• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.24 no.6
• /
• pp.451-457
• /
• 2016

Background: Leonurine is a the aerial part of Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn, which has been used as a traditional medicines and is registered in the Korean Pharmacopoeia. Methods and Results: In the present study we performed a heavy metals and thin layer chromatography and measured loss on drying, as well as the contents of total ash, acid-insoluble ash, ethanol soluble compounds, and leonurine, using 15 domestically collected L. japonicus samples. The methods were performed according to the 'crude drugs test of the general test, processes and apparatus', published by MFDS, Korea (2014). The purity test (heavy metals) indicated that levels of Pb and Hg were 0.35 - 3.64, and 0.001 ppm, respectively, whereas the levels of As and Cd were undetectable, and stachydrine was identified by thin layer chromatography ($R_f$ : 0.15). We found that 5.93 - 10.62% (average: $8.58{\pm}1.8%$) of the sample mass was lost during drying, and the contents of total ash, acid-insoluble ash, ethanol soluble compounds, and leonurine were 7.87 - 10.84% (average: $9.62{\pm}0.82%$), 0.99 - 1.76% (average: $1.38{\pm}0.24%$), 16.70 - 23.11% (average: $19.49{\pm}2.14%$) and 0.04 - 0.17% (average: $0.11{\pm}0.04%$) respectively. In addition, HPLC profiling detected leonurine (5.94 min), rutin (16.43 min) and myricetin (26.78 min). Conclusions: We hope that this the rusult of the present study will contribute to the standardization and quality control of Korean herbal medicines.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.556-565
• /
• 2017

Background: Recent studies have revealed that the properties Traditional Chinese Medicine is mostly associated with are substance and energy metabolism. Our study aimed to compare the effect of red ginseng (RG) (warm property) and ginseng leaves (GL; cold property) on the substance and energy metabolism of rats with hypothyroidism. Materials and methods: Rats were administered propylthiouracil intraperitoneally for 20 d to cause hypothyroidism. The reference group was orally administered Aconiti Lateralis Radix Praeparaia [FZ (Fuzi in Chinese)], while both the RG and GL groups were orally administrated crude drugs. The rectal, tail, toe, and axilla temperature of the rats were assayed every 3 d. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, heat production, and energy expenditure were measured via TSE phenoMaster/LabMaster animal monitoring system. Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase, fumarase, pyruvic acid and cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cyclic guanosine monophosphate were determined. Results: The lower levels of triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone and the higher level of thyroid stimulating hormone revealed the successful establishment of a hypothyroidism model. Oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, heat production, and energy expenditure in the FZ and RG groups were obviously increased. The activity of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase and fumarase in the FZ and RG groups was significantly increased. The cyclic adenosine monophosphate/cyclic guanosine monophosphate level in the FZ and RG groups was increased, while the GL group showed the opposite. Conclusion: Our research provides a new way to explore the efficiency of Chinese medicine on the basis of the relationship between drug property and effects on substance and energy metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2009

This study examined the effects of black ginseng (9 times-steamed ginseng) on hypoglycemic action in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats as well as changes in ginsenoside composition by the steaming process. As the number of steaming cycles increased, the amounts of crude saponin and most ginsenoside contents decreased, while the amount of ginsenoside- Rg3 and the ratio of PD/PT (=[$Rb_1+Rb_2+Rc+Rd+Rg_3]/[Re+Rb_1+Rh_1]$) increased. This ginsenoside composition is a unique characteristic compared to other types of ginseng products. In order to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of the black ginseng extract, in vivo studies were performed in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. The studies showed that the administration of the black ginseng extract decreased high blood glucose levels (more than 300 mg/dL) to a normal level (102 mg/dL). These results suggest that this black ginseng extract has a significant hypoglycemic effect and can be used as an anti-diabetic substance for dietary supplements or new drugs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.511-515
• /
• 2002

Paeoniae radix has been considered as one of the most important crude drugs used in traditional oriental medicine and has been employed as a circulatory tonic in care of weakness, night sweats, and lumbar pain, etc. Platelet activation plays an important role in thrombosis and haemostasis. Active compounds for the inhibition of platelet activation from Paeoniae radix were extracted and fractionated into five fractions. Its fraction two and three of ethyl acetate extract inhibited the aggregation of washed rabbit platelets induced by collagen. Two active compounds, bezoyloxypaeoniflorin and paeoniflorin, were isolated from fraction two and three by silica gel column and high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical structures were determined by comparison of their proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance spectra. Benzoyloxypaeoniflorin showed strong inhibition at the concentration of 100 ug/mL against collagen-induced washed rabbit platelets aggregation. It is suggested that Paeoniae radix has become food material to prevent a cardiovascular disease.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.12 no.12
• /
• pp.5773-5778
• /
• 2011

Results regarding the anti-oxidative, anti-allergic, anti-bacterial and anti-cancer effects of lotus leaf and dandelion have been reported through active research on the medical effects of medicine prepared from crude drugs. This paper aimed to examine the anti-bacterial effect of lotus leaf and dandelion extracts on S. mutans by evaluating the colony forming unit and growth curve. In accordance with the growth inhibition rate of S. mutans according to the addition of lotus leaf and dandelion extracts, the higher the extract concentration was, the higher the growth inhibition rate of S. mutans was. This paper therefore verifies that lotus leaf and dandelion extracts have an effect in inhibiting the growth of S. mutans.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.315-321
• /
• 2017

