• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.220-226
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• 2014

Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits and leaves which are considered for its medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-melanogenesis of ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves in B16 cells. The order of the total polyphenol content with regard to the different solvent fractions from D. lotus leaves was EA>butanol>metahanol>chloroform>n-hexane. The major compounds of EA fraction from D. lotus leaves by HPLC analysis were myricitrin and myricetin. Cellular TYR activity and melanin content in response to treatment with 100 mg/mL of EA fraction was inhibited more strongly than group treated with arbutin. Further, EA fraction exhibited significant anti-melanogenesis effects by reducing the levels of microphthalima-associated transcription factor (MITE), inhibiting the synthesis of TYR, tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1) and TRP-2. Therefore, EA fractions from D. lotus leaves may be a good source of skin-whitening agents in the future development of medicine-based trouble skin therapy.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.564-577
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• 2016

Salinity stress limits plant cultivation in many areas worldwide; however, persimmon (Diospyros spp.) has high tolerance to salt. Five accessions of Diospyros [three of Diospyros lotus (accession numbers 824, 846, and 847); one of Diospyros kaki var. sylvestris (869); and one of Diospyros virginiana (844)] were chosen for analysis of salinity stress. We compared the effects of salt stress on plant growth, relative water content (RWC), malondialdehyde (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), hydrogen peroxide content ($H_2O_2$), and antioxidative enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; peroxidase, POD; and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) in leaves of healthy potted seedlings from each of the five accessions after salt treatment for 25 days. Salt stress affected the growth of plants in all five accessions, with all three D. lotus accessions showing the most severe effect. Salt stress increased membrane lipid peroxidation in all accessions, but a stronger increase was observed in the three D. lotus accessions. Moreover, accumulation of $H_2O_2$ was faster in salt-sensitive D. lotus compared to salt-tolerant D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes increased in D. virginiana 844 and in D. kaki var. sylvestris 869; the activities of SOD, CAT, and APX were at similar levels in D. virginiana 844 and D. kaki var. sylvestris 869, but POD activity was stimulated to a greater extent in D. virginiana 844. The activities of all antioxidant enzymes (except POD) decreased in D. lotus 824 and increased (except for SOD) in D.lotus 846. The activities of SOD and APX decreased in D. lotus 847, whereas POD and CAT activities both increased. Relative water content decreased significantly in D. lotus. No significant changes in lipid peroxidation or relevant antioxidant parameters were detected in any of the accessions in controls treated with 0.0% NaCl. D. virginiana 844 had higher antioxidant capacity in response to salinity compared to other persimmon rootstocks. These results indicate that changes of these key physiological variables are related to salinity resistance in different accessions of persimmon.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.276-280
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• 2013

D. kaki and D. lotus are used as rootstocks for astringent persimmons in Korea but characteristics of their seedlings have not been determined. In this experiment, their seeds were sown in 3-L pots on April 18 and the seedlings were grown until October 24. Growth and nutrient absorption were compared at the end of the season after destructively harvesting the seedlings. Seedling growth of D. lotus was much faster than that of D. kaki in terms of total stem length, stem diameter, and number of leaves. However, chlorophyll value and specific leaf weight were higher in D. kaki than in D. lotus. Dry weight of D. lotus was 3.6- and 3.7-fold higher than that of D. kaki in above-ground parts and the root, respectively. D. kaki seedlings were characterized by higher concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg in the leaves, stem, or the root. However, total contents of the elements were 1.8- to 3.7-fold higher in a D. lotus seedling due to its greater dry weight. Since D. lotus seedlings absorbed more inorganic elements on a tree basis and grew more vigorously than D. kaki seedlings, the level of fertilization for astringent persimmons should be adjusted depending on rootstocks to maintain the trees at the optimum vigor.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.251-256
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• 2022

This study was conducted to determine whether Diospyros lotus L. fruit could be used as a natural functional food ingredient and whether its use should be increased. D. lotus fruit powder was found to have high acidity in the immature IDL stage and significantly higher sugar content in the mature MDL stage. The levels of crude fat, selenium, and tannins decreased significantly from the IDL stage to the MDL stage in D. lotus fruit powder. However, the levels of magnesium and calcium were significantly greater in the MDL stage than in the IDL stage (p<0.05). The total phenol content was significantly higher in the IDL stage, but the DPPH radical scavenging activity significantly increased in the MDL stage (p<0.05). In conclusion, the fruits of D. lotus. have high nutritional quality in both the immature and mature growth stages. Thus, it is a good candidate for use as a functional food, and its use should be increased because of its high nutritional qualities.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.60-69
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• 2013

