Background : The roots of Curcuma longa Radix is used to make herbal medicine, which is registrated in the Korean Pharmacopoeia. This species is a perennial herb, and is distributed throughout tropical and/or sub tropical regions. High temperature and humidity with small difference between daytime and nighttime is the finest environment condition in this species. Recently, demand for C. longa has been expanded to cultivation area as central region from southern region. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of harvest time on the growth, yield characteristics and main composition contents in C. longa. Methods and Results : Curcuma longa rhizomes were harvested from farmland in Jindo, Jeollanam-do in end October, early November, middle November, end November, early December, middle December and end December 2015. Harvested rhizome were dried in hot air drier, and it was investigated as growth characteristics and yield. Contents of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin was analyzed from dried powder of rhizome. The analysis column was used to Phenomenex, Kinetex 2.6um F5 100A 100*2.1mm. 10 mg of standard was taken, 80% MeOH was added to dissolve in 10 ㎖ flask. 0.5, 1, 2, 4 ㎖ was taken from dissolved solution and then was added to 10 ㎖ of 80% MeOH. It was filtered through 0.45 ㎛ filter and then 5 μℓ was taken to make standard solution. Analytical calibration curve was measured to diluted solution within sample concentration. 2 g of ground sample was taken, 40㎖ of 80% MeOH was added to extract by ultrasound sonication during 60 minutes and then it was filtered through 0.2 ㎛ filter to analyze component content. Conclusion : The root weight significantly increased from 376.1 g in end October to 695.9 g in end December as 1.8 double. Curcumin contents differed significantly among harvest times in end November and early December. Demethoxycurcumin increased from early November to end November, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin increased to the early November.

In vitro and in vivo experiments using Achyranthis radix and Drynariae rhizoma extracts were conducted. Antioxidant properties were analyzed and the effects on bone, glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated. Drynariae rhizoma (64.67%) obtained higher DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to Achyranthis radix (19.03%). Similar results were obtained in the reducing power. No differences were observed on the ABTS radical scavenging ability and SOD. In contrast, Achyranthis radix (77.60%) has higher chelating ability compared to Drynariae rhizoma (46.21%). In vivo experiments revealed higher plasma TBARS in OVX-DR than in OVX-AR. Opposite result was seen in erythrocyte TBARS. Hepatic, nephritic and erythrocyte enzymes were considered for the antioxidant enzyme activities. GSH-Px and PON of hepatic enzymes were higher in OVX-AR. While the CAT and GR were higher in OVX-DR. SOD, GSH-Px, GR and PON of nephritic enzymes of OVX-DR were higher compared to OVX-AR. Almost similar values were obtained in CAT using both extracts. The OVX treated rats obtained higher CAT and GR in the erythrocyte enzymes compared to SHAM. The SOD of erythrocyte enzymes in OVX-DR was higher compared to OVX-AR. On the other hand, the GSH-Px was higher in OVX-AR.

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum radix used as a therapeutic agent for lung and respiratory diseases in traditional Korean medicine. The saponin and sugar content in P. grandiflorum root is dependent on the drying temperature and method. In this study, we investigated saponins and antioxidant contents in dried P. grandiflorum roots either not cut or cut to different lengths. Methods and Results : P. grandiflorum roots were either cut to 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 ㎝ in length or left uncut. They were dried at 45℃ and the effect of antioxidant substances, antioxidant ability, and saponin content were investigated. P. grandiflorum roots rapidly dried out when cut to short lengths. The saponin contents (platycodin D, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D) was highest in the uncut P. grandiflorum roots. When the cut lengths were long, the levels of polyphenolic compound increased. However, 2,2'-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were higher in the samples cut to shorter lengths. Conclusions : These results suggested that the saponin and antioxidant content of P. grandiflorum roots could be maximized by controlling the drying rate of the roots via adjustments to the root cutting length.

This study was carried out in order to survey the soil physico-chemical, morphology and content of saponins of 5 year-old Platycodon grandiflorum radix from different areas in Gyeongnam. Soil physical properties was showed 1.01-1.29 of bulk density of soil and soil hardness was increased with increasing soil depth, especially below the 30 cm, however it was maintained or small increased below the 40 cm. T-N and OM contents of top soil were highest at Geochang as 0.27% and 56.9 g/kg, respectively, compared to other areas. The root length was longer at Kimhea and Geochang as 33.8 and 33.7 cm, respectively, and fresh weight was heavy at Geochang as 208.5 g. The contents of saponin of P. grandiflorum radix was higher in fine root compare to main root. By region, content of saponins of P. grandiflorum radix were higher at Hapcheon than other area. Mg content was highly negatively correlated at p ＜ 0.01 with platycodin D3, deapioplatycodin D, platycodin D, and deapioplatycodin D (-0.499**, -0.433**, -0.421**, -0.511** respectively). These results suggest that no-fertilized Mg effected on the improvement of saponin contents in P. grandiflorum.

도라지를 수확 후 진공포장, 밀폐포장, 질소가스포장 후 저온과 상온에 100일 동안 저장하면서 저장 50일과 100일에 도라지 경도와 사포닌 함량을 조사한 결과를 요약하면 아래와 같다.1.저장온도에 따른 도라지의 경도는 저온저장이 상온저장보다 높게 나타났으며, 저장기간이 길어질수록 도라지의 경도는 낮아졌다. 2.저장방법에 따른 도라지의 경도는 저장 50일차 지퍼팩을 이용한 밀봉에서 1,765 g으로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 저장온도와 저장방법과의 상호작용에서는 고도의 유의성(P≤0.01)이 인정되었다.3.저장온도에 따른 platycodin D3, polygalacin D, 그리고 deapioplatycodin D의 함량조성이 다르게 나타났다.4. 저장기간에 따른 platycodin D3와 polygalacin D의 함량은 저장 50일 이후 감소하는 경향을 보였지만, deapio-platycodin D는 저장기간이 길어질수록 증가하는 경향을 보였다.

The present study investigated an ethanol extract (SSB) of a mixture of three medicinal plants of Vitisamurensis, Aralia cordata, and Glycyrrhizae radix for possible neuroprotective effects on neurotoxicity induced byAmyloid β protein (Aβ) (25-35) in cultured rat cortical neurons and antidementia activity in mice. Exposure of cultured cor-tical neurons to 15μM Aβ (25-35) for 36h induced neuronal apoptotic death. At 1-30㎍/㎖, SSB inhibited neuronal death,elevation of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²+]i), and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by Aβ(25-35) in cultured cortical neurons. Memory impairment and increase of acetylcholinesterase activity induced by intra-cerebroventricular injection of mice with 16nmol Aβ (25-35) was inhibited by chronic treatment with SSB (25, 50 and100㎎/㎏, p.o., for 8 days). From these results, it is suggested that antidementia effect of SSB is due to its neuroprotectiveeffect against Aβ (25-35)-induced neurotoxicity and that SSB may have a therapeutic role in preventing the progression ofAlzheimer’s disease.