• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2014

The total production volume has been sharply increased from year 2008 in Gyeongnam province, South Korea by the policy of preservation and promotion of indigenous balloon flower germ lines. In an attempt to assist the Gyeongnam province's policy, in this study, we tried to establish a technique to differentiate the indigenous balloon flower germ lines with those collected within South Korea and China. Our preliminary results indicated that RAPD analyses with five different primers exhibited high frequency of polymorphic DNA bands up to 76.9% and phylogenetic tree indicated that some of the indigenous lines can be easily differentiated with others. However, it was suggested that more advanced techniques such as single nucleotide polymorphic markers need to be developed in particular, by using extra-chromosomal DNA.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2007

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity activity of extracts collected from wild plants in Jeju island. The inhibitory effect of plant extracts on the differentiation of preadipocyte 3T3-L1 was examined by oil red-O staining. We found that extracts collected from 6 plants among 31 plants, namely, Aralia elata(Miq.) Seem, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg, Artemisia asiatica, platycodon grandiflorum(Jacq.) A. Dc., Polygonum cuspidatum S. et Z., Magnolia obovata Thunb, significantly inhibited preadipocyte differentiation. Additionally, 4 plant extracts were also found to have antioxidant activities in DPPH radical scavenging assay. Taken together, these results show that 6 plant extracts suppress the differentiation of preadipocytes, suggesting the potential use of 6 plant extracts as anti-obesity agents.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.123-129
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• 2012

Objectives : Allergy has been described as an inflammatory with hypersensitivity resulting from seasonal or perennial responses to specific allergens. The root of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC.(Platycodi Radix; Campanulaceae) has been traditionally used to treat chronic diseases such as bronchitis, asthma, pulmonary tuberculosis, inflammation and hyperlipidemia. In this study, we examined the effect of 70% ethanol extract of Platycodi Radix (PR-E) on ovalbumin (OVA)-induced airway inflammation in mice. Methods : Mice were sensitized and challenged by OVA inhalation to induced chronic airway inflammation, and then were intragastrically administered PR-E extract at doses of 50 and 200 mg/kg/day from days 21 to 30 consecutively. The levels of allergic mediators such as histamine, OVA-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, and cytokines such as IL-4 and IFN-${\gamma}$ were measured in the sera of mice by ELISA. The histological change of lung tissue was observed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining. Results : PR-E extract significantly decreased the serum levels of histamine, OVA-specific IgE, and Th2 cytokine, IL-4 compared with those in the OVA-induced group. PE-E extract significantly increased the serum level of Th1 cytokine, IFN-${\gamma}$. Based on lung histopathological studies, inflammatory cell infiltration and mucus hypersecretion were inhibited by PE-E extract administration compared to that in the OVA-induced group. Conclusions : These findings indicate that PE-E extract may be useful as an adjuvant therapy for the treatment of bronchial asthma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.602-614
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• 2023

Purpose: The balance between synthesis and degradation of proteins plays a critical role in the maintenance of skeletal muscle mass. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been closely associated with skeletal muscle atrophy caused by aging, cancer, and chemotherapy. Polygalacin D is a saponin derivative isolated from Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. This study aimed to investigate the effects of polygalacin D on myoblast differentiation and muscle atrophy in association with mitochondrial function in in vitro and in zebrafish models in vivo. Methods: C2C12 myoblasts were cultured in differentiation media containing different concentrations of polygalacin D, followed by the immunostaining of the myotubes with myosin heavy chain (MHC). The mRNA expression of markers related to myogenesis, muscle atrophy, and mitochondrial function was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Wild type AB^* zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with or without polygalacin D, and immunostained to detect slow and fast types of muscle fibers. The Tg(Xla.Eef1a1:mitoEGFP) zebrafish expressing mitochondria-targeted green fluorescent protein was used to monitor mitochondrial morphology. Results: The exposure of C2C12 myotubes to 0.1 ng/mL of polygalacin D increased the formation of MHC-positive multinucleated myotubes (≥ 8 nuclei) compared with the control. Polygalacin D significantly increased the expression of MHC isoforms (Myh1, Myh2, Myh4, and Myh7) involved in myoblast differentiation while it decreased the expression of atrophic markers including muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF1), mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)2, and Smad3. In addition, polygalacin D promoted peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (Pgc1α) expression and reduced the level of mitochondrial fission regulators such as dynamin-1-like protein (Drp1) and mitochondrial fission 1 (Fis1). In a zebrafish model of FOLFIRI-induced muscle atrophy, polygalacin D improved not only mitochondrial dysfunction but also slow and fast muscle fiber atrophy. Conclusion: These results demonstrated that polygalacin D promotes myogenesis and alleviates chemotherapy-induced muscle atrophy by improving mitochondrial function. Thus, polygalacin D could be useful as nutrition support to prevent and ameliorate muscle wasting and weakness.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.296-304
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• 2022

To maximize the medicinal properties of bellflower root (Platycodi radix), its growth and development according to soil texture were investigated using four types of soil: masato (decomposed granite), soil mix, loamy sand, and sandy loam. Saponin content was measured. With regard to bellflower root growth depending on soil texture, its growth was better in the order of loamy sand > sandy loam > soil mix > masato in the above-ground part, and loamy sand > soil mix > sandy loam > masato in the underground part in the order. The average content of general ingredients were 77.3% water, 2.6% crude fat, 3.2% crude flour, 6.0% crude protein, and 10.9% carbohydrates. With respect to saponin analysis of bellflower roots, the saponin content regarding platycodin D, platycodin D3, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D were higher in the order of 282.4, 104.7, 29.1, 19.1 mg/100 g, respectively. The content of organic matter and phosphoric acid was high in soil mix and sandy loam, and platycodin D3 showed similar levels in all soil types. As a result, the soil mix is considered most suitable in terms of yield and component levels, however, it is the most expensive type. As a replacement, sandy loam was adequate in terms of fresh weight related to yield and highest saponin content.