| Articles
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| 1 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
anti-coagulants, bee venom, chromatography, LD50 |
| Author(s) |
Hossein Zolfagharian, Mohammad Mohajeri, Mahdi Babaie |
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Abstract |
Objectives: Bee venom (BV) is a complex mixture of
proteins and contains proteins such as phospholipase
and melittin, which have an effect on blood clotting
and blood clots. The mechanism of action of honey bee
venom (HBV, Apis mellifera) on human plasma proteins
and its anti-thrombotic effect were studied. The purpose
of this study was to investigate the anti-coagulation
effect of BV and its effects on blood coagulation and
purification.
Methods: Crude venom obtained from Apis mellifera
was selected. The anti-coagulation factor of the crude
venom from this species was purified by using gel filtration
chromatography (sephadex G-50), and the molecular
weights of the anti-coagulants in this venom estimated
by using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel
electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Blood samples were obtained
from 10 rabbits, and the prothrombin time (PT)
and the partial thromboplastin time (PTT) tests were
conducted. The approximate lethal dose (LD) values of
BV were determined.
Results: Crude BV increased the blood clotting time.
For BV concentrations from 1 to 4 mg/mL, clotting was
not observed even at more than 300 seconds, standard deviations (SDs) = ± 0.71; however, clotting was observed
in the control group 13.8 s, SDs = ± 0.52. Thus,
BV can be considered as containing anti-coagulation
factors. Crude BV is composed 4 protein bands with
molecular weights of 3, 15, 20 and 41 kilodalton (kDa),
respectively. The LD50 of the crude BV was found to be
177.8 μg/mouse.
Conclusion: BV contains anti-coagulation factors. The
fraction extracted from the Iranian bees contains proteins
that are similar to anti-coagulation proteins, such
as phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and melittin, and that can
increase the blood clotting times in vitro. |
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| 2 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
blood glucose, diabetes, dyslipidemia, oral glucose tolerance, oxidative stress |
| Author(s) |
Padmaja Chaturvedi, Tebogo Elvis Kwape |
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Abstract |
Objectives: This study was done out to evaluate the
effects of Sida rhombifolia methanol extract (SRM) on
diabetes in moderately diabetic (MD) and severely diabetic
(SD) Sprague-Dawley rats.
Methods: SRM was prepared by soaking the powdered
plant material in 70% methanol and rota evaporating
the methanol from the extract. Effective hypoglycemic
doses were established by performing oral glucose tolerance
tests (OGTTs) in normal rats. Hourly effects of
SRM on glucose were observed in the MD and the SD
rats. Rats were grouped, five rats to a group, into normal
control 1 (NC1), MD control 1 (MDC1), MD experimental
1 (MDE1), SD control 1 (SDC1), and SD experimental
1 (SDE1) groups. All rats in the control groups were
administered 1 mL of distilled water (DW). The rats in
the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups were administered SRM
orally at 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight (BW), respectively,
dissolved in 1 mL of DW. Blood was collected initially
and at intervals of 1 hour for 6 hours to measure
blood glucose. A similar experimental design was followed
for the 30-day long-term trial. Finally, rats were
sacrificed, and blood was collected to measure blood
glucose, lipid profiles, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances
(TBARS) and reduced glutathione (GSH).
Results: OGTTs indicated that two doses (200 and
300 mg/kg BW) were effective hypoglycemic doses in
normal rats. Both doses reduced glucose levels after 1
hour in the MDE1 and the SDE1 groups. A long-term
trial of SRM in the MD group showed a reduced glucose
level, a normal lipid profile, and normal GSH and
TBARS levels. In SD rats, SRM had no statistically significant
effects on these parameters. Normal weight
was achieved in the MD rats, but the SD rats showed
reduced BW.
Conclusion: The study demonstrates that SRM has potential
to alleviate the conditions of moderate diabetic,
but not severe diabetes. |
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| 3 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
alopecia, anagen, hair follicle, thread-embedding therapy |
| Author(s) |
Hyun Jong Shin, Dong-Jin Lee, Kang Kwon, Ji-Yeon Lee, Ki-Tae Ha, Chang- Hyun Lee, Yong-Suk Jang, Byung-Wook Lee, Byung Joo Kim, Myeong-Ho Jung, Hyung-Sik Seo, Han-Sol Jeong |
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Abstract |
Objectives: Recently, thread-embedding therapy (TET)
has been widely applied in Korean medicine for cosmetic
purposes such as reducing skin wrinkles. An inserted
thread was reported to have induced continuous
stimulation, followed by support for connective tissue
regeneration. However, the potential role of TET in hairgrowth
has not yet been reported.
