• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.9
• /
• pp.977-985
• /
• 2019

Aster yomena (Kitam.) Honda is an edible vegetable and perennial herb belonging to the Asteraceae family, and has been used for a long time for the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Although leaf extracts of A. yomena are known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, accurate efficacy assessments are still inadequate. In this study, we investigated whether the antioxidant efficacy of ethanol extract of A. yomena leaf (EEAY) is correlated with the anti-inflammatory effect in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The results showed that EEAY significantly inhibited the hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced growth inhibition in RAW 264.7 cells, which was associated with increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). EEAY pretreatment also effectively prevented $H_2O_2$-induced reactive oxygen species generation and apoptosis through inhibition of caspase-3 activation and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase degradation. Additionally, EEAY significantly increased the expression and production of interleukin-10, a representative anti-inflammatory cytokine, which was associated with increased expression of toll-like receptor 4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88 at transcriptional and translational levels. Furthermore, the increased production of nitric oxide (NO) by lipopolysaccharide was markedly abolished under the condition of EEAY pretreatment, and the inhibitory effect of NO production by EEAY was further increased by hemin, an HO-1 inducer. Overall, our results suggest that EEAY is able to activate the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway to protect RAW 264.7 macrophages from oxidative and inflammatory stress.

• Plant Breeding and Biotechnology
• /
• v.5 no.4
• /
• pp.334-343
• /
• 2017

Eclipta prostrata and E. alba are annual herbal medicinal plants and have been used as Chinese medicinal tonics. Both species are widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions as well as in Korea. Both species have similar morphological features but E. alba has smoother leaf blade margins compared with E. prostrata. Although both species are utilized as oriental medicines, E. prostrata is more widely used than E. alba. Morphological semblances have confounded identification of either species. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genomes of both species to provide an authentication system between the two species and understand their diversity. Both chloroplast genomes were 151,733-151,757 bp long and composed of a large single copy (83,285-83,300 bp), a small single copy (18,283-18,346 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (25,075-25,063 bp). Gene annotation revealed 80 protein coding genes, 30 tRNA genes and four rRNA genes. A phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genus Eclipta is grouped with Heliantheae tribe species in the Asteraceae family. A comparative analysis verified 29 InDels and 58 SNPs between chloroplast genomes of E. prostrata and E. alba. The low chloroplast genome sequence diversity indicates that both species are really close to each other and are not completely diverged yet. We developed six DNA markers that distinguish E. prostrata and E. alba based on the polymorphisms of chloroplast genomes between E. prostrata and E. alba. The chloroplast genome sequences and the molecular markers generated in this study will be useful for further research of Eclipta species and accurate classification of medicinal herbs.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.245-257
• /
• 2021

Ulleungdo, a volcanic island, has different climate, soil, and topography characteristics from inland of the Korean Peninsula. Its agriculture also exhibits distinctive features. This study focused on floristic compositions and characteristics of crop lands in Ulleungdo. Flora surveys were conducted for 37 areas three times, one in May of 2016, one in July of 2020, and one in August of 2020. Results showed that vascular plants of crop lands in Ulleungdo included 186 taxa of 53 families, 132 genera, 160 species, 14 varieties, five subspecies, and five hybrids. Asteraceae had the most diverse species (33 taxa), followed by Poaceae (25 taxa), Fabaceae (12 taxa), Polygonaceae (11 taxa), and Liliaceae (nine taxa). The biological type of crop lands in Ulleungdo island was determined to be Th-R₅-D₄-e type. Rare plants were found for nine taxa: Athyrium acutipinnulum Kodama ex Nakai, Sedum takasimense Nakai, Rubus takesimensis Nakai, Dystaenia takesimana (Nakai) Kitag., Ligustrum foliosum Nakai, Aster pseudoglehni Y.Lim, Cirsium nipponicum (Maxim.) Makino, Lilium hansonii Leichtlin ex D.D.T.Moore, and Polygonatum robustum (Korsh.) Nakai. In addition, 45 taxa contained naturalized plants of 13 families, 33 genera, 44 species, and one variety. Urbanization and naturalization indices were 13.9%, and 24.2%, respectively.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Crop Science Conference
• /
• 2022.10a
• /
• pp.114-114
• /
• 2022

