• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.360-367
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• 2023

The major active components of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) are isoflavones, which exist in the form of various glycosides. Nuruk is a traditional fermentation starter in Korea, and is suitable for the biotransformation of isoflavone glycosides because it contains various microorganisms and enzymes. This study was performed to determine changes in the isoflavones and antioxidant properties of AM fermented (AF) with nuruk over 24 hours. AF was sampled after 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 h of fermentation, and calycosin 7-glucoside, ononin, calycosin, and formononetin content, and the antioxidant properties of AF were analyzed. The total phenolic content increased with fermentation time, and the ABTS radical scavenging activity increased until 6 h of fermentation and then decreased. During fermentation, the isoflavone glycosides decreased significantly as fermentation time increased. The contents of calycosin and formononetin, which are aglycons of calycosin-7-glucoside and ononin, increased from 100.54 ㎍/g to 276.84 ㎍/g and from 56.29 ㎍/g to 123.04 ㎍/g, respectively, at 18 h of fermentation. Significant correlations were observed between fermentation time, isoflavone content, and antioxidant properties. The results of this study showed that fermentation with nuruk is suitable for the biotransformation of isoflavones in AM.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of plant spacing on the growth and root yield at different harvesting year in Astragalus membranceus. A local variety collected in Jung Sun. Kang Won was used on the 30 and 40cm row spacing, with different spacing between plant of 5, 10, 15, 20cm respectively. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied as 6, 8 and 9kg/10a respectively, with compost of 1,000kg/10a. Branches, root length, root diameter and root weight were increased in the sparse planting compared with the dense planting. But emergence date, flowering date, stem height and node number were not significantly changed with plant spacing. The highest root yield was 211.8kg/10a at the $30{\time}10cm(67\;plants/m^2)$ in 1 year old plants of Astragalus membranceus. In case of two years old plants, branches, node number, root length, root diameter and root weight were increased in the sparse planting compared to the dense planting. But harvesting ratio was decreased in the dense planting, The highest dried root yield was 292kg/10a at the $40{\time}10cm\;(25\;Plants/m^2)$. In case of 3 years old plants, aerial part and root growth pattern were similar to the 2 years old plants, The dried root yield was highest(623kg/10a) in the $40{\time}10cm(25plants/m^2)$.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 1996

This survey was conducted to investigate the chemical properties of soils cultivated medicinal plants. The soils were collected at 254 sites(Angelica gigas : 81, Astragalus membranceus : 38, Platycodn glandiflorum : 36, Paeonia albiflora : 34, Codonopsis lanoceolata : 32, Ligusticum chuanxiong : 17. Bupleurum falcatum : 16, respectively) throughout the country by 0-15cm depth. The chemical properties of soils were pH 5.6, O.M 3.0%. Av.$P_2O_5$ : 405 mg/kg, Ex.K : $0.67cmol^+/kg$, Ex.Ca : $6.3cmol^+/kg$, Ex.mg : $1.6cmol^+/kg$. The percentage distribution of pH on the basis of soil sample numbers were much more at the 5.1-6.0 range than any other ranges, especially those of below pH 6.0 were 83-91% for Angelica gigas, Platycodn glandiflorum and Codonopsis lanoceolata. The distribution of OM and Av.$P_2O_5$ in soils were much at the 2.1-4.0% and above 500mg/kg ranges, respectively. And the content of those in soils cultivated with Platycodn glandiflorum were lower than any other medicinal plants. The distribution of exchangeable cations in soils were much at the 0.2-0.8, 2.1-4.0 and $0.5-2.0cmol^+/kg$ of Ex.K. Ca and mg. respectively, and the contents were higher in soils cultivated Astragalus membranceus. and lower in soils cultivated Platycodn glandiflorum and Codonopsis lanoceolata than any other samples.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.286-292
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• 1997

We studied the screening condition for immune regulatory responsor. We focused on the T-lymphocytes leer this purpose. Mouse fetal thymic organ culture (FTOC) system and flow cytometric analysis were mainly used in this experiment. Even if FTOC is carried out in vivo condition, the pattern of thymic development in the condition of FTOC is similar to that of in vivo condition. In this regard, FTOC system might be very powerful tool to screen the immune regulator, especially concerning on T cells. To establish the optimum condition of FTOC to screen the Immune regulator, we focused on the optimum amount of dose and culture period. The cell number and surface antigens on T cells were also analysed by using hemacytometer and flow cytometer. To monitor the differentiation event, anti-CD3, anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 antibodies were used. Alkoxyglycerol and Phellodendri Cortex were used fur positive and negative control, respectively. Astragalus membranceus was used as test sample. From our analysis, we reached to conclusions that the best dose of extract is $50\;{\mu}g/ml$ of culture medium, the best culture period is for 9 days, and ethanol used as solvent has no toxicity to FTOC.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.158-164
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• 1996

This survey was conducted to investigate the distribution of heavy metal contents in medicinal plants and soils. Plant and soil samples were collected at 254 sites(Angelica gigas : 81, Astragalus membranceus : 38, Platycodn glandiflorum : 36, Paeonia albilora : 34, Codonopsis lanoceolata : 32, Ligusticum chuanxiong : 17, Bupleurum falcatum : 16, respectively) over the country, Soil texture, pH values and heavy metal content of soils and medicinal plants were evaluated as major factors. Soil texture classification showed that sandy loam, loam, loamy sand and silt loam were 46.1%, 26.0%, 19.3% and 8.6% of the total, respectively. The contents of O.M, Ex.Ca. Ex.Mg and EC value were higher in loamy(sandy loam, loam and silt loam)soils than in sandy(loamy sand)soils, but available $P_2O_5$ contents of loamy sand soils were higher than those of sandy loam, loam, and silt loam. The contents of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni in soil were high in loamy soils, while Cr content was high in loamy silt soils. The contents of Cu and Cr in Angelica gigas were high in loamy soils, and those of Pb in Astragalus membranceus, Paeonia albiflora and Codonopsis lanoceolata were high in sandy loam soils. Correlation coefficients between heavy metal contents in medicinal plants and their soils with soil texture were positively correlated in sandy loam and loam at Cu, loam at Zn, sandy loam, loam and loamy sand at Cr, respectively. Correlation coefficients between pH value of the soils and contents of Cd, Zn and Ni in medicinal plants were negatively correlated, but those of Cd, Pb, Zn and Ni in soils were positively correlated.