• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.547-555
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• 2008

Two naturalized plants of Lespedeza from Korea are reported. L. lichiyuniae T. Nemoto, H. Ohashi & T. Itoh is similar to L. cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don. and L. juncea (L. .f.) Pers. in morphology, but the species differs from them by pink or purple flowers and the under surface of leaflets and cleistogamous pods with densely hairs. L. davidii Franchet is distinguished by distinctly large leaflets from the other Korean Lespedeza and by plants covered with densely tomentose hairs from the Korean species of subgenus Macrolespedeza. In Korea two plants are found on the parks or roads prepared recently.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.705-711
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• 2017

Lespedeza cuneata (LC) is a herbaceous plant that grows throughout Korea. To investigate the physicochemical properties and the antioxidant activities of LC extracts and LC-soaked liquor (s. liquor), extraction with distilled water (DW) and ethanol was conducted and the extracts were compared with s. liquor. A total of 22 free amino acids from LC extract were detected, with the main ones being phosphoethanolamine 20.36>L-proline 18.02>ammonia 14.48>L-aspartic acid 12.96>${\gamma}$-amino-n-butyric acid 10.67%. The total flavonoid contents (TFC) and total phenolics contents (TPC) were in the order of s. liquor>DW>ethanol extract. The electron donating ability based on DPPH radical scavenging ability was highest for s.liquor, which equivalents 81.4% ascorbic acid in the order of s. liquor>ethanol>DW extract. The orders of ferric reducing antioxidant power and ABTS radical scavenging ability were proportional to the TFC and TPC of extracts, and in the order of s. liquor>ethanol>DW extract. The nitrite scavenging ability of s. liquor was highest among the three extracts (96.6% at pH 1.2), which was 2.6 times greater than that of DW extract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2023

In the present study, we prepared hot water extracts and the subsequent organic solvent fractions of methanol extracts of Houttuynia cordata (HC) and Lespedeza cuneata (LC), and investigated their anti-inflammatory effects on lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Among the treated samples, hexane, chloroform, and ethyl-acetate fractions of HC and LC inhibited nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner, and decreased inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) protein expression. And, we analyzed the flavonoid contents of the ethyl-acetate fraction of HC and LC, and chose apigenin for the further experiments because apigenin was one of flavonoids commonly found in HC and LC. Apigenin dramatically inhibited NO production in a dose-dependent manner without affecting cell viability and decreased iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. In addition, apigenin suppressed the phosphorylation of p38 and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) indicating that apigenin exerts anti-inflammatory activity via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Subsequently, we conducted RNA-sequencing analysis to detect differentially expressed genes upon apigenin treatment. Among the down-regulated genes, four cytokine genes (interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and colony stimulating factor 2 (CSF2)) were selected for the further analysis, and the reduction of their expression by apigenin was confirmed with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Overall, our results suggest that Houttuynia cordata and Lespedeza cuneata have the anti-inflammatory effects and apigenin can be the one of key molecules responsible for their anti-inflammatory activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.103-115
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• 2012

To investigate the attributes of seed germination of the plants for greening of river bank slope, low-temperature treatment, chemical treatment, plant hormones treatment, and stratification were conducted using the seeds of 6 herbs growing naturally around river banks, such as Setaria glauca and faberii, Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides, Lespedeza cuneata and the seeds of 3 shrubs, such as Lespedeza bicolor., Rosa multiflora, Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora. The findings are as follows. In case of herbs, Setaria glauca and faberii. have stone seeds. In the treatment with $H_2SO_4$, they were germinated through dormancy breaking, even though there were some differences depending on immersion time, and the germination rate of Setaria faberii was a bit higher than that of Setaria glauca. The germination rate of Imperata cylindrica var. koenigii was low in the treatment with $GA_3$, NAA, and the plant hormone, but the seed germination rate has improved and the germination rate of Miscanthus sinensis and Pennisetum alopecuroides showed the improved seed germination rate in low temperature treatment. In case of Lespedeza cuneata and bicolor, the leguminous plants, the treatment with $H_2SO_4$ was most effective for the improvement of seed germination and the decrease in germination time. Only Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora, the rose among 3 woody plants showed the seed germination rate above 50% without any additional treatment. Thus, it was thought to be appropriate for greening. Rosa multiflora showed the attribute of germination in a dark condition at low temperature through stratification, despite its low germination rate. Based on the results as above, with respect to the greening using directly collected seeds, Miscanthus sinensis, Pennisetum alopecuroides, and Spiraea prunifolia for. simpliciflora are suitable for greening, because they do not need any additional treatment, and Lespedeza cuneata and bicolor are also suitable for greening because it is possible to improve the germination rate and reduce the germination time through the treatment on the seeds before sowing.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2008

This study was carried out to select proper species for early stage replantation in cutting-slope area of the Baekdu Range roadside. In the cutting-slope area and upper forest area of the cutting-slope area, sample plots of 104 were selected and their vegetations and environmental factors were investigated. We found total 151 species in the 104 plots. The species of high frequency of Baekdu Range roadside were found in the order of Lespedeza bicolor, Festuca arundinacea, Eragrostis curvula, Pinus densiflora, Salix hulteni, Lespedeza cuneata, Erigeron annuus, Rubus crataegifolius, Spodiopogon sibiricus, etc. The dominancy of Festuca arundinacea, Eragrostis curvula, Lespedeza bicolor, Pinus densiflora, Salix hulteni, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Miscanthus sinensis, Lespedeza maximowiczii, Acer ginnala were 12.74%, 10.43%, 7.48%, 4.42%, 4.09%, 3.13%, 2.49%, 2.45%, 2.40% in the roadside cutting-slope, respectively. The importance value of Quercus mongolica, Lindera obtusiloba, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Lespedeza maximowiczii, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Lespedeza bicolor, Quercus serrata, Rhus trichocarpa were 17.32%, 13.82%, 11.60%, 11.31%, 8.76%, 8.04%, 7.65%, 7.10% in shrub layer of the upper forest area, respectively. The species of Carex lanceolata, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Carex siderosticta, Miscanthus sinensis, Artemisia sp., Potentilla fragarioides var. major, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum, Aster scaber, Lysimachia clethroides, Patrinia villosa, Lindera obtusiloba, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Rhus trichocarpa, Stephanandra incisa, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Lespedeza sp., Lespedeza cuneata, Amorpha fruticosa, Ligustrum obtusifolium, and Weigela subsessilis, may be more helpful in stabilizing of the cutting-slope area and making harmony with the surrounding forest area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.113-123
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• 1995

This study was conducted to find out appropriate rates of seed mixture of both native and foreign plants in order for stabilization of early afforestation and proper vegetation on road slope. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Characteristics of germination : After seeding, 2 weeks for both Lespedeza bicolor and Lespedeza cuneata, and 4 weeks for both Arundinella hirta and Zoysia japonica were needed for vigorous germination, and 1-4 wee17s for 3 cool-season grasses were spent for gradual germination. 2. Plant height : There was no difference between Lespedeza cuneata and Lespedeza bicolor in plant height by 7 treatments. As mixture rates of cool-season grasses were lowered, plant height of Arundinella hirta became longer. Descending order of co81-season grasses for plant height was Tall fescue, Perennial ryegrass and Creeping redfescue. 3. Number of tillers : The number of tillers tended to increase in the experimental plots where competition was low. 4 Ground cover rate : Ground cover rate was the highest in Mixture IV (96.7%) and was fluctuated from 13.3% on Sept. 13 to 45% on Nev. 3 in Mixture III. Descending order of gronud cover rates in 7 treaments was Mixture IV, Mixture III. Mixture II, Mixture Ⅶ, Mixture V, Mixture Ⅵ, Mixture I, and Mixtur III when measured on Oct. 13 5. Visual assessment: High preferences were observed on Mixture IV and Ⅶ In sun the best seed mixtures were Mixture IV and Ⅶ. It meant that (1) either mixture of 70% the native plants with 30% cool-season graaes or (2) mixture of 80% the native plants with 20% cool-season glasses was best for this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.45 no.6
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• pp.911-917
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• 2016

