• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.3 s.67
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• pp.14-25
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• 2006

Objectives: Samjunghwan has been known to be effective for the treatment of obesity. To show the effectiveness of Samjunghwan in a more scientific way, Samjunghwan extract was prepared and evaluated in high-fat diet rats by measuring the changes of body weight and lipid metabolism as described below. Methods: 245 g of crushed Samjunghwan was extracted with methyl alcohol. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 21.8 g. For 30 days, the control group rats were given a high fat diet, while the test group rats were given a high fat diet plus Samjunghwan extract. The normal group rats were given a normal diet. 50 mg of Samjunghwan extract per 1 kg of body weight was added to the diet for the test group rats. Results: The control group rats on a high fat diet gained weight by about 27-28% as compared to the normal group, whereas the test group rats on a high fat diet plus Samjunghwan extract lost weight about 6-8% as compared to the control group. A significant increase of liver weight caused by a high fat diet was also inhibited by the same Samjunghwan extract administration. Similar inhibitory effects on the food intake and on the epididymal adipose tissue weight were observed in the high fat diet rats by the administration of Samjunghwan extract. Serum and liver total lipid levels in the control group on a high fat diet increased significantly as compared to the normal group, whereas their serum and liver levels increased less on a high fat diet plus Samjunghwan extract administered test group than the control group. Impressively, serum leptin levels in the test group decreased almost to the level of the normal group, which was well in accordance with the decreased fat contents in the test group rats. Furthermore, the activities of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase were increased in the control group, while their activities in the test group on a high fat diet plus Samjunghwan extract decreased nearly to the levels of normal group rats on a normal diet. Conclusions: These results showed that the obesity caused by a high fat diet was effectively inhibited the administration of Samjunghwan extract. Our results also showed that the abnormal lipid metabolism caused by a high fat diet was effectively cured by the administration of Samjunghwan extract.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.228-236
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• 2006

Objectives : Macrophage has an important innate defense role in the immune system. When we are infected with pathogens, macrophage ingests them through phagocytosis or endocytosis, and then secretes many cytokines, such as IL-1, IL-6 and $TGF{\alpha}$, which are regulators of immune responses. The aim of this study is to determine how Samjunghwan effects the expression of cytokine and other immune-related genes in macrophages. Methods : Cells were treated directly with Samjunghwan and/or LPS at regular intervals. Total RNA of cells was isolated using TRIzol reagent, and the changes in cytokine gene expressions were investigated using RT-PCR, western blot and ELISA. Results : $IL-1{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$ and COX-2 genes were inducibly expressed specifically by Samjunghwan in macrophage. Especially, $IL-1{\beta}$ gene was induced most strongly by treatment with Samjunghwan. Over time, treatment with Samjunghwan showed that the expression levels of $IL-1{\alpha}\;and\;$IL-1{\beta}$ genes increased from 1 to 4h, and then decreased from 4 to ISh. However, the expression level of COX-2 gene increased continuously up to 11h. $IL-1{\alpha},\;IL-1{\beta}$ and COX-2 genes were expressed synergistically by a simultaneous treatment of both Samjunghwan and LPS in macrophages. Secretion levels of translated $IL-1{\beta}$ increased continuously up to 11h. Conclusions : Though this study is only a start in the investigation of the efficasy of Samjunghwan, these results suggest that Samjunghwan has positive effects on immune responses.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.178-187
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• 2006

Objectives : Peroxynitrite $(ONOO^-),\;{\cdot}O_2^-$ and nitric oxide (NO) are cytotoxic species that can oxidize several cellular components such as proteins, lipids and DNA. It has been implicated in the aging process and age-related disease such as Alzheimer's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to investigate $ONOO^-$ scavengactivities, and that of its precursors, NO and ${\cdot}O_2^-$ of Samjunghwan. Methods : To investigate $ONOO^-,\;NO,\;{\cdot}O_2^-$ scavenging activities, fluorescent probes, namely 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) and dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) were used. Results : Samjunghwan markedly scavenged authentic $ONOO^-,\;{\cdot}O_2^-$ and NO. It also inhibited $ONOO^-$ induced by .02' and NO which are derived from SIN-I. Furthermore, Samjunghwan inhibited $ONOO^-$, ${\cdot}O_2^-$ and NO generation in LPS-treated ICR mouse kidney postmitochondria. Conclusions : These results suggest that Samjunghwan is an effective $ONOO^-,\;{\cdot}O_2^-$ and NO scavenger, and that this substance has a potential role as an inhibitor of aging process, and in therapy against age-related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2013

