• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.218-227
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• 2023

Background: Myocardial fibrosis (MF) is an advanced pathological manifestation of many cardiovascular diseases, which can induce heart failure and malignant arrhythmias. However, the current treatment of MF lacks specific drugs. Ginsenoside Re has anti-MF effect in rat, but its mechanism is still not clear. Therefore, we investigated the anti-MF effect of ginsenoside Re by constructing mouse acute myocardial infarction (AMI) model and AngII induced cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) model. Methods: The anti-MF effect of miR-489 was investigated by transfection of miR-489 mimic and inhibitor in CFs. Effect of ginsenoside Re on MF and its related mechanisms were investigated by ultrasonographic, ELISA, histopathologic staining, transwell test, immunofluorescence, Western blot and qPCR in the mouse model of AMI and the AngII-induced CFs model. Results: MiR-489 decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagenI, collagen III and myd88, and inhibited the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 in normal CFs and CFs treated with AngII. Ginsenoside Re could improve cardiac function, inhibit collagen deposition and CFs migration, promote the transcription of miR-489, and reduce the expression of myd88 and the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. Conclusion: MiR-489 can effectively inhibit the pathological process of MF, and the mechanism is at least partly related to the regulation of myd88/NF-κB pathway. Ginsenoside Re can ameliorate AMI and AngII induced MF, and the mechanism is at least partially related to the regulation of miR-489/myd88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, miR-489 may be a potential target of anti-MF and ginsenoside Re may be an effective drug for the treatment of MF.

• The Journal of Korean Medical History
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.135-147
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• 2022

Sin Dae-woo was a scholar representing the Ganghwa School in the late Joseon Dynasty. He was Jeong Je-du's grandson-in-law and also in charge of organizing Jeong Je-du's collection of writings. His three sons had a particularly close relationship with their father, so even when they published a collection of writings after his father's death, the names of the three were combined and marked as Jin-jak-shin. The records they left include Seokcheon Il-seung, who described the history of the family along with the collection of writings, Seongdo Il-rok, a diary of the time of Seongcheon Busa, and many letters exchanged over time. These records draw attention as they contain records of medical life, such as eye diseases that the family suffered, infectious diseases that caused many casualties, and Yakro (distilled herbal essence) that showed records of being used for treatment at the time. In this paper: 1) We examine the medicines, prescriptions, acupuncture, and medication used to treat eye diseases. 2) We carefully examine the epidemic, the responses of the parties to it, and the attitudes of those who stood at the boundary between death and life. 3) We look for clues to the use of Western-origin drugs called Yakro. Intellectuals of the time looked deeper into Lee Kyugyung's book and Seo Yu-gu's book on how they were reflected in Joseon's medical life. In conclusion, in the 18th and 9th centuries, we see that the influential families of the Ganghwa school freely brought in famous acupuncturists, used prescriptions that were included in medical books or not, and used Yakro from western origin that were not traditional methods of Joseon. Thus, we reveal that doctors of the Joseon had the capacity to pursue their medical life more actively and had open-minded exchanges than our existing perceptions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2169-2177
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• 2014

Matrine, a main active component extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavecens, has been reported to exert antitumor effects on A549 human non-small lung cancer cells, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. To determine effects of matrine on proliferation of A549 cells and assess possible mechanisms, MTT assays were employed to detect cytotoxicity, along with o flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of nuclei of cells following staining with propidium iodide to analyze cell cycle distribution. Western blotting was performed to determined expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, VEGF and HDAC1, while a microarray was used to assessed changes of miRNA profiles. In the MTT assay, matrine suppressed growth of human lung cancer cell A549 in a dose- and timedependent manner at doses of 0.25-2.5 mg/ml for 24h, 48h or 72h. Matrine induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase, while down-regulating the expression of Bcl2 protein, leading to a reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In addition, matrine down regulated the expression level of VEGF and HDAC1 of A549 cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that matrine altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control A549 cells. In conclusion, matrine could inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, providing useful information for understanding anticancer mechanisms.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.329-336
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• 2000

