• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.285-292
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• 1993

Cellular compatibility in the self-parasitism of Cuscuta australis R. Brown was studied at the ultrastructural level. The front cells of the haustorium penetrated the host stems independently grew within the host tissues and transformed into elongate, filamentous hyphae. Each hyphal cells contained a large nucleus and dense cytoplasm with abundant cell organelles. Multilamellar structures were contained in the cytoplasm and cell walls of the penetrating hyphal cells. When the hyphal cells did not yet invade the host cells, the middle lamella and the fused cellulosic cell walls of the two partners at the host-parasite interface were preserved well. As the invasion of the parasitic hyphal cells progressed, however, the middle lamella was not found at the interface and the host cell walls and plasma membranes were partially broken down. A hyphal cell penetrated deeply into the host cell had a more darkly stained cytoplasm with numerous of cell organelles. In the host cells attacked by the hyphal cells the limiting membranes of plastids were broken down and several vesicles were arrayed near the cell walls. No plasmodesmatal connections between the host and parasite cell walls were found; however, half-plasmodesmata were observed frequently on the side of the hyphal cell walls. These results suggested that the compatibility response in the self-parasitism of Cuscuta was expressed by cell walls, not by plasmodesmata, between the host and the parasite cells.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.137-144
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• 1991

기주식물 (토끼풀, Trifolium repens L.)에 기생하는 실새삼(Cuscuta australis R. Brown)의 흡기내 목부의 개체발생 과정을 광학현미경으로 조사하였다. 흡기의 목부 분화를 암시하는 최초의 해부학적 특징이, 흡기 자체내에서가 아니라, 그 흡기가 형성되어 있는 실새삼 줄기에서 나타났다. 즉 실새삼 줄기의 중심주의 유관속 내부 및 유관속 사이에서 세포분열 활성이 관찰되었다. 이 분열로부터 유도된 세포들은 짙게 염색된 세포질과 뚜렷한 핵을 갖고 있었다. 흡기가 기주조직에 침입하여 생장함에 따라, 실새삼 줄기의 중심주에서 시작된 세포분열 활성은 유관속 사이를 거쳐서 흡기의 기부를 향하여 구정적으로 확장되었다. 이와 동시에, 실새삼 줄기의 목부에 인접해 있던, 짙은 세포질 밀도를 갖는 세포들이 목부요소로 분화하기 시작하였다. 결국, 이미 형성되었던 짙게 염색된 세포들을 따라서 흡기의 목부는 구정적으로 분화하였다. 실새삼 줄기의 중심주에서 일어나는 유조직 세포들의 분열활성 및 이로부터 흡기의 목부 분화를 구정적으로 유도할 수 있는 가능성에 대하여 논의하였다.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.77-89
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• 2010

Objectives : This study was performed to evaluate the effect of CJ(Cuscuta japonica Chois) on osteoclast differentiation and gene expression. Methods : The osteoclastogenesis and gene expression were determined in RANKL(receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand)－stimulated RAW 264.7. The results were summarized as followes. Results : CJ decreased the number of TRAP positive cell in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of RANK(receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B), $TNF{\alpha}$, and IL-6 in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. CJ decreased the expression of Cathepsin K in RANKL-stimulated RAW264.7 cell. Conclusions : It is concluded that CJ might decrease the bone resorption resulted from decrease of osteoclast differentiation and it's related gene expression.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.135-138
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• 2000

MeOH extract of Cuscuta chinensis seeds was fractionated with n-hexane, EtOAc and BuOH successively, and antioxidant activities were tested for all fractions using DPPH free radical scavenging method. In the tested fractions, EtOAc fraction showed high antioxidant activity$(EC_{50},\;50\;{\mu}g)$ From the EtOAc fraction, five compounds have been isolated. On the basis of spectral data, these compounds were identified as ${\beta}-sitosterol$, methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamate, ${\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$, caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and calycopteretin. Among these compounds, ${\beta}-sitosterol$ and ${\beta}-sitosterol-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ showed no antioxidant activity. $EC_{50}$ values of methyl 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamate, caffeic acid, quercetin, kaempferol and calycopteretin were 0.6, 8, 19, 17 and $12\;{\mu}g$, respectively.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.161-168
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• 1987

The elongated filamentous haustorial cells, hyphae, of Cuscuta australis R. Brown penetrated into the vascular tissues of the host plant Trifolium repens L. were studied by the light and electron microscopes. The hyphae reached the host xylem were invaded into the host vessels and then they grew within the host vessels. Finally these hyphae were differentiated into the water conducting elements, xylary hyphae, by thickening of the secondary walls. The hyphae reached the host phloem were branched at the apical regions. These hyphae possessed thin-layered cytoplasm involving the typical features of sieve elements such as the parallel arrays of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, plastids with the clusters of fine starch granules, and mitochondria with the dilated cristae. It was indicated that these hyphae were differentiated into the nutrients conducting elements, phloic hyphae. The structures described were compared with those of other parasitic plants and were discussed in view of the translocation of materials from host to parasite.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.124-126
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• 1999

