• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1207-1214
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• 2017

Schisandrae Fructus (SF), the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. SF extracts have been recently reported to attenuate the inflammatory responses in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells in in vitro and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced cartilage degradation in in vivo osteoarthritis (OA) models. However, their protective and therapeutic potentials against OA in primary culture chondrocytes and animal models remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of SF on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), biomarkers for diagnosis of OA, on interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes and MIA-induced osteoarthritis in a rat model. Our data indicated that SF treatment significantly reduced the mRNA expression and enzyme activity of MMP-1, -3 and -13 in $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes. The chondro-protective effects of SF were then analyzed in a rat OA model using a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the right knee joint. According to our results, the elevated levels of MMP-1 and -3 were markedly ameliorated by SF administration. Collectively, these findings indicate that SF could be a candidate for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.885-897
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• 2021

Schisandrae Fructus (SF) and Corni Fructus (CF) have been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although reports have highlighted the possibility of inhibiting the onset and progression of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), studies on related mechanisms are still lacking. In this study, we investigated the potential of SF and CF in improving BPH by using a dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-induced in vitro BPH model using LNCaP prostate carcinoma cells. According to our results, water and ethanol extracts of SF and CF significantly inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells by DHT treatment and markedly downregulated the expression of DHT-induced BPH biomarkers and growth factors. They also regulated the expression of apoptosis regulatory factors and significantly reduced DHT-mediated oxidative stress. In addition, the protective effect on major factors involved in the pathogenesis of BPH was more effective in the ethanol extract treatment group than in the water extract group. Furthermore, the improvement effect on BPH was higher in the 1:1 combined treatment group than in the ethanol extract alone treatment group of SF and CF, and 60% ethanol extracts showed a better effect than 40% ethanol extracts. Therefore, our findings demonstrate that SF and CF can protect against BPH by preventing the hyperproliferation of prostate cells through the inhibition of the androgen signaling pathway, which was correlated with their antioxidant activities. Therefore, SF and CF extracts may be useful in the clinical treatment of BPH, and the combination of these two extracts can be synergistic.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.54-72
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this review is to investigate studies on Estrogen-like activity and to contribute to the utilization of herbal medicines including phytoestrogens. Methods: Electric searches were performed with Pubmed from 2013 to June 2018, for the words, 'herb and estrogen', 'traditional Chinese medicine and estrogen', 'Oriental medicine and estrogen', and 'Korean medicine and estrogen'. 49 papers are investigated and classified into 'in vitro', 'in vivo' and 'in vivo and in vitro' experimental studies. Results: 1. In vitro experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Rubi Fructus, Sparganii Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Spatholobi Caulis, Evodiae fructus, Curcumae longae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Puerariae Radix, Scutellariae Radix are present. 2. In vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Phytolaccae Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix, Puerariae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Cyperi Rhizoma, Cistanchis Herba, Cynomorii Herba, Granati fructus, Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Epimedii Herba, Polygalae Radix, Artemisiae Annuae Herba are present. 3. In vitro and in vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Cirsii Herba, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Cynomorii Herba, Cinnamomi cortex, Drynariae Rhizoma, Psoraleae Semen, Schisandrae Fructus, Epimedii Herba, Astragali Radix are present. Conclusions: Future studies will require additional research on numerous herbal medicines used in clinical practice.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.167-183
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• 2012

Objective : Average, lowest, highest concentration and exceeding value of legal allowance of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea(Astragali Radix, Ginseng, Citri Unshii Pericarpium, Aurantii Fructus Immaturus, Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata, Zingiberis Rhizoma Crudus, Zizyphi Fructus, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba, Hoelen, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Corni Fructus, Schisandrae Fructus, Lycii Fructus) was evaluated according to their origines (korea, china) and property was also discussed according to the medicinally active part and individuals regardless origines. Method : Korean and Chinese herbal medicines were evenly sampled from corresponding country nationwide. Pre-treatment was executed according to the KFDA(Korea Food and Drug Administration) regulation and analysis was performed according to the Korean Environmental Analysis QA/QC. Result : Not much difference was observed according to their origines. However, lowest, highest and percent exceeding value of legal allowance was showed some consistent differences according to the medicinally active part and individuals. Co and Cr was can not be evaluated since their legal regulation was not established yet. Conclusion : The average concentration of As, Cd, Pb, Co, Cr in frequently using 16 oriental herbal medicines in korea showed no noticeable difference according to their origines. Regardless the origin, some consistent differences were observed according to the individuals and medicinally active parts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.249-255
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• 2015

Schisandrae fructus [Schizandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon] is a medicinal herb widely used for treating various inflammatory and immune diseases in East Asian countries. The Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) from this plant has pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumoral activities. Nevertheless, the biological activities and underlying molecular mechanisms of the potential anti-cancer effects of this oil remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the potential inhibition of apoptosis signaling pathways by SSeo in human leukemia U937 cells and evaluated the underlying molecular mechanism. Exposure to SSeo resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition due to apoptosis, which was verified by DNA fragmentation, the presence of apoptotic bodies, and an increase in the sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptotic cell death by SSeo was correlated with the down-regulation of members of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family (including X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), cIAP-1, and surviving) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, and with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, depending on dosage. SSeo treatment also induced Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspase-3, -8 and -9, and concomitant degradation of activated caspase-3 target proteins such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Taken together, these findings suggest that SSeo may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia cells. Further studies are needed to identify its active compounds.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.882-890
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• 2009

