• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.83-93
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• 1997

Rhizoma Coptidis, a traditional herb medicine, has been used in Korea and China for many centuries as a treatment for many disease. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of Rhizoma Coptidis on histamine-induced tracheal smooth muscle contraction in guinea pigs and rats. Guinea pigs(500g, male) and rats(250g, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of the thoracic trachea from each guinea pig was cut into equal segments and mounted 'in pairs' in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 0.5g loading tension. The dose of histamine which evoked 50% of maximal response ($ED_{50}$) was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for histamine ($10^{-7}-10^{-3}M$). Contractions evoked by histamine($ED_{50}$) were inhibited significantly by Rhizoma Coptidis. The mean percent inhibition was 33.2% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 69.5% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in guinea pigs, and the mean percent inhibition was 25.3% after 1.5mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis, and 65.8% after 5.0mg/ml Rhizoma Coptidis in rats. Indomethacin ($10^{-7}M$) slightly but significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of Rhizoma Coptidis. But propranolol and methylene blue ($10^{-7}M$) did not significantly alter the inhibitory effect of Rhizoma Coptidis. These results indicate that Rhizoma Coptidis can relax histamine-induced contraction of guinea pig and rat tracheal smooth muscle, and that this inhibition involves, in part, cyclooxygenese inhibitor.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2012

Objectives : The gnarl of Pinus densiflora, called Songjeol in Korea, has been used as a medicinal herb for the treatment of inflammatory-related diseases such as arthralgia, myalgia and bruise. However, the molecular actions and mechanisms have not been clearly investigated. The aim of this study was to clarify the anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus densiflora gnarl pharmacopuncture (PDGP) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Methods : Cytotoxicity was assessed by XTT assay. The amount of nitric oxide (NO) production was determined by nitrite assay. The mRNA expressions of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were analyzed by RT-PCR. Reactive oxidative species (ROS) generation was measured using the fluorescence microscopy. In addition, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and redox factor-1 (Ref-1) protein expressions were detected by Western blotting. Results : PDGP inhibited NO production and ROS generation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. At the mRNA level, PDGP suppressed IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 and COX-2 expression. On the other hand, PDGP induced HO-1 mRNA expression. Furthermore, PDGP suppressed iNOS and Ref-1 protein expression. Conclusions : This result suggests that PDGP can act as a suppressor agent on NO and iNOS through induction of HO-1, and play an useful role in blocking inflammatory responses.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2011

An efficient method for the rapid micropropagation of Camptotheca acuminata from axillary buds was established by application of various plant growth regulators. Among various cytokinins, $0.5mg\;L^{-1}$ BA showed the best performance on shoot multiplication, number average multiple shoots up to 10.8. The propagated shoot cuttings in vitro were elongated on NN basal medium without plant growth regulators. The secondary multiple shoots were induced at the site of initially induced buds. Rooting was induced directly near the base of the shoot on half-strength NN medium containing $0.5mg\;L^{-1}$ of IBA, whereas high concentration of $1.0mgL^{-1}$ IBA could induce callus at the base of the shoot. The camptothecin content, anticancer compound of the micropropagated plants was contained in various tissues. Camptothecin contents were 1.8 and $2.5mg\;g^{-1}$ dry weight in stems from propagated in vitro and mother plant, respectively. This result may be used to develop strategies for large-scale propagation of elite C. acuminata trees.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.38-45
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• 2015

Background: Korean ginseng is a well-known medicinal herb that has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases, including asthma. Ginseng can be classified as white ginseng (WG) or red ginseng (RG), according to processing conditions. In this study, the authors compared the efficacies of these two ginseng types in a mouse model of acute asthma. Methods: To produce the acute asthma model, BALB/c mice were sensitized with ovalbumin (OVA) and aluminum hydroxide, and then challenged with OVA. WG and RG extracts were administered to mice orally. The influences of WG and RG on airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), immune cell distributions in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), and OVA-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), IgG1, and IgG2a in serum were investigated. Cytokine production by lymphocytes isolated from peribronchial lymph nodes and histopathological changes was also examined. Results: In OVA-sensitized mice, both WG and RG reduced AHR and suppressed immune cell infiltration in bronchoalveolar regions. BALF OVA-specific IgE levels were significantly lower in RG-treated OVAsensitized mice than in the OVA-sensitized control group. WG and RG also suppressed inflammatory cytokine production by peribronchial lymphocytes. Histopathological findings showed reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and airway remodeling (e.g., epithelial hyperplasia) in WG- and RG-treated OVA mice compared with OVA controls. Conclusion: In this study, WG and RG showed antiasthmatic effects in an OVA-sensitized mouse model, and the efficacies of RG were found to be better than those of WG.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.33-42
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• 2013

