• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.247-261
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• 2024

Objectives : Zuojin Pill, recognized as an effective herbal remedy, has undergone investigation for its potential in alleviating symptoms like indigestion, vomiting, and abdominal distension. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of digestive function activation through network pharmacology, particularly focused on improving functional dyspepsia. Methods : The two components, Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus, constituting Zuojin Pill were analyzed based on broad information on chemical and pharmacological properties, confirming 40 active compounds and 115 digestive-related molecular targets. Concentration analysis revealed impacts on various pathways related to digestive functions. Results : According to network pharmacological analysis of Zuojin Pill, quercetin and beta-sitosterol were exhibited relatively numerous targets, suggesting their potential significance in the therapeutic activity of Zuojin Pill and by a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network, JUN, RELA, MAPK1, HSP90AA1, TP53, TNF, AKT1, IL6, MAPK14, ESR1, FOS, MYC were identified. Also, berberine exhibited the highest contribution index (92.58%), indicating that this compound may be a major contributor to the digestive activity of Zuojin Pill. Additionally, functional interaction analysis by GeneMANIA indicated that targets of Zuojin Pill could functionally interact through various mechanisms, implying similarities in pharmacological roles. Conclusions : These findings contribute valuable insights into the digestive function activation mechanism and highlight the therapeutic potential of Zuojin Pill in improving functional dyspepsia.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.231-238
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• 2013

Perilla frutescens, which comprises var. frutescens and var. crispa, has been cultivated traditionally in Asian countries as an edible oil, leaf vegetable, and medicinal crop. To evaluate the lipophilic phytonutrient properties of P. frutescens, we selected 54 Perilla accessions [19 landraces of var. frutescens (FL), 22 weedy type var. frutescens (FW), 9 weedy type var. crispa (CW), 2 cultivars of var. frutescens widely cultivated for seed oil (FCS), and 2 cultivars of var. frutescens cultivated as a leaf vegetable (FCL)] and analyzed their seeds and leaves for vitamin E, squalene, and phytosterols. Among the four vitamin E isomers analyzed, ${\gamma}$-tocopherol was the major form of vitamin E in seeds, whereas ${\alpha}$-tocopherol was the major form in leaves of all types of P. frutescens. The highest total vitamin E content in seeds was present in FL ($170.0mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), whereas that in leaves was highest in FCL ($358.1mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$). The highest levels of squalene in seeds and leaves were in FL ($65.5mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) and CW ($719.3mg{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), respectively. Among the three phytosterols, ${\beta}$-sitosterol occurred in the highest amount in both leaves and seeds of all of the crop types. Phytonutrient contents were comparatively higher in leaves than in seeds of all crop types. All of these results suggest that the consumption of leaves and seeds of Perilla crops could be beneficial to human health, as Perilla possesses considerable amounts of various lipophilic compounds.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.121-127
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• 2009

Since July 2005, survey of chestnut ink disease was carried out in chestnut stands located at southern parts of Korea. Dead chestnut trees showing inky ooze on necrotic trunks were found in two different locations. In order to isolate and identify the causal fungus, infected tissues and soil samples around dead or dying trees were collected and placed on Phytophthora-selective medium. Rhododendron and chestnut tree leaves were used as a bait to isolate the fungus from soil samples by attracting zoospores in soil suspensions. On V-8 culture medium, the isolates produced homothallic oogonia with protuberances ($34.0-46.2{\times}21.9-26.7{\mu}m$) abundantly, but did not produced sporangia. Mass production of sporangia was possible by immersing agar plugs with actively growing mycelium in the creek water at $18^{\circ}C$ for 3 days. Sporangia were papillate, and ovoid to obpyriform ($17.0-38.9{\times}14.6-29.2{\mu}m$) in shape. Comparison of the ITS sequences revealed that the isolates had 100% identity to the P. katsurae isolates from Japan and New Zealand and 99.6% identity to other P. katsurae isolates. All of the examined isolates from Korea were completely identical to each other in ITS sequence. Numerous sporangia were formed in filtered as well as unfiltered creek water, but no sporangia formed in sterilized distilled water. Light induced sporangia formation, but has no influence on oospore formation. Amendments of ${\beta}$-sitosterol in culture media have no significant effect on mycelial growth but significantly stimulate oospore and sporangia formation.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.50
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• pp.137-141
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• 2023

The root of Adenophora triphylla is a highly valued medicinal resource that is used to prevent human obesity, cancer, and inflammation, whereas young leaves or sprouts of A. triphylla are used as food ingredients. In this study, we compared the antioxidant and anticancer activities of 70% ethanol extracts of A. triphylla roots and leaves. The leaf extract exhibited stronger 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) than the root extract. Furthermore, the leaf extract was observed to be a potent source of anticancer compounds that were effective against A549 (lung cancer), LNcaP (prostate cancer), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer), and Caco-2 (colorectal cancer) cells. These results indicate that not only the roots but also the leaves of A. triphylla can serve as valuable sources of functional materials in the pharmaceutical industry.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.237-250
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• 2018

