• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.34-37
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• 2013

Honokiol and magnolol, the major bioactive neolignans of magnolia officinalis, are the most important constituents of the crude drug prescriptions that are used in the therapy of neuroses and various nervous disorders. There have been limited reports on the effects of neolignoid compounds on human cytochrome P450 activity. Therefore, the inhibitory effects of honokiol and magnolol on seven human cytochrome P450 s were evaluated in human liver microsomes. Honokiol and magnolol showed the most potent inhibition of CYP1A2-mediated phenacetin O-deethylase activity ($IC_{50}$ values of 3.5 and 5.4 mM, respectively) among the seven P450s tested. These in vitro data indicate that neolignan compounds can inhibit the activity of CYP1A2 and suggest that these compounds should be examined for potential pharmacokinetic drug interactions in vivo.

• 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.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.spc1
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• pp.123-144
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• 1996

This review deals briefly with the various medicinal components(mainly saikosaponins), their biological activities and the variation of their contents by different cultivation environment and plant parts in Bupleurum species. Bupleuri radix, a crude drug, is the root of Bupleurum falcatum L. (Korea, Japan), B. chinense(China), and their related species (Umbelliferae). There are over 120 species in Bupleurum genus throughout world, mainly Asian area, and over 5 species in Korea, investigated up to now. These plants contain many physiological active compounds and the principal components are saikosaponins. Major activities of this crude drug and saikosaponins are the anti-inflammatory and antihepatotoxic activities. Saikosaponins and their derivatives in Bupleurum spp. have been chemically studied, isolated and identified over 70 compounds in over 50 species. Other components, physiologically active ones, also have been investigated, which are the groups of lignan, flavonoid, essential oil, polyacetylene, polysaccharide, etc. Saikosaponins belong to the group of triterpenoid saponin chemotaxonomically and occur the accumulation and turnover in plant tissues through secondary metabolism, mevalonic acid pathway. The contents and kinds of saikosaponins and other components in Bupleurum spp. plants are various due to different species and growing environments, as the plant growth characters and yield are various. Most of medicinal plants as well as Bupleurum species are very useful as agricultural products and traditional medicines, and also are very valuable as genetic resources and natural products. So we need to collect, evaluate, preserve, and utilize various medicinal plants, and also to under-stand secondary metabolism and improve the breeding and cultivation techniques for the safe production of crude drugs with high quality and yielding.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2006

To obtain the safety evaluation of the ginseng, residues of heavy metals in culture environment of ginseng on Punggi and Sangju, Kyeongbuk are surveyed. The concentration for component of ginseng on Punggi and Sangju were 14.12mg/kg and 15.74mg/kg, respectively. The concentration for general component such as crude fiber, ash, crude lipid, crude protein, carbohydrate, of ginseng were coincided between Punggi and Sangju. The concentration for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg in soil on Punggi were 14.24 ppb, 43.13 ppb, 8.73 ppb and 0.82 ppb, respectively. The concentration for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg in soil on Sangju were 19.20 ppb, 54.82 ppb, 15.90 ppb and 1.04, respectively. Residual heavy metals are not polluted in the soil with culture ginseng on Punggi and Sangju. The concentration for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg with ginseng on Punggi were 29.30ppb, 21.78 ppb, 1.32 ppb and 2.72 ppb, respectively. The concentration for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg with ginseng on Sangju were 3.22 ppb, 24.43 ppb, 1.44 ppb and 4.74 ppb, respectively. Also the detection concentration for As, Pb, Cd, and Hg in ginseng were also lower than the Korea Food & Drug Administration advisory level for heavy metal in herbal medicines. Residual heavy metals are not polluted in the ginseng on Punggi and Sangju at Kyeongbuk, Korea.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.203-206
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• 2018

Objectives: There is an increasing number of complex diseases that are progressively more difficult to be controlled using the conventional "single compound, single target" approach as demonstrated in our current modern drug development. TCM might be the new cornerstone of treatment alternative when the current treatment option is no longer as effective or that we have exhausted it as an option. Orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group study is one of the most frequently employed formulas to produce optimal herbal combination for treatment of multi-syndromic diseases. This approach could solve the relatively low efficacy single drug therapy usage and chronic adverse effects caused by long terms administration of drugs that has been reported in the field of pharmacology and medicine Methods: The present review was based on the Science Direct database search for those related to the TCM and the development of antihypertensive TCM herbal combination using orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group studies approach. Results: Recent studies have demonstrated that the orthogonal stimulus-response compatibility group study approach was most frequently used to formulate TCM herbal combination based on the TCM principles upon the selection of herbs, and the resulting formulated TCM formula exhibited desired outcomes in treating one of global concerned complex multi-syndromic diseases, the hypertension. These promising therapeutic effects were claimed to have been attributed by the holistic signaling mechanism pathways employed by the crude combination of herbs. Conclusion: The present review could serve as a guide and prove the feasibility of TCM principles to be used for future pharmacological drug research development.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.247-256
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• 2023

