Spiraea prunifolia Sieb. et Zucc. var. simpliciflora Nakai (SSN) has been used for the anti-inflammation in traditional folk medicine. To compare water and methanol extracts of SSN, we analyzed major components using LC IT TOF MS. The major components of hot water extract were identified as caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, but methanol extract was not well established. However, methanol extract was detected with less polarity compounds compared to hot water extract. Next, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SSN water extract on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response or H2O2-induced oxidative stress in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. SSN strongly suppressed the production of nitric oxide in LPS-induced inflammatory response without cytotoxcity. The SSN possessed free radical scavenging activities such as DPPH (IC50=320.2 ㎍/㎖), ABTS (IC50=124.0 ㎍/㎖), and superoxide anion radical (IC50=122.6 ㎍/㎖). The total phenol and flavonoid content of SSN was 56.7 ㎎/g, and 15.1 ㎎/g, respectively. Furthermore, SSN decreased the H2O2-induced cytotoxicity by enhancing the cell viability, and SSN significantly reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Therefore, SSN may be recommended as an effective strategy to prevent and/or treat various inflammation and ROS-induced diseases.

Effects of high pressure processing on physicochemical and microorganisms properties in birch sap were investigated using variable high pressure processing conditions. The viable cell counts of untreated birch sap was 4.0 log CFU, whereas high pressure processed sap were not detected. In birch sap was treated with 450 to 550 MPa, microorganisms were not detected during storage period, and physicochemical properties as well as color were slightly changed. The more processing time and pressure, its quality variations were more stable and then its optimum processing condition was determined with 120 sec at 550 MPa. The microorganisms and physicochemical properties of treated birch sap were investigated during storage at 5℃ and 10℃ for 45 and 28 days. Changes of physicochemical properties of treated birch sap were smaller than those of the untreated, but viable cell count were not detected during storage period. As for pH, °Brix, and turbidity result of birch sap, quality shelf life of control and treatment were 4 and 24 days, respectively. Especially, ΔE value of instrumental color was untreated birch sap 4 days similar with the high pressure processed it for 28 days. These results indicated that the high pressure processing can be used as an effective method to improve the shelf life of birch sap.

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.

The Diameter at Breast Height (DBH) provides information about the volume growth of a tree. In this study, we estimated the relative growth rates of Castanea crenata and Pinus rigida as 4.07% and 3.73%, respectively. Although the difference was low, we demonstrated that the growth rate of C. crenata is slightly faster than that of P. rigida. After calculating the relative growth rate for each section, we found that the relative growth of C. crenata decreased with time. However, the relative growth rate of P. rigida showed an overall increase. The gap widths of both species showed an increasing trend. However, the gradient of the two species was different. The gradient of C. crenata was approximately 12.0, but that of P. rigida was approximately 4.7. This means that the volume growth of C. crenata was faster than that of P. rigida during 4 years. However, this was relatively a short period for measuring the volume growth pattern, and we believe that additional useful information can be obtained by conducting long-term ecological monitoring. Results of canonical correspondence analysis showed that among the climate variables, temperature was significantly related to the gap widths for both species.

Background : Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) was used as medicinal plant in Tibetan and Mongolian traditional medicines. It has been recognised as a versatile nutraceutical crop with diverse uses for the treatment of diseases, such as gastric ulcers, lung disorders, cardiovascular diseases, mucosal injuries and skin disorders. Physiological research on mixture of sea buckthorn leaf and fruit have not be reported. Therefore, in this study, using sea buckthorn mixture, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects were determined. Methods and Results : The experiment was carried out using 11 samples (100% leaf extract - 100% fruit juice powder). The antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of sea buckthorn mixture were evaluated using DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. The leaf extract with fruit juice in the ratio of 60 : 40 (w/w) showed a significant effect (86.43%). The mixture of sea buckthorn leaf and fruit were investigated for anti-inflammatory activity using LPS stimulated Raw 264.7 cells. The results showed that the higher ratio of leaf extract indicated greater anti-inflammatory activity (approximately 10%, NO production ). Conclusion : These result showed that the mixture of sea buckthorn leaf and fruit can be used as a variety of antioxidant and other functional product research and development processes as valuable natural materials.

