• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.226-234
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• 2006

Disturbance of antioxidant system is very common in chronic alcoholics and herbal or natural products with antioxidant activity have been used for its treatment. This study was to investigate the effect of Vitis vinifera extract(V), Schisandra chinensis extract(S), Taraxacum officinale extract(T), Gardenia jasminoides extract(G), Angelica acutiloba extract(A) and Paeonia japonica extract(P), and their combinations on the antioxidant and ethanol oxidation system. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to Lieber-DeCarli ethanol liquid diet(ED) and were then given different herbal extract mixtures for 6 weeks including VST(V 100+S 150+T 150mg/kg/day), VSG(V 100+S 150+G 150mg/kg/day), VTG(V 100+T 150+G 150mg/kg/day), and VAP(V 100+A 150+P 150mg/kg/day). When the activity of alcohol dehydrogenase(ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase(ALDH) were compared between ED only group and herbal extracts treatment group, the differences were statistically significant. Phase I and II(glutathione-S-transferase, phenol sulfatransferase) enzyme activities were found to be significantly higher in the VAT treatment group compared to the ED group. Herbal extracts not only repressed the ethanol-induced elevation of malondialdehyde level, but also protected against ethanol-induced decrease in glutathione content, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities. The administration of the herbal extracts was found to be effective in eliminating lipid-peroxides induced by long-term consumption of alcohol by activating various enzyme systems and physiological active compound formation system. After a chronic consumption of alcohol, Angelica Radix protected the liver via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system, and Paeoniae Radix via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system. Taraxaci Herba was also effective in liver protection via activating the ethanol-metabolism enzyme system and the phase I, II-metabolism enzyme system, Gardeniae Fructus via activating the phase II-metabolism enzyme system and the anti-oxidation system enzyme, and Schisandra Fructus and a grapestone via activating the anti-oxidation system. Our data suggest that these herbal extracts may be useful as a health functional food or new drug candidate for fatty liver and hepatotoxicity induced by chronic alcohol consumption.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-71
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• 2011

Objectives : Kyungok-go(KOG), the first herbal formulation of donguibogam, has been used for treating of many symptoms of yin deficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of KOG on bone resorption. Methods : We determined the effects of water extract of KOG in RANKL(Receptor Activator for Nuclear Factor ${\kappa}B$ Ligand)-induced osteoclast differentiation culture system and osteoblast proliferation. In addition, we determined the effects of water extract of ABR on LPS-induced bone-loss with mice. Results : Water extract of KOG showed proliferation effect on osteoblast without cytotoxicity and no effect on RANKL-treated osteoclast differentiation. KOG rescued bone erosion by LPS induction in vivo study. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that KOG can be a useful remedy for treating of bone-loss disease such as osteoporosis.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.502-510
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• 2017

This study investigated bacterial growth-inhibitory effect of 69 therapeutic herbal plants extracts on 9 bacterial strains using a disc diffusion assay. Especially, the antimicrobial activity of Psoraleae semen, which showed different activity on pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, was evaluated by MIC (minimal inhibition concentration) and biofilm formation assay. The effect of Psoraleae semen extract on bacterial cell membranes was examined by measurement of protein leakage (optical density at 280 nm) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). No clear zone was formed on discs containing Gram-negative bacteria, but Gram-positive bacteria exhibited clear zones. The MICs of Psoraleae semen extract were $8{\mu}g/mL$ for Streptococcus mutans, and $16{\mu}g/mL$ for Enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, biofilm formation was inhibited at concentration $8-16{\mu}g/mL$. Protein leakage values and SEM images revealed that cell membranes of Gram-positive bacteria were impaired following exposure to the extract. Further, the extract inhibited the growth of Listeria monocytogenes in sausages. These results indicate that Psoraleae semen extract could be utilized as a natural antimicrobial agent against Gram-positive bacteria.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.306-310
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• 2004

Efficacy of antioxidative activity and nitrite scavenging ability of ethanol extract of Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z. (P. bambusoides) was investigated. Electron-donating ability of ethanol extract at $RC_{50}$ was $116.75\;{\mu}g/mL$. After addition of 0.92 mg/mL ethanol extract, autooxidation of pyrogallol decreased to 44% by superoxide dismutase-like activity. In antioxidative activity of ethanol extract against linoleic acid during incubation times of 4 and 6 day at $40^{\circ}C$, TBA values decreased by 74.76 and 58.48% with addition of 50 mg/mL, respectively. Nitrite scavenging ability showed the most remarkable effect at pH 1.2, decreasing to 43% by addition of 0.2 mg/mL. These results suggest that ethanol extract of P. bambusoides can be used in bioactive and functional material.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.251-257
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• 2014

