To produce an intestinal immunomodulatory beverage containing Centella asiatica extract (CAE), three types of CAE-added beverage prototypes were prepared, and their immunomodulatory activities and marker compounds were analyzed. As a result of the cytotoxicity assessment, all the beverages did not show significant toxicity compared to the control group. Next, the immunomodulatory activities of the beverage prototype were evaluated using the inflammatory model of IL-1β-induced intestinal epithelial cell line. All the samples significantly reduced the production of IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1 in a CAE concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CAE-added beverages inhibited NO, IL-6, and IL-12 production in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. When the major triterpenoids, as marker compounds for the production of CAE-added beverages, were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, only asiaticoside was detected beyond the limit of quantification, while madecassoside, madecassic acid, and asiatic acid were not detected. The amounts of asiaticoside in CAE-added beverage prototypes were confirmed in No. 1 (19.39 μg/mL), 2 (19.25 μg/mL), and 3 (19.98 μg/mL). In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that CAE-added beverage prototypes induced immunomodulatory effects in the intestinal inflammatory cell line models and asiaticoside could be used as a marker compound for CAE-added beverage production.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Centella asiatica powder on the quality characteristics and storage stability of goat meat Tteokgalbi. The goat meat Tteokgalbi samples were prepared with four different quantities (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5%) of Centella asiatica powder. The moisture content of the samples containing Centella asiatica powder was significantly lower than that of the control (p<0.05). The protein content of the samples containing Centella asiatica powder was significantly higher than that of the control (p<0.05). As the proportion of Centella asiatica powder increased, the pH, L*, and a* values of the uncooked and cooked samples decreased (p<0.05). The water holding capacity and the cooking yield of the uncooked and cooked samples were higher in the samples containing Centella asiatica powder than in the control (p<0.05). Also, with the increasing amounts of the Centella asiatica powder, the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) levels decreased. The 1-1.5% Centella asiatica powder group showed lower levels of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) than the other groups as per the assay (p<0.05). The results indicate that Centella asiatica powder could enhance the quality characteristics and storage stability of goat meat Tteokgabi.

Medicinal plant-derived carbon dots are eco-friendly and possess therapeutic properties. Among the medicinal plants studied throughout the world, Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. is known for its medicinal values, especially its neuroceutical and cogniceutical properties. This work discusses the green synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) using C. asiatica leaves as the carbon source via fast and cost-effective microwave-assisted method, and its physico-chemical characterization via UV–visible, fluorescence and FTIR spectrometry, XRD, SEM, AFM, TEM, SAED, EDX and zeta potential analyses. The study revealed quasi-spherical CDs having size ~ 3–6 nm, polycrystalline nature, and presence of various functional groups like –COOH, –H, =CH2 and C–O–C with UV absorption peaks at 213 and 322 nm. Interestingly, the C. asiatica-derived CDs exhibited blue fluorescence under UV with maximum emission wavelength of 460 nm when excited at 400 nm. Further, these CDs were evaluated for their biological applications, which uncovered their potential in therapeutics such as antimicrobial properties against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria at a dose of 10 μg, strong antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 165.28 and 128.48 μg mL− 1 in DPPH and H2O2 assays, respectively, and profound anti-inflammatory activity with IC50 value of 106.20 μg mL− 1 in protein denaturation assay. The CDs were also assessed for cytotoxicity using whole blood cells and were found to be safe for in vitro administration. Thus, the C. asiatica-derived CDs can be exploited for their potent biomedicinal properties. Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) were prepared by microwave-assisted pyrolysis of Centella asiatica leaf extract and purification. The as synthesized CDs were subjected to various physico-chemical characterization and biomedical assays to understand its properties.

Centella asiatica (C. asiatica) has been widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industry as a functional material. In a previous study, we have investigated not only pharmacological effects such as antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, but also analyzed various functional ingredients. In this study, triterpenoids were analyzed using HPLC-DAD to determine marker compounds among functional ingredients. When triterpenoids were analyzed, asiaticoside from C. asiatica was determined as an optimal marker compound. Next, specificity, linearity, limited of detection (LOD), limited of quantification (LOQ), precision, accuracy, and range were evaluated using HPLC-DAD to determine asiaticoside contents in C. asiatica juice and extracts. The specificity was elucidated by chromatogram and retention time using an established analytical method. The coefficient of correlation obtained was 0.9996. LOD was 4.99 μg/mL and LOQ was 15.12 μg/mL. Intra- and inter-day precision of asiaticoside were determined to be 0.48~1.68% and 0.08~1.09%, respectively. Furthermore, the recovery rate of asiaticoside was 98.88% and the analytical range of Field-70E was determined to be 0.625~10 mg/mL. As a results of evaluating ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP antioxidative effect, Field-70E showed potent antioxidant activities. Results of this study could be used as basic data for quality standardization of C. astiatica juice and extracts.

