New approach of medicinal herbs and sulfasalazine mixture on ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate.

Background: Sulfasalazine has been used as a standard-of-care in ulcerative colitis for decades, however, it results in severe adverse symptoms, such as hepatotoxicity, blood disorders, male infertility, and hypospermia. Accordingly, the new treatment strategy has to enhance pharmacological efficacy and stimultaneously minimize side effects.

Aim: To compare the anti-inflammatory action of sulfasalazine alone or in combination with herbal medicine for ulcerative colitis in a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis mouse model.

Improvement of Inflammation through Antioxidant Pathway of Gardeniae Fructus 50% EtOH Extract (GE) from Acute Reflux Esophagitis Rats.

Gardeniae Fructus 50% EtOH extract (GE) is a traditional herb that has been used to treat a variety of diseases. In this study, we investigate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties of GE on acute reflux-induced esophagitis (RE) model in rats. 2,2'-Azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assays were performed to determine the antioxidant activity of GE.

Young Persimmon Fruit Extract Suppresses Obesity by Modulating Lipid Metabolism in White Adipose Tissue of Obese Mice.

Young persimmon fruit (YPF) has recently been reported to have a regulatory effect on lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the YPF aqueous extract (YPFE) exert an antiobesity effect by modulating lipid metabolism in the white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese C57BLKS/J mice. YPFE (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight/day) or distilled water as a vehicle was orally administered by gavage to 12-week-old obese male mice for 3 weeks ( = 7 for each group).

Comparative Evaluation between Sulfasalazine Alone and in Combination with Herbal Medicine on DSS-Induced Ulcerative Colitis Mice.

The present study aimed to investigate the comparative evaluation of pharmacological efficacy between sulfasalazine alone and sulfasalazine in combination with herbal medicine on dextran sodium sulfate- (DSS-) induced UC in mice. Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 7 days to induce colitis. Animals were divided into five groups ( = 9): Group I (normal group), Group II (DSS control group), Group III (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg)), Group IV (DSS + sulfasalazine (60 mg/kg)), and Group V (DSS + sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg) + Cinnamomi Cortex and Bupleuri Radix mixture (30 mg/kg) (SCB)).

Anti-apoptotic effect of banhasasim-tang on chronic acid reflux esophagitis.

Aim: To evaluate the anti-apoptotic effect of banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CARE) using a rat model.

Methods: A surgically-induced CARE model was established in Sprague-Dawley rats. The modeled rats were divided into a treatment group or untreated group, and given BHSST (1 g/kg body weight per day) or water, respectively, for 15 consecutive days ( = 7 each group).

Banhasasim-Tang Treatment Reduces the Severity of Esophageal Mucosal Ulcer on Chronic Acid Reflux Esophagitis in Rats.

The present study was conducted to evaluate both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of Banhasasim-tang (BHSST) on chronic acid reflux esophagitis (CRE) model. Rat CRE model was established operatively and then treated with BHSST (1 g/kg body weight per day) for 15 days Esophageal pathological changes were analyzed using macroscopic examination and hematoxylin/eosin staining. The antioxidant and inflammatory protein levels were determined using Western blotting.

Study of Antiobesity Effect through Inhibition of Pancreatic Lipase Activity of Diospyros kaki Fruit and Citrus unshiu Peel.

Pancreatic lipase is the enzyme responsible for digestion and absorption of triglycerides, being its inhibition one of the widest studied methods used to determine the potential activity of natural products to inhibit dietary fat absorption. Decrease of energy intake from dietary fat through inhibition of this enzyme may be an excellent strategy to prevent and treat obesity. The inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase enzyme of Diospyros kaki fruit and Citrus unshiu peel mixture extract (PCM) was evaluated in vitro and its antiobesity effects were studied based on the serum lipid parameters analysis from high-fat diet- (HFD-) fed mice in vivo.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Rhei Rhizoma and Coptidis Rhizoma Mixture on Reflux Esophagitis in Rats.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of the combined extract of Rhei rhizoma and Coptidis rhizoma (RC-mix) in experimental model of acute reflux esophagitis. The antioxidant activity was assessed by in vitro 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. RC-mix was given at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight 2 h prior to induction of reflux esophagitis (RE).

Protective effect of Rhei Rhizoma on reflux esophagitis in rats via Nrf2-mediated inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background: Rhei Rhizoma has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine to treat various inflammatory diseases. The present study was conducted to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity against experimental reflux-induced esophagitis (RE) in SD rats.

Methods: Rhei Rhizoma was administered at 125 or 250 mg/kg body weight per day for 7 days prior to the induction of reflux esophagitis, and its effect was compared with RE control and normal rats.

Single oral dose toxicity study of prebrewed armeniacae semen in rats.

Armeniacae semen (AS) has been considered a toxic herb in the Korean medicine as it contains hydrogen cyanide and amygdalin, especially in its endocarp. Therefore, prebrewed AS that is devoid of endocarp has been traditionally used. In the present study, amygdalin content of the prebrewed AS was significantly lower (2.

Effect of Curculigo orchioides on reflux esophagitis by suppressing proinflammatory cytokines.

This study was performed to investigate effects of Curculigo orchioides rhizome (curculiginis rhizome) on acute reflux esophigitis (RE) in rats that are induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation operation. Proinflammatory cytokine, as well as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were all assayed and the expression of TNF-α and COX2 analyzed by RT-PCR. The esophagic tissue damage of reflux esophagitis rat was increased compared to that of normal intact group.

