• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.77-91
• /
• 2009

Flowery Knotweed Root is the dried tuberous root of the knotweed family wheres Auriculate Swallowwort Root is the dried tuberous root of the swallowort family. Flowery Knotweed Root is also called Red Flowery Knotweed Root in China, which is dried root of Polygonum multiflorum THUMB. Chinese Flowery Knotweed Root is better known as the dried tuberous root belonging to the family Apocynaceae whereas White Flowery Knotweed Root in Korea is the dried tuberous root of Cynanchum wilfordii(Maxim) Hemsl. Up to now, while the dried root named Red Flowery Knotweed Root has been widely used in China, Auriculate Swallowwort Root has been widely used in Korea. Both the roots contrast in a striking way with the origin, shape, botanical names, other names, and chemical constituents, so administration and dosage without discrimination of both sides can be open to question. According to the literature, it is recorded that Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root are similar to the characteristics, properties, and actions. From this study, the result is as follows: 1. Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root are divided into the family Apocynaceae and the family Polygonaceae, respectively. Accordingly 2. Flowery Knotweed Root is in shape of an irregular spindle and looks reddish- brown or deep reddish-brown and the section is light yellowish-brown, while Auriculate Swallowwort Root looks yellowish-brown and the section is white or yellow. 3. Flowery Knotweed Root is reported by the Journal of the Crude Drug that the medicinals have not the same therapeutic action as Auriculate Swallowwort Root. It is recorded that the properties, channel entry, functions of Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root in literature have much in common. Many works on the roots of this plant has been used traditionally as a tonic are required of. In view of the results, Flowery Knotweed Root and Auriculate Swallowwort Root varies both in nature and in shape, so that the administration and dosage of the medicinals must be taken a prudent attitude.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.26-39
• /
• 2015

Objectives : Dendropanax morbifera is known as a tree that has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases. However, its biological activities in cancer have not yet been clearly elucidated. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of water extract of Dendropanax morbifera (DP) on 2 human breast cancer cell lines (estrogen dependent MCF-7 and estrogen independent MDA-MB-231). Methods : The MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to assess cell proliferation, along with cell cycle analysis. Nitric oxide production was detected by Griess assay. The expression of apoptosis related gene was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. Results : Our data revealed that DP inhibits the cell growth in a dose dependent manner (0, 50, 100, 250, and 500 μg/ml) of both estrogen independent MDA-MB-231 and estrogen dependent MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Also, LPS induced nitric oxide production was significantly reduced by DP. Cell cycle analysis showed an increased G1 phase in the MCF-7 cell and G2/M phase in the MDA-MB-231 cell. DP decreased mRNA expression of apoptotic suppressor gene Bcl-xL, and increased mRNA expression of pro-apoptotic genes. DP increased mRNA expression of p21, and Rip1 in both cell. And DP decreased mRNA expression of survivin in the MCF-7 cell. Conclusions : Taken together, these results indicate that DP extract are source of anti-cancer potential and could be developed botanical drug.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.92-99
• /
• 2011

Topical natural antioxidants are a useful strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress mediated cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis. From the viewpoint of this underlying principle, the screening of natural plant extracts with scavenging activity for pro-oxidant reactive species is a primary requirement for the development of new topical antioxidant formulations. Euryale ferox Salisbury (EF) is botanical name and it's pharmaceutical name is EURYALES SEMEN (ES). The stems and branchs of EF have been used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, leucorrhoea, incontinence and paralysis of joint. In this study, the antioxidant activity of extract from EF was studied in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity by TEAC and DPPH, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation. The EF extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation. In conclusion, the EF extracts have antioxidative effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress and chronic degenerative disease such as atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.71-78
• /
• 2020

Objectives: This study was conducted to development of hazardous materials management standards for the decoction type of personalized herbal medicines (PHMs). Methods: This study was conducted in two stages. We searched documents about criteria to use words such as 'Herb', 'Herbal medicine', and 'Botanical Drug' and summarized the results. We organized the committee consisted of seven experts, and held two meetings to reach an agreement on hazardous management standards of the decoction type of PHMs. Results: The seven documents were presented in the literature review and six items related to hazardous management standards of decoction were identified. The second expert meeting brought that a total of six items, including heavy metal, pesticide residues, sulfur dioxide, benzopyrene, mycotoxin, and micro-organism limits, were selected for safety management of decoction type of PHMs. Also, the criteria and test methods for each standard were suggested for monitoring the decoction type of PHMs. Conclusion: The study suggested hazardous material management standards and criteria for the decoction types of PHMs. In the future, it would be necessary to conduct a pilot test to ensure the validity and credibility of the safety management standard and criteria. Furthermore, the government level safety management system should be introduced to verify the safety of decoction medicines.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.31 no.12
• /
• pp.1128-1141
• /
• 2021

'Angelica' is one of the most traditionally consumed medicinal herbs around Northeast Asia including Korea for treatments of various diseases or health care purposes like hematopoiesis, blood circulation for women, sedative, analgesic, and a tonic medicine etc. Angelica gigas Nakai, a Korean native species of Angelica, is clearly different from the others in containing a high concentration of active ingredients like pyranocoumarines including decursin, decursinol, and decursinol angelate. These compounds have various kinds of positive effects such as anti-tumor activity including the precaution of neutropenia occurred during anticancer drug administration, improvements of metabolic disorders, menstrual irregularity, impairment of renal function, respiration improvement, cognition-enhancement, anti-inflammatory effect, anti-oxidative effect, enhancing fertility and so forth. Thus it implies incredible potentialities in future development for foods and drugs. However, certain purity-related qualities and/or overdose in food products can cause side effects like toxicities; therefore, their safety profiles should also be considered. This review focuses on the positive and negative effects of three pyranocoumarines in Angelica gigas Nakai and some possibilities and considerations for future food and drug products development.