Centella asiatica (CA) has been used as a nutritional plant as well as a traditional herbal medicine around the world. This study, quality component (proximate composition, total polyphenol, and triterpenoid compound), and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CA dried using various methods were investigated. Proximate compositions of CA with different drying methods included a large amount of carbohydrates, crude protein, crude ash, and crude fiber. Among the drying methods, cold drying provided the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, while hot-air drying at 75℃ provided the lowest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. In addition, when the major triterpenoid compounds of CA were analyzed, the highest content of asiaticoside of triterpenoid glycoside was obtained with all drying methods. With respect to the total triterpenoid, the highest content was obtained with cold drying (68.8 mg/g) whereas natural drying (31.4 mg/g) provided the lowest content. In anti-inflammatory activity of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, EtOH extract of cold drying showed a significantly higher inhibitory activity in comparison to the other drying methods. In conclusion, it is considered that the cold drying method is suitable for industrial preparation of functional materials with high physiological ingredients, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities from CA.

The incidence of aseptic meningitis infection is ensuing and threatening the health of children. Enteroviruses are the major agents of aseptic meningitis and identification of virus has been a clue to diagnosis and epidemiology. The outbreak of aseptic meningitis occurred in Pusan, 1998. Patients were concentrated from April through November. Children were more susceptible than adults. Among 306 cases of specimens from stool, throat swab tested, only 7.2% were positive on virus isolation, 12 cases from stool and 10 from throat, respectively. All isolated 7 serotypes of viruses represented cytopathic effect on cultured cells. Three types of echovirus 6, 25, 30 and coxsackievirus B2, B3, B4, B6 were identified by neutralizing antibody test. Isolated coxsackievirus and echovirus were observed by an electron microscope with negative staining.