• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
• /
• 1990.06a
• /
• pp.49-57
• /
• 1990

It has been well known that extended exposure to reactive oxygens causes severe damage to susceptible biomolecules. In this study, the effects of flavonoids including trifling and kaempferol from Ginseng leaves on single oxygen induced photohemolysis of erythrocytes and free radical scavenging activities were investigated . Each flavonoid aglycone (5-50UM) such as kaempferol, quercetin or baicalein exhibited a high protective effect against the photohemolysis. They protected the cells by scavenging 102 and free radicals. Although the free radical scavenging activities of the flavonoid glycosides were not much lower than those of their corresponding aglycones, their insolubility into lipid bilayers of membrane made them less effective in preventing the photohemolysis induced by 1O2. The 102 and free radical scavenging activities of flavonoids were estimated by the decomposition of the flavonoid by 1O2 and the bleaching of free radicals by the flavonoid, respectively. The solubilization of the flavonoid into micelle or erythrocytes was deduced from spectrophotometric and microscopic observations. The cooperation of L-ascorbic acid and a flavonoid, and a possible involvement of lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase in the photohemolysis mechanism were discussed. Keywords Panax ginseng C.A Meyer, ginseng leaves, flavonoids, singe1 oxygen, Photohemolysis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.191-199
• /
• 1990

It has been well known that extended exposure to reactive oxygens causes severe damage to susceptible biomolecules. In this study, the effects of flavonoids including trifolin and kaempferol from Ginseng leaves on singlet oxygen induced photohemolysis of erythrocytes and free radical scavenging activities were investigated. Each flavonoid aglycone (5-50$\mu$M) such as kaempferol, quercetin or baicalein exhibited a high protective effect against the photohemolysis. They protected the cells by scavenging $^1O_2$ and free radicals Although the free radical scavenging activities of the flavonoid glycosides were not much lower than those of their corresponding aglycones, their insolubility into lipid bilayers of membrane made them less effective in preventing the photohemolysis induced by $^1O_2$. The $^1O_2$ and free radical scavenging activities of flavonoids were estimated by the decomposition of the flavonoid by $^1O_2$ and the bleaching of free radicals by the flavonoid, respectively. The solubilization of the flavonoid into micells or erythrocytes was deduced from spectrophotometric and microscopic observations. The cooperation of L-ascorbic acid and a flavonoid, and a possible involvement of lipoxygenase or cyclooxygenase in the photohemolysis mechanism were discussed.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.23 no.10
• /
• pp.1422-1427
• /
• 2013

Scutellaria baicalensis (SB), a traditional herb with high pharmacological value, contains more than 10% flavone by weight. To improve the biological activity of flavones in SB, we aimed to enhance the bioconversion of baicalin (BG) to baicalein (B) and wogonoside (WG) to wogonin (W) in SB during fermentation using beta-glucuronidase produced from Lactobacillus brevis RO1. After activation, L. brevis RO1 was cultured in milk containing SB root extract with various carbon or nitrogen sources at $37^{\circ}C$ for 72 h. During fermentation, the growth patterns of L. brevis RO1 and changes in the flavone content were assessed using thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. After 72 h of fermentation, the concentrations of B and W in the control group increased by only 0.15 and 0.12 mM, respectively, whereas they increased by 0.57 and 0.24 mM in the fish peptone group. The production of B and W was enhanced by the addition of 0.4% fish peptone, which not only improved the growth of L. brevis RO1 (p < 0.001) but also enhanced the bioconversion of flavones. In conclusion, the bioconversion of flavones in SB may provide a potential application for the enhancement of the functional components in SB.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.26 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 2020

Flavonoids are mainly contained in the vegetables and medicinal herbs. Until now, over 5,000 kinds of flavonoid have been identified and their biological activities have been reported. Among them, we are interested in oroxylin A and spinosin because of their specific structures having bulky group at C-6 of ring A. Oroxylin A is contained in the Scutellaria baicalensis and exhibits cognitive enhancing activity as a GABA_A receptor antagonist, which is different from those of mainly contained in the S. baicalenis, baicalein or wogonin. Spinosin is isolated from Zizyphus jujuba var. spinosa and mainly studied as a hypnotic or anxiolytic agent because of traditional knowledge about its original herb. As far as we know, the cognitive function of spinosin was first identified by our group. In this review, we discuss how such flavonoids exert their pharmacological activities associated with cognitive function based on the receptor binding study and behavioral studies. Traditional knowledge and reverse pharmacology may be addressed in the research field of phytochemical pharmacology and useful to unveil the secret of phytochemicals.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.287-292
• /
• 2001

