• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.770-778
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• 2010

To establish the fundament for EBM of Traditional Korean Medicine, the papers on Pyeongwi-san (Pingwei-san) frequently used in medical institutions of Traditional Korean Medicine were analyzed through researching domestic and international papers. The papers were classified by the registration of domestic or international journals, the year of publishment, experimental fields and the kinds of studies on biological activities. Of total 518 papers on Pyeongwi-san (Pingwei-san), 32 volumes were selected according to selection creteria. 20 volumes were published in domestic journals, 11 in Chinese journal and 1 in Japanese journal. The papers on instrumental analyses reported the quantification of standard compounds of herbal medicines in Pyeongwi-san (Pingwei-san) using HPLC, GC-MS. The papers on biological activities of Pyeongwi-san (Pingwei-san) showed improvement of gastrointestinal activity and water-electrolyte metabolism, immune regulation, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-convulsant activities, hypnotic duration, blood pressure regulation, hepatic protection, congestive heart failure, anti-cancer activities. Further studies including gastrointestinal activity need to be preceeded to establish the fundament for EBM of Pyeongwi-san (Pingwei-san).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.1084-1089
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• 2006

The fructus of Gardenia jasminoides Ellis (GF) has been widely used as a natural colorant in Asian countries, and also as a Chinese traditional medicine for its homeostatic, antiphlogistic, analgesic, and antipyretic effects. In the present study, its main component, crocin, was fermented with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and their antihyperlipidemic activity was measured. The GF extract, fermented GF (F-GF), crocin, and fermented crocin (F-crocin) significantly inhibited the increase of serum triglyceride (TG) level in corn oil feeding-induced triglyceridemic mice, as well as that of serum TG and total and LDL cholesterol levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice. These agents also showed hypolipidemic activity in hyperlipidemic mice induced by high fat diet for 5 weeks. F-GF and F-crocin exhibited more potent hyperlipidemic effects than GF and crocin. The results suggest that the hypolipidemic effect of GF and crocin can be synergistically activated by LAB, and that F-GF and F-crocin may improve hyperlipidemia in clinic, compared with GF and crocin.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2014

Nardostachys chinensis (N. chinensis) has been used in traditional medicine as a sedative and analgesic. It has been reported that N. chinensis extract has an antioxidant activity. However, the mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we showed that FOXO3a was activated by N. chinensis extract. FOXO3a is a transcriptional factor that involved in cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, apoptosis, and detoxification of reactive oxygen spices (ROS). Protein level of FOXO3a was increased by N. chinensis extract whereas phospho-FOXO3a (Thr 32) was not changed. Promoter activities of target genes of FOXO3a such as MnSOD, p27, and GADD45 were increased by N. chinensis extract. Among target genes, protein level of MnSOD was increased by N. chinensis extract, and this leads to removal of ROS level in human embryonic fibroblast (HEF) cells. These results suggested that N. chinensis extract has an antioxidant activity by upregulation of MnSOD through FOXO3a activation.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2008

Baicalin is a flavonoid compound isolated from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis. It is known to affect multiple biological functions, including of antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Baicalin can inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB activation. It has been reported that some flavonoids possess the effects of bone metabolism. The present study was undertaken to determine the possible cellular mechanism of action of baicalin in osteoblasts. The effects on the osteoblast were determined by measuring cell proliferation, cell viability, alkaline phosphatase activity, and osteoprotegerin secretion. Baicalin has no effect on the osteoblastic cell proliferation and cell viability. Baicalin treatment showed increase in alkaline phosphatase activity and osteoprotegerin secretion of osteoblasts. Thus, baicalin may be a regulatory protein within the bone.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.395-399
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• 2008

Methanol and aqueous extract of leaves of Trema orientalis Linn. were subjected to the potential antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The pharmacological interest of this plant coupled with traditional use (antidiarrhoeal, antiseptic, analgesic etc) prompted to test for antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The antioxidant potential of the methanolic extract was determined on the basis of their scavenging activity of the stable 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl free radical. $IC_{50}$ of the methanol extract of T. orientalis was $110.25\;{\mu}g/ml$ which indicated the strong antioxidant activity of the plant. However the aqueous extract showed mild antioxidant activity. In case of antibacterial activities test, the extract was subjected for its effectiveness against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria in agar diffusion method. The zones of inhibition produced by the crude methanol and aqueous extract against few sensitive strains were measured and compared with those of standard antibiotic Gentamycin. It is evident that both extracts are active against the bacteria at low concentrations. The obtained results provide a support for the use of this plant in traditional medicine and suggest its further advance investigation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.76-82
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• 2001

