• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.8
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• pp.851-859
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• 2014

The present study was designed to investigate whether ethanol extracts of Sophora flavescens (GS), Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GC), Dictamnus dasycarpus (BSP), and their mixtures (GGB-1, -2, -3, and -4) inhibit 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced atopic dermatitis (AD) in a mouse model. DNCB was topically applied on the dorsal surface of Balb/c mice to induce AD-like skin lesions. The pathological phenotypes of AD, such as erythema, ear thickness, edema, scabs, and discharge, were significantly decreased in the GGB (DNCB + GS:GC:BSP = 3:1:1 mixture)-1-treated groups compared with the other treated groups. The weight of the spleen in immune organs was significantly decreased in the GGB-1-treated groups, whereas the weight of the liver in a control group was similar to that of the groups treated with the samples. Furthermore, toluidine blue staining analysis, a method used to specifically identify mast cells, showed that master cell infiltration into the dermis of the GGB-1-treated group was significantly decreased. The immunoglobulin E concentration was lower in the GGB-1-treated group. In addition, the levels of inflammatory cytokines (interferon-${\gamma}$, interleukin-1, 4, 5, 6, and 13, $1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$) were also significantly reduced in the GGB-1-treated group. Taken together, these results suggest that a mixture of GS, GC, and BSP in a proportion of 3:1:1 (GGB-1) may contribute to the relief of AD symptoms and may be considered an excellent candidate for an AD therapeutic drug.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.102-109
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• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of diffused light materials on marketable yield and quality of sunlight dried red pepper in plastic film house. The after ripening methods were composed of 3 treatments; using electric bulk dryer (Bulk), sealing house (House), and PE sealing. The diffused light materials were control, tent, shading 35% (Shading net), white polypropylene (PP (white)), and black polypropylene (PP (Black)). The marketable yield was high in order of Bulk as 300 g, House as 275 g, and PE sealing as 112 g. The redness of PE sealing was the highest as 17.85 and that of Bulk was the lowest as 10.65. There was significant difference in redness among the treatments. The moisture content of red pepper was the most rapidly reduced in control, and was the most slowly reduced in Shading net treatment. The marketable yield index was the higher in PP (white) as 114% than control. The redness had a significant difference in PP (Black) and tent compared to the other treatments. The capsaicin content showed the highest as $160mg{\cdot}100g^{-1}$ in PP (white) treatment. Conclusively, the most effective method for sunlight drying red pepper was House with PP (White) treatment. It delayed drying for 2 days but increased marketable yield at 114% than control when sunlight dried red pepper in plastic house. Our results also provided an optimized method for improvement of drying red pepper with sunlight, and will be useful for further drying red pepper research.