• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.796-804
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• 2015

The present study investigated the plant growth characteristics, dormancy breaking, yield, and biological activity properties (contents of flavonoid and phenolic compounds, nitrite scavenging activity, and the survival rate of lung cancer) of four asparagus cultivars. It aimed to examine selection possibilities for high efficacy cultivar to promote biological activity in asparagus cultivation in South Korea. The results showed that the number of asparagus buds and root fresh and dry weight of 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'NJ953' were higher than those of 'UC157' cultivar, and there were no differences in the number of roots. The dormancy breaking period of 'Jersey Supreme' was prolonged compared to the other cultivars. 'Jersey Giant' and 'NJ953' had more total spears, and greater spear diameter, and yield than other cultivars. Total flavonoid content was unaffected by cultivar and was higher in ethanol extraction than in hot water extraction. Total phenolic compound content was the lowest in 'NJ953' for both hot water and ethanol extracts, whereas in the ethanol extraction, 'UC157' had the highest, with $39.23mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$. 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'NJ953' all showed greater than 70% nitrite scavenging activity. In the case of ethanol extraction, the survival rates of lung cancer in extracts from 'Jersey Giant', 'Jersey Supreme', and 'UC157' were lower than 'NJ 953' cultivar, regardless of extraction concentration. The survival rate of lung cancer was lower in hot water extraction than in ethanol extraction, so that the consumption of asparagus is also expected to be helpful in preventing lung cancer. The growth characteristics and biological activity effects of edible asparagus that were identified in the present study are expected to be useful in selection of high efficacy cultivars for biological activity and utilization.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.344-347
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• 2007

Optimal date to cover plastic film tunnel for hastening the harvest and increasing the yield in asparagus was studied using 2-year-old 'Green tower' cultivar in Jeju. Plastic film tunnel was covered on January 10 and 21, and February 10 and 25 in 2004. The asparagus spear sprouted on March 3 in the control. They emerged earlier by about 2 to 3 weeks in the plots covered on January 10 and 25 than the control. First harvesting was hastened by 3 weeks in the plots covered on February 10 and two weeks in the plots covered on January 25 and February 10 compared to the control. Yield per plant was the highest in plastic film tunnel covered on January 10 and 25. Early harvesting in february in plastic film tunnel covered on January 10 and 25 were 325 and 333 kg/10a respectively with no significant difference between two treatments whereas yield was low significantly in plastic film tunnel covered on February 10 and 25.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.81-86
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• 2013

This experiment was carried out to select white asparagus varieties suitable for shading culture in greenhouse. Eight white and one green varieties were tested. Seeds were sown in 72-cell trays in a glasshouse on 24 Dec. 2008 and the seedlings were transplanted in a P.E house on 22 May 2009. Planting distances were 30 cm apart in a raw and 125 cm between the raws. For white asparagus production, small tunnel ($210cm{\times}160cm$) was established inside the P.E house, and covered with black and white P.E film (0.1 mm) on 5 March 2010. Days to sprouting took 5 days in 'Ravel' variety and took 16 to 18 days in 'Backlim', 'Horlim', 'Herkolim' varieties. The number of spear was highest in 'Ravel' with 6 and lowest in 'Backlim' with 3.7. The spear weight was heaviest in 'Herkolim' with 25.6 g and lightest in 'Ravel' with 15.6 g. The highest total yield was in 'Herkolim' with 296 kg/10a, followed by 'Super welcome' with 275 kg/10a and lowest in 'Rapsody' with 176 kg/10a. Marketable yields in 'Super welcome' and 'Herkolim' were 241 kg/10a and 239 kg/10a, respectively, and the yield was lowest in 'Rapsody' with 139 kg/10a. The L grade (over 20 g of spear weight) was highest in 'Herkolim'. Accordingly, 'Herkolim' was the most suitable white asparagus variety among the tested varieties for shading cultivation in greenhouse.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.136-140
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• 2000

Two steroidal saponins were isolated from MeOH extract of the rhizomes of Asparagus oligoclonos. Using the spectroscopic techniques of $^1H,\;^{13}C$ NMR and 2D NMR, they were identified as $3-O-[{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl]-(25S)-spirostan-3{\beta}-ol$ and $3-O-{{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}2)-[{\beta}-D-xylopyranosyl-(1{\rightarrow}4)]-{\beta}-D-glucopyranosyl}-(25S)-spirostan-3{\beta}-ol$, respectively. They were first isolated from A. oligoclonos. The in vitro antibacterial activities as well as antibacterial spectrums against 20 bacteria strains were investigated with MIC test. Both saponins inhibited the growth of 10 bacteria strains at the concentration of$100\;{\mu}g/ml$.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.187-196
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• 2001