To improve the shelf-life of Centella asiatica, Centella asiatica was treated with gel packs containing slow-released chlorine dioxide (ClO2) gas at 3-5 ppm for 20 days at 4℃. The weight loss rate, as well as the changes in pH, color, and texture of the treated samples, were investigated. The weight of the control and ClO2 gas-treated samples was decreased during the storage period. The change in weight of the control was slightly faster than that of the samples treated with 3 and 4 ppm ClO2 gas. The pH of the control and the ClO2 gas treated samples were decreased during the storage period and there was no significant difference between the control and ClO2 gas treated samples. Concerning color (lightness, redness, and yellowness) changes of Centella asiatica during the storage period, there was no significant difference between the control and ClO2 gas treated samples. The change in shear force in the leaf and stem of Centella asiatica during the storage period was slightly lower in the 4 ppm ClO2 gas treated samples (in the leaf) compared to the control and 3 and 4 ppm ClO2 gas treated samples (in the stem) compared to the control and 5 ppm ClO2 gas treated sample.

To increase the utilization of Centella asiatica (CA), enzymes such as cellulase and pectinase were added and the physicochemical properties of the treated CA were analyzed. In addition, apple-CA jam was prepared using the enzyme-treated CA, which had the best antioxidant properties, and the physicochemical and sensory qualities of the jam were measured. There was a high content of ascorbic acid, polyphenols, flavonoids, reducing sugar, amino acid, minerals and DPPH radical scavenging activity in the enzyme-treated group. The antioxidant component and activity in the jam prepared by adding enzyme-treated CA increased with an increase in the amount of enzyme-treated CA. In the soluble solids, the higher the amount of enzyme-treated CA, the higher the value, but there was no significant difference in pH. The sensory evaluation of the jam, in particular the taste, showed that the highest preference was observed when the enzyme-treated CA was added in the range of 5.0~6.7%, and the control group showed the lowest preference. There was no significant difference in flavor and spreadability among the treatment groups, however, the control group showed the highest color preference. In the overall acceptability, when 5.0% of enzyme-treated CA was added, the highest acceptability was shown.

본 연구는 병풀(Centella asiatica) 두 품종(‘자이언트 타이 거 케어’, ‘굿병풀’)의 생장 특성과 추출용매에 따른 항산화 활성 및 Triterpenoid 함량을 조사하기 위해 수행되었다. ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’와 ‘굿병풀’의 정식 후 생장 특성은 정식 41일 후 엽과 엽병의 길이 생장에서 ‘굿병풀’이 유의적으로 높았다. 하지만 이후 수확기(정식 104일 후)까지 생장속도는 유사하였다. 정식 후 104일에 수확한 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’의 식물체 크기와 관련된 생장(엽면적, 엽병두께, 엽병 길이, 생체중)이 ‘굿병풀’보다 유의적으로 높았다. 냉수, 열수, 50% 에탄 올, 70% 에탄올 추출물의 자유라디컬 소거능과 환원능으로 평가된 항산화 활성과 총 페놀 함량은 두 품종에서 모두 70% 에탄올 추출물에서 높았다. 추출 용매별 Triterpenoid 함량을 분석한 결과, 두 품종의 주요 Triterpenoid는 Madecasoside 와 Asiaticoside로 확인되었다. 품종별 총 Triterpenoids 함량은 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’의 50% 에탄올 추출물과 ‘굿병풀’ 의 70% 에탄올 추출물에서 가장 높았으며, ‘굿병풀’이 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’보다 높았다. 하지만 정식 104일 후 수확량 은 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’가 ‘굿병풀’보다 3배 많아, 동일한 재배 면적(3.3m2 ) 에서 생산 가능한 총 Triterpenoids 함량은 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’가 2.459mg으로 ‘굿병풀’(1.103mg) 보다 약 2.2배 높았다. 따라서 항산화 활성이 가장 높고 단위면 적당 총 Triterpenoids 생산량이 높은 ‘자이언트 타이거 케어’ 를 재배하는 것이 경제적일 것으로 생각된다.

Centella asiatica (CA) is a vegetable that has been used for medicinal purposes for a long time, but it is not well known in Korea. In this study, the approximate analysis, physicochemical properties, free sugars, free amino acids and minerals of native and improved CA cultivated in Chungju area were measured. And the antioxidant contents and activities of CA solvent extracts were measured. There was no significant difference between native and improved species. As for the characteristics of CA, it was confirmed that the improved species had a large weight, size and a tough texture. Glucose was detected in native CA, fructose, glucose and sucrose were detected in improved species. A total of 15 free amino acids were detected and the content was slightly higher in improved species than in native species. The mineral content in CA was slightly higher in the improved species, and the detected minerals were Na, P, Ca, K, Mg and Fe. Polyphenols, ascorbic acid and flavonoids in each extraction solvent (water, 70% and 100% ethanol) were all higher in the improved species than in native species. And it was found that the antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts were higher than that of water.

