• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.158-172
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• 2017

Nigella sativa (N. sativa, family Ranunculaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been widely used for centuries throughout the world as a natural remedy. A wide range of chemical compounds found in N. sativa expresses its vast therapeutic effects. Thymoquinone (TQ) is the main component (up to 50%) in the essential oil of N. sativa. Also, pinene (up to 15%), p-cymene (40%), thymohydroquinone (THQ), thymol (THY), and dithymoquinone (DTQ) are other pharmacologically active compounds of its oil. Other terpenoid compounds, such as carvacrol, carvone, 4-terpineol, limonenes, and citronellol, are also found in small quantities in its oil. The main pharmacological characteristics of this plant are immune system stimulatory, anti-inflammatory, hypotensive, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-cancer, hypoglycemic, anti-tussive, milk production, uricosuric, choleretic, anti-fertility, and spasmolytic properties. In this regard, we have searched the scientific databases PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with keywords of N. sativa, anti-cancer, apoptotic effect, antitumor, antioxidant, and malignancy over the period from 2000 to 2017. The effectiveness of N. sativa against cancer in the blood system, kidneys, lungs, prostate, liver, and breast and on many malignant cell lines has been shown in many studies, but the molecular mechanisms behind that anti-cancer role are still not clearly understood. From among the many effects of N. sativa, including its anti-proliferative effect, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis induction, ROS generation, anti-metastasis/anti-angiogenesis effects, Akt pathway control, modulation of multiple molecular targets, including p53, p73, STAT-3, PTEN, and $PPAR-{\gamma}$, and activation of caspases, the main suggestive anti-cancer mechanisms of N. sativa are its free radical scavenger activity and the preservation of various anti-oxidant enzyme activities, such as glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and glutathione-S-transferase. In this review, we highlight the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis and the anti-cancer effects of N. sativa, with a focus on its molecular targets in apoptosis pathways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2022

The relationship between environmental growth conditions of savory(Satureja hortensis) and Zn and vitamin B3 has been previously reported. Based on these results, HPLC and GC-MS were used to investigate the levels of phenolic compounds and perform metabolite analysis, respectively, in plants collected from different areas. Differences were observed in the levels of polyphenols and flavonoids depending on sampled areas and natural conditions. Next, HPLC and metabolite analyses confirmed the presence of bioactive substances. The results also showed that the longer the storage time, the higher was the content of carvacrol and of rosmarinic acid. Finally, the difference in the active ingredients was minimal when plants were cultivated under growth conditions similar to those in the place of origin.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.67-74
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• 2019

Objectives : Agastachis herba is a aerial part of Agastache rugosa (Fischer et Meyer) O. Kuntze which has been used as traditional medicines. Methods : The samples were collected using a domestic cultivation of Agastachis Herba. We experiment on essential oil content, the content of ethanol soluble extracts and HPLC profiling. Results : Loss on drying of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 4.93~8.26% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 3.88~5.38%. Ash of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 5.07~7.97% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 4.55~7.61%. Acid-insoluble ash of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 0.43~1.62% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 0.46~1.44%. Essential oil contents of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was $0.2{\sim}0.4m{\ell}$ and contents of harvest in August ~ September was $0.2{\sim}0.6m{\ell}$. Ethanol soluble extracts of Agastachis Herba contents of harvest in June ~ July was 9.72~20.44% and contents of harvest in August ~ September was 11.00~18.70%. HPLC profiling was detected of tilianin(12.93 min), acacetin(15.84 min) and agastachoside(17.95 min). Conclusion : Agastachis Herba should be harvested from August ~ September, the time of flowering. This is because of the high content of active compounds.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.41 no.spc1
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• pp.123-144
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• 1996

This review deals briefly with the various medicinal components(mainly saikosaponins), their biological activities and the variation of their contents by different cultivation environment and plant parts in Bupleurum species. Bupleuri radix, a crude drug, is the root of Bupleurum falcatum L. (Korea, Japan), B. chinense(China), and their related species (Umbelliferae). There are over 120 species in Bupleurum genus throughout world, mainly Asian area, and over 5 species in Korea, investigated up to now. These plants contain many physiological active compounds and the principal components are saikosaponins. Major activities of this crude drug and saikosaponins are the anti-inflammatory and antihepatotoxic activities. Saikosaponins and their derivatives in Bupleurum spp. have been chemically studied, isolated and identified over 70 compounds in over 50 species. Other components, physiologically active ones, also have been investigated, which are the groups of lignan, flavonoid, essential oil, polyacetylene, polysaccharide, etc. Saikosaponins belong to the group of triterpenoid saponin chemotaxonomically and occur the accumulation and turnover in plant tissues through secondary metabolism, mevalonic acid pathway. The contents and kinds of saikosaponins and other components in Bupleurum spp. plants are various due to different species and growing environments, as the plant growth characters and yield are various. Most of medicinal plants as well as Bupleurum species are very useful as agricultural products and traditional medicines, and also are very valuable as genetic resources and natural products. So we need to collect, evaluate, preserve, and utilize various medicinal plants, and also to under-stand secondary metabolism and improve the breeding and cultivation techniques for the safe production of crude drugs with high quality and yielding.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2015

