Background: This present study was conducted to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and immune regulatory effects of Aucklandia lappa Decne (AL). Methods and Results: We measured cytotoxicity, nitric oxide (NO) content, mRNA expression (iNOS, IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α), protein expression (iNOS, COX-2, and IκB-α) and phagocytic activity in RAW264.7 cells. Male BALB/c mice were fed 100 ㎎/㎏ AL (Aucklandia lappa Decneon 70% ethanol extract) and 250 ㎎/㎏ AL for 4 weeks; thereafter, we observed B/T or CD4+/CD8+ lymphocyte subpopulation change, and expression patterns of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes by immunohistochemical staining in mouse splenocytes and/or thymocytes. To determine the experimental concentration of AL, cell viability was measured by MTT assay and tested at 12.5 ㎍/㎖ or less. AL inhibited the levels of NO, lymphokine production (IL-1β, and TNF-α), and mRNA (iNOS, IL-1α, IL-1β, and TNF-α) and protein (iNOS, and COX-2) expression. Additionally, the levels of IκB-α, phagocytic activity, and splenic and thymic T lymphocytes, especially TH and TC cells were significantly increased in AL administered mice. The immuno-reactive density of CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes was stronger in AL groups than in the normal group. AL stimulated NO, iNOS, and COX-2, and regulated IL-1α, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IκB-α in macrophages treated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). In addition, AL increased the phagocytic activity of macrophages and the immunity of mouse T (TH, and TC) cells. Conclusions: These results suggested that AL might show anti-inflammatory activity via the suppression of various inflammatory markers and immuno-regulatory activity.

“Unmi” is a new japonica rice variety developed by the rice breeding team of Honam Agricultural Research Institute, NICS, RDA in 2007. This variety was developed from a across between Samcheonbyeo with lodging and cold tolerance and HR17870 derived from the cross of Iksan435 (Sobibyeo) and Sangju17 with resistance to diseases and good quality. This variety has about 110 days of growth duration from transplanting to harvesting in northern plain, northern and southern mid-mountainous areas of South Korea. It is about 68 cm in culm length and tolerant to lodging. In reaction to biotic and abiotic stresses, it shows moderate resistance to blast, and to bacterial blight pathogen races from K1 to K3, but susceptible to other major diseases and insect pests. The milled rice of “Unmi” is translucent and has relatively clear non-glutinous endosperm and medium short grain. It has about 17.3% amylose content, 6.3% of protein and similar palatability of cooked rice compared with Odaebyeo. The milled rice yield performance of this variety is about 5.16 MT/ha under the standard fertilizer level of the ordinary transplanting cultivation. “Unmi” would be adaptable for ordinary transplanting in the northern plain, northern and southern mid-mountainous area of South Korea.