• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.71-77
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to compare the anti-diabetic efficacy of Lycii Radicis Cortex (Lycium chinense Mill.) and Corni Fructus (Cornus officinalis) on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Methods : Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; normal, STZ-control, Lycii Radicis Cortex extract-administrated group (LRC) and Corni Fructus extract-administrated group(CF). Diabetes in rats was induced by intraperitonal injection with streptozotocin (STZ) at doses of, 30 mg/kg (body weight) for 5 days (once per a day). STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administrated LRC and CF extract daily for 4 weeks at doses of 300 mg/kg. Fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured in sera of rats. Histopathological changes of kidney, liver and lung tissues were observed by microscope after H&E staining. Results : There were no differences in body and kidney weights, food intake and water intake in LRC- and CF-administrated groups compared with STZ control group. However, glucose, TC and TG levels in serum were significantly decreased in LRC-administrated groups compared with STZ-control group. In histopathological analysis of kidney, liver and lung, both LRC- and CF-administrated groups showed the inhibition of morphological damage. Conclusions : These results suggest that LRC and CF have a biological action on STZ-induced diabetes in rats via decreasing the serum TG and TG levels and may protect the morphological changes of kidney, liver and lung.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of Corni Fructus, the dried fruits of Cornus officinalis Sieb., on unilateral common carotid artery occlusion (UCCAO) in mouse model. Methods : The Corni Fructus used in the experiment was extracted with anhydrous methanol, then filtered and freeze-dried. C57BL/6 mice used in the experiments were conducted left UCCAO surgery to set up UCCAO rodent model for mice. The mice were divided into five groups for evaluate the effect of methanol extract of Corni Fructus (COM) on UCCAO induced ischemic brain injury. The expression levels of nitric oxide in cerebrum and serum, body weight change were measured. To determine the effect of UCCAO and COM administration on brain neurons, morphological changes of the cerebrum through a microscope was conducted. And western blot was performed to confirm the underlying mechanism of neuroprotective effect of COM administration. Results : COM administered UCCAO groups (CO50, CO150, and CO500) had no significant effects on nitric oxide production in ipsilateral hemisphere proteins and sera. The CO500, 500 mg/kg COM administration, attenuated UCCAO-induced p38 inflammatory signaling pathway and inflammatory mediators such as iNOS and COX-2. The CO500 group showed resilient morphological changes of hippocampus neuronal cells about brain damage caused by decreased flow of blood. These group also showed decreased inflammation and cellular stress response in neuronal cells. Conclusions : From these results, COM has a neuroprotective property via moderating inflammatory factors and cellular stress inducing factors in brain cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1331-1335
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• 2009

We have studied the anti-diabetic effects of medicinal plant water extracts on hepatic glucose-regulating enzymes such as glucokinase (GK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC). $\alpha$-Glucosidase inhibitor is usually used to prevent and treat type II diabetes; thus, anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity of medicinal plant water extracts was assayed. The hepatic cytosol faction of a type II diabetic animal (Goto-Kakizaki rat) was used in GK and ACC activity assays. The medicinal plants were Lycium chinense (JGP), Discorea japonica Thunb. (SY), Pyrus pyrifolia (YSB), Cornus officinalis (SSY), Paeonia suffruticosa ANDR. (MDP), Cordyceps militaris (DCH), and Acanthopanax senticosus (GSO). JGP, SY, YSB, and SSY water extracts increased the hepatic GK activity and all medicinal plant water extracts led to an increase in hepatic ACC activity. YSB, SSY, MDP, and GSO water extracts showed significantly higher anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity than control samples. The highest anti-$\alpha$-glucosidase activity was observed in GSO water extract and the anti-$\alpha$-glucoside activity was higher than that of Acarbose (reference $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitor). We suggest that JGP, SY, YSB, and SSY water extracts may exert an anti-diabetic effect by enhancing the glucose metabolism and that YSB, MDP and GSO may be used as natural $\alpha$-glucosidase inhibitors in type II diabetic conditions. Increased ACC activity by plant water extracts may provide additional anti-diabetic effect.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.63-71
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• 2009

Two experiments were conducted to investigate feed value of Yukmijihwangtang (herbal medicine) meal. In experiment 1, the chemical composition of Yukmijihwangtang ingredients was determined before and after extraction, and investigated the effects of partial substitution of dried Yukmijihwangtang meal on TMR for fattening cattle. In experiment 2, nine Korean native male goats were employed to investigate the palatability and ruminal parameters of Yukmijihwangtang meal silages. In experiment 1, the crude protein content after water extraction was higher in Alisma orientale Juzepczuk (Teaksa), and lower in Pachyma hoelen Rumph (Bokryeong). the crude fat content after water extraction was higher in Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Sansuyu), and lower in other ingredients. ADF content after water extraction of Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc (Sansuyu) was higher compared to those of Pachyma hoelen Rumph (Bokryeong) and Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews (Mokdanpi). Dioscorea japonica Thunberg (Sanyak) was the lowest in ADF content. Dry matter disappearance was increased by adding Yukmijihwangtang meal to TMR. In experiment 2, feed intakes of Yukmijihwangtang silage containing molasses (0.5 and 1%) for 30 min and 6 hr were significantly higher than that of control (0%) in Korean native goats. In various ruminl parameters, molasses addition to silage materials trended to increase total VFA, propionate and valerate contents, but trended to decrease iso-butylate, butylate and iso-valerate contents in Korean native goats. In conclusion, Yukmijihwangtang meal could be used as partial substitution of low level in TMR for fattening cattle. Molasses supplementation to silage materials contained with herbal medicine meal could improve its nutritional quality and palatability for Korean native goats. One percent level of molasses addition could give a useful effect in ensiling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2006

