• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 1998

In order to search for anti-Herpes simplex virus type 1(HSV-1) agents, we screened 80 specimens of Korean traditional medicine by SRB assay. The methanol extracts of Thujae orientalis Semen (Cupressaceae) showed strong anti-HSV activity among samples tested. From the butanol fraction of Thujae orientalis Semen anti-HSV-1 agent was isolated by chromatographic separation using Amberlite XAD-4 and Sephadex LH-20. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic methods, and was identified as ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (compound I). Compound I exhibited anti-HSV-1 activity with $EC_{50}$ of 0.6 mg/ml and $CC_{50}$ of 5.99 mg/ml, respectively.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.2 s.75
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• pp.328-332
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• 2006

The possible presence of inhibitors of pancreatic lipase (tricaylglycerol acylhydrolase EC 3.1.1.3) was screened from Korean traditional edible or medicinal herbs. Among tested herbs, Arecae pericarpium, Mucunae Caulis, Rhus javanica, Thujae orientalis were shown to have strong inhibitory effect against pancreatic lipase. Thujae orientalis was finally selected as a candidate for pancreatic lipase inhibitor. The extract of Thujae orientalis was showed selective inhibition on porcine pancreatic lipase activity. Active inhibitors, TF-1, TF-2, TF-3, were purified from an extract of Thujae orientalis, using chloroform extraction, followed by successive chromatography in silica gel and LH-20 and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The $IC_{50}$ values of TF-1, TF-2, TF-3 and orlistat were 44.7, 98.7, 46.1 and $27.6{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. And also the TF-2 and orlistat were shown to be inhibitory effect on the differentiation of preadipocyte NIH-3T3 L1 cells at a concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.81-108
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• 2010

Objective : Thujae Orientalis Folium (TOF) can cool the blood and stop bleeding, eliminate phlegm and relieve cough in Oriental medicine. In addition, the fresh is used alone externally. Recently, TOF is known to have anti-tumor component. And also known to have tyrosinase inhibitory effect. Method : For these reasons, this study was designed to investigate anti-cancer and whitening activities of TOF. In this experiment, effects of TOF on proliferation rates of melanoma cells and on changes in genetic profiles were investigated. The genetic profile for the effect on human derived melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2, was measured using microarray technique, and the functional analysis on these genes was conducted. Results : Total 541 genes were up-regulated and 1,079 genes down-regulated in cells treated with TOF. Genes induced by TOF were mainly concerned with anti-cancer effects and apoptosis. Genes suppresed by TOF were related in extracellular signalling pathway. The network of total protein interactions was measured using cytoscape program, and some key molecules, such as THAP1, MAX1, STAM2, SMAD6, CYCS, PEX5, PSEN1, NONO, MAP2K7 and CREB1 that can be used for elucidation of therapeutical mechanism of medicine in future were identified. Conculusion : These results suggest possibility of TOF as anti-cancer drug for human melanoma. In addition, the present author also suggest that related mechanisms are involved in inhibition of several cancer pathway, activation of apoptosis pathway and suppression of general metabolic pathway.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.125-131
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• 2009

Korea is representative of a country that consumes herbal medicines; most of the herbal medicines circulating in South Korea have been imported from developing countries in Southeast Asia, such as China and Indonesia. Recently, domestic hygiene and safety are issues that have come to the forefront, because herbal medicines currently in circulation could possibly contain contaminants or residues. Furthermore, the appearance or discovery of harmful new species due to environmental and industrial developments is becoming a social problem. Therefore, it may be necessary to consider and investigate these matters on a continual basis. Recently, mycotoxin contaminations in such foods as cereals, nuts, and powdered red pepper have been reported. They have become a problematic issue; the possibility of contamination in herbal medicines has also been considered. Nevertheless, recognition of and research into mycotoxin contamination in herbal medicines has been scarce because herbal medicine is used in only a few nations. In this research, we identified contamination by aflatoxin which is known to be the most potent mutagenic, carcinogenic, and teratogenic mycotoxin in Thujae Semen, a herbal medicine. We also found co-contaminations involving other mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A and zeraleanone.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.28-42
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• 2023

Objective This study aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of external washing therapy for seborrheic dermatitis based on randomized controlled clinical studies in China. Methods We used the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) as a data resource and conducted a search using the following key words: "Seborrheic Dermatitis" and "外洗" Seven randomized controlled clinical studies were identified and analyzed in this study. Results 1. The external washing treatment group showed significant changes in total efficiency, relapse rates, Quality of life, and Hamilton depression rating scale, compared with the control group. 2. The most commonly used herbal medicines were Sophorae Radix (苦蔘), Thujae Orientalis Folium (側柏葉), Impatiens balsamina L. (透骨草), Phellodendri Cortex (黃柏), and Stemonae Radix (百部根). Conclusions The results indicate that external washing treatment is effective for patients with seborrheic dermatitis. Futher research on external washing treatment of seborrheic dermatitis in the future may be useful.

