• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.283-289
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• 1998

To determine the differences among cultivated , non-cultivated and imported bupleurum falcatum, contents and compositions of fatty acids and saikosaponins which are known as a major biologically acitive compounds in Bupleurum falcatum were meausred with GC and HPLC. Color of grinded powder of Bupleuri radix determined by colorimeter showed that the imported one has the highest white and yellow coloer Among the Bupleuri radix cultivated in China, Hong-siho(red-Bupleurum) produced in Yungil Province contained the highest red color. Cultivated Korean Bupleurum radix contained higher saikosaponi a, c, and than the imported ones which were cultivated in Yungil, Ankuk , and Gillium Province in China. Levels of saikosaponin c are 3 times higher in cultivated Korean Bupleuria radix compared the with imported ones. Furthermore, Bupleurum falcatum cultivated in Korea contained higher amount of palmitic and linoleic acids than those of improted and non-cultivated ones. Particularly they contain two to six times higher linoleic acid.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.57-61
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• 2021

Saikosaponin derivatives such as saikosaponins A, B1, B2, B3, B4, C, and D present in Bupleurum falcatum were analyzed by a high performance liquid chromatograph equipped with an evaporative light scattering detector, using different extraction solvents (water and 70% ethanol). The samples were injected into a YMC Pack Pro C18 column and separated using a gradient elution system with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water at a flow rate of 1.1 mL/min. The content of saikosaponin derivatives was higher in 70% ethanol extract than in water extract. This study provides an efficient analytical method for determining the optimal conditions for extraction of saikosaponin derivatives, which can be used as a basis for development of functional foods and pharmaceutical products from B. falcatum.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.269-274
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• 2006

In order to characterize saikosaponin biosynthesis in Bupleurum falcatum, the expression of five isoprenoid pathway genes and their relationship to saikosaponin accumulation in the hairy roots were analyzed. The hairy roots exhibited a rapid accumulation of saikosaponins when incubated in a root culture medium (3XRCM). Homology-based RT-PCR was used to isolate core fragments of five genes, HMGR, IPPI, FPS, SS, and OSC, from the hairy roots. The deduced amino acid sequences exhibited amino acid identities of more than 85% to previously reported genes. Using the fragments as probes, the expression of these five genes in the hairy roots during incubation in 3XRCM medium was examined. Expression of all five genes in the hairy roots increased soon after incubation. In particular, the SS and OSC genes were coordinately induced at 8 days of incubation, and their expression persisted throughout the incubation period. A quantitative HPLC analysis showed that the saikosaponin content of the hairy root culture also began to increase at 8 days of culture. The correlation between SS transcript level and saikosaponin content in the hairy roots suggests that transcriptional regulation plays a regulatory role in saikosaponin biosynthesis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.39-55
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• 2012

Objectives : Recently there have been encouraging results, from a western perspective, in the cancer research field regarding the anticancer effects of herbal medicine. This paper was aimed to review herbal medicine playing its anticancer role in terms of apoptosis, inflammation control, differentiation and telomerase. Methods : New studies for tang, medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-cancer effectiveness were reviewed and summarized in terms of pharmacological action. Results : Ethanol extracts of $Spatholobus$ $suberectus$ greatly inhibited cancer cell growth inducing cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects. $Scutellaria$ $baicalensis$ may be responsible for its anticancer activity showing inhibition of $PGE_2$ synthesis via suppression of COX-2 expression. Saikosaponins isolated from $Bupleurum$ induced the differentiation of C6 glioma cells, cancer cells, into astrocytes, normal cells. Acetone extract of $Bupleurum$ $scorzonerifolium$ inhibited proliferation of human lung cancer cells via inducing apoptosis and suppressing telomerase activity. Conclusions : Herbal medicine inhibited cancer cell growth inducing cell apoptosis and cytotoxic effects. Inflammation persisting for a decade eventually elevates the risk of cancer sufficiently that it is discernible in case control epidemiological studies. Differentiation therapy is defined as a therapy to treat cancers by inducing differentiation of the stem cells. Telomerase expression is a hallmark of cancer. Nearly the complete spectrum of human tumors has been shown to be telomerase positive.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2008

