• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 1995

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of temperature, light quality and gibberellic acid on the seed germination of Rhododendron weyrichii Max. Optimum temperature for germination was $20^{\circ}C$ at constant temperature, but the final germination rate at $15^{\circ}C$ was about the same with the rates were attained by alternating temperature under higher temperature such as $25^{\circ}C$ or $30^{\circ}C$. The germination rate was increased by yellow and red light treatments at $20^{\circ}C$, but green light treatment strongly inhibited seed germination at $25^{\circ}C$. Gibberellic acid substitutes light requirement for germination of R. weyrichii seeds.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.471-479
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• 2020

The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the Rhododendron weyrichii flower extract fermented using Shindari, a traditional Jeju barley Nuruk-based fermentation. In this study, we examined the antioxidant potential of R. weyrichii flower extracts (RF) and R. weyrichii flower extracts fermented with Nuruk or Shindari (RFFN or RFFS, respectively) using various in vitro antioxidant assays including DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, total phenol content and FRAP assays. We also evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of the RF and RFFS on murine RAW 264.7 cells. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated by treating the RAW 264.7 cells with various concentrations (6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 ㎍/ml) of RF or RFFS. As a result, we observed that the ABTS radical scavenging activity and total phenol content of RFFS was higher than that of RF and RFFN. Additionally, lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) production was significantly lower in RFFS-treated cells when compared to the LPS-treated control. In addition, RFFS-treated cells exhibited decreased expression of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) proteins and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting showed that both the quercetin and quercetin glucoside (quercitrin and isoquercitrin) levels were affected by the fermentation process. In conclusion, our data suggests that traditional fermentation could be an important strategy in improving the biological properties of raw materials including their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Finally, RFFS may be a candidate for developing topical antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.341-351
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• 2019

In this study, we investigated anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial constituents from Rhododendron weyrichii leaves. DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities were screened for the ethanol extract and solvent fractions. Potent scavenging activities were appeared from the extract, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (BuOH) fractions. Upon the anti-bacterial tests using Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes, extract, n-hexane (Hex) and EtOAc fractions showed strong activities. To isolate the active constituents, the EtOAc fraction was further purified to afford five phytochemicals; ursolic acid (1), corosolic acid (2), asiatic acid (3), astragalin (4) and isoquercetin (5). All of the compounds 1-5 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Among the isolates, the compound 4 and 5 showed strong DPPH and ABTS⁺ radical scavenging activities. Also, compound 3 exhibited the most potent anti-bacterial activity. In addition, the content of astragalin isolated from this plant was determined by UPLC and the quantity was about 8.1 mg/g for the 70% ethanol extract and 34.8 mg/g for the EtOAc fraction. Based on these results, it is concluded that R. weyrichii extract could be potentially applicable as anti-oxidative and anti-bacterial ingredients in cosmetic formulations.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.5
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• pp.663-672
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• 2010

The pollen morphology of eleven species and three forms of the genus Rhododendron (Ericaceae) in Korea was examined using light, scanning electron and transmission electron microscopy. The pollen grains are grouped in permanent tetrahedral tetrads; viscin threads are present on the tetrads. The hexacolporate tetrads are of tricolporate monads whereby the apertures form in pairs at six points in the tetrad. The exine sculpture pattern is rugulate, scabrate or verrucate on mesocolpium but psilate, rugulate or microscabrate around the aperture on apocolpium. The exine of Korean Rhododendron pollen consists of tectum, columella, foot layer and endexine. The surface of viscin threads is more or less smooth. The threads are sometimes tangled together and occasionally divided into strands. Six types are recognized based on the pollen morphology. The types are: (1) Micranthum-type (rugulate mesocolpium and psilate apcolpium), (2) Tomentosum-type (rugulate mesocolpium and apocolpium), (3) Aureum-type (scabrate mesocolpium and rugulate apocolpium), (4) Brachycarpum-type (scabrate mesocolpium and rod shaped-microscabrate apocolpium), (5) Schlippenbachiitype (scabrate mesocolpium and round-microscabrate apocolpium) and (6) Weyrichii-type (verrucate mesocolpium).