• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2000

'Ha Go Cho (夏枯草)' is one of the Chinese crude drugs used mainly as a diuretic. With regard to the botanical origin of 'Ha Go Cho', it was reported by Su et al. that those from China were originated from the fruited spica of Prunella vulgaris L. of Labiatae. It was, however, for the herba or spica of Prunella vulgaris L. var. lilacina Nakai from Korea. According to survey of markets in Korea, most of the materials collected in the markets seemed to be originated from Prunella plant, while some seemed to be Thesium plant of Santalaceae. To clarify the botanical origin of 'Ha Go Cho', the anatomical characteristics of Prunella vulgaris L. var. lilacina Nakai and Thesium chinense Turcz. were studied. As a result, it was clarified that some 'Ha Go Cho' from Korea were the herba or spica of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, whereas some others were the herba of Thesium chinense.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.201-219
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• 2007

Objectives : We studied Effects of Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.), Gamgook(chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Galgeun(pueraria Radix) aqua-acupuncture on the hyperlipidemic rat. methods : We investigated lowering lipid effect, oxidative capacity, concentration of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, Leptin and histological consideration in hyperlipidemic rat. Forty male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 400g were divided into 5 groups of control, Ⅰ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Gokji aqua-acupuncture, Ⅱ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Gamgook (chrysanthemum indicum L.) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture, Ⅲ: Hagocho(prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix)and Gokji aqua-acupuncture and Ⅳ: Hagocho (prunella vulgaris L.)+Galgeun(pueraria Radix) and Joksamri aqua-acupuncture. Results : Contents of plasma ${\beta}$-lipoprotein, contents of IL-6, TNF-${\alpha}$ and leptin, Plasma triglyceride and glucose, plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol, liver total cholesterol, liver triglyceride, plasma and liver TBARS, free fatty acids showed a tendency to decrease in the aqua-acupuncture groups compared to those of control group. The activities of GOT and GPT showed no significantly different in all treatment groups. Values of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and catalase activity showed a tendency to increase in the aqua-acupuncture groups. Histological consideration of heart, kidney and liver in the aqua-acupuncture groups showed slight vasodilation and fat accumulation compared to those of normal rat. Conclusions : These results indicated that prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix aqua-acupuncture at gokji(LI11) and Joksamri(ST36) suppressed adipose tissue mass and lipid peroxidation and increased antioxidant system in hyperlipidemic rat.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

In this study, the potential anti-aging properties of Prunella vulgaris extract were investigated. According to our results, Prunella vulgaris extract increased collagen synthesis(74.7% at 250 ${\mu}g/mL$) and decreased on MMP-1 synthesis(90.2% at 200 ${\mu}g/mL$) and elastase activity(43.7% at 2.0%). Furthermore, it also showed free radical scavenging activity(76.9% at 2.0%) and reduced $H_2O_2$-induced cytoxicity(49.9% at 2.0%). A double-blind clinical study to investigate the effect of Prunella vulgaris extract on the skin's surface was conducted with 22 healthy volunteers, aged 34 to 48 years. The volunteers applied a cream formula with 4.0% of Prunella vulgaris extract, or placebo cream, on each crow's feet twice a day for 12 weeks. Skin wrinkles were evaluated with the naked eye and instrumental image analysis of silicone replicas, followed by statistical analysis. Twelve weeks after application of cream formula with 4.0% of Prunella vulgaris extract, we found significant improvement of facial wrinkle. Moreover, silicone replica analysis confirmed notable improvement in average of R2 and R3 at 12 weeks(p<0.05). These results demonstrate that Prunella vulgaris provides a remarkable and significant tensor and anti-wrinkle effect on the skin, which could be of great use in anti-aging skin care products.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2007

Effects of prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix on plasma lipid composition and histological consideration were investigated in hyperlipidemic rats. Concentration of plasma ${\beta},-lipoprotein$ showed a tendence to decrease in prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix treatment groups. However these values were showed not significantly different from control group. Concentration of plasma FFA in prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix treatment groups showed a lower values compared to control group and concentration of plasma FFA of prunella vulgaris L. and pueraria Radix treatment group showed a lower values than prunella vulgaris L. and chrysanthemum indicum L. treatment group. Concentration of plasma glucose and triglyceride showed a tendence to decrease in prunella vulgaris L., chrysanthemum indicum L. and pueraria Radix treatment groups. However plasma glucose values showed not significantly different from control group. Plasma total cholesterol concentration showed a low and HDL-cholesterol concentration showed a high in prunella vulgaris L. and pueraria Radix treatment group. However LDL-cholesterol concentrations were not significantly different in treatment groups. Histological consideration of heart, liver and kidney in prunella vulgaris L. and pueraria Radix treatment groups showed a good features in fat accumulation condition than those of other treatment groups. However in the condition of high fat accumulation in tissues, heart, liver and kidney were showed a slight congestion and a bashed cell nucleus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.163-168
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• 2010

Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai, P. vulgaris var. aleutica Fernald, and P. vulgaris var. albiflora Nakai have been reported as infrageneric taxa of Prunella L. in Korea. I found many samples of P. pinnatifida Pers. in the previously collected herbarium sheets in several major herbaria in Korea and confirmed its distribution again in Jaeun Island, Chonnam Province with the information from those herbarium sheets. P. pinnatifida Pers. has deeply lobed leaves in contrast to entire or barely dentate leaves of P. vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai, P. vulgaris var. aleutica Fernald, and P. vulgaris var. albiflora Nakai. I first report the distribution of this taxon in Korea and give it the Korean name Gal-re-kkul-pul. I provide description, illustrations, and an infrageneric key to identification of the other taxa of Prunella in Korea, and discuss some taxonomic problems of this taxon.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.126-130
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• 2008

Water extract from Prunella vulgaris L. (PVW) was tested for colon cancer chemopreventive activity by measuring the activities of cytochrome P450 1A1, phase Ⅱ detoxification enzyme [quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) and glutathione (GSH) levels in cultured human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. PVW significantly inhibited 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced cytochrome P450 1A1 activity at 10 and 50 ${\mu}g/ml$. PVW induced QR activity in a dose-dependent manner over a concentration range of $1{\sim}50\;{\mu}g/ml$. GST activity was also induced with the treatment of PVW in HT-29 cells. In addition GSH levels were increased with PVW. PVW inhibited ODC activity, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor promotion. These results suggest that Prunella vulgaris L. has colon cancer chemopreventive activity by inhibiting cytochrome P450 1A1 and ODC activities and by increasing phase Ⅱ enzyme activity and GSH levels.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.35 no.2 s.137
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• pp.147-151
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• 2004

Water extracts from Thesium chinense Tunczaninov (TCTW) and Prunella vulgaris L. (PVW) were tested for aromatase and cyclooxygenase activities. TCTW and PVW were capable of suppressing aromatase in a human placenta microsomal assay. PVW was shown to be more effective than TCTW in the suppression of aromatase activity. TCTW significantly inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity at the concentration of 0.25 (p<0.05), 0.5 (p<0.01) and 2.5 mg/ml (p<0.005). PVW also inhibited COX-2 activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of $0.05{\sim}2.5\;mg/ml$. The expression of COX-2 was inhibitied by TCTW and PVW in western blot analysis. These results suggest that TCTW and PVW may have breast cancer chemopreventive potentials by inhibiting aromatase and cyclooxygenase activities.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.234-241
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• 2013

The phenolic compounds of water extracts from Prunella vulgaris were highest at 9.25 mg/g, respectively, when various extraction solvents were used. The optimum condition for extracting phenolic compounds from Prunella vulgaris was extraction in water for 18hr. The DPPH-scavenging activities of Prunella vulgaris were highest at the water extracts. The ABTS radical cation decolorization was higher than 40% in the range of 0~100% ethanol extract section. The antioxidant protection factor on the lipophilic phenolic metabolites was shown to be 1.1 PF in the water extracts from Prunella vulgaris. The TBARS was lower than the control ($0.53{\mu}M$) in all the sections. The tyrosinase inhibitory effect, which is related to skin whitening, was above 40%, and for the anti-wrinkle effect, the elastase inhibition activity was above 40% at 0.2 mg/mL. The astringent effect of the Prunella vulgaris 40% ethanol extracts was 98.1% at 1 mg/mL. As a result, it can be concluded that Prunella vulgaris has the potential to be used as a cosmetic material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.10
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• pp.1422-1427
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• 2011

This study was performed to develop effective antithrombotic agents from traditional herb extracts. Prunella vulgaris L. has been used traditionally as a medical resource in cancer therapy, as well as treatment of hypertension and inflammation, and as a diuretic. However, the effects of Prunella vulgaris on thrombosis and platelet activation have not been clearly understood. Antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities of oriental medicinal herbs were investigated by evaluating the effect of the aqueous extract from Prunella vulgaris on the blood coagulation, platelet aggregation and fibrinolysis. Prunella vulgaris extracts showed effective anticoagulant activity in coagulation times such as activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT). Prunella vulgaris also inhibited adenosine diphosphate (ADP)- and collagen-induced platelet aggregation. In addition, evaluation of fibrinolytic activity showed that the Prunella vulgaris extracts have high solubility. From these results, it is suggested that Prunella vulgaris can be a potential candidate for anticoagulants and antiplatelets, as well as fibrinolytic agents.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.218-222
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• 2009

Ability of water extract from Prunella vulgaris Labiatae to stimulate immune system and inhibit tumor metastasis in mice was assessed. In experimental lung metastasis, prophylactic intravenous (i.v.) administration of water extract from P. vulgaris significantly inhibited lung metastasis in a dose-dependant manner. Peritoneal macrophages stimulated with P. vulgaris produced various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-$\alpha$ and interlukin (IL)-12 as well as induced tumoricidal activity. In an assay for natural killer (NK) cell activity, i.v. administration of P. vulgaris significantly augmented NK cytotoxicity. The depletion of NK cells by injection of rabbit anti-asialo GM1 serum abolished the inhibitory effect of P. vulgaris on lung metastasis of colon26-M3.1 cells. These data demonstrate that P. vulgaris activate innate immune system to inhibit the growth of foreign materials including tumor cells in mice.