• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.830-843
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• 2006

Clinical evidence suggests that Nelumbinis Semen extracts have antidepressive properties and may offer an interesting alternative for the treatment of mood disorders. It was the aim of the present study to compare the effects of Nelumbinis Semen extracts with those of fluoxetine and hypericum perforatum extract in the rat forced swimming test (FST) and chronic mild stress (CMS), a model of depression. In the FST, p.o. administration of Nelumbinis Semen extracts (1 mg) induced a statistically significant reduction of immobility. The active behaviors in that test did not reflect decreased general activity because Nelumbinis Semen extracts failed to alter the locomotor activity of rats, measured in the open field test. Moreover Nelumbinis Semen extracts was superior to fluoxetine and hypericum perforatum extract in the incidence of sexual side-effects. These effects of Nelumbinis Semen extracts on the rat behavior is to be ascribed to increased Cytochrome c oxidase polypeptide Vla-liver, Mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 , Adenylosuccinate synthetase, and Aldehyde dehydrogenase in rat hippocampus.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.180-188
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• 2015

This study was conducted to investigate the relaxation effects and its mechanisms of Nelumbinis Semen(NS) extract in isolated rabbit corpus cavernous tissues. In order to examine the relaxation effects and its mechanisms of NS, we treated the ethanol extract of NS(0.01-3.0 mg/ml) and indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), Nω -nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) were treated before NS extract to contracted strips induced by PE 1 μM. We also treated calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM after pretreatment of NS extract in Ca²⁺-free krebs-ringer solution to contracted strips induced by PE. Cell viability and NO concentration on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC) was measured by MTT assay, Griess reagent system. eNOS production was investigated by histochemical and immunohistochemical staining. NS extract was significantly affected on the relaxation of cavernous strips and NS extract-induced relaxation was not different by pretreatment of IM, TEA, MB, but inhibited by the pretreatment of L-NNA. And increase of contraction induced by Ca²⁺ addition, in a Ca²⁺-free solution, was decreased by pretreatment of NS. NO concentration on HUVEC was increased. When NS extract was applicated on corpus cavernosum of penis(CCP) in SHR, ratio of smooth muscles to collage fibers by PE was decreased and formation of eNOS around helicine artery was increased. These results suggest that CCP relaxation effects of NS extract are shown by suppressing influx of extracellular Ca²⁺ through the production of NO and eNOS.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.113-117
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• 2003

This study was performed to investigate the anti-depression effect of herbal extracts (Rehmanniae Radix Preparat, Corni Fructus, Lycii Fructus, Pinelliae Rhizoma, Nelumbinis Semen) in the chronic mild stressed rat. After adaptation period for 2 weeks, each herbal extract was administered to the rats divided 5 groups. For comparison, St. John's wart was administered to another group in the same environment. The chronic mild stress was induced to rats by overnight illumination for 2 days before the forced swimming test. Struggling time, first latency and rest duration were calculated during the forced swimming test to evaluate the anti-depressant effect. The results were as follows: 1. In the result of evaluation of the struggling time, there was no significance in Pinelliae Rhizoma (-1.1%), Corni Fructus (-3.9%), Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (15.2%), Lycii Fructus (4.9%), St. John's wart (25.2%). There was a significant increase only in Nelumbinis Semen (43.9%) (P=0.0037). 2. In the result of evaluation of the first latency time, there was no significance in Lycii Fructus (-21.37%), Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (38.4%), Pinelliae Rhizoma (65.5%), Corni Fructus (29.2%), St. John's wart (75.8%). There was a significant increase only in Nelumbinis Semen (90.2%) (P=0.0116). 3. In the result of evaluation of the first rest duration, there was no change in St. John's wart, and Decrease was shown in Pinelliae Rhizoma (62.4%), Corni Fructus (31.6%) Rehmanniae Radix Preparat (63.1 %), Lycii Fructus (12.4%), Nelumbinis Semen (59.0%), but there was no significance in all. 4. Nelumbinis Semen is considered to have a superior anti-depression effect than the other herbal extracts, and to have a superior and-depression effect than St. John's wart being used commonly.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.111-114
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• 1999

Inhibitory effect of water and ethyl acetate extract of 60 kinds of herbal medicines was investigated on ${\beta}-glucuronidase$. Among water extract of them, Galla Rhois had the most potent ${\beta}-glucuronidase-inhibitory\;activity$. Termaliae Fructus, Amomi Tsa-ko Fructus and Arecae Semen were also potent inhibitors. Among ethyl acetate extract of them, Galla Rhois had the most potent ${\beta}-glucuronidase-inhibitory\;activity$. Nelumbinis Semen. Ephedrae Radix and Termaliae Fructus were also potent inhibitors. The extract of Galla Rhois had potent hepatoprotective effect on $CCl_4-induced$ hepatotoxicity of rats. These results suggest that the ${\beta}-glucuronidase$ seems to be closely related to the liver injury, which could be prevented by the inhibitor of ${\beta}-glucuronidase$.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.216-227
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• 2000

1. Purpose For many years, Taeumin Chungsimyoinjatang(太陰人 淸心蓮子湯, CS) has been used in Sasang(四象) constitutional medicine as a therapeutic agent for cerebral disease. The effects of CS on the vascular system is not well-known. The purpose of this study is to make it clear the effects of SJ and composing drugs on blood pressure(BP) and regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF). 2. Method We measured BP with Pressure Transducer, rCBF with Laser-Doppler flowmeter. Propranolol and methylene blue were used to determine the mechanisms of CS effects. 3. Results and Conclusion BP was not affected by CS in rats, and rCBF was significantly increased by CS in rats. rCBF was increased by Nelumbinis Semen(蓮于肉), Ophiopogonis Radix(麥門冬), Asparagi Radix(天門冬), Polygalae Radix(遠志), Zizyphi Spinosae Semen(酸棗仁), Longnae Arillus(龍眼肉), Raphani Semen, Chrysanthemi Flos(甘菊) in rats. The increase of rCBF is mediated by adrenergic ${\beta}$- receptor and guanylyl cyclase which is enzyme producing cyclic GMP.