• Journal of the Korea Furniture Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2007

This report describes the wood anatomy and 1% safranine solution penetration depth in radial and longitudinal directions of Anthocephalus chinensis belonging to the family Rubiaceae native to Bangladesh. The wood of this species was mostly characterized by diffuse porous, vessel with simple perforation plate, vestured alternate intervessel pittings, relatively medium vessel elements and fiber, and nonseptate fiber with distinctly bordered pits at radial wall. The body ray cell was procumbent with 2 to over 4 rows of upright and square marginal cells. Sometimes, the rays with procumbent, square and upright cells were mixed. Latewood fiber was thin to thick walled while it was very thin walled in earlywood. Axial parenchyma was diffuse, vasicentric, 5-8 cells per parenchyma strand dominantly present. Liquid penetration depth was observed in radial and longitudinal directions at moisture level of 7.42%. Longitudinal penetration was found 6.3 times higher than radial penetration. The initial penetration rate of safranine solution was high, but gradually decreased during the course of time. Different anatomical features were found to be responsible for the variation of safranine solution penetration depth compared to Gmelina arborea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2753-2758
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• 2012

Rubia cordifolia Linn, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, is a well-known herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, we investigated the influence of a methanolic extract (RC) on the induction of apoptosis in HEp-2 (human laryngeal carcinoma) cell line, as evidenced by cytotoxicity, morphological changes and modification in the levels of pro-oxidants. Inhibition of cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased in a time and dose-dependent manner. Further, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferase (GST) and protein levels decreased and lipid peroxidation increased significantly on RC treatment in a dose dependent manner when compared to controls. Based on the results we determined the optimal dose as 30mg/ ml and the apoptotic effect of RC extract (30 mg/ml) on HEp-2 cells was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on morphological and ultrastructural changes. RC extract suppressed the proliferation of HEp-2 oral cancer cells inducing apoptotic cell death in vitro. These results point to potential of RC extract as an agent for the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.3 no.4
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• pp.205-211
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• 2003

Stem bark of Cinchona sp. (Rubiaceae) is one of the well known drugs for its therapeutic values in traditional as well as modern medicine. Even though a lot of work has been carried out on quinoline alkaloids of Cinchona, its phenolic constituents received very little attention. In the present study, we evaluated antioxidant properties of C. officinalis stem bark methanolic extract and water extract containing phenolic compounds (total phenolics 21.37, 5.18% w/w respectively in the two extracts) in different in vitro and ex vivo models viz., antiradical activity by DPPH reduction, superoxide radical scavenging activity in riboflavin/light/NBT system, nitric oxide radical scavenging activity in sodium nitroprusside/Greiss reagent system and inhibition of lipid peroxidation induced by iron-ADP-ascorbate in liver homogenate and haemolysis of erythrocytes induced by phenylhydrazine in erythrocyte membrane stabilization study. Both the extracts exhibited very good antioxidant activity in all the models tested. The phenolic compounds including tannins present in the stem bark seem to offer protection from the oxidative damage.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.7-7
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• 2018

Morinda 속 식물은 꼭두서니과(Rubiaceae)에 속하는 다년생 상록관목으로서 전세계 80여종이 분포하고 있다. 그중 노니는 2000년 전부터 동남아시아 지역에서 식품, 향신료, 음료, 자양강장제 등 다양한 분야에 사용되고 있으며 뿌리, 줄기, 잎, 열매의 식물체 전체 부위가 이용되고 있다. 특히 열매는 주스 등 다양한 제품으로 만들어지고 있다. 본 연구는 조직배양된 노니 부정근을 재료로 하여 항알러지의 효능평가를 수행하고 지표물질로 rubiadin을 선정하였으며 이물질에 대한 정제방법 및 구조분석을 통해 정성, 정량적 분석방법을 확립하였다. 항알러지 효능에 대한 측정 결과 노니 부정근 조추출물 $100{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$에서 약 85%의 높은 발현 억제 효과를 보였고 이를 분획 추출한 후 분획물별로 histamine 및 $TNF-{\alpha}$ 발현 억제효과를 측정한 결과 헥산 및 메틸렌클로라이드층 분획물에서 효과가 우수하였다. 노니 부정근 조추출물이 함유한 유효성분들 중 항알러지 효과를 나타내는 지표물질을 선정하기 위하여 용매분획을 실시한 후 preparative LC로 분취하여 항알러지 효과가 높은 분획물을 얻었다. HPLC로 분취한 화합물을 GC/MS/MS, LC/MS-IT-TOF, UV/VIS spectrophotometer를 이용하여 최종적으로 rubiadin을 확인하고 이 화합물을 지표물질로 선정하였다. 이러한 결과는 노니 부정근의 고부가가치 기능성 소재로 이용되는데 도움이 될 것으로 기대한다.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.304-308
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• 2009

One new naturalized species was recorded from Jeollanam-do Yeongam-gun, Daegu, and Daejeon in Korea. Hedyotis corymbosa grows well where there is enough sunlight; in moist, sandy soil. Hedyotis corymbosa (Rubiaceae) can be distinguished from other species in the same genus by longer peduncles, and a lot of flowers. We gave it the Korean name 'San-bang-back-un-pul' based on the specific epithet 'corymbosa'.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.173-183
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• 2022

