• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.269-288
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• 1996

Coicis Semen is one of the oriental medicine that has been used for the treatment of the diseases such as pulmonary abscess, periappendicular abscess and wart since ancient times. However, the mechanism of the action of the drug is not well studied. This study was done to investigate the effects of Coicis Semen on the host defence mechanism. Effects of Coicis Semen on the immune responses were analysed by measuring the contact hypersensitivity, hemagglutinin, hemolysin and rosette formation, cytotoxicity, and reactive oxygen intermidiates production. As the results, water extract of Coicis Semen administration enhanced the antibodies (hemagglutinin and hemolysin) formation and the appearance of rosette forming cells of the spleen. Also Coicis Semen increased the allogeneic immune response in the mouse, showed cytotoxic activity against human leukemia cell line(K562) and decreased the contact hypersensitivity against dinitroflurobenzene. Also administration of Coicis Senlen slightly increased NK cell activity and enhanced the production of such reactive oxygen intermediates as superoxide and hydrogen peroxide from the macrophages in vivo and in vitro. The above results demonstrate that Coicis Semen has enhancing effects on cellular and humoral immune responses against disease.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.7 no.1_4
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• pp.1-12
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• 1977

Free amino acid in ethanol extracts and total amino acid hydrolysates of Coicis semen were analyzed by amino acid autoanalyzer. The sample A (unpolished Coicis Semen) and sample B(polished Coicis Semen) are used in this experiments. The results obtained from this study are as follows: 1) 17 kinds of free amino acid (Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Gly, Ala, Val, Cys, Met, Ileu, Lew, Try, Phe, Lys, His, Arg,) including 7 kinds of essential amino acid (Val, Lew, Ileu, Thr, Lys, Met, Phe,) as human nutrition were identified and quantified but tryptophan. 2) Total free amino acids of sample A is more than about 3 folds that of sample B. 3) The distribution of free amino acids contained in sample A, threonine is the richiest and then comes Ala, Glu, Asp, and Pro, in that order. In sample B, glutamic acid is the richiest and then comes Thr, Asp, Ala, and Gly, in that order. 4) 17 kinds of total amino acid (Asp, Thr, Ser, Glu, Pro, Gly, Ala, Val, Cys, Met, Ileu, Lew, Tyr, Pher, Lys, including 7 kinds of essential amino acid (Val, Leu, Ileu, Thr, Lys, Met, Phe,) in human nutrition except tryptophan were identified and quanified. 5) Total amino acid content of sample A is more than about 1.06 folds that of sample B. 6) Total amino acid content of sample A in acid hydrolysates is more than about 1.06 folds that of sample B in acid hydrolysates. 7) Unknown chromatogram of ethanol extracts and acid hydrolysates of Coicis Semen were identified as Ornitine.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.23-34
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• 2003

Objective : In 2001, the rate of obesity in Korea reached 30.6%. There are many therapeutic ways to reduce body weight, such as low and very low calorie diet, exercise therapy, behavior modification therapy, etc. However, in many cases the patients feel stress under obesity treatment because of starvation. This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-starvation stress effect of Coicis Semen on mice. Methods : First, the mice were divided into 6 groups : Normal (group with no starvation), Control (administrated normal saline 6 times before starting 36 hours starvation), and Samples A, B, C, and D (administrated 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 3.0 g/kg Coicis Semen respectively 6 times before starting 36 hours starvation). Then the plasma corticosterone level and rectal temperature were measured. The norepinephrine, dopamine, DOPAC (dihydroxy-phenylacetic acid), 5-HT (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5- HIAA (5-hydroxy-indole-acetic acid) in the hypothalamus were measured by the HPLC method. Result : I. The rectal temperature in Sample group D showed a significant difference (P<0.05) compared with the Control group. 2. The DOPAC in Sample groups A, C and D showed the significant difference (P<0.05) compared with the Control group. Conclusion : It might be recognized that Coicis Semen has an anti-starvation stress effect.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.145-156
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• 2024

Unlike resistant cells, persister cells resist antibiotics due to a decreased cellular metabolic rate and can transition back to normal susceptible cells when the antibiotic is removed. These persister cells contribute to the chronic symptoms of infectious diseases and promote the emergence of resistant strains with continuous antibiotic exposure. Therefore, eliminating persister cells represents a promising approach to significantly enhance antibiotic efficacy. Here, we found that Coicis Semen extract reduced Staphylococcus aureus persister cells at a concentration of 0.5 g/L. Linoleic acid and oleic acid, the major components of Coicis Semen extract, exhibited a comparable reduction in persister cells when combined with three antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, oxacillin, and tobramycin. Conversely, these effects were nullified in the presence of the surfactant Tween 80 (1%), suggesting that the hydrophobic characteristics of linoleic acid and oleic acids play a pivotal role in reducing the number of S. aureus persister cells. Considering the concentration-dependent effects of linoleic acid and oleic acid, the persister-reducing activity of Coicis Semen extract was primarily attributed to these fatty acids. Moreover, Coicis Semen extract, linoleic acid, and oleic acid increased the cell membrane permeability of S. aureus. Interestingly, this effect was counteracted by 1% Tween 80, indicating a close association between the reduction of persister cells and the increase in cell membrane permeability. The identified compounds could thus be used to eliminate persister cells, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy and shortening treatment duration. When used in conjunction with antibiotics, they may also mitigate chronic symptoms and significantly reduce the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.159-171
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• 2009