Chungsimyeonja-tang (CSYJT) is an herbal decoction that consists with 12 herbal medicines. CSYJT has been shown to have anti-stress, anti-allergic and anti-oxidant effects. The aim of this study was to determine flavonoid contents in CSYJT and evaluate its protective effect against cisplatin induced nephrotoxicity using both in vitro (porcine renal epithelial cell; PK15 cell) and in vivo (Sprague Dawley rat) experiments. In the present study, thee mean contents of baicalin, wogonoside and baicalein in CSYJT were 14.65, 5.27 and 0.02 mg/g, respectively. The CSYJT extract treatment attenuated the following alteration in porcine renal epithelial (PK15) cell: the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), the glutathione depletion and the increase in p53 expression induced by cisplatin treatment. In the in vivo study, rats were orally treated with CSYJT extract once a day for 28 days. Five days before the last treatment, cisplatin (5 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to induce acute renal failure. Increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CRE) levels after cisplatin treatment were ameliorated by pretreatment of CSYJT extract. In addition, lipid peroxidation was decreased and antioxidant enzyme (glutathione) was recovered in CSYJT pretreated kidney tissue. In histopathological examination, CSYJT pretreated group showed ameliorated pathological alteration after cisplatin injection with decreased apoptosis. Taken together, pretreatment of CSYJT could ameliorate cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.476-480
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• 2003

Cornis fructus was extracted by successive extraction and then fractionated with hexane extract to get active fractions. This study was performed to determine the cytotoxic effect of hexane extract from Cornis fructus on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Hexane extract showed cytotoxic effect against A549, B16 melanoma and MDA-MB-231. Futher fractionation with hexane extract was performed to obtain effective fraction, fraction 3 showed the cytotoxic effect against A549 and MDA-MB-231. In antimicrobial test of each fraction of hexane extract, fraction 5 showed antimicrobial activities against P. putida and P. aeruginosa.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.121-126
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• 2009

Objectives : To evaluate the radical scavenging and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities of the ethylacetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion of a methanolic extract of Aster yomena, three different assay systems were performed. Methods : The antioxidant activity of A. yomena extract was tested as its capacity to scavenging free radicals of DPPH and $ABTS^+$, which has been widely used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of natural products from plant sources. AChE inhibitory activity was tested against mouse brain AChE by spectrophotometric method of Ellman using ELISA microplate reader. Results : The methanolic extract of A. yomena was fractionated and the EtOAc-soluble portion showed significant AChE inhibitory and free radical scavenging effects. Also the EtOAc-soluble portion revealed the highest phenolic contents as compared to the other extracts. Conclusions : These results indicate that phenolic compounds may be important constituents that give rise to the anti-AChE and antioxidative activities of A. yomena extract. Further phytochemical studies on this plant, for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical application, are warranted.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.88-96
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• 2020

Stauntonia hexaphylla (SH) and Vaccinium bracteatum (VB) are herbal extracts widely used in food and traditional herbal medicine, and have the ability to perform a wide range of biological activities. We aimed to investigate the effects of the SH and VB combination (SHVB) on mice models of chronic restraint stress (CRS) and pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors to elucidate its possible mechanisms of action. CRS-exposed mice treated with SHVB showed significantly decreased immobility time, increased swimming and climbing times in the forced swim test (FST), and increased locomotor activity in the open field test (OFT). SHVB decreased serum CORT levels, but enhanced brain monoamine neurotransmitters. SHVB significantly decreased the sleep latency and increased total sleep duration in pentobarbital-induced sleeping behavior in mice. SHVB showed inhibitory effect on 5-HT_2A receptor-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation. These results suggest that SHVB has antidepressant and hypnotic effects by regulating the 5-HT_2A receptor.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.153-158
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• 2010

To fine out the anti-inflammatory activities of the C. fragile. and its mechanism were investigated in macrophages induced by Peptidoglycan (PGN). Treatments of macrophages with 100 ug/ml of ethanol extract of Codium fragile (EECF) inhibited PGN-induced IL-6, NO and PGE2 production in a dose-dependent manner as well as expression of iNOS and COX-2. EECF inhibited PGN-induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, JNK 1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation, which suggests that EECF inhibits IL-6 and NO secretion by blocking MAPKs phosphorylation. These findings may help elucidate the mechanism by which EECF modulates RAW 264.7 cell activation under inflammatory conditions.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2024

Objective : In this study, the anti-obesity effect of Fragaria orientalis (FO) on high-fat diet-induced obese mice was investigated. Drug treatment methods are widely used as obesity treatment methods, but research using various natural products is being conducted due to safety concerns. This study aims to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of FO extract, a natural product derived from Mongolia. Methods : C57BL/6 mice were used and divided into three groups, normal diet group, high-fat diet group, and high-fat diet with FO oral treatment group at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Extract was orally provided everyday for 6 weeks. Body Weight and food intake were measured every 2 days and blood lipid profiles and liver function in the sacrificed mice were evaluated. In addition, protein expression in hepatic tissue and histomorphological changes in liver and adipose tissue were observed. Results : Body weight, adipose tissue weight and FER were significantly lower in a high-fat diet with FO treatment than fed only high-fat diet. There was a significant difference between the high-fat diet and the FO-treated high-fat diet mice. As a result of analyzing lipid metabolism-related genes in hepatic tissue, all of p-AMPK, p-ACC, PPAR-α, CPT-1, and UCP-1 showed significant increases, and PPAR-γ also decreased significantly compared to the high-fat diet group. Conclusion : Overall, these results indicate that FO is effectual in improving obesity, suggesting that it can be used as a possible material for anti-obesity agents or functional supplements for weight control.