• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2009

Medicinal herbs are significant source of synthetic and herbal drugs. In the commercial market, medicinal herbs are used as raw drugs, extracts or tinctures. Isolated active constituents are used for applied research. For the last few decades, phytochemistry (study of plants) has been making rapid progress and herbal products are becoming popular. According to Ayurveda, the ancient healing system of India, the classical texts of Ayurveda, Charaka Samhita and Sushruta Samhita were written around 1000 B.C. The Ayurvedic Materia Medica includes 600 medicinal plants along with therapeutics. Herbs like turmeric, fenugreek, ginger, garlic and holy basil are integral part of Ayurvedic formulations. The formulations incorporate single herb or more than two herbs (poly-herbal formulations). Medicinal herb contains multitude of chemical compounds like alkaloids, glycosides, saponins, resins, oleoresins, sesquiterpene, lactones and oils (essential and fixed). Today there is growing interest in chemical composition of plant based medicines. Several bioactive constituents have been isolated and studied for pharmacological activity. R. cordifolia is an important medicinal plant commonly used in the traditional and Ayurvedic system of medicine for treatment of different ailments. This review illustrates its major constituents, pharmacological actions substantiating the claims made about this plant in the traditional system of medicine and its clinical applications.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2007

Mechanisms of insecticide resistance found in insects may include three general categories. Modified behavioral mechanisms can let the insects avoid the exposure to toxic compounds. The second category is physiological mechanisms such as altered penetration, rapid excretion, lower rate transportation, or increased storage of insecticides by insects. The third category relies on biochemical mechanisms including the insensitivity of target sites to insecticides and enhanced detoxification rate by several detoxifying mechanisms. Insecticides metabolism usually results in the formation of more water-soluble and therefore more readily eliminated, and generally less toxic products to the host insects rather than the parent compounds. The representative detoxifying enzymes are general esterases and monooxygenases that catalyze the toxic compounds to be more water-soluble forms and then secondary metabolism is followed by conjugation reactions including those catalyzed by glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). However, a change in the resistant species is not easily determined and the levels of mRNAs do not necessarily predict the levels of the corresponding proteins in a cell. As genomics understands the expression of most of the genes in an organism after being stressed by toxic compounds, proteomics can determine the global protein changes in a cell. In this present review, it is suggested that the environmental proteomic application may be a good approach to understand the biochemical mechanisms of insecticide resistance in insects and to predict metabolomic changes leading to physiological changes of the resistant species.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.68-75
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• 2007

[ $\alpha$ ]-Terpinene has been known as a repellent against the mosquito Culex pipiens pallens Coquillett based on a human forearm bioassay. $\alpha$-Terpinene showed significantly greater repellency than a commercial formulation, N, N-diethyl-m-methylbenzamide (deet). In this study, skin and eye sensitivity of $\alpha$-terpinene (2%) was examined with bioassays using white New Zealand rabbits. There were somewhat gross and histological changes observed in these treatments. Eye irritancy assays examined gross changes to cornea, iris and conjuctiva, and histological changes to smear of ocular discharge and eye tissue. Treated rabbits were divided into two cohorts, a saline washed cohort (W) or a non-washed cohort (NW). Opacity of cornea and redness, chemosis and discharge of conjuctiva were observed in both cohorts, but disappeared within 4 and 10 days in W and NW, respectively. Main components of ocular discharges were fibrin, epithelial or epitheloid cells, lymphoid cells, erythrocytes and granulocytes. These abnormal cellular components disappeared within 4 days and 10 days in W and NW, respectively. No permanent histological differences were observed between the two cohorts. However, severe irritation was determined as 57.2 of I.I.O.I value on the first day after treatment. These findings indicate a spray-type solution containing 2% $\alpha$-terpinene may serve as an alternative mosquito repellent and further studies need to reduce the eye irritation with formulation changes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 1993

The medicinal plants used traditional medicines are classified into two groups. The first group is formulary medicine which have been recorded on authorized books, for example, kampo drug in Japan. The second group is the fork medicines. These medicinal plants production is 165 billion yen(about 1.5 billion dollar) and which rate to to total pharmaceutical production is about 3% in 1990. The number of important medicinal plants treated in the market is 124 herbs from the total 364 herbs for kampo durgs(210 preparations kampo durgs) and other propritetary drugs (agents for common cold, laxatives, gastrointestional and so on). The production of the Ginseng and Bupleurum Root are increased about ten times in last twelve years(1976 or 1988). The 80% of these medicinal plants are imported from China, Korea and Southern Asian countries. Then the Pharmaceutical Affairs Bureau of Ministry of Health and Welfare published "The Guideline of Medicinal Plant for Cultivation" for a quality control and a stabilization supply of 80 herbs. The first part(1992) of the guideline reported 5 herbs; Coptis Rhizome, Rehmannia Root, Bupleur, Root, Japanese Angelica Root and Rhubarb, The next part will be published following 5herbs; Cnidium Rhizome, Safflower, Coix seed and Fruiet, Platicodon Root and Zedoary.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.41-45
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• 2004

