• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.403-409
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• 2013

This study has assessed the anti-oxidative activities and cytotoxic effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon ethanol extract and measured the effects of tyrosinase inhibition activities with a goal of estimating the usage of the medicinal plant as an ingredient of cosmetics. First, to perform a basic test on the extract, pH and UV-spectrum were measured. According to the measurement, the extract had control functions at pH 5.5, and maximum absorbance occurred at 530nm. In particular, DPPH (1-1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl)-inhibiting activity (IC50) and polyphenol content were 149.81 ${\mu}g/mL$ and $51.28{\pm}2.52$ mg/mL respectively. In addition, as extract concentration increased, tyrosinase inhibition activities improved as well. In raw 264.7 cell-based MTT assay, cell survival rates were 98% at 1000 ppm and 153% at 100 ppm. Therefore, it's been confirmed that there is almost no cytotoxin. According to the test results above, it appears that the Lithospermum erythrorhizon ethanol extract would be effective in anti-oxidation and application as a cosmetic ingredient.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2010

The present study was carried out to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon on acute hepatotoxicity induced in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats by a single dose of galactosamine (400 mg/kg, i.p). The animals were divided into four groups. The animals in the Con group were fed basal diet. GalN group were administered with galactosamine. LE200 and LE500 groups treated with water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (such as 200 and 500 mg/kg/day, p.o) for 7 days before galactosamine injection. In the change of AST, ALT, ALP, GGT and LDH contents, as compared with GalN group, LE200 group were significantly decreased. According to the electron microscopical observation, liver cells were increased the lipid droplet, change of mitochondria in the GalN compared with LE200. These results suggest that administration of water extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon suppress or retard galactosamine induced acute liver injury.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.77-88
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• 2015

Lithospermum erythrorhizon has long been used in traditional Asian medicine for the treatment of diseases, including skin cancer. The oral toxicity of a hexane extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon root (LEH) was investigated in Beagle dogs by using single escalating doses, two-week dose range-finding, and 4-week oral repeat dosing. In the single dose-escalating oral toxicity study, no animal died, showed adverse clinical signs, or changes in body weight gain at LEH doses of up to 2,000 mg/kg. In a 2 week dose range-finding study, no treatment-related adverse effects were detected by urinalysis, hematology, blood biochemistry, organ weights, or gross and histopathological examinations at doses of up to 500 mg LEH/kg/day. In the 4 week repeat-dose toxicity study, a weight loss or decreased weight gain was observed at 300 mg/kg/day. Although levels of serum triglyceride and total bilirubin were increased in a dose dependent manner, there were no related morphological changes. Based on these findings, the sub-acute no observable adverse effect level for 4-week oral administration of LEH in Beagles was 100 mg/kg/day.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.302-306
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• 2015

In this work, the antioxidant activity and total phenolic compound content of 6 fractions of Smallanthus sonchifolius, Agrimonia pilosa, and Lithospermum erythrorhizon extract were investigated. The highest total phenolic compound contents of each plant extracts were obtained from n-butanol ($13.75{\pm}0.21%$) and methylene chloride ($12.89{\pm}1.10%$) fractions (S. sonchifolius), ethyl acetate ($19.69{\pm}1.02%$) and water ($18.72{\pm}0.76%$) fractions (A. pilosa), and n-butanol ($36.26{\pm}1.26%$) and ethyl acetate ($17.66{\pm}0.94%$) fractions (L. erythrorhizon), respectively. As a result of DPPH radical scavenging activity in 10 mg/mL condition, the highest activity were obtained from n-butanol fraction of S. sonchifolius (81.06%), ethyl acetate fraction of A. pilosa (86.32%), and n-butanol fraction of L. erythrorhizon (82.6%), respectively. Also, the highest reducing power was obtained same fractions as well as DPPH adical scavenging activity. Overall, antioxidant activity has relatively closely connected with contents of total phenolic compounds in S. sonchifolius and L. erythrorhizon extracts.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.73-88
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• 2010

Traditionally, the root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc(L.E) has been used as efficacious therapy for inflammation, burns, frostbite and skin ailments (e.g eczema and psoriasis). It contains isohexenylnaphthoquinone derivatives (shikonin and its esters) and furylhydroquinones (shikonofurans) in lipophilic fractions and caffeic acid oligomers (rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid B) in polar fractions. Recently, new preparative isolation and analysis procedures of shikonin along with its oligomers from the extract of L. erythrorhizon by the combination of high-speed counter-current chromatography with high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection have also been introduced. Although there have been many reports on the wound healing, antiinflammatory, and anticancer effects, the research on the effects of anti-atopic dermatitis of the root of L. erythrorhizon were relatively scarce. However, in recent years, new information gathered from research efforts, on the anti-atopic dermatitis properties of the extract or constituents of L. erythrorhizon has been accumulated. In this paper, the findings and advance on the in vitro and in vivo activities of L. erythrorhizon and its constituents especially focused on antiinflammatory and anti-atopic dermatitis effects are summarized. The phytochemical constituents of L. erythrorhizon or its tissue cultures are also presented. Although there are few to verify or refute its activity in human, one result of clinical study of the extract of L. erythrorhizon on the atopic dermatitis patients was introduced to assess the possibility of its clinical use. The reported mechanisms of action and in vivo pharmacological studies in different animal models for the various types of extracts or constituents of L. erythrorhizon are supportive of its therapeutic potential or dietary supplement, however, more evidence from clinically relevant models, as well as systemic studies on the active constituents or the various types of standardized extracts at the cellular and molecular level, are required.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.9
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• pp.1325-1329
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• 2005

