• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.669-675
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• 2000

This study investigated the effect of Puerariae Flos (PF; flower of Puerariae plant) and Puerariae Radix (PR; root of Puerariae plant) water extracts on the activities on the activities of ethanol-metabolizing enzymes and free radical generating/scavenging enzymes of brain in ethanol-treated rats. Five groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered ethanol (25%, v/v) 5 g/kg body weight/day, and sacrificed 5 weeks post treatment. PF and PR water extracts were supplemented in a diet based on 1.2g (I) or 2.4 g (II) raw PF or PR/kg body weight/day. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity of brain was significantly lowered in PF of PR groups, whereas aldehyde dehydrogenase activity was significantly higher in PR groups than those of control and PF groups. Cytochrome P-450 content, aminopyrine D-methylase and aniline hydroxylase activities were decreased in both PF and PR groups compared to control group. Aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase activities tended to decrease by Puerariae plant extract supplemented goups and degree of decrease predominated in PRI. Superoxide dismutase and glutathione S-transferase activities were increased in PF or PR groups, whereas glutathione peroxidase and catalase activities were significantly decrased by Puerariae plant extracts supplement. These results indicated that supplementation of PF or PR lowers free radical generating enzymes activities. It was suggested that the activities of ethanol metabolizing emzymes and antioxidant enzymes in brain can be enhanced by PF or PR supplement in ethanol-treated rats.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.85-89
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• 2009

Puerariae flos (PF) is a traditional oriental medicinal plant and has clinically been prescribed for a long time. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effect of PF on repeated stress-induced alterations of learning and memory on a Morris water maze (MWM) test in ovariectomized (OVX) female rats. The changes in the reactivity of the cholinergic system were assessed by measuring the immunoreactive neurons of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) in the hippocampus after behavioral testing. The female rats were randomly divided into four groups: the nonoperated and nonstressed group (normal), the sham-operated and stressed group (control), the ovariectomized and stressed group (OS), and the ovariectomized, stressed and PF treated group (OSF). Rats were exposed to immobilization stress (IMO) for 14 d (2 h/d), and PF (400 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before IMO stress. Results showed that treatments with PF caused significant reversals of the stress-induced deficits in learning and memory on a spatial memory task, and also increased the ChA T immunoreactivities. In conclusion, administration of PF improved spatial learning and memory in OVX rats, and PF may be useful for the treatment of postmenopausal-related dementia.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.1-8
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• 2020

Objectives : In this study, we examined the estrogenic activities and anti-osteo clastogenesis effects of PCE17, a mixture of PE (an extract of Puerariae Flos), and CE (an extract of Citri Unshius Pericarpium). Methods : The estrogenic effect of PCE17, PE and CE were examined by ER-β/ERE reporter gene assay and proliferation assay in 293 T and MCF-7 cells. The expression of estrogen-responsive gene and protein were checked by Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blotting in MCF-7 cells. Inhibitory effect of PCE17, PE and CE on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation were evaluated by TRAP staining and RT-PCR in primary osteoclast precursors from rat bone marrow cells. Results : PCE17 and PE bind to ERs (estrogen receptors) and show estrogenic activities in 293T cells. They also stimulated the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and increased the expression of ER response gene, pS2. Tectorigenin, an active ingredient of PE, shows similar estrogenic activities in MCF-7 cells. PCE17 and CE inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in rat primary osteoclast precursor cells and down-regulated the osteoclast-specific genes of Nfatc1, Ctsk, and Acp5. Conclusions : In conclusion, PCE17 may have therapeutic potential in cases of menopause and osteoporosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.595-604
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• 2002

The growth promoting effect of Clostridium hutyricum KCTC 1785 was investigated with natural products bearing antioxidative capacity, and combined two, three and four kinds of them. C. butyricum was showed a good growth by Lycii fructus, Sophorae flos, Chelidonium majus L., Atractylodis rhizoma alba, Paeonia japonica, alone, and two mixed com-binations were composed of Paeonia japonica and Epimedii herba, Paeonia japonica and Aurantii nobilis pericarpium, Paeonia japonica and Puerariae radix, Pneonia japonica and Angelicae gigantis radix, and three mixed combinations were organized with Epimedii herba, Sophorae flos and Nnelumbo nuclfera gaertner, and Epimedii herba, Sophorae flos and Scutellaria haicalensis george, and Epimedii herba, Sophorae flos and theae folium, and Epimedii herba, Paeonia japonica and Angelicae gigantis radix, and four mixed combinations were formed with Epimedii herba, Puerariae radix, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner and Paeonia japonica, and Epimedii herba, Puerariae radix, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner and Theae folium, and Epimedii berba, puerariae radix, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner and Angelicae gigantis radix, and puerariae radix, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner, paeonia japonica and Theae folium. As these combinations of natural products could activate some parts fo body, they might be applied to pharmaceuitcal applications, functional foods, antiaging tea, also expected to promote useful enterobacterial growth for multifunctional fermentative beverage.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.351-355
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• 1999

