Background: Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. is a plant belonging to Saxifragaceae family and contains various active ingredients including astilbin and bergenin. It has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to improve fever, pain, and cough. Recently, a number of Korean medical resources have been studied for cancer and inflammation treatment, but A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. has not yet been investigated. Consequently, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. (ARE) on oxidative stress and colorectal cancer using RAW264.7 and the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116. Methods and Results: In total, 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE reduced cell viability by 38.96 ± 1.32%, and increased caspase-3 activity by 133.08 ± 3.41% in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, TUNEL signaling and the early apoptosis ratio (34.56 ± 1.67%) increased by 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE treatment. H2O2-induced oxidative stress and cell death were diminished by 500 ㎍/㎖ ARE treatment through decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species). Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of ARE against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated by apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, and H2O2-induced ROS generation and cell death are decreased by ARE treatment in RAW264.7 cells. However, further study is required to explore how ARE treatment is involved in the signaling pathway to decrease ROS.

Factors affecting germination of seeds in the forms of various environment and chemical compounds. The present study was aim to produced effective seed propagation method of Astilbe koreana (Kom.) Nakai which had expected high value for the cut flower, ornamental and pharmaceutical material. Seed width and length ranged 0.62, 2.22 ㎜, respectively, and weight of thousand seeds was 40.5 ㎎. As result of imbibition test, showed moisture content of fresh seed (2.57%) increased rapidly by water-soaking treatment under 24 hours, recording to maximum value of 29.8%, and expansion of the seed coat was observed. Seed germination was the best at 15℃ and light conditions (40.8%) among temperature and light conditions treated. Percent germination of seeds was improved under the low (15, 20℃) than high temperature (25, 30℃). In addition, the seed was not germinated at dark condition regardless of temperature. Seeds of A. koreana thus seemed that it had low temperature germinability conditions. To improve germination rate, seeds were submerged in various concentrations of growth regulators such as GA3 and kinetin, and minerals as KNO3 and KCl. As a results, KNO3 treatment, regardless of concentrations, promoted germination compared to control. Especially, percent of germination (77.8%), germination energy (96.1%), mean germination time (11.3 days) and T50 (6.5 days) were effectively improved by treatment of KNO3 20 mM.

꽃범의꼬리와 접시꽃을 공시재료로 하여 질소형태별 생육습성을 조사하여 자생식물의 활용도를 증진시키기 위한 기초조사를 실시하였다. 배양액은 Hoagland 배양액을 변형 처리하였으며, 질소비료의 형태를 NO3-N, NH4-N, NO3-N/NH4-N 혼용처리구로 구분하였다. 비닐하우스에서 EBB 시스템을 이용하여 재배하였고, 60일 후 초장, 엽수, 엽장, 엽폭을 측정하였고, 엽록소 함량을 조사하였다. 꽃범의꼬리는 초장, 엽장, 엽폭, 엽수 모두 NO3-N와 NH4-N 혼합처리구에서 가장 많았으며, NO3-N보다 NH4-N처리구가 초장 및 엽록소 함량이 높았으나 엽수는 더 적었다. 접시꽃은 NH4-N처리구의 생육이 현저히 감소하였으나 엽록소 함량은 큰 차이는 없었다.