title: Evaluation of the effects of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on the morphology and viability of mesenchymal stem cells.
abstract: Cimicifugae Rhizoma is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat various diseases in Korea, China and Japan. Cimicifugae Rhizoma is primarily derived fromCimicifuga heracleifoliaKomarov orCimicifuga foetidaLinnaeus. Cimicifugae Rhizoma has been used as an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic remedy. The present study was performed to evaluate the extracts of Cimicifugae Rhizoma on the morphology and viability of human stem cells derived from gingiva. Stem cells derived from gingiva were grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at final concentrations that ranged from 0.001 to 1,000 µg/ml. The morphology of the cells was viewed under an inverted microscope and the analysis of cell proliferation was performed using a Cell Counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay on days 1, 3, 5 and 7. Under an optical microscope, the control cells exhibited a spindle-shaped, fibroblast-like morphology. The shapes of the cells in the groups treated with 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg/ml Cimicifugae Rhizoma were similar to the shapes in the control group. Significant alterations in morphology were noted in the 100 and 1,000 µg/ml groups when compared with the control group. The cells in the 100 and 1,000 µg/ml groups were rounder, and fewer cells were present. The cultures that were grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at a concentration of 0.001 µg/ml on day 1 had an increased CCK-8 value. The cultures grown in the presence of Cimicifugae Rhizoma at a concentration of 10 µg/ml on day 7 had a reduced CCK-8 value. Within the limits of this study, Cimicifugae Rhizoma influenced the viability of stem cells derived from the gingiva, and its direct application onto oral tissues may have adverse effects at high concentrations. The concentration and application time of Cimicifugae Rhizoma should be meticulously controlled to obtain optimal results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Korean Medicine, Chungju Hospital of Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Semyung University, Jecheon 390-711, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Su-Hyeon
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Ji-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bo-Bae
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Youngkyung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jun-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
keywords: cell survival; herbal medicine; plant roots; stem cells