Whisker-type magnesium hydroxide sulfate hydrate (5Mg(OH)2·MgSO4·3H2O, abbreviated 513 MHSH), is used in filler and flame-retardant composites based on its hydrate phase and its ability to undergo endothermic dehydration in fire conditions, respectively. In general, the length of whiskers is determined according to various synthetic conditions in a hydrothermal reaction with high temperature (~180oC). In this work, high-quality 513 MHSH whiskers are synthesized by controlling the concentration of the raw material in ambient conditions without high pressure. Particularly, the concentration of the starting material is closely related to the length, width, and purity of MHSH. In addition, a ceramic-coating system is adopted to enhance the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the MHSH whiskers. The physical properties of the silica-coated MHSH are characterized by an abrasion test, thermogravimetric analysis, and transmission electron microscopy.

To obtain the immunomodulating polysaccharide from chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus sclerotia, IO), crude polysaccharide fractions (IO-M-CP and IO-CP, respectively) prepared from hot-water extract (IO-W) of I. obliquus by EtOH precipitation after MeOH reflux or not. After IO-W was re-dissolved in water followed by EtOH addition in the case without MeOH reflux, EtOH mixture was fractionated into EtOH-soluble (IO-E) and crude polysaccharide (IO-CP). In the meanwhile, MeOH-soluble fraction (IO-M) was separated from IO-W after MeOH reflux. The residue was dissolved in water and was added by EtOH, and then EtOH mixture was also fractionation into EtOH-soluble (IO-M-E) and crude polysaccharide (IO-M-CP). As a result of the macrophage stimulating activity of these fractions, IO-CP and IO-M-CP showed significantly increased cell proliferation and cytokines production than IO-W. Particularly, IO-M-CP promotes the production of IL-12 more than IO-CP. In the splenocytes proliferating activity and intestinal immune system modulating activity through Peyer’s patch, both of 2 crude polysaccharide fractions were significantly promoted in cell proliferation and cytokines production than IO-W, and IO-M-CP was more potent than IO-CP in IL-2 production from splenocytes and GM-CSF production (10 μg/mL) in Peyer’s patch cells. In addition, immunomodulating polysaccharide fractions (IO-M-CP and IO-CP) prepared from IO-W by EtOH precipitation with or without EtOH reflux showed no significant difference in the chemical composition and component sugar. These results suggested that MeOH reflux might exclude low-molecular weight materials from IO-W and consequently increase the immunomodulating activity of IO-M-CP. Therefore, it was confirmed that immunomodulation of polysaccharide prepared from hot-water extract of chaga mushroom was enhanced by fractionation including MeOH reflux and EtOH precipitation.

두릅을 반응표면 분석법을 이용하여 최적의 환류 추출 조건을 설정하였다. 중심합성계획법에 따라 추출 시간(X), 에탄올 농도(X), 추출 온도(X)를 요인변수로 설정하고 수율(Y), 페놀 함량(Y), 전자공여능(Y), 갈색도(Y), 환원당(Y)을 종속 변수로 하였다. 각 추출 조건에 따른 두릅의 수율의 예측된 정상점은 추출 온도 93.49oC, 에탄올 농도 15.68%, 추출 시간 316.58분에서 최대값 32.94%로 예측되었다. 총 페놀 함량은 모든 조건에 영향을 받았으나 특히 에탄올 농도에 큰 영향을 받았고 추출온도 97.41oC,에탄올 농도 28.4%, 추출시간 301.89분에서 1169.61 mg GAE/100 g으로 예측되었다. 각 추출조건에 따른 전자공여능을 측정한 결과 에탄올 농도에 큰 영향을 받았고 추출 온도는 94.78oC, 에탄올 농도 22.96%, 추출 시간은 323.05분에서 최대값 29.82%로 나타났다. 두릅의 추출조건에 따른 추출물의 갈색도도 모든 조건에 영향을 받았으나 특히 에탄올 농도에 큰 영향을 받았고 추출 온도 97.00oC, 에탄올 농도 38.35%, 추출 시간 321.82분에서 최대값인 0.30 O.D.를 나타냈다. 각각의 추출 조건에 따른 추출물들의 환원당을 측정한 결과 에탄올 농도에 가장 큰 영향을 받았고 추출 온도 87.62oC, 에탄올 농도 24.62%, 추출 시간 339.39분에서 최대값 1.04%로 나타났다. 실험 결과에 비추어 볼 때 두릅의 추출 공정에서 에탄올 농도가 가장 많은 영향을 미치는 것으로 사료된다. 두릅 추출물의 특성의 contour map을 superimposing하여 최적 추출조건의 범위를 예측한 결과 최적 추출 조건은 추출 시간 263.5분, 에탄올 농도 14%, 추출 온도 89.5oC로 예측되었다.

Purpose Rhei Rhizoma (RR) is one of the herbal medicines traditionally used to treat diverse inflammatory diseases. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Rhei Rhizoma on experimental reflux esophagitis (RE) in rats. Methods The antioxidant activity of RR in vitro was measured in terms of radical scavenging capacity such as DPPH and ABTS. RE was produced by ligating both the pylorus and the transitional junction between the forestomach and the corpus. Rhei Rhizoma (125 and 250 mg/kg) were administered every day for 7 days, and its effect was estimated on comparison with RE control and normal rats. Results RR scavenged DPPH and ABTS effectively and IC50ofDPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity of RR were 4.8 μg/ml and 15.75 μg/ml. The administration of RR decreased the elevated serum ROS in RE control rats. The RE control rats exhibited the down-regulation of antioxidant-related proteins such as Nrf2 and HO-1expression levels in the esophagitis; however, the level in the RR-treated RE rats was significantly higher than that in the RE control rats. Moreover, RE control rats exhibited the up-regulation of the protein expression related to oxidative stress at the esophagitis, but RR administration significantly reduced the expression of inflammatory proteins through the MAPK-independent signaling pathways. The expression of inflammatory mediators and cytokines by NF-κB activation was modulated through blocking the degradation of IκBα. In addition, the oral administration of RR regulated the gastric mucosal damage in RE rats. Conclusion The administration of Rhei Rhizoma effectively ameliorates the inflammatory damage of esophageal mucosa through radical scavenging activity and the activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.