• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.885-897
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• 2021

Schisandrae Fructus (SF) and Corni Fructus (CF) have been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although reports have highlighted the possibility of inhibiting the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), studies on related mechanisms are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the potential of SF and CF in improving BPH by using a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced in vitro BPH model using LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells. According to our results, water and ethanol extracts of SF and CF significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells by DHT treatment and markedly downregulated the expression of DHT-induced BPH biomarkers and growth factors. They also regulated the expression of apoptosis regulatory factors and significantly reduced DHT-mediated oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect on major factors involved in the pathogenesis of BPH was more effective in the ethanol extract treatment group than in the water extract group. Furthermore, the improvement effect on BPH was higher in the 1:1 combined treatment group than in the ethanol extract alone treatment group of SF and CF, and 60% ethanol extracts showed a better effect than 40% ethanol extracts. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that SF and CF can protect against BPH by preventing the hyperproliferation of prostate cells through the inhibition of the androgen signaling pathway, which was correlated with their antioxidant activities. Therefore, SF and CF extracts may be useful in the clinical treatment of BPH, and the combination of these two extracts can be synergistic.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antigenotoxic activities of sansuyu fruit (Corni fructus, CF) at temperatures of $25^{\circ}C$, $50^{\circ}C$, and $90^{\circ}C$ using a water extraction method. Total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH radical-scavenging activity (RSA), and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity, and ORAC (Oxygen radical absorbance capacity) values were determined. Also the antigenotoxicity of CF was determined by measuring inhibitory effects of $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damage in human leukocytes using the comet assay. The TPC in the CF extracts was 4.2, 4.6, and 5.5 g/100 g GAE in $25^{\circ}C$, $50^{\circ}C$, and $90^{\circ}C$, respectively. The DPPH RSA of the CF extracts increased in a dose-dependent manner over the range of $50\sim1000\;{\mu}g$/mL in all temperatures and the $SC_{50}$ of DPPH RSA of the CF extracts were not significantly different at different extraction temperatures. The $SC_{50}$ of SOD-like was the highest in CF extracted at $25^{\circ}C$ (1.1 mg/mL) followed by $90^{\circ}C$ (1.2 mg/mL) and $50^{\circ}C$ (1.3 mg/mL). The ORAC values of the CF extracts were not significantly different in low concentration ($10\;{\mu}M$/mL) and was in order of $25^{\circ}C$ ($5.7\;{\mu}M$ TE)< $90^{\circ}C$ ($6.2\;{\mu}M$ TE)< $50^{\circ}C$ ($8.5\;{\mu}M$ TE) in high concentration ($50\;{\mu}M$/mL). $200\;{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ induced DNA damages in human leukocytes were significantly reduced by the pretreatment with the CF extracts. These results suggest that sansuyu fruit (Corni fructus) can be used as a natural source for antioxidant activities and as antigenotoxic agents regardless of the water extraction temperature.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.12
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• pp.1507-1515
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• 2018

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by prostatic hypertrophy mainly in the elderly. Corni Fructus is reportedly effective in the prevention and treatment of various diseases, but its efficacy on BPH has not been previously studied. In the present study, we investigated whether or not a Corni Fructus water extract (CF) could prevent testosterone-induced prostatic hyperplasia in rats. To induce BPH, castrated rats were subcutaneously injected with testosterone propionate (TP). CF was administered daily by oral gavage, along with the TP injections, and finasteride, a selective inhibitor of $5{\alpha}$-reductase type 2, was used as a positive control. The results show that CF significantly reduces prostate weight and histopathologic changes while also decreasing levels of serum dihydrotestosterone, similar to the finasteride-treated group. CF also suppresses TP-induced $5{\alpha}$-reductase expression and concentration in prostate tissue and serum, respectively. Furthermore, CF markedly inhibited TP-induced expression of the androgen receptor (AR) and the steroid receptor coactivator 1, an AR coactivator, which was associated with a decrease in prostate-specific antigen levels in both serum and prostate tissue. In conclusion, the results of this study indicate that CF weakens BPH status by inactivation of $5{\alpha}$-reductase and AR.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.112-117
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• 2019