Backgrounds : The purpose of this study was to identify drugs that can enhance radioresponse of murine fepatocarcinorna. Methods : CSH/HeJ mice bearing 8 mm tumors of murine fepatocarcinorna, HCa-1, were treated with 25 Gy radiation and one of the following drugs: 5-Fu, 150 mghg; adriamycin, 8 mg/kg; cisplatin, 6 mg/kg; paclitaxel, 40 mg/kg; and gemcitabine, 50 mg/kg. Tumor response to the treatment was determined by tumor growth delay assay and by enhancement factor. Apoptotic level was assessed in tissue sections. Expression of regulating molecules was analyzed by western blotting for p53, Bcl-2, Bax, Bcl-XL, Bcl-XS, and p21$^{WAF1/CIP1}$. Results :Among the drugs tested, only gemcitabine enhanced the antitumor effect of radiation, with enhancement factor of 1.6. Induction of apoptosis by a combination of gemcitabine and radiation was shown as only additive level. In analysis of radiation-induced expression of regulating molecules, the most significant change by combining gemcitabine was activation of p21$^{WAF1/CIP1}$ Conclusion :Gemcitabine is the first drug showing an enhancement of radioresponse in murine hepatocarcinoma, when combined with radiation. The key element of enhancement is thought to be p21$^{WAF1/CIP1}$.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.669-676
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• 2019

Zanthoxylum piperitum D.C. (ZP) peels has been used as a natural spice and herb medicine for hypertension reduction, for strokes, and for its anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant activity. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms employed by ZP have yet to be completely understood. In this study, we elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of ZP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. We evaluated the effects of ZP in LPS-induced levels of inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and caspase-1 using ELISA. The expression levels of inflammatory-related genes, including cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), were assayed by Western blot analysis. We elucidated the effect of ZP on nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation by means of a luciferase activity assay. The findings of this study demonstrated that ZP inhibited the production of inflammatory cytokine and PGE₂ and inhibited the increased levels of COX-2 and iNOS caused by LPS. Additionally, we showed that the anti-inflammatory effect of ZP arises by suppressing the activation of NF-κB and caspase-1 in LPS- induced RAW264.7 cells. These results provide novel insights into the pharmacological actions of ZP as a potential candidate for development of new drugs to treat inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.381-386
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• 2011

Multi-drug resistance (MDR) has been known as a major hurdle in cancer chemotherapy. One of the most clinically significant causes of MDR was the efflux of anticancer agents mediated by p-glycoprotein (p-gp) over-expressed in MDR cancer cells. To overcome MDR, there have been several strategies such as co-administration with p-gp inhibitors and encapsulation of anticancer drugs into drug delivery systems. In the present study, curcumin was evaluated for its potential as p-gp inhibitor and MDR reversal activity when combined with paclitaxel incorporated into lipid nanoparticles (PTX/LN). Western blot assay showed curcumin did not modulate the level of p-gp expression in MCF-7/ADR which is a MDR variant of human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7, and over-expresses p-gp. However, curcumin inhibited p-gp-mediated efflux of calcein in a dose-dependent manner even though it showed lower activity compared to verapamil, a well-known p-gp inhibitor. Incorporation of paclitaxel into lipid nanoparticles partially recovered the anticancer activity of paclitaxel in MCF-7/ADR. The combined use of curcumin and PTX/LN exhibited further full reversal of MDR, suggesting susceptibility of PTX/LN to the efflux system. In conclusion, combined approach of using p-gp inhibitors and incorporation of the anticancer agents into nano-delivery systems would be an efficient strategy to overcome MDR.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.63-73
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• 1980

