• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.670-681
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• 2012

Herb extracts commercially used in Korea were screened for PPAR-${\gamma}$ agonist test and ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition assay. Total 16 herb plants had a PPAR-${\gamma}$ agonist activity. Specially, Alisma orientale Juz (108.41%), Ephedra sinica (98.22%), Sasa japonica Makino var. purpurascens Nakai (140.68%), Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (106.79%) and Cnidium officinale Makino (113.00%) showed high PPAR-${\gamma}$ agonist activity rate compared with rosiglitazone's (167.46%). And Cornus officinalis S. et Z. (90.3%), Cinnamomum cassia Blume (89.2%), Psoralea corylifolia L. (89.8%), Paeonia japonica (Makino) Miyabe (92.4%) and Paeonia suffruticosa Andr (93.2%), showed high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition rates. These results support previous reports of the efficacy of Oriental medicinal plants used for diabetes mellitus.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.379-386
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• 1998

Deterioration of food is in general caused by the presence of microorganisms and chemical compounds of food itself. There exists antimicrobial compound in the food, however, addition of food antiseptics, additives, or physico-chemical processing is a common practice. The safety of artificial chemical antiseptics became a serious public concern, therefore, new natural antiseptic compounds are in need to be developed. We have isolated a new natural antifungal protein (KBS-B2) from Astragal seed through ammonium sulfate precipitation and column chromatography using FPLC Mono-S and Superose 12HR. The purified protein inhibited growth of Candida albicans, and spore germination of food spoiling fungi such as Aspergillus ochraceus, Penicillium expensum, P. digitatum and Botrytis cineria. Antifungal effect of the KBS-B2 protein could be directly assayed by bioautography overlaying the fungal spores on the electrophoresed acrylamide gel. The comparison of N-terminal amino acid sequences of the KBS-B2 with known antifungal protein revealed that had 50% homology to thaumatin and zeamatin like proteins.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.917-924
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• 2003

This research aims to test a new drug candidate based on a traditional medicinal herb, F1, an herbal extract obtained from Astragalus membranaceus and its main ingredient, 1-monolinolein that may have fewer side effects and less uterine hypertrophy. In vitro experiments, human osteoblast-like cell lines, MG-63 and Saos-2, were analyzed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and an alkaline phosphatase (ALP) assays. Mouse osteoclasts were induced through a calcium-deficient diet and inhibition effects were measured. In vivo experiments were done using ovariectomized (OVX) rats for 9 weeks. At necropsy, uterus weights were measured, trabecular bone area (TBA) of tibia and lumbar vertebra were measured bone histomorphology. In results, cell proliferation and ALP activity in Saos-2 by ether F1 or 1-monolinolein did not increased significantly compared to the control. The F1 inhibited osteoclast development ($IC_{25}=3.37{\times}10^{-5}$mg/mL) less than 17$\beta$-estradiol. The OVX rats administered F1 (2 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day) showed an increase in TBA of the tibia significantly (136.3${\pm}4.2% and 138.5{\pm}$10.3% of control). In conclusions, the herbal extract, F1 inhibited tibia and lumbar bone loss and did not cause uterine hypertrophy. However, 1-monolinolein, the main ingredient of the herbal extract, did not inhibit bone loss.

• Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2008

To develop a natural re-seeding technology, the optimum soil incorporation time of Chinese milk vetch(CMV) plant residues, seed persistence in soil, biomass production and subsequent rice yield were determined from 2005 to 2007 in rice with CMV green manure in southern Korea. Generally, insufficient seedling stand was regenerated with CMV incorporation to the soil at 20 and 25 days after flowering(DAF), while high regeneration of greater than 400 seedlings per $m^2$ was observed at 35 and 40 DAF. High re-seeding stand of CMV incorporated at 35 DAF or later was related with high seed viability and heavy seed weight. Appreciable number of CMV seeds remained 4 month after burial in soil and a good number of CMV seedlings regenerated from this seed bank at rice harvest time in the fall. Based on the relationships among re-seeding number of CMV plants, seed weight and seed viability, CMV plants should be incorporated into the soil 35 DAF(May 30) or later when CMV seeds were sufficiently matured. The natural re-seeding stand for the 3-year trials was stable ranging from 437 to 700 plants per $m^2$ and the biomass production was sufficient to supply nitrogen for rice growth. The use of re-seeding CMV plant can produce similar rice yield like that of rice without CMV green manure.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.55 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2010

Seedling establishment, overwintering ability and dry matter production of Chinese milk vetch (Astragalus sinicus L. CMV) in natural reseeding practice were compared with the annual seedling in 2006~2007 and 2007~2008. In natural reseeding, CMV seeds were distributed up to 15 cm soil depth in autumn after rice harvest and the seeds generally emerged from soil at less than 5 cm depth while they all emerged from soil surface in the annual seeding. It took 7-8 d longer in seedling establishment of the natural reseeding practice than the annual seeding. Generally, the natural reseeding practice showed higher seedling stand than the annual seeding because of high seedling survival rate. The high seedling survival rate in natural reseeded plant was attributed to the longer root length than that of the annual-seeded plant. In annual seeding, most of the seeds emerged from the soil surface and the root can not easily penetrate the soil while, in natural reseeding technology, the seeds incorporated into the soil during land preparation emerged from the soil at 0 to 5 cm depths, thereby having longer root length. The long root length contributed to greater ability to survive even under low temperature and low soil moisture conditions during winter. The dry matter production in the natural reseeding practice was also higher than the annual seeding when the temperature is low and soil moisture is not sufficient. This result indicates that natural reseeding technology is more stable and beneficial in seedling establishment and dry matter production as compared with the annual seeding especially under unfavorable environmental condition for CMV growth. This practice could be encouraged in CMV-rice cropping system in the southern parts of Korea.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.spc1
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• pp.84-91
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• 2006

