털부처꽃(Lythrum salicaria L.)은 전국에 분포하는 다년생 초본식물로 척박하고 습한 지역을 포함한 다양한 환경에서 잘 자라는 것으로 알려져 있다. 따라서 하천변, 척박지에서 정원 용, 화훼용 및 관상용 식물로 이용이 가능하다. 본 연구는 털 부처꽃의 적정 육묘 조건(토양종류, 플러그 트레이 셀 크기,파종립수, 액비농도 및 차광)을 조사하였다. 대조구(원예상토) 에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 가장 우수하였다. 반면 피트모스 와 펄라이트의 혼합용토는 육묘기간이 지속되면서 생육수치 가 감소하는 경향을 나타냈다. 셀 크기는 용적이 가장 큰 162 셀에서 재배된 유묘의 생육이 우수하였으나, 200셀과 288셀에 서 자란 묘도 건강했다. 한편 유묘의 결주발생을 고려하면 셀 당 2립을 파종하는 것이 적합하였다. 액비 처리는 유묘의 생 육을 촉진하였다. 특히 Hyponex 1000배는 초장, 줄기직경, 엽수, 마디수, 근장, 지상부 생체중 및 지하부 생체중을 증가 시켰다. 또한 유묘의 생육은 55% 차광 하에서 우수하였다. 따 라서 털부처꽃의 가장 효과적인 생육조건은 원예상토가 충진 된 288셀 플러그 트레이에 셀 당 2립을 파종하고 Hyponex 1000배를 시비하면서 55% 차광 하에서 재배하는 것이었다.

본 연구에서는 부처꽃 에탄올 추출물(ELM)에 대한 항암효능을 알아보기 위하여 인체백혈병 U937 세포의 증식에 미치는 영향과 이와 연관된 apoptosis 유발 여부와 함께 그에 따른 분자생물학적 기전에 대해서 조사하였다. 먼저 ELM 처리에 따른 증식 억제 정도를 조사한 결과, ELM 처리 농도 의존적으로 생존율 및 증식억제 현상이 나타났으며, 핵의 형태 변화, DNA 단편화 및 apoptosis 유발에 관하여 조사한 결과 역시 ELM 처리 농도 의존적으로 증가됨을 확인할 수 있었다. ELM 처리에 따른 U937 세포에서의 apoptosis 유발에 있어서 미토콘드리아 막의 기능 손상이 관여하는 지를 확인하기 위하여 MMP의 변화 정도를 확인 한 결과, ELM 처리 농도 증가에 따라 MMP의 소실이 증가하는 것을 관찰할 수 있었다. 이러한 MMP의 소실에 가 관여하는지를 확인하기 위하여 사멸수용체(DR4, 5, Fas) 및 사멸수용체에 결합하는 리간드(FasL, TRAIL)의 발현 변화를 확인한 결과, DR4 및 DR5의 발현이 증가하는 것으로 관찰되었다. 또한 내인적 경로에 관여하는 Bcl-2 family 유전자들의 발현변화를 확인 한 결과, Bcl-2 발현 감소 및 Bax의 발현 증가의 변화를 보였으며, Bid 단백질의 발현감소가 나타났으므로 상대적으로 tBid의 생성이 증가되었음을 추측할 수 있었다. 한편 apoptosis 유발에 직접적으로 관여하는 것으로 알려진 caspase-3, -8 및 -9의 발 현에 미치는 ELM의 영향에 대해서 조사하였다. 결과에서 알 수 있듯이 ELM은 death receptor에 의하여 활성화 되는 것으로 알려진 caspase-8 및 세포질로 방출된 cytochrome c에 의하여 활성화 되는 것으로 알려진 caspase-9의 활성화를 유발하였으며, caspase cascade에 의하여 apoptosis에 직접적으로 관여하는 caspase-3의 발현도 증가시키는 것으로 나타났다. 또한 활성화된 caspase-3에 의하여 분해가 일어나는 기질 단백질인 PARP의 경우 ELM 처리에 의하여 모두 단편화가 유발되는 것으로 나타났다. 이상의 결과를 종합해 보면 인체 백혈병 U937 세포에 ELM을 처리하였을 경우에 유발되는 apoptosis는 외인적 경로인 DR4 및 DR5의 발현 증가를 통한 caspase-8의 활성화와 이로 인한 Bid 단백질의 단편화와 함께 내인적 경로의 미토콘드리아 기능 손실에 의하여 caspase-9 및 -3의 활성화 유발과 기질단백질들의 분해가 중요한 역할을 하는 것으로 생각되며, IAP family의 발현 감소로 인하여 caspase의 활성이 억제되지 못하는 것도 apoptosis 유도에 어느 정도 관여했을 것으로 생각 된다. 따라서 ELM 처리에 의하여 유발되는 apoptosis는 외인적 경로 및 내인적 경로를 모두 경유하는 multiple apoptotic pathway에 의하여 조절되며, 이때 caspases가 중요한 역할을 한다는 것을 알 수 있었다.

