• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.162-169
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• 2011

The mixture of Ginseng Radix and Crataegi Fructus (Gen-CF) was developed to increase the pharmacological effect of ginseng in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the effects of Gen-CF on serum lipids of hypercholesterolemic rats in vivo, as well as its antioxidant activities in vitro, and explored its clinical effects on patients with hypercholesterolemia. In vitro, Gen-CF displayed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrasyl and superoxide radical scavenging activities, and inhibited hemolysis induced by 2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane dihydrochloride in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, Gen-CF significantly inhibited the increases of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride in high cholesterol-diet and Triton WR-1339 models. It also significantly inhibited the decrease of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in these models. In the clinical trial, Gen-CF significantly lowered total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, total lipid and phospholipid, with no adverse events, including hepatic or renal toxicity. The data suggest that Gen-CF has the potential to treat hypercholesterolemia and prevent cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.115-123
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• 2004

Geniposide and its related iridoid compounds have been used in traditional herbal medicine for thε treatment of Jaundice hepatic diseases and various inflammatorys. For the purpose to increase trandsdermal absorption, the hydrolyzed products of Gardeniae Furctus were identified and assayed of active ingredients and investigated trandsdermal absorption and anti-inflammatory effects. Geniposide was hydrolyzed to genipin by ${\beta}-glucosidase$ and it was suggested that genipin was more suitable form than geniposide for transdermal absorption by its lipophilic property. Using Franz type diffusion cell and the skin of hairless mouse, the permeation rate of hydrolyzed products and their emulsion preparation were determined. Genipin have more increased absorption ratio through the skin of hairless mouse than geniposide. Also, the emulsion of hydrolyzed products of extracts showed higher permeability than that of nonhydrolyzed preparations. After 9 hours $280.85\;{\mu}g/cm^2$ of genipin was absorbed and $193.52\;{\mu}g/cm^2$ in case of geniposide. The Js of geniposide and genipin were $26.27{\pm}4.11\;{\mu}g/cm^2/hr$ and $40.35{\pm}5.04\;{\mu}g/cm^2/hr$ respectively. After carrageenan injection, the swelling was increased repidly to 24 hr and maintained as plateau. but emulsion group weer reached about 2.5 mL and the swelling decreased successively form 24 hr to 72 hr. The anti-inflammation effects of extracts and hydrolyzed products emulsion were increased with significant difference with control group after 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr. In carrageenan induced edema, inhibition of swelling was increased in case of hydrolyzed product emulsion compare with nonhydrolyzed group at 24 hr, 48 hr and 72 hr after swelling. In histological study, the anti-inflammatory effects of hydrolyzed products were remarkable at 48 hr and 72 hr compare with nonhydrolyzed. Hydrolyzed products of Gardeniae Fructus extracts containing genipin would be a suitable preparation to increase the transdermal absorption and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.23-28
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• 2017

Arctigenin is the main active ingredient of Fructus Arctii, which has been reported with a variety of therapeutic activities including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-virus, and anti-obesity effects. In this study, a simple and sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of arctigenin in rat plasma. The assay utilized a simple protein precipitation with methanol and the mobile phase consisted of 100% methanol and water containing 0.1% formic acid (65:35 v/v). Arctigenin and the internal standard (psoralen) were monitored using a positive electrospray turbo ionspray mode with multiple reaction monitoring transitions of m/z $373.2{\rightarrow}136.9$ and m/z $187.2{\rightarrow}130.9$, respectively, and total chromatographic run time was within 5 min. The lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) of arctigenin was 5 ng/mL in the rat plasma. The intra- and inter-day accuracy of arctigenin at LLOQ and matrix-matched quality control samples ranged 97.4 - 104.8% and 97.2 - 102.0%, respectively. The intra-day precision was within 4.80% and the inter-day precision was within 5.92%. Application of the present method was demonstrated through a pharmacokinetic study after intravenous and oral administration of arctigenin in male Sprague Dawley rats.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.18-33
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• 2008

