• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wax gourd on body weight, body fat, triglyceride, leptin and fat cell size in rats fed medium fat Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with experimental diet containing total dietary fat at 20% of calorie with wax gourd (WG) for 4 weeks. Forty rats were divided into 4 groups including control, 5, 10, and 15% (w/w) WG supplement The results showed that weight gain was significantly higher in 5% WG than that in control (p<0.05), but was not different among the WG supplement groups. Total fat weight was significantly decreased in both 10 and 15% WG supplement groups than that of control. The levels of triglycerides and free fatty acids in the plasma were significantly decreased, particularly in 15% WG supplement group (p<0.05). The levels of leptin was not significantly different among the experimental groups. Fat cell size was significantly decreased in WG supplement groups compared to that of control group (p<0.05). Correlation among the parameters demonstrated that weight gain correlated positively with total fat weight, the levels of leptin and triglycerides. Taken these results together, 15% WG supplement diet substantially reduces total fat weight, triglycerides and free fatty acids levels and fat cell size in the rat fed midium fat.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.32-35
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• 2015

Anthracnose occurred in bitter gourd grown in Jeongup areas of Korea in 2011. Anthracnose of bitter gourd appeared as dark brown circular spots on naturally infected leaves and fruits. The symptoms of infected leaves and fruits were small brown to dark brown spots and gradually enlarged to larger cylindrical dark brown lesions. The causal fungus of anthracnose isolated from the diseased plants was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides based on the morphological and cultural characteristics and ITS rDNA sequence analysis. All isolates of C. gloeosporioides produced symptoms on the host leaves by artificial inoculation. This is the first report of anthracnose on bitter gourd caused by C. gloeosporioides in Korea.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.63 no.1
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• pp.72-75
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• 2018

This study was conducted to investigate changes in the functional compounds in bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L.). Four treatments were used to analyze vitamin C, momordicin, K, Mg, and Ca compounds in Dragon bitter gourd on the 7th, 14th, 21st, and 28th days after pollination. According to the number of days after pollination, level of chemicals containing vitamin C in bitter gourd appeared to decrease continually after pollination, and was the highest, being 74.7 mg/100 g on the 7th day. The level of momordicin, an anti-diabetic was significantly higher in the 7th-day product than that of the 14th day;, meanwhile, there was no significant difference in Ca compounds. These phenomena are considered to fasten the stages of harvest for effective use of functional ingredients in bitter gourd fruits.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.142-146
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• 2000

To observe the stimulating effects of low dose ${\gamma}-radiation$ on the seed germination, early growth and physiological activity in the gourd, seeds of three cultivars (Partner, Support, FR Yongja) were irradiated at the dose of $0.5{\sim}30\;Gy$. The hormetic effects of the low dose ${\gamma}-radiation$ on the growth were different from each cultivar. Low dose ${\gamma}-radiation$ had promoting effects on the germination at the optimum dose of 2 Gy and 8 Gy and on the early growth at the optimum dose of 4 Gy, 16 Gy and 20 Gy in Partner and Support cultivar and 1 Gy in FR Yongja cultivar. Irradiation didn't have significant effects on the chlorophyll contents of gourd plantlet. The antioxidant enzyme activity of gourd plantlet and early growth increased in low dose irradiation group.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.137-145
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• 2013

Biological activities of wax gourd (Benincase hispida) extract and lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium bifidum) were investigated in this study. Wax gourd extract reduced the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) by 47.9%, of tyrosinase by 13.2%, and had an anti-oxidant activity of 23.4%. Oral administration of wax gourd extract for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 120 patients with its highest improvement rates within 6 to 12 hours. The improvement rates were standardized by the curative state by 80%. Lactic acid bacteria preparations reduced the activity of ACE by 21.49%. Oral administration of lactic acid bacteria preparations for 72 hours improved the symptom of loose bowels for 108 patients with its highest improvement rates after 24 hours. On the basis of these results, the tablets containing both wax gourd extract and lactic acid bacteria preparations for the improvement of irritable bowel syndromes were developed. The tablets reduced the activity of ACE by 27.1% and exhibited an anti-oxidant activity of 20.3%. Treatment of the tablets at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and 250 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 24 hours inhibited the growth of A549 human lung cancer cells by 67%, which was much higher than that of each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. In addition, treatment of the tablets at 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for 24 hours reduced the growth of HCT-116 human colon cancer cells by 70%. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with loose bowels led to higher improvement rates and speed than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria. Oral administration of the tablets to the patients with irritable bowel syndromes of loose bowels, constipation, or general type for 72 hours improved their symptoms by 100% with the highest improvement rates within 3 to 6 hours. Furthermore, the improvement rates and speed by the tablets was much higher than each wax gourd extract or lactic acid bacteria.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.174-176
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• 1991

A electrophoretic study on seveal important enzymes was conducted with seed, leaf and stem of Benincasa hipida (Thunb) Cogn and Commelina communis L. Isozyme patterns of esterase were different from the parts and fruit of wax gourd appeared only one band. In the peroxidase isozyme, fruit of wax gourd appeared four bands, but stem of common dayflower no appeared. In the amylase isozyme, seed and fruit of 'gourd were appeared clearly one band, respectively.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.107-110
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• 2016

In October 2014, an occurrence of gray mold was observed on young fruits of sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrica) in Sachunmun, Gangneung, South Korea. Symptoms included abundant mycelia growth with gray conidia on young fruits and finally rotting the fruits. The fungus was isolated from symptomatic fruits and its pathogenicity was confirmed. Based on the morphological features and sequence analysis of ITS-5.8S rDNA, G3PDH, HSP60, and RPB2 genes, the pathogen was identified as Botrytis cinerea Pers. This is the first report of gray mold caused by B. cinerea on L. cylindrica in Korea.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2002.11b
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• pp.13-14
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• 2002

Bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, is one of the oldest cultivated plants. To bigin with, its fruit was used as a complete liquid bottle or container. It was a very widespread cultivated plant in prehistoric times, for example (there) is a report from Peru as early as between 13,000 B.C and 11,000 B.C. The dug-out finds in Japan proved to be about 95,000 years old according to the $^{14}$ C analysis. The bottle grourd was the most important plant before the invention of pottery in many areas of Asia, New Guinea, Polynesia, America, and Africa. I would like to suggest that there should be “The Bottle Gourd Age” prior to the Pottery Age.(중략)

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2009

Aloe (Aloe vera L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. tuberculatus Gabaj.) and sponge.gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) are well utilized in Asian countries as traditional medicines and cosmetics, or foods. And we carried out an experiment to see if there are some specific ratios among trace metals on the plants. Though the metal concentrations varied significantly depending on the sampling periods, aloe gel is high in iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca). Cucumber fruit juice is also high in iron (Fe) and potassium (K). Sponge.gourd sap contains a high amount of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca). The uses of the previous 3 plant parts are considered to have some relations to their different ratios and of their trace metals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.215-219
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• 2003

To investigate the effects of low dose gamma radiation and seed moisture content (SMC) on germination and early growth of vegetable crops, seeds of chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.), radish (Raphanus sativus L.), red pepper (Capcicum annuum L.), figleaf gourd (Cucurbita ficifolia Bouche) and bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria Standl), with different SMC were irradiated with different doses ($0{\sim}20\;Gy$) of gamma-ray by irradiator ($^{60}Co$, ca.150 TBq of capacity, AECL). Vegetable crops in which low dose gamma radiation was irradiated in seeds with different moisture content showed different response in seed germination and early growth to low dose gamma radiation. The germination rate of chinese cabbage, figleaf ground and bottle gourd irradiated with $2{\sim}8\;Gy$ showed interactive responses against relative SMC. Also, significant interactions occurred for the early growth between those factors. The stimulating effects of gamma radiation were more pronounced for hydrated seeds of chinese cabbage, radish, figleaf gourd and bottle gourd showing prominent responses with $2{\sim}10\;Gy$ irradiation, particularly for chinese cabbage and bottle gourd. These results suggest that radiation may promote germination and early growth of vegetable crops through interaction with SMC.