• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2021

Sophora flavescens Ait. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant widely founded in Northeast Asia, and its dried root (Kushen) has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The therapeutic effects of Kushen in micturition disorder was not investigated comprehensively yet. In the present study, we examined and compared the efficacy of three batches of Kushen extract using different ethanol content through an in vitro cell-based assay. Among them, we chose the batch with the highest efficacy and augmented the volume of extract for industrial purpose. The bulk extract was examined in its efficacy in the in vitro cell-based assay, and the therapeutic effects through an in vivo behavioral assay of OAB rats. The main components of the extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was investigated by MTT assay. The overall efficacy of the extract was as much as, or more than, kurarinone, a potent BK_Ca channel activator. Thus, the extract was a potent relaxant of urinary smooth muscle by upregulating the activity of BK_Ca channel. The Kushen extract could be explored as an alternative medicine against overactive bladder patients indicating severe dysfunction of BK_Ca channel.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.69-75
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• 2010

Objectives : The root and rhizome of "Gangwhal" have been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of cold, fever, headache, swelling, arthritis, rhinitis, and cardiovascular diseases in Korea and china. In china, Gangwhal is well known as a useful oriental medicinal plant that treats cardiovascular diseases such as stroke, headache and hypertension, but little research exists about the effect of O. koreanum on cardiovascular disease. Therefore we investigated the vasorelaxant effects of O. koreanum and compared the vasorelaxant effects of four species of Gangwhal. Methods : The vasorelaxant effects of the ethanol extracts of Ostericum koreanum (NK and BK), Notopterygium incisium (NI), and N. forbesii (NF) on phenyleprine ($1{\mu}M$) or KCl (60mM) pre-contracted rat thoracic aorta rings were compared. The vasorelaxant effects of the water extract and ethanol extract of NK on phenyleprine ($1{\mu}M$) or KCl (60mM) pre-contracted rat thoracic aorta rings were compared. And the vasorelaxant effects of chloroform, ethylacetate and water fraction of ethanol extract of NK on phenyleprine ($1{\mu}M$) or KCl (60mM) pre-contracted rat thoracic aorta rings were compared. Results : Ethanol extracts of NK, BK, NI and NF relaxed rat thoracic aorta rings with a concentration-dependent manner, and NK showed the greatest vasorelaxant effect. And ethanol extract of NK was much more effective than water extract of NK. Finally, chloroform, ethylacetate and water fraction of ethanol extract of NK also relaxed rat thoracic aorta rings, and chloroform fraction showed the greatest vasorelaxant effect.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.101-108
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• 2021

Objectives : A root of Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai (D. asperoides) has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource in several Asian countries, including Korean and traditional Chinese medicine that has been traditionally used for treating several medical conditions including pain, arthritis, and bone fractures in Korea. In the present study, we investigated potential subacute toxicities of D. asperoides extract. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (male, 7weeks) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 mice. Except for the control group, the mice were orally administrated D. asperoides extract at doses of 50, 150, or 450 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, all mice were euthanized, and the following parameters were examined: mortality, body weight, clinical signs, gross findings, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and histopathology. Results : There were no abnormalities in mortality, clinical signs, body weight, gross findings, or organ weight after repeated administration of D. asperoides extract for 2 weeks, compared with the control group. In addition, there were no significant changes in hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters between the control group and D. asperoides extract administrated groups with doses of up to 450 mg/kg/day. Conclusion : In this study, D. asperoides extract showed no significant toxicities at a dose of up to 450 mg/kg/day in mice. Although we could not confirm the toxic dose of D. asperoides extract, it can be considered safe for further pharmacological use.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.792-812
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• 2010