Backgrounds : The action mechanisms of several chemopreventive agents derived from herbal medicine and edible plants have become attractive issues in cancer research. Tea is the most widely consumed beverage worldwide. It have been demonstrated that the active principles of tea sources such as flower extract Camellia sinensis (CSF) and Camellia japonica (CJF)were attributed to their tea polyphenols. We focused on investigating CSF, CJF, mixtures of CSF and CJF has been proven to suppress colonic tumorigenesis. Methods and Results : In this study, human colorectal carcinoma HT-29 cells were treated with CSF, CJF, mixture of CSF and CJF to examine the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of mixture of CSF and CJF (3 : 1), as well as the molecular mechanism underlying these effects. Cell viability assay, nuclear staining, DNA fragmentation, caspase assay, cytochrome c release, were utilized to dissect the signaling pathways. In mixture of CSF and CJF (3 : 1), CSF appeared most anticancer effect by both MTT assays and the cleavage analysis of apoptosis-related molecules and PARP. Interestingly, we found that CJF make it possible to express the apotosis inducing by CSF in a short time and apoptosis effect of CSF maintained sustainable. Conclusion : In summary, our results from this study suggest that in HT-29 human colon cancer cells (i) CSF treatment causes damage to mitochondria, and (ii) CJF contributed CSF induced apoptotic cell death mediates cytochrome C release, (ⅲ) mixture of CSF and CJF (3 : 1) the potential to function as a chemopreventive agent against colon cancer.

Backgrounds : Camellia sinensis is known to have a very high antioxidant activity, but its petals are small and it is difficult to use it because of its low yield. In comparison Camellia japonica has many petals and yield, however, the biological effects of C. japonica have been less frequently studied. In the present study, we focused on investigating the in vitro antioxidant effect of the ethanol extract from flower of C. sinensis (CSF), C. japonica (CJF) and mixture of CSF and CJF. Methods and Results : Content of total phenolics and total flavonid, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities, reducing power, superoxide anion and hydroxy radical scavenging activity of CSF and CJF were compared in vitro experimetal models. Total phenolics was contained the higer in CJF (172.19±1.65 mgCAE/gEX) than 146.75±0.15 mgCAE/gEX in CSF. And effects of antioxidant measured by reducing power, superoxide anion generated by xanthine/xanthine oxidase and hydroxyl radical generated by the Fenton reaction (FeSO4 + H2O2) in a cell-free system was shown higher in mixture of CSF and CJF than BHT, ascorbic acid as a chemical oxidant which was detected by electron spin resonance spectrometry coupled with DMPO spin trapping. These results suggest that Camellia flower extract such as CSF and CJF exhibits antioxidant properties by scavenging ROS. Camellia extract contained quercetin, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, quercitrin and kaempferol, which are antioxidant compounds. Conclusion : As a result, the combination of CSF and CJF showed higher antioxidative effect than using CSF or CJF alone.

Background : Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal loss and extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid (Aβ), a 39-43 amino acid peptide derived from amyloid precursor protein. In cultures, Aβ directly induce neuronal cell death and can include excessive generation of free radicals and peroxidative injury to proteins, lipids, and other macromolecules. Actinidia arguta, generally called hardy kiwifruit, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and antioxidative properties. The present study aims to investigate the neuroprotective effect of the leaves and stems of A. arguta using in vitro cultured neurons and in vivo experimental animals. Methods and Results : Primary cortical neuronal cultures were prepared using Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat fetuses on embryonic days 15. Neurotoxicity experiments were performed on neurons after 3-4 days in culture. Cultured neurons were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h to produce neurotoxicity. In addition, cultured neurons were treated with H2O2 (100 μM) for 15 min and then incubated for 12 h in H2O2-free medium. Viability of cultured neurons was measured by a colorimetric MTT assay. Hoechst 33342 staining of neurons was carried out to examine Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal death. A. arguta over the concentration of 10 to 50 ㎍/㎖ prevented Aβ (25-35) (10 μM)-induced apoptotic neuronal death, and inhibited H2O2-induced decrease of MTT reduction rate. These results suggest that oxidative stress is implicated in Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal apoptotic death. Memory impairment was produced by intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) microinjection of 15 nmol Aß (25-35) and examined using passive avoidance test in ICR mice. Chronic treatments with A. arguta (14 days, p.o.) protected memory impairment induced by Aß (25-35). Conclusion : The present study suggests that A. arguta has a therapeutic role for preventing the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as AD.

