β amyloid protein (Aβ) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and possibly in Aβ -induced mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Aβ can directly cause reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Overproduction of ROS is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegeneration of AD. Here, we investigated 9 kinds of ramie (Boehmeria nivea, (L.) Gaud., BN; hereafter denoted as BN) for their protective action against oxidative stress in a cellular system using C6 glial cells. We observed loss of cell viability and high levels of ROS generation after treatment with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and Aβ25-35. However, treatments with BN extracts led to an increase in cell viability and decrease in ROS production induced by H2O2 and Aβ25-35. In particular, the extracts of BN-01 (seobang variety from Seocheon) and BN-09 (local variety from Yeonggwang) showed excellent anti-oxidative properties. This indicates that BN extracts could prevent neurodegeneration by reducing oxidative stress in cells.

To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of aldose reductase (AR) inhibition, the leaves of Aster yomena were tested for inhibition of AR. The stepwise polarity fractions of A. yomena were tested. Among them, the n-BuOH fraction showed highest activities against AR inhibition. Our results demonstrated that A. yomena could be a worthy natural source source for curing against diabetic complications.

Content analysis of loliolide in the leaves of Boehmeria nivea (Bn) collected from different region during four months (June, July, August, and September) was conducted by HPLC. The content of loliolide was detected in the leaves of B. nivea from Bns-2, -7, -10, -23, -38, -41, -67, -76, and -90 in June (5.02, 6.35, 6.93, 5.89, 4.31, 4.24, 4.91, 5.12, and 5.46 mg/g, respectively), July (4.32, 6.42, 7.72, 7.97, 4.05, 4.32, 5.65, 6.67, and 5.39 mg/g, respectively), August (3.52, 5.17, 3.90, 4.27, 3.26, 4.72, 3.82, 3.30, and 3.31 mg/g, respectively), and September (7.04, 7.25, 7.43, 7.86, 6.76, 6.38, 7.60, 6.79, and 4.77 mg/g, respectively). Among them, the highest content of loliolide was found in Bn-23 and in September. These results may be useful in determining the optimal harvest time at which phytochemical reaches a maximum level.

To evaluate therapeutic efficacy of aldose reductase (AR) inhibition, the seeds of Perilla frutescens var. japonica (PF) were tested for inhibition of AR. The stepwise polarity fractions of PF were tested. The CH2Cl2 and EtOAc fractions showed highest activities (IC50 5.47 and 3.63 μg/mL, respectively). Compounds 1-5 were isolated from the CH2Cl2 and EtOAc fractions by silica-gel and LH-20 Sephadex. Their structures were elucidated as β-sitosterol (1), diosmetin (2), kaempferol (3), luteolin (4), and apigenin (5). Compounds 1-5 were exhibited AR inhibitory. Among them, luteolin (4) and apigenin (5) exhibited AR inhibitory activities (IC50 0.40 and 1.10 μg/mL, respectively). Our results demonstrated that PF could be a worthy natural source for curing against diabetic complications.

Acanthopanax species is known commonly as Siberian ginseng, touch-me-not, devil’s shrub, prickly eleutherococc, eleutherococc and wild pepper. A diverse group of chemical compounds isolated from Acanthopanax species was named ‘eleutherosides’. Among eleutherosides, eleutherosides B and E were widely known in Acanthopanax species. Acanthopanax species are cultivated and grow wild in a various area of Korea and have a variety of pharmacological effects. But, there are a lot of difficulties on producing excellent Acanthopanax species, according to the cultivated method is different pharmacological ingredients. This study, therefore, analyzed eleutherosides B and E in A. divaricatus and A. koreanum by different fertilizer ratio using HPLC. We will be investigated a high content of eleutherosides B and E by different fertilizer ratio and suggest an efficient fertilizer ratio of A. divaticatus and A. koreanum. All samples of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum were collected at Yeongcheon Agricultural Technology & Extension Center, Yeongcheon, Korea. The sample was prepared by upper and lower parts. The fertilizer ratio are N-P-K(10.5-8.5-8.5: 50 kg/10a), 2N-P-K (21-8.5-8.5: 50 kg/10a), N-2P-K (10.5-17-8.5: 50 kg/10a), N-P-2K (10.5-8.5-17: 50 kg/10a), and 2N-2P-2K (21-17-17: 50 kg/10a), respectively. To analyze eleutherosides B and E, 5 g of A. divaricatus and A. koreanum was extracted with 50% MeOH (3 × 100 ml) by reflux and evaporated in vacuo. The residue was dissolved in 1 ml of MeOH. The resulting solution was used for HPLC analysis. HPLC separation of eleutherosides B and E for qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed using a reverse phase system. A Discovery®C18 (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 μm) column was used with a mobile phase that consisted of water and acetonitrile. A gradient solvent system of water and acetonitrile (90:10 to 70:30 for 20 min) was used for the elution program. UV detection was conducted at 350 nm. The injection volume was 10 μl and the flow rate was 1 ml/min. All injections were performed in triplicate. The different fertilizer ratio yielded total eleutherosides B and E contents of 4.417-6.905 and 3.652-7.227 mg/g in the upper and lower parts of A. divaricatus, respectively. In A. koreanum, the total eleutherosides B and E contents were 4.591-10.108 and 3.834-9.079 mg/g in the upper and lower parts, respectively. The best conditions to increase eleutherosides B and E content in A. divaricatus was determined to be with N-2P-K fertilizer ratio, on the other hand, in A. koreanum was 2N-2P-2K fertilizer ratio.