| We recently reported that Gastrodia elata extracts (GEE) had an effects to protect against lipopolysaccharide-induced cognitive impairment in vivo model. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of GEE in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced cell death of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell. The SH-SY5Y cells were divided into five groups, including control(non-treated group), 100 μM H2O2, 100, 200, 500 ㎍/㎖ GEE+ 100 μM H2O2 groups. Pre- and co-treatment with GEE prevented cell death induced by 100 μM H2O2 for 24 h in SH-SY5Y cells. Our findings also showed that anti-oxidants enzymes (Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, Mn superoxide dismutase, catalase) were up-regulated by 100 μM H2O2. But GEE suppressed H2O2-induced anti-oxidants enzymes decrease in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with GEE also inhibited phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-2α (eIF-2α) and p38 by H2O2. Taken together, the neuroprotective effects of GEE in terms of recovery of antioxidant enzymes expression, down-regulation of eIF-2α and p38 phosphorylation, and inhibition of cell death are associated with reduced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y cells. |
| We investigated the current status of research using extracorporeal shock waves on the basis of meridian and acupoint theory. By March 2022, five foreign databases (CAJ, Pubmed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Cochrane Library) and six Korean databases (Dbpia, RISS, KMBASE, scienceON, KISS, NDSL) were searched with the terms using ‘Extracorporeal shock wave’ and ‘(Acupoint or Acupuncture point)’. The search terms were adapted according to the language of the database. There were no restrictions on the study design. As a result of the search, twenty-seven papers were selected for analysis. One study was searched in English database, and the remaining twenty-six studies were searched in Chinese database. There were nineteen pain-related diseases, four obsterics and gynecology diseases, two bone-related diseases, and two other diseases. The most frequently used acupoints were GB34, ST36, and KI3. A total of six adverse events were reported in five papers. The use of extracorporeal shock wave on the basis of meridian and acupoint theory is considered to have sufficient meaning in Korean Medicine. It is expected to use extracorporeal shock wave as a new treatment method for Korean Medicine doctors in the near future. |
| The purpose of this study is to report the research trends of Korean medicine treatment for alopecia areata. We investigated the studies on Korean medicine treatments for alopecia areata via searching 4 web databases of Korea. 13 papers were selected, and we classified them according to publication year, published journals, the types of study, research subject, the methods of treatment, confirmation of recurrence, methods of evaluation, and institutional review board(IRB). We analyzed a total of 13 clinical studies of Korean medicine on alopecia areata based on various criteria and reviewed the research trends. Based on this, we suggested points to be improved and supplemented when conducting clinical research on alopecia areata in the future. Clinical studies on alopecia areata started to be published in 2001, and acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, herbal medicines, etc. were used as treatment methods for alopecia areata. Most of the clinical studies on alopecia areata were case studies, so it is thought that various types of clinical studies are needed. In addition, it is necessary to confirm the recurrence of alopecia areata and to improve the awareness of research ethics. |
| Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Indigo Naturalis (IN) is a dark blue powder obtained by processing leaves or stems of indigo plants, its anticancer effects have been reported in several studies. However, the pharmacological mechanism of IN in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is not elucidated. In this study, to investigate the anticancer efficacy of IN for SCLC, we presented potential active ingredients, SCLC-related targets, and pharmacological mechanisms of IN that are expected to have anticancer activity for SCLC using a network pharmacological analysis. The phytochemical compounds of IN have been collected through TCMSP, SymMap, or HPLC documents. The active ingredients of IN such as indirubin, indican, isatin, and tryptanthrin were selected through ADME parameters or literature investigations for each compound. Using the Compounds, Disease-Target associations Databases, 124 common targets of IN and SCLC were obtained. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) Pathway enrichment analysis was carried out. GO biological processes are associated with response to xenobiotic stimulus, positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, regulation of mitotic cell cycle, and regulation of apoptotic signaling pathway. KEGG disease pathways included Gastric cancer, Bladder cancer, SCLC, and Melanoma. The main anticancer targets of the IN for SCLC were analyzed in 14 targets, including BCL2, MYC, and TP53. In conclusion, the results of this study based on the network pharmacology of IN can provide important data for the effective prevention and treatment of SCLC. |