Effect of β-glucan originated from Aureobasidium pullulans on asthma induced by ovalbumin in mouse.

The objective of this study is to detect the effect of beta-glucan derived from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, a UV induced mutant of A. pullulans on the ovalbumin (OVA) induced allergic asthma. The test articles were orally administered to OVA-inducing asthmatic mice 4 days after sensitization for 13 days at 31.

Effect of Lonicerae Flos extracts on reflux esophagitis with antioxidant activity.

Aim: To observe the effects of traditional antiinflammatory medicine Lonicerae Flos (LF) on rat reflux esophagitis (RE) induced by pylorus and forestomach ligation compared with the well-known proton antioxidant, alpha-tocopherol.

Methods: Rats were pretreated with three different dosages of LF (500, 250 and 125 mg/kg) orally, once a day for 14 d before pylorus and forestomach ligation. Nine hours after pylorus and forestomach ligation, changes to the stomach and esophagus lesion areas, gastric volumes, acid and pepsin outputs, antioxidant effects, esophageal lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase and glutathione (GSH) levels, and collagen contents (marker of flexibility) were observed on the esophageal and fundic histopathology.

The Korean traditional medicine gyeongshingangjeehwan inhibits adipocyte hypertrophy and visceral adipose tissue accumulation by activating PPARalpha actions in rat white adipose tissues.

Aim Of The Study: Gyeongshingangjeehwan (GGEx), which is a polyherbal drug composed of four medicinal plants, has traditionally been used as anti-obesity drug in Korean local clinics. Thus, we investigated the effects of GGEx on visceral adiposity and examined whether adipose peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) activation is involved in this process.

Materials And Methods: After Obese Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with GGEx, we studied the effects of GGEx on not only visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) mass and adipocyte size, but also the expression of adipocyte marker and PPARalpha target genes.

The effect of Panax ginseng on forced immobility time & immune function in mice.

Background & Objectives: Panax ginseng has been used as a traditional medicine for many years mainly among Asian peoples for developing physical strength. We undertook this study to determine the immune-enhancement effect of P. ginseng using a forced swimming test (FST) and by measuring cytokine production in MOLT-4 cell culture and mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Anti-diabetic activity of SMK001, a poly herbal formula in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats: therapeutic study.

The therapeutic anti-diabetic effect of SMK001, a poly herbal formula was evaluated in the streptozotocin (STZ; 60 mg/kg, single intraperitoneal injection) induced diabetic rats. For therapeutic study, test articles were orally dosed once a day from 21 d after STZ-dosing at 100, 200 and 500 mg/kg/5 ml dosage levels for 4 weeks. The body weight changes, blood and urine glucose level changes were monitored with changes on the pancreas weight, and after sacrifice, the histopathological changes of pancreas and the changes of insulin- and glucagon-producing cells were also observed by immunohistochemistry.

Changes of the intestinal endocrine cells in the C57BL/6 mouse after implantation of murine lung carcinoma (3LL): an immunohistochemical quantitative study.

Aim: To study the distributions and frequencies of intestinal endocrine cells in the C57BL/6 mouse with immunohistochemical method using seven types of specific antisera against chromogranin A (CGA), serotonin, somatostatin, glucagons, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8 and human pancreatic polypeptide (hPP) after abdominal subcutaneous implantation of murine lung carcinoma (3LL).

Methods: The experimental animals were divided into two groups, one is non-implanted Sham and the other is 3LL-implanted group. Samples were collected from six regions of intestinal tract at 28(th) d after implantation of 3LL cells (1X10(5) cell/mouse).

Effect of Mornidae Radix extracts on experimental osteoporosis in sciatic neurectomized mice.

The preventive and therapeutic effects of aqueous extracts of Mornidae Radix (MR) were observed in sciatic neurectomized mice, a disused osteoporotic model. The right hind limbs of 80 mice were neurectomized and 20 mice were sham-operated and served as a sham control. Then 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of MR extracts were dosed 3 days after neurectomy for 6 weeks in the prevention study and were dosed 2 weeks after neurectomy for 12 weeks for the therapeutic study.

Changes of the gastric endocrine cells in the C57BL/6 mouse after implantation of murine lung carcinoma: an immunohistochemical quantitative study.

Aim: The regional distributions and relative frequencies of some gastric endocrine cells of C57BL/6 mice were studied by immunohistochemical method using seven types of specific antisera against chromogranin A (CGA), serotonin, somatostatin, gastrin, cholecystokinin (CCK)-8, glucagon and human pancreatic polypeptide (HPP) after subcutaneous implantation of murine lung carcinoma (3LL) cells.

Methods: The experimental animals were divided into two groups, one is non-implanted sham and the other is 3LL-implanted group. Samples were collected from the two regions of stomach (fundus and pylorus) at 28 d after implantation of 3LL cells (1 x 10(5) cell/mouse).

Biodegradation of the organochlorine insecticide, endosulfan, and the toxic metabolite, endosulfan sulfate, by Klebsiella oxytoca KE-8.

Biodegradation of endosulfan, a chlorinated cyclodiene insecticide, is generally accompanied by production of the more toxic and more persistent metabolite, endosulfan sulfate. Since our reported endosulfan degrader, Klebsiella pneumoniae KE-1, failed to degrade endosulfan sulfate, we tried to isolate an endosulfan sulfate degrader from endosulfan-polluted soils. Through repetitive enrichment and successive subculture using mineral salt medium containing endosulfan or endosulfan sulfate as the sole source of carbon and energy, we isolated a bacterium capable of degrading endosulfan sulfate as well as endosulfan.