• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.635-640
• /
• 2011

Betulae Cortex of Betula platyphylla Suk. var. japonica Hara (Betulaceae) has long been used for treatment of various inflammation, fever and cough in Eastern Asia. In order to investigate antibacterial activity of the Betulae Cortex against Streptococcus mutans or Porphyromonas gingivalis, MIC (minimal inhibitory concentration) and pH were checked, and for anti-inflammation activity, the experiments about trypsin-induced paw edema, vascular permeability and myeloperoxidase activity in rat's hind-paw tissue, were carried out with various extracts of Betulae Cortex (BCXs) respectively. The BCXs showed significant antibacterial activity, and at the dose of over 50 mg/kg, BCX showed significant inhibition on the paw edema, vascular permeability and myeloperoxidase activity. These results indicate that BCXs have antibacterial activity against oral cariogenic bacteria and anti-inflammatory effect.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.13-33
• /
• 2012

Objective : The aim of this study is to find the therapeutic meaning of Pericarpium Granati and Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae in herbal medication. Methods : About the origin, the component, the processing the drug, the properties and tastes of drugs, the meridian tropism, the effects, the treating disease, the contraindication and the method of adminictration, I have researched 23 literatures and 10 disquisitions to mention the Pericarpium Granati and Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae. Result : 1. Pericarpium Granati is pericarp of mature fruit of The Pomegranate belongs to Punicaceae and Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae is bark of Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Miquel) Hara belongs to Betulaceae. 2. Pericarpium Granati consists of tannin 10.4~21.3%, lead 0.8%, resin 4.5%, mannitol 1.8%, sugar 2.7%, gum 3.2%, inulin 1.0%, musilage 0.6%, gallic acid 4.0%. Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae consists of betulin about 35%, various higher fatty acid about 35%, tannin about 7%. 3. The properties and taste of Pericarpium Granati is acid, astringency, warm, nontoxic and the meridian tropism is mainly stomach and large intestine meridian. The properties and taste of Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae is bitter, cold, nontoxic and the meridian tropism is mainly stomach meridian. 4. Pericarpium Granati has come into general use to treat roundworm, tapeworm, old diarrhea, anal prolapse, melena, metrorrhagia, leukorrhea, stomachache from worms, scabies etc. because it is effective on insecticiding, stopping diarrhea, controling hemorrhage and leukorrhea. Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae has come into general use to treat shigellosis, diarrhea, jaundice, cough, sputum, tonsillitis, pneumonia, nephritis, furuncle, prurigo, acne etc. because it is effective on cooling down heat, circulating humidity, removing phlegm, stopping cough, neutralizing poison. 5. Pericarpium Granati and Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae is useful method to external care. To use the herba, pulverize amount of property and then apply to the affected part. Conclusion : This study showed that Pericarpium Granati and Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae is useful herb to treat of skin disease and useful method to external care.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.26 no.3
• /
• pp.1-19
• /
• 2013

Objective : The primary purpose of present study is to evaluate the effect of herbal cosmetics containing Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae extract complex on acne. The second is to comparatively evaluate safety of this cosmetics. Methods : We opened collecting of applicant that men and women(the 18~35-year-old) with acne on face. We selected subjects who came up to entire inclusion criteria and were not included in the exclusion criteria. We checked changes of Acne Global score, skin sebum, moisture, pores counts, Skindex-29 for 8 weeks. Results : 1. Comparison of changes in Global score, it declined in both experimental group and control group. But Experimental group showed a statistically significant decline than control group. 2. Comparison of changes in sebum and moisture, it declined in both experimental group and control group. But there was no statistically significant difference between those two groups. 3. Comparison of changes in erythema normal area, it declined in both experimental group and control group. But there was no statistically significant difference between those two groups. 4. Comparison of changes in pore counts, it increased statistically significantly in both experimental group and control group. 5. Comparison of changes in Skindex-29, it declined in both experimental group and control group. But there was no statistically significant difference between those two groups. Conclusion : Considering the above experiments, it is suggested that herbal cosmetics containing Cortex Betulae Platyphyllae extract complex have a positive effect on acne.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.28 no.1
• /
• pp.68-84
• /
• 2015

Object : The object of this study was effected of composed of 4 herbal medicines(Rubus coreanus, Rehmanniae Radix, Houttuynia cordata, Betulae cortex) on acute atopic dermatitis mice. Methods : BALB/c mice were divided 4 groups ; normal group, negative control group of acute atopic dermatitis mice induced by DNCB, treated apply to the back skin with the herbal medicine group, and treated orally with herbal medicine group. Treated with herbal medicine and DNCB during 2 weeks. After treated, measured WBCs, RBCs, and platelet in the blood, and analysed mRNA expression of spleen. Result : Composed herbal medicines could reduce WBCs, lymphocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, and eosinophils in the mouse blood. And, could down TNF-${\alpha}$ levels in spleen. In the skin tissue histology results, herbal medicines reduce the cells and T cells. Conclusion : Composed herbal medicines help to another inflammatory disease because they reduce the cells and T cells in the skin tissues. And they have inhibitory effects of TNF-${\alpha}$ mRNA expression, and Th 2 immune responses. Therefore herbal medicines use for an acute atopic dermatitis treatment.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.41 no.5
• /
• pp.565-570
• /
• 1997