To investigate whether phospholipase $A_2$pathway is involved in histamine release of rat peritoneal mast cells, we measured histamine release in the presence of various enzyme inhibitors involved in eicosanoid pathway, such as phospholipase $A_2$, cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase. Phospholipase $A_2$inhibitors, manoalide and OPC, significantly inhibited histamine release induced by 100 $\mu$M ATP and 1$\mu$g/ml compound 48/80. Cyclooxygenase inhibitors, ibuprofen and indomethacin, significantly inhibited ATP-induced histamine release and lipoxygenase inhibitors, baicalein and caffeic acid, also significantly inhibited. To investigate the involvement of protein kinase in ATP- and compound 48/80-induced histamine release, we observed effects of protein kinase inhibitors on histamine release. Bisindolmaleimide (protein kinase C antagonist) dose-dependently inhibited both ATP and compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (methyl 2,5-dihydroxy cinnamate and genistein) dose-dependently inhibited ATP and compound 48/80-induced histamine release. Protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase seem to be involved in histamine release induced by ATP and compound 48/80. These results suggest that phospholipase $A_2$pathway as well as protein kinase C and tyrosine kinase are involved in histamine release of rat peritoneal mast cells by ATP and compound 48/80.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2010

A study was performed to assess the quality equivalence of commercially available Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang granules from various vendors in terms of the contents of characterizing compounds. 'Hwang-Ryun-Hae-Dok-Tang'(or 'Huanglian Jiedu Tang') is the complex medicinal herbal product which is composed of four different herbal drugs; Scutellariae Radix, Coptidis Rhizoma, Phellodendri Cortex and Gardeniae Fructus. Using a high performance liquid chromatography and direct analysis in real time mass spectrometer (DART-MS), five characterizing compounds such as baicalin, baicalein, berberine, palmatine, and geniposide were analyzed to compare the variance of the contents between the products from four different vendors. Although five characterizing compounds were all successfully detected from all the products, the contents of each compound were shown to have significant difference among vendors. For real time monitoring of characterizing compounds in medicinal herbal products, DART-MS can be successfully adopted as a powerful analytical tool.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.31 no.6
• /
• pp.847-854
• /
• 2021

Platycodon grandiflorum (balloon flower) root (Platycodi radix, PR) is used as a health supplement owing to its beneficial bioactive properties. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening effects of deglycosylated platycosides (saponins) from PR biotransformed by pectinase from Aspergillus aculeatus were investigated. The bioactivities of the platycosides improved when the number of sugar moieties attached to the aglycone platycosides was decreased. The deglycosylated saponins exhibited higher lipoxygenase inhibitory activities (anti-inflammatory activities) than the precursor platycosides and the anti-inflammatory compound baicalein. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the pectinasetreated PR extract was higher than that of the non-treated PR extract. The trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assay showed improved values as the saponins were hydrolyzed. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities (whitening effects) of deglycosylated platycosides were higher than those of the precursor platycosides. Furthermore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides showed higher anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and whitening activities than their precursor glycosylated platycosides. Therefore, 3-O-β-ᴅ-glucopyranosyl platycosides may improve the beneficial effects of nutritional supplements and cosmetic products.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.165-176
• /
• 2013

