• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.107-114
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• 2017

Objectives : Tribulus terrestris $Linn{\acute{e}}$ (Tribuli Fructus; TF) has been used to treat hypochondrium, agalactia, nebula, itching and vitiligo in traditional Korean medicine. In this study, we investigated the effects of TF 30% ethanol extract on inflammatory responses in IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells. Methods : TF extract was prepared by 30% ethanol. RBL-2H3 cells, a rat mast cell line, were treated with TF extract at different concentrations for 1 hr and then stimulated with DNP-IgE/HSA for indicated times. Cell viability was measured by WST-1 assay. The expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-13 and $IFN-{\gamma}$) mRNA was determined by reverse transcriptase-PCR, and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK MAP kinases (MAPKs) was determined by Western blot. The nuclear expression of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 in the cells was detected by Western blot and immunocytochemistry, respectively. Results : The treatment of TF extract at 0.1 and $0.2mg/m{\ell}$ significantly decreased the expression of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA in IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells, while significantly increased the expression of $IFN-{\gamma}$ mRNA. TF extract treatment was also inhibited the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 and JNK MAPKs in IgE-stimulated RBL-2H3 mast cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, TF extract significantly blocked the translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p65 into the nuclear of cells after IgE stimulation. Conclusions : These results indicate that TF extract inhibits inflammatory response in IgE-stimulated mast cells through blocking MAPKs/$NF-{\kappa}B$ pathway. This suggests that TF extract has an anti-inflammatory activity in mast cell activation.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Sericultural Science Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.123-125
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• 2003

We provide a molecular study intending to derive an estimate of the relationships within the genus Bombus, 10 species which span 6 subgenera common collected from several regions of Korea and B. terrestris imported from several foreign countries for pollination using a portion of mitochondrial 16S ribosomal RNA. (omitted)

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2004

Phylogenetic relationships were analyzed among bumblebees using a portion of mitochondrial (mt) 16S ribosomal RNA (16S rRNA). Eight species of true bumblebees and one species of cuckoo bumblebee (Bombini, Apidae), collected from Korea were included in the analysis. Also, one species of true bumblebee imported from several foreign countries for pollination was included. The length of mt 16S rRNA sequence ranged from 496 bp to 508 bp and sequence divergence ranged from 1.4％ (7 bp) to 15.49％ (77bp). As expected, a high A＋T content was observed (78.5％ on average). According to the phylogeny tree derived from parsimony and maximum likelihood analysis, a monphyletic Bombus species, excluding a single cuckoo bumblebee, Psithyrus coreanus, was obtained, but the bootstrap estimate at the node supporting the monophyletic group was very weak (40％ or 46％), suggesting a very close relationship of the cuckoo bumblebee to the true bumblebee. Within Bombus species belonging to identical subgenera subgeneric specific clustering was formed with high bootstrap values, implying validity of the subgeneric names of each species: Pyrobombus for B. ardens and B. modeatus; Megabombus for B. consobrinus wittenburgi and B. koreanus; and Bombus s. str. for B. ignitus, B. hypocrita sapporoensis, and B. terrestris.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.1 s.128
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• pp.35-41
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• 2002

The MeOH ext., $CH_2Cl_2$ Frac., EtOAc Frac., n-BuOH Frac., and $H_2O$ Frac. of 23 Korean medicinal herbs were prepared and were tested the inhibitory effects on Cytochrome P450 (Cyp) 1A1/2, 2B1/2, 2E1. Among the tested samples, the extracts of Selaginella tamariscina, Euonymus alatus, Salvia miltiorhiza, Angelica acutiloba, Rheum palmatum, Paeonia moutan, Scutellaria barbata, Tribulus terrestris, Hedyotis diffusa, Curcuma zedoaria, Rehmania glutinosa, Trogopterus xanthipes, Melandryum firmum, Achyranthes bidentata, Leonurus sibricus, Panax ginseng, Paeonia lactiflora, Poncirus trifoliata, Cnidium officinale, Cyperus rotundus, Corydalis ternata showed significant inhibitory effects on Cyp 1A1/2, 2B1/2, 2E1. The $IC_{50}$ values of those extracts were found to be below $50\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.124-130
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• 2013

Bumblebees are widely used to pollinate various greenhouse crops. Among the different bumblebee species, Bombus ignitus is indigenous to Korea, China, Japan and Russia. B. ignitus undergoes one generation per year, and artificial hibernation is essential for year-round rearing of the bumblebee. Keeping the queens under low-temperature conditions for several months is an effective method for terminating their diapause and promoting colony development. In the present study, we investigated how cold temperature affects the artificial hibernation of B. ignitus queens. Under chilling temperatures of $-2.5^{\circ}C$, $0^{\circ}C$, $2.5^{\circ}C$ and $5^{\circ}C$ with constant humidity >80%, the queens stored at $2.5^{\circ}C$ exhibited the highest survival rates, which were 74.0% at one month, 67.0% at two months, 60.0% at three months, 46.0% at 4 months, 33.0% at 5 months and 24.0% at 6 months. Lower survival rates were observed at $0^{\circ}C$, $5^{\circ}C$, $7.5^{\circ}C$ and $12.5^{\circ}C$. At $2.5^{\circ}C$ the colony developmental characteristics after diapause were 1.2- to 1.5-fold greater than those when queens were stored at $5^{\circ}C$. Thus, $2.5^{\circ}C$ and 70% R.H. were the most favorable chilling temperature and humidity conditions for terminating the diapause of B. ignitus queens.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.239-245
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• 2002

It was investigated whether or not such helpers as worker bee, bee-cocoon and egg-cup etc, have any effects on oviposition and colony foundation of the bumblebee queen, Bombus ignitus. Among the helpers tested, the callow workers of B. ignitus and B. terrestris showed the most remarkable effects on the oviposition rates to 92% and 88%, respectively. The live cocoon as a helper improved oviposition rate over 60%. A narcotized old worker 10-20 days-aged after emergence, showed similar effects to a callow worker on the colony development such as oviposition rate, colony foundation and progeny-queen production. On the other hand, dried cocoon, callow honeybee worker or egg-cup did not show a positive effect as a helper. In the number of workers recruited to a foundation queen, two workers showed better effect than one worker on the colony development, with no difference between two and more.