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0J Acupunct Meridian Stud 2010;3(1):58-62
I RECOMMENDED ARTICLES I
In this issue of the journal, recommended articles are selected from the Journal of Korean Pharmaco-puncture Institute (ISSN: 1226-4849) and from the Journal of Meridian and Acupoint (ISSN: 1229-7933), which were published in the Korean language.
(1) Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 3, 5-24, 2009
Effect of Injinho-tang Extract on Hepatocellular Carcinogenesis and Hepatic Cirrhosis Induced by using Diethylnitrosamine and CCl4 in Rats
Jong-Bum Lee, Rae-Kyong Heo, Kee-Moon Seung, Goo Moon, Jong-Deok Lee, Jin-Hee Won Abstract
Objective: Injinho-tang (IJ) has been used for the treatment of hepatobiliary diseases. This study was performed to observe the effect of IJ extract on hepatocellular carcinogenesis and hepatic cirrhosis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA) and CCl4 in Rats.
Methods: Experimental rats were divided into two groups; the 8th and the 12th week group. Each group was divided into four subgroups: a normal group (Nor), a hepatocellular cancer and hepatic cirrhosis inducing control group (Con), an IJ extract 260 mg/kg/day administered group (IJA) and a 520 mg/kg/day administered group (IJB). Results: Body weight was lower in the Con, the IJA, and the IJB groups than in the Nor group from the 2nd week to the 12th week. Weight of the liver and weight of the liver/100 g of body weight decreased significantly in the Con, the IJA, and the IJB groups compared to the Nor group. For the 8th week group, the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were significantly increased in the Con group compared to the Nor group, but were decreased in the IJA and the IJB groups compared to the Con group. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), lactacte dehydrogenase (LDH) and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) were increased significantly in the Con group compared with the Nor group, but were decreased in the IJA and the IJB groups compared with the Con group. For both the 8th and 12th week group, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were decreased in the IJA and the IJB groups compared with the Con group, but activities of catalase were increased in the IJA and the IJB groups compared with the Con group. According to light and electron microscopic observations, the IJA and the IJB groups showed morphological and histopathological changes in the liver injured by DENA and CCl4. The number of hepatic p53 positive cells was less in the IJA and the IJB groups than in the Con.
Conclusion: These results suggest that administration of IJ extract suppresses or retards DENA- and CCl4-induced
hepatocelluar carcinogenesis and hepatic cirrhosis in rats.
Keywords: Injinho-tang, Hepatocellular carcinogenesis, Hepatic cirrhosis, DENA
(2) Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 3, 25-30, 2009
Visualization of Potential Acupuncture Points in Rat and Nude Mice and the DiI Tracing Method
Byung-Cheon Lee, Ki-Hoon Uhm, Kyoung-Hee Bae, Dae-In Kang, Kwang-Sup Soh Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to find potential acupuncture points by using Trypan blue staining on the skin of rats and nude mice.
Methods: Trypan blue, 0.4% was applied to the skin of rats or nude mice that had been treated with a surfactant. Washing with warm saline was followed by a sufficient application of trypan blue and surfactant. For visualizing significant spots, we varied the frequency of Trypan blue application, depending on the animals' condition. Results: Blue spots appeared roughly in symmetry along the kidney meridian or the stomach meridian. Several spots of the kidney or the stomach meridian were also observed; however, the detail stereoscopic images of those blue spots varied slightly in the blue-colored position. DiI signals were visualized along blood vessels after DiI injection into the Trypan blue-visualized blue spots.
ELSEVIER
©2010 Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute
Conclusion: Our method to visualize potential acupuncture points as blue spots on the skin of rats and nude mice may provide the next step in finding specific flow channels among the blue spots.
Keywords: Acupuncture point, Trypan blue, 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), Bonghan
(3) Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 3, 31-40, 2009
Effects of Distilled Cervi Pantotrichum Cornu Pharmacopuncture and Zizyphi Spinosi Semen Pharmacopuncture on Heart Rate Variability
Hui-Jun Kim, Beom-Yong Song, Tae-Han Yook Abstract
Objectives: This study was to investigate the effects of distilled cervi pantotrichum cornu (CPC) and zizyphi spinosi semen (ZSS) pharmacopuncture on the autonomic nervous system by measurements of the Heart Rate Variability (HRV). The purpose of the trial was to observe what influence distilled cervi pantotrichum cornu pharmacopuncture and zizyphi spinosi semen pharmacopuncture had on the autonomic nervous system.
Methods: Sixty healthy male volunteers were divided into three groups: two experimental groups, the CPC and the ZSS pharmacopuncture groups, and a control group. The study was designed as a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial. One experimental group were injected with distilled CPC pharmacopuncture at Kyonjong; the other experimental group were injected with distilled ZSS pharmacopuncture; the control group were injected with normal saline injection. One volunteer from each group was excluded from the analysis because of an error while measuring HRV. At the end of the study, data on 57 volunteers were available for the HRV analysis. The HRV was measured by using the QECG-3:LXC3203 system (LAXTHA Inc. Korea) at P0, P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6; the time dependent change in each group was analyzed using the paired t test. The differences in HRV fluctuation among the two experimental groups and the control group were evaluated using the one-way ANOVA software package (p < 0.05). Results: In time-domain analysis, mean HRV was significantly decreased only at 20 minutes after injection. The standard deviation of all normal R-R intervals (SDNN) was significantly increased from 15 minute after injection. The complexity was significantly decreased only at 15 minute after injection. After injection of distilled ZSS pharmacopuncture, the complexity was significantly decreased at 10, 15 and 30 minutes after injection. After injection of distilled CPC pharmacopuncture, pNN50 was significantly decreased at 15, 20, and 25 minutes after injection. Compared with normal saline injection, distilled CPC pharmacopuncture and ZSS pharmacopuncture produced significant differences in the HRV index and the pNN50 at 5 minutes after injection. In the frequency-domain analysis, after injection of distilled CPC pharmacopuncture, Ln(TP) was significantly increased at 15 and 30 minutes after injection. Ln(VLF) was significantly increased at 10, 15 and 30 minutes after injection. After injection of distilled ZSS pharmacopuncture, Ln(VLF) was significantly increased only at 30 minutes after injection. Compared with normal saline injection, distilled CPC pharmacopuncture produced significant differences in Ln(TP) at 5 minutes after injection. Conclusion: Our results suggest that, compared to normal saline injection, CPC pharmacopuncture and ZSS pharma-copuncture in healthy adult men tend to activate the autonomic nervous system and sympathetic nervous system more within normal range.
