• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2021

Objectives: We investigated the effects of Clean-DM4 (C-DM4), a polyherbal extract consisting of Coptidis Rhizoma, Salviae Miltiorrhiza Radix, and Cinnamomi Cortex on high fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and diabetes in mice. Methods: The C57BL/6 mice (6 weeks) were fed a HFD for 8 weeks and then administrated with C-DM4 extract at 500 mg/kg (p.o.) once daily for 4 weeks. The changes of body weights, calorie intakes, and fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were measured in mice. The serum levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured in mice by enzyme-based assay. It was also observed the histological changes of pancreas, liver, and fat tissues with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results: The increase of calorie intakes and FBG levels in HFD-induced obesity mice was significantly decreased by oral administration of C-DM4 extract. C-DM4 extract administration was significantly reduced the increased levels of glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, AST, and ALT in obesity mice. In addition, C-DM4 extract inhibited lipid droplet accumulation in liver tissues of obesity mice, hyperplasia of pancreatic islets, and enlargement of adipocytes in adipose tissues. Conclusions: Our study indicates that C-DM4 extract could help improve obesity and to prevent diabetes progression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1449-1459
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• 2009

Coptidis rhizoma (huanglian) is an herb that is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine that has recently been shown to possess anticancer activity. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of this herb is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of a combination of CR extract and arsenic trioxide, as well as the apoptotic pathway associated with its mechanism of action in human lung cancer H157 cells. Combined treatment of H157 cells with CR extract and arsenic trioxide resulted in significant apoptotic death. In addition, combined treatment with CR extract and arsenic trioxide acted in concert to induce a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}$), the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and an increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic p53 and Bax protein, which resulted in activation of caspases and apoptosis. CR extract combined with arsenic trioxide also increased the lipid peroxidation, mRNA expression of DR4 and DR5 and caspase-8 activity. These data indicate that combined treatment with CR extract and arsenic trioxide enhanced apoptotic cell death in H157 cells through diverse pathways, including mitochondrial dysfunction and death receptors, particularly DR4 and DR5. Thus, this treatment may be an effective from of chemotherapy.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.748-756
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• 2015

The report explores the possibility that the single extract of natural substances and the mixture of single extracts of natural substances create a synergy effect to increase the antimicrobial activity. It also compares the previous researches to find out if the natural medicinal herbs’ extract has antimicrobial activity on dandruff causative organism, Malassezia furfur. For the experiment on the mixture of single extracts of natural substances, the results are like following: 1. Staphylococcus aures’s antibacterial activity is resistant to mixture of three natural substances. 2. Escherichia coil’s antibacterial activity is resistant to mixture with Coptidis rhizoma. 3. Candida albicans’ antifungal activity is resistant to mixture with Chinese galls, which means the different results may be expected when tested with each germ. 4. On the other hand, Malassezia furfur has no antifungal activity on the single extract of natural substances and shows weak antifungal activity, whose diameter is 3.20 mm when tested with the mixture of 50% of Coptidis rhizoma and 50% of Phytoncide. The result is totally different from the one on the same eumycetes, C. albicans. That is because M. furfur has more lipophilic chemicaled cell walls than C. albicans does and it also consists of lamella layer, inner plasma membrane and intermediate multiple layers.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.797-801
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• 1997

Recently we reported that water extracts of Coptidis Rhizomas showed calcium antagonistic action and alpha-adrenoceptor inhibitory action in the vascular smooth muscle. Since ca lcium antagonistic properties are important in the treatment of various diseases including asthma. In the present study, the bronchodilatory effects of crude extract of three kinds of Coptidis Rhizoma (Coptidis chinensis, Coptis japonica and root hair of Coptis japonica) was investigated using rat isolated trachea. The result showed that all extracts relaxed carbachol-contracted tracheal smooth muscle. Concentration-dependently, in which the root hair of Coptis japonica was the least potent. The inhibitory potency expressed in terms of $IC_{50}$ against carbachol contraction was 1.8${\mu}$g/ml and 2.7${\mu}$g/ml for Coptidis chinensis and Coptis japonica, respectively. These extracts also inhibited KCI-contracted tracheal smooth muscle. But the relative potency ($IC_{50}$) was 3.5 and 4.1 folds weaker than carbachol-induced contraction for Coptidics chinenesis and Coptis japonica, respectively. Pretreatment of crude extracts also inhibited carbachol- or KCI-induced contraction, non-competitively. These findings indicate that the extracts have muscarinic blocking as well as $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocking action. When provoked intracellular stored $Ca^{2+}$ release by carbachol in $Ca^{2+}$-free conditions, initial phasic contraction due to $Ca^{2+}$ release was significantly inhibited by the extracts. As taken together, we conclude that water extracts of Coptidis Rhizoma may be beneficial in bronchospasm or other broncheal tube narrowing conditions such as asthma.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.159-165
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• 2003

Objectives : Coptidis rhizoma (CR) is an oriental medicine that has been used in many traditional prescriptions against diabetes mellitus in Korea for centuries. Our purpose was to determine the protective effect and its action mechanism of CR on the cytotoxicity of pancreatic -cell line (RINm5F cell). Methods : In this experiment, we used methods such as MTT assay for detection of cytotoxicity, DNA fragmentation assay for detection of apoptotic cell death, LDH activity assay for detection of necrotic cell death, and measurement of $DiOC_{6}$ (3) retention for detection of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Background : Nitric oxide (NO) is believed to playa key role in the process of pancreatic -cell destruction leading to insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Results : Exposure of RINm5F cells to chemical NO donor such as S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) induced cytotoxic events such as DNA fragmentation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release into medium. However, pretreatment of RINm5F cells with CR extract ($10~50{\mu\textrm{g}}/ml$) for 3 hours prevented SNAP-induced DNA fragmentation and LDH release into medium through the inhibition of MMP disruption. Conclusions : These results suggest that CR may be a candidate for a therapeutic or preventing agent against IDDM.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.35-42
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study was to investigate whether the extract of Coptidis Rhizoma inhibits inflammation in chronic cold stress (CCS)-exposed mice or not. Methods : Coptidis Rhizoma extract (CRE) was made by reflux with distilled water. Male ICR mice (7 weeks old) were divided randomly into 5 groups: (1) control, (2) CCS, (3) CCS+CRE 100 mg/kg, (4) CCS+CRE 300 mg/kg, (5) CCS+CRE 1,000 mg/kg groups. Mice were orally administered once a day for 14 days starting from 1 day before CCS. Group (2)-(5) were exposed to CCS conditions that maintained at $4^{\circ}C$ for 2 h once a day for 14 days. The levels of serum cortisol and hypothalamic prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and PGE2 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. The expression levels of several pro-inflammatory factors like heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), c-fos, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) were measured by western blot analysis in mouse hypothalamus. Results : Oral administration of CRE 1,000 mg/kg significantly suppressed the increase of serum cortisol levels in mice exposed to CCS. CCS-exposed mice had significantly increased the expression of HSP70, c-fos, and NF-kB in hypothalamus, while CRE treatment significantly attenuated the elevation of these pro-inflammatory factors. The ratio of PGE2/PGE1 was also higher in CCS-exposed mice than control group. CRE treatment significantly reduced the increase of PGE2/PGE1 ratio induced by CCS. Conclusion : These findings suggest that Coptidis Rhizoma may work as a potential agent to modulate inflammatory responses under the condition of cold adaptation formed by CCS.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2009

Anticandidial activity of seven herbal extracts, Taraxacum Platycarpum, Houttuyniae Herba, Lonicerae Flos, Anemarrhena Rhizome, Forsythia Fruit, Paeoniae Ratix, and Coptidis Rhizoma, were determined against five different Candida sp. by agar diffusion assay. The concentration of total phenolic compounds of seven herbal extracts ranged from 0.6 to $2.5{\mu}g/mg$. The total antioxidant activities showed that Taraxacum Platycarpum and Houttuyniae Herba were 60% in 80% ethanol extract and Lonicera Flower and Paeoniae Ratix were 70, 75%, respectively, in 100% ethanol extract. Coptidis Rhizoma extract showed antifungal activity against non-Candida albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. The MIC values of a compound separated in TLC from Coptidis Rhizoma extract were 24, and $48{\mu}g/mL$ against C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. The above compound showed the same retention time with berberin in HPLC analysis.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.81-89
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to observe the effect of Coptidis Rhizoma (CCE-extract of C. chinensis Rhizome) in induction of immune protein on mouse macrophages. Methods : To analyze cytokines interleukin(IL)-$1{\alpha}$, IL-3, IL-9, IL-12p40, IL-13, IL-17, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein(MCP)-1 induced by macrophages, mouse macrophages were incubated with CCE and was measured. Results : IL-$1{\alpha}$ measurement, CCE showed significant inhibition only at concentration level of 200 ${\mu}g/mL$. IL-3, MCP-1 measurement, CCE showed significant inhibition only at concentration level of 100, 200 ${\mu}g/mL$. IL-9 measurement, CCE showed significant inhibition only at concentration level of 50 ${\mu}g/mL$. IL-13 measurement, CCE showed significant inhibition only at concentration level of 50, 100, 200 ${\mu}g/mL$. The IL-12p40, IL-17 levels indicated no changes at 25, 50, 100, 200 ${\mu}g/mL$ on mouse macrophages. Conclusions : CCE did not significantly increased inflammatory cytokines IL-$1{\alpha}$, IL-3, IL-9, IL-12p40, IL-13, IL-17, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein(MCP)-1 on mouse macrophages. It was verified CCE does not trigger cytokine related hypersensitivity reaction of organism or exacerbation of acute/chronic inflammatory disease.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.350-353
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• 2001

Porcine pneumonia is caused by Pasturella multiocida and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. To identify a potent drug for antipneumonia therapy, several herbal compounds showing antibacterial effects were screened, and it was found that a methanol extract of Coptidis rhizoma root stem exhibited activity against both pneumonia-causing bacteria. Using an activity-guided fragmentation procedure, an isoquinoline alkaloid was isolated which would be responsible for the antibacterial activities against P. multocida and A. pleuropneumoniae.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.55-62
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• 1992

In order to measure the bioavailability of Coptidis Rhizoma preparations, berberine was extracted by the mixture (1:1 v/v) of methanol and water from Coptidis Rhizoma and formulated into pills with some excipients. Disintegration time, dissolution rate, intestinal absorption rate, antibacterial effect, and serum concentration were measured. All pills were disintegrated about 60 minutes in gastric and intestinal juices and disintegration time did not change upon storage at $40^{\circ}C$ for 30 days. The pills manufactured using the extract which was extracted with the solvent containing dilute sulfuric acid showed faster dissolution and absorption from the small intestine than the other samples. It also showed not only the largest area under the serum concentration time curve and relative bioavailability, but also more potent antibacterial effect against gram-positive and gram-negative bacterias than the other samples. The correlation of the dissolution rate with absorption rate constant or $t_{max}$ showed a significant linear relationship.