• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.322-327
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• 2017

Background: Cynaroside is a flavone, a flavonoid-like compound, known by different names (luteoloside and cinaroside). It is commonly found in Lonicera japonica Thunb., Chrysanthemum moriflium, and Angelica keiskei. The process of cell death has been classified as necrosis and apoptosis. Necrosis refers to unregulated cell death induced by a chemotherapeutic agent. Doxorubicin is an anthracycline anti-cancer drug used to treat acute leukemia, cancer, and lymphoma. However, it induces nephrotoxicity including tubular damage. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of cynaroside against doxorubicin-induced necrosis in HK-2 cells. Methods and Results: To confirm the beneficial effect of cynaroside on doxorubicin-induced necrosis, HK-2 cells, a human proximal tubule epithelial cell line were treated with $10{\mu}M$ doxorubicin and $80{\mu}M$ cynaroside. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in increased DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity and mitochondria hyperactivation during cell necrosis. However, pretreatment with $80{\mu}M$ cynaroside attenuated DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity and mitochondria hyperactivation induced by $10{\mu}M$ doxorubicin in HK-2 cells. Conclusions: These results indicated that pretreatment with cynaroside ameliorated doxorubicin-induced necrosis in HK-2 cells. Therefore, cynaroside be used as a therapeutic agent for improving doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity. However, further studies are required to evaluated the toxicity of cynaroside treatment in animals and to determine its protective effect against doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity in an animal model.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.545-563
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• 2007

The investigated vascular plants of Dok-do island were confirmed that consisted of 46 species, 1 subspecies, 1 varieties in total of 48 taxa growing spontaneously. 1 taxa of Pteridophyta, 36 taxa of Dicotyledon and 11 taxa of Monocotyledon identified. In 48 identified taxa in this study, total 13 taxa included Orobanche coerulescens Stephan, Fallopia sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Rouse Decr., Lonicera insularis Nakai identified according to the Korean plant taxa for environmental assessment. Planting species were about 10 taxa included Pinus thunbergii Parl., Hibiscus syriacus L. and etc. Four species confirmed in this study such as between Chenopodium virgatum Thunb. and Chenopodium album L., Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) P.Beauv. and Echinochloa crusgalli var. oryzicola (Vasinger) Ohwi. were doubt on identification in taxonomic entity due to morphological characteristics. The dispersion type of Do-kdo plants were anemochore 31 taxa, zoodchore 8 taxa, hydrochore 2 taxa and the others by artificial means.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.18-29
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• 2022

Five species of plants (Clerodendrum trichotomum Thunb., Angelica dahurica (Fisch. ex Hoffm.) Benth. & Hook. f. ex Franch. & Sav., Caryopteris incana (Thunb. ex Houtt.) Miq., Lonicera japonica Thunb., and Parasenecio auriculatus var. matsumurana Nakai) native to the clean area of Mt. Jiri were selected. The collection period was from May to September 2021, and the five species plants were collected in their native habitats with flowers in full bloom. The collected plants were extracted with 70% EtOH, and 17 kinds of polyphenol components were analyzed. Next, flowers, leaves, stems, and roots were separated from plants, extracted with 70% EtOH for each part and experiments were conducted on DPPH, ABTS, total polyphenols, and total flavonoids. The results are as follows. 1. It was found that there were a total of 8 kinds of polyphenols contained in 5 species of plants that are native to Mt. Jiri. Among the polyphenol components, chlorogenic acid was contained in 4 species of plants, and caffeic acid was contained in 2 species of plants. 2. As a result, the DPPH radical scavenging activity was the best in the stem of P. auriculata and the C. trichotomum was good regardless of the specific part. It was found that the activity-scavenging activity was good in the flowers of A. dahurica and the leaves of L. japonica. 3. The highest ABTS radical scavenging activity was C. trichotomum Thunb., whose EC₅₀ value was 38.73~66.28ppm. Next, the leaves and stems of L. japonica Thunb., A. dahurica and P. auriculata, and the leaves and stems of C. incana appeared in that order. 4. The highest total polyphenol content was 154.83mg GAE/g in the leaves of C. trichotomum, followed by about 130mg GAE/g in the flowers of C. trichotomum and P. auriculata. The lowest was 26.27mg GAE/g in the stems of A. dahurica.

