• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.81-84
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• 2004

Branched broomrape (Orobanche ramosa) is a holo-parasitic flowering plant that attaches to the root of its host, green plant, by means of a specialized structure known as haustorium. Following successful contact and penetration on susceptible plant root, complex tissue of Orobanche cells is formed which is known as the tubercle. Newly formed tubercles contain high activity ofindole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA), as an inhibitor of IAA polar transport, was utilized to investigate the supply and requirement of auxin to the developing O. ramosa on tomato plant. There was no significant reduction in the incidence of O. ramosa per pot of different TIBA treatments. However, infection severity in terms of the number of O. ramosa shoots that emerged per plant and number of attachments per plant root system were significantly reduced by 60 % and 45 % on TIBA treated plants, respectively. Histo-logical studies revealed conspicuous delay in the initiation of xylem vessel differentiation inside tubercles of the TIBA treated tomato plants. Also, differentiated vessels showed thinner secondary wall deposition, and improper alignment within bundles inside those tubercles. They were wider and shorter in diameter in comparison to those of untreated plants. These findings were attri-buted to the short supply of IAA required for normal development, and to the xylem vessel differentiation of O. ramosa tubercles on infected tomato. Hence, this parasitic flowering plant seems to depend upon its host in its requirements for IAA, in a source to sink relation-ship.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.490-496
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• 2006

This study aimed to evaluate in vitro effects of Rheum undulatum L. root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects on viability, dental plaque formation, and glycolytic acid production of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. Methanol extract of Rheum undulatum L. root and its fractions were prepared and tested. Among the test extract and fractions, dichloromethane fraction (DF) showed the most active antibacterial activity (inhibition zone: 13-17 mm) against S. mutans and S. sobrinus in a disc diffusion method. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of DF against these bacteria ranged from 0.25 to 0.5 mg/mL. Furthermore, DF significantly inhibited the caries-inducing factors of these bacteria. At sub-MIC levels, DF inhibited in vitro dental plaque formation by S. mutans and S. sobrinus ($IC_{50}$= 0.079 and 0.142 mg/mL, respectively), which was caused, in part, by the inhibitory effect on the activity of glucosyltransferases. A significant reduction of glycolytic acid production was found at the concentration as low as 0.032 mg/mL for S. mutans and 0.063 mg/mL for S. sobrinus. The possible bioactive compounds that are inducing in vitro anti-cariogenic activity of DF are unknown. Based on the preliminary phytochemical analysis, the activity of DF may be related to the presence of anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarines, sterols/terpenes, and phenolics. These results indicate that DF is probably useful for the control of dental plaque formation and subsequent dental caries development.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.211-217
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• 2018

Hibiscus syriacus (H. syriacus) as the national flower of Korea has been used as the herbal medicine in Asia. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of 70% ethanol extracts from the root of Hibiscus syriacus (RHS-E70) and elucidated the potential signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 dose-dependently suppressed NO production by inhibiting iNOS and IL-${\beta}$ expression in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. RHS-E70 inhibited the phosphorylation and degradation of $I{\kappa}B-{\alpha}$, which contributed to the inhibition of p65 nuclear accumulation and NF-${\kappa}B$ activation. Furthermore, RHS-E70 suppressed the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38, which results in the inhibition of ATF2 phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear accumulation. These results indicate that RHS-E70 may exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting NF-${\kappa}B$ and MAPK/ATF2 signaling. From these findings, RHS-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemopreventive or therapeutic agents for the inflammatory diseases.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2010

