• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2011

The penetration of outside material into skin is not easy. It is since the skin, which is a very hard barrier, protects the body against outside chemical and physical stimulation. Microneedle system which can help improve drug penetration into skin is advancing variously in transdermal drug delivery system (TDDS) in the field of skin care. After inserting microneedle into skin by using electrical or artificial forces, it makes microhole and drug penetration easily and induces natural skin rejuvenation. Diffusion and penetration of drug by optical and electrical force of microneedle is better for fast and effective TDDS. This is more developed than the traditional method such as the manual stamp, roller, and meso gun. The drug absorbed into dermal layer by microneedle helps revive and repair damaged skin. In the future, utilization of microneedle for skin care will progress constantly because of its human-friendly biodegradable materials and the development of the no pain microneedle.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4807-4814
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• 2012

Purpose: The chemoresistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) to cytotoxic drugs, especially intrinsic or acquired multidrug resistance (MDR), still remains a major challenge in the management of HCC. In the present study, possible mechanisms involved in MDR of HCC were identified using a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-resistant human HCC cell line. Methods: BEL-7402/5-FU cells were established through continuous culturing parental BEL-7402 cells, imitating the pattern of chemotherapy clinically. Growth curves and chemosensitivity to cytotoxic drugs were determined by MTT assay. Doubling times, colony formation and adherence rates were calculated after cell counting. Morphological alteration, karyotype morphology, and untrastructure were assessed under optical and electron microscopes. The distribution in the cell cycle and drug efflux pump activity were measured by flow cytometry. Furthermore, expression of potential genes involved in MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU cells were detected by immunocytochemistry. Results: Compared to its parental cells, BEL-7402/5-FU cells had a prolonged doubling time, a lower mitotic index, colony efficiency and adhesive ability, and a decreased drug efflux pump activity. The resistant cells tended to grow in clusters and apparent changes of ultrastructures occurred. BEL-7402/5-FU cells presented with an increased proportion in S and G2/M phases with a concomitant decrease in G0/G1 phase. The MDR phenotype of BEL-7402/5-FU might be partly attributed to increased drug efflux pump activity via multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1), overexpression of thymidylate synthase (TS), resistance to apoptosis by augmentation of the Bcl-xl/Bax ratio, and intracellular adhesion medicated by E-cadherin (E-cad). P-glycoprotein (P-gp) might play a limited role in the MDR of BEL-7402/5-FU. Conclusion: Increased activity or expression of MRP1, Bcl-xl, TS, and E-cad appear to be involved in the MDR mechanism of BEL-7402/5-FU.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2011

Toxicokinetics of Korean Traditional Medicines(TKM) is the description of what rate TKM will enter the body and what happens to it once it is in the body in terms of toxicology. However, it is not easy to understand TKM toxicokinetics because of various factors such as a mixture of 2-30 kinds of herbal materials containing thousands of chemicals, and complex chemical properties. For these reasons, little is known about toxicokinetics of TKM. This study was aimed to characterize and review the absorption, distribution and metabolism of korean traditional medicines in a view of toxicokinetics. For this aim, some of korean traditional medicines were reviewed on a basis of drug-drug interaction, biotransformation and intestinal metabolisms by bacteria. As the factors affecting mainly on toxicokinetics of TKM, individual herbal material's degree of lipophilicity and metabolic rate, and decoction components according to different kinds of herbal materials were considered. Other factors such as intestinal pH and bacterial activity for metabolism affecting on TKM toxicokinetics, especially in small intestine. It would be a better way for improving the adverse or poor effects caused by TCM if the factors affecting on toxicokinetics of TKM is considered.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.48-67
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• 2011

Objectives: There has been a lot of controversy about whether Korean traditional medicines cause drug-induced hepatotoxicity or not. However, this controversy has not been examined from a scientific approach, especially in terms of toxicology. Thus, this article for traditional Korean medicine-induced hepatotoxicity was reviewed on a basis of toxicological assessment. Methods: Toxicological assessments were carried out in a view of reactive intermediates formation from biotransformation in animals based on cytochrome P450 activity inducing oxidative stress, and case reports in world-wide. Results and Conclusions: Several herbal materials used for traditional Korean medicines were identified as possible agents causing drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Most of these agents seem to produce toxic reactive intermediates caused by cytochrome P450. Oxidative stress followed by cytochrome P450 activation could also be a reason for herb-induced hepatotoxicity. Plausible prevention of herb-induced hepatotoxicity was suggested.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.1 s.69
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• pp.117-125
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was to assess the Traditional chinese medicine forecast subjects that had been expected to be accomplished over 20 year (1990-2010). The result will help Korea medical society to compare the status of Korean Medicine with that of Traditional Chinese Medicine and to plan for polices and studies on Korean Traditional Medicine. Methods : Assessed targets were the subjects selected by the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, which are classified into 6 fields. These were assigned by the quantity of related theses. Reference source is CAJ（China academic Journal) of CNKI (China National Knowledge infrastructure). Results : 1) Forecast subject ratio by field was basic theory 31% / clinical research 17% / Chinese herbal drug 17% / acupuncture and moxa 17% / Tui-na(推拿) and Qi-gong(氣功) 9% / medical information, literature history 6%. 2) Accomplishment percentage (full accomplishment) by field was medical information, literature, history 60% / basic theory 50% / acupuncture and moxa 46% Tui-na(推拿) and Qi-gong(氣功) 38% / chinese herbal drug 25% / clinical research 23%. Conclusions : 78% of all forecast subjects were accomplished or partially accomplished. According to 'accomplishment percentage by field', while those in the medical information, literature, history field were most realized of all, those in the clinical research field were least realized.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.20.1-20.6
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• 2013

