• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.417-425
• /
• 2017

Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson is distributed in China and Korea, and the fruit of C. monnieri is used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat carbuncle and pain in female genitalia. In this study, we examined the anti-proliferation and cell cycle arrest effects of ethanol extracts from C. monnieri (CME) in AGS gastric cancer cells. Our results show that CME suppressed cell proliferation and induced release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in AGS cells by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay and LDH assay. Cell morphology was altered by CME in a dose-dependent manner. In order to identify the cell cycle arrest effects of CME, we investigated cell cycle analysis after CME treatment. In our results, CME induced cell cycle arrest at G1 phase. Protein kinase B (Akt) plays a major role in cell survival mechanisms such as growth, division, and metastasis. Akt protein regulates various downstream proteins such as glycogen synthase kinase-$3{\beta}$ (GSK-$3{\beta}$) and tumor protein p53 (p53). Expression levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, p53, p21, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2) were determined by Western blot analysis. Protein levels of p-Akt, p-GSK-$3{\beta}$, and cyclin E were reduced while those of p53, p21, and p-CDK2 (T14/Y15) were elevated by CME. Moreover, treatment with CME, LY294002 (phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor), BIO (GSK-$3{\beta}$ inhibitor), and Pifithrin-${\alpha}$ (p53 inhibitor) showed that cell cycle arrest effects were mediated through regulation of the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway. These results suggest that CME induces cell cycle arrest at G1 phase via the Akt/GSK-$3{\beta}$/p53 signaling pathway in AGS gastric cancer cells.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.419-425
• /
• 2014

The objective of this study is to estimate the inhibition of skin melanin formation by extract of Angelica koreana and Cnidium monnieri and the possibility of functional cosmetic materials through anti-irritation and stability test. The extract used in this experiment is White-$AK^{TM}$ and the INCI name is Osthole. The main component of White-$AK^{TM}$ was identified as coumarin and EC50 value was 2.7ppm by mouse melanoma B 16 cell test. White-$AK^{TM}$ showed inhibitory effects 100 times lower concentration than arbutin. The main mechanism for skin whitening effect thought to be inhibition of tyrosinase-related gene expression. The basic essence formulation of White-$AK^{TM}$ 5% solution applied to the skin showed the effect of relieving skin irritation. White-$AK^{TM}$ in an opaque container, under UV conditions for 4 weeks, and showed close to 100% recovery and 97% recovery under $50^{\circ}C$ for 4 weeks. Therefore, it is thought that White-$AK^{TM}$ which helps skin whitening, relieving skin irritation and stable in UV condition is able to be used as the functional component in the cosmetic formulation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.111-116
• /
• 2014

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to estimate the antioxidant activity of water extract of Cnidii Fructus (CF) and Torilis Fructus (TF) in Leydig cells. Methods : Free radical scavenging activity of CF and TF against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was determined spectrophotometrically. We investigated the effect of CF and TF in Leydig cells by MTT assay. The protective effects of CF and TF against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in Leydig cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase activity assays were performed in Leydig cells. Results : The results showed that CF scavenged DPPH radical in a dose-dependent manner by up to 81.2%, TF scavenged DPPH radical in a dose-dependent manner by up to 63.8%. CF showed cell viability as 121.0, 132.7, 126.6% in 5, 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations. TF showed cell viability as 127.5, 111.8% in 5, $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentraions, respectively. The hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity of Leydig cells were protected to 86.3% by CF at concentration of $10{\mu}g/ml$ and protected to 83.5% by TF at concentration of $100{\mu}g/ml$. Both CF and TF at all concentrations, SOD activity was not significantly changed. Catalase activity was significantly increased at 10, $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations of CF, respectively. TF's catalase activity showed no significant difference from that of the control. Conclusions : These results suggest that CF, as an antioxidant, protects Leydig cells in hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. know that "Kwangjebikeup" played a role in settlement and spreading of foreign knowledge to civilians.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.195-202
• /
• 2015

Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion is used as a tonic agent in traditional oriental medicine. However, the molecular mechanism of mast cell-mediated anti-inflammatory modulation has not been fully understood. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the effects of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction on the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, as well as to elucidate its mechanism of action in the human mast cell line (HMC-1). Cells were stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus A23187 in the presence or absence of Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction. Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion eathyl acetate fraction significantly inhibited the PMA plus A23187-induction of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8. Moreover, EtOAc fraction attenuated cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression. In activated HMC-1 cells, phosphorylation of extra-signal response kinase (ERK) 1/2 decreased after treatment with EtOAc fraction. Moreover EtOAc fraction inhibited PMA plus A23187-induced nuclear factor (NF)-${\kappa}B$ activation, $I{\kappa}B$ degradation. EtOAc fraction suppressed the expression of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-8 through a decrease in the ERK 1/2, as well as activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. These results indicated that Cnidium monnieri (L). Cussion EtOAc fraction exerted a regulatory effect on inflammatory reactions mediated by mast cells.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.9-14
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Cnidii Fructus is prescribed as the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson or Torilis japonica (Houtt.) DC. in Korea pharmacopoeia. Although there are differences in the composition of useful components, two species have been used without distinction. In order to discriminate them, DNA sequencing and taste pattern analysis were used in this study. Methods : Primers ITS 1 and ITS 4 were used to amplify the intergenic transcribed spacer(ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA from seven T. japonica and six C. monnieri samples. Taste pattern of samples were measured by using taste-sensing system SA402B equipped with five foodstuff sensors(CT0, C00, AAE, CA0, and AE1). The five initial taste(sourness, bitterness, astringency, umami, and saltiness) and three aftertaste(aftertaste of bitterness, astringency, and umami) of two species were compared. Results : According to the results of ITS region sequence analysis, two species showed 94 base pairs differences. The similarity of two sequences was 85%. From the taste pattern analysis, sourness, bitterness, aftertaste of bitterness(aftertaste-B), and umami showed a different pattern. Especially, bitterness and aftertaste-B of C. monnieri were significantly higher than T. japonica. In addition, two species were shown to have two markedly different clustering by these two flavors. Conclusion : T. japonica and C. monnieri were effectively discriminated using DNA sequencing and taste pattern analysis. These methods can be used to identify the origin of traditional medicine in order to maintain therapeutic efficacy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.22-26
• /
• 2024

The purpose of this study was to identify the applicability, main compounds, and target genes of Cnidii Fructus (CF) in the treatment of gastritis using network pharmacology. The compounds in CF were searched in Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and a database of medicinal materials and chemical compounds in Northeast Asian traditional medicine (TM-MC). The target gene information of the compounds was collected from pubchem and cross-compared with the gastritis-related target gene information collected from Genecard to derive the target genes. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis were performed on the derived target genes. Afterwards, network analysis between compounds and disease target genes was performed using cytoscape. We identified 121 active compounds and 139 target genes associated with gastritis. Pathways derived from the GO biological process and KEGG pathway DB primarily focus on target genes related to inflammation (IL-6, IL-8, TNF production, NF-κB transcription factor activity, and NF-κB signaling pathway) and cell death (PI3K-Akt, FoxO). Major targets for CF treatment of gastritis include TP53, TNF, BCL2, EGFR, NFKB1, ABCB1, PPARG, PTGS2, IL6, IL1B, and SOD1, along with major compounds such as coumarin, osthol, hexadecanoic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and stigmasterol. This study provided CF's applicability for gastritis, related compounds, and target information. Evaluating CF's effectiveness in a preclinical gastritis model suggests its potential use in clinical practice for digestive system diseases.