• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.303-309
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• 2014

The fruit of Gleditsia sinensis has been extensively used as a key ingredient of an herbal remedy for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases in traditional Korean Medicine. However, the reason of using the fruit of G. sinensis for the remedy is unclear. Since Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is a key anti-inflammatory transcription factor, which is activated by the fruit of G. sinesis, we examined whether other plant parts of G. sinensis are also capable of suppressing inflammatory responses by activating Nrf2. Water extracts of various parts of G. sinensis were prepared and tested for Nrf2 activation by reporter assay and western blot analysis. Our results show that the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent in activating Nrf2. Sequential organic solvent extraction of the hull show that all the fractions had a higher potency in activating Nrf2 than the water extract, albeit differential degrees. The hull originated from Korea in general activated Nrf2 strongly compared to that of China. Chloroform fraction of the hull was further examined, showing that the fraction induced nuclear localization of Nrf2, indicative of activated Nrf2, and Nrf2-dependent gene expression including NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO-1), glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC), and heme oxygenase - 1 (HO-1). Therefore, our results show that, among other plant parts examined in this study, the hull of G. sinensis is the most potent, providing the experimental basis for the use of the hull of G. sinensis as an active ingredient for an anti-inflammatory remedy.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.29-48
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• 1997

Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?), Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮), Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸), Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子), Ligustrum lucidum Ail (女貞子) are Herbs that are frequently used in a lot of prescriptions to reduce the side effects of anti-cancer therapies, especially like chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The radioprotective and hemopoietic effects of these Herbs on BALB/c splenocytes and bone marrow cells are measured. In order to evaluate the Hemopoietic effects, Thymidine uptakes and secretion of colony stimulating factors(CSFs) of splenocytes and myelocytes treated with herbs were measured. Radioprotective effects were accessed by the method of immunocompetence of murine lymphocytes cultured with herbs before irradiation and with LPS, ConA after irradiation. The results are as follows. 1. The orders of Proliferative effects of herbs on splenocytes were Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮), the higest of all, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?), Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸). Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) and Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子), the lowest of all. At Optimal concentration, the proliferation ratios of herb-treated splenocytes compared to non-treated ones were like these. Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮) 44.3, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?) 17.7, Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸) 10, Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) 6.4, Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子) 2.0.(p<0.05) 2. When splenocytes were cultured during different periods, Atractylodes. macrocephala Loidz (白朮) and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?) showed the higest proliferation on 3th day, Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸), Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) on 4th day,(p<0.05) and Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子) until 5th day but with no significant increase. 3. The orders of Proliferative effects of herbs on Bone Marrow(BM) cells were Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮), the higest of all, Astragalus memhranaceus Bunge (黃?), Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸), Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) and Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子), the lowest of all too. At Optimal concentration, the proliferation ratios of herb-treated BM cells compared to non-treated ones were like these. Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮) 21.7, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?) 9.9, Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸) 4.9, Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) 2.3, Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子) 1.4(p<0.05). 4. The secretion ratio of colony stimulating factors(CSFs) of each herb-treated group, compared to control, was Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮) 9.4, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?) 9.0, Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸) 4.4, Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) 3.8 (p<0.05) but no significant increase in Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子). 5. The mitogen(ConA, LPS) stimulated-lymphocytes cultured with each herb before irradiation of 1-3 Gy showed more enhanced proliferation than control(p<0.05). When compared to each non-irradiated group of all groups, the orders of percentage increase of irradiated group were Atractylodes macrocephala Loidz (白朮), the higest of all, Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?), Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸), Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子), Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子). Each percentage showed significant enhancement compared to control group(p<0.05). According to the results, Atractylcdes macrocephala Loidz (白朮), Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (黃?) are suggested to be the most effective hemopoietic and radioprotective herbs, and Angelica sinensis(Oliv) Kiels (當歸), Lycium chinense Mill (枸杞子) the next, but Ligustrum lucidum Ait (女貞子) showed lower effects than expected.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.351-354
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• 2017

