Background : The health-promoting effects of green tea are mainly attributed to its polyphenol content, particularly flavanols and flavonols, which account for 30% of a fresh leaf’s dry weight, but the ingredients of the polyphenol content vary depending on the species. This study was conducted to select some candidates with superior anti-oxidative and anti-allergy effects from among seven cultivars of green tea. Methods and Results : Green tea extracts were prepared by extraction with ethanol and by evaporation of the solvent at low pressure. To evaluate their anti-allergy effect and cell viability, the samples were tested for ß-hexosaminidase inhibitory activity and MTT assay of the RBL-2H3 cells, respectively. The anti-oxidation effects of the samples were analyzed with a DPPH radical scavenging activity. According to the results of the experiment, four extracts including Camelia sinensis var. Kemsull, C. sinensis var. Beachwisull, C. sinensis var. Chamnok and C. sinensis var. Fushun showed effective ß-hexosaminidase inhibitory activity at 12.5, 25, 50, 100 ㎍/㎖. At 50 ㎍/㎖, C. sinensis var. Saemidori had the highest cell viability as 86.1%, and all of the samples showed cell proliferation above 70% at 25 ㎍/㎖. The extract of C. sinensis var. Kemsull showed a 60 - 70% inhibitory effect on the DPPH radical at all of the tested concentrations, whereas the extracts of C. sinensis var. Ryohu, C. sinensis var. Saemidori, C. sinensis var. Yabukita showed lower DPPH inhibition effects at around 10 - 30%. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that the extracts of C. sinensis var. Kemsull, C. sinensis var. Beachwisull, and C. sinensis var. Chamnok have more prominent anti-oxidation and anti-allergy effects than other cultivars, and thus could be utilized as resources for improving health.

Background : This study was conducted to select candidates from among plant resources with the potential to improve Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. AD has been linked to a deficiency in the brain neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh), and is also correlated with cholinergic system abnormalities coupled with progressive cognitive impairment and altered behavior. The activity of ACh in the brain is terminated by the hydrolysis action of cholinesterase (ChEs). An inhibitor of these enzymes could contribute to improving the level of ACh and to augmenting the activity of surviving cholinergic neurons in patients with AD. Methods and Results : Plant extracts were prepared by solvent extraction and tested for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity by using the Ellman colorimetric method. One hundred and eighty-four extracts at a final concentration of 100 ㎍/㎖ were preliminarily screened for their AChE inhibition capacity. From the experiment, the AChE inhibitory activity of five extracts including a methanol extract of Coptis chinensis (rhizome), a methanol extract of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn (stamen/ovary), a methanol extract of Persicaria tinctoria H.GROSS (flower), and both a methanol extract and a water extract of Phellaodendron amurense Rupr (bark) showed comparatively higher AChE inhibitory effects, ranging from 38.3 to 63.1%, than other extracts. The five selected extracts were retested for their AChE inhibition activity at final concentrations of 25, 50, 100, and 200 ㎍/㎖, and compared with tacrine (0.1 ㎍/㎖) as the positive control. In the experiment, the five extracts effectively inhibited AChE at each of the set concentrations. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that the five plant extracts mentioned above could be utilized as candidates for improving the ACh level and for ameliorating AD.

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum root(PGR) was one of the primary herbs used in a phlegm-relieving herb from the past. Purified platycoside compounds from the roots of PGR may exhibit neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, improved insulin resistance, and cholesterol-lowering properties. To evaluate preference and functionality of PGR extracts, PGR was fermented by several lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria used were Leuc. mesenteroides N12-4 and N58-5, L. plantarum N76-10 and 56-12, L. brevis N70-9 and E3-8. Methods and Results : This study was performed in order to investigate the changes of platycosides, as well as the antimicrobial activities on bronchus diseases inducing bacteria(C. diphtheriae, K. pnneumoniae, S. aureus, S. pyogenes) of Platycodon grandiflorum root(PGR) fermented by using lactic acid bacteria(Leuc. mesenteroides N12-4, Leuc. mesenteroides N58-5, L. plantarum N76-10, L. plantarum N56-12, L. brevis N70-9, L. brevis E3-8). Growth of L. plantarum on PGR was the most active during lactic acid fermentation by some different strains. Total platycoside, platycoside E, platycodin A, polygalacin D2, polygalacin D and diapioplatycoside E contents of PGR fermented for 96 hours at 37℃ by Leuc. mesenteroides and L. plantarum were increased, while platycodin D and platycodin D3 were decreased. The antimicribial activity on PGR fermented by L. plantarum N56-12 exhibited a strong microbial proliferation in all four kinds of bronchus diseases inducing bacteria and was higher than non-fermented PGR extract. Conclusion : Thus, this results showed antimicrobial activities on bronchus diseases inducing bacteria and platycosides content of PGR by L. plantarum N56-12 were higher than non-fermented PGR extract.