We have developed and tested a new method for nondestructive estimation of chlorophyll- and nitrogen-contents in rye leaf. It was found that the relation-ships among nitrogen, chlorophyll content and fresh weight were significantly positive correlated. Nitrogen and chlorophyll content were positively correlated whereas correlation coefficients among R, G, R-B and G-B on the basis of photo-numerical values were negative. We have found that R/(R-B) obtained from data of digital camera is the best criterion to estimate the chlorophyll content of leaves. The regression curves of the relation between R/(R-B) and chlorophyll content were also calculated from the data collected on cloudy days. The coefficients of determination ($\textrm{r}^2$) were ranged from 0.33 to 0.99. In this study, the accuracy in estimating chlorophyll content from the color data of digital camera image could be improved by correcting with R, G, and B values. It is suggested that, for practical purposes, the image values estimated with sufficient accuracy using a portable digital camera can be applied for determining chlorophyll content and nitrogen status in plant leaves.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.439-447
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to isolate and identify the chemical structure of a biosurfactant produced by Nocardia farcinica strain BN26 isolated from soil, and evaluate its in vitro antitumor activity on a panel of human cancer cell lines. Strain BN26 was found to produce glycolipid biosurfactant on n-hexadecane as the sole carbon source. The biosurfactant was purified using medium-pressure liquid chromatography and characterized as trehalose lipid tetraester (THL) by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Subsequently, the cytotoxic effects of THL on cancer cell lines BV-173, KE-37 (SKW-3), HL-60, HL-60/DOX, and JMSU-1 were evaluated by MTT assay. It was shown that THL exerted concentration-dependent antiproliferative activity against the human tumor cell lines and mediated cell death by the induction of partial oligonucleosomal DNA fragmentation. These findings suggest that THL could be of potential to apply in biomedicine as a therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.161-166
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• 2014

Ginseng is widely used for its promising healing and restorative properties as well as for its possible tonic effect in traditional medicine. Nowadays, many studies focus on purified individual ginsenoside, an important constituent in ginseng, and study its specific mechanism of action instead of whole-plant extracts on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Of the various ginsenosides, purified ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rg1, Rg3, Rh1, Re, and Rd are the most frequently studied. Although there are many reports on the molecular mechanisms and medical applications of ginsenosides in the treatment of CVDs, many concerns exist in their application. This review discusses current works on the countless pharmacological functions and the potential benefits of ginseng in the area of CVDs. Results: Both in vitro and in vivo results indicate that ginseng has potentially positive effects on heart disease through its various properties including antioxidation, reduced platelet adhesion, vasomotor regulation, improving lipid profiles, and influencing various ion channels. To date, approximately 40 ginsenosides have been identified, and each has a different mechanism of action owing to the differences in chemical structure. This review aims to present comprehensive information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of ginseng, especially in the control of hypertension and cardiovascular function. In addition, the review also provides an insight into the opportunities for future research and development on the biological activities of ginseng.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.110-115
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• 2004

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) plants were cultivated to examine changes in antioxidative defence mechanism induced by elevated ozone levels. Catalase activities in tolerant Jinpumbyeo and susceptible Chucheongbyeo under ozone fumigation were reduced at 5 hrs and 3 hrs after ozone fumigation, respectively. With the increased ozone supply, peroxidase activity in Jinpumbyeo was steadily enhanced whereas in Chucheongbyeo it was not changed. Four SOD-isozymes were detected by NBT staining of native-PAGE. Two isozymes of them were obviously induced by ozone supply, particularly in Jinpumbyeo. The continuous ozone fumigation increased remarkably putrescine levels in leaves whereas it did not affect the levels of spermidine and spermine. In this study, it was implied that ozone in cell inhibits strongly diamine oxidase and thus promotes ethylene biosynthesis which will cause the senescence in rice plants.

• CELLMED
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.2.1-2.7
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• 2019

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) is a rich source of edible oil most commonly it is used as a food product mainly in bakeries and also use as a common source of oil in daily kitchen needs. Due to the presence of some special phytochemicals like proteins, fibers, oil, minerals and antioxidants it is highly used for medicinal and therapeutic purposes. It is a good source of energy and act as an antiaging agent. Its seeds are used as Anti-helmintic, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and Hepatoprotective but its seed coat which is a byproduct of sesame and a cherished source of fibers is normally use for animal feedstuff. In Unani system of medicine it is used both as drug & diet (dawa wa ghida). In classical Unani literature it is indicated in various disorders like Asthma, Dry Cough, Gastritis (due to any drug, excessive use of alcohol), Dryness of Intestine, Dryness in throat, Renal Stone, Bleeding Piles, Amenorrhea, Retention of urine, Dysuria, Orchitis, Sexual Debility, Anorexia. The present review article, an attempt have been made to compile all the pharmacological and Pharmacognostical characters of Sesamum indicum with special reference to Unani literature.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.10-17
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• 2023

Objectives: Murraya paniculata (family-Rutaceae), popularly known as orange jasmine, is the most important evergreen plant. The Rutaceae family is economically significant due to its diverse edible fruits and essential oils. Methods: Murraya paniculata extracts (MPE) of leaf have been shown to include phenolic compounds, highly oxygenated flavonoids, flavanones, sesquiterpenoids, polymethoxy glycosides, and coumarins. Cyclocitral, methyl salicylate, trans-nerolidol, cubenol, isogermacrene, -cadinol, and cubeb-11-ene are all abundant in MPE. The usages of various parts of this plant, such as bark, leaves and flower, as a remedy for a variety of ailments as widely recorded in the traditional literature. The plant has anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, antibacterial, anti-implantation, anti-oxidative, cytotoxic, anti-diarrheal, antidepressant and anti-anxiety properties and many others. Results: The goal of the review is to reignite interest in this potential plant, encouraging researchers to continue their research in order to uncover novel therapeutic compounds for the treatment and management of a range of infections. The current review provided a comprehensive overview of this traditional unique plant. Conclusion: The review paves a way for exploring its active chemical elements with substantial pharmacological values further for potential benefits of mankind.