• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.224-230
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• 1996

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) analysis was applied to detect the molecular polymorphisms in Gentiana scabra var. buergeri. A high level of molecular variability was found among wild plants and cultivars. In genetic analysis, eight of twenty primers were selected and 54 amplification products ranged 2. 2 to 0.2 kb were compared. Twenty - nine amplified products showed polymorphic, while five were monomorphic. Twenty of line specific bands were found. In genetic similarity and cluster analysis using PCR products, three wild plants collected from Naejangsan, Daedunsan and Keojedo and one cultivar Seochunjaerae were grouped into one cluster, while cultivar Jinbujaerae and Japanese line separated into another clusters, respectively. The identification of DNA polymorphisms by the RAPD technique will facilitate the selection of the lines from different origin.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.249-253
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• 2005

This study was carried out to develop convenient and reproducible methods for identifying the genetic relationship among germplasms of Panax species based on molecular genetics. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses, genetic polymorphism of the Panax species was investigated with following cultivars and accessions, such as Chunpoong, Yunpoong, Kopoong, Sunpoong, and Kumpoong in domestic cultivars, Hwangsuk, Jakyung and Suckju in domestic accessions, and Panax quinquefolius L. and Panax japonicus C.A. Meyer in foreign introduced accessions, respectively. Specific DNA fragments ranging from 200 to 3,000 base pairs in size could be obtained with various ISSR and RAPD primers under the optimized PCR conditions. The dissimilarity coefficients among the genetic polymorphisms of ginseng cultivars and accessions were calculated from 0.26 to 0.90 in RAPD and from 0.12 to 0.89 in ISSR analysis, respectively. Eleven plant samples were grouped siblings together with cultivars and parents based on cluster analysis of genetic distance depending on genetic property such as origin of the species. In results, both RAPD and ISSR analyses were useful for identifying the genetic relationship among cultivars and accessions of Panax species at DNA level.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.439-445
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• 2015

Background : Correct identification of Panax species is important to ensure food quality, safety, authenticity and health for consumers. This paper describes a high resolution melting (HRM) analysis based method using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and 5.8S ribosomal DNA barcoding regions as target (Bar-HRM) to obtain barcoding information for the major Panax species and to identify the origin of ginseng plant. Methods and Results : A PCR-based approach, Bar-HRM was developed to discriminate among Panax species. In this study, the ITS1, ITS2, and 5.8S rDNA genes were targeted for testing, since these have been identified as suitable genes for use in the identification of Panax species. The HRM analysis generated cluster patterns that were specific and sensitive enough to detect small sequence differences among the tested Panax species. Conclusion : The results of this study show that the HRM curve analysis of the ITS regions and 5.8S rDNA sequences is a simple, quick, and reproducible method. It can simultaneously identify three Panax species and screen for variants. Thus, ITS1HRM and 5.8SHRM primer sets can be used to distinguish among Panax species.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2016

Objectives : This study aims to investigate the current situation of domestic patents in Korea on natural products and to provide directions for developing and applying herbal medicinal products by in-depth analyses. Methods : Combinations of words, such as "A61K" or "A61P", "herb" or "Korean medicinal herb" or "Korean medicine" or "traditional" or "natural" or "$botanic^*$" or "China", and "medicine" or "treatment" or "prevention" or "improvement", were used to search patents in the World Intellectual Property Service (WIPS) database. Three methods were applied to analyze natural products patents. First, the number of patent registrations was sorted by year. Second, the assignees were analyzed by count and country of origin. Finally, cluster map analysis was conducted to explore frequently emerging words in natural products and the relationship amongst those words to treat corresponding diseases/technologies. Results : Results showed that, first, the total number of patents had been increasing. Among the patents, 76.4% were registered by domestic institutes/companies, and 23.6% by foreign institutes/companies. Second, USA, Japan, and China possess a considerable number of Korean patents and, therefore, domestic institutes/companies can seek joint technological development opportunities with their counterparts from those countries in the future. Finally, a total of four clusters were identified by cluster map analysis. Each of the clusters includes natural products related to diseases involving skin, aging, and blood sugar, as well as adult diseases. Conclusions : In this study, natural products patents registered in the Korean Intellectual Property Office were analyzed. The analyses results showed the kinds of natural products that had been employed for the treatment of certain diseases. However, natural products included in existing patents were minimal given that 4,174 species of indigenous plants are found in Korea. Thus, Korean institutes/companies should utilize unexplored plants to develop more value-added drugs.