There are 28 families and 166 species of exotic weeds on agricultural land and among these, 23 families and 80 species of exotic weeds occur on pastures. Among them, the Solidago altissima is a perennial weed belonging to the asteraceae family and it is an exotic weed that spreads to the surrounding area using methods such as high seed production, vegetative propagation using underground rhizomes and allelochemical. Accordingly, in 2009, the Ministry of Environment designated it as an ecosystem-disrupting species. This study was conducted to obtain basic data about the effects of S.altissima derived allelochemicals on forage crops. The root of S.altissima was separated, dried in the shade and then pulverized to prepare an root powder. Powder was repeatedly extracted with methanol for 3 days and concentrated under reduced pressure to obtain an root methanol extract. Dissolve the extract in distilled water, dispense it in a separate-funnel and proceed with liquid-liquid extraction by adding equal amounts of n-haxane (Hex), chloroform (CHCI₃), ethyl acetate (EtoAC), and butanol (BuOH) in order of increasing polarity. A seed-bioassay was performed using fractions for each solvent, followed by separation and purification by silica gel column chromatography. As a result of the fraction germination test for each solvent, the IC₅₀ values using the fresh weight of each fraction were 898.3 mg L^-1, 676.3 mg L^-1, 1160 mg L^-1 and 1360 mg L^-1. CA, CB, and CC fractions were obtained through primary silica gel column chromatography that used CHCI₃ fraction. As a result of seed-bioassay using each fraction, the IC₅₀ values for the fresh weight of each fraction was 537.3 mg L^-1, 1280 mg L^-1 and 1947 mg L^-1. Based on this, 5 fractions were obtained as a result of secondary silica gel column chromatography using the CA fraction. A seed-bioassay was performed, as a result, the lowest IC₅₀ value was calculated as 226.7 mg L^-1 in the CAE fraction. Based on this, the fraction was analyzed by GC-MS. The results of this study can be used as basic research data on the effects of weeds on forage crops and allelochemicals secreted from S. altissima.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.201-212
• /
• 2021

In wetland protection areas, a phytosociological research was conducted on willow forests, which plays an important ecological and environmental role and is the main material for ecological restoration. A total of 61 relevés were collected according to the Z-M(Zürich-Montpellier) school's method and the characteristics of plant communities and the composition of the species were identified. A total of 9 plant communities including 237 taxa were differentiated. Willow species showing the high r-NCD(relative net contribution degree) value in study areas were Salix koriyanagi, Salix chaenomeloides, Salix triandra subsp. nipponica, Salix gracilistyla and Salix pierotii. Poaceae was the most diverse in species, followed by Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Polygonaceae and Fabaceae. Life form type of willow forests in wetland protection areas was determined to be Th(therophytes)-R₅(non-clonal form)-D₄(clitochores)-e(erect form) type. The naturalized plants and invasive alien species were identified as 24 taxa and 4 taxa, respectively. Naturalized and disturbance indices were 10.1% and 41.4%, respectively. The results of the site-species ordination by Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling(NMDS), wetland types and altitude gradient were the main ecological factors determining the spatial distribution of plant communities. Diversity index and evenness index were high in mountainous palustrine wetlands with relatively high altitude, and the disturbance index, naturalized index and appearance rate of annual plant were high in riverine and lacustrine wetlands with low altitude.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.273-282
• /
• 2023

Hypochaeris radicata, native to Europe and Eurasia, is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family. In Korea, H. radicata was reported in 1992, mainly in Jeju Island, and gradually spreading to the inland. It overwinters in the form of a rosette and blooms yellow flowers from May to June. H. radicata propagates by seeds and rhizomes. The germination temperature of the seed is 15/20℃ (day/night), and the rhizome forms a new plant at a depth of 2-3cm in the soil. The roots of H. radicata secrete allelochemicals that inhibit the development of other plants. Some use it as a salad or forage substitute but to a limited extent. However, extensive research on ampicillin contained in H. radicata has been conducted, and its anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects have been recognized. There are only a few methods to manage H. radicata both culturally and physically. In orchards, soil treatments such as oxyfluorfen and diclobenil, or nonselective foliar treatments such as glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate are used. Notably, there are no known biological control agents.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.319-342
• /
• 2024

Background: The current study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Fateh Pur Thakyala, an unexplored area of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The exploration and quantification of ethnobotanical knowledge among people of the study area mainly focused during field survey. The study likely focuses on documenting and preserving the indigenous knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants in the region. A total 70 informants (45 males and 25 females) selected randomly to collect data were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The data like demographic characteristics of informants, methods of preparation, life form, modes of application, parts used, and ethnomedicinal uses was documented. The quantitative indices including relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), consensus value for plant part (CPP), rank order priority (ROP), percentage respondent knowledge (PRK), were applied to analyze the collected data. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with fifteen papers published from adjoining areas by Jaccard index (JI). Results: The current study reported 135 medicinally important plants species belonging to 115 genera and 54 families. The dominating family was Asteraceae (14 sp.), followed by Fabaceae (11 sp.), Rosaceae (11 sp.), Lamiaceae (8 sp.), Moraceae (5 sp.), Solanaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae (4 sp.) and Poaceae, Sapindaceae, Rhamnaceae, Mrytaceae, Malvaceae (3 sp.) for each. The study revealed that there were small differences in usage of medicinal plants of different families. The herbaceous life form was dominating the study area with (79 sp.) used as herbal medicines followed by shrubs (23 sp.) and trees (33 sp.). The comparative study of for novelty of species and their uses by JI revealed 13 novel plants species which were not reported earlier from this region. Conclusions: Local inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline. The overexploitation and seasonal fires are major threats for medicinal flora in the area.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.289-299
• /
• 2024

Chrysanthemum lucidum (C. lucidum), a perennial herb in the Asteraceae family, is an endemic species found only on Ulleung island in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea. Previous studies have reported that the extract of C. lucidum exhibits excellent antioxidant activity due to its high polyphenol and flavonoid content. However, the anti-aging effects of C. lucidum extract, such as wrinkle improvement and cell regeneration, are not well known, and there has been no research on the activity of C. lucidum-derived extracellular vesicles (ClDEVs). Therefore, this study aimed to verify the anti-aging effects of ClDEVs through in vitro and clinical analyses. In cell experiments, ClDEVs promoted cell regeneration, increased the expression of COL1A1, a gene involved in collagen synthesis, and enhanced the expression of FLG and LOR, a biomarker related to skin barrier improvement. Additionally, ClDEVs suppressed the expression of aging-related biomarkers, such as the CDKN2A (encodes p16) and TP53 (encodes p53) genes, in cells induced to age. In a human clinical trial, after using a cosmetic product containing ClDEVs for 4 weeks, significant improvement in wrinkles around the eyes and nasolabial folds was observed. In conclusion, ClDEVs have demonstrated high potential as a bio-cosmetic ingredient for wrinkle improvement and anti-aging.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.33-46
• /
• 2024

This study analyzes the planting status of alien plants in Gongsanseong, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides ecological information necessary to maintain and manage traditional landscapes and environments. Vascular flora was identified as 174 taxa (88.3%) of native plants, 21 taxa (10.7%) of alien plants, and 22 taxa (11.2%) of naturalized plants among the total 197 taxa. As for rare plants, endangered species (CR) Magnolia kobus DC. appeared, accounting for 0.5% of all plant species. Endemic plants were not identified. As for the invasive alien plants, 21 taxa were identified, such as the Rumex obtusifolius L and Sicyos angulatus L. As for the degree of spread, mild spread (MS) was identified as 7 taxa (35.0%), severe spread (SS) as 2 taxa (10.0%), and extensive spread (WS) as 10 taxa (50.0%). As for naturalized plants, 22 taxa were naturalized, followed by 8 taxa of Asteraceae and 4 taxa of Fabaceae. The urbanized index was 10.7% and the naturalized plants ratio was 6.5%. The management plan is to identify the location, size and growth information of each plant species in advance through continuous monitoring using experts. It is possible to establish an annual removal project plan based on basic information on alien species.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.53 no.5
• /
• pp.452-463
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Aster tataricus (AT) is one of the Asteraceae perennial herbs used in traditional Chinese medicine. The herb contains various bioactive substances, such as flavonoids, isoflavonoids, and phenolic compounds in the roots, and exhibits a range of effects including anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. This study compared the immunomodulatory effects of ethanol and water extracts of whole AT, except the roots, and analyzed the molecular mechanisms for the regulatory effects on cytokine secretion from THP-1 cells. Methods: The effects of AT extract on the cell viability and proliferation of THP-1 cells were analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 method. The concentrations of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in the cell culture supernatant of the AT-treated THP-1 cells were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The protein levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B (IκBα), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in the cell lysates were determined by western blotting. Results: The water extract and the ethanol extract of AT did not affect the cell viability, and increased the proliferation of THP-1 cells significantly compared to the vehicle. The water extract increased the secretion of IL-1β from THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, but the ethanol extract had no effect. The expression of COX-2 and iNOS protein and the phosphorylation of MAPK and Akt were induced in AT-treated cells. In addition, IκBα was degraded by AT in a concentration-dependent manner. IL-1β secretion by AT was reduced by extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitors, while TNF-α secretion was decreased by inhibitors of ERK, p38 MAPK, and JNK. Interestingly, the p38 MAPK inhibitor increased the production of IL-1β by AT further. Conclusion: The water extract of the above-ground parts of AT contains immunomodulatory bioactive substances that stimulate immune cells through the MAPK signaling pathway.