• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2015

Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat various diseases such as infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis against Leishmania tropica on an in vitro model. Antileishmanial effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of M. communis on promastigote forms and their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 hr. In addition, their leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms was determined in a macrophage model, for 72 hr. Findings showed that the main components of essential oil were ${\alpha}$-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%). Findings demonstrated that M. communis, particularly its essential oil, significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. tropica based on a dose-dependent response. The $IC_{50}$ values for essential oil and methanolic extract was 8.4 and $28.9{\mu}g/ml$ against promastigotes, respectively. These values were 11.6 and $40.8{\mu}g/ml$ against amastigote forms, respectively. Glucantime as control drug also revealed $IC_{50}$ values of 88.3 and $44.6{\mu}g/ml$ for promastigotes and amastigotes of L. tropica, respectively. The in vitro assay demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity in J774 cells. However, essential oil indicated a more cytotoxic effect as compared with the methanolic extract of M. communis. The findings of the present study demonstrated that M. communis might be a natural source for production of a new leishmanicidal agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.749-755
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• 2014

Background: Purple rice has become a natural product of interest which is widely used for health promotion. This study investigated the preventive effect of purple rice extract (PRE) mixed diet on DMH initiation of colon carcinogenesis. Materials and Methods: Rats were fed with PRE mixed diet one week before injection of DMH (40 mg/kg of body weight once a week for 2 weeks). They were killed 12 hrs after a second DMH injection to measure the level of $O^6$-methylguanine and xenobiotic metabolizing enzyme activities. Results: In rats that received PRE, guanine methylation was reduced in the colonic mucosa, but not in the liver, whereas PRE did not affect xenobiotic conjugation, with reference to glutathione-S-transferase or UDP-glucuronyl transferase. After 5 weeks, rats that received PRE with DMH injection had fewer ACF in the colon than those treated with DMH alone. Interestingly, a PRE mixed diet inhibited the activity of bacterial ${\beta}$-glucuronidase in rat feces, a critical enzyme for free methylazoxymethanol (MAM) release in the rat colon. These results indicated that purple rice extract inhibited ${\beta}$-glucuronidase activity in the colonic lumen, causing a reduction of MAM-induced colonic mucosa DNA methylation, leaded to decelerated formation of aberrant crypt foci in the rat colon. Conclusions: The supplemented purple rice extract might thus prevent colon carcinogenesis by the alteration of the colonic environment, and thus could be further developed for neutraceutical products for colon cancer prevention.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.111-121
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of ampule containing herbal extract(Ulmus davidiana, Ginkgo biloba, Perilla ocymoides, Morus alba, Glycyrrhiza uralensis (licorice), and Angelica gigas) on skin wrinkles in adult women with facial wrinkles. Methods : A total of 12 women, 30 to 46 years of age, with wrinkles in the corner of eyes, applied ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for up to 12 weeks. Silicon replicas of right crow's feet area and antecubital fossa were taken before use of test product and at 4, 8 and 12 weeks. The replicas were analyzed by optical profilometry with Skin Visiometer SV600. The wrinkle and roughness parameters, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 were calculated and statistically analyzed. In addition, a subjective evaluation of product efficacy was conducted by patient's assessment. Results : The mean values of all the skin roughness parameters were decreased at 4-week, and decreased significantly at 8 and 12-week except R4 at 12-week after test product use. The subjective evaluation of wrinkle by patient's assessment was also improved. However, one patient noted stiffness of face after use of test product. Conclusions : These study suggested that the application of ampule containing herbal extract twice daily for 12 weeks may effectively improve the facial wrinkles without severe side effect.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.194-206
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• 2010