A new natural product $stigmast-5-en-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ tetraacetate (1) along with known compounds $stigmast-5-en-3-O-{\beta}-D-glucopyranoside$ (2), stigmast-5-en-3-yl-cetate (3) and ${\beta}-sitosterol$ (4) have been isolated from the stems of Cuscuta reflexa. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.261-270
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• 1985

The portion of Cuscuta japonica haustorium which lies external to the host tissues, the upper haustorium, was investigated at the light- and electron-microscopic levels. The haustorium lightly contacted with the host was formed by the expansion of the epidermis and cortex of the stem at the contact side, and to have a group of meristematic cells within the haustorial cortex. When such a haustorium was closely contacted with the host, the meristematic region transformed into a primordial structure of the endophyte (endophyte primordium, EP) which may penetrate into the host tissues. EP consisted of the three kinds of cell group: dividing cells at the adaxial or proximal side; large, elongate cells (idioblasts) at the middle portion,; compressed cells at the abaxial or basal side. the idioblasts were characterized by the presence of large nucleus, dense cytoplasm, several small vacuoles, and abundant cell organelles including the multilamellar structures and cytosegresomes, and thus suggested to have a high metabolic activity. The features of the EP were discussed in relation to the possibility of the penetrating into host tissues.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 1991

Two cell types, tip cells and hyphal cells, were found at the front of Cuscuta australis endophyte growing into the stem parenchyma of the host plant, Trifolium repens. Each tip cell developed into an elongate, filamentous hypha. The cells of both types possessed a dense cytoplasm including abundant organelles and enlarged nuclei with the deeply lobed envelope. The unevenly thick walls were observed in certain tip cells. The wall penetrated through the middle lamellae of the host cells and engulfed the debris of broken host cells. Some front cells had the plasmalemma-wall invaginations, which increased the surface area and would facilitate material uptake from the host No plasmodesmata between the host and parasite cells were found; instead, an apoplastic continuity was established by fused cell walls at the interface of the two partners. The apoplast was thought to be the main route for water and nutrients transport.nsport.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.42-51
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• 2012

Objectives: This study used the basic principle of Oriental medicine, the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle (君臣佐使論) to investigate the effects of the component of ONGABO, which is composed of Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng), Angelica Gigantis Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae tuber on the viability of HepG2 cells. Methods: Single and mixed extracts of the component of ONGABO were prepared by lypohilizing powder of Red Ginseng (6-year root from Kanghwa), Angelica Gigantis Radix, Schisandrae Fructus, Cuscuta Semen, Curcumae Tuber (from Omniherb Co., Ltd., Korea) at the laboratory of herbal medicine in Woosuk University and were eluted after being macerated with 100% ethanol for three days. The cell viability of HepG2 was determined by using an absorptiometric analysis with PrestoBlue (Invitrogen) reagent after the plate had been incubated for 48 hours. All of the experiments were repeated three times to obtain the average value and standard deviation. The statistical analysis was done and the correlation factor was obtained by using Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Origin 6.0 software. Results: Although Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng) and Schisandrae Fructus did not enhance the viability of HepG2 cells, they were shown to provide protection of those cells. On the other hand, Angelica Gigantis Radix decreased the viability of HepG2 cells significantly, Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae Tuber had a small or no effect on the viability of HepG2 cells. Conclusions: In the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle (君臣佐使論), Ginseng Radix (Red Ginseng) corresponds to the sovereign component because it provides cell protection effects, Angelica Gigantis Radix corresponds to minister medicinal because it kills cells, Schisandrae Fructus corresponds to the assistant medicinal to help red ginseng having cell protect effects. Cuscuta Semen and Curcumae Tuber correspond to the courier medicinal having no effect in cell viability in HepG2. We hope this study provides motivation for advanced research on the sovereign, minister, assistant and courier principle.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.49-60
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• 1986

Ultrastructures of the large and elongated cells (idioblasts) in the haustorium of a parasitic angiosperm, Cuscuta australis R. Brown growing on the host plant, Trifolium repens L. were investigated by the electron microscopy. The idioblasts were characterized by the presence of a large nucleus, small vacuoles, and dense cytoplasm including a number of various cell organelles such as ribosome, rough endoplasmic reticulum(r-ER), mitochondrion, dictyosome, proplastid, multilamellar structure(MLS), microfilament bundle(MFB), and cytosegresome. Therefore, it is suggested that the idioblasts are metabolical1y very active. Particularly, MLS, MFB, and cytosegresome observed in this study did not appear in the haustorial cells of the other parasitic angiosperms. MLS was transformed into vacuole and also incorporated with cell wall. MFB composed of microfilaments, about each 7.5 nm in diameter, was observed in nucleus and also cytoplasm. Some types of MFB were distinguished on the basis of arrangement of microfilaments. A part of cytoplasm sequestered by stacked cisternae of smooth ER(s-ER), cytosegresome, was altered into a vacuole which was formed by digestion of the sequestered cytoplasm and of cisternae of s-ER. Cell organelles such as MLS, MFB, and cytosegresome were discussed in relation to the metabolic control of the idioblasts.