• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1368-1378
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• 2009

Unfolded protein response (UPR) is an important genomic response to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The ER response is characterized by changes in specific proteins, induction of ER chaperones and degradation of misfolded proteins. Also, the pathogenesis of several diseases like Alzheimer's disease, neuronal degenerative diseases, and diabetes reveal the role of ER stress as one of the causative mechanisms. Borneolum has been used for neuronal disease in oriental medicine. In the present study, the protective effect of borneolum on thapsigargin-induced apoptosis in rat C6 glial cells. Treatment with C6 glial cells with 5 uM thapsigargin caused the loss of cell viability, and morphological change, which was associated with the elevation of intracellular $Ca^{++}$ level, the increase in Grp78 and CHOP and cleavage of pro-caspase 12 Furthermore, thapsigargin induced Grp98, XBP1, and ATF4 protein expression in C6 glial cells. Borneolum reduced thapsigargin-induced apoptosis through ER pathways. In the ER pathway, borneolum attenuated thapsigargin-induced elevations in Grp78, CHOP, ATF4, and XBP1 as well as reductions in pro-caspase 12 levels. Also, our data showed that borneolum protected thapsigargin-induced cytotoxicity in astrocytes from rat (P3) brain. Taken together, our data suggest that borneolum is neuroprotective against thapsigargin-induced ER stress in C6 glial cells and astrocytes. Accordingly, borneolum may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of thapsigargin-induced apoptosis in central nervous system.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.236-239
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• 2005

Ethyl acetate extracts of traditional medicinal herbs were screened for their antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur through the liquid growth inhibition method with 96 well plate and the paper disk agar diffusion assay. Among the 91 kinds of herbal solvent extracts, borneolum (borneo-camphor, No. 56) was finally selected as the best antifungal effective medicinal herb. The MIC value of No. 56 against M. furfur was 0.3 mg/ml ($8.2{\times}10^6$ CFU/ml) and it was three times more efficient than midazole which is the known antifungal agent in clinical medicines.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.376-392
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• 2020

In Korea, damages to wooden cultural properties by termites have been reported all over the country, including Ulleungdo Island and Jeju Island. In order to reduce the damage caused by termites, most cultural properties damaged by them are treated with fumigation or drug treatment on the soil to kill or repel them. The number of treatments is decreasing due to cost and safety problems, and new methods needed to cope with this situation. After extracting an enzyme by selecting only worker termites from the termites collected in Shinan, Jeonnam, as a result of measuring the enzyme activity using xylan of cellulose and hemicellulose that are the components of wood, the activity of termite intestinal enzymes in xylan was higher than that of cellulose having a high molecular weight. Therefore, in this study, as a result of exploring over 600 species of medicinal plant extracts that inhibit the activity of termite intestinal enzymes using xylan as a substrate, the inhibitory effect was significant in Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol. Selected Borneolum Syntheticum, Ephedra sinica, and Menthol's extracts not only inhibited the activity of termite intestinal enzymes, but also confirmed that they have insecticidal activation and inhibitory effects on feeding in the result of the direct treatment.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.22-32
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• 2004

Objectives: In order to determine the effect of CPs, experimental studies were performed in hyperlipidemia humans. The contents of serum total cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, AST/ALT and BUN/creatinine were measured. Methods: We made a comparative study of total cholesterol, TG (triglyceride), LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, AST/ALT and BUN/creatinine during one month off and on for twenty patients with hyperlipidemia who visited Gunpo Oriental Medical Center of Wonkwang University from December 2002 to July 2003. Results: The following result were obtained: 1. The serum TG and total cholesterol of patients who took CPs for one month showed significant (p<0.01) decrease. 2. The serum HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol of patients who took CPs for one month showed significantly increase in HDL, and decrease in LDL (p<0.05). 3. The serum AST/ALT and BUN/creatinine of patients who took CPs for one month showed no significant effects. Conclusions: According to the results mentioned above, the effects of CPs on serum triglyceride and total cholesterol of hyperlipidemia patients were significantly confirmed for decreasing effects.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.507-515
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• 2008

