• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.83-90
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• 2013

Objectives : Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) is an active ingredient in Ligusticum wallichii and has a wide range of neuroprotection effects. This study investigated anti-neuroinflammatory effect of TMP on brain regions in intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated C57BL/6 mice. Methods : TMP was administered intraperitoneally at doses of 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg at 1 h prior to LPS (3 mg/kg) i.c.v. injection. mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin (IL)-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6, was measured in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamus tissue using real-time polymerase chain reaction at 24 h after the LPS injection. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) positive cells in the hypothalamus was also observed using immunohistochemistry at 24 h after the LPS injection. Results : At a dose of 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the cerebral cortex and IL-$1{\beta}$ mRNA in the hippocampus. In the hypothalamus, doses of 20 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg TMP significantly attenuated up-regulation of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6 mRNA induced by the LPS injection. In addition, TMP (30 mg/kg) significantly reduced the number of COX-2 positive cells in the hypothalamus. Conclusion : These results indicate that TMP has an anti-inflammatory effect on neuroinflammation, especially in the hypothalamus, induced by LPS i.c.v. injection and suggest that TMP-containing Ligusticum wallichii may play a modulatory role on the systemic responses following hypothalamic inflammation.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.173-174
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• 2020

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Biotechnology Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.274-274
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• 2005

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.284-285
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• 2008

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.95-101
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• 2005

Objectives : In order to distinguish Cnidii Rhizoma and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (cultivated in Korea and China), their external and internal states were observed via microscopic examination. Methods : The slice of the tested material made by paraffin section technique was colored with Safranine Malachite Green contrast methods, and then observed and photographed by olymphus-BHT. Results : Cnidii Rhizoma, Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (from Korea), and Ligustici Chuanxiong Rhizoma (from China) all demonstrated similar patterns as following : 1. external form 1) showing irregular nodular form with $2{\sim}7cm$ diameter. 2) having several trochites in parallel, and nodulose root trace on surface. 3) in addition to yellow-white or yellow-gray intersections, yellow-brown oil sacs were distributed, with cambium resembling a form of annulus. 2. internal form 1) its root and rhizome is composed of 10 layers of cork, with narrow cortical layers. 2) its phloem is wide, and oval light yellow-brown oil sacs are distributed around. The closer to the cambium, the smaller it is. 3) cambium is a form of a wave-like ring or an irregular polygon. 4) xylem and vessel are rare, most of which are arranged in a 'V' format, and sometimes xylem fiber is found. 5) pith is composed of parenchymatous cell, and parenchyma is full of starch grains. Conclusions : In conclusion, C officinale, L. chuanxiong (from Korea), and L. chuanxiong (from China) have rhizomes in a similar form with no special difference. Therefore, it is concluded that C. officinale, L. chuanxiong (from Korea), and L. chuanxiong (from China) are categorized into the same species.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.23-27
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• 2000

The effect of seventy kinds of medicinal plants on the activities of GABA-metabolizing enzymes as glutamate dehydrogenase I (GDH I), glutamate dehydrogenase II (GDH II), GABA transaminase (GABA-T), succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase (SSADH) and succinic semialdehyde reductase (SSAR) were estimated. The following plants extracts from Acori graminei Rhizoma, Longnae Arillus, Gastrodiae Herba, Lycii Fructus, Ligusticum officinale, Ferula assafoetida, Corydalis Tuber, Eucommiae Cortex, Zizyphi spinosi Semen activated the activity of GDH I to more than 35%, and the following ones from Visci Ramulus, Ligusticum officinale, Myristicae Semen, Ferulae Resina, Scolopendrae Corpus, Corydalis Tuber, Eucommiae Cortex, Zizyphi spinosi Semen did that of GDH II. The plant extracts from Cynanchi Radix, Astragali Semen, Angelicae dahuricae Radix, Biotae orientalis Folium, Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, Polygalae Radix, Cynomorii Herba inhibited that of GABA-T to 35% and over, and the following ones from Hyoscyamus niger, Cynanchi Radix, Acori graminei, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Cannabis Semen, Sedum aizoon, Sedum kamtschaticum, Schisandrae Fructus, Lilii Bulbus, Biotae orientalis Folium, Uncariae Ramulus et Uncus, Myristicae Semen, Akebiae Fructus, Cynomorii Herba, Buddleiae Flos, Mucunae Caulis, Zizyphi Fructus, Paeoniae Radix rubra did that of SSADH to 70% and over; the following ones from, Caesalpiniae Lignum, Sedum kamtschaticum, Schisandrae Fructus, Astragali Semen, Angelicae dahuricae Radix, Dioscorea nipponica, Myristicae Semen, Akebiae Fructus, Cynomorii Herba, Scutellariae Radix did that of SSAR.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2000

