• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Crataegii Fructus on the diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rats. Rats were divided into 4 groups, normal group(supplied enough water and feeds only), high fat diet administered group(supplied high fat diet for 4 weeks, Control group) and Crataegii Fructus administered group(supplied high fat diet and Crataegii Fructus lyophilization extract for 4 weeks, 397.3 mg/kg(rat) in sample A, 662.5 mg/kg(rat) in sample B). Body weight, liver weight and serum lipid levels were evaluated. The water extract of Crataegii Fructus decreased liver weight and triglyceride in high fat diet induced hyperlipidemia in rats, and increased HDL-cholesterol.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.249-257
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• 2010

Crataegii Fructus is commonly used as a improving digestion, removing retention of food, promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis agent in East Asia. Cadmium (Cd) is widely distributed in the environment due to its use in industry. An exposure to Cd causes dysuria, polyuria, chest pain, hepatic and renal tubular diseases. The liver is the most important target organ when considering Cd-induced toxicity because Cd primarily accumulates in the liver. This study investigated the protective effect of Crataegii Fructus water extract against cadmium ($CdCl_2$, Cd)-induced liver toxicity in H4IIE cells, a rat hepatocyte-derived cell line and in rats. Cell viability was significantly reduced in Cd-treated H4IIE cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. However, Crataegii Fructus water extract (CFE) protected the cells from Cd-induced cytotoxicity via inhibition of PARP cleavage. To induce acute toxicity in rats, Cd (4 mg/kg body weight) was dissolved in normal saline and intravenously injected into rats. The rats then received either a vehicle or silymarin (as a positive control) or CFE (50, 100 mg/kg/day) for 3 days, and were subsequently exposed to a single injection of Cd. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased by Cd treatment. In contrast, pretreatment with CFE reduced ALT, AST and LDH. In histopathological analysis, CFE reduced the hepatic degenerative regions and the number of degenerative hepatocytes. These are considered as direct evidences that Crataegii Fructus has favorable inhibitory effects on the Cd-intoxicated liver damages. The efficacy of Crataegii Fructus shows slight lower than that of silymarin in the present study.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.65-80
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• 2004

Objectives : CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) is known as the substance which delays aging by the antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) on antioxidant enzyme activities such as Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS), Superoxide dismutase(SOD), Catalase(CAT), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px) in rat erythrocytes and blood plasma. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups, Normal group (supplied enough water and feeds only, Normal Group), D-galatose administered group(injected D-galatose 50mg/kg, 1time/day for 6 weeks, Control Group) and CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) administered group (D-galactose 50mg/kg and CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) extracts 85.0mg/200g 1time/day for 6 weeks, SS Group). Rats were sacrificed and TBARS, SOD, CAT, GSH-px, neutral fat and cholesterol were measured in rat erythrocytes and blood plasma. Results : There was no significant difference in the level of TBARS in the blood plasma between each experimental group. Red blood cell SOD activities were significantly different in each group. They were significantly decreased in the Control group compared to those of Normal and there was an increasing phenomenon in the SS group compared to the Control group. There was a significant difference in the activities of the red blood cell - glutathione peroxides in each group. There was a significant increase in the SS group compared to the Control group. Red blood cell catalase activities was no significant difference in each group. Plasma total lipid concentration was significantly different in each group. It was significantly increased in the Control group compared with the Normal group and it was decreasing in the SS group compared to the control group. Plasma triglyceride was not significantly different in each group. Plasma total cholesterol and Plasma HDL -cholesterol concentrations in the blood plasma were not significantly different in each group. Conclusions : According to the above results, it is considered that CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) is effective in inhibiting lipid peroxides and increasing the activities of antioxidative(anti aging) enzyme in D-galactose induced aging rat.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.13-22
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• 2003

