• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.176-182
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• 2008

Scolopendra was known to cure erectile dysfunction. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Scolopendra on the nitric oxide synthase activity, nitrite level, cyclic-GMP and erectile responses in rat's corpus cavernosum penis. The crushed Scolopendra was extracted 3 times, each time with 3 volumes of methyl alcohol at $60^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. The extract was filtered and evaporated under a reduced pressure using a rotary evaporator to yield 14.2 g. Scolopendra extract was oral-administered 50 mg per 1 kg of body weight for 30 days. First, samples were treated with Scolopendra, and then ethanol-treated rats and L-N-Nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME) treated rats were fed with the samples. The level of urethral nitrite and nitric oxide synthase activity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The level of urethral cyclic-GMP and guanylate cyclase actiyity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were as high as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. The level of urethral phosphodiesterase activity in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats was as low as in the normal group, while the one in the ethanol-treated group was increased. The erectile response to a cavernous nerve stimulation in L-NAME $(10^{-4})-treated$ rats was restored by the Scolopendra to the similar level seen in the normal group. The electile response to cavernous nerve stimulation in the ethanol-Scolopendra double administered rats were increased as high as in the normal group while the one in the ethanol-treated group was decreased. Scolopendra was effective in restoring the ethanol-induced or L-NAME-induced erectile dysfunction in rats.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.257-264
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• 2017

Introduction: Pharmacopuncture, which combines acupuncture with herbal medicine, is one of the newly developed acupuncture techniques that has recently been put into use. The possible mechanisms of scolopendra pharmacopuncture, as well as its potential effects on depressive symptoms, were investigated in this study by using a mouse model of chronic immobilization stress (CIS). Methods: C57BL/6 male mice were randomly assigned into three groups: mice not stressed with restraint and injected with distilled water, mice stressed with restraint and injected with distilled water, and mice stressed with restraint injected with scolopendra pharmacopuncture at a cervical site. Behavioral tests (an open field test, tail suspension test, and forced swimming test) were carried out after two weeks of CIS and injection treatments. The expression levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the hippocampus were determined by using western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses. Results: Mice exposed to CIS showed decreased behavioral activity, while scolopendra pharmacopuncture treatment significantly protected against the depressive-like behaviors induced by CIS. Moreover, scolopendra pharmacopuncture treatment increased GFAP protein levels in the hippocampi of the mice stressed by chronic immobilization. Conclusion: Scolopendra pharmacopuncture has an ameliorating effect on depressive behavior, which is partially mediated through protection against glial loss in the hippocampus.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.53-59
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• 2002

Objective: Through the literature on the effect of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, we are finding out the clinical possibility and revealing the more effective to untractable disease. Method: We investigated the literatures of Oriental Medicine and experimental reports about Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch. Results: 1.The taste of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is hot, wann and toxic, and the effect is dispelling wind, spasmolytic action and detoxication so it has been used for C.V.A, facial palsy, numbness of hands and feet, wounds and arthritis. 2. A toxic constituent of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is mainly located in the 1st limbs, and we can prevent toxic symptoms, if taken a dosage moderately. 3. The pharmacological action of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is anti-convulsive action, analgesic action, lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammatory action, anti-tumor action and microbe inhibition. On the study of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, we thought it is effective to intractable disease, and it may be needed variable studies on toxicity and clinical effects.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.17-31
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• 2013

Objectives : Peripheral nerve injuries are commonly encountered clinical problems and often result in serve functional deficit. Bee venom and scolopendra subspinipes have been traditionally used in oriental medicine to treat several inflammatory diseases and chronic pain conditions. Methods : In the present study, the effects of bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture on functional recovery, severity of pain, and expressions of neurofilament, cycloxygenease-2(COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) following sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats were investigated. For this study, walking tract analysis, plantar test, western blot for COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$, and immunohistochemistry for neurofilament were performed. Results : In the present results, sciatic functional index(SFI) in walking tract analysis was significantly decreased following sciatic crushed nerve injury, and pain severity in plantar test was significantly increased. COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expressions were increased whereas neurofilament expression was decreased by sciatic crushed nerve injury. On the other hand, bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture improved SFI in walking tract analysis and suppressed the pain severity in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Bee venom pharmacopuncture and scolopendra subspinipes pharmacopuncture suppressed COX-2 and TNF-${\alpha}$ expression and enhanced the neurofilament expression in sciatic crushed nerve injury. Conclusions : In the present study, we have shown that treatment with bee venom or scolopendra subspinipes is the effective therapeutic modality to ameliorate the symptoms of sciatic crushed nerve injury. The efficacies of bee venom and scolopendra subspinipes were similar.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 1976

