• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.163-170
• /
• 2024

In the literature, inhalation of cosmetic fragrances, including natural extracts or natural essential oils, has been reported to induce brainwave changes. Angelica gigas (AG) and Cnidium officinale (CO) are widely used in East Asian countries as traditional medicines to improve health, but there have been no previous reports of inhaling their aromas and assessing changes in brain activity through electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. In this study, the scent of natural herbal extracts such as Artemisia princeps var. orientalis (Compositae), AG, and CO was inhaled and evaluated whether emotional state changes were caused by olfactory stimuli, and brain activity was confirmed through EEG records before and after inhaling the scent of natural herbal extracts in subjects aged 20 to 30. We also used an electrocardiogram (ECG) to record the electrical activity of the heart during fragrance administration. The test results indicated that inhaling the scents of Compositae, AG, and CO extracts, as well as the positive control lavender, significantly increased the relative alpha power and the alpha/beta ratio of brain waves across the brain regions. The ECG recordings indicated that the inhalation of Compositae fragrance significantly decreased the low-frequency/high-frequency ratio, and that the inhalation of traditional herbal extract fragrances resulted in comfort and relaxation.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.131-135
• /
• 2005

Methanolic extracts of ninety-five medicinal plants were screened for platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding inhibitory activity using rabbit platelet. Alpinia officinarum, Belamcanda chinensis, Leonurus heterophyllus, Pinus densiflora, Polygonatum sibiricum and Sambucus williamsii showed significant inhibitory effects on the platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor binding.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 1986

Water extracts of 21 traditional Korean herbal drugs were prepared, and a dose range of 100 mg/kg to 400 mg/kg was administered orally into mice once a day for five days. Changes of serum enzyme activities of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), alkaline phosphatase, body weight changes and histo pathological examination of various organs were investigated. Water extract of Ephedra Herba caused severe body weight loss at a dose of 100 mg/kg and death from a dose level of 200 mg/kg by oral administration. Angelica koreanae Radix and Anthrisci Radix showed a slight body weight loss and damages to liver and kidney.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.173-178
• /
• 2009

A variety of herbs and plants have been traditionally used in oriental folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In our attempt to search for anti-inflammatory agents from natural products, we investigated 64 methanol extracts from 42 medicinal plants belonging to 10 families which were evaluated for inhibitory activities of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, 16 extracts exhibited inhibitory activities of NO production ($IC_{50}$ values ranging from 59.6 to 94.7 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Only the extract from aerial parts of Hosta lancifolia (H. lancifolia) did not exert cytotoxic effects at the concentrations tested. The extract from H. lancifolia decreased the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that the extract may contain bioactive compounds that suppress expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may prove beneficial with regard to the development of natural agents for prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.29-36
• /
• 2017

Objectives : In order to investigate the possibility of Sorbus commixta Heal. stem (SC) as a natural material, antioxidant activities of the hot water and ethanol extracts were examined. Methods : The samples of SC were pulverized, and fractions were extracted repeatedly three times from hot water and 70% ethanol at room temperature for 2 hours. The antioxidant activities were analyzed from total polyphenol, flavonoid contents, DPPH, ABTS, hydroxyl radical, $Fe2^+$ chelating, and nitrite scavenging activity. Results : Total polyphenol contents were significantly higher in ethanol extract group ($504.39{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) than in hot water extract group ($364.64{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Total flavonoid contents were also significantly higher in ethanol extract group ($160.09{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) than in hot water extract group ($124.59{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). DPPH, ABTS, $Fe2^+$ chelating were slightly higher in ethanol extract gorups than in hot water extract groups, and increased in a dose-dependent manner. The hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (18.42~23.61%) of ethanol extract groups were shown to be approximately twice higher than that (7.63~10.37%) of hot water extract groups at $12.5{\sim}50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ concentration. Nitrite scavenging activities of both ethanol and hot-water extract groups were shown to be higher in a dose dependent manner at the concentration of $12.5{\sim}50{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ at pH 3.0 than at pH 1.2, and ethanol extract groups (86.55~96.64%) had higher activity than the hot water extract groups (42.59~92.63%), which was higher than that of the control group antioxidant BHT (72.96~80.11%). Conclusions : The extracts of SC displayed antioxidant activities which suggested a natural material can be developed to functional material.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2019

