• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 1999

Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in carcinogenesis and other several human diseases, antioxidants present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive agents. Thus, in order to identify antioxidants in plant extracts, potential activity was assessed by determining with inhibition of a xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Approximately 170 plant extracts of Korean herbal medicines were primarily evaluated for the potential of antioxidant activity. As a result, 13 plant extracts were found to be active $(IC_{50}$<$100\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Especially, Juncus effusus, Selaginella tamariscina, Pueraria thunbergiana and Sedum albroseum showed strong inhibitory activity in this process. Further studies for the identification of active principles from these active lead plant extracts might be warranted.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.3-3
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• 2021

The ongoing global pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has not only influenced over 1.26 billion people but also caused 2.77 million deaths worldwide (as of March 28, 2021). The vaccination could be the most efficient strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, the continuous emergence of novel variants such as VUI-202012/01 (United Kingdom) and 501.V2 (South Africa) raises huge concerns about the effectiveness of the vaccine designed to target the original virus strain. Since ancient times regardless of the East and West, the plants which refered in this presentation have been consumed not only as food but also as a natural medicine to treat diverse diseases including infectious diseases. Importantly, these plants contain secondary metabolites that display antiviral activity involved in the inhibition of viral adsorption, penetration, and replication. Also, plant-derived natural medicines are expected to have a wider range of efficacy and fewer side effects than synthetic medicine, discovering novel plant-based viral agents would be a promising strategy to fight against SARS-CoV-2.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.204-210
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• 2016

Phytochemical investigation of the 80% MeOH extract from the stems of Lagerstroemia indica resulted in the isolation of eighteen compounds; four norsesquiterpenes, fourteen phenolic derivatives. Their chemical structures were characterized by spectroscopic methods to be tachioside (1), isotachioside (2), 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenyl ${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (3), gallic acid 4-methyl ether (4), protocatechuic acid (5), gallic acid (6), vanillic acid (7), vanillin (8), 2-methoxy-5-hydroxymethyl-phenyl-1-O-(6"-galloyl)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (9), 2,4,6-trimethoxyphenol-1-O-${\beta}$-D-(6'-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (10), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl-1-O-(6'-O-galloyl)-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (11), vomifoliol (12), vomifoliol 9-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (13), 6R,9R-3-oxo-${\alpha}$-ionol-9-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (14), dihydrophaseic acid 4'-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (15), ${\beta}$-hydroxypropiovanillone 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (16), myrciaphenone A (17), and coumaric acid (18). Compounds 1-5 and 7-18 were isolated for the first time from this plant. Compounds 1-18 were investigated for their antioxidant properties using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assay, $Fe^{2+}$ chelating, and FRAP assay. It was found that 4, 6, and 11 possessed the highest antioxidant capacities.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.103-111
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• 2013

Objectives : Herbal medicines were used a lot in the Northeast Asia, traditionally. However, the pharmacopoeia standards in South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, and North Korea including many other Asia are different and cause confusion. If the origins are not belonging to same genus, it should be careful to distinguish. In this study, herbal medicines in the pharmacopoeia were analyzed for different genus of origins in order to identify the disruptive items for each country. Methods : The scientific names of herbal medicines (plant based) was analyzed origins from Pharmacopoeias of Republic of Korea, People's Republic of China, Japan, Taiwan, and Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The origins specified differently were examined. Especially, the items which have different genus were analyzed in detail and confirmed for correct scientific name. Results : The analyzed herbal medicines in Pharmacopoeia were all 753 items. 320 items were in only one country's Pharmacopoeia. 237 items were in more than two countries' Pharmacopoeia, but their origins were same on each other. The items which have different genus were 35 items. Conclusions : In general, species belonging to the same genus have similar ecological, morphological, and pharmacological activity. However, species with different genus may have different medicinal ingredients and pharmacological activity. Thus, the items which have same name but different genus are required to analyze for comparison of pharmacological activity. Also, other species belonging to the different genus should be used for different items.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2014

Burdock (Arctium sp.) is known as a nutraceutical vegetable, especially in Japanese and Korean cuisine. While burdock plants are generally harvested for their tap roots, different parts of the plant are consumed as food or used as traditional medicines. This study investigated the physicochemical properties of the leaves, stems, roots, and peeled roots of the burdock plant based on their pH, soluble solid content, titratable acidity, color values, and mineral content. The pH differed significantly among the different plant parts, with the highest value in the leaves and the lowest in the stems. However, for the soluble solid content, the leaves had the lowest, while the peeled roots had the highest. The titratable acidity of the stems was significantly lower than that of the leaves, roots, and peeled roots. As regards the color values, the lightness value was highest for the stems, while the roots showed the highest redness value, followed by the peeled roots, and the leaves had the highest yellowness value. The leaves and stems contained almost three times more potassium than the roots and peeled roots. Thus, the higher content of different minerals in the leaves and stems of the burdock plant shows that these plant parts could be used as potential sources of dietary minerals.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2008

