Abstract
The root extract of Scilla scilloides (which has been used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea) was evaluated with regard to antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities. The roots of S. scilloides were minced and extracted with 95% ethanol (root:ethanol=25:75, w/v). The inhibitory effects of S. scilloides root extract on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 35556, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 12021, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Candida parapsilosis KCCM 35428 were tested. The results indicate that the antimicrobial effects of both 0.1 and 1.0% extract of S. scilloides were greater against the growth of S. aureus ATCC 35556 and C. parapsilosis KCCM 35428 than the growth of S. enteritidis ATCC 12021 and E. coli O157:H7. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated by measurement of the inhibition of hyaluronidase activity in vitro. It appears that both 0.1 and 1.0% concentrations of extract have inhibitory effects on hyaluronidase relative to the control. Finally, the anti-oxidative effect of 1.0 and 10% extract solutions were measured according to the thiocyanate method and were compared with 1.0% BHT. The results indicate that the anti-oxidative effect of 10% S. scilloides root extract (anti-oxidative index (AOI); $72.3{\pm}4.2$) is not significantly different from that of 1.0% BHA (AOI; $76.8{\pm}3.5$) (p<0.05). However, it appears that the anti-oxidative effect of S. scilloides root extract is at least three-fold greater than that of BHA when accounting for the amount of dissolved solids in each.
