• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.45-49
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the free radical scavenging ability and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activity of a complex herbal bath consisted of Artemisiae argyi folium, Angelicae sinensis radix, Ligustici wallichii radix and Angelicae tuhuo radix, and its potential irritation response were also tested for safety use in the rabbits. For antioxidative activity, the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of the complex herbal bath were examined at five different concentrations (0, 250, 500, 1000 and 2000 ㎍/ml). The concentration of the complex herbal bath required for scavenging DPPH free radical by 50% was 897.2 ㎍/ml. In the inhibition of xanthine oxidase (XO) activity, the concentration of the complex herbal bath required for 50% of inhibition was 221.4 ㎍/ml. In the skin irritation study in rabbit, all animals survived for the duration of the study and the examined skin exhibited no edema, erythema, and eschar formation. In the ocular irritation study in rabbit, after application of the sample to eyes, all of the eyes were normal. In summary, the complex herbal bath has potent antioxidant effects against the DPPH radical and XO and was considered to be a non-irritation bath for safety use.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.31-36
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• 2011

The methanol extract of 12 medicinal plants were evaluated for its antibacterial activity against Gram-positive (5 strains) and Gram-negative bacteria (10 strains) by assay for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bacterial concentration (MBC). The antibacterial activity was determined by an agar dilution method (according to the guidelines of Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute). All the compounds (12 extracts) of the 8 medicinal plants (leaf or root) were active against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Gram-negative showed a more potent action than Gram positive bacteria. The MIC concentrations were various ranged from $0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$ to $5000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The lowest MIC ($0.6\;{\mu}g/ml$) and MBC ($1.22\;{\mu}g/ml$) values were obtained with extract on 4 and 3 of the 15 microorganisms tested, respectively.

• Journal of Dairy Science and Biotechnology
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.63-68
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• 2016

Rhizomes of Kaempferia parviflora (Zingiberaceae) have been used in traditional Thai medicine for health promotion. In this study, the antibacterial activity of ethanol extract of K. parviflora against Cronobacter spp. and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) was investigated using paper disc dilution method. The results revealed that the ethanol extract exhibited antibacterial activity against Cronobacter spp. and EHEC. With an increasing concentration of K. parviflora ethanol extract, larger zones of inhibition of Cronobacter spp. and EHEC strains tested were observed. Therefore, its antibacterial activity suggested that K. parviflora could be used as a natural additive to ascertain food safety of various dairy products.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.80-85
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• 2011

Ginseng, a traditional medicine in Asian countries, is known to prevent various neuropathologic diseases such as Alzheimer's. Ginseng total saponins (GTS) in particular are one of the most effective ginseng extract compounds for neuroprotection. However, their protective effects on astrocytes are rarely reported. In pathological circumstances, astroglial activation plays a pivotal role in neuroinflammation. Subsequently, neuroinflammation induced by activated astrocytes causes brain damage. The purpose of the present study was to determine the suppressive effects of GTS on astroglial activation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat primary astrocytes. Astrocytes treated for 24 h with LPS demonstrated suppressed glialfibrillary acidic protein expression in a dose-dependent manner in the presence of GTS. GTS reduced production of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ and interleukin-1${\beta}$ and inhibited the level of inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated astrocytes. Furthermore, GTS suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species production. These modulations due to GTS may indicate neuroprotective antiinfl ammatory properties which may in turn be related to improvements in neurological performance.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• 제10권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2010

The efficacy of the radioprotective effect of Callophyllis japonica ethyl acetate (CJEA) extract was studied by comparing it to that of amifostine, a well-known radioprotective agent, and by evaluating the dose reduction factor, an indicator of radioprotective efficacy. Pretreatment with CJEA extract (100 mg/kg body weight) prior to receiving 12 Gy irradiation significantly improved the survival of jejunal crypts at 3.5 day post-irradiation, but attenuated the level of malondialdehyde compared to vehicle alone (P < 0.01). A similar gastroprotective effect was also obtained in the amifostine-treated irradiated group (P < 0.01). The efficacy of the radioprotective effect was further confirmed by the dose reduction factor, 1.41. Collectively, these results suggest that CJEA extract is a useful radioprotectant whose efficacy is similar to that of amifostine and whose radioprotective mechanism is in part the reduction of lipid peroxidation caused by gamma irradiation.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제35권12호
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• pp.1850-1859
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• 2022

