This study was analyzed and investigated to evaluate ecological distribution of medicinal plants in Miho Stream of Korea. Totality 463 taxa of vascular plants were appeared in lower part of Miho Stream. Medicinal plants were distributed 253 taxa, which were 54.6% of the total vascular plants appeared. Medicinal plants of official drug compendium(Korean pharmacopoeia) were 85 taxa. Medicinal plants were distributed most of the forest area, and followed field surrounding, stream surrounding and paddy surrounding respectively. The distribution of life form hemicryptophyte was the most frequent. Plant community of appearing area of medicinal plants was classified into Salix koreensis, Phragmites japonica, Echinochloa crusgalli, Artemisia selengensis, Miscanthus sacchariflorus, Setaria faberii, Panicum dichotomiflorum, Bidens frondosa, Humulus japonicus, Monochoria vaginalis var. plantaginea, Eleocharis kuroguwai, Erigeron acris, Pinus densiflora, Pinus rigida, Quercus acutissima, Quercus serrata, Robinia pseudoacacia and Castanea crenata community. Medicinal plants in plant communities that occur frequently were Humulus japonicus, Corylus heterophylla and Liriope spicata.
We investigated antioxidant activity and lignan contents by harvesting times to expand use of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baillon. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of seed was higher than those of flesh but there is not much difference in harvesting times. As RC50 value, that was, the concentration of sample required for 50% reduction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical, was 13.7~24.2 μg/ml in seed thus it showed a high antioxidant activity. Among lignan components, schizandrin content was the highest and followed by gomisin N and gomisin A in all of flesh and seed. Also these components in seed were 4~9 times more contained than those of flesh. All of them were decreased by harvesting times in flesh. But the contents of schizandrin and gomisin N were high in August 3rd and September 15th in seed, respectively. As the results, the seed of S. chinensis had high antioxidant activity and lignan contents so it could be potentially developed as a resource.
This experiment was carried out to obtain the cytotoxicity and antioxidative activity of Artemisiae Argi Folium. The total polyphenol contents in the ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract and the methanol extract were 430.27mg/g and 427.84mg/g, respectively. In DPPH radical scavenging ability, SC50 values of the ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract and the methanol extract were 32.64 μg/ml and 27.70 μg/ml as the same level of statistical with ascorbic acid. In the cytotoxicity measurement by MTT assay, the chloroform and hexane fraction, and each extract were exhibited higher cytotoxicity than the other fractions. In particular, the ethyl acetate fractions appeared high activity in DPPH radical scavenging ability were began to show cytotoxicity in 125 μg/ml. As a result, the ethyl acetate fraction of Artemisiae Argi Folium extract was the most highly active fraction in antioxidative activity. However, for the use of extracts and fractions from Artemisiae Argi Folium to related fields, the setting of appropriate concentration is required.
In this study, to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of kaempferol and its rhamnosides isolated from Hibiscus cannabinus L. leaves, we investigated UVB-induced inhibitory effects on inflammatory reaction by measuring the cytokine as the prostaglandin (PGE2), interleukine-6 (IL-6) and interleukine-8 (IL-8). We investigated the inhibitory effects of kaempferol and its rhamnosides on TARC (thymus and activation-regulated chemokine) and PGE2. Kaempferol and α-rhamnoisorobin showed inhibition activity of TARC generated to compared to positive control. Kaempferol, α-rhamnoisorobin and afzelin Inhibited the release of PGE2. Also, only kaempferol significantly inhibited interleukine-6 (IL-6), interleukine-8 (IL-8) among UVB-induced inflammatory cytokine.
This study was conducted to evaluate the quality variation of Lithospermum radix on the pigment contents and antioxidant activities according to different growth stages and areas of cultivation. Acetylshikonin contents showed the tendency to decrease gradually from the middle of July (0.28%) to the end of August (0.05%) and then the content was increased again to the end of October (0.25%). Shikonin content was detected as small amount of about 0.009% during the period. The weight of plants was increased from the end of September to the end of October and showed the highest value as 19.8 g on October 25. ROS scavenging activity was the highest in the early of October as IC50 value of 0.11 μg/mL. Lithospermum radix of September showed lower ROS scavenging activities than those of other growth stages as IC50 value of 1.02 and 0.49 μg/mL on September 9 and September 27, respectively. Among 17 areas cultivated Lithospermum radix, 10 areas (59%) showed 0.05-0.10% of acetylshikonin contents and 3 areas (18%) were measured to contain 0.16-0.26% of acetylshikonin.
This research was conducted to investigate the influence of variouis organic substrates on growth and yield of organically grown ginseng seedlings in a shaded plastic house. In the investigation of optimal substrate, the eight substrate were formulated by adjusting blending rate of peatmoss, perlite, coir dust(coco peat), and vermiculite. Then, the changes in physico chemical properties of root substrates as well as their influences on the growth characteristics and yield were determined at six months after sowing. The elevation of the blending rate of peatmoss from 50% to 70% with decrease in the rate of inorganic component (mixture of perlite and vermiculite) from 50 to 30% resulted in the increase in container capacities and decrease in total porosities and air-filled capacities. The concentrations of NH4-N, P2O5 and K increased as the incorporation rate of castor seed meal, phosphate ore, and langbenite, respectively, were elevated during the root medium formulations. The PPV-1 and PPV-4 substrates produced high stem length, stem diameter, shoot fresh weight, leaf area and root length among eight substrate. Root fresh weight was heaviest in PPV-4 compound nursery media. The results of this experiment will be utilized in the new substrate application for ginseng organic culture in shaded vinyl house.
Galgeun-tang (GGT) is a traditional medicinal formula that is widely prescribed to treat cold, asthma, and hives in Korea. Fermented herbal medicines can be made more effective than normal herbal medicines by increasing the absorption and bioavailability of the active compounds. In this study, we fermented Galgeun-tang to produce bioconversion constituents using Lactobacillus plantarum (GGT144), and found that four peaks were decreased, three peaks were increased and two new peaks appeared in the HPLC-DAD chromatogram. After HPLC-DAD-guided fractionation of the newly-appearing compounds (1 and 5) and the increased (6, 7, and 9) compounds, the structure of the compounds was determined using NMR and MS. Using this approach the compounds were identified to be pyrogallol (1), daidzein (5), liquiritigenin (6), cinnamyl alcohol (7), and formononetin (9), respectively. In addition, the decreased compounds were identified to be daidzin (2), liquiritin (3), ononin (4), and cinnam aldehyde (8) using HPLC-DAD analysis with standard compounds. The high performance liquid chromatography method was used to quantify the nine constituents in GGT and GGT144. All calibration curves of the standard compounds displayed excellent linearity with a R2 〉 0.9968.
The present study examined the effects of Korean white ginseng (WG, Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) on the learning and memory function and the neural activity in rats with trimethyltin (TMT)-induced memory deficits. The rats were administered with saline or WG (WG 100 or 300 mg/kg, p.o.) daily for 21 days. The cognitive improving efficacy of WG on the amnesic rats, which was induced by TMT, was investigated by assessing the Morris water maze test and by performing immunohistochemistries on choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), acetylcholinesterase (AchE), cAMP responsive element binding protein (CREB) and brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The rats treated with TMT injection (control group) showed impaired learning and memory of the tasks, but the rats treated with TMT injection and WG administration produced significant improvement of the escape latency to find the platform in the Morris water maze at the 2nd and 4th days compared to that of the control group. In the retention test, the WG 100 and WG 300 groups showed significantly increased crossing number around the platform compared to that of the control group (p < 0.001). Consistently with the behavioral data, result of immunohistochemistry analysis showed that WG 100 mg/kg significantly alleviated the loss of BDNF-ir neurons in the hippocampus compared to that of the control group (p < 0.01). Also, treatment with WG has a trend to be increased the cholinergic neurons in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas as compared to that of the control group. These results suggest that WG may be useful for improving the cognitive function via regulation of neurotrophic activity.
Conventional Thiamine Dilauryl Sulfate (TDS) powder has a low stability. In order to solve this problem, this study was performed to improve the solubility of TDS. The process for enhance solubility of TDS was nano grinding mill and ultrasonic dispersion process. TDS paticle was manufactured to nano size through nano grinding mill process. The size of TDS nanoparticle was measured as average 220 nm by DLS. And The TDS nanoparticle in water solution manufactured through ultrasonic dispersion process. The TDS nanoparticle in water solution was showed the highest solubility with 40% ethanol. These results was increased the concentration of TDS from 200 ppm to 240 ppm in water solution. The TDS nanoparticle in water solution showed diameter of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides growth with smaller than about 1.56 cm compared to the TDS paticle in water solution at same concentration. Also, TDS nanoparticle in water solution showed growth inhibition activity as 59.2% with higher than about 10% compared to the TDS paticle water solution in same concentration. Finally, TDS nanoparticle in water solution was increased solubility through nano grinding mill and ultrasonic dispersion process. Also, the increase of concentration in TDS nanopaticle in water solution according to solubility enhancement lead to an result enhancement of antifungal activity. Consequently, we suggested that the TDS nanoparticle in water solution was more effective than TDS particle in water solution owing to the sub-cellular particle size, ability to persistence and targeting to cell membrane of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Furthermore we expected the applicating possibility with bio pesticide.
The Forsythiae Fructus is an oriental medicine containing various lignans. In this study, the Forsythiae Fructus were extracted by hot water (Sample 1), hot water after bio-conversion using Lactobacillus strain (Sample 2-LP2, 2-LA, 2-LC, 2-LL, 2-BL and 2-LM) and 70% ethanol (Sample 3). Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were improved by bio-conversion process using Lactobacillus strain, compared to water extract. Especially, sample 2-LL and 2-LA which had shown the high total polyphenol and flavonoid content in antioxidant activity. Also, sample 2-LL and 2-LA showed higher melanin generation inhibitory activity as of 55%, 53% in maximum extract concentration of 100μg/ml. In the anti-inflammation test of the Forsythiae Fructus extracts, nitric oxide (NO) synthesis was inhibited. Specially, both 70% Forsythiae Fructus ethanol extract and sample 2-BL which have shown the relatively higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD) like activities. In conclusion, the Forsythiae Fructus extracts with bio-conversion process has effect of skin whitening and anti-inflammation activity than other extracts. It could be used as a valuable materials for functional cosmetics.