• Plant Resources
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.161-170
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilajit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 mg/kg, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Thl and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells in the pancreas. Further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2001.11a
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• pp.20-33
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• 2001

A major portion of drugs used in Ayurvedic system of medicine which has been practiced since the early human civilization in Indian subcontinent were of plant origin. It should be noted that 70% of the population in this region depends on Ayurveda for their medical treatment and 60% of the drug resources are obtained from the Himalayan region. Therefore, Nepal becomes a potential source of plant drug resource since it occupies a major portion of the Himalaya. In the present paper, in general a current status of medicinal plant resources of Himalayan region especially Nepal will be discussed. In addition to this, a typical example of antidiabetic activity of Shilajit will be taken for the discussion. Shilajit is one of the crucial elements in several formulations including those of Rasayana, a therapy in Ayurveda, which has been practiced in the prevention of ageing and mental disorder. Although, Shilaiit is widely used for the treatment of diabetes, no satisfactory scientific reports are available up to now. The crude Shilajit in the market is a dark brown or black rock-like substance collected from the Himalayan region with a strong smell of cow's stale urine. In our studies, Shilajit (collected in the central Himalayan region) prevented the diabetes in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice model. Shilajit also prevented the diabetes in the rats against the action of multiple low-dose (10 ㎎/㎏, i.v., 5 times) of streptozotocin. On the other hand, Shilajit did not show antioxidative activity. The preventive action of Shilajit on diabetes is mainly focused on the Th1 and Th2 cell activities, since Th2 cells activity was found to be significantly upregulated. Shilajit, however, showed a mild action in controlling the blood sugar level in young, old, and mild diabetic rats, but not in the severe diabetic rats. It also stimulated the nitric oxide production in macrophages. Based on these evidences, the antidiabetic activities of Shilajit appear to be immunomodulative probably by protecting or strengthening insulin-producing b-cells In the pancreas. further systematic research on constituents of Shilajit and its quality evaluation is necessary to enable the use of natural medicines in the treatment of diabetes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.75-84
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• 2013

Objectives : The origin of Breeae Herba (So-gye) and Cirsii Herba (Dae-gye) is differently prescribed in Korean and Chinese modern pharmacopoeia. Since the similar morphological characteristics and chaotic plant names, moreover, the aerial part of Carduus crispus have been used as the Cirsii Herba. To develop a reliable method for correct identification of these herbal medicines and to evaluate the genetic relationship of these closely related plant species, we analyzed sequences of DNA barcode regions. Methods : Thirty-one samples of 6 medicinal plants (B. segeta, B. setosa, C. japonicum var. maackii, C. setidens, C. chanroenicum, and C. crispus) were collected from different habitate and nucleotide sequences of DNA barcode regions (rDNA-ITS, matK, and rbcL) were analyzed after amplification using appropriate primers reported in previous studies. The nucleotides of species-specific authentic marker and phylogenetic relations were estimated based on the entire sequences of DNA barcodes by the analysis of ClastalW and UPGMA, respectively. Results : In comparative analysis of DNA barcode sequences, we obtained specific nucleotides to discriminate the medicinal plant of Breeae/Cirsii Herba in species level and evaluated the phylogenetic relationship of these species. Futhermore, we identified distinct marker nucleotides enough to authenticate respective species. These sequence differences at corresponding positions were avaliable genetic markers to determine the botanical origins of Breeae Herbal as well as Cirsii Herba. Conclusions : These marker nucleotides would be useful to identify the official herbal medicines by providing of definitive information that can identify each plant species and distinguish from unauthentic adulterants and substitutes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.61-68
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• 2013

