Therapeutic Potential of Thunb. and Its Active Components in a Delayed Corneal Wound Healing Model Following Blue Light Irradiation-Induced Oxidative Stress.

Blue light is reported to be harmful to eyes by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Herein, the roles of Thunb. leaf extract (PJE) in corneal wound healing under blue light irradiation are investigated.

De Novo Assembly and Species-Specific Marker Development as a Useful Tool for the Identification of L. Species.

L. (family ) includes approximately 470 species found in most parts of the world and is commonly known as skullcaps. L.

Thunberg and Its Active Components Mitigate Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Apoptosis after Urban Particulate Matter-Induced Ocular Surface Damage.

We previously demonstrated that urban particulate matter (UPM) exposure decreases the migration activity and survival of human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs). Herein, we investigated the potential to improve the corneal wound-healing ability of Thunb. leaf extract (PJE) and its active components on UPM-induced ocular surface damage in vitro and in vivo.

Combined antihypertensive effect of unripe Rubus coreanus Miq. and Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. Extracts in 1 kidney-1 clip hypertensive rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Background: We previously showed that enzymatically hydrolyzed Dendropanax morbiferus H. Lév. leaf (Hy-DP) and unripe Rubus coreanus Miq.

SR-5, the specific ratio of Korean multi-herbal formula: An evaluation of antiulcerogenic effects on experimentally induced gastric ulcers in mice.

Purpose: Previously, we demonstrated that the specific ratio of Korean multi-herbal formula (SR-5) exhibits hepatoprotective properties against ethanol-induced hepatic damage in rats. Chronic and excessive alcohol consumption is a major etiological factor involved in gastric disease and ulcer development induced by the inflammatory response and oxidative stress.

Methods: The present study evaluated the gastroprotective effects of SR-5 (100, 150, and 200 mg/kg) against hydrochloride acid/ethanol (HCl/EtOH)-induced and indomethacin/hydrochloride acid (INDO/HCl)-induced gastritis in a mouse model and the mechanisms involved.

Long-Term Exposure to Urban Particulate Matter on the Ocular Surface and the Incidence of Deleterious Changes in the Cornea, Conjunctiva and Retina in Rats.

We investigated the time-dependent deleterious ocular changes induced by urban particulate matter (UPM) in vitro and in vivo. UPM treatment decreased human corneal epithelial cell migration and survival. Fluorescein scores were consistently increased by UPM application for 16 weeks.

Unripe Miquel Extract Containing Ellagic Acid Regulates AMPK, SREBP-2, HMGCR, and INSIG-1 Signaling and Cholesterol Metabolism In Vitro and In Vivo.

Our previous study demonstrated that a 5% ethanol extract of unripe (5-RCK) has hypo-cholesterolemic and anti-obesity activity. However, the molecular mechanisms of its effects are poorly characterized. We hypothesized that 5-RCK and one of its major bioactive compounds, ellagic acid, decrease cellular and plasma cholesterol levels.

Aqueous Extract of var. acuta Relaxes the Ciliary Smooth Muscle by Increasing NO/cGMP Content In Vitro and In Vivo.

The leaves of var. acuta (PFA) are commonly used as a traditional medicine in Korea, Japan, and China. We previously showed that PFA attenuates eye fatigue by improving visual accommodation through a clinical study.

Molecular Discrimination of and by InDel Markers of Chloroplast DNA.

The tuber of ( Radix in Korean) is an important medicinal herb in Korea and China; however, it is difficult to differentiate from a related medicinal herb, ( Radix in Chinese) We sought to develop a molecular method that could be used to distinguish between the tubers of and . We aligned the chloroplast genome sequences (available in the NCBI database) of the two species and identified three species-specific insertion and deletion (InDel) sites in the , , and intergenic spacer (IGS) regions. To confirm the presence of these three InDels and validate their use as markers, we designed three primer pairs to amplify the , , and IGS regions.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of a Stauntonia hexaphylla Fruit Extract in Lipopolysaccharide-Activated RAW-264.7 Macrophages and Rats by Carrageenan-Induced Hind Paw Swelling.

The fruit of is commonly used as a traditional anthelmintic in Korea, Japan, and China. However, its anti-inflammatory activity and the underlying mechanisms have not been studied systematically. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory activities of an aqueous extract of fruit (SHF) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.

Cynanchum wilfordii Ameliorates Testosterone-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Regulating 5α-Reductase and Androgen Receptor Activities in a Rat Model.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of the prostate gland. has been reported to improve sexual behavior in male rats. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of an aqueous extract of (CWW) against BPH development in a testosterone-induced BPH rat model.

Development of User-Friendly Method to Distinguish Subspecies of the Korean Medicinal Herb Perilla frutescens Using Multiplex-PCR.

Perilla () is an economically and culturally important plant in East Asia. Plant breeding between cultivars has enhanced the genetic diversity of perilla overall, but means that functionally diverse subspecies are more difficult to identify and distinguish. In this study, we developed gene-based DNA markers to distinguish between the Korean herbal medicinal perilla varieties.

Antithrombosis activity of protocatechuic and shikimic acids from functional plant Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc needles.

Pine needle extract (PE) and fermented pine needle extract (FPE) have been reported to show various biological and pharmacological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-cholesterol, gastrointestinal motility control, and fibrinolytic effect. The aims of our research were to isolate fibrinolytic compounds from PE and FPE and evaluate their antithrombotic activity in vitro and in vivo. Protocatechuic (1) and shikimic (2) acids were isolated and identified from FPE.