Through the classical records of the oriental medicine my investigation of the authorities of the epilepsy by classifying the etiology, symptoms and the treatments of it and camparing them has led to the following conclusion. 1) The etiology of 'epilepsy' can be classified into wind(風), sputum(痰), fever(熱) convulsion and caul. 2) The symptoms of it fall into the following nine ones; Sudden strong contraction making Sounds within the mouth, unoonsciousness, mutual jerks of the facial muscules foaming form the mouth, trismus contractive of extremities general body rigidity recovering after the fit and no rest. 3) The symptoms of Epilepsy are classified into 'Um type epilepsy'(癲) and the 'yang type epilepsy'(癎), and then the former has nine kinds in sympatomatic state and latter seventeen. 4) The treatment of the case can be made by using of cold drugs mainly for the purpose of mind purification(淸心), fever abatement(降火), Sputum-elimination(化痰) and normalization of metabolism(順氣) and Sometimes the function of the liver should be normalized by giving liver function normalizing medicine after Emetics. In comparison with the western way of using Anti convelsents therapy and electricshock therapy, the way of its treatment based on the classification of the causes is considered to be far more desirable.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.225-241
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• 2012

Panax ginseng Meyer has been widely used as a tonic in traditional Korean, Chinese, and Japanese herbal medicines and in Western herbal preparations for thousands of years. In the past, ginseng was very rare and was considered to have mysterious powers. Today, the efficacy of drugs must be tested through well-designed clinical trials or meta-analyses, and ginseng is no exception. In the present review, we discuss the functions of ginseng described in historical documents and describe how these functions are taken into account in herbal prescriptions. We also discuss the findings of experimental pharmacological research on the functions of ginseng in ginseng-containing prescriptions and how these prescriptions have been applied in modern therapeutic interventions. The present review on the functions of ginseng in traditional prescriptions helps to demystify ginseng and, as a result, may contribute to expanding the use of ginseng or ginseng-containing prescriptions.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2010

Objectives & Method : We investigated toxicity, poisoning symptoms, poisoning treatment and prevention against poisoning of mind-tranquilizing herbal medicines(安神藥) in order to use herbal medicines accurately. Result : Cinnabaris(朱砂), Zizyphi Spinosae Semen(酸棗仁), Polygalae Radix(遠志), Ganoderma(靈芝) and Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus(夜交藤) may give rise to some side effects or toxic symptoms in mind-tranquilizing herbal medicines(安神藥). The representative methods of poisoning treatment in western medicines are washing out the stomach, promotion of vomiting, causing diarrhea, supplies of grape sugar and symptomatic treatment, etc. The representative methods of poisoning treatment in oriental medicine take advantage of herbs. And Oriental medical doctor should meet symptoms as patients call for attention. In order to prevent against poisoning of mind-tranquilizing herbal medicines(安神藥), the patients should keep usage, dosage and notes and oriental medical doctors should do processing drugs. Conclusion : We should pay attention to clinical using of Cinnabaris(朱砂), Zizyphi Spinosae Semen(酸棗仁), Polygalae Radix(遠志), Ganoderma(靈芝) and Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus(夜交藤) in mind-tranquilizing herbal medicines(安神藥).

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.930-938
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• 2003

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of Hyunhosaiksan (HHS) on antithrombotic actions which include blood activation, thrombus removal, warming of circulating blood, and the control of pain on abdomen and lower and upper burning spaces. HHS significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and epinephrine in a HHS dose-dependent manner when analyzed by the Sigmoid Emax model in WinNonlin. EC50 values of HHS were 1.71 ㎍/ml and 0.004 ㎍/ml for ADP and epinephrine respectively. In the vivo study, HHS inhibited pulmonary embolism induced by collagen and epinephrine, which was however statistically insignificant. HHS increased number of platelets, APTT and volume of fibrinogen significantly as compared with the control group in dextran-induced thrombus model. Furthermore, HHS stimulated levels of blood flow in vivo though its effect was not observed in vitro. These results suggest that Hyunhosaiksan (HHS) can be used for treating numerous diseases related with blood aggregation and circulation problems. Further systematic investigations on the synergic effects among drugs used in the oriental medicine as well as in the western medicine in relation to thrombosis therapy would provide an important insight into the potential therapeutic applications.