• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.386-391
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• 2005

The discovery of drugs for the treatment of mast cell-mediated allergic disease is a very important subject in human health. The Amomum xanthiodes (Zingiberaceae) has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in Korea and is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. However, its specific mechanism of action is still unknown. In this report, we investigated the effect of hot water extract from Amomum xanthiodes (EAX) on the mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and studied its possible mechanisms of action. EAX inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic anaphylaxis and serum his­tamine release in mice. EAX decreased the passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction activated by anti-dinitrophenyl (DNP) IgE antibody. EAX dose-dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or anti-DNP IgE. EAX increased cAMP and decreased compound 48/80-induced intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ levels. Our findings provide evidence that EAX inhibits mast cell-derived allergic reactions, and also demonstrate the involvement of cAMP and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in these effects.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.210-217
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• 1999

To detect the toxic relevant components, asarone, coumarin and thujone, in the 87 medicinal plants used in brewing a Korean traditional folk wine, their 20% ethanol extracts were prepared and purified by a SPE(solid phase extraction) method. The toxic components in the purified extracts were identified by GC-FID and GC/MS analysis. On analyses, asarone was detected in 6 species, Acorus gramineus Solander, Acorus asiaticus Nakai, Angelia gigus Nakai, Santalum album, etc.; coumarin in 22 species, Anethum graveolens, Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner, Lithosperum erythrorhizon Siebold et Zuccarinii, etc.; thujone in 24 species, Achyranthes japonica Nakai, Amomum xanthiodes Wallich, Artemisia asiatia Nakai, seed of Cannabis sativa L., Caragana sinica R., Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, Codonopsis lanceolata Bentham et flooker, Foeniculum vulgare Gaertner, etc.