Identification and Quantitation of the Bioactive Components in Wasted Leaves Extract with Endothelial Protective Activity.

, a renowned medicinal plant with a rich history in traditional medicine, has gained attention for its potential therapeutic applications. However, the leaves of this plant have been largely overlooked and discarded due to limited knowledge of their biological activity and chemical composition. To bridge this gap, a comprehensive study was conducted to explore the therapeutic potential of the 70% ethanol extract derived from leaves (LAE) for the treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Extraction and Concentration of Waste Stems with Antioxidants and Anti-Melanogenesis Activity as a Novel Skin Whitening Agent for Natural Cosmetic Prototypes.

The root of (Willd.) is used commercially in different products, including dietary supplements, cosmetics, and teas, but its stem part is rarely used and studied. Therefore, this study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-melanogenesis activities of the bioactive fraction of stem and investigated whether the activated carbon decolorization technique would have an impact on its activity and chemical composition.

Phenolic Profile and Fingerprint Analysis of Leaves Extract with Endothelial Protective Activity.

In contrast to the stem and fruit of , leaves as a source rich in phenolic compounds with potentially beneficial pharmacological activities have been largely overlooked. To develop and use leaves as a resource, we evaluated its potential as a cardiovascular-protective agent. Herein, we investigated the effects and potential mechanisms of leaves extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Inhibition effects of Moutan Cortex Radicis on secretion of eotaxin in A549 human epithelial cells and eosinophil migration.

Unlabelled: Eosinophils have been implicated in a broad range of diseases, most notably allergic conditions (e.g. asthma, rhinitis and atopic dermatitis) and inflammatory diseases.

Inhibition of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by moutan cortex in activated mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Moutan cortex (MC) is one of the most widely used Oriental herbal medicines for treating inflammatory diseases. In this study, the effect of MC on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were examined using mouse peritoneal macrophages. MC inhibited the LPS/rIFN-gamma-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and TNF-alpha release.

Anti-ischemic effect of Aurantii Fructus on contractile dysfunction of ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Aurantii Fructus (AF) is one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of AF on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart were investigated through analyses of changes in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups: an ischemia-induced group without any treatment, and an ischemia-induced group with AF treatment.

Effects of Nelumbinis Semen on contractile dysfunction in ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Nelumbinis Semen (NS), or lotus seed, is one of the most well-known traditional herbal medicines and is frequently used to treat cardiovascular symptoms in Korea. The anti-ischemic effects of NS on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart were investigated through analyses of changes in blood pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups: a control, untreated ischemia-induced group, and an ischemia-induced group treated with NS.

Survey and mechanism of skin depigmenting and lightening agents.

The type and amount of melanin synthesized by the melanocyte, and its distribution pattern in the surrounding keratinocytes, determines the actual color of the skin. Melanin forms through a series of oxidative reactions involving the amino acid tyrosine in the presence of the enzyme tyrosinase. Tyrosinase catalyses three different reactions in the biosynthetic pathway of melanin in melanocytes: the hydroxylation of tyrosine to l-DOPA and the oxidation of l-DOPA to dopaquinone; furthermore, in humans, dopaquinone is converted by a series of complex reactions to melanin.

Effects of Yukmijihwang-tang derivatives (YMJd) on ibotenic acid-induced amnesia in the rat.

The present study investigates the effects of Yukmijihwang-tang Derivatives (YMJd) on learning and memory through the Morris water maze task and the central cholinergic system of rats with excitotoxic medial septum (MS) lesion. In the water maze test, the animals were trained to find a platform in a fixed position for 6 d and then received a 60-s probe trial in which the platform was removed from the pool on the 7th day. Ibotenic lesion of the MS showed the impaired performance in the Morris water maze test and severe cell losses in the MS, as indicated by decreased choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactivity in the medial septum.

Effect of Acori graminei Rhizoma on contractile dysfunction of ischemic and reperfused rat heart.

Acori graminei Rhizoma is one of the best-known traditional herbal medicines frequently used for the treatment of cardiovascular symptoms in Asian countries. The anti-ischemic effect of Acori graminei Rhizoma on ischemia-induced isolated rat heart was investigated through analysis of changes in perfusion pressure, aortic flow, coronary flow, and cardiac output. The subjects in this study were divided into two groups, an ischemia-induced group without any treatment (I), and an ischemia-induced group with Acori graminei Rhizoma treatment (I+AGR).

Inhibition of lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by Lithospermi radix in mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Lithospermi radix (LR, root of Lithospermum erythrorhizon Siebold. et Zuccarinii) has been used to treat various conditions, such as septic shock, eczema and burns. In this study, the effect of LR on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were examined using mouse peritoneal macrophages.

The anti-depressant effect of Nelumbinis semen on rats under chronic mild stress induced depression-like symptoms.

