• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.6
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• pp.1-12
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• 2024

Emperor Minh Mang (明命), the second ruler of the Nguyen Dynasty in Vietnam, reigned from 1820 to 1841. He is widely regarded by contemporary historians as the most distinguished monarch of his dynasty, despite some controversial policies. One aspect of his extraordinary legacy is the remarkable 142 offspring he sired - 78 princes and 64 princesses - earning him the unprecedented distinction of having the most progeny among kings in world history. Vietnamese people suppose Minh Mang's prolific reproductive success to the consumption of a specially prescribed medicine known as Minh Mang Thang (明命湯, MMT). This medicine, often associated with sexual potency and fertility, is characterized by intriguing names such as "One night Five sexes," "One night Six sexes born Five babies," or "Six sexes Three pregnancies." Vietnamese folklore vividly recounts Minh Mang's exceptional sexual prowess, attributing it to the use of MMT. MMT formulations, which include various herbs, notably Korean ginseng, may incorporate additional botanical ingredients depending on their intended purpose. This paper aims to explore the origins, history, ingredients, and applications of MMT, unraveling the mystery behind this mystical prescription that has inspired several oriental medicinal researchers. Through this investigation, we seek to shed light on the cultural and historical contexts surrounding Minh Mang's use of MMT and its enduring impact on traditional Vietnamese medicine and folklore.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.19.1-19.10
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• 2020

Given that the current Newcastle disease virus (NDV) infection in wild birds poses the threat to poultry, surveillance of Newcastle disease in captive wild birds was carried out in Jilin, China in 2018. Here, an NDV strain obtained from toco toucan was firstly characterized. The results showed that the F gene of the NDV isolate Toucan/China/3/2018 is classified as genotype II in class II. Sequence analysis of the F0 cleavage site was ¹¹³RQGR/L¹¹⁷, which supports the result of the intracerebral pathogenicity index assay indicating classification of the isolate as low-pathogenicity. Experimental infection demonstrated that Toucan/China/3/2018 can effectively replicate and transmit among chickens. To our knowledge, this is the first report on genetically and pathogenically characterizing NDV strain isolated from toucan, which enriches the epidemiological information of NDV in wild birds.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.126-130
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• 2000

Tiliacora racemosa Colebr. belonging to the family Menispermaceae, is the biggest storehouse of diphenyl bisbenzylisoquinoline (DBBI) alkaloids. Exhaustive chemical processing of the root of T. racemosa by the application of modern separation techniques yielded a DBBI alkaloid which was identified as tiliacorine using sophisticated spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, $^1H-NMR$, MS). Haematological study with tiliacorine proved that there was no abnormal haematological results in comparison with the normal values. Chronic toxicity study with tiliacorine revealed that the alkaloid is devoid of any hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic action.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.294-299
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• 2019

Allium ulleungense (subg. Anguinum, Amaryllidaceae), from Ulleungdo Island, Korea, is described as a new species. It is clearly distinguished from its close relatives, A. microdictyon and A. ochotense, by its broader leaves and larger whitish perianth and by its diploid chromosome number, which is 2n = 2x = 16. The lengths of the chromosomes range from 11.3 to 15.75 ㎛. Molecular phylogenetic analyses using nuclear and chloroplast markers also clearly indicate that A. ulleungense is genetically distinct from other species of the subg. Anguinum.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.3-14
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• 2022

Leonotis nepetifolia (L.) R. Br, commonly called dagga, klip dagga, or lion's ear, has been used to effectively treat various diseases and other health problems for a long time because of its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic activities. Several studies have attributed these biological activities to L. nepetifolia's constituent secondary metabolites, such as alkaloids, phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, glycosides, coumarins, anthocyanins, and saponins. This review aims to examine the evidence-based ethnopharmacological uses of L. nepetifolia in the treatment of bronchial asthma, diarrhea, skin diseases, malaria, burns, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatism. However, although L. nepetifolia has great potential to treat these diseases, further isolation and identification of its therapeutic phytochemical constituents are required. In addition, the performance of its extracts and phytochemicals should be thoroughly tested in preclinical and clinical trials in order to ascertain their safety and efficacy, which will prove valuable in developing new medicines.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solution to a current status of drug classification between the drugs of western conventional (allopathic) medicine and Korean medicine. A clear and distinct concept on the drugs of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine based on reasonable concepts and broad consensus is a pressing issue in Korea, and will facilitate the development of herbal medicinal products and pharmaceutical industry. Methods : Considering the issue of drug classification from domestic and international regulations, we reviewed the current Drug Law of Korea and China, Guidance for Industry, Botanical Drug Products of USA, Directive 2004/24/EC of the European parliament and of the council. Results : In Korea, the drug classification of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine is quite vague even though differential licensure system is enforced for the clinicians of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine field. According to the definition in the Drug Law, the scope of Korean medicine drug is so broad that even a drug made of single-compound material, as well as herbal extract of crude mixture, is regarded as a drug of Korean medicine, as long as the material may be separated from medicinal herbs, animal tissues, or mineral resources. Only new compound not found in natural resources are outside of the scope of Korean medicine drug. In USA and EU, medicinal products manufactured from herbs are approved by separate regulations for the herbs with special waivers. In China, the category of new medicine and the definition of allopathic medicine and traditional chinese medicine are clearly specified and classified. Conclusions : As medicines are validated therapeutic materials for efficacy and toxicity, we suggest that generally the concept of conventional medicines is based on a single compound that has been synthesized and individually validated and that of Korean medicines is based on a compound extracted from natural materials or a complex of compounds that has been validated as a whole in its totality.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2020

