In order to utilize the tuber of Jerusalem artichoke (Jerusalem tuberosus L.) which has been considered one of the most economical resources for bioenergy, the tubers of the plant were processed into silage in 11 lab-silo with three levels of mixture of c

Background: Cassia tora L., an annual or perennial plant of the Fabaceae family, is traditional medicine with various biological activities, including anti-constipation and, anti-inflammation. Chemical compounds such as anthraquinone glycoside and naphthalene derivatives have been isolated from this plant. Cassia tora L. is a common contaminant of agricultural commodities, but is toxic to cattle and poultry. Methods and Results: To investigate the potential toxicity, Cassia tora L. aqueous extract (CO) was administered orally to rats for 26 weeks at 0 (control), 300, 1,500 and 3,000㎎/㎏/day (n = 10 for male rats for each dose). The positive control comprised animals orally administered anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day. There was no treatment-related mortality. An increase in the kidney weight was observed at 3,000㎎/㎏/day of CO and anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day. Macrophage infiltration in the colon was observed at CO 1,500 and 3,000㎎/㎏/day and anthraquinone 100㎎/㎏/day, but there were no significant toxicological changes in the incidence and severity of the finding. Conclusions: The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of CO was 3,000㎎/㎏/day in male rats and no target organs were identified. In addition, 300㎎/㎏ was found to be the no-observed-effect level (NOEL) for systemic toxicity under the conditions of the study.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to attain and sustain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse. Frequent ED may be a symptom of health problems including heart disease, obesity, alcoholism, stress, smoking, and depression, that need treatment. This study aimed to effect of complex extract (CPL) including Cornus officinalis on sexual function factor in the erectile dysfunction rat model. The erectile dysfuction rat model was induced by cimetidine (500 ㎎/㎏ in 5% ethanol, oral injection 2 weeks). Rats were oral administered with different concentration of CPL in rat erectile dysfunction model. As a results, sexual function factors (NO, cGMP) significantly improved in CPL treated groups (CPL-300, 600, 900 ㎎/㎏) compared to CON group. Serum testosterone was increased in a dose-dependent manner after CPL treatment. Furthermore, administrations of CPL restored lumen areas of the prostate in the erectile dysfunction rat model. These results indicated that CPL alleviated erectile dysfunction by increasing sexual function factor and testosterone in rat model. CPL could be used to natural treatement for erectile dysfunction. However, further study is required to identify active ingredient and its mechanism of erectile dysfunction.

Rubiae radix is root of Runia akane Nakai, it has been used to hemostasis and blood stasis in Korean and China. This study investigated that anti-oxidant and anti-colorectal cancer effect of ERA (ethanol extract of Rubiae radix) and WRA (water extract of Rubiae radix) using RAW 264.7 (murine macrophage from blood) and HCT-116 cells (human colorectal cancer cell line). ERA contained polyphenol (45.77 ± 2.03 ㎎/g) and flavonoid (22.82 ± 1.33 ㎎/g). 500 μM H2O2-induced ROS generation was diminished by 500 ㎍/㎖ ERA treatment in RAW 264.7 cells, but not WRA (125, 250, and 500 ㎍/㎖). Moreover, caspase-3 activity and DNA fragmentation increased by 500 ㎍/㎖ ERA treatment during apoptotic cell death in HCT-116. Results demonstrated that anti-cancer effect of ERA against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated apoptotic cell death and DNA fragmentation through caspase-3 activation. However, further study is required to what active ingredient of ERA are important for anti-oxidant and anti-colorectal cancer effect in vivo.

As a part of an infrastructure project on medicinal herb-based remedies, we conducted a phytohemical investigation of the 100% MeOH extract from the aerial part of Boehmeria quelpaertense; our findings resulted in the isolation of flavonoids (1-2), isoquercitrin (1) and hyperoside (2). The identification and structural elucidation of these compounds were based on 1H-,13C-NMR, and LC ESI IT-TOF MS data. All the compounds isolated from this plant were reported for the first time. In this study, we examined the antioxidant activity of the 1 and 2 on the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress in a Rat Cardiomyoblast cell line (H9c2). The pretreatment of the flavonoids showed that it protects against H2O2-mediated cell death in the H9c2 cell line. Also, it decreases the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels by the flavonoids in the H2O2-treated H9c2 cell line. These results showed that the 1 and 2 are a source of antioxidants. As a result, they might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stress mediated diseases, including myocardial infarction.

