• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2006

The immediate-type allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is involved in many allergic diseases such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, and sinusitis. The discovery of drugs for the treatment of immediate-type allergic diseases is a very important subject in human health. In this study, we investigated the effect of Rubus coreanus Miq.(Rosaceae) unripe fruits (RCF) on mast cell-mediated allergic reaction and inflammatory cytokine secretion. RCF inhibited compound 48/80-induced systemic reactions in mice. RCF attenuated immunoglobulin (Ig) E-mediated local allergic reactions. In addition, RCF dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells local allergic reactions. In addition, RCF dependently reduced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells activated by compound 48/80 or IgE. Furthermore, RCF decreased the phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and interleukin (IL)-6 secretion in human mast cells. Our findings provide evidence that RCF inhibits mast cell-derived immediate-type allergic reactions.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.117-127
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• 2021

Objectives Previously, we demonstrated that a 5% ethanol extract of unripe Rubus coreanus (5-uRCK) and ellagic acid has hypocholesterolemic and antiobesity activity in high-fat diet-fed animals. Therefore, we conducted a clinical study on the anti-obesity effect of 5-uRCK in 140 Korean adults (aged 19-70 years, body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m²). Methods The participants were randomly assigned to two groups and were administered the placebo (n=70) or 5-uRCK extract (800 mg, n=70) daily for 12 weeks. The subjects were instructed to maintain their usual dietary intake and normal physical activity. Anthropometrics, body composition (dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and blood parameters were compared between the two groups. Results Average body weight and BMI did not show any significant changes; however, changes in upper body fat mass between the two groups was significantly different, as determined using analysis of covariance adjusted for baseline of percent body fat and drinking units. Moreover, Although not significant, the trunk fat mass and percent trunk fat tended to decrease after 5-uRCK supplementation. There was no significant difference in other laboratory biomarkers between the two groups. All safety parameters were within normal ranges in the both group. Conclusions In the present study, 5-uRCK significantly reduced upper body fat in obese subjects after 12 weeks, which indicates that it may help improve android-type obesity. Furthermore, the supplement is safe and well tolerated.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.10
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• pp.1552-1559
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• 2013

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM) has been used as one of the Korean traditional medicines for prostate health. In addition, recent studies have reported that RCM reduced chronic inflammatory diseases such as cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effects of unripe and ripe RCM on inflammationrelated gene expressions in LPS-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Mice were fed with 2% unripe RCM (U2), 10% unripe RCM (U10), 2% ripe RCM (R2), and 10% ripe RCM (R10) for 8 weeks. Peritoneal macrophages were isolated and stimulated with LPS then proinflammatory mediators (TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, and IL-6), and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) productions were assessed. Moreover, gene expression profiles were analyzed by cDNA microarray method. Unripe and ripe RCM significantly reduced TNF-${\alpha}$ production but only unripe RCM decreased IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 production. RCM intake significantly reduced inflammatory-related gene expressions such as arachidonate 5-lipoxygenase, interleukin 11, and nitric oxide synthase 2. Furthermore, unripe and ripe RCM significantly decreased ceruloplasmin, tissue plasminogen activator, thrombospondin 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor A expression which modulates symptoms of chronic inflammatory diseases. RCM intake also significantly increased hypoxia inducible factor 3, alpha which is the negative regulators of hypoxia-inducible gene expression. Furthermore, only unripe RCM reduced chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 8, chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 14, and phospholipase A2 expression. In this study, we showed that RCM had anti-inflammatory effects by suppression of pro-inflammatory mediator expressions and may reduce chronic inflammatory disease progress through regulation of gene expressions. These findings suggest that RCM might be used as a potential functional material to reduce chronic inflammatory responses.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.455-460
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• 2009

Foods of plant origin, especially fruits and vegetables, have attracted attention because of their potential benefits to human health. In this report, Rubi Fructus (RF), the dried unripe fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq (Rosaceae) and ellagic acid (EA) purified from RF were used to test their potential hepatoprotective effect against acetaminophen (AAP)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. RF extract (RFext) and EA reduced the elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in serum and the content of lipid peroxide in liver by AAP administration, while the increment of the cellular glutathione (GSH) content and the induction of glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) which were decreased by AAP administration. RFext and EA from RFext did not affect the two major form of cytochrome P450s, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and cytochrome P450 1A2 (CYP1A2), but downregulated the cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) related to the conversion of AAP to N-acetyl-P-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI). These results suggest that RFext and EA from RF exhibit a hepatoprotective effect not only by increasing antioxidant activities but also by down-regulating CYP3A4 in the AAP-intoxicated rat.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.275-280
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• 2007