Purpose: The research is to investigate the effect of TFE on apoptosis of human-derived breast cancer cells, to find out the relationship with apoptosis. Methods: Human-derived breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MCF-7 cells were treated by TFE with various concentration. The inducement effect of TFE on cell apoptosis was observed with MTT assay and the relationship between the treatment and apoptosis was investigated with FACS analysis, TUNEL assay and DNA laddering assay and the change in the protein levels of PARP and caspase-3 activities were also observed. The release of cytochrome-c was observed to find out the pathway of apoptosis induced by TFE. Results: The cell apoptosis was significantly induced in MCF-7 cells treated with TFE in concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. It was verified by FACS analysis, TUNEL assay, DNA laddering assay that cell-death was caused not by necrosis but by apoptosis. The activity of PARP and caspase were increased concentration-dependently. The release of cytocrome-c was decreased in proportion to the concentration of the fruit extract. It therefore demonstrated that mitochondria were involved in apoptosis induced by TFE. The appearance of Bcl-2 protein was decreased concentration-dependently. Conclusion: The treatment by TFE induced apoptosis of human breast adenocarcinoma cell line, MCF-7. It seems likely that cell-death was caused by apoptosis and mitochondria were involved in it. The mechanism of protein change causing apoptosis seems related to the inhibition of Bcl-2 protein, the promotion of inversion from cytochrome-c into cytosol, the activation of caspase and the promotion of PARP cleavage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.53-79
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• 2002

To screen the effective materials for hair loss treatment, several natural extracts were tested using in vivo and in vitro test models. Firstly, all test materials were applicated onto the back skin of C57BL／6 mouse and then hair growth promoting effect was measured using hair growth index. As a result, Prunus mume, black bean, Brassica campestris subsp. black sesame and Rubi Fructus showed potent hair growth promoting effect, ranking as 1.5-2.0 of hair growth index. However, there were no plant extracts, which have remarkable potential of growth promotion of human hair dermal papilla cells cultured in vitro. In the experiments of 5${\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ inhibition assay, Prunus mume, Eriobotryae Folium showed effective potential to inhibit the activity of 5${\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ. To investigate the possible involvement of the effect of several plant extracts on the gene expression of growth factors in human hair dermal papilla cells, RT - PCR analyses were performed. However, there were no plant extracts, which have profound effect on the gene expression of several growth factors such as IGF-I, KGF, HGF and VEGF in the dermal papilla cells. Another tests for inhibition of microbial such as P. acne were also carried out to find whether these plant extracts have anti -microbial activities. Rubi Fructus showed anti -microbial effects on Propionibacterium acnes, which is believed as a pathogen of acne. Together, these results showed several plant extracts can be used for hair growth promotion.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.80-103
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• 2002

To screen the effective materials for hair loss treatment, several natural extracts were tested using in vivo and in vitro test models. Firstly, all test materials were applicated onto the back skin of C57BL／6 mouse and then hair growth pormoting effect were measured using hair growth index As a result, Polygonum muitifiorum Thunb and Terrninalia chebula Retz. showed potent hair growth promoting effect, ranking as 1.5-2.0 of hair growth index. However, there were no plant extracts, which have remarkable potential of growth promotion of human hair dermal papilla cells cultured in vitro. In the experiments of 5${\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ inhibition assay, Morus alba L., Chaenomelis Fructus, Saussureae Radix, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Polygonum multifiorum Thunb, and Angelica dahurica (Fischer) Bentham et Hooker f. showed effective potential to inhibit the activity of 5${\alpha}$-reductase type Ⅱ. To investigate the possible involvement of effects of several plant extracts on the gene expression of growth factors in human hair dermal papilla cells, RT-PCR analyses were performed. As a consequences, Mentha haplocalyx Briq., Cimicifuga foetida L., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L., Pinus densiflora S. et. Z, and Polygonum muitifiorum Thunb revealed the regulatory roles on the expression of growth factors such as IGF-I, KGF, HGF and VEGF in the dermal papilla cells. Another test for inhibition of microbial such as P. acne and P. ovale were also carried out to find whether these plant extracts have anti-microbial activities. Morus alba L. and Chaenomelis Fructus showed anti-microbial effects on Propionibacterium acnes, which is believed as a pathogen of acne. Together, these results showed several plant extracts can be used for hair growth promotion.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.1256-1261
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• 2021

