• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.247-258
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• 2019

Background: Astragali radix (A) and Lithospermi radix (L) have long been used as traditional medicines due to their known anti-inflammatory effects. This study aimed at evaluating, their optimal mixing ratio and their functional compounds by investigating the inhibitory effects of mixed extracts of A and L and their active compounds on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Methods and Results: A and L extracts were obtained by extraction at $80^{\circ}C$ using 50% and 70% fermented alcohol, respectively, and then mixed at a ratio of 5 : 5, 6 : 4, 7 : 3 and 8 : 2 (w/w). The activities of MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 were evaluated in interleukin-1beta ($IL-1{\beta}$)-induced SW1353 cells. The extract mixtures showed synergistic inhibitory effects on MMP-3 and MMP-13, higher than the effects of the individual A and L extracts. The 7 : 3 mixture (ALM16) showed the most effective MMPs inhibitory activity, while among the active ingredients, calycosin-7-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside and lithospermic acid exhibited excellent MMPs inhibitory activity. Additionally, an HPLC method was established for simultaneous quantification of the effective components of the extract mixtures, and validated by measuring the linearity, precision and accuracy of the limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ). Conclusions: ALM16 showed the most effective MMPs inhibitory activity. Calycosin-O-${\beta}$-D-glucoside, calycosin and lithospermic acid were identified as useful candidates, as they were the major functional compounds in the MMP inhibitory activity. Summarily, ALM16 might be a highly effective in osteoarthritis management, owing to its because it exhibits a protective effect on cartilage via excellent inhibition of MMPs.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2020

Purpose: The Rubus coreanus fruit (RF) is an important traditional medicinal herb having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunoregulatory properties. These activities are known to change dramatically, depending on maturity of the RF. It is presumed that change of functional components, such as flavonoids, tannins, phenolic acids, triterpenoids and organic acids in RF, affect the various bioactivities. This study aimed to confirm changes in the anti-melanogenic effects of RF based on maturity, and to identify the bioactive compounds responsible. Methods: The cell viability of mature RF (MRF) and immature RF (IRF) extracts was investigated using B16F10 cells. To compare the anti-melanogenic effect of MRF and IRF extracts, we first assessed the melanin content. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis was performed to evaluate changes in the level of ellagic acid according to maturity of the RF. In addition, tyrosinase inhibitory activity of both extracts was examined. Results: MRF and IRF extracts (50-200 ㎍/mL) do not affect the cell viability of B16F10 melanoma cells. IRF extract more effectively inhibited melanin synthesis than MRF extract. The content of ellagic acid in IRF extract was higher than that obtained in MRF extract. Furthermore, greater inhibition of tyrosinase activity was observed after exposure to IRF extract than MRF extract. A positive correlation was determined between ellagic acid content and tyrosinase inhibitory activity, and a negative correlation was obtained between ellagic acid content and melanin content. Taken together, our results indicate that ellagic acid is one of the major bioactive compounds of RF that imparts a whitening effect. Conclusion: Our results indicate that ellagic acid in MRF and IRF extracts affect the anti-melanogenesis effect through inhibition of tyrosinase activity. Therefore, the ellagic acid rich IRF has greater potential for application as a natural and functional cosmetic material.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.375-379
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• 2004

According to the traditional chinese herbal Cuscuta japonica Choisy and C. australis R.Be (original plant of Semen Cuscutae in Korea) have been used to cure pimple. In order to prove their bacteriostatic effects against Propionibacterium acnes, we performed the micro broth dilution method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. japonica juice was 27.3 mg/ml, but C. australis juice showed no effect. The MIC of water extracted C. japonica seed and Wontosa and Bupjetosa were $960\;{\mu}g/ml$. The MIC of both water and ethanol extracts of C. australis seed was $9240\;{\mu}g/ml$. But ethanol extracts of C. japonicaseeds, Wontosa and Bupjetosa had no bacteriostatic activity. We also performed the disk diffusion test, C. japonica juice had prominent effect. Water extracts of C. japonica seed, Wontosa and Bupjetosa showed bacterio-static effect in 10 mg/ml, and C. australis seed in 10 mg/ml. The ethanol extract of C. japonica seed, Wontosa and Bupjetosa, and C. australis seed showed bacteriostatic effect in 20 mg/ml.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.680-688
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• 2016

Sipyukmiryuki-eum (SYMYKE), Danjacheongpi-tang (DJCPT), Jipae-san Ⅰ (JPS Ⅰ), Jipae-san Ⅱ (JPS Ⅱ), and Chungganhaeul-tang (CGHUT) are representative herb-combined remedies used in traditional Korean medicine for treating breast cancer patients, as mentioned in "Dongeuibogam." In this study, we investigated the total phenolic contents (TPCs) and the anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities of hot water and 70% ethanol extracts of these herbal prescriptions. Among the five herb-combined remedies, the extraction yields of the hot water extracts and 70% ethanol extracts were the highest in JPS Ⅱ (34.30%) and DJCPT (30.50%), respectively. The TPCs of the hot water extracts from the herb medicines were rich in the order of JPS Ⅰ < CGHUT < JPS Ⅱ < SYMYKE < DJCPT. In addition, the 70% ethanol extracts from the herb medicines were rich in the order of JPS Ⅱ < JPS Ⅰ < CGHUT < SYMYKE < DJCPT. Among them, DJCPT and SYMYKE displayed a strong anti-oxidant capability, which was determined using ferric-reducing anti-oxidant power and scavenging of 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) cationic radical activity assays. In addition, anti-microbial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were stronger in the 70% ethanol extracts than in the hot water extracts. Together, these findings reveal a positive relationship between TPCs and their anti-oxidant activities.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.63-71
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• 2013

