Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn has been usedas a traditional remedy and food source in South Korea. It promotes gastrointestinal function and controls blood pressures. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn water extracts supplement at 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000 μg/mL after a 48 h pre-treatment with the mitogen (ConA or LPS) increased the mouse splenocytes proliferation. Water extract supplement also increased the cytokine production (IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ), measured by a cytokine ELISA kit. For the result of in vitro study, the proliferation of splenocytes and cytokine production activated by peritoneal macrophages increased when water extracts were supplemented in the range of 50~500 μL/mL concentration. Specifically, the levels of the splenocytes proliferation, IL-1β, TNF-α and IFN-γ were the highest at 250 μL/mL concentration. This in vitro study suggestedthat supplementation with Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn water extracts may enhance the immune function by regulating the splenocyte proliferation and enhancing the cytokine production activating macrophage in vitro.

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant activity of Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder. Original Jeolpyeon and Jeolpyeon with BHT (butyl hydroxy toluene) werecompared. Antioxidant activities were measured based ontotal polyphenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, DPPH radicalscavenging activity, reducing power, and SOD-like activity. Total polyphenolic and total flavonoid contents of Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder were estimated at 37.81±0.45 mg GAE/g and 26.35±0.13 mg QE/g respectively. DPPH radical scavenging activity increased upon addition of lotus seed powder. Further, reducing power was higher in Jeolpyeon containing lotus seed powder than original Jeolpyeon or Jeolpyeon with BHT. The antioxidative effect of Jeolpyeon significantly increased uponaddition of lotus seed powder.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an economically important aquatic ornamental herb with multiple uses, including food, tea, natural pigments, and/or healthcare product. The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical properties and antioxidant potential of lotus sprouts grown in three media: sprouting machine (LSSG), soil (LSSC), and mud (LSMC). The longest sprout was obtained in LSMC (4.79 and 26.79 ㎝) followed by LSSC (1.95 and 5.4 ㎝), and LSSG (0.60 and 2.85 ㎝) at 5 and 10 days, respectively. Higher amounts of total free amino acids were found in cotyledons (33.96, 21.45, and 38.90 ㎎/g) than in hypocotyls (15.77, 7.90, and 15.29 ㎎/g ) for LSSG, LSSC, and LSMC, respectively. The ratios of total essential to total non-essential amino acids were higher in hypocotyls (0.36, 0.31, and 0.46) than in cotyledons (0.34, 0.25, and 0.40), respectively. Similarly, the total polyphenol content of the hypocotyl of LSMC (50.33 ㎍ GAE/g) was the highest and that of the husk of LSSG (24.08 ㎍ GAE/g) was the lowest. Overall, the antioxidant potential of hypocotyl was higher than that of husk and cotyledon. The results indicated that the lotus sprouts grown in mud could be a good source of nutritional and natural antioxidants.

蓮(Nelumbo mucifera Gaertn)은 그 아름다운 꽃으로 유명하지만 또한 연 식물체의 거의 모든 부위는 식용 및 약용으로 쓰일 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 蓮根을 대상으로 Agrobacterium 세포감염 방법으로 유전적인 형질전환을 시도하였다. 즉, 蓮根을 1 mm 정도의 두께로 얇게 썰어서 절편으로 준비한 후 이에 대해 agroinfiltration 및 동시배양(3일, 22℃, 암 조건)을 수행하였다. 이러한 일반적인 agroinfiltra