• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2012

Objective : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) ethanol extract on inflammatory cytokine production and its underlying mechanisms in mouse macrophages. Methods : Peritoneal macrophages from thioglycollate medium-injected mice were cultured and stimulated with lipopolysaccharide(LPS) or LPS/interferon(IFN)-${\gamma}$ for cytokine measurement and cellular signaling molecule analysis. Results : FF ethanol extract decreased the levels of secreted tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-${\alpha}$ and interleukin(IL)-6 in IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-stimulated cells in a concentration-dependent manner. FF extract reduced IFN-${\gamma}$/LPS-induced STAT1 phosphorylation and LPS-induced p38 and JNK activation, but not ERK1/2 activity. The extract also inhibited LPS-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ degradation through suppression of $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ kinase. Conclusions : These results suggest that FF ethanol extract affects the production of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 through inhibition of activation of STAT-1, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$, p38, and JNK.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.114-117
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• 2002

During the screening of inhibitors of caspase-3 induction in U937 human monocytic leukemia cells from natural sources, Forsythiae fructus, which showed a high level of inhibition, was selected. And then, the compound was purified from the methanol extract using silica gel column chromatography and HPLC. The inhibitor was identified as rengyolone, by spectroscophic methods of ESI-MS, $^1H-NMR$, $^{13}C-NMR$, DEPT, and HMBC. Rengyolone showed inhibitory activity of caspase-3 induction, a major protease of apoptosis cascade, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $6.25\;{\mu}g/mL$ after 7 h of treatment in U937 cells. It also showed inhibitory activity of caspace-1 induction, with an $IC_{50}$ value of $7.50\;{\mu}g/mL$ after 40 h of treatment in D10S cells. In addition, it showed protective effect against cell death with an $IC_{50}$ value of $11\;{\mu}g/mL$ on U937 cells induced by etoposide after 24 h of treatment, but did not show any cytotoxicity at the same condition without etoposide, a caspase 3 inducing agent.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.242-253
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects Forsythiae Fructus on LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Methods : Statistical significance was examined through measuring MTT, nitric oxide (NO), TNF $\alpha$, IL 6, NOS2 and COX2 of LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells. Results : In the toxicity experiment of FFE, NO significant toxicity was shown on cells in the concentration ranges of 100, 200 and 300 ${\mu}g/ml$. FFE dose dependently decreases 5.49, 25.41, 33.64 % in LPS induced NO production (p<0.05, p<0.001 and p<0.001), however, FFE don't show significant difference in LPS-induced TNF $\alpha$ and IL 6. Furthermore, FFE showed inhibiting tendency against the revelation of NOS2 and COX2 in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells, dose-dependently according to concentration. Conclusions : These results mean that FFE is effective for anti-inflammation via inhibition of NOS2 and COX2 expression.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.147-159
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• 2011

A high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometric method was developed to determine simultaneously eight marker constituents of Forsythiae fructus, and subsequently applied it to classify its two botanical origins. The marker compounds of Forsythia suspensa were phillyrin, pinoresinol, phillygenin, lariciresinol and forsythiaside; those of F.viridissima were arctiin, arctigenin and matairesinol. Separation of the eight analytes was achieved on a phenyl-hexyl column (150${\times}$2.0 mm i.d., 3 ${\mu}M$) using gradient elution with the mobile phase: (A) 10% acetonitrile in 0.5% acetic acid, (B) 40% aqueous acetonitrile. A few fragment ions specific to the types of lignans, among the product ions generated by collisonally induced dissociation (CID) of molecular ion clusters, such as [M-H]$^-$ or [M+OAc]$^-$ were used not only for fingerprinting analysis but for the quantification of each epimer by using multiple-reaction monitoring mode. It was shown good linearity ($r^2{\geq}$ 0.9998) over the wide range of all analytes; intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD, %) were within 9.14% and the accuracy ranged from 84.3 to 115.1%. The analytical results of 40 drug samples, combined with multivariate statistical analyses - principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) - clearly demonstrated the classification of the test samples according to their botanical origins. This method would provide a practical strategy for assessing the authenticity or quality of the herbal drug.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.31-46
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• 2014

