Abstract

The primary objective of this study was to determine the effects of a water-distilled extract with 15 kinds of Korean medicinal herb on antioxidant activity, antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori, and lipid metabolism. The water-distilled extract (WE) and fermenting water-distilled extract (FE) of medicinal herbs were utilized in order to make functional beverages. The EDA (electron donating activity), SOD-like ability, and RAE (relative antioxidant efficacy) of WE averaged 24.47, 50.35, and 1.57%, respectively, but the EDA, SOD-like ability, and RAE of FE was retardeded by 12.01, 35.72, and 1.55%, respectively. The antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori of WE averaged 12.84 mm as a diametric clear zone, and was significantly (p<0.05) higher than those measured in the WE and control. Serum triglyceride contents, total serum cholesterol contents, and serum LDL-cholesterol contents of the WE group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of the control group. The liver total-cholesterol contents and liver triglycerides of WE group were significantly (p<0.05) lower than those of the control group. The plasma TBARS value of the WE group was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that of the control group. The sensory evaluation, taste, and smell of FE were more desirable than those of WE, but the color of WE was more desirable. According to the above results, the water distilled extracts (WE) of 15 kinds of medicinal herb are supposed to be effective with regard to antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism, but the antimicrobial activity against Helicobacter pylori was increased as the result of fermentation.

Keywords

• Functional beverage;
• antioxidant activity;
• Helicobacter pylori;
• total-cholesterol