Lespedeza cuneata G. Don is an edible perennial herb used in traditional Korean medicine. We investigated the anti-proliferative properties and mechanism of L. cuneata extract. The ethanolic extract of L. cuneata dose-and time-dependently inhibited human colorectal cancer cell proliferation. A 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to test the effect of the extract on proliferation of HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. The extract inhibited HT-29 cell proliferation with an $IC_{50}$ value of $554.26{\pm}8.81{\mu}g/mL$. L. cuneata extract suppressed production of pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$. Apoptosis was evaluated by analysis of DNA fragmentation, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, caspase-3 activity, and protein expression of pro-apoptotic (Bax) and anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2). Our results demonstrated that the extract induced DNA fragmentation and characteristic morphological changes associated with apoptosis in HT-29 colorectal cancer cells. The extract also time- and dose-dependently up-regulated expression of the Bax and down-regulated expression of the Bcl-2. Furthermore, the extract dose- and time-dependently enhanced caspase-3 activity. Our findings provide evidence that L. cuneata extract may mediate its anti-proliferative effect via modulation of apoptosis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.11
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• pp.1540-1545
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• 2012

To investigate the inhibitory effects of Lespedeza cuneataextract (LC) on photo aging, skin aging was induced by UVB irradiation of hairless mice for 5 weeks. The skin erythema indices for the positive control (PC) and Lespedeza cuneata extract (LC-1%, 3%, and 5%) groups were lower than that of the control group. However, both lipid and water capacities of the PC and LC-3% groups were significantly higher than those of the control group. Skin wrinkles in the PC and LC-3% groups formed in a pattern of shallow furrows and thin crests. Skin TBARS contents and XO activity in the LC group were lower than those of the control group. The activities of GSH, SOD, and CAT in the LC-3% group were significant higher than those of the control group. Therefore, Lespedeza cuneata extract could be an effective natural herbal material for the inhibition of skin aging in hairless mice skin.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-diabetic effects of the water extract of Lespedeza cuneata (LCW) using rat insulinoma (RIN) m5F cells and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. The effect of LCW on the protection of pancreatic beta cells was assessed using MTT assay, and nitric oxide production was assessed using Griess reagent. STZ-induced diabetic rats were treated with 100 and 400 mg/kg body weight of LCW for 5 weeks. In results, LCW significantly protected cytokine-induced toxicity and NO production, and increased insulin secretion in RINm5F cells. LCW significantly decreased serum blood glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) levels, and renal fibronectin expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Also, LCW effectively improved BW loss in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Thus, our results suggest that LCW has a beneficial effect on cytokine-induced pancreatic beta cell damage and biomarkers of diabetic complication in hyperglycemic rats.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.245-248
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to evaluate tyrosinase inhibitory activity of plant extracts, especially Korean indigenous plants, for the cosmetic use of skin whitening. When 50 plant extracts were tested, the methanol extracts of Agrimonia pilosa, Aster scaber; Dianthus sinensis, Fatsia japonica, Hemistepta lyrata, Lespedeza cuneata, Osmunda japonicum, Pyrvla japvnica, Rodgersia phodophylla and Veratrum grandiforum possessed the considerable tyrosinase inhibitory activity at 3-300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. Especially, L. cuneata, aerial part of O. japonicum and V. gandiforum exhibited the strong inhibition (>50％ inhibition at 300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL). In particular, the methanol extract of V. grandiforum and its ethylacetate fraction showed potent inhibition ($IC_{50}$/=30 and 13$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, respectively), while the reference compound, kojic acid, showed $IC_{50}$/ value of 26$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL. These plant extracts may be used as tyrosinase inhibitors in cosmetics.