Background: A set of logical criteria that can accurately identify and verify the cultivation region of raw materials is a critical tool for the scientific management of traditional herbal medicine. Methods and Results: Volatile compounds were obtained from 19 and 32 samples of Angelica gigas Nakai cultivated in Korea and China, respectively, by using steam distillation extraction. The metabolites were identified using GC/MS by querying against the NIST reference library. Data binning was performed to normalize the number of variables used in statistical analysis. Multivariate statistical analyses, such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA), Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Orthogonal Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) were performed using the SIMCA-P software. Significant variables with a Variable Importance in the Projection (VIP) score higher than 1.0 as obtained through OPLS-DA and those that resulted in p-values less than 0.05 through one-way ANOVA were selected to verify the marker compounds. Among the 19 variables extracted, styrene, α-pinene, and β-terpinene were selected as markers to indicate the origin of A. gigas. Conclusions: The statistical model developed was suitable for determination of the geographical origin of A. gigas. The cultivation regions of six Korean and eight Chinese A. gigas. samples were predicted using the established OPLS-DA model and it was confirmed that 13 of the 14 samples were accurately classified
Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods to reduce seeding expenses, thereby increasing farm income. This study investigated the effects of rain shelter controlled cultivation and adapted seeding times on the stable seed production of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Methods and Results: Seed germination was conducted under 10 condition compose to control, water washing, cold storage at 4℃ for 15 days, seed sterilization with a benomyl pesticides, hormone treated seed by submerging in 100 ppm GA3 with the cold storage at 20℃ and 25℃, darkness in a covered petridish and illuminated with a 1,500 Lux lamp. There were three cultivation type, open cultivation with non-woven fabric mulching, cultivation with a vinyl covering and rain sheltered in a plastic greenhouse. Sowing dates were April 27, May 18, June 7 and June 28, 2013. Plants were spaced 10 ㎝ apart in rows 30 ㎝ apart. Mixed oil cake fertilizer, N-P2O5-K2O (12-10-10) was applied at 600 ㎏• 10 a−1. Conclusions: Optimum germination occured in darkness at 25℃ and cold storage after submerging in GA3. The highest seed yields (4.5 ㎏• 10 a−1) occurred in the plastic greenhouse for the April 25 sowing. The highest root yield (17%) was found on April 1, under greenhouse conditions.
Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of harvest time on the growth, yield characteristics and loganin content in Dipsacus asperoides Wall. Methods and Results: Dipsacus asperoides seedlings were planted within a nursery environment in early May 2015 and harvested in early, middle and late October 2015, and early November 2015. Harvest time did not result significant differences in the plant height, stem diameter, branch length, leaf width and aboveground dry weight moreover, no significant differences were observed in root length, number of roots and root diameter. However, the diameter of lateral roots was greater in the harvests from the late October and period thereafter. The highest values of root dry weight and yield were recorded in early November. Specifically, the yield significantly increased from 205 ㎏/10 a (index: 100) in early October to 358 ㎏/10 a (index: 175) in early November, in terms of root part weight. Loganin contents of D. asperoides differed significantly among harvest times raging from 0.0766% in early October to 0.1704% in late November, thereby showing an increasing trend in later harvest times. Conclusions: These results suggest that the optimum harvest time for D. asperoides is early November, when the yield is the highest. Harvest time significantly affected loganin contents, which constantly increased from early October until early November.
Background: This study examined the hypoglycemic and kidney protective effect of black ginseng in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Methods and Results: Diabetes was induced by treating mice with streptozotocin (STZ) for four weeks. In vivo studies were performed in order to investigate the hypoglycemic effect of the black ginseng prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) extract. The body weight and blood glucose level were measured. Moreover, after the mice were sacrificed, the kidneys were isolated and histological changes were observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine levels were also measured. The results showed that administration of black ginseng increased body weight. Compared to blood glucose levels in STZ mice, blood glucose levels were reduced by 48% in STZ mice supplemented with 300 ㎎/㎏ of black ginseng, and by 69% in STZ mice supplemented with 900 ㎎/㎏. Furthermore, histopathological examination of STZ mouse kidneys revealed, changes in the kidneys, epithelial cell damages, inflammatory cell infiltration and glomerulus hypertrophy. However, a significant reduction of glomerular water droplets (indicative of glomerulus hypertrophy) was observed in the kidneys of STZ mice supplemented with black ginseng extract. Conclusions: These results suggest that black prosapogenin (GBG05-FF) ginseng extract has a significant hypoglycemic effect and can be used as an anti-diabetic substance and renal protective agents as part of dietary supplements or novel drugs.
