• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.121-134
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• 2006

Purpose : Cuscuta chinensis Lam. is utilized extensively as important medicines for threatened abortion habitual abortion. However, objective data related to an embryo is not existed until now. Therefore, this study is focused to find out stability of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. about an embryo during pregnancy based on data related to stability of nerve cell and antioxydative effect by using neural cell line, PC 12 cell. Methods : Experimentation concerns cytotoxic effects and antioxydative effect through methods such as MTT ssay, western botting after abstracting an undiluted solution from domestic Cuscuta chinensis Lam. Results : 1. As a result of experimentation on MTT assay according to each magnification from Cuscuta chinensis Lam. extraction solution with different abstraction methods, cytotoxic effect is not observed to all extract except an undiluted solution which is abstracted from MeOH stiring. Also, an undiluted solution in stiring with MeOH could not confirm whether come from Cuscuta chinensis Lam. or not. 2. As a result of revelation of Bax and GSK-3${\beta}$ which is responsive to the first stage from general stress in order to observe antioxydative effects of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. revelation of Bax by Cuscuta chinensis Lam. appeared to decrease. Conclusion : Cytotoxic effects with Cuscuta chinensis Lam. about PC12 cell is not discovered and it assume that it would be anti apoptotic effect by ROS as Bax and GSK-3${\beta}$ inviable effect. In the future, this study could be used as basic data for additional research on Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and effect and stability of complicated prescriptions for keeping pregnancy.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.860-865
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• 2009

Osteoclasts are bone-resorbing multinucleated cells derived from the monocyte/macrophage lineage. The differentiation of osteoclasts are regulated by osteoblastic cells expressed RANKL, which is the most critical molecule for osteoclast differentiation. In this study, we found that water extracts of cuscuta inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation by direct action on bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) without cytotoxicity. In BMMs, water extracts of cuscuta inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP, and OSCAR. Also, the protein expression of c-Fos and NFATc1 was inhibited by water extracts of cuscuta treatement. Water extracts of cuscuta inhibited the phosphorylation of p38, ERK, and JNK in BMMs treated with RANKL. However, water extracts of cuscuta did not inhibit RANKL-induced I-${\kappa}B$ activation. Water extract of cuscuta failed to inhibit bone resorption by osteoclasts cultured on hydroxyapatite plates. These results suggest that cuscuta may be a promising drug for use against bone disorders such as osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.121-126
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• 2011

Isoflavonoid production in cell cultures of Pueraria tuberosa as influenced by an angiospermic parasite, Cuscuta reflexa, was studied. During the time course, maximum isoflavonoid content was recorded when Cuscuta elicitor was added on day 15 of culture. Among various concentrations of elicitor tried, $1g\;l^{-1}$ of Cuscuta elicitor was found to be the most effective. The optimized elicitation conditions were used in vessels of varying capacity where maximum yield of ${\sim}91mg\;l^{-1}$ of isoflavonoid was recorded in a 2-l bioreactor which was about 19% higher than the control cultures. In this case, puerarin content increased up to $11mg\;l^{-1}$ which was 580% higher that the value recorded in the control cultures. In the bioreactor, 8 days of elicitation was optimal for the high accumulation of isoflavonoid, giving productivity of ${\sim}4mg\;l^{-1}\;day^{-1}$. The study showed persistent high isoflavonoid yield even during scale-up. Use of a preparation of Cuscuta reflexa as an elicitor is reported for the first time. The increase in isoflavonoid content was elicitor dose-dependent and can be explored to trigger high yields of isoflavonoid/secondary metabolites in production.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.334-340
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• 2019

Cuscuta chinensis Lam. and Cuscuta japonica Choisy are parasitic plants. C. chinensis seeds were traditionally used for treatment of kidney and liver deficiencies. C. japonica seeds were used as tonic medicine to improve liver function and strengthen kidneys, treatment of high blood pressure, chronic diarrhea, and sore eyes. Cuscutae Semen are seeds of only C. chinensis in Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (K.H.P.). The developed HPLC-PDA method easily, accurately, and sensitively quantified using eight marker compounds [hyperoside (1), astragalin, (2), quercetin (3), kaempferol (4), chlorogenic acid (5), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (6), 1,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (7), and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (8)]. In addition, the method may be used to distinguish seeds between C. chinensis Lam. and C. japonica Choisy. Furthermore, the result from the current study was applied to clarify samples between steam processed and unprocessed samples of C. chinensis by pattern analysis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.425-436
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• 2010