Objectives: Enterococcus faecalis is a gram positive diplococci, highly versatile and a normal commensal of the gut microbiome. Resistance to vancomycin is a serious issue in various health-care setting exhibited by vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) due to the alteration in the peptidoglycan synthesis pathway. This study is thus aimed to detect the VRE from the patients with root caries from the clinical isolates of E. faecalis and to evaluate the in-silico interactions between vanA and the Aegles marmelos bio-compounds. Methods: E. faecalis was phenotypically characterized from 20 root caries samples and the frequency of vanA and vanB genes was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Further crude methanolic extracts from the dried leaves of A. marmelos was assessed for its antimicrobial activity. This is followed by the selection of five A. marmelos bio-compounds for the computational approach towards the drug ligand interactions. Results: 12 strains (60%) of E. faecalis was identified from the root caries samples and vanA was detected from two strains (16%). Both the stains showed the presence of vanA and none of the strains possessed vanB. Crude extract of A. marmelos showed promising antibacterial activity against the VRE strains. In-silico analysis of the A. marmelos biocompounds revealed Imperatonin as the best compound with high docking energy (-8.11) and hydrogen bonds with < 140 TPSA (Topological polar surface area) and zero violations. Conclusion: The present study records the VRE strains among the root caries with imperatorin from A. marmelos as a promising drug candidate. However the study requires further experimentation and validation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.532-535
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• 2003

Inhibition effects of enzymatic browning in medical herbs (Paeoniore radix rubra, Pueraria radix, Araliae cordatae radix) by organic acid were investigated. The inhibition effects were in the order of citric acid>ascorbic acid>isoascorbic acid>acetic acid in 1% compound, with no significant difference observed between 1% citric acid and 1% sodium metabisulfite. Results revealed that citric acid was the most effective sulfite substitute agent for the inhibition of enzymatic browning of medical herbs.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.336-341
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• 2013

In this study, the proximate compositions, minerals, free amino acids, total polyphenol and flavonoids of figs were analyzed according to their cultivars. The proximate compositions showed moisture at 85.37~87.28%, crude ash at 0.38~0.43%, crude lipid at 0.20~0.26%, crude protein at 0.39~0.81%, carbohydrate at 11.23~13.66% and crude fiber at 5.12~7.55% (dry base). The amount of the following minerals in the figs were highest, in this order: K > Ca > Mg > Na. The total polyphenol contents were highest in this order: Dauphine (198.91~261.64 mg/kg), Banane (211.07 mg/kg) and Horaish (169.90~174.33 mg/kg). The total flavonoid contents were highest in this order: Banane (84.52 mg/kg) > Dauphine (60.47~68.71 mg/kg) > Horaish (44.12~44.60 mg/kg). The quercetin contents were highest in this order: Dauphine, 2.40~3.54 mg/kg; Banane, 3.54 mg/kg; and Horaish, 2.40~2.75 mg/kg; but the flavonoid contents were lowest in this order: Dauphine, 1.11~1.16 mg/kg; Banane, 1.14 mg/kg; and Horaish, 1.09~1.11 mg/kg. The free amino acid content of the figs was 199.70~328.77 mg/100 g; their essential free amino acid contents, 46.45~67.46 mg/100 g; and their GABA (${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid) contents, 13.57~26.69 mg/100 g.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.266-271
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• 2004

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) is widely used as a common condiment for a variety of foods and beverages. In addition to its extensive utilization as a spice, the fresh or the processed rhizome is a useful crude drug in traditional Chinese medicine. It is considered to possess stomachic, carminative, stimulant, diuretic and antiemetic properties. Chemical studies on the pungent principles of ginger have been carried out by a number of investigators, and 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol as a major pungent substance have been isolated. In this study, the constituents inhibiting a drug metabolizing enzyme CYP3A4 from ginger were investigated. CYP3A4 is responsible for drug metabolism as heme-containing monooxygenases. As a result of experiment, 10-gingerol (lC$_{50}$ 5.75$\mu$M) isolated from EtOAc extract of ginger showed remarkable inhibitory activity compared to 6-gingerol ($IC_{50}$/ 14.56 $\mu$M) and zingerone ($IC_{50}$/ 379.63 $\mu$M). This paper describes the isolation, structure elucidation, and CYP3A4 inhibitory activity of these compounds. The structure of the compounds were identified by instrumental analysis such as LC-mass spectrometer and NMR.R.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.3293-3297
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• 2014

Background: Pine needle oil from crude extract of pine needles has anti-tumor effects, but the effective component is not known. Methods: In the present study, compounds from a steam distillation extract of pine needles were isolated and characterized. Alpha-pinene was identified as an active anti-proliferative compound on hepatoma carcinoma BEL-7402 cells using the MTT assay. Results: Further experiments showed that ${\alpha}$-pinene inhibited BEL-7402 cells by arresting cell growth in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, downregulating Cdc25C mRNA and protein expression, and reducing cycle dependence on kinase 1(CDK1) activity. Conclusion: Taken together, these findings indicate that ${\alpha}$-pinene may be useful as a potential anti-tumor drug.