Keywords: Cervi pantotrichum cornu, Zizyphi spinosi semen, Pharmacopuncture, HRV
(4) Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 3, 41-47, 2009
Experimental Study of the Efficacy in Using Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus, and Moschus Pharmacopuncture Solution as Eye Drops
Hyungsik Seo Abstract
Objective: This experimental study was performed to investigate the efficacy of using Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus and
Moschus pharmacopuncture solution manufactured via the freezing dryness method as eye drops.
Methods: After administering Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus and Moschus pharmacopuncture solution on bacterial species
(Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger, Fusarium oxyspo-
rum, Candida albicans) that cause keratitis, the minimum inhibition concentration and the size of the inhibition zone
were measured. The anti-bacterial potency was also measured using the size of the inhibition zone.
Result: There was no response to the minimum inhibition concentration on any of the bacterial species after patients
had been medicated with the Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus and Moschus pharmacopuncture solution.
Conclusion: The present study suggests that Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus and Moschus pharmacopuncture solution has no anti-bacterial effects on bacterial species including S. aureus, S. epidermidis, P. aeruginosa, A. niger, F. oxysporum and C. albicans that cause keratitis. These results suggest that more research on other herbal medicines for use as eye drops for the treatment of keratitis is required.
Keywords: Fel Ursi, Bovis Calculus and Moschus pharmacopuncture solution, Keratitis, Eye irritation, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
(5) Journal of Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Volume 12, No. 3, 49-59, 2009
Induction of Apoptotic Cell Death in NCI-H460 Human Lung Cancer Cells due to Egg-white-combined Chalcanthite
Eun-A Choi, Kyung-Hee Kim, Byong-Chul Yoo, Hwa-Seung Yoo Abstract
Background: The anticancer effects of herbal medicine have been reported for various types of cancer, but a systematic approach to explain the molecular mechanism(s) has not yet been established.
Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate apoptotic cell death induced by egg-white-combined chalcanthite in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells.
Methods: The inhibitory effects of the chalcanthite were estimated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cancer cells stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) showed condensed and fragmented nuclei. The expressions of cleaved caspase-3, bcl-2, and bax were detected by western blotting. To establish a basis of understanding for the anti-cancer mechanism, we harvested whole proteins from NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells at 24 hrs after treatment with egg-white-combined chalcanthite. Protein expression was profiled by using the 2DE-based proteomic approach.
Results: These NCI-H460 human lung-cancer-cell samples were treated with three kinds of samples, IS3, IS4 and IS5 that vary in the mixing ratios of egg-white to chalcanthite. IS4 inhibited the growth of NCI-H460 human lung cancer cell most effectivel; the expression of cleaved caspase-3 also increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Various changes in protein expression were monitored, and the most frequent dysregulation was found in Vimentin and Lamin-A/C. Conclusion: Egg-white-combined chalcanthite inhibited the growth of NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells by inducing apoptotic cell death via caspase-3 activation. Based upon the present findings, further study should focus on monitoring various cancer survival factors after artificial regulation of the proteins identified, which should provide a basis for understanding the anticancer effect(s) of chalcanthite at the molecular level. Keywords: Chalcanthite, Lung cancer, Proteome, 2-DE, MALDI-MS
(6) Journal of Meridian and Acupoint, Volume 26, No. 3, 1-11, 2009
Analysis of the Meridian Energy and its Pattern of Change With Time by Measuring the Skin Capacitance on Source Points
Soo-Byung Kim, Sun-Min Kwon, Hyoun-Seok Myoung, Kyoung-Joung Lee, Hee-Jung Kang, Yun-Kyoung Yim, Yong-Heum Lee
Abstract
Objectives: This study investigated the balance/imbalance of skin capacitances between left and right meridians and analyzed the patterns of change of the electric energy on meridians with time.
Methods: The electric potential was measured at five source points (LU9, PC7, HT7, LI4 and SI4) bilaterally for 4 hours. The energy balance/imbalance between left and right was investigated, and the patterns of change with time were analyzed.
Results: The amplitudes of the meridian energies on five source points and the energy balance/imbalance between left and right varied in each individual. When a source point showed a balanced meridian energy bilaterally, the patterns of change of the meridian energy with time were similar between left and right. On the other hand, when a source point showed an imbalanced energy between left and right, the patterns of change of the meridian energy were also different between left and right.
Conclusion: Through this study, we propose a new diagnostic method for determining the meridian energy. Keywords: Meridian, Source point, Skin capacitance, Energy balance, Change pattern
