• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.247-266
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• 2017

Cordyceps is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb well-known in China, Korea and Japan since B.C. 2,000. The original entomopathogenic fungus, Cordyceps sinensis belonging to the genus Cordyceps could not be found inside Korean peninsula due to the absence of the host insect for the corresponding entomogenous fungus. The development of artificial production methods of Korean type Cordyceps using the silkworm Bombyx mori as in vivo culture medium for the the entomopathogenic fungus Paecilomyces tenuipes is the first, and wonderful occasion in the research history of insect industry of this global world. The aim of this article is to review the historical research background, mass-production methods, and pharmacological effects of the silkworm-dongchunghacho (Paecilomyces tenuipes) which is a newly developed Korean medicinal insect-borne mushroom, and another non-insect-borne medicinal mushroom (Cordyceps militaris and Cordyceps pruinosa). Their biological actions include anti-tumor, immunostimulating, anti-fatigue, anti-stress, anti-oxidant, anti-aging, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombosis, hypolipidaemic and insecticidal effects. The bioactive principles are protein-bound polysaccharides (hexose, hexosamin), cordycepin, D-manitol, acidic polysaccharide etc. Protein-bound polysaccharides and n-butanol fractions were demonstrated to show a significant anti-tumor activities but did not show a cytotoxicities. D-mannitol exhibited a significant prolongation of the life span in tumor bearing mice. Ergosterol did not show an efficient anti-tumor activity, but showed a significant phagocytosis enhancing activity. Anti-tumor activity of silkworm-dongchunghacho might be attributed to immuno-stimulating activities rather than cytotoxic effects [164]. Also this review comprises the breeding of Dongchunghacho varieties, optimization of culture conditions, improvement of learning and memory by Dongchunghacho, application of them as foods and chemical constituents.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.71-74
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• 2003

Superoxide dismutase (SOD), one of the essential element of the antioxidant defense system, mainly removes $O^{-10}$ $_2$ and also prevents $O^{-10}$ $_2$ mediated reduction of iron and subsequent OH$^{-10}$ generation, which is highly toxic to the organism. Of these SOD enzymes, Cu, Zn-containing SOD (SODI) is an important component of the antioxidant defense system in eucaryotic cells. The SODI enzyme binds one copper and one zinc ion and displays the Greek Key $\beta$-barrel fuld. (omitted)

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.818-822
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• 2013

This report is aimed to investigate the effect of Traditional Korean Therapy (TKT) in treating recurred breast cancer metastasized to lung. A 53-year-old woman who was diagnosed as left breast cancer and underwent surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy in early 2009 was admitted for the treatment of recurred, metastatic lung cancer in late 2012. She was treated with TKT including acupuncture, moxibustion and pharmacopuncture. The effect was evaluated with positron emission tomogram and computed tomogram (PET-CT). The metastatic tumors in both lungs were disappeared after the treatment for about 2 months. These results suggest that TKT is a therapeutic method to treat metastatic lung cancer originated from breast cancer.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2003

Sericulture is a traditional agro-industry, which involves mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing, has made great contributes to the human civilization. With the development of national economy and modem technology, mulberry and silkworm are being used to develop products with functionality besides the traditional cocoon production in China. In this paper, we brief the current developing situation of sericultural byproducts with functionality in the following aspects. (1) Functional products from silkworm larvae: silkworm powder, white muscardine silkworm, isolation and purification of anti-bacterial proteins from the larvae and production of medically valuable substances by Bombyx mori nuclear polyhedrosis virus (BmNPV) vector. (2) Utilization of silkworm feces: for pillow and for isolation of chlorophyll etc. (3) Production of valuable Chinese traditional medicine like Cordyceps sinensis with pupae, functional utilization of pupa protein and chitin. (4) Silk as additives to cosmetics, silk food and medical materials. (5) Functional utilization of mulberry: cultivation of edible fungus on mulberry shoots as medium, mulberry fruit drinks, mulberry tea, etc. The prospect of sericultural byproduct industry in China is also discussed.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.253-258
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• 2014

The study attempts to assess the status, distribution, conservation and use value of Medicinal and Aromatic Plant (MAPs) in the Sagarmatha National Park. Altogether 62 species of MAPs belonging to 47 genera and 33 families have been recorded in the study area. 10 species, belonging to 9 families are categorized as the potential species. Out of the these species, most potential in local but threatened species are Allium hypsistum Stearn, Cordyceps sinensis Sacc, Dactylorhiza hatagirea Soo, Nardostachys grandiflora DC, Aconitum orochryseum, Ephedra gerardiana Wall. Ex. Stapf, Swertia multicaulis D. Don, Picrorhiza scrophulariflora Penne, Rheum australe. D. Don, Malva verticillataL and Swertia pedicallata Benerji. By analysis of data using Simpson's diversity index (SI) and Shannon weaver function (H'), there was high diversity (more heterogeneous) MAPs species composition in the Manjo Gate to Large Dobhan. (0.98349). Less diversity (less heterogeneous) MAPs species composition was in Tyanboche to Pangoche (0.90419). Similarly, the Shannon weaver function shows that in plots laying out in Mongla to Phorche are evenly distributed than others However, higher MAPs species (i.e., 31) was found in the way of Manjo Gate to Larja Dobhan than others.

