• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Objectives : The present study had been undertaken to investigate the effects of Cynomorii Herba and Eucommiae Cortex on treatment of osteoporosis in ovariectomized rats. Methods : In this experiment, the rats of experimental groups were ovariectomized. Rats of medicinal groups were administered by water extracts of Cynomorii Herba or Eucommiae Cortex. The levels of bone mineral density and body weight were measured. Results : The levels of spinal bone mineral density was significantly increased in comparison with OVX group at 8 weeks after medication in Cynomorii Herba group. The levels of femoral and fibula-tibial bone mineral density were not significantly increased in comparison with OVX group after medication in Cynomorii Herba and Eucommiae Cortex group. The levels of body weight were not significantly decreased in comparison with OVX group after medication in Cynomorii Herba and Eucommiae Cortex group. Conclusions : Reviewing these experimetal results, it appears that Cynomorii Herba have efficacy on treatment of osteoporosis. And further study should be conducted to illustrate in depth the curing and prevention of osteoporosis.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.24-35
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Cynomorii Herba (鎖陽) on　the reproductive competence in male mice.　Methods ：　We used 8-week-old Spraque-Dawley rats and administered the extract powder of Cynomorii Herba to 5 rats and normal saline to control group once in a day for 28 days. Then we observed the changes of body weight before and after administration of Cynomorii Herba extracts and normal saline. We isolated their testis surgically and observed the weight of testis, epididymis, vascular gland and prostate. Also we examined the total, normal and motile sperm concentration, the concentration of testicular catalase, peroxidase and configuration of testicular tissue before and after administration of Cynomorii Herba extracts and normal saline. Results : We found that the concentration of total, normal, motile sperm in testis of Cynomorii Herba treated group shows significant difference compared with the control group. The body weight, the weight of testis, epididymis and the concentration of testicular catalase and peroxidase were higher in the Cynomorii Herba treated group, on the other hand the weight of vascular gland was lower in the Cynomorii Herba. But the contents of above statement showed no significant difference. The weight of　prostate showed lower in the control group statistically than that of the Cynomorii Herba treated group. We observed the seminiferous tubules taken shape minutely and the number of normal sperm increased in Cynomorii Herba treated group's testicular tissue. Conclusion This study shows that Cynomorii Herba may have an effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the important factor in male fertility.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.155-162
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to examine the protective effect of Cynomorii herba on $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity in male germ cells. The effects were studied by a modified MTT assay. Hydrogen peroxide significantly induced cytotoxicity in GC-1 spg cells, and co-treatment or pre-treatment of Cynomorii herba extract has reduced the cytotoxicity in a dose dependant manner. These results suggest that Cynomorii herba extract increases the survival rate of GC-1 spg cells through the antioxidant effect against $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.16-31
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• 2007

Purpose: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of the different administration duration of Cynomorii Herba extract solution on the spermatogenic abilities such as concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase. Methods : We used the 8-week-old ICR mice and administered 0.3mg/g extract solution of Cynomorii Herba once a day for 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. The control group was administered the normal saline in the same way and duration. We examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis. And we compared the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and treated groups by histochemical methods. At the end we observed the difference of sperm hyaluronidase activities between control and treated groups. Results : The significant differences were observed in the concentration of total sperm, the motility and normality of spermatozoa of the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group in 60 and 90 days groups. In the histological analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group, respectively. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the Cynomorii Herba extract solution administered groups compared to the control group. Conclusion : This study shows that Cynomorii Herba has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm especially in 60 and 90 days administration group. We can suggest that Cynomorii Herba extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.139-145
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• 2007

