• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.291-297
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• 2018

Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a very well-known causative agent for viral myocarditis and meningitis in human. However, the effective vaccine and therapeutic drug are not developed yet. CVB3 infection activates host cell AKT signaling. Inhibition of AKT signaling pathway may attenuate CVB3 replication and prevent CVB3-mediate viral myocarditis. In this study, we determined antiviral effect of the selected natural plant extract to develop a therapeutic drug for CVB3 treatment. We screened several chemically extracted natural compounds by using HeLa cell-based cell survival assay. Among them, Linum usitatissimum L. extract was selected for antiviral drug candidate. L. usitatissimum extract significantly decreased CVB3 replication and cell death in CVB3 infected HeLa cells with no cytotoxicity. CVB3 protease 2A induced eIF4G1 cleavage and viral capsid protein VP1 production were dramatically decreased by L. usitatissimum extract treatment. In addition, virus positive and negative strand genome amplification were significantly decreased by 1 mg/ml L. usitatissimum extract treatment. Especially, L. usitatissimum extract was associated with inhibition of AKT signal and maintain mTOR activity. In contrast, Atg12 and LC3 expression were not changed by L. usitatissimum extract treatment. In this study, the potential AKT signal inhibitor, L. usitatissimum extract, was significantly inhibited viral genome replication and protein production by inhibition of AKT signal. These results suggested that L. usitatissimum extract is a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of CVB3-mediated diseases.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.185-190
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• 2019

Periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease and gums pull away from the teeth and form spaces. The main goal of treatment is to control the infection and anti-inflammation. Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Bark (EU) is a traditional Korean herbal used for the treatment of arthritis and hypertension. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of EU in Porphyromonas gingivalis-LPS (LPS-PG) induced YD-38 epithelial cells. We observed significant inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production and the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF-{\alpha}$), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-PG-induced YD-38 cells. These results support that EU has an anti-inflammatory effects for the treatment of periodontitis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 2021

Helianthus annuus L. has been reported with various pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects. According to recent studies, H. annuus L. is known to contain components such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, sesquiterpenoids, and lignans. The seeds of H. annuus L. have been reported to contain chlorogenic acid and di-O-caffeoylquinic acid as major components. However, studies on the main components and content of leaves of H. annuus L. are still incomplete. Therefore, in this study, the contents of four major components of H. annuus L. were evaluated by simultaneous quantitative analysis with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detector (DAD). The isolated four compounds Caffeoylquinic acid(CQA), 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid(3,4-DCQA), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid(3,5-DCQA) and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid(4,5-DCQA) were shown in a large linearity with a correlation coefficient (R²) of 0.99. In addition, as a result of intra-inter day analysis of four major compounds by the analysis method of this study, the accuracy of 88.46% or more and less than 112.85% and excellent precision of less than 3% were shown, the content analysis showed CQA (0.383±0.018 mg/g), 3,4-DCQA (0.282±0.017 mg/g), 3,5-DCQA (1.109±0.068 mg/g), and 4,5-DCQA (0.673±0.020 mg/g).

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.340-348
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• 2020

This study was conducted to evaluate the immunomodulatory effects of red doraji (Platycodon grandiflorum, RD) prepared by repeated steaming and drying process in the immune-suppressed mice induced by pre (RD-A) or post-treatment (RD-B) with cyclophosphamide. The immune-stimulating effects of ethanol RD extract in in vivo at 150 (RD-1) and 300 mg/kg body weight (RD-2) for RD-A and RD-B groups were measured and compared to the NC group supplied with distilled water only or positive control group. After 14 days of oral supplement, serum IgA, IgG, and cytokine levels, splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and gene expression of cytokines were measured as immune related biomarkers. Serum IgA, IgG, IL-1β, and IL-12 levels increased in both RD-A and RD-B groups while serum TNF-α level decreased in RD-A group compared to the NC group. Splenocytes proliferation rate, NK cell activity, and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ) expression levels were also improved by RD supplement in the both groups. The RD showed more significant immunomodulatory effects at higher dose (RD-2) rather than the lower dose (RD-1). Thus, RD has an immune efficacy in a dose dependent manner and can be used as an immune stimulating source to improve immunity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.213-225
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• 2022

Schisandra chinensis is widely known to regulate fatigue recovery, lowering blood pressure, and contains several bioactive compounds such as schizadran. In this study, we obtained basic data for the development of health food by measuring the schizandrin content, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activity, and enzyme activity of the hot water extract (SCW) and 40% ethanol extract (SCE) of S. chinensis grown in Sunchang-gun, Korea. Schizandrin content was measured as 7.87 ± 0.01 mg/g for SCW and 10.38 ± 0.05 mg/g for SCE. SCE had higher DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity than SCW, and the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were also higher. Both SCW and SCE (500 ㎍/mL) exhibited more than 55% protective effects against oxidative stress in HepG2 cell lines. Anti-inflammatory efficacy was assessed using RAW 264.7 and Caco-2 cells and both SCW and SCE do not have cytotoxic effects. Anti-inflammatory results showed concentration-dependent NO activity and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) inhibition. The antibacterial activity increased with increasing dose concentrations of SCW and SCE, and the MIC was 25 mg/mL for L. monocytogenes, S. typhimurium, and 75 mg/mL for H. pylori. In addition, amylase and protease enzyme activity was observed in both SCW and SCE.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.25-31
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• 2013

