• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.167-167
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• 2003

Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and the derived myofibroblasts are known to playa central role in liver fibrosis. Rhus verniciflua Strokes (RVS) has traditionally been used in Korea herbal medicine for a stomachic tonic. In this study, we observed the effect of RVS acetone extract (Ra) on the proliferation, the collagen synthesis, and hepatic fibrosis related proteins mRNA levels in HSC-T6 cells which is a fully acivated rat hepatic stellate cell line.(omitted)

• Culinary science and hospitality research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.137-147
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• 2014

This study investigates the antioxidant and anti-adipogeneic effects of fermented Rhus verniciflua., evaluating the total phenol, total flavonoids contents and antioxidant activity of the fermented Rhus verniciflua as well as assessing the lipid accumulation during adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. Our results demonstrate that the total phenolic and flavonoids contents of fermented Rhus verniciflua were $29.2{\pm}0.12$ GAE mg/g and $20.4{\pm}1.52$ RE mg/g, respectively. The antioxidative activities of fermented Rhus verniciflua were significantly increased in a dose dependent manner on DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging, ABTS(2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt) radical scavenging, FRAP(ferric reducing antioxidant power)activity, reducing power. In addition, the fermented Rhus verniciflua did not show any cytotoxicity up to 300 ug/mL. However, the anti-adipogenic effect of fermented Rhus verniciflua extract was barely detectable.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.208-212
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• 2009

The heartwood of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (Anacardiaceae) is widely used for a medicinal plant to treat diabetes mellitus and lingering intoxication in the folkloric society of Korea, while the stem bark has been traditionally used to treat menstrual disorder and helminthiasis. We previously reported that a flavonoid, fustin, isolated from the heartwood of R. verniciflua is effective in Alzheimer‘s disease and rheumatoid arthritis. To explore the possibility to produce more flavonoid-rich fraction from this plant, the MeOH extracts from the plant parts of stem bark, outer heartwood, and inner heartwood were quantitatively analyzed by HPLC. Phenolic or flavonoid compounds (chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, sulfuretin, fustin, fisetin, luteolin and astragalin) were detectable in the HPLC chromatogram. The orange-colored inner heartwood was found to contain the highest levels of fustin (16.96 mg/g) and sulfuretin (2.22 mg/g). Moreover, the inner heartwood accumulated fustin and sulfuretin at least 4-fold higher level as compared to the stem bark and outer heartwood. The levels of total phenolic compounds positively correlated with the extents of antioxidant properties. Therefore, the inner heartwood of R. verniciflua could be used to increase fustin concentration of the extract which is capable of treating Alzheimer‘s disease and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.284-287
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• 2002

Four olefinic catechols, commonly referred to as urushiol were isolated from the sap of Korean Rhus verniciflua Stokes and had the stronger inhibitory effects on the reverse transcriptase of AIDS. The hexane extract with a inhibitory effects on reverse transcriptase was purified by silica and ODS gel column chromatography. The active compounds were identified by MS and $^1H-NMR$ as 3-[8' (Z), 11' (Z), 14' -pentadecatrienyl]catechol, 3-[8' (Z), 11' (Z)-pentadecadienyl]catechol, 3-[8' (Z)-penta- decenyl]catechol, and 3-pentadecylcatechol. All of these compounds showed strong inhibitory effects on reverse transcriptase of AIDS, in which 3-pentadecylcatechol exhibited the highest activity $(IC_{50}\;:\;10.87\;{\mu}g/ml)$.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.156-160
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• 2008

The methanolic extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS-T) and its fractions (RVS-H, RVS-C, RVS-E and RVS-B) showed significant neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced toxicity in primary cultures of rat cortical cells. RVS-B, which showed the most potent neuroprotective activity, was further fractionated to yield RVS-B5. Treatment of cortical cells with the RVS-T, RVS-B and RVS-B5 reduced the cellular ROS level and restored the reduced activities of glutathione reductase and SOD induced by glutamate. Although, the activity of glutathione peroxidase was not virtually changed by glutamate, RVS-B5 increased the glutathione peroxidase activity. In addition, these three tested fractions significantly restored the content of GSH which was decreased by glutamate insult in our cultures. Taken together, it could be postulated that RVS extract, in particular its fraction RVS-B5, protected neuronal cells against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity through acting on the antioxidative defense system.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.283-288
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• 2016

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) in human breast cancer cell lines. Methods : In cultured human breast cancer MCF-7 cells, we investigated growth inhibitory effect of RVS. MCF-7 cells were cultured with various concentrations (0, 200, 300, and 400 ug/ml) of RVS at $37^{\circ}C$ for 24 h. We performed CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry for detection of Annexin V-PI staining. Results : As a result, RVS inhibits the cell growth and induction of apoptosis in dose dependent manner in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Conclusion : RVS has anti-cancer activities and induced apoptosis in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells. Therefore we suggest that RVS can use as a novel class of anti-cancer drugs.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2003