Nelumbinis Semen is a well-known traditional herbal medicine frequently used in treatment of depression in many Asian countries. In this study, its anti-depression effects in rats were investigated by comparing the test results of those treated with Nelumbinis Semen to those treated with other herbal anti-depressants, including Rehmanniae Radix Preparat, Corni Fructus, Lycii Fructus, Pinelliae Rhizoma and Hypericum Perforatum. In order to induce depression-like symptoms, the animals were placed under chronic mild stress in the form of overnight illumination for 2 consecutive days.

Yukmijihwang-tang derivatives enhance cognitive processing in normal young adults: a double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ), also known as Luweidihuang-tang in China, has been widely used as a general herbal tonic for hundreds of years in many Asian countries. This study examines whether YMJ derivatives (YMJd) enhance cognitive ability in normal human subjects and discusses its potential as treatment for dementia patients with deficient cognitive ability. Subjects were divided into two groups, the placebo-treated group (n = 15) and the YMJd-treated group (n = 20).

Inhibition of production of reactive oxygen species and gene expression profile by treatment of ethanol extract of Moutan Cortex Radicis in oxidative stressed PC12 cells.

Moutan Cortex Radicis (MCR) is one of the most widely used Oriental medicines. In this study, we assessed the reducing effect of ethanol extract of MCR on hydrogen peroxide-induced reactive oxygen production, the main cause of cell damage or death in PC12 cells. The viability of cells treated with 1 mg/ml of MCR was significantly restored from that of oxidative-stressed PC12 cells.

Efficacy of a traditional Korean medicine, Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Tang, in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Traditional herbal medicines may be viable alternatives to corticosteroid therapy for treatment of asthma. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of herbal compounds remain a matter of considerable debate. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of Chung-Sang-Bo-Ha-Tang (CSBHT), a herbal compound administrated therapeutically to asthma patients for centuries, on airway inflammation and remodeling in a murine model of chronic asthma.

Effects of Yukmijihwang-tang derivatives (YMJd), a memory enhancing herbal extract, on the gene-expression profile in the rat hippocampus.

The herbal extract Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJ) has been widely used for centuries as an anti-aging herbal medicine in Asian countries. Among the various modified prescriptions of YMJ, YMJ derivatives (YMJd) were formulated to enhance memory retention. This study has three goals: 1) to quantitatively evaluate the memory-enhancing effect of YMJd using behavior tasks; 2) to use cDNA micro-array tools to identify candidate genes responsible for enhancing memory; and 3) to statistically evaluate the specific gene expression patterns using Real-time PCR.

Immunomodulatory effect of Astragali Radix extract on murine TH1/TH2 cell lineage development.

Astragali Radix (AR), is a popular herbal medicine used to treat allergic diseases in Korea, Japan and China. Our study examined the effect of an AR ethanol extract on both in vitro and in vivo murine CD4 T cells' differentiation into Th1 and Th2 subsets. CD4 T cells from Balb/c mice were activated with anti-CD3/anti-CD28 mAb in the presence of AR for 2 d.

So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang, tradititional Korean medicine, suppresses Th2 lineage development.

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang (SCRT, also called Sho-Seiryu-To or Xiao-Qing-Long-Tang) on helper T cell development by monitoring Th1/Th2-specific cytokine secretion patterns in artificially induced Th1 or Th2 polarized conditions. The results demonstrated that Th2 cells were dramatically underpopulated in the Th2-driven condition triggered by SCRT treatment, while the Th1 cells were not altered in the Th1-skewed condition. Furthermore, under Th2-skewed conditions the levels of interleukin-4 were considerably decreased with SCRT treatment.

Chung-Yeul-Gue-Soup-Sa-Gan-Tang, traditional Korean medicine, enhances CD4(+) T cell activities and modulates Th1/Th2 lineage development.

Chung-Yeul-Gue-Soup-Sa-Gan-Tang (CYT), a traditional Korea herbal medicine, has been widely used in Korea for the treatment of various immunological disorders, including allergic asthma. In this study, CYT was examined in vitro and tested for possible immunological effects. The results demonstrated that CYT had no mitogenic effects on unstimulated CD4(+) T cells, but rather increased CD4(+) T cell proliferation upon activation with anti-CD3/CD28 antibody.

Traditional Korean medicine (SCRT) modulate Th1/Th2 specific cytokine production in mice CD4+ T cell.

Traditional Korea medicine, So-Cheong-Ryong-Tang (SCRT) also called as Xiao-qing-long-tang or Sho-seiru-to, contains eight species of medicinal plants and has been used for treating allergic diseases, such as allergic rhinitis and asthma, for hundreds of years in Asian countries. CD4+ T cells were highly purified by using magnetic bead from splenocytes of BALB/c mice. SCRT treatment slightly decreased the expression of cell surface protein CD69 on CD4+ T cell in the flow cytometry analysis.