The studies have been conducted to control the soil borne fungal pathogens viz, Fusarium solani (Mart) Sacc. and Alternaria tenuissima the incitants of root rot and die-back diseases on mulberry stem cuttings planted in the mulberry nurseries and also in established mulberry gardens ten plant extracts with 10% concentration except Lantana camara (undiluted) were tested through poisoned food technique and four biofungicides were also screened by dual culture method under in vitro conditions. Plant extract of Prosopis juliflora showed the maximum inhibition on the mycelial growth (81.2% over A. tenuissima and 80.0% over F. solani) and followed by L. camara (66.7% over A. tenuissima and 68.9% over F. solani). Among the antagonists Pseudomonas fluorescens and Trichoderma viride showed maximum inhibition on the mycelial growth of both pathogenic fungi. The promising plant extracts (P. juliflora and L. camara) and antagonists (P. fluorescens and T. viride) were tested against both the pathogenic fungi under in vivo conditions along with the existing popular chemical Mancozeb. All the tested plant products and bio-fungicides showed inhibitory effect on both fungi. But the maximum survival percentage of mulberry cuttings was recorded in the treatment with T. viride (95% against F. solani and 90% against A. tenuisssima) followed by P. fluorescens (90% against both fungi) and T. harzianum (80% against F. solani and 85% against A. tenuisssima). Incase of the treatments with plant extracts and chemical fungicide the P. juliflora (60% against F. solani and 55% against A. tenuisssima) showed higher survival percentage and followed by L. camara (55% against F. solani and 50% against A. tenuisssima) and Mancozeb (55% against both fungi). In case of control only 10% of survival was recorded in F. solani inoculated cuttings and 15% survival in A. tenuissima inoculated cuttings.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2015

We have investigated the effects of the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on the development of aerenchyma in the primary root of maize (Zea mays). Because plant hormones affected the longitudinal organization of the primary root, we need an indicator to direct the positions for comparison between control and hormone-treated roots. Therefore, the zones of the maize primary root were categorized as PR25, PR50 and PR75, where each value indicates the relative position between the root tip (PR0) and the base (PR100). Aerenchyma was not observed at PR25 and PR50 and rarely found at PR75 in the cortex of control roots. The aerenchymal area at PR75 increased in the presence of the ethylene precursor ACC or a natural auxin IAA. On the other hand, MeJA differentially acted on non-submerged and submerged roots. Exogenously applied MeJA suppressed the aerenchyma formation in non-submerged roots. When the primary root was submerged, aerenchymal area expanded prominently. The submergence-induced aerenchyma formation was amplified with MeJA. Lateral root primordia have been known to inhibit aerenchymal death of surrounding cells. All the three hormones stimulating aerenchyma formation as described above did not restore the inhibition caused by lateral root primordia, suggesting that the inhibitory step regulated by lateral root primordia can be located after hormonal signaling steps.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.242-247
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• 2013

Currently, methods for controlling weeds in organically produced crops have not been as effective as conventional methods. This research was carried out to determine the herbicidal effects of leaf, stem, fruit, root extracts of Trichosanthes kirilowii. The extraction methods used were water, boiling water and ethanol. The characteristics of potential herbicidal components among extraction methods were investigated by using the following solvent fractions: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. Generally, water extracts provided the best on inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley. Specifically, extractions made from fruit parts of T. kirilowii provided the greatest inhibition effect on plant growth in cucumber and barely. Inhibition of germination rate, plant height, and root length in cucumber and barley in solvent fractions was the best in water fractions, but there were no significant differences among the other fractions. Digitaria siliaris and Solanum nigrum were controlled 80-100% by 5% extractions of water fraction. However, there were no herbicidal effects from foliar treatment in cucumber, barley, black nightshade, and henry crabgrass by 5% extractions of the water fraction. These results show that extractions of T. kirilowii can be used for controlling some weeds in organically produced crops.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.149-158
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• 2009

American sycamore seedlings were grown in chambers with two different ozone concentrations ($O_3$-free air and air with additional $O_3$) for 45 days. Both the control and the $O_3$ chambers included non-fertilized and fertilized plants. After 18 days of $O_3$ fumigation, seedlings were placed in a clean chamber for 27 days. Seedlings under ozone fumigation showed a significant decrease in pigment contents and photosynthetic activity, and a significant increase in lipid peroxidation. Fertilization enhanced physiological damage such as the inhibition of photosynthetic activity and the increase of lipid peroxidation under ozone fumigation. During the recovery phase, the physiological damage level of seedlings increased with ozone fumigation. In addition, physiological damage was observed in the fertilized seedlings. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities of $O_3$-treated seedlings increased up to 33.8% and 16.3% in the fertilized plants. The increase of SOD activity was higher in the fertilized plants than in the non-fertilized plants. Negative effects of ozone treatment were observed in the biomass of the leaves and the total dry weight of the fertilized sycamore seedlings. The $O_3$-treated seedlings decreased in stem, root and total dry weight, and the loss of biomass was statistically significant in the fertilized plants. In conclusion, physiological disturbance under normal nutrient conditions has an effect on growth response. In contrast, in conditions of energy shortage, although stress represents a physiological inhibition, it does not seem to affect the growth response.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2005

