Acorus gramineus is a herb used frequently in oriental medicine. Clinically, the effects of Acorus gramineus are known as awakening of one’s consciousness, removal of sputum, and relief of autism. Experimentally, Acorus gramineus root(AGR)-induced cerebral blood flow increase depending on the concentration causes diverse responses of blood pressure and regional cerebral blood flow and possesses strong inhibitory effects of apoptosis in the nervous system. We investigated the effects of AGR water extract on the adipose tissue status. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed high fat diet and a total of 35 mice were divided into 5 groups: normal group, control group, and groups treated with AGR water extract at concentrations of 20, 100, and 500 mg/kg. The mice were treated by oral administration once a day for consecutive 6 weeks, and their weight changes were monitored. As the results, the groups treated with AGR water extract showed weight loss. Also, the weights of liver, epididymal fat, retroperitoneal fat and peri-renal fat were decreased in the groups treated with AGR water extract. In histopathological examination, the sizes of adipose tissues decreased in liver, epididymal fat, retroperitoneal fat, and peri-renal fat. These results indicate that AGR water extract have an anti-obesity activity, which could be used as an useful material to decrease body adipose tissues.

This study investigated the effects of Acorus gramineus aroma on electrical activity in the brain as evaluated by an electroencephalogram (EEG). The subject was 20 healthy female young adult. EEG electrodes were attached at the frontal, temporal, occipital, and parietal lobes according to the international 10-20 system. The subject was exposed to Acorus gramineus aroma for a period of 1 minutes each before, and after aroma smelling. Acorus gramineus aroma increased the alpha power/beta power ratio on the frontal and parietal lobes of the brain. These increases induced by the increased alpha power. The increased alpha power induced calmness and stable status. It is concluded that Acorus gramineus aroma diminishes the state of wakefulness in the brain; alpha powers/beta powers ratio was decreased in the brain of subject. Acorus gramineus aroma may be used for a sleep-inducing effect.

We investigated the effects of Acorus gramineus water extract on the blood lipid levels in high fat diet-fed obese male mice. We divided thirty-five C57BL/6 mice into 5 groups: normal group, control group, and groups treated with Acorus gramineus water extract at concentrations of 20, 100, and 500 ㎎/㎏. We inoculated Acorus gramineus water extract per orally once a day for 6 weeks respectively. The results revealed that Acorus gramineus water extracts had positive effects on the total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels.

뿌리에 진통, 진정, 건위, 구충 효능이 있다고 알려진 석창포(Acorus gramineus Soland)의 확대재배를 위하여 현재 분근증식만으로 한정되어 있는 번식법을 개선하고자 종자번식과 기내배양에 의한 번식 방법을 검토하였다. 종자번식을 위한 수확적기는 종피가 연녹색을 띠었을 때가 적합하였으며, 종자의 보관은 5℃에서 30일까지 저장하는 것이 발아율을 높게 유지할 수 있었다. 석창포의 기내발아에는 2.0mg·L-1 NAA와 0.1mg·L-1 BA를 MS 기본배지에 첨가하여 다수의 신초를 유도한 후, 0.1mg·L-1 BA 단독 처리 및 0.5mg·L-1 NAA와 1.0mg·L-1 BA 혼합처리에서 발근을 유도하는 것이 효과적이었다. 석창포 육묘상토로는 vermiculite보다 원예상토가 생육이 우수하였다.

큰고랭이(Scirpus tabernaemontani)와 세모고랭이(Scirpus triqueter)는 외떡잎식물 벼목 사초과의 여러해살이풀로서 한국·일본·중국 동북부·사할린·유럽등지에서 자라며 연못이나 호수의 얕은 물속에서 무리 지어 자란다. 석창포(Acorus gramineus)는 외떡잎식물 천남성목 천남성과의 여러해살이풀로서 산지나 들판의 냇가에서 자란다. 속새목 속새과의 속새(Equisetum hyemale)는 습진곳을 좋아한다. 이들 수생식물들은 수질정화에도 큰 역할을 수행하고 있다. 최근 웰빙바람을 타고 실내공기정화의기능과 습도조절의 기능을 가진 식물에 대한 관심이 증가됨에 따라 이러한 역할을 수행할 수 있는 식물자원의 수집이 필요하다. 이에 본 실험은 실내 도입가능성이 높은 큰고랭이외 3종 식물들의 양액처리에 따른 생육차이를 알아보았다. 공시식물은 2007년 12월 마사토에 식재하여 20℃에서 생육시켰으며, 양액은 Hyponex 1000배액을 담수상태가 되도록 처리하였다. 식재 후 15일 간격으로 3개월간 생육조사를 하였다. 큰고랭이의 초장은 45일 후 약 30cm 증가하였으며, 양액처리 효과는 뚜렷하지 않았고, 줄기수와 뿌리수 역시 처리간 차이를 보이지 않았다. 세모고랭이, 석창포, 속새 역시 처리간 생육 차이를 보이지 않았으며 앞으로 양액농도 처리에 대한 효과를 조사, 비교할 예정이다.

Mosquitoes are carriers of malaria and encephalitis. This study performed for eco-friendly control of mosquitos by using genus Acorus. Several solvents were used for the extraction of genus Acorus; water, ethanol, and methanol. Grinded leaves and roots were also included. Acorus extracts killed mosquito larvae and the ethanol extract showed the best result. Autoclaved Acorus water needed long time to kill mosquito larvae. LT50 of 1 % Acorus calamus decoction was 13.6 hrs and 1 % autoclaved Acorus water was 53.6 hrs. LT50 of 0.05% Acorus calamus rhizome powder was 28.5 hrs. LT50 of 0.5% Acorus calamus leaf powder was 10.8 hrs. LT50 of 0.1 % Acorus calamus decoction was 63.4 hrs and 0.1 % Acorus calamus ethanol extracts was 48.6 hrs and 0.1% Acorus calamus methanol extracts was 53.9 hrs. LT50 of 0.4% Acorus gramineus decoction was 45.5 hrs, 0.4% ethanol extracts was 10.9 hrs, 0.4% methanol extracts was 10.2 hrs. LT50 of ethanol extracts was shorter than other extracts. Acorus calamus rhizome powder could be used for the eco-friendly control of the mosquito larvae.