• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권6호
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• pp.1090-1097
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• 2017

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS), an herbal medicine found in East Asia, was extracted and further fractionated to investigate its antioxidant capacity and neuroprotective effects. The RVS ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction had the highest level of total phenolics and antioxidant capacity among all solvent fractions tested. Pretreatment of PC-12 cells with the EtOAc fraction effectively attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, the EtOAc fraction significantly attenuated caspase-3 activity, resulting in inhibition of $H_2O_2$-induced apoptosis. We identified and quantified fustin, sulfuretin, and butein in the EtOAc fraction using accurate mass quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The intracellular antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were significantly increased in PC-12 cells treated with the EtOAc fraction and with individual flavonoids. When cells were pretreated with the EtOAc fraction or individual flavonoids and then co-incubated with diethyldithiocarbamic acid (an inhibitor of SOD activity), cell viability against $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress was attenuated. These results suggest that the RVS EtOAc fraction and its flavonoid constituents protect PC-12 cells against $H_2O_2$-induced neurotoxicity through their antioxidant properties.

• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.21-27
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• 2009

Advanced gastric cancer is the most common type of all cancers in Korea, which account for approximately 18.1% of all incident cancers, and mortality from advanced gastric cancer is estimated at nearly 15.6% of death that caused by all cancer. In the conventional medicine, treatments of advanced gastric cancer include chemotherapy such like FOLFOX. In this case report, we introduce a case of advanced gastric cancer with greater omentum, thyroid, supraclavicular lymph node metastasis who had received chemotherapy. Chemotherapy was stopped because of weight loss and neurologic symptom such like cognitive disorder. The patient visited $M{\cdot\mu}$ Integrative cancer center in 2008, and was treated by Sojeukjungwon-san and allergen removed Rhus verniciflua stokes(aRVS). There was no evidence of brain metastasis. The patient showed improvement of cognitive disorder and gained weight. Further case study will be needed in order to determine the effects of Sojeukjungwon-san and allergen removed Rhus verniciflua stokes(aRVS) for the quality of life of advanced gastric cancer patients after chemotherapy.

• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.13-20
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• 2009

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death throughout the world. Non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) is the most deadly form of lung cancer. Patients with non-small cell lung cancer are often found to be unavailable for operation at primary diagnosis. They are typically given conventional chemotherapy. When the tumor progresses during chemotherapy, a change in regimen is considered. The average period of administration differs with the regimen. In this case report, the authors introduce two cases of non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with allergen removed Rhus verniciflua stokes based herbal medicine along with pemetrexed($Alimta^{(R)}$) and erlotinib($Tarceva^{(R)}$). The authors report this case because these molecular-targeted agents were used for longer periods than expected, while improving the performance and other symptoms. Further studies illuminating the synergistic effects through conjunctive treatment with both conventional and Eastern medicine in lung cancer treatment should be performed in the future.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.463-477
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many studies have suggested that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and its extract are anticancer agents. However, RVS had limited use because it contains urushiol, an allergenic toxin. By improving an existing allergen-removal extraction method, we developed a new allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (RVSE) with higher flavonoid content. In this study, we examined whether RVSE inhibits the ability of AGS gastric cancer cells to migrate and invade. MATERIALS/METHODS: The flavonoids content of RVSE was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of RVSE on migration and invasion in AGS cells were analyzed by each assay kit. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) protein expression was analyzed by protein antibody array. The Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 were assayed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: RVSE treatment with 0-100 ㎍/mL dose-dependently reduced the ability of AGS cells to migrate and invade. Notably, treatment with RVSE strongly inhibited the expression of MMP-9 and uPA and the phosphorylation of STAT3. In contrast, RVSE treatment dramatically increased the expression of PAI-1. These results indicate that the inhibition of MMP-9 and uPA expression and STAT3 phosphorylation and the stimulation of PAI-1 expression contributed to the decreased migration and invasion of AGS cells treated with RVSE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that RVSE may be used as a natural herbal agent to reduce gastric cancer metastasis.

• 한방안이비인후피부과학회지
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.124-133
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• 2016

Objectives : Recently, the demands for the effective and safe depigmentating and anti-aging agents of the skin have increased due to the medical, pharmaceutical and cosmetic reasons. The aim of this study is to search new materials from the traditional herbal medicines which inhibit the aging process of skin in vitro.Methods : Human dermis cell (HS68) was used to test the effect of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS). 80% ethanol or water extracts were screened for their inhibitory activities against elastase. Elastase inhibition effect was tested by microplate reader instrument. And MMP-1 suppression effect of RVS was tested by western blot. These cells were investigated the viability by MTS assay. And also the inhibition effect of tyrosinase by RVS was tested.Results : RVS (final concentrstion 1 ㎎/㎖ appeared over 30% of inhibition of elastase activity. So we are investigated anti wrinkle effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes look through MMP-1 inhibition activity, also Extracts of RVS showed higher anti-tyrosinase activity than arbutin as final concentration 1 mg/ml. These results suggest that herbal medicines could be strong potential sources of inhibition of anti-aging and whitening effects for the skin.Colclusions : RVS was the best suppressor candidate of elastase activity among other control oriental drugs. It was found that RVS did not have toxicity to cells. We found proper concentration of RVS to treat in HS68 culture and investigated not only wrinkle care effect but also whitening effect of RVS.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) extracted with sterile distilled water on cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Materials and Methods : Two cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, SNU-1079 and SNU-1196, were used in this study. Cells were treated with different concentrations of RVS for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell count, viability, apoptosis, and mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, survivin, caspase-3, and cyclin D1 and P21 were determined with an automatic cell counter (ADAM-MC), MTT assay, apoptosis assay (Annexin-V/PI staining), and RT-PCR. Results : All cells treated with RVS showed decreased cell counts in a dose-dependent manner. RVS inhibited proliferation of SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner, but SNU-1079 proliferation was inhibited in the long-time culture group in a dose-dependent manner. The proportion of early and late-stage apoptotic cells was increased by RVS in a dose-dependent manner in SNU-1196. In contrast, it was increased significantly in SNU-1079 treated with high-dose RVS. After treatment with RVS, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was decreased while Bax was increased in SNU-1079. Cyclin D1 mRNA levels were decreased in SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner. P21 expression was increased in all cells after the treatment with RVS. Conclusions : RVS appears to have potential as a therapeutic agent for cholangiocarcinoma.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.151-159
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• 2008

Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS), one of traditional medicinal plants in Asia, was found to have pharmacological activities such as antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects, raising the possibility for the development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. Thus, potential genotoxic effects of RVS in three short-term mutagenicity assays were investigated, which included the Ames assay, in vitro Chromosomal aberration test, and the in vivo Micronucleus assay. In Ames test, the addition of RVS water extracts at doses from 313 up to 5000 mg/plate induced an increase more than 2-fold over vehicle control in the number of revertant colonies in TA98 and TA1537 strains for detecting the frame-shift mutagens. The similar increase in reversion frequency was observed after the addition of RVS ethanol extracts. To assess clastogenic effect, in vitro chromosomal aberration test and in vivo micronucleus assay were performed using Chinese hamster lung cells and male ICR mice, respectively. Both water and ethanol extracts from RVS induced significant increases in the number of metaphases with structural aberrations mostly at concentrations showing the cell survival less than 60% as assessed by in vitro CA test. Also, there was a weak but statistically significant increase in number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes(MNPCEs) in mice treated with water extract at 2000 mg/kg while ethanol extracts of RVS at doses of up to 2000 mg/kg did not induce any statistically significant changes in the incidence of MNPCEs. Therefore, our results lead to conclusion that RVS acts as a genotoxic material based on the available in vitro and in vivo results.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제30권4호
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• pp.597-602
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• 2010

In this study, pigs [n=117; (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc; $64{\pm}0.5$ Kg initial body weight] were used to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of lacquer (Rhus verniciflua Stokes) meal on performance, carcass traits and quality of meat kept under refrigeration at $3{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The pigs were randomly allotted to 3 treatments on the basis of body weight and sex and each treatment was replicated 3 times (13 pigs in each replicate). Lacquer meal in sawdust form obtained from the stem bark and heartwood of sun-dried lacquer trees was added to the grower and finisher diets at 0, 20 and 40 g/kg diet. The experimental diets were fed for 8 wk. Inclusion of lacquer meal had no influence (p>0.05) on growth performance of pigs. Improvement in carcass traits and decreased back fat thickness were noticed in pigs fed diets added with 20 and 40 g/kg lacquer meal. Longissimus muscle obtained from pigs fed lacquer meal had higher moisture and lower fat content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and water holding capacity. Meat from lacquer fed pigs was also darker and redder. The data indicates that lacquer meal can be incorporated up to 40 g/kg in the diet of fattening pigs without affecting growth performance. Also, lacquer meal increases carcass lean content and improves the oxidative stability of the meat.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.337-343
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• 2003

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine. Several earlier studies indicated that an ethanol extract of RVS has both anti-oxidant and anti-tumor properties, although the mechanism for the activity remains to be elucidated. In this report, we prepared a highly purified ethanol extract from RVS, named REEE-1 ($\underline{R}$hus $\underline{e}$thanol $\underline{e}$luted $\underline{e}$xtract-1), and investigated the mechanism involved in its growth-inhibitory effect on the human B and T lymphoma cell lines, BJAB and Jurkat, respectively. Results from tritium uptake proliferation assays showed that the proliferative capacities of both BJAB and Jurkat cells were strongly suppressed in the presence of REEE-1. This was further confirmed through trypan blue exclusion experiments that revealed a dose-dependent decrease in viable cell numbers after REEE-1 treatment. REEE-1-mediated suppression of cell growth was verified to be apoptotic, based on the increase in DNA fragmentation, low fluorescence intensity in nuclei after propidium iodide staining, and the appearance of DNA laddering. In particular, REEE-1 exerted its anti-oxidant activity through the inhibition of hydroxyl radical-mediated degradation by iron ion chelation rather than direct scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, REEE-1 was revealed to be a potential scavenger of superoxide anions. Collectively, our findings suggest that REEE-1 is a natural anti-oxidant that could be used as a cancer chemo-preventive and therapeutic agent.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제30권6호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2009

Objective: Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has anticancer effect confirmed by preclinical studies and historical records. We thus tried to evaluate retrospectively the effect of RVS as a complementary medicine for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showing refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: From June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, patients with advanced NSCLC who received both the standardized RVS extract and a standard course of second or more line therapy such as pemetrexed ($Alimta^{(R)}$), erlotinib ($Tarceva^{(R)}$), and gefitinib ($Iressa^{(R)}$) were checked. A total of 13 patients were eligible for the final analysis after fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria. Time to progression (TTP) of these patients treated with the standardized RVS extract was checked in the aftercare period. Results: Patients received RVS treatment for a median period of 296 (range 84-698) days. The median TTP was 220.5 (range 36-489) days, and three patients (23.1%) had TTP values of 15 more months. No significant side effects from RVS treatment have been observed. Conclusion: The standardized RVS extract might have synergetic effects by assisting apoptosis in advanced NSCLC with concurrent standard therapy agents, since it prolonged TTP without significant adverse effects. This study suggests that the standardized RVS extract is beneficial to patients with chemotherapy-refractory NSCLC. Further clinical trials and preclinical studies are necessary to determine the efficacy and safety of the standardized RVS extract in NSCLC.