The worldwide prevalence and severity of allergic diseases including atopic and contact dermatitis has increased dramatically over the past decade, especially in developed countries. Mast cells are important effector cells in allergic reactions. The purpose of this study was undertaken to investigate the anti-allergic and anti-pruritic effects of Diospyros lotus leaf extract (DLE). DLE was prepared by extracting with distilled water. In the present study, we investigated the effect of DLE on the production of tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\alpha}$) and histamine in rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMCs), and on the skin lesion, leukocyte infiltration and scratching behavior in mice. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus calcium ionophore A23187 significantly increased TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-$1{\beta}$ production compared with media control. However, TNF-${\alpha}$ and IL-6 production increased by PMA plus A23187 treatment were significantly inhibited by DLE in a dose-dependent manner. DLE also inhibited the histamine release from RPMCs stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Moreover, DLE administration had an inhibitory effects on the scratching behavior induced by pruritogen (compound 48/80, histamine) in ICR mice. Furthermore, DLE inhibited the skin lesions, inflammatory and mast cells in hairless mice sensitized by 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB). DLE administration reduced the IL-4 and IgE production induced by DNFB sensitization in hairless mice. These results suggest that DLE has a potential use as a herb medicine for treatment against allergy and pruritus-related disease.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2007

Bioactive substances, antioxidant activities and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of seed extracts were evaluated to discover new functional materials, using 13 edible or medicinal plants. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were highest in Taxus cuspidata, with $57.51mg{\cdot}g^{-1}\;and\;7.98mg{\cdot}g^{-1}$, respectively. Seed extract of Vitis coignetiae${\times}$Vitis labruscana($RC_{30}=0.030mg{\cdot}ml^{-1}$) was found to be the most effective in DPPH radical scavenging test, and the highest ABTS radical scavenging activity was shown in Diospyros lotus($RC_{30}=0.044mg{\cdot}ml^{-1}$). Inhibitory effects on peroxidation of linoleic acid determined by ferric thiocyanate (FTC) method were similar to BHT in Diospyros kaki, Diospyros lotus, Magnolia officinalis, Styrax obassia, Vitis coignetiae, Vitis coignetiae${\times}$Vistis labruscana, Zizyphus jujuba, Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis. For the inhibition against mushroom tyrosinase, Diospyros kaki, Diospyros lotus, Poncirus tritoliata, Prunus serrulata var. spomtanea, Zizyphus jujuba and Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis exhibited inhibitory activity, and especially Diospyros lotus showed the strongest inhibition.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1635-1641
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• 2014

Diospyros lotus has been cultivated for its edible fruits, which are considered to have medicinal importance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antipruritic activities of water-soluble, methanol extract, and ethyl acetate (EA) fractions from D. lotus leaves. The EA fraction showed the lowest $IC_{50}$ vale (DPPH: $5.3{\mu}g/mL$, ABTS: $53.8{\mu}g/mL$). Therefore, we further investigated anti-inflammatory and antipruritic effects of the EA fraction. TNF-${\alpha}$ production increased by PMA plus A23187 treatment was significantly inhibited by the EA fraction in a dose-dependent manner. The EA fraction also inhibited histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells stimulated by compound 48/80, which promotes histamine release. Furthermore, EA fraction had inhibitory effects on scratching behavior induced by compound 48/80 in Balb/c mice. These results suggest that the EA fraction from D. lotus leaves has potential as ameliorative agent against oxidative stress and pruritus-related disease.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.631-636
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• 2013

This study was to evaluate the antioxidant properties of the leaf extracts of Diospyros lotus (DLE) on the chemical-induced free radical and rat red blood cell (RBC) oxidative damage in vitro. DLE were prepared by extracting with water. DLE showed the high antioxidant activities on the scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)-induced radicals. An antioxidant activities of DLE was similar to the reference antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and (${\pm}$)6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox). Reducing power of $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ DLE also was similar to the vitamin C. In RBC, oxidative hemolysis induced by the aqueous peroxyl radical generator (2,2'-Azobis (2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)) were significantly suppressed by DLE in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, DLE prevented the depletion of cytosolic antioxidant glutathione in RBC damaged with AAPH. These results suggest that DLE may has value as natural product with its high quality antioxidant properties against oxidative stress.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.171-172
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• 2005

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.05a
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• pp.198-199
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• 2008