• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.206-212
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• 2013

The herbal composition Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 (GGEx18), which is composed of three herbs, Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae), and Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae), has been used as an anti-obesity drug in Korean local clinics. Thus, we investigated whether GGEx18 regulates obesity by suppressing appetite in high fat diet-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. Administration of GGEx18 to obese mice for 9 weeks significantly decreased body weight gain, epididymal adipose tissue weight, and food efficiency ratio. GGEx18 also caused a significant decrease in the circulating levels of leptin, which were increased by about 450% in obese control mice compared with normal lean mice. Concomitantly, GGEx18 decreased mRNA levels of a potent appetite-stimulating hormone neuropeptide Y, but increased an appetite-suppressing hormone pro-opiomelanocortin mRNA levels. These results suggest that GGEx18 may prevent obesity through regulating appetite in nutritionally obese mice.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2011.09a
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• pp.160-161
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• 2011

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.145-149
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• 2000

Strawberry and cucumber were dipped with Korean medical herb extracts such as Rheum palmatum L. and Coptis chinensis Franch. to maintain the keeping quality during storage at 5$^{\circ}$C and 10$^{\circ}$C, respectively. Treatment with 500 ppm solutions gor strawberry retarded weight loss, microbial load increase, and decay during storage. Decay ratio was shown 68.8% for control, 45.0% for Rheum palmatum L. and 42.5% for Coptis chinensis Franch. at 10 days. Strawberry treated with Coptis chinensis Franch. showed a higher hardness and soluble solid content than others. Cucumber treated with 1,000 ppm solutions revealed a different O$_2$ and CO$_2$ concentrations after 16 days. Korean medical herb extracts showed an antimicrobial activity for the quality retention of cucumber during storage. Ascorbic acid content was generally increased till 8 days, but decreased thereafter.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.264-268
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• 2001

Two antimicrobial extracts of Rheum palmatum L. and Coptis chinesis France root as well as grapefruit seed extract(GFSE) were applied to dipping treatment for green chilli peppers, which were then packed in low density polyethylene(LDPE) films incorporated with 1% antimicrobial extracts and stored 10$^{\circ}C$. Dipping and packaging treatments suppressed the growth of putrefactive microorganisms and the duly ratio of green chilli peppers. In addition, the loss ratio of ascorbic acid content and their weight during the storage was lower with treated green chilli peppers. Consequently, the combined method of dipping and packaging in antimicrobial agents turned out to be superior to dipping treatment or film-packaging in the view point of decay ratio and the keeping qualities of green chilli peppers.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.276-280
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• 1999

To maintain the quality characteristics of vegetables, produce was dipped in Korean medical herb extracts (KMHE) such as Rheum palmatum L. or Coptis chinensis Franch with different concentration. Dipping in 500 ppm KMHE solution was suitable for the reduction or microbial load on cucumber, and 100 ppm KMHE solution was appropriate for others. Dipping time was suitable for produce about 10 minutes, and the temperature of dining solution had a limited effect cm the microbial load reduction. Antimicrobial activity of Coptis chinensis Franch and Rheum palmatum L. was maintained for cucumber and zucchini wrapped with polyvinylchloride film during storage at 10$^{\circ}C$.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-74
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was undertaken to verify the modulation mechanism of Gyeongshingangjeehwan18 (GGEx18) in ob/ob male mice. Methods : Eight-week old mice (wild-type C57BL/6J and ob/ob) were used for all experiments. Wild-type C57BL/6J mice were used as lean control and obese ob/ob mice were randomly divided into 5 groups : obese control, GGEx15 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Rheum palmatum L.), GGEx16 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Laminaria japonica Aresch), GGEx17 (Rheum palmatum L. + Laminaria japonica Aresch), and GGEx18 (Ephedra sinica Stapf + Laminaria japonica Aresch + Rheum palmatum L.). After mice were treated with several kinds of GGEx for 11 weeks, the mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) target genes and uncoupling protein (UCP) were measured. In addition, $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ transactivation was examined in NMu2Li hepatocytes, C2C12 myocytes, and 3T3-L1 preadipocytes using transient transfection assays. Results : 1. Hepatic $PPAR{\alpha}$ target genes, such as ACOX and VLCAD mRNA levels were significantly increased by GGEx18 compared with obese controls. In skeletal muscle, LCAD mRNA expression was stimulated by GGEx16, GGEx17, and GGEx18, whereas MCAD mRNA expression by GGEx17 and GGEx18. $PPAR{\beta}$ target LPL mRNA levels were also increased by GGEx16, GGEx17, and GGEx18 in skeletal muscle, but adipose LPL mRNA levels were decreased. In addition, GGEx18 upregulated UCP mRNA expression in skeletal muslce. 2. $PPAR{\alpha}$ reporter gene expression was increased by GGEx18 in NMu2Li cells compared with vehicle. $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ reporter activities were also increased by all GGEx treatments in C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that GGEx can act as $PPAR{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\beta}$ activators, and that GGEx may regulate obesity by stimulating $PPAR{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\beta}$, and UCP activity. Of the 4 compositions, GGEx18 seems to be most effective in improving obesity and lipid disorders.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.341-348
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• 2018

