• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.155-166
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• 2017

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus has been widely used as a traditional medicinal herb for the treatment of insomnia, limb pain and itch. The extract of Polygoni Multiflori Ramulus (PMRE) is known to have a modulatory effect of many inflammatory responses. This study was performed to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of PMRE against arachidonic acid (AA) + iron-induced oxidative stress on HepG2 cell and carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury on mice. Methods : The effects of PMRE on cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. And flow cytometric analysis was performed to estimate the effects on mitochondrial function. To investigate its underlying mechanism, apoptosis-related proteins were analysed by using immunoblot analysis. In addition, ICR mouse were administrated (po) with the PMRE (30, 100 mg/kg) for 3 days and then, injected (ip) with $CCl_4$ (0.5 ml/kg body weight) to induce acute liver damage. The level of pro-caspase-3 was measured. Results : Treatment of PMRE increased relative cell viability, prevented a cleavage of poly (ADP ribose) polymerase and pro-caspase-3, and also reduced mitochondrial membrane permeability against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress. In addition, PMRE treatment decreased liver injury induced by $CCl_4$, as evidenced by increases in pro-caspase-3 level. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that PMRE has an ability to anti-oxidant and hepatoprotective effect against AA + iron-induced oxidative stress and $CCl_4$-induced liver injury.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.11-18
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• 2015

Objectives : Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Jeokhasuo in Korean) is a Oriental traditional herbs widely used in East Asian countries. Overconsumption of fructose results in hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and impaired glucose tolerance which have documented as a risk of cardiovascular diseases. This experimental study was designed to investigate the beneficial effects of an ethanol extract from Polygoni Multiflori Radix (PMR) in high-fructose (HF) diet-induced metabolic syndrome rat model. Methods : Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into three groups; Control group, receiving regular diet and tap water, HF group, and HF + PMR group both receiving supplemented with 65% fructose (n=10), respectively. The HF + PMR group initially received HF diet with PMR (100 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Results : PMR significantly prevented the metabolic disturbances such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and impaired glucose tolerance. Chronic treatment with PMR significantly decreased body weight, fat weight and adipocyte size, suggesting a role of anti-obesity effect. PMR led to improve the hyperlipidemia through the increase in HDL cholesterol level as well as the decrease in triglyceride and LDL cholesterol level. In addition, PMR suppressed adhesion molecules and endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression in aorta resulting in the decrease of hypertension. In muscle tissue, PMR significantly recovered the HF-induced insulin resistance through increase of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), p-$AMPK{\alpha}1/2$, and p-Akt expression. PMR improved HF-induced metabolic disorders and its action was caused by energy metabolism-mediated insulin signaling activation. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that PMR may be a beneficial therapeutic for metabolic syndrome through the improvement of hyperlipidemia, obesity, insulin resistance and hypertension.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.317-324
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• 2004

In order to examine the clinical effects on male pattern hair loss, the oriental medicine extract composed of Polygoni multiflori Radix, Angelica gigantis Radix and Lycii Fructus was tested to balding people. 40 males and 10 females were participated in this experiment, and they had spread the extract on their scalp themselves one time a day for 18 months. After 18 months, all participants submitted the reports that had questionnaires to determine the effect of topical oriental medicine extract on hair growth and/or hair loss preventing in balding people. In the results, ir was found that hair density on the entire scalp was gradually increased during the spreading period of the extract in most of balding people. The hair loss was observed about 1 week or 2 months after extract treatment and hair growth was observed about 6 months after extract treatment. In the reports, 74％ of participants answered that the extract was effective on hair growth and hair loss preventing, and improvement of scalp condition. From these results, it is suggested that the extract composed of Polygoni multiflori Radix, Angelica gigantis Radix and Lycii Fructus may be an effective medical care to hair growth and hair loss preventing in human.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1134-1137
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• 2002

To investigate the neurotoxic effect of organic chloride on cultured mouse cerebral neurons, cytotoxic effect was measured by MTT assay after cultured cerebral neurons were incubated with various concentrations of methyl mercuric chloride(MMC) for 24 hours. The protective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori(RPM) on MMC-induced neurotoxicity was also examined in these cultures. MMC decreased cell viability of cultured mouse cerebral neurons remarkably in a dose- and time-dependent manners. In protective effect of RPM it was remarkably effective in blocking the neuroxicity induced by MMC. From aboved the results, it is suggested that MMC induce neurotoxicity, and the herba extract, RPM is very effective in preventing MMC-induced cytotoxicity on cultured mouse cerebral neurons.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.738-741
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• 2003

In order to evaluate the cytotoxicity of methylmercuric chloride(MMC) in cultured spinal motor neurons of neonatal mouse, cell viability was measured by MTT assay in spinal motor neurons treated with 1-30 μM MMC for 48 hours. And also, the protective effect of Radix Polygoni Multiflori(RPM) was examined by cell viability in these cultures. Cell viability was significantly decreased in dose-dependent manner after cultured cells were exposured to 20 μM MMC for 48 hours. Protective effect of RPM on MMC-mediated toxicity was very effective in these cultures. From above the results, it suggests that MMC has toxic effect in cultured mouse spinal motor neurons and herb extract such as RPM is very effective in blocking the neurotoxicity induced by MMC.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Definitive identification of original plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. The herbal medicines Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix (Baekshuoh in Korean and Beishuwu in Chinese) and Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Hashuoh in Korean and Heshuwu in Chinese) are often misidentified in the Korean herbal market due to morphological similarities and similar names. Therefore, we developed a reliable molecular marker for the identification of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix. We used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of three plant species, Polygoni multiflorum, Cynanchum wilfordii, and Cynanchum auriculatum, to obtain several species-specific RAPD amplicons. From nucleotide sequences of these RAPD amplicons, we developed six sequence characterized amplification region (SCAR) markers for distinguishing Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix. Furthermore, we established SCAR markers for the simultaneous discrimination of the three species within a single reaction by using multiplex-PCR. These SCAR markers can be used for efficient and rapid authentication of these closely related species, and will be useful for preventing the distribution of adulterants.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.382.2-382.2
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• 2002

