• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.97-101
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this research is to identify the actual origin species imported as Aquilaria malaccensis from Indonesia. Methods : After producing the permanent preparat by cutting off the specimen thinly, we observed its characteristics. Results : The imported ones have not interxylary parenchyma, so none is in the genus aquilaria. Since the aliform parenchyma is mostly observed around the vessel pore, they are in the genus gonystylus, and the rest have no aliform parenchyma, so their specimen is unidentified. Conclusion : The imported as A. malaccensis are not in the genus aquilaria, but most of them are in the genus gonystylus and, for the rest, the specimen is unidentified.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.13-19
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is correct the scientific name of Aquilariae Lignum in Korean Herbal Pharmacoepia. Methods : The production areas of Aquilariae Lignum and its trading status with China in Chinese history, Sanscrit-Chinese Translation Sutra, Naming year and the discovered district in main Aquilaria spp., Several nation's Pharmacoepia, The Plant List(TPL), Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild fauna and flora(CITES) and The International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) were cross-checked. Results : The records in the Jiaozhouyiwuzhi written in the early 2nd century said that Aquilariae Lignum was produced in Vietnam. NanfangCaomuZhuang written in 304 said that Agarwood in Vietnam had white flowers. Vietnam had led production and trading of Aquilariae Lignum until Qing Dynasty. Aquilariae Lignum from Malaysia and Indonesia was not traded with China. In Sanscrit-Chinese Translation Sutra, India Aquilariae Lignum was translated as Vietnam Aquilariae Lignum. Aquilaria malaccensis was discovered from Malay-Peninsular in 1783, and has green or dirty yellow flowers. A. agallocha from North-Eastern India in 1814, white flowers. A. crasssna from Vietnam in 1914, white flowers. A. crassna is different from A. malaccensis in several ways, such as flower, fruit, seed and disribution. In several Nation's Pharmacoepia, A. crassna was a synonym of A. agallocha. But in TPL, CITES and IUCN, A. malaccensis was an accepted name, and A. agallocha was a synonym of A. malaccensis. Conclusions : These results show that the original species of Aquilariae Lignum in Korea Herbal Pharmacoepia should be reversed from A. agallocha to A. crassna Pierre ex Lacomte.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.157-164
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• 2019

The study was conducted to investigate the acute and sub-acute toxicity effect of Aquilaria malaccensis leaves aqueous extract (AEAM) towards male ICR mice in terms of body weight, relative organ weight, mortality rate and sperm parameters. In acute toxicity study, a single dose at of 2000 mg/kg was performed. In sub-acute toxicity study, the mice were received normal saline (control group), 50, 100, 150, 200, 500, or 1000 mg/kg of AEAM orally for 21 days of treatment. In sub-acute toxicity study, the number of abnormal sperm were significantly decreased in AEAM 100, 150, 200, 500, and 1000 when compared to the control group. While, the motility of sperm were found to be significantly increased in AEAM 100, 150, 200, and 1000 as compared to the control group. No mortality was recorded in the control group and treated groups in both toxicity studies except for one mouse from AEAM 1000 group. However, the mild sedative effect in terms of the tendency to sleep was clearly noticeable in both toxicity studies. Results indicated that the AEAM can be one of the useful alternative medicine to enhance fertility rate by increasing healthy sperm production.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.9-18
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• 2005

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate characteristics of cell morphology of two different agar woods (Aquilaria agallocha Roxburgh (AAR) and imitative agar wood (IAW)) using microscopic techniques. Methods : Both light and scanning electron microscopes were used to observe morphological and histological features of the cell of agar woods collected from commercial products in the market. Results : The cell morphology and tissue arrangements of AAR depending on either the adsorption of resin into vessels or no adsorption of resin were observed to compare these features with those of both IAW and Aquilaria sinensis Gilb (ASG). Conclusions : As a result, the vessels of AAR with the resin adsorption was packed with lots of yellow-brownish materials, which were quite different from those of IAW and ASG. The cell walls were thick, and had well-developed traumatic parenchyma tissues with squared cells of the same height and width, which appeared as a clump of small grains packed.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.163-168
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• 2011