Centella asiatica (CA) has been used as a nutritional plant as well as a traditional herbal medicine around the world. This study, quality component (proximate composition, total polyphenol, and triterpenoid compound), and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CA dried using various methods were investigated. Proximate compositions of CA with different drying methods included a large amount of carbohydrates, crude protein, crude ash, and crude fiber. Among the drying methods, cold drying provided the highest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, while hot-air drying at 75℃ provided the lowest total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. In addition, when the major triterpenoid compounds of CA were analyzed, the highest content of asiaticoside of triterpenoid glycoside was obtained with all drying methods. With respect to the total triterpenoid, the highest content was obtained with cold drying (68.8 mg/g) whereas natural drying (31.4 mg/g) provided the lowest content. In anti-inflammatory activity of LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, EtOH extract of cold drying showed a significantly higher inhibitory activity in comparison to the other drying methods. In conclusion, it is considered that the cold drying method is suitable for industrial preparation of functional materials with high physiological ingredients, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities from CA.

Centella asiatica (CA) has been widely used as herbal plants. It is a valuable resources. The aim of the present study was to evaluate physiological activities of solvent extracts from CA cultivated in Chungju, Korea (Good tiger care). After preparing water (cold-water, CA-WE; hot-water, CA-HWE) and EtOH extracts (50% EtOH, CA-50E; 70% EtOH, CA-70E), their total polyphenol, flavonoid, and triterpenoid contents, and anti-oxidant activities, and anti-inflammatory activities were examined and compared. CA-70E showed the most potent anti-oxidant activity based on ABTS radical scavenging activity and reducing ability assays, while CA-50E and CA-70E showed the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity. Among major triterpenoid glycosides present in CA, madecassoside and asiaticoside contents were found to be the highest in CA-70E, and madecassic acid and asiatic acid were the highest in CA-50E. In LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, CA-70E showed the highest TNF-α inhibitory activity, although CA-50E and CA-70E similarly inhibited nitric oxide production. Ethanol extracts significantly inhibited IL-6 and IL-8 production more than water extracts using TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells, indicating its better inhibitory against skin inflammation. Therefore, Chungju-CA EtOH extract, especially 70% EtOH extract, has high physiologically active ingredients and potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, suggesting its industrial application as a functional material.

Traditionally, Centella asiatica leaf extracts are used to treat neurodegenerative diseases in India. Centella asiatica is reportedly used to enhance memory and treat dementia, but its promoting effect on neural stem cell differentiation has not been studied yet. In the present study, we investigated whether or not Centella asiatica leaf extracts act on neuronal precursor cells and neuronal cell lines to induce neuronal differentiation, neurite outgrowth, and neuroprotection. The neurogenesis-promoting potential of Centella asiatica leaf extracts was determined by differentiation assay on neural stem cells isolated from mouse embryos and PC12 cell lines. To understand the contribution of specific neural cell types towards increase after Centella asiatica treatment, neural stem cells were differentiated into various neural subtypes and checked by Western blotting using neural cell lineage-specific antibody markers. Neuroprotective activity of Centella asiatica was analyzed in PC12 cells exposed to 100 μM of H2O2. Cell growth was analyzed by MTT assay while cell death was analyzed by Western blotting detection of apoptosis-related proteins. Cells treated with Centella asiatica had significantly longer primary and secondary neurites as well as a higher number of neurites per cell compared to control cells. Expression levels of TUBBIII, TH, NF, and BDNF increased upon Centella asiatica treatment, suggesting that Centella asiatica has a neurogenesis-promoting effect. Centella asiatica also inhibited oxidative stress-induced neural cell damage through regulation of apoptosis- and cell cycle-related proteins. Thus, leaf extracts of Centella asiatica might promote neurogenesis, neuroregeneration, and neuroprotection in the context of neurodegenerative diseases.

Enhancement effect of ultrasonification process on UV-protection and skin-whitening activities using Centella asiatica L. Urban extract was investigated. Cytotoxicity of the extracts measured on human skin fibroblast cells, CCD-986sk, and then, ultrasonification associated extracts showed 5~9% lower cytotoxicity then normal crude extracts on 1.0 mg/ml of highest sample concentration. The associated extrats showed highest inhibition activity of hyaluronidase on 1.0 mg/ml of concentration as 54.2%. Also, the associated extract reduced expression of MMP-1 on UV-irradiated CCD-986sk cells down to 100.2% from 136.1%, and revealed high inhibitory potency on tyrosinase as 74.6% by adding 1.0 mg/ml of concentration. Ultrasonification associated extract showed strong inhibition effect of melanin production on Clone M-3 cells as 84.2% by adding 1.0 mg/ml of concentration. From the preliminary observations, we considered that the extracts from C. asiatica could be potent natural materials for skin-whitening and anti-aging agent, and could enhance the activities by ultrasonification process.