High levels of extracellular phospholipase $A_2$ (Plase $A_2$) associated with inflammatory process in man and animal models have been extensively reported elsew here. Thus, a logical approach to the treatment of inflammatory diseases should involve the inhibitors of Plase $A_2$. To develop new Plase $A_2$ inhibitors from natural products, two hundred crude drugs were screened using group II PLA$A_2$ inhibitory activity. Among them, methanol extract of 5 medicinal plants such as, Raphani Semen, Moutan cortex radicis, Arecae semen, Caryophylli Cortex and Betulae Cortex inhibited more than 90% of PLase $A_2$ activity at a concentration 2.5${\mu}g/ml$. Then, 10 methanol extracts sample were transferred into organic solvents, PLase $A_2$ inhibitory effects were found mainly in CHCl3 and EtoAc fractions.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.391-399
• /
• 2013

The aim of the present study was to investigate the antioxidant efficacies between extracts of Prunus yedoensis(PY) and Betulae platyphyllae var. japonica(BP). HPLC pattern was different between barks and extract solvents. Content of total phenolic compound was the highest in ethanol extract of BP(382.201 mg/g ext.) and its content was 1.9 times higher than that from the water extract of PY. Total antioxidant efficacy also was the highest in ethanol extract of BP (292 copper reducing equivalents). Nitric oxide scavenging activity was almost 70% in ethanol extract of BP treated 200 ug/ml and it was higher than positive control(ascorbic acid). DPPH radical scavenging ability was up by 80% in all samples. ABTS cation decolorization from each barks was activated over 85% in all samples at 100 ug/ml concentration, especially, the activity was the highest (94.4%) in ethanol extract of BP. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were also highest (45%) in ethanol extract of BP at 200 ug/ml concentration and were as high as positive control. Stimulation of the macrophages RAW 264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased intracellular ROS levels and ethanol extract of BP at 200 ug/ml concentration reduced ROS levels up to 41 %. The results indicated that the barks of PY and BP has potent antioxidant activities and ethanol extract of BP of them has the highest antioxidant activities.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.537-551
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Jinnoe-san (JNS) is a novel herbal formula consisting of five oriental medicinal herbs including Polygalae Radix, Prunellae Spica, Perillae Herba, Betulae Cortex, and Lonicerae Flos. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of JNS on Parkinson's disease in vitro model. Methods : The effects of JNS on 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$)-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated with a cell viability assay, flow cytometry, and western blots analysis. The effects of JNS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay, enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, and western blots analysis. Result : $MPP^+$-induced cell death in SH-SY5Y cells was significantly reduced by JNS pre-treatment in a dose-dependent manner. JNS inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondria dysfunction, and apoptosis induced by $MPP^+$ in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, JNS significantly activated Akt and ERK in SH-SY5Y cells and the ability of JNS to prevent mitochondria dysfunction by $MPP^+$ was antagonized by pre-treatment of LY294002 and PD98059, an Akt and ERK inhibitor, respectively. In addition, JNS inhibited LPS-induced NO and $PGE_2$ production as well as iNOS expression and secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$, pro-inflammatory cytokines without affecting the cell viability. JNS also suppressed LPS-induced ERK activation. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that JNS has a protective effect on the dopaminergic neurons against $MPP^+$-induced neurotoxicity and anti-inflammatory effect on the LPS-stimulated microglia. These findings provide evidences for JNS to be considered as a new prescription for treating Parkinson's disease.

• Herbal Formula Science
• /
• v.25 no.4
• /
• pp.471-481
• /
• 2017

Objectives : Noemyeong-san (NMS) is a novel herbal prescription composed of five oriental medicinal herbs including Prunellae Spica, Betulae Cortex, Foeniculi Fructus, Asiasari Radix, and Clematidis Radix for treating Alzheimer's disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of NMS on BV2 microglia to evaluate the potential action of this formula for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease. Methods : To determine the cytotoxicity of NMS on BV2 microglia, the MTT assay was performed. The effects of NMS on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia were determined with a nitric oxide (NO) assay and western blots for inflammatory mediator-related proteins, mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$) pathway-related proteins, and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Result : NMS inhibited induction of iNOS and COX-2 as well as NO production without affecting the cell viability in LPS-stimulated BV2 microglia. NMS also suppressed activation of ERK and p38 MAPK among main kinases of MAPKs as well as NF-${\kappa}B$ by LPS stimulation. Furthermore, NMS dose-dependently induced the expression of HO-1 and the inhibitory effect of NMS on the production of NO were blocked by pretreatment with an HO-1 inhibitor, Snpp. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that NMS has potent anti-neuroinflammatory effect on the LPS-stimulated microglia. These findings provide evidences for NMS to be considered as a new prescription for preventing or treating neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.540-545
• /
• 2022

Betulin is a triterpenoid natural product contained in several medicinal plants including Betulae Cortex. These medicinal plants have been used for controlling diverse inflammatory diseases in folk medicine and betulin showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In this study, we tried to examine whether betulin exerts a regulative effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin under the status simulating a pulmonary inflammation, in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with betulin for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin mRNA expression and mucin glycoprotein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. To elucidate the action mechanism of betulin, effect of betulin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated by western blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Betulin significantly suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin glycoprotein and down-regulated MUC5AC mRNA expression induced by PMA in NCI-H292 cells. 2) Betulin inhibited NF-κB activation stimulated by PMA. Suppression of inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKK) by betulin led to the inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. This, in turn, led to the down-regulation of MUC5AC glycoprotein production in NCI-H292 cells. These results suggest betulin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.