• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.704-716
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• 2020

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is a characterized component in red ginseng widely used in Korea and China. GRh2 exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. However, its effects on Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection have not been clarified yet. Methods: The effect of GRh2 against T. gondii was assessed under in vitro and in vivo experiments. The BV2 cells were infected with tachyzoites of T. gondii RH strain, and the effects of GRh2 were evaluated by MTT assay, morphological observations, immunofluorescence staining, a trypan blue exclusion assay, reverse transcription PCR, and Western blot analyses. The in vivo experiment was conducted with BALB/c mice inoculated with lethal amounts of tachyzoites with or without GRh2 treatment. Results and conclusion: The GRh2 treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation of T. gondii under in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, GRh2 blocked the activation of microglia and specifically decreased the release of inflammatory mediators in response to T. gondii infection through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. In mice, GRh2 conferred modest protection from a lethal dose of T. gondii. After the treatment, the proliferation of tachyzoites in the peritoneal cavity of infected mice markedly decreased. Moreover, GRh2 also significantly decreased the T. gondii burden in mouse brain tissues. These findings indicate that GRh2 exhibits an antieT. gondii effect and inhibits the microglial activation through TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, providing the basic pharmacological basis for the development of new drugs to treat toxoplasmic encephalitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.442-450
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• 2009

Piperine is an alkaloid-amine found in pepper and has been reported to have anticarcinogenic properties. To explore the possibility that piperine has cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer, we examined whether piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 human colon cancer cells and investigated the mechanisms for this effect. Cells were cultured with various concentrations ($0{\sim}40{\mu}M$) of piperine. Piperine decreased the cell viability and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells. Western blot analysis of total cell lysates revealed that piperine decreases the protein levels of Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and intact Bid but increases Bik levels. Piperine increased the percentage of cells with depolarized mitochondrial membrane, and the release of cytochrome c into cytoplasm. Piperine induced the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and caspases 8, 9, 7, and 3 and increased the Fas levels. In addition, piperine significantly decreased the protein levels of survivin. The present results indicate that piperine inhibits the growth of HT-29 colon cancer cells by the induction of apoptosis, which may be mediated by its ability to change the Bcl-2 family proteins, increase the activation of caspases, and decrease survivin levels. Overall, our findings suggest that piperine has cancer chemotherapeutic effects in colon cancer.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-64
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• 2009

Objective : This research was aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effect, safety, mechanism and metabolizing enzyme of Agrimonia pilosa LEDEB(APL) in female C57B/L mouse. Methods : At first, to evaluate the anti-tumor activity of APL, we divided into four groups, normal, control, APL100(100mg/kg), APL150(150mg/kg). LLC obtained American Type Culture Collection was used. LLC had been inoculated to induce tumor. To measure the anti-tumor effect of APL, we calibrate tumor size and weight. To study for mechanism of anti-tumor in APL, we used western blotting and to know metabolizing enzyme in APL we used to real-time PCR. Results : APL100, APL150 inhibited tumor growth after medicine injected. APL did not only induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in LLC-bearing mouse tumor. In APL100, it were decreased 72% in CYP3A11. In APL150, it were decreased 62%, 75% in CYP3A11 and MRP1a respectively. Conclusion : These results suggests that APL has some anti-tumor effects in female C57B/L mouse tumor. APL should be careful use with other drugs related with CYP3A11 or MRP1a.

• Journal of the Korea Computer Industry Society
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.477-493
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• 2005

The cause of the eating disordered diet, which is a main topic of this study, has not been identified clearly, however, has been affected by an emphasis of western norm of a beauty - being tall and skinny - since the eighties. Another reason would be his/her lack of self-confidence and willingness to resolve his/her unsatisfied mental problem. There are two different of eating disordered diets; anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa. firstly, a patient of anorexia nervosa which is characterized by the loss in weight, tends to either deny meals, due to his/her desire to be skinny and a fear of gaining the weight. Secondly, a patient of bulimia nervosa eats much more food than an ordinary person does in around two hours and then removes them by doing vomiting with drugs. obesity is defined as overweight by $20\%$ and more than normal weight. In this case, body mass index(BMI) defined by the ratio of the weight(kg) to the height(m') is used. BMI = Weight(kg) / Height(m) In this paper, a list of questioneire for an adolescent to self-diagnosis the possibility of his/her eating disorder diet is identified and then a multi-media system which incorporates the list is designed and implemented with ASP language as a server language on a local host.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.738-749
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• 2022

