• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2013

Objectives : The water extract of Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (HHT), composed of the Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus has been traditionally used to treat fever, inflammation, gastritis and hypertension in east asia. However, little is known about the ameliorative effects of HHT on atopic dermatitis. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of HHT on atopic dermatitis Methods : We investigated the inhibitory effects of HHT on the production of proinflammatory cytokines in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs), on the scratching behavior in ICR mice, and on atopic dermatitis symptoms in 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced atopic dermatitis-like model hairless mice. Results : Levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ increased by PMA plus A23187 co-treatment were significantly inhibited by HHT in a dose-dependent manner. HHT also inhibited the histamine release from RPMCs stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. The oral administration of HHT reduced the scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 and histamine in ICR mice. Furthermore, the intradermal treatment of HHT reduced the ear edema, skin lesions, and atopic molecular marker (IgE and IL-4) in DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis model mice. Conclusions : These results suggest that HHT may be used as a potential treatment for AD as a prescription for treatment of atopic dermatitis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.23-28
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• 2012

Objectives : Samhwangsashim-tang(SHSST), a mixture of Rhei radix et rhizoma, Scutellariae radix, and Coptidis rhizoma, has been regarded as being able to treat bleeding, gastric discomfort, dry mouth, insomnia and purpura due to Blood Heat. Currently, this herbal formula is applied to gastritis, gastric ulcer, hypertension, atherosclerosis or other types of vascular inflammatory disorders. Methods : We extracted this herbal mixture with 30% ethanol and examined for its effects on systemic inflammatory responses and in vitro macrophage activity. Mice were orally given to SHSST for 7 days and then lipopolysaccharide(LPS) was intraperitoneally injected. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$) levels in serum were measured 1 h after LPS challenge. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated from thioglycollate-injected mice and used for in vitro cellular activity. Cell death was measured using the MTT method and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. LPS-stimulated signaling molecules necessary for TNF-${\alpha}$ expression were determined by Western blotting. Results : Oral administration of SHSST for 7 days resulted in a significant reduction in LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ release into serum. In vitro treatment of SHSST was cytotoxic in a concentration-dependent manner. However, SHSST caused a concentration-dependent reduction in necrosis and increase in apoptosis in mouse peritoneal macrophages. SHSST inhibited the activation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK signaling molecules in response to LPS. Conclusion : Taken together, our results demonstrated that SHSST was effective in lowering LPS-stimulated TNF-${\alpha}$ serum levels, possibly through its modulation of NF-${\kappa}B$, p38 and JNK in macrophages.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.33-46
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• 2008

Objectives : Obesity is a metabolic disease resulted from various causes including nutritional disproportion, hormonal imbalance, and hypothalamic nuclei disorder. Samhwang-tang(Sanhuang-tang, SHT) is composed of 5 herbs (Ephedrae Herba, Scutellariae Radix, Typhae pollen, Acori Rhizoma and Ansu Semen) and is frequently used for obese patients. This study investigated anti-obesity effects of SHT on the rats. Methods : Obesity was induced by high fat diet (HFD), monosodium L-glutamate injection (MSG) and ovariectomy (OVX) in the Sprague-Dawley rats. Water extract of SHT was treated for 2 weeks, then changes of body weight gain and epididymal fat cell size were measured. In OVX animals, c-Fos and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressions in hypothalamic nuclei were observed with immunohistochemistry. Results : SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of body weight gain in obesity induced by HFD and OVX, but not in obesity induced by MSG. SHT treatment demonstrated significant decrease of fat cell size in obesity induced by HFD, but not in obesity induced by MSG. On c-Fos and NPY expressions in hypothalamic nuclei, SHT treatment resulted significant decrease of immuno-reactivity of c-Fos and NPY in obesity induced by OVX. Conclusions : These results suggest that SHT has a weight loss effect against obesity induced by nutritional disproportion of diet intake and hormonal imbalance, especially without central nervous system disorder.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.66-68
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• 2006

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of medicinal plant extract on performance in broiler chickens. A total of eight hundred forty, 1-d-old broiler chicks(Ross) were randomly allocated to 7 treatments with 4 replicates of 30 birds per replicate. The treatments were negative control (NC, diets without antibiotics), positive control (PC, diets with-containing antibiotics), Schisandrae fructus (T1), Scutellariae radix (T2), Camellia sinensis (T3), Artemisia capillaris (T4) and mixed medicinal plants (T5) extracts added to drinking water. The final body weight, body weight gain and feed conversion rate were significantly improved in all treatments compared to NC (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the relative weights of liver, spleen, pancreas, bursa of Fabricius and intestinal tract among the groups. The relative lengths of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were significantly decreased in PC compared with other groups (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the cecal microflora. The contents of triacylglycerol (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) in blood serum were not significantly influenced. The concentration of cholesterol in blood serum was significantly decreased in all treated groups as compared to those of the control (P<0.05). There was no difference in the components of leukocytes and erythrocytes among the groups.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.497-505
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• 2015

