Pinus koraiensis needle or cone extracts alleviate atopic dermatitis symptoms by regulating immunity and suppressing inflammation in HaCaT cells and Nc/Nga mice.

Pinus koraiensis needles (PKN) and cones (PKC) have been shown to protect against inflammation and pathogenic bacteria. We investigated the efficacies and action mechanisms of topical applications of 1,3-butylene glycol (BG) extracts and oral administration of their water extracts on atopic dermatitis (AD) symptoms. After exposing HaCaT cells and Nc/Nga mice dorsal skins to 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) to induce atopic dermatitis models, they were topically applied BG (AD-control), 30% PKNX, or 30% PKCX to the skin lesions and fed water extracts (0.

Protected against Memory Dysfunction by Elevating Hippocampal Amyloid-β Deposition through Potentiating Insulin Signaling and Altering Gut Microbiome Composition.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease. Herbal medicine may provide efficacious treatments for its prevention and/or cure. This study investigated whether a 70% ethanol extract of Kuntze (TTK; New Zealand spinach) improved the memory deficit by reducing hippocampal amyloid-β deposition and modulating the gut microbiota in rats with amyloid-β(25-35) infused into the hippocampus (AD rats) in an AD animal model.

Moderate intake of aspartame and sucralose with meals, but not fructose, does not exacerbate energy and glucose metabolism in estrogen-deficient rats.

Both nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners may influence energy and glucose metabolism differently. The hypothesis that sucrose, fructose, aspartame, and sucralose intake differently modulate energy and glucose metabolism was tested in an estrogen-deficient animal model. At 30 min after giving aspartame and sucralose (10 mg/kg body weight), an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was conducted with glucose, sucrose, and fructose in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Ameliorating effects of Cuscuta chinensis Lamak extract on hind‑limb ischemia, and angiogenic‑ or inflammatory associated factors in ovariectomized mice.

Cuscuta chinensis Lamak (CCL) has traditionally been used in Korea to treat sexual disorders and skin problems. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CCL extract on surgical injury‑induced ischemia in the hind limbs of mice. Specifically, female C57BL/6 mice were ovariectomized, and their hind‑limb vessels were ligated with surgical silk (6‑0) and excised.

Ojayeonjonghwan, an oriental medicine composed of five seeds, protects against vasomotor and neurological disorders in estrogen-deficient rats.

Menopausal symptoms impair the quality of life of many women, and although conventional treatments are often effective, their use is limited by adverse effects. Ojayeonjonghwan, OJa, is a traditional Oriental medicine that is used for both male and female reproductive health and has a long history of safe use. We evaluated the effectiveness of two variations of OJa (OJa1 and OJa2) for treating menopausal symptoms in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Equol Decreases Hot Flashes in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Soy isoflavones may benefit some, but not all, menopausal women, and the ability of the women to produce equol may be the major determinant of effectiveness. We assessed the efficacy of soy isoflavones and equol for alleviating menopausal symptoms, especially vasomotor symptoms, in postmenopausal women who were equol producers and nonproducers by using systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials (RCTs). We searched 12 English, Korean, and Chinese language scientific and medical databases.

Efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction for normalizing hyperglycemia in diabetic patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Objectives: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Gegen Qinlian decoction (GQD) for normalizing hyperglycemia in T2DM patients by pooling all available RCTs.

Methods: All relevant RCTs were searched using the keywords: "GQD", "T2DM", "hyperglycemia" and "insulin" from the electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Korean databases, Chinese medical databases, and Indian scientific database. Each RCT included the control (metformin) and experimental (GQD+metformin) groups.

Association of β3-adrenergic receptor rs4994 polymorphisms with the risk of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Aim: The association of ADRB3 polymorphism with the risk of T2DM remains unclear perhaps due to different ethnicities and small study sizes. We systemically evaluated the association of β3-adrenergic receptor(ADRB3)rs4994 and type 2 diabetes(T2DM) by pooling all of the case-control studies reported, and also elucidated the association according to the ethnicity and obesity of the subjects.

Methods: A literature search was conducted using PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Korean scientific database, Chinese medical databases, and the Indian medical database to identify eligible studies for determining the association of ADRB3 rs4994 and T2DM risk.

Effects of Herbal Medicine (Gan Mai Da Zao Decoction) on Several Types of Neuropsychiatric Disorders in an Animal Model: A Systematic Review: Herbal medicine for animal studies of neuropsychiatric diseases.

Objectives: Gan Mai Da Zao (GMDZ) decoction is widely used for the treatment of various diseases of the internal organ and of the central nervous system. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of GMDZ decoction on neuropsychiatric disorders in an animal model.

Methods: We searched seven databases for randomized animal studies published until April 2015: Pubmed, four Korean databases (DBpia, Oriental Medicine Advanced Searching Integrated System, Korean Studies Information Service System, and Research Information Sharing Service), and one Chinese database (China National Knowledge Infrastructure).

Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze protects estrogen-deficient rats against disturbances of energy and glucose metabolism and decreases proinflammatory cytokines.

Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze (TTK) and JakYakGamCho-Tang (JGT) have been used for improving women's health and treating inflammatory diseases. We determined that the long-term consumption of these herbal extracts alleviates the progression of postmenopausal symptoms in high-fat-diet fed ovariectomized (OVX) rats, and further explored the mechanisms involved.

A 70% Ethanol Extract of Mistletoe Rich in Betulin, Betulinic Acid, and Oleanolic Acid Potentiated β-Cell Function and Mass and Enhanced Hepatic Insulin Sensitivity.

We investigated that the long-term consumption of the water (KME-W) and 70% ethanol (KME-E) mistletoe extracts had antidiabetic activities in partial pancreatectomized (Px) rats. Px rats were provided with a high-fat diet containing 0.6% KME-E, 0.

In vitro and in vivo effects of ethanol extract combined with Curcumae Radix and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma on menopausal metabolic disturbances.

Curcumae Radix (CR) and Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma (GR) extracts have been used as health supplements in traditional medicine. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of combined CR and GR extracts (CR+GR) on metabolic complications related menopausal symptoms. We found a significant results that CR+GR extracted using ethanol stimulated the growth of MCF-7 cells in estrogen activity and was attenuated in lipid deposition of HepG2 cells treated with MβCD compared to CR and GR treatments each.

Supplementing with Opuntia ficus-indica Mill and Dioscorea nipponica Makino extracts synergistically attenuates menopausal symptoms in estrogen-deficient rats.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Prickly pear cactus grown in Korea (Opuntia ficus-indica Mill, KC) and Buchema (Dioscorea nipponica Makino, B) have been traditionally used in East Asia and South America to treat various metabolic diseases. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the extracts of KC, B, and KC+B can prevent the impairments of energy, glucose, lipid and bone homeostasis in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) rats and to explore their mechanisms.

Materials And Methods: OVX rats were divided into 4 groups and fed high fat diets supplemented with either 3% dextrin (control), 3% KC, 3% B or 1.

Prunus mume and Lithospermum erythrorhizon Extracts Synergistically Prevent Visceral Adiposity by Improving Energy Metabolism through Potentiating Hypothalamic Leptin and Insulin Signalling in Ovariectomized Rats.

We investigated the antiobesity and hypoglycemic properties of Prunus mume Sieb. et Zucc (PMA; Japanese apricot) and Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc (LES; gromwell) extracts in ovariectomized (OVX) rats that impaired energy and glucose homeostasis.

Wnt-signaling-mediated antiosteoporotic activity of porcine placenta hydrolysates in ovariectomized rats.

Anti-osteoporotic effects of two types of porcine placenta hydrolysates (PPH) were evaluated in ovariectomized (OVX) rats orally administered PPH without (WPPH) or with (NPPH) ovarian hormones (1 g/kg bw/day). PPH groups were compared with OVX rats with estrogen replacement (0.1 mg/kg bw conjugated estrogen; EST), or dextrose (placebo; OVX-control) All rats received high-fat/calcium-deficient diets for 12 weeks.

Changes in components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid, in raw Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, modify insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic actions.

We hypothesized that roasted Glycyrrhizae Radix (Glycyrrhizin Radix Praeparata, GRP) might modify anti-diabetic action due to compositional changes. Then we examined the anti-diabetic effect and mechanism of raw Glycyrrhizae Radix (GR) and GRP extracts and their major respective components, glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid. In partial pancreatectomized (Px) diabetic mice, both GR and GRP improved glucose tolerance, but only GRP enhanced glucose-stimulated insulin secretion as much as exendin-4.

Effects of okchun-san, a herbal formulation, on blood glucose levels and body weight in a model of Type 2 diabetes.

The effective control of blood glucose is the key to preventing or reversing diabetic complications. In this study, we examined the effects of Okchun-San (OCS), a Korean herbal medicine formula, on the blood glucose levels in diabetic C57BL/KsJ db/db mice. Herbal medicines were prepared from dried herbs by adding Coicis semen (OCS-C) or Oryzae semen (OCS-O).

Insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic action of berberine from Cortidis rhizoma.

Our preliminary study demonstrated that 70% ethanol Cortidis Rhizoma extracts (CR) had a hypoglycemic action in diabetic animal models. We determined whether CR fractions acted as anti-diabetic agent, and a subsequent investigation of the action mechanism of the major compound, berberine ([C(20)H(18)NO(4)](+)), was carried out in vitro. The 20, 40 and 60% methanol fractions from the XAD-4 column contained the most insulin sensitizing activities in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.