• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2006

Objectives : In this study, we investigate that Ulmi cortex extract contributes to growth inhibitory effect and anti-cancer activity on the HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Methods : Ulmi cortex was extracted from the leaves of the plant using water. The Ulmi cortex extract was treated to different concentrations for 24 hr. Growth inhibitory effect was analyzed by measuring FACS study and MTT assay. Cell cycle inhibition was confirmed by kinases assay. Cell apoptosis was confirmed by surveying caspases cascades activation using Western blot. Results : Exposure to Ulmi cortex extract (0.4mg/ml) results in an inhibitory effect on cell growth in HT-29 cells. Growth inhibition by Ulmi cortex extract in HT-29 cells was related with the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The Ulmi cortex extract induces G1-cell cycle arrest and DNA fragmentation in HT-29 cells. Furthermore, Ulmi cortex extract induces cell apoptosis through the activation of caspases-3 and PARP cleavage. Conclusion : Ulmi cortex extract induces apoptosis in human colon cancer cells, therefore, we suggest that Ulmi cortex extract can be used as a novel class of anti-cancer drugs.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.25-31
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• 2008

Objectives : In order to distinguish morphological characteristics of trunk bark and root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Rehder) Nakai and the trunk bark and root bark of Hemiptelea davidii Planchon were sampled and compared in terms of their external and internal features with flour states according to their medical use, through microscopic examination. Methods : The slice of the tested material made by paraffin section technique was colored with Safranine Malachite Green contrast methods, and the flour of it was mounted by the liquid made by the same ratio of each of glycerin, acetic acid, and water, and then observed and photographed by olymphus-BHT. Results : 1. Internal Features 1) A large parenchymatous cell was observed in the phloem of the slice of both trunk bark and root bark of Ulmi Cortex, However, both of the trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex did not have parenchymatous cell in the phloem; instead, stone cells including much square crystal of calcium oxalate were distributed around fiber bundle, and the parenchymatous cell included much druse crystal of calcium oxalate. 2) In both the Ulmi Cortex and Hemipteleae Cortex, rhytidome was observed in trunk bark, but not in root bark, but in the parenchymatous cell of the root bark of the Ulmi Cortex contained starch grain. 2. Flour States 1) In the flour of root bark of the Ulmi Cortex, a large parenchymatous cell was observed. However, in the flour of trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex, no parenchymatous eel was found; instead, stone cell including square crystal of calcium oxalate and druse crystal of calcium oxalate were observed. 2) There was no remarkable difference between the trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex. However, starch grain was contained in the parenchymatous cell of the root bark of Ulmi Cortex but not in the trunk bark of it. Conclusions : There were some morphological differences in external, internal, and flour parts of Ulmi Cortex and Hemipteleae Cortex. In particular, there was a morphological difference in flour states between the trunk bark and root bark of Ulmi Cortex, it is possible to use microscope to distinguish their flour states.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.524-529
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• 2016

Controlling the production of diverse cell/tissue types is essential for the development of multicellular organisms such as animals and plants. The Arabidopsis thaliana root, which contains distinct cells/tissues along longitudinal and radial axes, has served as an elegant model to investigate how genetic programs and environmental signals interact to produce different cell/tissue types. In the root, a series of asymmetric cell divisions (ACDs) give rise to three ground tissue layers at maturity (endodermis, middle cortex, and cortex). Because the middle cortex is formed by a periclinal (parallel to the axis) ACD of the endodermis around 7 to 14 days post-germination, middle cortex formation is used as a parameter to assess maturation of the root ground tissue. Molecular, genetic, and physiological studies have revealed that the control of the timing and extent of middle cortex formation during root maturation relies on the interaction of plant hormones and transcription factors. In particular, abscisic acid and gibberellin act synergistically to regulate the timing and extent of middle cortex formation, unlike their typical antagonism. The SHORT-ROOT, SCARECROW, SCARECROW-LIKE 3, and DELLA transcription factors, all of which belong to the plant-specific GRAS family, play key roles in the regulation of middle cortex formation. Recently, two additional transcription factors, SEUSS and GA- AND ABA-RESPONSIVE ZINC FINGER, have also been characterized during ground tissue maturation. In this review, we provide a detailed account of the regulatory networks that control the timing and extent of middle cortex formation during post-embryonic root development.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.14-30
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of Cortex ulmi pumilae on cell proliferation in HeLa cell. Methods : Human uterine cervical carcinoma HeLa cells were cultured in the 1%, 5% and 10% concentration of Cortex ulmi pumilae solution for 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours for the direct inhibitory effects of Cortex ulmi pumilae. Afterwards, we executed the analysis of the effect of Cortex ulmi pumilae solution on cell proliferation inhibition using XTT assay, DNA fragmentation, molecular biological method through MAP kinase activity and FACS analysis of caspase activity in the HeLa cells. Results : After 48 and 72 hours cultivation, the HeLa cells showed the concentration-dependently significant increase in all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups compared to the control. In the FACS analysis, all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups showed concentration-dependent increase compared to the control after 24 hours cultivation and the caspase-3 activities were decreased in all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups compared to the control after 24, 48 and 72 hours cultivation. After 48 and 72 hours cultivation, we could examined the apparent DNA fragmentation in all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups. In the XTT study, all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups showed concentration-dependent decrease compared to the control after 24 and 72 hours cultivation but 10% group after 48 hours and 5% and 10% groups after 72hours were presumed statistically significant differences. The expressions of MAP kinase were decreased in all Cortex ulmi pumilae solution containing groups compared to the control after 24, 48 and 72 hours cultivation. Conclusion : From this study we could suggest that Cortex ulmi pumilae be available to the inhibition of apoptosis of human cervical carcinoma cell line in vitro.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.41-49
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• 2008