Samjunghwan (SJH) was fermented using five different probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, Enterococcus faecium, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacterium longum) separately. We examined the inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation through Oil Red O staining and analyzed the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EPB{\alpha}$), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), uncoupling protein (UCP)-2, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase which are adipogenic transcription factors. Both Lactobacillus plantarum and Enterococcus faecium-fermented SJH reduced Oil Red O dye staining compared with the same dose of non-fermented SJH. Only Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented SJH inhibited all adipogenic transcription factors and showed the best down-regulation of $PPAR{\gamma}$, UCP-2, and HMG-CoA reductase compared with the same dose of non-fermented SJH. The effect of SJH on the inhibition of preadipocyte differentiation was more prominent from the fermented SJH. Lactobacillus plantarum-fermented SJH, in particular, blocks the expression of $PPAR{\gamma}$, UCP-2, HMG-CoA reductase.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2014

Objectives: This study is to confirm the effect of combined extract and individual extract of Samjunghwan (SJH) in anti-oxidative and anti-obesity effect. Methods: Combined ethanol extract of readily made SJH and individual ethanol extract of Atractylodes japonica, Cortex lycii radicis, and Morus alba Linne was combined after the extraction. To evaluate the anti-oxidative effect of SJH, total phenol compound and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging ability were conducted. Real-time quantitative-polymerase chain reaction analysis of transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptror ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-${\alpha}1$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ ($TNF{\alpha}$) and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reducatase (HMG-CoA reductase) were done with 3T3-L1 cells to investigate the ant-obesity effect. Also, cell viability analysis were done to see to toxicity of SJH. Results: Individual extract of SJH showed significant decrease in $TNF{\alpha}$ and AMPK transcription while $PPAR{\gamma}$ showed significant increase. Combined extract and individual extract of SJH both showed decrease in HMG-CoA reductase. DPPH free radical scavenging ability and total phenol compound was analogous between two groups. Conclusions: Individual extract of SJH appears to be more effective in anti-oxidation and anti-obesity effect compared to combined extract of SJH.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.47-60
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to show the effects of Samjung-hwan ($S{\={a}}nj{\={i}}ngw{\'{a}}n$) extract on obesity and lipid metabolism of rats fed high fat diet. Methods : Crushed Samjung-hwan($S{\={a}}nj{\={i}}ngw{\'{a}}n$) 245 g was extracted with methyl alcohol. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 21.8 g. 20 rats were divided into normal, control, and two test groups. For 6 weeks, The normal group rats were supplied with a normal diet. The control group rats were supplied with a high fat diet. The test group 1 rats were supplied with a high fat diet and Samjung-hwan($S{\={a}}nj{\={i}}ngw{\'{a}}n$) extract 250 rug/kg and the test group 2 rats were supplied witha high fat diet and Samjunghwan($S{\={a}}nj{\={i}}ngw{\'{a}}n$) extract 500 mg/kg. Results : 1) The control group rats showed significantly increased weight of peritoneal fat than the nornal group rats. The test group 1 rats did not show significant difference compare to the control group rats, and the test group 2 rats showed significantly decreased weight of peritoneal fat than the control group rats. 2) The control group rats showed significantly increased triglyceride than the nornal group rats. The test group 1 rats showed significantly decreased triglyceride than the control group rats, and the test group 2 rats showed significantly decreased triglyceride than the control group rats. 3) The control group rats showed significantly increased LDL-cholesterol than the nornal group rats. The test group 1 rats showed significantly decreased LDL-cholesterol than the control group rats, and the test group 2 rats did not show significant difference compare to the control group rats. Conclusions : These results suggest that effectiveness of Samjung-hwan($S{\={a}}nj{\={i}}ngw{\'{a}}n$) extract to control the obesity and abnormal lipid metabolism caused by a high fat diet.