본 연구에서는 발효노니를 건강기능식품 소재로 활용 시 기초자료로 제공하고자 발효노니 추출물 및 지표성분의 면역활성 증진 효과를 평가하였다. RAW 264.7 대식세포 에서 발효노니 추출물 및 지표성분 6종을 처리하여 XTT 세포독성평가, Nitric Oxide 생성 측정, Cyokine 생성 측 정, immune marker genes 발현분석 수행하였다. 뿐만 아 니라 양성대조군으로 LPS와 기능성 원료로 사용되고 있 는 발효홍삼 추출물을 사용하였다. 그 결과 모든 처리 농 도 및 처리군에서 세포독성이 관찰되지 않았으며, 지표성 분 6종 중 SCP 및 ASE에서 NO 생성이 증가됨을 확인하 였다. 뿐만 아니라 ASE 처리군에서는 IL-6 및 IL-1β의 생 성이 증가되었으며, iNOS 및 TNF-α의 immune marker genes 발현이 증가됨을 확인하였다. 발효노니 추출물 효능 평가에서는 발효시 NO 생성 및 IL-6, IL-1β의 생성, COX2 의 발현이 증가되는 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 연구 결과 는 발효노니 추출물 및 지표성분의 선천면역 활성증가를 타나내며 노니 및 발효노니 표준화 연구에서 지표성분으 로 사용 가능성을 제시한다. 따라서 발효노니는 면역증진 활성을 갖는 제품 개발에 있어서 유용한 기능성 식품소재 로써 사용될 수 있으며, 우수한 효능을 나타내는 지표성 분은 유용성분으로 이용이 가능할 것으로 사료된다.

Background: Camellia sinensis L.(CS) is a perennial evergreen species of plant whose leaves are used to produce tea. In this plant species, the parts used are the leaves, sub-branch parts are thrown out. Methods and Results: Ethanol extract of sub-branch parts was used for isolation of major compounds by column chromatography. Structures were identified as caffeine (1), (-)-epicatechin (2) and (-)-epicatechin gallate (3) by interpretation of spectroscopic analysis, including 1H- and 13C-NMR. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to compare the quantitative level of marker compounds in various extraction solvents of sub-branch parts of CS. The content of caffeine, (-)-epicatechin, and (-)- epicatechin gallate in 30% ethanol extract showed higher value with 3.28 ± 0.57 ㎎/g, 5.53 ± 0.88 ㎎/g, and 1.29 ± 0.24 ㎎/g, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicated that not only leaves parts but also sub-branch, could be a good source for the functional material and pharmaceutical industry.

Background: The ginsenosides Rb1 (G-Rb1) and Rg1 (G-Rg1) are used as marker compounds, and are the principal bioactive compounds assessed in the quality control of white ginseng. This study was conducted to analyze white ginseng samples of different and to obtain useful data for the quality control of white ginseng. Methods and Results: The variation in the content of G-Rb1 and G-Rg1 was evaluated among 35 samples of 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old white ginseng. The content of both G-Rb1 and G-Rg1 did not significantly differ among ages, and the relative ratio of the maximum to the minimum content of these within ginseng of the same ages was more than two. However, the ratio of G-Rb1 to G-Rg1 content in the 5- and 6-year-old ginseng was significantly higher than that in the 4-year-old one. According to the ‘Ginseng industrial act’, the standard (w/w, %) minimum G-Rg1 and G-Rb1 content is 0.10% and 0.20% or more, respectively. Among the 35 samples examined, the content of G-Rg1 was found to be 0.124 - 0.399% with none being less than the standard level, while that of G-Rb1, was 0.147 - 0.595%, with 4 samples (11.4%) failing to meet the standard levels. The content of G-Rg1 and G-Rb1 did not show a constant relationship with the size of ginseng. Conclusions: In our study, the content of both G-Rg1 and G-Rb1 varied widely, and there was no significant difference among cultivation ages. The results of the present study might provide useful information for the quality control of raw ginseng and processed white ginseng using marker compound.