• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.8 no.4
• /
• pp.381-386
• /
• 1998

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Gentiana scabra Bunge var.buergeri Max. extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum of streptozotcin(55mg/kg of body weight, I.P. injection) induced hyperglycemic rats (S.D. strain, ) fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. Concentrations of blood glucose were significantly higher in the streptozotocin administration(I.P.) groups (group 2(streptozotcin+water), 3(streptozocin+Gentiana scabra Bunge extract), 4(streptozotocin+cholesterol+water), 5(streptozotocin+cholesterol+Gentiana scabra Bunge extract) than those in the control group(group 1(water)). Bolld glucose concentrations were rather lower in the group 3(streptozotocin+Gentiana scabra Bunge extract)than in the group 2(streptozotocin+water), and then those of the group 5 were rather lower than in the group 4. There was almost little significance among the groups. concentrations of total cholesterol in serum were lower in the group 5 than those in the group 4, and the group 3 were rather lower than in the group 2. Concentrations of LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the group 3 than those 2. In the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentrations to total cholesterol concentrations, Gentiana scabra Bunge extract administration groups were higher percentage than the other goups. Concentrations of free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in serum were rather lower in the groups 3,5 than the other groups, and then those of the group were higher percentage than the other groups. concentrations of free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in serum were rather lower in the groups 3,5 than the groups, and then those of the group 3 were significantly lower than in the group 4. Concentrations of triglyceride and phospholipid in serum were decreased in the group 3 than in the other groups. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum were increased in the all experimental groups than in the control group. From the above research, the Gentiana scabra Bunge var.buergeri Max. extracts were effective on the improvement of the lipid compositions in serum of streptozotcin induced hyperglycemic and hypercholosterolemic rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.32 no.1 s.124
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2001

The Chinese crude drug, 'Yong Dam (龍膽)' which is derived from the root of Gentiana plants of the family Gentianaceae, has been used as remedy for stomachic, intestinal catarrh, convulsion, etc. With regard to the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam', it has been considered to be Gentiana species of Gentianaceae, especially Gentiana scabra, but there has no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam' from Korea, we studied on the anatomical characteristics of Gentiana species growing wild in Korea i.e. Gentiana scabra var. buergeri, G. uchiyamai, G. triflora, G. axillariflora var. coreana and of 'Yong Dam' from Korea on Korean market. Through our studies, the botanical origin of 'Yong Dam' from Korea was proved to be Gentiana scabra var. buergeri and Gentiana axillariflora var. coreana.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.85-91
• /
• 2003

Gentiana scabra var. buergeri (G. scabra) is a herb known to have therapeutic effect in infection diseases. We studied cellular activation and antitoxoplasmosis in macrophages after G. scabra stimulation. Macrophage activation was detected by nitrite production. Macrophages were treated with G. scabra extracted with water or methanol. Maximal nitrite production was detected in macrophages after stimulation of G. scabra extract 0.1 mg/ml. Maximal nitrite concentration was 23.22 0.003 uM/L in macrophages after water extract of G. scabra and was 24.07 1.41 uM/L after methanol extract of G. scabra. Effect of G. scabra in the phagocytic capacity of macrophages was monitored by using PI (percentage of macrophage infected by T gondii) method. The minimum PI (42.5 2.31) was detected in macrophages treated by water extract of G. scabra 0.1 mg/ml before infection of T gondii. We also examined toxoplasmastatic capacity of macrophage using FI (fold increase) method. The minimum FI (4.46 1.16) was shown in macrophages after water extract of G. scabra 0.1 mg/ml pretreatment before infection. Under electron microscope, proliferation of T gondii was inhibited by extract of G. scabra treatment in macrophages and the mitochondrion and lysosomal vacuoles within cells were increased. Taken together, G. scabra extract activates macrophages and induces toxopalsmastatic activity after T gondii infection. It is suggested that G. scabra may be used as a therapeutic drug against toxoplasmosis.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.532-536
• /
• 1998

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Gentiana scabra Bunge var.buergeri Max. extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum of dietary hyperlipidemic rats (S.D. strain, ♂) fed the experimental diets for 4 weeks. Concentration of blood glucose was significantly higher in the cholesterol administration groups (group 2(cholesterol+water), 3(cholesterol+Gentiana scabra Bunge extract) than those in the control group(group 1 (water)). Blood glucose concentration was rather lower in the group 3(cholesterol+Gentiana scabra Bunge extract) than in the group 2(cholesterol+water). There was almost little significance among the groups. Concentration of total cholesterol in serum was significantly lower in the group 3 than those in the group 2. Concentration of LDL-cholesterol in serum was significantly lower in the group 3 than that in the group 2. In the ratio of HDL-cholesterol concentration to total cholesterol concentration, Gentiana scabra Bunge extract administration group was higher percentage than in the group 2. Concentration of free cholesterol and cholesteryl ester in serum was significantly lower in the group 3 than in the group 2. Concentrations of triglyceride and phospholipid in serum were decreased in the group 3 than in the high fat diet group. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in serum were increased in the all experimental groups than in the control group. From the above research, the Gentiana scabra Bunge var.buergeri Max. exacts were effective on the improvement of the lipid composition in serum of dietary hyperlipidemic rats.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 1982

