• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2017

The dried root of Angelica species is used in traditional Chinese medicine in East Asia, particularly in Korea, China and Japan. Since the plant origin differs in these countries, they are often misused or adulterated in the commercial markets, resulting in distrust among the consumers. Enormous efforts have therefore been focused to distinguish the origin for the Angelica genus, by using morphological or cytogenetical analyses, and chemical markers based on biochemical analyses of secondary metabolites. DNA is considerably stable against different cultivation conditions, and to treatment and processing after harvesting of plants. Hence, several researches have been filed for the development of molecular markers, based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms in specific regions of DNA. However, there are several obstacles for application in the commercial markets, concerning the reproducibility, accuracy, sensitivity, and rapidity of these tests. In this review, we summarize the research achievements that help classify the origin of Angelica species, in particular, Angelica gigas Nakai. A. sinensis(oliv.) Diels, A. acutiloba Kitag., and A. acutiloba var. sugiyamae Hikino. Further researches are required for practical applications.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.268-273
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• 2012

Acanthopanax species are well known medicinal plants in Korea for their adaptogenic efficacy. Regarding to the botanical classification of Acanthopanax koreanum, an indigenous species in Jeju island of Korea, it has been classified as different species of Acanthopanax genus. However, the morphological characteristics of A. koreanum are very similar with other Acanthopanax species, especially with A. gracilistylus. In order to provide further classification information among these botanically related species, microscopic and morphological studies on these Acanthopanax species were performed. In this result, it has been found that A. koreanum is similar to A. gracilistylus in terms of anatomical observation and was distinguished from A. sieboldianus by their morphological and anatomical differences.

• ALGAE
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.205-214
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• 2018

Red algae in the genus Portieria produce secondary halogenated monoterpenes, which are effective deterrents against herbivores, as secondary metabolites. Portieria hornemannii samples from various sites contain different concentrations of these metabolites, suggesting the existence of genetic diversity and cryptic species. To evaluate the genetic diversity and species distribution of Portieria in the northwest Pacific, we analyzed rbcL sequences of samples collected from Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. The phylogenetic analysis revealed five distinct lineages at the species level. One was recognized as Portieria japonica and the others were cryptic lineages in P. hornemannii. The rbcL haplotypes of P. japonica were genetically fragmented into two subgroups of geographic origin; Korean and Japanese. The four cryptic lineages within P. hornemannii were also geographically structured at a much finer scale. These results suggest that different genetic lineages in Portieria evolved from variable microhabitats, consequently influencing secondary metabolites. Further study is required to resolve the relationships between genetic and secondary metabolite variations in Portieria.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.207-212
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• 2010

The characteristics of insect communities in specific localities reflect climatic and environmental status and change. We investigated the description pattern of new insect species by reviewing announcements of new or newly recorded insects in Korea published in five systematic journals between 1999 and 2009: Entomological Research (1999-2009), Insect Koreana (1999-2003), Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology (1999-2009), Korean Journal of Applied Entomology (1999-2009), and Korean Journal of Systematic Zoology (1999-2009). A total of 757 new species were reported in 299 research papers. More than 85% of the newly described or reported species belonged to four orders: Coleoptera (225 species), Lepidoptera (202 species), Hymenoptera (141 species), and Diptera (82 species). The number of new species fluctuated from year to year, and a few major authors described most species. The graph of the cumulative number of species described in Korea was not asymptotic. We also examined the decadal trends in the proportion of species according to their biogeographical origin. The numbers of northern (Palearctic and Nearctic) and southern (Oriental) species recorded in Korea between 1999 and 2009 were increasing mainly due to the recent taxonomic research environment. It is also possible that recent climatic change induces new migrants toKorea from more southern parts of Oriental region, but more information is needed to confirm this hypothesis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 1988

According to the literature, soybean cultivation originated from Wang-Gong (B.C. 685-643) of China who brought it from northeast Asia, for the first time. FUKUDA, of Japan divided soybean into three species-the wild, the cultivated and the intermediate. From the result of that study, he concluded that the soybean originated in northeast Asia. But Wang Kum Rung of China insisted that soybean originated in Hwa-Nam, because the soybean is a shortday plant and the agricultural history of Hwa-Nam, south of China, is older than that of northeast Asia. However, agriculture in northeast Asia had been already begun about B.C. 4000-6000 and the origin of culture cannot be decided only by photosensitivity. It has been proved that soybeans found in Korea were same as the ones of B.C. 2000. The soybeans of northeast Asia meet the conditions of the probable place of origin of cultivated crops established by Vabilov. Accordingly it is concluded that soybean has been originated from northeast Asia.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.161-164
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• 2009

'NuRo (漏蘆)' is one of the crude drugs which has been used for removal of fever and skin disease. With regard to the botanical origin of 'NuRo', it has been considered to be Echinops species of Compositae, but there has no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'NuRo', the anatomical characteristics of the root of Echinops latifolius and E. setifer were studied. As a result, it was clarified that 'NuRo' from Korea was the root of Echinops setifer.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.320-327
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• 1999

'Gu Maig(瞿麥)' is one of the Chinese crude drugs used mainly to cure a diuretic, gonorhoea and menostasis, etc. With regard to the botanical origin of 'Gu Maig', it has been considered to be Dianthus spp. of Caryophyllaceae, but there has not been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of the "Gu Maig", the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaves and stems of Dianthus species growing in Korea, i.e. D. sinensis, D. superbus var. longicalycinus, D. repens, D. morii, D. superbus var. speciosus were compared. As a result, it was determined that 'Gu Maig' was the whole plant body of Dianthus sinensis and D. superbus var. longicalycinus.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.289-292
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• 2011

Korean folk medicine 'SaCheolNaMuIp' has been used to cure jaundice. The botanical origin of the crude drug has been no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'SaCheolNaMuIp', the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the leaves of Euonymus species growing in Korea, i.e. E. japonica and E. fortunei var. radicans were studied. As a result, it was clarifyed that SaCheolNaMuIp was the leaf of Euonymus japonica.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2010

Korean folk medicine 'GaJi' has been used to treat a boil, cough, mushroom poisoning and stomach cancer. The botanical origin of the crude drug has never been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of 'GaJi', the morphological and anatomical characteristics of the stems of Solanum species growing in Korea, i.e. S. japonense Nakai, S. lyratum Thunb., S. melongena L., S. nigrum L. were compared. As a result, it was determined that GaJi was the stem of Solanum melongena L.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

Korean folk medicine 'DulGugWha' has been used to cure common cold, cough and chronic and acute gastiritis in Korea. The botanical origin of the crude drug has never been studied pharmacognostically. To clarify the botanical origin of 'DulGugWha', the morphological and anatomical characteristics of Chrysanthemum species growing in Korea, i.e. C. boreale, C. indicum, C. zawadskii and C. zawadskii var. latilobum were studied. As a result, 'DulGugWha' was proved to be the whole plant body of Chrysanthemum boreale of Compositae.