• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.173-185
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• 2019

Background: Galgeun-tang used in traditional Korean medicine, is a mixture of the medicinal plants Cinnamomi Ramulus, Ephedrae Herba and Puerariae Radix, and has been prescribed for the treatment of various ailments, including fever. Although the use of traditional medicinal herbs to treat diseases has recently increased, their safety and toxicity profiles incompletely elucidated. Thus, we evaluated Galgeun-tang's toxicity in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods and Results: Galgeun-tang (1,000, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats for 13 weeks, and then, they were maintained for 4 weeks without administration (recovery period). Their clinical signs, and hematological and urinary properties, were monitored. The results showed that Galgeun-tang administeration slightly increased serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and, aspartate aminotransferase levels. Additionally, 2,000 and 4,000 mg/kg Galgeun-tang significantly increased urinary bilirubn and protein levels of male and female rats, which were restored during the recovery period. Conclusions: The no-observed-adverse-effect level of orally administered Galgeun-tang was 4,000 mg/kg in both female and male rats, and no target organs were identified. In addition, 400 mg/kg was found to be the no-observed-effect level for toxicity under the study conditions.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.86-90
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• 2014

Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) strains from diverse origins were compared in this study to obtain basic information on their growth and biochemical properties that are helpful for breeding. Among 31 dikaryotic strains tested, most strains showed better mycelial growth on oatmeal agar than on MEA and PDA. Mycelia of the mushroom strains revealed ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity the most clearly among the seven extracellular enzymes tested. All the strains showed protease activity, but ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity was found in 27 strains and xylanase activity was found in 30 strains. The activity of avicelase, CM-cellulase, amylase, and pectinase was detected in less than 20 strains. These results implied that enzymatic characteristics could be used as a criterion of strain selection for breeding study.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.143-153
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• 2019

Background: Ginseng is one of the well-known medicinal plants, exhibiting diverse medicinal effects. Its roots possess anticancer and antiaging properties and are being used in the medical systems of East Asian countries. It is grown in low-light and low-temperature conditions, and its growth is strongly inhibited at temperatures above $25^{\circ}C$. However, the molecular responses of ginseng to heat stress are currently poorly understood, especially at the protein level. Methods: We used a shotgun proteomics approach to investigate the effect of heat stress on ginseng leaves. We monitored their photosynthetic efficiency to confirm physiological responses to a high-temperature stress. Results: The results showed a reduction in photosynthetic efficiency on heat treatment ($35^{\circ}C$) starting at 48 h. Label-free quantitative proteome analysis led to the identification of 3,332 proteins, of which 847 were differentially modulated in response to heat stress. The MapMan analysis showed that the proteins with increased abundance were mainly associated with antioxidant and translation-regulating activities, whereas the proteins related to the receptor and structural-binding activities exhibited decreased abundance. Several other proteins including chaperones, G-proteins, calcium-signaling proteins, transcription factors, and transfer/carrier proteins were specifically downregulated. Conclusion: These results increase our understanding of heat stress responses in the leaves of ginseng at the protein level, for the first time providing a resource for the scientific community.

• CELLMED
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.17.1-17.3
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• 2016

Pansori is a unique genre of Korean art music. Sugungga is a form of Pansori that is so famous as to be included in the representative five texts of Pansori, and is also a fable about a Dragon King who lived in a palace on the water. The Dragon King had a disease and the major plot of the story is the finding of a cure for his illness. At the beginning of Sugungga, Yaksungga appears on the scene in the form of an ascetic who has knowledge of various herbal medicines. By reciting and singing this medical knowledge, Yaksungga functions as an effective mnemonic technique to aid memorization of the herbs and their properties. Yaksungga exists only in Korea, and functions in Sugungga not only as a dramatic factor in the play, but also as a tool that allows people to easily learn professional medical knowledge during those times, not by books, but by funny rhymes, which gave people the opportunities to apply such knowledge in useful ways.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.325-329
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• 2012

The present study investigated the antimicrobial properties of medicinal herbs including Scutellariae Radix (SR: dried root of Scutellariae bicalensis Georgi). Among hot-water extracts of medicinal herbs tested in this study, SR extract showed the most potent antimicrobial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.625 mg/mL. In particular, synergistic effects of antimicrobial activity were observed upon combined application of SR and chitooligosaccharide as indicated by MIC of 0.125 mg/mL and FIC (fractional inhibitory concentration) index of 0.45. Thermal stability analysis indicated that the components responsible for antimicrobial activity was stable for 8 months at $45^{\circ}C$. Antimicrobial activity was proven to be effective in foods as well as in cosmetics as comparable to that of the chemical preservatives.

