• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.68-71
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• 2007

Cordyceps militaris, Artemisa capillaris, and Fagopyrum esculentum have been known to maintain normal blood sugar levels in folk medicine. We investigated the effects of these nutraceuticals extract supplementations on fasting and postprandial blood glucose in diabetes mellitus patients. The study population consisted of 50 diabetes subjects with a mean fasting blood glucose of 186.8${\pm}$6.2 mg/dl and postprandial blood glucose of 292.8${\pm}$10.3 mg/dl. They consumed 3 tea bags (3g per meal) of the extract of selected plants for 17 weeks. Patients treated with nutraceuticals extract supplementation showed a significant decrease of fasting blood glucose (118.4${\pm}$3.9 mg/dl) and postprandial blood glucose (160.5${\pm}$4.0 mg/dl) in 7 weeks. Nutraceticals extract supplemantation caused a significant decrease of 36.5% and 45% in fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels, respectively, and also significantly decreased HbA1c levels. This study shows that extract of nutraceuticals supplementation significantly lowered the fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels in NIDDM patients. These effects presumably contribute to the hypoglycemic activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.457-462
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• 2003

Houttuynia Cordata thunb has been used as folk medicine for analgesics, beriberi, edema, hepatitis and icterus etc. We investigated, the effects of Houttuynia Cordata thunb administration on protective in liver of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) treated rats. Seven days after the injection of TCDD(1${\mu}g$/kg), Houttuynia Cordata thunb (200mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for four weeks. We examined the antioxidative enzymatic activity by measuring the level of GOT, GPT in serum and MDA, GSH, GSSG, GPx, SOD and Catalase in liver tissue of rats. GOT activity of Houttuynia Cordata thunb and TCDD administered group(HTT) showed 49.00% of inhibitive effect compared to TCDD-treated abnormal group(TTA). GPT level of HTT group was decreased to the level of Non TCDD-treated group(NTT). MDA content in the TTA group was 1.27 times increased compared to NTT group. HTT group was inhibited by 69.53% compared to TTA group. GSH contents in HTT group was 1.91 times increased compared to TTA group. GSSG contents in HTT group was 46.72% decreased compared to TTA group. SOD and Catalase in TTA group were lower than in NTT group, but SOD and Catalase in HTT group were increased by 82% and 55.45% respectively compared to TTA group.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1723-1728
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• 2007

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), a type of red raspberry, grows wild in Korea and China and its unripe fruit is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of impotence and as a diuretic. RCM was extracted with methanol and then further fractionated it into for different types. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of a RCM extract (ext.) and its fraction (fr.). DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay, total polyphenols contents, total flavonoids contents assay were used to analyze antioxidant activity. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity $(RC_{50}:1.67{\mu}g/ml)$ and total polyphenols contents $(546.25{\mu}g/mg)$ were higher in butanol fraction than in other fr. And total flavonoids contents was higher in ethylacetate fr. $(141.78{\mu}g/mg)$. We applied comet assay to measure the DNA damage in the individual cells and exposed time course at $IC_{50}$. Comet assay is a rapid and sensitive fluorescent microscopic method to examine DNA damage and repair at individual cell level. The butanol fro from RCM significantly induced 54.12%, 57.95% of DNA damage after treated RCM for 8 hr. In conclus

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2003

Prunus mume has been used for the folk medicine by many old civilizations to treat food-borne diseases or enteric disorders. This study was carried out to examine the antimicrobial effect of juice from Prunus mume against pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus. The juice of Prunus mume had the strongest antimicrobial activity to Sal. enteritidis. The concentrations of Prunus mume juice for the formation of clear zone were 1% for Sai. enteritidis(15.0mm), 3% for Lis. monocytogenes(14.7mm), and 5% for Bac. cereus(14.75mm), Esc. coli(13.45mm) and Sta. aureux(11.9mm). The growth of all tested microorganisms was inhibited apparently in tryptic soy broth containing 3% and 4% Prunus mume juice. And it was found that the Prunus mume juice showed the highest antimicrobial properties, followed by Sal. enteritidis, Bac. cereus, Sta. aureus, Lis. monocytogenes, Esc. coli.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.73-83
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• 2015

Dendropanax morbifera Leveille (Araliaceae) is an endemic species growing in the south-western part of South Korea and has been used in folk medicine. However, the effects of Dendropanax morbifera Lev. on skin biology remain to be elucidated. In this study, we isolated 1-tetradecanol and ${\beta}$-sitosterol from the n-hexane fraction of Dendropanax mobifera Lev. and To investigate the whitening effect of the fraction, we tested the inhibition of tyrosinase activity of 1-tetradecanol. The results show that the inhibitory effect of the 1-tetradecanol was higher than water extract and n-hexane fraction. And 1-tetradecanol significantly reduced melanin contents of B16F10 cells compared to more than water extract and n-haxane fraction dose-dependantly without cell cytotoxicitiy (below $100{\mu}g/mL$). We also investigated the skin moisturizing effect using HR-1 hairless mice. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the 1-tetradecanol treated group was significantly smaller than that in the other groups. To investigate the effect of the preventing hair loss by ${\beta}$-sitosterol, we observed HR-1 hairless mice through periodic growth feature. The results suggest that hair loss of mice by ${\beta}$-sitosterol was delayed and it's hair density showed the highest. These data provide evidence that Dendropanax morbifera Lev. may be a potent candidate for the improvement of both skin whitening, moisturizing and alopecia from the point of cosmetic industry view.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.7
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• pp.686-697
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• 2021