In order to find anti-dementia drugs from natural products, prolyl endopeptidase inhibitors were purified from Puerariae Flos by consecutive solvent partition, followed by silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and HPLC. Four isoflavonoid inhibitors were isolated and identified as tectorigenin, genistein, 5,7-dihydroxy-4',6-dimethoxyisoflavone, and 5-hydroxy-6,7,4'-trimethoxyisoflavone by means of instrumental analyses including $^{1}H-$, $^{13}C-$, $^{2}D-NMR$ and MS and $IC_{50}$ values against PEP were 5.30 ppm$(17.7\;{\mu}M)$, 10.39 ppm$(38.5\;{\mu}M)$, 13.92 ppm$(44.3\;{\mu}M)$, and 20.61 ppm$(62.8\;{\mu}M)$, respectively. Some previous mistakes in $^{13}C-NMR$ assignment were revised by careful investigation of HMBC and HMQC data.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.225.2-226
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• 2003

The inhibitory effect of kakkalide isolated from Puerariae flos on ethanol-induced lethality and hepatic injury were investigated. Intraperitoneally treated Kakkalide was weakly reduced the mortality associated with administration of ethanol and did not reduce alcohol hepatotoxicity. However, orally administered kakkalide and intraperitoneally administered irisolidone significantly reduced serum ALT and AST activities on liver-injured mice by ethanol. (omitted)

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.75-88
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• 2007

Objective : This study was designed to test the anti-craving effect of Gigaltang(extracts of Oriental medicinal herbs ; Hovenia dulcis and Puerariae flos) in C57BL/6 mice. Anti-craving effect was substituted by alcohol intake amount of C57BL/6 mice. Method : 60 C57BL/6 mice was randomized into vehicle(water) group and Gigaltang group. Only 39(vehicle group(21) and Gigaltang group(18)) was eligible for this study, and 21 C57BL/6 mice was dropped out. The procedure was composed of 5 days of adjustment period and 32 days of alcohol exposure and withdrawal period with limited access paradigm and 10 days of treatment period. Alcohol was offered only for 2 hours a day from 2 to 4PM and water was offered for 22 hours left. Food was offered for 24 hours a day. 1140mg/Kg/day of Gigaltang was administrated to 18 mice of Gigaltang group for 10 days whereas water to 21 mice of vehicle group. The amount of alcohol intake, water intake, food intake, body weight were measured every other day. Result : There weren't significant differences in 2 hours of alcohol intake, 22 hours of water intake, 24 hours of food intake and body weight for ten days between Gigaltang and vehicle group. Conclusion : Anti-craving effect of Gigaltang on C57BL/6 mice wasn't verified. To verify the anti-craving effect, further study with advanced animal model, various dose of Gigaltang and diverse period of drug administration should be taken.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2008

The contents of isoflavones and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities were determined in flowers (Puerariae Flos) and roots (Puerariae Radix) of Pueraria thunbergiana to differentiate both pharmacochemical or pharmacognostical usage of both oriental medicinal drugs. The tectorigenin contents in flower before and after acid hydrolysis were shown to be 17.10 ${\mu}mole\;g^{-1}$ and 49.58 ${\mu}mole\;g^{-1}$, respectively, analyzed by HPLC. However, the root displayed much less content of tectorigenin even after acid hydrolysis (6.56 ${\mu}mole\;g^{-1}$) than in the flower. Acid hydrolysis made glycitin and tectoridin of the isoflavone glycosides almost disappear in the flower and root. DPPH assay results demonstrated that acid hydrolysis of both extracts or both glycosides should increase free radical-scavenging activities due to the increase of isoflavone contents. It is also suggested that the flower had much higher concentration of isoflavonoids than in the root.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.481-486
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• 1999

Excessive or long term ingestion of alcohol may cause hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatic tumor and so on. Aldehyde and active form of free oxygen that are metabolites of alcohol in liver are the cause of liver cell damage. The main system of alcohol metabolism is composed of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and cytochrome P450. In connection with in vivo alcohol metabolism, more than one hundred natural products were screened for inhibition or activation of alcohol dehydrogenase. As a results, we found significant inhibition ($IC_50$) of ADH by methanolic extracts of Puerariae Radix ($61.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Glycyrrhizae Radix ($105.0{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Cinnamomi Ramulus ($7.0{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Rhei Rhizoma ($36.7{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Mori Cortex Radicis ($106.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Chrysanthemi Flos ($112.2{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), Erycibes Caulis ($36.7{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$), and Scutellariae Radix ($122.5{\;}\mu\textrm{g}/ml$)

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.386.2-386.2
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• 2002

We investigated the effect of tectorigenin (1) with hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects on Phase I and II enzymes and TF activity to elucidate the action of an immunosuppressive compound (1) in the diabetic rat. Compound 1 was obtained from the hydrolysis of tectoridin easily isolated from the flower of Pueraria thunbergiana(Leguminosae). Puerariae Flos has been used as therapeutics for diabetes mellitus in traditional medicine of Korea. (omitted)