• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.360-370
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• 2020

Background: Sophora flavescens AIT root is used as a herbal medicine in Asian culture. This study was aimed at selecting the best cultivars, by comparing growth characteristics, active ingredients, and antioxidant activities. Methods and Results: A total twenty nine accessions of S. flavescens were collected from five different regions in Korea. Plant height, leaf length, peduncle length, fresh root weight, and seed weight were the growth characteristics selected. Antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the total polyphenol (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFC) as well as the radical scavenging activity of DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. Oxymatrine and matrine, active ingredients in S. flavescens were analyzed by HPLC. Results indicated that accession YS-11 had the highest plant height (152.5 cm) and peduncle length (54.0 cm). The fresh root weight was highest in JA-01 at 4.9 kg, while the highest total seed weight was recorded in accession BH-04 at 77.7 g. The YS-03 accession contained the highest oxymatrine and matrine total contents (0.9616% and 0.9638%, respectively). Accessions BH-02, YS-11, YS-05, and MJ-03 had the highest levels of antioxidant activity (p < 0.05). Oxymatrine showed a high correlation with TPC and FRAP. TPC showed high correlations with TFC, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. TFC showed a high correlation with DPPH. Conclusions: The superior lines can be selected for use as standard variety breeding material by comparing the growth characteristics of the accessions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.640-646
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• 2017

In this study, we elucidated anti-cancer activity and potential molecular mechanism of 70% ethanol extracts from Taxilli Ramulus (Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser) (TR-E70) against human colorectal cancer cells. Anti-cell proliferative effect of TR-E70 was evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of TR-E70 on the expression of cyclin D1 in the protein and mRNA level was evaluated by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. TR-E70 suppressed the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. Although TR-E70 decreased cyclin D1 expression in protein and mRNA level, decreased level of cyclin D1 protein by TR-E70 more dramatically occurred than that of cyclin D1 mRNA. Cyclin D1 downregulation by TR-E70 was attenuated in presence of MG132. In addition, TR-E70 phosphorylated threonine-286 (T286) of cyclin D1. TR-E70-mediated cyclin D1 degradation was blocked in presence of LiCl as an inhibitor $GSK3{\beta}$ but not PD98059 as an ERK1/2 inhibitor and SB203580 as a p38 inhibitor. Our results suggest that TR-E70 may downregulate cyclin D1 as one of the potential anti-cancer targets through $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent cyclin D1 degradation. From these findings, TR-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2008

This study was carried out to search the natural antioxidants from the 36 medicinal plants. $IC_{50}$ values of linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition to the BHA, BHT and ${\alpha}-tocopherol$ showed $7.2{\mu}g/ml$, $7.3{\mu}g/ml$, and $26.6{\mu}g/ml$, but hexane extract of Zingiber officinale showed $13.2{\mu}g/ml$, EtOAc extracts of Phellinus linteus, Morus alba, Zingiber officinale and butanol extract of Diospyros kaki showed $15.9{\mu}g/ml$, $16.9{\mu}g/ml$, $20.1{\mu}g/ml$, and $21.5{\mu}g/ml$ respectively. $IC_{50}$ values of DPPH radical scavenging activity of BHA, BHT and $\alpha$-tocopherol showed $14.9{\sim}27.7{\mu}g/ml$, but EtOAc extract of Paeonia suffruticosa showed the lowest $6.5{\mu}g/ml$ than those of other extracts, EtOAc extracts of Camellia sinensis, Salvia miltiorrhiz, and Phellinus linteus showed $8.0{\mu}g/ml$, $11.5{\mu}g/ml$, and $13.0{\mu}g/ml$ respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.131-136
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• 2020

Hippocampal synaptic dysfunction is a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Many agents regulating hippocampal synaptic plasticity show an ameliorative effect on AD pathology, making them potential candidates for AD therapy. In the present study, we investigated spinosin as a regulating agent of synaptic plasticity in AD. Spinosin attenuated amyloid β (Aβ)-induced long-term potentiation (LTP) impairment, and improved plasmin activity and protein level in the hippocampi of 5XFAD mice, a transgenic AD mouse model. Moreover, the effect of spinosin on hippocampal LTP in 5XFAD mice was prevented by 6-aminocaproic acid, a plasmin inhibitor. These results suggest that spinosin improves synaptic function in the AD hippocampus by regulating plasmin activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.98-101
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• 2011

Acne, one of the most common skin disease, is a chronic inflammatory disease and is caused by uncertain and multiple factors. Propionibacterium acnes belongs to the human cutaneous normal flora and is a major etiologic agent of acne vulgaris. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial effect of 19 medicinal plants. Antibacterial activity of extracts prepared from the 19 medicinal plants was investigated against bacteria related to acnes, Propionibacterium acnes. Among them, some medicinal plants inhibited the growth of the P. acnes. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Polygonum aviculare (Herb) was 0.2 mg/ml against P. acnes. MIC of Dianthus chinensis (Aerial Part), Forsythia viridissima (Fruit), Lygodium japonicum (Spore) and Sophora flavescens (Root) were 0.4 mg/ml. Based on these results, Polygonum aviculare (Herb), Dianthus chinensis (Aerial Part), Forsythia viridissima (Fruit), Lygodium japonicum (Spore) and Sophora flavescens (Root) may be considered as a candidate for a good medicine for acne.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.11-16
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• 2004