• CELLMED
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.7.1-7.8
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• 2022

The Unani System of Medicine (USM) is one of the traditional systems of medicine that deals with plants. Plants are large source of medicine. JIRJEER (Eruca sativa) is one of the plant origin drugs, has been used for various therapeutic purposes in USM. It contains Erucic acid (major contain), oleic acid, linoleic acid, saturated Fatty acids, Flavonoids, Phenolics, Glucosinolate, Vitamin C and Carotenoids. These active constituents are responsible for their actions described in Unani classical literature such as Muqqawwi-e-bah (Aphrodisiac), Muwallid-e-mani (Spermatomatogenic), Daf-e-sumoom (Antidote), Kasir-e-riyah (Carminative), Jaali (Cleanser/Detergent), Mudirr-e-bawl (Diuretic) wo Mudirr-e-hayd (Emmenogoggue), Muhammir (Rubefacient), Hazim (Digestive), Mulaiyan (Laxative), Muzliq-e-mani (Lubricant), Muddir-e-shir (Galactopoietic), Mufattih-e-Sudad (Deobstruent), Musakhin (Analgesic), Mulattif (Demulcent), Mufattit-i-hasah (Lithotriptic) and whole plant is considered as aphrodisiac. This is a review paper which discusses morphology, pharmacological action, ethno-medicinal and therapeutic uses of this medicinal plant in perspective of Unani medicine. This review has been done through online searches of databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Embase, science direct and hand search for classical textbook available in different libraries. It concluded that JIRJEER (Eruca sativa) is one of the best herbal medicines in treatment of Antiulcer, Antibacterial, Fertility, Hepato-protective, Hyperlipidemic, Antioxidant, Antihypertensive, Anti-inflammatory and Anti-edema, Nephro-protective, Antidiabetic, Antifungal and Anticancer properties.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.194-197
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• 2014

BACKGROUND: Herbal extracts have been screened for their inhibitory effect of seed germination and root development on weeds, but there is a scarcity of reports for crop growth regulation. The objective of this research was to develop a growth inhibitor on Brassica campestris, and its effective extraction method from herbal medicine extract. METHODS AND RESULTS: Eighty four herbal medicine extracts were tested for their plant growth inhibition activity on B. campestris. The alcohol extracts of Artemisia annua, Cinnamomum cassia, and Mentha arvensis inhibited over 30% of germination and the extract of A. annua, and C. cassia inhibited over 70% of radicle growth at 0.1 % w/w treatment. The partially purified extracts of A. annua, and C. cassia with dichloromethane and hexane showed stronger radicle growth inhibition than the crude extracts on B. campestris. The diethyl ether extract of A. annua showed a similar 50% radicle growth inhibition ($RI_{50}$ = 45 mg/L) to its partially purified extract with dichloromethane or hexane, but the diethyl ether extract of C. cassia showed a worse $RI_{50}$ than the purified extract. CONCLUSION: The alcohol extracts of A. annua, and C. cassia showed potent radicle growth inhibition properties on B. campestris. Diethyl ether proved to be a good solvent for simple extraction from A. annua.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 2010

The Chongmyung-tang (CMT) has been used as an oriental herbal medicine for the purpose of enhanced learning and memory. Recently, since fermentation may give a positive effect on pharmacological actions of herbal medicine, many studies are focused to find fermented medicinal herbs with improved bioactivity. In the present study, memory enhancing, antioxidant and reducing power activity of CMT and fermented CMT with Aspergillus oryzae (FCMT-A) or Saccharomyces cerevisiae (FCMT-S) were determined. To evaluate the memory enhancing activities of CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S, we performed passive avoidance test using scopolamine induced amnesia model. Administration of CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S showed a significant memory enhancing effect about 72.5, 78.3, 71.8% of the normal group respectively. CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S also exhibited strong $DPPH{\bullet}$, ${\bullet}{O_2}^-$, $NO^{\codt}$, $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ scavenging activities and reducing ower. It was also found that fermented CMT has slightly higher scavenging activities on $DPPH{\bullet}$, $ABTS^{{\cdot}+}$ radicals compared to CMT. These results revealed that CMT, FCMT-A and FCMT-S had memory enhancing and radical scavenging activities. In addition, the fermentation of CMT was more or less important for elevated memory enhancing and antioxidant activities of CMT.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.121-126
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• 2009

Objectives : To evaluate the radical scavenging and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activities of the ethylacetate (EtOAc)-soluble portion of a methanolic extract of Aster yomena, three different assay systems were performed. Methods : The antioxidant activity of A. yomena extract was tested as its capacity to scavenging free radicals of DPPH and $ABTS^+$, which has been widely used to evaluate the antioxidant activity of natural products from plant sources. AChE inhibitory activity was tested against mouse brain AChE by spectrophotometric method of Ellman using ELISA microplate reader. Results : The methanolic extract of A. yomena was fractionated and the EtOAc-soluble portion showed significant AChE inhibitory and free radical scavenging effects. Also the EtOAc-soluble portion revealed the highest phenolic contents as compared to the other extracts. Conclusions : These results indicate that phenolic compounds may be important constituents that give rise to the anti-AChE and antioxidative activities of A. yomena extract. Further phytochemical studies on this plant, for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical application, are warranted.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2010

Black sesame (Sesami semen nigrum) has been used to treat dizziness, earnoise, constipation in the traditional Chinese medicine. In the present study, we assessed memory enhancing properties of 70% ethanolic extract of black sesame (EBS70) and its ameliorating activities on learning and memory impairments induced by scopolamine. Drug-induced amnesia was made by scopolamine treatment (1 mg/kg, i.p.). Single EBS70 (200 mg/kg, p.o.) administration significantly enhanced cognitive function and attenuated scopolamine-induced cognitive impairments as determined by the passive avoidance and Y-maze tasks (P<0.05) and also reduced escape-latency on the Morris water maze task (P<0.05). In addition, EBS70 increased BDNF expression in hippocampus 4 h after its administration (P<0.05). These results suggest that EBS70 enhances learning and memory in normal state and attenuates amnesic state caused by cholinergic dysfunction.