• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.105-114
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• 2022

Tinospora crispa (L.) is a medicinal plant traditionally used to treat various ailments including diabetes. The stem has been widely studied for its antidiabetic properties, however the antidiabetic potential of its leaves has not been explored. This study investigates the antidiabetic properties of methanolic T. crispa stem and leaves extracts on alloxan-induced diabetic rats. The stems and leaves were extracted using Soxhlet extraction with methanol as solvent. Crude extracts were administered at 500 mg/kg body weight (BW) (high dose) and 250 mg/kg BW (low dose) via oral route to alloxan induced diabetic rats. T. crispa stem and leaves extracts was found to significantly reduce blood glucose following a twelve-week treatment period. The highest mean difference in blood glucose level was exhibited by animals in the high dose treated stem and low dose leaf extracts. Both extracts showed approximately 75% percentage recovery from hyperglycaemia. The highest regenerative capacity was observed in animals treated with the low dose leaf extract.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.1-9
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• 2009

Objectives : For evaluation of preventive and anti-diabetic activities of Cinnamomi ramulus(CR) herbal acupuncture on pancreatic islet damage in streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rat. Methods : CR herbal acupuncture was performed at Bisu($BL_{20}$) for 3 weeks subcutaneously starting1 week before STZ i.p. injection. SD rats were divided into four groups(n=10 for each group); 1) NC group, non-treated normal control group, 2) STZ group, STZ administered control group, 3) CR125 group, CR(125mg/kg) + STZ administered group, and 4) CR250 group, CR(250mg/kg) + STZ administered group. Results : Both of CR250 and CR125 groups showed increase in insulin secretion and decrease in the level of serum triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid in a dose-dependent manner compared to the STZ group. Only CR250 group showed decrease in the levels of glucose and total cholesterol compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture prevents $\beta$-cell damage of pancreatic islet, showing round figure on the sections of the pancreas. In the pancreatic cells, expressions of iNOS, JNK-2, P-JNK-1/2 and ERK-1/2 were decreased compared to the STZ group. CR herbal acupuncture solution did not show any cytotoxicity by MTS assay and inhibited expressions of iNOS and COX-2 in the STZ-induced diabetic rats. Conclusions : Therefore, we suggest that CR herbal acupuncture may act as a prophylactic as well as a therapeutic modality for diabetes mellitus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.580-584
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• 2008

In the present study, Radix clematidis extract (RCE) was evaluated to determine if it could protect pancreatic ${\beta}$ cells against multiple low dose streptozotocin (MLDS)-induced diabetes. Injection of mice with MLDS resulted in hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia, which was confirmed by immunohistochemical staining. However, the induction of diabetes by MLDS was completely prevented when mice were pre-administrated with RCE. Generation of oxidative stress is implicated in MLDS, a ${\beta}$ cell specific toxin-induced islet cell death. In this context, to elucidate the mechanisms of protective effects in RCE pre-administrated diabetic mice, we investigated the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), which is one of the anti-oxidant enzymes. MLDS-induced HO-1 expressions were significantly reduced in MLDS-treated mice. However, the decrease of HO-1 by MLDS were protected by pretreatment of RCE. The molecular mechanism by which RCE inhibits diabetic conditions by MLDS appears to involve inhibition of HO-1 expression. Taken together, these results reveal the possible therapeutic value of RCE for the prevention of type 1 diabetes progression.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.45-49
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• 2015

Disturbance to marine wildlife is a serious negative impact of marine debris. In this study, the percentages of Black-faced Spoonbill nests that included plastic marine debris were calculated from surveys conducted on an islet named Suhaam off the western coast of South Korea. The percentages of nests including plastic decreased from 71% in 2010 to 37% in 2011 to 33% in 2012. The total number of nests increased from 28 in 2010 to 38 in 2011 to 43 in 2012. These differences in nests and nesting materials were possibly due to natural nesting materials such as tree branches and rice straws that were provided at the breeding site as a protective action in 2011 and 2012. Additional conservation efforts should be made to prevent further negative impacts from marine debris.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.399-404
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• 2020

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is associated with a variety of therapeutic effects, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, vasorelaxative, antiallergic, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Accordingly, the use of ginseng has reached an all-time high among members of the general public. However, the safety and efficacy of ginseng in transplant recipients receiving immunosuppressant drugs have still not been elucidated. Transplantation is the most challenging and complex of surgical procedures and may require causation for the use of ginseng. In this regard, we have previously examined the safety, immunological benefits, and protective mechanisms of ginseng with respect to calcineurin inhibitor-based immunosuppression, which is the most widely used regimen in organ transplantation. Using an experimental model of calcineurin inhibitor-induced organ injury, we found that ginseng does not affect drug levels in the peripheral blood and tissue, favorably regulates immune response, and protects against calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity and pancreatic islet injury. On the basis of our experimental studies and a review of the related literature, we propose that ginseng may provide benefits in organ transplant recipients administered calcineurin inhibitors. Through the present review, we aimed to briefly discuss our current understanding of the therapeutic benefits of ginseng related to transplant patient survival.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.66
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• pp.477-483
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• 2023

The flowers of Carthamus tinctorius (Safflower) were extracted with 80% aqueous methanol (CTex) and the concentrates were partitioned into EtOAc (CTE), n-BuOH (CTB), and H₂O (CTW) fractions. Repeated silica gel (SiO₂) and octadecyl silica gel column chromatographies for the EtOAc and n-BuOH fractions led to isolation of four flavonol glycosides. Nuclear magnetic resornance, infrarad spectroscopy, and mass spectroscopy revealed the chemical structure of the isolated compounds, astragalin (1), isoquercetin (2), nicotiflorin (3), and rutin (4). Quantitative analysis of four isolated compounds in CTex was performed by HPLC. CTex was found to contain 1 at 0.107, 2 at 0.367, 3 at 6.752, and 4 at 0.991 mg/g, respectively. Through this study, an experiment was conducted to evaluate the protective effect on pancreatic islets of the extract, solvent fractions, and all isolated compounds using a zebrafish larvae damaged by alloxan. Pancreatic islet size treated with EtOAc (CTE), n-BuOH (CTB), and H₂O (CTW) fractions and compounds 1-4 significantly increased compared to the alloxan-induced group. These results indicate that C. tinctorius flowers and its isolated compounds are used as potential anti-diabetic agents.