• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.297-307
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• 2003

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of the Puerarie Radix water extract (PRE) against CCl₄-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanism underlying these protective effects in the rats. The pretreatment of PRE has shown to possess a significant protective effect by lowering the serum alanine and aspartate aminoteansferase (AST and ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). This hepatoprotective action was confirmed by histological observation. In addition, the pretreatment of PRE prevented the elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and the depletion of reduced glutathione (GSH) content and catalase activity in the liver of CC1₄-injected rats. The PRE also displayed hydroxide radical scavenging activity in a dose-dependent manner (IC50 = 83.6 μg/ml), as assayed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping technique. Moreover, the expression of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) mRNA, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), was significantly decreased in the liver of PRE-pretreated rats when compared with that in the liver of control group. Based on these results, it was suggested that the hepatoprotective effects of the PRE may be related to antioxidant effects and regulation of CYP2E1 gene expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.333-339
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• 2008

Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been used as an important medicinal plant in the Orient for a long time. It has been claimed that ginseng has many beneficial bioactive effects on human health, such as antitumor, antistress, antiaging and enhancing immune functions. Red ginseng possibly have new ingredients converted during steaming and dry process from fresh ginseng. Kujeungkupo method which means 9 repetitive steaming and drying process was used for the processes of green tea, Polygonatum odoratum, and Rehmanniae radix preparata. In this study, ingredient conversion of ginseng by 9 repetitive steaming and drying process were investigated measuring conversion efficiency of brown materials, crude lipids, crude proteins and aromatic compounds. Brown materials, as an antioxidant, in red ginseng were produced through non-enzymatic reaction by heat. Repetitive steaming and drying treatments on ginseng root contiunously increased the content of brown materials and the chromaticity. Crude lipids were degraded by heat and converted into volatile aromatic ingredients. Crude lipids were degraded and decreased by 0.52% after the 5th and 7th. Crude proteins were also decomposed and converted to amino acid. Crude proteins after the 9th treatment were decreased by more than 85% as increased times of treatments. A bicyclogermacrene as aromatic material was decreased as increased treatment times, while but a aromatic caramel was increased.

• Plant Biotechnology Reports
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2010

Definitive identification of original plant species is important for standardizing herbal medicine. The herbal medicines Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix (Baekshuoh in Korean and Beishuwu in Chinese) and Polygoni Multiflori Radix (Hashuoh in Korean and Heshuwu in Chinese) are often misidentified in the Korean herbal market due to morphological similarities and similar names. Therefore, we developed a reliable molecular marker for the identification of Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix and Polygoni Multiflori Radix. We used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of three plant species, Polygoni multiflorum, Cynanchum wilfordii, and Cynanchum auriculatum, to obtain several species-specific RAPD amplicons. From nucleotide sequences of these RAPD amplicons, we developed six sequence characterized amplification region (SCAR) markers for distinguishing Polygoni Multiflori Radix and Cynanchi Wilfordii Radix. Furthermore, we established SCAR markers for the simultaneous discrimination of the three species within a single reaction by using multiplex-PCR. These SCAR markers can be used for efficient and rapid authentication of these closely related species, and will be useful for preventing the distribution of adulterants.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.58 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

Genus Artemisia occurs as a hardy plant and has a wide range of culinary and medicinal features. In this study, we aimed to describe the melanin inhibitory activity of one Artemisia species, i.e., Artemisia capillaris Thunb. Ethanol extracts of fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.FT) and non-fermented Artemisia capillaris (Art.EtOH.CT) were tested for their ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanin pigmentation. Both extracts showed dose-dependent inhibition against ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone-stimulated melanin formation and tyrosinase activity, without cytotoxicity. At $100{\mu}g/mL$, both extracts showed greater inhibition than kojic acid, the positive control. Protein expressions of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein 1 (TRP-1), and tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP-2) at the transcriptional level were determined by using real-time and semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. To complete the mechanistic study, presences of upstream elements of MITF, the phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), and phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (p-MEK) were confirmed by using western blot analysis. Expressions of p-TYR, p-TRP-1 and p-TRP-2, downstream factors for p-ERK and p-MITF, were translationally inhibited by both extracts. Art.EtOH.FT induced more potent effects than Art.EtOH.CT, especially signal transduction effects. In summary, Artemisia capillaris extracts appear to act as potent hypopigmentation agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.117-125
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was to verify the Attributive Channel theory of herbal medicine. Methods : [$^{131}I$]iodohesperetin was synthesized, separated, and refined from hesperetin, the major component of Citrus species, followed by observing the biodistribution in an organism of C57 BL/6 mice with and without Lewis Lung Carcinoma. Results : Iodohesperetin 27.5 mg was obtained through column cliromatography after a reaction with 50 mg of Hesperitin and 8 mg of Nal. The radiochemical yield of [$^{131}I$]iodohesperetin synthesis was 25 % when checked with Radio TLC chromatography. [131I]iodohesperetin was most largely distributed in the stomach, lung and liver of C57BL/6 mouse. The highest %ID/g in stomach was 40 min, in lung and liver was 20 min after injection. The % ID/g of tumor tissue was comparable with that of blood. Conclusions : The fact that [$^{131}I$]iodocurcumin was most largely distributed in the stomach, lung and liver was related with the Attributive Channel theory. And there was no significant finding related to tumor cells.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.341-349
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• 2015