To estimate the inhibitory effect of Lithospemum erythrorhizon root extract on melanin biosynthesis, we tested its inhibitory effects on tyrosinase promoter in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Lithospermum erthrorhizon root extract had inhibitory effect above $33\%$ on tyrosinase promoter at $10{\mu}g/mL$ and exhibited no cytotoxicity under $100{\mu}g/mL$. Also, melanin biosynthesis decreased approximately $11\%$ and $24\%$ at $10{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. Therefore, Lithospermum erythrorhizon root extract would be considered very effective regulator of tyrosinase promoter and melanin biosynthesis.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.328-331
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• 2007

The methanolic extract of the roots of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (Boraginaceae) was found to show inhibitory activity towards farnesyl protein transferase (FPTase). Bioassay-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of three naphthoquinone compounds, as inhibitors of FPTase. These compounds inhibited the FPTase activity in a dose-dependent manner.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.466-473
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• 2013

This study investigates the effect of supercritical fluid extract (CMPB803-C) of Lithospermum erythrorhizon, shikonin and acetylshikonin isolated from Lithospermum erythrorhizon on IL-$1{\beta}$-induced chondrocytes and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis in rat. Shikonin ($50{\mu}m$) and acetylshikonin ($3{\mu}M$) treatment reduced significantly the mRNA expression and enzyme activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, -3 and -13 in IL-$1{\beta}$-induced SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells. The chondro-protective effects of CMPB803-C and acetylshikonin were than analyzed in a rat OA model using a single intra-articular injection of MIA (1mg) in the right knee joint. CMPB803-C (200mg/kg) or acetylshikonin (5mg/kg) was orally administered daily for two weeks starting after 1 week of MIA injection. In the histological observation, CMPB803-C and acetylshikonin clearly improved OA lesions being comparable to or better that control group. Our results demonstrated that CMPB803-C and acetylshikonin as active compound of Lithospermum erythrorhizon have a strong chondro-protective effect in OA rats, which likely attributes to its anti-inflammatory activity and inhibition of MMPs production.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.823-827
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• 2004

Antimicrobial effect of Lithospermum erythrorhizon extracts against food-borne pathogens was investigated. L. erythrorhizon was extracted with methanol at room temperature, and the extraction was sequentially fractionated using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol. Antimicrobial activity of L. erythrorhizon extracts was determined using paper disc method against food-borne pathogens and food spoilage bacteria. Ethyl acetate extracts of L. erythrorhizon showed the highest activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella dysenteriae. Synergistic effect was found in combined extracts of L. erythrorhizon and Sophora subprostrata as compared with each extract alone. Growth inhibition curve was determined using ethyl acetate extracts of L. erythrorhizon, against S. aureus and S. dysenteriae. Ethyl acetate extract of L. erythrorhizon, showed strong antimicrobial activity against S. aureus at 4,000 ppm, retarding growth of S. aureus more than 48 hr and S. dysenteriae up to 12 hr.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.105-111
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• 2013

This study was performed to investigate the enhancement of immunomodulatory activities of Lithospermum erythrorhizon by extreme process. The extracts are WE100 (water extract for 24 hours at $100^{\circ}C$), WE80 (water extract for 24 hours at $80^{\circ}C$), EE (70% ethyl alcohol extract for 24 hours at $80^{\circ}C$) and EPE (extreme process for 30 minutes at $25^{\circ}C$, 500 MPa after 70% ethyl alcohol extracts for 3 hours at 40, 50, $60^{\circ}C$). Extraction yield was increased up to 5~10% by extreme process, compare to the normal extraction such as water solvent extraction, 70% ethyl alcohol solvent extraction. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was showed in the range of 12.68~15.89% at $1.0mg/m{\ell}$ for human lung cell (HEL299). The EPE40 was showed the lowest cytotoxicity 12.68%. The EPE60 extracted by extreme process increased the growth of human B and T cells up to $12.12{\times}10^4\;cells/m{\ell}$ and $14.88{\times}10^4\;cells/m{\ell}$, respectively and the EPE60 greatly increased the cytokine secretion of both IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$. The extracts by extreme process also exhibited higher levels of nitric oxide production from macrophages than the lipopolysaccaharides. It can be concluded that Lithospermum erythrorhizon has immune activities and The extreme process could increase higher immune activities possibly by immunomodulatory compounds.