Objectives : In order to distinguish morphological characteristics of trunk bark and root bark of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica (Rehder) Nakai and the trunk bark and root bark of Hemiptelea davidii Planchon were sampled and compared in terms of their external and internal features with flour states according to their medical use, through microscopic examination. Methods : The slice of the tested material made by paraffin section technique was colored with Safranine Malachite Green contrast methods, and the flour of it was mounted by the liquid made by the same ratio of each of glycerin, acetic acid, and water, and then observed and photographed by olympus-BHT. Results : 1. Internal Features 1) A large parenchymatous cell was observed in the phloem of the slice of both trunk bark and root bark of Ulmi Cortex. However, both of the trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex did not have parenchymatous cell in the phloem; instead, stone cells including much square crystal of calcium oxalate were distributed around fiber bundle, and the parenchymatous cell included much druse crystal of calcium oxalate. 2) In both the Ulmi Cortex and Hemipteleae Cortex, rhytidome was observed in trunk bark, but not in root bark, but in the parenchymatous cell of the root bark of the Ulmi Cortex contained starch grain. 2. Flour States 1) In the flour of root bark of the Ulmi Cortex, a large parenchymatous cell was observed. However, in the flour of trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex, no parenchymatous eel was found; instead, stone cell including square crystal of calcium oxalate and druse crystal of calcium oxalate were observed. 2) There was no remarkable difference between the trunk bark and root bark of Hemipteleae Cortex. However, starch grain was contained in the parenchymatous cell of the root bark of Ulmi Cortex but not in the trunk bark of it. Conclusions : There were some morphological differences in external, internal, and flour parts of Ulmi Cortex and Hemipteleae Cortex. In particular, there was a morphological difference in flour states between the trunk bark and root bark of Ulmi Cortex, it is possible to use microscope to distinguish their flour states.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.31-40
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• 2009

Purpose: This study was carried out to investigate the anti-tumor metastasis effect and activation of innate immunity by extracts of Mori radicis cortex. Methods: Anti-tumor metastatic experiment was conducted in vitro and in vivo by using colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cell, L5178Y-R lymphoma cell and HeLa cell. To observe the activation of innate immunity by extracts of Mori radicis cortex, we estimated IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$ from peritoneal macrophages. And we evaluated the activation of NK cell by using anti-asialo-GM1 serum. Results: We found that the administration of Mori radicis cortex extracts significantly inhibited tumor metastasis. In an in vitro cytotoxicity analysis, Mori radicis cortex affected tumor cell growth above specific concentration. Mori radicis cortex also stimulated peritoneal macrophage, which was followed by the production of various cytokines such as IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-${\alpha}$. The depletion of NK cells by anti-asialo GM1 serum partly abolished the inhibitory effect of Mori radicis cortex on tumor metastasis. Conclusion: Mori radicis cortex appears to have considerable activity on the anti-metastasis by activation of innate immunity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.259-266
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• 2000

