• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.232-239
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• 2005

An aqueous extract of oriental herbal composition named Onchengyeum and curcumin, an antioxidant isolated from turmeric (Curcuma Zonga L.) reduced hepatotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$). Improved liver function was observed by measuring the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (CRE), total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-CHO), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-CHO), total protein (TP), albumin (ALB) and total bilirubin (BIL) in serum. Hepatic parameters monitored were levels of cholesterol (CHO), triglyceride (TG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and activities of cytochrome P450 (CYP), NADPH-CYP reductase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The histopathological examination showed that the treatment of Onchengyeum and curcumin relieved the ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes which had been generated by $CCI_4$. The results suggested that hepatoprotective effects of Onchengyeum and curcumin possibly are due to their promising antioxidative activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.378-382
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• 1996

We previously reported the morphological, physiochemical characteristics of Alismae Rhizoma. In this study, we examined the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of 85% ethanol and water extracts of Alismae Rhizoma using disc method. Ethanol extracts of Korean Alismae Rhizoma showed antimicrobial activity on B. subtilis and S. aureus on the concentration dependent manner, whereas, Chinese Alismae Rhizoma revealed antimicrobioal activity on E. coli and N. gonorrhoeae. The water solution(500 mg/ml) of each lyophilized powder of aqueous extracts didn't show any antimicrobial activity on B. subtilis, S. aureus and E. coli, on the contrary, they stimulated cell growth slightly. Ethanol extracts of Korean samples showed antifungal activity on A. niger, but not on C. albicans. Neither A. niger nor C. albicans were affected by Chineses samples.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2009

Pharmacological investigations were carried out with aqueous methanolic extract (AME) of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. (Meliaceae) leaves. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the $LD_{50}$ dose of AME was 600 mg/kg, i.p. AME was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute, sub-chronic and chronic models of inflammation. AME selectively inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity, which is involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and biosynthesis of prostaglandins under inflammatory conditions. Treatment with AME significantly enhanced total peritoneal cell count and the number of macrophages in normal mice, which revealed that AME may also alter the immune response along with its anti-inflammatory effect. The saponins or the alkaloids present in AME may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.124-135
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Scutellaria baicalensis has been used as a medicinal plant to treat various disease conditions accompanying inflammatory response and oxidative stress. Objectives : The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis against inflammatory, pain and edema Methods : In vitro, the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation were investigated in mouse BV2 microglial cells. In vivo, the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on acetic acid-induced writhing response, carrageenan-induced edema and the plantar test (nociceptive thermal stimulation) were investigated using rats and mice. Results : The present results showed that pre-treatment with the aqueous extract of Scutellaria baicalensis suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated cyclooxygenase-2 expressions in mouse BV2 microglial cells. The aqueous extract of Scutellaria baicalensis inhibited acetic acid-induced abdominal pain in mice and also reduced thermal pain in rats. However, no significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced edema in rats. Conclusions : The present study showed that Scutellaria baicalensis possesses anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 1989

Toxic effects of a mushroom, Amanita volvata, were studied in respect to biochemical and histological changes induced in the liver and kidneys of mice. The changes in biochemical parameters characteristically appeared 12 hrs after oral administration of an aqueous extract of the mushroom. The hepatic glycogen decreased markedly to 17% of the control level and a concemitant decrease in blood glucose was also observed. The activity of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) was elevated by 2.5-fold and the level of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) increased by 3-fold, respectively, 12 hrs after administration of the mushroom, their levels being maintained up to 24 hrs.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.113.3-114
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• 2003

The increased deposition of extracellular matrix by hepatic stellate cells following liver injury in a process known as activation is considered a key mechanism for increased collagen content of liver during the development of liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), Changkil (CK), on hepatic fibrosis in hepatic stellate cells. We report that CK reduces the accumulation of collagen in acetaldehyde-induced hepatic stellate cells. (omitted)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.288.1-288.1
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• 2002

