For centuries, humans have leveraged the health-promoting properties of plants for our well-being. While research has been conducted on numerous medicinal plants, the specific benefits of many species remain underexplored. Eupatorium Japonicum (EJ), a member of the Asteraceae family, has historically been consumed in Japan, South Korea, China, and Vietnam for its traditional use in soothing digestive issues. This study aimed to explore the radical scavenging and antiinflammatory efficacy of EJ extract using RAW 264.7 cells. The radical-scavenging effects were assessed using the DPPH and ABTS assays, where an anti-oxidative molecule in the test sample will react with a stable free radical in DPPH and ABTS causing discoloration. The anti-inflammatory efficacy was assessed using the nitric oxide (NO) assay in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, where the amount of NO produced in response to infection was measured using Griess reagent. Reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR were executed to confirm the anti-inflammatory activity by measuring the RNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The DPPH and ABTS assays revealed that EJ extract decreased oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner (7.8-1,000 μg/mL) compared to ascorbic acid and Trolox respectively. EJ extract significantly reduced NO production concentration independently. Furthermore, EJ extract showed no cytotoxic effects as determined through the MTT assay. RT-PCR and real-time PCR analyses revealed inhibition of mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6). Western blotting demonstrated EJ’s anti-inflammatory activity by reducing protein levels of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6. These findings suggest that EJ extract exhibits anti-inflammatory activities and can be further evaluated in the future.
This study aims to address the effect of interferential current therapy and thereby to provide basic resources to physical therapies for internal medicine by identifying symptoms for functional dyspepsia and serum gastrin level that shows gastric motility. Following results were obtained by performing interferential current therapy to 16 subjects composed of 8 for functional dyspepsia group and 8 for control group for 20 minutes a day, 3 days a week, for 6 weeks. In control group, serum gastrin level was significantly( p<.01), lowered after the therapy whereas there was no significant difference observed in all questions from questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia between before and after the therapy. In functional dyspepsia group, serum gastrin level was significantly(p<.01), lowered after the therapy and there was also significant(p<.01) reduction in every question from questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia between before and after the therapy. There was more significant decrease in serum gastrin level and reduction in questionnaire for symptoms of functional dyspepsia in the functional dyspepsia group compared to the control group(p<.01). This study confirms the interferential current therapy as an effective therapeutic method for internal diseases including functional dyspepsia since it not only improves the symptoms of functional dyspepsia but also allows the gastric motility close to normal.
The aim of this is to examine the effects of SSP therapy on the internal carotid arteries blood flow of 24 tension type headache patients(study group) and non tension type headache patients(control group), and on the reduction of their headaches, when applied to the acupuncture points. It stimulated the acupuncture point of headache 6 place with the SSP. It measured VAS and the blood flow of the internal carotid arteries with TCD. When the internal carotid arteries blood flow of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). When the Visual Analog Scale of study group and control group were compared by period, a significant difference was found in the 4th period(p<.05). The comparison of each measurement result of the internal carotid arteries blood flow of the study group found significantly increased. The comparison of each measurement result of the VAS of study group found significantly decreased. With regard to the control group, the VAS significantly decreased. The silver spike point low frequency electrical stimulation treatment, when applied to the acupuncture point, can significantly influence the internal carotid arteries blood flow of headache patients and can significantly reduce their headaches.
This study was performed to investigate the effects of Needle Electrode Electrical Stimulation(NEES) on ischemia-induced cere˗ brovascular accidents. After obstruction and reperfusion of arteries in white mice, the amounts of necrosis and inflammation related sub˗ stances Bax, IL-6, Caspase-3, and COX-2 were measured in neurons of the fore-brain. The following results were obtained. This study used 21 male specific pathogen free(SPF) SD rats, 8 weeks of age and approximately 300g in weight. Each exposed artery was completely occluded with non-absorbent suture thread and kept in that state for 5 minutes. The sutures were then removed to allow reperfusion of blood. Test group is control group(common carotid artery occlusion models), a GI(underwent common carotid artery occlusion), and NEES(underwent NEES after artery occlusion). The GI and NEES groups were given 12, 24, or 48 hours of reperfusion before NEES. NEES device(PG6, ITO, Japan, 9V, current, 2Hz) was used to stimulate the bilateral acupoint ST36 of the SD rats for 30 minutes while they were sedated with 3% isoflurane. An immuno-his˗ tochemistry test was done on the forebrains of the GI induced rats. Both Bax and Caspase-3 immuno-reactive cells, related to apoptosis, were greater in the GI than the NEES group. Cox-2 and IL-6 immuno-reactive cells, related to inflammation, were greater in the GI and NEES groups than the control group. We can expect that applying NEES after ischemic CVA is effective for preventing brain cells from being destroyed. And we can conclude NEES should be applyed on early stage of ischemic CVA.