Background : Mahonia nepalensis DC. has been used as folk medicine in Vietnam. However, its biological activities have not yet fully understood. In the present study, crude extract from Mahonia nepalensis DC. was fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol (saturated of water). The extract and fractions of M. nepalensis DC., produced after a process of evaporating, were tested for anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. Methods and Results : Total phenolic, total flavonoid contents of M. nepalensis DC. were analyzed while gallic acid and quercetin were used as standard, respectively. The antioxidant free radical scavenging activities of its stem crude extract and fractions were also evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and reducing power assay. Results revealed that ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction showed the highest total phenolic content, as well as DPPH radical scavenging and reducing power. Briefly, the highest level of total phenolic content (122.94 ± 4.93 ㎎·GAE/g) and reducing power (absorbance of 0.815 at 1 ㎎/㎖) was indicated in EtOAc fraction. It also possessed activity in DPPH radical scavenging (IC50 = 48.93 ± 0.59 ㎍/㎖), which was better than butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (IC50 = 125.25 ± 0.8 ㎍/㎖) and other fractions. In an anti-inflammatory response, the potential inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - stimulated RAW264.7 cells were found in EtOAc and BuOH fractions. The NO production was below 20% at a dose manner of 100 ㎍/ ㎖. Results showed higher potential anti-inflammatory effect of M. nepalensis DC. than some plants. Hence, it could be developed as a useful agent for treating of inflammatory diseases. Conclusion : These results demonstrated the highly potential effect on anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory activities of M. nepalensis DC. Therefore, further studies are necessary in order to explore the variety of M. nepalensis stem to be applied as a valuable natural material.

Background : Eleutheroside E (Syringaresinol-di-O-glucoside), one of the internal standard in Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim., showed effects on the anti-inflammation of arthritis and the decline in blood sugar. In this study, it was analyzed by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to find out the optimum experimental condition which indicated the highest content of eleutheroside E. Methods and Results: In total of 15 different experimental conditions were used to extract samples. Briefly, there were three different conditions in the temperature (room temperature, 70℃ and 100℃) and five solvent conditions (100% water, 30% EtOH, 50% EtOH, 70% EtOH and 100% EtOH) were used. The extraction condition of all samples were extracted in every 4 hours and repeated three times with a reflux cooling system. The HPLC was reported as eleutheroside E standard equivalents using the following linear equation based on the calibration curve : equation : Y = 7.72e + 0.04X – 7.83e + 004, R2 = 0.999918. Among 15 conditions, eleutheroside E was obtained with the highest amount (10.36 ± 3.81 ㎎/g of extract) at 100% EtOH extracted and room temperature condition. In this study, the eleutheroside E content was increased with increasing of EtOH concentration. And it can be detected by heating at 100% water extraction condition. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that the experimental condition at room temperature in 100% EtOH could be used in further studies to obtain the highest content of eleutheroside E in Eleutherococcus senticosus (Rupr. & Maxim.) Maxim.

Background : Oplopanax elatus has many compounds such as essential oils, saponin, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and polyacetylenes etc. in all part of stems, roots, and leaves. It is traditionally used to treat asthma, depressive states, chronic fatigue syndrome, diabetes mellitus, rheumatism, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, and wounds. In this study, the evaluation of several factors affecting the variation of chemical constituents and antioxidant activity in stem of O. elatus. Methods and Results : Five compounds (uracil, adenosine, protocatechuic acid, syringin, and scoparone) were isolated from the water extract of in stems of O. elatus. We extracted stems of them with hot water by different temperature (85 and 100℃) and times (1, 4, and 7 hrs.) and analyzed contents of five compounds by HPLC and antioxidant activity such as DPPH, ABTS and reducing power assay. The contents of five compounds varied depending on the extraction time and extraction temperature, the contents of uracil and protocatechuic acid in extracts of stems reduced with times. However, there is no difference the amount of variation in chemical constituents in stems of O. elatus. The antioxidant free radical scavenging activities of its stem extracts in 85℃ water (IC50 = 34.56 ± 0.8 ㎍/㎖ of extracts) showed more activity than extracts in 100℃ water (IC50 = 39.58 ± 1.6 ㎍/㎖ of extracts) in ABTS assay. Conclusion : In conclusion, the contents of five compounds were not significantly affected by extraction time and extraction temperature. Therefore, these results could be basic data for the quality management of five compounds in stems of O. elatus extracted with hot water.