Herbal medicines are increasingly being utilized to treat a wide variety of disease processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae). Changkil (CK). to affect cellular response in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes to t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. CK-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge. as revealed by a higher percent of survival capacity in respect to control cells. CK added prior or simultaneously with I-BHP reduced enganced lipid peroxidation measured as production of malondialdehyde and enhnaced intracellular reduced glutathinoe depletion by t-BHP. Furhtermore. CK protected from the t-BHP-induced intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species assessde by montioting dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence. it can be concluded that CK exerts an antioxidant action insice the cell. responsible for the abserved modulation of the cellular response to oxidative challenge. and CK have a marked anitioxdative and hepatoprotective potency.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.7
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• pp.889-896
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• 2012

Melanin synthesis is catalyzed by tyrosinase. To investigate the whitening effect of Hizikia fusiformis, fractions from ethanol extract of H. fusiformis were prepared by a systematic fractionation procedure with solvents such as methanol, hexane, butanol, and $H_2O$. The ethanol extract and its fractions were then subjected to evaluate the inhibitory effects on the tyrosinase activity and melanin synthesis in murine B16F10 melanoma cells. The ethanol extract and aqueous fraction exhibited a whitening effect with no cytotoxicity. The ethanol extract showed the highest whitening effect among the samples. The inhibitory effect of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of ethanol extract was higher than that of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of arbutin, but it was lower than that of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of kojic acid. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of $100{\mu}g/ml$ of methanol, hexane, butanol, and aqueous fractions were similar to those of $10{\mu}g/ml$ of arbutin. The antioxidant activities were examined by comparing the results with that of ascorbic acid as a positive control. The ethanol extract and aqueous fraction showed relatively higher DPPH radical-scavenging activities compared with the other samples. Furthermore, $500{\mu}g/ml$ of ethanol extract and aqueous fraction diminished LPS-induced iNOS expression to 82 and 80%, respectively. These results suggest that ethanol extract and aqueous fraction of H. fusiformis could be used as cosmetic ingredients for whitening and skin protection effects.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.311-322
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• 2015

The study was conducted on growth and yield of potatoes in a wick hydroponic culture as affected by concentration of aqueous extracts in order to develop natural agricultural resources using Persicaria longiseta. Each 500 ml of distilled water (control) and P. blumei extracts (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) was applied to potato plants at 5 d intervals from 1 d after potato transplanting. The potatoes with P. blumei extract emerged 1 d earlier and had 0.3 to 0.4 more stem numbers per plant compared with those of control plot. The plant height was higher in plots with P. blumei extract than in control in early stage of potatoes (50 d), but there was no significant difference observed after mid-stage of potatoes (70 and 90 d). The stem diameter and fresh weight of potatoes estimated a higher values in plots with P. blumei extract than in control plots, although there was no statistical difference. The 100% P. blumei extract increased by up to $13.8kg/m^2$ of potato yield. The numbers of tubers in classes of < 5 g and 5 to 30 g per plant did not show a specific trend among experimental treatments while it in class of > 30 g was much higher in plots with P. blumei extract than in control plot. Accordingly, the P. blumei extract had a positive effect on the growth and yield of potatoes, could be applied as of eco-friendly fertilizers

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.31-40
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• 2014

Objectives Trachelospermi caulis, known as Nak-Suk-Deung in Korea, is the dried leafy stem of Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium Nakai, and climbing stems and branches of Trachelospermum sdisyivum var, intermedium nakai or Apocyanaceae. Trachelospermi caulis has antipyretic and analgesic activity. It has traditionally been used as a folk remedy in Korea for the treatment of various infla mMatory diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Effects of Trachelospermum caulis extract on SNP-induced infla mMatory responses in rabbit HIG-82 synovial membrane cells. Methods Anti-infla mMatory effects of the extract of Trachelospermum caulis were investigated using rabbit HIG-82 synovial membrane cells. For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol- 2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, western blot analysis, PGE2 i mMunoassay, and NO detection were conducted. Results The aqueous extract of Trachelospermum caulis exerted cytotoxicity and suppressed PGE2 synthesis and NO production in rabbit HIG-82 synovial membrane cells. The aqueous extract of Trachelospermum caulis also inhibited the SNP-induced expressions of COX-2, iNOS, and TNF-$\alpha$ in rabbit HIG-82 synovial membrane cells. Conclusions These results showed that the extract of Trachelospermum caulis exerts the anti-infla mMatory effect by suppressing COX-2, iNOS, and TNF-$\alpha$ expressions in the synovial membrane cells.