• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.373-379
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• 2011

Paeoniae Radix Rubra is a preparation consisting of desiccated roots of Paeonia lactiflora PALL (belonging to Ranunculaceae). Paeoniae Radix Rubra is used as a medicinal herb in Asian countries to treat many diseases. Ethanol- or water-based extracts of Paeoniae Radix Rubra were prepared and tested on RAW 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line. The expression of some pro-inflammatory proteins, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and phosphorylated ERK1/2 was detected by Western blot analyses, while PGE2 expression was quantified by ELISA. Both the water and ethanol extracts of Paeoniae Radix Rubra suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and exhibited cell toxicity in accordance with increased NO production. Also, both extracts reduced the expression of COX-2 and iNOS, and inhibited phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Extracts prepared from Paeoniae Radix Rubra contain anti-inflammatory agents that inhibit the iNOS and MAPK pathways.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.170-175
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• 1999

On the purpose of development of novel antioxidative compounds from natural sources, 38 plants expected to show antioxidant activity have been examined concerning DPPH radical scavenging activity. Among them, thirteen plants, including Paeoniae radix, the root of Paeonia lactiflora, exhibited the activity. In order to isolate active component, the root was extracted in 80% aqueous MeOH and solvent fractionated with EtOAc, n-BuOH and water, successively. Silica gel column chromatographies of the EtOAc and n-BuOH fraction exhibiting antioxidant activity. were repeatedly carried out with monitoring by DPPH assay to afford three active compounds. On the basis of spectral data and the chemical characteristics, the structures of the compounds were determined as (+)-catechin, $1,2,3,4-tetragalloyl-6-digalloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$ and $1,2,3,4,6-penta-galloyl-{\beta}-D-glucose$.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.1055-1059
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• 2007

Two monoterpene glucosides, paeoniflorin and albiflorin, in peony (Paeonia lactiflora) were purified from 70% ethanol extract of Paeoniae Radix by diethyl ether washing and n-butanol partition, acetone dissolution, and gradient preparative HPLC. After the whole course of purification, yield of paeoniflorin, albiflorin, and the sum of them were 75.0, 38.8, and 68.7%, respectively, together with the corresponding purity of 96.2, 93.8, and 96.0%.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.224-237
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• 2021

Purpose: Paeonia Radix Alba is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat the liver and the spleen. Many studies have reported that Paeonia Radix Alba extract (PR) affects liver injury, but there has been no study on liver injuries induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the effect of PR on a TAA-induced acute liver injury (ALI) model. Methods: The antioxidant activity of PR was assayed by the content of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, 1,1-diphenyl-2'-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities in vitro test. ALI was induced via-intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) for three consecutive days. Also, silymarin (100 mg/kg body weight) and PR (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered at 1 hours 30 minutes prior to TAA treatment. The levels of ammonia, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were analyzed using an assay kit. The expressions of antioxidant proteins including Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2 and oxidative stress-related proteins including NOX2, p47^phox, and p22^phox were evaluated by the western blot analysis. Results: PR showed excellent antioxidant activity in vitro. TAA administration increased the levels of ammonia, GOT, and GPT in the ALI control group compared to the normal group, whereas it was significantly reduced by PR pretreatment. Moreover, NADPH oxidase protein expressions were upregulated after TAA treatment, while the elevated expressions were inhibited by PR pretreatment. The expressions of antioxidant protein were downregulated in the ALI control group, whereas Nrf2 activation in the PR group was accompanied by increased levels of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion: PR administration increased the antioxidant enzymes via activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibited the protein levels of NADPH oxidase factors. Taken together, these results showed that PR treatment may be considered to ameliorate acute liver injury induced by TAA.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.163-187
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• 2008

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the treatment of precocious puberty in current traditional Chinese medical journals. Methods To figure out diagnosis methods, treatment methods, treatment effects of oriental medicine about precious puberty, Chinese medical journals from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) which was published from 1999 to 2007 were analyzed and precocious puberty was also been searched. Results 82 articles were selected. 1. Yin and purging Fire(滋陰瀉火) from traditional Chinese Medicine was usually used. 2. The herbs were almost used such as Rehmannia glutinosa(地黃), Anemarrhena asphodeloides (知母), Phellodendron amurense(黃柏), Thesium chinense(夏枯草), Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews(牧丹皮), Alisma canaliculatum(澤瀉), Testudinis Plastrum(龜板), Paeonia japonica(白芍藥), Bupleurum falcatum(柴胡), Genianae Scabrae Radix(龍膽草). 3. The total improvement rate was 72.50 to 100% Conclusions The oriental medical treatments for precocious puberty were presumed to be effective, but more studies are still needed.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.89-89
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• 2022

Paeonia lactiflora (P. lactiflora) is a medicinal plant widely used for treating inflammatory diseases. However, P. lactiflora has been recently reported to increase the production of proinflammatory mediators and activates phagocytosis in macrophages. Thus, in this study, we tried to verify the macrophage activation of Paeoniae Radix Alba (PRR, also known as red peony root) and elucidate its mechanism of action. PRR upregulated the production of proinflammatory mediators and activated phagocytosis in RAW264.7 cells. However, these effects were reversed by inhibition of TLR2/4. In addition, the inhibition of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 reduced the PRR-mediated production of proinflammatory mediators, and the SPL-mediated activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2 was blocked by the TLR4 inhibition. These findings indicate that PRR may activate macrophages through TLR4-dependent activation of p38, JNK, and ERK1/2. These indicate that PRR has immunostimulatory activity. Thus, it is believed that PRR can be used as a functional food agent that enhances the immune system.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.33-45
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• 2014