Melanin biosynthesis inhibitors are useful not only for the materials used in cosmetics as skin-whitening agents but also for the remedy of hyperpigmentation. In order to find the new skin-whitening compounds from the natural products. screening of tyrosinase and melanin biosynthesis inhibitory activities in vitro has been carried out. The MeOH extracts and/or fractions of Polygoni multiflori Radix, Dalbergiae odoriferae Lignum. Solnani nigri Herba. Polygoni cuspidati Radix. POlygoni multiflori Ramulus. Salviae Radix showed tyrosinase inhibitory effects. Four methanolic extracts also showed melanin biosynthesis inhibitory effects in B-16 melanoma cell line.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was designed to establish a characteristic discrimination of internal and external morphological standard of original plants and herbal states in Polygoni Multiflori and Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix. Methods : In this studies, the external-internal morphological standards were determined by using stereoscope and butanol series. Results: 1. The external characteristics of original plants: Polygonum Multiflorum has alternate leaves, and its flower with white color blooms at the shoot apex or leaf axil. In the other hand, Cynanchum wilfordii has opposite leaves, and its flower with yellowish green color blooms at the leaf axil. 2. The physical characteristics of herbal slates: Polygoni Multiflori Radix is red-brown in outer surface pink-brown in section. In the other hand, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix is earthly-brown in outer surface greyish white in section. 3. The physical characteristics according to the place of production: Demonstrable difference according to the place of production is not seen. Polygoni Multiflori Radix is brown or dark brown in outer surface, soft $Yellow{\sim}dark$ brown in section. In the other hand, Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix is white in outer surface, $white{\sim}weak$ red in section, and has power type. 4. The internal characteristics: Polygonum multiflorum has hetero-vascular bundle and lignification of cork layer is progressive. In the other hand, Cynanchum wilfordii has not hetero-vascular bundle, and lignification of cork layer is weak. Conclusion: In the future, many fundamental study such as how to discriminate between Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix in origin and efficacy will be necessary. Also the standard of discrimination must be specific and distinct in that several kinds of fo-ti has been traded. It is considered the results of this study will be furnish κ I the basis Lo succeeding studies and it is needed to extensive comparative study for the same genus-degree of relatedness.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.69-75
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate effects of the combination with Korean Red Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), Gastrodia Rhizoma (Gastrodia elata Blume) and Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg) on metabolic disorders including cholesterol and erectile dysfunction in hyperlipidemia rats.Methods : Animals were divided into six groups; Control with normal diet, high fat/cholesterol-diet (HFCD), fluvastatin, Korean Red Ginseng treated (KRG), and the combination treated (Korean Red Ginseng, Gastrodia Rhizoma and Polygoni Multiflori Radix; 1:1:1 for KGP1 and 2:1:1 for KGP2). The experimental groups initially received HFCD for 10 weeks and then treated orally with fluvastatin, KRG, KGP1 and KGP2 during the final 6 weeks. Erectile function was determined by the measurements of intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and maximal arterial pressure (MAP) after electrical stimulation of the cavernosal nerve.Results : KGP2 decreased the level of total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the sera of HFCD rats without no changes of body weights. KRG, KGP1 and KGP2 decreased the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) levels except of fluvastatin, synthetic HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor. KRG, KGP1 and KGP2 significantly increased the ICP, ICP/MAP ratio, area under the curve (AUC) compared with those of normal rat. Morphometric analyses showed that KRG, KGP1 and KGP2 increased the volume of smooth muscle and the regular arrangement of collagen fibers in corpus cavernosum of HFCD rats. The penile expression of eNOS was increased by KRG, KGP1 and KGP2.Conclusions : Based on these results, we suggest that the combination with Korean Red Ginseng, Gastrodia Rhizoma and Polygoni Multiflori may improve hyperlipidemia through regulating the lipid profiles and erectile dysfunction in rats.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2004

The hair growth effect of the oriental medicine extract which is composed of Polygoni multiflori Radix, Angelica gigantis Radix and Lycii Fructus was studied biochemically and histologically. The study was conducted dividelly into three groups, control, propecia and oriental medicine extract and three groups were compared each other in skin androgen, testosterone (T) and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), content biochemically and the number of hair follicular unit and hair follicle histologically. The oriental medicine extract and propecia decreased skin DHT conetent and increased skin total (T+DHT) content compared with control. In transverse sections of skin specimens the oriental medicine extract and propecia increased total counts of follicular units and follicles compared with control. On the basis of the result, the oriental medicine extract has same hair growth effect as propecia and it is suggested that the oriental medicne extract is capable of a therapeutic agent of alopecia.