Objective: The quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) is the most accurate and reliable technique for analysis of gene expression. Endogenous reference genes (RGs) have been used to normalize qPCR data, although their expression may vary in different tissues and experimental conditions. Verification of the stability of RGs in selected samples is a prerequisite for reliable results. Therefore, we attempted to identify the most stable RGs in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in sows. Methods: The cycle threshold values of nine commonly used RGs (18S, HPRT1, GAPDH, RPL4, PPIA, B2M, YWHAZ, ACTB, and SDHA) from HPG axis-related tissues in the domestic sows in the different stages of estrus cycle were analyzed using two RG-finding programs, geNorm and Normfinder, to rank the stability of the pool of RGs. In addition, the effect of the most and least stable RGs was examined by normalization of the target gene, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), in the hypothalamus. Results: PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ were the most stable RGs in the HPG axis-related tissues in sows regardless of the stages of estrus cycle. In contrast, traditional RGs, including 18S and ACTB, were found to be the least stable under these experimental conditions. In particular, in the normalization of GnRH expression in the hypothalamus against several stable RGs, PPIA, HPRT1, and YWHAZ, could generate significant (p<0.05) elevation of GnRH in the preovulatory phase compared to the luteal phase, but the traditional RGs with the least stability (18S and ACTB) did not show a significant difference between groups. Conclusion: These results indicate the importance of verifying RG stability prior to commencing research and may contribute to experimental design in the field of animal reproductive physiology as reference data.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.258-268
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• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate preventive effects of extracts of cricket, Gryllus bimaculatus, against the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD)-induced toxicity in 7-week-old Sprague-Dawley male rats. Thirty five male rats were divided into 5 groups: one normal control group treated with vehicle and saline (G1); one TCDD-treated group by single intraperitoneal injection (G2); three preventive groups (G3, G4, and G5). The last three groups, G3, G4, and G5, were fed on cricket extracts (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, respectively) for 2 weeks before TCDD treatment. Various harmful effects were shown by TCDD treatment. The body weights of rats were lost by TCDD. In addition, severe hypertrophy and color change, and the weights gaining were found in the livers of TCDD-treated rats. It was observed that the cytoplasmic vacuolizations and inflammatory cell infiltration around portal triad in the liver. TCDD also elevated the serum activity levels of alanine transaminase(ALT) and aspartate transaminase(AST). However, those losses were compensated by cricket extracts treatment at the level of 200 mg/kg. These findings indicate that cricket extracts may have protective effects against TCDD-induced toxicities in rats.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.444-451
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• 1999

We performed this study to determine the radioprotective effect of Sam Ryung Baek Chul San (San Ling Bai Shu San), as a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine, and its major ingredients. Jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were investigated in irradiated mice with high and low dose of rays. Sam Ryung Baek Chul San administration before irradiation increased the formation of endogenous spleen colony(p<0.05) and reduced the frequency of radiation induced apoptosis(p<0.05). In the experiment on the effect of ingredients of Sam Ryung Baek Chul San, the result indicated that the extracts of Panax ginseng, Poria cocos and Coix lacryma jabi might have the major radioprotective effects. Although the mechanisms of these inhibitory effects remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that Sam Ryung Baek Chul San might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.698-704
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• 1999

In this study, we evaluated the radioprotective effects of Kuei Pi Tang and its ingredients, as a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine. The jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were investigated in mice irradiated with high and low dose of ${\gamma}$ rays. In the mice administered with Kuei Pi Tang extract before irradiation, the jejunal crypts were protected significantly(p<0.005) and the frequency of radiation induced apoptosis was reduced(p<0.05). In the experiment on the effects of the ingredients of Kuei Pi Tang, the results indicated that the extract of Dangui(Angelica sinensis), Suanzaoren(Zizyphus valgaris), Rensan (Panax ginseng), Fuling(Poria cocos) and Muxiang(Saussurea lappa) might have a major radioprotective effect. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indi cated that Kuei Pi Tang might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively nontoxic natural product.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.577-584
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• 2018

Background: Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a widely used traditional herbal supplement that possesses various health-enhancing efficacies. Various ginseng products are available in market, especially in the Korean peninsula, in the form of drinks, tablets, and capsules. The different ginseng types include the traditional red ginseng extract (RGE), white ginseng, and black red ginseng extract (BRGE). Their fermented and enzyme-treated products are also available. Different treatment regimens alter the bioavailability of certain compounds present in the respective ginseng extracts. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to compare the antioxidant and immune-stimulating activities of RGE, BRGE, and fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE). Methods: We used an acetaminophen-induced oxidative stress model for investigating the reduction of oxidative stress by RGE, BRGE, and FRGE in Sprague Dawley rats. A cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression model was used to evaluate the immune-stimulating activities of these ginseng extracts in BALB/c mice. Results: Our results showed that most prominently, RGE (in almost all experiments) exhibited excellent antioxidant effects via increasing superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities in the liver and decreasing serum 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, aspartate aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase levels compared with the groups treated with FRGE and BRGE. Moreover, RGE significantly increased the number of white blood cells, especially T and B lymphocytes, and antibody-forming cells in the spleen and thymus, and it also activated a number of immune cell subtypes. Conclusion: Taken together, these results indicate that RGE is the best supplement for consumption in everyday life for overall health-enhancing properties.