Objectives Forsythiae Fructus treatment has been used for inflammatory and allergic diseases in Korean Medicine. Nevertheless, the mechanism of action and the cellular targets are not understood well. The pathogenesis of allergic diseases are associated with Th2 cytokines such as IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$, IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6, which are secreted by the mast cells. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Forsythiae Fructus extracts (FF) on Th2 cytokines expression and signal transduction in MC/9 mast cells. Methods In the study, MC/9 mast cells were stimulated with DNP-IgE for 24 hours and then treated separately with CsA $10{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and varying doses of FF for one hour. MC/9 mast cells stimulated with DNP-IgE was the control group, a treatment with CsA was the positive control group and a treatment with varying doses FF was the experimental groups. The mRNA levels of IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 were analyzed with Real-time PCR. The levels of IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays(ELISA). NFAT, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results 1. FF were observed to suppress the mRNA expression of IL-13, IL-5, GM-CSF, IL-4, TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 in comparison to DNP-IgE control group. 2. FF also has inhibited the IL-13, MIP-$1{\alpha}$ production significantly in comparison to DNP-IgE control group. 3. Western blot analysis of transduction factors involving Th2 cytokines expression has revealed a prominent decrease of the mast cell specific transduction factors including NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 but c-Fos. Conclusions In conclusion, the anti-allergenic activities of FF may be strongly related to the regulation of transcription factors NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Jun, and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 causing inhibition of Th2 cytokines in mast cells.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.40-59
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos in vitro, which has been frequently used in inflammatory diseases. Methods: In this experiment, the anti-inflammatory effects of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos were evaluated by checking the following substances of LPS-activated Raw264.7 cell: Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), Nitric oxide (NO), Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible Nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), Interlukine-1β (IL-1β), Interlukine-6 (IL-6), Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Inhibitor of kappa B-α (IκBα), Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). And additionally measured reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals to check the antioxidant effect of ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos which affect inflammatory responses. Results: As a result of measuring anti-inflammatory efficacy, PGE2, NO, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α production amounts were reduced in the ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos groups compared with the control group, and decreased the amount of COX-2 mRNA, iNOS mRNA gene expression. Expression of MAPK (ERK, JNK, p38) pathway was decreased. Expression of IκBα was increased and NF-κB was decreased. It is demonstrated that ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos, by reducing NF-κB, regulate the expression of the inflammatory genes and reduce the inflammatory mediators. Ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos also decreased ROS production and free radicals, which shown to have antioxidant efficacy and influence anti-inflammatory effects. Conclusions: These data suggest that ethanol extracts from Forsythia viridissima Lindley's fructus and Lonicera japonica Thunberg's flos can be used to treat various inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.45-63
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• 2007

In this dissertation, I will focus on the channel entry, the effect and the treatment throughout books of oriental medicine from ancient to modern in order to classify the medicines of the Spleen as main or supplementary organ. The results are as follows: 1. The medicines which work on the Spleen(本臟) chiefly were 38, which were Gingseng Radix(人蔘), Astragali Radix, Hoelen, Atractylodis Rhizoma alba(白朮), Glycyrrhizae Radix(甘草), Atractyodis Rhizoma(蒼朮), Aurantii Nobilis Pericarpium(陳皮), Pinelliae Rhizoma(半夏), Nelumbinis Semen(蓮肉), Semen Euryacles, Crataegi Fructus, Dolichoris Semen(扁豆), Hordei Fructus Germinatus(麥芽), Dioscoreae Radix(山藥), Paeoniae Radix(白芍藥), Zingiberis Rhizoma(乾薑), Arecae Pericarpium(大腹皮), Cimicifugae Rhizoma(升麻), Aurantii Fructus(枳殼), Tiglii Semen(巴豆), Scirpi Rhizoma(三稜), Paeoniae Radix rubra(赤芍藥), Amydae Carapax(鱉甲), (Coptidis Rhizoma(黃連), Dioscoreae Radix(萎藥), Amomi Semen(砂仁), Zingiberis Rhizoma(生薑), Saussureae Radix(木香), Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus(肉桂), Myristicae Semen, Alpiniae Fructus(益智仁), Evodiae Fructus(吳萸), Caryophylli Flos(丁香), Agastachis Herba(藿香), Fructus Piperis Nigri Seu Albi(胡椒), Acontii Tuber(附子), Alpiniae Officinari Rhizoma(良薑), Fructus Galangae. 2. The medicines which work on the other viscera(他臟) chiefly were 12, which were Talcum(滑石), Bupleuri Radix(柴胡), Semen Lepidii Seu Descurainiae, Mori Cotex Radicis(桑白皮), Aurantii lmmaturi Pericarpium(靑皮), Gardeniae Fructus(梔子), Forsythiae Frucus(連翹), Antelopis cornu(羚羊角), Alimatis Rhizoma(澤瀉), Epimedii Herba(仙靈脾), Cyperi Rhizoma(香附子), Rhizome Chuanxiong(川芎). 3. medicines, effected on the Spleen functioned through any other viscera were as follows: Talcum(滑石) works to treat renal heat Entering the Spleen(腎熱入脾) Bupleuri Radix(柴胡) works to treat Hepatic Asthenia Entering the Spleen(肝虛入脾) Semen Lepidii Seu Descurainiae and Mori Cotex Radicis(桑白皮) works to treat Pulmonary gi Entering the Spleen(肺氣入脾) Aurantii lmmaturi Pericarpium(靑皮) works to treat Hepatic gi Entering the Spleen(肝氣入脾) Gardeniae Fructus(梔子) and Forsythiae Frucus(連翹) works to treat Cardiac Heat Entering the Spleen(心熱入脾) Antelopis cornu(羚羊角) works to treat Hepatic wind Entering the Spleen(肝風人脾) Alimatis Rhizoma(澤瀉) works to treat Hepatic heat Entering the Spleen(肝熱入脾) Epimedii Herba(仙靈脾) works to treat Renal asthenia Entering the Spleen(腎虛入脾) Cyperi Rhizoma(香附子) 와 Rhizome Chuanxiong(川芎) works to treat Hepatic gi Entering the Spleen(肝氣入脾) In the study of concerning the medicines effected on the spleen, It is considered that it dedicated to development of the medicines related to the spleen and making efficient use of the medicines.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.16-29
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• 2018

