• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.179-193
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Nigella sativa (black seed or black cumin), which belongs to the Ranunculacea family, is an annual herb with many pharmacological properties. Among its many active constituents, thymoquinone (TQ) is the most abundant constituent of the volatile oil of Nigella sativa (N. sativa) seeds, and it is the constituent to which most properties of this herb are attributed. Methods: PubMed-Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify randomized control trials (RCTs) investigating the therapeutic effects of N. sativa and/or TQ. In this review, we investigated the clinical uses of N. sativa and TQ in the prevention and the treatment of different diseases and morbidity conditions in humans. Results: Black seed and TQ are shown to possess multiple useful effects for the treatment of patients with several diseases, such as inflammatory and auto-immune disorders, as well as metabolic syndrome. Also, other advantages, including antimicrobial, anti-nociceptive and anti-epileptic properties, have been documented. The side effects of this herbal medicine appear not to be serious, so it can be applied in clinical trials because of its many advantages. Conclusion: Some effects of N. sativa, such as its hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and bronchodilatory effects, have been sufficiently studied and are sufficiently understood to allow for the next phase of clinical trials or drug developments. However, most of its other effects and applications require further clinical and animal studies.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.251-265
• /
• 2007

Yanhyeoljeseuptang(YHJST) is a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study was to confirm whether or not YHJST has a preventive effect on development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-applied Nc/Nga mouse. This study was undertaken to develop a reliable mouse model demonstrating similar immunologic phenomena as human atopic dermatitis characterized with predominance of type-2 immune response. NC/Nga mouse were sensitized with $200\;{\mu\ell}$ of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) (acetone : olive oil = 3 : 1 mixture) and challenged twice or three times with $150\;{\mu\ell}$ of 0.2% DNCB in a week for the following 4 weeks. YHJST was administered orally to Nc/Nga mouse for 8 weeks, which led to the remarkable suppression on the development of dermatitis, as determined by various immune factors related to pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in splenocytes and DLN cells. In this study, YHJST selectively suppressed T ce11 (CD4+, CD3+/CD69+, CD4+/CD25+) activation, which may be essential for ratio of IL-4 versus INF-$\gamma$ produced in the splenic T cell culture supernatants was approximately 3-fold higher in the mouse treated with DNCB than their control mouse respectively. Immunologic studies showed down-regulated that the capacity of spleen T cells to produce IL-4, but IFN-$\gamma$ was up-regulated by means of oral intake of these YHJST. These results strongly suggest that YHJST is a promising candidate for treatment of human atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.267-280
• /
• 2007

Gupoongjeseuptang(GPJST) is a traditional herbal medicine used for the treatment of dermatitis. The aim of this study was to confirm whether or not GPJST has a preventive effect on development of atopic dermatitis in dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB)-applied Nc/Nga mouse. This study was undertaken to develop a reliable mouse model demonstrating similar immunologic phenomena as human atopic dermatitis characterized with predominance of type-2 immune response. NC/Nga mouse were sensitized with $200\;{\mu\ell}$ of 1% 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene(DNCB) (acetone : olive oil = 3 : 1 mixture) and challenged twice or three times with $150\;{\mu\ell}$ of 0.2% DNCB in a week for the following 4 weeks. GPJST was administered orally to Nc/Nga mouse for 6 weeks, which led to the remarkable suppression on the development of dermatitis, as determined by various immune factors related to pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis in splenocytes and DLN cells. In this study, GPJST selectively suppressed T ce11 (CD4+, CD3+CD69+, CD4+CD25+) activation, which may be essential for ratio of IL-4 versus INF-$\gamma$ produced in the splenic T cell culture supernatants was approximately 3-fold higher in the mouse treated with DNCB than their control mouse respectively. Immunologic studies showed down-regulated that the capacity of spleen T cells to produce IL-4, but IFN-$\gamma$ was up-regulated by means of oral intake of these GPJST. These results strongly suggest that GPJST is a promising candidate for treatment of human atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Artemisinin and its derivatives extracted from Artemisia annua, a Chinese herbal medicine, have variable biological effects due to structural differences. Up to date, the anti-obesity effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, is unknown. The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-adipogenic and lipolytic effects of DHA on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Methods: Oil Red O staining and AdipoRed assay were used to measure lipid accumulation and triglyceride (TG) content in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Cell count analysis was used to determine the cytotoxicity of 3T3-L1 cells. Western blot and real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analyses were used to analyze the expression of protein and mRNA in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Results: DHA at 5 μM markedly inhibited lipid accumulation and reduced TG content in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells with no cytotoxicity. Furthermore, DHA at 5 μM inhibited the expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBP-α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and perilipin A as well as the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (STAT-3) in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, while DHA at 5 μM had no effect on the mRNA expression of adiponectin, it strongly suppressed that of leptin in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells. However, DHA at 5 μM had no lipolytic effect on differentiated 3T3-L1 cells, as assessed by no enhancement of glycerol release. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that DHA at 5 μM has a strong anti-adipogenic effect on differentiating 3T3-L1 cells through the reduced expression and phosphorylation of C/EBP-α, PPAR-γ, FAS, perilipin A, and STAT-3.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2008

