• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제36권1호
• /
• pp.40-46
• /
• 2012

Ginseng, the root of Panax ginseng Meyer, has been used frequently in traditional oriental medicine and is popular globally. Ginsenosides, which are the saponins in ginseng, are the major components having pharmacological and biological activities, including anti-diabetic and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng(TSKRG) on thrombin-produced thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$), an aggregating thrombogenic molecule, and its associated microsomal enzymes cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). Thrombin (0.5 U/mL) increased $TXA_2$ production up to 169 ng/$10^8$ platelets as compared with control (0.2 ng/$10^8$ platelets). However, TSKRG inhibited potently $TXA_2$ production to the control level in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the strong inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS activities in platelet microsomes having cytochrome c reductase activity. The results demonstrate TSKRG is a beneficial traditional oriental medicine in platelet-mediated thrombotic diseases via suppression of COX-1 and TXAS to inhibit production of $TXA_2$.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제36권6호
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2021

Objectives : Atractylodis rhizoma Alba has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource that is used for enhancing Qi (氣) in traditional medicine in Korea, China, and Japan. This study investigated the protective effects of Atractylodis rhizoma Alba extract (ARE) against trimethyltin (TMT), a neurotoxin that causes selective hippocampal injury, using both in vitro and in vivo models. Methods : We investigated the effects of ARE on TMT- (5mM) induced cytotoxicity in primary cultures of mouse hippocampal cells (7 days in vitro ) and on hippocampal injury in C57BL/6 mice injected with TMT (2.6 mg/kg). Results : We observed that ARE treatment (0 - 50 ㎍/mL) significantly reduced TMT-induced cytotoxicity in cultured hippocampal neurons in a dose-dependent manner, based on results of lactate dehydrogenase and 3-4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays. Additionally, this study showed that orally administered ARE (5 mg/kg; between -6 and 0 days before TMT injection) significantly attenuated seizures in adult mice. Furthermore, quantitative analysis of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (Iba-1)- and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)- positive cells showed significantly reduced levels of Iba-1- and GFAP-positive cell bodies in the dentate gyrus of mice treated with ARE prior to TMT injection. These findings indicate the significant protective effects of ARE against the TMT-induced massive activation of microglia and astrocytes in the hippocampus. Conclusions : We conclude that ARE minimizes the detrimental effects of TMT-induced hippocampal neurotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo . Our findings may serve as useful guidelines to support ARE administration as a promising pharmacotherapeutic approach to hippocampal degeneration.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2001

홍화씨는 예로부터 국내에서 재배되어 한방 및 민간에서 특히 뼈에 우수한 작용이 있는 것으로 생각되어 오랫동안 복용되어 왔다. 최근 홍화씨를 성분분석한 바에 의하면 칼륨과 마그녜슘, 칼슘이 다량 함유되어 있어서 뼈의 발달과 유지에 도움이 있을 것이라고 추측된다. 그러나 아직까지 확실한 실험적 자료가 제시된 것은 별로 없다. 이에 저자들은 홍화씨 분말이 골다공증의 예방에 미치는 효과를 알아보기 위하여 본 실험을 실시하였다. 실험동물은 체중 230g의 12주령의 Sprague-Dawley Rats를 사용하였으며, 양쪽난소를 제거한 후 홍화씨 분말을 매일 0.3g씩 복용시키면서 1, 3, 5 및 7주 후에 경골을 채취하여 관찰하였다. 채취된 조직은 통상적인 주사전자현미경 시료제작법으로 고정과정을 거친 후 10% 질산으로 12시간 탈회하여 뼈의 단면을 노출시키고 탈수, 건조 및 금도금 과정을 거쳐 주사전자현미경(Hitachi, S-450)으로 관찰하여 촬영하였다. 관찰결과 난소적출 후 골소실이 일어나기 시작하여 7주 후에 대조군은 골수강에서 피질골까지의 두께의 감소와 골수강의 확장이 심하였으나, 홍화씨 분말을 투여한 실험군에서는 1주에서 7주까지 거의 같은 소견을 나타내었다. 이상의 결과를 종합해보면 홍화씨 분말은 여성호르몬 결핍으로 인한 골다공증의 예방에 효과가 있는 것으로 사료된다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제35권1호
• /
• pp.45-51
• /
• 2011

Wild ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years and for increase physical strength in Korea, China and Japan. This study reports that cultivated wild ginseng (CWG) inhibits adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of adipocyte differentiation is one possible anti-obesity strategy. CWG inhibits the expression of the adipocyte differentiation regulator peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor (PPAR)${\gamma}$ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$mRNA. It also inhibited the expression of PPAR${\gamma}$ and adiponectin at the protein level during the differentiation of pre-adipocytes into adipocytes. Additionally, CWG blocked the cell cycle at the sub-$G_1$ phase transition, causing cells to remain in the pre-adipocyte state. These results indicate that CWG inhibits adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis through pre-adipocyte cell cycle arrest in cultured 3T3-L1 cells.

