• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.604-617
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• 2003

Candida albicans is one of the most common etiological agents in fungi-associated skin infections. There is an increase of candidiosis especially in the patient of acquired or induced immunodeficiency syndromes or in the event of long-term antibiotics and immuno-suppressor or cytotoxic therapies. To screen out reliable and effective anti-candidiosis agent, in this study, we have evaluated antifungal activity of 298 plant extracts against C. albicans. Based on the results of disc-paper method and determination of minimal inhibitory concentration, fifteen extracts were finally selected as possible sources of anti-candidiosis agent. Especially, six different plant extracts, such as Rubus parvifolius, Euphorbia pekinensis, Coptis chinensis, Eugenia aromaticum, Paeonia lactiflora var. hortensis and Paeonia suffruticosa showed strong antifungal activity against C. albicans, not to S. cerevisiae. These results suggested that medicinal and wild plants could be the potential source of antifungal agent.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.133-144
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• 2009

Objective : We try to find out the literature and clinical evidences of seasonal formula through the analysis of the addition and subtraction of medical herbs in the formula according to the season. Method : In this study, we analyzed 122 seasonal prescriptions from "Dong-uibogam(東醫寶鑑)", "Bang-yakhappyeon(方藥合編)", "Jeongchijunsueng(證治準繩)", "Dangyesimbeop(丹溪心法)", "Uihakimmun(醫學入門)", "Uihakjeongjeon(醫學正傳)", "Gyeong-akjeonseo(景岳全書)" and "Taepyeonghyeminhwajegukbang(太平惠民和劑局方)". Results : In spring, pungent-warm herbs such as the dried rhizome of cnidium officinale Makino, the dried root of SEdebouriella divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. are used. In summer, bitter-cold such as the dried root of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, the dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch. or pungent herbs such as the dried aerial part of Elsholtzia splendens Nakai, the dried ripe seed of Dolichos lablab L. are added. In fall and winter, pungent-bitter-hot herbs such as the dried ripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth., the dried rhirome of Zingiber officinale Rosc. are used. Conclusions : In this paper, we have shown that several medical herbs could be added and subtracted in the formula according to the season because they have the seasonal characteristic Gi or treat seasonal pathogens.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.162-168
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• 2007

It is well known that oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is the most characterized humoral factor that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The water extract of the Korean herbal remedy, ZoaGumHwan (ZGH), which is composed of roots of Coptis chinensis Franch and fruits of Evodia officinalis Dode with the ratio of 6 to 1, reduced the in vitro oxidation of low density lipoproteins (LDL). Also, the ZGH extract and berberine, one of the major components of ZGH, significantly prevented oxLDL-induced adhesion of monocytes to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Furthermore, the ZGH water extract and berberine decreased oxLDL-induced expression of CC chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2), a dominant monocyte chemotaxis receptor, in U937 human monocytic cells. The protective effects of the ZGH water extract and berberine were similar to those of simvastatin, an effective lipid-lowering drug. The results suggest that Korean herbal remedy, ZGH, seems to have protective effect against oxLDL-induced monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1/CCR2-dependent monocyte recruitment onto endothelial cells.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.808-816
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• 2018

Bacterial biofilms have been demonstrated to be closely related to clinical infections and contribute to drug resistance. Berberine, which is the main component of Coptis chinensis, has been reported to have efficient antibacterial activity. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of a combination of berberine with ciprofloxacin (CIP) to inhibit Salmonella biofilm formation and its effect on expressions of related genes (rpoE, luxS, and ompR). The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index of the combination of berberine with CIP is 0.75 showing a synergistic antibacterial effect. The biofilm's adhesion rate and growth curve showed that the multi-resistant Salmonella strain had the potential to form a biofilm relative to that of strain CVCC528, and the antibiofilm effects were in a dose-dependent manner. Biofilm microstructures were rarely observed at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations (MIC, minimal inhibition concentration), and the combination had a stronger antibiofilm effect than each of the antimicrobial agents used alone at $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. LuxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions were significantly repressed (p< 0.01) at $1/2{\times}MIC/FIC$ concentrations, and the berberine and CIP combination repressed mRNA expressions more strongly at the $1/4{\times}FIC$ concentration. The results indicate that the combination of berberine and CIP has a synergistic effect and is effective in inhibiting Salmonella biofilm formation via repression of luxS, rpoE, and ompR mRNA expressions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.83-90
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• 2014