Gentiana uchiyamana Nakai is a perennial herb in Gentianaceous plants. From the root of Gentiana uchiyamana Nakai, the bitter secoiridoid glucosides were isolated and identified as gentiopicroside and swertiamarin. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for quantitative determination of bitter component, i.e. gentiopicroside in the roots of Gentiana scabra and G. uchiyamana Nakai was developed, using a ${\mu}$-Bondapak $C_{18}$ column and methanol-water mobile phases. The content of gentiopicroside was calculated from calibration curve previously prepared using the standard, 3.55% in the roots of Gentiana scabra and 1.58% in Gentiana uchiyamana Nakai.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.173-176
• /
• 1999

Bioassay-guided fractionation of a $H_2O$ extract of the roots of Gentiana scabra has furnished 5-(hydroxymethyl)-2-furfural (1) as an inhibitory compound for nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells stimulated with $interferon-{\gamma}$ plus lipopolysaccharide. Compound 1 showed the moderate inhibition of NO production with $IC_{50}$ value of $803\;{\mu}M$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.23-25
• /
• 1981

Methanol extracts of the roots of Atractylodes japonica (alba) (Compositae) and Gentiana scabra (Gentianaceae) were further fractionated with n-butanol, chloroform, n-hexane and water. Then each fraction was p.o. administered to an animal model of hepatitis caused by $CCl_4$ intoxication. Measurements of sleeping time of mice induced by hexobarbital administration indicated that n-butanol and chloroform fractions of Atractylodes japonica (alba), and chloroform and n-hexane fractions of Gentiana scabra showed significant liver protective activities. Measurements of the activities of serum transaminase, S-GOT and S-GPT appeared to support these results.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.436-439
• /
• 1998

In order to find out anti-platelet activating factor (PAF) from natural resources, Korean medicinal plants used for the treatments of peripheral circulation disorders were tested for their possible protective effects on PAF-induced anaphylactic shock. From the above screening, the methanol extract of Gentiana scabra showed a potent antagonistic activity against PAF. Water suspension of the extract was partitioned with $CH_2$$CI_2$ and EtOAc, successively. The EtOAc fraction which showed the highest activity was chromatographed on silica gel to yield 6 fractions. From the fraction which showed higher PAF-antagonistic activity than the other fractions, compound 1 was isolated by recrystallization. On the basis of spectral data, compound 1 was identified as 2-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid glucose ester. The compound prevented the mice from the PAF-induced death at a dose of 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mouse.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1345-1350
• /
• 2019

Our recent study has revealed that in vivo intestinal transit rate (ITR) in normal mice was significantly increased by the administration of an aqueous extract of dried Gentiana scabra rhizomes and roots (GS-W) in a dose-dependent manner. Following on from our previous study, the effect of GS-W on ITR was measured in mice with experimentally induced gastrointestinal motility dysfunctions (GMDs) in the present study. GS-W showed no significant acute toxicity even at an oral dose of 5 g/kg to mice. ITR was significantly retarded in the GMD mice compared with that in normal mice, and this retardation was significantly recovered by the oral administration of GS-W in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the ITR value of GS-W at a dose of 1 g/kg appeared to be higher than that of cisapride, which was predominantly prescribed for human patients with various GMDs in the late 1900s but was withdrawn from the market in 2000 due to its fatal side effects. The current results suggest that GS-W is a potential substitute for cisapride to prevent or alleviate human GMDs.

• Plant Resources
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.81-86
• /
• 2005

An efficient plant regeneration system of Gentiana scabra through somatic embryogenesis was established. Leaves and roots of seedlings of Gentiana scabra excised after germination were cultured on MS basal medium with 2,4-D, NAA or BA. Embryogenic callus was obtained on MS medium with 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D alone or 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D combimation with 1.0 mg/L BA after 45 days of culture. These embryogenic calli gave rise to somatic embryos, which subsequently developed into plantlets on MS medium without PGRs. Also, shoots were effectively differentiated from embryogenic callus when root segments were cultured on MS medium supplement with 0.1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L BA. Shoots were effectively rooted on MS medium without PGRs. In vitro flowers were formed from plantlets cultured on MS medium with $5\%$ sucrose after 60 days of culture.