• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.349-354
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• 2014

Elevation of intracellular calcium ($Ca^{{+}{+}}$) triggers degranulation of mast cells by bypassing receptor activation. Flos Sophora japonica L. has been used as a natural dying source and has been reported to have biological activities such as anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects through $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ and IgE crosslinking. In the present investigation, we report the regulatory effect of ethanolic extract of Flos Sophora japonica L. (S.F) on allergic mediators produced by $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ ionophore activation in mast cells. S.F significantly inhibited calcium ionophore (A23187)-induced interleukin (IL)-4 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$ production as well as mast cell degranulation. Furthermore, administration of S.F suppressed allergic reactions in a 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced allergic dermatitis mouse model. Both oral administration and ear painting using 50 mg/kg of S.F significantly reduced levels of cytokines such as IL-4, TNF, and interferon-${\gamma}$ in ear tissues compared to the DNFB alone-treated group. Serum IgE level in the S.F-treated group also decreased compared to the DNFB alone-treated group. Weights of spleens and lymph nodes in the S.F-treated groups also decreased compared to the control group. Considering the data, we conclude that S.F mediates its anti-allergic effects not only through $Fc{\varepsilon}RI$ stimulation but also $Ca^{{+}{+}}$ influx in mast cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.1163-1167
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• 2008

In this study, cytotoxicity of cadmium on NIH 3T fibroblasts was utilized in order to discover antitoxic compound in methanol extract of Sophora fIavascens Ait. There were treatment groups; control (medium only), $MTT_{50}$ group and five experimental groups. MTT {3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H- tetrazoliumbromide} assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles and $IC_{50}$ was also measured. Accordingly we have examined the detoxification effects of methanol extract of S. flavescens Ait. and leachianone A (LA) on cadmium-treated NIH 3T3 fibroblasts ($IC_{50}=\;12.5{\mu}M$) to observe morphological changes by the light microscopy. Both S. flavescens Ait. methanol extract and LA showed inhibitory effects on cadmium-induced cytotoxicity. Furthermore, LA showed dose-dependency in detoxication. From these results, it is conceivable to suggest that LA from S. flavescens Ait. methanol extract is a potential antitoxic agent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.33-37
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• 2004

Objective: The aim of this work is to investigate the antibacterial activity of the Sohporaflavanone G isolated from Sophora flavescens (S. flavescens), as the development of microbial resistance to antibiotics make it essential to constantly look for new and active compounds effective against pathogenic bacteria. Method : Sophoraflavanone G was isolated from the dried roots of Sophora flavescens Aiton (Leguminosae) by bioassay?guided fractionation. We investigated the effect of sophoraflavanone G on oral bacterial at various concentrations after incubation of 24 h in strains in the dose?dependent manner. Results: The structure of active compound, Sophoraflavanone G having a lavandulyl group at C?8, was elucidated on the basis of spectral data especially 1H?NMR and I3C?NMR. The antimicrobial activity showed that Sophoraflavanone G exhibited antimicrobial activilies against all the bacteria tested (MICs, 0.39 - 6.25 ㎍／ml). Sophoraflavanone G showed the strong antimicrobial activity against all the facultative bacteria and microaerophilic bacteria (MICs, 0.78 - 1.56 ㎍／ml) and also Sophoraflavanone G showed the strong antimicrobial activity against obligate anaerobic bacteria (MICs, 0.39 - 6.25 ㎍／ml).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.17-21
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• 2014

The combined new phytoformula (CAS), a mixture (5 : 3 : 2, w/w/w) of the ethanol extracts of the roots of C. officinalis and A. japonica, and the n-butanol fraction of the S. subprostrata strongly inhibited arthritic severity score as well as IL-6 production in serum of collagen-induced arthritic mice. Histological observation also indicated that the CAS-treated group showed less breakdown of joint cartilage of the collagen-treated mice. In contrast, C. officinalis alone or a combination of A. japonica and S. subprostrata did not show significant inhibitory action on the same animal model. Thus, it is thought that CAS possesses a synergistic inhibitory action on arthritic condition. All these results strongly suggest that CAS may be a potential anti-arthritic agent.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.25-29
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• 2013

