• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.934-939
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• 2007

In recent year, We are concerned about anti-aging, disease-prevention, longevity, so many methods are used in solving this problem. And Those are related with antioxidative ability. Recently, We heard that Mori Cortex was known to reduce the hypertension and was helpful in promoting health, and Mori Ramulus was effective against obesity, etc. So, This study was performed to investigate the antioxidative effect of hot-water extracts of Mori Cortex and Mori Ramulus used for 3 methods, those are DPPH radical scavenging activity, Nitric oxide(NO) radical scavenging activity and Bovine serum albumin(BSA). And we compared Mori Cortex and Mori Ramulus on Antioxidative Effects. The results of this study were as follows: We measured levels of DPPH radical scavenging activity and Nitric oxide(NO) radical scavenging activity. And we obtained results that Mori Ramulus was most effective with the concentration of 5 $mg/m{\ell}$, and Mori Cortex was most effective with the concentration of 2.5 $mg/m{\ell}$, And we examined the antioxidative effects of Mori Ramulus and Mori Cortex with $CU^{2+}/H_20_2$-induced Bovine serum albumin(BSA). And we obtained that antioxidative ability was increased after 1.25 $mg/m{\ell}$ and that was most effective with the concentration of 5 $mg/m{\ell}$ on both of them. And antioxidative ability of Mori Cortex was better than Mori Ramulus(p<0.05). So I guess that hot-water extracts of Mori Ramulus and Mori Cortex have effects on antioxidative ability, but Mori Cortex is better than Mori Ramulus on antioxidation. Hereafter we need differential experimental methods of antioxidative effect on both of them.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.45-50
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• 1998

13 develop an active agent for skin whitening, we examined the inhibitory effects of 285 plant extracts on tyrosinase activity and found some plant extracts have an ability to inhibit tyrosinase activity. Of these plant extracts, ramulus mori extracts showed the highest inhibiting activity on enzyme activity. From these results, we selected ramulus mori as a new active agent for skin whitening. $IC_{50}$/ of this extracts on tyrosinase activity is 12.48$\mu\textrm{g}$/m1. Also, ramulus mori extracts showed inhibitory activity on melanin synthesis in B-16 melanoma cells. We isolated active compound from ramulus mori extracts using various column chromatography and recrystalization and identified its chemical structure using Mass spectroscopy, IR and NMR analysis. So, it is identified as Mulberrin, a maior compound of ramutus mori and turned out that it has potent ability on tyrosinase inhibition. $IC_{50}$/ of this compound for tyrosinase activity is 0.5$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml. Also, this compound showed potent inhibitory activity on melanin synthesis in B-16 melanoma cells. This extracts was turned out to be safe in many safety tests.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2019

The mulberry tree (Morus alba L.) has been traditionally used in Chinese medicine to treat inflammatory diseases. We investigated the effects of bioconversion on different components of the mulberry tree, and determined changes in the physiological activities. Ethyl acetate-soluble fractions of five different segments (fruit, Mori Fructus; leaf, Mori Folium; twig, Mori Ramulus; root, Mori Cortex; and mistletoe, Loranthi Ramulus) of the mulberry tree show enhanced anti-oxidant effects in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylvenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assays, and enhanced anti-inflammatory effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, after being treated with a crude enzyme extract from Aspergillus kawachii, in the following order of activity: Mori Folium>Mori Cortex>Mori Ramulus>Mori Fructus>Loranthi Ramulus. Ethyl acetate- soluble fraction of mulberry leaves (Mori Folium) that underwent bioconversion was most effective, and was devoid of any cytotoxicity. The fraction was also effective against mRNA expression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, $interleukin-1{\beta}$, and interleukin-6. In addition, the fraction was effective in LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and IKK, and $I{\kappa}B$ degradation, followed by translocation of the nuclear $factor-{\kappa}B$ from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Thus, bioconversion increased the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of the mulberry leaf.