Traditional herbs, such as Lonicera japonica, Arctii Fructus, and Scutellariae Radix have been used as traditional drug due to their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of extract mixture (YG-1) in a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute inflammation in both macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells and Sprague-Dawley rats. YG-1 did not show specific cellular toxicity in RAW 264.7 cells until a concentration of $100{\mu}g/mL$. YG-1 reduced various markers related to inflammation such as IL-$1{\beta}$, COX-2, and iNOS caused by LPS in RAW 264.7 cells. Consistent with these results, YG-1 exerted significant anti-inflammatory effects in an acute inflammation rat model. Acute fever and high concentration of IL-$1{\beta}$ in serum induced by LPS were significantly reduced by YG-1. These results were similar to flubiprofen, a commercial anti-inflammatory and anti-febrile drug. Therefore, these results indicate that YG-1 has beneficial effects on LPS-induced acute inflammation and suggest that YG-1 can serve as an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-febrile drug.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.144-157
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• 2013

Objectives : The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of Hwangnyeonhaedok-tang (HH) and Geongangbuja-tang (GB) on the plasma hormone level in mice exposed to cold stress. HH and GB are the representative prescriptions of cold and hot property, respectively. Methods : We established cold condition by confining ICR mice to a $4^{\circ}C$ cage for 24 hours, ICR mice were given a HH (100, 300, 1000 mg/kg) or GB (100, 300, 1000 mg/kg) extract orally twice a day for three consecutive days. From the second day, they were given cold stress ($4^{\circ}C$) for twenty four hours. To measure the plasma corticosterone, insulin, thyroxine, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels of mice, their blood samples were collected from cardiac puncture, immediately centrifuged at $4^{\circ}C$. The protein level of HSP70 and JNK was examined using western blot analysis in cortex and hypothalamus. Results : Oral administration of GB more significantly reduced plasma corticosterone level raised by cold stress than HH. Gardeniae Fructus (CJ), the constituent of HH, significantly increased the thyroxine level. Western blot analysis showed that cold stress-induced Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression was increased by HH and GB, HH decreased JNK expression and GB increased JNK expression dose-depently in hypothalamus. Scutellariae Radix (HG), Zingiberis Rhizoma (GG) and Aconiti Tuber (BJ) decreased HSP70 in hypothalamus and GG, BJ decreased HSP70 in cortex as well. Conclusions : These results suggest Geongangbuja-tang (GB) is more effective for ameliorating the stress response caused by cold stress.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.161-168
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• 2002

Objectives: Hwangryunhaedok-tang (Huang-lian-jie-du-tang, HRHDT, 黃連解毒湯) is a traditional Korean herbal medicine that is formulated with Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex, Scutellariae Radix and Gardeniae Fructus. HRHDT is cold (寒) and bitter (苦) in nature and has general properties of clearing heat and detoxifying (淸熱解毒), strengthening the stomach and settling the liver (健胃平肝), and reducing inflammation, fever and swelling. This formula can prevent and treat artherosclerosis, hyperplasia of the endothelium, cerebral fluid circulation, cerebral vascular deterioration through aging, impairment of neurotransmitters, or disruption of the functioning of the cerebral cortex following infection or trauma. The purpose of the study reported here was to determine the neuroprotective effect of HRHDT on global ischemia induced by 4-vessel occlusion in Wistar rats. Methods: HRHDT extract was lyophilized after extraction with 85% methanol and 100% water. Rats were induced to 10 minutes of forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO) and reperfused again. HRHDT was administered with a dose of 100 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg of 85% methanol extracts and 100 mg/kg of 100% water extracts, respectively, at 0 min and 90 min after 4-VO. Rats were killed at 7 days after ischemia and the number of CA1 pyramidal neurons was counted in hippocampal sections stained with cresyl violet. Results: Body temperature of animals showed no significant difference between saline-treated groups and HRHDT extracts-treated groups until 5 hours of reperfusion. This result indicated that neuroprotective effects of HRHDT extracts were not due to hypothermic effects. The administration of HRHDT showed a significant neuroprotective effect on hippocampal CA1 neurons at 7 days after ischemia compared to the saline-treated group (P<0.001). HRHDT methanol extracts of 100 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and HRHDT water extracts of 100 mg/kg showed 88.5%, 98.3% and 95.1 % neuroprotection, respectively. Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that administration of HRHDT is highly effective in reducing neuronal damage in response to transient global cerebral ischemia. HRHDT may involve many mechanisms that might account for its high degree of efficacy. A number of factors including free radicals, glutamate, calcium overload, NO, and various cytokines have been proposed to have an important role in causing neuronal death after short periods of global ischemia. Further studies are needed to know the neuroprotective mechanisms of HRHDT.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.1138-1150
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• 2020

In this study, an experiment was conducted to develop a sunscreen with antioxidant effects by simultaneously investigating the antioxidant and UV protection capabilities of various plant extracts. First, to investigate the UV-blocking ability of 33 kinds of plant extracts, the absorbance spectrum between the UV wavelength of 280 to 400 nm was investigated. Arrowroot, graviola, wheat sprout, sangbaek skin, thorn meal, lacquer, etc. 11 species were selected. The total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and DPPH radical scavenging activity of the selected plant extracts are measured to examine the degree of antioxidant activity, and from this, it is a plant extract that has excellent UV protection and antioxidant activity at the same time. The species was selected. A gel-shaped cream is prepared by mixing the selected gold, hops, and licorice extracts in a ratio of 1:1:1, and the UV protection effect of this cream is measured when the cultured cells are irradiated with UV rays. Determined by the method. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the selected mixture of plant extracts complemented each other in terms of ultraviolet absorption ability and increased cell damage protection effect. Through these results, it was confirmed that it was possible to develop a sunscreen with an antioxidant effect if the antioxidant and sunscreen capabilities of various plant extracts were determined at the same time.