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant effect of Cynomorium songaricum. The extract of Cynomorii Herba was studied for diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, HepG2 cell viability and $H_2O_2$-induced cytotoxicity by a modified MTT assay. DPPH radical scavenging activity was measured after 30 minutes. The extract was tested by 1. 5, 10, 50, 100 and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$ concentrations. HepG2 cell viability by a modified MTT assay was measured in the concentrations of 10, 50, 100, 250, 500 ug/ml for 24 h. The results showed that the extract scavenged DPPH radical up to 52.2% with 50 ug/ml concentration. The extract did not reduced the cell viability and $H_2O_2-induced$ cytotoxicity (69.4%) was blocked by the extract in the concentrations of 50, 100, 250 and 500 ${\mu}g/ml$. In conclusion, the extract of Cynomorii Herba has potent antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2000

The effect of seventy kinds of medicinal plants on the activities of GABA-metabolizing enzymes as glutamate dehydrogenase I (GDH I), glutamate dehydrogenase II (GDH II), GABA transaminase (GABA-T), succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) and succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSAR) were estimated. The following plants extracts from Acori graminei Rhizoma, Longnae Arillus, Gastrodiae Herba, Lycii Fructus, Ligusticum officinale, Ferula assafoetida, Corydalis Tuber, Eucommiae Cortex, Zizyphi spinosi Semen activated the activity of GDH I to more than 35%, and the following ones from Visci Ramulus, Ligusticum officinale, Myristicae Semen, Ferulae Resina, Scolopendrae Corpus, Corydalis Tuber, Eucommiae Cortex, Zizyphi spinosi Semen did that of GDH II. The plant extracts from Cynanchi Radix, Astragali Semen, Angelicae dahuricae Radix, Biotae orientalis Folium, Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, Polygalae Radix, Cynomorii Herba inhibited that of GABA-T to 35% and over, and the following ones from Hyoscyamus niger, Cynanchi Radix, Acori graminei, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Cannabis Semen, Sedum aizoon, Sedum kamtschaticum, Schisandrae Fructus, Lilii Bulbus, Biotae orientalis Folium, Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, Myristicae Semen, Akebiae Fructus, Cynomorii Herba, Buddleiae Flos, Mucunae Caulis, Zizyphi Fructus, Paeoniae Radix rubra did that of SSADH to 70% and over; the following ones from, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Sedum kamtschaticum, Schisandrae Fructus, Astragali Semen, Angelicae dahuricae Radix, Dioscorea nipponica, Myristicae Semen, Akebiae Fructus, Cynomorii Herba, Scutellariae Radix did that of SSAR.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.54-72
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this review is to investigate studies on Estrogen-like activity and to contribute to the utilization of herbal medicines including phytoestrogens. Methods: Electric searches were performed with Pubmed from 2013 to June 2018, for the words, 'herb and estrogen', 'traditional Chinese medicine and estrogen', 'Oriental medicine and estrogen', and 'Korean medicine and estrogen'. 49 papers are investigated and classified into 'in vitro', 'in vivo' and 'in vivo and in vitro' experimental studies. Results: 1. In vitro experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Rubi Fructus, Sparganii Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Spatholobi Caulis, Evodiae fructus, Curcumae longae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Puerariae Radix, Scutellariae Radix are present. 2. In vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Phytolaccae Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix, Puerariae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Cyperi Rhizoma, Cistanchis Herba, Cynomorii Herba, Granati fructus, Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Epimedii Herba, Polygalae Radix, Artemisiae Annuae Herba are present. 3. In vitro and in vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Cirsii Herba, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Cynomorii Herba, Cinnamomi cortex, Drynariae Rhizoma, Psoraleae Semen, Schisandrae Fructus, Epimedii Herba, Astragali Radix are present. Conclusions: Future studies will require additional research on numerous herbal medicines used in clinical practice.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.25-32
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• 2015