The goal of this study was to investigate the nutritional characteristics and physiological functionality of Liriope tuber for development of new bioactive compound from Liriope tuber. Crude protein and carbohydrate contents of Chenogsim were 9.25% and 77.98%, respectively and crude protein, 9.86% and carbohydrate, 79.08% were also contained in Liriope tuber No.1. Both of Liriope tubers were showed very high contents of sucrose (Cheongsim; 4.08%, Liriope tuber No.1; 4.91%), oxalic acid (0.98%, 0.86%) and glutamic acid (3.736 g/100 g, 4,196 g/100 g). Among several physiological functionalities, tyrosinase inhibitory activity were showed very high 86.4% in Cheongsim and 82.02% in Liriope tuber No.1, respectively.
The potential antioxidant activities of different fractions from Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina were assayed in vitro. Among several fractions, n-BuOH fraction showed the highest 1,1-di[henyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging (IC50=0.50μg/mL). The results of 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay showed the concentration dependency and n-BuOH fraction appeared a better result than the other fractions at the same concentrati on in this study. Moreover the total phenol and flavonoid contents of n-BuOH fraction contained the highest level. Additionally, correlation analysis indicated a high correlation between the antiradical activity and the total phenolic and flavonoid contents (p 〈 0.001). It suggests that n-BuOH fraction obtained from the 70% EtOH crude extract of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina has wide potential for use as a source of antioxidant material.
Ursolic acid, triterpenoid compound has been shown to stimulate osteoblast differentiation and enhance bone formation. In the present study, we examined the effects of similar triterpenoid compounds, oleanolic acid (OA) and its derivatives, such as oleanolic acid acetate (OAA) and oleanolic acetate methyl ester (OAM) on the bone formation in MC3T3-E1 osteoblast cells. We determined cellular proliferation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, mineralization, and expression of osteoblast specific genes and mitogen activated protein kinase phosphorylation. Treatment of 0.1-10μm OA, OAA, and OAM increased cellular proliferation, but not significantly increased as compared with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). OA, OAA, and OAM at 5uM concentration enhanced ALP expression, mineralization, and osteocalcin (OCN) mRNA level. In conclusion, OA and its derivatives stimulated the osteoblast differentiation by increasing ALP, mineralization, and OCN mRNA expression. However, there were no significantly difference on osteoblast differentiation among treatment of OA, OAA, and OAM.
This experiment was carried out in order to collect the basic data on the standardization of the manufacturing process of Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch. var. purpurea Makino drying. By the drying methods of R. glutinosa, the content of water, inorganic components, reducing sugar, catalpol and benzo[α]pyrene were investigated. The water content was 15.6~17.2% when R. glutinosa was dried by cold-warm air moisture absorption drying method (CAMAD) at 60℃ during 6 days. Among of the inorganic components of R. glutinosa the K content was the most followed by P, Na, Ca and Mg. The reducing sugar content of R. glutinosa by the hot air drying method (HAD) was much more than that by the CAMAD. The catalpol content of R. glutinosa was not different by the drying temperature when it was dried by the CAMAD. The catalpol content of the large size tuber (about 50.0 g/unit) showed a tendency to increase from 60℃ until 70℃ drying temperature, but that of the small size tuber(about 4.0 g/unit) was decreased as being a trend as the drying temperature high when R. glutinosa was dried by the HAD, But the catalpol content R. glutinosa had a tendency to drop significantly at drying temperature above 80℃. The benzo[α]pyrene content was little detected when R. glutinosa was dried by both the SLD and the CAMAD, and the sampling by the HAD indicated within the scope of 5 μg/kg which was the scope to regulate by Korean food and drug administration. In conclusion, it seemed that an appropriate drying temperature of R. glutinosa by the CAMAD and the HAD was about 60℃ and about 70℃, respectively, when we consider the catalpol content and benzo[α]pyrene detection in the manufacturing process of drying R. glutinosa.
The bark of the root and stem of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to treat inflammatory disorders. This plant reportedly shows antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Ulmus davidiana var. japonica ethanolic extract (UDE) on UVB irradiation-induced wrinkle in hairless mice. We evaluated for their free radical-scavenging activities against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the anti-elastase activities, and for their anti-matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) activity in human skin fibroblast cells. In the wrinkle measurement and image analysis of skin replicas, the results showed that UDE significantly inhibited wrinkle formation caused by chronic UVB irradiation. These results suggest that UDE has anti-wrinkle activity.