Dandelions have been reported to have medicinal properties and bioactive components that impact human health. However, the precise biological properties of dandelions and the parts of the plants possessing bioactive components remain uncertain. In this study, we evaluated 3 different types of dandelions based on their cultivation origin (Songpa, Uiryung, and native Uiryung types) as well as their 4 different plant parts (leaf, flower, root, skin). Each sample was extracted with $80\%$ methanol and then compared for the biological activities (anti-oxidative, immune cell proliferative and tumor cell growth inhibitory activities). All 3 types of dandelions possessed a degree of biological functions including the hydroxyl radical scavenger activity, immune cell proliferative activity and tumor cell growth inhibitory activity. However, there was no significant difference in these activities between the 3 dandelion types. Leaves of all three dandelion types showed the highest levels of all biological activities. To a lesser degree, the flower and root parts displayed biological activities. In the skin parts, anti-oxidative activity was also detected only at higher doses of dandelion extracts. Heating the dandelion leaf extract did not affect the biological activity, suggesting a heat-stable nature of the biological compounds. Taken together, these collective data suggest that dandelions, in particular their leaves, possess a high concentration of heat-resistant biological compounds, which are responsible for anti-oxidative, immune cell proliferative and tumor cell growth-inhibitory activities.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.681-686
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• 2012

Light, one of the environmental stimuli, is fundamental to the growth and development of plants. Red and far-red light are sensed using the phytochrome family of plant photoreceptors. To investigate the effect of light on root growth and gravitropism, we used the Arabidopsis phytochrome mutants grown in several light conditions. The root growth of $phyA$ reared in all light conditions except white light and was stimulated compared to the WT. The stimulation of root growth was obvious in $phyA$ grown in red light. On the other hand, the root growth of $phyB$ grown in all light conditions decreased, and the lowest rate of decrease was observed in $phyAB$ grown in white and red light. The gravitropic response of $phyA$ was stimulated compared to the WT when it was grown in all light conditions except far-red light. $PhyAB$ grown in all light conditions showed the inhibition of gravitropic response. The transcript level of ACS, one of the enzymes regulating ethylene biosynthesis, increased in $phyA$ grown in white and red light, but not in $phyA$ grown in far-red light. In conclusion, these results suggested that the $P_{fr}$ form of $phyB$ regulates the root growth and gravitropism.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2016

Purpose: Diabetic complications are a major concern to manage progression of diabetes. Production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) due to high blood glucose is one of the mechanisms leading to diabetic complications. Multiple pharmacologic AGE inhibitory agents are currently under development, but clinical applications are still limited due to safety issues. Thus, it is necessary to identify a safe anti-glycation agent. It is known that burdock roots have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory role of burdock roots on the formation of high glucose-induced glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Methods: In this study, glycation of BSA by glucose, galactose, or fructose at $37^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks was assessed based on levels of ${\alpha}$-dicarbonyl compounds (early-stage glycation products), fructosamine (intermediate products of glycation), and fluorescent AGEs (late-stage glycation products). In order to compare the inhibitory actions of burdock root extract in AGE formation, aminoguanidine (AG), a pharmacological AGE inhibitor, was used as a positive control. Results: BSA glycation by glucose, fructose, and galatose was dose- and time-dependently produced. Burdock root extract at a concentration of 4 mg/mL almost completely inhibited glucose-induced BSA glycation. The results demonstrate that burdock root extract inhibited AGE formation with an $IC_{50}$ value of 1.534 mg/mL, and inhibitory activity was found to be more effective than the standard anti-glycation agent aminoguanidine. This study identified a novel function of burdock root as a potential anti-glycation agent. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that burdock root could be beneficial for preventing diabetic complications.