Objectives : Hypothyroidism is a relatively common endocrinologic disease, especially among older women. Western medical doctors treat hypothyroidism with levothyroxine, however there are several side effects, including thyrotoxicosis, atrial fibrillation, osteoporosis, etc. Therefore, traditional Korean medicine(TKM) offers an appealing alternative therapy for hypothyroidism. In this study, Cuscuta Semen was used to analyze its possible effect on a hypothyroidism rat model induced by propylthiouracil(PTU). Methods : 24 two-month-old Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were divided into 4 groups: normal (n=6), PTU-induced hypothyroidism control(n=6), hypothyroidism rat treated with Cuscuta Semen (n=6), and hypothyroidism rat treated with levothyroxine(n=6). PTU was administered for 4 weeks, Cuscuta Semen and levothyroxine was administered 2 weeks after PTU was initiated for a total duration of 2 weeks. Blood samples from all the rats were taken from their hearts and analyzed. Results : When compared to the normal group, the PTU-induced control group showed significantly lower $T_4$, $T_3$ levels and significantly higher TSH level, which is indicative of hypothyroidism. The Cuscuta Semen group had significantly higher $T_4$ and significantly lower TSH than the control group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference in biochemical labs and weight between the Cuscuta Semen and control groups. Conclusions : These results suggest that Cuscuta Semen could be effective in increasing thyroid hormone production, and be powerful enough to affect the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis. Also, no adverse effects related with Cuscuta Semen were found, suggesting that it is relatively safe to administer. In conclusion, it seems that Cuscuta Semen is a safe alternative medicine for hypothyroidism.

• Proceedings of the Botanical Society of Korea Conference
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• 1999.04a
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• pp.6-6
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• 1999

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.21 no.1_4
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• pp.39-44
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• 1978

Acid phosphatase activities were analyzed in $\mu\textrm{g}$ tissue samples from an angiosperm parasite (Cuscuta cephalanthi) and its host plant (Hedera helix) by a fluorometric microtechnique. The apex and the coiling portion of the parasite axis exhibited greater enzyme activies than other portions of the hypha. Acid phosphatase activity in the haustorium was 2-3 times that in the hyphal axis. The vascular bundles of the normal host exhibited the greatest enzyme activity. The acid phosphatase activity in the host infected by the parasite decreased to the activity level of the haustorium.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.321-327
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Cuscuta chinensis Lamark ethanol extract (CL) on wrinkle improvement. Cuscuta chinensis Lamark is known to contain dried saccharide, alkaloids, flavonoids, lignans and rein glycoside as major components of dried mature seeds of Cuscuta japonica Choisy. In this study, we evaluated the anti-wrinkle effects of CL and investigated bio-markers (e.g ; MMP-1, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1, type I procollagen) associated with skin wrinkle improvement. We tested the anti-wrinkle effect of CL using human fibroblast called CCD-986Sk cell. We observed an increase in MMPs, TIMP-1, and type 1 pro-collagen CL in CCD-986Sk cells irradiated with UVB at an intensity of $2mJ/cm^2$ for 60 seconds. As a result, CL decreased UVB-induced MMPs levels and mRNA expressions in CCD-986Sk cell. The levels and mRNA expressions of type I procollagen and TIMP-1 were increased by CL. These results suggest that CL has activities on improvement of skin wrinkle, which is induced by UVB radiation. Taken together, this study proposed the possibility of developing herbal medicine and functional herbal cosmetic materials with wrinkle-improving effects of Cuscuta chinensis Lamark.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.380-383
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• 2004

The purpose of this study was to evaluate mushroom Tyrosinase inhibitory activity of Cuscuta japonica Choisy and C. australis R.Be. The experimental materials were expressed juice from their stems and flowers, both water and ethanol extracts, their seeds, and two kinds of commercially available cosmetic packing Wontosa and Bupjetosa (made from seeds of C. japonica). The 50% inhibitory concentration $(IC_{50})$ of C. Japonica juice was 5.4 mg/ml. However, C. australis juice showed negligible mushroom tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The $IC_{50}$ of water extracted C. japonica seed was $54.0\;{\mu}g/ml$, water extracted product of Wontosa $50.0\;{\mu}g/ml$ and Bupjetosa $40\;{\mu}g/ml$. The $IC_{50}$ of ethanol extracted C. japonica seed was $10\;{\mu}g/ml$, Wontosa $10\;{\mu}g/ml$ and Bupjetosa $20\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.4 s.139
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• pp.375-379
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• 2004

According to the traditional chinese herbal Cuscuta japonica Choisy and C. australis R.Be (original plant of Semen Cuscutae in Korea) have been used to cure pimple. In order to prove their bacteriostatic effects against Propionibacterium acnes, we performed the micro broth dilution method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. japonica juice was 27.3 mg/ml, but C. australis juice showed no effect. The MIC of water extracted C. japonica seed and Wontosa and Bupjetosa were $960\;{\mu}g/ml$. The MIC of both water and ethanol extracts of C. australis seed was $9240\;{\mu}g/ml$. But ethanol extracts of C. japonicaseeds, Wontosa and Bupjetosa had no bacteriostatic activity. We also performed the disk diffusion test, C. japonica juice had prominent effect. Water extracts of C. japonica seed, Wontosa and Bupjetosa showed bacterio-static effect in 10 mg/ml, and C. australis seed in 10 mg/ml. The ethanol extract of C. japonica seed, Wontosa and Bupjetosa, and C. australis seed showed bacteriostatic effect in 20 mg/ml.