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation effect of Cynomorii Herba(CH) extract on contracted rabbit carotid artery.Methods : To clarify the vasorelaxation effect of CH extract, arterial strips with intact was used, to endothelium -dependent vasorelaxation effect of CH extract, arterial strips damaged endothelium was used for experiment using organ bath. Arterial strips was contracted with phenylephrine(PE) before treated with CH extract(0.01, 0.03 and 0.1 ㎎/㎖). To study mechanisms of CH-induced vasorelaxation effect, CH extract infused into arterial rings after treatment by indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) for comparing with non-treated. And calcium chloride(Ca²⁺) 1 mM was treated into precontracted arterial ring induced by PE after treatment of CH extract in Ca²⁺-free krebs solution. Cytotoxic activity of CH extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, and nitric oxide(NO) concentration was measured by Griess reagent.Results : PE-induced arterial strips was significantly relaxed, but the damaged endothelium arterial ring wasn't relaxed by CH extract. Pretreatment of IM, TEA didn't inhibit the vasorelaxation of CH extract, but pretreatment of L-NNA, MB inhibited the vasorelaxation of CH extract. Pretreatment of CH extract reduced the increase of contraction by influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ in contracted arterial ring induced by PE, CH extract increased nitric oxide concentration on HUVEC significantly.Conclusions : This study shows that CH extract have the vasorelaxation effect by blocking the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ through the activating NO-cGMP system.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.591-600
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• 2016

Objective: This study aimed to examine the relaxation effects and underlying mechanisms of Cynomorii herba (CH) extract in isolated rabbit corpus cavernous tissues.Methods: We experimented with CH extract (0.01-3.0 mg/mL). Nω-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) was experimented before the CH extract to contracted strips induced by phenylephrine (PE, 1 μM)and compared with nonexperimented. In addition, we experimented with calcium chloride (Ca²⁺, 1 mM) after pretreatment of the CH extract in Ca²⁺-free Krebs-Ringer solution to contracted strips induced by PE. The cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) concentration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were measured by an methylthiazol-2-yl-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay and Griess reagent system. The ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers, in addition to eNOS- and PDE-5-positive reactions, was examined by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining.Results: The CH extract significantly induced the relaxation of the cavernous strips, and the pretreatment with L-NNA inhibited CH extract-induced relaxation. The L-NNA pretreatment reduced the increased contraction induced by the addition of Ca²⁺in Ca²⁺-free solution. Furthermore, the NO concentration of the HUVECs increased. When the CH extract was applied to the corpus cavernosum of the penis (CCP) of Sprague Dawley rats, the ratio of smooth muscles to collagen fibers by PE and the formation of eNOS around the helicine artery increased. However, the CH extract treatment decreased PDE-5 positive reactions.Conclusions: These results show that the relaxation effects induced by the CH extract are associated with the suppression of the influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ via the production of NO and eNOS and inhibition of PDE-5.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.62-76
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• 2006

Purpose : These studies were undertaken to evaluate the effects of the Cynomorii Herba (CH) on the spermatogenic abilities such as the concentration, motility and morphological normality of sperm from the testis, and the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. Materials and Methods : We used the 2-month-old mice and administered 0.2ml extract solution of CH in the 0.1mg/ml, 1mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 100mg/ml once a day for 60days. The control group was administered the distilled water in the same way. After the administration of extract solution, we examined the number of total, motile and normal sperm from the cauda epididymis, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. We observed the histological changes of isolated testis and compared to the testicular tissue especially seminiferous tubules between control and CH groups by histochemical method. Results : The concentration of total sperm and the motility of spermatozoa were significantly increased in the 1mg/ml, 10mg/ml and 100mg/ml CH groups, especially in 10mg/ml group, compared to the control group. The significant differences were observed in the normality of spermatozoa of the CH groups compared to the control group. In the histolocal analysis of the testicular tissues, the enlargement of testicular lobe diameter and apparent vasculogenesis between testicular lobes were observed in the CH groups compared to the control group. Also, the activity of hyaluronidase was significantly increased in the CH groups compared to the control group. In the antioxidant activity analysis, the activities of testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase were significantly increased in the CH groups compared to the control group, respectively. Conclusion : This study shows that CH has the beneficial effect on the concentration, morphology and motility of sperm, the activities of sperm hyaluronidase, testicular peroxidase and testicular catalase. We can suggest that CH extract solution be useful for the treatment of male sexual dysfunctions and infertility.