Objectives : This study aimed to analyze contents of chlorogenic acid among major ingredients and determine the optimal solvent for the antioxidant activity from Solidago virga-aurea var. gigantea(SV) aerial part. Methods : Mature aerial part of extracted SV at the first crop on June 2018 was used. SV was mixed with each at the ethanol concentrate rates of water, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100% and extracted them for three times for eight hours at $70^{\circ}C$. The contents of chlorogenic acid and seven kinds of antioxidant activities were measured in SV extracts. Results : The highest the contents of chlorogenic acid was from 10% ethanol extracts showed. Total polyphenol and flavonoids of SV extracts were 126.16 mg/g and 105.84 mg/g, respectively. Scavenging activities of DPPH, ABTS, and hydroxyl radical significantly increased in a dose-dependent in SV extracts, while it was almost similar with control at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity significantly increase in a dose-dependent in SV extract, it was lower than control. Nitrite scavenging activity increased, dose-dependent in the sequence of pH 1.2> pH 3.0 > pH 6.0 in SV extracts, while it was almost similar with control at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$, pH 1.2, and pH 3.0. Conclusions : Thus, this study found that higher contents of chlorogenic acid and excellent antioxidant activity were contained in 10% ethanol extracts in mature aerial part of SV. It is expected to be used as basic data as natural antioxidant materials.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.45-52
• /
• 2016

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant activity of water and ethanol extracts from Sasa borealis leaves, stems and roots. Methods : Sasa borealis leaves, stems and roots extract were prepared using water and ethanol. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were analyzed. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl(DPPH) radical scavenging activity, SOD like activity, 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)(ABTS), hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and Nitrite scavenging activity assays were carried out to determine the antioxidant activities. Results : The antioxidant activities of the Sasa borealis appeared higher in ethanol extract than water extracts. Total polyphenol and total flavonoids contents in ethanol extracts of leaves were $24.6mg/m{\ell}$ and $14.3mg/m{\ell}$, respectively, which were much higher than those of any other parts. SOD like activity was 70% ethanol extract of the leaves was highest with 15.68%. Electron donating ability was 70% ethanol extract of the leaves had the highest 59.07%. It exhibited high electron donating ability than BHT(45.68%). Nitrite scavenging activity of 70% ethanol extract was higher than the water extract at pH 2.5 and pH 4.2. Nitrite scavenging activity was 70% ethanol extract of the leaves was the highest 75.2%. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity was 70% ethanol extract of the leaves was highest with 16.16%, showed very low activity than BHT(61.56%). Conclusions : These results suggest that 70% ethanol extracts from Sasa borealis leaves, exhibited higher antioxidant activities than those of root and stem, and can be potentially used as proper natural antioxidants.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 1999

Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in carcinogenesis and other several human diseases, antioxidants present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive agents. Thus, in order to identify antioxidants in plant extracts, potential activity was assessed by determining with inhibition of a xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Approximately 170 plant extracts of Korean herbal medicines were primarily evaluated for the potential of antioxidant activity. As a result, 13 plant extracts were found to be active $(IC_{50}$<$100\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Especially, Juncus effusus, Selaginella tamariscina, Pueraria thunbergiana and Sedum albroseum showed strong inhibitory activity in this process. Further studies for the identification of active principles from these active lead plant extracts might be warranted.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.178.1-178.1
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate cytotoxic effects of Houttuynia cordata THUNB extracts on A549 (lung cancer), MDA-MB231 (breast cancer), SNU-C4 (colon cancer) and B16 (mouse melanoma) cell lines. We have determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. The 150 $\mu$g/$m\ell$ concentration of methanol extract (63.81 ％) of Houttuynia cordata THUNB was shown significantly antitoxic activity on A549 cell lines. (omitted)

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2010

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative and fibrinolytic activity of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal plants. Methods : Five kinds of medicinal plants(Carthami Flos, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Atractylodes Rhizoma, Shiitake mushiroom) were extracted with distilled water and 70% ethanol, and the extracts were tested for their antioxidative and fibrilytic activities. Results : The highest polyphenol contents of the water and ethanol extracts from medicinal plants were 812.52 mg and 685.44 mg per 100 g of Carthamus tinctorius and Schizandra chinensis, respectively. The electron donating abilities (EDA) of the water extracts from all medicinal plants except Lentinus edodes were about 90% at 1,000 ppm and ethanol extracts were higher than those of water extracts. The highest SOD-like activity and nitrite scavenging abilities (NSA) were both of water and ethanol extracts from Schizandra chinensis. Five kinds of medicinal plants had fibrinolytoc activity and the highest activities were water and ethanol extracts from Glycyrrhiza uralensis. Conclusion : These results suggest that the medicinal plants can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells probably because of their antioxidative and fibrinolytic activities.