Camellia japonica L. is a plant of which the seeds are used as a folk medicine, and it is native to South Korea, Japan and China. In previous study, triterpenes, flavonoids, tannins and fatty acids which have antiviral, antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity were reported from C. japonica leaf and flower. In Korea, the seed from this plant is used as a traditional medicine and in folk remedies for the treatment of bleeding and inflammation. However, the major issue associated with the use of the seed as a medicinal and/or functional food ingredient is its application to the pharmaceutical and food industry. First, the productivity of seed extract is very much less than that of the leaf. Second, the beneficial usage of the seed extract as an alternative medicine and functional source is not yet clear. Thus, in this study, we focused on another part of the plant, the leaf, and found that the extract of Camellia japonica leaf has a high concentration of vitamin E, rutin and other biologically active compounds related to hyperuricemia. We aimed to investigate the biological activities, namely the antioxidant activities, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity and anti‑hyperuricemic effects of extract from C. japonica leaf and the phytochemicals contained therein. Ethanol extracts of C. japonica leaf (ECJL) were prepared, and the extract was used with respect to antioxidant activities, total phenolic contents and XO inhibitory activity. The in vivo XO inhibitory activity and anti‑hyperuricemic effects of the extract were evaluated in mice with potassium oxonate‑induced hyperuricemia. To clarify the marker compounds that are responsible for the anti‑hyperuricemic effects, several key constituents were identified using gas chromatography‑mass spectrometry (GC‑MS) and and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). ECJL was found to have strong antioxidant activities, and in vitro XO inhibitory activity. The results of the in vivo experiments using mice demonstrated that ECJL at the doses of 100 and 300 mg/kg inhibited hepatic XO activity and significantly attenuated hyperuricemia. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first report on the XO inhibitory and anti-hyperuricemic effects of ECJL, which can be therapeutically applied in the treatment of hyperuricemia and gout.

The fruit of Arctium lappa L. (Arctii Fructus) is one of the most popularly used medicinal plant components in Asia. To enhance the functionality of Arctii Fructus extract, a bioconversion method was developed to produce arctigenin from arctiin. Treatment with β-glucosidase increased the arctigenin content by >5 fold in Arctii Fructus ex-

Background and aims Despite global vaccination efforts, the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) remains high. To overcome the crisis precipitated by the ongoing pandemic, characteristic studies such as virus diagnosis, isolation, and genome analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) are necessary. Herein, we report the isolation and molecular characterization of SARS‐CoV‐2 from the saliva of patients who had tested positive for COVID‐19 at Proving Ground in Taean County, Republic of Korea, in 2020. Methods We analyzed the whole‐genome sequence of SARS‐CoV‐2 isolated from the saliva samples of patients through next‐generation sequencing. We also successfully isolated SARS‐CoV‐2 from the saliva samples of two patients by using cell culture, which was used to study the cytopathic effects and viral replication in Vero E6 cells. Results Whole‐genome sequences of the isolates, SARS‐CoV‐2 ADD‐2 and ADD‐4, obtained from saliva were identical, and phylogenetic analysis using Bayesian inference methods showed SARS‐CoV‐2 GH clade (B.1.497) genome‐specific clustering. Typical coronavirus‐like particles, with diameters of 70–120 nm, were observed in the SARS‐CoV‐2 infected Vero E6 cells using transmission electron microscopy. Conclusion In conclusion, this report provides insights into the molecular diagnosis, isolation, genetic characteristics, and diversity of SARS‐CoV‐2 isolated from the saliva of patients. Further studies are needed to explore and monitor the evolution and characteristics of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants.