Aralia elata, Chaenomeles sinensis fruit, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used as oriental medicinal plants in Korea, China and Japan and found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The current study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of an ethanol extract of a mixture of A. elata, C. sinensis fruit, and Glycyrrhizae radix (ACG) against ischemia-induced brain injury in rats and excitotoxic and oxidative neuronal death in primarily cultured rat cortical neurons. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 2 h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 h reperfusion (MCAO/R) in rats. Oral administration of ACG (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg) 30 min before MCAO, after 1 h of MCAO, and after 1 h of reperfusion reduced MCAO/R-induced brain infarct and edema formation. ACG also inhibited development of behavioral disabilities in MCAO/R-treated rats. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 500 μM glutamate for 12 h resulted in neuronal cell death. ACG (1, 10, and 50 μg/mL) inhibited glutamate-induced neuronal death. Furthermore, ACG inhibited 100 μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)- and hypoxia-induced neuronal death. These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of ACG against ischemia-induced brain damage might be associated with its anti-excitotoxic and anti-oxidative activity and that ACG may have a therapeutic role for prevention of neurodegeneration in stroke.

The young shoots of Aralia elata, Chaenomeles sinensis fruit and Glycyrrhizae radix are edible and traditionally used as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. The present study was performed to investigate the protective effect of an ethanol extract mixture of these three medicinal plants (ACG) against amyloid β protein (Aβ) (25– 35)-induced memory impairment in an ICR mouse model. Memory impairment was induced by intracerebroventricular microinjection of 15 nmol Aβ (25–35) and assessed using the passive avoidance test and the Morris water maze test. The step-through latency in the passive avoidance test was decreased and the latency to reach the hidden platform in the Morris water maze test was increased in mice treated with Aβ (25–35), indicating memory impairment. This memory impairment induced by Aβ (25–35) was significantly prevented by chronic treatment with ACG (10, 25, and 50 mg/kg, p.o., 8 days). In memory impaired mice brain, cholinesterase activity and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, a lipid peroxidation marker, were increased and glutathione level was decreased. These biochemical changes in Aβ (25–35)-treated mice were reversed by chronic administration of ACG. The present results suggest that antioxidant and anti-cholinesterase activities of ACG might be responsible for the inhibition of Aβ (25– 35)-induced memory impairment and that ACG preparation may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.

Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used in Korea, China, and Japan because of their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. The present study investigated the anti-nociceptive and antiinflammatory properties of an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitis amurensis (stem and leaf), Aralia cordata (stem and leaf), and Glycyrrhizae radix. Anti-nociceptive activity was determined using chemical (acetic acid and formalin) and thermal (hot plate) stimuli-induced algesia tests. Formalin-induced paw edema was evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity. SSB (25–100 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (100 mg/kg, p.o.), a positive nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), significantly inhibited the acetic acid-induced writhing response caused by peripherally mediated algesia, but failed to protect thermal nociception in the hot plate test that was employed for centrally mediated analgesic activity. However, morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) used as a positive opioid control alleviated the acetic acid-induced writhing response and thermal nociception in the hot plate test. In the formalin test, SSB (50 and 100 mg/kg, p.o.) inhibited the second phase response (peripheral inflammatory algesia), but not the first phase response (central algesia), whereas morphine inhibited both phases of the pain response. Both SSB (25-100 mg/kg, p.o.) and ibuprofen (200 mg/kg) caused significant reduction of the formalin-induced increase of paw thickness, which was the index of inflammation. These results suggest that SSB has a significant anti-nociceptive activity that seems to be peripheral, but not central. SSB also displays antiinflammatory activity in an acute inflammatory model. The present study supports a possible use of SSB to treat pain and inflammation.

Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix have been widely used as oriental medicinal plants in Korea, China and Japan and found to possess anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. A previous study demonstrated a protection of an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitis amurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix against β amyloid protein-induced memory impairment. The current study was conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effect of SSB against ischemiainduced brain injury. Transient focal cerebral ischemia was induced by 2 hr middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24 hr reperfusion (MCAO/reperfusion) in rats. Oral administration of SSB (5, 10 and 25 mg/kg) 30 min before and 1 h after MCAO, and 1 h after reperfusion reduced MCAO/ reperfusion-induced brain infarct and edema formation. SSB also inhibited development of behavioral disabilities in MCAO/reperfusion-treated rats. Exposure of cultured cortical neurons to 500 μM glutamate for 12 hr resulted in neuronal cell death. SSB (1-10 μg/mL) inhibited glutamateinduced neuronal death, elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of SSB against ischemia-induced brain damage might be associated with its anti-excitotoxic activity and that SSB may have a therapeutic role for prevention of neurodegeneration in stroke.