Objectives : Artemisia princeps is used as moxa in moxibustion and traditional herbal medicine. And its extracts or compounds is known to have an efficacy of antioxidant, anti-diabete, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotection. This study was performed to investigate the cytoprotective effect of Artemisia princeps extract (APE) against arachidonic acid (AA)+iron-induced oxidative stress on HepG2 cell. Methods : The effects of APE on cell viability has been assessed using MTT assay. And flow cytometric analysis was performed to estimate APE's effects on mitochondrial function. To investigate its underlying mechanism, related protein was analysed by using immunoblot analysis. Results : Treatment of APE increased relative cell viability, prevented a decline of B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-xL) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and procaspase-3, and also protected mitochondrial membrane permeability (MMP) against oxidative stress induced by AA+iron. In addition, APE treatment increased phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) exerts a cytoprotective effect. Conclusions : This results demonstrate that APE has an ability to activation of AMPK which protects cells from AA+iron-induced oxidative stress and restores MMP.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.458-463
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• 2002

This present study was designed to screen medicinal plants for the treatment of brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. The inhibitory activity of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) was investigated in the water extracts of 56 species traditional medicines. Among the tested medicinal plants, E. lathyris, R. palmatum, F. rhynchonphylla, E. caryophyllata, E. pekinensis and H. syriacus were showed the strong inhibitory activity against MAO-B. Therefore, MAO-B inhibitory activity of 6 traditional medicine extracts in the different concentration (2.5, 6.5 and 12.5 ㎍/ml) was determined. The inhibitory effect of MAO-B was detected with dose dependently in 6 traditional plants extracts. E. caryophyllata and R. palmatum were showed the highest inhibitory activity, the MAO-B inhibitory activity at 2.5㎍ of herbal extract being 58% and 52%, respectively. The water extracts of 6 species were tested on antioxidant activity using radical scavenging effects against ABTS/sup +/. The water extracts of R. palmatum, E. caryphyllata, E. pekinensis and H. syriacus were showed strong antioxidant capacity at 20 ㎍ concentration. Among the 56 medicinal plants investigated, the water extracts of R. palmatum and E. caryphyllata were showed significant antioxidant capacity and MAO-B inhibiory activity. Therefore, R. palmatum and E. caryphyllata are expected to ameliorate the clinical symptoms in Parkinson's disease due to significant MAO-B inhibition and radical scavenging effect.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.217-219
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• 2004

Cissus quadrangularis L. variant I (Family: Vitaceae), the common variant with square stem is widely used for peptic ulcer disorders (PUD) in traditional medicine. Aerial parts were collected during flowering and vegetative seasons and analysed. Aqueous (hot and cold) and solvent extracts (acetone, chloroform and ethanol) were screened for their anti-Helicobacter pylori (Hp) activities. Among them chloroform extract was observed to recover bioactive principles markedly with low minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal lethal concentration (MLC). MIC was $30\;{\mu}g$ in both samples and MLC was $35\;{\mu}g$ for vegetative and $30\;{\mu}g$ for flowering seasons, respectively. Extracts from samples collected during flowering season were better than thse of vegetative season.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.236-239
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• 2005

Ethyl acetate extracts of traditional medicinal herbs were screened for their antifungal activity against Malassezia furfur through the liquid growth inhibition method with 96 well plate and the paper disk agar diffusion assay. Among the 91 kinds of herbal solvent extracts, borneolum (borneo-camphor, No. 56) was finally selected as the best antifungal effective medicinal herb. The MIC value of No. 56 against M. furfur was 0.3 mg/ml ($8.2{\times}10^6$ CFU/ml) and it was three times more efficient than midazole which is the known antifungal agent in clinical medicines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.375-380
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• 2018

We have previously found that mycelia culture broth of eight kinds of traditional herbal extracts fermented with Phellinus linteus (previously named as 8-HsPLCB) not only inhibited melanin and tyrosinase activity, but also reduced the contents of melanogenesis-related proteins, including tyrosinase and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, in 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine-stimulated B16F0 melanoma cells. For a further study, the effect of 8-HsPLCB against skin pigmentation in brown guinea pigs with ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced hyperpigmentation was investigated. 8-HsPLCB (3%) and arbutin (2%) as positive controls were applied topically twice daily for 4 weeks to the hyperpigmented areas. 8-HsPLCB showed skin-lightening effect as effective as arbutin, one of the most widely used in whitening cosmetics. Melanin index values as the degree of pigmentation showed a significant reduction week by week post 8-HsPLCB treatment and then substantially reduced by 4 weeks. The degree of depigmentation after 4 weeks of topical application with 8-HsPLCB was 32.2% as compared with before treatment (0 week). Moreover, using Fontana-Masson staining and hematoxylin-eosin staining, 8-HsPLCB reduced melanin pigmentation in the basal layer of the epidermis and epidermal thickness changes exposed to the UV-B irradiation as compared with non-treatment and vehicle treatment. The intensity of the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB was similar to arbutin. These results suggest that the skin-lightening effect of 8-HsPLCB might be resulted from inhibition of melanin synthesis by tyrosinase in melanocytes. To conclude, 8-HsPLCB treatment showed reduction of the melanin pigment and histological changes induced by UV irradiation in brown guinea pigs.