Introduction: We aimed to investigate the predictive factors and optimal age for response to herbal medicine treatment for height gain in children. Methods: This retrospective chart review included 61 children (age range, 5-16 years) treated for height gain between 2011 and 2015. A predictive model was established by multiple linear regression analysis. Dependent variables were defined by the differences in percentile before and after herbal medicine treatment. The optimal cutoff value of patient age was determined by receiver operating curve analysis. Results : The age of initiation of herbal medicine therapy (p = 0.012) and administration of Forsythiae fructus (p = 0.002) were significant variables for treatment response. The adjusted R2 value was 0.231. The mean ages of the responder and non-responder groups were significantly different (p = 0.023). The optimal cutoff value of age for predicting treatment response was 9.75 years. Treatment response was better among children below 9.75 years of age. Conclusions: Patient age and administration of Forsythiae fructus were identified as determinants of response to herbal medicine treatment. Treatment of rhinitis and initiation of height gain treatment at an early age are critical for better response. These findings will provide fundamental data for further research.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2021

Objectives : Forsythiae Fructus has been reported to have anti-inflammatory effects in many diseases, and Corydalis Tuber has been used as a pain suppressor in Eastern Asia. However, the protective effects of individual water extract of Forsythiae Fructus (FF) and Corydalis Tuber (CT) and the mixture of FF and CT (FC) on chronic pancreatitis (CP) were not well-investigated. Therefore, we investigated the protective effects of FF, CT, and FC on CP in mice. Methods : To induce CP, cerulein was injected 6 times a day, 4 times a week for 3 weeks. 1 h before the every cerulein injection, 200 mg/kg of FF, CT, or FC was intraperitoneally injected to mice. Histological analysis of pancreas was examined by hematoxylin and eosin stain and collagen deposition was examined by Masson's trichrome stain. Fibrogenic parameters such as α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition, and fibrotic cytokines such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) were also analyzed by immunofluorescence stain and real-time PCR. Results : Histological damages in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of FF or FC but not CT. α-SMA and ECM in pancreas were inhibited by pre-treatment of CT or FC but not FF. Moreover, the expression of TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas were inhibited by FF, CT or FC. Conclusions : Our results suggest that FC have protective effect on CP in mice through inhibition of α-SMA, ECM, TGF-β1 and PDGF in pancreas, and these findings could suggest new clinical strategy for CP.

• 한국생물공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2005.04a
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• pp.532-534
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• 2005

Several extracts of Chinese herbs are known to have antimicrobial efface on Helicobacter pylori. The inhibition action is believed to be anti-urease activity of the substance in the herbs. In this study ethanol (70%) extracts of Mume Fructus showed anti-urease activity far better than previously reported substance such as Caesalpinia sappan L. and Forsythiae suspensa VAHL.