Background : Pinellia ternata is imported more than 95%, tuber is used as herb medicine according to The Korean Herbal Pharmacopoeia (KHP). There is no cultivar of P. ternata in Korea, and it is cultivated using native species. This study was to select the strains according to the leaf type in order to develop the standard varieties of P. ternata and expand the import substitution effect and domestic production base. Methods and Results : This study was conducted by the Department of Korean Medicinal Resource Development, NIKOM. A total of 1,260 individuals of P. ternata were collected from Jeju Island, Jangheung County, and China, and classified into three lines according to the ratio of leaf length and width. The selected lines were sowed in the middle of April, 2018 and cultivated with a black polypropylene mesh with a direct sunlight radiation transmittance of 60% to reduce solar radiation. Investigation items were investigated by leaf type (lanceolate, long oval, elliptical shape), plant height, leaf length, leaf width and petiole length. Lanceolate (leaf length / leaf width ratio, over 6) were selected for 157 individuals, average leaf length / leaf width ratio, plant hight and petiole length were 7.9, 17.3 ㎝ and 7.1 ㎝, respectively. long oval (leaf length / leaf width ratio, 6.0 to 2.0) were selected 118 individuals, average leaf length / leaf width ratio, plant hight and petiole length were 3.4, 12.3 ㎝ and 5.5 ㎝, respectively. In addition, 91 individuals were selected for elliptical shape (leaf length / leaf width ratio, less than 2), average leaf length / leaf width ratio, plant hight and petiole length were 1.7, 10.6 ㎝ and 4.6 ㎝, respectively. According to leaf type analysis, the growth characteristics of lanceolate were the best and the growth characteristics of oval were the lowest. Conclusion : These results can be used as basic data for the breeding of standard varieties of P. ternata, and further studies such as analysis of gene relatedness and major component will be conducted in the future.

This study was conducted to compare anti-inflammatory effect of Robinia pseudoacacia L. using different extraction methods (water extraction, ethanol extraction and high temperature extraction). We investigated anti-inflammatory effect of Robinia pseudoacacia L. extract (RP1, water extract; RP2, ethanol extract; RP3, high temperature extract) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammation using Raw 264.7 cell. Cells were treated with various concentrations (12.5, 25, 50, 100 or 200 ㎍/㎖) of water extract, ethanol extract and high temperature extract. Cytotoxicity was not observed on Raw 264.7 cells, LPS-stimulated production of NO (nitric oxide), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2) and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β) was reduced by RP3 treatment more than RP1 and RP2. In conclusion, these results indicated that inflammation on Raw 264.7 cells was improved by RP3. Treatment of RP3 could be used to natural medicine for improving inflammatory response. However, further experiment is required to observe how the high temperature extraction at 500℃ for 48 h influences on alteration of active ingredient in Robinia pseudoacacia L., and conducts the inflammation signal pathway on Raw 264.7 cells.

Background: Inflammation plays an important role in various diseases, including ulcerative colitis, Behcet's disease, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Morus alba L. extracts obtained using different extraction methods (water extraction or high temperature extraction) on RAW264.7 cells. Methods and Results: Extracts from the central part (including the heartwood, sapwood, cambiun, and phloem) and bark (including the periderm and cortex) of Morus alba L. were obtained using either water or high temperature extraction. The following extract were obtained: MA1, water extract from the central part of Morus alba L., MA2, high temperature extract from the central part of Morus alba L., MA3, water extract from the bark of Morus alba L., and MA4, high temperature extract from the bark of Morus alba L. None of these extracts was observed to be cytotoxic to RAW264.7 cells. The MA2 extract reduced the production of LPS-induced NO (nitric oxide), PGE2 (prostaglandin E2), TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β production in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions: These results indicated that the inflammatory response was moderated by MA2. Treatment with MA2 could be used as a natural medicine for treating diseases involving inflammation. However, further experiments are required to determine how the high temperature extraction method alters the active ingredients in the extract and influences the anti-inflammatory effects of Morus alba L..