Hypolipidemic effect of Insamsansa-eum (ISE, Ren-Shen-Shan-Zah-Yin in Chinese) consisted of Red ginseng (RG; the steamed root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) and Crataegii fructus (CF, the fruit of Crataegus pinnatifida BGE) is used frequently in China and Korea as a herbal medicine to treat arteriosclerosis, was investigated. Treatment of ISE significantly reduced blood triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (TC) levels in Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemic mice and serum TG levels in corn oil-induced hypertriglyceridemic mice. ISE significantly lowered the high blood TG and TC levels as well as body and epididymal mass weights in hyperlipidemic mice induced by long-term feeding of a high-fat diet and increased blood HDL cholesterol level. ISE and its ingredients, RG and CF, inhibited pancreatic lipase and HMG-CoA reductase activities. Of its ingredients, RG reduced the blood TC level and HMG-CoA reductase activity more than CF. CF reduced blood TG level and pancreatic lipase activity more than RG. These finding suggest that the antihyperlipidemic effect of ISE may be due to synergistic inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase and pancreatic lipase by RG and CF, and that ISE may be effective hypolipidemic agents.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.238-243
• /
• 2017

Background: The production method of ginseng seedlings for ginseng cultivation is very important to ensure healthy rooting system as well as high quality, and yield of the resultant plants. This study was carried out to compare the growth characteristics of 2-year-old ginseng plants that were produced from seedlings grown in self soil nursery (SSN), nursery soil (NS) or hydroponic culture (HC). Methods and Results: The shading prop used was composed of four-layered 4 polyethylene (blue 3 + black 1) shade screen. The management of main field was done by inserting oil cake (1,200 kg/10 a) and then allowing Sudan grass to grow for a year. Seedling transplantation was carried out on April 6. Root growth was measured on October 25. Root weight was observed to be excellent at 6.0 g, following SSN transplantation. Root length was 21.2 cm for HC seedlings, but these plants had a physiological disorder (i.e., rusty root), in 83.5% plants of this treatment. The ratio of PD/PT (protopanaxadiol saponins / protopanaxatriol saponins) was higher in NS seedlings. Plant analysis revealed that Fe content was lower in HC seedlings with high rustiness. The growth of 2-years-old ginseng was different following these varying seedling cultivation methods, but seedlings from NS were not different from those grown in SSN. Conclusions: For the propagation of 2-year-old ginseng plants, NS seedlings may be a good substitute for SSN seedlings.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.20 no.5
• /
• pp.1233-1240
• /
• 2006

We have recently demonstrated that Siegesbeckia glabrescens(SG), a herbal medicine, induces apoptosis via nitric oxide(NO) production in human aortic smooth muscle cells(HASMCS). However, the molecular pathways involved in SG-mediated apoptosis are not fully understand. In the present study, we investigated the cellular mechanisms of SG-induced apoptosis in HASMCS. SG induced NO production through inducible nitric oxide synthase(iNOS) induction. The apoptotic effect of SG was attenuated by L-NNA, a NOS inhibitor. In the presence of L-NNA, the degradation of procaspase-3 by SG was inhibited. SG treatment induced a decrease in Bcl-2 expression but did not affect the expression of Bax. In addition, SG treatment evoked both down-regulation of PKC ${\alpha}$ and inhibition of PKC ${\alpha}$ phosphorylation. These downregulations were reversed by addition of L-NNA. It seems likely to De a downregulation of PKC${\alpha}$ due to long term treatment with PMA. Taken together, these results suggest that apoptotic effects of SG may be due to NO production via iNOS mRNA expression. Furthermore, Bcl-2 and PKC${\alpha}$ downregulation, and caspase-3 activation may be involved in the mechanisms for apoptotic effects by SG.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.391-396
• /
• 2009

