• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.183-188
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• 1999

Though development of diverse and highly value-added commodities in Artemisia Iwayomogi, we can expect such effects as procurement of secure farm's production bases and promotion of consumer's demands. Thus, as a first step for development of funtional foods of Artemisia Iwayomogi, solids yield, physical properties and scopoletin contents which is main component of Artemisia Iwayomogi, were investigated according to extration solvents and temperatures. The main result of this experiment were as following: solid yield in 50% ethanol extracts showed higher than those of water extracts at the same temperature. In condition of 50% ethanol extracts, solid yield, degree of browing and scopoletin contents showed increasing, but turbidities which mean transmittance(%T) showed decreasing sa temperature rise. In water extracts, pH values showed increasing as temperature rise.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2009

A variety of herbs and plants have been traditionally used in oriental folk medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In our attempt to search for anti-inflammatory agents from natural products, we investigated 64 methanol extracts from 42 medicinal plants belonging to 10 families which were evaluated for inhibitory activities of NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Among them, 16 extracts exhibited inhibitory activities of NO production ($IC_{50}$ values ranging from 59.6 to 94.7 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Only the extract from aerial parts of Hosta lancifolia (H. lancifolia) did not exert cytotoxic effects at the concentrations tested. The extract from H. lancifolia decreased the mRNA and protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated macrophage RAW 264.7 cells in dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that the extract may contain bioactive compounds that suppress expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, which may prove beneficial with regard to the development of natural agents for prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.152-160
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• 2004

Backgrounds : Androgenetic alopecia is a relatively common disorder, but its precise mechanism is not elucidated. There are two commercial drugs approved by FDA. One(finasteride) has an inhibition activity of 5$\alpha$-reductase(type 2) and the other(minoxidil) has a vasodilation activity. Objectives : A verified herbal remedy for baldness is needed for medicinal treatment or preventing alopecia, which could be demonstrated by alopecia-related in vitro & in vivo tests Methods : On the basis of oriental pharmacognosy, we classified many herbal medicines into four groups (malnutrition, aging, alopecia and gray hair) according to its effect. The mitosis induction of hairy dermal papillae cell and the metabolic inhibition for type 2 $5{\alpha}-reductase$ were tested with five herbal extracts. Also, five herbal extracts were added to the normal essence formulation (HHRHG0202-80) in ranges of 0.1~0.3%, which was applied two-mouse models to validate each hair growing activity in vivo. Results : Stimulation of follicular papillae cell proliferation was observed in treatment of three herbal extracts (Glycyrrhizae radix:159.7%, Corni fructus : 144.7%, and Coicis semen : 136.6%) at a dose of $10\mu\textrm{g}/ml$. Three herbal extracts (Biotae semen. Glycyrrhizae radix and Coicis semen) showed inhibitory activity for $5{\alpha}-reductase$(type 2) at 93.18%, 73.36% and 47.6%, respectively at the same dose. We observed the enhancement of hair growth activity in C57b1/6 mouse and the inhibition of alopecia in AGA mouse after topical administration of the hair essence. Conclusions : Hair essence product, which contains five medicinal plants, would be used for the remedy for male pattern baldness (MPB) and the other alopecia diseases.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.103-110
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• 2008

Herbal medicine is the use of medicinal plants for prevention and treatment of diseases: it ranges from traditional and popular medicines of every country to the use of standardized and tritated herbal extracts. Generally cultural rootedness enduring and widespread use in a traditional medical system may indicate safety, but also efficacy of treatments, especially in herbal medicine where tradition is almost completely based on remedies containing active principles at very low and ultra low concentrations or relying on magical-energetic principles. The efficacy and safety assessments of medicines, whether modern or herbal, invariably encounter challenges or problems during the course of pre-clinical and clinical research. Some of the challenges in evidence-based herbal medicinal research are unique, and the researcher must be cognizant of them in order to safeguard the quality of the data obtained. Key challenges are: the quality of raw materials; appropriateness of biological/pharmacological activity assessment methodology, and data interpretation; standardization methodology; pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of active constituents and metabolites; clinical dosage formulation/production; and clinical study designs and outcome measures.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.391-400
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• 2018

Background: Atractylodes radix is a well-known medicinal crop having many physiological effects. This study was conducted to select useful Atractylodes japonica ${\times}$ Atractylodes macrocephala (AJM) cultivars by comparing anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory efficacies. Methods and Results: Seven extracts from AJM cultivars were used to treat lipopolysacchride (LPS)-treated BV2 cells, and the effects on cell viability and inhibition on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production were analyzed. In vitro scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and peroxynitrite ($NOO^-$) radicals were also investigated. Contents of total phenol, atractylenolide I, and atractylenolide III in the AJM extracts were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or spectrophotometry. The experiments show that none of the seven extracts was cytotoxic above 89.2% at $20-250{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. Extracts of Gowon, Dawon, Sangchul, and Huchul inhibited ROS generation in a dose-dependent manner, and Sangchul extract showed the highest inhibition on ROS production. All the AJM extracts showed effective inhibitory activity after on NO release in the LPS-treated BV2 cells, and Sangchul extract showed the highest activity. Sangchul extract had the most potent scavenging activities for $NOO^-$ and had some DPPH radical scavenging effect. Sangchul extract also had the highest content at total phenol and atractylenolide I content. Atractylenolide III was not detected in the AJM extracts. Conclusions: The results suggested that Sangchul was the most useful anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory resource among the AJM cultivars.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.51-58
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidative and anticancer activity of the water and ethanol extracts from pickled soybean products by manufacturing stage. Methods : Yakkong (YK) was pickled for 15 days to prepare Chokong (CK) and Chokong pills (CKP) were mixed Chokong (CK) powder with vinegar. Herbal Chokong pills (HCKP) were made by addition five kinds of medicinal herbs to Chokong. Pickled soybean products by each manufacturing process were extracted with distilled water and 70% ethanol, and the extracts were tested for their antioxidative and anticancer activities. Results : The highest electron donating abilities (EDA) of the water and ethanol extracts were from HCKP among pickled soybean products and those were 81.2% and 91.5% at 1,000 $\mu$g/mL, respectively. The ethanol extracts of pickled soybean products had higher activities of EDA and superoxide dismutase (SOD) than water extracts. The highest anticancer activity was the water extracts of HCKP against both of MDA and A549 cells. Conclusions : These results suggest that herbal Chokong pills (HCKP) can be used as natural antioxidant to prevent oxidative damage in normal cells probably because of their antioxidative characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.210-217
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• 2008

