• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.149-160
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• 1983

It has been known that Gentianae macrophyllae Radix is reputed to be effective in removal of 'Pungseub' and 'Heoyeol', and to be analgesic. Since ancient times, however, there have been many examples of substituting Lycoctoni Radix for Gentianae macrophyllae Radix. For that reason, this experiment was conducted to compare the diuretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-pyretic, anti-bacterial effect, and toxicity of Lycoctoni Radix with those of Gentianae macrophyllae Radix. The results obtained in this work were summarized as follows; In the test of acute toxicity, Lycoctoni Radix was found to be toxic in comparison to Gentianae macrophyllae Radix which was found to be non-toxic. Both herbs were found to be diuretic and Gentianae macrophyllae Radix was more effective than the other and to be ineffective for the blood pressure and respiration. Lycoctoni Radix was found to be more analgesic than the other. Gentianae macrophyllae Radix was found to be more anti-inflammatory of the two and both demonstrated anti-pyretic effect. Anti-bacterial effect was detected only in Lycoctoni Radix. It is concluded that Gentianae macrophyllae Radix has mild diuretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-pyretic effect, but Lycoctoni Radix, due to its toxicity, can not be substituted for Gentianae macrophyllae Radix.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.28-38
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• 2008

In traditional oriental medicine, Gentianae Radix has been used clinically for clearing away 'heat', removing dampness and purging fire in the liver and gall bladder. However, there has been a lack of studies regarding the effects of Gentianae Radix on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide(NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of Gentianae Radix MeOH extract, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS was determined by immunoblot analysis, and the content of levels of cytokines in media was analyzed by ELISA kit. Results provided evidence that Gentianae Radix inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), $interleukin-l{\beta}$ $(IL-l{\beta})$ and IL-6, and the activation of phospholylation of inhibitor ${\kappa}B{\alpha}$ ($p-I {\kappa}B{\alpha}$) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings suggest that Gentianae Radix can make anti-inflammatory effect, which may playa role in adjunctive therapy.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.79-84
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• 2018

Objective : The immune enhance is the main focus of current society that to increase resistance to invasion by pathogenic species of bacteria in body, stimulate the immune system and possibly protect against cancer or inflammatory disease. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Gentianae Radix extract on immune regulation in a LPS-induced mice model of acute inflammation. Methods : Gentianae Radix extract was administered orally at doses of 200 mg/kg/day or 400 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks before a intraperitoneally injection of LPS (1 mg/kg of 0.9% saline). After LPS-intraperitoneal injection 3 hours, blood was collected by cardiac puncture under ether anaesthesia from all animals, for the immune regulate efficacy verification based on blood or serum biomarkers (i.e., immune cells, cytokine, $PGE_2$, ROS, and $LTB_4$) analysis. Results : Compared to the control mice, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly increased the count of immune cells (i.e., wite blood cell, neutrophils, and monocyte), and significantly reduced the lymphocyte. In addition, the Gentianae Radix extract treatments significantly decreased the pro-inflammatory cytokine (i.e., $IL-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and $TNF-{\alpha}$), and significantly increased IL-10 of anti-inflammatory cytokine. Furthermore, the Gentianae Radix extracts treatments significantly increased the levels of $PGE_2$ and significantly decreased the levels of ROS, and $LTB_4$. Conclusions : The results indicate that Gentianae Radix extract alleviated acute inflammatory reaction though regulation of immune meditor. Thus, Gentianae Radix extract may raw material of development a health food and medicine option for the immune enhance.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.4 s.127
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• pp.287-291
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• 2001

The Radix of Gentiana macrophylla (Gentianaceae) has been used for dispelling wind-damp, relaxing the sinews, and clearing heat from deficiency. In order to evaluate its quality, the method for the quantitative determination of gentiopicroside as standard compound has been developed. Gentiopicroside was a major compound of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix. It was analyzed by HPLC using 30% MeOH as a solvent system. The amount of gentiopicroside from Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix was in the range of $2.22{\pm}1.22%\;(n=18)$.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.29-44
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• 2010

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Gentianae Radix on neurogenesis and apoptosis in ethanol- induced newborn rats hippocampus dentate gyrus. Methods : In vivo, laboratory animals were divided into three groups; Normal group(N), Control group(C) and Treated group (TG)(n=7 for each group). N were treated saline daily for five days. C were treated 1.5 g/kg ethanol and saline daily for five days. TG were treated 1.5 g/kg ethanol and 300 mg/kg Gentianae Radix daily for five days. BrdU(5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine) assay was used to test neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus. And TUNEL(Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) assay was used to test apoptosis in the dentate gyrus. Three groups were measured body weight, serum ethanol concentration, BrdU-positive cells and TUNEL-positive cells in the dentate gyrus. In vitro, MTT(3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to test viability in SK-N-MC cells. BrdU assay was used to test neurogenesis in SK-N-MC cells. DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 enzyme activity assay were used to test apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells. And treated ethanol and Gentianae Radix of all in vitro tests were made various concentration. Results : In vivo, Gentianae Radix modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in newborn rats hippocampus dentate gyrus. In vitro, TG 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ have significantly modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells. And only TG 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ have significantly protected SK-N-MC cells from ethanol-induced cytotoxicity. Conclusions : Gentianae Radix may have the effect that modulated ethanol-induced neurogenesis and apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.28-38
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• 2009