Objective : Morus alba Linne Root Bark (MRAL) is a medicinal herb in Korean Medicine, known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties. However, its mechanisms of action and the cellular targets have not yet been found and the study was developed to investigate the allergic suppressive effect of MRAL. The purpose of this study is to investigate the allergic suppressive effects of MRAL on activation of MC/9 mast cells. Methods : Cytotoxic activity of MRAL (50, 100, 200, 400 ${\mu}g/mL$) on MC/9 mast cells measured using EZ-Cytox cell viability assay kit (WST reagent). The levels of interleukin-5 (IL-5), IL-13 and IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-13 mRNA expression were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real-time PCR respectively. The expression of transcription factors such as GATA-1, GATA-2, NFAT, AP-1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 DNA binding activity were measured by western blot and electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA). Results : Our results indicated that MRAL (50 ${\mu}g/mL$, 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) significantly inhibited PMA/Ionomycin-induced production of IL-5 and IL-13 and the expression of IL-4, IL-5, IL-6 and IL-13 mRNA in MC/9 mast cells. Moreover, MRAL (50 ${\mu}g/mL$, 100 ${\mu}g/mL$) inhibited PMA/Ionomycin-induced GATA-1, GATA-2, NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Fos protein expression and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 DNA binding activity in MC/9 mast cells. Conclusions : In conclusion, we suspect the anti-allergenic activities of MRAL, may be related to the regulation of transcription factors GATA-1, GATA-2, NFAT-1, NFAT-2, c-Fos and NF-${\kappa}B$ p65 DNA binding assay causing inhibition of Th2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 in mast cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.909-918
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• 2017

Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) was fermented in brine in the form of mulkimchi (IPMB), and its contents of organic acid and cyclitols and biological activities were compared with those before fermentation. The pH of the IPMB continuously decreased until the sixth day of fermentation. The lactic acid yield was greatest on the fourth day. D-pinitol in ice plant mulkimchi solids (IPMS) decreased during fermentation. However, myo-inositol and D-chiro-inositol increased. The radical scavenging activities of ABTS and DPPH, in addition to the activity of FRAP, of the IPMS extract were generally higher after fermentation, with the activities highest on the fifth ($79.09{\pm}0.69%$), fourth ($87.55{\pm}1.21%$), and sixth ($78.72{\pm}0.99%$) days of fermentation, respectively, when treated with 1 mg/ml of the extract. As shown by a lipid/MA assay, antioxidant activity was generally higher after fermentation. The viability of BNL CL.2 cells damaged by t-BHP, $H_2O_2$, and ethanol was $14.19{\pm}0.98$, $13.80{\pm}2.25$, and $25.89{\pm}2.90%$, respectively. When treated with $200{\mu}g/ml$ of IPMS extract, the cell viability was $57.06{\pm}4.52%$ on the first day, and $66.06{\pm}1.36%$ on the fourth day, and $50.07{\pm}04.85%$ on the sixth day of fermentation. Hepatocyte protective effects did not increase significantly after fermentation. ${\alpha}-glucosidase$ inhibitory activity was quite high, with a range of $83.52{\pm}2.69$ to $92.79{\pm}2.16%$, and the activity increased gradually in all the groups over the fermentation period. There was no clear correlation between ${\alpha}-amylase$ inhibitory activity and fermentation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.2 s.141
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• pp.102-108
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• 2005

We have studied the physico-chemical change and pharmacological transformation of traditional herbal medicines with processing. Evodia fruit (EF) has processed for the purpose of detoxification and reduction of its bitter taste. There are various methods of processing EF in Oriental medicinal reference. Among them, we processed EF according to the method of Sang-han theory, the most famous medicinal reference. We processed EF with washing in hot water, and then dried. Processed EFs(PEFs) were prepared according to the above procedure through repetition of 1,3,5 and 7 times respectively. The contents of weight loss, water extract, diluted ethanol extract, ether extract, total ash, acid insoluble ash, alkaloids and limonin in non-processed EF (NPEF) and PEFs were examined. The weight loss, and contents of water extract and dilute ethanol extract in PEF showed decrease in proportion to increase of washing time, while the contents of ether extract, total ash and acid insoluble ash showed little change as compared with those of NPEF. And the content of evodiamine and rutaecarpine was not changed distinctly. However, the content of limonin decreased in the final processed material in proportion to increase of washing times with hot water. And the intense of bitter taste in PEF was also reduced. These results were ascribed to the flowing-out of the water-soluble portion. The biological activities of NPEF and PEF were also investigated. In the test of DPPH scavenging effect, xanthine oxidase inhibition effect and TBA-Rs effect, PEF was more effective than NPEF in vitro. Also, both NPEF and PEF showed potent analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects against in mice. Especially, PEF by 3 times washing with hot water was more effective than other PEFs. From these results, it is considered that PEF should be prepared by 3 times washing with hot water.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.5-11
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• 2023