Objectives: CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) is known as the substance which decreases concentration of sarum lipid. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) on decreasing concentration of sarum lipid which are triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol in rat high cholesterol diet inducede hyperlipide rats. Methods: Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 3 groups, Normal group(supplied enough water and feeds only. Normal Group), high fat diet administered group(AIN-76 high fat diet #100496 used beef tallow for 4 weeks, Control Group) and CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) administered group(AIN-76 high fat diet #100496 used beef tallow and CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) extracts 85.0mg/200g 1time/day for 4 weeks. SS Group). Rats were sacrificed and concentration of triglyceride, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol were measured in rat's sarum lipid Results: There was no significant difference in the level of waight between each experimental group(F=0.243, p=0.787, ANOVA test), Concentration of triglyceride has no significant difference in each group(F=0.210, p=0.813, ANOVA test). There was significant increase of total cholesterol in the Control group compared to those of Normal but there was no significant difference in the SS group compared to the Control group(F=5.237, p=0.0l9, ANOVA test). There was a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol in the SS group compared to the Control group and decrease in Control group compared Normal group(F= 11.437, p=0.001, ANDYA test). Concentration of LDL -cholesterol was significantly different in each group(F= 16.377, p=0.0001, ANDYA test). It was significantly increased in the Control group compared with the Normal group and it has no difference in the SS group compared to the control group. TBARS values(Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances) were significantly different in each group(F=5.242, p=0.0019, ANDYA test). It was significantly increased in the Control group compared with the Normal group and significantly decreased in SS group compared with the Control group. Conclusions: According to the above results, it is considered that CRATAEGII FRUCTUS(山査) is effective in decreaseing concentration of sarum lipid in high cholesterol diet induced hyperlipidemic rats.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.602-610
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• 2013

This study was aimed to evaluate the cavernosal relaxation effect of Crataegii fructus(CF) in the contracted rabbit penile corpus cavernosum by agonists.In order to study the effect of CF on the vasoconstriction of rabbit penile corpus cavernosum, isolated rabbit penile corpus cavernosum tissues were used for the experiment using organ baths containing Krebs solution.To investigate the cavernosal relaxation of CF, CF extract at $0.01{\sim}3.0mg/m{\ell}$ was added after penile corpus cavernosum were contracted by norepinephrine(NE) $1{\mu}M$. To analyze the mechanism of CF's vasorelaxation, CF extract infused into contracted penile tissues by NE after each treatment of indomethacin(IM), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine(L-NNA), methylene blue(MB), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA).To study the effect of CF on influx of extracellular calcium chloride($Ca^{2+}$) in penile tissues, in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution, $Ca^{2+}$ 1 mM infused into contracted penile tissues by NE after pretreatment of CF. Cytotoxic activity of CF on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) prodution was measured by Griess reagent. CF relaxed cavernosal strip with endothelium contracted by NE, but in the strips without endothelium, CF-induced relaxation was significantly inhibited. The pretreatment of L-NNA, MB, TEA decreased significantly on the cavernosal relaxation than not-treatment of them. But the pretreatment of IM had no significant effect on the cavernosal relaxation. In $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs solution, when $Ca^{2+}$ infused into contracted penile tissues by NE, pretreatment of CF inhibit contraction induced by adding $Ca^{2+}$.NO production wasn't increased by treatment of CF on HUVEC. This findings showed that CF is effective for the relaxation of rabbit penile corpus cavernosum, and we suggest that CF relax rabbit corpus cavernosal smooth muscle through multiple action mechanisms that include increasing the release of nitric oxide from corporal sinusoidal endothelium, inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization into cytosol from the extracellular fluid, and maybe a hyperpolarizing action.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.736-741
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• 2000

The abilities of petroleum ether-extracts prepared from 75 plants to inhibit tyrosinase activity were evaluated in reverse micelles composed of isooctane/AOT(100 mM)/phosphate buffer(20 mM, pH 8.0) containing tyrosinase(105.3 units/mL) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine(0.18 mM). Compared with control which has no plant extracts, garlic could completely inhibit in vitro melanogenesis by tyrosinase, and Chinese quince, sweet potato, onion, radish bud and apple did more than 60%. Lipophilic extracts of medicinal plants and herbs such as rosemary, coriander, cinnamomi ramulus, crataegii fructus, ramulus biotae folium, mume fructus, menthae herba, eucommiae cortex and clove also inhibited tyrosinase activity more than 60%. When the extraction yield of lipophilic materials was considered together with their inhibition effect on tyrosinase, it was possible to select plants of which tyrosinase inhibitors could be produced in high quantity from unit weight. Using reverse micelles, the analysis of the capacity of lipophilic materials to inhibit tyrosinase activity which was difficult up to present could be possible.