• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1305-1310
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• 2013

Dill (Anethum graveolens L.) is an annual herb with a long history and it is mainly used as a spice and as a medicine that is effective as a digestive aid, a sedative, and a narcotic, and that helps remove bad breath. Dill grows wild in the districts along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, West Asia, China, and Korea. An estimate of the phylogenetic relationships within dill accessions in 20 countries was inferred using data from the rps16-trnK3-intergenic spacer. The aligned data sets for dill ranged from 747 to 779 nucleotides (bp) as a result of the differences in the insert/delete nucleotides. The sequence variation within the dill accessions was mostly due to nucleotide substitutions, although several small insertions and deletions can be found. Among 100 accessions from 20 countries, the Eastern Asia accessions were more closely related to the North American accessions than to the Central Asia and European accessions. Although some accessions were not congruent completely with geographical locations, the dill accessions with rps16-trnK analysis resulted in plants with better-resolved clades.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.25-33
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• 2011

Skin contact allergy (SCA) is not life-threatening, but a large number of people have been suffered from the reactions caused by various kinds of chemicals and products. Thus, in this study, radiation technology was employed to improve the traditional herb addition method on the SCA reduction of Rhus verniciflua sap (RVS). Rhus verniciflua has traditionally been used as an herbal medicine plant, but its urushiol derivatives are known as a major allergen for the SCA. The present study was commenced to assess the allergenicity of both gamma-irradiated and non-irradiated RVS by using guinea-pig maximization test (GPMT) in order to probe the mechanism of an SCA. In the acute dermal irritation assays, non-irradiated RVS caused erythema, but the irradiated RVS did not provoke any erythema on the abdominal skin of the guinea pigs. From the result of the GPMT, urushiols, the main chemical components of RVS, were identified as an extreme skin sensitizer, and the removal of urushiols by irradiation extremely reduced the erythema. These results suggest that radiation technology is a novel method to reduce SCA through the removal of urushiols of RVS.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.317-334
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• 2002

Ginsenosides are metabolized (deglycosylated) by intestinal bacteria to active forms after oral administration. 20(S)-Protopanaxadiol $20-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (M1) and 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (M4) are the main intestinal bacterial metabolites (IBMs) of protopanaxadiol- and protopanaxatriol-type glycosides. M1 was selectively accumulated into the liver soon after its intravenous (i.v.) administration to mice, and mostly excreted as bile; however, some M1 was transformed to fatty acid ester (EMl) in the liver. EM1 was isolated from rats in a recovery dose of approximately $24mol\%.$ Structural analysis indicated that EM1 comprised a family of fatty acid mono-esters of M1. Because EM1 was not excreted as bile as Ml was, it was accumulated in the liver longer than M1. The in vitro cytotoxicity of M1 was attenuated by fatty acid esterification, implying that esterification is a detoxification reaction. However, esterified M1 (EM1) inhibited the growth of B16 melanoma more than Ml in vivo. The in vivo antitumor activity paralleled with the pharmacokinetic behavior. In the case of M4, orally administered M4 was absorbed from the small intestine into the mesenteric lymphatics followed by the rapid esterification of M4 with fatty acids and its spreading to other organs in the body and excretion as bile. The administration of M4 prior to tumor injection abrogated the enhanced lung metastasis in the mice pretreated with 2-chloroadenosine more effectively than in those pretreated with anti-asialo GMl. Both EM1 and EM4 did not directly affect tumor growth in vitro, whereas EM1 promoted tumor cell lysis by lymphocytes, particularly non-adherent splenocytes, and EM4 stimulated splenic NK cells to become cytotoxic to tumor cells. Thus, the esterification of IBM with fatty acids potentiated the antitumor activity of parental IBM through delay of the clearance and through immunostimulation. These results suggest that the fatty acid conjugates of IBMs may be the real active principles of ginsenosides in the body.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1328-1332
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• 2005