Objectives : Zizyphi spinosi Semen is widely used for treating insomnia in korea and other oriental country. This study is analyzing combination tendency of Zizyphi spinosi Semen in herbal formula for treating insomnia. Methods : Herbal formulas for treating insomia were searched in "The Prescription Dictionary of Traditional Chinese Medicine", and checked in each literary source. Then, the herbal formula was divided in two groups : FCZ(The formula group containing Zizyphi spinosi Semen) and FWZ(The formula group without Zizyphi spinosi Semen). FCZ and FWZ were compared by following criteria; i) Prevalence of herbal formula by period ii) Prevalence of medicinal material's effects iii) Prevalence of medicinal material iv) Prevalence of the nature of midicinals v) Prevalence of flavor of medicinals vi) Prevalence of meridian entry. Results : 116 Herbal formula met our criteria, and herbal formulas were divided in two groups : FCZ(n=59), FWZ(n=57). The result of prevalence in FCZ is following; Herbal formula prevalence increased as time passed to the Qing(淸) dynasty. Tonifying and replenishing medicinal(補益藥), tranquillizing medicinal (安神藥), and inducing diuresis to drain dampness medicinal(利水滲濕藥) are the three most prevalent types of materia medica. In specifically, Panax ginseng radix(人蔘), Liriopis Tuber(麥門冬), Angelicae Gigantis Radix(當歸), Poria Cocos(茯神), Glycyrrhizae Radix(甘草), Poria cocos(茯神), Polygalae Radix(遠志), Thuja Orientalis L.(柏子仁), Paeonia Japonica(白芍藥), and HgS(硃砂) are combined frequently. The most prevalent nature of medicinals were 'warm microwarm(溫 微溫)' and flavor of medicinals was normal(平). Meridian entrys that frequently combined were heart(心), spleen(脾), and liver(肝). Conclusion : We found combination tendency of Zizyphi Semen in herbal formula for treating insomnia.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.270-281
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• 2002

The growth of Enterobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum was promoted by natural products themselves bearing antioxidative capacity and combined two, three and four kinds of them.1. acidophilus was promoted by Paeonia japonica, Acori graminei rhizoma, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium, alone, and two mixed combinations were composed of Acori graminei rhizoma and Cinnamomi cortex, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium and Puerariae radix, and three mixed combinations were formed with Cimicifugae rhi- zoma, Cinnamomi cortex and Glycyrrhizae radix, and four mixed combinations were made up Glycyrrhizae radix, Theae folium, Scutellaria baicalensis george and Cinnamomi cortex. There four combination promoted growth of 1. acidophilus with 1.3 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that off times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 70% in dilution rate of 100 times. In the case of 1. plantarum was premoted by Corm fructus, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner Sophorae flos, alone, and two mixed combinations were organized with Schizandrae Iructus and Theae folium, Paeonia japonica and Epimedii herba, and three mixed combinations were combined with Corni fructus and Theae folium and Paeonia japonica, Corni fructus and Coptidis rhizoma and Schieandrae fructus, and four mixed combinations were composed of Corm fructus, Theae folium, Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellaria baicalensis george, and Corm fructus, Schizandrae fructus, Paeonia japonica, Theae folium. These four combinations assisted growth of 1. plantarum with 1.5 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that of 4-5 times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 75% in dilution rate of 100 times. As these combinations of natural products could activate some parts of body, they might be applied pharmaceuitcal sources, functional foods, and expected to fermentative beverages.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.141-149
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• 2008

Objective : This study was designed to analyze the herbal medicine case-control studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. Method : For this study, we searched the studies on tic disorder, which had been published 2007, through web-site CNKI(中國知識基魔設施工程) http://www.cnki.net). There were 15 herbal medicine case-control studies and we focused on those studies. Results: 1. DSM-IV(7 studies), CCMD(5 studies) and ICD-10(3 studies) were frequently used in the diagnosis of tic disorder. 2. Paeonia radix alba, Uncariae ramulus et uncus and Glycyrrhizae radix were frequently used in treatment. Moreover Scorpio, Gastrodiae rhizoma, Pinelliae rhizoma and so on were used. 3. Treatment results were assessed by improvement of symptom, YGTSS and so on. 4. Herbal medicine treatment was more effective than western medicine treatment in most studies, and side effects of herbal medicine were far less than those of western medicine. Conclusion : There have been reported many herbal medicine treatment studies of tic disorder in traditional chinese medicine. We believe that these studies can be applied to the clinical practices in Korean medicine.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.70-76
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• 2006

Paeoniae radix has been widely used for its anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects, and demonstrated to have anticonvulsant, memory enhancing and anxiolytic activities. The present study was performed to examine the protective effect of methanol extract of Paeoniae radix (PR) from Paeoniae Japonica Miyabe et Takeda (Paeoniaceae) on hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)-induced$ neurotoxicity using cultured rat cerebral cortical neuron. $H_2O_2$ produced a concentration-dependent reduction of neuronal viability, PR, over a concentration range of 10 to $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ showed concentration-dependent decrease of the $H_2O_2$$(100\;{\mu}M)-induced$ neuronal cell death, as assessed by a 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-di-phenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and the number of apoptotic nuclei, evidenced by Hoechst 33342 staining. PR $(100\;{\mu}g/ml$ inhibited $100\;{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2-induced$ elevation of the cytosolic $Ca^{2+}$ concentration $([Ca^{2+}]_c)$, which was measured by a fluorescent dye, flue-4 AM. PR $(50\;{\mu}g/ml$ inhibited glutamate release into medium induced by $100\;{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$, which was measured by HPLC, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that PR may mitigate the $H_2O_2-induced$ neurotoxiciy by interfering with the increase of $[Ca^{2+}]_c$, and then inhibiting glutamate release and generation of ROS in cultured neurons.