• 한국동물위생학회지
• /
• 제32권3호
• /
• pp.265-273
• /
• 2009

A cross-sectional survey was undertaken to identify risk factors and clinical signs associated with parasitic helminth infections of cattle in Mymensignh district of Bangladesh. A nonrandom convenience sampling method was used to select 138 animals from 40 farmers/herds. The eggs per gram of faeces (epg) for nematodes and trematodes were determined by McMaster and Stoll's methods respectively. Animal-level and herd-level data were recorded by means of a questionnaire. Multi-collinearity amongst explanatory variables were assessed using $2{\times}2{\times}\;X^2$ test and one variable in a pair was dropped if $P{\leq}0.05$ formultiple logistic regression models. Association study between outcome and explanatory variables was conducted using classification tree, random forests and multiple logistic regression. A positive epg was considered as infected. Analyses were performed using $STATA^{(R)}$, version 8.0/Intercooled and $R^{(R)}$, Version 2.3.0. Seventy eight percent of the cattle were found to be infected with at least one type of helminth. Twenty four pairs of combinations of explanatory variables showed significant associations. Male animals (OR=3.3, P=.006, 95% CI=1.4, 7.7) were associated with significantly increased prevalence of nematode infection. Female cattle of the study area are mostly cross-breed, kept indoor, fed relatively good diet and not used for draught purpose. Males are used for draught purpose thereby more exposed to nematode infective stage and provided with relatively poor diet. So stressed male cattle may become more susceptible to nematode infection. All of the three statistical techniques selected gender and lumen motility as most important variables in association with nematode infection in cattle. The result of this survey can only be extrapolated to the periurban cattle population of traditional management system.

• Applied Microscopy
• /
• 제39권2호
• /
• pp.81-87
• /
• 2009

당뇨병성 망막증의 당뇨병 합병증의 주요한 증상중의 하나로 망막의 구조적 기능적 변화를 초래한다. 레닌-안지오텐신 시스템은 당뇨병성 망막증의 발병에 주요한 역할을 담당하며 angiotensin I을 angiotensin II로 전환하는 데 담당하는 안지오텐신 전환 효소 (ACE)는 레닌-안지오텐신 시스템의 주요한 요소이다. VEGF는 실명을 일으키는 당뇨병성 망막증의 신생혈관 생성에 관여하는 주요한 인자로 알려져 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 당뇨병성 망막증의 발생 기전 중 하나로 최근 연구가 진행되고 있는 VEGF의 발현과 안지오텐신 전환 효소 억제제를 이용한 VEGF 발현 억제효과의 규명을 통해 당뇨병성 망막증의 예방에 ACE 억제제가 효과가 있는지 ACE 억제제인 captopril을 이용하여 알아보고자 하였다. 본 연구에서는 streptozotocin 처리시 혈청내 VEGF 농도는 증가하였으나 captopril (65 mg/kg) 치료에 의해 감소하지 않았다. 망막에서 관찰한 결과 당뇨군에서 VEGF mRNA 및 단백질 발현이 증가하였으며, 안지오텐신 전환 효소인 capto-pril에 의해서 차단되는 것으로 나타났다. 결론적으로 captopril은 1형 당뇨에 있어서 망막의 VEGF 발현 억제를 통해 망막 보호효과를 나타내고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• 제43권2호
• /
• pp.209-217
• /
• 2019

