Recently known Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. is one of the medicinal plants that use the Saposhnikovia divaricata as a substitute for plants. It was beneficial effects for preventing a stroke, efficacy of detoxification and respiratory diseases. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder on lipid metabolism of serum, liver and adipose tissue, and anti-obesity effect in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. It was also conducted to investigate major chemical components analysises of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb.

The results obtained were as follows;

1. This study was conducted to investigate the changes in physicochemical properties of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. by blanching. After blanching treatment, the crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrate contents of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. were increased, but the crude protein was decreased. The content of all detected free sugars were decreased by blanching, the content of total free sugar was decreased 14.8% compared with raw Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. after blanching. The total amino acid and essential amino acid contents of blanched Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. were decreased 10.75% and 15.22% than raw Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. The contents of total fatty acid was regardless of blanching. Total organic acid content decreased by 37.03% compared with raw Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. after blanching, and the reduction of acetic acid was the largest in organic acid. The content of vitamin A, E and C were decreased 20.20%, 8.23% and 35.59% after blanching. Total mineral content of blanched Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. were decreased 21.84% by blanching. Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. was contained nutrients composition of essential amino acid, vitamin C, minerals, but these were reduced by blanching.

2. This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidant effect of 80% ethanol extracts from Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. Total polyphenol contents of raw and blanching Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. ethanol extract were found to be 16.60 mg/g and 22.25 mg/g respectively. Also, total flavonoid contents of raw and blanching Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. ethanol extract were found to be 40.65 mg/g and 50.80 mg/g. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of raw and blanching Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. ethanol extract were found to be 87.86% and 87.91%. It was similar to the commercial antioxidant BHA and BHT.

3. This study investigated the effects of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder on serum, liver and adipose tissue lipid metabolism and in rats fed high-fat/high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to 6 groups : Normal diet group (N), high-fat/high-cholesterol group (HFC), high-fat/high-cholesterol with 5% raw Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder(HFC-SPL), high-fat/high-cholesterol with 10% raw Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder(HFC-SPH), high-fat/high-cholesterol with 5% blanching Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder(HFC-SPL) and high-fat/high-cholesterolwith 10% blanching Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder(HFC-SPH). The body weight gain and FER were increased by a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet, but gradually decreased in the Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder fed groups compared with the HFC group. Food intake was no significantly different between the experimental groups. The liver and adipose tissue weights of HFC group were heavier than of N group, whereas those of groups administered Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder were gradually decreased. The serum ALT, AST and LDH activities were no significant difference between HFC group, but the serum ALP activity was significicantly decreased after Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder administration. The serum triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels as well as the atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor tended to decrease in the groups fed Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder than the HFC group. The serum HDL-cholesterol level decreased in HFC group, but no significant difference in groups fed Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder. Levels of triglyceride in liver and epididymal tissue, the cholesterol level in epididymal tissue were lower in the groups fed Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder than the HFC group. The liver GSH level increased in the groups fed Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder than the HFC group. The liver TBARS content was significantly lower in the HFC-PRH group, HFC-PBH group than the HFC group. These results suggest that Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. powder may improve lipid metabolism of serum, liver and adipose tissue and prevent oxidative stress by stimulating antioxidative systems in rats fed a high fat-high cholesterol diet.