ABSTRACT
Objective: To investigate the essential oil profile and terpenes accumulation in the roots of Gynura bicolor (Asteracese) treated by CO2 and LED lighting. Methods: G. bicolor herbs were treated by CO2 at the levels of 450 (control) and 1200 (elevated) μmol/mol and LED lighting with white light, RB20 (red/blue=8/2) and RB40 (red/blue=6/4). Headspace solid-phase micro-extraction-GC MS was employed to analyze terpenes from the essential oil of the roots. Results: In all treated-roots, the major components of terpenes were (E)-β-farnesene, α-, β-caryophyllene, δ-, β-, γ-elemene, and α-pinene. Increasing CO2 significantly decreased mono- and sesqui-terpenes in the roots under all light conditions, leading to the decreasing yields of the essential oils. Terpenes were at a higher level in RB20-treated roots than that in RB40-treated ones under both control and elevated CO2. Conclusion: CO2 (450 μmol/mol) and 20 % blue LED lights are more conducive to the accumulation of terpenes in the roots than 1200 μmol/mol CO2 and 40% blue LED lights. © 2014 Tianjin Press of Chinese Herbal Medicines.
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: We conducted a clinical study to investigate the effects of newly developed LED lighting on living comfort and work performance in an indoor environment.<br> <b>Design</b>: Sixteen healthy subjects participated in a randomized crossover trial. They performed a mental task (2-back task and ATMT) for 8 hours under newly developed LED lighting or ordinary LED lighting. We evaluated subjective comfort using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and work performance by ATMT. Moreover, we measured changes in the autonomic nervous system by frequency analysis of a-a intervals on accelerated plethysmography (APG) waves to elucidate the mechanism of action.<br> <b>Result</b>: The subjects’ VAS evaluations showed that the newly developed LED lighting increased their comfort and attenuated their fatigue, and ATMT evaluations showed the lighting improved work performance during the mental task period, while APG frequency analysis revealed changes in the parasympathetic nerve system.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: This newly developed LED lighting produces suitable illumination and color temperature and is useful for improving living comfort and performance in an indoor work environment.<br>
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: We conducted a clinical study to investigate the effects of newly developed LED lighting on living comfort in an indoor environment.<br> <b>Design</b>: Twenty healthy subjects participated in a randomized crossover trial. They performed a mental task for 4 hours under ordinary lighting, and then rested for 1 hour under newly developed lighting or ordinary lighting. Sixteen of the subjects (8 males, 8 females) completed the trial. We evaluated subjective comfort using a visual analogue scale (VAS) and measured autonomic nervous system effects by the frequency analysis of a-a intervals on accelerated plethysmography (APG) waves.<br> <b>Result</b>: The subjects’ VAS evaluations showed that the newly developed lighting increased their comfort, while frequency analysis of APG during the rest period was found to activate the parasympathetic nerve system.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: This newly developed LED lighting produces suitable illumination and color temperature and is useful for improving living comfort in an indoor environment during a rest period after daytime work.<br>
ABSTRACT
<b>Objective</b>: In the present study, we conducted a clinical study to investigate the effect of newly developed LED lighting on improving sleep quality and living comfort in an indoor environment.<br> <b>Design</b>: Twelve healthy male subjects, whose Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were ≥5 participated in a randomized crossover trial. On the first day, as a sleep evaluation period, subjects rested from 21:00 to 22:00 under the newly developed lighting or ordinary lighting, went to bed at 22:00 and got up at 7:00. On the second day, as an evaluation period of daytime use, they performed a mental load for 4 hours under each lighting condition. We evaluated the quality of sleep by SLEEP SCAN and the St. Mary’s Hospital sleep questionnaire, and daytime performance by Uchida-Kraepelin psychodiagnostic test and advanced trail-making test (ATMT).<br> <b>Result</b>: The newly developed lighting improved the quality of sleep and increased comfortable feelings among participants; moreover, in daytime use, the environment did not induce impaired performance in spite of lower illumination.<br> <b>Conclusion</b>: This newly developed LED lighting produces suitable illumination and color temperature before sleeping and is useful for improving the living comfort in an indoor environment.<br>