Phosphatidylcholine was used to encapsulate aqueous extracts of Centella asiatica, and its biological activity was compared with another aqueous extracts. Nanoparticle of C. asiatica was made by encapsulation to w/o type spherical liposome which of aqueous extracts seized with oil phase as 78.2 nm average diameter. Cytotoxicity of the nanoparticle was measured on human skin fibroblast cells, CCD-986sk, and showed lower cytotoxicity on 1.0 mg/ml of highest concentration as 28% than that of another extracts. The nanoparticle showed the highest promotion of human B and T cell growth up to 138% and 135%, respectively, compared to the control. and the NK cell growth was promoted up to 8% higher than the control in proportion to secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α from immune cell growth. Also nanoparticle showed highest inhibition activity of hyaluronidase on 1.0 mg/ml of highest concentration as 60.5%. It seems that because of enhanced biological application of aqueous extracts on cell through nano-encapsulation process.

본 연구는 병풀의 초음파 추출 시 용매에 따른 면역활성 증진 효과를 탐색하고자 수행되었다, 각 추출공정의 수율 비교에서 초음파 공정을 병행한 60℃ 에탄올 추출이 일반 100℃ 물 추출에 비해 15% 높은 수율을 나타냈으며, 에탄올을 용매로 한 추출이 동일한 조건의 물 추출에 비해 모두 높은 수율을 나타냈다. 이는 용매의 극성과 용출되는 병풀 내 성분의 극성에 기인하는 것으로 사료된다. 인간 정상 섬유아세포인 CCD-986sk를 이용한 세포독성 측정을 통해 모든 병풀 추출물이 32% 이하의 세포독성을 나타냈다. 인간 면역 B, T세포의 생육도 측정에서 초음파를 병행한 60℃ 에탄올 추출물이 무첨가 대조구에 비해 10%의 증진 효과를 나타내었으며, 면역세포의 cytokine 분비량 측정에서도 IL-6, TNF-α의 분비를 각각 4.86 × 10-4 pg/cell과 5.73 × 10-4 pg/cell로 나타내 증진 효과를 나타냈다. 또한, 초음파 병행 에탄올 시료를 첨가한 면역 T세포의 분비물에 의한 NK 세포 활성에서도 10%의 생육증진효과를 나타내었다. 이를 통해 병풀의 에탄올 추출물이 면역 활성을 가지고 있으며 초음파 공정을 통해 활성의 증진이 나타날 수 있음을 확인하였다. 이는 에탄올 용매를 통해 병풀 유용성분의 용출이 증진되고, 초음파 공정을 통해 병풀 유용 성분의 수율 향상 및 유용성분의 변화, 신규물질 용출 등이 일어나기 때문인 것으로 사료된다.

Objectives Here, we report the effect of overexpression of ginseng farnesyl diphosphate synthase on the transcription of three key regulatory enzymes involved in triterpene metabolism in hairy root of ginseng and Centella asiatica (L.) Urban. Materials and Methods A four-year-old root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer and Centella asiatica (L.) Urban whole plants were obtained from National Institute of Crop Science (Suwon, Korea) and Chonnam National University (Gwangju, Korea), respectively. Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1000 strain was kindly provided by Dr. In (Nongwoo Bio, Yeju, Korea). Results and Discussion The role of farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) in triterpene biosynthesis (Fig. 1) was investigated. A pCAMBIA3101 vector was used to insert a exogenous gene into target plant genome (Fig. 2). After the transformation, we produced Panax ginseng and Centella asiatica hairy roots by introducing the coding region of the gene from Panax ginseng. In these hairy roots, integration of the transgenes into the C. asiatica nuclear genome was confirmed by PCR analysis using PgFPS (P. ginseng FPS) primers and by Southern hybridization using PgFPS-specific probe. FPS specific activity is increased 4-fold compared to controls. In RT-PCR analysis, overexpression of PgFPS in hairy roots was observed (Fig. 3) and two genes, cycloartenol and beta-amyrin synthase, related to triterpene biosynthesis were up-regulated. These results suggest that FPS overexpression might lead to an enhanced biosynthesis of triterpene saponins and phytosterols. However, we did not demonstrate whether or not the introduction of PgFPS gene in Centella asiatica genome directly enhances triterpene saponin production, although our results showed that gene expression related to triterpene saponin biosynthesis were obviously up-regulated. Therefore, additional experiments such as overexpression of FPS gene in triterpene saponin-deficient mutant plants will be required.