This study was conducted to find the powerful free radical scavenging effect in methanol extracts from 35 kinds of Korean medicinal plants obtained from the Plant Extract Bank as natural plant products. Antioxidant activity of the plant extracts was determined by measuring the scavenging effect of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl radical (DPPH). In the screening of plant extracts tested, at 200 ppm level, almost all plantex tracts showed significantly high antionidant activity. In the reinvestigation of 15 kinds of Korean medicinal plants at 50 ppm level selected as good sources with good free radical scavenging effect at 200 ppm level, the DPPH scavenging effects were similar to those of L-ascorbic acid in whole plant extract of Fragaria yezoensis (90.4％), in the plant stems and roots extract of Gingko biloba, and the leaves extract of Rhododendron mucronulatum var. ciliatum (90％). The fruits extract of Cornus officinalis showed the strongest antioxidant activity (95％). These results suggest that the methanol extracts from Korean medicinal plants can be a potential source of antioxidants that can be used to control oxidative stress in the body, But further study is needed to measure their safety for consumption

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.386-396
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• 2002

This study screened 76 Korean traditional patent medicines and 58 medicinal herbs for antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria. Among the prescriptions methanol and hot water extracts of Samsoum, Chujunghwang-yont'ang, and Sashinhwan showed antimicrobial activities against E. coli and Chujunghwang-yont'ang showed the strongest antimicrobial activity. Among the medicinal herbs, hot water and methanol extracts of Terminalia chebula, Caesalpinia sappan, and Coptis chinensis showed the strongest antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli O157, Staphylococcus aureus, Shigella flexnery, Shigella sonnei and Salmonella typhimurium. An interesting characteristic of the traditional medicines such as Samsoum, Chujunghwang-yont'ang, and Sashinhwan was that both methanol and hot water extracts were active. Chujunghwang-yont'ang exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activities against the microorganisms tested. Water and methanol extracts of Terminalia chebula, Caesalpinia sappan, and Coptis chinensis showed the strong of inhibitory effects on the growth of all microorganisms tested.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

The methanol extract of 12 medicinal plants were evaluated for its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (5 strains) and Gram-negative bacteria (10 strains) by assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC). The antibacterial activity was determined by an agar dilution method (according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute). All the compounds (12 extracts) of the 8 medicinal plants (leaf or root) were active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative showed a more potent action than Gram positive bacteria. The MIC concentrations were various ranged from $0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$ to $5000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The lowest MIC ($0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$) and MBC ($1.22\;{\mu}g/ml$) values were obtained with extract on 4 and 3 of the 15 microorganisms tested, respectively.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.772-777
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• 2005

The goal of this study was to screen and characterize the physiological functions of Korean traditional wines (TW) and liquors (TL). Forty-two TW and TL were collected and evaluated for quality and cardiovascular activities. Ethanol content ranged from $9.0%{\sim}41%$, and pH ranged from $3.0{\sim}7.8$, and they also contained 0.01% to 0.67% of total acid. Samples contained a maximum of 2.0% of crude protein and $0.1%{\sim}14.0%$ of reducing sugar. Commercial CM-wine showed the highest antihypertensive angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity, 85.9%. The greatest fibrinolytic activity and platelet aggregation inhibitory activity were also found in commercial CM-wine (31.8U) and commercial SS2-wine (38.6 %), respectively. Commercial SHBI-liquor showed the highest HMG-CoA reductase inhibitory activity, 78%. The ACE inhibitor from commercial CM-wine was a peptide compound and also showed an antihypertensive effect in spontaneous hypertensive rats at a dosage of 1.5 mg/kg.

• Korean Journal of Korean Medical Institute of Dermatology and Aesthetics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.91-97
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• 2005

(1) Objectives: To discover natural skin-lightening agents, we have evaluated the inhibitory activity of EtOH extracts from 20 medicinal plants against mushroom tyrosinase. (2) Methods: Tyrosinase activity was determined by the dopachrome method using L-tyrosine as the substrates. (3) Results: Of the plant extracts tested, the extracts of 4 plants, Albizzia julibrissin, Curcuma longa, Anethum graveolens and Sophora flavescens, exhibited potent inhibitory activity (> 50%) in mushroom tyrosinase assay. Four plant extract, extracts of Agrimonia pilosa, Paeonia moutan, Magnolia obovata and Eugenia caryophyllata also showed relatively strong inhibitory (> 40%) against mushroom tyrosinase. (4) Conclusion: These active medicinal plants may be useful for the development of skin-whitening agents. Since the active medicinal plants may contain effective tyrosinase inhibitors even more than kojic acid, further study to identify the active constituents from the plants is expected.