• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.53-62
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• 2007

Objective The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidative effects of Puerariae Radix extract. Method Total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Total antioxidant response (TAR), Total phenolic content, Reactive oxygen species (ROS), 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities, lipid peroxidation were examined. Result Total antioxidant status was examined by total antioxidant capacity(TAC) and total antioxidant response(TAR) against potent free radical reactions. TAC and TAR of Puerariae Radix extract at the concentration of 5 mg/ml were 2.02 and 1.50 mM Trolox equivalents, respectively. Total phenolic content of Puerariae Radix extract at the concentration of 5 mg/ml was 2.29 mM gallic acid equivalent. Concentration of Puerariae Radix extract at which DPPH radical scavenging activity was inhibited by 50% was 5.91 mg/ml as compared to 100% by pyrogallol solution as a reference. The inhibitory effect of the extract on lipid peroxidation was examined using rat liver mitochondria induced by FeSO4/ascorbic acid. Puerariae Radix extract at the concentration of 1 mg/ml slightly but significantly decreased TBARS concentration. The extract further prevented lipid peroxidation in a dose-dependent manner. The effect of Puerariae Radix extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was examined using cell-free system induced by hydrogen peroxide/FeSO4. Addition of 1 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix extract significantly reduced dichloroflurescein (DCF) fluorescence. The extract caused concentration-dependent attenuation of the increase in DCF fluorescence, indicating that the extract significantly prevented ROS generation in vitro. Thus antioxidant effects of Puerariae Radix extract seem to be due to, at least in part, the prevention from free radicals-induced oxidation, followed by inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Conclusion As a result, Puerariae Radix seems to have antioxitative effect and antioxidant compount.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.393-396
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• 2002

This study was carried out to evaluate the ostrogenic/antiandrogenic activity of Puerariae Radix in Sprague-Dawley rats. It has known that diverse phytoestrogen were included in some Puerariae Radix, especially in Pueraria mirifica. The Uterotrophic assay and Hershberger assay were performed to evaluate the ostogenic/antiandrogenic activity of various Puerariae Radix (Pueraria thunbergiana, Pueraria mirifica and Butea superba). In Uterotrophic assay, the extracts of Puerariae Radix were administered subcutaneously to immature female SD rats from 19 to 21 days of age. The wet uterus and vaginal weighs significantly increased in the group only treated with extracts of Pueraria mirifica. But, in Hersh-berger assay, all extracts of Puerariae Radix did not show any effects in the castrated rats. These results suggest that Pueraria mirifica has not undrogenic/antiandrogenic effect but potent estrogenic effect. It is possible that components of Pueraria mirifica may act as endocrine disruptor in human body.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Costume
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• v.55 no.8 s.99
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• pp.154-160
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• 2005

For the purpose of standardization and practicability of natural dyeing, the mordanting and dyeing properties of Puerariae Radix was studied. Appropriate extraction, dyeing and mordanting condition of Puerariae Radix were determined, and the effect of mordanting method on dye uptake and color fastness of dyed fabric was investigated. The maximum absorbance of Puerariae Radix solution was at 290nm and 301nm. The pH effect was stable in the color difference changes. The optimum temperature to extract Puerariae Radix was during 1 hour in loot. The effective dyeing temperature and time of silk were 80$\~$ 100$^{circ}C$, 1hour. The silk fabrics dyed with Puerariae Radix appeared yellow-brown. US value of dyeing fabrics was increased by Fe, and Cu mordant treatment. Mordanting treatment method affected color change of the dyed silk. In the case of Puerariae Radix light fastness of appeared more than 2-5 grades by mordant treatment. Perspiration fastness of appered more than 4 grades by Al, Sn, Cr mordant treatment. Fastness of abrasion and dry-cleaning appered more than 4-5 grades. These fastness improvement were generally effective for mordant treatment, specially Al, Sn, Cr.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.405-411
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• 2009

