• Plant Resources
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2004

In vitro proliferation system was achieved by using nodal segment excised from greenhouse grown juvenile stock plants of Alnus japonica. Stem explants were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators of cytokinin and/or their combinations. The most effective cytokinin source was the combination of zeatin 2.0 mg/L and TDZ 0.05 mg/L producing the average number of shoots (16.8 $\pm$ 3.6). In addition, healthy roots were formed after small clumps of shoots were transferred to half strength of MS medium containing IBA 0.02 mg/L with optimal rooting capacity. Soil acclimatization was successfully conducted in cell tray containing artificially mixed soil with 92 % survival rate.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.12
• /
• pp.1386-1392
• /
• 2019

This study investigated the potential of dye plants as natural oral health products. The antibacterial activity of ethanol stem extracts of A. japonica, R. verniciflua Stokes, G. jasminoides, D. morbifera, P. amurense Rupr., and S. japonica against P. gingivalis KCTC 5352, S. mutans KCTC3065, S. downei KCTC3634, S. sanguinis KCTC3284, and S. gordonii KCTC 3286 was confirmed. Among the stem extracts from 6 dye plants grown in Korea, ethanol extract from A. japonica stem (1 mg/disc) showed the highest antibacterial activity against P. gingivalis KCTC5352. The A. japonica stem extracts showed antibacterial activity similar to chlorhexidine, which was used as a positive control. The MIC and MBC of P. gingivalis KCTC5352 were 0.4 mg/ml and 0.6 mg/ml, respectively. The biofilm production rate and cell growth of P. gingivalis KCTC5352 in the cultures treated with 0.2-2.0 mg/ml of A. japonica extract were significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the mRNA expression of the superoxide dismutase and fimA associated with fimbriae formation in these cultures was suppressed, also in a concentration-dependent manner. Based on these results, it is concluded that A. japonica stem extracts can be used as an oral health product derived from natural materials, as demonstrated by its antibacterial action against and inhibition of biofilm formation of P. gingivalis KCTC5352.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.120-129
• /
• 2024

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a significant risk factor in the global disease burden. The stem bark of the Betulaceae plant Alnus japonica, which is indigenous to Korea, has been used as a popular folk medicine for hepatitis and cancer. However, the preventive effect of Alnus japonica leaf extracts on alcohol-related liver damage has not been investigated. The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of the extracts of Alnus japonica leaf (AJL) against ethanol-induced liver damage in HepG2/2E1 cells. Treatment with AJL significantly prevented ethanol-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2/2E1 cells by reducing the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). This protective effect was likely associated with antioxidant potential of AJL, as evidenced by the attenuation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) production and restoration of the depleted glutathione (GSH) levels in ethanol-induced HepG2/2E1 cells. Our findings suggest that FCC might be considered as a useful agent in the prevention of liver damage induced by oxidative stress by increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism.

• Natural Product Sciences
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.299-303
• /
• 2003

For the screening of inhibitors of sterol biosynthesis from natural products, a simple and rapid assay method was developed using recombinant yeast carrying human lanosterol synthase, main target of this assay method. Sterol biosynthesis inhibition activity was monitored only by the inhibition of growth of the recombinant yeast. By changing the substrate, this assay method can figure out which step is inhibited in the sterol biosynthesis by the test material. With this assay method total 102 plant samples were screened for their inhibitory activity of sterol biosynthesis. Among plant water extracts screened, 11 plant samples showed inhibitory activity on sterol biosynthesis in ergosterol (-) medium. For selection of the specific inhibitory materials, 11 plant samples were reassayed in ergosterol (+) medium. After all 5 plant samples, Abutilon avicennae Gaertn. (stem), Alnus japonica Steud. (stem), Amaranthus mangostanus L. (aerial part), Philadelphus schrenckii Pupr. (leaf) and Pimpinelia brachycarpa Nakai (aerial part), showed specific inhibitory activity.