The antioxidative activity and the related parameters of hot water extracts obtained from 16 medicinal plants were tested. The extraction yield was the highest in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge $(36.49\%)$ pH range was $4.00\~5.92$ in all samples. Absorbance at 280 nm was examined to determine aromatic compounds content. The absorbance of $250{\mu}g/mL$ sample was the highest in Prunella vulgaris Linne var. lilacina Nakai (2.872) and below 0.5 in Cirsium maackii, Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge and Zizyphus jujuba Miller. Also, absorbance at 420 nm was high in order of Prunella vulgaris Linne vu. lilacina Nakai (1.312), Zea mays Linne (0.917) and Inula japonica Thunberg (0.725) Total phenolic compounds contents was the highest in Prunella vulgaris Linne var. lilacina Nakai $(5.07{\pm}0.05\;mg/100g)$ and flavonoids contents was 2-fold higher in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge $(4.82{\pm}1.16\;mg/100g)$ than the other samples. Electron donating abilities of Zizyphus jujuba Miller, Cornus officinalis Siebold et Zuccarini and Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge were over $90\%$ at $1000{\mu}g/mL$. Reducing power had similar tendency to electron donating ability while reducing power was significantly lower in samples compared to BHT. Two samples (Prunella vulgaris Linne val. lilacina Nakai and Inula japonica Thunberg) were found to have more than $50\%$ nitrite scavenging effect at $500{\mu}g/mL$ while 8 kinds samples (Zizyphus jujuba Miller, Cornus officinalis Siebold 81 Zuccarini, Chrysanthemum indicum Linne, Prunella vulgaris Linne var. lilacina Nakai, Inula japonica Thunberg, Acanthopanax sessiliflorum Seeman, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and Curcuma longa Linne) showed more than $50\%$ nitrite scavenging effect at $1000{\mu}g/mL$. Prunella vulgaris Linne var. lilacina Nakai showed significantly stronger nitrite scavenging effect than other samples, and its activity was $59.62{\pm}1.573\%$ and $80.58{\pm}0.300\%$ at concentrations of 250 and $1000{\mu}g/mL$, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.28-39
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the tendencies of the written test questions regarding the scientific plant names in the subject of scenic planting in the national qualification test for landscape engineers. To achieve this purpose, targeting the 20 questions in the subject of scenic planting, the study chronologically analyzed the types of the presented questions about the scientific names of the plants, the changes in their year-to-year number, and their presentation frequency over the past 11 years from 2006 to 2016. The following was found by an analysis of the tendency of the questions presented over 11 years from 2006 to 2016 regarding the scientific plant names in scenic planting in the written test of the national technical qualification examination for landscape engineers. The number of these questions was 234, and they were classified into 13 items: scientific names, families/genuses/ species, characteristics, barks, roots, foliage, flowers, fruits, properties, places of origin, stalks, leave, and uses. After analyzing the examination question trends per year, the year in which the highest number of questions was given was 2013 at 56.6%; the ratio of questions asking botanical names increased until 2013, although that ratio decreased starting in 2014 due to consistent efforts from the landscaping field. The plant species most frequently asked about were Betula platyphylla and Taxus cuspidata and others frequently asked about included Pinus densiflora, Acer palmatum, Forsythia koreana, Cercis chinensis, Robinia pseudoacacia, Cornus officinalis, Zelkova serrata, Abies holophylla, Camellia japonica, Sophora japonica, Chaenomeles sinensis, which were asked about more than 10 times. The number of plant species presented as question items or choice items was 240 and their presentation frequency was 806, Among these, 66 species were steadily presented more than five times. They were presented 486 times, accounting for 27.5% of all species. The number of the new plant species which began to be presented in 2009 were 119(49.58% including Quercus myrsinaefolia) of all 240 species, indicating that their presentation frequency was gradually increased. As a result of comparative analysis of questions on arbor and shrub, evergreen and leaf abscission that have been presented for recent 11 years, the questions on arbor were more than shrub, the questions on leaf abscission were more than evergreen.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.59-70
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• 2021