Objectives : To develop a natural antioxidant and anti-hemolytic agents, we investigated the effects of ethanol extracts of Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos. Methods : Aerial parts of Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos were extracted with 80% ethanol. Antioxidant activity of Carpesii Fructus or Farfarae Flos extract was evaluated by employing three different assays, i.e., 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-suphonic acid) diammonium (ABTS) scavenging and reducing power activities. Also, anti-hemolytic activity of Carpesii Fructus or Farfarae Flos extract was determined using [2,2'-azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)]-induced hemolysis, glutathione (GSH) depletion and malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in normal rat red blood cells (RBC) or plasma. Results : The extracts obtained from Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos dose-dependently increased the scavenging activity on DPPH- or ABTS-induced radicals and the reducing power activities. Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos were similar to the scavenging activity and the reducing power of butylated hydroxy anisole effect at high concentration ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$). RBC oxidative hemolysis and plasma MDA formation induced by AAPH were significantly suppressed by the extracts of Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos in a dose-dependent manner. Also, Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos extracts prevented the depletion of cystosolic antioxidant GSH in RBCs. Carpesii Fructus generally had better than the free radical scavenging activity, the reducing power and anti-hemolytic effects of Farfarae Flos. Conclusions : These results suggest that Carpesii Fructus and Farfarae Flos may have value as the potential antioxidant and anti-hemolytic medicinal plant.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.138-144
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• 2022

Obesity is a disease in which an abnormally large amount of fat accumulates in the body. Various diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, high blood pressure, fatty liver, gallbladder disease, and coronary artery disease are induced. In this study, we investigated the effect of betaone, a type of barley, on obesity suppression. After the betaone extract was treated with 3T3 L1 adipocytes, the effect on adipocyte formation was investigated through Oil Red O staining. It was observed that differentiation was inhibited without affecting the viability of 3T3 L1 adipocytes. The effect of betaone extract on obesity inhibition in a mouse model was investigated. As a result of administering betaone extract after a high-fat diet, it was confirmed that the level of blood sugar and body weight was decreased, and glucose uptake ability was improved in a glucose tolerance test. The formation of mouse adipose tissue was suppressed, and the expression of genes involved in the formation and degradation of obesity in liver tissue was improved. These results suggest that betaone extract is a useful substance for improving obesity and is an excellent material for health functional food.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2022

Cotoneaster mongolicus Pojark. (CM), in the family Rosaceae is an endemic plant to the Mongolian region (its name: Moнroл чapraй). In Mongolia, Cotoneaster species as a crude drug is mainly used for inflammatory diseases, diarrhea, and stomach indigestion. In this study, we evaluated the gastro-protective activity underlying mechanism of CM. For in vivo experiments, mice were divided into 5 groups; normal mice (Normal), gastritis mice (Control), gastritis mice treated with sucralfate 10 mg/kg (SC), gastritis mice treated with CM 100 mg/kg (CML), gastritis mice treated with CM 200 mg/kg (CMH). Gastritis was provoked by HCl/ethanol (60% ethanol in 150 mM HCl). After oral administration of each drug, HCl/ethanol was orally administered 90 mins later to induce gastritis. CM alleviated the damage to the gastric mucosa caused. As a result of confirming the expression of protein in gastric tissue through western blot, CM significantly reduced the expression of NF-κB activated due to gastritis. Also, it significantly modulated the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway. These results indicate that CM not only inhibits the nuclear metastasis of NF-𝛋B but also modulates the Nrf2-Keap1 pathway to relieve inflammation of the gastric mucosa.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.70-78
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• 2022

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of preventing pigmentation caused by external stimuli, promoting skin regeneration and whitening of the skin composition containing complex extract of Dendrobii Caulis and Centella asiatica (CE). We evaluated cell viability, tyrosinase and melanin inhibition activity, skin irritation test, and skin moisturizing and regenerative effects using CE. As a result of the tyrosinase inhibitory activity, 100 ㎍/mL CE (35.31%) showed higher value than kojic acid (21.32%). The results of melanin synthesis inhibition in B16F10 melanoma cells after treatment with α-melanocyte stimulating hormone showed a similar level of activity to that of arbutin, indicating an excellent whitening effect. In clinical test of the skin composition containing CE, we confirmed that CE is non-irritated in human skin primary irritation test as well as have a high skin moisturizing and regenerative effect. From these results, we suggested the CE not only prevents skin damage and pigmentation caused by external stimuli but has remarkable skin brightening activity and skin regeneration effect.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2022

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and the accumulation of β-amyloid (Aβ) in the brain triggers AD, followed by hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, neurofibrillary tangles, and synapses loss, neuronal cell death, and cognitive decline occur in a chain. In APPswe neuronal cell line, 50 ㎍/ml of Campbell early (Vitis labruscana B.) leaves 50% ethanol extract (VLL) treatment inhibited the secretion of Aβ1-42 by about 63% and the secretion of Aβ1-40 by about 50%. VLL did not target the enzymatic activity of the amyloidogenic pathway and decreased the protein expression of APP. As a result of RT-qPCR (Reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR) of the APPswe cell line treated with VLL, it is thought that the protein expression of APP was reduced by inhibiting the transcription process of the APP gene. In addition, VLL inhibited acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity in vitro by 27.6% and 54.7%, respectively, at 50 and 100 ㎍/ml concentrations. We found that VLL inhibited the production of Aβ, a dementia-inducing substance, by suppressing the transcription of the APP gene, and that VLL inhibited AChE activity. We suggest that VLL has the potential as a natural drug material that modulates the alleviation of dementia symptoms.