This study describes the identification of Panax species using mitochondrial consensus primers. Initially, a total of thirty primers were tested in ten Korean ginseng cultivars and two foreign Panax species, P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. In the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification results, three primers (cox1, nad1/2-3 and nad2/1-2) generated co-dominant polymorphic banding patterns discriminating Korean ginseng cultivars from P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. However, these primers could not generated polymorphisms among the Korean ginseng cultivars, and simply represented species-specific polymorphisms for P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng. Primers PQ91 and PN418 were designed from the consensus sequence of nad1/2-3 region. Two banding patterns (A or B) were detected in PQ91. Korean ginseng cultivars and P. notoginseng shared the same banding pattern (A type) and P. quinquefolius was identified another banding pattern (B type). In the case of PN418, two banding patterns (A or B) were detected in the Korean ginseng cultivars and two foreign Panax species. Korean ginseng cultivars and P. quinquefolius shared the same banding pattern (A type) and P. notoginseng was identified another banding pattern (B type). The combination banding patterns of three Panax species, Korean ginseng cultivars (Panax ginseng C. A. Mey.), P. quinquefolius and P. notoginseng, was identified as 'AA', 'BA' and 'AB', respectively. Consequently, PQ91 and PN418 primer sets can be used to distinguish among Panax species.
The objective of this study is to investigate the optimal condition for macerating enzymatic extraction process that leads to the highest yield and the largest extracted amount of bio-active contents from Rubus coreanus Miq. fruit. The optimal extraction conditions were found as the following: The initial amount of the water added to the fruit was 20 ~ 30% by weight. The mixing ratio used for the macerating enzyme was 4 : 1 : 2 (w : w : w) for cellulase:pectinase:amylogucosidase, and the amount of the macerating enzyme added was 2% by weight. The extraction process was done at a temperature of 45~50℃ for 10 hours. The extraction yields on Rubus coreanus Miq. fruit by macerating enzymatic extraction process was increased by 84.3% compared to that of hot-water extraction process. The amounts of organic acids and vitamin found in the extract were also higher. The amount of polyphenol and anthocyanin contents in the extract were 185% and 257% of those from hot-water extraction, respectively. These results suggest that macerating enzymatic extraction is an effective method to boost extraction yield and to increase the amount of extraction of bio-active contents from Rubus coreanus Miq. fruit.
This study was performed to investigate the enhancement of immunomodulatory activities of Lithospermum erythrorhizon by extreme process. The extracts are WE100 (water extract for 24 hours at 100℃), WE80 (water extract for 24 hours at 80℃), EE (70% ethyl alcohol extract for 24 hours at 80℃) and EPE (extreme process for 30 minutes at 25℃, 500 MPa after 70% ethyl alcohol extracts for 3 hours at 40, 50, 60℃). Extraction yield was increased up to 5~10% by extreme process, compare to the normal extraction such as water solvent extraction, 70% ethyl alcohol solvent extraction. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was showed in the range of 12.68~15.89% at 1.0mg/ml for human lung cell (HEL299). The EPE40 was showed the lowest cytotoxicity 12.68%. The EPE60 extracted by extreme process increased the growth of human B and T cells up to 12.12×104 cells/ml and 14.88×104 cells/ml, respectively and the EPE60 greatly increased the cytokine secretion of both IL-6 and TNF-α. The extracts by extreme process also exhibited higher levels of nitric oxide production from macrophages than the lipopolysaccaharides. It can be concluded that Lithospermum erythrorhizon has immune activities and The extreme process could increase higher immune activities possibly by immunomodulatory compounds.
This study was conducted to determine the antioxidative activity of Hericium erinaceus (HE) and we investigated that HE extract contributes to cell proliferation and to anti-LPS-induced inflammation. HE extract showed high DPPH free radical scavenging activity. However, the reducing power activity slightly increased in compare with control. Nitrite scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, SOD-like activity of HE were elevated in dose-dependent. The level of total phenolic and flavonoid showed 30.06 mg/100 g and 33.86 mg/100 g, respectively. Linoleic acid oxidation inhibition had reached a maximum level on the fourth day and started to drop from the fifth day. HE extract contributes to cell proliferation on the RAW 264.7 cell. Our finding demonstrated that water extracts of HE possess significant antioxidant activities and may be suggested a new potential source of anti-inflammatory medicines.
This study was carried out to select optimal shade materials among four-layered polyethylene (PE) net (FLPN), aluminium-coated PE sheet (APSS), and blue PE sheet (BPSS) in condition of paddy field cultivated 6-year-old ginseng. The order of light-penetrated ratio and air temperature by shade materials was BPSS 〉 APSS 〉 FLPN. Light-penetrated ratio of BPSS before two fold shade was more 3 times and 2 times than that of FLPN and APSS, respectively. Air temperature of BPSS was also higher 1.6℃ and 1.4℃ than that of FLPN and APSS, respectively. BPSS showed good cultural environment because all of light-penetrated ratio and air temperature were become higher in spring and fall season but lower in summer season by additional shade with two-layered PE net. Survived-leaf ratio was highest in BPSS and lowest in FLPN causing a little water leak on a rainy day. Rusty-root ratio was also highest in FLPN because soil moisture content was increased by water leak. The order of root yield was BPSS 〉 APSS 〉 FLPN, and the cause of highest yield in BPSS was higher light-penetrated ratio during spring and fall season, higher survived-leaf ratio, and lower rusty-root ratio than that of APSS and FLPN. BPSS showed highest total ginsenoside content because of high light-penetrated ratio, blue light effect, and the difference in dry matter partitioning ratio such as low taproot ratio, and high lateral root ratio.
This study was conducted to investigate the residual contents of sulfur dioxide (SO2) in commercial medicinal herbs in Korea in 2012. Among a total of 136 samples of 16 different kinds of herbs, 86 samples (15 Kinds) were domestic, and 50 samples (14 Kinds) were imported. Sulfur dioxide in the samples was measured by a modified Monier-Williams method. Of the 136 samples, 17 samples (12.5%, 6 Kinds) failed to meet the regulations for sulfur dioxide residues of KFDA in medicinal herbs. Among 17 unsuitable samples, 7 samples (8.1%, 3 Kinds) were domestic, and 10 samples (20.0%, 6 Kinds) were imported. The highest amount of sulfur dioxide residues was 3,167.94 mg/kg (Lycii Fructus) in the domestic samples. The detection frequency of sulfur dioxide by medicinal herb parts used, Rhizoma 25.7%, Flos 20.0%. Cortex 12.5%, Radix 15.3%, Fructus 7.6%, p-value 0.011. This results will be used as a basic data for the future legislation on the quality estimation and safety of medicinal herbs.
The plant growth and yield of Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) Breit. were studied by altitude and tuber weight. The emergence rates in low land area were not different by tuber weights, but it showed earlier emergence date in heavier weight of seed-tuber and low land area. The higher aerial growth such as plant height and number of leaves per plant was the heavier tuber weight in a planting year, but the growth was not different by the weight of tuber at second year after planting. The distribution pattern of tuber size per m2 was not influenced by different seed-tuber weight. The number of harvested tuber was highest at more than 1 g of tuber weight, and followed 1~2 g and less than 2 g. The distribution pattern of fresh tuber yield was not influenced by different altitude and seed-tuber weight. The marketable tuber, 2 g or more, tends to be produced with more than 0.6 g seed-tuber. As the results above-mentioned, it was thought that the high yield was supposed to use seed-tuber over 0.6 g in the fertile soil.
Chelidonium majus (CM) contains several isoquinoline alkaloids that have been reported to have various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immune-modulatory, and antitumoral. It has been reported that the extract of CM had an antioxidant potential, however the mechanism has not been verified. In this study, we found that CM extract activated FOXO3a. FOXO3a is a transcription factor that involved in various biological processes such as cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, DNA repair, and ROS detoxification. Transcriptional activities of FOXO3a were regulated by post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. Protein level of FOXO3a was increased by CM extract. Promoter activities of FOXO-transcriptional target genes such as MnSOD, p27 and GADD45 were activated by CM extract in a dose dependent manner. In addition, protein level of MnSOD, major antioxidant enzyme, was increased by CM extract. Thereby ROS level was decreased by CM in old HEF cells. These results suggest that CM extract has an antioxidant activity through FOXO activation.
Gastrodia elata has been cultivated as an important medicinal resources to treat various human diseases. One of the major problems associated with its field production is the degeneration of seed tubers, which is mainly caused by soil-borne pathogens. This study was conducted to produce disease-free seed tubers by the development of in vitro micropropagation method. First, tubers of G. elata were treated with HgCl2 prior to culturing in vitro. Among various culture medium tested, water agar (WA) and WPM medium were the most effective on the induction and growth of vegetative stems. NAA (0.1mg/l) or TDZ (1.0mg/l) in WA medium showed better growth of vegetative stems compared to other plant hormones. Finally the induction and growth of vegetative stems were better in the dark compared to the light condition. In this study, we established an in vitro micropropagation system of G. elata, which might be an efficient way to increase the yield and quality of G. elata tubers in the field production.