This study was conducted to improve the productivety of Ligusticum chuanxiong HORT. and Cnidium officinale MAKINO by establishing the effects of cultivating conditions. Growth characteristics of underground part of L. chuanxiong under the different mulching treatment showed the highest growth and yield in black vinyl mulching treatment. The highest dry weight of underground parts per plant in mulching treatment was 47.9g at white shading treatment while the lowest one was 16.5g at black shading treatment. Growth characteristics of underground parts C. officinale under the different mulching treatment were the higher in black vinyl mulching rather than in rice straw mulching and white vinyl mulching. Dry weight of underground parts per plant of C. officinale under the different shading treatments was the highest(37.8g) under the white shading while it was lowest(12. 2g) under the black shading.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.128-136
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• 2016

Tiny leaf fragments were found in the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, which were compiled about 500 years ago. The records describing the detailed process of compiling the Annals indicate that silk bags packed with the powders of 'Cheongung' and 'Changpo', which have been used as traditional herbal medicines in the northeast Asian countries such as China and Japan as well as Korea, were put in the wooden storage boxes together with the volumes of the Annals. However, there is no record that parts of plants were used in the process of compiling the Annals. The botanical origin of leaf fragments was identified as Ligusticum sinense 'Chuanxiong' by the analysis of trnK of chloroplast DNA as well as the examination of leaf surface with SEM. The comparative analysis of trnK sequences showed that the chloroplast DNA haplotype of 'Tocheongung', a triploid species cultivated in Korea, was identical with Cnidium officinale, but different from L. sinense 'Chuanxiong'. The molecular results provide a new suggestion on the botanical origin of crude drugs used as 'Cheongung', which has been disputed in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2013

Objectives : The pathophysiology of acute spinal cord injury(SCI) may be divided into primary and secondary mechanisms of injury. The secondary mechanism involves free radical formation, excitotoxicity, inflammation and apoptotic cell death, and sets in minutes after injury and lasts for weeks or months. During this phase the spinal tissue damages are aggravated. Therefore, secondary mechanisms of injury serve as a target for the development of neuroprotective drug against SCI. The present study investigated the effect of tetramethylpyrazine(TMP), an active ingredient purified from the rhizome of Ligusticum wallichii(川芎, chuanxiong), on neuronal apoptosis in spinal cord compression injury in rats. Methods : SCI was subjected to rats by a static compression method(35 g weight, 5 mins) and TMP was treated 3 times(30 mg/kg, i.p.) during 48 hours after the SCI. Results : TMP ameliorated the tissue damage in peri-lesion of SCI and reduced TUNEL-labeled cells both in gray matter and in white matter significantly. TMP also attenuated Bax-expressed motor neurons in the ventral horn and preserved Bcl-2-expressed motor neurons. Conclusions : These results indicate that TMP plays a protective role in apoptotic cell death of neurons and oligodendrocytes in spinal cord injury. Moreover, it is suggested that TMP and TMP-containing chuanxiong may potentially delay or protect the secondary spinal injury.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 1994

This study was carried out to select the appropriate medium(especially, carbon and nitrogen source ) for somatic embryogenesis in order to develop the rapid mass production system in suspension culture of chuanxiang Hort. Suitable medium for somatic embryo formation was MS medium. The half strength MS medium was effective for somatic embryo development. Sucrose was the most effective carbon source for somatic embryo formation, however, production of somatic embryos was reduced at higher concentration of sucrose. Effects of suger was the same as sucrose. Somatic embryo formation was higher as the decrease of $NH_{4}NO_3$, and optimum ratio of $KNO_3\;:\;NH_4NO_3$ was 825 : 238mg /1. Regenerated plant was obtained in MS basal medium and survival late of plantlet was 60-70% after transplanted directly to the vermiculite.