Herbal medicines are widely used as therapeutic products in many countries. Corni fructus (CF), the dried ripe sarcocarp of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Cornaceae), has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine and has been reported to be effective for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, such as kidney diseases and diabetes. Recent research on CF has documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, which include anti-inflammatory, ant-oxidative, immunomodulatory, and anti-cancer effects. However, there is no information on its safety. Therefore, in this study, the toxicity of water extract of CF to ICR mice was investigated. The mice received a single dose of water extract of CF (1,000, 2,000, and 5,000 mg/kg of body weight) via the oral route. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, gross findings, and weights of the principal organs after 14 d were then assessed. The results revealed no adverse effects of CF as determined by clinical signs, body weights, or organ weights and no gross pathological findings in any of the treatment groups. These results suggest that the 50% lethal dose and approximated lethal dose of CF extract is over 5,000 mg/kg. The findings provide scientific evidence for the safety of CFs.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.167-183
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• 2012

Objective : Average, lowest, highest concentration and exceeding value of legal allowance of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea(Astragali Radix, Ginseng, Citri Unshii Pericarpium, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus, Zizyphi Fructus, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Corni Fructus, Schisandrae Fructus, Lycii Fructus) was evaluated according to their origines (korea, china) and property was also discussed according to the medicinally active part and individuals regardless origines. Method : Korean and Chinese herbal medicines were evenly sampled from corresponding country nationwide. Pre-treatment was executed according to the KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) regulation and analysis was performed according to the Korean Environmental Analysis QA/QC. Result : Not much difference was observed according to their origines. However, lowest, highest and percent exceeding value of legal allowance was showed some consistent differences according to the medicinally active part and individuals. Co and Cr was can not be evaluated since their legal regulation was not established yet. Conclusion : The average concentration of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea showed no noticeable difference according to their origines. Regardless the origin, some consistent differences were observed according to the individuals and medicinally active parts.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.1541-1545
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to examine the antioxidant activity in the germ cells of the extract of Corm fructus. The extract was studied for diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, GC-1 cell viability by a modified MTT assay, the effects on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity by MTT assay and lipid perixidation by malondialdehyde (MDA) formation, respectively. The results showed that the extract scavenged DPPH radical with the IC50 being $200{\mu}g/mL$. The extract at concentrations of $10-500{\mu}g/ml$ showed dose-dependent in growth of GC-1 cell. $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity (63.0%) was blocked by the extract (10, 50, 100, 250 and $500{\mu}g/ml$) concentration-dependently. Furthermore, the extract (50, 100 and $250{\mu}g/ml$) also displayed a dose-dependent reduction of MDA formation on $H_2O_2$-induced lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, the extract of Corm fructus has potent antioxidant activity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2005

Gami-Honghwa-Tang (KH-19), a herbal prescription for reducing the side effect of radiotherapy, is composed of eight crude herbs such as Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Corni Fructus, Moutan Cortex Radicis, Lycii Fructus, Carthami Flos, and Glycyrrhizae Radix. In this study, marker substances in KH-19 were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and safety evaluation of standardized KH-19 was evaluated by good laboratory practices (GLP) guideline of Korea Food and Drug Administration. HPLC-DAD was employed to determine the quantities and the qualities of several marker substances such as 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF), paeonol, loganin, paeoniflorin, glycyrrhizin, and decursin in the KH-19. In acute oral toxicity study on rat, transient inhibition of body weight was shown, but change in general symptom was not detected. No dead animal was observed up to 5,000 mg/kg in both male and female animals. In acute oral toxicity study on Beagle dog, transient vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and body weight reduction were observed, However, no dead animal was observed up to 2,000 mg/kg in both male and female animals.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.270-281
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• 2002

The growth of Enterobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum was promoted by natural products themselves bearing antioxidative capacity and combined two, three and four kinds of them.1. acidophilus was promoted by Paeonia japonica, Acori graminei rhizoma, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium, alone, and two mixed combinations were composed of Acori graminei rhizoma and Cinnamomi cortex, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium and Puerariae radix, and three mixed combinations were formed with Cimicifugae rhi- zoma, Cinnamomi cortex and Glycyrrhizae radix, and four mixed combinations were made up Glycyrrhizae radix, Theae folium, Scutellaria baicalensis george and Cinnamomi cortex. There four combination promoted growth of 1. acidophilus with 1.3 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that off times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 70% in dilution rate of 100 times. In the case of 1. plantarum was premoted by Corm fructus, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner Sophorae flos, alone, and two mixed combinations were organized with Schizandrae Iructus and Theae folium, Paeonia japonica and Epimedii herba, and three mixed combinations were combined with Corni fructus and Theae folium and Paeonia japonica, Corni fructus and Coptidis rhizoma and Schieandrae fructus, and four mixed combinations were composed of Corm fructus, Theae folium, Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellaria baicalensis george, and Corm fructus, Schizandrae fructus, Paeonia japonica, Theae folium. These four combinations assisted growth of 1. plantarum with 1.5 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that of 4-5 times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 75% in dilution rate of 100 times. As these combinations of natural products could activate some parts of body, they might be applied pharmaceuitcal sources, functional foods, and expected to fermentative beverages.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.597-602
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• 1992