Propolis is a resinous substance produced by honeybees, which they use to protect their hives. Honeybees produce propolis by mixing exudates from the various trees and plants with saliva and beeswax. It has been used since around 300 B.C. as a folk medicine to cure wounds. Propolis contains many physiologically active components, such as flavonoids, phenolic compounds, and beeswax. Because of its functional components, propolis has a wide spectrum of biological applications. The compounds in propolis and its biological activity can vary according to the location of nectar source and extraction method. Propolis is most commonly known for its anti-microorganism activity against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Artepillin C and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) have been identified as regulatory compounds that reduce inflammation and exert immunosuppressive reactions on T lymphocytes. Through its anti-inflammatory activity, propolis exhibits anti-tumor activity, including the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation, the blocking of tumor signaling cascades, and antiangiogenesis. However, for the more apply of propolis its analysis of nectar source, identifying of propolis compound, the molecular mechanism of propolis and the investigation of compounds synergistic effects are essential. In this study, we described the physiological activity of propolis isolated from honeybees.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.735-739
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• 2019

The dried rhizomes and roots of Gentiana scabra (GS) have been frequently prescribed as a traditional folk medicine in East Asia (including China, Japan, and Korea) for the treatment of various pathophy-siological conditions, such as inflammatory skin diseases, anorexia, indigestion, gastric infections, and diabetes mellitus. In the present study, the effects of aqueous (GS-W) and ethanolic (GS-E) extracts of GS on gastrointestinal (GI) motor function were investigated by measuring the in vivo gastric emptying rate (GER) and the intestinal transit rate (ITR) in mice. The GER was significantly increased by GS-W at a dose of 1 g/kg. The ITR was significantly increased by GS-W (at doses of 0.1 and 1 g/kg) or GS-E (at a dose of 1 g/kg) in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the ITR value of GS-W (at a dose of 1 g/kg) appeared to be higher than that of cisapride, which was the most prominent prokinetic agent in the 1900s but was removed from the market in 2000 due to its fatal side effects. The above results suggest that GS-W might be a potential prokinetic agent to replace cisapride.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.152-161
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• 2019

Phallus impudicus var. impudicus L. is an edible mushroom that has long been used as folk medicine in China. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, and inflammation inhibitory activities of a methanol extract of fruiting bodies of P. impudicus var. impudicus L. The extract exhibited good 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity, excellent ferrous ion chelating activity, and moderate hydroxyl radical scavenging activity compared with BHT at 2.0 mg/ml. However, the reducing power of the extract was significantly lower than that the BHT positive control. Although the inhibitory activities of methanol extract on acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase were significantly lower than the galanthamine positive control at the concentration tested, the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase was 52.83% and 55.17%, respectively, at 1.0 mg/ml. The methanol extract also demonstrated excellent inhibition of inflammation-related activities, such as production of nitric oxide in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage cells and acute edema induced by administration of carrageenan on the hind paw of rats. The collective results suggest that the fruiting body of P. impudicus var. impudicus L. might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-cholinesterase, and anti-inflammation compounds.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2019

Leaves of Sasa quelpaertensis Nakai are used in folk medicine for their anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, and diuretic properties. To ensure efficient utilization of S. quelpaertensis leaf, we previously reported a preparation method for phytochemical-rich extract (PRE) using the leaf residue, which was produced after hot water extraction. This study was undertaken to evaluate the hypouricemic potential of S. quelpaertensis leaf PRE in potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemic mice. The administration of PRE significantly reduced serum uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine levels and increased urine UA and creatinine levels in the PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. It also reduced liver UA levels and xanthine oxidase (XA) activity. A histological analysis revealed that PRE administration protected against PO-induced liver damage, pointing to anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice. We analyzed the transcriptome response to PRE administration in PO-induced hyperuricemic mice using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) in kidney tissues. The administration of PRE mainly enriched genes involved in mediating immune and inflammatory responses and the metabolic pathway. A Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis showed that the metabolic pathway, purine metabolism, and antibody biosynthesis were the major pathways altered in the PRE and PO groups. These results suggest a potential role for PRE in the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia with inflammation.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.305-315
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• 2021

Background: Panax stipuleanatus represents a folk medicine for treatment of inflammation. However, lack of experimental data does not confirm its function. This article aims to investigate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of triterpenoid saponins isolated from P. stipuleanatus. Methods: The chemical characterization of P. stipuleanatus allowed the identification and quantitation of two major compounds. Analgesic effects of triterpenoid saponins were evaluated in two models of thermal- and chemical-stimulated acute pain. Anti-inflammatory effects of triterpenoid saponins were also evaluated using four models of acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, xylene-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma in mice. Results: Two triterpenoid saponins of stipuleanosides R₁ (SP-R₁) and R₂ (SP-R₂) were isolated and identified from P. stipuleanatus. The results showed that SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ significantly increased the latency time to thermal pain in the hot plate test and reduced the writhing response in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. SP-R₁ and SP-R₂ caused a significant decrease in vascular permeability, ear edema, paw edema, and granuloma formation in inflammatory models. Further studies showed that the levels of inflammatory mediators, nitric oxide, malondialdehyde, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin 6 in paw tissues were downregulated by SP-R₁ and SP-R₂. In addition, the rational harvest of three- to five-year-old P. stipuleanatus was preferable to obtain a higher level of triterpenoid saponins. SP-R₂ showed the highest content in P. stipuleanatus, which had potential as a chemical marker for quality control of P. stipuleanatus. Conclusion: This study provides important basic information about utilization of P. stipuleanatus resources for production of active triterpenoid saponins.