• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.71-80
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• 2008

Objective: There is increasing evidence that chronic non-bacterial prostatitis is recognized to be a local inflammatory disease, and there is substantiating evidence to support the role of the inflammatory responses in its pathogenesis, and clinical value in the evaluation of therapeutic efficacy. Prunella vulgaris has been traditionally used in treatment of inflammatory diseases, including of scrofula, goiter, and allergy diseases. In this study, we investigated the effects of Prunella vulgaris on inflammatory cytokines and cytopathological alternation in the rat model of non-bacterial prostatitis induced by castration and $17{\beta}-estradiol$ treatment. Methods: Two-month-old rats were treated with $17{\beta}-estradiol$ after castration for induction of experimental non-bacterial prostatitis, which is similar to human chronic prostatitis in histopathological profiles. Prunella vulgaris as an experimental specimen, and testosterone as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological parameters including the epithelial score and epithelial-stromal ratio for glandular damage, and the expression of inflammatory cytokine genes including the interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-5, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$. Results: While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Prunella vulgaris showed a diminished range of tissue damage. Epithelial score was improved in Prunella vulgaris over that of the control (P<0.05). The epithelial-stromal ratio was lower with Prunella vulgaris when compared to that of the control (P<0.05). In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of inflammatory cytokine genes, Prunella vulgaris inhibited the expression of $IL-1{\beta}$ and $TNF-{\alpha}$ genes, while it modulated the expression of IL-5, which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Conclusions: These findings suggest that Prunella vulgaris may protect the glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the immune modulation including the suppression of inflammatory cytokines and promotion of anti-inflammatory cytokine. From theses results, we suggest that Prunella vulgaris could be a useful remedy agent for treating chronic non-bacterial prostatitis.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.98-105
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• 2016

The presence of bacterial strains showing antagonistic activity to common pathogens found in a variety of fermented foods in Korea was explored. A bacterium inhibiting the growth of pathogens such as Aspergillus terreus (KCTC6178), A. flavus (KCTC6984), Staphylococcus aureus (KCCM12214), Escherichia coli O157:H7 (KCCM40406), Bacillus cereus (KCTC1012), Cryptococcus neoformans (ATCC208821), Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC19430), and Listeria monocytogenes (KCTC3569) was isolated from Makgeolli, a Korean traditional rice wine. The strain showing high antipathogenic activity was identified as B. amyloliquefaciens based on the nucleotide sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Compared with B. amyloliquefaciens KCTC1660, whose genome has been sequenced, the isolate exhibited significantly low activities of starch-degrading enzymes and high resistance to high temperature and low pH.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.195-201
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• 2013