The pharmacological activities of the acetonitrile (MeCN), hexane extracts and isolated pure terpenoidal compound Lupeol from the leaves of Teclea nobilis, Delile (TN), on inflammation induced by carrageenan an implantation of cotton pellets in rats; the nociceptive response using writhing and tail flick tests and the antipyretic activity in yeast-induced fever were examined in mice. Oral administration of TN extracts at doses of 150 and 300 mg/ks and lupeol 5 and 10 mg/kg showed a significant anti-inflammatory activity in rats. The extracts of TN and lupeol significantly decreased the number of contractions and stretchings induced by acetic acid and heat-induced pain in mice. The antipyretic effect of extracts and lupeol was also found to be significant. The behavioral observation of animals showed that the hexane extract and lupeol caused CNS depressant activity and did not produce any toxic or lethal effects in animals at various dose levels. The results suggest that the Teclea nobilis extracts and lupeol possesses anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.137-142
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• 2002

Caesalpinia sappan L. has long been commonly used as emmenagogue, analgesic, and a cure for contusion and sprain as well as a remedy for thrombosis in the Oriental medicine. The main constituent of C. sappan is brazilein, which is an antioxidative substance that has a flavonoid structure. In this study, we examined the effect of butanol extract of C. sappan on proliferation and melanogenesis in B16/F10 melanoma cells. After 48h treatment of cells with various concentrations of butanol extract, the cells exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition in their proliferation without apotosis. Therefore, the growth retardation by the extract may be due to the cell arrest, not due to the cell death induced by cytotoxicity. We also estimated total melanin contents as a final product and activity of tyrosinase, a key enzyme, in melanogenesis of B16/F10 melanoma cells. Our result showed that the melanin contents and tyrosinase activity were decreased in butanol extract-treated cells in a dose dependent manner compared to control group. In conclusion, it was observed that butanol extract of C. sappan inhibited melanization of these cells and therefore butanol extract could be developed as skin whitening components of cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 1998

The root of Aralia continentalis Kitagawa (Araliaceae) have been used as an analgesic and fever remedy, and for treatment of rheumatism in Chinese medicine, whereas the young leaves are used for ingredient of salad. Antioxidant activity of the young leaves of A. continentails was determined by measuring lipid peroxide produced when a mouse liver homogenate was exposed to the air at $37^{\circ}C$, using 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) and by evaluation the radical scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. Chromatographic separation of active fraction led to the isolation of six flavonoids, among which quercetin, hyperoside and kaempferol showed strong antioxidant activities, while 6"-O-acetyl astragalin, astragalin and trifolin were inactive. Adenosine, oleanolic acid 28-O-glucosyl ester and salsoloside C methyl ester isolated from the somewhat active BuOH fraction exhibited no antioxidant activities.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.197-204
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• 2010

To establish the anti-inflammatory activity of the total flavonoid fraction of the root barks of Broussonetia papyrifera (EBP) and a new formula, the ethanol extract of the root barks of B. papyrifera was fractionated with ethylacetate, yielding the hydrophobic prenylated flavonoid-enriched fraction. EBP and the ethanol extract of the whole Lonicera japonica (ELJ) plant were then mixed at a ratio of 1:1 (w/w) to give a new preparation (BL) in the hope of obtaining an optimal formula with a higher anti-inflammatory activity. Evaluation of the effects of these preparations on A23187-treated rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-1) cells revealed that EBP potently inhibited 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), while ELJ showed weak inhibition. Additionally, the mixture (BL) clearly showed stronger inhibitory effects against 5-LOX than either preparation alone. These preparations also inhibited cyclooxygenase-2-catalyzed $PGE_2$ and inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase-catalyzed NO production by lipopolysaccharide-treated RAW 264.7 cells. When tested against arachidonic acid-induced mouse ear edema, EBP showed strong inhibitory activity at doses of 5-200 mg/kg when administered orally, but BL had obviously stronger inhibitory effects. When tested against ${\lambda}$-carrageenan-induced paw edema in mice, BL showed a potent and synergistic anti-inflammatory effect. In addition, in the acetic acid-induced writhing test, BL was found to have strong analgesic activity at 50-400 mg/kg. Taken together, these results indicate that each of these preparations exert anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo. In particular, BL showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than EBP, and these anti-inflammatory effects were partially related to the inhibition of eicosanoid and NO production. BL may be useful for the treatment of human inflammatory disorders.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.949-953
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• 2001

Persimmon has been considered to have a therapeutic value diseases in Korea, Dried, persimmon was applied to a wounded part for an anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities, Anti-coagulating activity has been detected in persimmon by a thrombin-induced clotting assay using human plasma. The anti-coagulating activity was detectible in stem, pulp, core, leaf, and seed of persimmon The stem part of persimmon contains maximal anti-coagulating activity after-size-fractionation. Both of an anticoagulant and its denaturating factor were present in persimmon pulp. The concentration of anti-coagulating activity was determined and compared in different harvesting time, species, and available foods. The level of anti-coagulating activity was highest in persimmon(Fuyu)harvested in November. The anti-coagulating activity was decreased significantly in its processed foods. Persimmon could be expected to be effective in prevention of diseases induced by excess coagulation.