Background : It is well known that Alzheimer`s disease (AD) is associated with neuronal loss and accumulation of extracellular senile plaque, whose major constituent is β-amyloid peptide (Aβ). In cell cultures, Aβ can directly stimulate neuronal cell death and make neurons susceptible to excitotoxicity which may include glutamate release and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor activation. There are numerous reports in the literature of Cedrela sinensis (CS) for pro-apoptotic effects. It was hypothesized that CS might protect neurons against neurodegeneration in AD due to its pro-apoptotic effects. The current study aimed to determine the protective effect of ethanol extract from the leave of CS on Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal cell death in primary cultured rat cortical neurons. Methods and Results : Cerebral neurons were collected from embryonic day 15 SD rat fetuses and were cultured on DMEM with serum. Neurotoxicity experiments were proceeded on cultured neurons after 4-5 days in vitro. Cultured neurons were treated with 10 μM Aβ (25-35) for 24 h or 1 mM NMDA for 20 h to induce neuronal death. CS was applied 20 min before the treatment with Aβ (25-35) or NMDA and also present in the medium during the incubations. Colorimetric MTT assay and Hoechst 33342 staining were used to estimate viability of neurons. Western blot analysis was carried out to examine the expression levels of anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic proteins. CS (5 and 10 ㎍/㎖) significantly inhibited Aβ (25-35)-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death in cultured cortical neurons. CS also inhibited Aβ (25-35)-induced change of apoptosis-related protein expression in western blot analysis. Furthermore CS (5 and 10 ㎍/㎖) reuduced NMDA-induced neuronal cell death. This study demonstrated that NMDA glutamate receptor activation is related with Aβ (25-35)-induced neuronal apoptotic death. Conclusion : CS protected culterd neurons against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity probably via inhibition of NMDA receptor activation. These results suggest that CS can prevent the progression of neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease.

Background : This study was carried out to provide the basic data for selection of excellent resources and true seeds of southern medicinal plant (Camellia japonica). Methods and Results : Camellia japonica seedlings (measure in October, seeding in May) were 7.4 leaves, 1.0 g leaf dry weight, 6.7 ㎝ stem length, 2.9 ㎜ stem diameter, 0.3 g stem dry weight, 17.3 ㎝ root length, 1.0 g root dry weight, 2.0 g plant dry weight and 1.4. T/R ratio. Leaf number, leaf dry weight, stem diameter and root dry weight were higher than average after 1.21 g of seed weight. Stem length was higher than average after 1.01 g of seed weight, plant dry weight was higher than average after 0.81 g of seed weight, and stem dry weight was higher than average after 0.61 g of seed weight. Seedling growth was good when the seeds were heavy, and T/R ratio tended to decrease when the seeds were heavy. Conclusions : In order to mass-produce of seedlings using Camellia japonica seeds, it was necessary to specify the weight and size of the seeds.

Background : This study was carried out to provide the basic data for selection of excellent resources and true seeds of southern medicinal plant (Camellia japonica). Methods and Results : The germination rate at room temperature and 4℃ dry storage did not show a tendency according to seed weight. The germination rate of 4℃ wet sand storage increased with seed weight but showed very low germination rate at 120 days of storage. The germination rate at 4℃ wet filter paper storage was higher than 80% in 60 days, 90 days and 120 days storage, and there was no difference in germination rate with seed weight. The mean number of germination days was about 30 days in average at room temperature and 4℃ dry storage, but wet storage (sand, filter paper) was short as about 13 days. Conclusions : The seeding of Camellia japonica seeds (last autumn harvest) in the spring of the next year was evaluated as the most efficient way to 4℃ wet filter paper storage

소사나무(Carpinus turczaninowii, C. turczaninowii) 잎 추출물의 멜라닌 생성 억제활성을 B16F10 melanoma 세포를 이용하여 측정하였다. 그 결과, 에탄올 추출물(100 μ g/mL)에서 72.2%의 생성 억제 효과를 확인하였으며, 동일 농도에서 MTT 세포독성은 거의 나타나지 않았다. 분획물(헥산, 에틸아세테이트, 부탄올 및 물)을 제조한 후 실험을 진행한 결과, 에틸아세테이트 분획에서 가장 우수한 활성이 관찰되었다. 에틸아세테이 트 분획에서 활성성분을 규명하기 위하여 크로마토그라피를 진행하였으며, 4개의 화합물을 분리 동정하였다; ethyl gallate (1), quercetin rhamnose (2), kaempferol rhamnose (3), quercetin galloylrhamnose (4). 화합물의 구조규명은 핵자기공명분광기 등을 이용하여 이루어졌으며, 4개의 화합물 모두 소사나무 잎에서는 처 음 분리된 물질이다. 분리된 화합물을 대상으로 멜라닌 생성 억제활성 실험을 진행한 결과, 화합물 4에서 세포독 성 없이 농도의존적인 억제활성을 확인하였다. 또한, 화합물 4는 세포 내에서 티로시나제 발현양을 감소시키고 있음을 ELISA를 통하여 확인하였다. 이상의 결과를 바탕으로, 소사나무 잎 추출물이 화장품에서 미백제로 활용 될 가능성이 있다고 판단된다.

