Earticle

The various database management system has been developed for storing, processing, and retrieving taxonomic data. In this paper, we present an order-family code, which is decimals, an 11-digit number. The order-family code contains phylogenetic relationships between each order and family and to help their database establishing effectively. To present the family name with code, we can intuitively know the systematic relationship and relative distance of a particular group. Moreover, this code could be applied in various ways for databases such as add a family code field, visualization of cladograms, etc. Thus, this suggested code presents new perspectives for future work on the effective establishing and managing of the biological database.

Gardeniae Fructus (GF) is a traditional herbal medicine listed in “The Korean Pharmacopoeia” and has been used for jaundice, liver disease, and anti-inflammatory. The propose of this study is to establish basic data for setting the shelf life of GF. The content of geniposide, a major compound of GF, was investigated by the packaging method (general, general + silica gel, vacuum, vacuum + silica gel, nitrogen, and nitrogen + silica gel) and storage period (60 months) using high-performance liquid chromatography. As a result, the content of geniposide was initially detected as 4.40%, and then 3.85-5.86% in all packaging methods for 60 months. This result can be used as basic data for quality control and shelf life of GF.

Arisaematis Rhizoma Preparata cum Bovis Fel (牛膽南星, U-dam-nam-seong, ARPBF) is a drug used for the purpose of resolving phlegm in a child's infantile convulsion, by infiltrating Arisaematis Rhizoma (天南星, Cheon-nam-seong), a rhizome of Arisaema amurense Maximowicz (Araceae), in Bovis Fel (膽汁, Dam-jeup) — the bile of Bos taurus domesticus Gmelin (Bovidae) — and drying it in the wind and shade. The purpose of this study is to examine the origin and processing method of ARPBF recorded in literature and to review its effects. The use of Arisaematis Rhizoma as a phlegm-resolving medicine began after the Song Dynasty. Subsequently, various processing methods of Arisaematis Rhizoma were developed and used to manufacture ARPBF. The period when ARPBF was used was the 11th century North Song Dynasty. ARPBF reduces adverse effects by alleviating the drying effect of Arisaematis Rhizoma, clearing the heat-dispelling phlegm, and calming the liver to extinguish wind. However, the processing time of ARPBF tended to increase from 100 days to years over time. Therefore, it is necessary to study the standard processing method in the future, as there is little basis for the regulation that mammalian bile other than Bovis Fel can be used in the pharmacopoeia of the processing method in other countries.

Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (FTB) contains alkaloids such as peimisine and peimine, and has traditionally been used to regulate airway inflammation and for antitussive and expectorant applications. According to a recent study, FTB extract has anti-H1N1 virus and anti-oxidant effect and suppresses breast cancer. Despite such diverse efficacy, there is still insufficient research on the specific mechanism of action of the FTB active ingredient for specific diseases. In this study, we confirmed the mechanism of breast cancer suppression of FTB main active ingredient through system pharmacological analysis. We secured 17 potential active compounds of FTB through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) Database and Analysis Platform and screened six active compounds that match the set ADME-related pharmacokinetic parameters. We have identified the information of 62 genes reacting to compounds through the UniProt database and secured 86 biological processes related to the collected genes with David 6.8 Gene Functional Classification Tool. We confirmed multiple interactions of compound-target and process-target through network construction. According to the results of pathway network analysis, FTB targeting genes, BAX, ESR1, ESR2, GSK3B, JUN, NCOA1, and PGR were found in the breast cancer signaling pathway and were involved in the regulation of cancer cell growth in the pathway. Network-level analysis, including the TCMSP database, which describes the pharmacokinetic profile of active ingredients and drug-target-disease associations, enables a breakthrough in silico access to therapeutic candidates. This not only adds accuracy to the selection of research materials but also saves time and money. The secured data will lead to experimental evidence for the effects of FTB extract and each active ingredient and will be presented as a scientific basis for future breast cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

Baekdudaegan on the Korean Peninsula is a key ecological axis in Northeast Asia that is linked to the Sihote-Alin of Russia and the Lesser Khingan Range of China. In particular, the Baekdudaegan region occupies an important geographical location where a large number of subarctic plants grow as the southernmost limit line of northern lineage plants. However, the definition of the northern lineage plants is ambiguous, and there is a limit to establishing a conservation strategy that encompasses the Northeast Asian ecological zone. Therefore, in this study, the term “northern lineage plants” of the Korean Peninsula was defined, and a list of plant species according to it was prepared. We propose the term “northern lineage plants” as plants that the southernmost limit of geographic distribution is the Korean Peninsula. The northern lineage plants were found that 616 species of 91 families. The most dominant family was Cyperaceae with 68 species, followed by Asteraceae (Compositae) with 58 species, Ranunculaceae with 41 species, and Rosaceae with 39 species.