Objectives : The dried root of Sophora flavescens Aiton have been used to treat patient with skin diseases such as eczema in Eastern countries. S. flavescens can clear away heat and dry dampness and purge sthenic-fire from the liver and gallbladder. Recently, anti-allergic effect of S. flavescens has been reported. However, the effect on skin condition of contact dermatitis still remains unknown. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of S. flavescens on contact dermatitis. Methods : In order to investigate the effects of S. flavescens (methanol extract of S. flavescens, MESR) on skin condition, the contact dermatitis was induced in mice skin by using 1-fluoro-2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). As the effective endpoints, skin thickness, skin weight, histopathological change were checked. In addition, effects on skin lesion, body weight and spleen/body weight ratio were also investigated. Results : Topical application of MESR ($500{\mu}g/day$) lowered skin thickness (P < 0.05) and skin weight (P < 0.05), respectively. MESR-treated group showed diminished spongiosis and immune cell infiltration in skin tissues compared to those of non-treated control group. The inhibition of skin lesions was also observed in MESR-treated group. In addition, MESR did not affect body weight gain and spleen/body weight ratio in contrast with those in dexamethasone-treated group. Conclusion : These data suggest that Sophorae Radix could improve skin lesion of contact dermatitis. This indicates the possibility for Sophorae Radix to be used to patients with skin diseases such as contact dermatitis.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.577-586
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementing quercetin extracted from Sophora japonica flower (QS) to the diet of broiler chicks on their growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility, cecal microbiota, serum lipid profiles, relative organ weight, and breast muscle quality. Methods: A total of 1,088 1-day-old broiler chicks (mixed sex) were randomly assigned to four groups based on the initial body weight (43.00±0.29 g). The experimental period was 35 days (starter, days 0 to 7; grower, days 7 to 21; finisher, days 21 to 35). There were 17 replicate cages per treatment and 16 birds per cage. Dietary treatments consisted of birds receiving basal diet without quercetin as the control group and treatment groups consisted of birds fed basal diet supplemented with 0.2, 0.4, or 0.6 g/kg QS. Results: With the increase of the QS dosage, body weight gain during days 0 to 7 (p = 0.021), 7 to 21 (p = 0.010), and 1 to 35 (p = 0.045), feed intake during days 0 to 7 (p = 0.037) and 1 to 35 (p = 0.025), apparent dry matter digestibility (p = 0.008), apparent energy retention (p = 0.004), cecal lactic acid bacteria counts (p = 0.023), the relative weight of breast muscle (p = 0.014), pH value from breast muscle (p<0.001), and the water holding capacity of breast muscle (p = 0.012) increased linearly, whereas the drip loss from breast muscle (p = 0.001) decreased linearly. Conclusion: The addition of QS in the diet of broiler chicks had positive effects on the breast muscle yield and breast muscle quality, and improved the dry matter digestibility and energy retention by increasing cecal beneficial bacteria counts, thus improving growth performance.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.168-175
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• 2013

Aldose reductase (AR) plays a central role in the development of the diabetic complications. Eighty one Korean herbal medicines have been investigated for inhibitory activities on AR. Among them, fourteen herbal medicines exhibited a significant inhibitory activity compared with 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG) as positive control. Particularly, Xanthium strumarium (fruit, whole plant), Ilex cornuta (stem and leaf), Vitex rotundifolia(stem), Sophora flavescens (whole plant), Platycarya stobilacea (flower) showed two times more potent inhibitory activity than 3,3-tetramethyleneglutaric acid (TMG).

