Background : Bamboo fiber contains 97% of dietary insoluble fiber from mature bamboo shoots. Bamboo contains phytosterols and a high amount of fiber which can be labelled as nutraceuticals or natural medicines that are attracting attention from the aspect of health. This study was conducted for the production of dietary fiber from Sinoarundinaria nigra, S (S. nigra) shoots barks by using α-amylase, alcalase, glucoamylase or Viscozyme and improvement of Large intestinal function in rats. Methods and Results : Yields of enzymatic degradation were 80.5% (322 g/400g) and the dietary fiver content of the enzyme digest was 69.7%. Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on diet containing 100 ㎎/㎏ and 200 ㎎/㎏ S. nigra dietary fibers [dietary fiver of bamboo shoots barks (SNDFB)] for one weeks. As a result of weighing of the fecal pellets, loperamide alone group showed a significant decrease compared with the control group, and it was significantly increased in test group (200 ㎎/㎏-SNDFB) compared to loperamide alone group. In addition, the measurement of gastrointestinal charcoal transit ratio in rats, loperamide alone group showed a significant decrease compared with the control group, and it was significantly increased in all the test substance groups compared to loperamide alone group. The number of remnant fecal pellets in the colon after dissection was significantly increased in the loperamide alone group compared to the control group, and was significantly decreased in the test substance groups compared to loperamide alone group. Conclusion : These results suggest that dietary fiber isolated from S. nigra has a marked effect on the improvement of bowel function in rats with loperamide (4 ㎎/㎏)-induced constipation.

Prunus sargentii of Rosaceae familiy, has been reported to have radical scavenging activity and anti-inflammatory effect. On these facts, this research was conducted to evaluate pharmaceutical activities of the bark extracts P. sargentii. Free radical scavenging activities of fraction (Fr) -5~10 isolated from P. sargentii was higher than 80% respectively at 10ppm. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of Fr-5, 9 were about 97, 84%, respectively at 1,000 ppm. Xanthine oxidase inhibitory effect of Fr-9, 10 were about 75, 78%, respectively at 1,000 ppm. The tyrosinase inhibitory effect related to skin-whitening was 72, 68% in Fr-2, 9 isolated from Prunus sargentii R. at 1,000 ppm. Hyaluronidase inhibition activity related to the anti-inflammation effect was 98% for Fr-8 at 500 ppm. Isolation of the methanol soluble fraction from P. sargentii yielded two major phenol compounds, (-)-epicatechin and taxifolin. The structure of the compound was certainly determined by chemical analyses, as well as NMR and Mass spectroscopy. The present study was carried out in a search for new cosmetic material from the bark from P. sargentii. and, (-)-epicatechin and taxifolin were isolated as active principles. So P. sargentii R. methanolic extracts may be used for the cosmetic material.