The HWND_G02 (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Crataegus pinnatifida, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, Cnidium officinale Makino) and HWND_G03 (Cinnamonum cassia Blume, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, Crataegus pinnatifida, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, Cnidium officinale Makino, Allium macrostemon Bunge) are new natural mixture composed with several oriental herbs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of HWND extracts on high cholesterol diet (HCD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: control, HCD, atorvastatin (5 ㎎/㎏, po), ethanolic extracts of HWND_G02 (1,000 ㎎/㎏, po) and HWND_G03 (1,000 ㎎/㎏, po) were administered to the HCD-induced hyperlipidemic rats for 4 weeks to evaluate their anti-hyperlipidemic activities. HWND extracts markedly decreased body and liver wight gain, and recovered serum lipid levels, such as total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in the HCDinduced hyperlipidemic rats. Furthermore, the lipid levels (TC and TG) and the lipid accumulation were significantly lowered in the liver tissue of HWND-administrated rats. After a HCD, each group had a lower atherogenic index (AI) compared to the HCD group. In conclusion, these data suggest that HWND extracts could be the candidate for the material to prevent hyperlipidemia.
Osteoporosis induces a bone mineral density loss due to imbalance of bone homeostasis that is achieved by osteoclasts (which are involved in bone resorption) and osteoblasts (which are involved in bone formation). Thus, this study was performed to evaluate the effects of hot water extract of the Achyranthes bidentata Blume (ABB) and Panax ginseng (Gin) on osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation. In this study, there was no cytotoxicity by ABB, 50 and 100 μg/ml of Gin significantly decreased cell viability of RANKL-induced osteoclast in RAW264.7 cell (p < 0.01). But, it was 50 μg/ml of ABB and Gin mixtures increased due to protective action of ABB. Furthermore, Gin contained groups (Gin, ABB and Gin mixtures) were inhibitory effects on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption, and increased in osteoblast differentiation activity. Gin clearly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by decreased calcitonin and TRAP (p < 0.01). Also, these extracts significantly increased calcium accumulation formation of osteoblastic differentiation reagents-induced osteoblast in MC3T3-E1 cell (p < 0.05). These results suggest that ABB and Gin mixtures may be a potential as drug for the treatment of osteoporosis.
In this study, we determined the ingredient analysis of harvested garlic bulb and soil analysis of four garliccultivated regions in Jeju, being one of the major areas of Namdo garlic production. Soil pH and electric conductivity were 7.02 and 1.03 dS/m, respectively. Soil organic matter was 4.31%. The mineral elements (potassium, calcium, magnesium, sodium, iron, manganese, copper and zinc) of Namdo garlic cultivated soil were analyzed by ICP, and calcium was the most highly contained mineral with 14.67 cmol+/kg and in the decreasing order of magnesium (2.25 cmol+/㎏), potassium (1.51 cmol+/㎏). Soluble solid and total acidity were 7.60 oBrix and 0.49%, respectively. The mineral contents of garlic bulb were in order of potassium (12,728 ppm) > sulfur (7,778 ppm) > phosphorus (4,916 ppm) > magnesium (691 ppm) > calcium (359 ppm). The content of total phenolic, total flavonoid and reducing sugar were 71.14 ㎎ GAE/100 g, 17.64 ㎎ QE/100 g and 26.53 ㎎ GE/g, respectively. Alliin and allicin were 8.78 ㎎/g and 2.10 ㎎/g, respectively. The Pearson’s correlation coefficients between mineral contents of soil and garlic bulb are analyzed. Macronutrients of soil is correlated with macronutrients of garlic (positive) and micronutrients of garlic (negative) contents.
This study was conducted to find out the variation in agronomic trait and chemical composition in the collected Perilla frutescens from China and Japan. From the results of growth investigation, the maximum number if branches was 26.7ea in Japan 134 line, followed by 25 nodes number in China 119 line. Among the different lines investigated, maximum number of panicle number (108.8) were observed in China 114 line. 1000 seed weight was maximum (4.12 g) in China 118 line. Flowering time of different collected lines varied significantly with average value of 175.5 days and the average line required for maturation of seedlings was 205.1 days. Plant height was the highest (248.9 ㎝) in China 107 line. Highest number of total picking leaves was 965ea, and the average picked period was 54 days. The major phenol compounds contained in Perilla frutescens showed wide variation for Syringic acid, Benzoic acid, Naringin, o-Coumaric acid, Myricetin, Naringenin and Hesperetin. Japan 139 line showed the highest level of total phenol contents (8254.0 ㎍/g, dry weight).
