• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.432-437
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• 1997

We used a herbal medicine, roots of Rhodiola sachalinensis (RS) to assess whether RS extract can decrease blood ethanol concentrations in rats fed ethanol and if so, to elucidate the mechanism by which RS extract reduces blood ethanol levels. Rats were fed ethanol orally 1 hr after the oral administration of various doses of RS extract. In another experiment, rats were injected intraperitoneally with ethanol following the intake of RS extract via gastric catheter to eliminate possible inhibition of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestine by RS extract. The administration of RS extract remarkably lowered blood ethanol levels in a dose-dependent manner in rats given ethanol orally. However, the intake of RS extract did not reduce ethanol levels in rats injected with ethanol intraperitoneally. The activities of two main hepatic enzymes, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), involved in ethanol metabolism, were not affected by the administration of RS extract in rats fed ethanol. In addition, the intake of RS extract reduced serum triglyceride levels elevated by ethanol to the normal level. We conclude that the administration of RS extract lowers blood ethanol concentrations by inhibition of ethanol absorption in the gastrointestinal tracts of ethanol-fed animals.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2008

Ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng CA Meyer, family Araliacease), which is used in Korea, China and Japan as a herbal medicine, was fermented with Ganoderma lucidum (GL) and their antiallergic effects were investigated. Of GLs used for fermentation, KCTC 6283 potently produced ginsenoside Rh2, followed by KFRI M101. KCTC 6532, and ginsenoside Rd, followed by KFRI M101. Oral administration of these fermented ginseng extracts inhibited allergic reactions, passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction induced by IgE and scratching behaviors induced by compound 48/80. Of them, the ginseng extract fermented by KCTC 6532 and KFRI M101 potently inhibited allergic reactions compared to that fermented by KCTC 6283. These findings suggest that the fermentation of ginseng with GL can increase its antiallergic activity and the increment of its antiallergic effect may be due to the biotransformation of ginseng saponins to ginsenosides Rd and Rh2.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2008

In this research the genotoxic effect of $Polycan^{TM}$ ${\beta}$-glucans originated from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001, was evaluated using the mouse micronucleus test. $Polycan^{TM}$ was administered once a day for 2 days by oral gavage to male ICR mice at doses of 1000, 500 and 250 mg/kg. Cyclophosphamide was used as a known genotoxic agent in a positive control group. The appearance of a micronucleus is used as an index for genotoxic potential. The results obtained indicated that $Polycan^{TM}$ shows no genotoxicity effect up to 1000 mg/kg dosing levels. In addition, it is also considered that there were no problems from cytotoxicity of $Polycan^{TM}$ tested in this study because the polychromatic erythrocyte ratio was detected as > 0.47 in all tested groups.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.296-301
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• 2004

Previously, a flavonoid fraction, which consisted mainly of protocatechuic acid, fustin, fisetin, sulfuretin, and butein, here named RCMF $({\underline{R}}VS\;{\underline{c}}hloroform-{\underline{m}}ethanol\;{\underline{f}}raction)$, was prepared from a crude acetone extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) which is traditionally used as a food additive and as an herbal medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effects of RCMF on the antioxidant defense system using embryonic normal hepatic cell line (BNL CL.2) and its SV40-mediated transformed cell line (BNL SV A.8). This study demonstrates that RCMF selectively stimulated the antioxidant defense system of normal cells, as BNL CL.2 cells proved to be more sensitive to RCMF-mediated increases of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase than BNL SV A.8 cells. In particular, RCMF caused a significant increase in the malonaldehyde content of BNL SV A.8 cells, which is believed to be closely associated with cytotoxicity of RCMF and RCMF-mediated growth inhibition. Collectively, our findings suggest that the flavonoid fraction, RCMF, selectively stimulates the antioxidant defense system in normal rather than hepatic tumor cells.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.107-115
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• 2014

Phellinus linteus has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries and is known to have anti-tumor, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic activities. However, the protective effects of P. linteus against experimental asthma have not been fully investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether P. linteus ethanol extract (PLE) suppresses inflammatory response in an OVA-induced asthma model. As expected, the oral administration of PLE significantly inhibited eosinophilic airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness in OVA-challenged BALB/c mice. Supporting these data, the augmentation of Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13), eotaxin, and adhesion molecules in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid after OVA inhalation was markedly attenuated by PLE. Furthermore, PLE reduced OVA-induced activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ and p38 MAPK in lung tissues. Therefore, our results suggest the potential of P. linteus as a therapeutic agent for asthma.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2007

