• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.343-349
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• 2010

This investigation was conducted to assess the influence of Cirsium japonicum consumption on the plasma glucose and lipid profiles in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 230 g by injection of STZ into the tail vein at 45 mg/kg body weight. The rats were randomly assigned into four groups: a normal and STZ-control fed an AIN-93 diet group, and diabetic groups whose diets were supplemented with 10% Cirsium japonicum powder containing leaf or root for four weeks. To observe the effects of Cirsium japonicum in the animal model, the levels of glucose, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and free fatty acid in the plasma and the levels of glycogen in the tissue were determined after four weeks. Treatment of STZ-induced diabetic rats with leaf consumption significantly lowered the diet intake when compared with STZ-control rats. The relative weights of the liver and kidney differed significantly between the normal and diabetic groups. The weights of the kidneys in the leaf group were significantly lower than those in the STZ-control group. The level of hematocrit was also significantly lower in diabetic rats whose diets were supplemented with leaves when compared to those of STZ-control rats. The plasma glucose level was found to be significantly lower in the leaf group than the STZ-control group. The effect was significant after 2 weeks. The HDL-cholesterol levels increased in all of the diabetic experimental groups when compared to the STZ-control group. These results suggest that supplementation with Circicum japonicum leaves induced considerable hypoglycemic effect in STZ-induced diabetic rats and that these leaves may be useful for the management of diabetes mellitus.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.321-334
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• 2014

This study was conducted to identify plant growth promoting effects of native plant resources and medicinal plants. 65 kinds of plant extracts from 64 species were evaluated based on two rice(Oryza sativa) seedling bioassays for gibberellins and gibberellin-like substances. 12 extracts of Artemisia princeps stem and leaf, Cirsium japonicum var. maackii whole plant, Rhododendron mucronulatum branch and leaf, Phragmites communis stem, Coix lacryma-jobi var. mayuen whole plant, Lespedeza bicolor branch and leaf, Hydrangea serrata f. acuminata whole plant, Phlomis umbrosa whole plant, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Rhizome, G. uralensis stem and leaf, Angelica gigas root, and Cnidium officinale rhizome showed growth promotion of rice seedlings. Our results suggested that the parts of these plants could be the potential sources as farm-made liquid fertilizers for plant growth promotion.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.413-419
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• 2008

Phenolics level, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant were determined from the methanol extracts of the eight medicinal plants using roots. Total phenolics were found as the highest levels in the methanol extracts of Arctium lappa, and followed by Youngia sonchifolia and Cirsium japonicum. Total amount of the each phenol compounds were detected in C. japonicum extracts ($319.2\;mg\;kg^{-1}$) as the greatest component, and followed by A. lappa ($96.3\;mg\;kg^{-1}$) and Y. sonchifolia ($22.9\;mg\;kg^{-1}$). Total flavonoid content showed the highest amount in methanol extracts from A. lappa (68.1 mg $100\;g^{-1}$) and followed by Y. sonchifolia (11.2 mg $100\;g^{-1}$) Lycoris radiate extracts (87.2%) had the highest nitrite scavenging activity and followed by A. lappa (81.5%) and Y. sonchifolia (77.5%). Methanol extracts of A. lappa at 25 mg $100\;g^{-1}$ exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity by 90.8%, even though less activity than synthetic antioxidants Vitamin C or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Level of polyphenols was highly correlated with anti oxidative activity ($r^2$ = 0.85). The results suggest that several medicinal plants selected had the potent biological activities, and that their activities were differential depending on plant species.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1002-1014
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• 2023

The root of Cirsium japonicum var. maackii (Maxim.) has long been used in traditional medicine to prevent the onset and progression of various diseases and has been reported to exert a wide range of physiological effects, including antioxidant activity. However, research on its effects on hepatocytes remains scarce. This study used the human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell line to investigate the antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of C. japonicum root (EECJ) on hepatocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was used to mimic oxidative stress. The results showed that EECJ significantly reverted the decrease in cell viability and suppressed the release of lactate dehydrogenase in HepG2 cells treated with H₂O₂. Moreover, an analysis of changes in cell morphology, flow cytometry, and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) expression showed that EECJ significantly inhibited HepG2 cell autophagy induced by H₂O₂. Furthermore, it attenuated H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and cell cycle disruption by blocking intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide production, indicating strong antioxidant activity. EECJ also restored the decreased levels of intracellular glutathione (GSH) and enhanced the expression and activity of superoxide dismutase and GSH peroxidase in H₂O₂-treated HepG2 cells. Although an analysis of the components contained in EECJ and in vivo validation using animal models are needed, these findings indicate that EECJ is a promising candidate for the prevention and treatment of oxidative stress-induced liver cell damage.