Asparagus varieties popular in the foreign countries were collected and tested on their productivities and qualities for five years under rain shelter and open field conditions. Among the tested varieties, cultivars of UC309 and Excel showed superior productivity to the others in spear weight but the initial growth was not different among the tested varieties. However, the growth index was higher than the other varieties. According to the result from eight-year experiment, the best variety in productivity and quality were UC309 and Excel both for rain shelter and open field cultivations. To avoid the damage caused by stem blight, rain shelter and soil surface mulching treatments were tested with var. Excel. The spear sprouting and first harvesting date were a few days earlier in rain shelter cultivation than in open field, but there were no differences among the mulching materials. The number of spears and the spear weight per plant were increased in rain shelter cultivation, especially with rice straw and black P.E. mulching treatments. Marketable yield also increased by 253% in black P.E film mulching in rain shelter cultivation compared to non-mulching in open field. The stem blight examined in the autumn, 1997 was not observed under rain shelter treatment, but severe damage was observed in the open field regardless of the mulching materials. In the experiments, high asparagus yield could be achieved by black P.E. film mulching in rain shelter cultivation without the occurrence of stem blight.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.367-372
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• 2015

This study was aimed at determining the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of solvent extracts from Asparagus cochinchinensis. The Asparagus cochinchinensis was extracted with water, methanol, ethanol, n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and ether. The antimicrobial activity of these extracts was determined by modified well diffusion methods against 4 species of respiratory disease bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). In addition, the amount of total polyphenol and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity was evaluated. Ethyl acetate extract of A. cochinchinensis exhibited higher antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms than water, methanol, ethanol, n-hexane, dichloromethane, and ether extracts. For antioxidant activity, the ethyl acetate extract of A. cochinchinensis exhibited a notable effect on the scavenging of superoxide against DPPH ($IC_{50}=3.81mg/ml$). Finally, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were $14{\pm}0.7mg/g$, and $0.50{\pm}0.13mg/g$, respectively. These results can be regarded as basic research into A. cochinchinensis for the prevention of respiratory diseases. The results indicate that A. cochinchinensis may be utilized as a nutraceutical for respiratory diseases when the physiologically active substances of A. cochinchinensis are increased by further study.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.141-151
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• 2012

This study was conducted to investigate the antioxidation and biological activities of 5 kinds of specialized crops (asparagus, aloe, curcumin, backnyuncho and garlic) cultivated in Namhae. All crops were freeze dried and then extracted with 10 folds of $60^{\circ}C$ hot-water, for 8 hours. Collected twice extracted water extract were also freeze dried. Dried extract samples were diluted with deionized water for examination. The total phenolics content was the highest observed in asparagus extract to $23.79{\pm}0.33mg/g$ and total flavonoids of aloe extract was the highest content $17.10{\pm}0.05mg/g$. In all samples, DPPH, ABTs and NO radical scavenging activity were depends on the concentration of the extract tended to increase. ABTs radical scavenging activity was the highest conducted $96.10{\pm}0.06%$ effect examined at $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ in asparagus hot-water extract. NO radical scavenging activity of hot-water extract from curcumin was the highest $250{\mu}g/mL$ concentration observed in $45.04{\pm}1.39%$. In all sample, tyrosinase activity was significantly inhibited with increasing of hot-water extract concentration. As a result, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity was the highest in hot-water extract from backnyuncho on $31.38{\pm}0.94%$ at $250{\mu}g/mL$.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 2008

We referred to twenty-two Korean medicinal literatures for application of a single-medicine prescription using Asparagi Tuber(Asparagus cochinchinensis) to form the groundwork for scientific modernization of Korean medicine. Our study revealed the following. 1. Principle expectant effects of Asparagi Tuber were prolong life; elevation of stamina or activity; improvement of asthenia; remedy of epilepsy, mental disease or convulsions; relief of xerosis; treatment of tumor, abscess or intumescence; extermination of endoparasite; solution of numbness, etc. 2. The records show that 95% of directions are per oral. 3. 38% of the cases, Asparagi Tuber was used without its jacket or core. 4. Alcohol and honey were generally used as solvent and additive. We suggest to perform the further studies for the scientific verification of the expectant effects of Asparagi Tuber and its different efficacy by processing, solvent and additives.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.20 no.2 s.47
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• pp.83-86
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• 1981

Experiments were carried out to study on control of stem blight of asparagas caused by Shoma asparagi Sacc. in Suweon, $1976\~1978$. Symptoms of the disease were found in the field from late of May and severe infection was shown thereafter. Plastic film mulching with foliage spray of Topsin 154g a.i. and Difolatan 220g a.i. per 10a at 10days interval during the growing season, gave significantly good control and high yield compared with other treatments. In addition to reduction of the disease, the treatment with mulching has maintained good soil moisture for asparagus growth when the soil moisture was measured at about loom under the soil surface from July to August.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.1937-1941
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• 2014

Aims: To evaluate anti-cancer activity of Asparagus racemosus (AR) leaf extract on UOK146, a renal cell carcinoma cell line, and explore its mechanism of action. Materials and Methods: Dried AR leaves were extracted with chloroform and dissolved in DMSO. This extract was applied to UOK146 and cell death was estimated by MTT assay. In addition PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcripts were detected by real time PCR. Results: Extract was found to be cytotoxic with an $IC_{50}$ of 0.9 mg/ml as estimated by dose response curve. Antitumor activity of the permissible doses of the extract was assessed by the down regulation of PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript (38%) responsible for oncogenicity of the UOK146 cell line. No increment in the BAX, a proapoptotic marker level was observed. Conclusions: Evidence of antiproliferative effect, PRCC-TFE3 fusion transcript inhibition and static BAX level clearly indicate that AR extract provides or elicits an apoptosis independent anticancer effect on RCC cells by some specific mechanism of regulation.