• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2021

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is a perennial plant belonging to the family Apiaceae. Its root has been utilized as a traditional medicine especially in Korea. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential use of extracts from AGN root parts as a cosmetic material. The dried AGN roots are divided into body (B), thick root (TkR), medium root(MR) and thin root (TnR) according to their diameter before cutting into medicine. B, TkR and MR of AGN are combined and used as medicinal herbs (MH). The extracts from AGN each root part (B, TkR, MR, TnR, MH) were used to test the effect on cell viability using MTS assay and to examine inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation in B16F10 melanoma cells. All extracts (50 - 200 ㎍/mL) from the each root part did not affect the cell viability. And inhibitory effect of all root extracts (200 ㎍/mL) on melanin accumulation was 12-19%. Especially, TnR showed similar inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation to MH. In addition, DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activity were higher in the TnR extract compared to MH. This study showed that the TnR extract exhibit high inhibitory effect on melanin accumulation and antioxidant activity compared to MH, suggesting that TnR extract has potential as a cosmetic ingredient.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.89-96
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• 2022

Objectives : This research was performed to analyze the components in the different parts of Lythrum salicaria L. and to compare which parts of L. salicaria L. are appropriate for food development. Methods : L. salicaria L. was extracted in 20% EtOH at 100 ℃ for 4 hours. Cytotoxicity was investigated in 3T3-L1 cells after treatment of 10-500 ㎍/ml L. salicaria L. for 24 hours. Total polyphenol content (TPC) was estimated using 1 N Folin-ciocateu reagent. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was estimated using DPPH reagent and gallic acid. The chemical composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). 1) Results : The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) in the extracts of the whole plant, aerial parts, and root parts was 350 ㎍/ml, over 500 ㎍/ml, and 150 ㎍/ml, respectively. The TPC in the extracts of the whole plant, aerial parts, and root parts was 527.1 mg/g, 422.6 mg/g, and 781.1 mg/g, respectively. The averages of vitexin contents in the aerial parts, and root parts were 256.7 ± 154.9 ㎍/g and 266.1 ± 63.2 ㎍/g, respectively. The averages of TPC in the leaves, roots, flower stalks and stems were 224.0 ± 53.7 tannin acid (TA) mg/g, 221.8 ± 70.2 TA mg/g, 249.8 ± 34.4 TA mg/g, and 67.7±8.9 TA mg/g, respectively. The averages of DPPH radical scavenging activity in the leaves, roots, flower stalks, and stems were 282.01 ± 43.3 gallic acid equivalent (GAE) 𝜇mole/g, 260.16 ± 44.1 GAE 𝜇mole/g, 288.0 ± 9.3 GAE 𝜇mole/g, and 97.6 ± 10.7 GAE 𝜇mole/g, respectively. Conclusions : There were no significant differences in the content of components or antioxidant activity in the aerial parts compared to those in the whole plant of L. salicaria L. Furthermore, the root parts had low extract yield, cytotoxicity, and quality control problems, therefore our results suggest that the use of the aerial part of L. salicaria L. would be the most appropriate for food development.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.41-50
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• 2024

Plant Microbial Fuel Cells (P-MFCs) are biomass-based energy technologies that generate electricity from plant and root microbial communities and are suitable for natural fundamental solutions considering sustainable environments. In order to develop P-MFC technology suitable for domestic waterfront space, it is necessary to analyze international research trends first. Therefore, in this study, 700 P-MFC-related research papers were investigated in Web of Science, and the core keywords were derived using VOSviewer, a word analysis program, and the research trends were analyzed. First, P-MFC-related research has been on the rise since 1998, especially since the mid to late 2010s. The number of papers submitted by each country was "China," "U.S." and "India." Since the 2010s, interest in P-MFCs has increased, and the number of publications in the Philippines, Ukraine, and Mexico, which have abundant waterfront space and wetland environments, is increasing. Secondly, from the perspective of research trends in different periods, 1998-2015 mainly carried out microbial fuel cell performance verification research in different environments. The 2016-2020 period focuses on the specific conditions of microbial fuel cell use, the structure of P-MFC and how it develops. From 2021 to 2023, specific research on constraints and efficiency improvement in the development of P-MFC was carried out. The P-MFC-related international research trends identified through this study can be used as useful data for developing technologies suitable for domestic waterfront space in the future. In addition to this study, further research is needed on research trends and levels in subsectors, and in order to develop and revitalize P-MFC technologies in Korea, research on field applicability should be expanded and policies and systems improved.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.146-151
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• 2008