Objectives : This research has been done to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Coptidis Rhizoma extracts. Method : Coptidis Rhizoma was extracted by $100^{\circ}C$ water. The extract (CC : Extract of Coptis chinensis rhizome) was used to examine its effects on the cell viability of mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cell line. Also the production of nitric oxide (NO), the c-jun N-terminalkinase (JNK) activation and the production of cytokines such as (IL)-5 were evaluated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. After the CC and LPS were applied to Raw 264.7 cells which were cultured for 24 hours, the MTT assay was performed. Result : The CC extracts didn't affect the viability of macrophage cells. However, the extracts inhibited the NO production and the JNK activation significantly in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells treated with 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations. The CC extract, also, impeded the production of inflammation-related factors and cytokines such as KC, VEGF, MCP-1, GM-CSF, IL-$1{\alpha}$, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-12p40 in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells at the concentration higher than $25{\mu}g/mL$. The production of basic-FGF concentration of 50 and $100{\mu}g/mL$, the production of IP-10 at $100{\mu}g/mL$, and the production of IFN-${\gamma}$ at $25{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Conclusion : The CC prepared using $100^{\circ}C$ water showed the significant anti-inflammatory effect such as the inhibition not only on the production of NO, KC, VEGF, MCP-1, GM-CSF, IL-$1{\alpha}$, IL-5, IL-6, and IL-12p40 in LPS-stimulated macrophage cells at or higher than the concentration of $25{\mu}g/mL$, but also on the JNK activation at 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.66-94
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• 2022

Objectives : Diabetic Foot Ulcer(DFU) is one of the common complications of diabetes. DFU is difficult to treat compared to other chronic wounds and clinically effective treatments are limited. The purpose of this study is to review the of external ointment treatment for DFU. Methods : 8 databases such as PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL, CNKI, NDSL, RISS, KISS, OASIS including English, Korean and Chinese were searched by structured search strategies that consist of terms as 'diabetic foot', 'diabetic foot ulcer(DFU)' and 'randomized' from January 2001 to January 2021. All randomized controlled trials(RCTs) involving treatment group as external ointment or in combination with conventional treatment were included. Results: A total of 20 RCTs was identified and analyzed. In treatment group, ointment was applied based on conventional treatment. A total of 16 different ointments were used, and the frequency of use was highest in the order of Heat-clearing drug, Blood-activating and stasis-dispelling drug, Tonifying and Replenishing drug and Orifice-opening drug. The most used herbs were in the order of Coptis chinensis Franch., Phellodendron chinense Schneid., Borneolum syntheticum., Angelica sinensis(Oliv.) Diels. In treatment group, a clinically effective effect was obtained compared to the contrast group. Conclusions : The result of this study suggest that external ointment treatment based on conventional treatment can be applied to DFU.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.122-129
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• 2008

The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of pork patties supplemented with medicinal herb extract mix were investigated. The medicinal herb extract powder was mixed at a ratio of 48.5:48.5:3.0 for Morus alba L, Lonicera flos, and Coptis chinensis, respectively. The pork was prepared and supplemented with medicinal herb extract mix (0, 0.5, 1, or 2%) and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities were tested during storage at $4^{\circ}C$. The pH value decreased during cold storage at $4^{\circ}C$ for allsamples, however the pH of samples supplemented with herb extract mix rapidly decreased by days 5 and 10 ($p{\leq}0.05$). The total phenol content in the pork patties with herb extract mix was higher than in the control patties. The ABTS+ radical scavenging activities increased with increasing concentrations of herb extract mix from 0.5% to 2%. In addition, pork patties supplemented with herb extract mix showed an approximately 1 decimal reduction in total aerobic counts. Therefore, the addition of herb extract mix into pork patties increased the antioxidant activity and slightly improved the antimicrobial activity of pork patties during cold storage. However, the levels of added medicinal herb extract mix should be considered prior to its use in order to maintain proper sensory acceptance.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.974-979
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• 2008