• BMB Reports
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.232-237
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• 2016

Mulberry tree twigs (Ramulus mori) contain large amounts of oxyresveratrols and have traditionally been used as herbal medicines because of their anti-inflammatory properties. However, the signaling mechanism by which R. mori exerts its anti-inflammatory action remains to be elucidated. In this study, we observed that R. mori ethanol extracts (RME) exerted an inhibitory effect on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in Raw264.7 macrophage cells. Additionally, RME inhibited IL-6 production by blocking the leukotriene B₄ receptor-2 (BLT2)-dependent-NADPH oxidase 1 (NOX1)-reactive oxygen species (ROS) cascade, leading to anti-inflammatory activity. Finally, RME suppressed the production of the BLT2 ligands LTB4 and 12(S)-HETE by inhibiting the p38 kinase-cytosolic phospholipase A₂-5-/12-lipoxygenase cascade in LPS-stimulated Raw264.7 cells. Overall, our results suggest that RME inhibits the 'BLT2 ligand-BLT2'-linked autocrine inflammatory axis, and that this BLT2-linked cascade is one of the targets of the anti-inflammatory action of R. mori.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2014

Objective : This study was designed to investigate the anti-oxidative potentials to wide the usage of Morus alba L. derived from medicinal herbs on cosmoceutical fields. Methods : Anti-oxidative potentials were investigated by using several kinds of assays including electron donating ability, and the total contents of phenolic compounds were also measured. In some cases TLC (Thin Layer Chromatography) method were used to identify the patterns of phenolics in herbal extracts. Results : Aurones which are sub-types of flavonoids were observed in methanol extract of Mori Cortex Radidus, and total phenolic contents in Mori Cortex Radidus were more than in methanol extracts of Mori Folium and Mori Ramulus. Various kinds of phenolic compounds were observed in chloroform fraction of Mori Cortex Radidus. Conclusion : According to these results, the chloroform fraction of Mori Cortex Radidus could be the most possible resource that has potentials on anti-oxidant agents on cosmoceutical fields.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.568-572
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• 2001

To screen antioxidative and whitening effects of some medicinal plants, 70% ethanol extracts were tested for their electron donating abilities to DPPH ( ${\alpha}$, ${\alpha}$-diphenyl- ${\beta}$-picrylhydrazyl) and inhibitory activities against lipid peroxidation, and tyrosinase inhibition in vitro. The electron donating activities of 70% ethanol extracts at the concentration of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml were in the order of Forsythiae fructus > Polyporaceae > Glycyrrhizae radix > Schizandrae fructus > Ramulus mori > Carthami semen. The order was Forsythiae fructus > Carthami semen > Schizandrae fructus > Polyporaceae > Glycyrrhizae radix when tested at 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, indicating that the activities depend on the concentration. The electron donating activities of Forsythiae fructus and Carthami semen at the concentration of 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml were 37% and 31% respectively. Lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities were in the order of Artemisia messerschimidtiana > Glycyrrhizae uadix > Rehmaniae radix > Ramulus mori. Tyrosinase inhibitory activities were in the order of Ramulus mori > Artemisia messerschimidtiana > Oyster mushroom. The results suggest that Forsythiae fructus, Artemisia messerschimidtiana and Ramulus mori could be used as materials for anti-skin aging functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.1106-1115
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• 2009

Mori Ramulus has multiple applications in Korean traditional medicine prescription because it has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects by reducing macrophage activities. Yet, no studies on the anti-arthritic activity of EMR (extract of Mori Ramulus) have been reported in vitro and in vivo. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic autoimmune disease with chronic inflammation characterized by hyperplasia of synovial cells in affected joints, which ultimately leads to the destruction of cartilage and bone. Because collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) is similar to RA in pathological symptoms and immune reactions, there have been several reports concerning RA using CIA mouse model. Here, we investigated the effects of Mori Ramulus on RA using CIA mice. The importance of CD4+ Th1 cells in RA progress was previously indicated and studies further showed that Th17 cells play a prime role in severity of disease. Accordingly, the present study was focused on CIA associated with CD4+ Th1 cells and Th1 7 cells. DBA/1OlaHsd mice were immunized with bovine type II collagen (CII). After a second collagen immunization, mice were treated with EMR once a day for 4 weeks. The severity of arthritis within the paw joints was evaluated by histological assessment of cartilage destruction and pannus formation. Immune cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), draining lymph node (DLN) and paw joints, cytokine production and gene expression were assessed from CIA mouse using ELISA, FACS and real-time PCR analysis. Administration of EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and inhibited the production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6 and IL-17 in the serum. The erosion of cartilage was dramatically reduced in mouse knees after treatment with EMR. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that EMR significantly suppressed the progression of CIA and that this action was mediated by the decreased production of TNF-$\alpha$, IL-6, IL-17 and collagen II-specific antibody in the serum. EMR suppressed Th17 cells and reduced level of IL-6 via B cell suppression, and thus, the levels of autoantibodies produced from B cells were decreased. Furthermore, EMR suppressed NKT cells which directly stimulate B cells and develop imbalance of Th1/Th2 cell. Oral administration of EMR (100 mg/kg or 200 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the progression of CIA, which is comparable to that of methotrexate (MTX, 0.3 mg/kg) used as a positive control. We are currently studying the mechanism underlying the therapeutic role for EMR in CIA mice.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.130-137
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• 2017