To make a bibliographical review on the most frequently used prescriptions and herbs in treating the uterine carcinoma. 43 texts in China and 6 texts in Korea published since 1980 were reviewed for this objective. 590 Oriental Herbal Medicine formulas composed of 457 herbs were investigated. The frequency and efficacy of each herb used were statistically analyzed. The most frequently used herbal medicine formulas were Danchisoyosan in hepatic Qi stasis, Sihosogan-tang mixed with Lungeumdaebo-tang in damage of conception and thoroughfare vessel, Danchisoyosangagam in blood heat, Hoangyunhaedok-tang in pattern of retained dampness-heat, Jibapjihang-tang in iver-kidney yin deficiency pattern, Naebohyunhapsamyoungbaekchulsan in spleen-kidney yang deficiency pattern. The herbal medicines most frequently used were; Angelicae gigantis radix(126 times), Phellodendri cortex(91 times), Borneolum(87 times), Glycyrrhizae radix and Paeoniae radix alba(82 times), Realgar and Alumen(80times), Poria(77 times), Astragali radix(75 times), Moschus and Myrrha(74 times), Coicis semen and Olibanum(73 times), Codonopsis pilosulae radix and Scutellaria bardata Don(70 times) etc. The effect of the most frequently used herbs were : heat-clearing medicine(12), blood-circulation and stasis-dispelling medicine(9), tonifying and replenishing medicine(5), ointments(5), heat-clearing and blood-cooling medicine(3) and etc. The most frequently used herbs may be applied in future animal studies and clinical trials. Also this data can be used as a reference in formulating new Oriental Herbal Medicine formulas for uterine carcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.66-94
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• 2022

Objectives : Diabetic Foot Ulcer(DFU) is one of the common complications of diabetes. DFU is difficult to treat compared to other chronic wounds and clinically effective treatments are limited. The purpose of this study is to review the of external ointment treatment for DFU. Methods : 8 databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CNKI, NDSL, RISS, KISS, OASIS including English, Korean and Chinese were searched by structured search strategies that consist of terms as 'diabetic foot', 'diabetic foot ulcer(DFU)' and 'randomized' from January 2001 to January 2021. All randomized controlled trials(RCTs) involving treatment group as external ointment or in combination with conventional treatment were included. Results: A total of 20 RCTs was identified and analyzed. In treatment group, ointment was applied based on conventional treatment. A total of 16 different ointments were used, and the frequency of use was highest in the order of Heat-clearing drug, Blood-activating and stasis-dispelling drug, Tonifying and Replenishing drug and Orifice-opening drug. The most used herbs were in the order of Coptis chinensis Franch., Phellodendron chinense Schneid., Borneolum syntheticum., Angelica sinensis(Oliv.) Diels. In treatment group, a clinically effective effect was obtained compared to the contrast group. Conclusions : The result of this study suggest that external ointment treatment based on conventional treatment can be applied to DFU.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.95-104
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• 2005

Objectives: This was a double blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical study for evaluation of safety and effective dose finding of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ in patients with chest pain and discomfort. Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ are composed of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (丹蔘), Notoginseng Radix (三七根) and Borneolum (龍腦). Major effects of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix and Notoginseng Radix are vasodilatation, sedation and analgesic action. Borneolum has an antibacterial effect, and can stimulate the central nervous system. All of these substances are oriental herbs that have been used for a long time in east Asia. Cardiotonic Pills fi received Investigational New Drug (IND) approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the USA and 40 million people in the world take this pill. We performed a phase IV clinical study to confirm its efficacy and safety in patients who have probable cardiogenic or psychogenic chest pain or chest stifling. Methods: This study was planned for a multi-center clinical trial including four university hospitals of oriental medicine in Korea. This was the first time to evaluate the 'planning treatment according to diagnosis (辨證施治)' of chest pain or chest discomfort according to oriental medical guidelines. The patients who were included in this trial were adult volunteers from 20 to 70 years old who had chest pain or chest discomfort more than twice during a recent month, and we received written consent to participate in this study from all of them. After administration of Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ for 8 weeks, number of occurrences, duration, appearance and degree of chest pain or chest discomfort was observed and degree of symptoms (severity of illness, global improvement) were measured using a patient's global assessment composite scale. Results: In the patient's global assessment scale, the severity of illness of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group (n=25) was 14/25=0.56 but of the placebo group (n=25) was 7/25=0.28 (p-value=0.0449). This result indicates Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$have a positive effect on the symptoms of chest pain and discomfort. However, the global improvement of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$group was 23/25=0.92, and of the placebo group was 22/25=0.88 (p-value=0.6374). The total symptom score of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $1.68\pm20.06$, and of the placebo group was $16.76\pm72.l4$(p-value=0.2285). The number of symptom events of the Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ group was $72\pm29.78$, and of the placebo group (n=25) was $10.80\pm38.42$ (p­value=0.3660). We could not find any effects on the other factors examined besides the severity of illness, beyond the difference of standard deviations. Conclusions: Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ significantly reduced chest pain and chest discomfort in patients. Therefore, we expect that Cardiotonic Pills$^{(R)}$ will be helpful for patients with chest pain and chest discomfort not only caused by heart disease but also by other diseases.