Through the collection of herbarium specimens in Bhutan over the years, new plant species are discovered nearly annually. Thus, this paper reports two new genera and 19 new records of flowering plant species from Bhutan. The new genera include Eurycorymbus of the family Sapindaceae and Homalium of the family Salicaceae. The new records of plant species are Eranthemum erythrochilum (Acanthaceae), Hemidesmus indicus (Apocynaceae), Ilex umbellulata (Aquifoliaceae), Canarium strictum (Burseraceae), Ehretia acuminate (Boraginaceae), Vaccinium sikkimense (Ericaceae), Nothapodytes foetida (Icacinaceae), Machilus edulis (Lauraceae), Grewia asiatica (Malvaceae), Hibiscus fragrans (Malvaceae), Cipadessa baccifera (Meliaceae), Baccaurea javanica (Phyllanthaceae), Canthiumera glabra (Rubiaceae), Homalium napaulense (Salicaceae), Eurycorymbus cavaleriei (Sapindaceae), Acmella radicans (Asteraceae), Silene latifolia (Caryophyllaceae), Cleome rutidosperma (Cleomaceae), and Cuphea carthagenensis (Lythraceae). Morphological determinations of the genera and species were carried out at the National Herbarium (THIM) of the National Biodiversity Centre of Bhutan. Brief descriptions of the species, phenology, and photo plates are provided in this annotated checklist.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2012

To clarify the morphological variations of Galium, its morphological characteristics were examined using maximum parsimony analysis. The key characteristics as well as the range of variation in each characteristic were investigated at the species level and were employed to elucidate the relationships between the taxa. This study confirmed that species belonging to genus Galium formed a monophyletic group and comprised two main clades. Sect. Cymogaliae and sect. Leptogalium are polyphyly groups, and other sections are monophyletic group. This study also suggests that the fruit hairs, the types of petal apexes, and the colors of the petals are the most valuable taxonomic characteristics for differentiating different sections. The numbers of the leaves and leaf shape provide useful taxonomic characteristics for the identification of different species.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2004

A number of plants from different geographical origins have been shown to possess antioxidant activity. Some of them have been developed as natural antioxidant formulations for food, cosmetic and other applications. Bangladeshi flora is a rich source of a range of plant species, many of which are medicinal plants, and have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. There are no, or just a few, reports on any systematic screening of the extracts of Bangladeshi plants for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay available to date. As part of our on-going search for biological activity in Bangladeshi plants, Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis), Goran (Ceriaps decandra), Swarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) have been selected for the assessment of their free radical scavenging activity, and studies on the contents of alkaloids, anthraqunones, flavonoids and tannins in these extracts. Most of these species have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh and other countries for the treatment of various illnesses ranging from common cold to cancer. All extracts, except the methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa, displayed significant free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay $(RC_{50}$ values within the range of $2.75\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$. Among these extracts, the methanol extract of Xylocarpus granatum exhibited the most potent activity $(4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$ and that of Cuscuta reflexa had the least activity $(1.64\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While none of these plants showed positive tests with Dragendorff's reagent, presence of low to moderate amounts of phenolic compounds, e.g. anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins was evident in all of these plants, except for the methanolic extracts of C. reflexa and the barks of D. peregrina, which did not display any evidence for the presence of flavonoids and anthraquinones, respectively.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.548-555
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• 2008

Rubiae radix belonging to the family Rubiaceae have been used in traditional medicine to blood stasis and hemostasis. In this study, we reported that methanol extract of Rubiae radix (RRME) induced apoptotic cell death through MAPKs activation in human promylocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. The cytotoxic activity of activity of RRME in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. RRME was cytotoxic to HL-60 cells, with IC50 of $8{\mu}g/mL$. Treatment of RRME to HL-60 cells showed apoptotic bodies, and the fragmentation of DNA, suggesting that these cells underwent apoptosis. Caspase-3 activity and PARP cleavage were time-dependently increased the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. And ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 protein expression. Activation of p38 and JNK were increased 6 hr after RRME treatment in HL-60 cells, but activation of ERK was reduced 24 hr after treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that RRME induces apoptotic cell death through activation of p38 and JNK in HL-60 cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.214-219
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• 2012

This research was designed to determine what components of Gardenia jasminoides play a major role in inhibiting the enzymes related antidepressant activity of this plant. In our previous research, the ethyl acetate fraction of G. jasminosides fruits inhibited the activities of both monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) and monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B), and oral administration of the ethanolic extract slightly increased serotonin concentrations in the brain tissues of rats and decreased MAO-B activity. In addition, we found through in vitro screening test that the ethyl acetate fraction showed modest inhibitory activity on dopamine-${\beta}$ hydroxylase (DBH). The bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of five bio-active compounds, protocatechuic acid (1), geniposide (2), 6'-O-trans-p-coumaroylgeniposide (3), 3,5-dihydroxy-1,7-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) heptanes (4), and ursolic acid (5), from the ethyl acetate fraction of G. jasminoides fruits. The isolated compounds showed different inhibitory potentials against MAO-A, -B, and DBH. Protocatechuic acid showed potent inhibition against MAO-B ($IC_{50}$ $300{\mu}mol/L$) and DBH ($334{\mu}mol/L$), exhibiting weak MAO-A inhibition (2.41 mmol/L). Two iridoid glycosides, geniposide ($223{\mu}mol/L$) and 6'-O-trans-p-coumaroylgeniposide ($127{\mu}mol/L$), were selective MAO-B inhibitor. Especially, 6'-O-trans-p-coumaroylgeniposide exhibited more selective MAO-B inhibition than deprenyl, well-known MAO-B inhibitor for the treatment of early-stage Parkinson's disease. The inhibitory activity of 3,5-dihydroxy-1,7-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) heptane was strong for MAO-B ($196{\mu}mol/L$), modest for MAO-A ($400{\mu}mol/L$), and weak for DBH ($941{\mu}mol/L$). Ursolic acid exhibited significant inhibition of DBH ($214{\mu}mol/L$), weak inhibition of MAO-B ($780{\mu}mol/L$), and no inhibition against MAO-A. Consequently, G. jasminoides fruits are considerable for development of biofunctional food materials for the combination treatment of depression and neurodegenerative disorders.