The leaves (Mori Folium; MF), branches (Mori Ramulus; MR), and root bark (Mori Cortex Radicis; MCR) of the mulberry tree have been used as therapeutic herbs for centuries. Existing analytical methods were developed specifically for different parts of the tree and cannot be applied to samples containing a mixture of tree parts. Such method specialization is time-consuming and requires separate identification and quality control of each tree part. This report describes an HPLC method for the simultaneous quality control and discrimination of MF, MR, and MCR using four marker compounds: rutin, kuwanon G, oxyresveratrol, and morusin. An Optimapak $C_{18}$ column ($4.6{\times}250mm$, $5{\mu}m$) was used with a gradient elution of 0.1 % formic acid in water and acetonitrile. The flow rate was 1.0 mL/min and the detection wavelength was 270 nm. In quantitative analyses of the three parts, rutin (0.11 % w/w) was detected only in MF. The oxyresveratrol content (0.12 % w/w) was highest in MR. Kuwanon G (0.33 % w/w) and morusin (0.18 % w/w) were higher in MCR than in other parts. The HPLC method given herein can be used to simultaneously classify and quantify three herbal medicines from the mulberry tree.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.56-67
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• 2011

Objectives : Recent etiological studies show that oxidative stress might play a major role in the diabetes and its complications. Mori Ramulus (MR) has been known to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic effects. The methanol extract of MR was tested for its effectiveness in LLC-PK1 cells exposed to high glucose. Methods : The cytoprotective effect of MR was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The antioxidative effect was measured in terms of generation amount of ${\cdot}O_2^-$ by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA), NO by 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2), $ONOO^-$ by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR 123) in the high glucose -treated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. Western blotting was performed using anti-AGE, anti-RAGE, anti-MAPKs(ERK1/2, JNK, p38), anti-PI3K, anti-Akt, and anti-NF-${\kappa}$B (p50, p65) respectively. Results : MR extract reduced cell death and inhibited the generation of ${\cdot}O_2^-$, NO, $ONOO^-$ in the high glucose-treated LLC-$PK_1$ cells. MR inhibited the expression of AGE, RAGE, MAPKs, PI3K, and Akt by means of decreasing NF-${\kappa}$B activation. MR also inhibited NF-${\kappa}$B activation itself. Conclusions : These results indicate MR has cytoprotective, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore it is suggested that MR might prevent and cure diabetes and its complications.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.64-72
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• 2002

Objective: Ramulus mori (RM) has been known to be effective for the treatment of obesity. To show the effectiveness of RM in a more scientific way, RM extract was prepared and evaluated in high fat diet rats by measuring the changes of body weight and lipid metabolism as described briefly below. Methods: 200 g of crushed RM was extracted withmethyl alcohol. The extract was evaporated under reduced pressure to give 33.4 g. For 10 weeks, control group rats were fed a high fat diet, while the test group rats were fed with the same diet plus RM extract. The normal group was fed with a normal diet. 150 mg of RM extract per 1 kg of body weight was added to the diet in the test group rats. Results: The control group rats on the high fat diet gained weight significantly, whereas the test group rats on the high fat diet plus RM extract gamed less weight. The significant increase of liver weight caused by the high fat diet was also inhibited by the RM extract treatment. Total lipid, triglyceride and total cholesterol levels of serum in the high fat diet rats were remarkably increased, whereastheir levels on the high fat diet plus RM extract were less increased. While serum HDL-cholesterol levels were remarkably decreased in the high fat diet, its level was less decreased in the high fat diet plus RM extract. Furthermore, we observed that the activities of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase and fatty acid synthetase increased under the high fat diet, while their activities under the high fat diet plus RM extract were getting back nearly to the normal levels of the normal diet rats. Conclusions: These result show that the obesity caused by a high fat diet was effectively inhibited by an RM extract. Our results also showed that the abnormal lipid metabolism caused by a high fat diet was effectively cured by adding RM extract.