• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.123-128
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• 2003

Stephania hernandifolia belonging to the family Menispermaceae is the biggest storehouse of diphenylbisbenzylisoquinoline (DBBI) alkaloids. Exhaustive chemical processing of the bulb of S. hernandifolia by the application of modern separation techniques yielded a DBBI alkaloid which was identified as cycleanine using spectroscopic methods (UV, IR, $^1HNMR$. $^{13}CNMR$, Mass). Cycleanine showed significant anti-inflammatory activity against carrageenin induced paw oedema, comparable to that produced by diclofenac sodium, used as standard drug. It exhibited potent analgesic effects against chemical and thermal noxious stimuli. It was also found to possess anticonvulsive activity in the strychnine induced convulsion model.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.902-908
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• 2006

Tetrandra is the root of Stephania tetrandra 5. Moore (family Menispermaceae), or of Aristolochia frangchi Wu (family Aristolochiaceae). It is a Differ-flavored and cold-property herb acting on the urinary bladder, kidney and spleen meridiands. Known biological effects of this herb are expelling wind to relieve pain and inducing diuresis to alleviate edema. This herb also has anti-inflammatory and anti-hypersensitivity actions. Recent studies have shown that Stephanniae Tetrandrae Radix has antimicrobial effects, namely, a protective effect on acute renal failure induce by gentamicin sulfate and a suppressive effect against clostridium perfringes. However, there is a lack of studies concerning the immunological activities of this herb. The present study was conducted to evaluate the immunological activities of Stephanniae Tetrandrae Radix on the regulatory mechanisms of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264.7 cells. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay after the treatment of Stephanniae Tetrandrae Radix extract (STRE) and NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. COX-2 and iNOS were determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. Results provided evidences that STRE inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}\;(TNF-{\alpha})$, $interleukin-1{\beta}(IL-1{\beta})$ and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). These findings showed that STRE could produce some anti-inflammatory effects which might play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.98-109
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• 2010

78 Korean native plants, which have not been used in general, were selected to be used as outdoor pot plants for three seasons, from spring to autumn. Plants, which were explored in about 30 places of Korea from 2007 to 2009, were transplanted to or sown in white plastic general pots ($27.5cm({\Phi}){\times}27.5cm(H)$) and hanging pots($28cm({\Phi}){\times}13cm(H)$) and grown in the garden of 36''56' latitude(N) and 127''09' longitude(E). 38 species(13 families and 29 genus) were suitable for outdoor general pots, and 46 species(28 families and 43 genus) for outdoor hanging pots. Among 38 plants for outdoor general pots, the principal species, which were easy to grow and have not been used in general, were 16 species, Metaplexis japonica in Asclepiadaceae, Phyteuma japonicum in Campanulaceae, Artemisia capillaris, Artemisia princeps, and Artemisia selengensis in Compositae, Carex humilis in Cyperaceae, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Setaria viridis in Gramineae, Agastache rugosa, Glechoma hederacea, Elsholtzia splendens, Isodon inflexus, and Mosla punctulata in Labiatae, Vicia villosa in Leguminosae, Piper kadzura in Piperaceae, and Rosa multiflora var. multiflora in Rosaceae. Among 46 plants for outdoor hanging pots, the principal species, which were easy to grow and have not been used in general, were 17 species, Metaplexis japonica in Asclepiadaceae, Ixeris stonlonifera in Compositae, Calystegia japonica and Quamoclit angulata in Convolvulaceae, Dioscorea batatas in Dioscoreaceae, Glechoma hederacea and Thymus quinquecostatus in Labiatae, Trifolium lupinaster for. alpinus and Vicia villosa in Leguminosae, Menispermum dauricum in Menispermaceae, Piper kadzura in Piperaceae, Clematis mandshurica for. lancifolia in Ranunculoideae, Rosa multiflora var. multiflora and Potentilla fragarioides var. major in Rosaceae, Paederia scandens and Rubia akane in Rubiaceae, and Parthenocissus tricuspidata in Vitaceae.