In the course of screening for anti-dementia agents from natural products, two $\beta$-secretase (BACE1) inhibitors were isolated from the husk of pomegranate (Punica granatum) by activity-guided purification. They were identified as ellagic acid and punicalagin with $IC_{50}$ values of 3.9 $\times$$10^{-6}$ and 4.1$\times$$10^{-7}$ M and Ki values of 2.4$\times$$10^{-5}$and 5.9$\times$$10^{-7}$ M, respectively. The compounds were non-competitive inhibitors with a substrate in the Dixon plot. Ellagic acid and punicalagin were less inhibitory to $\alpha$-secretase (TACE) and other serine proteases such as chymotrypsin, trypsin, and elastase, thus indicating that they were relatively specific inhibitors of BACE1.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.634-643
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• 2021

Han In-jin (Artemisia iwayomogi Kitamura) and Cham Dang-gwi (Angelica gigas Nakai) exhibit antibacterial, antiparasitic, antifungal, and antiviral properties in vitro. In this study, mixture of the extracts of these two medicinal plants was absorbed on pellets. Thereafter, these pellets were fed to olive flounder Paralichthys olivaceus for 12 weeks at laboratory (1^st experiment) and 24 weeks at field test (2^nd experiment), and the immune activity and disease resistance properties of the extracts were examined. It was observed that lysozyme activities of plasma, spleen, and kidney improved after 12 weeks. Furthermore, when the olive flounders were artificially infected with bacterial pathogens, their cumulative mortality decreased in the group that was fed the extracts for 12 weeks compared to that in control group, and the relative percent survival also improved. This study concluded that mixture of Han In-jin and Cham Dang-gwi extracts provides disease resistance in vivo.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.395-401
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• 2021

Extended inflammation and cytokine production pathogenically contribute to a number of inflammatory disorders. Formosanin C (FC) is the major diosgenin saponin found in herb Paris formosana Hayata (Liliaceae), which has been shown to exert anti-cancer and immunomodulatory functions. In this study, we aimed to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of FC and the underlying molecular mechanism. RAW264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or pretreated with FC prior to being stimulated with LPS. Thereafter, the macrophages were subjected to analysis of the expression levels of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6, as well as two relevant enzymes, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The analysis revealed that FC administration blunted LPS-induced production of NO and PGE in a dose-dependent manner, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 at both mRNA and protein levels was inhibited in LPS-stimulated macrophages pre-treated with FC. Moreover, LPS stimulation upregulated mRNA expression and medium release of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, whereas this effect was blocked upon FC pre-administration. Mechanistic studies showed that inhibitory effects of FC on LPS-induced inflammation were associated with a downregulation of IκB kinase, IκB, and p65/NF-κB pathway. Taken together, these data suggest that FC possesses an inflammation-suppressing activity, thus being a potential agent for the treatment of inflammation-associated disorders.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.19.1-19.8
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• 2021

Background: Dysmenorrhea is the most common menstrual complaint in young women with a prevalence as high as 90% and is responsible for substantial repeated short-term absenteeism from school and work in young women. The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of Commiphora myrrha and honey with mefenamic acid in primary dysmenorrhea. Materials and Methods: This prospective standard controlled trial was conducted at Luqman Unani Medical College Hospital and Research Center Vijayapura, India where 40 diagnosed patients of primary dysmenorrhea were randomly assigned to receive test drug (powdered Commiphora myrrha gum resin10g with 30g honey in two divided doses) or active control drug (mefenamic acid 250mg TID) for first 3days of menstruationfor two consecutive cycles. The primary outcome measure was reduction in severity of pain assessed by numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), and secondary outcome measures were improvement in quality of life (QOL) assessed by SF-36 and reduction in perceived stress score (PSS). Results: During first cycle treatment no significant difference was found in NPRS score (p=0.085) between the groups however significant difference in NPRS score (p<0.001) was seen during 2^nd treatment cycle. Significant reduction (p=0.022) in the perceived stress score was noted and overall quality of life was markedly improved after treatment in both the groups. Conclusion: These data suggest that Commiphora myrrha gum resin with honey is an effective herb in reducing symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea. These results need to be confirmed by a properly designed trial with a larger sample size. Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry India CTRI/2017/09/009596.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.33-49
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• 2022

