• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2003

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji, is used as a traditional oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum (AEPG) on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Upon treatment with AEPG, a concentration-dependent inhibition of cell growth was observed and cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that AEPG increased populations of apoptotic-sub Gl phase. Immunoblot and quantitative RT-PCR analyses indicated that the expressions of Bcl-2 was down-regulated but Bax was up-regulated in AEPG-treated A549 cells. The expression of active form of caspase-3 by AEPG treatment was markedly increased, and the levels of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and $\beta$-catenin, its target proteins, were decreased in a concentration dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against human lung cancer.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.172-176
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• 1999

The saponins are considered the main effective components in Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.. In order to obtain the basic information for producing the high quality medicinal plant and processing, the crude saponin contents were analyzed with platycodi radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum by different cultivating years, parts, harvesting times and drying methods. The crude saponin contents were decreased by increasing cultivating years. The crude saponin contents were 2.74% in tail of root and 1.65 % in head of root, respectively. Besides, the contents of the crude saponin in cortex were 1.8 times more than that in core of root. The crude saponin contents in different harvesting times were 2.82% and 2.74% at March 10 and December 10, showing higher than that being harvested at June 10 and September 10. The crude saponin contents among drying methods were not significantly different at 5% level DMRT, but the hot air drying after steam showed the least crude saponin.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2016

Background : Plant breeding requires the collection of genetically diverse genetic resources. Studies on the characteristics of Platycodon grandiflorum resources have not been carried out so far. The present study was carried out to discriminate P. grandiflorum based on morphological characteristics and genetic diversity using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Methods and Results :We collected 11 P. grandiflorum cultivars: Maries II, Hakone double white, Hakone double blue, Fuji white, Fuji pink, Fuji blue, Astra white, Astra pink, Astra blue, Astra semi-double blue and Jangbaek. Analyses of the morphological characteristics of the collection were conducted for aerial parts (flower, stem and leaf) and underground parts (root). Next, the genetic diversity of all P. grandiflorum resources was analyzed using SSR markers employing the DNA fragment analysis method. We determined that the 11 P. grandiflorum cultivars analyzed could be classified by plant length, leaf number and root characteristic. Based on the genetic diversity analysis, these cultivars were classified into four distinct groups. Conclusions : These findings could be used for further research on cultivar development using molecular breeding techniques and for conservation of the genetic diversity of P. grandiflorum. Moreover, the markers could be used for genetic mapping of the plant and marker-assisted selection for crop breeding.

• Plant Resources
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.188-194
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• 2003

Present studies were carried out to produce tetraploid plants by colchicine treatment using seeds, seedlings and shoot tips of Platycodon grandiflorum in Campanulaceae. The most successful colchicine treatment for tetraploid production in P. grandiflorum was soaking treatment using 0.01 and 0.5% colchicine solution for 1 hour and 12 hours, respectively. Morphological characteristics of both diploid and tetraploid were similar, but tetraploid plants had more leaves. Compared to diploid, tetraploid had the larger stomata, but less number of stomata. Fresh weight of tetraploids was 20∼40% heavier than that of diploid.

• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.478-484
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• 2018

In this study, proximate composition, crude fiber, reducing sugar, free sugars, organic acids, minerals and amino acids of Platycodon grandiflorum seeds were analyzed to evaluate its nutritional value. Moisture, crude protein, crude fat, crude ash and carbohydrate contents of seeds were 6.97, 26.05, 27.46, 3.78 and 35.74%, respectively. Crude fiber of 6.31% and reducing sugars of 1.54% were also determined. Sucrose(1,661 mg/100 g) and lactic acid(1,224 mg/100 g) were most abundant free sugar and organic acid, respectively. Both phosphorus and potassium were main minerals that contained more than 700 mg in 100 g seeds. Amino acids analysis of 100 g seeds showed that glutamic acid(3.45 g), arginine(2.51 g), aspartic acid(1.66 g), leucine(1.29 g), lysine(1.10 g), alanine(1.05 g) and glycine(1.04 g) were abundantly contained in order, while others were less than 1 g.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1530-1537
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• 2006

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), commonly known as Doraji in Korea (Chinese name, 'Jiegeng', and Japanese name, 'Kikyo') has been used as an expectorant in traditional Oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P. grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. In Korea, Platycodi Radix is also used as a food and employed as a folk remedy for adult diseases, such as bronchitis, asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases, and as a sedative. Several studies on its chemical and immunopharmacological effects including immunostimulation and antitumor activity have been performed. However, the relevant molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC (Campanulaceae), commonly known as Doraji in Korea (Chinese name, 'Jiegeng', and Japanese name, 'Kikyo') has been used as an expectorant in traditional Oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P. grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health bensfits. In Korea, Platycodi Radix is also used as a food and employed as a folk remedy for adult diseases, such as bronchitis, asthma and pulmonary tuberculosis, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and inflammatory diseases, and as a sedative. Several studies on its chemical and immunopharmacological effects including immunostimulation and antitumor activity have been performed. However, the relevant molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum AEPG) on the cell growth of human lung adenocarcinoma NCI-H460 cells in order to understand its anti-proliferative mechanism. AEPG treatment down-regulated the cyclin D1 expression in both transcriptional and translational levels without alteration of cyclin E. In AEPG-treated cells, the levels of cyclin-dependent kinase (C아) 6 mRNA and protein were significantly inhibited, but the levels of Cdk2 and Cdk4 were slightly inhibited by treatment of AEPG. AEPG treatment induced a marked accumulation of Cdk inhibitors, p16 and p27. However, AEPG treatment did not affect not only retinoblastoma protein (pRB) but also tumor suppressor p53 protein expression. The present results indicated that AEPG-induced inhibition of lung cancer cell proliferation is associated with the blockage of G1 phase progression through induction of Cdk inhibitors such as p16 and p27, and inhibition of cyclin D1 and Cdk6. AEPG exposure, as offered by this study, provides cluse for the mechanism of AEPG action. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention and treatiment against human lung cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2002

The object of this study was to investigate the effect of membrane fluidity of bellflower(Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC, ; PG) fractions in phosphatidylcholine(PC) liposomes, measured with high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry(DSC). We used dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine(DPPC) bilayers which slake most stable liposomes among the other phosphatidylcholine. The sample PG was extracted and fractionated to five different types : butanol(PGMB), ethylacetate(PGMEA), ethylether(PGMEE), hexane (PGMH) and methanol(PGMM). Among five different solvent fractions, the PGMEE, PGMEA, PGMH and PGMM fractions markedly affected the thermotropic properties of DPPC liposomes, broadened and shifted the thermograms, and reduced the cooperative unit. It might be said that the incorporation of PGMEE, PGMEA and PGMH in DPPC liposomes were located in the hydrophobic core of DPPC bilayers and, PGMM and PGMB in the hydrophilic core of DPPC bilayers. These results suggest that certain substances in the PGMEE, PGMEA and PGMH fractions might have biologically significant effect on the membrane fluidity.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.288.1-288.1
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• 2002

Herbal medicines are increasingly being utilized to treat a wide variety of disease processes. 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 added prior or simultaneously with I-BHP reduced enganced lipid peroxidation measured as production of malondialdehyde and enhnaced intracellular reduced glutathinoe depletion by t-BHP. Furhtermore. CK protected from the t-BHP-induced intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species assessde by montioting dichlorodihydrofluorescein fluorescence. it can be concluded that CK exerts an antioxidant action insice the cell. responsible for the abserved modulation of the cellular response to oxidative challenge. and CK have a marked anitioxdative and hepatoprotective potency.