When blood vessels are damaged, a rapid hemostatic reaction occurs to minimize blood loss and maintain normal circulation. Platelet activation and aggregation is essential in this process. However, excessive platelet aggregation or abnormal platelet aggregation may be the cause of cardiovascular disease, such as thrombosis, stroke and atherosclerosis. Therefore, it is important to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease by finding substances that can regulate platelet activation and suppress aggregation reactions. Isoscopoletin, which is mainly found in the roots of plants Artemisia or Scopolia, has been reported to have potential pharmacological effects on anticancer and Alzheimer's disease, but its role and mechanisms for platelet aggregation and thrombus formation are unknown. This study confirmed the effect of isoscopoletin on major regulation of collageninduced human platelet aggregation, TXA₂ production and intracellular granular secretion (ATP and serotonin release). In addition, the effects of isoscopoletin on phosphorylation of phosphorylated proteins PI3K/Akt and MAPK involved in signal transduction in platelet aggregation was studied. As a result, isoscopoletin significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K/Akt and MAPK, significantly inhibiting platelet aggregation through TXA₂ production and intracellular granular secretion (ATP and serotonin release). Therefore, we suggest that isoscopoletin is an anti-platelet substance that regulates phosphorylation of phosphorus proteins such as PI3K/Akt and MAPK and is valuable as a preventive and therapeutic agent for platelet-derived cardiovascular disease.

Three coumarins, one chromone, and a phytosterol were isolated from the stem of Ostericum koreanum. Basis on the spectral data, we determined to be the structures of isolated compounds as bergapten, xanthotoxin, auraptenol, hamaudol, and mixture of phytosterols. Auraptenol was isolated for the first time from this plant.

Mahaenggamsuk-tang (MHGS) has been widely used in Korea and China for the treatment of various diseases. MHGS was constituted the Ephedrea Herba, Armenicae Semen, Glycyrrhizae Radix and Gypsum Fibrosum. In this study, we have made three different solvents extract as MHGS water extract (MHGS-W), MHGS 50% EtOH extract (MHGS-50E), and MHGS 100% EtOH extract (MHGS-100E). The MHGS-W, MHGS-50E and MHGS-100E showed the discernible difference patterns on HPLC analysis. Furthermore, MHGS-50E and MHGS-100E significantly increased the DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effects than MHGS-W. In addition, the MHGS-50E and MHGS-100E also inhibited significantly nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE₂) production, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in RAW264.7. On the other hand, MHGS-50E and MHGS-W showed remarkable protection on the HT22 cell via heme oxygenase (HO)-1, but MHGS-100E did not show. The results of this study proved that MHGS-50E has greater potential therapeutic uses by exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects compared to MHGS-100E, MHGS-W. Our study suggests that the different solvent might be affected the biological activities when make the traditional herbal medicines including MHGS.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-melanogenic effects of the extracts from Decaschistia intermedia craib (EDI). In this study, we examined the effects of EDI on mushroom tyrosinase activity in in vitro, melanin contents, and expression levels of mRNA and proteins of melanogenesis-related genes in B16F10 melanoma cells. The treatment of EDI significantly decreased both tyrosinase activity and melanin contents in B16F10 cells with dose-dependent manner. In addition, we found that the expression of mRNA or proteins of melanogenic proteins, such as, a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (a-MSH)-induced microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, tyrosinase related protein-1 (TRP-1), and TRP-2 was significantly downregulated with dose-dependent manner in the EDI-treated B16F10 cells compared to controls. Our results suggest that the EDI inhibits cellular melanogenesis through downregulation of a-MSH-stimulated melanin synthesis. Thus EDI may potentially be an effective whitening agent.

In this study, the effect of complex hot water extracts of Cirsium jaonicum, Artemisia annua and Curcuma longa (CAC) on the improvement of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was investigated. CAC inhibited fatty acid synthesis and lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells cultured with free fatty acid (FFA). In the NAFLD animal model, CAC extract suppressed the increase in body weight, liver, and epididymis fat weight, and suppressed the increase in hepatocyte fat and blood triglyceride. In addition, by blocking the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, cells were protected from oxidative stress in hepatocytes. Moreover, CAC inhibited the expression of COX-2, iNOS, TNF-α and IL-17 in hepatocytes. These results suggest the possibility that CAC extract can be applied in the field of health functional foods and pharmaceuticals for improvement and prevention of NAFLD.

In this study, we evaluated the anti-nociceptive activities of Sorbus alnifolia. To investigate the anti-nociceptive properties of the methanolic extract of Sorbus alnifolia (MSA), we conducted several tests using various experimental mouse pain models. Herein, MSA significantly delayed the latency time and writhing motion in the hotplate test and acetic acid test, respectively. These result indicated that MSA has an ability to manage both peripheral and central nociception. We could further confirm the analgesic effects of MSA by performing formalin test. In combination test using naloxone, a non-selective opioid receptor antagonist, analgesic activity of MSA was partly antagonized by naloxone, but not completely, indicating that the MSA acts as a partial opioid receptor agonist. Out results suggest that the S. alnifolia may be possibly used as valuable anti-nociceptive agent.