This study was carried out to identify the optimum dyeing conditions for maximum dye uptake of Prunus yedoensis Matsumura flower extract on silk fabric and to investigate hue/tone characteristics and fastness properties of the dyed fabrics. As results, the flower extract was found to contain flavonoids by FT-IR and to show yellowish shade by UV-vis spectrum. Silk fabric was optimized for maximum dye uptake to five repetitions of dyeing at $80^{\circ}C$ for 60 min with an extract concentration of 600% owf in terms of both K/S and color differences. Pre-mordanting was more effective to dye uptake than post-mordanting for all of the mordants used. Un-mordanted and pre-mordanted fabric showed YR(Yellow Red) while most of post-mordanted ones did Y(Yellow). Main tones of dyed fabrics were sf(soft) and lt(light) in the case of unmordanting or Al-mordanting whereas they were d(dull) and g(grayish) by post-mordanting with Cu, Cr, and Fe, respectively. The fastness grades to rub and dry cleaning were reasonably good for most dyeing conditions while those to light were poor. Finally dyeing condition for each hue/tone of the dyed silk with the flower extract was optimized considering fastness properties.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2003

The hepatoprotective effect of the ethanolic extract of Coccinia indica fruits in rats treated with carbon tetrachloride. In hepatotoxic rats, liver damage was studied by assessing parameters such as aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (AlT), alkaline phosphatase (AIP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in serum, and concentrations of total proteins, total lipids, phospholipids, triglycerides and cholesterol in both serum and liver. The effect of co-administration of ethanolic extract on the above parameters was further investigated. Histopathological study of the liver in experimental animals was also undertaken. Hepatic damage as evidenced by a rise in the levels of AST, AIT, AIP and GGT in serum, and also changes observed in other biochemical parameters In serum and liver showed a tendency to attain near normalcy in animals co-administered with the extract. The normal values for AST (IU/L), AIP (IU/I), protein (g/100 ml) and total lipids (mg/100 ml) in serum (i.e.,20.24, 70.04, 5.72 and 135.54 respectively) were found to alter towards values 32.61, 127.11, 3.83 and 265.91 in hepatotoxic rats. These parameters Attained near normal values (I.e.,22.82, 79.30, 5.22 and 151.24 for AST, AIP protein and total lipids respectively) in ethanolic extract co-administered rats. Profound steatosis, ballooning degeneration and nodule formation observed in the hepatic architecture of $CCl_4$ treated rats were found to acquire near-normalcy in drug co-administered rats, thus corroborating the biochemical observations. Thus the study substantiates the hepatoprotective potential of ethanolic extract of Coccinia indica fruits.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.153-165
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• 2000

To identify, the effects of acua-acupuncture of Bletillae rhizoma extract on the duodenal ulcer induced by HCl-aspirin in rats, the changes of histological profiles, number of mucous-producing goblet cells (PAS-positive cells), and morphology and/or number of chole-cystokinin (CCK)-8 and serotonin-immunoreactive (IR) cells in the gastrointestinal tract were observed after acua-acupuncture of Bletillae rhizoma extract on Ganshu locus ($BL_{14}$). Samples were collected at 1, 3 and 5 days after treatment. Histologically, very severe injury, atrophy of villus, necrosis of epithelial cell and hemorrhage, to the duodenal mucosa including epithelium were observed in HCl-aspirin administrated control groups, and these injuries were increased with time intervals. But in acua-acupuncture groups and nontreated normal groups, no gross lesion of ulcer was demonstrated and histologically minor injury to the apex of villas epithelium was observed. Compared to the PAS-positive cells of the control groups, those of the acua-acupuncture groups were increased. Severe degranulation of CCK-8- and serotonin-IR cells were observed in the control groups but these phenomena seldom occur in the acua-acupuncture groups. Serotonin-IR cells were significantly decreased in control groups but increased in the acua-acupuncture groups compared to control groups. However, these degranulation of IR cells of the aqua-acupuncture groups were less severe than those of normal groups, and number of serotonin-IR cells were lower than those of normal groups but these phenomena were decreased with time intervals and in 5 days after treatment, they were observed like those of normal groups. These result indicated that acua-acupuncture of Bletillae rhizoma extract would be accelerated the healing of the duodenal ulcer but the functional mechanisms were unknown.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2019