Methods: We designed this study to evaluate whether
TET has a hair-growth-promoting effect. C57 black 6
(C57BL/6) mice were divided into three groups: normal
saline-treated, minoxidil-treated, and thread-embedded
groups. Normal saline or 5% minoxidil was topically
sprayed on the dorsal skin of the mice once a day for 16
days. Medical threads were embedded into the dorsal
skin of the mice in a single application. Hair growth activity
was evaluated by using dermoscopic and microscopic
observations. Sections of the dorsal skin were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Expressions of
bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), proliferating cell nuclear
antigen (PCNA), fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF-7),
and fibroblast growth factor-5 (FGF-5) were detected
by using immunohistochemical staining. A reverse
transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)
analysis was adopted to measure the messenger RNA
(mRNA) expressions of FGF-7 and FGF-5.
Results: TET enhanced anagen development in the
hair follicles of C57BL/6 mice. The expressions of BrdU
and PCNA, both of which imply active cellular proliferation,
were increased by using TET. Moreover, TET
increased the expression of FGF-7, an anagen-inducing
growth factor, while decreasing the expression of
FGF-5, an anagen-cessation growth factor, both at the
protein and the mRNA levels.
Conclusion: TET enhanced hair re-growth in C57BL/6
mice. TET regulated the expressions of anagen-associated
growth factors and activated the proliferation of
hair follicular cells in depilated skin lesions. Considering
its long-lasting effect, TET may be a good alternative
therapeutic for the treatment of alopecia. |
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| 4 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
acupuncture evaluation, chronic pelvic pain, myofascial abdominal syndrome, trigger points |
| Author(s) |
Andréia Mitidieri, Maria Beatriz Gurian, Ana Paula Silva, Kalil Tawasha, Omero Poli-Neto, Antônio Nogueira, Francisco Reis, Júlio Rosa-e-Silva |
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Abstract |
Objectives: This study used semiology based on traditional
Chinese medicine (TCM) to investigate vital energy
(Qi) behavior in women with abdominal myofascial
pain syndrome (AMPS).
Methods: Fifty women diagnosed with chronic pelvic
pain (CPP) secondary to AMPS were evaluated by using
a questionnaire based on the theories of “yin-yang,”
“zang-fu”, and “five elements”. We assessed the following
aspects of the illness: symptomatology; specific location
of myofascial trigger points (MTrPs); onset, cause, duration
and frequency of symptoms; and patient and family
history. The patients tongues, lips, skin colors, and tones
of speech were examined. Patients were questioned on
various aspects related to breathing, sweating, sleep
quality, emotions, and preferences related to color, food,
flavors, and weather or seasons. Thirst, gastrointestinal
dysfunction, excreta (feces and urine), menstrual cycle,
the five senses, and characteristic pain symptoms related
to headache, musculoskeletal pain, abdomen, and
chest were also investigated.
Results: Patients were between 22 and 56 years old,
and most were married (78%), possessed a elementary
school (66%), and had one or two children (76%). The
mean body mass index and body fat were 26.86 kg/cm2
(range: 17.7 — 39.0) and 32.4% (range: 10.7 — 45.7), respectively. A large majority of women (96%) exhibited
alterations in the kidney meridian, and 98% had
an altered gallbladder meridian. We observed major
changes in the kidney and the gallbladder Qi meridians
in 76% and 62% of patients, respectively. Five of the
twelve meridians analyzed exhibited Qi patterns similar
to pelvic innervation Qi and meridians, indicating
that the paths of some of these meridians were directly
related to innervation of the pelvic floor and abdominal
region.
Conclusion: The women in this study showed changes
in the behavior of the energy meridians, and the paths
of some of the meridians were directly related to innervation
of the pelvic floor and abdominal region. |
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| 5 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
body mass index, Braverman nature assessment, QSCC II, Sasang constitutional medicine |
| Author(s) |
Soojin Lee, Jun-Sang Yu, Siwoo Lee |
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Abstract |
Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate
the psychological characteristics of the Sasang constitutions
by using Braverman nature assessment (BNA).
Methods: One hundred seventy-four students participated
in this study, and among them, the 142 individuals
who had clearly identified Sasang constitutional
types were used for the analysis. Sasang constitutions
and the Braverman temperaments of the subjects were
determined by using a questionnaire for the Sasang
constitution classification (QSCC) II and BNA, respectively.
Body mass index (BMI) was used to compare the
inclinations of the Sasang constitutions and Braverman
temperament types.
Results: Significant differences in Braverman temperament
type existed among the Sasang constitutions (P
= 0.042), and the relations between Soyangin and the
dopamine type and between Taeeumin and the gamma-
aminobutyric acid (GABA) type were meaningful.