"소문(素問)" 은 다수의 판본(版本)이 존재하는데, 자구(字句)의 차이가 현저하여 조문(條文)의 훈고(訓詁)나 이해에 곤란한 면이 있다. 판본(版本) 상호간의 관계가 지금까지 해명되지 않았기 때문이다. 본 연구에서는 성서(成書) 이래의 전승과정을 정리하고, 판본(版本)으로 만들어진 북송(北宋) 이래의 변화를 여러 현존(現存) 판본(版本)의 자구대교(字句對校) 및 사서(史書) 목록(目錄)의 기재(記載)를 통해 검토하였다. 그 결과 망일(亡佚)된 송판(宋版)을 포함하여 고본(古本) 13종(種)의 존재가 확인되었으며, 그 상호관계를 "소문(素問)" 본편(本篇) 고본계통도(古本系統圖)로 정리할 수 있었다. 이 결과에 의하여 다음 사항들이 밝혀졌다. (1) "소문(素問)"의 자수(字句)는 기본적으로 북송(北宋) 1069년(年)의 희녕본(熙寧本) 이전으로 거슬러 올라갈 수 없다. (2) 희녕본(熙寧本)(망일(亡佚))의 구태(舊態)를 유일하게 보존하고 있는 것은 1550년(年)에 발간(跋刊)된 명(明)나라 고종덕본(顧從德本)이다. 고본(顧本)을 연구의 제일저본(第一底本)으로 삼아야 함은 향후에도 변치 않을 것이다. (3) 원(元)나라 1283년(年)의 독서당본(讀書堂本)은 북송(北宋) 1078-85년(年)의 원풍본(元豊本)(망일(亡佚)) 계통이다. 일본(日本)의 실정고초본(室町古鈔本)은 북송(北宋) 1121년(年)의 선화본(宣和本_(망일(亡佚)) 계통이다. (4) 따라서 북송판(北宋版) 3종(種)의 옛 모습을 보유한 고종덕본(顧從德本), 독서당본(讀書堂本), 고초본(古鈔本)의 경주문(經注文)을 대교(對校)한다면 희녕본(熙寧本) 혹은 그 저본(底本)에 한층 다가설 수 있을 것이다. (5) 희녕본(熙寧本) 이전의 양상을 이해하려면 "태소(太素)"나 "갑을경(甲乙經)" 등과 교이(校異)하는 것이 좋겠으나 한계도 있다. (6) 상기(上記)한 것 외에 현존하는 제판(諸版)은 모두 파생본(派生本)이다. 따라서 판본(版本) 연구에는 유용하겠지만 자구(字句)의 훈고(訓詁)나 조문(條文)의 이해에는 적당하지 않을 것으로 사료된다.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.59-70
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effect of ursolic acid from Prunella vulgaris on osteoclast differentiation. Methods: MTT-assay was performed to estimate cytotoxicity of ursolic acid from Prunella vulgaris in BMMs stimulated with M-CSF. TRAP staining, TRAP activity and Real-time PCR were performed to know the inhibitory effect on osteoclast differentiation. Actin ring formation were analysed to observe the effect of ursolic acid from Prunella vulgaris. Results: Ursolic acid from Prunella vulgaris has no cytotoxicity at the concentration of $1{\mu}g/ml$ or lower. Ursolic acid decreased the number of TRAP positive cells and the expression of NFATc1 gene, c-Fos gene, TRAP and OSCAR in BMMs stimulated with RANKL. Ursolic acid restrained the formation of actin ring. Ursolic acid inhibited NF-${\kappa}B$ activity by inducing degradation of p-$IkB{\alpha}$. Conclusions: Ursolic acid from Prunella vulgaris has the inhibitory effect of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. Futher studies are needed to treat osteoporosis by usolic acid from Prunella vulgaris.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.20-26
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• 2016

Prunellae Spica, the herbaceous plant in the genus Prunella, is a traditional herbal medicine and has been reported to have diuretic, anti-bacterial and anti-oxidant effects. However, the mechanism of its action was not clearly identified. In the present study, we investigated the hepatoprotective effect of Prunellae Spica extract (PSE) against the damage of mitochondria and death in hepatocyte induced by oxidative stress. Treatment of arachidonic acid (AA)+iron significantly induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in the hepatocytes. However, PSE protected cells and inhibited apoptosis by altering the protein levels such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and pro-caspase 3. Moreover, AA+iron induced reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial dysfunction, and Both of them were inhibited by PSE treatment. PSE markedly activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator in cell survival. Furthermore, this activation by PSE was mediated with liver kinase B1, a major upstream kinase that phosphorylates Thr 172 of AMPKα, and this activation was associated with its cell protection, as assessed by an experiment of a chemical inhibitor. In conclusion, this study demonstrate that PSE protects hepatocytes against oxidative stress as mediated with activation of LKB1-dependent AMPK pathway.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.23 no.2 s.73
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• pp.161-175
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• 1995

Meju is a raw material used to make Korean soy sauce (Kanjang) and soybean paste (Doenjang), both of them rich in plant protein. The twenty-nine fungal and a bacterial species were identified from twenty-three traditionally homemade meju cakes. Out of them, only a few species were found to be involved in the actual fermentation process of meju; The other species were contaminants during the improper subprocesses of meju fermentation. The fungal floral successions were observed to be related to two physical and biochemical changes of meju cakes during meju fermentation: drying and heat releasing processes. The zygomycetous fungi were first observed to exist mainly during the first stage. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was observed to grow on the surface of meju cakes and then to coexist with Bacillus megatrium in the inner part of meju cakes during the second stage. Based on the biochemical tests, the proteases secreted by the different microorganisms were involved in the degradation of soybean proteins with a mutual relationship. Also, zygomycetous fungi were speculated to be important microorganisms for inducing the second stage in the traditional Korean homemade meju.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.599-607
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• 2009