Background: Ginseng possesses antitumor effects, and ginsenosides are considered to be one of its main active chemical components. Ginsenosides can further be hydrolyzed to generate secondary saponins, and 20(R)-panaxotriol is an important sapogenin of ginsenosides. We aimed to synthesize a new ginsengenin derivative from 20(R)-panaxotriol and investigate its antitumor activity in vivo and in vitro. Methods: Here, 20(R)-panaxotriol was selected as a precursor and was modified into its derivatives. The new products were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR and HR-MS and evaluated by molecular docking, MTT, luciferase reporter assay, western blotting, immunofluorescent staining, colony formation assay, EdU labeling and immunofluorescence, apoptosis assay, cells migration assay, transwell assay and in vivo antitumor activity assay. Results: The derivative with the best antitumor activity was identified as 6,12-dihydroxy-4,4,8,10,14-pentamethyl-17-(2,6,6-trimethyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)hexadecahydro-1H-cyclopenta[a]phenanthren-3-yl(tert-butoxycarbonyl)glycinate (A11). The focus of this research was on the antitumor activity of the derivatives. The efficacy of the derivative A11 (IC₅₀ < 0.3 µM) was more than 100 times higher than that of 20(R)- panaxotriol (IC₅₀ > 30 µM). In addition, A11 inhibited the protein expression and nuclear accumulation of the hypoxia-inducible factor HIF-1α in HeLa cells under hypoxic conditions in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, A11 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HeLa cells, while promoting their apoptosis. Notably, the inhibition by A11 was more significant than that by 20(R)-panaxotriol (p < 0.01) in vivo. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the production of derivative A11 from 20(R)-panaxotriol and its superior antitumor activity compared to its precursor. Moreover, derivative A11 can be used to further study and develop novel antitumor drugs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.541-556
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• 2022

Myocardial fibrosis is a key link in the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Its etiology is complex, and the effect of drugs is not good. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis is an important cause of myocardial fibrosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of gaseous signal molecule sulfur dioxide (SO₂) on diabetic myocardial fibrosis and its internal regulatory mechanism. Masson and TUNEL staining, Western-blot, transmission electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, immunofluorescence staining, and flow cytometry were used in the study, and the interstitial collagen deposition, autophagy, apoptosis, and changes in phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT pathways were evaluated from in vivo and in vitro experiments. The results showed that diabetic myocardial fibrosis was accompanied by cardiomyocyte apoptosis and down-regulation of endogenous SO₂-producing enzyme aspartate aminotransferase (AAT)_1/2. However, exogenous SO₂ donors could up-regulate AAT_1/2, reduce apoptosis of cardiomyocytes induced by diabetic rats or high glucose, inhibit phosphorylation of PI3K/AKT protein, up-regulate autophagy, and reduce interstitial collagen deposition. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that the gaseous signal molecule SO₂ can inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway to promote cytoprotective autophagy and inhibit cardiomyocyte apoptosis to improve myocardial fibrosis in diabetic rats. The results of this study are expected to provide new targets and intervention strategies for the prevention and treatment of diabetic cardiomyopathy.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-138
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• 2022

Objectives This study was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the chuna combination treatment for patients who complain of functional impairment and pain even 3 months after total knee arthroplasty. Methods 24 patients who had 3 months of surgery and who had knee joint pain with a score of 4 or higher on the numerical rating scale (NRS) for more than a week were selected as subjects. The test group received usual care and Chuna treatment and the control group received the administration of drugs as usual care. And then the clinical efficacy and safety were compared and evaluated. Follow-up was performed 1 month after the end of treatment. Results As a result of the analysis, it was confirmed that the primary parameter Korean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (K-WOMAC) showed statistical significance in the amount of change in visit 2-visit 10 (V2-V10) in the pain domain and in the amount of change in visit 2-follow 1 (V2-FU1) in the functional domain and total score domain. The secondary parameter (NRS, risk of fall, and range of motion) showed a tendency to decrease in the degree of discomfort, but statistical significance could not be confirmed. Conclusions Because this study did not have enough study subjects, it is difficult to use the results as confirmatory evidence. However, it was confirmed that the 4-week Chuna treatment had a significant effect and safety in patients who underwent total knee arthroplasty. Therefore, this study is meaningful as a prior research data to prepare confirmatory evidence in the future.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.131-137
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• 2012

