• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 1977

In an attempt to deduce which plants might have been used for their anticancer activities in traditional oriental herb medicine, 127 prescriptions were selected from 'Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam', the Classic Handbook of Korean Traditional Medicine, written by $H_{UH}$ Jun and published in 1613. These are the prescriptions indicated for the systemic treatment of various tumors and some conditions resembling tumors, e.g. inflammatory masses and indurations, and they include 150 natural products of plant origin. The frequency of appearance of each medicinal plant in these selected prescriptions was compared with the frequency of its appearance in all prescriptions listed in 'Bang-Yak-Hap-Pyon', another popular Oriental Medicine Formulary in Korea, written by $H_{WANG}\;Pil-Su$ in 1885. From the latter book, $H_{ONG}$ has recently enumerated frequencies of 235 medicinal plants included in a total of 467 prescriptions. Chi-square tests revealed that 11 plant remedies appear with significantly higher frequency in the prescriptions for "tumors", and 10 for "inflammations". The plants with potential antitumor activities, in decreasing order of statistical significance, are Scirpus maritimus, Curcuma zedoaria, Prunus persica, Rheum coreanum, Foeniculum vulgare, Rhus vernifera, Daphne pseudogenkwa, Galarhaeus sieboldiana, Croton tiglium, Raphanus sativus and Galarhaeus pekinensis. The drugs for potential antibacterial or anti-inflammatory activities are Olibanum(Frankincense), Forsythia coreana, Lonicera japonica, Gleditchia officinalis, $M_{YRRH}$, Trichosanhes kirilowii, Astragalus membranaceus, Rheum coreanum, Platycodon grandiflorum and Fritillaria verticillata. Despite the uncertainties involved in the terminology of various diseases used in pre-modern medicine, and the reservations about the efficacy of remedies used for those diseases, it would be worthwhile to investigate these few selected plants for anticancer, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory or antifungal effects, employing modern scientific methodology.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.1 s.144
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• pp.21-27
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• 2006

Yeast based estrogenicity assay is the simplest and useful for the assay and the discovery of novel estrogenic substances in natural specimens, The estrogen receptor(ER) modulation activity of 50% EtOH extracts of 101 traditional medicinal herbs was assessed using a recombinant yeast assay system with both a human estrogen receptor expression plasmid and a receptor plasmid. Among them, 14 species proved to be active. Pureariae Flos (flower of Puerraria thunbergiana BENTH.) had the highest estrogenic relative potency$(7.75{\times}10^{-3})$ $(EC_{50}=9.39\;{\mu}g/ml)$. The $EC_{50}$ value of $17{\beta}-estradiol$ used as the positive control was $0.073\;{\mu}g/ml)$ (Relative Potency=1.00). There results demonstrated that some of the traditional medical herb may be useful in the therapy of estrogen replacement.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.15-23
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• 2016

Objectives : Araliae Continentalis Radix and Angelicae Pubescentis Radix have been used as the same medicinal name Korean and Chinese traditional medicines, respectively. The authentic Araliae Continentalis Radix is described only the root of Aralia continentalis in the Korean Pharmarcopoeia. However, the dried root of Angelica biserrata, Levisticum officinale, or Heracleum moellendorffii also has been distributed adulterants of Araliae Continentalis Radix. To develop a reliable method for identifying Araliae Continentalis Radix from adulterants, we carried out the analyses of universal DNA barcode sequences.Methods : Four plants species were collected from different habitate and nucleotide sequences of matK and rbcL were analyzed. The species-specific sequences and phylogenetic relationship were estimated using entire sequences of two DNA barcodes, respectively.Results : In comparative analysis of matK sequences, we were identified 104 positions of marker nucleotide for Ar. continentalis, 3 for An. biserrata, 4 for L. officinale and 8 for H. moellendorffii enough to distinguish individual species, respectively. Furthermore, we obtained marker nucleotides in rbcL at 42 positions for Ar. continentalis, 5 for An. biserrata and 2 for H. moellendorffii, but not for L. officinale. The phylogenetic tree of matK and rbcL were showed that all samples were clustered into four groups constituting homogeneous clades within the species.Conclusions : We confirmed that species-specific marker nucleotides of matK sequence provides distinct genetic information enough to identify four species. Therefore, we suggest that matK gene is useful DNA barcode for discriminating authentic Araliae Continentalis Radix from inauthentic adulterants.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1072-1079
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• 2015

