• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.2 s.149
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• pp.123-127
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• 2007

Aristolochic acid (AA) included in the plants Aristolochiaceae have been well known to be nephrotoxic and carcinogenic inducer and to cause renal disease such as Chinese Herb Nephropathy (CHN). In this study, we used a high performance liquid chromatopaphy-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) under the positive ion detection mode for the quantitative change of aristolochic acid-I and-II (AA-I and AA-II) in Aristolochiaceae (Aristolochia contorta Bunge, Aristolochia debilis Sieb. et Zucc., Aristolochia fangchi Wu), some related plants (Cocculus trilobus De candolle, Inula helenium Linne, Saussurea lappa Clarke), and its prescriptions (防己茯笭湯, 定喘散) with or without processing. Here, the processing methods and prescriptions in oriental medicine were generally used to alleviate toxicity or alter property of herbal medicines. However, the concentrations of AA-I and AA-II were highly determined in processed material extracts rather than unprocessed those, not measured in some related plants. Also, the concentrations of AA-I and AA-II even at the prescriptions mixed the plants of Aristolochiaceae were detected to range from 0.73 to 2.53 ppm. Thus, the present results suggest that the content of AA-I and AA-II contained to plants of Aristolochiaceae was not reduced by the processing methods or prescriptions which can induce the physico-chemical change and pharmacological transformation in traditional herbal medicines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.96-100
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• 1989

Traditional herbal drugs of Korea, namely, Atractylodes Rhizome(蒼朮) and Atractylodes Rhizome White(白朮) which are derived from and old-grown rhizome and a newly-grown rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz.(Compositae), respectively, were investigated their potential liver-protective activities against hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$ intoxication in mice. Each herbal drug was extracted separately with chloroform, methanol and butanol. No extract of Atractylodes Rhizome showed a significant reduction of the duration of hypnosis produced by hexobarital after $CCl_4$ intoxication in mice. In addition, the the treatments of Atractylodes Rhizome extracts produced no decrease of aspartate aminotransferase(EC 2.6.1.1) activity in serum. However, the methanol extract of Atractylodes Rhizome White exhibited a marked protection from hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$ intoxication in mice. It produced significant reductions of the duration of hypnosis and serum enzyme activity, but no other extract showed liver-protective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Oriental Medical Informatics
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.57-66
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• 2009

Objectives : The aim of the present study is to evaluate the wound healing-enhancing and anti-inflammatory effects of Pinus densiflora, Cornus officinalis, Zingiber officinale, Ganoderma japonicum and Scutellaria baikalensison human keratinocyte, HaCaT cells. Methods : We adopted in vitro wound healing assay to measure the proliferation-and migration-enhancing effects in HaCaT cells. The expressions of cytokine genes were measured in HaCaT cells using real-time PCR analysis. Results : The extracts of Pinus densiflora, Cornus officinalis, Zingiber officinale, Ganoderma japonicum and Scutellaria baikalensis enhanced the proliferation and migration of HaCaTcells. The expression of keratinocyte growth factor receptor(FGFR2-IIIb) gene was also induced. The extracts inhibited iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$ and TNF-$\alpha$ gene expression. Conclusions : The extract of Pinus densiflora, Cornus officinalis, Zingiber officinale, Ganoderma japonicum and Scutellaria baikalensis has wound healing-enhancing effects and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.337-342
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• 2010

The principal objective of this study was to compare and analyze the qualitative properties of MLT (mulberry leaf tea) and FMLT (fermented mulberry leaf tea) on the basis of the anti-cancer and anti-allergy activities of various extracts. The inhibitory effect against S-180 solid cancer in vivo were measured as 16.67% for FMLT and 17.78% for MLT. When the anti-allergy effects of the extracts of MLT and FMLT were evaluated, the hot water extract was shown to block histamine secretion more effectively than the ethanol extract for both groups. Furthermore, when the levels of the inflammatory cytokine of HMC-1 were measured, the ethanol extract was found to inhibit the inflammatory cytokine more effectively than the hot water extract, and the FMLT group was more effective than the MLT group.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.17-27
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• 2018

Objectives: Ukgan-san does not appear in Traditional Korean Medicine classics. However, it has been used in research and clinical applications in Korea. In this paper, we are aiming to examine the records concerned with Ukgan-san to the present, and announce the present usage state in Korea. Methods: We searched and summarized the contents of previous medical books about Ukgan-san. In order to investigate the current status of utilization of Ukgan-san in Korea, a bibliographic database of Korea, a database of clinical researches, and a database of pharmaceuticals of the Korea Food and Drug Administration were searched. Results: As a result of searching Ukgan-san related documents, Ukgan-san has been developed in China (Ming dynasty). However, its clinical application has been expanded by modern Japanese kampo medicine doctors. In Korea, cases of Parkinson's disease, other movement disorders, and psychiatric disorders have been reported, and randomized controlled trials had been done and planned. In addition, some extracts which are consisted of Ukgan-san are also available. Conclusions: In Korea, Ukgan-san has been influenced by Japan and has been used for clinical and research purposes. The utilization rate in Korea is still small, but the utilization rate will increase according to the results of clinical studies.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.179-192
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• 2008

Objectives : Draconis Resina (DR) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine since ancient times, and today it is used as a medication for wounds, tumors, diarrhea, rheumatism, in the itching of insect bites and with other conditions in the folk medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of DR inhibit free radical generation, intracellular oxidation, production of nitrite, an index of NO, PGE2, iNOS, COX-2 and proinflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages, Methods : DR extract prepared with methanol, and then fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water. Inhibitory effect of DR onto free radical generation was determined by measuring DPPH, superoxide anions and nitric oxide scavenging activities in vitro. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. Intracelluar oxidation was analysed by DCF-DA assay. The nitric oxide (NO) production was measured by Griess reagent system. The levels of iNOS and COX-2 expression were confirmed by western blot. And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. Results : Our results indicated that fractionated extracts, especially dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts, significantly inhibited free radical generation, the LPS-induced H202, NO, PGE2 production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Conclusions : Our results indicate that dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts of DR have potential as an agent of chronic inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.570-582
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• 2020