Background: Turmeric (Curcuma longa L.) that is used as a food material has antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently the demand for functional foods and drugs has increased. The present study was carried out to determined of contents of residual sulfur dioxide, heavy metals, ash, acid insoluble ash and curcuminoids in turmeric from the Seoul Yak-ryeong market. Methods and Results: A total of 31 samples were obtained. Residual sulfur dioxide was not detected in any samples. Heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead and mercury) were analyzed by ICP-MS (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer) and a mercury analyzer and were detected in the ranges of 0.00 - 0.28, 0.00 - 0.07, 0.00 - 0.29 and 0.002 - 0.027㎎/g respectively. No significant difference were observed between the average heavy metal contents of domestic and imported tumeric. However, average content of ash in domestic samples (7.8%) were significantly higher than that in imported samples (6.1%), whereas that of curcuminoids was significantly higher in imported samples (47.6㎎/g) than in domestic samples (11.2㎎/g). The average content of acid insoluble ash was not significantly different between two sample types (0.9% in each). Conclusions: There are no specific standards for turmeric used as food materials. Therefore, this study can be provided as basic data for the establishment of quality standards for turmeric.
Background: In this study, we investigated the antibacterial and nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activities of 75% ethanol extract of Prunus sargentii branches and its fractions against acne pathogens. Methods and Results: The antibacterial activity against acne causing pathogens was determined using the disc diffusion assay. The ethyl acetate fraction showed higher activities against Propionibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis than those shown by other fractions. In the DPPH radical and NO scavenging assays, the butanol fraction showed strong DPPH radical and NO scavenging abilities. These activities were related to the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of butanol fraction. On the other hand, the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited the highest NO production inhibitory activity in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells compared to those exhibited by other fractions. Conclusions: The extract and its ethyl acetate fraction from the branches of P. sargentii exhibited antibacterial activity and could be used as functional materials in antimicrobial related fields. Moreover, the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions are potential antiinflammatory agents and butanol fraction acts as an effective radical scavenger.
Background: Root diseases caused by Cylindrocarpon destructans and Fusarium solani decrease the yield and quality of ginseng. Cylindrocarpon root rot is a major disease caused by replant failure in ginseng fields. Methods and Results: Solarization of infested greenhouse soil was carried out during the summer season after applying green manure (Sudan grass) and Calcium Cyanamide (CC) on the soil. Mycelium and conidia of C. destructans died at 40℃ after 15 h, but they did not die at 35℃ after 15 h. They also died after keeping the soil at 40℃ for 2 h daily for 9 days, and at 45℃ for 8 days, but they did not die at 38℃ for 9 days. Maximum soil temperature was 55.4℃ at 5 ㎝ depth, 48.7℃ at 10 ㎝, 44.7℃ at 15 ㎝, 42.5℃ at 20 ㎝, and 31.9℃ at 30 ㎝ by incorporating green manure into the soil and using solarization. Solarization using green manure mixed with CC was the most effective in decreasing soil-borne pathogens of 2-year-old ginseng. However, the addition of CC decreased the root weight due to the increase in EC and NO3-N. Conclusions: Soil disinfection using green manure and solarization in a greenhouse environment was effective in inhibiting root rot, however, it did not completely kill the soil-borne pathogens.
Background: The public has increasing concerns about herbal crops owing to insufficient information on biological hazards such as foodborne pathogens. Therefore, the objective of this study is the development of a herbal crop quality control system through monitoring with biological hazard analysis. Today, it is estimated that millions of people become ill every year from food contamination. The public demands agricultural products of stable and consistent quality. Governments have the responsibility of establishing the standards, legislation and enforcement programs necessary to control food quality and safety. However, research on the biosafety of herbal crop products is still insufficient. Therefore, the implementation of monitoring systems with high standards is critical for public safety. Methods and Results: In this study, we collected 52 samples of herbal crop products, and conducted both quantitative and qualitative biological hazard analysis. With biological hazard analysis, aerobic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Coliforms, and Listeria spp. could be detected. Conclusions: Herbal crops were found to be contaminated with aerobic bacteria at 3.69 ± 0.32 log CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, Coliforms, and Listeria spp. were not detected in any of the samples. This research suggests that continuous monitoring of biological hazards is required to improve the quality of herbal crops.
Background: Sanguisorba officinalis has been used in traditional Asian medicine owing to its beneficial effects on various diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of S. officinalis on the antioxidant system of Streptozotocin (STZ) and Alloxan (ALL) induced diabetic rats. Methods and Results: Triglyceride and Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol levels decreased in the STZ-induced diabetic groups treated with S. officinalis extract (SOE) compared to the corresponding levels in the control groups. Moreover, in the ALLinduced diabetic groups, SOE reduced triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, and High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels. Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels decreased significantly in the STZ and ALL-induced groups treated with SOE compared to the corresponding levels in the control group. Further, Glutathione (GSH) levels increased but did not reach statistical significance. The levels of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione-S-Transferase (GST) showed a tendency to recover with SOE treatment in the STZ and ALL-induced diabetic groups. In addition, Catalase (CAT) levels in the SOE treatment group decreased significantly compared to those in the control group. Conclusions: These results suggest that SOE might be an effective agent in attenuating oxidative stress in diabetic patients by improving blood lipid profiles and inducing the anti-oxidative enzyme systems.