This study was carried out to evaluate the preventive effect of three forms of Korean ginseng roots (fresh, white and red) against bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity in mouse male germ cells (GC-2spd, TM3, TM4). ROS (reactive oxygen species) generation were measured by DCF-DA (2’,7’-dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate) assay. Also, semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed to quantify the mRNA expression levels of apoptosis- related genes, Bax (pro-apoptotic gene) and Bcl2 (anti-apoptotic gene). ROS generation was increased by 50 μM BPA, but definitely decreased by treatment with Korean ginseng extracts (fresh, white and red) in mouse male germ cells. In especial, Korean fresh ginseng extract reduced significantly ROS production to normal control. In addition, Korean fresh and white ginseng extracts suppressed the apoptosis of mouse male germ cells by fine-tuning mRNA levels of apoptotic genes changed by BPA. In general, Korean fresh ginseng extract was more effective than white ginseng extract for reducing BPAinduced oxidative stress and apoptosis in mouse male germ cells. Therefore, Korean fresh and white ginseng may help to alleviate biphenol A toxicity in mouse male germ cells.
The peel of Citrus sunki exhibits multiple biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-obesity, but little is known about neurodegeneration-related activities. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of ethanolic extract from both immature and mature Citrus sunki peel on neuronal cell death. Treatment of the neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y with MPP+, an inducer of Parkinson disease model, increased cell death in a dose dependent manner. Increased levels of active caspase-3 and cleaved PARP were detected. Treatment with immature Citrus sunki peel extract significantly reduced MPP+-induced neurotoxicity. Cytoprotection with immature Citrus sunki peel extract was associated with a decrease in caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. In contrast, mature Citrus sunki peel extract had no significant effects. These data suggest that immature Citrus sunki peel extract may exert anti-apoptotic effect through the inhibition of caspase-3 signaling pathway on MPP+-induced neuronal cell death.
Physiological disorders such as symptoms in leaf colored with brown spots are so many occurred in ginseng garden cultivated with paddy soil. This study was carried out to inhibit the symptoms of brown-colored leaf in 3-year-old ginseng by fertilizing calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)2] of 100 ~ 400 ㎏ per 10a on paddy soil before transplant of seedling. Soil pH was rapidly increased, while Fe was decreased in soil by the increase of application level of calcium hydroxide. Soil pH was increased from 4.53 to 6.18 when calcium hydroxide was fertilized at level of 100kg per 10a. The content of Fe in ginseng leaf was decreased more than the control by fertilizing calcium hydroxide in soil. Ratio of brown-colored leaf and plant height and leaf area were decreased by the increase of calcium hydroxide. Ratio of survived root and yield of root showed the peak at the application level of 100 ㎏ per 10a, and both of them were gradually decreased by the increase of calcium hydroxide. The decrease of missing plant rate above the application level of 200 ㎏ per 10a had a negative effect on the decrease of yield of root.
This research evaluate antioxidant and skin-whitening effect of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai by extraction processes. First, antioxidant effects were follows: EE (70% ethanol extract) showed higher DPPH scavenging activity of 69.66% than WE (hot water exract) 59.13% at 0.3 ㎎/㎖, also UE's (70% ethanol extract by sonication process) higher than EE. Reducing power was that also EE showed higher than WE, and it was the highest value with UE's because of ultrasonic pretreatment. Next, the whitening effect tyrosinase inhibition activity was measured that EE was 23.88%, WE's was 16.69%, and UE was 23.34%. Ultrasonic pretreatment did not influence to tyrosinase inhibition activity. Cell viability showed low cell toxicity in all groups. UE's inhibited melanin synthesis, 55.1%, that is higher than EE and WE, 52.7% and 39.5%, respectively. As a result, we confirmed that antioxidant activities and skin-whitening effect by extraction process. Also, this results confirmed that the Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai extracts worth as cosmetic materials.
This study was carried out to determine the effects of light controls and leaf mold on root growth and physiological responses of Atractylodes japonica growing in forest farming. The experiment was performed by light controls (100%, 62.5%, 40.3% and 19.7% of full sunlight) and application of leaf mold to soil. Height, stem diameter, number of flower buds and root collar diameter were the highest in leaf mold within 62.5% of full sunlight (relative light intensity 62.5%). And these were the higher in leaf mold within each light level. As the shading level increased, light saturation point and maximum photosynthesis rate decreased. As the light level decreased, SPAD value increased in control and leaf mold. As a result of surveying the whole experiment, A. japonica was judged worse root growth under the lower light level. It was concluded that the light level was one of the most important factors to produce A. japonica. Also, producing high-quality of A. japonica with the price competitiveness by using leaf mold like the experiment can be an effective way to increase incomes for farmers.