This study was undertaken to evaluate the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects of the heartwood extract of Rhus verniciflua (Anacardiaceae) and the two major components, sulfuretin and fustin. The MeOH extract, its EtOAc-soluble portion and sulfuretin showed significant antinociceptive activity in writhing and hot plate test assays and antiinflammaory effects in carrageenan-induced hind paw edema in rats. In particular, treatment of sulfuretin with 10 mg/kg dose (i.p.) reduced writhing frequency by 48.0% (p<0.01) compared to that of a control group. Further, the treatment of sulfuretin (5, 10 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days prevented the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema significantly (p<0.01). The antiinflammatory effect of sulfuretin was also confirmed by microscopic observation of mast cell numbers in muscle. In addition, sulfuretin suppressed the cyclooxygenase- 2 (COX-2) activity $(IC_{50}\;=\;28.7\;{\mu}M)$ in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage cells. This result indicates that the inhibitory effect of sulfuretin on COX-2 may be one of the antinociceptive/antiinflammatory mechanism.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-61
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• 2010

Objective : The aim of this present study is to evaluate the inhibitory effect of allergen removed Rhus verniciflua (ARV) on Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) which is considered to have a clinically important role in tumor metastasis. Methods : The inhibitory effects of standardized extract of ARV on the MMP-2, MMP-9 were investigated by spectrofluorometer while the inhibitory effects on the active MMP-2, pro MMP-2, pro MMP-9 were investigated by zymography. Antimetastatic effect of standardized extract of ARV was investigated in vitro on human fibrosarcoma cell (HT1080)'s invasion through Matrigel. Results : The standardized extract of ARV showed inhibitory effects on the active MMP-2 (IC50, $1.01{\mu}g$/ml), active MMP-9 (IC50, $2.5{\mu}g$/ml) depending on concentrations which was determined by spectrofluorometer. The standardized extract of ARV showed inhibitory effects on the active MMP-2, pro MMP-2, pro MMP-9 depending on concentrations which was determined by zymography. However its inhibitory effect on pro MMP-9 was relatively weaker rather than active MMP-2, pro MMP-2. The standardized extract of ARV showed inhibitory effects in vitro on human fibrosarcoma cell (HT1080)'s invasion through Matrigel according to concentration. Conclusions : These results indicate that standardized extract of ARV has antimetastatic effect through inhibit again MMP-2, MMP-9. Also its inhibitory effect is more powerful on active MMP-2, pro MMP-2 than on active MMP-9, pro MMP-9. It is necessary to conduct further studies on other MMP families, TIMP, and each component of standardized extract of ARV.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.701-709
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• 2006

The Rhus verniciflua Stokes (乾漆-RVS) has been used in traditional East Asia medicine for the therapy of gastritis, stomach cancer, although the mechanism for the biological activity is unclear. In the present study aims to investigate RVS extract contributes to growth inhibitory effect and it's the molecular mechanism on the human gastric cancer cells. AGS (gastric cancer cells) and RIEI (normal cells) were treated to different concentrations and periods of RVS extract $(10{\;}{\sim{{\;}100{\;}ug/mil)$. Growth inhibitory effect was analyzed by measuring FACS study and MTS assay. Cell cycle inhibition was confirmed by measuring CDK2 kinase activity by immunoprecipitation and kinase assay. And apoptosis was confirmed by surveying caspase cascades activation using a pan caspase inhibitor Exposure to RVS extract (50 ug/mll) resulted in a synergistic inhibitory effect on cell growth in AGS cells. Growth inhibition was related with the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The extract induces Gl -cell cycle arrest through the regulation of cyclins, the induction of p27kip1, and the decrease CDK2 kinase activity. And upregulated p27kip1 level is caused by protein stability increment by the reduction of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), a key molecule related with p27kip1 ubiquitination and degradation, and do novo protein synthesis. Besides, 乾漆 extract induces apoptosis through the expression of Bax, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and activation of caspase-3. RVS extract induces Gl -cell cycle arrest via accumulation of p27kip1 and apoptosis in human gastric cancer cells but not in normal cells, therefore we suggest that the extract can be used as a novel class of anti-cancer drugs.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.825-829
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• 2006

Rhus verniciflua Stokes has been used for treatment of blood stasis and abdominal mass in Oriental medicine. Rhus verniciflua Stokes has been experimentally reported to exert antioxidant, antiproliferative, antithrombotic and apoptotic activities. In the present study, the antiangiogenic and in vivo antitumor activities of aqueous extract of processed Rhus verniciflua Stokes (Nexia) by heat were examined to elucidate its anticancer mechanism. Nexia showed weak cytotoxiicty against human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and Lewis lung carcinoma cells (LLC) with IC50 of${\sim}200\;{\mu}g/ml\;and\;>200\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. Nexia significantly inhibited the proliferation and migratory activity in vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF) treated HUVEC. Furthermore, Nexia effectively suppressed the tumor volume in A549 nonsmall lung cancer bearing athymic nude mice, CanN. Cg-Foxn 1nu/CrljBgi up to 40.7% as well as tumor weight incised from LLC cells innoculated into the flank of C57BL/6 mice up to -50% compared with untreated control at a dose of 300 mg/kg. Taken together, these results suggest that processed Rhus verniciflua Stokes may inhibit the growth of Lewis lung carcinoma cells partly via inhibition of angiogenesis and can be potently applied to angiogenesis dependent cancers. However, it still needs a further research on molecular mechanism, angiogenesis animal study and clinical trial in future.