LED light-induced modulation of functional properties in rosemary: a multi-bioactivity approach

초록

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus (L.)) is a well-known medicinal herb with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties and is widely used in various industrial applications. In this study, we evaluated the biological activities of rosemary aerial part extracts grown under different LED light sources. Among the tested conditions, extracts from plants grown under LED red light exhibited the highest elastase and tyrosinase inhibition rates (60.61±11.81 and 113.64±5.57%, respectively), showing significant differences compared to other light treatments. The anti-inflammatory activity analysis revealed that nitric oxide production was markedly reduced (0.40±0.24%), and the expression of inflammation-related genes, including COX-2, TNF-α, and iNOS, was suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner. In terms of antimicrobial activity, extracts from LED red-lightgrown rosemary produced clear inhibition zones exceeding 2 mm against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 1,250 and 625 µg/mL, respectively. In contrast, extracts from green-and blue-light conditions showed relatively lower antimicrobial activity. These results demonstrate that LED light quality significantly influences the functional properties of rosemary, with red light being the most effective condition for enhancing anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. This study highlights the potential of LED-controlled cultivation as a strategy to produce high-value rosemary for applications in functional cosmetics, food preservation, and natural antimicrobial products. © The Korean Society for Applied Biological Chemistry 2026.

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