Background Yangkyuksanwha-tang (YST) is an herbal medicine based on Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) and is widely used in Korean traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of YST on obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Methods We induced obesity in C57bl/6 J mice using a HFD, and then orally administered 300 mg/kg YST for 6 weeks. We measured body weight, food efficiency, organ and fat weight, serum biochemical parameters, and obesity-related gene expression, and carried out histological analysis at the end of the experimental period. Results YST significantly reduced the absolute body weight and food efficiency ratio. The serum, aminotransferase, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the YST-treated group than in the control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in the YST-treated group was significantly higher. The YST-treated group also showed a significant reduction in regional fatty tissues and the absolute weight of various organs. We also observed a significantly reduced expression of AP2/FABP4, C/EBP-β , leptin, and SREBP1c/ADD1 mRNA, and significantly increased expression of UCP-2 and adiponectin mRNA in adipose tissue in the YST-treated group. YST also decreased the lipid droplet size and lipid accumulation in the liver, as well as adipocyte size in epididymal adipose tissue. At the dose tested, YST was non-toxic to the liver and kidneys of the mice. Conclusion The results imply that YST has anti-obesity effects in obesity-induced mice. Although the number of experimental animals was limited and the drug effects concern mice, rather than humans, which have different constitutions, the study has valuable implications with respect to the general effects of YST.

Objectives:As interests in the beauty of skin is growing continuously, more people are focusing on white and clean skin. Melanin is the major factor that determines skin color. The abnormal concentration of melanin causes various skin diseases such as vitiligo, freckles, and melasma. This study investigated the inhibitory effect of Eriobotryae Folium extracts (EF) with phreatic water (PW) on the melanin synthesis. Methods: The effect of EF on melanin synthesis was evaluated by using mouse melanoma cells (B16F10). To define the mechanisms, real-time PCR and western blot were used. We also evaluated the inhibitory effects of EF and PW on melanin synthesis by using HRM-2 melanin-possessing hairless mice. After UVB irradiation, melanin differences between the skin parts that were treated and untreated with EF and PW. Levels of mRNA were measured by real-time quantitative PCR and histological analysis of the dorsal skin was conducted by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Results: EF inhibited various mechanisms of melanogenesis, and the effect was increased when combined with PW.In vitro experiments have shown that EF inhibited the expressions of tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1) mRNA, tyrosinase mRNA, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) mRNA and the tyrosinase inhibitory activation, but it stimulated the extracellular regulated kinase (ERK) mRNA expression. In vivo experiments have shown that EF prevented melanogenesis in the mice dorsal skin and inhibited TRP-1 mRNA expression. Also these effects were increased when combined with PW. Conclusions: EF and PW might be a new and effective treatment for whitening and treating pigmentation of skin.The water was collected from Paradise Spa Dogo, Korea. The component analysis of the PW of DOGO had been conducted in the research of researcher Jang [8], and drinking water test was investigated by Chungnam Institute of Health and Environment, Korea. Sunblock CreamThe sunblock cream was purchased from Medi Spa Sunblock SPF 47/PA ++ 70 ml (HUNUSBIO, INC, Korea) from medical-skincare.co.uk.

Objectives: The objective of this study is to develop a new animal model with Kidney-hypofunction for Sasang Constitutional Medicine, especially for partial Soyangin(one of four constitution which has good digestive function and poor renal function) by Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction ,and to estimate the factor related to obesity, dyslipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Methods: The C57BL/6J mice were divided into 3 groups : normal group, high fat diet(HFD) control group, and HFD group with Unilateral Ureteral Obstruction(UUO). Then, the HFD control group and the experimental group were fed with high fat diet for 6 weeks. Food intake and body weight were measured at regular time by week. After the final experiment, blood was gathered for bloodchemical examination and organs(liver, fatty tissue) were remoed, weighted, and mRNA was analyzed with real-time PCR. Results: The weight growth rate with High fat diet went down by 8.35% in experimental group and had similar FER with the normal group, while HFD control group had higher weight growth rate and FER than any other groups. Also The experimental group had lower triglyceride and LDL cholesterol rate and higher glucose rate in serum. and in mRNA expression, GLUT-9, the protein related to excretion of uric acid and metabolic syndrome, expressed lower rate than that of HFD control group. and IL-6, a kind of cytokine related to obesity and metabolic syndrome, expressed more than HFD control group. Conclusions: It was found that Kidney-hypofunction animal-experimental model is susceptible to metabolic syndrome.

The aim of this study was to evaluate autophagyenhancing and neuroprotective effects of Wonji-Gobon mixture (WGM), a traditional Chinese prescription medication, in Parkinson's disease (PD) mouse models. Our investigation found that WGM increased the expression of both Beclin1 and LC3b-Ⅱ proteins as measured with western blot in the BV2 cell line; both proteins play a role in autophagy. WGM also increased the autophagy expression as measured by fluorescence-activated cell-sorting analysis in the BV2 cell line. In 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-induced PD models, WGM significantly increased the amount of dopamine in a striatum-substantia nigra suspension, produced notable results in the forced swim test, and increased serotonin as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis; these results are indicative of neuroprotective effects. In summary, our findings indicate that WGM treatment has neuroprotective effects that are partially mediated by autophagy enhancement.