Objective : The purpose of this study is to determine the origin of Aquilariae Lignum. Method : Firstly identify the production areas of Aquilariae Lignum and its trading status with China in Chinese history through Chinese historical books such as Twenty-Five Histories(二十五史) and the records of the Chosun Dynasty and then, compare the distribution of the genus Aquilaria in the concerned areas. Result : Since the records in the NanfangCaomuZhuang(南方草木狀) written in 304 saying that Aquilariae Lignum was produced in Vietnam and had white flowers, Vietnam had led production and trading of Aquilariae Lignum until Qing Dynasty(淸代). Even though Thailand traded Aquilariae Lignum during Qing Dynasty, however, the volume was at a low level. Aquilariae Lignum from southern Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia was rated as low quality and low-priced because of its fishy smell and strong flavor. Conclusion : These results show that the origin of Aquilariae Lignum comes from Vietnam and this species is distinguished from the ones of Indodesia or Malaysia.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.459-471
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• 2019

Several species of Aquilaria and Gyrinops are native to Indonesia and well known as agarwood-producing trees with a high economic value. Their bioactive compounds have a wide spectrum of uses, such as in medicine and cosmetics. These genera have undergone extensive search for novel bioactive compounds. The purpose of this study was to isolate, identify, and characterize the endophytic fungi community associated with Aquilaria malaccensis, A. microcarpa, Gyrinops versteegii, and A. crassna trees and investigate their bioactive properties as antioxidant agents and antagonists. A total of 50 fungi were successfully isolated from different tissues of the four species of agarwood-producing trees. Two isolates exhibited strong antioxidant activity, namely, Apodus oryzae (R2MC3A, $IC_{50}$ 60.92 mg/mL) and Diaporthe sp. (P1DS1[C], $IC_{50}$ 76.65 mg/mL). Two isolates, Pestalotiopsis theae (P3BS3[B]) and Curvularia sp. (P2CD3A), showed >75% antifungal activity against pathogenic Fusarium solani. The results revealed that endophytic fungi associated with the studied agarwood-producing trees had potential antioxidant and antifungal activities for further applications in biotechnology.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to evaluate the quality of four different kinds of agarwood and analysis chemical constituents by GC-MS. Methods : Four source plants were two of Vietnamese agarwood, Indonesian agarwood and Myanmar agarwood. These plant materials were named sample No. 1-4. The chemical constituents of each agarwood were analysed by GC-MS. Results : GC-MS analysis showed that ${\beta}$-selinene was found in all the samples. The Vietnamese agarwood, Sample 1, and 4 has contained 6.861% and 7.497% of ${\beta}$-selinene and reached the highest level at the retention times 46.245 and 46.274 (min). Sample 2, the Myanmar agarwood has contained 1.608%, the lowest level of ${\beta}$-selinene, and it also has contained about 20% of ${\alpha}-,{\beta}-,{\gamma}$-eudesmol and 4.076% of valerianol. Sample 3, the Indonesian agarwood has contained 9.59% of ${\beta}$-selinene, 9.493% of ${\beta}$-selinene and shown its highest level (more than 19%) at the retention time 43.998 (min). Conclusion : It suggested that ${\beta}$-selinene could be a standard marker to evaluate agarwood by GC-MS analysis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.745-754
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• 2021

Deterioration of the immune function weakens the body's resistance to various infections, leading to a series of diseases. Immunomodulatory biomaterials have been used to reduce the side effects of immunosuppressants or to enhance immunity. Agarwood is the aromatic resinous portion of Aquilaria trees that has been traditionally used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of various diseases. Although previous studies have shown that agarwood can improve the body's immunity, evidence for this claim is still lacking. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of the agarwood methanol extracts of Aquilaria malaccensis Lamk were evaluated in a RAW 264.7 macrophage model. Based on the results, the agarwood extracts markedly enhanced phagocytosis in the absence of cytotoxicity. The agarwood extract-treated RAW 264.7 cells exhibited the typical morphology of activated macrophages, which are spindle-shaped with elongated filopodia. Agarwood extract also significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO), which is associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase. Moreover, the secretion and expression levels of cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, were increased by agarwood treatment. Notably, these are also associated with a mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings provide scientific evidence that agarwood has potential immune-enhancing effects in vitro.