• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.501-509
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• 2016

The present study investigated the anti-atopic effects of mixed extracts from date plum, persimmon, and mulberry leaves (DPME) on atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions in hairless mice. The in vivo results demonstrated that DPME treatment significantly reduced the dermatitis clinical score and epidermal thickness in AD-like skin lesions. Histological analyses showed that DPME treatment strongly inhibited dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells and activity of mast cells in AD-like skin lesions. DPME treatment inhibited production of serum IgE and interluekin (IL)-4 in hairless mice with AD. Moreover, DPME treatment significantly suppressed production of tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$ and IL-6 cytokines in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate plus calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated HMC-1 human mast cells. In addition, DPME treatment reduced production of pro-inflammatory mediators (nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and IL-6) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that the anti-atopic and anti-inflammatory effects of DPME may be involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses, suggesting that DPME may be used as an anti-atopic dermatitis material and natural anti-inflammatory ingredient.

• 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.