Objectives This study was evaluated the effects of CSE the regulatory mechanism of NO and cytokines in the LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. Methods The Coicis Semen MeOH extract dissolved in EMEM for 1 hour prior to the addition of LPS(1${mu}g/ml$). The cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and Nitric Oxide production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The levels of cytokine and PGE2 were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results CSE inhibited the production of NO (0.03 and 0.1 mg/ml), $TNF-{\alpha}$ (0.03 and 0.1 mg/ml), $IL-1{\beta}$ (0.03 and 0.1 mg/ml), IL-6 (0.03, 0.1 mg/ml) and PGE2(0.03 and 0.1 mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS(lipopolysaccharide). Conclusion According to the results above, Coicis Semen can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.83-91
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• 2002

Objectives : In this study, water extracts from Coix lachryma-jobi Linne var. mayuen Stapf. were investigated for their effects on insulin-like action and glucose uptake in 3T3-Ll cells. Methods : We examined the effects of insulin-like action on the differentiation of 3T3-Ll fibroblasts. The Coicis Semen was treated with hot water and the extract was freeze-dried. The hot water extract was chromatographed on nonionic polymer resin (Amberlite XAD-4, Sigma) with distilled water (Fr. 1), 20% (Fr. 2), 40% (Fr. 3), 60% (Fr. 4), 80% (Fr. 5), and 100% EtOH (Fr. 6), successively. Results : Total extract of Coicis Semen was fractionated into 0 to 100% MeOH with Amberlite XDA-4 column. Treatment of cells with $10{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ of total extracts of Coicis Semen significantly increased the differentiation (p<0.05). At $1{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$ level of insulin, the differentiation was accelerated (p<0.01). The effect of extracts plus insulin on the differentiation was greater than that of insulin alone. In 3T3-Ll adipocytes, glucose uptake was higher by 2.7 times with 5 uM of total extract in low dosage of insulin (3 ng/ml) than without total extract. 5 and 50 uM of water and 40% MeOH fractions increased glucose uptake by 3.5 times in 3T3-Ll adipocytes (p<0.00l). Conclusions : Coicis Semen contains compounds which playa role of insulin-like action and insulin sensitizer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.1387-1390
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the solubility of the ingredients of the bilestone in the solution of the traditional oriental medicines. The cholesterol and the calcium carbonate(CaCO₃) were chosen as the ingredients of the bilestone. Coicis Semen, Polygonum aviculare L, Maydis Stigmata, Allium tuberosum Rottler, and Raphanus sativa var. hortensis for. acanthiformis Makino were studied as the oriental medicines for the bilestone. The cholesterol had showed no solubility in all solutions of the traditional oriental medicines, but the calcium carbonate had showed the good solubility in all solutions of the traditional oriental medicines except Coicis Semen.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1311-1314
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• 2006

This study was peformed to investigate possible mechanisms underlying possible effect of Coicis Semen composition (CSC) on inflammatory diseases using in vivo model of RA in the mice. Results are summarized as follows. In production of inflammatory cytokines, INF-${\gamma}$ in the spleen and IL-6 in the serum were decreased by CSC treatment. TNF-${\alpha}$ in serum was significantly decreased, IL-4 in the spleen was significantly increased by CSC treatment. In production of rheumatoid factors, IgM and IgG were significantly decreased by CSC treatment. The present data suggest that CSC treatment can improve pathological damage by CIA. So we expect that CSC should be used as a effective drugs for not only rheumatoid arthritis but also another autoimmune disease. Therefore we have to survey continuously in looking for the effective substance and mechanism in the future.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.17-25
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• 2009

Objectives: This study was on the pharmaceutical components in purified ginseng total saponin (GTS), coisis semen (CS), the combination of these drugs, and the major component of coicis coixol for the prevention and treatment of obesity. Methods: In this study, to evaluate the effect on the suppression of obesity, high fat diet-induced obese rats were treating with the drugs, the effects on the balance of energy and diet activity were examined, and the change of weight, the change of the intake of diet, body fat rate, etc. were assessed. Results: The results demonstrate that in high fat diet-induced obese white rats, the combination treatment of ginseng total saponin and coicis was effective in suppression of weight gain, reduction of intake of food, and reduction of body fat. Conclusions: The results suggest that a combination treatment with major components of red ginseng total saponin and coicis may be used therapeutically for the suppression and treatment of obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effects Rehmannia glutinosa, Radix puerariae, Semen coicis, Fructus hordei, Cortex acanthopanacis, Fructus chaenomelis, or Radix glycyrrhizae extracton 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation. Methods : We adopted Oil Red O staining methods to observe the formed lipid droplets. And the amount of lipids in adipocytes was measured using absorptiometric analysis. Results : The extracts of Rehmannia glutinosa, Radix puerariae, Semen coicis, Fructus hordei, Cortex acanthopanacis, Fructus chaenomelis, or Radix glycyrrhizae stimulated the preadipocytes differentiation and lipid droplet formation. And the complex extract of the traditional herbal medicines stimulated there actions more than single extracts. Conclusions : The extract of Rehmannia glutinosa, Radix puerariae, Semen coicis, Fructus hordei, Cortex acanthopanacis, Fructus chaenomelis, or Radix glycyrrhizae has stimulatory effects. on adipogenesis. Moreover, the complex extract of the traditional herbal medicines has more effect than single extracts.