Objectives : Cyclooxygenase (COX) plays a central role in the inflammatory cascade by converting arachidonic acid into prostaglandin. COX-2 is typically induced by inflammatory stimuli in the majority of tissues, it is responsible for propagating the inflammatory response and thus, considered as the best target for anti-inflammatory drugs. The present study investigated the modulatory effect of ginsenoside Rg3, a principle active ingredient in Panax ginseng, on COX-2 expression in the brain tissue induced by systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment in C57BL/6 mice. Methods : Because systemic LPS treatment induces COX-2 expression immediately in the brain, ginsenoside Rg3 was treated orally with doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg at 1 hour before the LPS (3 mg/kg, i.p.) injection. At 4 hours after the LPS injection, COX-2 mRNA was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction method, COX-2 protein levels were measured by Western blotting. In addition, COX-2 expressions in brain tissue were observed with immunohistochemistry and double immunofluoresence labeling. Results : Ginsenoside Rg3 (20 and 30 mg/kg) significantly attenuates up-regulation of COX-2 mRNA and protein expression in brain tissue at 4 hours after the LPS injection. Moreover, ginsenoside Rg3 (20 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of COX-2 positive neurons in the cerebral cortex and amygdala. Conclusion : These results indicate that ginsenoside Rg3 plays a modulatory role in neuroinflammation through the inhibition of COX-2 expression in the brain and suggest that ginsenoside Rg3 and ginseng may be effective on neurodegenerative diseases caused by neuroinflammation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.181-186
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• 2022

Atractylodes macrocephala (AM) and Amomum villosum (AV) are the most common herbs in Korean Medicine to treat digestive diseases. In this study, we investigated the cholesterol lowering effects of mixtures of AM and AV extracts on high cholesterol diet (HCD) induced dyslipidemia mouse model. We classified animals into six different groups; Group 1: Normal diet, Group 2: HCD, Group 3: AV extracts : AM extracts (1:1) (200 mg/kg) + HCD, Group 4: AV extracts : AM extracts (1:2) (200 mg/kg) + HCD, Group 5: AV extracts : AM extracts (1:3) (200 mg/kg) + HCD, Group 6: Simvastatin 40 mg/kg + HCD. After 4 weeks of oral administration of respective drugs, we checked body, liver and epididymal fatweights along with liver and serum triacylglyceride (TG) concentration, total and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in serum. Moreover, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGCR), LDL receptor (LDLR), and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) were detected by RT PCR or western blot analysis. The overall results showed that mixtures of AM and AV extracts inhibited HCD-induced increases of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in serum. Those effects seem to be caused by AM and AV extracts through inhibition of HMGCR expression. And thus blood cholesterol is induced into the liver by increasing LDLR expression, which is regulated by SREBP2 transcrption factor. The cholesterol lowering effects and mechanism of mixtures of AM and AV extracts was similar to the statin. We have identified the potential mixtures of AM and AV extracts as a new treatment for dyslipidemia.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.231-243
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• 2023

Background: Diabetic polyneuropathy is the most common complication in diabetics, occurring in 50% of all cases. About 10-20% of all diabetics are accompanied by neurological pain, showing a tendency to increase with age. Clinical aspects are very diverse, from mild abnormalities on nerve conduction tests to severe abnormalities in all sensory, motor, and autonomic nerves; however, sensory symptoms usually precede motor symptoms. Patients typically express sensory symptoms, such as positive and negative symptoms, which decrease the quality of life and have marked clinical implications, such as increased morbidity and mortality. Although Western medical drugs, such as tricyclic antidepressants, anticonvulsants, and narcotic analgesics, are used for diabetic polyneuropathy, a standard treatment has not been established. Case report: A 65-year-old male with paresthesia and pain due to diabetic polyneuropathy was treated with Uchashinki-hwan, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, and Jungsongouhyul pharmacopuncture for 10 days. We used the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Scoring System, EuroQol-5 Dimension, and Visual Analog Scale to evaluate symptoms. Subsequently, the Neuropathy Scoring System, EuroQol-5 Dimension, and subjective discomfort improved. Conclusion: The present case report suggests that combined Korean medicine treatment might be an effective treatment for paresthesia and pain with diabetic polyneuropathy. Several follow-up studies should be conducted to clarify the effectiveness of the treatment.