Objectives : This study is a pharmacological network approach, aimed to identify the potential active compounds contained in Curcumae Radix, and their associated targets, to predict the various bio-reactions involved, and finally to establish the cornerstone for the deep-depth study of the representative mechanisms. Methods : The active compounds of Curcumae Radix have been identified using Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. The UniProt database was used to collect each of information of all target proteins associated with the active compounds. To find the bio-metabolic processes associated with each target, the DAVID6.8 Gene Functional classifier tool was used. Compound-Target and Target-Pathway networks were analyzed via Cytoscape 3.40. Results : The target information from 32 potential active compounds of Curcumae Radix was collected through TCMSP analysis. The active compounds interact with 133 target genes engaging in total of 885 biological pathways. The most relevant pathway was the lipid-related metabolism, in which 3 representative active compounds were naringenin, oleic acid, and ${\beta}-sitosterol$. The mostly targeted proteins in the lipid pathway were ApoB, AKT1 and PPAR. Conclusions : The pharmacological network analysis is convenient approach to predict the overall metabolic mechanisms in medicinal herb research, which can reduce the processes of various experimental trial and error and provide key clues that can be used to validate and experimentally verify the core compounds.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.33 no.2 s.129
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• pp.105-109
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• 2002

Besides chrysophanol and friedelin, mixtures of n-hydrocarbons [pentacosane (72.6%), heptacosane (14.6%), tetracosane (5.8%), nonacosane (4.1 %) and hexacosane (2.9%)], n-hydrocarbon alcohols [octacosanol (70.5%) and hexacosanol (29.5%)], l-monoacyl glycerols [acyl part; behenic acid (43.5%), lignoceric acid (32.4%), cerotic acid (9.3%), tricosanoic acid (8.9%), pentacosanoic acid (2.6%), octacosanoic acid (2.3%), heneicosanoic acid (1.0%)], wax esters [behenic acid (56.3%), lignoceric acid (23.0%), cerotic acid (19.8%), tricosanoic acid (4.6%), octacosanoic acid (4.0%), pentacosanoic acid (1.7%), triacontanoic acid (0.6%)/ octacosanol (33.7%), hexacosanol (21.0%), tetracosanol (15.6%), triacontanol (10.5%), docosanol (6.0%), tricosanol (6.0%), heptacosanol (4.2%), nonacosanol (3.0%)] and sterols [${\beta}-sitosterol$ (73.2%), stigmasterol (14.6%), campesterol (12.2%)] were isolated from the roots of Hemerocallis fulva. The acid : alcohol combinations of the major wax esters were $C_{48}$: 22 : 26, 24 : 24, $C_{46}$: 22 : 24, and $C_{44}$: 22 : 22. This is the first report of l-monoacyl glycerols and friedelin from this plant. All isolates were identified on the basis of spectral data and chemical reactions.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.387-393
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• 2007

By screening inhibitory activities on the melanin polymer biosynthesis in B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines, MeOH extract of Phellodendri Cortex was found to have inhibitory effect on melanin polymer biosynthesis. Twelve compounds were isolated from the MeOH extract of P. Cortex. They were identified as obacunone (1), limonin (2), ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (3), bis(2-methylheptyl) phthalate (4), cycloeucalenol (5), berberine (6), palmatine (7), jatrorrhizine (8), syringin (9), umbelliferone (10), rutaecarpine (11) and scopoletin (12) by comparison of their physical and spectral data with those of authentic samples. Among the isolated compounds, berberine (6) and palmatine (7) showed potent inhibitory effect on the melanin polymer biosynthesis in cultured B-16 mouse melanoma cell lines, with Inhibition rate of 96% and 90%, respectively. As a positive control, arbutin exhibited an inhibition rate of 56%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.671-678
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• 2019

