Protective effect of decursin and decursinol angelate-rich Angelica gigas Nakai extract on dextran sulfate sodium-induced murine ulcerative colitis

Objective: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of decursin and decursinol angelate-rich Angelica gigas Nakai(AGNE) on dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced murine ulcerative colitis(UC).Methods: The therapeutic effect of an AGNE was analyzed in a mouse model of UC induced by DSS. Disease activity index values were measured by clinical signs such as a weight loss, stool consistency, rectal bleeding and colon length. A histological analysis was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Key inflammatory cytokines and mediators including IL-6, TNF-a, PGE2, COX-2 and HIF-1 a were assayed by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay or western blotting.Results: Treatment with the AGNE at 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg alleviated weight loss,decreased disease activity index scores, and reduced colon shortening in mice with DSSinduced UC. AGNE inhibited the production of IL-6 and TNF-a in serum and colon tissue. Moreover, AGNE suppressed the increased expression of COX-2 and HIF-1 a and the increased production of PGE2 in colon tissue were observed in mice with DSSinduced UC. Additionally, histological damage was also alleviated by AGNE treatment.Conclusions: The findings of this study verified that AGNE significantly improves clinical symptoms and reduces the activity of various inflammatory mediators. These results indicate the AGNE has the therapeutic potential in mice with DSS-induced UC.

Performance and genetic diversity of 23 provenances of northern red oak(Quercus rubra L.)after 25 years of growth in South Korea

Growth traits and genetic diversity of 23 provenances of Quercus rubra introduced from North America were analyzed in a provenance trial established with a randomized block design in Hwaseong,Gyeonggi,South Korea in 1993.Growth variables and survival at age 25 were compared with results from early stages.Height,DBH,volume and stem straightness of Q.rubra was better than those of the domestic oak(Quercus accutissima).Growth of the Dunham Island provenance from New York was the best among the 23 provenances that of the Eagle River provenance from Wisconsin was poorest.Survival rate at age25 was on average 52%.The longitude of seed origin and growth of provenance were consistently significantly negatively correlated at all ages.Growth of coastal provenances was superior to that of the inland provenances,which were separated by the Appalachian Mountains.Genetic diversity and genetic distance among the provenances were evaluated using micro satellite markers.The allelic frequencies showed high polymorphism in 10 microsatellite loci,and 292 alleles were found.Of 10 loci,two were commonly found in the 23 provenances.The mean allelic diversity and heterozygosity observed among the provenances were similar to those from the native populations of Q.rubra in North America.Nei’s genetic distance among the 23 was estimated and showed that a clear trend between geographic and genetic distances,indicating that some provenances have high genetic diversity with superior growth performance.