본 연구는 약용실물 수피 추출물을 이용하여 in vitro 반추위 발효성상 및 반추위 메탄 발생에 미치 는 영향을 알아보기 위해 수행되었다. 공시재료는 무궁화, 음나무, 팽나무, 두충 및 후박나무 추출물을 사용하였다. McDougall’s buffer와 반추위액을 2:1 비율로 혼합한 발효액을 티모시 0.3g과 식물 추출 물이 담긴 50mL serum bottle에 혐기상태로 20mL 분주한 뒤, 39℃에서 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48 및 72시 간 동안 발효하였다. 약용식물 수피 추출물을 첨가하였을 때 반추위 발효 성상(pH, 건물소화율, 암모니 아태 질소, 미생물 성장량)에는 영향을 미치지 않았다. 배양 6시간대에 두충 추출물 첨가구에서 acetate의 농도가 대조구에 비해 유의적(p<0.05)으로 낮고, 메탄의 기질인 이산화탄소의 발생량이 대조 구에 비해 유의적(p<0.05)으로 낮아 메탄 저감 효과를 기대하였으나 메탄 저감효과는 없었다. 메탄생성 박테리아인 Methanogen archaea의 경우 무궁화 추출물 첨가구를 제외한 전 추출물 첨가구에서 대조구 에 비해 유의적(p<0.05)으로 높았으나 메탄발생량에는 유의적(p<0.05)인 차이가 없었다. 추후 첨가 농 도를 달리하거나 flavonoid 함량을 측정하는 실험이 필요한 것으로 사료되며, 메탄생성박테리아를 감소 시키는 연구도 추가적으로 필요할 것으로 생각된다

Skin is the outermost organ and acts as a barrier between the organism and environment. Skin protects the organism from environmental insults, such as chemicals, pathogens, and UV light. Much of the protective function of skin is dependent on the epidermis, a multi-layered epithelium that is composed of various cell types such as keratinocytes and melanocytes. Keratinocytes produce protective components through a sophisticated differentiation process. Disturbance of keratinocyte differentiation is related to several skin diseases such as psoriasis and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we prepared extract of combined medicinal plants (ECMP) consisting of Taraxacum platycarpum H. Dahlstedt, Heartleaf Houttuynia, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, and root bark of Ulmus davidiana. We demonstrated that ECMP enhanced keratinocyte differentiation and barrier functionality using an in vitro cell culture system and in vivo animal test. Treatment of cultured keratinocytes with ECMP resulted in induction of keratinocyte differentiation, as evidenced by increased differentiation markers such as involucrin, loricrin, and filaggrin. In line with these results, ECMP decreased proliferation of keratinocytes cultured in vitro. ECMP applied topically to tape-stripped mouse skins accelerated reduction of transepidermal water loss (TEWL), indicating fast recovery of barrier function. Immunohistochemistry showed that ECMP increased the filaggrin level in tape-stripped mouse skins. These results suggest that ECMP may be applicable for keratinocyte differentiation-related skin diseases.

In the present study, total methanol extracts prepared from Alpinia katsumadai showed significant protective effects against the oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide, UV-C or γ-ray irradiation. These protective effects were substantially increased by treatment with 20~100 μg/ml of the extract. The A. katsumadai total methanol preparation was further fractionated into n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, n-butanol and water fractions. Among these five fractions, the ethylacetate and butanol fractions of A. katsumadai showed the strongest protective effects against oxidative stress induced by UV-C and γ-ray irradiation. These fractions also showed high DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities. In addition, both fractions displayed cell proliferation activation effects, as evidenced by significant increases in colony formation. Our current data thus suggest that the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of A. katsumadai against oxidative damage may include radical scavenging, protection against cell membrane damage and stimulation of cell proliferation.