• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2018

Phytolaccae Radix has long been used as a traditional indigenous medicine to cure edema and rheumatism. However, there is insufficient background information on toxicological evaluation of Phytolaccae Radix extract to support the safe use. Therefore, we conducted a series of standardized, OECD and KFDA guidelines compliant in vivo study, to find a dose levels for the 13 weeks toxicity study. The extract of Phytolaccae Radix was administered orally to F344 rats at dose levels of 0, 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. Each group was composed to five male and five female rats. In the result, there were no test article-related adverse changes in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmology, hematology, clinical chemistry, gross finding at necropsy and organ weight examination. Therefore, we recommend that 2000 mg/kg/day is a highest treatment group in 13-week exposure study.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 2010

A simple and reliable reverse phase HPLC method was developed to determine pharmacologically active marker compounds of Ephedrae Herba, Phytolaccae Radix and Polyporus. The stability test of water-extract of three natural medicines were examined for six months. However, no significant change in the content of the marker compounds of each extract observed during the time of investigation.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.311-315
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• 2002

Cellular death by apoptosis is an active process, depending on gene transcription and protein synthesis. It was reported that nitric oxide can induce apoptosis in several cancer cell-lines. We studied effects of Phytolacca esculentum van Houtt (Phytolaccaceae) Radix water extract (PRE) on the proliferation of transplanted-L1210 cells in mice. When PRE (500 mg/kg) was administered orally once a day for 7 days after transplantation of L1210 cells to mice, DNA fragmentation of transplanted-L1210 cells was induced and mitochondrial transmembrane potential of those cells was reduced. Additionally, DNA fragmentation of L1210 cells was induced by the treatment of PRE in vitro. Also, DNA fragmentation of L1210 cells was enhanced by co-culture with the peritoneal macrophages obtained from PRE-administered mice and was partly inhibited by L-NMMA in vitro. PRE enhanced the production of nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α from peritoneal rnacrophages. These results suggest that PRE induces apoptosis of transplanted-L1210 cells via directive action on L1210 cells and stimulation of nitric oxide and tumor neaosis factor-α from macrophages.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.54-72
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• 2018

Objectives: The aim of this review is to investigate studies on Estrogen-like activity and to contribute to the utilization of herbal medicines including phytoestrogens. Methods: Electric searches were performed with Pubmed from 2013 to June 2018, for the words, 'herb and estrogen', 'traditional Chinese medicine and estrogen', 'Oriental medicine and estrogen', and 'Korean medicine and estrogen'. 49 papers are investigated and classified into 'in vitro', 'in vivo' and 'in vivo and in vitro' experimental studies. Results: 1. In vitro experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Rubi Fructus, Sparganii Rhizoma, Epimedii Herba, Spatholobi Caulis, Evodiae fructus, Curcumae longae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Bupleuri Radix, Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Puerariae Radix, Scutellariae Radix are present. 2. In vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Phytolaccae Radix, Ligustri Lucidi Fructus, Alismatis Rhizoma, Notoginseng Radix, Puerariae Radix, Ginseng Radix, Cyperi Rhizoma, Cistanchis Herba, Cynomorii Herba, Granati fructus, Astragali Radix, Rehmanniae Radix Crudus, Epimedii Herba, Polygalae Radix, Artemisiae Annuae Herba are present. 3. In vitro and in vivo experimental studies have shown that estrogen-like effects of the components extracted from Cirsii Herba, Dioscoreae Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Cynomorii Herba, Cinnamomi cortex, Drynariae Rhizoma, Psoraleae Semen, Schisandrae Fructus, Epimedii Herba, Astragali Radix are present. Conclusions: Future studies will require additional research on numerous herbal medicines used in clinical practice.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.1 s.26
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• pp.51-56
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• 1980

Phytolaccae Radix (PR), Brunella Herba (BH), Akebiae Lignum (AL) and Atractylis Rhizoma (AR) are some of the diuretic agents used in Chinese medicine and folk remedy. Water or methanol extracts of them (100mg/kg) were intravenously injected to rabbits in order to re-evaluate the effects on renal function. PR water extract elicited moderate diuresis while water extracts of BH, AL and methanol extract of AR had antidiuretic effects. Influence of PR on renal hemodynamics and $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in rabbit kidney were observed in vivo and in vitro. The results were as follows: 1) Clearances of inulin and p-aminohippuric acid increased significantly after 15 minutes following the administration of PR water extract, but Na+ reabsorption rate was not changed. 2) The increase of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal cortex, outer and inner medulla was observed at 15 minutes after PR water fraction was given intravenously, and the change was most prominent in cortical area. 3) More than 50% of decrease in $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity in renal tissues was observed with PR water fraction $(10^{-2}g/ml)$ in vitro experiments. However, the inhibition of $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity was reversed with lower concentrations $(10^{-4}g/ml,\;10^{-6}g/ml)$ of PR water fraction in outer and inner medullary zone. These results suggest the diuretic effect of PR is due to improved renal hemodynamics, and contradictory reults concerning $Na^+-K^+$-ATPase activity require further investigation.