Abstract
The leaves (KPL) of Kalopanax pictus (KP) are used as a vegetable or a functional food in Korean society. The stem bark (Kalopanacis Cortex, KPS) has been traditionally used to treat neurotic pain, rheumatoid arthritis and diabetic disease. This research was undertaken to demonstrate that the leaf extract of KP (KPL) has also the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects like the extract (KPS) of Kalopanacis Cortex and to compare the activity levels of several extracts obtained from KP. Antinociceptive and antiinflammatory effects were measured against the extracts described as followings; KPL-1 (the MeOH extract obtained from the leaf shoot of KP collected on May), KPL-2 (the MeOH extract from KP collected on June), KPL-3 (the MeOH ectract from KP with no thorns), KPS-1 (MeOH extract from KPS of a Korean habitat), KPS-2 (MeOH extract from KPS of a Chinese habitat). The antimociceptive test undertaken by acetic acid-induced writhing, hot plate-, and tail-flick methods using mice. The anti-inflammatory test was also undertaken by measuring the edema in the carrageenan-induced test. The order of activity potency in the antinociceptive and antiinflammatory assays was commonly shown as followings: KPL-3>KPS>1>KPS-2>KPL-1>KPL-2. This order was also observed in acetic acid-induced vascular permeability test. The antiinflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced assay was also observed as the following order: KPL-3>KPS- 1>PS-2>KPL-1>KPL-2. In addition, adjuvant-induced rats were used for a model to assess the oxidative stress. Treatment of the rat with the extracts reduced serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), hydroxy radical(OH) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) activity caused by FCA together together with the inhibition of hepatic TBARS level and lipofuscin content. The above finding suggests that the leaf extract has the antinociceptive and antinflammatory activity. It is also suggested that KPL-3 with more potent activity than other tested extracts could be developed for a new available biomaterial.