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of plant sources have attracted a wide range of interest across the world over the last decade. This is due to the growing concern for safe and alternative sources of antibacterial and antioxidant agents. In this study, we focused on the antibacterial and antioxidant activities and the chemical composition of a methanol extract from Viburnum sargentii seeds. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), and the antibacterial activity was screened by a disc diffusion assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined using the microbroth dilution and spread plate method, respectively. The V. sargentii extract showed growth inhibition activity on all tested Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, and Proteus vulgaris) pathogenic bacteria. The MIC and MBC ranged from 0.156~1.25 mg/ml for Gram-positive and 0.625~5.0 mg/ml for Gram-negative tested bacteria. The GC-MS results revealed the presence of several phytochemicals such as ${\beta}-sitosterol$ and vitamin E, which are known for their pharmacological applications. The antioxidant activities of V. sargentii extract were investigated by three different methods: the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging assay, the reducing power assay, and the total antioxidant capacity assay. The results showed a concentration-dependent antioxidant potential for all three used methods. In sum, our findings suggest that the methanol extract of V. sargentii seeds has the potential to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and provide antioxidant compounds, making it therefore worthy of further investigation.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the immunomodulatory (IM) activity of IM-133N, a herbal combination in various immunotherapeutic experimental models. Methods: The IM activity of IM-133N was evaluated against three experimental models namely, effect of IM-133N against Escherichia coli (E. coli)-induced abdominal sepsis in mice, and carbon clearance test was performed in Wistar albino rats to evaluated the phagocytic potential of IM-133N, in addition IM-133N was evaluated for its immunoglobulin enhancing potential in rats, where the immunoglobulin levels were measured by zinc sulphate turbity (ZST) test. Further, IM-133N was subjected for detailed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)/MS analysis to identify the probable active constituents present in it. Results: The findings of the present study has demonstrated very promising IM property of IM-133N in all the experimental models. Briefly, pretreatment with IM-133N at 125, 250, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg, p.o. doses had protected the mice against E. coli-induced abdominal sepsis and mortality, further the effect of IM-133N was found to be significant and dose-dependent. In support of this, in another study administration of IM-133N showed a significant and dose-dependent increase in serum immunoglobulin levels, estimated by ZST test. In line with the above findings, in the carbon clearance test the low doses (125 and 250 mg/kg, p.o.) of IM-133N increased the rate of carbon clearance, whereas the higher doses (500 and 1,000 mg/kg, p.o.) did not sustain the response, and saturation effect was considered as one of the possible reason for futility of higher doses for IM-133N. In addition, A detailed LC-MS/MS analysis of IM-133N showed 17 bioactive phytochemical constituents: namely, apigenin, chaulmoogric acid, mesquitol, quercetin, symphoxanthone, salireposide, ${\beta}$-sitosterol, nonaeicosanol, ${\beta}$-amyrin, betulic acid, oleanolic acid, symplososide, symponoside, symploveroside, symplocomoside, symconoside A and locoracemoside B. Conclusion: These findings suggest that IM-133N possesses significant IM activity and, hence, could be useful for eradicating opportunistic disease-triggering pathogens via immunotherapeutic mechanisms. The findings also suggest IM-133N may also useful in other immunity disorders.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.339-347
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• 2014

This study investigated the classification of olive oils that are mainly distributed in Korea via imports. The fatty acid contents, degree of color, pigments, anti-oxidants, and sterol contents are analyzed on the different types of olive oil as follows: 10 kinds of extra virgin olive oil, 5 kinds of pure olive oil, and 5 kinds of refined olive-pomace oil. As a result of fatty acid analysis, the majority of oleic acid ($C_{18:1}$) and palmitic acid ($C_{16:0}$), and minority of linoleic acid ($C_{18:2}$) and stearic acid ($C_{18:0}$) were detected without any significant differences between the grades of olive oils. The UV spectrum is related to the ${\Delta}K$, and it is a part of the analysis factor for the purity and degree of degradation of the oil. Extra virgin olive oil had ${\Delta}K$ of almost 0, pure olive oil had 0.07~0.12, and refined olive-pomace oil had 0.1~0.13. These differed from extra virgin oil, and the pure or pomace oil ${\Delta}K$ had a confirmed distinct difference. The color degrees of chlorophyll with a low $L^*$ value and $(-)a^*$ (green) and carotenoid with $(+)b^*$ (yellow) were confirmed to have correlation between extra virgin and other olive oils. To compare chlorophyll and carotenoid as natural pigment in olive oils, 417 nm and the ratio of the absorbance at 480 nm (417/480) was calculated at 1.62 of extra virgin, 1.85 of pure olive oil, and 3.32 of refined olive-pomace oil. Therefore, it will be possible to distinguish when the extra virgin or pure olive oil are mixed with olive-pomace oil. The total amount of tocopherol, an anti-oxidant, were 19.06 in extra virgin, 10.91 in pure olive oil, and 27.88 in refined olive-pomace oil. The high content of tocopherol in pomace oil caused recovery of solvent extraction from olive pulp. Thus, extra virgin oil and pure olive oil were distinguished by olive-pomace oil. Polyphenol compounds in extra virgin olive oil measured high only in ferulic acid with 0.543 mg/kg, caffeic acid with 0.393 mg/kg, and other vanillic acid, vanillin, and p-coumaric acid had similar amount of 0.3 mg/kg. All grade of olive oils had the highest ${\beta}$-sitosterol content. Af (Authenticity factor) value were estimated with campesterol and stigmasterol content ratio (%). Af value was 19.2 in extra virgin olive oil, 17.1 in pure olive oil, 16.9 in refined olive-pomace oil, which were distinctive from sunflower oil with 3.7, corn oil with 2.4, and soybean oil with 2.0. It can provide important indicator of olive oil adulteration with other cheap vegetable oils. The results of this study can be used as a database for the classification of olive oil grade and distinguishing between the different types of oils.