Objectives : The purpose of this study is that the protective effects of habmayou on acetaminophen (AP)-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated in mice. Methods : Before administering AP mice supplied with only water were left alone for 18 hours. after concentration and dissolution in poly ethylglycol AP 400mg per 1kg of mouse weight, we injected AP titrated density with a physiological saline solution into the abdominal cavity of mouse to induce hepatotoxicity. we researched mortality rate and the shape of liver tissue of mouse. Results : Treatment with habmayou (250 mg/kg, p.o.) 0.5 h after AP administration significantly prevented an increase in plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase activities and AP-induced hepatic necrosis, and also reduced AP-induced mortality from 46% to 0%. In addition, oral treatment with habmayou significantly prevented AP-induced depletion of glutathione (GSH) contents. However, habmayou treatment, by itself, did not affect hepatic GSH contents. Conclusion : These results show that the hepatoprotective effects of habmayou against AP overdose may be due to its ability to block the bioactivation of AP by regeneration of hepatonecrotic cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.659-664
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• 2016

Lindera obtusiloba has been used in traditional herbal medicine for the treatment of blood stasis and inflammation. The leaves of Lindera obtusiloba have been reported to exhibit various physiological activities. However, there is little information available on their antiplatelet and antithrombotic activities. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Lindera obtusiloba leaf extract (LLE) on platelet activities, coagulation and thromboembolism. In a platelet aggregation study, LLE significantly inhibited various agonist-induced platelet aggregations in vitro and ex vivo. Furthermore, LLE significantly inhibited collagen-induced thromboxane A2 (TXA2) production in rat platelets. In addition, oral administration of LLE was protective in a mouse model of pulmonary thromboembolism induced by intravenous injection of a mixture of collagen and epinephrine. Interestingly, LLE did not significantly alter prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT). This study indicates that the antithrombotic effects of LLE might be due to its antiplatelet activities rather than anticoagulation. Taken together, these results suggest that LLE may be a candidate preventive and therapeutic agent in cardiovascular diseases associated with platelet hyperactivity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.137-143
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• 2021

Most cervical cancers are associated with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Currently, cervical cancer treatment entails surgical removal of the lesion, but treatment of infection and preventing tissue damage are issues that still remain to be addressed. Herbal medicine and biological studies have focused on developing antiviral drugs from natural sources. In this study, we analyzed the potential antiviral effects of Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc. leaf extracts against HPV. The pine needle extracts from each organic solvent were analyzed for antiviral activity. The methylene chloride fraction (PN-MC) showed the highest activity against HPV pseudovirus (PV). The PN-MC extract was more effective before, rather than after treatment, and therefore represents a prophylactic intervention. Mice were pre-treated with PN-MC via genital application or oral administration, followed by a genital or subcutaneous challenge with HPV PV, respectively. The HPV challenge results showed that mice treated via genital application exhibited complete protection against HPV. In conclusion, PN-MC represents a potential topical virucide for HPV infection.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.228-236
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• 2009

Objectives : Acne, one of the most common disorders in dermatology clinic, is a chronic inflammatory disease which has the symptoms of comedones, papules, pustules, cysts, nodules and scars mainly on the face. Although some of pathologic findings are suggested, but the exact causes and mechanisms are not yet known in Western Medicine. Hwangryeonhaedok-Tang(HRHDT) is an antiinflammatory, antipyretic and detoxifying herb decoction. In this report, we would like to share our experience of acne treatment with HRHDT. Methods : We had treated several patients with acne, facial flushing and uprising febrile sensation on face using oral administration and external application of HRHDT. HRHDT is basically made up with Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus. In this trial, several other herbs were added according to the individual patient's accompanying symptoms. After the decoction of herbs in amount for 10 days, $Yogourmet^{(R)}$ Kefir Starter 10 g was added to the herbal solution that was then fermented in an incubator at $25^{\circ}C$ for 72 hours, and divided into 30 doses. Results : Photographies were taken before and after the treatment. The severities of acne were evaluated with these photos according to the Korean Acne Grading System(KAGS). As results, we observed dramatic clinical improvements and the decreases of KAGS grades after the average treatment period of 8 weeks. The medication was orally administered 3 times a day and the external treatment was applied average twice a week during the whole treatment period. Conclusions : From these results, HRHDT may be considered as a good prescription for the febrile and toxic type of acne patients.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.286-291
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• 2011

In this study we investigated effects of supplementation with ethyl acetate extracts of the brown alga Eisenia bicyclis on innate immune cells to evaluate the possibilities as an immunomoulator in exercise stress. Twenty male SD rats were divided into four groups and the treatments were as follows: A, no Eisenia bicyclis extract (EBE) (200 mg/kg) intake and maintained at rest ; B, no EBE intake and undergoing exercise ; C, EBE intake and undergoing exercise ; D, EBE intake and maintained at rest. After 5 weeks of oral supplementation, rats were undergoing intensive swimming exercises for 2 h and sacrificed to assess the effects on peritoneal macrophages, spleen cells and natural killer (NK) cells. We showed increasing effects on nitric oxide-inducible nitric oxide synthase (NO-iNOS) production by macrophages and no effects of NK tumoricidal activity and suppressive effects on spleen cell proliferation in exercise group. However, EBE supplementation suppressed NO-iNOS production by macrophages and increased NK tumoricidal activity and spleen cell proliferative response to mitogen in exercise group. Overall, these results that EBE supplementation has differential effects on innate immune response and could be useful as sports nutrition.