Objective : This study was designed to investigate anti-diabetic effects of fermented soy bean extract with herbal medicines (Godjang) in diabetic rat models induced by streptozotocin (STZ) injection.
Method : Changes in body weight, drinking water, and food intake were observed for 4 weeks before and after induction of diabetes mellitus in rats. The anti-diabetic capacity of Godjang was analyzed by fasting blood glucose (FBG) every week. Also, after 4 weeks of administration, the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed, and then blood levels of insulin were checked. And serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were determined. Histomorphological changes of liver, kidney and pancreatic tissues were also observed in STZ-induced diabetic rats and Godjang administered rats.
Result : In Godjang administered group, body weight and water intake were more lower than that of STZ-induced diabetic rats. FBG was decreased in the Godjang administered group than STZ-induced diabetic group. According to OGTT, blood glucose levels at 30 minutes and 60 minutes significantly decreased in Godjang administered group than in STZ-induced diabetic control group. Administration of Godjang extract for 4W significantly decreased levels of serum glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG) in diabetic rats. In histomorphological analysis of kidney, liver, Godjang administrated groups showed the inhibition of pathological damage.
Conclusion : These results suggest that Godjang extract has an anti-diabetic action through decrease in serum glucose, TC, TG levels and recovery of the morphological changes in kidney and liver in STZ-induced diabetic rats.1)

Objectives : Green gram (mung bean) has a cold nature and has been known to detoxify against various side effects that belong to hot in nature. In particular, since it has the effect of detoxifying fever and detoxification to treat swelling, it was also used externally to treat febrile dermatological diseases such as erysipelas and rubella. This study was designed to determine whether green gram exhibits anti-inflammatory effects on contact dermatitis in mice.
Methods : We investigated the effects of green gram extract (70% ethanol extract) on skin lesion, skin thickness and weights, melanin and erythema index and spleen body weight ratio in mice with contact dermatitis induced by repeated application of 1-Fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene.
Results : Topical application of green gram extract ameliorates skin lesions of contact dermatitis such as scale and roughness induces by 1-Fluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. green gram extract also suppressed enlargement of skin thicknesses and weights significantly. In addition, green gram extract treatment also lowered erythema index significantly compared to those in the control group. In the histopathological observation, green gram extract prevented epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis in inflamed tissues. Finally, green gram extract did not affect changes in body weights and the spleen body weight ratio, unlike dexamethasone, which significantly prevented body weight gain and lowered the spleen body weight ratio.
Conclusions : These results imply that green gram, which is known to have a detoxifying effect in Korean medicine, can be used in the treatment of contact dermatitis.

Objectives : Although the pharmacological effects of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action of Atractylodes macrocephala Koidzumi water extract (AM) have been proven from many studies, reports on the antioxidant effect of AM on ulcerative colitis (UC) are scarce. Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the anti-oxidant effect of AM on the DSS-induced UC model.
Methods : To induce ulcerative colitis, 8-week-old male Balb/c mice received 5% DSS in drinking water for 1 week. After 1 week of adaptation, mice were divided into four groups (n=8 each) for use as normal (Normal), DSS Control (Control), DSS + AM 100 ㎎/kg (AM100)-treatment, DSS + AM 200 ㎎/kg (AM200)-treatment. After 1 week of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed, and the extracted colon tissue was analyzed for protein through western blot.
Results : As a result of confirming the macroscopic changes in colon tissues to confirm the therapeutic effects of AM, the decrease in colon length was suppressed in the AM treatment group compared to the control group. In addition, as a result of biochemical analysis, AM administration significantly reduced serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transaminase levels and tissue malondialdehyde levels. As a result of confirming the protein expression level through western blot, AM administration significantly decreased the expression of NADPH-related proteins such as NOX2, p22phox, and iNOS, but significantly increased the expression of SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2.
Conclusions : AM may improve DSS-induced UC in mice by modulating NADPH and antioxidant-related proteins. In conclusion, AM showed an antioxidant effect through the improvement of oxidative stress on UC.

Objectives : It is very important to know the exact dosage of the Decoctions in 《Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases》. This study identified the characteristics of 15 Medicinal marked in volume and calculated their dosages in weight.
Methods : The origin, processing methods, and properties of 15 Medicinal were identified. The shape of the appropriate container that measures the volume of one seung was estimated, and the dosage in volume was converted into weight. These were compared with the dosages indicated by weight or count.
Results : The 15 Medicinal were categorized into liquids, powders, and grains. Ten items had only one dosage, of which three items had one seung, and seven items had 0.5 seung. Five items had two different dosages, of which four items had one or 0.5 seung, and only Suis Fel was 0.2 or 0.1 seung. Pinelliae Tuber and Urine were marked as 0.5 seung for convenience of measurement, although 0.4 seung were accurate. There were 20 different dosages in total, and when converted into weight, they matched 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 16 Ryang, with none of 5 Ryang. Some exceptions that did not fit in the above were indicated by weight or count.
Conclusions : In the Decoctions of 《Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases》, dosages of 15 Medicinal were easy to measure by volume, and when converted into weight, they were consistent with the dosages originally indicated in weight or count.

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of water extract of Agastache rugosa (AR) on productions of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.
Methods : Cell viabilities were measured with MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide (NO) from RAW 264.7 cells was measured with Griess reagent assay. The production of cytokines in RAW 264.7 cells was measured with multiplex cytokine assay.
Results : AR showed no cytotoxicity on RAW 264.7 cells. AR at concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. AR at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL significantly inhibited productions of TNF-α and IL-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50 and 200 μg/mL significantly inhibited productions of RANTES (CCL5) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 100 μg/mL significantly inhibited productions of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50, 100, and 200 μg/mL significantly increased productions of IP-10 (CXCL10) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 100 and 200 μg/mL significantly increased MCP-1 (CCL-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells; AR at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL significantly increased productions of IL-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells.
Conclusions : AR might have immunomodulatory effects on productions of NO, cytokines, and chemokines in LPSstimulated RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages.

Objectives : The process through which mesenchymal cells condense and differentiate into chondrocytes to form new bone is known as endochondral bone formation. Chondrogenic differentiation and hypertrophy are essential steps in bone formation and are influenced by various factors. The stem bark and root bark of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus (ES) have been widely used to treat growth retardation and arthritis in traditional Korean Medicine. In this study, we aimed to investigate the possible role of the stem bark of ES in the stimulation of chondrogenic differentiation in clonal murine chondrogenic ATDC5 cells.
Methods : In ATDC5 cells treated with ES extract, cell viability and extracellular matrix production were determined using CCK-8 assay and Alcian blue staining, respectively, and alkaline phosphatase activity was measured. We also examined mRNA and protein expression levels of genes related to chondrogenic expression in ATDC5 cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot analyses.
Results : ES extract increased the accumulation of Alcian blue-stained cartilage nodules and alkaline phosphatase activity in ATDC5 cells. It increased the mRNA expressions of chondrogenic markers including bone sialoprotein (BSP), cartilage collagens, Runt-related transcription factor-2 (RUNX-2), osteocalcin (OCN), β-catenin, and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2), as well as the protein expressions of β-catenin, RUNX-2, BMP-2, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP).
Conclusion : Taken together, these results suggest that ES extract exhibits a chondromodulating activity and therefore may be a possible agent for the treatment of bone growth disorders.