Rehmannia glutinosa is a perennial herb belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae and is used in traditional oriental medicine. This study was carried out current status of breeding of R. glutinosa, its problems, and the matters to be improved were made. Based on the research data published so far, this study summarized the characteristics of breeds cultivated in Korea and compared and analyzed the status of cultivation area, production, import, and price changes for 15 years from 2008 to 2021. The cultivated area of R. glutinosa is gradually decreasing, and the amount of import is increasing and decreasing repeatedly. Amount of import has declined significantly. There was a lot of disinfection and disposal in the middle of import, and dried Jihwang and Sukjihwang were imported without distinction. R. glutinosa must be cultivated and supplied as a variety desired by the industry, cultivation techniques need to be taught to producers. In order to clearly identify the amount of import, import code of dried Jihwang and Sukjihwang must be classify. In addition, it is necessary to develop and supply harvesting agricultural machines for mechanization. For the stable income of producers, supply control through contract cultivation will ensure stable farm income.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.476-483
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• 2005

This experiment was planned to develop a functional supplement by food resources to prevent and lessen the deleterious effects caused by environmental pollutants such as polluted food, air, water and heavy metals. The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of peking-duck extracts supplemented with six kinds of medicinal herbs (DJ) on the intoxication of lead and mercury in rats. Sprague-Dawley rat weighing $150g\pm15g$ g, were randomly assigned to 5 groups, basal diet only (NCG), heavy metal without DJ injection (HCG), heavy metals and DJ (3 mg/mL) injection (HMLD), heavy metal and DJ (30 mg/mL) injection (HMMD), heavy metal and D] (300 mg/mL) injection (HMHD). Mecury (Hg) and lead (Pb) injected at the level of 50 ppm for 17 days. Also DJ oral feeding was continued for 31 days. The result of this study were as follows; Food intake and body weight gain in heavy metal administered groups were lower than those of control group (NCG). The activities of GOT, GPT and BUN level were significantly reduced in DJ-treated groups as compared to HCG. DJ was shown to suppress the accumulation of Hg and Pb in serum. The results suggest that DJ might have protective effect on Hg and Pb intoxication.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.405-411
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• 2009

The manufacturing process and quality properties of Lactococcus lactis-fermented yakchobugak (LFY) containing some colored agro-food products were investigated to develop a good organoleptic bugak from the leaf of the medicinal herb. The de-oiling rate of LFY by centrifugation was 37.6%, which was significantly different to the 3.5% value obtained after standing and the 8.9% value obtained with the beating method (p<0.05). Reducing power (RS) increased with addition of increasing levels of ethanol extracts from agro-food powders. The RS of green tea extract-supplemented LFY had the highest value of 0.97 at $500{\mu}g/mL$, and this was significantly different to values obtained using other extracts (p<0.05). At 83.84%, the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free-radical scavenging activity of green tea extract-supplemented LFY was the greatest of all samples tested, followed by LFY with woolgeom at 39.48%, LFY with black rice at 28.45%, and LFY with bokbunja at 22.24% all ethanol extracts were added at $50{\mu}g/mL$ (p<0.05). Acid values of green tea and bokbunja LFYs stored in transparent PE bags at $60^{\circ}C$ for 7 days were 1.82% and 2.03%, respectively. Textural hardness values of LFYs were less than 250.62, except for LFYs with black rice and woolgeom, but these values increased $2{\sim}3$-fold after lactic acid fermentation. Carbohydrate and protein content of LFYs were in the ranges $58.95{\sim}64.63%$ and $7.50{\sim}8.68%$, respectively. Lipid and calorie contents of woolgeom LFY had the lowest values of 22.02% and 490 Kcal, respectively.