• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.633-640
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• 1995

As a result of screening the medicinal herbs which selectively control human intestinal microflora, water extract of Akebia quinata Decaisne was proved to have a strong inhibitory activity against the growth of Clostridium pefringens, a major harmful intestinal bacterium. The anti-bacte-rial activity was stable under the thermal treatment at 100$\circ$C for 120 min and in a range of pH 1 to 11. In addition, the water extract of Akebia quinata Decaisne showed the antibacterial activities against five different strains of Clostridia including C. perfringens. On the contrary, the extract did not inhibit the growths of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis. The extract, however, suppressed markedly the growth of Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus aureus in vitro. Alike in the mixed culture inoculated with human feces as starter, in vivo tests using rats showed that the extract tends to increase the numbers of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli in the intestinal microflora of rats, whereas those of Clostridia were attenuated.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.293-304
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the effects of peking-duck extracts added with medicinal herbs(DJ) on the intoxication of heavy metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, As) in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats weighing 150$\pm$15g, were randomly assigned to groups: basal diet only in normal control group(NCG): basal diet and heavy metals without DJ injection in heavy metal control group(HMC); basal diet, heavy metals and DJ(3mg/ml) injection in heavy metal low duck-juice group(HMLD), basal diet, heavy metals and DJ(30mg/ml) injection in heavy metal middle duck-juice group(HMMD): basal diet, heavy metal and DJ(300mg/ml) injection in heavy metal high duck-juice group(HMHD). Hg and As was injected by 50ppm and Cd and Pb by 25ppm for 17days. Also DJ oral feeding was conducted for 28days. The result of this study were as follows: Food intake and body weight gain in heavy metal administered groups were lower than those of NCG. Liver, kidney and testis weights were not significantly different among 5 groups. GOT, GPT and BUN activities were significantly reduced in DJ treated groups as compared to HMC. DJ showed the suppressing effect on the accumulation of Hg, Pb and Cd in serum, liver and kidney. Fecal Hg and Cd excretions increased with DJ feeding. The results suggested that DJ may have some protective effects on Hg, Cd and Pb intoxication by reducing the accumulation in tissues and increasing excretion. This study also showed the effective way of using duck-extract and its application to the oriental medicine.

• Integrative Medicine Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.67-73
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• 2014

Background: The transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3)is constitutively activated in many human cancers. It promotes tumor cell proliferation,inhibits apoptosis, induces angiogenesis and metastasis, and suppresses antitumor hostimmune responses. Therefore, Stat3 has emerged as a promising molecular target for cancertherapies. In this study, we evaluated the Stat3-suppressive activity of 38 herbal medicinestraditionally used in Korea.Methods: Medicinal herb extracts in 70% ethanol were screened for their ability to suppressStat3 in the A549 human lung cancer cell line. A Stat3-responsive reporter assay system wasused to detect intracellular Stat3 activity in extract-treated cells, and Western blot analyseswere performed to measure the expression profiles of Stat3-regulated proteins.Results: Fifty percent of the 38 extracts possessed at least mild Stat3-suppressive activities(i.e., activity less than 75% of the vehicle control). Ethanol extracts of Bupleurum falcatumL., Taraxacum officinale Weber, Solanum nigrum L., Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, Euonymus alatusSieb., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., and Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Baill inhibited up to 75% of thevehicle control Stat3 activity level. A549 cells treated with these extracts also had reducedBcl-xL, Survivin, c-Myc, and Mcl-1 expression.Conclusion: Many medicinal herbs traditionally used in Korea contain Stat3 activity-suppressing substances. Because of the therapeutic impact of Stat3 inhibition, these resultscould be useful when developing novel cancer therapeutics from medicinal herbs.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solution to a current status of drug classification between the drugs of western conventional (allopathic) medicine and Korean medicine. A clear and distinct concept on the drugs of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine based on reasonable concepts and broad consensus is a pressing issue in Korea, and will facilitate the development of herbal medicinal products and pharmaceutical industry. Methods : Considering the issue of drug classification from domestic and international regulations, we reviewed the current Drug Law of Korea and China, Guidance for Industry, Botanical Drug Products of USA, Directive 2004/24/EC of the European parliament and of the council. Results : In Korea, the drug classification of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine is quite vague even though differential licensure system is enforced for the clinicians of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine field. According to the definition in the Drug Law, the scope of Korean medicine drug is so broad that even a drug made of single-compound material, as well as herbal extract of crude mixture, is regarded as a drug of Korean medicine, as long as the material may be separated from medicinal herbs, animal tissues, or mineral resources. Only new compound not found in natural resources are outside of the scope of Korean medicine drug. In USA and EU, medicinal products manufactured from herbs are approved by separate regulations for the herbs with special waivers. In China, the category of new medicine and the definition of allopathic medicine and traditional chinese medicine are clearly specified and classified. Conclusions : As medicines are validated therapeutic materials for efficacy and toxicity, we suggest that generally the concept of conventional medicines is based on a single compound that has been synthesized and individually validated and that of Korean medicines is based on a compound extracted from natural materials or a complex of compounds that has been validated as a whole in its totality.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.29-35
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• 2014

