• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.241-249
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• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to report the patients with compressive neuropathy of the radial nerve(Saturday Night Palsy), who was improved by acupuncture and Sweet Bee Venom(SBV) treatment. Methods & Results : The patients were hospitalized or outpatient in Dept. of Acupuncture & Moxibustion, traditional korean medical hospital, Sangji University from 1st, Dec. 2008 to 30th June 2009, and treated with acupuncture, SBV, electrical stimulation therapy and herbal medication therapy. To evaluate the wrist drop and numbness of fingers, coding result(Arbitrary values used to evaluate result) and digital infrared thermal image, which was well defined diagnostic tool estimating skin surface temperature difference, were used. As a result, patient symptoms were improved remarkably. Conclusions : Patients were treated during 6 weeks in average. 2 cases were excellent and 1 case was evaluated good result by the acupuncture, Sweet Bee Venom, electrical stimulation therapy.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.316-323
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• 2008

In this study, we have investigated the HPLC analysis methods and quantitative analysis of standard compounds for quality standardization of a medicinal crude drug GCSB-5, a herbal formulation consisting of 6 medicinal plants (Acanthopanacis Cortex, Achyranthis Radix, Ledebouriellae Radix, Cibotii Rhizoma, Glycine Semen, Eucommiae Cortex) which are used in traditional medicine to treat various bone disorders. HPLC analysis methods of acanthoside D(Acanthopanacis Cortex), 20-hydroxyecdysone(Achyranthis Radix) which were known standard compounds among 6 medicinal plants were developed on crude material and product. And validation of HPLC analysis methods were conformed for verification of HPLC methods by check to specificity, linearity, intra-day precision, inter-day precision and accuracy following ICH guideline. Content of acanthoside D and 20-hydroxyecdysone on raw material of GCSB-5 were decided at 0.577-0.578 mg/g and 0.311-0.312 mg/g. And we confirmed that content of acanthoside D and 20-hydroxyecdysone on GCSB-5 preparation were 0.302-0.303 mg/capsule and 0.113-0.115 mg/capsule.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2014

Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, the protective effects of P. linteus against experimental asthma have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. linteus ethanol extract (PLE) suppresses inflammatory response in an OVA-induced asthma model. As expected, the oral administration of PLE significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-challenged BALB/c mice. Supporting these data, the augmentation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), eotaxin, and adhesion molecules in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after OVA inhalation was markedly attenuated by PLE. Furthermore, PLE reduced OVA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK in lung tissues. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of P. linteus as a therapeutic agent for asthma.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2016

Lindera obtusiloba has been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of blood stasis and inflammation. The leaves of Lindera obtusiloba have been reported to exhibit various physiological activities. However, there is little information available on their antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lindera obtusiloba leaf extract (LLE) on platelet activities, coagulation and thromboembolism. In a platelet aggregation study, LLE significantly inhibited various agonist-induced platelet aggregations in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, LLE significantly inhibited collagen-induced thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production in rat platelets. In addition, oral administration of LLE was protective in a mouse model of pulmonary thromboembolism induced by intravenous injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine. Interestingly, LLE did not significantly alter prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This study indicates that the antithrombotic effects of LLE might be due to its antiplatelet activities rather than anticoagulation. Taken together, these results suggest that LLE may be a candidate preventive and therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases associated with platelet hyperactivity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.368-376
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• 1995

The leaf of Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z. (Gramineae) has been used in traditional herbal medicine as a antipyretics, antitussives and antidiuretcs, etc, in Korea, China and Japan. In order to investigate the effects on antilipoperoxidation and liver protective effect, the leaf of Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z. was extracted by water and then fractionated with butanol. The water extract and BuOH soluble fraction strongly exhibited antilipoperoxidatant effect in rat liver homogenate intoxicated with $CCl_4$. The BuOH fraction significantly suppressed the increases of s-GOT, s-GPT and s-LDH activities in injuried rats induced by $CCl_4$. And the BuOH fraction inhibited significantly the decrease of the body weight and showed the antilipoperoxidatant effect in liver and kidney in $CCl_4$ intoxicated rats.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2005

