• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2013

A Korean folk medicine, "DangYak (當藥)" has been used as a bitter stomachic in Korea. With regard to the botanical origin of this crude drug, it has been considered to be from Swertia species (Gentianaceae), but there was no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. In this study, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of three Swertia species growing in Korea, Swertia japonica Makino, S. pseudochinensis Hara and S. tetrapetala Pall. were compared to clarify the botanical origin of "DangYak". As a result, it was determined that the commercial "DangYak" from Korean traditional market was proved to be the whole plant body mixture of Swertia japonica and Swertia pseudochinensis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.317-324
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• 2020

Mast cells play a key role in IgE-mediated allergic response. We investigated whether Swertia pseudochinensis Hara extract (SPE) inhibits IgE-mediated allergic response in mast cells and an allergic animal model. Additionally, we explored SPE's mechanism of action in mast cells. Our results showed that SPE inhibited both antigen-stimulated degranulation and the production of TNF-α and IL-4 in bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) and rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 cells. SPE also suppressed allergic response in IgE-mediated passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in mice. As for the mechanism of action of SPE in mast cells, it inhibited the activation of Syk kinase, a critical signaling protein in the FcεRI-mediated signaling pathway, and also the activation of LAT, a downstream adaptor protein of Syk. We further observed the reduced activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (P38, ERK1/2, and JNK) and Akt in mast cells. Our results described for the first time that SPE has an anti-allergic effect by suppressing mast cells through the inhibition of Syk kinase. Therefore, SPE may be useful for the treatment of type I allergic diseases.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.540-543
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• 2007

We have investigated the vegetation in the peninsula located in Ongjeong-Li Seomyeon in Youngweol-gun. Since this is a limestone area, boxtrees, Abelia mosanensis T. H. Chung ex Nakai, and Selaginella stauntoniana Spring were abundant, as these are types of vegetation characteristic of limestone areas. Pinus densiflora S. et Z. was the most dominant woody plant, but vegetational changes, such as the dominance of Quercus variabilis Blume, Quercus dentata Thunb, and Quercus mongolica Fischer, were observed in spots. In particular, the growth of nursery plants of pinus densiflora S. et Z. was not observed, and young trees like Quercus mongolica Fischer grow as low vegetation of Pinus densiflora S. et Z.. Thus, the ecological succession of Quercus mongolica Fischer is predicted. Outside the investigation area, as herbaceous plants, various vegetations were observed, including Selaginella stauntoniana Spring, Thalictrum coreanum H. Lev., Mukdenia rossii(Oliv.) Koidz., Platanthera freynii Kraenzl., Cephalanthera longibracteata Blume, Potentilla dickinsii Franch., Patrinia rupestris(Pall.) Juss., Swertia pseudochinensis H. Hara, Vicia venosa(Willd.) Maxim., Pyrola japonica Klenze ex Alef., Disporum smilacinum A. Gray, Artemisia stolonifera(Maxim.) Kom. for. Stolonifera, Smilax nipponica Miq., Adenophora triphylla var. japonica(Regel) H. Hara, Isodon inflexus(Thunb.) Kudo, Gentiana scabra Bunge for. Scabra, Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum(Miq.) Ohwi, Dioscorea quinqueloba Thunb., Syneilesis palmata(Thunb.) Maxim., Asparagus schoberioides Kunth, Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. ex Murray, Galium kinuta Nakai & Hara, Saxifraga fortunei var. incisolobata, Lilium amabile Palib., Siberian iris, Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz., Atractylodes ovata(Thunb.) DC., and Lysimachia clethroides Duby.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.533-540
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• 2023

Sweroside is a natural monoterpene derived from Swertia pseudochinensis Hara. Recently, studies have shown that sweroside exhibits a variety of biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hypoglycemic effects. However, its role and mechanisms in high glucose (HG)-induced renal injury remain unclear. Herein, we established a renal injury model in vitro by inducing human renal tubular epithelial cell (HK-2 cells) injury by HG. Then, the effects of sweroside on HK-2 cell activity, inflammation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) were observed. As a result, sweroside treatment ameliorated the viability, inhibited the secretion of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and VCAM-1), reduced the generation of ROS, and inhibited EMT in HK-2 cells. Moreover, the protein expression of SIRT1 was increased and the acetylation of p65 NF-kB was decreased in HK-2 cells with sweroside treatment. More importantly, EX527, an inhibitor of SIRT1, that inactivated SIRT1, abolished the improvement effects of sweroside on HK-2 cells. Our findings suggested that sweroside may mitigate HG-caused injury in HK-2 cells by promoting SIRT1-mediated deacetylation of p65 NF-kB.