• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제8권1호
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• pp.73-80
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• 2008

The objective of the present study was to assess the antipsychotic and antidiarrhoeal activities of ethanolic extract of roots of Rubia cordifolia in mice and rats. The antipsychotic activity of ethanolic extract of roots of Rubia cordifolia (ERC) was evaluated by observing its effect on amphetamineinduced stereotyped behavior in mice. Effect of ERC was also studied on motor coordination and locomotion in mice. The antidiarrhoeal activity was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhoea and excretion of sodium and potassium ions in the intestinal secretion in rats and gastrointestinal transit in mice. The ERC inhibited amphetamine-induced stereotyped behaviour, diminished locomotion and impaired motor coordination. ERC inhibited castor oil-induced diarrhoea, decreased both sodium and potassium excretion in the intestine and decreased gastrointestinal transit. Thus the present study confirms the anti-diarrhoeal activity of Rubia cordifolia. Further studies are necessary to evaluate the potential of Rubia cordifolia as an antipsychotic.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.235-242
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• 2004

The alcoholic extract of dried roots of Rubia cordifolia dose dependently reduced blood sugar level in alloxan treated rats. The extract also reduced ulcer index, plasma corticosterone in cold restrain stressed rats in dose related manner. The mice treated with alcoholic extract of Rubia cordifolia spent more time in the open arm of the elevated plus maze indicating anxiolytic activity. The extract also antagonized the amnesic effect of scopolamine in mice as indicated by reduced transfer latency in the elevated plus maze. Thus the plant bears potential for use in diabetes, stress, anxiety, and dementia.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.163-168
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• 2009

천초근은 전통적으로 동양의학에서 항암제로 사용되어왔는데 인간 급성 백혈병 세포주인 Jurkat T 세포를 사용하여 천초근의 세포독성기작을 알아보았다. 천초근 뿌리(3 kg)를 메탄올로 추출, 증류한 후 물에 녹여 다시 dichloromethane으로 추출분획 하였다. 세포독성 활성을 보이는 dichloromethane 추출물을 연속적으로 HPLC를 통해 분리하였고 그 활성물질(65 mg)을 CCH1이라 명명하였다. CCH1을 0.5 ${\mu}g$/ml에서 2.0 ${\mu}g$/ml의 농도로 처리하고 세포사멸 과정을 보았다. 즉, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출, casapase-8, -9 및 caspase-3의 활성화, PARP 분해, DNA 단편화 현상들이 일어나는 것을 관찰하였다. 하지만, mitochondria cytochrome c 방출 억제자인 Bcl-xL이 과발현되는 Jurkat T 세포에서는 세포사멸현상이 일어나지 않았다. 이러한 결과는 CCH1이 mitochondria 의존적인 신호전달 과정을 통해서 세포사멸을 유도 한다고 할 수 있다. 그리고 CCH1에 의한 세포독성은 혈액에서 분리한 단핵구 세포보다 Jurkat T 세포에서 보다 강한 활성을 보였다.