Purpose: Obesity is a risk factor for various adult diseases such as type 2 diabetes, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, and cancer. With an increasing obesity population worldwide, the prevention of obesity with natural components has emerged as an alternative health care strategy. Ramulus mori (Sangzhi, RM) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine in East Asia. It contains various phytochemicals, including stilbenes and 2-arylbenzofurans. In this study, we compared the anti-obesity effects of RM extracts and its major stilbene components (mulberroside A [MSA] and oxyresveratrol [ORT]) in high fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice. Methods: Five week-old, male C57BL/6J mice were grouped into 7 experimental groups: normal diet (ND), HFD, HFD + 1% RM water extracts (MW), HFD + 0.1% MSA, HFD + 1% RM ethanol extracts (ME), HFD + 0.1% ORT, and HFD + 1% Garcinia cambogia extracts (GC) as a positive control. All mice were fed experimental diet for 13 weeks. Results: Compared to the HFD group, total body weight and weekly body weight gain were significantly decreased in the ME, ORT, and GC groups. Glucose tolerance level was significantly decreased in all experimental groups, whereas plasma insulin level was decreased in MSA, ME, ORT and GC groups. Plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol levels were significantly decreased, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were increased in the MSA, ORT, and GC groups. Hepatic TG accumulation was also significantly decreased in the MSA, ME, ORT, and GC groups. Adipose tissue weight and size of adipocytes were significantly decreased in the MSA, ME and ORT groups, and were comparable to values obtained in the GC group. The levels of adiponectin and SREBP1c mRNA expressions were increased in the ORT and GC groups. Conclusion: These results indicate that ME, ORT and MSA exert significant anti-obesity effect, and have the potential to be developed as a weight control ingredient of functional foods.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.41-45
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• 2018

Ginseng (Panax ginseng Meyer) has been used as traditional herbal drug in Asian countries. Ginsenosides are major components having pharmacological and biological efficacy like anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and anti-tumor effects. To control the quality of the components in diverse ginseng products, we developed a new quantitative method using LC-MS/MS for 13 ginsenosides; Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, 20(S)-Rh1, 20(S)-Rh2, Rg1, 20(S)-Rg3, F1, F2, and compound K. This method was successfully validated for linearity, precision, and accuracy. This quantification method applied in four representative ginseng products; fresh ginseng powder, white ginseng powder, red ginseng extract powder, and red ginseng extract. Here the amounts of the 13 ginsenosides in the various type of ginseng samples could be analyzed simultaneously and expected to be suitable for quality control of ginseng products.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.127-141
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• 2002

Objectives: Haeganjeon(HGJ) has been used for the treatment of liver disease in traditional medicine. The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant and protective effects of HGJ extract on oxidative damage of hepatocytes by tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP). Methods: In the linoleic acid water-alcohol system, the levels of lipid peroxide(LPO) were determined by TBA method. The scavenging effect of HGJ on ${\alpha},{\alpha}-diphenyl-{\beta}-picrylhydrazyl$(DPPH) radical was determined according to the method of Hatano. In the Fenton system(ferrous ion reaction with hydrogen peroxide), the levels of hydroxyl radical induced LPO in rat liver homogenate were determined according to the method of TBA. Inhibitory effect of HGJ on superoxide generation was measured by xanthine-xanthine oxidase system. In order to evaluate antioxidative activity of HGJ in the liver cell, cultured normal rat liver cells(Ac2F) were prepared and incubated with or without HGJ. After 18hr, cells placed in DMEM medium without serum, and then incubated with 1mM tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP) for 2hrs. Viable cells were detected by MTT assay. Conclusions: In the linoleic acid autoxidation system, HGJ extract significantly inhibited the time course of the lipid peroxidation. These effects were similar to those of BHA HGJ extracts showed about 70% scavenging effect on DPPH radical. And HGJ extract inhibited the lipid peroxide formation in rat liver homogenate induced by hydroxyl radical derived from Fenton system. In addition, HGJ extract protected the cell death induced by t-BHP and significantly increased cell viability in the normal rat liver cell. These result indicated that HGJ extract might playa protective role against oxidative hepatic cell injury by means of free radical scavenger.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

The seeds of Raphanus sativus L. (RSL) and Phaseolus calcaratus Roxburgh (PHCR), the root of Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), and the flower of Lonicera japonica (LJ) have been traditionally used as herbal medicines for anti-inflammation. Unlike the SB and LJ, little information is available for the scientific bases that show the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of RSL and PHCR. In this study, we prepared boiled water extracts from the medicines and determined their potentials in inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interleukin (IL)-6 secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The effects of the medicines on serum IgE levels in ovalbumin (OVA)-administrated mice were also studied. The medicines inhibited production of TNF-$\alpha$ and IL-6, and COX-2 expression in LPSstimulated macrophages. Especially, PHCR water extract showed more potent inhibition on TNF-$\alpha$ production than SB and LJ extracts, but RSL extract did not exert these effects. Similar to the cases of SB and LJ, PHCR extract prevented the phosphorylation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ and c-Jun, and the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$-DNA binding. Further, oral supplementation of PHCR extract attenuated significantly serum levels of total and OVA-specific IgE in OVAtreated animals. These results suggest a possibility that PHCR water extract can be used for the treatment of inflammatory and allergic diseases.