• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.93-101
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative and anticancer activity of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal herbs. Methods : Three kinds of medicinal herbs(Corni fructus, Astragalus membranaceus and Glycyrrhiza uralensis) were extracted with distilled water and 70% ethanol, and the extracts were tested for their antioxidative and anticancer activities. Results : The highest polyphenol contents of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal herbs were 342.14 mg and 435.62 mg per 100 g of Cornus officinalis, respectively. The highest electron donating abilities (EDA) of the water and ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis were 88% and 91% at 1,000 ppm, respectively. The water and ethanol extracts from Astragalus membranaceus had the highest nitrite scavenging abilities (NSA) at 1,000 ppm. The highest anticancer activity of the extracts were from Glycyrrhiza uralensis against both of MDA and A549 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that the medicinal herbs can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells probably because of their antioxidant characteristics.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.21 no.9
• /
• pp.1315-1322
• /
• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of several herbal extracts (obtusifolia, cinnamon, chinese pepper, licorice root) on the characteristics of rumen fermentation in vitro. Soybean meal was used as a substrate for fermentation in vitro. Herbal extracts were supplemented to media by 10% of the substrate. The substrates supplemented to Dehority artificial media with herbal extracts were fermented in 30ml serum bottles for 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 24 hr at $39^{\circ}C$. Cumulative gas production was significantly (p<0.05) greater in the herbal extract supplements than in the control, in the order of licorice root, chinese pepper, cinnamon and obtusifolia. Methane proportions of the herbal extracts were significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the control. Licorice root extract supplementation resulted in the lowest methane proportion at 3 hr fermentation. Proportion of hydrogen was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the herbal extract supplements than in the control at 12 hr fermentation. Compared to the control, ammonia concentration in the licorice root was significantly higher at 3 hr fermentation, but lower at 12 hr fermentation (p<0.05). Based on these results, supplementation of the herbal extracts used in this experiment resulted in increased cumulative gas production and stimulating methane production in vitro rumen fermentation.

• Integrative Medicine Research
• /
• v.3 no.2
• /
• pp.67-73
• /
• 2014

Background: The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3)is constitutively activated in many human cancers. It promotes tumor cell proliferation,inhibits apoptosis, induces angiogenesis and metastasis, and suppresses antitumor hostimmune responses. Therefore, Stat3 has emerged as a promising molecular target for cancertherapies. In this study, we evaluated the Stat3-suppressive activity of 38 herbal medicinestraditionally used in Korea.Methods: Medicinal herb extracts in 70% ethanol were screened for their ability to suppressStat3 in the A549 human lung cancer cell line. A Stat3-responsive reporter assay system wasused to detect intracellular Stat3 activity in extract-treated cells, and Western blot analyseswere performed to measure the expression profiles of Stat3-regulated proteins.Results: Fifty percent of the 38 extracts possessed at least mild Stat3-suppressive activities(i.e., activity less than 75% of the vehicle control). Ethanol extracts of Bupleurum falcatumL., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Solanum nigrum L., Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, Euonymus alatusSieb., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill inhibited up to 75% of thevehicle control Stat3 activity level. A549 cells treated with these extracts also had reducedBcl-xL, Survivin, c-Myc, and Mcl-1 expression.Conclusion: Many medicinal herbs traditionally used in Korea contain Stat3 activity-suppressing substances. Because of the therapeutic impact of Stat3 inhibition, these resultscould be useful when developing novel cancer therapeutics from medicinal herbs.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.82-91
• /
• 2009

