• Proceedings of the Korean Nutrition Society Conference
• /
• 2003.05a
• /
• pp.228.2-228.2
• /
• 2003

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 1997.05a
• /
• pp.40-41
• /
• 1997

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.33-40
• /
• 2016

Objectives : Liver is one of the largest organs in the human, and has a function of detoxification and energy sensing to prevent severe disease. Paeoniae radix has been used to treat a variety of liver diseases such as hepatitis and chronic hepatic failure. Although P. radix has been used as an medicinal herb for a long time, the effects of P. radix on severe oxidative stress and its action mechanism on the liver was not clearly verified.Methods : This study investigated the protective effects of P. radix extract (PRE), and the underlying mechanism of its action in the liver. tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) and carbon tetrachlroride (CCl₄) were used to induce oxidative stress in the HepG2 hepatocyte cell line and Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively.Results : t-BHP significantly induced cell death and ROS production in HepG2 cell, as indicated by MTT and FACS analysis. However, pretreatment of PRE inhibited a decrease in cell viability and H₂O₂ production in the HepG2 cells. PRE also blocked the ability of t-BHP to damage in mitochondrial membrane transition. More importantly, PRE induced Nrf2 activation and antioxidant Phase II enzyme, which may have a role in the effects of PRE. In mice, PRE inhibited the liver damage induced by CCl₄.Conclusions : PRE inhibited oxidative stress and hepatic damages as mediated with Nrf2 activation. This study unveil, in part, the effect and mechanism of old medicinal herb, P. radix.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1617-1621
• /
• 2004

The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic effect and its mechanism on Radix Paeoniae Alba Extract(RPAE) in DU145 human prostate cancer cell line. RPAE induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in DU145 cells as confirmed by both discontinuous DNA fragmentation using Hoechst33342 staining and poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP) cleavage, which are apoptotic signs. To clarify the mechanisms on RPAE-induced apoptosis, we examined the p50(NF-κB subunit), IκBα, PTEN and Par-4 protein expression using Western blotting. Treatment with RPAE resulted in the decrease of p50 expression by IκBα increase, which resulted in Par-4 increase and bcl-2 decrease in DU145 cells. These results suggest that apoptosis of DU145 cells by RPAE involved decreases of NF-κB activation and bcl-2 expression, increase of Par-4 protein expression.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.7 no.4
• /
• pp.348-356
• /
• 2007

Radix Paeoniae rubra (PR) has been widely used for recovering acute inflammation with swelling and pain in Far East Asian countries. In order to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of PR herbacupuncture, several behavioral parameters such as body weight, knee circumference, squeaking threshold, and weight distribution ratio were investigated in an adjuvant-induced mono-arthritis rat model. We performed PR herb-acupuncture on Zusanli (ST36) of the right hind-leg once every second day for a total of 6 times from the second day of initiating arthritis with adjuvant injection, while the control group was treated with saline in the same way. In the experimental group, body weight significantly increased, knee circumference and squeaking threshold significantly decreased indicating the reduction of edema, and both the pain and inflammatory swelling of the hind paws measured by incapacitance meter decreased. Conclusively, PR herb-acupuncture has more promising effect in alleviating arthritic pain and inflammation than saline-acupuncture in rat model, hence further clinical study is required.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.176-187
• /
• 2000

Objectives : This study was purposed to investigate the antioxidative effects of Paeoniae radix aqua-acupuncture solution(PR) on culture liver cell system, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative enzyme activities in tert-butyl hydroperoxide(t-BHP) treatmented conditions. Methods : Cultured normal rat liver cell(Ac2F) were prepared and incubated with or without PR(at 2% volume in culture medium). After 16~18hr, cells placed in DMEM medium without serum, and then incubated with 1mM t-BHP for 2hr. Viable cells were detected by MTT assay, and the levels of lipid peroxide(LPO) were measured by TBA method. And catalase activity was measured as the decrease in hydrogen peroxide absorbance at 240nm on spectrophotometer using 30mM hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide dismutase(SOD) were assayed by recording the inhibition of nitro blue tetrazolium reduction with xanthine and xanthine oxidase. Glutathione peroxidase(GPX) activity was determined by the modified coupled assay developed by Paglia and Lawrence. The reaction was started by addition of 2.2mM hydrogen peroxide as substrate. The change in absorbance at 340nm was measured for 1min on spectrophotometer. Glutathione-S-transferase(GST) activity was assayed with CDNB as substrate and enzyme activity of GST towards the glutathione conjugation of CDNB. Results : Cell killing was significantly enhanced by addition of t-BHP compared to those of untreated group. PR pretreated cell resisted the toxic effects of t-BHP. LPO levels of t-BHP treatment group were significantly higher than other groups. This increased level was significandy reduced by PR pretreatment. The t-BHP treatment resulted in a decrease of catalase, GPX and GST activities. By contrast, PR pretreatment markedly increased compare to those of untreated groups. Conclusions : T-BHP which can produce intracellular free radical was used for inducer of the peroxidation of cellular lipids. PR protected the cell death induced by t-BHP and significantly increased cell viabiliry in the normal rat liver cell, and showed effective inhibition of lipid peroxidation, and elevations of catalase, GPX and GST activities. These results suggested that PR might play a protective role in lipid peroxidation by free radicals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.56 no.1
• /
• pp.20-25
• /
• 2012

