• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2016

Tiny leaf fragments were found in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which were compiled about 500 years ago. The records describing the detailed process of compiling the Annals indicate that silk bags packed with the powders of 'Cheongung' and 'Changpo', which have been used as traditional herbal medicines in the northeast Asian countries such as China and Japan as well as Korea, were put in the wooden storage boxes together with the volumes of the Annals. However, there is no record that parts of plants were used in the process of compiling the Annals. The botanical origin of leaf fragments was identified as Ligusticum sinense 'Chuanxiong' by the analysis of trnK of chloroplast DNA as well as the examination of leaf surface with SEM. The comparative analysis of trnK sequences showed that the chloroplast DNA haplotype of 'Tocheongung', a triploid species cultivated in Korea, was identical with Cnidium officinale, but different from L. sinense 'Chuanxiong'. The molecular results provide a new suggestion on the botanical origin of crude drugs used as 'Cheongung', which has been disputed in Korea.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.1541-1542
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• 2013

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.320-325
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• 2013

"SaCheolNaMu" has been used as a Korean folk medicine for the jaundice, lumbago and uterine diseases. Although a crude drug related to this folk medicine is sold in traditional herbal market, the botanical origin of this drug has not been pharmacognostically confirmed yet. In this study, the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the stem of Euonymus species growing in Korea, i.e. Euonymus japonica and E. fortunei var. radicans were studied to clarify the botanical origin of "SaCheolNaMu". As a result, it was found that these two species could be discriminated by the morphological criteria such as the thickness of cuticles, the number of collenchyma cell layers, and the frequency of druse and resinous substance. According to these criteria, it was elucidated that the commercial folk medicine "SaCheolNaMu" was the stem of E. japonica. Meanwhile, HPLC-DAD analysis on the 70% ethanolic extracts of two species showed significantly different HPLC profiles each other. The molecular ions of three characteristic peaks shown in the chromatogram of two species were identified by ESI-MS, and their structures were estimated to be flavonol glycosides.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.14-21
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• 2013

Objectives: The objective of this study was to examine how an integrated approach to type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment could improve glycemic control and immune-potentiating activities adherent to oral hypoglycemic agents along with a botanical compound, among primary care patients. Methods: In this study, we used the self-control and the group-control methods. Candidates meeting the trial conditions were selected from among volunteers who had taken the test substance for 45 days. During the trial, all groups were on a controlled diet; neither were the original medications nor their dosages changed. Results: The results showed that the botanical compound (Glyco-Persica$^{(R)}$) significantly reduced the main clinical symptoms in diabetes type 2. In the treatment group, 36 of 52 patients (69.23%) and in the control group 10 of 52 patients (19.23%) showed reduced symptoms, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The fasting blood sugar in the treatment group after treatment compared with that before treatment and with that in the control group after treatment was statistically different (P < 0.05). The post-prandial glucose in the treatment group after treatment was significantly different from that before treatment and from that in the control group after treatment (P < 0.05); the post-prandial blood sugar in the treatment group was reduced by 8.98%. Conclusions: The results revealed that the botanical compound (Glyco-Persica$^{(R)}$) has significant hypoglycemic properties which affect main clinical symptoms in diabetes type 2. Body weight, blood pressure, heart rate, routine blood, stool and urine tests showed no meaningful negative changes after the course of treatment. There was no significant adverse reaction during the trial.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.39-45
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• 2012

Cirsium japonicum var. ussuriense has long been used in herbal medicine for the treatment of arthritis, dyspepsia, and bleeding in Korea. In the present study, we investigated anti-inflammatory effects of C. japonicum var. ussuriense against lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced activation in RAW264.7 cells by the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1. The 70% EtOH extract of the aerial parts of C. japonicum var. ussuriense (CJE), showed the potent anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory effect of CJE was demonstrated by the suppression of pro-inflammatory mediators, including pro-inflammatory enzymes (inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2). Furthermore CJE induced HO-1 expression through nuclear translocation of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and increased HO activity in RAW264.7 macrophages. The effects of CJE on LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ productions were partially reversed by an HO-1 inhibitor, tin protoporphyrin (SnPP). Therefore, it is suggested that CJE-induced HO-1 expression plays a role of the resulting anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages. These results suggest that CJE may be a promising candidate for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.233-237
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• 2010

The crude drug 'CheonKun' is derived from the underground portions of Rubia species. However, the aerial parts of the plants are also sold under the 'GgogDuSeoNiIp' in Korea. To clarify the botanical origin of 'GgogDuSeoNiIp' the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaves of Rubia species growing in Korea, i.e. Rubia akane, R. chinensis var. glabrescens, R. cordifolia var. pratensis were compared. As a result, it was determined that 'GgogDuSeoNiIp' was the leaf of Rubia akane and R. cordifolia var. pratensis.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.83-89
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• 2009

Although many species of Asparagus have been studied scientifically and shoots are used in the diet of Sardinians, there is very little literature available on the medicinal uses of Asparagus acutifolius Linn. The acetone-ethanol (1:1) extract was screened for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and adaptogenic activities. The extract showed good anti-oxidant activity in DPPH, hydroxyl radical, and nitric oxide radical assays. The extract also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in the carrageenan-induced rat paw edema and adaptogenic activity in the milk induced leucocytosis assay in rats. The results of the present study suggest need to investigate other pharmacological activities of Asparagus acutifolius.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.146-154
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• 1996

Korean folk medicine 'Jil-Kyung-Ee' has been used to cure female disease, acute gastritis, edema, abdominal pain and pleurisy. The botanical origin of the crude drug has not been confirmed pharmocognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Jil-Kyung-Ee', the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaves and roots of Plantago species growing in Korea, i.e. P. asiatica L., P. camtschatica Cham., P. depressa Willd., P. lanceolata L., P. major L. var. japonica (Fr. et Sav.) Miyabe were compared. As a result, it was determined that 'Jil-Kyung-Ee' was the whole plant body of Plantago asiatica and Plantago camtschatica.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.75-80
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• 2002

The Korean folk medicine 'Cho Pi Na Mu' has been used orally to tuberculosis, neuralgia, acute and chronic gastritis and arthritis. In order to clarify the botanical origin this crude drug, comparative anatomical studies were made on the branches of Zanthoxylum species growing wild in Korea, i.e. Z. coreanum, Z. piperitum, Z. piperitum var. pubescens, Z. planispinum, Z. schinifolium, Z. schinifolium var. inermis, Z. schinifolium var. microphyllum. As a result, it was clarified that 'Cho Pi Na Mu' was the branch of Z. piperitum.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.124-130
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• 1997

Korean folk medicine 'O-I-Pul' has been used to cure arthritis, neuralgia, leucorrhea, snake-bite, vomiting and diarrhea. With regard to the botanical origin of O-I-Pul, it has been considered to be Sanguisorba species of Rosaceae, but there has no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. Morphological and anatomical examination of Sanguisorba leaves show that 'O-I-Pul' was the leaves of S. Officinalis and S. tenuifolia var. alba.