Background: Invasion of these invasive plants in the ecosystem threatens the habitat of endemic species, reduces biodiversity, and causes a disturbance in the ecological system. Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae), the most invasive plant in Korea, particularly in Jeju Island, invades farmlands, and autochthonous forests, resulting in the establishment of monocultures and modification of the ecosystem structure. Methods and Results: In this study was, we evaluated the biological activity of 70% ethanolic extracts from different parts of Hypochaeris radicata L. The biological activities of 70% ethanolic extracts of different parts, such as flower, leaf, stem, and root, of H. radicata were investigated. The total polyphenol content was highest in flower extracts (50.82 ± 3.16 ㎎ · GAE/g). In addition, the highest flavonoid content was observed in flower extract (15.19 ± 2.03㎎ · QE/g). The flower extract of H. radicata exhibited stronger DPPH radical-scavenging activities, ABTS radical scavenging activities, and reducing power than the other parts. The flower extract of H. radicata was observed to have the highest tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Conclusions: The flower extracts of H. radicata exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity as well as tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. These activities might be related to the phenolic compounds present in the H. radicata flower extract.
Background: Rehmannia glutinosa is a perennial herb belonging to the family Scrophulariaceae. Its roots have been utilized as a traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to elucidate the basic information of the roots of the R. glutinosa cultivars and their utilization. Methods and Results: The roots of R. glutinosa cultivars were harvested in the end of March. The two iridoid glycosides, aucubin and catalpol, were analyzed by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS), whereas γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The aucubin content was the highest in the Dakang cultivar, whereas no aucubin was detected in the five cultivars. All cultivars had more than 12 ㎎/g catalpol content, and the maximum catalpol content was found in Jihwang 1. The GABA content was the highest in Suwon 1, and it was 40 times more than that in the Yeongang cultivar. Conclusions: The highest aucubin, catapol and GABA contents were detected in the Dakang, Jihwang 1, and Suwon 1, cultivars respectively. This study provides the crucial information regarding the versatile utilization and pedigree selection of R. glutinosa cultivars.
Background: In this study, examined the effects of an extract of a mixture of Angelica gigas, Cnidium officinale, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa fermented by Leuconostoc mesenteroides, with enhanced value and functionality. In oriental medicine, a mixture of these herbs is called Samultang. Methods and Results: In this study, we evaluated the effects of a fermented extract of Samultang on oxidative stress, procollagen type I expression, and melanin production. Samultang was extracted with 70% ethanol, followed by inoculation with Leuconostoc mesenteroides to obtain the fermented extract. The evaluation of viability of B16F10 cells and human foreskin fibroblast (HHF) revealed that both ethanol and fermented extracts of Samultang were non-toxic. The results of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test showed that the fermented extract of Samultang (SC50 value = 100 ㎍/㎖) was a more effective DPPH free radical scavenger than its ethanol extract. In addition, procollagen type I expression was higher in cells treated with the fermented extract of Samultang than in cells treated with ethanol. In the non-toxic concentration range, the fermented extract of Samultang showed strong inhibitory effect on melanin production in α-melanocyte stimulatin hormone-stimulated B16F10 cells (IC50 = 37.9 ㎍/㎖). Conclusions: These results suggest that the fermented extract of Samultang has considerable protential as a cosmetic ingredient owing to its antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, and whitening effects.
Background: This study were performed to determine the effect of root pruning of Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis (Bunge) Rehder. Root cutting inhibit vegetative growth and promote reproductive growth as temporarily reducing growth, net assimilation, water potential of leaf and cytokinin level. Methods and Results: The root pruning was treated of the root cutting widths 50, and 80㎝ and the root cutting depths 10, and 20㎝. The amount of root pruning and the number of suckers were the highest in the root-pruning treatment at a width of 50㎝ and a depth of 20㎝. The blooming time was from June 18 to 20, and no difference was observed in the blooming time among the rootpruning treatments. The number of flowers was rather higher in the root-pruning treatment at a width of 50㎝ and a depth of 20㎝ and at a width of 80㎝ and a depth of 20㎝. The percentage of fruit setting was higher in the plants whose roots were pruned at a depth of 20㎝ than in the untreated plants. The fruit size, fruit weight, and sugar content showed no difference among the root-pruning treatments. Conclusions: The results showed that percentage of fruit setting increased with root pruning, while no difference was observed in the growth and fruit quality of plants.
Background: Traditional plant drugs, are less toxic and free from side effects compared to general synthetic drugs. They have been used for the treatment of diabetes and associated renal damage. In this study, we evaluated effect of Hachimi-jio-gan against diabetic renal damage in a rat model of type 1 diabetic nephropathy induced by subtotal nephrectomy plus streptozotocin (STZ) injection, and in Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats and db/db mice as a model of human type 2 diabetes, and its associated complications. To explore the active components of Hachimi-jio-gan, the antidiabetic effect of corni fructus, a consituent of Hachimi-jio-gan, and 7-O-galloyl-D-sedoheptulose, a phenolic compound isolated from corni fructus, were investigated. Methods and Results: We conducted an extensive literature search, and all required data were collected and systematically organized. The findings were reviewed and categorized based on relevance to the topic. A summary of all the therapeutic effects were reported as figures and tables. Conclusions: Hachimi-jio-gan serves as a potential therapeutic agent to against the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetic nephropathy. From the results of characterization active components of corni fructus, 7-O-galloyl-D-sedoheptulose is considered to play an important role in preventing and/or delaying the onset of diabetic renal damage. 7-O-Galloyl-D-sedoheptulose is expected to serve as a novel therapeutic agent against the development of diabetic nephropathy.
Background: Ginseng is a perennial crop grown for more than four years in the same place. Therefore, it is highly affected by the soil environment, especially nutrients in the soil. The present study was carried out to investigate to the influence of boron and iron concentrations on the physiological status, growth, and mineral uptake of ginseng to obtain the basic information for diagnosing a physiological disorder in ginseng plants. Methods and Results: The boron and iron concentrations were controlled at 3, 30, 150, 300 and 2, 20, 100, 200㎎/ℓ, respectively. When treated with 150㎎/ℓ of boron, the ginseng plants showed yellowing or necrosis symptoms at the edge or end of their leaves. Compared with the 3㎎/ℓ treatment, the root weight decreased by 13 and 24% in the 150 and 300㎎/ℓ treatments, respectively. When treated with 20㎎/ℓ of iron, the ginseng plants showed yellowing between the veins of the leaves followed by the formation of brown spots. The root weight gradually decreased with increasing iron concentration. Approximately 55% decrease in root weight was observed upon treatment with 200㎎/ℓ of iron. Conclusions: The boron toxicity occurs in the leaves of ginseng at the boron concentration of approximately 1,900㎎/㎏ or more. The iron toxicity occurs at the iron concentration of approximately 120㎎/㎏ for leaves and 270㎎/㎏ for roots.