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate whitening effects and anti-wrinkle effects of a few 80% ethanol extracted herbal medicines. Methods : In the first study, a few 80% ethanol extracted herbal medicines were screened for their inhibitory activities against the tyrosinase. In the second study, a few 80% ethanol extracted herbal medicines were screened for their inhibitory activities against elastase. Results : 1. We showed 28%, 27% and 19% inhibitions of mushroom tyrosinase at 500 $\mu$g/ml concentration of ASR, AIF and ABR extracts and they were showed higher anti-tyrosinase activity than arbutin's. We also could observe that the decreased mushroom tyrosinase activities in RR, CML, LR, AGR and TH extracts. 2. RR, AF and ABR (final concentrstion 1 mg/ml) were appeared 60%, 98%, 83% of inhibitions of elastase activity, and they were showed higher anti-elastase activity than that of ursolic acid. We also could observe that the decreased elastase activities in AIF, AR, LR and CML extracts. Conclusions : These results suggest that ASR, AIF and ABR extracts contribute to the anti-melanin activities and represent potential sources of whitening agent, and RR, AF and ABR extracts contribute to the anti-elastase activities and represent potential sources of anti-wrinkle agent. These results suggest that some herbal medicines could be strong potential sources of inhibition about anti-aging and whitening effects for the skin.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.5
• /
• pp.1081-1086
• /
• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the medicinal effects of the herbal combination extracts-2 (HCE-2), consisting of Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunb., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb. on the alcohol-induced liver injury in rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal group (n =6), non-treated control group (n =6), saline-treated group (n =6) and the herbal combination extract (HCE-2)-treated group (n =6). The rats in the alcohol-loaded groups were orally administered with ethanol at a daily dose of 4 g/kg-body weight for 5 weeks. Thirty minutes before the ethanol injection, saline or herbal combination extracts was administered by using a gastrogavage. Blood and liver tissue samples were taken out from the hearts and livers of the rats, respectively, on 15th and 38th days. The activities of serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). We also investigated the protective effect of the herbal combination extracts by Hematoxylin-Eosin staining on histological sections of rat liver. In this study, the oral administration of the herbal combination extracts significantly reduced the serum levels of AST and ALT, which had been raised by alcohol-induced liver injury. Histological analysis and apparent observation of liver also showed the preventive effect of the herbal combination extracts in a chronic alcohol-induced rat model. Theses results revealed that the herbal combination extracts effectively prevented hepatic damage consequent to the chronic exposure to repetitive administration of ethanol and could be used as a primary resource of a health beverage or herbal medicine, alleviating the alcohol-induced hepatic injury and hangover symptoms.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.391-400
• /
• 2018

Background: Atractylodes radix is a well-known medicinal crop having many physiological effects. This study was conducted to select useful Atractylodes japonica ${\times}$ Atractylodes macrocephala (AJM) cultivars by comparing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacies. Methods and Results: Seven extracts from AJM cultivars were used to treat lipopolysacchride (LPS)-treated BV2 cells, and the effects on cell viability and inhibition on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were analyzed. In vitro scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite ($NOO^-$) radicals were also investigated. Contents of total phenol, atractylenolide I, and atractylenolide III in the AJM extracts were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or spectrophotometry. The experiments show that none of the seven extracts was cytotoxic above 89.2% at $20-250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Extracts of Gowon, Dawon, Sangchul, and Huchul inhibited ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner, and Sangchul extract showed the highest inhibition on ROS production. All the AJM extracts showed effective inhibitory activity after on NO release in the LPS-treated BV2 cells, and Sangchul extract showed the highest activity. Sangchul extract had the most potent scavenging activities for $NOO^-$ and had some DPPH radical scavenging effect. Sangchul extract also had the highest content at total phenol and atractylenolide I content. Atractylenolide III was not detected in the AJM extracts. Conclusions: The results suggested that Sangchul was the most useful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory resource among the AJM cultivars.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.495-501
• /
• 2018

