• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2016

Objectives : The present study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of the water extracts of Portulacae Herba (PH).Methods : We measured the effects of the water extracts of Portulacae Herba (PH) on the cell viability of mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, the intracellular calcium production, and the proinflammatory mediators including nitric oxide (NO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB, which are induced by the lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and obtained the results shown below.Results : After the cultivation of the PH extracts along with the mouse macrophages, the cell survival rate did not decrease with the MTT assay. However, the PH extracts did significantly suppress the production of NO by the mouse macrophages induced by LPS at the concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/mL. The PH extract also significantly suppressed the VEGF, PDGF-BB and intracellular calcium production of the mouse macrophages by LPS at concentrations of 25, 50 and 100 ㎍/mL. As shown in the results above, the PH extracts do not have a toxic effect on the macrophages, but still have an anti-inflammatory effect that significantly reduces the intracellular calcium production as well as the production of NO, VEGF and PDGF-BB at concentrations above 25 ㎍/mL.Conclusions : In conclusion, the inhibitory anti-inflammatory effects of the PH extract can be used for a new treatment of anti-inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.115-132
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• 2014

Objective : Portulacae Herba (PH) can clear away heat, detoxicate, cool down blood heat. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of PH on ACD induced by 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) in mice. Method : In this experiment, the effects of PH on changes in body weights, thicknesses and weights of ear, thicknesses of dorsum skin, degree of symptoms on the dorsum skin, histopathological changes of ear and dorsum skin, spleen weights, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-10 in serum were observed. And the effects on the proliferation rates of splenocytes were also investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results : 1. PH spread (PHS) group and PH spread plus administered (PHS+Adm) group didn't show any changes in weight and thickness of ear. 2. But in PHS and PHS+Adm group, thickness of dorsum skin decreased significantly. 3. And PHS and PHS+Adm group showed meaningful effectiveness on ACD symptoms like erythema, desquamation and keratinization. 4. In histopathological observation, hyperplasia and edema of spongy tissues were remarkably diminished in PHS and PHS+Adm group. 5. And PH reduced the proliferation rates of splenocytes in vivo and vitro study. Conclusions : PH effectively decreased symptoms of ACD in this study, therefore PH can be one of medicinal ingredients to treat ACD.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.39-46
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aims to provide basic data about Portulacae Herba (PH) extracts as natural antioxidants by considering diverse antioxidant activities of PH depending on solvents. Methods : The samples of PH were pulverized, and A hot water and a 70% EtOH were stir-extracted for two hours three times repeatedly in a water bath with a temperature of 95 degrees and at room temperature respectively to measure 7 kinds of antioxidant activities. Results : There were significant differences in total phenol content, because the total phenol content of the 70% EtOH extract was higher than the hot water extract's, and the total flavonoid content of the 70% EtOH extract($4.40{\mu}g/mg$) was nearly 3.8 times higher than the hot water extract's($1.16{\mu}g/mg$). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were 70% EtOH extract showed a little higher activity than the hot water extract, and at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/mg$, the highest scavenging activity was found in the 70% EtOH extract, not in the control group. Hydroxyl radical and $Fe^{2+}$ chelatingactivities were slightly higher in hot water extract than in 70% EtOH extract, and increased in a dose-dependent manner. Nitrite scavenging activities increased dose-dependently in the hot water and the 70% EtOH extract, regardless of the pH level, and scavenging activity of the 70% EtOH extract was higher at pH 1.2 than at pH 3.0. Conclusions : In conclusion, it is thought that PH hot water and 70% EtOH extract have antioxidant activities, and can be used as natural antioxidants in future.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2019

Objectives : This study reviewed the antioxidant activity of each part of Portulacae Herba (PH) in order to better analyze the possibility of PH being used as a natural material. Methods : The root, stem, and leaves of the PH were separated, dried at $50^{\circ}C$, put in a 70% ethanol and then extracted three times every six hours. Antioxidant activities was performed by measuring the total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents, DPPH, ABTS, nitrite, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating. Results : The total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents was highest in the root, then the leaves, and lastly the stem. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities for the root extract indicated the highest activity followed by the leaf and stem extracts. It also showed similar activity to that of the ascorbic acid. Hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity resulted to be highest in the root extract and then the leaf and stem extracts. Nitrite scavenging activity decreased with higher pH levels, and activity was highest in the order of root extract, leaf extract, and stem extract. Also, in reaction to a solution with a pH 1.2 level, the root extract showed similar scavenging activity to that of BHT. Conclusions : Therefore, based on the above results, it was verified that the roots of PH have a high antioxidant level, and they can be considered to have potential to be applied to functional food, cosmetics, and medicine with antioxidant efficacy.