• Journal of East-West Nursing Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.17-26
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• 1998

The purposes of this study were to identify the contents, frequency of use, and the rationales of folk remedies frequently used for first aid at home for stomachache, vomiting, strain, food poisoning, vaginal bleeding, or wounds of snake or dog bite, or bee sting. As the method of the study, data were collected by conducting a questionnaire of 185 persons, who filled it out or who were interviewed from May to August in 1998. The collected data was analyzed by using frequency and the rationales for the contents of the folk remedies were described base on literatures. The results were as follows,. 1. The folk remedies for stomachache in frequency order were 'warming the abdomen', 'rubbing the abdomen with a hand', or 'pricking a finger to bleed', which have the rationals. 2. The folk remedies for vomiting in frequency order are 'drinking water of watery radish' and 'pricking a finger to bleed', which have the rationales. 3. The folk remedies for strain in frequency order are 'soaking the affected area into cold water or applying an ice pack' and 'after soaking jasmine in water, making a dough with flour, and then attaching it on the affected area', which have the rationales, Additionally, although the frequencies are low, 'drinking brewed Achyranthis Radix' and 'applying brewed leaves and stalks of Sambuci Cortex' have the rationales. 4. The folk remedies for food poisoning in frequency order are 'drinking black beans and licorice brewed together' and 'eating mung beans', which have the scientific grounds. 5. The folk remedies for bloody discharge in frequency order are 'drinking brewed lotus root' and 'eating boiled chicken stuffed with root of bell-flower'. However, 'drinking brewed Thujae orientalis Folium' has the rationales. 6. The folk remedy for snake bite wounds that has the scientific grounds is 'sucking blood by a person without hurt in the mouth'. However, quite a lot of people apply alum or soy paste, which has no rationales. 7. The folk remedies for the bee sting in frequency order are 'after removing the sting, applying soy paste or sauce' and 'applying saliva'. No rationales for 'applying saliva' have been found. 8. The folk remedy for the dog bite wound that has the rationales is 'applying juice of leaves or stalks of Xanthii Fructus'. However, 85% of surveyed people use remedies that have no scientific grounds, such as 'applying burnt dog hair mixed with (sesame) oil' and 'applying soy paste or sauce'. Various materials are used in folk remedies for first aid treatment as shown above. Some of the folk remedies have the rationales since their medicinal actions have been found. However, the medicinal actions of the majority have not been found, but only known that they are effective, Especially for the materials except botanical drugs, they are used without knowing the effects since their components and pharmacognosies have not been described in any literature. The results of this research may be used for materials to educate the surveyed people or to consult them. Accordingly, the folk remedies that have the rationales are required to continue to study to find out the effects.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.267-280
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• 2023

This study investigated the contents of Pb, Cd, As, and Hg for 4333 samples with 2 09 types of herbal medicines distributed in Seoul area from 2019 to 2021, and evaluated risk assessment according to medicinal part used and origin. The contents of heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and mercury analyzer. The average contents (mg/kg) of heavy metals by medicinal parts were 0.123 to 1.290 for Pb, 0.018 to 0.131 for Cd, 0.034 to 0.290 for As, and 0.003 to 0.015 for Hg. The contents of Pb were higher in Leaves and Whole Herbs (above-ground part) than underground part (Radix & Rhizoma) (ANOVA-test, p < 0.05). The contents of Cd were high in Leaves, Radix & Rhizoma, and Stems & Woods (ANOVA-test, p <0 .05), and exceeded regulatory limits in various types. Levels of Pb, Cd concentrations exceeding regulatory limits were observed in 8, 22 samples (8, 14 types). No sample exceeded regulatory limits of As and Hg. In the comparison between countries of origin, the contents of Cd, As, and Hg were high in imported herbal medicines (t-test, p < 0.05). As a result of the risk assessment, except for Thujae Orientalis Folium and Spirodelae Herba, the MOE values of Pb were all 1 or more, and most samples were safe. The Hazard Index (HI) for Cd, As, and Hg were evaluated to be less than 100 % even if the risk (%) of each heavy metal was added, and the risk from taking herbal medicines was evaluated to be safe.