The lees of Korean traditional wine called as Jubak or Sul-jigemi in Korea is byproduct from alcohol fermentation industry, which is remnant of fermentation broth after filtration, centrifugation, distillation, or sedimentation during aging. Since, Korean traditional wines are produced from edible plant sources such as rice, foxtail millet, fruits and medicinal herbs with nuruk (a traditional fermentation starter and starch degrader), the Jubak from rice wine (takju), medicinal herb wine (yakju) and fruits wine are considered as safe byproduct and have various useful bioactivity. Considering the recent rapid increased production of Jubak from takju industry, and the reinforcement of dispose of Jubak as waste material in worldwide, the development of efficient reuse process for Jubak is necessary in traditional wine industry. In this review, the status of current industry, research and patent trends in relation with Jubak production, treatment, utilization and renewal was analyzed and different bioactive compounds including phenolic acids from Jubak were provided. Jubak is not any more waste material, and is the source of bioactive functional materials for food, cosmetics and medicinal industry. To develop the efficient and economic renewal technology including recovery process for bioactive substances from Jubak, systematic collaboration and research among the industry, academy and government is necessary.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.185-199
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to review the effects and treatment of Korean, Oriental, Chinese medicine for premenstrual syndrome(PMS) as preceding research in order to further research the effective Korean Medicine treatment for PMS. Methods: Databases from Jan., 2002 through Feb., 2012 were searched through Pubmed for international journals; Korean studies information service system(KISS), National Discovery for Science Leaders(NDSL), Journal of Korean Acumoxa, J of Oriental Obstetrics and Gynecology, J of Meridian and Acupoint, and J of Korean Oriental Medicine for Korean journals were searched for national journals. The following search terms were used: acupuncture premenstrual syndrome, alternative medicine premenstrual syndrome, traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), premenstrual syndrome for Pubmed, premenstrual syndrome(in Korean and English) for the remaining search. Results: Twenty four studies were included in this review. Conclusions: Alternative medicinal intervention such as acupuncture and herb medicine may be effective treatment method in controlling premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD).

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.32-40
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• 2021

Traditional medicinal practices have used natural products such as adaptogens to treat inflammatory, autoimmune, neurodegenerative, bacterial, and viral diseases since the early days of civilization. Panax ginseng Myer is a common herb used in East Asian countries for millennia, especially in Korea, China, and Japan. Numerous studies indicate that ginseng can modulate the immune system and thereby prevent diseases. Although the human immune system comprises many different types of cells, multiple studies suggest that each type of immune cell can be controlled or stimulated by ginseng or its derivatives. Provisional lists of ginseng's potential for use against viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms suggest it may prove to be a valuable pharmaceutical resource, particularly if higher-quality evidence can be found. Here, we reviewed the role of ginseng as an immune-modulating agent in attempt to provide a valuable starting point for future studies on the herb and the human immune system.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.227-237
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• 1997

In order to search for anti-Herpes simplex virus (HSV) type-1 agents from Korean medicinal herbs and Korean traditional prescriptions (herb complexes), we selected 80 medicinal herbs and 45 prescriptions, based on a review of the Korean traditional medicine books. Both methanol extracts and boiling-water extracts were tested by means of the MTT assay (tetrazolium based colorimetric assay). Ten of the 125 methanol extracts: CM-11, CM-18, CM-19, CM-21, CM-22, CM-39, MM-3, MM-18, MM-29, MM-73 (see explanation of nomenclature below), showed efficacy against HSV-1. Twelve of the water extracts: CW-2, CW-3-I, CW-3-II, CW-18, MW-3, MW-5 MW-6, MW-12, MW-47, MW-69, MW-73 and MW-79 were active. #3 (individual herb) and #73 (individual herb) were interesting because both water and methanol extracts were active. Especially, #3 is a part of composition of Hong-il-$laksamd{\check{u}}ngbang$ and Hojanghaedokt'ang which have anti-HSV-1 activitives. The SI value of MW-69 and CW-18 was relative high as $10.2{\pm}0.7$ and $11.8{\pm}2.2$. The cytotoxic effect on Vera cells of $Panch'{\check{o}}nch'onch'{\check{o}}ngbang$, Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. and acycloguanosine was determined by MTT assay. Water extracts of $Panch'{\check{o}}nch'onch'{\check{o}}ngbang$ (prescription) and Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlst. showed very weak cytotoxic effects on Vero cells at > $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ but acycloguanosine showed strang cytotoxic effects on Vera cells at > $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. As a result, #3, #73, MW-69 and CW-18 are considered as potentially useful for anti-HSV-1 agent and will be the focus of further research. Abbreviations: CM - methanol extracts of traditional prescriptions; CW - water extracts of traditional prescriptions; MM - methanol extracts of individual herbs; MW - water extracts of individual herbs.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2016