Sophora japonica has been used for treatment of liver and blood-related diseases in herbology. We evaluated whitening activities of Sophorae Flos and Fructus. Sophorae Flos and Fructus were extracted with methanol (MeOH) and divided into petroleum ether, ethyl acetate(EtOAC) and water fraction. For whitening effect by western blot in B16 F10 cells, we analyzed it by investigating the effect of tyrosinase, TRP-l (tyrosinase-related protein 1), TRP-2 (tyrosinase-related protein 2) and MITF (microphthalmia-associated transcription factor) protein expression. The protein expressions of tyrosinase, TRP-1, TRP-2 and MITF in B16 F10 cells treated with Sophorae Flos and Fructus extract were reduced in a dose-dependant manner. Therefore, these results suggest that Sophorae Flos and Fructus have useful plant resource to be developed as functional cosmetic.

자외선은 피부 노화를 가속화하여 피부 광노화를 유발하고, 일광 화상, 피부암 등을 유발한다. 자외선 차단제를 사용하더라도 일부 자외선에 의하여 피부 손상은 유발될 수 있기 때문에 자외선에 대한 피부 자체의 방어력을 올려주는 것이 필요하다. 최근, 식물에서 자외선 보호 기능을 하는 것으로 알려진 COP1이 사람의 피부 에서도 자외선에 대한 반응들을 조절한다고 새롭게 밝혀졌다. 본 연구에서는, COP1과 그의 결합 단백질 DET1 이 사람 피부의 각질형성세포에서 자외선에 대한 시그날 조절 물질인 c-Jun 단백질 양을 조절하는 것을 확인하 였다. 자외선에 노출 시 COP1과 DET1 발현이 감소하였고, 그 영향으로 c-Jun 단백질이 증가하였다. 반대로 COP1과 DET1을 발현하는 DNA를 transfection 시켜줄 경우 c-Jun 단백질 양이 감소하였다. 피부 각질형성 세포에서 COP1과 DET1의 발현을 조절할 수 있는 물질을 탐색한 결과, 초피나무 열매 추출물이 COP1과 DET1의 발현을 증가시켜 주었다. 초피나무 열매 추출물은 c-Jun 시그날에 의해서도 조절되는 MMP1이 자외 선에 의해 유도되는 것을 억제하였다. 뿐만 아니라, 초피나무 열매 추출물 PPAR-α 활성이 있어 장벽강화를 통한 피부 보호 효과가 있는데, 자외선에 의하여 염증 유발 물질인 IL-6와 IL-8의 발현이 증가하는 것도 억제 하였다. 사람의 팔에 자외선을 쪼여 준 경우에도 초피나무 열매 추출물이 홍반이 생기는 것을 억제하고 홍반에 의한 색소침착도 억제하였다. 종합적으로, 초피나무 열매 추출물은 다양한 메카니즘을 통하여 자외선으로부터 피부를 보호해 줄 것으로 기대된다.

본 연구에서는 Sophora japonica L. (S. japonica)학명의 콩과 식물 낙엽교목인 회화나무의 꽃, 열매, 가지 에탄올 추출물의 총 폴리페놀 함량 및 l,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) 라디칼 소거능 측정, 티로시나제 활성 저해력 측정 및 porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) 저해력 측정을 통하여 기능성 화장품 소 재로서의 활용 가능성을 확인하였다. 그 결과 총 폴리페놀 함량은 평균 각각 261.37 mg/g, 187.49 mg/g, 81.26 mg/g이며, DPPH 라디칼 소거능을 조사한 결과 50 ∼ 1,000 mg/L 농도에서 회화나무 꽃 추출물은 17.68 ± 1.59 ∼ 51.40 ± 1.04%, 열매 추출물은 27.48 ± 0.22 ∼ 50.89 ± 0.13%, 가지 추출물은 30.79 ± 0.55 ∼ 45.17 ± 0.83% 범위의 소거 활성을 나타내었다. 또한 같은 농도에서 티로시나제 저해능과 PPE 저해능을 실험한 결과 회화나무 꽃 추출물은 0.27 ± 0.12 ∼ 11.38 ± 0.57%, 3.70 ± 1.23 ∼ 7.28 ± 1.01% 열매 추출물은 0.27 ± 0.02 ∼ 0.82 ± 0.27%, 3.06 ± 2.13 ∼ 13.03 ± 2.99%, 가지 추출물은 0.09 ± 0.16 ∼ 0.55 ± 0.27%, 6.00 ± 0.96 ∼ 9.71 ± 0.44% 범위로 티로시나제 저해능은 꽃 추출물이 높게 나타났다. 본 연구에서 회화나무의 피부개선에 미치는 효능, 효과를 살펴본 결과 꽃, 열매, 가지 추출물이 각 부위별로 효과가 상이하게 나타남을 알 수 있었다.