• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.276-288
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• 2014

The six polysaccharide fractions were prepared by chromatographic procedure from the hot water extracts of the aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus. These six polysaccharides from aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge were tested for gut-mucosal immune activity and acute toxicity. In a view of molecular weight, the six fractions were estimated to be 75000, 88000, 129000 and 345000 Da, respectively. Component sugar analysis indicated that these fractions were mainly consisted of galactose (46.3 ~ 11.8%) and arabinose (35.4 ~ 9.9%) in addition to glucose, rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid. Among the six major purified polysaccharides, AMA-1-b-PS2 showed highest bone merrow cell proliferation and lymphocyte of Peyer's patch stimulating activity. It may be concluded that intestinal immune system modulating activity of aboveground parts from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is caused by polysaccharides having a polygalacturonan moiety with neutral sugars such as arabinose and galactose. In single oral dose toxicity study, no differences were observed between control and treated groups in clinical signs. The results indicated that lethal dose 50 ($LD_{50}$) of water extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground parts was found to be higher than 5000 mg/kg/day in this experiment. From the above results, we may suggest that Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground parts might have useful as a safe material for functional food and pharmaceutics.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.300-304
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• 2008

The root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (Leguminosae) has been used in the Korean oriental medicine for strengthening the vital energy. UV irradiation has been suggested as a major cause of photo aging in skin. In order to investigate protective effects against UV induced cellular damage, Astragali Radix was extracted with 70% ethanol and dissolved in DMSO. The protective effect was detected by MTT assay, LDH assay, and Comet assay in immortalized human keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT cell system after UV irradiation. Astragli Radix 70% EtOH extract reduced UV induced cellular damage in cell survival, membrane integrity and DNA damage.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.443-448
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• 2001

This study was carried out to obtain the basic informations on the characteristics of gametophytes formation and microspore germination in Astragalus membranaceus Bunge. Pollen mother cells passed through meiosis when the flower bud length reaches around 3.5 mm, thus creating the tetrad when it is 4.0 mm long. Pollen attains full growth when the bud is about 10.0 mm long and the anther is found to dehisce when the length of tate bud reach around 12.0 mm. Embryo sac develops at a similar speed as pollen did and it attains its full growth when the bud is about 10-12 mm long. After being stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ or -4$^{\circ}C$, the pollen maintained its germination ability to almost full extent by the 30th day after store. However, the germination rate at room temperature (23~28$^{\circ}C$) decreased below 3％ by the 3rd day of storage and so did the germination speed.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.10
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• pp.227-236
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• 2017

This study attempted to develop and investigate the effects of hair-nourishing cosmetics containing saponin astragaloside from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on eyebrow growth and development for eventual product development. For this, current use of hair nutrients was investigated in general consumers through a questionnaire survey. A test was conducted for 6 weeks against the same subjects divided into two groups: experimental group with 0.5% saponin astragaloside on the right eyebrow and control group without any astragaloside on the left eyebrow. The results were as follows. In the control group, no significant changes were found in terms of eyebrow length and thickness. In the experimental group with 0.5% saponin astragaloside added, eyebrow length, root, and thickness of the middle area considerably increased. In other words, saponin astragaloside was confirmed an effective natural substance. In addition, subjective assessments such as usability, marketability, and satisfaction assessments supported the usability and market value of saponin astragaloside. Such results reveal that hair-nourishing cosmetics containing saponin astragaloside from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge would be helpful in improving and maintaining eyebrow growth for those concerned about loss and shortening of their eyebrows, showing the potential of product development.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.47-50
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• 2008

To evaluate the antiallergic effect of the dried root of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (AM) (Leguminosae), which inhibited the mouse passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in a preliminary experiment, its main constituents, astragalosides I and IV, were isolated and their antiallergic effects were investigated. Astragalosides I and IV inhibited the PCA reaction induced by the IgE-antigen complex, and the scratching behaviors induced by compound 48/80. These constituents reduced the protein expressions of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 in IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells. These findings suggest that astragalosides I and IV as well as AM can improve IgE-induced anaphylaxis and scratching behaviors.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.23-31
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• 2002

