• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.182-186
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• 2011

Houttuynia cordata Thunb.[H.cordata]belonging to Saururaceae, is a wild medicinal herb of perennial plants, and grows well in a place with a lot of shade and moisture. The medical action of H.cordata is reported to have an antitumer effect, toxicity-suppressive effect, antifungal effect, diuretic effect, and antioxidative action, but its effect hasn't been reported on cardiovascular diseases, such as ateriosclerosis and hypertension yet. This study intended to confirm the effect of the water extract of H.cordata on the migration and proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Such results show that the water extract of H.cordata suppresses the migration and proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells. It is believed that a useful clue will be offered later to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases such as ateriosclerosis and hypertension, and the development of their medicines on the basis of the fact.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.614-619
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• 2011

Nelumbo nucifera(NN) is a oriental medicinal herb which has been used traditionally for the treatment of antidiarrhea, sedative action and various brain diseases including convulsion and epilepsy. In order to examine the mechanism of anticonvulsive effect, we treated the methanol extract of NN(100, 200 mg/kg, P.0) to the sleeping time and pentylenetetrazole(PTZ)-induced convulsive mice. The methanol extract of NN prolonged sleep time by pentobarbital. Methanol extracts of NN were not effected the concentration of GABA and GABA-T activity in the brain of PTZ-induced mice. Methanol extracts of NN significantly inhibited the convulsion state as well as the level of lipid peroxidation in the brain. The butanol and dichloromethane fraction of methanol extracts among the others effectively inhibited in vitro lipid peroxidation dose dependently($5.0{\times}10^{-6}\sim2.0{\times}10^{-5}\;g/ml$). These results suggest that the anticonvulsive effect of NN is possibly due to the antioxidative effects of the free radical formation at brain for the PTZ-induced convulsion if it were by due to generating system.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.197-206
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• 2001

The depletion of stratospheric ozone is regarded as a major environmental threat to plant growth and ecosystem. The ozone depletion has caused plants to be exposed to an increased penetration of solar ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation in the 280-320 nm wavelength range. Enhanced UV-B radiation may have influence on plants biological functions in many aspects including inhibition of photosynthesis, DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, changes in morphology, phenology, and biomass accumulation. To cope with the damage by UV radiation, plants have evolved to have protective mechanisms, such as photorepair, accumulation of UV-absorbing compounds, leaf thickening and activation of antioxidative enzymes. The objective of this review is to address the effects of enhanced UV-B on plant growth, UV-B action mechanisms and protection and protection mechanisms in plants.

• Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilajit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 mg/kg, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Thl and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells in the pancreas. Further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.20-33
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilaiit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 ㎎/㎏, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Th1 and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells In the pancreas. further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.327-331
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• 2002

Tea is a pleasant, popular and safe beverage in the world. During the past decade, epidemiological studies have shown that tea catechins intake is associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Tea provides a dietary source of health-promoting components to help humans reduce a wide variety of cancer risks and chronic diseases. The antioxidative activity of tea-derived catchins has been extensively studied. The antioxidant effect is a synergistic action between catechins e.g. EGCG, EGC, ECG, EC, pheophytins a and b, and other components in tea leaves, which aye more bioavailable for human body. Green tea has a Higher content of catechins than other kinds of tea. Green tea extract with hot water has high potential and more efficiency to reduce cancer risk than any other tea products or pure EGCG. Protein, iyon, and other food components may interfere with the bioavailability of ten catechins. Interaction of catechins with drug affects the cancer-preventive activity of some cancer-fighting medication. Further studies are required to determine the bioavailability of tea catechins and cancer-preventive functionality.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.241-247
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• 1998

Ketoconazole is an imidazole antifungal agent which inhibits the biosynthesis of fungal cellmembrane ergosterol and has immunosuppressive properties in vitro. Biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (PMC) has been utilized for antioxidative action and for liver-protective purposes. Studies were undertaken to investigate effects of biphenyl dimethyl dicarboxylate (PMC) on the immunosuppression of ketoconazole in ICR mice. In the combination of PMC and ketoconazole, as compared with the treatment of ketoconazole alone, there were significant increases in activities of natural killer (NK) cells and phagocytes along with circulation leukocytes. The elevation of serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (S-GPT) and total protein levels caused by ketoconazole were reduced by the combination of PMC and ketoconazole. In addition, lower serum albumin and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were also increased to normal level.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2015

Abnormal changes in skin color induce significant cosmetic problems and affect quality of life. There are two groups of abnormal change in skin color; hyperpigmentation and hypopigmentation. Hyperpigmentation, darkening skin color by excessive pigmentation, is a major concern for Asian people with yellowe-brown skin. A variety of hypopigmenting agents have been used, but treating the hyperpigmented condition is still challenging and the results are often discouraging. Panax ginseng has been used traditionally in eastern Asia to treat various diseases, due to its immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, antioxidative, and antitumor activities. Recently, several reports have shown that extract, powder, or some constituents of ginseng could inhibit melanogenesis in vivo or in vitro. The underlying mechanisms of antimelanogenic properties in ginseng or its components include the direct inhibition of key enzymes of melanogenesis, inhibition of transcription factors or signaling pathways involved in melanogenesis, decreasing production of inducers of melanogenesis, and enhancing production of antimelanogenic factor. Although there still remain some controversial issues surrounding the antimelanogenic activity of ginseng, especially in its effect on production of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide, these recent findings suggest that ginseng and its constituents might be potential candidates for novel skin whitening agents.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.129.1-129.1
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• 2003

Alcohol, Helicobacter pylori, stress and NSAIDs-activated neutrophils all produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play an important role in gastric mucosal damage. Eupatilin is an active component of Artemisia asiatica possessing cytoprotective effect. The effect of eupatilin on the production of ROS and cellular damage in AGS and ECV304 cells were evaluated to prove the cytoprotective action against the above mentioned gastric mucosal cell damages. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.207.1-207.1
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• 2003

The Aster tataricus is a chinese traditional medicine called “Ziwan” which has an expectorative and remediable cough action. The anti-oxidant activities of A. tataricus were investigated. The MeOH extract of A. tataricus showed strong anti-oxidant activity in the NBT(nitroblue tetrazolium) method system, and thus fractionated with several solvents in to the EtOAc, n-BuOH, CH$_2$Cl$_2$, H$_2$O fraction. The EtOAc soluble fraction exhibiting strong anti-oxidant activity was further purified by repeated silica gel and sephadex LH-20 column chomatography. (omitted)