Samples (10 mg/mL) of wild Grifola frondosa aqueous extract and solvent fractions were examined for fibrinolytic, thrombin inhibitory, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory, and antioxidative activities to determine the biological activities. The fibrinolytic activity of the aqueous extract and solvent fractions was 0.93 and 0.73 plasmin units/mL, respectively. The thrombin inhibitory activity of the butanol extract was 79.60%. The chloroform fraction had high acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (85.88%). The aqueous extract had low antioxidative activity (39.81%). The aqueous fraction hydrolyzed Bβ subunits of human fibrinogen but did not show any reactivity for the γ form of the human fibrinogen. The findings indicate the potential of wild Grifola frondosa for the development of drugs and bio-functional foods to prevent cardiovascular diseases.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.86-93
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• 2007

Chronic inflammation has been known to have a close relationship with several diseases including periodontitis, colitis, hepatitis and arthritis. Recently anti-inflammatory agents have been developed from marine natural resources. In this study, Ecklonia cava (EC) was found to have anti-inflammatory effect. Ethanolic extract of EC belonging to brown algae exhibited an excellent inhibitory effect on the production of inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin-$1{\beta}$, interleukin-6 and prostaglandin $E_2$ by RA W264.7 cells. Furthermore, in reporter gene assay and western blot analysis, EC extract exerted anti-inflammatory effect via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$ transcription factor that regulates the expression of these inflammatory mediators in macrophages. In addition, EC extract inhibited the activity of matrix metalloproteinase that play an important role in chronic inflammation. These results suggest that EC extract may provide a pharmaceutical potential in inhibiting chronic inflammation.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.239-242
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• 2003

To develop a nicotine-degrading material (NDM), the natural herbal extract was studied. For the in vitro verification, the herbal extract was mixed into the dilute nicotine solution and the ability of NDM to degrade nicotine into cotinine was measured spectrophotometically. In the in vivo study, the rats in experimental and control groups were orally fed with the herbal extract and water, respectively, for 2 weeks. And then, 3 ㎎/㎏ nicotine was administered to both groups by intraperitoneal injection. In results, the ability of NDM to degrade nicotine into cotinine was shown 2.5 fold higher after 90 min reaction in comparison with the control group. In addition, a decrease of 33% in nicotine concentration and a increase of 57% in cotinine concentration were shown in rat blood. Therefore, NDM was shown to be effective in the conversion of nicotine into cotinine.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.246-250
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• 2005

A number of species of the genus Centaurea (Family: Asteraceae), distributed in various parts of Asia, Europe and North America, have been used in traditional plant-based medicine and reported to possess various medicinal properties. As part of our continuing evaluation of plants from the genus Centaurea for their phytochemistry and biological activities, the dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the seeds of Turkish Centaurea species, C. bornmuelleri, C. huber-morathii and C. schiskinii, were screened for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Among the three species, C. huber-morathii displayed the most prominent antibacterial activity. Both the MeOH and DCM extracts of this plant showed activity against Citrobacter freundii, Enterococcus faecalis and Salmonella goldcoast with the MIC values within the range of $1\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;1\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/ml$. The MeOH extract of C schiskinii showed activity $(MIC\;=\;1\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/ml)$ against Citrobacter freundii and Staphylococcus aureus. While the DCM extract of C. bornmuelleri was only active against Staphylococcus aureus $(MIC\;=1\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;mg/ml)$, the MeOH extract did not show any inhibitory activity at test concentrations. The DCM and MeOH extracts of all three species demonstrated good degree of antioxidant property in the DPPH assay with the $RC_{50}$ values ranging from $72\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;31{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/ml$. Among these extracts, the MeOH extract of C. hubermorathii was the most active antioxidant extract $(MlC\;=\;31\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/ml)$.