• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.986-992
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• 1996

This study was designed to observe the effects of the feeding Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extract on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipids in the serum and liver of alloxaninduced hyperglycemic rats(S.D. strain, ♂), alloxan monohydrate 15mg/kg B.W./day I.P. injection) for 3 weeks. Concentrations of blood glucose were significantly higher in the alloxan administration(I.P.) groups(groups 2, 3 and 4) than those in the control group(group 1, basal diet). Blood glucose concentrations were remarkably lower in the group 3(basa1+alloxan+6years Platycodon grandiflorum) and 4(basa1+alloxan+22years Platycodon grandiflorum) than those in the group 2(basal+alloxan), and particularly, lower in the group 4. Concentrations of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol in serum were significantly lower in the groups 3, 4 than those in the group 2, and remarkably, lower in the group 4 than those in the group 3. Concentrations of HDL-cholesterol in serum were tile highest in the group 1. Those in the groups 3 and 4 were higher than those in the group 2. Atherosclerotic index were lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. In the alloxan-induced diabetic groups(groups 2, 3, 4), the serum free cholesterol, cholesterol ester, triglyceride and phospholipid concentrations were significantly lower in the group 3, 4 than those in the group 2. Contents of total cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid in liver were remarkably lower in the all experimental groups than those in the group 2. The activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase In serum were the highest in the group 2, but the other groups were rather lower. From the above research, the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 or 22 years) extracts were effective on the improvement of the blood glucose, lipid compositions in serum and liver. And particularly, Platycodon grandiflorum(22 years) was more effective than those in the Platycodon grandiflorum(6 years).

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.382-387
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• 1998

Platycodon radix is a dried root of Platycodon grandiflorum (P. grandiflorum) A. DC, a perennial grown on the hills and fields in Korea and Japan, or cultivated in various districts. Recently, P. grandiflorum (Changkil) has been successfully cultivated for more than 20 years and generally has been employed as folk remedy for adult diseases such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension and diabetes. We investigated various biological activities of the extracts from Changkil. When treated in vitro with B16-F1 mouse melanoma cell lines, it showed 100% laminin-binding inhibitory activities at the concentration over 0.125mg/ml. In in vivo test it showed 61.5% reduction of the solid tumor weight transplanted in mice and exhibited anticancer activity of 128% ILS against Sarcoma-180 ascites. It also increased the ratio of positive cells of natural killer cells in lymphocytic composition against Sarcoma-18O ascites and solid tumor transplanted in ICR mice when tests were carried out by FACScan method.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.466-471
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• 2002

Oxidative stress is considered to be associated with many diseases, such as inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, aging and cancer. An important etiological mechanism of these diseases may be a causal relationship between the presence of oxidants and the generation of lipid hydroperoxides derived from enzymatic reactions or xenobiotic metabolism. The hydroperoxides can be decomposed to alkoxy- (ROㆍ) and peroxy- (ROOㆍ) free radicals that can oxidize other cell components, resulting in changes in enzyme activity or the generation of mediators, which can cause further cell damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of aqueous extract from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), Changkil (CK), to affect cellular response in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes to t-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity. CK-treated cells showed an increased resistance to oxidative challenge, as revealed by a higher percent of survival capacity in respect to control cells. CK reduced t-BHP-enhanced lipid peroxidation measured as production of malondialdehyde and enhanced intracellular reduced glutathione depletion by t-BHP. Furthermore, CK protected from the t-BHP-induced intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species assessed by monitoring dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence. It can be concluded that CK exerts an antioxidant action inside the cell, responsible for the observed modulation of the cellular response to oxidative challenge, and CK have a marked antioxidative and hepatoprotective potency.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.453-462
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platycodon grandiflorum (PG), an oriental herbal medicine, has been known to improve liver function, and has both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. However, little is known about the immune-enhancing effects of PG and its mechanism. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fermented PG extract (FPGE), which has increased platycodin D content, activates the immune response in a murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. MATERIALS/METHODS: Cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and the nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured using Griess reagent. Cytokine messenger RNA levels of were monitored by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying immunomodulatory actions of FPGE in RAW 264.7 cells, we have conducted luciferase reporter gene assay and western blotting. RESULTS: We found that FPGE treatment induced macrophage cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. FPGE also modulated the expression of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. The activation and phosphorylation levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were increased by FPGE treatment. Moreover, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, an activator of AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), significantly reduced both lipopolysaccharides- and FPGE-induced NF-κB reporter gene activity. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our findings suggest that FPGE may be a novel immune-enhancing agent acting via AMPK-NF-κB signaling pathway.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.59-68
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• 2014

The extracts and pure saponins from the roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) are reported to have a wide range of health benefits. Platycosides (saponins) from the roots of PG are characterized by a structure containing a triterpenoid aglycone and two sugar chains. Saponins are of commercial significance, and their applications are increasing with increasing evidence of their health benefits. The biological effects of saponins include cytotoxic effects against cancer cells, neuroprotective activity, antiviral activity, and cholesterol lowering effects. Saponins with commercial value range from crude plant extracts, which can be used for their foaming properties, to high purity saponins such as platycodin D, which can be used for its health applications (e.g., as a vaccine adjuvant). This review reveals that platycosides have many health benefits and have the potential to be used as a remedy against many of the major health hazards (e.g., cancer, obesity, alzheimer's) faced by populations around the world. Methods of platycoside purification and analysis are also covered in this review.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.391-398
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• 2022