Dried unripe fruits of Rubus coreanus Miq. were extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH and the concentrated extract was partitioned with EtOAc and $H_2O$. From the EtOAc fraction, four triterpenoids were isolated through repeated silica gel, ODS and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatographies. From the result of physico-chemical data including NMR, MS aud IR, the chemical structures of the compounds were determined as tormentic acid (1), myrianthic acid (2), hovenic acid (3) and 2${\alpha}$,3${\beta}$,19${\beta}$,23-tetrahydroxylolean-12-en-28-oic acid (4). Compounds 3 and 4 were isolated for the first time from this plant. All isolated compounds were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against human colon carcinoma cells using in vitro three-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, compound 3 showed a higher cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$ = 7.8 ${\mu}M$) than doxorubicin ($IC_{50}$= 50 ${\mu}M$).

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.658-662
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• 2013

Rubus coreanus and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge have been used as a traditional medicine with various pharmacological properties for a long time in Asia. We investigated the proliferative and differentiative effects on osteoblastic cells, MG-63 in various mixture ratios of immature fructus extracts of R. coreanus and root extracts of A. membranaceus. With preliminary in vivo ovariectomized mice, we confirmed the effects of the supplementation of various mixture on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in serum. The ratio of 7:3 is considered as the most effective ratio for the proliferation of osteoblastic cells as they increased by 56.8% similar to estradiol. ALP activity in osteoblast increased by the combination of R. coreanus and A. membranaceus and peaked in the ratio of 72:28 and 68:32 respectively. These results indicate that the optimal combination of R. coreanus and A. membranaceus in 7:3 has the most beneficial effects on the activation of osteoblast cells, and give further possibilities that it can be used clinically in the treatment of osteoporosis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.1723-1728
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• 2007

Rubus coreanus Miquel (RCM), a type of red raspberry, grows wild in Korea and China and its unripe fruit is used as a folk medicine for the treatment of impotence and as a diuretic. RCM was extracted with methanol and then further fractionated it into for different types. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of a RCM extract (ext.) and its fraction (fr.). DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay, total polyphenols contents, total flavonoids contents assay were used to analyze antioxidant activity. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity $(RC_{50}:1.67{\mu}g/ml)$ and total polyphenols contents $(546.25{\mu}g/mg)$ were higher in butanol fraction than in other fr. And total flavonoids contents was higher in ethylacetate fr. $(141.78{\mu}g/mg)$. We applied comet assay to measure the DNA damage in the individual cells and exposed time course at $IC_{50}$. Comet assay is a rapid and sensitive fluorescent microscopic method to examine DNA damage and repair at individual cell level. The butanol fro from RCM significantly induced 54.12%, 57.95% of DNA damage after treated RCM for 8 hr. In conclus

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2013

The fruit of the black raspberry (Rubus coreanus Miquel) has been employed in traditional medicine, and recent studies have demonstrated its measureable biological activities. However, the root of the black raspberry has not been studied. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties of the root and unripe fruit polyphenols of the black raspberry. Both polyphenols proved to have anti-inflammatory activity as evidenced by the decreased nitric oxide (NO), cytokines (IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10) and prostaglandin E2 ($PGE_2$) levels in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. However, root polyphenols showed stronger anti-inflammatory activity than fruit polyphenols. LPS-induced mRNA and protein expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 levels were also decreased, confirming the anti-inflammatory activity. Root polyphenols showed lethal activity against methicillin-resistant Staphy-lococcus aureus (MRSA), carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), and Bacillus anthracis. In contrast, the black raspberry fruit did not demonstrate these properties. These data provide the first demonstration that black raspberry root has potential anti-inflammatory and anti-superbacterial properties that can be exploited as alternatives for use in the food and cosmetic industries and/or as pharmaceuticals.