Bambusa arundinacea family Graminae, is one of the precious plant resources of the earth. It has played a significant role in human civilization since ancient times. It is tall sized tree growing throughout India, moist parts of India. It also occurs in Sri Lanka, Malaya, Peru and Myanmar. The different parts of this plant contain silica, cholin, betain, cynogenetic glycosides, albuminoids, oxalic acid, reducing sugar, resins, waxes, benzoic acid, arginine, cysteine, histidine, niacin, riboflavin, thiamine, protein, gluteline, contains lysine, methionine, betain, cholin, proteolytic enzyme, nuclease, urease. Various parts of this plant such as leaf, root, shoot and seed possess anti-inflammatory, antiulcer, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anthelmintic, antifertility, antibacterial, insectisidal, antiarthritic, vessele protection etc. This review mainly focuses on the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological information of Bambusa arundinacea.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 2008

In this present study Indian traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulation Amritaristo has been studied to assess the general pharmacological effect on mice. The drug showed no significant activity on the neuropharmacological test models experimented. The increased pentobarbital sleeping time was considered related with hepatic metabolism of pentobarbital. The formulation exhibited a non-significant reduction of gastrointestinal motility, and devoid of any acute diuretic activity. The tested drug revealed antidiarrhoeal activity on castor oil-induced model, whereas on magnesium sulphate-induced model no effect was observed.

• CELLMED
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.24.1-24.7
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• 2015

Bahunia racemosa family, Caesalpiniaceae, is one of the precious resources of the earth. It has played a significant role in human civilization since ancient times. It is tall sized tree growing throughout India, Ceylon, China, and Timor. The different part of this plant contains β-sitosterol and β-amyrin, flavonols (kaempferol and quercetin) and two coumarins (scopoletin and scopolin), tannins etc. Various part of this plant has great pharmacological potential with a great utility and usage as folklore medicine as analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antimicrobial activity. This review mainly focus on the exclusive review work on the traditional, phytochemical and pharmacological activities of this plant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 1998.11a
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• pp.114-117
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• 1998

Chinese traditional drugs have a long history to be used in clinics to treat various diseases and are confirmed to be effective approach through thousands of years of medical practice. Therefore, as a common understanding, the drug development from traditional Chinese medicines could be considered as a “shortcut” way with less blindness and more saving of time and money since development of new Chinese drugs has a different approach from that of western new drugs. Firstly, Chinese new drug development can be simplified as “from men to animal” process rather than “from animal to men” in western medicines. Hence the successful rate would be higher. Secondly, the original drugs or prescriptions from which the new drugs are planned to develop have been known what symptoms they are indicated for. Therefore, the developing procedure is actually a refine process with much less blindness than that of western drugs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.96-102
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• 2009

Objectives: Traditional Korean herbal formulae are composed of multiple medicinal plants. This situation of multiple-ingredient mixtures has been considered as a major obstacle to new drug development using herbal formulae in the world market, despite the effectiveness of such mixtures. This study reviewed Liv-52 as a representative model of successful drug development using a multiple-herb mixture. Methods: All articles for Liv-52 were collected from the PubMed database. The history, composition of Liv-52, its pharmaceutical efficacy and mechanisms, and data from clinical studies including its market size were analyzed. Results: Liv-52 is composed of seven herbal plants and it is the best known in Ayurvedic medicine for treating liver disorders. Since its 1955 introduction, forty four international papers have been published based on pre-clinical and clinical trials. The efficacy and mechanisms of Liv-52 were intensively studied. Currently, Liv-52 is one of the top-selling products, with over 10 million dollars sales annually, in the world market. Conclusions: These results indicate that Korean herbal formulae could be new global drugs if scientific evidence for efficacy and standardization are produced via literature researches.