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a typical inflammatory colon disorder. Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is known to exert various beneficial effects including anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial properties and improvements in liver function. However, the improving effect and mechanism of PG on intestinal inflammation are not fully understood. The present research was designed to investigate the effect of PG on the clinical signs of DSS-induced colitis in mice. The ameliorative effects of PG on inflammatory cytokine expression and the activation of hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF)-1α in DSS-treated colon tissue were also determined. Our results showed that mice treated with DSS displayed the main clinical symptoms of colitis, including weight loss, bloody stools, decrease in colon length and diarrhea and PG treatment significantly improved the clinical features induced by DSS in mice. PG inhibited the increase in the levels of inflammatory cytokines caused by DSS in colon tissues. We also showed that the anti-inflammatory mechanism of PG involved suppressing the activation of HIF-1α in DSS-treated colon tissues. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate the prospect of developing new drugs from PG for UC treatment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.762-769
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• 2022

Growth characters and ingredient contents of two-year-old bellflower (Platycodon grandiflorum) roots were investigated under both control and soil moisture treatment condition using soil moisture control system including soil sensing and automatic water supply chain in this study. Root diameter, fine root number, root length, fresh weight and dry weight of the plant were significantly influenced by the automatic water treatment, 20%, 30%, 40% and 50%, respectively. Ingredient contents of the two-year-old roots in bellflower plants were detected in the 20% and 50% of controlled soil moisture content. Contents of amino acids were decreased by the soil moisture treatment, meanwhile, contents of minerals were not showed significant decrease except for phosphorus content. Showing no difference in proline and tyrosine, fourteen of the amino acid contents were gradually decreased by the increased soil moisture contents, with significant decrease in serine, glycine, alanine, leucine, lysine and histidine at 20% treatment.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.769-772
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• 2014

This study was conducted to provide basic information on the effects of drying temperatures (45, 65, and $85^{\circ}C$) on saponins and free sugar contents of a 5-year-old Platycodon grandiflorum Radix. Platycodin D levels decreased with increase in drying temperature (956, 334, and 197 mg% at 45, 65, and $85^{\circ}C$, respectively). Polygalacin D levels were the highest at $45^{\circ}C$ (577 mg%), while platycodin $D_3$ and deapioplatycodin D were high at $65^{\circ}C$ (304 and 272 mg%, respectively). Sucrose levels were 3,825 mg% at $85^{\circ}C$ and 1,226 mg% at $45^{\circ}C$, and decreased when the drying temperature was decreased. The sucrose content showed significant negative correlation with saponin levels in dried P. grandiflorum ($-0.987^{**}$, p<0.01). These results suggested that drying P. grandiflorum at low temperatures is more economically viable.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.366-374
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• 2016

Background: In this study, we screened and identified an endophyte JG09 having strong biocatalytic activity for ginsenosides from Platycodon grandiflorum, converted ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside monomers, determined the source of minor ginsenosides and the transformation pathways, and calculated the maximum production of minor ginsenosides for the conversion of ginsenoside Rb1 to assess the transformation activity of endophyte JG09. Methods: The transformation of ginseng total saponins and ginsenoside monomers Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd, Rg1 into minor ginsenosides F2, C-K and Rh1 using endophyte JG09 isolated by an organizational separation method and Esculin-R2A agar assay, as well as the identification of transformed products via TLC and HPLC, were evaluated. Endophyte JG09 was identified through DNA sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results: A total of 32 ${\beta}$-glucosidase-producing endophytes were screened out among the isolated 69 endophytes from P. grandiflorum. An endophyte bacteria JG09 identified as Luteibacter sp. effectively converted protopanaxadiol-type ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2, Rc, Rd into minor ginsenosides F2 and C-K, and converted protopanaxatriol-type ginsenoside Rg1 into minor ginsenoside Rh1. The transformation pathways of major ginsenosides by endophyte JG09 were as follows: $Rb1{\rightarrow}Rd{\rightarrow}F2{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rb2{\rightarrow}C-O{\rightarrow}C-Y{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rc{\rightarrow}C-Mc1{\rightarrow}C-Mc{\rightarrow}C-K$; $Rg1{\rightarrow}Rh1$. The maximum production rate of ginsenosides F2 and C-K reached 94.53% and 66.34%, respectively. Conclusion: This is the first report about conversion of major ginsenosides into minor ginsenosides by fermentation with P. grandiflorum endophytes. The results of the study indicate endophyte JG09 would be a potential microbial source for obtaining minor ginsenosides.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.717-720
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• 2001

Chemical compositions and physiological activities of Platycodon grandiflorum roots grown for 4 and 24 years were investigated. Chemical compositions of P. grandiflorum roots grown for 24 years were moisture 82.7%, crude protein 1.6%, crude lipid 2.1% crude ash 0.7%. total sugar 6.0% total dietary fiber 2.3% crude saponin 3.4mg% and ascorbic acid 3.0 mg%. Contents of each components in 24 years old roots were higher than that in 4 years old roots and the most abundant mineral was potassium being 879.9mg/kg. Physiological activities of solvent extract from P. grandiflorum roots grown for 4 and 24 years were high in order of ethanol methanol and water extract. The electron-donating abilities and nitrite-scavenging effect of solvent extract of 24 years were high in order of ethanol methanol and water extract. The electron-donating abilities and nitrite-scavenging effect of solvent extract of 24 years old roots were higher than those of 4 years of old roots in the range of 10~40% respectively.