Significant differences were also shown in the comparison
with the Yin and the Yang constitutions (P = 0.017), and the post-hoc analysis showed a strong and
significant relation between the Yang constitution and
the dopamine type and between the Yin constitution
and the GABA type. The one–way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) and the independent t-test were conducted
to examine the BMI and the degree of obesity among
the Sasang constitutions and the Braverman temperament
types. Concerning the BMI, Taeeumin showed a
bigger BMI than the other constitutions (P < 0.001), but
no significant differences in the BMI were observed
between the Braverman temperament types.
Conclusion: Soyangin has a close relationship to the
dopamine type and Taeeumin has a close relationship
to the GABA type. The correlation between two types
were more clear when the Yin and the Yang types were
compared to Braverman temperaments. These results
may serve as a basis for identifying the psychological
traits of Sasang constitutional types, especially in regard
to the characteristics related to the four Braverman
temperament types. |
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| 6 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
aqua acupuncture, herbal acupuncture, intravenous toxicity, radix ginseng |
| Author(s) |
Jun-Sang Yu, Seung-Ho Sun, Kwang-Ho Lee, Ki-Rok Kwon |
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Abstract |
Objectives: Radix Ginseng has been used for thousands
of years to treat a wide variety of diseases. Radix ginseng
has also been used as a traditional medicine for boosting
Qi energy and tonifying the spleen and lungs. Traditionally,
its effect could be obtained orally. Nowadays, a
new method, the injection of herbal medicine, is being
used. This study was performed to investigate the single-
dose intravenous toxicity of water-soluble ginseng
pharmacopuncture (WSGP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD)
rats.
Methods: All experiments were carried out at Biotoxtech,
an institute authorized to perform non-clinical
studies under the regulation of Good Laboratory Practice
(GLP). At the age of six weeks, 40 SD rats, 20 male rats
and 20 female rats, were allocated into one of 4 groups
according to the dosages they would receive. The WSGP
was prepared in the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute
under the regulation of Korea-Good Manufacturing
Practice (K-GMP). Dosages of WSGP were 0.1, 0.5 and
1.0 mL/animal for the experimental groups, and normal
saline was administered to the control group. The rat's
general conditions and body weights, the results of their hematological and biochemistry tests, and their necropsy
and histopathological findings were investigated
to identify the toxicological effect of WSGP injected intravenously.
The effect was examined for 14 days after
the WSGP injection. This study was performed under
the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee
of Biotoxtech.
Results: No deaths were found in this single-dose toxicity
test on the intravenous injection of WSGP, and no
significant changes in the rat's general conditions and
body weights, the results on their hematological and
biochemistry test, and their necropsy findings were
observed during the test. The local area of the injection
site showed minial change. The lethal dose was
assumed to be over 1.0 mL/animal in both sexes.
Conclusion: These results indicate that WSGP is safe
at dosages up to 1 mL/animal. |
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| 7 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
four week repeated toxicity test, gami jakyak gamcho buja decoction (mecasin), herbal medicine, sprague-dawley rat |
| Author(s) |
Eunhye Cha, Jongchul Lee, Seongjin Lee, Manyong Park, Inja Song, Ilhong Son, Bong-Keun Song, Dongwoung Kim, Jongdeok Lee, Sungchul Kim |
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Abstract |
Objectives: In this study, we investigated the 4-week
repeated-dose oral toxicity of gami-jakyak gamcho buja
decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments.
Methods: In order to investigate the 4-week oral toxicity
of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats.
Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups
of five male and five female animals per group: group 1
being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the
experimental groups. Doses of Mecasin of 500, 1,000,
and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight were administered to
the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline
solution of 10 mL/kg was administered to the control
group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical
signs, and gross findings for four weeks. This study was
conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal
Ethics Committee.
Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups.
No significant changes in weights or food consumption
between the control group and the experimental
groups were observed. Serum biochemistry revealed
that some groups showed significant decrease in inorganic
phosphorus (IP) (P < 0.05). During necropsy
on the rats, one abnormal macroscopic feature, a slight
loss of fur, was observed in the mid dosage (1,000 mg/
kg) male group. No abnormalities were observed in
any other rats. In histopathological findings, the tubular
basophilia and cast of the kidney and extramedullary
hematopoiesis of the spleen were found. However,
those changes were minimal and had occurred naturally
or sporadically. No other organ abnormalities
were observed.
Conclusion: During this 4-week, repeated, oral toxicity
test of Mecasin in SD rats, no toxicity changes due
to Mecasin were observed in any of the male or the female
rats in the high dosage group. Thus, we suggest
that the doses in a 13-week, repeated test should be 0,
500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg respectively. |
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| 8 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
Bufonis venonum, chan-su, pharmacopuncture, toxicity test |
| Author(s) |
Kwang-Ho Lee, Seung-Ho Sun, Jun-Sang Yu, Ki-Rok Kwon |
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Abstract |
Objectives: Bufonis venonum (BV) is the dried white
secretions of the auricular and skin glands of the toads
Bufo bufo gargarizans or Bufo melanosticus Schneider.