The antioxidative activity was measured on the substances of water and ethanol soluble extract from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge, Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat, Lycium chinensis Miller, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, Angelica gigas Nakai, Zizyphus jojoba Miller, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, Cnidium officinale Makino by four different in vitro experimental models of DPPH (a,a'-diphenyl-$\beta$-picrylhydrazyl) method, superoxide dismutase like activity, thiocyanate method, and TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) method. The Lycium chinensis Miller contained the highest amount of polyphenolic compounds. The electron donating ability of water extract from Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer and ethanol extract from Chrysanthemum were higher than those of the others. The superoxide dismutase-like activity of water extract from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge was the highest among those of all the others. The water extract from Zizyphus jujuba Miller showed the highest antioxidative activity determined by TBARS method. Compared to the control, the inducing period associated with the oxidation degree was delayed up to 8 days in both the water extract from Chrysanthemum, Lycium chinensis Miller, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fischer, and Paeonia lactiflora Pallas and the in ethanol extract from Chrysanthemum and Glycyrrhiz uralensis Fischer. These results support that water and ethanol extracts from 8 kinds of medicinal herbs contain antioxidative compounds.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.287-293
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of fertilization process and embryo development of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (Astragali Radix) to provide basic data needed in its breeding. A. membranaceus showed poor seed setting when self-pollination was induced. When artificial pollination was induced, it showed less than 5% bearing in late August, but more than 13% bearing from the beginning of September 4th. The flower size was about $17.0\;mm{\times}4.0\;mm$ and pistils and stamens had the same length of 15.0mm at flowering stage. When self-pollination or cross-pollination was induced, pollen tubes extended to an ovule. While pollen tube was extending to the ovule, reproductive cell split and formed two male generative nuclei and a vegetative nucleus. In the case of self-pollination, fertilized embryo was not observed, but was formed in the case of cross-pollination. A. membranaceus is noted to have zygote self-incompatibility. In the case of cross-pollination, fertilization was observed in 6 to 8 h after pollination, where apical cell derivatives split after fertilization. A spherical pro-embryo was then formed three days after fertilization. The seed attained full shape with a seed coat showing its distinctive contour 15 days after fertilization. Thus, A. membranaceus in Leguminosae family is found to have zygote selfincompatibility although its flower shape is shown to match the self-compatibility plant.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.171-175
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• 2000

This study was carried out to obtain the basic informations on the flowering habit, pollination patterns and seed setting in Astragalus membranaceus. The first flowering appeared at the 20-22 node on main stem and there is the indeterminate inflorescence that the flowering progress developed toward the tip of the main stem and also toward the tips of branches. According to the flowering time, the number of peduncles were increased in early of Aug. Then, the number of bearing pods and that of seed setting were increased at that time. The length of peduncles with small flower was 6.6-7.3cm, and the number of small flowers were 13-17 per peduncles. The percentage of seed setting was 30-45% per peduncles and seeds were 4.8-5.3 per pod in peduncles. On 30 days after pollination, the pod was developed with the length about 3.8cm and the width about 8mm and the seeds were 7.3per pod. According to pollination treatment, wrapping sotted no seeds and the artificial pollination sotted seeds . about 5% in late of jul. to late of Aug. but increased about 13% of seed set after early of Sep. in A. membranaceus.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2014

The objective of this study was to analyze the microbiological hazards of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge on the post-harvest processing. Samples from processing equipments (cleaner, water, cart, table, tray and packaging machine), personal hygiene (hand) and harvested crops (before washing, after washing, after sorting, and after drying) were collected from four farms (A, B, C, and D) located in Chungchengbuk-do, Korea. The samples were analyzed for sanitary indication bacteria and pathogenic bacteria. First, total aerobic bacteria and coliform in processing facilities were detected at the levels of 0.93~4.86 and 0.33~2.28 log CFU/$100cm^2$ and/mL respectively. In particular, microbial contamination in hand (5.43~6.11 and 2.52~4.12 log CFU/Hand) showed higher than processing equipments. Among the pathogenic bacteria, Bacillus cereus was detected at the levels of 0.33~2.41 log CFU/$100cm^2$, 1.48~3.27 log CFU/Hand and 0.67~3.65 log CFU/g in equipments, hands, and plants and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in cleaner, table, hand and harvested crops (before washing and after sorting) by qualitative test. Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella spp. were not detected. These results indicated that personal hygiene and processing equipments should be managed to reduce the microbial contamination of A. membranaceus Bunge. Therefore, management system such as good agricultural practices (GAP) criteria is needed for hygienic agricultural products.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.658-662
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• 2013

Rubus coreanus and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge have been used as a traditional medicine with various pharmacological properties for a long time in Asia. We investigated the proliferative and differentiative effects on osteoblastic cells, MG-63 in various mixture ratios of immature fructus extracts of R. coreanus and root extracts of A. membranaceus. With preliminary in vivo ovariectomized mice, we confirmed the effects of the supplementation of various mixture on alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in serum. The ratio of 7:3 is considered as the most effective ratio for the proliferation of osteoblastic cells as they increased by 56.8% similar to estradiol. ALP activity in osteoblast increased by the combination of R. coreanus and A. membranaceus and peaked in the ratio of 72:28 and 68:32 respectively. These results indicate that the optimal combination of R. coreanus and A. membranaceus in 7:3 has the most beneficial effects on the activation of osteoblast cells, and give further possibilities that it can be used clinically in the treatment of osteoporosis.