In this study, dietitians working in the school foodservice industry in the Chungbuk region were surveyed to determine their perception of medicinal herbs and medicinal foods in order to obtain basic data for developing medicinal food menus. The findings of this study are as follows. Many of the dietitians had low confidence in medicinal herbs used in medicinal foods. However the more the subjects ate such food, the higher their perception was. The higher the perception and reliability were, the more positive the answer was in terms of taste, nutrition and efficacy. Regarding the familiarity with medicinal herbs, the subjects, regardless of their age, showed a high perception of easily accessible medicinal herbs; younger subjects preferred Schisandrae fructus, Rubi fructus and Acanthopanacis cortex. The higher the perception and the eating frequency were, the higher the familiarity was. Regarding the development of medicinal food menus, the older the subjects were, the more positive they viewed the development of menus. Also, dietitians with 15 years of experience showed a high interest in the development of new menus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1365-1380
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• 2007

Based on the theories and clinical data of oriental medicine, traditional medicinal prescriptions known to be effective to diabetic nephropathy were collected. The prescriptions were carefully examined and analyzed in order to be used as fundamental material for experiments and in clinicals. More than 40 publications related to diabetes were arranged and analyzed. Of the complications, diabetic nephropathy part of the publications were specifically focused during analysis. Data were analyzed and classified according to the quantity, prescription, differentiation of symptoms, signs and addition and subtraction of each medicine. Frequently used medicines were statistically analyzed. The most frequently used prescription was Yukmigihwang-tang(六味地黃湯) based medicine and prescriptions of its addition and subtraction, which was 15% of the total prescriptions cited. The most frequently used medicine was Astragali Radix, mentioned 192 times in the prescriptions. Hoelen was next with 180 citations, followed by Dioscoreae Rhizoma with 147 times, Rehmanniae Radix with 140, Corni Fructus with 131, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix with 106, Angelicae Gigantis Radix with 101, Alismatis Rhizoma with 95, Rhei Rhizoma with 90, Atractylodis Rhizoma Alba with 84, Rehmanniae Radix Preparata with 78, Leonuri Herba with 74, Moutan Cortex Radicis with 66, Aconiti Lateralis Preparata Radix with 66 Cnidii Rhizoma with 65, Pseudostellaria heterophylla with 62, Liriopis Tuber with 55, Lycii Fructus with 52, Rhei Rhizoma with 49, Codonopsis Pilosulae Radix with 44, Paeoniae Radix Rubra with 44, Schisandrae Fructus with 42, Polyporus with 42, Achyranthis Radix with 41 and Euryales Semen with 40. Medicines prescribed more than 30 grams a day included Astragali Radix, Imperatae Rhizoma, Benincasae Pericarpium, Leonuri Herba, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Plantaginis Semen, Polyporus, Hoelen, Halloysitum Rubrum, Achyranthis Radix, Arecae Pericarpium, Phaseoli Angularis Semen, Coicis Semen, Rhei Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Sargassum, Ostreae Concha, Pseudostellaria heterophylla, Epimedii Herba, Rehmanniae Radix, Scrophulariae Radix and Polygonati Rhizoma. No scientific reports on the traditional medicinal aspects of diabetic nephropathy was searched. This analysis report would be able to provide the basis of developing new drug candidates for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy, as well as securing the EBM for the traditional medicines already being prescribed to the patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2014

Essential oils extracted or purified from various plants have shown various beneficial effects. Seed parts of Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Schisandrae Semen) have been used as a traditional medicine for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of essential oils purified from S. fructus (S. chinensis Baillon) remain largely unresolved. The aim of this study was to investigate the safety of Schisandrae Semen essential oil (SSeo) by a single- dose toxicity study in mice. SSeo was orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. All animals were sacrificed after 14 days of treatment. After a single administration, mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and gross pathological findings were observed for 14 days. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No toxicological change related to the test substance or mortality was observed after administration of a single oral dose of SSeo. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. The clinical chemistry and hematological parameters were within the normal ranges except total bilirubin. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose for oral administration of SSeo in mice was considered to be over 5,000 mg/kg. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SSeo indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.293-298
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• 2015

Muscle atrophy, known as a sarcopenia, is defined as a loss of muscle mass resulting from a reduction in the muscle fiber area or density due to a decrease in muscle protein synthesis and an increase in protein breakdown. Schisandrae fructus (SF) extract of the fruits of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz) Baillon has been used as a tonic in traditional medicine for thousands of years. Although a great deal of work has been carried out on the therapeutic potential of SF, its pharmacological mechanisms of action in muscle diseases actions remain unclear. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SF ethanol extracts on the production of muscle atrophy factors in C2C12 myotubes stimulated with 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-ribonucleotide (AICAR), an AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activator, and sought to determine the underlying mechanisms of action. AICAR upregulated atrophy-related ubiquitin ligase muscle RING finger-1 (MuRF-1) and stimulated the levels of the forkhead box O3a (FoxO3a) transcription factor in the C2C12 myotubes. SF supplementation effectively and concentration- dependently counteracted AICAR-induced muscle cell atrophy and reversed the increased expression of MuRF-1 and FoxO3a. Our study demonstrates that SF can reverse the muscle cell atrophy caused by AICAR through regulation of the AMPK and FoxO3a signaling pathways, followed by inhibition of MuRF-1.