This study was carried out to comparatively evaluate growth characteristics of rice cultivars under rice-mono (conventional) and rice-Chinese milk vetch (Vetch) cropping system. Six rice cultivars such as Geumobyeo, Pungmibyeo, Hwayeongbyeo, Sobibyeo, Junambyeo and Dongjinbyeo were tested in 2005. The results obtained are summarized as follows ; plant height and culm length of all the tested cultivars at heading and harvest time were shorter in rice-vetch cropping system than conventional, however, nitrogen content of rice plants at heading and harvesting time was higher in rice-vetch cropping system. The total amount of nitrogen of rice plants was higher in conventional than rice-vetch cropping system. Nitrogen content of rice plant and uptake of Pungmibyeo was the highest of all the tested cultivars in both cropping systems. Generally, grain yietd ef tested cultivars seemed to be higher in conventional than rice-vetch cropping system. And it was the highest in Junambyeo as compared to those of other cultivars. Head rice ratio and protein content were higher in rice-vetch cropping system.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.92-97
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• 2005

Inhibition of inflammatory response, acceleration of basal cell growth, and balanced synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) are important in healing of cutaneous open wounds. In order to evaluate the healing effects of water extracts of Radix Astragali (the root of Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.)) on open wound at early stage, the experimental open wounds were generated on the dorsal sides of SD rats under anesthesia. The boiled-water extracts of Radix Astragali $(100{\mu}l)$, soaked into an occlusive film dressing were applied once a day for eleven consecutive days. The healing process was assessed by measuring macroscopic appearance and wound areas of the open wounds. The molecular aspects of healing process by Radix Astragali extracts were also investigated by Hematoxylin-Eosin (H-E) double staining and immunohistological staining of collagen type I in the healed skin area, implying cell density and linear alignment of the granulation tissue, and ECM synthesis and its remodeling, respectively. The Astragali radix extracts were found to significantly accelerate the cutaneous wound healing by suppressing the inflammation and stimulating the basal cell growth in wounded area, as compared to epidermal growth factor (EGF).

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.265-269
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• 2009

Technology development for sufficient dry matter production of Chinese milk vetch (CMV) is most important in CMV-rice cultivation system in order to provide sufficient nutrients to rice plants. However, when the CMV plants are dominated by the weed, especially Alopecurus aequalis, the CMV growth could be reduced due to light and nutrient competition. In addition, A. aequalis is potential host of the rice dwarf virus disease. Therefore, control of A. aequalis is necessary to enhance the biomass production of CMV plants when CMV stands are insufficient. The use of chemical like sethoxydim (20%, ai) showed the highest control rate of 84% at early stage and was reduced as application was delayed. A. aequalis control did not change the CMV seedling stand before and after herbicide treatment and the reseeding stand in fall was rather increased 2.2 to 2.6 times. On the other hand, in untreated control, the CMV stand at May 15 and reseeding stand in fall was significantly reduced as compared with the before herbicide treatment. Control of A. aequalis increased the CMV dry matter production by 164% for 50% CMV coverage rate and 63% for 25% CMV coverage rate. This is equivalent to $12.3{\sim}16.4\;kgN$/10a which is greater than the recommended nitrogen rate of 9kg/10a. The result indicates that the control of A. aequalis is an efficient way to enhance dry matter production in CMV-rice cultivation system especially when CMV stand is poor.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.70-74
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• 2008

To determine an optimum harvest time for chinese milk vetch (CMV) seed production, the seeds were harvested at 4 times, according to 25, 30, 35, and 40 day after flowering (DAF), in Miryang, southern part of Korea. CMV plants were manually harvested at each time and seed threshing was done by rice threshing machine. Seed yield, 1,000-seed weight, germinability, and hard coat ratio were investigated. Seed yield was the highest, 53.9 kg/300 kg by dry weight (DW) of CMV plant, at 35 DAF. 1,000-seed weight increased according to seed harvest time from 25 DAF to 40 DAF when it was 3.10 g. The germination ratios of seeds harvested at 4 times were not significantly different when the seeds stored until August 1. In case of long period of CMV seeds stored, the seeds harvested later showed higher germination rate. On the other hand, because the hard coat ratio causing germination inhibition was declined with an increase of storage period, it was higher in the seeds harvested later. There was no difference among the seeds harvested at 4 times at October 1. In conclusion, it was presumed that an optimum harvest time for CMV seed production should be at 35 DAF considering seed yield, weight and germinability.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.473-477
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• 2001

Chinese milkvetch (Astragalus sinicus L.) has been traditionally used as a green manure supplying mineral N and organic matters to soil. In rice-Chinese milkvetch interrelay cropping system, three rice cultivating methods (no-till direct seeding, no-till transplanting, and tillage transplanting) were evaluated for stand reestablishment without reseeding Chinese milkvetch with two cropping times (May 25 and June 4) for two years. Chinese milkvetch incorporated was decomposed rapidly in the first week. Decomposition was fast in topsoil than in subsoil. Natural milkvetch reestablishment (NMR), following harvest of no-till-direct-sown rice was good enough to cover the paddy field in both cropping times, but rice yield of this method was lower than that of transplanted rice on paddy field without milkvetch cultivation. Even though good NMR was secured in no-till rice transplanting, the shoot of milkvetch should be removed before machine-transplanting of rice seedlings. NMR was better in rice cropping at the mid-ripening stage of milkvetch (June 4) than at the late-bloom stage (May 25). Rice yield was higher in tillage transplanting at the mid-ripening stage of milkvetch (June 4) than in the other rice cropping method.