Scolopendra corpus has been used as anticonvulsants and antispasmodics in the oriental medicine. It was previously shown that water extract of Scolopendra corpus had an inhibitory action on ileum in mouse. To investigate the anticonvulsant and antispasmodic activity of Scolopendra corpus, pharmacological studies have been carried out with the water extract of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans $L.\;K_{OCH}$, which is widely distributed in Korea. 1. The extract depressed convulsions induced by picrotoxin and strychnine. 2. Sedative and antipyretic analgesic action were observed. 3. In mouse and rabbit, tone of intestinal smooth muscle was suppressed with the treatment of the extract and intestinal contraction induced by $BaCl_2$ was also inhibited, suggesting that the extract has a papaverine-like effect. Whereas, in guinea pig, intestinal and tracheal smooth muscle were stimulated, and the effect was antagonized by pre-and after-treatment of diphenhydramine, suggesting that the extract has a histamine-like effect. 4.Flow rate was increased when hind-limb of Toad was perfused with saline containing the extract, but returned to normal within 10 min. Hypotensive effect was observed in rabbit and the effect was abolished by vagotomy.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2022

The centipede is predatory arthropod that form head and numerous segments. It is known that there are about 3,000 species worldwide and 44 species (four species and seven families) in Korea. Among them, Scolopendra subspinipes called "Wang-ji-ne" has been known as an important medicinal resource and its value is expected to increase in the future. In this study, the Scolopendra subspinipes in Korea was classified as Chilopoda through morphological analysis of forcipule and venom gland, and a method for sex determination was established. These results are expected to be used as basic data for artificial breeding of Scolopendra subspinipes in the future, and through this, it is expected that it will greatly contribute to the expansion of the Scolopendra subspinipes market as medicinal resources.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2023

Objective : Scolopendra, a dried body of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans, is one of Korean medicine. Several reports revealed that Scolopendra has therapeutic effects for arthritis, neuroinflammatory diseases and neuropathic pain. However, the fetal adaptive response or teratogenicity associated with administration of Scolopendra is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the fetal toxicity effects that were induced following oral administration of Scolopendra water extract (SWE) in pregnant mice. Methods : The pregnant mice were administrated SWE at dosed of 0, 100, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day during gestation day 0-18. The mortality, body weight and clinical signs of pregnant mice were observed throughout experimental period. Also, the mortality and malformations in foetus were examined. Results : No meaningful changes were observed in the mortality and clinical signs of pregnant mice between the normal control group and SWE administrated groups. Additionally, there are no significant changes in fetal mortalities, and malformations by SWE administration. conclusion : These results suggest that oral exposure to SWE during pregnancy at oral dosages up to 1000 mg/kg/day did not induce teratogenic toxicity in regard to fetal mortality and morphology.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.137-142
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• 1975

In order to study the origin of Scolopendra Corpus in Korea, samples were collected from four different markets and were studied. It was shown that the species of Scolopendra Corpus used as medicine in Korea are five to six species, of which 95.2% are of S. subspinipes mutilans L. KOCH, 1.4% of Otocrytops rubiginosus L.KOCH, and 2.1% of varieties of Scolopendra subspinipes japonica. And the other two are unknown species.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.240-245
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• 2005

An antimicrobial molecule was purified from centipede, Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, by reverse phase-HPLC. Its molecular weight was determined to be 1208.5493 by using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Total amino acid composition analysis revealed that it consists of E, G, P, V, L, F, and W. It exhibited a broad antimicrobial spectrum against not only Gram-negative, but also Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, it was found to have an antimicrobial activity against vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE). It may be a useful molecule for a new antibiotic development, especially against drug-resistant bacteria. We suggest that it may playa role in the defense system of this animal. This is the first report of a peptidic antimicrobial substance from centipede.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.323-329
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• 2018

Purpose: The dried body of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans has long been used as a traditional Korean medicinal food, but little is known about its mechanisms of action. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans and possible mechanisms in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Methods: Cytotoxicity of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans extract (SSME) was measured by MTT assay, anti-inflammatory activities were analyzed by nitric oxide (NO) production, the expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and the mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) p65 subunit and degradation of inhibitory kappa B ($I{\kappa}B$) were examined by western blot. Results: SSME inhibited LPS-induced NO production and iNOS expression without cytotoxicity. Up-regulation of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, $IL-1{\beta}$ and IL-6 was dose dependently attenuated by SSME. Exposure of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an $NF-{\kappa}B$ specific inhibitor, accelerated the inhibitory effects of SSME on NO production and iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated cells. Moreover, translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ from the cytosol to the nucleus and degradation of $I{\kappa}B$ were decreased by treatment with SSME in LPS-induced cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that the SSME might have the inhibitory effects on inflammation, partly through inhibition of the $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling pathway.