The powdery mildew, a fungal plant disease found in varieties of plant cultures, is occurred by attack with Fusarium sp., Sphaerotheca sp., Leveilluna sp., and Eryshipe sp.. In this study we investigated the control of Fusarium graminearum, a barley powdery mildew fungus, by natural plant extracts. Among the 900 plant extracts tested, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Ligusticum acutilobum, Bidens frondosa L., Dictamnus dasycarpus, Evodia officinalis, Disporum sessile, Scopolia japonica Max., Styrax japonica S. et Z., Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., Sinomenium acutum Rehder et Wils., Eugenia aromaticum, Rubus parvifolius L., Reynoutria elliptica, Coptis chinensis, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Rheum undalatum, Paeonia suffruticosa, Oenothera odorata Jacq., Euphorbia pekinensis Rupr., and Nepeta cataria were selected based on spore germination inhibition assay. Further mycelial growth inhibition assay with economical and safety considerations led us to finally select Z. schinifolium (sancho) for control of F. graminearum. To produce antifungal sancho extract, methanol was suitable for extraction and subsequent fractionations of the extract showed that the water residue mainly had antifungal activity. The sancho extract and its fractions showed minor antibacterial activity against different pathogenic or food spoilage bacteria, but they did not show any harmful effects against young tomato plant by treatment of $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ in green chamber test. These results suggested that the extract of sancho has high potentials on control of a powdery mildew fungus, F. graminearum.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.352-357
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• 2007

For a correlation to study the five tastes and efficacies in oriental medicine concepts, we used herbal medicines with bitter taste character in traditionally effective and experimental methods. In this study, we tested the in vitro effect of 20 typical kinds of herbal medicines with bitter taste on platelet aggregation induced by collagen in human whole blood using the impedance method of aggregometry. Among them, 3 kinds of hot water extracts and 2 kinds of 70% ethanol extracts showed the significant inhibiting effect on whole blood aggregation $(^{***}p<0.001)$. In particular, Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptis chinensis) extracts were selected as the most effective candidate with a strong grade of bitter taste through the sensory test of trained panels. The results from this experiment provide pharmacological evidence for the traditional use of bitter tasting herbs with traditional medicine theory, suggesting that strong bitter taste herbs could be help problems of blood circulation more than mild bitter tasting herbs.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid used in traditional Chinese medicine and has been isolated from a variety of plants, such as Coptis chinensis and Phellodendron amurense. It has a wide spectrum of clinical applications such as in anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory activities. However, it is still unknown that berberine related with reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis pathway in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. In the present study, we are examined the molecular mechanism of ROS- and p38 MAP kinase-mediated apoptosis by berberine in HepG2 cells. Berberine increased cytotoxicity effects by time- and does-dependent manner. $LD_{50}$ was detected 50 ${\mu}M$ at 48h of exposure to berberine. Nuclei cleavage and apoptotic DNA fragmentation were observed in cells treated with 50 ${\mu}M$ of berberine for 48h. Moreover, berberine induced the activating of caspase-3, p53, p38 and Bax expression, whereas the expression of anti-apoptotic signaling pathways, Bcl-2, was decreased. Additionally, berberine-treated cells had an increased level of generation of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). These results indicated that berberine induces apoptosis of HepG2 cells may be mediated oxidative injury acts as an early and upstream change, triggers mitochondrial dysfunction, Bcl-2 and Bax modulation, p38 and p53 activation, caspase-3 activation, and consequent leading to apoptosis.