저탄소 공정을 이용한 추출 기술인 초음파, 마이크로파 및 초고압 추출 공정기술의 이산화탄소 배출량(TCO2)과 얻어진 저분자 진세노사이드 총량의 상관관계를 비교하였다. 기존의 공정인 열수 추출 공정의 TCO2 배출량은 약 0.4 TCO2로 나타났다. 마이크로파 추출 공정의 경우 0.1437 Ton 당 CO2를 배출하는 것으로 확인 되었다. 또한, 초음파 추출 공정의 경우 0.0862 Ton 당 CO2를 배출하는 것을 확인 하였으며, 초고압 추출 공정의 경우 0.1014 Ton당 CO2를 배출하는 것을 확인 하였다. 저탄소 공정별 저분자 진세노사이드의 전환된 양을 측정한 결과 마이크로파 추출 공정의 경우 약 246.65% 정도 증진된 것을 확인 할 수 있었다. 또한, 초음파 공정의 약 275.71% 증진된 결과를 보였다. 초고압 추출 공정의 경우에는 약 295.21% 증진된 결과를 얻었다. 전체적으로 열수 추출 공정의 경우 얻어진 저분자 진세노사이드가 적은 반면 CO2 배출량이 매우 높은 것을 확인하였다. 반대로, 저탄소 추출 공정인 마이크로파, 초음파 및 초고압 공정의 경우 얻어진 저분자 진세노사이드의 양이 높으며, 방출되는 CO2의 양이 기존의 재래 방법보다 적은 것을 확인 하였다. 따라서, 저탄소 추출 공정인 마이크로파, 초음파, 초고압 추출 공정을 통해 인삼을 효과적으로 추출을 할 수 있으며, 친환경 저탄소 공법을 통해 CO2 발생량을 억제하여 경제적으로 천연물을 추출할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

The methanolic (MeOH) extract of A. fruticosa bark, which showed immune-regulatory activities, was separated to purify an active compared by means of a multi-stage column chromatography. This resulted in the isolation and characterization of an isoflavone glycoside named 4', 6-Dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. Immuno-regulatory activities of the crude extract of Amorpha fruticosa LINNE bark were compared with that of an isoflavone glycoside (4', 6-dimethoxyisoflavone-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside). The crude methanolic extract of A. fruticosa and purified single compound showed 16% of relatively low cytotoxicity at a maximum concentration of 1.0 g/L in cultivated normal human lung cell line (HEL299). Cell growth of human T cells was increased up to 15%, 0.5 g/L of the crude extract added group. This was higher than a single compound added one. On the other hand, specific production rates of IL-6 and TNF-α from T cell were higher in the purified compound treat group (0.82×10-4 pg/cell and 1.08×10-4 pg/cell, respectively), compared to 0.5 g/L of the crude extract added group (0.65×10-4 pg/cell and 0.84×10-4 pg/cell, respectively). In addition, the growth of NK-92MI cells incubated with the crude extract was higher up to 56% over the cells grown with a single compound (0.5 g/L). In overall, the crude extract showed relatively higher immuno-regulatory activities compared with a single compound, probably due to the synergic effect given by other substances existed in the crude extract. Even though the siolated compound stimulated higher secretion of cytokines from human T cells.

When we carried out an anti-stress study using the extracts of A. senticosus, R. coreanus, F .japonica root, and A. fruticosa fruit grown in Korea, the results showed that blood cell counts returned to normal levels fastest with R. coreanus after stress application. The total WBC count was decreased in mice due to stress, whereas the number of lymphocytes was increased. The serum glucose level was higher in the control group compared with the comparative stress group. The weight of each organ to returning to normal level was significantly faster in those mice treated with the extracts compared with those in control groups. Especially, it even return to that of normal level with R. coreanus extract, suggesting that the administration of the plant extracts in this study would affect hormonal activities in the body to increase immune activities. F. japonica root that showed the highest anti-stress activities maybe effective for lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. These results would provide basic data to examine anti-stress effects of natural plants. Further in-depth studies could contribute in the development of functional plant materials with anti-stress activities.

Two compounds from Gomisin N and Gomisin A were isolated from the fruits of Schizandra chinensis Baillon. The highest extraction yield as 21.36% was observed in the ethanol extract, compared to the yield obtained form the water extract. The extraction yields of the single compounds were measured to be 0.13 and 0.014 Gomisin A and Gomisin N, respectively. Approximately, 90% of the growth of human stomach adenocarcinoma cancer cells was inhibited after adding 1.0 g/l of the ethanol extract. The growth of the human normal lung cell was limited to 24% after adding the ethanol extract. The water extract lowered the specific secretion of TNF-á and IL-6 from T cells, 10.3×10-4 pg/cell and 12.1×10-4 pg/cell, respectively, compared to the ethanol extracts. On the other hand, a treatment with the ethanol extract increased the specific secretion of TNF-á and IL-6 from human T cells, to 11×10-4 pg/cell and 14.3×10-4 pg/cell, respectively. The crude ethanol extract had the highest effect on the differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells compared to the other extracts and Gomisin A and N. In general, the biological activities of the extracts gradually decreased as the purification process proceeded, which suggests that higher immunostimulatory activities can be maintained by adding the crude extracts of the fruits rather than by adding a single compound.

The efficiency of regeneration of callus and explants from leaf and stem disks of Epimedium koreanum was examined on the MS media containing 2,4-D, NAA, Kinetin, BA and TDZ. Calli were formed on the 2mg/l 2,4-D media at the rate of 32% from leaf discs and 52% from stems. No callus was produced on the media which are containing BA or TDZ alone. The combination of 2,4-D and BA showed the effect on the formation of callus. The combination of 2mg/l 2,4-D and 0.lmg/l BA in the MS media had produced the highest percentage of callus formation, 50% from leaf discs and 40% from stems, respectively. The combination of 2mg/l 2,4-D and 1mg/1 BA in the MS media had affected the formation of callus in the rate of 40% from leaf discs and 25% from stems. The combined plant growth regulators of 2,4-D and BA increased the formation of calli from leaf discs, but single treatment of 2,4-D showed the highest callus formation from stems. Multiple shoots from leaf discs were formed on the media containing NAA, BA, kinetin, and TDZ. The highest number of multiple shoots were obtained 0.1mg/l NAA combined with 1mg/l kinetin. As a result, leaf discs or stems can be used for the mass propagation of Epimedium koreanum, but stem elongation of shoots from calli was not easy.