Background: Glycyrrhiza uralensis Radix (GR) is a crude drugs used in Asian countries that has been reported to prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The present study examined whether GR and its active compounds, glycyrrhizic acid (GA) and isoliquiritigenin (IL), exerted protective effects on $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage in C6 glial cells. Methods and Results: We exposed C6 glial cells to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) for 24 h and investigated the cellular response to GR and its active compounds by evaluating cell viability, reactivie oxygen species (ROS) production, and apoptosis-related protein expression. GR successfully mitigated the reduced cell viability and ROS production induced by $H_2O_2$ in C6 glial cells, IL and GA significantly increased the cell viability and decreased ROS production. In addition, IL and GA down-regulated apoptotic Baxdependent caspase-3 activation, but each compound exerted different mechanisms, i.e., IL dose-dependently decreased ROS production and, GA up-regulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. Conclusions: These results demonstrated that GR and its active components, IL and GA, exhibit potential for use as natural neurodegenerative agents for the modulation of apoptosis in C6 glial cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.1664-1671
• /
• 2006

Cisplatin is a anti-neoplastic agent which is commonly used for the treatment of solid tumor. Cisplatin activates multiple signal transduction pathways involved in the stress-induced apoptosis in a variety of cell types. Cytotoxicity of cisplatin was detected in rat mesangial cells and the value of $IC_{50}$ is about 20 ${\mu}M$. The treatment of cisplatin to rat mesangial cells showed the apoptotic bodies and DNA fragmentation. The activation of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and proteolytic cleavage of PARP were observed in the rat mesangial cells treated time-dependently with cisplatin. The activation of ERK, p38 and JNK was also observed in the apoptosis induced by cisplatin in rat mesangial cells. The ethanol extract of Bojungbangam-tang (EBJT), a new hergal prescription composed of nine crude drugs, inhibited cisplatin-induced apoptosis in rat mesangial cells. EBJT reduced sub-G1 peak (apoptotic peak) in cisplatin-treated rat mesangial cells. The cisplatin-induced ERK and JNK activation in rat mesangial cells were blocked by EBJT, but EBJT had no effect on p38 activation. Taken together, these results con suggest that EBJT prevents cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death in rat mesangial cells through inhibition of ERK and JNK activation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.235-243
• /
• 1993

We have concerned the action of traditional herbal medicine (THM) to relate with longevity, aging and immune, etc. Espically, we have studied on the role of intestinal bacteria on THM such as Nokyongdaebo-Tang, Bojungikgi-Tang, Ikgibohyul-Tang, Bobyulansin-Tang and Bojanggunbi-Tang. Samples of the p.o. administration of 2 g/kg for 2 weeks did not find the change transaminase activities in mice. But, Nokyongdaebo-Tang and Bojanggunbi-Tang elevated the serum glucose levels and Bojungikgi-Tang elevated the total cholesterol levels in mice. ${\beta}-Glucuronidase$ activities in mice faeces are decreased by the treatment of Nokyongdaebo-Tang, Bojungikgi-Tang, Ikgibohyul-Tang and Bojanggunbi-Tang, but increased by the treatment of Bohyulansin-Tang. Number of lactic acid bacteria in mice faeces are increased by the treatment of Nokyongdaebo-Tang, Bojungikgi-Tang, lkgibohyul-Tang, Bohyulansin-Tang and Bojanggunbi-Tang. We recognized that ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activities and the number of lactic acid bacteria were remarkably decreased by the pretreatment of antibiotics in mice. Nokyongdaebo-Tang and Ikgibohyul-Tang at the p.o. administration of 2 g/kg significantly increased the ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ activities and Bojungikgi-Tang and Bohyulansin-Tang remarkably increased the number of lactic acid bacteria in antibiotics pretreated mice.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.3 s.142
• /
• pp.209-219
• /
• 2005

In this study, we carried out the preparing standardization and regulation of processed Glycyrrhizae Radix (PGR) which have been widely used in oriental medicines. Glycyrrhizae Radix(GR) have been generally prepared by the stir-frying, or mix-frying with honey for the purpose of decreasing sweetness and augmenting vitality. Firstly, we tried to standardize PGR prepared by the stir-frying. We purchased 14 kinds of PGR and non-processed GR(NPGR) at oriental physician's offices and oriental pharmacies on a nation scale, respectively. The amounts of dry on loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract, total ash, acid insoluble ash, glycyrrhizin(GL), glycyrrhetic acid(GA) and liquiritin(LQ) of them were examined. The amounts of dry on loss, GL and LQ in commercial PGRs showed remarkable decrease, while GA showed increased as compared with NPGR. In order to standardize preparing method of PGR, the effect of heating time on physico-chemical parameters and biological activities were examined. Physico-chemical parameters such as dry on loss, extract amount, GL and LQ contents in PGRs showed decrease, however, GA was increased with heating time as compared with NPGR. Also, GA, obtained from heat-treated GR, was found as an artifact in PGRs. PGR was more effective than NPGA in vitro test of DPPH scavenging effect and TBA-Rs reducing effect. PGR and NPGR showed potent hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4-intoxicated$ rats. Especially, PGR prepared by 80 min of heating was the most effective. Considering these results, the optimal condition for PGR preparation was $150^{\circ}C$ for 80 min.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.3 s.142
• /
• pp.235-239
• /
• 2005

Changes in chemical composition of the ethanolic extract of roasted Asparagi Tuber were investigated by HPLC. One dramatically increased peak $(t_R\;14.85 min)$ was isolated by silica gel column chromatograph and identified as 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (HMF) by comparing its $1^H-NMR$ data with that of a commercial standard. HMF content reached its maximum level at $190^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes. Under these conditions, HMF contents in the roasted Asparagi Tuber was increased about thirteen times (9.26mg/g) over the not-roasted control (0.71 mg/g). No significant differences were found in macrophage-activating, prolyl endopeptidase-inhibiting, antioxidative (DPPH), anti-coagulating (activated partial thromboplastin times), and ACE-inhibiting activities between roasted and not-roasted Asparagi Tuber.