• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.178-183
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• 2013

Traditionally, Codonopsis lanceolata root have been used as a source of natural heath food. This study was initiated to investigate the impacts of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) and salicylic acid (SA) on adventitious growth C. lanceolata, the production of secondary metabolites, such as flavonoids, total phenolic compound, antioxidative activity (DPPH). The highest phenolics content was observed in treatment of 20 uM MeJA (74.53 mg/g). The content of total flavonoids followed the similar pattern as that of total phenolics, showing 38.45 mg/g of C. lanceolata treated by 20 uM MeJA. The DPPH scavenging activity was 24.2 ($IC_{50}$) of C. lanceolata treated by 20 uM MeJA. These results provide useful information for enhancing biological properties of cultural roots of C. lanceolata.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.84-90
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• 2006

This study was conducted to anticipate nitrate reduction state in tree through measurement of nitrate reductase activity (NRA) and investigate the effect of nitrogen concentrations (100, 200, 400, and 600 $mg\;L^{-1}$) on growth, the nitrogen content of various tissue, and NRA of pear (Pyrus pyrifolia cv. Niitaka) seedlings in sand culture. Nutrient solutions used in this experiment were adjusted to pH 6.5 and fixed the ratio of ammonium and nitrate to 1:3 and trickle-irrigated 3 times a day. Tree height and dry weight of various organs in seedlings were higher in low nitrogen concentration (100 and 200 $mg\;L^{-1}$) than in high nitrogen concentration (400 and 600 $mg\;L^{-1}$). The shoot growth in 600 $mg\;L^{-1}$ was extremely poor by nitrogen over supply. Increasing the nitrogen concentration, the concentration of nitrate-N in leaves and roots were insignificantly changed but that of stems increased. The accumulation of total and reduced nitrogen in all organs with increasing concentrations of nitrogen supply were increased at 30 days after treatment but those of all organs at 60 and 90 days after treatment were highest in 600 $mg\;L^{-1}$, whereas there were no significant changes among other nitrogen concentration. The in vivo (${+NO_3}^-$) NRA of all organs did not relate to nitrogen concentration but the in vivo (${-NO_3}^-$) NRA of leaves except roots increased with increasing the nitrogen concentration. Therefore, the proper nitrogen concentration to promote growth and nitrate reduction of pear tree was 200 $mg\;L^{-1}$.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.209-224
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• 2015

Objective : The main purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solutions for utilization of herbal formulas based on the medical classics. Methods : We used official Ten 'Selected Korean Medical Classics(SKMC)'. For input of formulas from SKMC, we had to select proper editions of them. After consultations with experts of 'The Korean Medicine Society for the Herbal Formula Study' and 'Korean Society of Medical History', we chose the proper editions of SKMC, and according to those books, we built formulas database using microsoft office excel sheets, respectively. Results : After whole input procedures, we requested several experts to inspect the results and also, to correct errors in them. Input categories were name of formula, name of classic, classification, original source, composition herb, weight, unit of weight, weight conversion index, converted weight, basic formula, indications, reason for modification, preparing method, taking method and contraindications. Final number of whole formulas in DB was 32,882. Conclusions : We used SKMC and built database using excel program. Through this procedure, we can provide a developmental ways to make a foundation for herbal formulas from the medical classics, so that we can make herbal formulas be standardized or industrialized more efficiently.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2004

The objectives of this study were to investigate the morphology of mycorrhizal roots, and the effects of root age and soil texture on the mycorrhizal infection in ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) growing in Korea. Ginseng roots at ages of two to six years were collected from fields in late June. Their infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) was studied by clearing the roots and staining fungal hyphae with trypan blue. Root infection varied greatly depending on the developmental stages of young roots. Young tertiary roots, in diameter of smaller than 0.8 mrn, formed during the current growing season had root hairs and were frequently and in some cases heavily infected by AMF. Hyphal coils and arbuscules were abundant, while vesicles were rarely observed. Older secondary or tertiary roots in diameter of bigger than 1.0 mm with fully differentiated primary xylem formed during the previous growing season had no root hairs, and were not infected at all. The rates of mycorrhizal infection in the young tertiary roots were not affected by the age of the ginseng plants, suggesting that fungal populations might have not much changed during the aging of the cultivated fields up to six years. The differences in the infection rates among the different ages of ginseng were caused by differences in the amount of young tertiary roots in the samples. Soil texture, either sandy loam or clay loam, did not affect the rate of root infection. There were large variations in the infection rates among the different farms and locations within a farm. It strongly suggested that infection rates of the ginseng roots by AMF would be influenced by the practice of the farmers, possibly by avoiding consecutive planting, introduction of new topsoil, and the ways of handling the soil before transplanting the ginseng, such as fumigation or sterilization that might have affected indigenous inoculum sources of the AMF.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.602-607
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• 2017

Background: Panax ginseng is a traditional herb used for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. P. ginseng contains various ginsenosides with pharmacological effects. In this study, floralginsenoside A (FGA), ginsenoside Rd (GRD), and ginsenoside Re (GRE) were purified from P. ginseng berry. Methods: Chemical structures of FGA, GRD, and GRE were determined based on spectroscopic methods, including fast atom bombardment mass spectroscopy, ID-nuclear magnetic resonance, and infrared spectroscopy. Inhibitory activities of these compounds on melanogenesis were studied by measuring the expression of protein and melanin content in the melan-a cell line. This inhibitory activity was confirmed by observing pigmentation and tyrosinase activities of zebrafish. Results: GRD, GRE, and FGA were not cytotoxic at concentrations less than $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$ in melan-a cells, respectively. GRD, GRE, and FGA inhibited melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells by 15.2%, 22.9%, and 23.9% at $20{\mu}M$, $80{\mu}M$, and $160{\mu}M$, respectively. FGA was observed to display the most potent inhibitory effect. In addition, FGA decreased microphthalmia-associated transcription factor protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, FGA induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase phosphorylation level in melan-a cells. In addition, melanin pigment content and tyrosinase activity in zebrafish treated with FGA at $160{\mu}M$ were reduced. Conclusion: FGA showed the most potent inhibition of melanogenesis in both in vitro and in vivo studies. This study suggests that FGA purified from P. ginseng may be an effective melanogenesis inhibitor.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1415-1423
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• 2007

Carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury depends on a toxic agent that has to be metabolized by the liver NAPDH-cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate. Alternations in the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes affect the susceptibility to hepatic injury from $CCl_4$. In this study, we evaluated the potential protective activity of the traditional Korean medicinal herb, Corni fructus (CF), against an experimental model of hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$. The CF exhibited a hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ liver damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, as measured by GOT, GPT, ALP and histological observation. The CF also showed significant decrease of malodialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathion (GSH), catalase activity in rat liver homogenate. In addition, the expression of CYP2E1, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased in the liver of CF treated SD rats. But $CCl_4$ and CF has no significant effect on 1A1 and 3A1 isoform of cytochrome P450. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effects of CF possibly related to antioxidative effects and regulation of CYP2E1 expression.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2015

This study was conducted to find out the variation in agronomic trait and chemical composition in the collected Perilla frutescens from China and Japan. From the results of growth investigation, the maximum number if branches was 26.7ea in Japan 134 line, followed by 25 nodes number in China 119 line. Among the different lines investigated, maximum number of panicle number (108.8) were observed in China 114 line. 1000 seed weight was maximum (4.12 g) in China 118 line. Flowering time of different collected lines varied significantly with average value of 175.5 days and the average line required for maturation of seedlings was 205.1 days. Plant height was the highest (248.9 cm) in China 107 line. Highest number of total picking leaves was 965ea, and the average picked period was 54 days. The major phenol compounds contained in Perilla frutescens showed wide variation for Syringic acid, Benzoic acid, Naringin, o-Coumaric acid, Myricetin, Naringenin and Hesperetin. Japan 139 line showed the highest level of total phenol contents ($8254.0{\mu}g/g$, dry weight).

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Rhizoma Coptidis, a traditional herb medicine, has been used in Korea and China for many centuries as a treatment for many disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Rhizoma Coptidis on histamine-induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in guinea pigs and rats. Guinea pigs(500g, male) and rats(250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine ($10^{-7}-10^{-3}M$). Contractions evoked by histamine($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Rhizoma Coptidis. The mean percent inhibition was 33.2% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 69.5% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in guinea pigs, and the mean percent inhibition was 25.3% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 65.8% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in rats. Indomethacin ($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Rhizoma Coptidis. But propranolol and methylene blue ($10^{-7}M$) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Rhizoma Coptidis. These results indicate that Rhizoma Coptidis can relax histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves, in part, cyclooxygenese inhibitor.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-15
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• 2022

Maca roots (Lepidium meyenii) are an important medicinal herb that have long been used by the Andes-indigenous peoples and South Americans. In Korea, recently, it has attracted attention as a health food material because of nutritional values and physiological activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate the industrial applicability of maca (red and golden varieties; R&G) as immunostimulating materials. In the macrophage stimulating assay using RAW 264.7 cells at 125~500 ㎍/mL of non-cytotoxicity doses, G-HW showed the most potent production of TNF-α, IL-6 and nitric oxide compared to red maca or the other extracts. The general component analysis results showed that all extracts comprised more than 90% neutral sugars with small amounts of uronic acid and protein. Meanwhile, component sugar analysis showed the difference in the content of uronic acids of cold- and hot-water extract. Additionally, the further fractionation of G-HW into crude polysaccharide (G-CP) greatly enhanced the macrophage stimulating activity, and G-CP contained macromolecules over 144 kDa, comprised mainly of glucose and galacturonic acid (51.0 and 34.9%). In conclusion, crude polysaccharide from maca showed industrial applicability as immunostimulating material, and especially golden maca showed higher macrophage stimulating activity than red maca.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.429-439
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• 2023

Background: The incidence and clinical importance of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has emerged. However, effective therapeutic strategies for NAFLD have yet to be found. Panax ginseng (P. ginseng) is a traditional herb in Eastern Asia with therapeutic effects in many chronic disorders. However, the precise effects of ginseng extract on NAFLD are currently unknown. In present study, the therapeutic effects of Rg3-enriched red ginseng extract (Rg3-RGE) on the progression of NAFLD were explored. Methods: Twelve-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were fed a chow or western diet supplemented with high sugar water solution with or without Rg3-RGE. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, serum biochemistry, western blot analysis, and quantitative RT-PCR were used for in vivo experiment. Conditionally immortalized human glomerular endothelial cell (CiGEnC) and primary liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) were used for in vitro experiments. Results: Eight weeks of Rg3-RGE treatment significantly attenuated the inflammatory lesions of NAFLD. Furthermore, Rg3-RGE inhibited the inflammatory infiltrate in liver parenchyma and the expression of adhesive molecules to LSECs. Moreover, the Rg3-RGE exhibited similar patterns on the in vitro assays. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that Rg3-RGE treatment ameliorates NAFLD progression by inhibiting chemotaxis activities in LSECs.