Background : Lythrum salicaria L. (LS), a herb that is found all around the world, has long been used as medicinal plant to treat inflammation, external wound bleeding, and diarrhea, while its sprouts (young leaves) can be utilized as a food material. The antioxidant and hepato-protective activities of LS have been reported in several articles. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy and cell proliferation of LS leaves according to their growth period, and to obtain information on the optimal harvesting time of LS as a food resource. Methods and results : LS leaves were collected at ten-day intervals between April 27 and June 26, 2016 in Eumseong-gun, South Korea. The LS leaves were extracted with 50% ethanol at room temperature, and seven LS extracts (LSE) were obtained. A peroxynitrite (ONOO-) scavenging assay and a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay were performed to compare the antioxidant effects of LSE, while a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was performed on the BV-2 cell lines to determine cell viability. The total phenol contents of LSE were quantified by using the calibration curve of tannic acid. From these assays, LSE harvested on April 27 showed the lowest value, while LSE harvested on June 6 showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity at 10 ㎍/㎖. There was no difference among the extracts in terms of their peroxynitrite scavenging activity. The extract prepared on April 27 showed the highest value in terms of BV2 cell viability, while that obtained on June 6 showed the lowest value. The value in terms of the total phenol content of the LSE harvested on June 6 was the highest, whereas that of the LSE harvested on April 27 was the lowest. Conclusion : When comparing the activity of LSE according to its harvesting time, the extract dated June 6 showed the highest effect in terms of its antioxidant activity and its total phenol content, whereas the extract dated April 27 showed the highest cell viability. As such, this study suggests that LS leaves harvested in the early season could be utilized as a food material even though they display low efficacy.

This experiment was conducted to verify whether one time feeding of Lythrum salicaria root crude extract (LSR extract) exhibits liver protecting activities in acutely ethanol administrated rat. Experiment groups were composed of normal, negative control (alcohol control), 2 positive control (Hovenia dulcis extract 900 mg/kg and milk thisle 100 mg/kg), betulinic acid (20 mg/kg), a compound separated from LSR, and 3 LSR (100, 300, 900 mg/kg) groups. LSR treated groups showed decrease (p < 0.05) in serum triglyceride by dose-dependent manner. The content of serum albumin and the activity of ADH and ALDH in LSR extract fed rats were increased (p < 0.05) dependently on the administration amounts. Our study indicated that one time supplement of LSR downregulates oxidative stress and shows liver protective activity in the acute alcohol-fed rats.

섬초롱꽃은 경상북도 울릉군에 서식하고 있는 쌍떡잎식물 초롱꽃목 초롱꽃과의 여러해살이풀로 일반적인 초롱꽃이 백색 꽃을 피우는 반면 섬초롱꽃은 연한 자주색 꽃을 피운다. 우리나라 울릉도 특산식물로, 전초를 자반풍령초라고도 하며, 청열, 해독, 지통의 효능과 인후염과 두통 치료 효과가 있다. 부처꽃은 우리나라 각처의 산과 들의 습지에서 나는 다년생 초본으로 천굴채(千屈菜)라고도 한다. 냇가, 초원 등의 습지에서 자란다. 높이 1m 정도로서 곧게 자라며 가지가 많이 갈라진다. 잎은 마주나고 바소꼴이며 대가 거의 없고 원줄기와 더불어 털, 잎자루도 거의 없으며 가장자리가 밋밋하다. 꽃은 5∼8월에 자홍색으로 정상부 잎겨드랑이에 3∼5개가 달리며 줄기를 따라 층층이 올라간 것처럼 보인다. 열매는 9월경에 긴 타원형으로 달린다. 관상용으로 쓰이며, 한방에서는 전초를 방광염 ·이뇨 ·지사제(止瀉劑) 등으로 사용한다. 최근 여러 분야에서 그 활용도가 증가하고 있는 발광 다이오드 LED (Light Emitting Diode)를 광원으로 사용하여 부처꽃과 섬초롱꽃의 생육반응을 조사하였다. LED 광질 종류에 따른 생육차이를 구명하기위해 자연광 처리구를 대조구로 하여 형광등 처리구, red+blue LED조사구, red+blue+white LED조사구로 구분하였고, 저광도와 고광도로 광도처리도 병행하였다. 조광 15시간, 암조건 9시간, 온도는 주간 25℃, 야간 18℃로 조절하여 60일간 재배하였다. 부처꽃과 섬초롱꽃 모두 대조구보다 LED 처리구의 생육이 좋았으며, 엽록소함량도 증가하는 경향이었다. 부처꽃의 경우 LED 처리에 의해 엽수가 현저히 증가하였고, 특히 red+blue 처리구의 엽수증가가 뚜렷하였다.