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.911-916
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• 1995

Ionophorous antibiotics have been used popularly for the protection of avian coccidiosis, though Halo-fuginone which is derived from an extract of the Dichroa febrifuga, was developed as an antimalarial and anticoccidial agent. The antibiotics are regarded as the causes of residues in the avian products, therefore the author has tried to find out more safe herbal materials for the control of avian coccidiosis. Thus, the extracts of 5 kinds of herbs, roots of Pulsatilla koreana Nakai and Sophora flavescens Aiton, nuts of Quisqualis indica Linne, whole herbs of Artemisia annua Linne and Polygonum aviculare Linne, were investigated on the efficacy against E tenella. Survival rates, bloody diarrhea, lesion scores, body-weight gains and feed conversion rate were investigated at the 1st and the 2nd week after infection. The bloody diarrhea in the groups treated with P koreana, A annua, Q indica and P aviculare were milder than those in the groups treated with S flavescens and infected control. The lesion score in the groups treat.4 with herb extracts(2.00$\pm$0.82~2.65$\pm$0.89) were lower than those in the control group (2.80$\pm$0.7l). But, there was not significant in all infected groups. The body weight gai in the groups treated with P koreana, S flavescens, A annua and Q indica(291.74$\pm$15.76~303.43$\pm$51.90) were higher than that in the control group (283.71$\pm$16.53) but there was not significant. In a conclusion, analyzing the data of the survival rates, bloody diarrheal symptoms, lesion scores, body weight gains and oocyst excretions, the extract of S flavescens, P koreana, A annua and Q indica were effective. The further research on the above herbal materials will have been carried out by the author and the other researchers by means of the chemical analysis of the components.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1715-1723
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• 2016

The heat extracts of six kinds of medicinal herbs (Scutellaria baicalensis, Sophora flavescens, Citrus unshiu pericarpium, Lonicera japonica, Perilla frutescens, Benincasa hispida) were tested for non-specific immune response and disease resistance effects related with fish diseases on olive flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. The preventive effects of 6 herbal mixtures against bacterial disease on cultured flounder were examined follow as feeding EP absorbed with the heat extract of six kinds of medicinal herbs. For feeding trial for 12th week, weight gain and serum analysis of fish fed various groups were not significant differences. Lysozyme activity of the 0.01 % treated group on 4th week showed significant increase. Histopathology of the administrated group for feeding period showed no particular signs of tissue degeneration. At 0.01% oral experimental group, relative percent survival (RPS) were only 50% to 75% for four weeks and eight weeks group by intraperitoneal injection with E. tarda. The results suggest that heat extracts of six kinds of medicinal herbs (0.01%) would be effective to enhance the nonspecific immunity and protective ability of olive flounder against fish pathogen.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.237-245
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• 2016

Hair loss affects both men and women of all ages and often significantly affects social and psychologic health. Recent therapeutic approach for hair loss such as finasteride and minoxidil focused on regulation of hormonal system blood flow. However, long-term use of these drugs caused adverse effects. To develop herbal medicine for therapeutic effect on hair growth, here we screened the 10 medicinal herbs (Red ginseng, Licorice, Ulmus, Barberry root, Lycium root, Rehmanniae radix crudus, Sophora root, Sweet flag, Polygala root, Achyranthes) based on oriental medicine literature. We measured cytotoxicity, anti-oxidant activity, and $5-{\alpha}$ reductase inhibitory effect of the herbal medicine on human dermal papilla (DP) cells to investigate therapeutic effect of the herbal medicine. Treatment of the 1% herbal medicine did not show any cytotoxic effects, and cell growth was increased by treatment of the 0.1% herbal medicine. In addition, the herbal medicine showed stronger antioxidant activity than resveratrol and comparable inhibitory activity of $5-{\alpha}$ reductase with finasteride. Furthermore, when applied to in vivo mouse model, we also observed increases in the number and length of hair of the herbal medicine-treated group. These results suggest that the herbal medicine promotes hair growth by its antioxidant activity and inhibitory activity of $5-{\alpha}$ reductase and might therefore be a promising hair growth-promoting agent.