Rubus coreanus Miquel (bokbunja), Korean black raspberry, is known to possess various phytochemicals that exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, most studies on Rubus coreanus Miquel have been performed with the solvent extracts and/or a single component to demonstrate the efficacy, while studies evaluating the effect of the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel are limited. In this study, therefore, we employed the isoproterenol (IPN)-induced myocardial infarction model and investigated the effect of freeze-dried powder of Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCP) on oxidative stress and prevention of organ damage. Oral administration of RCP reduced the level of toxicity markers, alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) without affecting body weight and diet intake. The oxidative stress marker glutathione (GSH) increased about 45% and malonaldehyde (MDA) decreased about 27% compared to the IPN group with RCP-H (3%) administration. By histological analysis, IPN induced significant myocardial damage in the heart and vascular injury in the liver, and RCP administration ameliorated the damages in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, RCP activated the antioxidant system leading to prevention of damage to organs by IPN in rats, making it possible to expect beneficial efficacies by consuming the whole fructus of Rubus coreanus Miquel.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.1-8
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• 2014

Objectives : To prove the channel-tropism theory of herbal medicines on diabetes mellitus as emaciation-thirst disease in Korean Medicine Theory, we investigated the selective therapeutic effects of Mori Cortex Radidus (MCR), Schisandrae Fructus (SF), Anemarrhenae Rhizoma (AR) for the upper emaciation on different organs in high fat and high sucrose (HF/HS) feeding-induced prediabetic mice. Methods : Diabetes in C57BL/6 mice was induced by the administration of high fat (45 kal%) and high sucrose (32 kal%) for 8 weeks, and them treated with each extract at 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight for 4 weeks (once a day). Oral glucose tolerance test and body weight was measured once a week. Insulin, total cholesterol, triglyceride, ${\gamma}GTP$, GOT and GPT were measured in the sera of all mice. Histopathological changes of different organs, lung, heart, pancreas, stomach, liver, and kidney were observed by H&E staining. Results : The results revealed that MCR extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, and increased serum insulin levels in HF/HS-induced prediabetic mice. SF extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, increased serum insulin levels, and decreased serum triglycerige levels. Meanwhile, AR extract inhibited the impaired glucose tolerance and lung damage, and decreased serum levels of insulin, total cholesterol and triglycerige levels. Conclusions : These results demonstrated that MCR, SF, and AR extract as the upper emaciation herbal medicines were followed their channel-tropism theory like a lung, and may have a selective therapeutic potential for control of diabetic stage.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.17-23
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• 2013

Objectives : To investigate the hepatoprotective effect of Gardeniae Fructus (Ga) and Glycine semen preparatum (Gl) aqueous extract against D-galactosamine (D-GalN, 300mg/kg body weight) was administered to the male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Materials and Methods : The study was carried out on male SD rats (age matched, weight $250{\pm}10$ g). Experimental groups (Exp) divided four : Normal group (Nor) was administered saline, Control (Con) group was only received D-GalN (300 mg/kg) intraperitoneally. Exp was orally administered Ga (200 mg/kg; Ga group), Gl (700 mg/kg; Gl group), and Chizadochi-Tang (200 mg/kg+700 mg/kg, GG group) after D-GalN treatment during 14 days (n=6). Results : D-GalN administration induced hepatotoxicity in rats which was manifested by increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) but decreased total cholesterol (HDL C) and triglyceride (TG). The serum TG concentrations were significantly increased ($^{\sharp}p$ <0.05) in the Ga group compared with Con. AST and ALP activities were significantly decreased ($^{\sharp}p$ <0.05) in the all experimental groups compared with Con. ALT activities were significantly decreased ($^{\sharp}p$ <0.05) in the Ga group compared with Con. LDH activities were significantly decreased ($^{\sharp}p$ <0.05) in the GG group compared with Con. On the light microscopic study, a number of vacuole were observed in the Con, but decreased in experimental groups. Conclusion : Ga aqueous extract and Chizadochi-Tang extract possesses hepatoprotective potential, thus validating its use in alleviating toxic effects of D-GalN.