In the 18th century, Xu Lingtai (徐靈胎) and Yoshimasu Todo (吉益東洞) were famous doctors advocating ancient medicine, though they lived in different countries, China and Japan. We compared their major books, analyzed their academic thoughts and then took conclusions as below. 1. The first, for instance "Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論類方" and "Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions, 類聚方". Based on essential thought that a prescription and a syndrome should correspond, these books arranged and classified the Zhang Zhongjing (張仲景)'s texts."Classified Prescriptions of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases", based on the thought that principles, methods, formulas and medicinals (理法方藥) were integrated in prescriptions, tried to find out the implicit treatment rules in prescriptions and syndromes through analyzing "Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases, 傷寒論". On the other hand, because Classified Assemblage of Prescriptions focused on the syndromes of ancient prescriptions (古方), it classified and collected the related texts of Treatise on Cold Damage Diseases and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber, 금궤요략", and then suggested only simple instructions on how to prescribe medicine. So in this book, the trend of experience was clear. 2. The second, there is "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經百種錄" and "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences, 藥徵". Though both of these books are professional oriental pharmacology publications that advocate reactionism, there were remarkable differences in writing style between them. "Description work of herbal pharmacology comprised of excerpts from Shanhanlun and medical experiences" was based on "Treat on Cold Damage Diseases" and "Synopsis of Prescriptions of the Golden Chamber", just explained the effects of medications and discussed 'matter of course (所當然)', but not discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it confirmed through research, and emphasized the inductive method. On the other hand, "100 Kinds Records from Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica based on "Shennong's Classic of Materia Medica, 神農本草經", explained the nature of medications and discussed 'the reason why (所以然)'. In explaining style of syndromes, it annotated and explained, and emphasized the process of reasoning. 3. The third, there is "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine, 醫學源流論" and Severance of Medical evils, 醫斷". Aiming the then medical theories fallen in confused state, these books brought order out of chaos, clarified the categories of medical research, and emphasized the scientific method that could put theories into practice and verify them. The difference is that "Severance of Medical Evils" researched only macroscopic viewable clinical phenomena, and even denied the existence of names of diseases and etiological causes. Thus, it emphasized the accumulation of experiences, laid emphasis on "watching and realizing (目認)", and "understand and taking in (解悟)". Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine extremely emphasized the research of 'something not occuring (未然)', that is to say, induced notions of a disease from observing clinical phenomena, furthermore based on these, predicted the 'something not occuring (未然)' and emphasized researching 'the reason why (所以然)'. As regards how they deal with the traditional theories and post-Zhang Zhongjing's medicines, "Severance of Medical evils" took completely denying attitudes. In case of "Discuss the Headwaters of Medicine", it could be used reasonably through specific situation and detailed analysis. Collectively speaking, there were some differences between medical theories of Xu Lingtai and Yoshimasu Todo. Actually, these differences were whether he tried to research the essence of disease, whether he tried to consider it rationally, and how he treated various opinions occurring in the theories of traditional medicine and clinical experience.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-51
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• 2018

Molecular phylogenetic analysis was conducted to evaluate the taxonomic relationships of genus Arisaema L. distributed in Korea and the molecular phylogenetic characteristics of three authentic Arisaema species for the herbal medicine Arisaematis Rhizoma (the rhizomes of A. amurense, A. heterophyllum, and A. erubescens). The sequences of three DNA barcodes (rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL) were analyzed using 50 samples of nine taxa consisted of eight Korean and one Chinese Arisaema with one outgroup (Dracunculus vulgaris). Both individual and combined phylogenetic analyses of three DNA barcode sequences revealed that the treated nine taxa are independently classified into six distinct clades (Clade I, A. amurense f. amurense and A. amurense f. serratum; Clade II, A. serratum and A. takesimense; Clade III, A. ringens; Clade IV, A. erubescens; Clade V, A. heterophyllum; Clade VI, A. thunbergii subsp. thunbergii and A. thunbergii subsp. geomundoense). These six clades were reasonably divided into three individual sections, Pedatisecta, Sinarisaema, and Tortuosa. Futhermore, the results of comparative DNA barcode sequences analyses provided a significant information for the taxonomic reconsideration of Arisaema L. at the specific and intraspecific level. However, we could not confirm the taxonomic characteristics or identity among the three authentic medicinal species through the molecular phylogenetic analyses of genus Arisaema L. for Arisaematis Rhizoma.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 2017