Objectives : This study aims to investigate the current situation of domestic patents in Korea on natural products and to provide directions for developing and applying herbal medicinal products by in-depth analyses. Methods : Combinations of words, such as "A61K" or "A61P", "herb" or "Korean medicinal herb" or "Korean medicine" or "traditional" or "natural" or "$botanic^*$" or "China", and "medicine" or "treatment" or "prevention" or "improvement", were used to search patents in the World Intellectual Property Service (WIPS) database. Three methods were applied to analyze natural products patents. First, the number of patent registrations was sorted by year. Second, the assignees were analyzed by count and country of origin. Finally, cluster map analysis was conducted to explore frequently emerging words in natural products and the relationship amongst those words to treat corresponding diseases/technologies. Results : Results showed that, first, the total number of patents had been increasing. Among the patents, 76.4% were registered by domestic institutes/companies, and 23.6% by foreign institutes/companies. Second, USA, Japan, and China possess a considerable number of Korean patents and, therefore, domestic institutes/companies can seek joint technological development opportunities with their counterparts from those countries in the future. Finally, a total of four clusters were identified by cluster map analysis. Each of the clusters includes natural products related to diseases involving skin, aging, and blood sugar, as well as adult diseases. Conclusions : In this study, natural products patents registered in the Korean Intellectual Property Office were analyzed. The analyses results showed the kinds of natural products that had been employed for the treatment of certain diseases. However, natural products included in existing patents were minimal given that 4,174 species of indigenous plants are found in Korea. Thus, Korean institutes/companies should utilize unexplored plants to develop more value-added drugs.

• The Journal of Traditional Korean Medicine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.90-96
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• 2006

In this study, Artemisia capillaris, which has been used as oriental medicine area and folks remedy, was investigated for effective substance (scopoletin) analysis. As an attempt to develop new functional beverage by using medicinal herb, Artemisia capillaris. Therefore we investigate the effect of scopoletin in Artemisia capillaris on vessel and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) of rats. Artemisia capillaris extract was significantly decreased vessel constraction and significantly increased rCBF. Artemisia capillaris has often been cited in medical literature for its medicinal effects. Although the Korean Food and Drug Administration indicated Artemisia capillaris as the In-Jin-Sook which was allowed as a food stuff. From the view point of the subjects who eat In-Jin-Sook products, most of them ingested it for a certain pharmacological efficacy rather than as a beverage or a food. According to this facts, we need develop functional foods using In-Jin-Sook. Also scopoletin, get known to smooth muscle relaxation content was 326.13 ug/g. These results demonstrate that Artemisia capillaris has pharmaceutical effects and balanced nutritional contents. In according with Artemisia capillaris has a sufficiency of the terms use of food stuff in functional foods.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2022

In recent years, research into medicinal herbs with antioxidative activities has increased. Chrysanthemum morifolium and Chrysanthemum indicum are aromatic herb plants and that have long been used in traditional Vietnamese medicine. This study aims to evaluate the chemical compositions and antioxidative activities of essential oils hydrodistilled from the flower heads of C. morifolium and C. indicum. The chemical compositions of the essential oils were compared using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis. The antioxidative activity was determined and evaluated spectroscopically by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, metal chelating activity, reducing power, and total antioxidant capacity assays. According to the GC/MS results, chrysanthenone was predominant in the essential oils of both C. morifolium (64.14%) and C. indicum (32.02%). This is the first report of the identification of chrysanthenone as a major constituent of the essential oil of C. morifolium. Both Chrysanthemum oils were also revealed to possess antioxidant potential, exhibiting high antioxidative activities. In particular, the DPPH radical scavenging activities of the C. morifolium and C. indicum oils at a concentration of 100 mg/mL were 76.9 and 83.2%, respectively. The metal chelating values of C. morifolium and C. indicum were 0.85 and 0.76, whereas the reducing power values of that at 100 mg/mL were 0.76 and 0.71, respectively. This study provides the chemical properties of the essential oils of both C. morifolium and C. indicum grown in Vietnam and their potential antioxidant capacity.