Background : Peripheral nerve injuries are a commonly encountered clinical problem and often result in a chronic pain and severe functional deficits. Objective : The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix (G. M. Radix) on the pain control and the recovery of the locomotor function that results from the sciatic crushed nerve injury in rats. Method : Using rats, we crushed their sciatic nerve, and then orally administered the aqueous extract of G. M. Radix. The effects of G. M. Radix on the recovery locomotor function were investigated by walking track analysis. The effects of G. M. Radix on pain control were investigated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression in the sciatic nerve, and c-Fos expression in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus and in the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG). Result : G. M. RADIX facilitates motor function from the locomotor deficit, and thereby increased BDNF expression and suppressed painful stimuli in the PVN and vlPAG after sciatic crushed nerve injury. Conclusion : It is suggested that G. M. Radix might aid recovery locomotor function and control pain after sciatic crushed nerve injury. Further studies on identifying specific the component in G.M. Radix associated with enhanced neural activity in the peripheral nerve injury may be helpful to develop therapeutic strategies for the treatment of peripheral nerve injury.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.1-16
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• 2016

Objectives : The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix pharmacopuncture (GP) at Hwando (GB30) in neuropathic pain induced rats. Methods : Neuropathic pain in rats was induced by tibial and sural nerve transection. The rat subjects were divided into 6 groups : normal (Nor, n = 5), control (Con, n = 5), neuropathic pain- induced injected at GB30 with 1 mg/kg GP (GP-A, n = 5), 5 mg/kg GP (GP-B, n = 5) and 20 mg/kg GP (GP-C, n = 5), and neuropathic pain-induced injected with 1mg/kg Tramadol (Tramadol, n＝5). Injections were administered 2 times a week for a total of 5 treatments. After each treatment plantar withdrawal response was measured and after all 5 treatments were completed c-fos, Bax, Bcl-2, mGlu5 and leukocytes in the blood were analyzed. Results : 1. Groups GP-A, GP-B and GP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the withdrawal response of mechanical allodynia compared to the control group. 2. Groups GP-A, GP-B and GP-C showed a meaningful decrease in the expression of c-fos compared to the control group. 3. Groups GP-A and GP-C showed a meaningful increase in the expression of mGluR5 compared to the control group. 4. Groups GP-A, GP-B and GP-C showed a meaningful decrease in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio compared to the control group. Conclusion : These results suggest that Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix pharmacopuncture at Hwando (GB30) could decrease mechanical allodynia and could have analgesic and neuroprotective effects on the model of neuropathic pain.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.261-277
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• 1998

The purpose of this research was to investigate cytotoxicity of DangkwiYonghoe-Hwan(DYH) and the constitutive crude drugs on several cancer cell-lines, thymocytes, splenocytes and 3T3 cells. The DYH consists of Coptidis Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, Phellodendri Cortex, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus, Saussureae Radix and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. The cytotoxicity was determined by MTT method. The DYH inhibited the proliferation of MOLT-4, K562, HL-60, Jurkat, L1210, P815, S180 and Yac-1, thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells. The cytotoxicity of Coptidis Rhizoma on the cancer cell-lines was the most potent in the constitutive crude drugs. The proliferation of cancer cell-lines was partly inhibition and partly increase by the treatment of Scutellariae Radix, Gardeniae Fructus, Gentianae scabrae Radix, Indigo pulverata Levis, Aloe, Rhei Rhizoma, Moschus and Angelicae Gigantis Radix. Phellodendri Cortex and Saussureae Radix had a poor cytotoxicity on cancer cell-lines. Coptidis Rhizoma and Phellodendri Cortex inhibited the proliferation of thymocyte, splenocyte and 3T3 cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.63-70
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• 2009

Objectives : The present study was examined to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of the Gentianae Macrophyllae Radix MeOH extracts (GMR) in vivo. Methods : The effects of GMR on anti-inflammation were measured by production of NO, TNF-$\alpha$ (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha) and IL-$1{\beta}$ (Interleukin-$1{\beta}$), IL-6 in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Results : 1. All concentrations of GMR(0.10 mg/ml) had no significant cytotoxicity in Raw 264.7 cell during the entire experimental period. 2. The level of NO and iNOS in culture medium was dramatically increased by LPS application. However, these increases were dose-dependently(0.03 and 0.10 mg/ml) attenuated by treatment with GMR. 3. All concentrations of GMR significantly inhibited the production of IL-$1{\beta}$ in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with LPS. Conclusions : These results provide evidences that therapeutic effect of GMR on heat syndrome, especially due to the acute inflammation, are partly due to the reduction of some of inflammatory factors by inhibiting iNOS and COX-2 through the suppression of $p-I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$. Moreover, it suggests that the mechanism of action of GMR comes from the suppression of inflammatory mediators, such as NO, PGE2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.117-137
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• 2007

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Gentianae macrophyllase Radix herbal-acupuncture solution(GR-HAS) at Joksamni(ST36) on Collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) in DBA/1J mice. The author performed several experimental items to analyze arthritis evaluation, change of weight, spleen size and adhesion rate, change of cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II , change of immunocyte count, histological change of CIA mouse joint related with RA. Results : 1. In the GR-HA group, the arthritis index, the incidence of arthritis and joint edema were significantly decreased. 2. In GR-HA group, there were no weight loss and similarly maintained as normal group. Spleen size, adhesion rate and the edema and transformation of knee joint were low and similarly maintained as normal group. 3. In the GR-HA, cytokine level, IgG, IgM and anti-collagen II were significantly decreased. 4. In the GR-HA, the change of immunocyte count were similarly maintained as normal group. 5. In the histological changes of the CIA mouse joint, the cartilage destruction and synovial cell proliferation were decreased in the GR-HA(Hematoxylin and eosin stain). The collagen fiber expressions in the GR-HA were similar with that of the normal group(Masson's Trichrome stain) Conclusions : These results suggest that GR-HA at ST36 has an effect to control immune reaction and suppress inflammation, synovial cell proliferation and cartilage destruction in rheumatoid arthritis.