Objectives : Chungsimyeonja-eum (CSYJE; Qingxinlianzi-yin in Chinese; Seishinrenshi-in in Japanese), a traditional herbal medicine, has been used for treating mouth dryness, hyperuresis. This study was designed to determine preservation period of CSYJE. We investigated the stability and biological activity of CSYJE depending on the preservation temperature and periods. Methods : CSYJE decoction was preserved for 0-6 or 12 months at room temperature (RT, $23{\pm}1^{\circ}C$) or refrigeration ($4^{\circ}C$). To evaluate the stability of CSYJE decoction, pH and dissolved solids content were measured. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed to determine marker compounds-liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, baicalin, wogonoside, and glycyrrhizin-in CSYJE. To determine anti-inflammatory effect of CSYJE, prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) was measured in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Results : Both at RT and $4^{\circ}C$, pH was decreased depending on the preservation periods. There was no changes in dissolved solids content depending on the preservation temperature and periods. Both at RT and $4^{\circ}C$, the contents of liquiritin apioside and liquiritin were slightly increased at 1 month of storage. The level of baicalin was decreased time-dependently and the disappearance rate at RT is larger than at $4^{\circ}C$. CSYJE inhibited $PGE_2$ production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and maintained inhibitory effect by 12 months both at RT and $4^{\circ}C$. Conclusions : Based on the disappearance rate of the baicalin in CSYJE, the preservation period is recommended within 8 months for RT and 12 months for $4^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2008

Objective : Herb medicines are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. They are used as a drug because of their various biological activities such as immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antitumor functions. Nelumbo nucifera have been applied in Chinese herbal prescriptions to improve tissue inflammation. However, it has not been elucidated on the effect of the flower of Nelumbo nucifera in cells. Method : In the present study, to examine the effect of that on glioma cells, U87, the essential oil was extracted from the flower of Nelumbo nucifera (NN essential oil). U87 cells were exposed to different concentrations of 2-40 ug/ml of NN essential oil in ethanol. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay at 24 h. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) for this antiproliferative activity of NN essential oil, phosphorylation of Akt, ERM, MAPK or p38 proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. To study long term effect of NN essential oil in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with NN essential oil for 4 days were obtained. Results and Conclusion : NN essential oil was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in glioma cells, at a broad range of concentrations of 10-40 ug/ml. The phosphorylation of Akt and Endoplasmic Reticulum Matrix (ERM) proteins which known to be involved in the cell death, were gradually decreased to 2 hours after addition 20 ug/ml of NN essential oil. However, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and p38 was found to increase in NN essential oil treated cells. NN essential oil treated cells showed decreased glioma cell number. These results provide a possible NN essential oil-induced inhibitory signal for tumor cell proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in Akt activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of p38 is required for the NN essential oil-induced inhibition of tumor proliferation.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.145-163
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• 2018

Objectives: The study was designed to provide clinical evidence of homogeneity in analysis of the herbal medicine, Guipi decoction in treating insomnia, using a t-test of randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: This study included RCTs that verified homogeneity of Guipi decoction in treating insomnia. Literature studies of CNKI (Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure Database) were performed. The basic components group was made to the Guipi decoction of the Yixuerumen?s text. The excluded group was created with the number of herbs excluded from the basic components group. T-test performed that the effective rate in the basic components group and excluded groups. Results: The basic components of Guipi decoction contain Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Poria Sclerotium (Poria Sclerotium Cum Pini Radix), Polygalae Radix, Astragali Radix, Zizyphi Semen, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Aucklandiae Radix, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, Ginseng Radix (Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix), Longanae Arillus. Herbs excluded from the basic components group were Longanae Arillus, Ginseng Radix (Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix), Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and herbs added to the basic components group were Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, Schisandrae Fructus, Salviae Militiorrhizae Radix, Paeoniae Radix Alba (in order from the most used to the least). T-test revealed the effective rate in the basic components group was not statistically significant compared to the excluded groups (p=0.161/p=0.162/p=0.103). Conclusions: Effectiveness in treatment of basic components of Guipi decoction and excluded groups were revealed to be homogeneous in treating insomnia. As the number of herbs in the basic components group decreased, mean value in effectiveness of treatment also decreased consequentially. However, there were no statistical significances.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 1977

