• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.451-464
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• 2009

Background and Objective : Cyperus rotundus L. (CR) is a commonly used herbal medicine in Asian countries such as Korea, China and Japan. The present study was designated to evaluate the direct effects of CR on helper T cell activities and on Th1/Th2 lineage development in vitro. Materials and Methods : Spleen cells from 8 week BALB/c mice were cultured in CR extracts containing medium without activation for 24 hours and with activation for 48 hours. CD4+ T cells were isolated and analyzed for mRNA expression levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-4, T-bet and GATA-3 by RT-PCR and secretion cytokines levels of INF-$\gamma$, IL-4, IL-5 and IL-10 by ELISA. Results : The results demonstrated that CR had no mitogenic effects on unstimulated CD4+ T cells, but augmented CD4+ T-cell proliferation upon activation with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 antibodies in a dose-dependent manner. CR treatment significantly increased CD4+ T cell population and the IFN-$\gamma$ expression was significantly enhanced, while IL-4 expression was significantly decreased. In addition, in vitro Th1/Th2 polarization experiments revealed that CR enhanced IFN-$\gamma$ secretion in Th1 cells, but reduced the IL-4 in Th2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion : These results suggest that CR treatment could be a desirable alternative therapy for the prevention or correction of Th2 dominant pathological disorders, such as allergy and asthma.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2012

Previously, we showed that Dangguisoo-san (DGSS), an herbal formula that has been traditionally used for the treatment of blood stagnation, is also applicable for inflammatory lung diseases. Activation of Nrf2, an anti-inflammatory transcription factor, and suppression of NF-${\kappa}B$, a pro-inflammatory transcription factor, were suggested as an underlying mechanism. However, the constituents responsible for these activities remain unidentified. To this end, we prepared the water extracts of the 9 constituents of DGSS and tested for their effect on Nrf2 by using an Nrf2-Luciferase reporter cell line and western blot analysis. Results show that Carthamus tinctorius L.(CT), one of the 9 constituents of DGSS, strongly activated Nrf2. Similarly, when measured the effect of the 9 constituents on NF-${\kappa}B$ by using an NF-${\kappa}B$-Luciferase reporter cell line and western blotting for nuclear p65, indicative of activated NF-${\kappa}B$, most constituents were capable of suppressing NF-${\kappa}B$ in various degrees. However, CT and Cyperus rotundus L. (CR) strongly suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ activity elicited by LPS. Of note, CT activated Nrf2 and suppressed NF-${\kappa}B$ strongly as well. Our results contributes to corroborating the anti-inflammatory effects of DGSS by identifying CT and CR as two major herbs responsible for activating Nrf2 and suppressing NF-${\kappa}B$. These results suggest that CT and CR represent some of the effects of DGSS in the regulation of inflammation.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.438-445
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• 2016

Cyperi Rhizoma (CR), the rhizome of Cyperus rotundus L., exhibits neuroprotective effects in in vitro and in vivo models of neuronal diseases. Nevertheless, no study has aimed at finding the neuroactive constituent(s) of CR. In this study, we identified active compounds in a CR extract (CRE) using bioactivity-guided fractionation. We first compared the anti-oxidative and neuroprotective activities of four fractions and the CRE total extract. Only the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction revealed strong activity, and further isolation from the bioactive EA fraction yielded nine constituents: scirpusin A (1), scirpusin B (2), luteolin (3), 6'-acetyl-3,6-diferuloylsucrose (4), 4',6' diacetyl-3,6-diferuloylsucrose (5), p-coumaric acid (6), ferulic acid (7), pinellic acid (8), and fulgidic acid (9). The activities of constituents 1-9 were assessed in terms of anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-amyloid-${\beta}$ activities. Constituents 1, 2, and 3 exhibited strong activities; constituents 1 and 2 were characterized for the first time in this study. These results provide evidence for the value of CRE as a source of multi-functional neuroprotectants, and constituents 1 and 2 may represent new candidates for further development in therapeutic use against neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.141-150
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• 2019

Despite the development of assisted reproduction technologies (ART) including in vitro fertilization (IVF), the poor ovarian response and endometrial receptivity remains clinically a major unmet need. Although these problems are difficulties to solve in infertility treatment, there are no good therapeutic option yet. Traditional herbal remedies and acupuncture, therefore are being proposed as alternative treatment. Our group found that traditional herbal medicines such as Paeonia lactiflora L.(PL, 芍藥), Cyperus rotundus L.(CR, 香附子), and Perilla frutescens (PF, 紫蘇葉) could improve endometrial receptivity. In this study, we found out Yeosin-san (如神散) as an optimal herbal formula via combination of the previously established herbal medicines. Yeosin-san is a traditional Korean medical formula which was established by Ziming Jin (陳自明) and recorded in Furendaiquanliangfang (婦人大全良方) at first. The formula traditionally used for treating abnormal uterine bleeding and leukorrhea. It showed a highest effect on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) expression and on the adhesion between trophoblastic cells and endometrial cells. In addition, it has been shown that the Yeosin-san not only increases the endometrial receptivity to improve the embryo implantation but also enhances the ovary function by expressing the angiogenesis-related genes. Here we suggest that Yeosin-san could be a novel and effective candidate for treating female infertility.