Background: Cynaroside is a flavone, a flavonoid-like compound, known by different names (luteoloside and cinaroside). It is commonly found in Lonicera japonica Thunb., Chrysanthemum moriflium, and Angelica keiskei. The process of cell death has been classified as necrosis and apoptosis. Necrosis refers to unregulated cell death induced by a chemotherapeutic agent. Doxorubicin is an anthracycline anti-cancer drug used to treat acute leukemia, cancer, and lymphoma. However, it induces nephrotoxicity including tubular damage. Therefore, we investigated the protective effect of cynaroside against doxorubicin-induced necrosis in HK-2 cells. Methods and Results: To confirm the beneficial effect of cynaroside on doxorubicin-induced necrosis, HK-2 cells, a human proximal tubule epithelial cell line were treated with 10 μM doxorubicin and 80 μM cynaroside. Doxorubicin treatment resulted in increased DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity and mitochondria hyperactivation during cell necrosis. However, pretreatment with 80 μM cynaroside attenuated DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activity and mitochondria hyperactivation induced by 10 μM doxorubicin in HK-2 cells. Conclusions: These results indicated that pretreatment with cynaroside ameliorated doxorubicin-induced necrosis in HK-2 cells. Therefore, cynaroside be used as a therapeutic agent for improving doxorubicin-induced nephrotoxicity. However, further studies are required to evaluated the toxicity of cynaroside treatment in animals and to determine its protective effect against doxorubicininduced nephrotoxicity in an animal model.

Background: Constipation is one of the most common functional gastrointestinal disorder. The present study examined the ability of water extract of fermented (FRC) and non-fermented (NFRC) roasted Cassia tora to improve intestinal function and reduce constipation in a rat constipation model.Methods and Results:Different concentration of FRC and NFRC were orally administered loperamide (5 ㎎/㎏; LOP) reduced the number, weight, and water content of feces, as well as intestinal transit motility. However, 24 h-(24 hour fermented roasted-Cassia tora) 300 ㎎/㎏ FRC administration increased the number, weight, and water concent of feces, compared to that seen in the LOP group, and also improve intestinal transit mitility and, the thickness of distal colon and mucous fluid.Conclusions:The results of the present study indicated that LOP-induced constipation was improved by treatment with FRC. Therefore FRC could be used to develop functional foods or natural medicine for constipation. However, further study is needed to clarify how fermentation improves the medicinal properties of roasted C. tora.

Background: Sedum takesimense Nakai has been used as folk medicine in Korea. The present study aimed to determine the biological activity of S. takesimense by investigating the anti-inflammatory effects of S. takesimense water extract (SKLC) on the lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory response in RAW 264.7 cells. Methods and Results: Cytotoxicity of SKLC on RAW 264.7 cells was determinded by performing MTS assay was found to have no cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration range of 62 - 500 ㎍/㎖. Further, pretreatment of SKLC inhibited lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner. To determined the inhibitory mechanisms of SKLC on inflammatory mediators, we assessed the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygnease-2 (COX-2) pathways. The activities of these pathways were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by SKLC. The production of tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β‚ and IL-6 were also reduced. Conclusions: These results suggest that the down regulation of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β‚ and IL-6 expression by SKLC are mediated by the down regulation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity, a transcription factor necessary for pro-inflammatory mediators. This might be the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of SKLC.

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.

Obesity is a pro-inflammatory state that contributes to the development of metabolic disorders such as hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and cardiovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice by Peucedanum japonicum Thunberg L. water extract (PJT). Lipid accumulation measurement indicates that PJT markedly inhibited adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. RT-PCR results demonstrated that the mRNA expression of adipogenic transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein- α (C/EBPα) in 3T3-L1 cells were significantly down-regulated by PJT treatment. Oral administration of PJT (100, 300, and 500 ㎎/㎏, b.w/daily for 4 weeks) was conducted in high-fat diet induced obese mice and C57BL/6 mice. The PJT-administered group of HFD-induced mice had a lower body weight gain, along with decreased serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol compared with the control mice, however, the HDL-cholesterol/total cholesterol ratio was increased. Furthermore, the elevated mRNA expression levels of adipogenesis related genes in the white adipose tissue of obese mice were significantly suppressed by PJT. These results indicate that PJT exhibits anti-obesity effects in obese mice by decreasing in serum lipid levels and lipogenesis related gene.

In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects by Alopecurus aequalis Sobol on thelipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production by RAW 264.7 cell line. Consistent with these observations,DS reduced the LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) atthe protein levels in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) andinterleukin-6 (IL-6) were also reduced by DS. Moreover, LPS increased expression phosphorylation of IκBα, but DS showedinhibitory effect by reducing LPS-inducible p-IκBα expression level. These results suggest that the down regulation of iNOS,COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 expression by DS are achieved by the downregulation of NF-κB activity, a transcription factornecessary for pro-inflammatory mediators, and that is also responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects.