Platycodon (Platycodon grandiflorum) is used as a food and medicinal ingredient worldwide, particularly in Northeast Asia. Although a large number of studies have been conducted to determine its medicinal efficacy, there is still a paucity of literature summarizing the clinical activity of Platycodon. In this systematic review, we aimed to summarize the clinical efficacy of Platycodon. All literature describing the clinical efficacy of Platycodon was collected from international databases, and relevant papers were carefully evaluated for eligibility. Data were extracted from the selected papers and quality evaluation was conducted in accordance with the standards provided by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with all procedures being conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2009 checklist guidelines. After the removal of 342 papers, 644 studies were fully screened for their titles and abstracts, among which, 19 studies were finally selected for full summarization. Extraction of data indicated evidence of the effectiveness of Platycodon in the treatment of respiratory system-related diseases and cancer, and in the provision of immunity. However, we found that the quality and objectivity of evaluation, management of variable factors, sample size, and reproducibility were generally poor. Although Platycodon has shown potential antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and antidepressant effects, and promotion of immunity in clinical settings, it was not possible to integrate objective indicators to conduct a meta-analysis due to the lack of literature and insufficient studies. More investigations in the clinical setting should be conducted to confirm the functional effects of Platycodon.

This study was performed to clarify the whitening effects of anthricin on the B16F10 cell line. In order to elucidate the whitening effects of anthricin on the B16F10 cell line, cell viability, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expressions, tyrosinase activity assay, and melanin production assay were measured. The effects of anthricin on tyrosinase-related protein 1(TYRP1)/TYRP2/tyrosinase (TYR)/microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) mRNA expressions and melanin content were determined. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR showed that anthricin decreased the mRNA expression level of TYRP1/TYRP2/TYR/MITF genes and melanin production contents than α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells. The tyrosinase activity assay revealed that anthricin decreased the melanin production on the B16F10 cells. These data show that anthricin increases the whitening effects on the B16F10 cells; thus, anthricin is a potent ingredient for skin whitening. Thus, further research on the mechanism of action of anthricin for the development of not only cosmetics, but also healthy food and medicine should be investigated.

We previously reported that lonicerin isolated from Lonicera japonica methanolic extract had potent neuro-protective activities in neuronal cell death injured by excessive glutamate. In this study, we tried to confirm the neuroprotective activities of L. japonica extract and lonicerin in glutamate injured HT22 cells and establish mechanisms of neuroprotective action of lonicerin. We used HT22 cell death injured by glutamate as a bioassay system. The compound decreased reactive oxygen species increased by excessive glutamate treatment in HT22 cells. Also, Ca2+ concentration was decreased by lonicerin treatment. This compound made mitochondrial membrane potential maintain to normal condition. Lonicerin also increased not only glutathione reductase but also peroxidase to the control level. And this compound increased amount of glutathione, an endogenous antioxidant. These results indicated that lonicerin isolated from L. japonica showed potent neuroprotective activity through the anti-oxidative pathway.

During blood vessel damage, an essential step in the hemostatic process is platelet activation. However, it is important to properly control platelet activation, as various cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction, are also caused by excessive platelet activation. Found primarily in the roots of plants of the genus Artemisia or Scopolia, isoscopoletin has been studied to demonstrate its potential pharmacological effects against Alzheimer's disease and anticancer, but the mechanisms and roles involved in thrombus formation and platelet aggregation are insufficient. This study investigated the effect of isoscopoletin on U46619-induced human platelet activation. As a result, isoscopoletin significantly increased the levels of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dose-dependently. In addition, isoscopoletin significantly phosphorylated inositol 1, 4, 5-triphosphate receptor (IP3R) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphprotein (VASP), which are known substrates for cAMP-dependent kinases and cGMP-dependent kinases. Phosphorylated IP3R by isoscopoletin inhibited Ca2+ mobilization from the dense tubular system Ca2+ channels to cytosol, and phosphorylated VASP was involved in the inhibition of fibrinogen binding through αIIb/β3 inactivation in the platelet membrane. Isoscopoletin finally reduced thrombin-induced fibrin clotting production. Therefore, this study suggests that isoscopoletin has a potent antiplatelet effect and may be helpful for platelet-related thrombotic diseases.

Proliferation and maintain of dermal papilla during progression of hair-cycle are crucial to the duration of anagen and regulated by diverse signaling pathway such as PI3K/Akt/Wnt/β-catenin pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of Viola verecunda on dermal papilla cells. Treatment of dermal papilla cells with whole plant extract of V. verecunda resulted in cell proliferation, which was accompanied by up-regulation of cyclin D1, phospho (ser780)-pRB and cdc2 p34, and down-regulation of p27kip1. V. verecunda extract also promoted the levels of phospho (ser473)-Akt and phospho (ser780)-pRB in a time-dependent manner. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt by Wortmannin suppressed progression of cell-cycle, thereby attenuated the increases in proliferation of dermal papilla cells by V. verecunda extract. We further investigated Wnt/β-catenin pathway with respect to the effects of V. verecunda extract on the proliferation of dermal papilla cells. Treatment with V. verecunda extract results in up-regulation of Wnt/β-catenin proteins such as phospho (ser9)-GSKβ, phospho (ser552)-β-catenin and phospho (ser675)-β-catenin. In addition, Wortmannin abrogated V. verecunda extract mediated up-regulation of cdc2 p34 and down-regulation of p27kip1. These finding reveal that the proliferative effect of V. verecunda mediated by alteration of cell-cycle via activating PI3K/Akt/Wnt pathway in dermal papilla cells.

This research was conducted to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects of MeOH Ex. of Salvia miltiorrhiza (MESM) against oral pathogenic bacteria. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), removal effect of biofilm produced by Streptococcus mutans, effect of gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines and effect of production of proinflammatory cytokine of MESM were tested. MESM showed moderated antibacterial activity against oral pathogenic bacteria. About 89±8% of biofilms produced by S. mutans were removed by MESM at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. Gene expression of IL-1β and TNF-α induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis were 8~9 folds reduced by MESM. Gene expression of IL-8 induced by Fusobacterium nucelatum were 12 folds reduced by MESM. Production of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-8 were significantly suppressed by MESM. Conclusively, MESM showed potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect against oral pathogenic bacteria.

As the consumption of avocado fruits and avocado oils is steadily increasing, the amount of avocado seeds which are thrown away as by-products is also inceasing. Thus, the possibility of use of avocado seeds as natural preservatives was studied focused on the antioxidant effect. The extraction of avocado seeds and seed husks with 100% ethanol by maceration showed highest antioxidant activities and lowest IC50 values compared to 80% ethanol extract. Furthermore, 100% ethanol extract of avocado seeds and seed husks included significantly higher amount of polyphenols than 80% extract. However, total flavonoid content of 100% avocado seed extract was not signigicantly different from 80% seed extract, whereas that of 100% avocado seed husk extract was significantly higher than 80% seed husk extract. In case of acid values, heating of oil alone for 120 and 180 min significantly increased the acid values, whereas the treatment of oil with seed and seed husk extract signficantly decreased the acid values. These results suggest that antioxidant effects of avocado seeds and seed husks protected the oil against heat-induced acidification. Thus, avocado seeds and seed husks have a potential to be developed as an natural antioxidant and natural preservative which could be used commercially.

Belamcandae Rhizoma (BR), the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC., possesses various biological properties such as anti-inflammatory activity, antioxidant activity and antimutagenic activity. However, there have been no studies on the anti-amnesic effect of BR. In this study, we assessed the improvement effect of BR extract on scopolamine-induced amnesia in mice. ICR mice were administrated with BR (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, p.o.) and were subsequently injected of scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.) 30 min before behavioral tasks (Y-maze, passive avoidance and Morris water maze tasks). To further assess the possible mechanisms of BR, the ex vivo acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was also evaluated. BR could ameliorate scopolamine-induced memory impairment and could regulate the cholinergic function by inhibiting the AChE activity. These data demonstrated that BR exert candidate extract against amnesia by restoring the cholinergic activity.

For toxicity assessment, water extracts and powders from the Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma were manufactured and the component analysis were analyzed according to the Korean Pharmacopoeia method. Stability tests of water extracts and powders from the Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma were investigated at room temperature and refrigerated for one year. Two samples were found to have been stable for a year after analyzing them with HPLC. Therefore, the use of the water extracts and powders of Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma after preparation during the animal test turned out to be stable.