• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.71-75
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Mori Ramulus is a young branch of Morus alba Linne, which has been used as traditional medicines for antidiarrhea, antibacteria, and antihypertension in Korea. With the basis on these medicinal activities, it is registered at the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia. The standard for quality control in use, however, is not yet validated.Methods : We experiment on heavy metals test, TLC, loss on drying, ash, acid-insoluble ash, contents of ethanolsoluble extracts and contents of oxyresveratrol by using the 15 samples of Mori Ramulus which are collected domestically. We tested items according to the General Test, processes and apparatus, Crude Drugs Test of KP(2011).Results : Purity test(Heavy metals) showed contents for Pb, As, Hg, and Cd range of 0.1~1.1 ppm, 0.0~0.2 ppm, 0.00~0.01 ppm, and 0.00~0.02 ppm. Identification test(Thin layer chromatography) was on comparing with morucine standard solution in R_f value, all samples showed morucine spot (dark blue, R_f : 0.3) as same as R_f value of morucine-standard solution. Loss on drying was ranged from 5.1 to 8.9 %, ash and acid-insoluble ash were between the range 3.0~6.3% and 0.3~0.8%. Contents of ethanol-soluble extracts was ranged from 6.2 to 12.0%. Content of oxyresveratrol was ranged from 0.01 to 0.16 % based on the oxyresveratrol standard curve.Conclusions : We sincerely hope that this study will be contributed to the standardization and quality control of Korean herbal medicines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.7
• /
• pp.2939-2946
• /
• 2015

Many of the anti-cancer agents currently used have an origin in natural sources including plants. Aloe vera is one such plant being studied extensively for its diverse health benefits, including cancer prevention. In this study, the cytotoxic potential of Aloe vera crude extract (ACE) alone or in combination with cisplatin in human breast (MCF-7) and cervical (HeLa) cancer cells was studied by cell viability assay, nuclear morphological examination and cell cycle analysis. Effects were correlated with modulation of expression of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis and drug metabolism by RT-PCR. Exposure of cells to ACE resulted in considerable loss of cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, which was found to be mediated by through the apoptotic pathway as evidenced by changes in the nuclear morphology and the distribution of cells in the different phases of the cell cycle. Interestingly, ACE did not have any significant cytotoxicity towards normal cells, thus placing it in the category of safe chemopreventive agent. Further, the effects were correlated with the downregulation of cyclin D1, CYP 1A1, CYP 1A2 and increased expression of bax and p21 in MCF-7 and HeLa cells. In addition, low dose combination of ACE and cisplatin showed a combination index less than 1, indicating synergistic growth inhibition compared to the agents applied individually. In conclusion, these results signify that Aloe vera may be an effective anti-neoplastic agent to inhibit cancer cell growth and increase the therapeutic efficacy of conventional drugs like cispolatin. Thus promoting the development of plant-derived therapeutic agents appears warranted for novel cancer treatment strategies.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.161-170
• /
• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilajit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 mg/kg, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Thl and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells in the pancreas. Further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.161-173
• /
• 1997

Tuber of Aconitum chiisanense(Ranunculaceae) a specific medicinal plant in Korea, which is known to have the activity to recover reduced metabolism of feeble patients and has been used to symptoms such as pain, paralysis, atonia and coldness of extremities, etc. were studied. The powdered tubers of the plant were extracted with 10% EtOH 3 times and the combined extract was dissolved in 1N HCl solution and washed with ethyl acetate. The aqueous layer was basified with solid $Na_2CO_3$ and extracted with $CHCl_3$ to obtain an alkaloidal fraction. The alkaloidal fraction was subjected to column chromatography using silica gel, alumina and Sephdex LH 20, etc. From the alkaloidal fraction, five diterpene alkaloids, mesaconitine, aconitine, hypaconitine, 8-O-ethyl 14-benzoylmesaconine and talatizamine, were isolated and identified on the basis of their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic evidences($^1H$-, $^{13}C$-NMR, EI-MS, IR, 2D-NMR) respectively. Especially the Compound IV, 8-O-ethyl 14-benzoylmesaconine, was assumed to be an artifact resulting from mesaconitine during extraction procedures. The contents of mesaconitine, aconitine and hypaconitine in the mother tuber of this plant were 0.300%, 0.024%, and 0.068%. And that of the attached tuber(new one) of this plant were 0.336%, 0.034% and 0.240% respectively.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.128-136
• /
• 2016

Tiny leaf fragments were found in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which were compiled about 500 years ago. The records describing the detailed process of compiling the Annals indicate that silk bags packed with the powders of 'Cheongung' and 'Changpo', which have been used as traditional herbal medicines in the northeast Asian countries such as China and Japan as well as Korea, were put in the wooden storage boxes together with the volumes of the Annals. However, there is no record that parts of plants were used in the process of compiling the Annals. The botanical origin of leaf fragments was identified as Ligusticum sinense 'Chuanxiong' by the analysis of trnK of chloroplast DNA as well as the examination of leaf surface with SEM. The comparative analysis of trnK sequences showed that the chloroplast DNA haplotype of 'Tocheongung', a triploid species cultivated in Korea, was identical with Cnidium officinale, but different from L. sinense 'Chuanxiong'. The molecular results provide a new suggestion on the botanical origin of crude drugs used as 'Cheongung', which has been disputed in Korea.

• Journal of The Association for Neo Medicine
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.253-295
• /
• 1997

It is very critical to specify certain medical personnels in defining the history of certain era. Due to the limited source of information and lack of thorough research, there still aren't enough study grounded on concrete historical investigation. Authors attempted to investigate those medicinal personnels engaged in Three Kingdoms period in terms of the activity area, relation with religion and their role in medical system and medical exchange. The sum of recorded medical personnels in Three Kingdoms period numbers 50 of which 6 belonged to Kokooryo, 18 to Baekje, 7 to Shilla and 19 to Unified Shilla. There might existed far more medical personnels who tried to alleviate the suffering of the people and were not recorded in the documents. The more earlier in times, the more medicine gets the religious tinge. This is not the exception for the period of the Three Kingdoms and those medicine men, wizard doctors and priest doctors were playing important role in healing people and processing crude drugs. The system of royal physician and medical education facility were established and doctors and pharmacists, shamanic doctor, herb collectors, Kongbong's doctor(供奉醫師), Kongbong's diviners(供奉卜師) took leads in medicine in those times. Those folkloric healers also took part in. Korea imported chinese medicine and Japan employed chinese medicine via Korea or directly from China and developed into traditional japanese medicine. In this process those who emigrated from Baekje and Kogooryo and their offsprings took an active part. Since the limited source of information of Three Kingdoms, we only can infer the me야cal environment of those times by featuring the activities of medical personnels.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.51-55
• /
• 2016

Phytochemical investigation of Pistacia integerrima has highlighted isolation of two known compounds naringenin (1) and dihydrokaempferol (2). A crude extract and these isolated compounds were here evaluated for their effects on reversion of multidrug resistance (MDR) mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein is a target for chemotherapeutic drugs from cancer cells. In the present study rhodamine-123 exclusion screening test on human mdr1 gene transfected mouse gene transfected L5178 and L5178Y mouse T-cell lymphoma cells showed excellent MDR reversing effects in a dose dependent manner. In-silico molecular docking investigations demonstrated a common binding site for Rhodamine123, and compounds naringenin and dihydrokaempferol. Our results showed that the relative docking energies estimated by docking softwares were in satisfactory correlation with the experimental activities. Preliminary interaction profile of P-gp docked complexes were also analysed in order to understand the nature of binding modes of these compounds. Our computational investigation suggested that the compounds interactions with the hydrophobic pocket of P-gp are mainly related to the inhibitory activity. Moreover this study s a platform for the discovery of novel natural compounds from herbal origin, as inhibitor molecules against the P-glycoprotein for the treatment of cancer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 1989

In order to establish the standard method for the preparation of processed Aconiti Tuber, Aconiti Tubers were processed under various conditions and the amount and the composition of alkaloids were determined by HPLC. The ratio of sum of benzoylhypaconine and benzoylmesaconine over the sum of acinitine, mesaconitine, benzoylmesaconine and benzoylhypaconine was used as a detoxification index ((BM+BH)${\times}$100/MA+AC+BM+BH). The adequate value of index was obtained from Japanese 'ka-gong bu-ja' which has been used in Japan. The processing procedure was largely devided into two categories. First is heat treating at $120^{\circ}$ and 1. 2 lbs for 60 min. Second is treatment with various kinds of alkaline solutions followed by heat treatment at $120^{\circ}$ and 1. 2 lbs for 60 min. Among the source of processed Aconiti Tubers, dried bu-ja and yom bu-ja, dried bu-ja was more adequate than yom bu-ja because yom bu-ja has the lower value of index than dried bu-ja and lost active components through the desalting periods. Dried bu-ja whish was treated with alkaline solutions followed by heat treatment has the detoxification index, 50% and dried bu-ja which was treated only with hear has 71. 8%. Compared to the value of index of Japanese 'ka-gong bu-ja', 72%, the dried bu-ja treated with heat at $120^{\circ}$ and 1, 2 lbs for 60min was the most adequate. The $LD_{50}$ value of the processed bu-ja was higher than 15 g crude drugs/kg, p.o. in mice.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2001.11a
• /
• pp.20-33
• /
• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilaiit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 ㎎/㎏, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Th1 and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells In the pancreas. further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
• /
• v.10 no.11
• /
• pp.559-564
• /
• 2012

It has been reported that dried orange peel in a medicine prepared from crude drugs has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-bacterial, and anti-viral functions, prevents circulatory diseases, reduces lipids, improves immunity, and strengthens capillary vessels. This study attempted to identify the antibacterial effects of dried orange peel extract on S. mutans causing dental caries, and its effects on GTase activation. The extract was put on the medium at the concentration of 5, 10 and 20 mg/ml and its effects on the inhibition of S. mutans growth were examined. Analysis found that the higher the concentration was, the more the number of colonies was reduced. In accordance with the measurement after 8 hours, the extract displayed a high growth inhibition rate: 92% at a concentration of 5 mg/ml, 95% at a concentration of 10 mg/ml and 99% at a concentration of 20 mg/ml. Furthermore, the GTase deactivation rate by the extract was measured. The higher the concentration of extract was, the more rapidly the deactivation rate increased. The deactivation rate of the extract was significant at 42% at a concentration of 5mg/ml.