Prunellae Spica is the spike or whole plant of Prunella vulgaris Linne, which has been used for clearing heat from the liver, brightening the eyes and treating headache in traditional oriental medicines. This study was conducted to evaluate the inhibitory effects of the aqueous extract of Prunellae Spica (PSE; PS extract) on the production of NO and PGE2 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay, and all three doses of PS extract (0.03, 0.1 and 0.3 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity during the entire experimental period. The cells were treated with 1 ${\mu}g/ml$ of LPS 1 h before adding PS extract, and increased NO and PGE2 production were detected in LPS-activated cells compared to control. However, these increases were dose-dependently attenuated by treatment with PS extract. The inhibition of NO by PS extract was due to the suppression of iNOS expression via inhibition of $NF{\kappa}B$ nuclear translocation and proteolytic degradation of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. The decreased level of PGE2 was derived from inhibition of COX-2 activity, but expression of COX-2 protein was not affected by PS extract. Moreover, PS extract reduced the elevated production of IL-${\beta}$ and IL-6 by LPS. These results demonstrate that PS extract has inhibitory effects on the production of NO and PGE2 as a consequence of the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, especially IL-${\beta}$ and IL-6 in LPS-activated Raw 264.7 cells.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.2 s.125
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• pp.163-167
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• 2001

Prunella vulgaris L. aqua-acupuncture solution (PVAS) was tested for cancer chemopreventive activity using chemoprevention-associated biochemical end points. The following effects were measured. : (a) inhibition of 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced cytochrome P4501A1 activity (b) inhibition of $[^3H]B[a]P-DNA$ binding (c) inhibition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA)-induced free radical formation in HL-60 cells (d) inhibition of polyamine metabolism. PVAS inhibited cytochrome P4501A1-mediated ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase activity. The binding of $[^3H]B[a]P$ metabolites to DNA of NCTC-clone 1469 cells was inhibited significantly by PVAS. There is 22% inhibition of TPA-induced free radical formation in human leukemic cells with 5 mg/ml PVAS. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by PAVS at concentration of 30 mg/ml. PAVS positive in these assays may inhibit the carcinogenesis process and is considered very promising cancer-preventing agent because of its multiple activities.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.1016-1021
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• 2005

The purpose of this thesis is to dedicate to get the objectivity of herbal medicine treatments by choosing herbs likely to work as antibacterial agents, Moutan Cortex Radicis, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Houttuyniae Herba, Forsythiae Fructus, Prunellae Herba, Scrophulariae Radix against Gardnerella vaginalis which is associated with Bacterial vaginosis, making experiments on them and getting the significant results. Each herb's efficacy on control the number of Bacterial vaginosis is noticed by using Disk Susceptibility test with six herbs medicine and Broth dilution assay of the culture. Disk Suseptibility Test : The efficiency strength is as follows in a row : Caesaipiniae Lignum, Moutan Cortex Radicis, Prunellae Herba, Forsythiae Fructus, Houttuyniae Herba, Scrophulariae Radix. MIC Prunellae Herba is 1.5 mg/ml, Caesalpiniae Lignum is 5 mg/ml, Forsythiae Fructus and Moutan Corex Radicis is 10mg/ml for G. vaginalis. As a results, herbmed which tested in this study have an antibacterial effects against G. vaginalis and that may be used for treament of Bacterial vaginosis. Assistant use of external medicine to p.o medicine is expected to bring the good effect of treatment which is used for the origin of this disease.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.169-174
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• 1988

An experiment was conducted to determine the feeding value of Arundinella hirat silage making by different methods ie., added starch 3%, formic acid 1% (FA), anhydrous ammonia ($NH_3$) 3%, and dried poultry waste (DPW) 3%. The samples were analyzed organic acid, cell wall constituent (NDF), cell contents (NDS), lignincutin-silica (ADL), hemicellulose (H: CHO) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD) by pepsin-cellulase technique. The feeding value of silages were compared with corn siiage. The results are summarized as follows; 1.Formic acid treated to silage was lower pH(4.0), but anhydrous ammonia (8.37) and DPW added silage (8.72) were higher than that of the other treatment silages. 2.Fermentative quality of corn silage, starch, DPW, $NH_3$, control and FA treated silage were marked 100,81, 77,63,62 and 58, respectively. 3.Silage with $NH_3$, (23.57%) and DPW (10.42%) of content of protein were higher than that of other treated silages. 4.Silage with $NH_3$, was significantly lower contents of NDF, but did not ADF of among the treated silages. 5.In the contents of ADL, starch added silage was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), but did not the other treatment. 6.DMD of in vitro by pepsin-cellulase of silage with starch was increased three folds as equal to corn silage but did not increased the other treated silages. 7.Correlationship of latic acid an total acid, and NDS were a positive but lactic acid and NDF was a negative correlation.