Background : Hippophae rhamnoides L. are known for antioxidant, immunodeficiency, skin protection, influenza infection and prevention of heart disease. This study was carried out to confirm the possibility of functional food by changing the antioxidant effect using H. rhamnoides L. leaf extracts to the Gamju (sweet rice drink). Methods and Results : A total of 12 samples were made of different processes. Briefly, the H. rhamnoides L. leaf were extracted at 60℃ in two different conditions (EtOH 100%, water 100%). Gamju was fermented into three different koji (Aspergillus oryzae – red, yellow, black). In addition, The addition of H. rhamnoides L. leaf extracts were mixed in two ways (simultaneous saccharification, mixed after saccharification). Antioxidant activities were estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) and reducing power assay. Total phenolic content (TPC) was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu method. In this study, we found that Gamju mixed with H. rhamnoides L. leaf increased antioxidant effects and TPC than the control (original Gamju). Moreover, the anti-oxidant effects of the mixed H. rhamnoides L. leaf with Gamju after saccharification exhibited more activity than simultaneous saccharification in DPPH assay. Conclusion : These results demonstrated that samples of added to the H. rhamnoides L. leaf could be use as functional food.

Background : Forsythia suspensa Vahl (Oleaceae) is such an antioxidant source which is a slimbing plant widely distributed in China, Japan and Korea. The extracts of the dried fruits have been used for a long time as traditional Asian medicines to treat gonorrhea, erysipedas, inflammation and pharyngitis. It was also reported that F. suspensa was able to suppress vomiting, resist hepatic injure, inhibit of elastase activity, and exhibit diuretic, analgesic, antioxidant, anti-endotoxin and antiviral effects. This study was performed to investigate the antioxidant and whitening effect of F. suspensa extract and fractions. Methods and Results : Firstly, extract the dried F. suspensa by methanol three times at room temperature and fraction for each solvents (hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water). The DPPH radical scavenging activity was measured at 517 ㎚ by using a UV spectrophotometer. The gallic acid and quercetin were used as positive control of total phenol and flavonoid contents assay. Reducing power was conducted four concentration of samples and positive control, measured the absorbance at 700 ㎚. Ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest effect on DPPH radical scavenging activity, total phenol contents, and reducing power. On the other hand, the highest level of total flavonoid contents indicated in butanol fraction. The ethyl acetate fraction indicated the highest percentage of enzyme inhibition at the tested same concentration. Conclusion : These results suggest that F. suspensa extract and ethyl acetate fraction could be utilized as a antioxidant. Further biological and phytochemical study is needed.

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.