Magnoliae Flos (Sini in Korean) is one of the most important oriental medicinal plants. In the Korean Herbal Pharmacopeia, the bud of the all species in Manolia denudate and Manolia genus were regarded as the botanical sources for ‘Sini’. Most the dried bud of Manolia denudata, Manolia biondii and Manolia sprengeri were used as ‘Xin-yi’ in China. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine and compare the ‘Magnolia’ species, four species including Manolia denudata, M. biondii, M. liliiflora and M. Kobus were analysis of sequencing data revealed DNA polymorphisms. The based on tRNA coding leucine/phenylalanine (trnL-F) and NADH-plastoquinone oxidoreductase subunit 5 (ndhF) sequences in chloroplast DNA. For the identification of ‘Magnolia’ species, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of chloroplast DNA regions such as ndhF have proven an appropriate method. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) has been identified between genuine “Sini” and their fraudulent and misuse. Specific PCR primers were designed from this polymorphic site within the sequence data, and were used to detect true plants via multiplex PCR.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.403-410
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• 2017

Background: Prenyltransferases catalyze the sequential addition of isopentenyl diphosphate units to allylic prenyl diphosphate acceptors and are classified as either trans-prenyltransferases (TPTs) or cis-prenyltransferases (CPTs). The functions of CPTs have been well characterized in bacteria, yeast, and mammals compared to plants. The characterization of CPTs also has been less studied than TPTs. In the present study, molecular cloning and functional characterization of a CPT from a medicinal plant, Panax ginseng Mayer were addressed. Methods: Gene expression patterns of PgCPT1 were analyzed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. In planta transformation was generated by floral dipping using Agrobacterium tumefaciens. Yeast transformation was performed by lithium acetate and heat-shock for $rer2{\Delta}$ complementation and yeast-two-hybrid assay. Results: The ginseng genome contains at least one family of three putative CPT genes. PgCPT1 is expressed in all organs, but more predominantly in the leaves. Overexpression of PgCPT1 did not show any plant growth defect, and its protein can complement yeast mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ via possible protein-protein interaction with PgCPTL2. Conclusion: Partial complementation of the yeast dolichol biosynthesis mutant $rer2{\Delta}$ suggested that PgCPT1 is involved in dolichol biosynthesis. Direct protein interaction between PgCPT1 and a human Nogo-B receptor homolog suggests that PgCPT1 requires an accessory component for proper function.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.430-437
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• 2011

The epidermal recovering-effects of the Cnidium officinale extract after inducing contact-dermatitis by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) showed by measuring thickness of skin, identifying IgE amounts in plasma, and activities of anti-oxidant enzymes using histochemical and biochemical methods. By three-time applications of the extract, morphological changes of dermatitis in impaired region were recovered dramatically and shape of skin surface and thickness of epidermis were restored to be normal. Also, lipid content was recovered to the level of normal state. We suggested that extract treatment lowered a hypersensitive reaction by decreasing of IgE level in blood and restored activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In conclusion, we proposed that C. officinale extract might be used as natural resources for treating effectively allergic contact-dermatitis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.1415-1423
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• 2007

Carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-induced liver injury depends on a toxic agent that has to be metabolized by the liver NAPDH-cytochrome P450 enzyme system to a highly reactive intermediate. Alternations in the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes affect the susceptibility to hepatic injury from $CCl_4$. In this study, we evaluated the potential protective activity of the traditional Korean medicinal herb, Corni fructus (CF), against an experimental model of hepatotoxicity induced by $CCl_4$. The CF exhibited a hepatoprotective activity against $CCl_4-induced$ liver damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats, as measured by GOT, GPT, ALP and histological observation. The CF also showed significant decrease of malodialdehyde (MDA) and increase of glutathion (GSH), catalase activity in rat liver homogenate. In addition, the expression of CYP2E1, as measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased in the liver of CF treated SD rats. But $CCl_4$ and CF has no significant effect on 1A1 and 3A1 isoform of cytochrome P450. Based on these findings, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effects of CF possibly related to antioxidative effects and regulation of CYP2E1 expression.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.40-44
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• 2012

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni is the causal agent of bacterial black spot disease on some stone fruits, e.g. peach, plum and apricot. To evaluate pathogenicity of Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni strain from plum, inoculum of the isolated strain was spray inoculated to fruits and leaves of apricot, Japanese apricot and plum. Apricot and Japanese apricot showed severe black spot symptoms on fruits and shot hole symptoms on leaves. In case of apricot, about fifty percent of fruits did not grow and dropped by hypersensitive reaction to spray infection. Plum, cv. Formosa was very susceptible, showing severe black injury lesions on fruits and cankers on leaves and new twigs. On the other hand, plum cv. Daesukjosaeng, was highly resistant. Fruits of several plum cultivars such as Formosa and Chuhee were severely infected at natural infected orchards by X. arboricola pv. pruni. Where as those of Daesukjosaeng, Taeyang, Soldam and Hongrogen were moderately infected.