Perilla frutescens, which belonging to the Labiatae family, is widely cultivated oil crop and have been used traditional herbal medicine in East Asia such as Korea, China, and Japan. Especially, the leaves and the seeds of this species are important in Korean traditional cooking, as one of the popular garnish and food colorants. Numerous studies have revealed that the beneficial health effects of perilla are due to its several phytochemicals contents, such as rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin, and apigenin. For this reason, increasing the content of phytochemicals in perilla hasbecome a major breeding objective. The genetic diversity of the rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin, and apigenin content in perilla seed is poorly documented. We analyzed the rosmarinic acid, caffeic acid, luteolin, and apigenin content of 203 accessions of perilla germplasm by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The rosmarinic acid and luteolin contents ofgermplasms were ranged from $15.7{\mu}g/g$ to $2717.1{\mu}g/g$ and from $1.6{\mu}g/g$ to $582.4{\mu}g/g$ respectively.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.33 no.2
• /
• pp.29-43
• /
• 2018

Objectives : Araliae Continentalis Radix(AC) is a medicinal herb belonging to the drug efficacy group treating musculoskeletal disorders(MSD) with anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic action. However, due to morphologic and onomastic similarity, adulterants(Angelicae Pubescentis Radix: AP, Gypsophilae Oldhamianae Radix: GO, Levistici Officinalis Radix: LO) have been included or replaced the standard. Methods : Multilateral methods were carried out on the identification of AC and its adulterants. Macroscopic and microscopic characteristics were observed by using stereoscope and microscope. For the comparison of chromatogram pattern, standard compounds were analyzed simultaneously using high performance liquid chromatography. Results : 1. The macroscopic identification of original plants was determined by the phyllotaxis type, the inflorescence type, the leaf margin and the color of flowers. The macroscopic identification of herbal materials was examined by oil spots, the cambium, heteromorphic vascular bundles, and the pholem. 2. For the microscopic identification, the fact whether its xylem ray is proliferated or not was first determined. Then medicinal herbs were secondly divided by cellular inclusions, fiber bundles, the distribution of secretary canals and the shape of cambium. 3. AC and its adulterants showed different chromatographic fingerprints. AC was containing continentalic acid and kaurenoic acid. AP was containing osthole and columbianadin. LO was containing osthole and falcarindiol. None of the compounds were found in GO. Conclusions : This recent identification keys of might be helpful to discriminate the pharmacopoeia standard and its adulterants for the right usage in clinics.

• Journal of Mushroom
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.56-62
• /
• 2015

A lipase producing bacterium was isolated from button mushroom bed, which showing high clear zone on agar media containing Tributyrin as the substrate. The strain was identified as Burkholderia cepacia by analysis of 16S rDNA gene sequence. Crude lipase (CL) was partially purified from 70% ammonium sulfate precipitation using the culture filtrate of B. cepacia. Immobilized lipases were prepared by cross-linking method with CL from B. cepacia and Novozyme lipase (NL) onto silanized Silica-gel as support. Residual activitiy of the immobilized CL (ICL) and immobilized NL (INL) was maintained upto 61% and 72%, respectively. Biodiesel (Fatty acid methyl ester, FAME) was recovered by transesterification and methanolysis of Canola oil using NaOH, CL and ICL as the catalysts to compare the composition of fatty acids and the yield of FAME. Total FAME content was NaOH $781mg\;L^{-1}$, CL $681mg\;L^{-1}$ and ICL $596mg\;L^{-1}$, in which the highest levels of FAME was observed to 50% oleic acid (C18:1) and 22% stearic acid (C18:0). In addition, the unsaturated FAME (C18:1, C18:2) decreased, while saturated FAME (C16:0, C18:0) increased according to increasing the reaction times with both CL and ICL, supporting CL possess both transesterification and interesterification activity. When reusability of ICL and INL was estimated by using the continuous reaction of 4 cycles, the activity of ICL and INL was respectively maintained 66% and 79% until the fourth reaction.