Earticle

This study was conducted to investigate the new candidates of natural preservatives, modified by based on the Korean medical prescription. We created 4 candidate extracts with different solvents. The crude water extract JBTP01 and JBTP02 showed weak antibacterial activities. Otherwise, 70% EtOH extract JBTP03 and MeOH extract JBTP04 showed wide antibacterial spectrum. Both were shown strong antibacterial activity to E. coli. JBTP03 was also effected bacteria C. albicans. Compared the antibacterial activities with methylparaben, commonly used syntetic antiseptic, and 3 natural preservatives in market. JBTP03 and JBTP04 showed similar modality of antibacterial activity spectrum. In other words, JBTP03 and JBTP04 had strong possibility to be new natural preservatives. Further study need to be done to use JBTP03 and JBTP04 for natural preservatives in cosmetics.

Propagation technology and evaluation of seed viability is a highly demanded technique in the production of Korean herbal medicine. To produce Raphanus seeds as the examples of Korean herbal medicine, seed germination improvement is very important. In this study, tetrazolium test was used because of rapid and simple method. After the selection of seed groups by the tetrazolium test, healthy seeds were A group and bad seeds were B group. The germination of seeds in A group were significantly different (alpha=0.05) from the germination of seeds in B group the given time. In addition, B seed group could not be cultured and propagated a long time because of tetrazolium chemical damage and had bad embryo physiologically. Also, nondestructive evaluation of viability for individual seeds as X-ray seed analysis or hyperspectral reflectance imaging system was required in future study. These seed analytical studies by tetrazolium test will be improved technology for reproductive medicinal herbs including Raphanus seeds.

The leaves of Perilla frutescens Britton var. japonica Hara were an annual and mint herb to have various potential functions. Phenolic components related to the antioxidant activity of multi-functions were analyzed for the quality control in P. frutescens leaves. Phenolic contents such as phenolic acid, cinnamic acid derivatives and flavonoids were shown from the methanol aqueous extracts using HPLC. The separation was performed on a reverse-phase C18 column using mobile phase composed of aqueous formic acid/acetonitrile mixtures at a flow rate of 0.5 mL·min-1. The detection was carried out on a DAD detector. This method was validated include selectivity, linearity, precision, accuracy, limit of detection and limit of quantitation.

This study aimed to point out interactions between grapefruit and antihypertensive agents by reviewing published journal articles. Eight electronic databases were searched to identify literatures. Clinical and experimental studies on grapefruit interaction with antihypertensive drugs were selected by two independent researchers. Data were extracted by synergism/inhibition, relevant substances and mechanisms, and adverse events. Furanocoumarins, cytochrome P450 inhibition were analyzed to check out grapefruit-drug interactions. Fifty nine studies on interactions between grapefruit and 16 drugs were analyzed. Evident interactions were reported among grapefruit and most calcium channel blockers or beta blockers. Reversible inhibition of bergamottin and 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin on cytochrome P450, P-glycoprotein, organic anion transporting polypeptide were mechanisms of interactions. Age-specific and genetic differences of clinical outcomes and adverse events were observed. Grapefruit interacts with antihypertensive agents and its results could induce negative clinical outcome. Furanocoumarins regulate drug absorption pathway that result citrus-drug interactions. Medical professionals should give information about food-drug interactions to their patients and caregivers.

To clearly analyze the pharmacological actions of Moutan Radicis Cortex (MRC), we carried out literature review. We selected major herbal books of Qin (秦), Han (漢), Tang (唐), Song (宋), Jin (金), Yuan (元), Ming (明) and Qing (淸) dynasty, and analyzed the efficacy and the main treatments. In Qin and Han Dynasty, MRC was used to disperse blood stasis without application of the deficiency (虛) and excess (實). In Tang-Song Dynasty, although the range of application was expanded but application of the deficiency (虛) and excess (實) was the same as previous dynasty. By the Jin-Yuan Dynasty, the deficiency and excess were applicated but its pharmacological actions was not cleary established. Widely recognized mechanism of MRC for removing pathogenic heat from the blood (凉血) and dispersing blood stasis (散瘀) nowadays was deeply discussed from the Ming Dynasty and established in the Qing Dynasty.

NCBI GenBank nucleotide database and BOLD system provide DNA barcode sequences and tools to identify the taxonomic origins based on the sequence similarity and/or identity of BLAST(Basic Local Alignment Search Tool) analysis. However, these database did not verified its reality of the taxonomic origins for DNA barcode sequences by the confirmation of voucher specimens. To verify the application of DNA barcode sequence for molecular authentication of herbal medicines, we analyzed the sequence length, identity, concensus sequence, alignment range, and species specific nucleotide by the comparison of intra- and inter-species similarity using GenBank rDNA-ITS, matk, rbcL, and psbA-trnH sequences of Scuellaria species. This study would be a helpful reference to plan a scheme for the molecular authentication of herbal medicine based on the comparison of gene bank DNA barcode sequences.

The CFDA (China Food and Drug Administration) notifications (2004-2014) were analyzed for check the status and trends on GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) of medicinal herbs in China. The 11.4 cases a year on average has been certified while the first 10 years. However, the certifications have increased rapidly at 2014. Among the medicinal herbs, Ginseng Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix, Corni Fructus, Notoginseng Radix and Isatidis Radix have ranked in order of total 66 herbs. On the other hand, among the certified areas, Sichuan was the most common in the provincial level administrative divisions of China, and followed by Yunnan, Henan, Gansu, Jilin and so on. And Mianyang (Sichuan) has had the most certifications in the prefectural levels. For further study, it will need to get additional informations such as the regional productions, and to be analyzed together.

The exact knowledge of herbal drugs is very important in the Korean traditional medicine because rate of herbal drug treatment reaches about 50%. Thus systematic learning and the various training courses in education on herbal drugs are essential element for the correct treatment. But learning and practice hours are not enough in the current education. In this paper, we proposed a design for information system which focused on herbal drug processing that can reinforce the current curriculum. First we have defined the direction of the information system through a trend analysis on the e-PBL(electronic problem based learning) system. In the next step, we constructed a database for the self study and virtual simulation with refer to various books on herbal drug processing. Some problem scenarios were illustrated using this database. Finally, we derived some functions which needed for e-Learning system design. This paper has limitations has limitations because further studies on user satisfaction and applicability in field are needed. Nevertheless, the design for virtual learning system of herbal drug processing is expected to assist clinicians in the future.