In Northeast Asia, Paeoniae Radix has been used in treatments of inflammation-causing diseases such as arthritis for many centuries. Paeoniflorin, one of the principle bioactive monoterpene glucosides from the paeony root, is reported to be mostly responsible for the effectiveness of the treatments. However, the anti-inflammatory effect of a monoterpene, paeoniflorigenone (PFG) which partially has the moiety of paeoniflorin minus a glucose structure is unknown. Thus, the aim of this work was to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of PFG. For the investigation, PFG activity on the NO (nitric oxide) production from LPS-stimulated macrophages, and the anti-inflammatory effect was tested in the animal model of septic arthritis caused by Candida albicans, a major etiological agent for septic arthritis. For induction of the arthritis, mice were administered with an emulsion of C. albicans cell wall (CACW) mixed with Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) via footpad-injection (Day 0); PFG at a dose of 0.5 or 1 mg/mouse (25 or 50 mg/kg of body-weight) was given to the animals on Day 3, 6, and 9; footpads were scored for arthritis. Moreover, the PFG effect on proliferation of T-lymphocyte that causes aggravation of arthritis was additionally tested. Data resulting from those tests showed that PFG inhibited the NO production from the stimulated macrophage in a dose dependent manner (P<0.05), indicating that PFG is an anti-inflammatory. To confirm the in-vitro results, anti-inflammatory activity of PFG was determined against C. albicans-caused septic arthritis. Data showed that PFG-treatment reduced footpad-swelling which indicates that PFG has anti-arthritic effect (P<0.05), which is therapeutic. The anti-arthritic effect appeared to be mediated by PFG suppression of T-cell proliferation. Ultimately, PFG, a monoterpene component, has anti-inflammatory activity analogous to paeoniflorin. The anti-inflammatory activity treats the septic arthritis due to a pathogenic fungus C. albicans.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.90-93
• /
• 2003

Six heavy metals (lead, copper, cadmium, chromium, mercury and arsenic) were analyzed in 9 oriental medical materials(Paeoniae Radix Alba, Zizyphi Fructus, Cnidii Rhizoma, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Astragali Radix, Glycyrrhizae Radix, Cinnamomi Cortex Spissus, and Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus) by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES). The heavy metal contents of Zingberis Rhizoma Crudus and Angelicae Gigantis Radix were 44.0 and 37.3 mg/kg, respectively, which were 1.47 and 1.24 times higher than the guideline set by the Korean Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Washing with deionized water lowered the heavy metal contents by 20-38%, and reduced levels to below the guidelines set by KFDA.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.30 no.3
• /
• pp.269-274
• /
• 1999

To analyze scientifically the prescription principle of polyprescriptions (Gamchotang, Daewhanggamchotang, Jakyakgamchotang, Gamchogungangtang and Gilkyungtang) containing Glycyrrhizae Radix, the transforming rate of glycyrrhizin in these polyprescriptions to 18 ${\beta}-glycyrrhetinic$ acid and their inhibitory effect on ${\beta}-glucuronidase$, hyaluronidase, phosphodiesterase and trypsin were investigated. When Glycyrrhizae Radix containing polyprescriptions were extracted with water, the contents of glycyrrhizin in water extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix with Rhei Rhizoma or with Zingiberis Rhizoma were higher than that of Glycyrrhizae Radix only, but that in water extract of Glycyrrhizae Radix with Platicodi Radix was lower than that of Glycyrrhizae Radix only. By human intestinal bacteria, glycyrrhizin was metabolized to 18 ${\beta}-glycyrrhetinic$ acid. These metabolism of glycyrrhizin in polyprescriptions containing Glycyrrhizae Radix was inhibited by Rhei Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix and Platicodi Radix, but was not affected by Zingiberis Rhizoma. The inhibitory activity of Glycyrrhizae Radix on hyaluronidase and ${\beta}-glucuronidase$, was synergistic with Rhei Rhizoma or Zingiberis Rhizoma, but was antagonistic by Platicodi Radix.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.141-154
• /
• 2005

The following is a taxonomic list of the specific features of external and internal shape and pattern analysis of Paeonia lactiflora PALL. and P. obovata MAX as the standard of herbal medicine. 1. External shape of original plant P. lactiflora has lancelate and elliptical leaves with no hair on both sides. It bears a flower bud at the shoot apex or leaf axil. On the other hand, P. obovata has obovate leaves with hair on the back side. It has a single flower bud at the shoot apex. 2. Physical characteristics of herbal states P. lactiflora has a bright and smooth external surface whose color is light red brown, light gray on its section and it is not easy to cut. On the other hand, P. obovata has a coarse external surface whose color is dark brown, pinkish on its section and it is easy to cut. 3. Physical characteristics of herbal state in currents Paeonia Radix Alba is brown on the external surface, and whitish on its section. On the other hand, Paeonia Radix Rubra is dark brown on the external surface, and yellowish-white on its section. 4. Internal characteristics Internal shape is correspond to that of Paeonia Radix described in literatures. Only P. lactoflora has a concentrated vascular bundle toward centeral cylinder. On the other hand, P. obovata has a scattered vascular bundle at the cortex. 5. Physicochemical pattern by HPLC Both P. lactoflora and P. obovata showed the same pattern. Paeoniforin, a main component, appears upon 13.68 in retention time (Rt) in both. In addition, both contain a large amount of paeoniflorin. Such results will, in the future, be used as basic source for the additional research, such as biological reactions and genetic discrimination.