In this study, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanolic crude extract and its five different solvent subfractions (namely, ethyl acetate fraction, n-butanol fraction, chloroform fraction, n-hexane fraction and the aqueous fraction) from a mixture of four different medicinal herbs (Galla rhois, Achyranthes japonica Nakai, Terminalia chebula Retz and Glycyrrhiza uralensis) were investigated. Among all the tested mixture combination of four medicinal herbs, 5:3:1:1 ratio of Galla:Achyranthes : Terminalia : Glycyrrhiza had the best antimicrobial effects against four strains of microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) and exhibited the highest DPPH radical-scavenging activity. Further sub-fractions with solvents were screened for antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. Antioxidant activity in order was ethyl acetate fraction > n-butanol fraction > chloroform fraction > nhexane fraction > aqueous fraction. The n-butanol extracted fraction showed the highest level of antimicrobial activity in com- parison to other fractions. In addition, all those fractions did not show any cytotoxicity against human skin cell CCD-986sk. These results suggest that 5:3:1:1 combination extracts of medicinal herbs (Galla : Achyranthes : Terminalia : Glycyrrhiza) may be potentially used as a safe natural antimicrobial preservative.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.808-816
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• 1997

Fifty six kinds of medicinal herbs were extracted by 75% ethanol and antimicrobial activity of the extracts were tested against food-born bacteria, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313, 19111, 19112, 19113, 19114, Bacillus cereus YUFE 2004, Staphylococcus aureus KFCC 11764, Pseudomons fluorescens KCTC 1645, 2344 and Leuconostoc mesenteroides KFCC 12031. Ethanol extracts of Terminalia chebula Rets, Rosa laevaigate Michx, Caesalpinia sappan L and Myristica fragrans Houtt showed inhibitory effects on the growth of most of the strains tested. In particular, the extract of Terminalia chebula Rets showed obvious growth inhibition in proportion to the concentration and Caesalpinia sappan L stopped the growth in the concentration of 100 ppm on several strains. Also, ethylacetate fractionates of Terminalia chebula Rets, Rosa laevaigate Michx, and Caesalpinia sappan L and chloroform fractionate of Myristica fragrans Houtt showed more effective inhibitory action on the growth of most of the strains tested.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2008

To produce bioactivity-strengthen medicinal herbs, the 36 medicinal herbs which have antioxidation or blood circulation activity, were solid fermented using Phellinus baumii mycelium. Most of medicinal herbs, except Chrysanthemum indicum (flower), Zizyphus jujuba Miller (fructus), Aconitum koreanum R. Raymond (root), Magnolia denu-data (flower), and Polygonatum sibiricum Redt (root bark), showed good fermentation at $25^{\circ}C$ for 20 days under 90% of relative humidity. The poor fermentations of the herbs could be explained by lack of nutrient, structural rigidity, and the content of antifungal substance. After fermentation, the average water content of herbs were increased to $67.21{\pm}11.43%$ from $30.84{\pm}15.67%$, but the average pH and average methanol extraction ratio were slightly decreased to $11.16{\pm}7.06%$ and $4.83{\pm}0.73$ from $13.91{\pm}12.22%$ and $5.06{\pm}0.87$, respectively. The analysis of thrombin inhibition and DPPH scavenging activity of the methanol extracts of herbs showed that thrombin inhibition activities of the fermented Drynaria fortunei Kunze, Melia azedarach var. japonica, Prunus persica and Orostachys japonicus, and DPPH scavenging activities of the fermented Polygala tenuifolia, Scrophularia buergeriana, Angelica dahurica, Drynariafortunei Kunze, Cyperus rotundus, and Boschniakia rossica were increased as compared with those activities of non-fermented its cognate herbs. Our results suggest that the production of bioactivity-strengthen medicinal herbs is possible by solid fermentation of Phellinus baumii mycelium, as fermented Drynaria fortunei Kunze showed increased antioxidant and thrombin inhibitory activities than those of non-fermented herbs.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2021

Objectives: The enzymatic hydrolysis is one of the processing methods that improve its effectiveness on medicinal herbs. In this research, changes in ingredients and activity by enzymatic hydrolysis were studied. Methods: For this study, a carbohydrate hydrolase such as viscozyme, which converts glycosides to aglycone, was applied to induce constituent changes in Sophora japonica Linne, Houttuynia cordata Thunberg and Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn. Changes in antioxidant activity were measured using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazl (DPPH) method, and changes in ingredients were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: As a result of enzymatic hydrolysis, the content of quercetin was increased from 1.26 mg/g to 29.66 mg/g in Sophora japonica Linne, from 0 mg/g to 0.66 mg/g in Houttuynia cordata Thunberg and from 0.43 mg/g to 0.71 mg/g in Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn. As a result of the antioxidant experimentation, the IC₅₀ of Sophora japonica Linne decreased from 5 ug/ml (MeOH extract) and 9.1 ug/ml (EtOAc fraction) to 3.0 ug/ml, Houttuynia cordata Thunberg decreased from 15.6 ug/ml (MeOH extract) and 13.6 ug/ml (EtOAc fraction) to 11.2 ug/ml, and Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn decreased from 14.4 ug/ml (MeOH extract) and 12.6 ug/ml (EtOAc fraction) to 10.2 ug/ml. Conclusion: In conclusion, it was confirmed that glycoside rutin contained in the three medicinal herbs was changed to quercetin which is the aglycone, by the enzymatic hydrolysis using viscozyme. In terms of antioxidant activity, Sophora japonica Linne showed a significant antioxidant activity value that closes to the control group butylated hydroxyanisole. Houttuynia cordata Thunberg and Leonurus japonicus Houttuyn showed a minor increase in antioxidant activity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.35-43
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was performed to screen target-specific inhibitors of ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF signaling whose functional activation plays an important role in early events in carcinogenesis. Methods: To investigate the activation or suppression of ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF transcription, we established a transiently transfected cell line with a constitutively active ${\beta}$-catenin mutant gene whose product is not degraded. This cell line was also co-transfected with luciferase reporter gene constructs containing either an optimized (TOPflash) or mutant (FOPflash) TCF-binding element. We investigated cytotoxic effects using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium salt (MTS) assay. To find effective inhibitors of ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF signaling from medicinal herbs, the crude extracts of 99 types of medicinal herbs were screened using a luciferase assay system in HEK-293 and SH-SY5y cells. Results: At a concentration of $50{\mu}g$/ml, extracts of Angelica koreanae radix, Cannabis sativa semen, Ephedrae intermedia Schrenk radix, and Vitis rotundifolia fruit showed the following inhibitory effects on ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF signaling: $40{\pm}5.6%$, $23{\pm}6.1%$, $8{\pm}5.1%$, and $22{\pm}9.8%$ in ${\beta}$-catenin-activated HEK-293 cells and $9{\pm}4.7%$, $39{\pm}8.1%$, $39{\pm}6.4%$, and $42{\pm}10.1%$ in ${\beta}$-catenin-activated SH-SY5y cells, respectively. Crude extracts of E. radix were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, and two non-polar fractions of these extracts showed inhibitory effects on ${\beta}$-catenin/TCF signaling. Conclusions: In this study, we established a transiently transfected cell line as a screening system and found that various medicinal herb extracts had inhibitory effects on ${\beta}$signaling.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.196-202
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• 2014

Depression is one of the most common neuropsychiatric disorders and has been associated with the neuroendocrine system and alterations in behavior. Schisandra chinensis Baillon is one of major medicinal plants used as a Korea medicine and food sources, and has been processed in the fields of various food products and medicinal herbs. The chronic mild stress (CMS) protocol is widely used to evoke depressive-like behaviors in laboratory mice or rat. The CMS procedure induced some behavioral changes that are compatible with the common expectations, i.e. 'anhedonic' behavior and can affect corticosterone level. The present study, Schisandra chinensis extract administration by daily gavage from the 3 weeks exhibited an antidepressant-like effect on CMS-induced depression in mice. Schisandra chinensis extract administration at dose of 200mg/kg significantly increased the sucrose consumption, and decreased the immobility durations in forced swim test and tail suspension test. Furthermore the corticosterone level decreased than control group. In conclusion, Schisandra chinensis extract showed antidepressant-like effects on sucrose preference test, forced swimming test and tail suspension test based on CMS model.