• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.279-283
• /
• 2010

Urushinol, a plant allergen, has significantly restricted the medical application of $Rhus$ $verniciflua$, although it has been reported to possess a wide variety of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-cancer actions. To reduce the urushinol content while maintaining the beneficial biological activities, mushroom-mediated fermentation of $Rhus$ $verniciflua$ was carried out and this method resulted in significantly attenuated allergenicity [1]. In the present study, to examine the neuroprotective properties of mushroom-fermented stem bark of $Rhus$ $verniciflua$, two constituents were isolated from mushroom-fermented bark and their neuroprotective properties were examined in a mouse model of kainic acid (KA)-induced excitotoxicity. KA resulted in significant apoptotic neuronal cell death in the CA3 region of mouse hippocampus. However, seven daily administrations of RVH-1 or RVH-2 prior to KA injection significantly attenuated KA-induced pyramidal neuronal cell death in the CA3 region. Furthermore, pretreatment with RVH-1 and RVH-2 also suppressed KA-induced microglial activation in the mouse hippocampus. The present study demonstrates that RVH-1 and RVH-2 isolated from $Rhus$ $verniciflua$ and detoxified using mushroom species possess neuroprotective properties against KA-induced excitotoxicity. This leads to the possibility that detoxified $Rhus$ $verniciflua$ can be a valuable asset in herbal medicine.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.425-431
• /
• 2007

The quality characteristics of Gangjung added with detoxified Rhus verniciflua stem bark (RVSB) extract, as well as the changes that occurred in the product during accelerated storage ($60^{\circ}C$, 24 hr), were investigated. The expansion rate of Gangjung was not significantly different (p < 0.05). The L-value of the Gangjung with added detoxified RVSB extract was higher than the control, while the a-value decreased as the addition levels of the detoxified RVSB extract increased. The b-value was highest for the Gangjung prepared with 7% (w/w) detoxified RVSB extract. The moisture content of the Gangjung decreased as the storage period increased, but the addition of detoxified RVSB extract (p < 0.05) did not significantly change this effect. We found no significant difference in the hardness of the Gangjung within the concentration range of 0-7% (w/w) detoxified RVSB extract, and the peak number slightly decreased as the storage period increased. After 16 hr of storage, the acid value was significantly lower for the Gangjung containing detoxified RVSB extract at concentration between 5-7%. Furthermore, after 12 hr of accelerated storage, peroxide and TBA values significantly decreased with additions of detoxified RVSB extract that were over 3% (w/w). These results suggest that the physical texture of Gangjung did not improve by the addition of detoxified RVSB extract; however, its rate of lipid oxidation was reduced.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.7
• /
• pp.927-933
• /
• 2008

The quality of Gangjung added with detoxified stem bark of Rhus verniciflua (RVSB) extract ($0{\sim}7%$, w/w) during room temperature storage ($25^{\circ}C$, 60 days) was investigated. The moisture content of Gangjung slightly decreased as the storage period increased, especially Gangjung at concentrations between $0{\sim}1%$, $3{\sim}5%$, and 7% decreased after 30, 40 and 50 days of storage, respectively. No significant differences in the hardness were found among the control and experimental samples. However, the peak number of Gangjung containing detoxified RVSB extract at concentrations of $0{\sim}3%$ significantly decreased after 60 days of storage, while that of Gangjung with 5% and 7% addition were not changed during storage. The acid, peroxide and TBA values of Gangjung increased as the storage period increased but the acid value was significantly lower for the Gangjung prepared with 7% (w/w) detoxified RVSB extract after 40 days of storage. Moreover, from 40 to 60 days of room temperature storage, peroxide value significantly decreased as the concentrations of detoxified RVSB extract increased and TBA value significantly decreased when the addition of detoxified RVSB extract was over 3% (w/w). These results suggest that the physical texture of Gangjung improved and lipid oxidation was reduced by the addition of detoxified RVSB extract.