Objectives: This study was conducted to development of hazardous materials management standards for the decoction type of personalized herbal medicines (PHMs). Methods: This study was conducted in two stages. We searched documents about criteria to use words such as 'Herb', 'Herbal medicine', and 'Botanical Drug' and summarized the results. We organized the committee consisted of seven experts, and held two meetings to reach an agreement on hazardous management standards of the decoction type of PHMs. Results: The seven documents were presented in the literature review and six items related to hazardous management standards of decoction were identified. The second expert meeting brought that a total of six items, including heavy metal, pesticide residues, sulfur dioxide, benzopyrene, mycotoxin, and micro-organism limits, were selected for safety management of decoction type of PHMs. Also, the criteria and test methods for each standard were suggested for monitoring the decoction type of PHMs. Conclusion: The study suggested hazardous material management standards and criteria for the decoction types of PHMs. In the future, it would be necessary to conduct a pilot test to ensure the validity and credibility of the safety management standard and criteria. Furthermore, the government level safety management system should be introduced to verify the safety of decoction medicines.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

Objectives : The origin of Breeae Herba (So-gye) and Cirsii Herba (Dae-gye) is differently prescribed in Korean and Chinese modern pharmacopoeia. Since the similar morphological characteristics and chaotic plant names, moreover, the aerial part of Carduus crispus have been used as the Cirsii Herba. To develop a reliable method for correct identification of these herbal medicines and to evaluate the genetic relationship of these closely related plant species, we analyzed sequences of DNA barcode regions. Methods : Thirty-one samples of 6 medicinal plants (B. segeta, B. setosa, C. japonicum var. maackii, C. setidens, C. chanroenicum, and C. crispus) were collected from different habitate and nucleotide sequences of DNA barcode regions (rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL) were analyzed after amplification using appropriate primers reported in previous studies. The nucleotides of species-specific authentic marker and phylogenetic relations were estimated based on the entire sequences of DNA barcodes by the analysis of ClastalW and UPGMA, respectively. Results : In comparative analysis of DNA barcode sequences, we obtained specific nucleotides to discriminate the medicinal plant of Breeae/Cirsii Herba in species level and evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of these species. Futhermore, we identified distinct marker nucleotides enough to authenticate respective species. These sequence differences at corresponding positions were avaliable genetic markers to determine the botanical origins of Breeae Herbal as well as Cirsii Herba. Conclusions : These marker nucleotides would be useful to identify the official herbal medicines by providing of definitive information that can identify each plant species and distinguish from unauthentic adulterants and substitutes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2002

Over the past decade there has been a resurgence of interest in botanical products for their medicinal uses. This present study was designed to screen medicinal plants for the treatment of brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease or aging. We tested the effects of the water extracts from 41 species medicinal plants on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antioxidant activity in vitro. Among them, Euodia rutaecarpa, Rubus coreanus, Achyranthes japonica, Morus alba, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Liriope platyphylla, and Rheum palmatum showed relatively AChE inhibition potency over 80%. Among the 7 medicinal plants investigated, E. rutaecarpa showed an 25%, 65%, and 93% inhibitions on AChE activity at 2.5, 12.5, and 25 ㎍/㎖ of the extract, respectively and was found to be one of most potent AChE inhibitor. The water extracts from 4 species (E. rutaecarpa, R. coreanus, A. iaponica, and M. alba) were tested on their antioxidant capacities using radical scavenging effect against ABTS/sup ㆍ+/. Among the 4 medicinal plants investigated, both R. coreanus and E. rutaecarpa showed significant antioxidant capacity. Therefore, E. rutaecarpa and R. coreanus are expected to ameliorate the clinical symptoms in Alzheimer's disease due to significant AChE inhibition and radical scavenging effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.92-99
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• 2011

Topical natural antioxidants are a useful strategy for the prevention of oxidative stress mediated cardiovascular disease including atherosclerosis. From the viewpoint of this underlying principle, the screening of natural plant extracts with scavenging activity for pro-oxidant reactive species is a primary requirement for the development of new topical antioxidant formulations. Euryale ferox Salisbury (EF) is botanical name and it's pharmaceutical name is EURYALES SEMEN (ES). The stems and branchs of EF have been used as a traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of dysentery, diarrhea, leucorrhoea, incontinence and paralysis of joint. In this study, the antioxidant activity of extract from EF was studied in vitro methods by measuring the antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity by TEAC and DPPH, measuring the scavenging effects on reactive oxygen species (ROS) [superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical] and on reactive nitrogen species (RNS) [nitric oxide and peroxynitrite] as well as measuring the inhibitory effect on $Cu^{2+}$-induced human LDL oxidation. The EF extracts were found to have a potent scavenging activity, as well as an inhibitory effect on LDL oxidation. In conclusion, the EF extracts have antioxidative effects in vitro system, which can be used for developing pharmaceutical drug against oxidative stress and chronic degenerative disease such as atherosclerosis.