This study was to investigate the measurement point of root collar diameter of landscape trees in Korea. It may contribute to avoiding disputes caused by the difference in measurement criteria of root collar diameter of landscape trees between tree growers and constructors. The difference between landscape trees' root collar diameter measurement point was 3.59cm from 6cm underground to the surface and 1.35cm from 0cm to 6cm above ground. The source root collar diameter measurement point difference was larger in the basement than in the ground. The standard deviation of the root collar diameter of the landscape tree was 0.64 from 6cm underground to the surface, and the difference in standard deviation from 0cm to 6cm above ground was 0.16. The difference by measurement point of the root collar diameter was larger in the basement than in the ground. It has been proposed to set the reasonable measurement point of the landscaping tree root collar diameter at the inflection point where the standard deviation of the tree trunk diameter is the smallest in line with the size change of the standard for each root collar diameter measurement point. By tree species, Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. 18cm above the ground, Chionanthus retusus Lindl. & Paxton. 12cm above the ground, Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino. 12cm above the ground, Celtis sinensis Pers. 12cm above the ground, Styrax japonicus Siebold & Zucc. 10 cm above the ground, Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc. 10cm above the ground, Acer palmatum Thunb. ex Murray. 6cm above the ground, Ilex rotunda Thunb. 6cm above the ground, Quercus myrsmaefolia Blume. 4cm above the ground, Lagerstroemia indica L. 2cm above the ground The above heights were shown as reasonable measurement points. The difference by landscape tree root collar diameter measurement site showed that the standard deviation was small throughout the tree species, and the reasonable average measurement point with a stable slope of the deviation was 12cm or more on average. It can be said that the reasonable measurement point of the root collar diameter of a landscape tree is set at an average of 12cm above the ground. However, recognizing 30cm, which is a familiar ruler(尺) in traditional practices, is quick, It was recommended to measure at the height of 30cm from the surface for a reasonable measurement point of the root collar diameter of a landscape tree, for the uniformity of measurement standards.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.840-845
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• 2013

This study investigated the effects (i.e., the acetylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation, and neuronal survival) of 20 kinds of medicinal water extracts. The water extracts of three medicinal plants - Cornus officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, and Angelica gigas - were found to be the most effective on acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. In the lipid peroxidation-generating system induced by $H_2O_2/FeSO_4$ in rat brain homogenates, Perilla frutescens, Polygonum multiflorum, Cinnamomun cassia, and G. glabra exhibited protective activity against lipid peroxidation. The neuronal cell death induced by L-glutamate in PC12 was suppressed by the water extracts of G. glabra, Cinnamomun cassia, Platycodon grandiflorum, and Mentha arvensis at the concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. Taken together, these results showed that the water extract of G. glabra has the potential anti-dementia activity, which suggests that it might provide an effective strategy for improving dementia.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.200-205
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of the herbal Chokong pill (hereafter HCKP) on the liver cell and enzyme activities of serum in rat. HCKP were mixed with pickled black soybeans and five different kinds of medicinal herbs (Rhynchosia nulubilis, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Zizyphus vulgaris, Atractylodes macrocephala K., Astragalus membranaceus and Cornus officinalis). Four groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed by different diets for 9 weeks: normal diet (Nor), high-fat diet (HF), high-fat diet supplemented with 1% (T1) and 5% (T5) HCKP powder, respectively. Depending on the presence of HCKP in high fat diet, the activities of the blood serum GOT and GPT were decreased. GOT and GPT activities of T1 and T5 were decreased 6.1%, 17.8% and 25.4%, 32.4% compared with HF. On microstructure observing through the transmission electron microscope (TEM) of liver cell, in normal group, a normal large and clear nucleus, rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and mitochondria possessing well-defined double outer-limiting membranes were found. However, in HF, it was hard to observe the microstructures in cytoplasm, because of too many fat granules. It showed severely damaged cell, pyknotic nucleus, swollen disintegrating RER and mitochontria loosing the cristae. In T1, there were more repaired liver cells and less fat granules than HF. In T5, there were much less numbers and smaller size of the fat granules than T1, and the morphology was similar to normal cell.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.3 s.150
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• pp.239-244
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• 2007

The herbal formulation (KH-204) mainly consisted of the fruits of Lycium chinense, Cornus officinalis, Rubus coreanus, Cuscuta chinensis and Schizandra chinensis. We investigated the effects of this herbal formulation on the penile erection and corpus cavernosum of spontaneous hypertensive male Rats (SHR). We used male SHR aged 16 weeks as a model of hypertension. The treatment groups received once a day oral doses KH-204 100 and 300 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks. Distilled water was administered in the control group. To investigate the penile erection, intracavernosal pressure (ICP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) were recorded in all groups. We analyzed the distribution of NOS by immunohistochemical staining and the expression of nNOS, eNOS concentration in the isolated corpus cavernosum by western blotting. In the control group, ICP/MAP ratio was $14.9{\pm}1.4%$ after pelvic nerve stimulation. ICP/MAP ratio was markedly increased in the treatment group with KH-204 100, 300 mg/kg, compared with control group. Immunohistochemical staining for NOS showed that eNOS and nNOS was stained as brown color. Compared with the control group, NOS activities of KH-204 100, 300 mg/kg were increased significantly. Also the penile expression levels of nNOS, eNOS in KH-204 100, 300 mg/kg treatment group were more increased significantly than control group by western blotting. This study showed that KH-204 enhances the penile erection and the level of eNOS and nNOS expression of penile corpus cavernosum of male SHR.