This study evaluated the effects of Puerariae Radix on the skeletal muscle atrophy, Muscle atrophy was induced by the sciatic nerve transection in Sprague-Dawley rats, then aqueous-extract of Puerariae Radix was administered for 12 days, Muscle wet weight was measured in soleus, plantaris, and medial gastrocnemius. Muscle fiber type was classified by MHCf immunohistochemistry. Muscle fiber type proportion and cross section area of muscle fiber also was observed in medial gastrocnemius. Bax and Bcl-2 expressions in medial gastrocnemius of the damaged hind limb were evaluated with immunohistochemistry. The results are as follows; Puerariae Radix attenuated muscle atrophy in soleus of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats, but there was statistic significance. Puerariae Radix attenuated significantly atrophy in plantaris at 12 days and in medial gastrocnemius at 8 days and 12 days. Puerariae Radix improved histology of the atrophic changes and increased significantly cross section areas of type-I and type-II muscle fibers in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats. Puerariae Radix did not affect to muscle fiber type proportion in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats. Puerariae Radix attenuated significantly Bax positive nuclei but did not affect to Bcl-2 positive muscle fibers in medial gastrocnemius of the sciatic nerve transectioned rats.According to above results, Puerariae Radix may have an anti-atrophy effect on the denervated skeletal muscle through anti-apoptotic effects on muscle fibers.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2005

Background & Objective : Angiogenesis consists of the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of endothelial cells, and angiogenic factors and matrix protein interactions modulate this process. The aim of this study was to determine whether Puerariae radix could induce angiogenic activity in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods: The angiogenic activity of Puerariae radix were evaluated by using BrdU assay, chemotactic migration assay, tube formation assay, measurement of bFGF in HUVECs, and Matrigel plug assay in mice. Results : Puerariae radix significantly increased HUVECs proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, Puerariae radix increased migration and tube-like formation in HUVECs. Interestingly,the expression of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), an angiogenesis-stimulating growth factor, was dose-dependently increased by Puerariae radix. The angiogenic activity of Puerariae radix was confirmed using an in vivo Matrigel angiogenesis model, showing promotion of blood vessel formation. Conclusion : Puerariae radix significantly induces angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that Puerariae radix is a potent angiogenic agent, and a promising drug, for the induction of neovascularization.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.647-655
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• 2005

This study demonstrated anti-oxidative and neuroprotective effects of Rhei Rhizoma. Anti-oxidative effects were studied on BV-2 microglia cells damaged by $H_2O_2$ and nitric oxide. Neuroprotective effects were studied by using oxygen/glucose deprivation of the organotypic hippocampal slice cultures. The results obtained are as follows; The groups treated with 0.5 and 5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant decreases of neuronal cell death area and cell death area percentages in CA1 region of ischemic damaged hippocampus cultures during whole 48 hours of the experiment. The group treated with 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated decreases of neuronal cell death area and cell death area percentages in CA1 region, but these were not significant statistically. The groups treated with 0.5 and 5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant decreases of neuronal cell death area and cell death area percentages in dentate gyrus of ischemic damaged hippocampus cultures during whole 48 hours of the experiment. The group treated with 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated decreases of neuronal cell death area and cell death area percentages in dentate gyrus, but these were not significant statistically. The groups treated with 0.5 and 5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant decreases of TUNEL-positive cells in both CA1 region and dentate gyrus of ischemic damaged hippocampus cultures. The group treated with 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated significant decrease of TUNEL-positive cells in CA1 region, but not in dentate gyrus of ischemic damaged hippocampus. The groups treated with 0.5 and 5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant decreases of LDH concentrations in culture media of ischemic damaged hippocampus cultures. The group treated with 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated decrease of LDH concentrations in culture media, but it was not significant statistically. The groups treated with 0.5 and 5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant increases of cell viabilities of BV-2 microglia cells damaged by $H_2O_2$. The group treated with 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated increase of cell viability of BV-2 microglia cells, but it was not significant statistically. The group treated with 0.5 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix revealed significant increase of cell viability of BV-2 microglia cells damaged by nitric oxide. The groups treated with 5 and 50 mg/ml of Puerariae Radix demonstrated increases of cell viabilities of BV-2 microglia cells, but these were not significant statistically. These results suggested that Puerariae Radix revealed neuroprotective effects through the control effect of apoptosis and oxidative damages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.167-171
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• 2004