The polyherbal drug Gyeongshingangjeehwan 18 (GGEx18) from Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae), Laminaria japonica Aresch (Laminariaceae), and Ephedra sinica Stapf (Ephedraceae) has traditionally been used as an antiobesity drug in Korean local clinics. This study investigates the effects of GGEx18 on pancreatic fibroinflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese C57BL/6J mice and the molecular mechanism involved in this process. After HFD-fed obese C57BL/6J mice were treated with GGEx18 (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) for 12 weeks, variables and determinants of obesity, pancreatic inflammation, and fibrosis were measured using histology, immunohistochemistry, and real-time polymerase chain reaction. Administration of GGEx18 at 500 mg/kg/day to obese mice decreased body weight gain, mesenteric adipose tissue mass, and adipocyte size. GGEx18 treatment not only reduced mast cells and CD68-immunoreactive cells, but also decreased collagen levels and ${\alpha}$-smooth muscle actin-positive cells in the pancreas of HFD-fed mice. Concomitantly, GGEx18 decreased the expression of genes for inflammation (i.e., CD68 and tumor necrosis factor ${\alpha}$) and fibrosis (i.e., collagen ${\alpha}1$ and transforming growth factor ${\beta}$) in the pancreas of obese mice. These results suggest that GGEx18 may inhibit visceral obesity and related pancreatic fibroinflammation in HFD-fed obese mice.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2009.05a
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• pp.371-372
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• 2009

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.1140-1145
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• 1998

Low density polyethylene (LDPE) films incorporated with 1% antimicrobial agents of Rheum palmatum extract, Coptis chinensis extract, and Ag-substituted inorganic zirconium matrix, were applied to modified atmosphere packaging of 200 g fresh strawberries. Plain LDPE film package, PVC wrap and perforative pinhole package of the film impregnated with 1% Rheum palmatum extract were also constructed for comparative purpose. All the packages were stored for 13 days at $5^{\circ}C$ and measured in package atmosphere, microbial count and quality attributes of the strawberry fruits. The antimicrobial LDPE films retarded the growth in total aerobic bacteria, lactic acid bacteria and yeast on the fruits, and resulted in significantly lower decay. The degrees of reduced microbial growth and fruit decay in the antimicrobial film packages were more pronounced, when applied by hermetical sealing to produce the modified atmospheres of low $O_2$ (<4.0%) and $CO_2$ concentrations with $6.3{\sim}9.0%$. The hermetically sealed packages of antimicrobial LDPE films also showed better retention of fruit firmness and did not give any negative effect on the physical and chemical qualities of strawberries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1631-1636
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• 2008

Rhei Rhizoma (RR; 大黃) consists of the underground parts (rhizome and root) of Rheum officinale Baill. and Rheum palmatum L. (Polygonaceae), and is widely used in Southeast Asian folk medicine to alleviate liver and kidney damages. In this study, we investigated into the efficacy and mechanism of RR water extract in supporting neuronal survival in a hypoxia model of cultured rat hippocampal neurons. RR exhibited no cytotoxicity up to 10 ${\mu}g$/ml and exhibited neurosupportive effects at 2.5 ${\mu}g$/ml in normoxia. When RR was added to the culture media on 10 days in vitro (DIV10) and given a hypoxic shock (2% $O_2$/5% $CO_2$, 3 hr, $37^{\circ}C$) on DIV13, RR exhibited neuroprotective effects on 5 days post-shock. $H_2DCF$ stainings indicated that RR effectively prevents ROS production in both normoxia and hypoxia. JC-1 stainings showed that RR prevents dissipation of MMP in hypoxia. These results indicate that RR protects neurons by suppressing ROS production and MMP loss.