Background: An imbalance in energy intake and expenditure can cause obesity, which is a major risk factor for chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, cancers and hyperlipidemia. Methods and Results: In this study, we evaluated the anti-obesity effects of a water extract from the young leaves of barley sprout (BS) in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice (HF). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that BS markedly inhibited adipogenesis by reducing lipid droplet production in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and fatty acid synthetase, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α and fatty acid binding protein 4 in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly inhibited by BS treatment. In an in vivo test, the BSadministered group of HFD-induced mice showed less body weight gain, and lower liver and epididymal white adipose tissue weights. The BS-treated mice showed decreased serum levels of leptin and lipids compared to untreated HFD mice and the levels of adiponectin and the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio increased. These results indicate that BS inhibits body fat accumulation by reducing the mRNA expression of lipogenesis transcription factors and increasing serum adipokine concentration in in vitro and in vivo tests. Conclusions: BS reduced high fat diet-induced weight gain and had a positive effect on dyslipidemia.

Background : Korean Indigenous Hylotelephium erythrostictum is widely distributed in South Korea and is used in Korean traditional medicine. In this study, the phylogenetic analysis of Korean native Hylotelephium erythrostictum and related plants on Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences were investigated to distinguish its origin. Methods and Results : The phylogenetic analysis of 6 species of Hylotelephium were investigated by ITS. The dendrogram was constructed by UPGMA(Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering algorithm based on genetic similarity of ITS. In the ITS sequence analysis, the size of total was varied from 676 to 779 bp. The size of ITS 1 was rated at 287bp, while ITS 2 was rated at 123bp. The G+C content of ITS region was ranged from 60 to 66%. In the ITS tree, six species of Hylotelephium were monophyletic, and H. viviparum was the first branching within the clade. Conclusion : H. spectabile formed a clade with H. erythrostictum, while H. verticillatum formed with H. viviparum.

Background : Curcuma longa L., is a very famous spice and medicinal herb in several countries of the world. Curcumin and volatile oils of C. longa improve hepatic and renal functions, and could be used against biliary disorders, diabetic and hepatic disorders. This medicinal plant was introduced for the regional promotion, Jeollanam-do, as the subtropic area in Korea. In the present study, the plant was introduced to the Jeollanam-do region of Korea with the aim to determine the optimal planting densities for growth characteristics, yield and curcumin contents which have not been reported up until now. Methods and Results : The field experiment was conducted at the experimental farm of Division of Traditional Korean Medicine Resource, NIKOM, Jangheung-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. The seedstock was planted at 40×20cm, 40×30cm and 40×40cm spacing with 3 replications. Nine plants were selected randomly for observations on growth characteristics such as plant height, stem diameter, leaves number, leaves area and to dry weight at days after transplanting (DAT) 90, 120 and 150. The dried samples of plant were stored in air tight polythene bags at room temperature for HPLC analysis of curcumin, which was undertaken following standard procedures. Top plant growth was observed in the 40×30cm planting density of C. longa, plant height, leaves number, leaves area and day shoot weight were larger than in the other treatments. Root length, root diameter and supporting roots of underground part were increased as planting density was wide, and dry root weight was increased in 40×30cm. However, yield and curcumin constituent was highest each 294 kg/10a and 68.7 mg/g in the planting density of 40×20cm. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, planting density of 40×20cm is the most suitable in the cultivation and curcumin constituents of C. longa.

Background : Irregular meals and insufficient exercise are major modern lifestyle-related risk factors for constipation. This study aimed to examine the effects of the aqueous extract of Dendrobium speciosum var. (DM) on the improvement of intestinal function and prevention of constipation in rats. Methods and Results : Constipation in rat was induced by loperamide (4 ㎎/㎏) injection for 5 days and rats were randomly assigned to the following groups: normal control rats (NOR), constipated rats (LOP induced) and constipated rats supplemented with dulcolax-S (POS), DMSG, 100 ㎎/㎏ (DMSG-100), 300 ㎎/㎏ (DMSG-300) and 500 ㎎/㎏ (DMSG-500). The DMSG groups showed increments in the frequency and amount of stools compared to the LOP group. Loperamide treatment markedly reduced the water content of feces, whereas DMSG administration significantly increased fecal water contents. Moreover, DMSG improved intestinal transit speed in constipated-rats. Alcian blue staining revealed increased mucus production by crypt cells and mucus contents in feces and the mucosal surface. Conclusions : In summary, DM extraction significantly improves intestinal function in rats, which indicates the effectiveness of this extract in the prevention and treatment of constipation.

Dendrobium loddigesii (DL) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening effects of DL under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells. The DL extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DL extract effectively suppressed the α-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the α-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DL treatment. These results indicate that DL may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening effects.