This study investigated a HSP70 expression of Puerariae Radix in cerebral ischemia. The global cerebral ischemia was induced by bilateral common carotid arteries occlusion under hypotension (40 mmHg) in Sprague-Dawley rats. After the treatment of Puerariae Radix extract, the heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expressions were measured immunohistochemically. The upregulation of HSP70 expression in hippocampal regions resulted by cerebral ischemia. Then Puerariae Radix treatment demonstrated significant decrease of HSP70 expressions in CA1 region and dentate gyrus of the hippocampus as compared with control group. These results suggested that Puerariae Radix reveals the neuroprotective effect through the control of noxious stress stimulations to neurons.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.37 no.10
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• pp.872-880
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• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of Puerariae radix-ethanol extracts rich in isoflavone on the antio-xidative system of rats. For this purpose, first, Puerariae radix was extracted with ethanol, and its total isoflavone and puerarin contents were analysed. Second, female Sprague Dawley rats were fed for 6 weeks with four diets which were based on AIN96G diet and supplemented with Puerariae radix-ethanol extracts to contain isoflavone. The isoflavone contents of four experimental diets were 0 mg, 500 mg, 1,000 mg, 2,000 mg per kg diet, respectively (control, P0.05%,P0.1%, P0.2%). Liver and erythrocyte activities of antioxidative enzyme such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase,glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) were measured. Also, plasma and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, liver glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentrations were measured. The total isoflavone content of Puerariae radix-ethanol extract was 3067.6 mg per 100 g extract and the content of puerarin was 2557.4 mg per 100 g extract. The erythrocyte activities of GSH-Px and catalase were higher in group P0.1% and P0.2%. But SOD activity of erythocyte did not show any difference by the Puerariae radix-ethanol extract supplementation in diet. The activity of SOD in liver increased significantly by the supplementation of extract, showing highest level in P0.1% group. The liver GSH concentration increased significantly in group of P0.05%, P0.1%, and P0.2% compared with control group (p <0.05). The GSSG concentration in liver showed no difference by the supplementation of Puerariae radix extract from the control group, except P0.2% group. The plasma MDA concentration did not show any significant differences by the extract supplementation. But the liver MDA concentration decreased by the extract supplementation, showing the lowest level in P0.1 % diet group. These results suggest that the supplementation of Puerariae radix-ethanol extract can inhibit lipid peroxidation in liver and enhance the antioxidative defense competence of rats.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.19-36
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• 2003

Through investigation on prescriptions from Dongeuibogam with Radix Puerariae as an ingredient, the following conclusions were reached. The 59 prescriptions with Radix Puerariae as an ingredient are mentioned from chapter of Pediatrics to chapter of Intestinal Convulsions. And 85% of those appears from chapter of Pediatrics to chapter of coughs. Prescriptions with Radix Puerariae as the main ingredient are used for skin diseases, cold, epidemics, abscess, diabetes, stroke, feverish diseases, intestinal diseases, weakness and cough. The dosage of Radix Puerariae varies from 0.875g to 11.25g. 3.75g was the most frequently used dosage which accounts 44%. And those with small dosage of 0.875 to 1.125g were for use on infants or pregnant women. The grounding pathology used for prescriptions with Radix Puerariae as an ingredient appeared to be mostly the pathology related to the Six External Qi. Among this, wind with cold(風寒), wind, cold with heat and humidity(風寒署濕), catching cold(傷寒), successively catching cold(兩感傷寒), cold of the Yangmyung and heat clogging(陽明傷寒火鬱), abnormal weather(時令不正) are the majority. Through the prescriptions with Radix Puerariae as an ingredient, it could be concluded Radix Puerariae that has various functions such as sweating and removing rash(發表透疹), exhalation and curing muscular ache(發散解肌), producing body fluid and ceasing thirst(生津止渴), opening abscess and healing the scar(托瘡生肌), removal of fever(解熱), resolving hangover(醒酒). Seungmagalguntang(升麻葛根湯) is used as the base prescription the most, and various prescriptions and herbs are combined according to the case.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.79-90
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• 2009

Objectives & Methods : The purpose of this study is to observe the effects of Puerariae Radix Herbal-acupuncture at $GB_{34}$(Yangleungcheon) on hyperlipidemia in rats. The author made several items to compare body-weight of the rats, weight of its liver, serum, enzymes in liver as well as the histological changes in each group. Results : 1. In the Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture group, there was a significant improvement of the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, atherosclerosis index and phospholipid in serum as compared with the control group but there was no significant difference as compared with the NP or saline group. 2. There was a significant improvement of HMG-CoA reductase activity and catalase level in Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture group as compare with the control group, the NP group and the saline group. 3. The pathohistological changes of liver and aorta was suppressed in the Puerariae Radix herbalacupuncture group than the control group. Conclusions : From the above results, it is suggested that Puerariae Radix herbal-acupuncture at GB34 has a therapeutic effect on hyperlipidemia.