• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.2
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of research papers on ginseng to provide an overview of global ginseng research. The qualitative and quantitative interpretation was carried out using collected data of Panax species and six other herbal plants from the Web of Science^TM Core Collection. We summarized and classified them by country/territory and institutions based on the corresponding author's institution. The first ginseng paper appeared in 1905 and since then, 8,090 papers have been published until 2019. Among them 7,385 papers were published in recent 24 years from 1996 to 2019. It was 18 papers in 1980, 53 in 1990, 97 in 2000, 369 in 2010, and increased to 678 in 2019. Proportion of ginseng papers in total number of scientific papers were also greatly increased, namely, 0.0008% in 1970, 0.0044% in 1980, 0.101% in 1990, 0.0141% in 2000, and 0.0422% in 2019. 7,099 original research papers including notes and 286 review papers were published during last 24 years. Total 3,286 institutions in 78 countries and 1,274 journals contributed to the publication of ginseng papers. Korea was the leading country in ginseng papers up to 2013, however, China took over the top from 2014. Chinese institutions contributed 40.3% of total papers followed by Korea (34.7%), USA (6.0%), Japan (4.1%), and Canada (2.9%). Ginseng was the most studied medicinal plant during last 24 years followed by tea, garlic, ginkgo, and ginger whose number of papers were 6,499, 3,641, 2,590, and 1,945, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.769-775
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• 2010

The genus Lespedeza belonging to Leguminosae is an annual or perennial herb, which has been used as a Chinese herbal medicine. Antioxidant activity on DPPH ((1,1)-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylenebenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radicals and the contents of total polyphenol and flavonoid were analyzed with 12 methanol extracts from six Lespedeza genus plants with different plant parts. The highest content of total polyphenol was detected in the leaves of Lespedeza$\times$robusta (194.6 mg GAE/g), while the highest content of total flavonoid existed in the aerial part of Lespedeza thunbergii var. intermedia (47.9 mg QE/g). Generally, the amounts of polyphenol and flavonoid compounds were higher in the leaves than in the stems. The $SC_{50}$ value of DPPH radical scavenging activity ranged from 10.16 to 90.94 ppm, of which the strongest activity was determined in the leaves of L. robusta. Most ABTS radical scavenging activities from the investigated methanol extracts were higher than that of L-ascorbic acid, implying the excellent antioxidant activity. The radical scavenging activity in this study showed high correlation with the amount of total polyphenol rather than that of total flavonoid. These data suggest that the methanol extracts from these Lespedeza spp. could be potential candidates for natural antioxidants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.319-331
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• 2013

Records found on labels of specimens deposited at Kyoto University (KYO) and references about three Japanese taxonomists, Koidzumi, Gen'ichi (1883-1953), Ohwi, Jisaburo (1905-1977), Kitamura, Siro (1906-2002) were assembled to produce collector's itineraries from 1930 to 1935 in Korea. The quality of data on labels of the specimens varies, but most are only the collector's name and country of collection, often, the locality data are only textual, and the Chinese and Japanese names, as well as the ethnic dialects common to the region, varies widely. It is estimated that approximately 2,000 specimens collected from Korea by three taxonomists are currently held within the collections of Kyoto University herbarium (KYO). Koidzumi, who was the professor of Kyoto University, traversed different northern parts of the country, such as Island Jeju-do, Mt. Keumkang-san, Hamkyongbuk-do during summer (July to August) in 1932, 1933, and 1935. In 1930 and 1932, Ohwi spend three months in the unexplored mountains in northern parts, such as Hamkyeongnam-do, Hamkyeongbuk-do, and Gangwon-do. On the other hand, for two months in the middle of 1935 visited Jeju-do, Mt. Jirisan and travelled through southern parts. Unlike two previous botanists, major collections in Korea by Kitamura took place twice in one major area in northern part and Jeju-do and Mt. Keumgang-san in 1930, 1932, and 1935.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2008

Objective : Herb medicines are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. They are used as a drug because of their various biological activities such as immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antitumor functions. Nelumbo nucifera have been applied in Chinese herbal prescriptions to improve tissue inflammation. However, it has not been elucidated on the effect of the flower of Nelumbo nucifera in cells. Method : In the present study, to examine the effect of that on glioma cells, U87, the essential oil was extracted from the flower of Nelumbo nucifera (NN essential oil). U87 cells were exposed to different concentrations of 2-40 ug/ml of NN essential oil in ethanol. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay at 24 h. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) for this antiproliferative activity of NN essential oil, phosphorylation of Akt, ERM, MAPK or p38 proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. To study long term effect of NN essential oil in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with NN essential oil for 4 days were obtained. Results and Conclusion : NN essential oil was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in glioma cells, at a broad range of concentrations of 10-40 ug/ml. The phosphorylation of Akt and Endoplasmic Reticulum Matrix (ERM) proteins which known to be involved in the cell death, were gradually decreased to 2 hours after addition 20 ug/ml of NN essential oil. However, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and p38 was found to increase in NN essential oil treated cells. NN essential oil treated cells showed decreased glioma cell number. These results provide a possible NN essential oil-induced inhibitory signal for tumor cell proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in Akt activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of p38 is required for the NN essential oil-induced inhibition of tumor proliferation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.353-358
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• 2001

The leaves of Duchung(Eucommia ulmoides), an oriental medicinal plant, have a peculiar aroma of Chinese medicine and astringent taste, which make the consumer be reluctant to Duchung leaf tea. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to develop a mild flavored Duchung leaf tea by mixing with other plants. The flavor patterns of developed tea were analyzed using an electronic nose. Polygonatum odoratum and Elsholtzia splendens were used for improving the flavor of Duchung leaf tea. The addition of 20, 30 and 40% of Polygonatum odoratum improved the overall acceptance in hedonic sensory evaluation. The flavor pattern of the tea was described by principal component analysis(PCA) and the resistance ratio(R/cub gas/R$\_$air/) of sensors. The PCA plot was also used to explain the mild flavor of the tea, which was extended from the right side(positive value of the first principal component) to the left side(negative value). Analysis by using an electronic nose with metal oxide sensors could be applied to detect whether mixed Duchung leaf tea was acceptable or not.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.