Objectives & Methods : In order to evaluate the in vivo synergic effect of Mawhangyounpye-tang which was a traditional poly-herbal formula has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in Korea, with quinolone antibiotic, ciprofloxacin (CPFX), the viable bacterial number and histopathological changes were monitored after experimental respiratory infection with Klebsiella peumoniae NCTC 9632. Results : The obtained results were as follows : 1. In CPFX group, the viable bacterial numbers were significantly decreased compared to that of control group and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Mawhangyounpye-tang. 2. In control group, severe infiltration of inflammatory cells, hemorrhage and hypertrophy of alveolar linings were demonstrated at microscopical levels. However, these abnormal histopathological changes were significantly decreased compared to that of control group in CPFX group, and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Mawhangyounpye-tang. 3. In CPFX group, the LSA (luminal surface of alveoli %) were significantly increased compared to that of control group and these were more dramatically decreased compared to that of single treatment with CPFX, respectively in concomitant treated groups with Mawhangyounpye-tang. Conclusions : It is considered that in vivo antibacterial activity of CPFX was dramatically increased by concomitant use of Mawhangyounpye-tang against Kebsiella pneumoniae NCTC 9632 infection of respiratory tract.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.76-82
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• 2012

Stamens of Mesua ferrea L. are a well-known herbal drug used in Indian System of Traditional Medicine to treat various diseases. The claimed activity of this plant part is necessitated to investigate antioxidant and hepatoprotective activity. Authenticated plant sample was extracted with hexane, ethanol (EtOH) and water (aq.) using ASE 100 accelerated solvent extractor. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by means of different in vitro assays. Hepatoprotective effect was investigated on carbon tetrachloride induced oxidative stress in liver slice culture model. Cytotoxic marker lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released in culture medium and the activity of lipid peroxidation along with antioxidant enzymes (AOEs) namely superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione reductase (GR) were estimated. Hexane and EtOH extracts were significantly inhibited DPPH, NO, SOD and $ABTS^+$ radical in dose dependent manner. The trade of phenol content was: aq. extract < hexane extract < EtOH extract. A significant correlation was shown by total phenol content and free radical scavenging activity of extracts. The culture system treated with hexane extract, EtOH extract or ascorbic acid exhibited significant depletion in LDH, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative enzymes SOD, CAT and GR. Hexane extract and EtOH extracts of stamen of M. ferrea protected liver slice culture cells by alleviating oxidative stress induced damage to liver cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.49-53
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• 2013

Paeonia lactiflora Pall (PL) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in China, Korea, and Japan for more 1,200 years. PL has reported to have antioxidant activity and protective effect of cells from oxidative stress, although the mechanism has not been verified. FOXO3a is a transcription factor that binds to its target gene's consensus FOXO binding site. FOXO3a protein modulates the various biological functions including cell cycle control, apoptosis, DNA repair, and ROS detoxification. Therefore, FOXO3a activity is associated with cancer, aging, diabetes, infertility, neurodegeneration, and immune system dysfunction. Here we found that FOXO3a was activated by PL extract. Transcriptional target genes such as MnSOD, p27, and GADD45 were activated by PL extract. Protein levels of MnSOD and catalase were increased, consequently, ROS level was reduced in HEF cells by PL extract. These findings suggest that PL extract has an antioxidant activity through FOXO activation and thereby activation of FOXO target genes, MnSOD and catalase.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.165-172
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• 2015

Cornus officinalis is widely distributed in Korea, and its fruit has been used to make as herbal drug for traditional medicine in Korea, Japan, and China because of its tonic, analgesic, and diuretic properties. However, the effects of C. officinalis methanol extract (COME) on melanogenesis remain poorly understood. We evaluated the melanogenic capability of COME in melan-a cells, which are immortalized mouse melanocytes. COME increased melanin synthesis in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with $12.5{\mu}g/mL$ of COME significantly increased melanin content by 36.1% (p < 0.001) to a level even higher than that (31.6%) of 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine, a well-known pigmentation agent. COME also upregulated tyrosinase activity and its messenger RNA and protein expression. In addition, COME upregulated the expression of tyrosinase-related proteins 1 and 2 and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor-M messenger RNA expression. These results imply that COME may be appropriate for development as a natural product to treat hair graying.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.268-277
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• 2009

Ginsenosides are among the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in South Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of compound K (CK), a metabolite of ginsenoside Rb1, on ischemia-induced isolated rat hearts were investigated through the analyses of the changes in the hemodynamics (blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output) and the measurement of the infarct region. The subjects in this study were divided into four groups: the normal control, the CK-alone group, the ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and the ischemia-induced group treated with CK. No significant differences in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output were found between the groups before ischemia was induced. The oxygen and buffer supply was stopped for 30 min to induce ischemia 60 min after reperfusion in the isolated rat hearts, and the CK was administered 5 min before ischemia induction. The CK treatment significantly prevented decreases in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output under ischemic conditions. In addition, the hemodynamics (except for the heart rate) of the group treated with CK significantly recovered 60 min after reperfusion, unlike in the control group. CK significantly limited the infarct. These results suggest that CK treatment has distinct anti-ischemic effects in an exvivo model of an ischemia-reperfusion-induced rat heart.