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus combined with several oriental medicinal herbs. In addition, it addressed whether consuming a diet of healthy food along with a daily supplement of this composite could affect the health status of individuals suffering from diet-related disease such as obesity and hyperlipidemia. The effects of the combined medicinal herbal extracts(MHE) extracted with hot water on reducing serum lipids and improving blood parameters were examined in rats fed a high-fat diet for 5 weeks. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups: basal diet only(BDG), high fat diet without MHE(FCG), high fat diet and 10% MHE(F10E) and high fat diet and 20% MHE(F20E). Serum lipid contents and blood variables were examined after the experimental period. The results of were as follows. The hematological data for the 4 groups were similar indicating no significant differences. There were moderate level of serum GOT activity in the F10E and F20E groups as compared to the FCG group. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride in serum and the atherogenic index were remarkably reduced in the MHE-supplemented groups as compared to the control group. However, F10E and F20E groups had significantly higher HDL-cholesterol levels than the control group. These results imply that combination of several medicinal herbal extracts could be used to reduce of serum lipid concentrations. The data from this study will be used as basic information with the field of functional food research to address how we can apply oriental medicinal resources to foods. Such research currently drawing considerable attention world-wide.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.661-667
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• 2010

Astragali Radix (AR) has been used in traditional medicinal herb, which is known to tonify the qi and blood. It has been asserted to be a tonic that can improve the function of the lungs, adrenal glands and the gastrointestinal tract, increase metabolism, promote healing and reduce fatigue. Also, Plantago asiatica (PA) has the anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, antitussive, cardiac, diuretic, expectorant, haemostatic effects, though it is considered to be less powerful than the seed. Recent research is showing that it is promising in lowering cholesterol and controlling diabetes. Obesity is characterized at the cellular level by an increase in the number and size of adipocytes differentiated from fibroblastic preadipocytes in adipose tissue. In the present study, we investigated the effects of 3 to 7 extracts of mixed medicinal herbs (water and ethanol extract of Astragali Radix; ARW and ARE, water and ethanol extract of Plantago asitica; PAW and PAE, and those mixed extracts; ARW+PAE, ARW+PAW and ARE+PAE) on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes by MTT assay, Oil-Red-O staining and TUNEL assay. And then, we determined total contents of phenolic compounds and flavonoid compounds in mixed herbal extracts. These result showed that herbal extracts (ARW, PAE and ARW+PAE) affected on adipogenesis and apoptosis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes among 3 to 7 extracts tested. Especially herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) had the highest inhibition on differentiation of preadipocytes and lipoid accumulation of maturing adipocytes. And it did not affect cell viability of mature adipocytes, but herbal mixed extracts (ARW+PAE) increased apoptosis in mature adipocytes, as proved by highest concentration $200\;{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ using TUNEL assay. In addition, contents of total phenoilc compounds and flavonoids showed the highest level in ARE+PAE and PAE than ARW. These results suggest that this main target for adipocyte functions could be effective in improving the metabolic syndrome including obesity.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.375-383
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the metabolic site of some medicinal herbs in the liver associated with CYP (Cytochrome P450). Methods : Cytochrome P450 is the major enzymes involved in drug metabolism and bioactivation. CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, the major CYP isoforms in humans, catalyse the major proportion of drugs available on the market. Scintillation proximity assay (SPA) is often used in studies to identify compounds that inhibit CYP3A4 and CYP2D6. 28 herbal extracts and radioisotopes were attached competitively to SPA beads, and followed by measuring the remaining radioisotopes in the medium. Erythromycin and dexamethasone, inhibitors of CYP3A4 and CYP2D6, were used as controls respectively. Results : Most of the 28 herbal extracts showed dose-dependent affinity to the CYP3A4 while some of the herbs showed affinity to the CYP2D6. Conclusions : These results suggest that most of the 28 herbal extracts are metabolized safely in the liver, combined with CYP3A4 and CYP2D6.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.265-272
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• 1995

Inhibitory effects of 130 medicinal plants on hyaluronidase activity were analyzed. The medicinal plants are clinically used as herbal medicines for korean traditional prescriptions. Six out of the 130 herbal medicines exhibited more than 50% of inhibition on hyaluronidase activity by their total methanol extracts with 5mg/ml as a final concentration. The active total methanol extracts were prepared from cortex of Acantbopanax gracilistylus, lignum of Caesalpinia sappan, radix of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, radicis cortex of Morus alba, herba of Prunella vulgaris, and radix of Sanguisorba officinalis. These active total methanol extracts were sequentially fractionated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and then water. Among the solvent-fractionated extracts, the butanol fractions of Acantbopanax gracilistylus and Glycyrrhiza uralensis with 1 mg/ml as the final concentration exhibited more than 50% of inhibition on hyaluronidase activity, and the other fractions with the same concentration did less than 20% of inhibition.