Objectives : The effects of aqueous extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (a traditional medicine for cancer treatment in oriental medicine) on the induction of apoptotic cell death were investigated in human liver origm hepatoma cell lines, HepG2. Methods : The death of HepG2 cells was markedly induced by the addition of extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae in a dose-dependent manner. The apoptotic characteristic ladder pattern of DNA strand break was not observed in cell death of HepG2. In addition, it was not shown nucleus chromatin condensation and fragmentation under hoechst staining. However, by the using annexin V staining assay, externalizations of phosphatidylserine in HepG2 cell which were treated with Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts were detected in the early time (at 9 hr after extract treatment). Furthermore, LDH release was not detected in this early stage. Therefore, Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced cell death of HepG2 cells is mediated by apoptotic death signal processes. Result : The activity of caspase 3-like proteases remained in a basal level in HepG2 cells which treated with the extract of Cordyceps sinensis. However, it was markedly increased in HepG2 cells which treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) which were differently extracted (respectively, 2.3 and 3.3 fold). On a while, the phosphotransferase activities of JNK1 was markedly induced in HepG2 cells which were treated with two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae. On the contrary, the activation of transcriptional activator, activating protein1(AP-1) and NF-kB were severely decreased by these two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K). In addition, antioxidants (GSH and NAC) and intracellular $Ca2^+$ level regulator (Bapta/AM and Thapsigargin) did not affect Cortex ulmi pumilae extracts-induced apoptotic death of HepG2 cells. Conclusions : In conclusion, our results suggest that two extracts of Cortex ulmi pumilae (C.U.P.-C, C.U.P.-K) induces the apoptotic death of human liver origin hepatoma HepG2 cells via activation of caspase 3-like proteases as well as JNK1, and inhibition of transcriptional activators, AP-1 and $NK-{\kappa}B$.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.179-188
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• 2002

This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the effects of Acanthopanacis cortex on Cytokine-inducing and and immune response in Mice. In order to investigate the effect of Acanthopanacis cortex, the following was performed; Cytotoxicity, in vitro, the fraction of $CD4^+$, $CD8^+$, $B220^+$ in splenic cell, gene expression of IL-12(p35), IL-12(p40), IFN-${\gamma}$, and splenic cell proliferation by Acanthopanacis cortex. Analysis of cytokine gene expression was carried out by RT-PCR amplification. Amplified PCR products were electrophoresed on 1.2% agarose gel, and the analysis (Ht) was used to 1D-density program. The results were obtained as follows. Acanthpanacis cortex showed didn't have cell toxicity under $12{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ group on mouse lung fibroblast cells. In an in vitro model using mouse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), extract of Acanthpanacis cortex induced multiple cytokine, including interleukin-12 (p35), interleukin-12 (p40), interferon-gamma (IFN-${\gamma}$). The extract also enhanced the percentages of the $CD4^+$, and $CD8^+$ in the untreated control were $22.1{\pm}3.3$ to $38.4{\pm}2.1$, and $5.0{\pm}0.4$ to $10.7{\pm}0.3%$, respectively. From above findings, it is suggested that Acanthopanacis cortex is able to anti-cancer and activate immune response system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1563-1567
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• 2005

Mori Cortex Radicis is distributed in Northwestern China, northern Asia, northern Europe, North America, and Korea. This extracts drops sugar in bloods and inhibits cyclic AMP phophodiesterase. In this study, we investigated whether Mori Cortex Radicis would cause apoptotic death of A549 lung cancer cells. To examine the apoptotic effect of Mori Cortex Radicis, cytotoxicity assay, DNA fragmentation analysis, caspase-3 activity assay, and Western blotting for caspase-3, caspase-9 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and cytochrome c were performed. Treatment of cells with Mori Cortex Radicis was shown to induce cell death in a dose-dependent manner. DNA fragmentation was made in response to Mori Cortex Radicis. The active fragments of caspase-3, caspase-9 and PARP were almost completely induced and cytochrome c was released following exposure to Mori Cortex Radicis. To elucidate the apoptotic mechanisms, RT-PCR and Western blot analyses for the expression of Bcl-2, Bu and Cox-2 were carried out. Treatment with Mori Cortex Radicis was expressed the reduction of Bcl-2 and Cox-2 and the induction of Bax. Especially p21 and p53 were increased prior to untreated control, while cyclin E and cyclin D1 decreased in the cytosol. These results suggest that the effect Mori Cortex Radicis is associated with the cell cycle arrest and pro-apoptotic cell death in A549 lung cancer cells.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2005

Phellodendri Cortex (PC) has been used traditionally in Korea for damp heat leukorrhea with thick, yellow, discharge, foul-smelling diarrhea or dysentery. We investigated whether the Phellodendri Cortex Herbal-acupuncture Solution (PCHS) induced cell-death on SNU-17, human cervical cancer cell. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed to find out the cytotoxicity of PCHS. The cell death was identified as apoptosis from the results of 4, 6-diamidineo-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression of proapototic gene, Bax, was increased and the expression of apoptotic gene, Caspase-3, was also increased. Considering the above results, PCHS could induce the apoptosis on SNU-17, human cervical cancer cell, via Bax-related Caspase-3 activation. And it might provide the experimental data for the clinical use of Phellodendri Cortex on cervical cancer.