The brown planthopper (BPH) is a major insect pest in rice, and damages these plants by sucking phloem-sap and transmitting viral diseases. Many BPH resistance genes have been identified in indica varieties and wild rice accessions, but none has yet been cloned. In the present study we report fine mapping of the region containing the Bph1 locus, which enabled us to perform marker-aided selection (MAS). We used 273 F8 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between Cheongcheongbyeo, an indica type variety harboring Bph1 from Mudgo, and Hwayeongbyeo, a BPH susceptible japonica variety. By random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis using 656 random 10-mer primers, three RAPD markers (OPH09, OPA10 and OPA15) linked to Bph1 were identified and converted to SCAR (sequence characterized amplified region) markers. These markers were found to be contained in two BAC clones derived from chromosome 12: OPH09 on OSJNBa0011B18, and both OPA10 and OPA15 on OSJNBa0040E10. By sequence analysis of ten additional BAC clones evenly distributed between OSJNBa0011B18 and OSJNBa0040E10, we developed 15 STS markers. Of these, pBPH4 and pBPH14 flanked Bph1 at distances of 0.2 cM and 0.8 cM, respectively. The STS markers pBPH9, pBPH19, pBPH20, and pBPH21 co-segregated with Bph1. These markers were shown to be very useful for marker-assisted selection (MAS) in breeding populations of 32 F6 RILs from a cross between Andabyeo and IR71190, and 32 F5 RILs from a cross between Andabyeo and Suwon452.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.1008-1013
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• 2011

Osteoporosis is the leading underlying cause of fractures, particularly in postmenopausal women, due to the loss of estrogen-mediated suppression of bone resorption. More than 50% of adults 50 years of age or older are estimated to have osteoporosis. Osteoclast which is main target for treatment of osteoporosis is originated from hematopoietic cell line. Aloe has been widely used in worldwide country as a coadjuvant medicine. Extracts of the leaves of Aloe have been used in condition to improve dermatologic problem such as seborrheic dermatitis, aphthous stomatitis, xerosis, lichen planus and has been known to exert anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor effects. However, despite the popularity of aloe as a plant food supplements, the evaluation of its efficacy as a possible therapeutic option for osteoporosis remains scarce. Thus, we evaluated the effect of Aloe on receptor activator of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Here we found that Aloe significantly inhibited osteoclast differentiation induced by RANKL. Aloe suppressed the activation of p38 pathway and $NF{\kappa}B$ in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with RANKL. Also, Aloe significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of c-Fos, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), osteoclast-associated receptor (OSCAR), nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT)c1 and cathepsin K in BMMs treated with RANKL. Particularly, Aloe greatly inhibited the protein expression of c-fos and NFATc1. Taken together, our results suggested that Aloe may be useful tool for treatment of osteoporosis by inhibition of osteoclast differentiation.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 2013

Brown patch caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IB occurred on Kentucky bluegrass during late May through early October 2010 at golf course in Gyeongbuk Province, Korea. Disease symptoms on the turfgrass for spring season were leaf blights dying from the leaf tip, which appeared patches of brown color in the field. However, it appeared patches of dark brown color or gray brown color in fall. The fungus (B-7 isolate) of brown patch was isolated from the diseased leaf tissue and cultured on potato-dextrose agar (PDA) for identification. The young hyphae had acute angular branching and few septa and mature hyphal branches showed about 90-degree angles and development of monilioid cells, which were morphologically identical to Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IB reported previously. DNA sequences of ribosomal RNA gene (internal transcribed spacer) of the fungus were homologous with similarity of 99% to those of Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IB isolates in GenBank database, confirming the identity of the causal agent of the disease. Pathogenicity of the fungus was also confirmed on the creeping bentgrass and Kentucky bluegrass by Koch's postulates. This is the first report of brown patch on Kentucky bluegrass caused by Rhizoctonia solani AG-1 IB in Korea.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.880-888
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• 2015