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

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.539-553
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• 2010

Objectives : The object of this study was to obtain accurate information (single oral dose toxicity) of Lonicerae Flos (LF; Dried flower bud parts of Lonicera japonica Thunb (Caprifoliaceae)), which has traditionally been used in Korean medicine for treating various inflammatory diseases. Methods : In order to observe the 50% lethal dose (LD 50), approximate lethal dosage (ALD) and target organs, test articles were once orally administered to female and male ICR mice at dose levels of 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 0 (control) mg/kg (body weight.). The mortality and changes on body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored for 14 days after single oral treatment of LF aqueous extracts with organ weights and histopathological observations of 12 types of principle organs. Results : 1. After single oral treatment of LF aqueous extracts, we could not find any mortality and toxicological evidences up to 2,000 mg/kg treated group, the limited dosages in rodents at body and organ weights, clinical signs, gross and histopathological observations. 2. Slight diarrhea was detected in most mice treated with 2,000 mg/kg of LF aqueous extracts and male mice of LF aqueous extracts 1,000 mg/kg within 2 days after end of treatment, respectively. Conclusion : The results obtained in this study suggest that the LD 50 and ALD of LF aqueous extracts in both female and male mice after single oral treatment were considered as over 2,000 mg/kg because no mortalities were detected up to 2000 mg/kg, the highest dose recommended by KFDA and OECD. However, we also observed the possibility of digestive disorders like diarrhea when over 1,000 mg/kg of LF aqueous extracts were administered in the present study.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.877-890
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• 2017

Objectives: Lonicerae flos (LF), a dried flower part of Lonicera japonica Thunb., has been widely used in Korean medicine as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardioprotective effects of LF, through potential antioxidant effects, on the pressure overload (PO)-induced heart failure (HF) in C57BL/6 mice after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. Methods: Resveratrol (10 mg/kg body weight) or LF (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered, once daily for 14 days, starting 14 days after TAC surgery. Changes in the mortality, body weights, heart weights, histopathology of the heart, and antioxidant defense systems of the heart were analyzed. Results: Marked and noticeable increases of heart weights, mortalities, and hypertrophic, focal, and lytic fibrotic histological changes in the LVs were observed, with destruction of heart antioxidant defense systems after surgery. However, HF signs, induced by TAC surgery through PO, and destruction of heart antioxidant defense systems were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by 14 days of maintained oral treatment with LF 500, 250 or 125 mg/kg. Treatment with 250 mg/kg LF was comparable to treatment with 10 mg/kg resveratrol. Conclusions: The results in this study suggest that oral administration of LF favorably relieves PO-induced HF following TAC, through increase of heart antioxidant defense systems. The overall effects of 250 mg/kg LF were similar to those of 10 mg/kg resveratrol. More detailed mechanistic studies should be conducted in the future, with screening of the biologically active compounds in LF.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-56
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• 2012

WIN-34B showed analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects in various animal models of pain and osteoarthritis. However, the molecular mechanism by which WIN-34B inhibits pain and inflammation in vivo remains to be elucidated. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of the actions of WIN-34B using various in vitro models using fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA FLSs), RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages. WIN-34B inhibited the level of IL-6, $PGE_2$, and MMP-13 in IL-$1{\beta}$-stimulated RA FLSs in a dose-dependent manner. The mRNA levels were also inhibited by WIN-34B. The level of $PGE_2$, NO, IL-$1{\beta}$, and TNF-${\alpha}$ were inhibited by WIN-34B at different concentrations in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The production of NO and $PGE_2$ was inhibited by WIN-34B in a dose-dependent manner in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. All of these effects were comparable to the positive control, celecoxib or indomethacin. I${\kappa}B$B signaling pathways were inhibited by WIN-34B, and the migration of NF-${\kappa}B$ into the nucleus was inhibited, which is consistent with the degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$. Taken together, the results suggest that WIN-34B has potential as a therapeutic drug to reduce pain and inflammation by inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory mediators.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.99-113
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• 2008