Caenorhabditis elegans model system was used to investigate the antioxidant activity of Beta vulgaris L. (Chenopodiaceae) methanol extract. The methanol extract showed DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide quenching activity in a dose-dependent manner. The B. vulgaris methanol extract was measured for the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and oxidative stress tolerance by using C. elegans, along with reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. In addition, to see that the regulation of the stress response gene is responsible for the increased stress tolerance of C. elegans treated by the methanol extract, SOD-3 expression was measured using a transgenic strain. As a result, the B. vulgaris methanol extract increased SOD and catalase activities, and decreased ROS accumulation, dose-dependently. Furthermore, the methanol extract-treated CF1553 worm showed higher SOD-3::GFP intensity than the control.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of Chaenomeles sinensis as a content of protocatechuic acid and physiological activities. The analyzed the content of protocatechuic acid of Chaenomeles sinensis water extract (CSW) according to different extract temperature and time for extraction. It was analyzed as 0.14±0.00 mg/g in the extract at 100℃ for 3 h. Protocatechuic acid content increased as extraction time and temperature increased. The activity of the CSW at 100℃ for 3 h was measured. As a result of measuring DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity and SOD activity, antioxidant activity was found and α-glucosidase inhibition activities. Cell viability was shown for RAW 264.7 cells, and NO (nitric oxide) production was also inhibited. Finally, content of protocatechuic acid increased with increasing extraction time and extraction temperature, and exhibited antioxidant activity, inhibition of NO production, and anti-diabetic activity. It is believed that the Chaenomeles sinensis is likely to be developed as a functional material.

The analysis method for qualitative analysis of the screening method that can be performed prior to the quantitative analysis of individual pesticide was reviewed in order to meet the safety standards that are being strengthened in the field of pesticide residue testing of herbal medicines. Among the residual pesticides presented in the Korean Pharmacopoeia, 56 pesticides, excluding 15 pesticides that need to be individually analyzed, were selected for analysis using QuEChERS preprocessing and GC-MS/MS, which are used in the existing agricultural products field. For each pesticide, the detection limit level of 0.001-0.005 mg/kg and the quantitative limit level of 0.002-0.017 mg/kg were confirmed. In the recovery test in which the standard was treated at a concentration of 0.02 mg/kg, it was confirmed that the proportion of pesticides satisfying the recovery of 70-120% was 85.7-96.4% for each herbal medicine, so it was confirmed that it was a level that could be reviewed by the screening method.

Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (CM) has been used to treat certain medical conditions such as hemorrhage, hepatitis, and hypertension. Cirsimaritin was previously found as the major flavonoid in CM and is said to contribute to its pharmacological effects. There are currently no reports detailing the qualitative and quantitative detection of phytochemical indicators in the aerial parts of CM. Therefore, we developed a method to rapidly identify and quantify cirsimaritin in CM using HPLC/UV, and we optimized and validated this analytical method. The results showed good linearity in the concentration range tested (0.25-0.015 mg/mL, r² ≥ 0.9999), accuracy (93.9-111.3%), and precision (RSD ≤ 0.59%). The developed method can therefore be used for the rapid evaluation of cirsimaritin in CM.

Recently, consume for functional cosmetics containing natural products has been greatly increased. In order to develop it as a natural cosmetic material, we selected Ixeridium dentatum (Thunb.) Tzvelev, Plantago asiatica L. and Rumex crispus L. that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, simultaneous quantitative analysis of the isolated compounds and natural product complexes (Mix.) were validated using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isolated six compounds were shown in a large linearity with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. The limit of detection (LOD) of chlorogenic acid, plantamajoside, acteoside, emodin chrysophanol and physcion were 0.36 ㎍/mL, 0.36 ㎍/mL, 0.37 ㎍/mL, 0.30 ㎍/mL, 0.22 ㎍/mL and 0.12 ㎍/mL, respectively. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of chlorogenic acid, plantamajoside, acteoside, emodin chrysophanol and physcion were 1.10 ㎍/mL, 1.08 ㎍/mL, 1.12 ㎍/mL, 0.99 ㎍/mL, 0.66 ㎍/mL and 0.35 ㎍/mL, respectively. Content analysis showed chlorogenic acid (0.19 ± 0.02%), plantamajoside (0.48 ± 0.01%), acteoside (0.65 ± 0.01%), emodin (1.15 ± 0.11%), chrysophanol (0.73 ± 0.01%) and physcion (0.69 ± 0.09%). Therefore, the results of this study may provide for basic data of standardization research natural cosmetic material development on the I. dentatum, P. asiatica and R. cripus.