Background: Mahonia Nepalensis DC. (Hoang lien o ro), the specie of the family Berberidaceae, is widely distributed in the high mountainous areas at altitudes 1700 – 1900 m of Vietnam. It is found that the stem of Mahonia nepalensis indicated anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and antifungal activities and they are used particularly for the treatment of eczema, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. However, no study on the antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of Mahonia Nepalensis stem has been previously reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activities of Mahonia Nepalensis stem. Methods and Results: The stem pieces of Mahonia Nepalensis were dried and extracted three times with 100% methanol. After that, the extract was suspended in distilled water and then partitioned with n-hexane, ethyl-acetate (EtOAc) and butanol (water saturated BuOH) fractions were then evaporated using a vacuum rotary evaporator. Evaluation of the anti-oxidative activity of Mahonia Nepalensis was carried out using a DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical-producing system. The results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of M. nepalensis possessed higher potential DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50, 81.88 ± 1.33㎍/㎖) than other fractions as well as BHT (2,6-Di-tert-Butyl-4-methylphenol) (IC50, 250.49 ± 1.60㎍/㎖). The reducing power assay was also investigated and EtOAc fraction showed higher absorbance values than other fractions. At 1.0 mg/ml concentration, EtOAc fraction showed absorbance of 1.72, be higher than Ascorbic acid. Cell viability was evaluated according to the MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyl tetrazolium Bromide) assay. By MTT assay, all fractions showed a significant reduction in cell viability on COLO 205 (Human colon carcinoma cell) at the highest concentration tested (200㎍/ ㎖) with over 70% decrease in cell viability was obtained, and the highest significantly inhibiting effect occurred in butanol fraction with approximately 90% reduction in cell viability. Conclusion: We demonstrated that Mahonia Nepalensis stem extract has highly potential in anti-cancer activity. Further studies are necessary in order to explore the variety of Mahonia Nepalensis stem to be applied as a valuable natural material.

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.

Background : Haskap berries commonly refer to fruits of Lonicera caerulea L., recognized by the Japanese aborigines as the “The elixir of life.”. Due to their recent arrival on the North American market, haskap berries have not yet been positioned among other berries and compared in terms of their phytochemical content. And haskap berries have higher ascorbic acid and anthocyanin content than other berries known for their health-promoting benefits, such as blueberries. However, no study has reported on the antioxidant and anti-cancer activity of Lonicera caerulea stem. The purpose of this study is to present the current research on the chemical content, antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of Lonicera caerulea stem. Methods and Results : The stem of Lonicera caerulea L. ware dried in the shade at room temperature and extracted with 100% methanol. The extract was suspended in deionized water and partitioned sequentially with n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl-acetate and butanol (water saturated BuOH) fractions. Antioxidant activities were measured by determination of antioxidants, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl). Cell viability was determined by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. All cell lines were purchased from the Korean Cell Line Bank (Seoul, Korea). All results were performed with three replications were processed statistically. By DPPH assay, the Lonicera caerulea L. the highest activity was obtained from the ethyl-acetate fraction (IC50=15.46 ㎍/㎖). By MTT assay, the chloroform fraction showed a significant growth inhibiting effect on MCF-7 (Human breast cancer, IC50=225.91 ㎍/㎖), COLO 205 (Human colon cancer, IC50=179.55 ㎍/㎖), but on AGS (Human stomach cancer) and other fractions it did not show effect. Conclusion : We demonstrated that Lonicera caerulea L. stem extract and fractions has antioxidant and antiproliferation activity in vitro. Further studies should identify the active constituents in Lonicera caerulea L stem to evaluate the potential in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferation activities of the extract.