In this study, the author experimented the influence of five herbal medicines, which are Lonicera japonica Thunb, Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Scutellaria baicalensis George which are called 'Chungyulyak(淸熱藥)' on drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 in Human Liver Microsome. Above all, the reason for this study is that herbal medicines can be assumed that herbs might have interactions with drugs, other herbs, alcohol and chemicals whether those are much better synergy effects than expected effects when the medicine was treated alone or not. As a result, we showed that all of five traditional herbal medicines had no CYP 3A4 inhibition effect on 10, 20, 30, 40, $50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ doses in Human Liver Microsome. However, this result are mostly not enough to prove that PMT has a CYP 3A4 inhibition effect. Moreover, it is not that those rates showed that those herbal medicines have CYP 3A4 induction effect. In conclusion, the result could support that those herbal medicines are more safe than chemical drugs even if this is the basic step to prove that result. Therefore, more specific studies to support this result, which are Kinetic study, cell and animal study then finally until clinical research, are required.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.89 no.5
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• pp.585-590
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• 2000

The studies were carried out to know shade tolerance of the plants for the urban forest aromatic bath. The one to two year old potted seedlings were grown under the one of the five light conditions such as 100%, 50%, 30%, 10% and 2% of the full sun light intensities. Pinus densiflora S. et Z., P. sylvestriformis (Takenouchi) Chien., Thymus quinquecastatus Celak, Lonicera japonica Thunb, and Zingiber officinale Roscoe showed decreasing tendencies in height and root collar diameter growth, and dry mass production as the light intensity decreases. Exceptionally Thuja koraiensis Nakai showed the best growth in the 50% of full sun light intensity. Athyrium yokoscense (Fr. et Sab.) H. Christ showed better growth in the relative light intensity of 10 to 15% than in the in the relative light intensity of 25 to 30% in the bath green house.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.387-391
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• 2007

Recently, much attention has been paid to developing various kinds of fermented herbal extracts, a new type of traditional herbal medicine, in the field of Korean traditional medicine. The fermentation of medicinal herbs is intended to exert a favorable influence on digestability, bioavailavility and pharmacological activity of herbal extract in the gastrointestinal tract. It also produces a number of fermentation products that intensify the nutritional and pharmacological aspects of the medicinal herbs. In order to develop a functional beverage of alleviating the aftereffects of the previous drinks, the extracts (HP-1) of fermented herbal mixture, including Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Lonicera japonica Thunberg, and Hovenia dulcis Thunb., were prepared and the medicinal effect as a hangover cure was evaluated in ethanol-loaded rats. The enzyme activities of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) were analyzed by measuring the concentration of blood ethanol and acetaldehyde. The mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH2 was also investigated through RT-PCR analysis. In the HP-1-treated group, the concentration of blood ethanol was significantly reduced at one hour after loading of ethanol, as compared to that in the saline-treated group. The reduced ethanol was converted to acetaldehyde, which resulted in rapid increase in acetaldehyde concentration in an hour. Acetaldehyde was started to decrease at 5 hours after ethanol loading. It implies that HP-1 is highly effective to stimulate the activities of ADH and ALDH2. The HP-1 treatment also activated the mRNA expression of ADH and ALDH. This study suggests that fermented herbal extract, HP-1 can be used as a functional beverage of alleviating the alcohol-induced hangover symptoms by stimulating the activities and gene expression of hepatic alcohol metabolizing enzymes.