Objectives : A precise and simple system of nomenclature was required to avoid error, ambiguity or confusion. Although medicinal plants must be produced or distributed based on a pharmacopoeia described origin including scientific name, the Korean Pharmacopoeia tenth edition (KP 10) had many names against the nomenclature. Therefore, this study aimed at searching correct scientific names for 241 plants in KP 10. Methods : Authoritative databases - The Plant List, International Plant Name Index, YList, Tropicos, eFloras, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, The Global Compositae Checklist, The International Legume Database and Information Service, et al. - and previously performed researches, floras were cross-checked. Results : The arrangement of this list was designed for four cases, errors including illegitimate, nomenclatural synonyms, recommended names and decision reserved names. Consideration about the scientific names produced nine correct names for ten misspellings and illegitimate, and thirty-six correct names for forty-one nomenclatural synonyms. These results should be reflected in the next of KP 10. Separately, ten recommended names were also suggested for taxonomic synonyms which had been used indiscriminately due to diverse taxonomic opinions. In addition to those, decision reserved names were suggested for thirteen species which had been corridor of uncertainty. Then again, there was need to study about authorship, because KP 10 did not keep recommendations for author citations. Conclusions : Correction of scientific names for some medicinal plants which violated the International Code of Nomenclature would be useful to improve the accuracy of a Pharmacopoeia as the criterional materials.

• Journal of Korean Medical classics
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.97-114
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• 2022

Objectives : Background research on the history of Huangbo's taste being written as 'pungent' was undertaken, after which its clinical meaning was examined from the medical perspective that was behind the medicinal's taste designation. Furthermore, through various understandings on the 'pungent' taste within the process of clinical application, the meaning of 'pungent' in Korean medicinal research was re-evaluated. Methods : Description of Huangbo's taste as 'pungent' as written in medical texts were chronologically examined to determine its origin. The clinical meaning of the pungent taste of Huangbo was examined within the broad medical perspective of doctors who were behind these descriptions. Results & Conclusions : The pungent taste of Huangbo was first described by Zhang Yuansu, followed by doctors of the Yishui School such as Li Dongyuan, Wang Haogu, etc., during which such knowledge was established and contributed to recognition of Huangbo's effect as tonifying Kidney deficiency and treatment of fire within water, after reaching the Kidney. Li Dongyuan understood the meaning of Huangbo's pungent taste as eliminating Yin fire and restoring the upward direction, ultimately restoring the general 'Rising-Falling-Floating-Sinking' mechanism within the context of his inner damage treatment. On the other hand, Zhu Danxi interpreted the pungentness of Huangbo based on his understanding of the nature of fire and action towards it. It seems as Huangbo's effects were understood within a relatively narrow frame, application of its pungent taste became vague, which gave rise to criticism by later period doctors, ultimately leading to an ambiguous understanding of the pungent taste of Huangbo.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.158-165
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• 2009

The aim of this study was to clarify the origins of grubs which were used in the experiments, and to determine many other effects that are now written in the classical medical and herbal books. We compared the efficacy of grubs written in the herbal and medical books on the one hand, and studied the origins of grubs used in the experiments, on the other hand. The following results were obtained. There are three kinds of grub species for medicinal uses. Holorichia diomphalia Bates mainly produced in China, Cetoniidae species mainly produced in Korea, and Protaeria brevitarsis in Korean folk remedy are three species. Grubs were used in 25 experiments. Of these experiments, Holotrichia diomphalia were used 12 times, Larve of Protaeria brevitarsis 3 times, and Protaetia orientalis was used once. So, of total 25 experiments, 36%(9 experiments) did not clarify the origins of grubs used in the experiments. Currently, the grubs, which are imported from China and used in Korea, are Holotrichia diomphalia Bates from China. Current experimental study shows that grubs have efficacy for protecting liver. So the use of grubs in folk medicine is believed to be based on the scientific evidence. Efficacy of grubs, though it is not recorded in the medical books, has the effects of anti-cancer(anti-tumor), antioxidant, and anti-diabetes mellitus. The ingredients of Holotrichia are protein, peptide, fat, enzyme, mineral, and other several nutrients. Study on the grubs so far has a tendency to be done with little focus on the differen of origin of grubs. So, from now on, it needs that the origin of grubs be clarified, and the study on the efficacy from each origin be done. Considering the effects that the classical herbal books have recorded, it is necessary that more profound study proceed to prevent and treat diseases on eyes and ears, on the basis of the fact that grub has multiple ingredients to replenish the vital essence.