본 연구에서는 다양한 약리학적 활성을 가지는 것으로 알려진 감초 열수추출물(GRW)의 항암효능을 알아보기 위하여 인체 방광암 T24 세포에서 생존율 및 증식억제에 미치는 영향과 이와 연관된 apoptosis 유발 여부 및 관련 인자들의 발현 변화를 조사하였다. 먼저 GRW의 처리에 따른 증식억제 정도를 조사한 결과, GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 생존율 및 증식억제 현상이 나타났으며, 핵의 형태 변화, DNA 단편화 및 apoptosis 유발에 관하여 조사한 결과 역시 GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 증가됨을 확인할 수 있었다. 이는 GRW의 처리에 의한 암세포의 증식억제 및 형태적 변형이 암세포의 apoptosis 유발과 밀접한 관련이 있음을 시사하여 주는 것으로 사료된다. GRW 처리에 의한 apoptosis 유발에 관여하는 유전자의 탐색을 위하여 apoptosis와 연관성을 가지는 Bcl-2 family에 속하는 유전자의 발현을 조사한 결과 GRW 처리 농도 의존적으로 Bax 단백질의 발현증가와 더불어 Bcl-2 및 Bcl-xL 단백질의 발현감소가 관찰되었다(Fig. 3A). 이는 GRW에 의한 T24 세포의 apoptosis 유발에 Bcl-2 family에 속하는 유전자의 발현 조절이 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 사료된다. 또한 GRW의 처리에 따른 MMP의 소실은 미트콘드리아 막의 교란이 유발되었음을 의미하는 것으로, 이러한 MMP 값의 변동은 Bcl-2 family 단백질의 발현 변화에 의한 것이라 추정된다. 한편 Apoptosis에 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 알려진 caspase(-3/-8/–9)의 발현과 이들의 활성을 억제하는 IAP family (XIAP, cIAP-1, cIAP-2)의 발현에 GRW이 어떠한 영향을 미치는지를 조사한 결과, caspase-3, -8 및 -9의 활성형 단백질 발현 및 정량적 활성증가를 확인하였으며, IAP family 속한 3가지 단백질 모두 발현이 감소하는 것이 관찰되었다. 이상의 결과에서 GRW은 외인적 및 내인적 경로의 개시에 핵심적인 역할을 하는 caspase-8 및 -9의 활성을 모두 증가시켰으며, 이에 따른 caspase-3의 활성증가에 의하여 apoptosis가 유발되었음을 알 수 있었다. 이러한 두 경로의 동시 활성화에는 미트콘드리아의 기능 소실과 Bcl-2 및 IAP family의 발현 변화가 관여하고 있었으며, 특히 Bid의 발현 감소는 GRW에 의한 내인적 경로를 증폭시키는 효과로 작용했을 것이라 추정된다. 방광암의 치료에 보다 효과적인 생리활성을 갖는 물질을 발굴하고 그와 관련된 분자 및 세포수준에서의 기전을 밝히는 것이 중요하기에 본 연구의 결과는 향후 GRW로 수행될 추가 실험을 위한 기초자료로서 그 가치가 매우 높을 것으로 사료된다.

Background : To evaluate the quality of Glycyrrhizae radix (licorice), a popular herbal medicine in Korea, it is necessary to investigate the component profiles of the Glycyrrhiza species distributed in Korean market. Specifically, to control the quality of Korean Glycyrrhizae radix preparations including raw materials, glycyrrhizin (> 2.5%) and liquiritigenin (> 0.7%) has been used as a standard marker compound in Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). To the best of our knowledge, there have been only a few studies regarding the fingerprinting techniques and metabolomics approach of the phytochemicals in Glycyrrhizae radix in Korean market. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a validated method for botanical raw material (BRM) standardization. Methods and Results : Twenty-one Glycyrrhizae radix (G. glabra, G. uralensis, and G. glabra × G. uralensis) were analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS and were estimated to statistical and multivariate analysis. Large scale multi-targeted metabolic profiling and fingerprinting techniques were utilized to access a broader insight into the chemical composition of Glycyrrhiza species. The UV/VIS spectra, and MS data (accurate mass and fragmentation pattern in negative mode) of the components in the BRM of G. glabra, G. uralensis, and G. glabra × G. uralensis (incorporation and hybridization) were analyzed with multivariate analyses. Interestingly, UPLC-QTof-MS derived PCA analysis and fingerprinting techniques was found to be effective techniques in the classification of species based on genetic and/or geographical origins. In addition, the revealed metabolite markers could be utilized as a guidance for the BRM standardization as well as a database for quality control of commercial products containing Glycyrrhizae radix. Conclusion : From the above results, the revealed metabolite markers could be utilized as a guidance for the BRM standardization as well as a database for quality control of commercial products containing Glycyrrhizae radix.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitisamurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced byAmyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cor-tical neurons to 15μM Aβ (25-35) for 36h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1-30㎍/㎖, SSB inhibited neuronal death,elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ(25-35) in cultured cortical neurons. Memory impairment and increase of acetylcholinesterase activity induced by intra-cerebroventricular injection of mice with 16nmol Aβ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with SSB (25, 50 and100㎎/㎏, p.o., for 8 days). From these results, it is suggested that antidementia effect of SSB is due to its neuroprotectiveeffect against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that SSB may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression ofAlzheimer’s disease.

건조 생약재인 황기, 감초 및 진피의 감마선 조사 위생화의 가능성을 검토하기 위하여 감마선 조사 후 Samonella typhimurium TA98과 TA100 균주를 이용한 유전 독성학적인 안전성을 평가하고자 하였다. 시험 대상은 오염유기체 완전 구제 선량인 10kGy의 감마선으로 조사된 시료의 열수 추출물을 대상으로 하였으며 시험농도는 대상물질이 생약재임을 고려하여 50%의 균주생장억제를 나타내는 농도를 최고 농도로 하였다. 시험은 대사 활성