Antioxidative activity and inhibitory activity of angiotensin I converting enzyme(ACE), aminopeptidase N(APN) and $\alpha$-amylase were investigated in the methanol extracts from 25 fern plants native to Jeju Island, in order to screen the plant species containing bioactive materials for functional foods or medicines. The antioxidative activity was higher in Cytomium fortunei(41.9%) and Rumohra standishii(34.1%) than in leaves of Thea sinensis(30.9%), a small tree for antioxidative beverage. Inhibitory activities of ACE and APN were relatively high in Cytomium fortunei as 26.7% and 28.2% respectively. $\alpha$-Amylase inhibitory activity was higher than 50% in 10 species. Particularly, Cytomium fortunei(87.4%) and Dryopteris erythrosora(71.6%) showed the inhibitory activities higher than those of other form plants. Of 25 fern plants investigated here, Cytomium fortunei showed not only the highest antioxidative activity but also the highest inhibitory activity of ACE, APN and $\alpha$-amylase. It suggests that Cytomium fortunei could be potentially used as a resource of bioactive materials for fuctional foods or medicines.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.112-123
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• 1991

Traditional drugs(herbal and animal drugs) of Korea, China and Japan have developed essentially from the same origin, since the traditional medicine of three countries has been originated from ancient China. Due to different geographical locations and discrepancy of plant resources of the traditional drugs, some divergency in terms of systematic botany in traditional drug materials has appeared in the three countries. Present report aims to survey traditional herbal drugs that have been called same traditional names in three countries, but they are actually different with respect to systematic botanical view-point. The official drug compendia(pharmacopoeia and natural drug standards) of three countries were subject to examination. Survey was conducted by the following categories. Traditional drugs were listed under same name, however, 1) they belong to different genus; 7 traditional herbal drugs were listed. 2) they belong to same genus, but different species; 24 traditional herbal drugs were found. 3) a variety of related species are used; 15 traditional drugs were listed. 4) actually same plant, but taxonomical name is differently called and/or different parts of plant are used; 10 traditional drugs were counted. 5) animal drugs belong to one of the above categories; 7 traditional animal drugs were found. Total 63 traditional drugs(herbal and animal) were found to comprise different taxonomical names when the official drug compendia of Korea, China and Japan were examined.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 2009

Antioxidative activity and ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity were investigated in the methanol extracts of 289 species of angiosperm plants native to Jeju Island in order to select the plant species containing bioactive materials for functional foods or medicines. The antioxidative activity, estimated by the DPPH radical scavenging capacity, was high in the galla of Rhus chinensis, the fruit of Platycarya strobilacea, and the stem of Cedrela sinensis. Particularly, the antioxidative activity of Rhus chinensis galla (94.2${\pm}$0.8%) was very high even though compared to those of BHA (61.7${\pm}$0.6%) and ascorbic acid (53.6${\pm}$0.7%). The ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibitory activity was 80% or above in 9 species including Cornus macrophylla (stem, leaf), Distylium racemosum (leaf) and Vaccinium oldhami (leaf). These results suggest that these plants could be potentially utilizable to develop bioactive materials for functional foods or medicines.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2009

Aloe (Aloe vera L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. var. tuberculatus Gabaj.) and sponge.gourd (Luffa cylindrica L.) are well utilized in Asian countries as traditional medicines and cosmetics, or foods. And we carried out an experiment to see if there are some specific ratios among trace metals on the plants. Though the metal concentrations varied significantly depending on the sampling periods, aloe gel is high in iron (Fe) and calcium (Ca). Cucumber fruit juice is also high in iron (Fe) and potassium (K). Sponge.gourd sap contains a high amount of zinc (Zn) and calcium (Ca). The uses of the previous 3 plant parts are considered to have some relations to their different ratios and of their trace metals.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.64 no.1
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• pp.13-17
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• 2021

Qantitative analysis of six compounds: (+)-catechin, benzoic acid, gallic acid methyl ester, paeonol, paeoniflorin, and albiflorin from Paeonia lactiflora extracts was performed using high-performance liquid chromatography and an ultraviolet (UV) detector, following different extraction methods. A reverse-phase column was used in a gradient elution system, and UV detection was performed at 280 nm. The results showed that the quantity of paeoniflorin was the highest in ethanol and water extracts (73.89 and 57.87 mg/g, respectively) among the six compounds. This study contributes a good analysis method for the contents of P. lactiflora and would be propitious for developing medicines and functional foods.