Diospyros Kaki Thunberg is the species of persimmon tree that grows in Korea. Although its fresh or dried fruits are often served as a desert, it has little been known if persimmon tree has any specific pharmacological action. The leaves and branches of persimmon tree has long been used as folk remedies for palsy and frostbite in the southern part of Korea and it is also in use for the treatment of hiccup and nocturnal enuresis in chinese herbal medicine. Recently it was reported that an intravenous administration of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg ethanol extract (KTEE) into the animals lowered arterial blood pressure. Lee concluded from his study on the mechanism of depressor action of KTEE that at least a part of depressor response he observed was caused by acetylcholine-like action of KTEE. On the other hand little study has been made on the effect of KTEE on the motility of isolated animal intestines. Therefore the present study was undertaken to investigate effect of KTEE and the mechanism of its action on the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum. Ethanol extract of Diospyros Kaki Thunberg was prepared by boiling 1 kg of dried branches of persimmon tree in 1 liter of ethanol and the motility of isolated rabbit duodenum was recorded on physiograph by means of force transducer connected with Magnus apparatus. Doses of KTEE used were $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml,\;and\;2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$. And the isolated duodenum was separately pretreated with acetylcholine $(5{\times}10^{-7}gm/ml)$, pilocarpine $(2.5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$, histamine $(5{\times}10^{-6}gm/ml)$ and barium chloride $(2.5{\times}10^{-5}gm/ml)$ in order to find out interactions of these drugs with KTEE. The results obtained are as follows: 1. At doses of $5{\times}10^{-4}gm/ml,\;1{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ KTEE reduced contractions of isolated duodenum, while tonus as well as contaction of duodenum were depressed with $2{\times}10^{-3}gm/ml$ of KTEE. 2. Since the inhibitory effect of KTEE on the intestinal motility was not blocked by pretreatment with acetylcholine, pilocarpine, and barium chloride, it was strongly suggested that the inhibitory action of KTEE on intestinal motility is mainly Caused by its antihistamine effect. 3. It is also concluded that the principal substance of KTEE responsible for inhibition of intestinal motility may also have a vasodilating activity and would not be an acetylcholine-like substance in case it is same substance as that cause depressor responses.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.888-894
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• 1998

In order to investigate the radioprotective effect of Si-Wu-Tang (Korean name: Sa-Mul-Tang), a kind of traditional Oriental medicine as a blood-building decoction (Oriental medical concept: Bu-Xie), and Si-Jun-Zi-Tang (Korean name: Sa-Gun-Ja-Tang), one of the widely used Oriental herbal medicines as an energy tonic (Chinese medical concept: Bu-Qi). the jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were observed in irradiated mice. Jejunal crypts were protected by Si-Wu-Tang pretreated both per os (2 mg/mL of drinking water for 7 days, p<0.05) and intraperitoneally (1 mg/head, single injection at 24 hours before irradiation). Si-Wu-Tang adminstration before irradiation(1 mg/head, single injection at 24 hours before irradiation) resulted in an increase of the formation of endogenous spleen colony (p<0.005). The frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis in intestinal crypt cells was also reduced by pretreatment of Si-Wu-Tang (p<0.01). However, the radioprotective effect of Si-Jun-Zi-Tang was not as significant as that of Si-Wu-Tang. These results suggest that Si-Wu-Tang may be a useful radioprotective food, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.