Objectives : Buplueri Radix (BR), used medical plant in Korea traditional medicine, contains various compounds, including a series of triterpene saponins known as saikosaponins. We performed this study for the protective effect of BR against oxidative damage induced by 1,2,4-benzentriol(BT) in human lymphocytes. Methods : In order to investigate the protective effect of BR against carcinogens, genotoxicity induced by benzene metabolite, BT were performed using cytokinesis-block micronucleus(CBMN) assay and comet assay. Results : The frequency of micronucleus at 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M$ concentration of BT were $8{\pm}2.36$, $23{\pm}2.31$, $35{\pm}4.17$ respectively. In addition of BR with concentration of 25 and $50{\mu}g/mL$, MN frequencies were significantly decreased. According to comet assay, BT induced DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner at concentration of 10 and 50 while BT with BR treatment decreased DNA breakage. No genotoxicity was observed by BR($25{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$) treatment alone on DNA breakage. Since BT can induce DNA damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS), we examined the level of ROS in human lymphocytes treated with BT and/or BR using DCF-DA, ROS-sensitive probe. The generation of ROS in BT-treated cells was also observed, and BR addition inhibited the level of BT-induced DNA damage. Conclusions : From above results it is suggested that BR could protect the cell and DNA from pro-oxidant effect by ROS by BT

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.317-326
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• 2002

This study was conducted to determine the optimum planting dates and density of one year old Bupleurum falcatum L. to improve its productivity and quality. Two cultivars of B. falcatum, originated from Jeongseon, Korea and Mishima, Japan were used. Some of the results obtained are as follows : Jeongseon cultivar showed less stem branches and shoot weight compared to Mishima. However, Jeongseon cultivar showed tall plant height, high root fresh and dry weight, and high levels of saikosaponin, but low saikosaponin content than that of Mishima. Both cultivars seeded on March 20 had long main root, big stem diameter, few stem branch, and high saikosaponin c content compared to those of late seeded one, April 30. Growth characteristics such as plant height, stem diameter, stem branch number, shoot weight, root diameter, root fresh and dry weight, and root branch number were increased in a low planting $density(30\;{\times}\;15cm)$, but the content of saikosaponin was not affected by planting density. Jeongseon and Mishima cultivars seeded on April 10 with $30\;{\times}\;15cm$ planting density and April 30 with $30\;{\times}\;10cm$ planting density contained the highest total saikosaponin levels, respectively. However, average root dry weight were not affected by planting time or density in both Bupleurum cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.175-182
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• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of several organic fertilizers on the growth characteristics, root yield and the levels of the efficacious constitutents saikosaponins in Bupleurum falcatum L. in the field of Chonnam RDA. Naju, 1994. Five organic fertilizers were used ; rice straw manure(RSM), rice straw(byproduct of mushroom)manure[RS(BM)M], pig-dropping sawdust manure(PSM),poultry manure(PM)and sawdust(byproduct of mushroom) manure[S(BM)M]. The results were summarized as follows ; The chemical properties, such as organic matter, available phosphate, $K_2O$, CaO, and MgO of soil were increased on all plots with the addition of organic fertilizers, specifically in PM+RS(BM)M application. PM+RS(BM)M treatment was higher in emergence rate and better in the growth charaters of shoot, root parts of plants than those of conventional fertilization and the highest dried root yield resulted from using 39% PM+RS(BM)M treatment. Thus, the organic constituents of the plant leaves were affected in the same ways by all treatments, but the T-N, $P_2O_5$, $K_2O$, CaO and MgO contents of the roots were highly increased in PM+RS(BM)M treatment, also the total saikosaponin levels in the roots increased with different organic fertilizers in the following order : 1.70% in PM+RS(BM) treatment, 1.66% in RS(BM) treatment, and 1.57% in RSM+N-P-K treatment. There were significant positive correlation observed between the growth characters of shoot, root parts of plants, yield and contents of T-N, $P_2O_5$, $K_2O$, total-saikosaponin in B. falcatum roots.