As a part of a comparative study of the chemical components of A. reflexa roots by two cultivation types, Namganghwal and Bukganghwal, which are the same taxonomic origin but are classified according to their cultivation method and ecological type, seven samples of Namganghwal and six samples of Bukganghwal, currently distributed in Korea, were collected and their chemical components were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detector (HPLC-PDA). Through this study, a total of ten major peaks were detected, and eight of them were identified as chlorogenic acid (1), ferulic acid (4), oxypeucedanin hydrate (5), bisabolangelone (6), oxypeucedanin (7), imperatorin (8), osthole (9), and isoimperatorin (10), respectively. Based on these analyses, as a result of comparing the component patterns of Namganghwal and Bukganghwal, the major component patterns of the two groups showed significant differences. In particular, oxypeucedanin (7), imperatorin (8), and isoimperatorin (10) were detected with higher levels in Namganghwal samples, and ferulic acid (4) was detected with higher levels in Bukganghwal samples. In this study, we report the analysis method of chemical components of A. reflexa roots, identification of the components, and comparative analysis of the component patterns of two types of A. reflexa roots, Namganghwal and Bukganghwal.

This study aimed to compare and analyze the procedures to specify the research topic in Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). We investigated the topic selection process in previous PBRNs, and two PBRNs—Academy of Family Physicians National Research Network and The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network—were selected. In both PBRNs, there were common procedures for collecting practitioners' opinions, and it was analyzed whether it is an interesting topic for PBRN members, and feasible and applicable in daily clinical practice. Based on the analysis of the comparison of the PBRN study selection process, we can develop our own Korean Medicine PBRN with high participation from Korean Medicine Doctors.

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the common form of lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause severe fatigue and joint pain. Skin problems are common symptoms in SLE. Here, we describe a patient who presented with SLE to illustrate the potential efficacy of Bee Venom (BV) pharmacopucn(nc)ture. A 44-year-old female presented at the clinic with symptoms of rash and itchiness on both legs. The patient was diagnosed with SLE on the Antinuclear antibodies, complement tests, and the symptoms. The patient underwent ten months of treatments of BV and herbal medicines. After treatment, the lesions were completely improved without any adverse effects and did not recur at 3 years of follow-up. These outcomes suggest that BV may be effective for the resolution of SLE; however, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

This study compares and analyzes the difference in components between the two types of Scutellaria baicalensis roots according to morphological discrimination. The roots of S. baicalensis are divided into two types, Jo-geum and Go-geum, according to the harvest time and shape, and these have been used for different therapeutic purposes. But currently, comparative studies on the chemical constituents and efficacy of them are insufficient. In this study, a total of 14 samples of S. baicalensis roots, distributed in Korea, were collected and divided into two types (Jo-geum and Go-geum) through morphological discrimination. Their main four components, baicalin (1), wogonoside (2), baicalein (3), and wogonin (4), were identified and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector. As a result, the signal of wogonin (4) showed a significant difference between the two types. A relatively higher level of signals was detected in the Go-geum samples regardless of the origin. In addition, these component patterns were consistent with the morphological discrimination results.

Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum has long been used to treat for dissipating blood stasis, regulating blood flow, and relieving pain as traditional herbal medicine. In this study, the extracts of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum and nerolidol, a major volatile oil of Dalbergia odorifera, were evaluated for antibacterial activity against four common oral bacteria. Hot-water extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum (DOW), 70% ethanol extract of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum (DOE), and nerolidol were tested for the growth inhibition against Enterococcus faecalis, Actinomyces viscosus, Streptococcus mutans, and Streptococcus sanguis by broth microdilution assay in brain heart infusion (BHI)-broth and by dot-blot assay in BHI-agar, used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), respectively. The activity of Glucosyltransferase (GTase) from S. mutans was determined with glucan formation. To confirm the safety of Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, DOW was tested the acute toxicity by administering orally to ICR mice. In the present study, DOW, DOE, and nerolidol showed significant antibacterial activities at high concentrations against the four types of pathogenic oral bacteria, especially showed strong antibacterial activities at S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, DOW and DOE decreased the synthesis of water-insoluble glucans by inhibiting the GTase activity, while nerolidol did not work. Further, DOW determined the LD50 values over 5,000 mg/kg in mice and proved DOW’s safety. These results suggest that Dalbergiae Odoriferae Lignum, including DOW and DOE, and nerolidol proven antibacterial activities may be useful for treating dental diseases.

Ginger (Zingiber officinale Rosc.) has widely used for the digestive in Korea and is the most popular food spices with a uniquely pungent flavor. Many compounds have been isolated in ginger, such as gingerols, steroids, monoterpenoids, etc. Many studies have reported the bioactivity of ginger extracts and active compounds in ginger such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and effect on the cardiovascular systems. However, the pharmacological effects of ginger between multiple-compounds and multiple-target were not reported yet. So, we confirmed the holistic pharmacological effect of ginger using a network pharmacology approach. We screened through six compounds (6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, dihydrocapsaicin, poriferastan-3β-ol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol) with ADME screening in the TCMSP database and searched 55 genes linked to six active compounds using the STITCH database. The core potential target genes were TP53, BCL2, MAPK8, HSP90AA1, and CYP7AA1. And Functional analysis of target genes was performed through Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway databases; 64 pathways were searched. Among them, pathways related to infectious disease were found the most. Therefore, this study was demonstrated the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway characteristics of ginger, which were able to predict various efficacy properties for ginger compounds.