The study was done to investigate the effects of the extracts from the different parts of Lythrum salicaria (LS) on liver protective activities in chronically alcohol-treated rats. SD male rats except normal animals were administrated with alcohol (30ml of 30%~40% ethanol/kg/day) and the extracts (300 mg/kg/day) for 10 weeks. Chronic alcohol administration decreased body weight, high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and the reduced form-glutathione (GSH), whereas increased the ethanol content, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL)- cholesterol, triglyceride in blood/serum and the ratio of the oxidized form of glutathione (GSSG) and total GSH (GSSG/total GSH) in liver tissue. Groups treated with the extracts of leaf, root and stem, showed decrease in GOT, total cholesterol and GSSG/total GSH and increase in hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH), total GSH and serum albumin. Administration with the root extract of LS decreased blood ethanol content compared with the other part extracts. But, serum triglyceride values in rats treated with root and stem extract were higher than that of the negative control animals. Flower extract-fed group showed decrease in body weight and serum triglyceride, but increase in the ratio of GOT and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT), and GSSG/total GSH. From the results, we conclude that the extracts of root and leaf among the plant parts of LS might be useful for the amelioration of the chronic alcohol-induced liver demage of rat.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of Lythrum salicaria L. ethanol extract on anti-obesity effects in rat fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks to induce obese rat model. Male SD rats were divided into normal group, control (high fat diet) group, positive control (Garcinia Cambogia extracts) group, high fat group supplemented with ethanol extracts of Lythrum salicaria L. (EELS). The body weight gain and control (high fat diet) were increased by a high fat diet, but decreased in the EELS. At the end of the experiment, the body weight in high fat diet groups was higher than that of normal diet group, while the body weights of EELS and positive control group were significantly reduced by 16.62%, as compared with that of high fat diet group (p < 0.05). The levels of serum triglyceride, total cholesterol in EELS group were significantly decreased as compared with high fat diet group (p < 0.05). The liver and mesenteric adipose tissue weights of control (high fat diet) increase than that for normal group, whereas EELS and positive control group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). Levels of triglyceride in liver were significantly lower in EELS group than those in high fat diet group (p < 0.05). These results indicate that Lythrum salicaria L. extract may improve lipid metabolism and reduce fat accumulation and body weight.

In this study, the bioactivities of ethanol (EELS) and water extract (WELS) from the leaf of Lythrum salicaria L. were investigated. In the anti-cancer activity, the growths of both human prostate cancer (DU145) and human colonic carcinoma cell (HT29) were inhibited up 60% by adding 10 mg/ml of EELS. Anti-inflammatory activity of EELS and WELS have been evaluated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced release of nitric oxide (NO) by the macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. EELS and WELS inhibited inflammatory by 57.3 and 46.9% in 10 mg/ml, respectively. In the anti-oxidative activity, IC50 of DPPH radical scavenging activity was respectively 60.71 and 92.90 μg/ml by EELS and WELS. In the anti-diabetic activity, IC50 of α-amylase inhibitory activity of EELS and WELS were respectively 5,250 and 5,020 μg/ml. IC50 of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was 7.96 and 68.41 μg/ml by EELS and WELS. In the anti-obesity, IC50 of lipase inhibitory activity was 880 and 9,840 μg/ml by EELS and WELS. Finally, EELS and WELS exhibited anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic activity and anti-obesity. It suggests that Lythrum salicaria L. could be potentially used as a resource of bioactive materials for health functional foods.

