synthesis in fibroblast. In addition, it's treatment inhibited the melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity by lowering expression of MITF, tyrosinase and TRPs in B16F10 melanoma cell. These results suggest that medicinal herbal extract mixture may be useful as a functional ingredient for anti-aging and skin whitening cosmetic formula.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

In this study, the anti-inflammatory effect of hyaluronidase (HAase) inhibition was determined from 92 species of oriental herbal medicine extracted with water and ethanol solvents because of their non-toxicity in the human body. The water extracts of Evodia officinalis (86.8%), Thuja orientalis (80.8%), Carthami semen (66.5%), Melia azedarach (74.7%), Siegesbeckia pubescens (61.3%), Saururus chinensis (49.15%) showed a relatively greater anti-inflammatory activity. The ethanol extracts of Ailanthus altissima and Saururus chinensis demonstrated the highest anti-inflammatory effect at above 90%. Saururus chinensis was selected for its high anti-inflammatory effect in both water and ethanol extract. Ethanol was more effective than water and optimal extraction conditions for phenolic compounds was determined to be extraction with 50% ethanol for 12 hours. The extracts from Saururus chinensis in optimal condition showed 70~80% anti-inflammatory effect when $100{\sim}250{\mu}g/mL$ phenolic concentration was treated. Concentration of above $500{\mu}g/mL$ decreased the inhibitory effect. The anti-inflammatory effect and extraction yield were increased by ultra-fine grind technology, indicating that this method can be used to increase the extraction yield of phenolic compounds from medicinal plants.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.395-400
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• 2007

Apricot Kernel, consumed as herbal medicine, contains amygdalin which generate HCN upon hydrolysis. Dyspnea was reported by ingesting large amount of apricot kernel, and neurological disorders such as tropic ataxic neuropathy or konzo were known as chronic toxicity of amygdalin. Other cyanogen containing plants, including flaxseed and almond, are consumed as food around the world. Moreover, some of them are promoted as functional food, leading to higher consumption, and posing health risk by cyanogenic components. The objective of this study was to find a method for the reduction of the cyanogenic compound, using apricot kernel as a model food. The most effective reduction was obtained by boiling the slices of the kernel for one hour in pH 1 HCl solution, showing 90% removal. However, the common process known to reduce the cyanogen contents, i.e., long incubation at the low temperature, did not show significant change in cyan concentration. Our data contribute to the safety of the plants containing cyanogenic compounds if they were to be developed as foodstuff.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.902-908
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• 2017

In this study, the extracted phenolic compounds from 98 species of oriental herbal medicine were examined for biological activities to be used as functional resources. In particular, the anti-gout effect by xanthine oxidase (XOase) inhibition was determined using water and ethanol as extraction solvents because of their non-toxicity in the human body. The extracts of Chrysanthemum indicum L. (83.45%), Cuscuta chinensis (60.22%), Asiasarum sieboldi F. Maekawa (51.66%), Acorus gramineus (67.8%), Aconitum pseudo-laeve var. erectum (75.23%), Thuja orientalis (47.27%), Polygonum aviculare (53.98%), Carthami semen (63.99%), and Syzygium aromaticum (40.22%) showed relatively high XOase inhibitory activity. Chrysanthemum indicum L. was selected for its high XOase inhibitory activity. The biological compounds in Chrysanthemum indicum L. were identified to contain phenolics included in extracts of solids. Ultra-fine grind technology showed a higher extraction yield than normal grind and fine grind technology. Ethanol extracts showed relatively higher XOase inhibitory activity than water extracts. XOase inhibitory activity increased in a dependent manner as phenolic concentration increased. Therefore, ultra-fine grind technology was confirmed for use in increasing the extraction yield of XOase inhibitory compounds from Chrysanthemum indicum L.. Extracts from Chrysanthemum indicum L. are expected to be a useful functional resource for the prevention or treatment of gout.