• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.307-312
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• 2011

In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant activities and xanthine oxidase inhibition effects of water and ethanol extracts of Cynomorium songaricum. The ethanol extract of C. songaricum (EE) contained more phenolic and flavonoid compounds than the water extract (WE). The antioxidant activities of the extracts were increased as the concentration of the extract increased. The WE has better effectiveness than the EE for DPPH free radical scavenging activity and nitrite scavenging ability. The nitrite scavenging abilities of WE were 90.02% ($EC_{50}$ 653.15 ${\mu}g$/mL) at conditions of pH 1.2 and 2,000 ${\mu}g$/mL, and 84.34% ($EC_{50}$ 817.17 ${\mu}g$/mL) at pH 3.0. The EE has more effective SOD-like activity and XO inhibition than WE. The SOD-like activity of EE was 81.47% at a concentration of 2,000 ${\mu}g$/mL, $EC_{50}$ was 951.70 ${\mu}g$/mL. The xanthine oxidase inhibition of the EE, with an $EC_{50}$of 112.47 ${\mu}g$/mL, is greater than that of ascorbic acid, which was 192.50 ${\mu}g$/mL (p<0.05). These results suggest that the C. songaricum is a potentially useful antioxidant source for the development of nutraceuticals and medicines.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2013

Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used in traditional Korean medicine in treating male impotence and sexual dysfunction. We investigated the effects of aqueous CS extract on the reproductive activity of golden hamsters whose spermatogenetic capacity is active in summer and inactive in winter. The animals were divided into 5 groups: long photoperiod (LP) control, short photoperiod (SP) control, and SP animals treated with low, middle, or high concentrations of CS. The animals were orally ingested with low (0.5 g/kg), middle (1.0 g/kg), or high (2.5 g/kg) concentrations of the aqueous extracts for 8 weeks on the daily basis. The control animals received the vehicle. As results, the LP control animals showed active testicular function but SP control animals displayed remarkably reduced testicular weights. The outcomes of the reproductive activity from low and middle concentrations of CS treatments were identical and marked as low dose. The consequences were a partial blocking of regressing activity by SP. On the other hand, the animals treated with high dose of CS extract showed remarkable significance in comparison to the SP control, indicative of a complete blocking effect of the CS on the regressing testes by SP. There were a dose-dependent effects of the CS on the sexual function. These results suggest that the CS extract promotes the male fertility by strengthening the spermatogenesis in the golden hamsters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1320-1331
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• 2009

Oxidative stress and inflammation are important events in the development of chronic inflammatory diseases including arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension. Cynomorium songaricum (CS) has been used as a traditional Korean herbal medicine, and it is currently used in traditional clinics to treat frequent urination, spermatorrhea, weakness of the sinews and constipation in the folk medicine. The aim of this study was to determine whether fractionated extracts of CS inhibit free radical generation such as DPPH radical, superoxide radical, nitric oxide and peroxynitrite, production of nitrite an index of NO, $PGE_2$, iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on RAW 264.7 cells was measured using 5-(3-caroboxymeth-oxyphenyl)-2H-tetra-zolium inner salt (MTS) assay. Our results indicated that the most superior extract which scavenged DPPH radical, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and RNS was CS ethyl acetate extract (CSEA). Moreover, CSEA significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO, $PGE_2$ production and iNOS, COX-2 expression accompanied by an attenuation of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 formation in macrophages. Furthermore, CSEA treatment also blocked LPS-induced intracellular ROS production and the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$. These findings indicate that CSEA inhibits the production of pro-inflammatory mediators and cytokines via the suppression of ROS production and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Take together, these results indicate that CSEA has the potential for use as an natural anti-oxidant and an agent of anti-chronic inflammatory diseases.

• 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.