Root extract of Lythrum salicaria reported a hepato-protective effect on CCl4-induced liver toxicity of rat was prepared into fractions such as n-hexane up layer (HA), n-hexane down layer (HB), diethyl ether (E), ethylacetate (EA), n-butanol (B) and water (W). Fractions prepared were tested their activities in vitro and in vivo condition. All of the fractions showed effective antioxidant asctivities on DPPH radical and CuSO4-induced oxidation of human low density lipoprotein and E fraction showed the highest inhibitory effect (98.1% at 50 μg/ml) on linoleic acid autoxidation at 40℃, which was more effective than α-tocopherol (82.4%). Five fractions (H = HA plus HB, E, EA, B, and W, 150 mg/kg/day) were fed into Sprague Dawley, male rats for 4 days, which were intoxicated with intra-peritoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (1 ml/kg in corn oil) at the 4th day and were sacrificed in 24 hrs. Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), a proinflammatory cytokine, elevated with CCl4-intoxication in negative control group (83 pg/ml) was significantly decreased in E fraction-supplemented group (18 pg/ml). Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased in negative control group (0.12 U/mg protein) was decreased in E fraction (0.07 U/mg protein). From the results, it is suggested that ether fraction from root extract of L. salicaria would be a potent antioxidant candidate for ameliorating liver injury induced by chemical intoxicant.

For the investigation of possibility as a useful functional material, different parts of Lythrum salicaria L. harvested at four growth stages were studied in the aspect of bleeding characteristics, chemical composition and in vitro activity. Weights (g/plant) of L. salicaria plant parts were high in order to stem 〉 leaf 〉 flower 〉 root at the best growth time. Crude lipids (3.59~4.30%) and crude proteins (14.7~23.5%) of L. salicaria leaves were the highest among the other plant parts showed from 0.08~3.54%, and 4.0~21.9%, respectively. Free sugars (2.9~4.2%) and crude ash (11.9~14.8) of leaves also showed the highest value. Free radical scavenging activities of L. salicaria root on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl showed from 43.5 μg/ml to 47.6 μg/ml as IC50 which were followed by those of flower, leaf, and stem. Root of L. salicaria tested at 100 μg/ml also showed the most efficient inhibitory effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in murine macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Cell viability of the plant parts tested by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay was high in order to flower, leaf, root, and stem. Total phenol content measured as tannic acid equivalent showed the highest value in flower. In conclusion, among the plant parts, especially leaf of L. salicaria, was rich in the chemical components, and showed efficient antioxidant/inhibitory activity on free radical and NO production, and was expected to be a functional material candidate.

Fifty percent ethanol extract of Lythrum salicaria Linne root (LSR) was tested in vitro on antioxidant activity, and furthermore was investigated on antioxidative and fibrosis protecting activities in CCL4-induced liver fibrosis rat model. Ratio of hepatic GSH/GSSG (reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione) as bio-parameter of antioxidant level in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats for 6 weeks significantly increased from 2.8- to 5.7-fold than that of CCL4-treated rats at p 〈 0.05. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) contents in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats ranged from 1.57- to 2.19-fold of normal rats and were lower than those in CCL4 plus silymarin-treated rats (1.78~2.46-fold of normal rats) (p 〈 0.05). Amounts of hydroxyproline of liver tissue showing the content of total collagen, a parameter of fibrosis, in CCL4 plus LSR-administrated rat livers were 4.9~8.8μg/mg (-47~-71%, compared with that in CCL4-treated rat livers (16.6μg/mg tissue), which were significantly lower than those in CCL4 plus silymarin-administrated rats being 8.4~11.7μg/mg (-30~-50%). This collagen reducing effect of liver tissue in CCL4 plus LSR-treated rats was supported by histological observation using microscopy assay. From the results, we conclude that the root of L. salicaria have efficient antioxidant potential and effective antifibrotic activities.

Several parts of Lythrum salicaria were used for this study. Scavenging activities on radicals, inhibitory activity on linoleic acid peroxidation and total phenol contents of extracts from root, flower, and aerial part were evaluated. Flower and root selected from in vitro assay were subjected to in vivo assay on CCL4-induced liver injury rat model for two weeks. Carbon tetrachloride intoxication on rats produced large amounts of hepatic lipid peroxidation product, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) compared with normal rats. Treatment with root extract of L. salicaria (LSR) showed effective inhibitory activity on lipid peroxidation product. Administration with LSR extract significantly alleviated CCL4-induced increase in GPT activity which were more effective than silymarin. The results of this study suggest that root and flower of L. salicaria have antioxidant and liver protecting activities, and root part is the most effective candidate to develop a new functional material.