• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.433-440
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• 2013

Nine kinds of flowers were selected by its antioxidative activities evaluated. DPPH(1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazil), reducing power, total phenol contents, total flavonoid contents, and antimicrobial activity inhibitory effects of nine natural flower varieties were examined using ethanol extract (80%, v/v). DPPH radical scavenging of Agastache rugosa (fisch.&Mey.) kuntze ($IC_{50}=74.6{\mu}g/mL$) and solidago virga-aurea var. asiatica ($IC_{50}=99.6{\mu}g/mL$) showed higher antioxidant activity compared with those of the other varieties. Reducing power of Agastache rugosa (fisch.&Mey.) kuntze ($OD_{700}=1.0$) had higher antioxidant activity. Agastache rugosa (fisch.&Mey.) kuntze showed the highest content of total phenol (134.6 mg GAE/g). However, total flavonoid (554.6 mg QE/g) exhibited the lowest. These results suggest that nine kinds of flower with 80% ethanol extracts have significant antioxidant activity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2018.04a
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• pp.3-3
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• 2018

For centuries, Panax ginseng Meyer (Korean ginseng) has been widely used as a medicinal herb in Korea, China, and Japan. Ginsenosides are a class of triterpene saponins and recognized as the bioactive components in Korean ginseng. Ginsenosides, which can be classified broadly as protopanaxadiols (PPD), protopanaxatriols (PPT), and oleanolic acids, have been shown to flaunt a vast array of pharmacological activities such as immune-modulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant effects. In recent years, a number of ginseng and ginsenoside researches have increasingly gained wide attention owing to its unique pharmacological properties. Although good efficacies of ginsenosides have been reported, lack of target specific delivery into tumor sites, low solubility, and low bioavailability due to modifications in gastro-intestinal environments limit their biomedical application in clinical trials. As a result to this major challenge, nanotechnology and drug delivery techniques play a significant role to solve this problematic issue. Thus, we reported the preparation of poly-ethylene glycol (PEG) and glycol chitosan (GC) functionalized to ginsenoside (Compound K and PPD) conjugates via hydrolysable ester bonds with improved aqueous solubility and pH-dependent drug release. In vitro cytotoxicity assays revealed that PEG-CK, and PPD-CK conjugates exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to bare CK and PPD in HT29 cells. However, GC-CK conjugates exhibited higher and similar cytotoxicity in HT29 and HepG2 cells. Furthermore, GC-CK-treated RAW264.7 cells did not exhibit significant cell death at higher concentration of treatment which supports the biocompatibility of the polymer conjugates. They also inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW64.7 cells. In addition to polymer-ginsenoside conjugates, silver (AgNps) and gold nanoparticles (AuNps) have been successfully synthesized by green chemistry using different m. The biosynthesized nanoparticles demonstrated antimicrobial efficacy, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant activity, biofilm inhibition, and anticoagulant effect. Special interest on the effective delivery methods of ginsenoside to treatment sites is the focus of metal nanoparticle research.In short, nano-sizing of ginsenoside results in an increased water solubility and bioavailability. The use of nano-sized ginsenoside and P. ginseng mediated metallic nanoparticles is expected to be effective on medical platform against various diseases in the future.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.604-614
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• 2020

Chronological aging and photoaging affect appearance, causing wrinkles, pigmentation, texture changes, and loss of elasticity in the skin. Phragmites communis is a tall perennial herb used for its high nutritional value and for medicinal purposes, such as relief from fever and vomiting and facilitation of diuresis. In this study, we investigated the effects of ethanol extract of P. communis rhizome (PCE) on skin aging. The total flavonoid and total phenolic content in PCE were 2.92 ± 0.007 ㎍ of quercetin equivalents (QE) and 231.8 ± 0.001 ㎍ of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) per 100 mg of dried extract (n = 3). The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of PCE for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities were 0.96 and 0.97 mg/mL, respectively. PCE showed inhibitory effects on tyrosinase when L-tyrosine (IC50 = 1.25 mg/mL) and L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (IC50 = 0.92 mg/mL) were used as substrates. PCE treatment up to 200 ㎍/mL for 24 h did not cause any significant cytotoxicity in B16F10 melanocytes, human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and HaCaT keratinocytes. In B16F10 melanocytes, PCE (25 and 50 ㎍ /mL) inhibited melanin production and cellular tyrosinase activity after challenge with α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH; p < 0.05). In HDFs, PCE suppressed the mRNA expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and reduced the activity of elastase (p < 0.05). In addition, ultraviolet B (UVB)-mediated downregulation of hyaluronic acid synthase-2 gene expression in HaCaT keratinocytes was also effectively suppressed by PCE treatment. Overall, our results showed that PCE has potential anti-skin aging activity associated with the suppression of hyperpigmentation, wrinkle formation, and reduction in dryness. PCE is a promising candidate for the development of an anti-skin aging cosmetic ingredient.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.35-63
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• 2015

A floristic, field research was conducted from March 2005 to October 2012 the Woraksan National Park (N $36^{\circ}46^{\prime}{\sim}36^{\circ}59^{\prime}$, E $128^{\circ}02^{\prime}{\sim}128^{\circ}19^{\prime}$) to characterize the flora of the region. Especially, we divided the surveyed region into nine representative collection areas based on floristic components were compared and analyzed. This field study discovered significant plants in various categories. The 41 surveys revealed that the vascular plants in this region comprised 815 taxa: 116 families, 429 genera, 717 species, 4 subspecies, 78 varieties and 16 forms. In this study, 80 taxa were firstly recorded from this region. Korean endemic plants numbered 22 taxa, and the fifteen taxa rare plants designated by Korean Forest Service as were found in this region. The taxa in the category II of rare and endangered plants and the taxa with the higher rank than the third degree among the floristic regional indicator plants designated by Korean Ministry of Environment were one and 56, respectively. From a geographical perspective, limited distributions of Matteuccia struthiopteris, Spiraea trichocarpa, and Aster tataricus at a latitudes higher than that of Woraksan National Park. Moreover, this study has confirmed that the Woraksan National Park is the species diversity center for Asarum koreanum, Elsholtzia angustifolia, and Allium linearifolium in the central province of the Korean peninsula. Inaddition, the naturalized plants of 54 taxa were recorded.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2011

A medicinal herb, Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni which is grown under physical stresses such as simulated microgravity, shaking, and low temperature for 4 days, showed fresh weight decrease of 3.6%, 21% and 8.7% compared with the respective control. On control plants, the radical scavenging value of DPPH represented 86% and 55%, respectively in the leaves and stems extracts. Relatively weak antioxidant activities of 22% and 27% were measured respectively in AA (ascorbic acid) and BHA (beta-hydroxyacetic acid) known as synthetic antioxidants. The radical scavenging effect of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl hydazal) in stevia plants under a simulated microgravity was observed to be consistently higher relative to the control, whereas those effects of shaking and low temperature treatments rapidly increased and then reduced after 6 hours in case of shaking process and 24 hours in case of low temperature treatment, which results had similar levels of scavenging effects to the control. The plants under simulated microgravity showed the highest level of activity with the value of 147% and the shaking and low temperature treatments showed the increases of SOD activity by 121% and 125%, respectively. From the above results, it is clarified that the simulated microgravity is more effective to the antioxidant activity than those of other abiotic stresses.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.446-450
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• 2007

Tiarella polyphylla D. Don(Saxifragaceae) is a perennial herb and distributed in China, Japan, Taiwan and Korea. Especially, it only grows in Ulleung island of Korea. It has been using for asthma, bruise and audition troubles with main components of some Triterpenoids and seven oleanolic Saponins. There is only known its chromosomal number rarely and cytogenetic study was not done. From this study, karyotype analysis and chromosomal localization of 5S and 45S rDNAs using bicolor-FISH(fluorescence in situ hybridization) were carried out. The somatic metaphase chromosome number was 2n=2x=14 and the size of chromosomes ranged $1.66{\sim}3.50{\mu}m$. The chromosome complement consisted of four pairs of submetacentrics(chromosomes 1, 2, 3 and 6), two pairs of subtelocentrics(chromosomes 5 and 7) and one pair of telocentrics(chromosome 4). We also observed NOR(nucleolus organizer region) on the chromosome 4. In bicolor-FISH, one pair of 55 and 45S rDNA sites was detected on the centromeric region of chromosome 3 and short arm of chromosome 4, respectively. Bicolor FISH was very useful tool for the localization and identification of rDNAs on the chromosomes in Tiarella polyphylla.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.144-155
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• 2021

This study was conducted to analyze community structure and species composition of Abies koreana forest. Field survey was carried out from June, 2019 to 2020, September. 121 plots (20×20 m) were set up, 5 herb layer plots (3×3 m) were constructed for each plot, and there, Diameter at Breast Height(DBH), height, environmental factor were measured. It was analyzed that water stress did not have a significant effect on the factors affecting the growth of A. koreana in Mt. Halla-san, and in the case of Mt. Deokyu-san, the more forest stands located at the ridge, the higher the tree density. It was found that the factors affecting the distribution of Abies koreana were not consistent according to the environment of study site.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.144-152
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• 2019

Ginseng (Pnanx ginseng C. A. Meyer) is famous worldwide, and is very important cash crop and medicinal herb in Korea. It takes four to five years to produce harvestable ginseng roots, and ginseng is attacked by several pathogens during cultivation. We investigated the disease rate caused by ginseng root rot from 6 years old ginseng cultivation fields (Chungnam; 9 fields, Chungbuk; 11 fields, Gangwon 5 fields). The highest disease severity was Dangjin D (2.9) and the lowest one was Gaesan C (0.6). Of the 625 isolations, 340 isolations were classified as Ilyonectria radicicola and Fusarium solani. Finally, genetic diversity of I. radicicola and F. solani was confirmed by sequence analysis. Among the I. radicicola group, I. mors-panacis, which is known as highly virulent pathogen, and I. liriodendri, I. robusta and I. cyclamicicola, which are weakly virulent pathogens, were identified. In the case of F. solani, it is divided into two groups, but it is necessary to conduct diversity research through genetic analysis and pathogenetic studies using various markers. Based on these results, it could be used as a basic data for control of ginseng root rot pathogens.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.318-324
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• 2019

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is a perennial herb belonging to the family Apiaceae. Its root has been utilized as a traditional medicine in Korea. Also, it contains decursin (D) and decursinol angelate (DA) as major active components. This study was performed to compare the change in content of active components and antioxidant activity between bolting and non-bolting AGN. Bolting AGN (B1) and non-bolting AGN (NB1) were harvested in the end of August. Additional non-bolting AGN (NB2) was harvested in the end of October. The total weight of B1 was 728.7 g, which was 98.5% of NB2 weight. Next, the AGN root (B1, NB1 and NB2) was divided into main root and lateral root. And the AGN aerial part (B1, NB1) was divided into flower, leaf and stem. The two active components, D and DA, and antioxidant activity were analyzed. The D content of B1 was 0.35-1.33% according to the plant parts and the DA content was 0.29-1.07%. In addition, B1 flower and leaf showed higher antioxidant activity than NB2 roots. The results show that B1 contained 15-56% of total major components compared with NB2 main roots, suggesting that B1 could be used as a potential material.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.471-477
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• 2019

Rehmannia glutinosa is a perennial herb belonging to family Scrophulariaceae. This study was conducted to evaluate the appropriateness cultivation of R. glutinosa in Southern Gangwon Province. The seed rhizomes of R. glutinosa 'Jihwang 1' were planted in the early May and harvested in the early November. Agronomic characteristics and catalpol content was evaluated in comparison with Eumseong area. As a results, aerial parts of Pyeongchang area in leaf length and leaf width were better than other cultivation area but the leaf number per plant was statistically the same. And underground parts of Eumseong area in rhizome yield and number of rhizome were better than other cultivation area. Conversely, rhizome diameter of Pyeongchang and Jeongseon area were thicker than rhizome diameter of Eumseong area. The fresh rhizome yield of Eumseong, Jeongseon and Pyeongchang area were 1,848, 1,571, and 1485 kg/10a, respectively, higher than the domestic average production of 805 kg/10a. And, catalpol content of Pyeongchang, Jeongseon and Eumseong area were 1.93, 1.62 and 1.99%, respectively. Taken together, R. glutinosa cultivation in the region of southern Gangwon province is considered to be possible, but further evaluation of the economic aspect is needed.