To improve utilization of boxthorn (Lycii Fructus), the boxthron and mixed boxthron (Lycii Fructus, Schizandrae Fructus, Corni Fructus, Zizyphi Fructus, Zingiberis Rhizoma, Cinnamami Cortex) hot-water extractable concentrates were prepared by vaccum evaporation and its rheological properties were investigated. The rheological properties of concentrates $(20{\sim}50^{\circ}Bx)$ followed power low model and showed a pseudoplastic behavior at the temperature range of $20{\sim}60^{\circ}C$. The apparent viscosity of $20^{\circ}Bx$, $30^{\circ}Bx$, $40^{\circ}Bx$ and $50^{\circ}Bx$ boxthron hot-water extractable concentrate was 0.0074 Pa s, 0.0175 Pa s, 0.0431 Pa s and 0.0988 Pa s, that of mixed boxthorn hot-water extractable concentrate was 0.0099 Pa s, 0.0328 Pa s, 0.0720 Pa s and 0.1940 Pa s at $20^{\circ}C$ and 1500 l/s, respectively. The yield stress of boxthron and mixed boxthron hot-water extractable concentrates ranged from 0.045 to 6.253 Pa and from 0.022 to 8.891 Pa, respectively. The activation energy for the flow of boxthron and mixed boxthorn hot-water extractable concentrates increased from 1.6182 to $2.0543{\times}10^7\;J/kg{\cdot}mol$ and from 1.7057 to $2.1462{\times}10^7\;J/kg{\cdot}mol$ with the concentrations of concentrates, respectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1365-1380
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• 2007

Based on the theories and clinical data of oriental medicine, traditional medicinal prescriptions known to be effective to diabetic nephropathy were collected. The prescriptions were carefully examined and analyzed in order to be used as fundamental material for experiments and in clinicals. More than 40 publications related to diabetes were arranged and analyzed. Of the complications, diabetic nephropathy part of the publications were specifically focused during analysis. Data were analyzed and classified according to the quantity, prescription, differentiation of symptoms, signs and addition and subtraction of each medicine. Frequently used medicines were statistically analyzed. The most frequently used prescription was Yukmigihwang-tang(六味地黃湯) based medicine and prescriptions of its addition and subtraction, which was 15% of the total prescriptions cited. The most frequently used medicine was Astragali Radix, mentioned 192 times in the prescriptions. Hoelen was next with 180 citations, followed by Dioscoreae Rhizoma with 147 times, Rehmanniae Radix with 140, Corni Fructus with 131, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix with 106, Angelicae Gigantis Radix with 101, Alismatis Rhizoma with 95, Rhei Rhizoma with 90, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba with 84, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata with 78, Leonuri Herba with 74, Moutan Cortex Radicis with 66, Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix with 66 Cnidii Rhizoma with 65, Pseudostellaria heterophylla with 62, Liriopis Tuber with 55, Lycii Fructus with 52, Rhei Rhizoma with 49, Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix with 44, Paeoniae Radix Rubra with 44, Schisandrae Fructus with 42, Polyporus with 42, Achyranthis Radix with 41 and Euryales Semen with 40. Medicines prescribed more than 30 grams a day included Astragali Radix, Imperatae Rhizoma, Benincasae Pericarpium, Leonuri Herba, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Plantaginis Semen, Polyporus, Hoelen, Halloysitum Rubrum, Achyranthis Radix, Arecae Pericarpium, Phaseoli Angularis Semen, Coicis Semen, Rhei Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Sargassum, Ostreae Concha, Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Epimedii Herba, Rehmanniae Radix, Scrophulariae Radix and Polygonati Rhizoma. No scientific reports on the traditional medicinal aspects of diabetic nephropathy was searched. This analysis report would be able to provide the basis of developing new drug candidates for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, as well as securing the EBM for the traditional medicines already being prescribed to the patients.