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) is recognized as a potential source of protein and other nutrients. The genus Vigna includes 100 wild species of plants. Especially, Vigna unguiculata includes annual cowpeas (ssp. unguiculata) and ten wild perennial subspecies. DNA sequence of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was determined for Vigna sinensis, one of native plant, which was found in recent but thought to have gone extinct in Korea. The seeds of Vigna sinensis used in this study were donated from Dong-Young Jo. The DNA sequence of ITS-5.8S-ITS2 for Vigna sinensis obtained from this study was deposited as Vigna sinensis AY195581 on GenBank of NCBI (National Center for Biotechnology Information). We investigated the sequence-based phylogenetic relationships of plants related and clarified its taxonomical position. DNA similarities among subspecies including Vigna unguiculata showed the range 98 to 100% in sequence-based phylogenetic analysis using total 507 base pairs of ITS1, 5.8S and ITS2. Vigna unguiculata and subspecies were grouped independently as one cluster from other Vigna species used in the phylogenetic analysis. In this study, based on the phylogenetic analysis using the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence of Vigna sinensis, it may be concluded to be classified to one of Vigna unguiculata substrains.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.122-126
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• 2014

In analysis of inorganic components of Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist, Phosphate increased with the progress of growing stage. in other way potassium, calcium and magnesium was inclined to decrease. The total nitrogen content in the Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist was increased until second age cultivated stage, but in its third year, it was decreased apparently. In other way the total carbon content of Miscanthus sinensis was not changed until second year cultivation. But rapid increasing was happen in its third year cultivation stage. 3 year cultivated Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist which has a plentiful carbon source can be used as a good culture media source for the formation of mushroom's fruit body. When rice bran added at the amount of 20% to the keep in 65% moisture Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist, the fermentation of culture material was well done and the temperature of $50{\sim}55^{\circ}C$ fittest for thermophilic microorganism growth was maintained for 5 days from 5 days after treatment. Rice bran 20% added to the Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist was the fittest fermentation culture media for the Pleurotus ostreatus vinyl-bag type cultivation. When Pleurotus ostreatus was cultivated in this culture media, the yield was increased by 60% than whole Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist containing culture media. The fermentation Miscanthus sinensis Andersson var. sinensist culture media could be substituted by 20% the sawdust in existing culture media(sawdust 50%+cottonseed bark 30%+cottonseed meal 20%).

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.43-46
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• 2004

In genus Angelica, three species have been used and cultivated for medicinal material in orient, A. gigas in Korea, acutiloba in Japan and sinensis in China. A. gigas (Chamdangui) is different from A. acutiloba or A. sinensis in the contents chemical components and their efficacious. In Korea, in particular, A. acutiloba has been cultivated in a small acreage from several decades ago, and recently A. sinensis has been trying to cultivate. A trial of adaptation and cultivation of the three species was performed in different altitudinal regions such as Suwon (50 m of sea level), Jinbu (500 m of sea level) and Taebak (700 m of sea level). A. gigas and acutiloba grew and produced roots successfully at all locations, but A. sinensis could grow only at high altitudinal region, Taebaek. A. sinensis survived 70.3% at Taebaek, but only 45.2% at Jinbu and 3.6% at Suwon. The dry root yield of A. sinensis was as low as 1,600 kg/ha at Taebaek and 1,270 kg/ha at Jinbu comparing farmers' average root yield of A. gigas, 3,000 kg/ha however, no root could be harvested at Suwon. The results, showed it was that A. sinensis could not grow at low altitudinal plane area except high altitude area in Korea. Even though it could grow, the root yield was too low to support the income.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.39-45
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the delayed luminescence-biophoton emission from root of Angelica sinensis D., Angelica acutiloba K., and Angelica pubescens M. These three species of Genus Angelica are now imported from other nations into Republic of Korea. Methods : Randomly selected samples from roots of Angelica sinensis D., Angelica acutiloba K., and Angelica pubescens M. were radiated with 150 W metal halide lamp for 1 minute. After radiation. biophoton emissions of each sample were detected by electron multiplication(EM)-charge coupled device camera. The detected biophoton image was calculated with unit of counts per pixel. Results: The average biophoton emissions of delayed luminescence with EM ratio of $\times$150 and $\times$250 were distinguished significantly. The maximum biophoton emissions of delayed luminescence with EM ratio of $\times$250 were distinguished significantly. Conclusions : These results suggest that biophoton imaging of roots of Angelica sinensis D., Angelica acutiloba K., and Angelica pubescens M. could become the meaningful method for the study of differentiation for these three species of Genus Angelica.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.47-55
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of spleen cells and function or immunocytes of the normal mouse. Methodes: We investigated effects of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on normal immunocytes, gene expression of IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$ and surface-receptor expression of $CD3_{\epsilon}+$, CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+ cells were measured by PCR and FACS. Results : CS activated adhisive splenic cells morphologically as compared with the control group in the normal spleen cells of BALB/C mice. CS enhanced gene expression of interleukin-12 and interferon-gamma in a dose-dependent manner in the normal spleen cells of BALB/C mice. CS reduced the number of activating cells and surface-receptor expression of CD4+, CD8+ and CD19+. Conclusion : Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.67-76
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• 2007