Objective : The purpose of this study was to establish the simultaneous analysis for six compounds in Gumiganghwal-tang (GMGHT, Jiuweiqianghuo-tang) and to investigate the anti-atherosclerotic effects of GMGHT in vitro. Methods : The column for separation of six compounds was used Luna $C_{18}$ column and maintained at $40^{\circ}C$. The mobile phase for gradient elution consisted of two solvent systems, 1.0% acetic acid in water and 1.0% acetic acid in acetonitrile. The analysis was carried out at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min with pothodiode array (PDA) detection at 254, 280, and 320 nm. The injection volume was 10 ${\mu}L$. The antioxidant activities of GMGHT were evaluated by measuring free radical scavenging activities on 2,2'-Azinobis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The inhibitory effects on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation were evaluated by the formation of thiobarbituric acid relative substances (TBARS), relative electrophoretic mobility (REM), and fragmentation of apolipoprotein B (ApoB)-100. Results : Calibration curves were acquired with $r^2{\geq}0.9998$. The contents of liquiritin, ferulic acid, baicalin, baicalein, glycyrrhizin, and wogonin in GMGHT were 1.784, 1.693, 37.899, 0.258, 1.869, and 0.034 mg/g, respectively. The GMGHT showed the radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration required for 50% reduction ($RC_{50}$) against ABTS and DPPH radicals were 72.51 ${\mu}g/mL$ and 128.49 ${\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, GMGHT reduced the oxidation properties of LDL induced by $CuSO_4$. Conclusion : HPLC-PDA is considered as an available and convenient method for quality control and standardization of GMGH and GMGHT has potentials on anti-atherosclerosis by anti-oxidative effect and suppressive effect on LDL oxidation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.327-337
• /
• 2009

Objective : In benign prostatic hyperplasia, dihydrotestosterone acts as a potent cellular androgen and promotes prostate growth. Inhibiting enzyme 5${\alpha}$-reductase, which is involved in the conversion of testosterone to the active form dihydrotestosterone, reduces excessive prostate growth. Recently Scutellaria baicalensis has been related reports about the effect of baicalein on anti-proliferation of the prostate gland. In this study, we investigated the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on cytopathological alterations and expression of 5${\alpha}$-reductase in the rat model of benign prostatic hyperplasia induced by castration and testosterone treatment. Methods : Sprague-Dawley rat were treated with testosterone after castration for induction of experimental benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is similar to human benign prostatic hyperplasia in histopathological profiles. Scutellaria baicalensis as an experimental specimen, and finasteride as a positive control, were administered orally. The prostates were evaluated by histopathological changes, testosterone levels, and the expression of 5${\alpha}$-reductase genes. Results : While prostates of control rats revealed severe acinar gland atrophy and stromal proliferation, the rats treated with Scutellaria baicalensis showed a diminished range of tissue damage. In the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) of 5${\alpha}$-reductase genes. Scutellaria baicalensis inhibited the expression of 5${\alpha}$-reductase genes. Conclusions : These findings suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis may protect glandular epithelial cells and also inhibit stromal proliferation in association with the suppression of 5${\alpha}$-reductase. From theses results, we suggest that Scutellaria baicalensis could be a useful remedy agent for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.1109-1114
• /
• 2008

To understand the role of intestinal microflora in the biological effect of functional herbs, which have been used in Korea, Japan, and China as traditional medicines, and suggest new bioactive compounds transformed from herbal constituents, the metabolic activities of the functional herb components (ginsenoside Rb1, crocin, amygdalin, geniposide, puerarin, ginsenoside Re, poncirin, hesperidin, glycyrrhizin, and baicalin) toward their bioactive compounds (compound K, crocetin, benzaldehyde, genipin, daidzein, ginsenoside Rh1, ponciretin, hesperetin, 18b-glycyrrhetic acid, and baicalein) were measured in fecal specimens. The metabolic activities of these components were $882.7{\pm}814.5$, $3,938.1{\pm}2,700.8$, $2,375.5{\pm}913.7$, $1,179.4{\pm}795.7$, $24.6{\pm}10.5$, $11.4{\pm}10.8$, $578.8{\pm}206.1$, $1,150.0{\pm}266.1$, $47.3{\pm}58.6$, and $12,253.0{\pm}6,527.6\;{\mu}mol/h/g$, respectively. No differences were found in the metabolic activities of the tested components between males and females, although these metabolic activities between individuals are extensively different. The metabolites of functional herb components showed more potent cytotoxicity against tumor cells than nonmetabolites. These findings suggest that intestinal microflora may activate the pharmacological effect of herbal food and medicines and must be the biocatalytic converter for the transformation of herbal components to bioactive compounds.