Objectives : This paper aims to investigate the role of the sweet flavor within the contexts of 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' and the meaning of the two concepts. Methods : Related contents in databases including the Siqu Quanshu were searched with 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin', whose understanding and application were examined. Results & Conclusions : The theories of 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' originate from Cheng Wuji's comparison of the Gancaoqianjiangtang and Shaoyaogancaotang in the 29th verse of the Shanghanlun. The two terms first appeared in the Qing period among the Wenbing school. In other medical texts, the combination with sweet flavors could be found with salty, bitter and bland flavors other than with pungent and sour. The role of the sweet flavor in 'pungent and sweet becoming Yang' and 'sour and sweet becoming Yin' is to accomplish the dispersing and converging action slowly and effectively, by supplying energy in small amounts preventing it from happening too quickly, corresponding to its Earth nature of the Five Elements which harmonizes the Yin and Yang. While 'becoming Yin' and 'becoming Yang' could be understood as tonifying Yin and Yang, it could also be understood as 'doing Yin' and 'doing Yang', The specific actions differ according to herb and mixture. The point of distinction between the aforementioned tonification and that of medicinals that have Yin and Yang tonifying properties is that due to the other flavor that is matched with the sweet flavor, Qi is given motility which allows for tonification without stagnation.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2022

In recent years, research into medicinal herbs with antioxidative activities has increased. Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum are aromatic herb plants and that have long been used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. This study aims to evaluate the chemical compositions and antioxidative activities of essential oils hydrodistilled from the flower heads of C. morifolium and C. indicum. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were compared using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The antioxidative activity was determined and evaluated spectroscopically by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity assays. According to the GC/MS results, chrysanthenone was predominant in the essential oils of both C. morifolium (64.14%) and C. indicum (32.02%). This is the first report of the identification of chrysanthenone as a major constituent of the essential oil of C. morifolium. Both Chrysanthemum oils were also revealed to possess antioxidant potential, exhibiting high antioxidative activities. In particular, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of the C. morifolium and C. indicum oils at a concentration of 100 mg/mL were 76.9 and 83.2%, respectively. The metal chelating values of C. morifolium and C. indicum were 0.85 and 0.76, whereas the reducing power values of that at 100 mg/mL were 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. This study provides the chemical properties of the essential oils of both C. morifolium and C. indicum grown in Vietnam and their potential antioxidant capacity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.103-103
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• 2022

Ganghwaljetongyeum (GHJTY) is a complex herbal decoction comprising 18 plants; it is used to treat arthritis. In order to develop a new anti-arthritic herbal medication, we selected 5 out of 18 GHJTY plants by using bioinformatics analysis. The new medication, called ChondroT, comprised water extracts of Osterici Radix, Lonicerae Folium, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Clematidis Radix, and Phellodendri Cortex. This study was designed to investigate its chondroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects to develop an anti-arthritic herb medicine. ChondroT was validated using a convenient and accurate high-performance liquid chromatography. photodiode array (HPLC-PDA) detection method for simultaneous determination of its seven reference components. The concentrations of the seven marker constituents were in the range of 0.81-5.46 mg/g. The chondroprotective effects were evaluated based on SW1353 chondrocytes and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) expression. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effects of ChondroT were studied by Western blotting of pro-inflammatory enzymes and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of inflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. ChondroT enhanced the growth of SW1353 chondrocytes and also significantly inhibited IL-1β-induced MMP-1 expression. However, ChondroT did not show any effects on the growth of HeLa and RAW264.7 cells. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was induced by LPS in RAW264.7 cells, which was significantly decreased by pre-treatment with ChondroT. In addition, ChondroT reduced the activation of NF-κB and production of inflammatory mediators, such as IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, and nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. These results show that ChondroT exerted a chondroprotective effect and demonstrated multi-target mechanisms related to inflammation and arthritis. In addition, the suppressive effect was greater than that exhibited by GHJTY, suggesting that ChondroT, a new complex herbal medication, has therapeutic potential for the treatment of arthritis.