The insecticidal activity of the constituents of cinnamon essential oils and structurally related compounds against both the nymphs and adults of the citrus flatid planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa was examined using a direct-contact application. The toxicity of the cinnamon oil constituents and 21 (E)-cinnamaldehyde related compounds regarding the nymphs of M. pruinosa was evaluated using a leaf-dipping bioassay. Based on 24 h $LC_{50}$ values, hydro-cinnamic acid ($1.55mg/cm^2$) is the most toxic compound, followed by geranic acid ($1.59mg/cm^2$). The $LC_{50}$ values of 11 of the compounds including cinnamaldehyde are between $1.60mg/cm^2$ and $4.94mg/cm^2$. Low toxicities and no toxicity were observed with the other 15 ($5.24mg/cm^2$ to $13.47mg/cm^2$) and two compounds, respectively. Also, the toxicities of the cinnamon oil constituents and 21 cinnamaldehyde related compounds regarding the M. pruinosa adults were evaluated using a direct-spray method. The toxicity of eugenol (10.81 mg) is the most toxic compound for the adults of M. pruinosa, followed by geranic acid (30.68 mg). The $LC_{50}$ values of nine of the compounds including cinnamaldehyde are between 59.16 mg and 96.70 mg. Low toxicities and no toxicity were observed with the other 15 (105.44 mg to 255.76 mg) and three compounds, respectively. The spray formulations that comprise cinnamon bark and cinnamon green leaf oils resulted in 82.3% and 82.9% mortalities, respectively, toward the M. pruinosa adults in a ginseng field. Global efforts to reduce the level of highly toxic synthetic insecticides in agricultural environments justify further studies on cinnamon oils to ascertain whether the corresponding active principles can act as insecticides, when they are applied as a direct spray with contact action, for the control of M. pruinosa populations.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.26-31
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• 2017

Background and purpose: This study was carried out to learn more about the potential prophylactic or antibacterial activity of the plant Acalypha indica against selective pathogenic bacteria. Experimental: The test organisms were Sarcina lutea IFO 3232, Bacillus subtilis IFO 3026, Pseudomonas denitrificans, Escherichia coli IFO 3007, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATTC 10031, Xanthomonas campestris IAM 1671, and Proteus vulgaris. Leaf, stem, and bud powder of Acalypha indica were dissolved in various solvents, and the extracts were tested for antimicrobial activity through the disc diffusion method. GC-MS profiling was performed to characterize active chemical compounds in the essential oil of Acalypha indica. Results: The ethanol extract showed the highest activity against all bacteria, while the petroleum ether extract yielded the highest zone of inhibition against Proteus vulgaris ($11.83{\pm}1.75mm$). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the ethyl acetate extract against Bacillus subtilis was 16 µg/mL. Phytochemical screening by GC-MS revealed a total of 12 bioactive compounds. Conclusion: Extracts of Acalypha indica may be useful in formulating and synthesizing new antibacterial drugs.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.74-82
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• 2023

Nepeta sibirica L. or Siberian catmint is a medicinal plant species used in Mongolian traditional medicine for curing human different disorders and veterinary practices. The previous study of the whole plant concentrated on the determination of its essential oil composition and reported that the major ones are sesquiterpenes, including nepetalactone. The aim of this study was to reveal a new biological activity of the above-ground parts of N. sibirica L. and compare the activity of different extracts correlating with the content of biologically active compounds and evaluate their toxicity. For this purpose, anti-oxidative and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activities of the above-ground parts of N. sibirica L. aqueous and ethanol (EtOH) (40%, 70%) extracts were assayed spectrophotometrically. The aqueous extract showed positive anti-oxidative activity by both tested DPPH and FRAP assays with IC₅₀ 134.24 ± 1.42 mg/mL and FRAP value 1385.15 ± 8.12 µmol/L at 200 ㎍/mL, in contrast to 40% and 70% EtOH extracts. The 70% EtOH extract presented the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 77.29 ± 0.38 mg/mL) followed by 40% EtOH extract (176.72 ± 0.35 mg/mL) and aqueous extract (275.41 ± 0.23 mg/mL). Total phenolics were found to be gallic acid equivalent, % 3.74 ± 0.05 (70% EtOH), 3.94 ± 0.04 (40% EtOH), and 3.79 ± 0.16 (aqueous), whereas the total flavonoids as a rutin equivalent, % as 2.01 ± 0.12, 1.44 ± 0.17 and 1.99 ± 0.02, each. The aqueous extract showed the best anti-oxidative and lowest activity against the acetylcholinesterase; however, the 70% EtOH extract showed the opposite effects than that of the aqueous. No mortality incidence was visible at various doses, indicating that the oral median lethal dose of aqueous and 70% EtOH extracts were considered greater than 5000 mg/kg. N. sibirica L. belongs to the non-toxic category of the OECD 423 classification.