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I investigated the tropical and subtropical plants in the greenhouse of Kyoto Botanical Garden by family name. 356 species in 76 family of plants were investigated by taking photos. Among them, the most dominant family name is Bromeliaceae with 34 species. Other plants are like Cactaceae with 26 species, Araceae 23 species, Leguminosae 22 species, Acanthaceae 20 species. And there are others as well in the following order; Euphorbiaceae, Malvaceae, Apocynaceae, Xanthorrhoeaceae.

The standards of medicinal herbs are provided differently in each nations. So the dissimilarity of the standards should be verified for the standardization of medicinal herbs. The requirements of ‘tumeric rhizome’ were compared among the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP), the Japanese Pharmacopoeia (JP), Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (ChP), Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeia (THP), Hong Kong Chinese Materia Medica Standards (HCS) and the Pharmacopoeia of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DP). There were different requirements of tumeric rhizome among the pharmacopoeias, such as the origin, morphological description, identification, purity, ash content, and the assay. The differences of standards among northeast-asian countries should be investigated thoroughly in terms of efficacy and safety. This study would be a helpful reference for the revision of the regulation on herbal medicine.

Dipsaci Radix was described as the roots of Dipsacus asperoides in the Korean pharmacopoeia, namely Sok-dan. In Korea, a herbaceous plant species Dipsacus japonicus belong to the same genus also distributed. Unfortunately, due to the morphological similarity of the areal parts and dried root, the accurate identification of these two plant is very difficult depending on the morphological features. Therefore, we introduced the genetic tools to distinguish D. asperoides and D. japonicus at the species levels based on the nuclear ribosomal RNA gene (nrDNA) internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) region sequences. In comparison of ITS2 sequences using 7 and 2 samples of D. asperoides and D. japonicus, respectively, we identified seven distinct species-specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely marker nucleotides, enough to discriminate both two plant species. Furthermore, these two species were clearly classified into distinct two group depending on species in the phylogenetic analysis of 7 Dipsacus species. These results indicate that the sequence variability and species-specific nucleotide substitutions of ITS2 region are useful genetic marker for identifying authentic Dispsaci Radix.

In this study, we performed a network analysis between constituents and atherosclerosis target genes to predict the atherosclerotic effect of Yijin-tang using network pharmacological methodology. Yijin-tang have been used for treatment of circulatory system of blood in Korea and consist of five herbal medicines which is Pinellia ternata, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Zingiber officinale, Poria cocos, Citurs unshiu. Using the database, we searched compounds in herbal medicines, and related target gene. Total compounds and target genes related with atherosclerosis were twenty-seven and fifty-seven, respectively. The network comprised 1,391 nodes (four medicines, 27 compounds and 57 atherosclerotic targets) and 1,807 edges (compound-target gene interaction). Our results demonstrated that apigenin, β-sitosterol, capsaicin, and limonin were correlated as many target genes (≥ 10). The CASP3, CYP3A4, PTGS2, SRC, UGT1A1, and VEGFA genes have relevance to many compounds (≥5) and their related pathway may be manifested by various mechanisms of action through the regulation of major target genes related to atherosclerosis closely related to the components of Yijin- tang. Network pharmacology- based our results provide a powerful tool for exploring the mechanisms of action of Yijin-tang and novel bioactive compounds.

To elucidate the distribution of medicinal and evergreen broad leaved plants in Chonnam national university, on warm-temperate zone, we surveyed the campus in three times during september 2017. In the present study, a total of 24 medical plants were found, and a total of 16 evergreen broad leaved plants were found. Among the medical plants, the most number of plants (17 species) were included in Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China (ChP). Six and nine plant species were included in the Korean Pharmacopoeia (KP) and the Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP), respectively.

Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex (Rhus verniciflua Stokes Bark) as Anacardiaceae family plant doesn't have the standards on chemical characteristics in “Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia” . Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex were not recorded on Chinese Pharmacopoeia and Japanese Pharmacopoeia as the medicinal herbs. To suggest the new standard on the quality control, we monitored domestic Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex according to the standard operating procedures for herbal drugs. Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex were studied on purity(%), heavy metals, loss on drying(%), total ash, acid-insoluble ash (%) and extract contents(%) and compared to each other. Also, Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex were profiled and compared on chemical patterns using HPLC. These results would be references of the suggestion for the quality control of Rhois Vernicifluae Cortex in Korea.

As part of effects to discover phytochemicals with melanin biosynthesis inhibitory activity, we screened emodin isolated from Polygonum multiflorum as a melanin biosynthesis inhibitor. Emodin dose-dependently inhibited the level of melanin biosynthesis in B16 melanoma cells, with little cytotoxicity at the effective concentrations. Decreased melanin content was accompanied by reduced tyrosinase synthesis. Emodin also downregulated the activation of microphthalmia- associated transcription factor (MITF), a master transcriptional regulator of key melanogenic enzymes. Comprehensively, emodin inhibited forskolin-induced tyrosinase synthesis, suggesting an action on the MITF- dependent melanogenic pathway. These results suggest that emodin might act as effective depigmenting agents.