Background: Ginseng is a traditional herbal medicine for human health. Ginseng contains a bioactive ligand named gintonin. The active ingredient of gintonin is lysophosphatidic acid C18:2 (LPA C18:2). We previously developed a method for gintonin-enriched fraction (GEF) preparation to mass-produce gintonin from ginseng. However, previous studies did not show the presence of other bioactive lipids besides LPAs. The aim of this study was to quantify the fatty acids, lysophospholipids (LPLs), and phospholipids (PLs) besides LPAs in GEF. Methods: We prepared GEF from white ginseng. We used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for fatty acid analysis and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry for PL analysis, and quantified the fatty acids, LPLs, and PLs in GEF using respective standards. We examined the effect of GEF on insulin secretion in INS-1 cells. Results: GEF contains about 7.5% linoleic (C18:2), 2.8% palmitic (C16:0), and 1.5% oleic acids (C18:1). GEF contains about 0.2% LPA C18:2, 0.06% LPA C16:0, and 0.02% LPA C18:1. GEF contains 0.08% lysophosphatidylcholine, 0.03% lysophosphatidylethanolamine, and 0.13% lysophosphatidylinositols. GEF also contains about 1% phosphatidic acid (PA) 16:0-18:2, 0.5% PA 18:2-18:2, and 0.2% PA 16:0-18:1. GEFmediated insulin secretion was not blocked by LPA receptor antagonist. Conclusion: We determined four characteristics of GEF through lipid analysis and insulin secretion. First, GEF contains a large amount of linoleic acid (C18:2), PA 16:0-18:2, and LPA C18:2 compared with other lipids. Second, the main fatty acid component of LPLs and PLs is linoleic acid (C18:2). Third, GEF stimulates insulin secretion not through LPA receptors. Finally, GEF contains bioactive lipids besides LPAs.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• 제7권4호
• /
• pp.348-356
• /
• 2007

Radix Paeoniae rubra (PR) has been widely used for recovering acute inflammation with swelling and pain in Far East Asian countries. In order to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of PR herbacupuncture, several behavioral parameters such as body weight, knee circumference, squeaking threshold, and weight distribution ratio were investigated in an adjuvant-induced mono-arthritis rat model. We performed PR herb-acupuncture on Zusanli (ST36) of the right hind-leg once every second day for a total of 6 times from the second day of initiating arthritis with adjuvant injection, while the control group was treated with saline in the same way. In the experimental group, body weight significantly increased, knee circumference and squeaking threshold significantly decreased indicating the reduction of edema, and both the pain and inflammatory swelling of the hind paws measured by incapacitance meter decreased. Conclusively, PR herb-acupuncture has more promising effect in alleviating arthritic pain and inflammation than saline-acupuncture in rat model, hence further clinical study is required.

• 대한본초학회지
• /
• 제36권5호
• /
• pp.101-108
• /
• 2021

Objectives : A root of Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai (D. asperoides) has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource in several Asian countries, including Korean and traditional Chinese medicine that has been traditionally used for treating several medical conditions including pain, arthritis, and bone fractures in Korea. In the present study, we investigated potential subacute toxicities of D. asperoides extract. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (male, 7weeks) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 mice. Except for the control group, the mice were orally administrated D. asperoides extract at doses of 50, 150, or 450 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, all mice were euthanized, and the following parameters were examined: mortality, body weight, clinical signs, gross findings, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and histopathology. Results : There were no abnormalities in mortality, clinical signs, body weight, gross findings, or organ weight after repeated administration of D. asperoides extract for 2 weeks, compared with the control group. In addition, there were no significant changes in hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters between the control group and D. asperoides extract administrated groups with doses of up to 450 mg/kg/day. Conclusion : In this study, D. asperoides extract showed no significant toxicities at a dose of up to 450 mg/kg/day in mice. Although we could not confirm the toxic dose of D. asperoides extract, it can be considered safe for further pharmacological use.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2022

Objectives : Aquilaria crassna is a traditional herbal medicine, which is used to treat allergies, diabetes, neurological diseases. Recently, Aquilaria crassna extracts have been reported in anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, various solvents fraction of Aquilaria crassna were investigated on various physiological activities. Methods : According to the polarity, the solvents fraction of Aquilaria crassna were confirmed through TLC, and the activities of the extracts were confirmed in anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, whitening, anti-gout, and anti-inflammation. Results : TLC results showed that ACM and ACM/E have similar patterns and most of the components were transferred to ACM/E. Treatment with ACM and ACM/E fraction were significantly decreased the generation of NO in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. Analysis of biological activities such as α-glucosidase, protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B), tyrosinase, xanthine oxidase (XO) and pancreatic lipase inhibition, showed that ACM and ACM/E have more inhibitory effects than other fractions. Conclusions : Therefore, the results of the present study clearly demonstrate that Aquilaria crassna and its constituents might be beneficial in the prevention or treatment of immune-regulating effects.