• Mycobiology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2008

Hypoglycemic effects of exo-biopolymers (EBP) produced by submerged mycelial cultures of Coriolus versicolor, Cordyceps sinensis, Paecilomyces japonica, Armillariella mellea, and Fomes fomentarius were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The rats from each experimental group were orally administered with EBPs (100 mg/kg BW) daily for 2 weeks. Though the hypoglycemic effect was achieved in all the cases, however, C. versicolor EBP proved as the most potent one. The administration of the C. versicolor EBP substantially reduced (29.9%) the plasma glucose level as compared to the saline administered group (control). It also reduced the plasma total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by 9.22, 23.83, 16.93, and 27.31%, respectively. The sugar and amino acid compositions of this EBP were also analyzed in detail.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 2003

Nutritional compositions of three Tochukaso species (Paecilomyces tenuipes hosted by Larva and pupa, Cordyceps militaris, C. sinensis) were compared. Fruiting body and host fractions were separately analyzed. Fruiting body fraction of P. tenuipes (36.6%) hosted by larva was higher than that hosted by pupa (10.2%), an indication that the quality of the former is superior to the latter. Carbohydrate content of C. sinensis (39.6%) was $2.5{\sim}7$ times higher than those of others, probably due to the presence of polysaccharides. Protein and crude lipid contents of C. sinensis and C. militaris were 25.8 and 10.3%, and 75.1 and 3.9%, respectively. C. sinensis showed the lowest Ca content and $30{\sim}75$ times higher Fe content among the samples tested. Vitamin A content of C. militaris was 308.9 IU/100g, two fold higher than those of the other species. Saturated fatty acid content was the highest in P. tenuipes (pupa, 27.7%), whereas unsaturated fatty acid was the highest in P. tenuipes (larva, 83.3%). Aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and glycine were abundant in all species. Cordycepin content of C. militaris was $20{\sim}50$ times higher than those of the other species.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.216-222
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• 2005

In Korea, there are many kinds of functional foods to manage diabetes, however, they have not been evaluated or investigated systematically. The purpose of this study was to investigate the status of recognition and intake of functional foods among diabetic patients. The study subjects were 307 patients(male 135, female 172), who diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at Seoul National University of Bundang Hospital. Questionnaire survey was done from July to October, 2004 for the characteristics of patients and factors related to the use of functional foods. The mean age of the subjects was 64$\pm$10.2 years, and the mean duration of disease was 9.5$\pm$8.90 years. Approximately 49.8% of the subjects had experience to use functional foods at least once in past. Total number of functional foods used were 56 types. Red ginseng was used most frequently(27.9%), then followed by Silkworm powder(13.6%), Vitamin supplements(10.4%), Mulberry tree(7.1%), Cordyceps sinensis(6.8%) and Ginseng(4.2%). Functional foods were introduced by their friends.relatives(38.4%), family(29.1%), internet(13.9%), and the mass media(10.6%). Among respondents, 94.7% took functional foods with conventional diet therapies(diet, exercise and medication). The purpose of functional food use was to control blood glucose level(49.0%), to relieve fatigue and improve stamina(19.9%), to treat and prevent a disease(17.2%) and to help blood circulation(7.9%). Upon the question of further recommendation of functional foods to others, 74.8% of the subjects answered negative response. However, 12.6% of the subjects showed the further intention of using new product. Therefore, to guide the appropriate use of functional foods for diabetic patients, diabetic educator should provide the knowledge of the efficacy of functional foods and the desirable guidelines.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.599-605
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• 2004

Sopungchungyoung-tang (SCT) has been widely used in Korea as a treatment of atopic dermatitis. SCT consists of Talcum, Rehmannia glutinosa, Angelica sinensis, Paeonia lactiflora, Cnidium officinale, Ledebouriella divaricata, Schizonepeta tenuifolia, Scutellaria baicalensis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Mentha arvensis, Cordyceps cicadae. We examined the immunological effect of SCT in vitro. We studied about the effect of SCT on Th cells' differentiation. In the case of CD4 T cells under neutral condition where there was only rIL-2 stimulus, SCT inhibited IFN-γ secretion by 70-80 %. Likewise, SCT also inhibited the IL-4 secretion of neutral Th cells by 85-90 %. We also experimented with the polarized Th1 cells/ Th2 cells and their production of IFN-γ and IL-4, respectively. There also were inhibitory effects on the polarized cells like there was on neutral cells, they were not as strong on the polarized cells. Under Th1 polarized condition, SCT acted dose-dependently, while in Th2 cells, the IL-4 production was inversely proportional to the doses of SCT. From the current study, it can be concluded that SCT exerts inhibitory effects on cytokine production without interfering with immune cells' activity. The result that SCT inhibits IFN-γ and IL-4 confirms that it does have a effect on immunomodulation.

• 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 $NK-{\kappa}B$.