This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of intramuscularly-
administered Bufonis venonum pharmacopuncture
(BVP) and to calculate its approximate
lethality through a single-dose test with Sprague-Dawley
(SD) rats.
Methods: Twenty male and 20 female 6-week-old SD
rats were injected intramuscularly with BVP or normal
saline. The animals were divided into four groups with
five female and five male rats per group: the control
group injected with normal saline at 0.5 mL/animal,
the low-dosage group injected with 0.125 mL/animal
of BVP, the medium-dosage group injected with 0.25
mL/animal of BVP and the high-dosage group injected
with 0.5 mL/animal of BVP. All injections were in the left
thighs of the rats. After administration, we conducted
clinical observations everyday and body weight measurements
on days 3, 7 and 14 after the injection. We also
carried out hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological
observations on day 15 after treatment.
Results: No mortalities were observed in any experimental
group. No significant changes in weight, hematology,
serum biochemistry, and histological observations
that could be attributed to the intramuscular
injection of BVP were observed in any experimental
group.
Conclusion: Lethal dose of BVP administered via intramuscular
injection in SD rats is over 0.5 mL/animal. |
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| 9 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
anaphylaxis, bee venom, hypersensitivity reaction, sweet bee venom, systemic immediate |
| Author(s) |
NaYoung Jo, JeongDu Roh |
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Abstract |
Objectives: A previous study showed that bee venom
(BV) could cause anaphylaxis or other hypersensitivity
reactions. Although hypersensitivity reactions due
to sweet bee venom (SBV) have been reported, SBV
has been reported to be associated with significantly
reduced sensitization compared to BV. Although no
systemic immediate hypersensitive response accompanied
by abnormal vital signs has been reported with
respect to SBV, we report a systemic immediate hypersensitive
response that we experienced while trying to
use SBV clinically.
Methods: The patient had undergone BV treatment several
times at other Oriental medicine clinics and had
experienced no adverse reactions. She came to acupuncture
& moxibustion department at Semyung university
hospital of Oriental medicine (Je-cheon, Korea)
complaining of facial hypoesthesia and was treated using
SBV injections, her first SBV treatment. SBV, 0.05 cc,
was injected at each of 8 acupoints, for a total of 0.40 cc:
Jichang (ST4), Daeyeong (ST5), Hyeopgeo (ST6), Hagwan
(ST7), Yepung (TE17), Imun (TE21), Cheonghoe
(GB2), and Gwallyeo (SI18).
Results: The patient showed systemic immediate hypersensitive
reactions. The main symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea and perspiration, but common symptoms
associated with hypersensitivity, such as edema,
were mild. Abdominal pain was the most long-lasting
symptom and was accompanied by nausea. Her body
temperature decreased due to sweating. Her diastolic
blood pressure could not be measured on three
occasions. She remained alert, though the symptoms
persisted. The following treatments were conducted
in sequence; intramuscular epinephrine, 1 mg/mL,
injection, intramuscular dexamethasone, 5 mg/mL,
injection, intramuscular buscopan, 20 mg/mL, injection,
oxygen (O2) inhalation therapy, 1 L/minutes, via
a nasal prong, and intravascular injection of normal
saline, 1 L. After 12 hours of treatment, the symptoms
had completely disappeared.
Conclusion: This case shows that the use of SBV does
not completely eliminate the possibility of hypersensitivity
and that patients who received BV treatment
before may also be sensitized to SBV. Thus, a skin test
should be given prior to using SBV. |
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| 10 |
Title |
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| Keywords |
herbal medicine, oral toxicity, super key (processed sulfur), toxicity test |
| Author(s) |
Jinhee Kim, Jongcheol Lee, Sungchul Kim |
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Abstract |
The original article ‘A Study on the Single-dose Oral
Toxicity of Super Key in Sprague-Dawley Rats’ (J Pharmacopuncture
2015;18(3):63-67, DOI: http://dx.doi.
org/10.3831/KPI.2015.18.026) by Jinhee Kim, Jongcheol
Lee, Sungchul Kim was published with an incorrect Acknowledgements
due to a production error. The correct
Acknowledgements are reported below.
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by a grant from the Korean
Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea
Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) funded
by the Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea
(grant number: HI14C0551).
This text was incorrect and should be:
Acknowledgments
This study was supported by a grant from the Korean
Health Technology R&D Project through the Korea Health
Industry Development Institute (KHIDI) funded by the
Ministry of Health & Welfare, Republic of Korea (grant number: HI11C2142).
We apologize to the authors and readers. |
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