Foeniculum vulgare (FV) has long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In addition, it is usually known as an important medicinal and aromatic plant widely used as a carminative, digestive, lactogogue, and diuretic, and for treating respiratory and gastrointestinal disorders. The skin barrier protects against the invasion of pathogens, fends off chemical and physical assaults, and protects against extensive water loss. In this study, the effects of solvent-fractionated FV fruits on strengthening the skin barrier and maintaining moisture, as well as their antifungal activity, were investigated in human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells. The expression of involucrin, loricrin, filaggrin, hyaluronic acid synthase, human β defensin, and cathelicidin genes and proteins was measured by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting. The production of hyaluronic acid was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The butanol fraction increased the expression of involucrin and filaggrin. Both the ethyl acetate and the butanol fractions increased hyaluronic acid production by promoting the expression of hyaluronic acid synthase-1. Although the antimicrobial peptides were increased by FV crude extract and its fractions, the samples did not show a significant effect compared to the normal group. These results suggest that the butanol fraction of FV could be very useful in cosmetics for the treatment of dermatological diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.439-445
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• 2016

Soybean leaves, a Korean edible plant material, have been reported to prevent the development of osteoporosis and breast cancer. Based on this rational, soybean fallen leaves ethanolic extract (SBFL) was used for the experiment of cell invasion related to metastasis and antioxidant activity. The effect of SBFL on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in human fibrosarcoma cells, HT1080 as well as its anti-oxidant activity was investigated in this study. The effect of SBFL on scavenging activity of reactive oxygen species was evaluated in vitro using lipid peroxidation assay,DPPH radical and reducing power assay. SBFL showed the positive effects on antioxidant activity, compared with vitamin C and vitamin E used as positive controls. Furthermore, SBFL showed cytotoxicity above 16 µg/ml in MTT assay. In particular, it was found that SBFL decreased the activation of MMP-9 stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetae (PMA) and phenazine methosulfate (PMS). SBFL treatment increased the expression levels of p-FoxO-1 and SOD-1. Moreover, SBFL inhibited cell invasion stimulated by vascular endothelial growth Factor (VEGF). These results indicate that SBFL could inhibit cell invasion related to the activation of MMP-9 and oxidative stress, suggesting that it could be available as a main ingredient for prevention of metastasis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.892-899
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• 2018

Portulaca oleracea L. is an edible plant widely consumed in daily diet throughout Europe, Asia and America. In this study, protective effects of P. oleracea L. extracts against oxidative stress and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation were investigated using HaCaT immortal human keratinocytes. In this context, the mRNA and protein productions of MMPs (MMP-1, -2, and -9) and type I procollagen, which are major markers of photoaging induced by UVB radiation in HaCaT keratinocytes, were evaluated. Furthermore, UVB-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mRNA and protein expression levels of superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1), oxygenase-1 (OH-1), and nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf-2), all of which are associated with the antioxidant balance, were investigated. As shown by the results, UVB radiation induced ROS formation and led to increased production of MMPs and decreased collagen production in human keratinocytes, which resulted in skin photoaging or photodamage. The treatment with P. oleracea L. extracts downregulated MMP (MMP-1, -2, and -9) production and upregulated type I procollagen expression in UVB-induced HaCaT cells. Furthermore, treatment with the extracts decreased UVB-induced ROS generation and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD-1 and OH-1, through the Nrf-2 pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that P. oleracea L. extracts could be a potential cosmeceutical agent for the prevention of skin photoaging or photodamage.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.4 no.3_4
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• pp.114-123
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• 1981

Diurnal acid fluctuations, stomatal resistance, and morphology and anatomy were investigated in leaves and stems P. oleracea L. growing under the natural environmental condition. A CAM-like pattern of acid fluctuation was exhibited not in leaves of the young purslane but in its stems. Defoliated stems showed a decreased in diurnal changes of total acidity as compared with normal stems. Excised stems stored in continuous darkness exhibited diurnal acid rhythms, and they showed light deacidifications for three days. Kranz-type arrangement was observed in leaves, but not in stems. Micrography of cross sections of stems showed cells with relatively large vaculoles and a few chloroplasts. The number of stomata was 3,275cm-2 in leaves, while the stomata could not be observed in stems. Stomatal resistance was high at night and low in daytime in leaves of the young purslane, and the range of its value was 5~40 sec.$\textrm{cm}^{-1}$. But stomatal resistance in leaves of the water-stressed plant was comparratively high in day time, and its value was 30 sec.$\textrm{cm}^{-1}$. The result of these studies showed the possibility that the stem of P.oleracea L. possesses CAM under certain stressed conditions.