The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effects of Mori cortex radicis powder and to determine the optimal composite recipe by testing different amount of Mori cortex radicis powder and sugar in cookies prepared with Mori cortex radicis powder. In regard to its antioxident effects, Mori cortex radicis powder had a total phenolic content and DPPH free radical scavenging activity of 149.56 mg GAE/g and 137.77 μg/mL, respectively. The response surface methodology was used to obtain ten experimental points (including two replicates for Mori cortex radicis powder and sugar) and Mori cortex radicis cookie formulation was optimized using rheology. The results of the sensory evaluation produced significant values for color (p<0.05), texture (p<0.05), sweetness (p<0.01) and overall quality (p<0.05), and the results of instrumental analysis showed significant values in sweetness (p<0.001), redness (p<0.01) and spread ratio (p<0.5). As a result, the optimum formulations obtained by numerical and graphical methods were found to be 16.84 g of Mori cortex radicis powder and 64.42 g of sugar.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antioxidative effects of Mori Cortex Radicis powder and to determine the optimal mixing ratio of Mori Cortex Radicis powder and water in the preparation of bread. The optimal sensory composite recipe was determined by producing bread with different levels of Mori Cortex Radicis powder and water. The analysis was performed using response surface methodology and a sensory evaluation was performed with the data. Ten experimental recipes, including two with reference points in the composition, were selected. In terms of the antioxidative effects of Mori Cortex Radicis powder, the IC50 for total phenolic content and DPPH free radical scavenging activity were 149.56 GAE/g dry powder and 137.77 /mL respectively. Measurement results of the mechanical properties showed differences in volume (p〈0.05), baking loss (p〈0.05), yellowness (p〈0.01), lightness (p〈0.01), redness (p〈0.01), hardness (p〈0.01) and springiness (p〈0.05). The sensory measurements showed significant values for color (p〈0.05), appearance (p〈0.05), flavor (p〈0.01), taste (p〈0.01), and overall quality (p〈0.01). Overall, based on numerical and graphical methods, the optimal formulation was determined to be 21.16 g of Mori Cortex Radicis powder and 372.47 g of water.

The inhibitory effects of water extract of Cortex Mori(CM) was investigated for allergic asthma in a mouse model. Experimental allergic asthma was induced by repeated intraperitoneal sensitization and aerosol challenge of ovalbumin (OVA). CM extract (10mg/mouse/day) was administrated orally whereas control mice were given with identical volume of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) for 7 days during the course of challenge. When airway hyperreactivity(AHR) measured by β-methacoline-induced airflow obstruction was compared, AHR of CM-treated mice was significantly lower than those of control mice, indicating that CM extract can attenuate an asthmatic symptom. Airway recruitment of leukocytes and cytokine levels in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was analyzed in order to evaluate CM effect on pulmonary inflammation. Total number of leukocytes in BALF was lower in CM-treated mice than in control without significance. Interestingly, CM treatment elevated a distribution of eosinophils which are crucial in asthmatic response. However, comparison of absolute number showed that it resulted from a decrease of total leukocyte and macrophage numbers. Levels of type 2 (Th2) cytokines (IL4, IL5 and IL 13) measured by ELISA in BALF were not significantly reduced by CM and IFN-γ, a type 1 (Th1) cytokine, was also comparable between two groups, indicating that CM treatment has little or no effect on airway inflammation and secretion of relevant cytokines. For an insight into the mechanism of CM effect on AHR, immunemodulatory activity of CM was analyzed at a cellular level. Peribronchial lymph node(LN) cells and lung-infiltrating lymphocytes (LIL) collected from CM-treated and control mice were in vitro stimulated with OVA antigen. Although there was no significance, number of LN cell and LIL was higher in CM-treated mice than controls and their Ag-specific proliferative response (3H-TdR uptake assay) was similar. Production of Th2 cytokine, IL 5 and IL 13 was relatively enhanced, but without statistical significance, while IFN-γ production was minimally altered in CM-treated mice. Immunemodulation of CM in the field of humoral immunity, antibody levels in serum were measured and compared. No significant difference was observed in the levels of IgE. However, levels of type 1 and 2 antibody IgG2a and IgG1 were signifcantly enhanced by CM treatment. As CM-mediated alleviation of AHR was not clearly explained by above results, degranulation of eosinophils was finally examined by their release of peroxidase. Levels of peroxidase in BALF was significantly lower in CM treated mice, suggesting that CM inhibits in vivo degranulation of eosinophils, although its effect was not shown during their in vitro incubation. Taken together, data from current study indicate CM extract alleviates AHR through inhibition of eosinophil degranulation rather than any immunological regulation. Instead, immunemodulatory activity of CM is likely to be adversely effective in (Th2)