Ultraviolet B (UVB) exposure is a risk factor for skin damage resulting in oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death. The purpose of this study was to investigate the physicochemical properties of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) to improve its biological activities using a three-step steaming process. We investigated the protective effects of PG and steamed PG extracts on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) against UVB radiation-induced oxidative stress and inflammation as well as the underlying mechanisms. The antioxidant potential of the PG extracts was evaluated by measuring the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) scavenging activity. ABTS and DPPH were shown by the 0, 30, and 70% ethanol extracts of 2S-PG and 3S-PG ($IC_{50}$, 28~45 and $27{\sim}30{\mu}g/mL$, respectively). Treatment of UVB-irradiated cells with steamed PG ($25{\sim}400{\mu}g/mL$) did not affect their viability. The streamed PG extract suppressed UVB-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, streamed PG extract reduced cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression in UVB-irradiated HDF, regulating nuclear factor $(NF)-{\kappa}B$ expression. These findings suggest that steamed PG extract may be potentially effective against inflammation associated with UVB-induced oxidation stress.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.17 no.6
• /
• pp.1185-1190
• /
• 2008

When 10 kinds of herbal medicines were fractionated into hexane, MeOH, cold-water, and hot-water extracts, hot-water extracts from Acanthopanax senticosus (AS), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU), Cichorium intybus (CI), and Polygonatum odoratum (PO) showed the potent intestinal immune system modulating activity (1.72-, 1.62-, 1.60-, and 1.53-fold of control at $100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively). Especially, hot-water extracts from AS (215% compared with the control) and GU (187%) also had macrophages stimulating activity and mitogenic activity of splenocytes (7.1- and 6.5-fold) at $100{\mu}g/mL$. In addition, the effects of hot-water extracts from herbal medicines on anticancer activities were studied in mice. Hot-water extracts from AS and GU enhanced cytotoxicity of natural killer cell against cancer cell, Yac-1 (37 and 34% cytotoxicity) at E/T ratio 100:1, and colon 26-M3.1 cancer cell lines had significantly inhibited (82.1 and 75.2%) in experimental lung metastasis. These results suggest that hot-water extracts from A. senticosus and G. uralensis can be used as biological response modifiers to stimulate immune system and inhibit tumor.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2019.04a
• /
• pp.110-110
• /
• 2019

Beet (Beta vulgaris) is a crop similar to sugar beet, chard and leaf beets, and its origin is the Mediterranean coast of southern Europe and Central Asia. Among the components contained in beet, betalain, the main component of the root, has been reported to prevent lipid peroxidation induced by active oxygen and free radicals due to its high radical scavenging ability. Among these, the betalain, betanin (Betanidin 5-O-${\beta}$-glucoside) contains both phenolic and cyclic amine groups, all of which are highly electron-donating and act as antioxidants and has tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Betanin accounts for about 75-95% of the total pigment found in the beet. EM stands for effective microorganisms and is a collection of beneficial microorganisms. EM includes yeast, lactic acid bacteria, mycelia, photosynthetic bacteria, actinomycetes, etc. Human patch test according to CTFA guidelines was observed to be a safe source of no stimulation when 5% (v/v) of the EM fermentation liquid was applied to the human body. In addition, beneficial microorganisms are synergistic in the process of co-existence and cultivation and it has the effect of increasing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting corruption. This study confirms the difference in tyrosinase inhibitory activity and betanin content of beetroot extracts and EM fermented beetroot extracts. Hence, these results confirm that EM fermented beetroot extracts are highly beneficial for the human body.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.44 no.9
• /
• pp.1304-1310
• /
• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigate antioxidant activity of yanggaeng containing herbal medicine extracts (YH) by employing various in vitro antioxidant assays for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) free radical scavenging, and reducing power. We also investigated moisture content, pH, texture profile, and sugar content, and evaluated the sensory characteristics of developed yanggaengs. Moisture content of YH was 41.54%. Sugar contents increased while pH decreased as content of herbal medicine extracts increased. Lightness was not significantly different between YH and control. However, herbal medicine extracts enhanced the redness of yanggaeng. Texture profile analysis showed that gumminess and chewiness of yanggaeng added with herbal medicine extracts decreased compared to control. Herbal medicine extracts enhanced yanggaeng's antioxidant activity, reducing power, and scavenging ability. Herbal medicine extracts enhanced antioxidant properties of yanggaeng and made it easier to swallow.