Objectives : This study was carried out to know the effect of Cordyceps sinensis(CS) on the immune inflammatory responses of athritis and function. Methodes : To analyse immunomodulatory effects of CS, cytotoxicity and inhibition of proliferation against of synovial cells, gene expression of inflammatory mediators such as TNF-$\alpha$, IL-1$\beta$ and IL-6, DNA-binding activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and AP-1 were measured in vitro. Results : CS didn't show cytotoxicity against human synovial cells and inhibited proliferation of human synovial cells in a dose-dependent manner in combination with rIL-6. CS reduced the gene expression of IL-6 and IL-1$\beta$ in a dose- dependent manner but didn't reduced that of TNF-$\alpha$ in human synovial cells. CS reduced the binding-activity of $NF-_{k}B$ and also reduced that of AP-1 remarkably. Conclusion: We found out that Cordyceps sinensis has immunomodulatory effect of suppressing synovial cells. And Cordyceps sinensis will be used as a stable remedium in the auto-immune disease in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.175-183
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• 2017

Codon usage bias (CUB) is a unique property of genomes and has contributed to the better understanding of the molecular features and the evolution processes of particular gene. In this study, genetic indices associated with CUB, including relative synonymous codon usage and effective numbers of codons, as well as the nucleotide composition, were investigated in the Clonorchis sinensis tyrosinase genes and their platyhelminth orthologs, which play an important role in the eggshell formation. The relative synonymous codon usage patterns substantially differed among tyrosinase genes examined. In a neutrality analysis, the correlation between $GC_{12}$ and $GC_3$ was statistically significant, and the regression line had a relatively gradual slope (0.218). NC-plot, i.e., $GC_3$ vs effective number of codons (ENC), showed that most of the tyrosinase genes were below the expected curve. The codon adaptation index (CAI) values of the platyhelminth tyrosinases had a narrow distribution between 0.685/0.714 and 0.797/0.837, and were negatively correlated with their ENC. Taken together, these results suggested that CUB in the tyrosinase genes seemed to be basically governed by selection pressures rather than mutational bias, although the latter factor provided an additional force in shaping CUB of the C. sinensis and Opisthorchis viverrini genes. It was also apparent that the equilibrium point between selection pressure and mutational bias is much more inclined to selection pressure in highly expressed C. sinensis genes, than in poorly expressed genes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 1999

The lipid stability of walnut added with water extracts of Ganoderma lucidum, Camellia sinensis ana Lycii fructus was studied. The results are as follows：1. when the extracts were added to walnut, the lipid stability was improved. The antioxidative activities of water extract of Camellia sinensis and Lycii fructus were considerably higher than that of Ganoderma lucidum. The antioxidative activity was decreased in the rank order Lycii fructus>Camellia sinensis>Ganoderma lucidum. 2. This clearly suggests that water extract of Lycii fructus at 4$^{\circ}C$ Bx level can be used as an alternative natural antioxidant for the lipid stability of walnut.