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Research Article
- Anti-inflammatory Activity of Complex Saponins Isolated from a Puerariae lobata Flower and Phaseolus angularis Mixture Extract
- Jung-Hwan Nam
- Puerariae lobata flower and Phaseolus angularis contain several bioactive compounds, including saponins, oleanolic acid, and flavones. Traditionally, P. lobata flower and P. …
- Puerariae lobata flower and Phaseolus angularis contain several bioactive compounds, including saponins, oleanolic acid, and flavones. Traditionally, P. lobata flower and P. angularis have been used to treat disorders of antioxidant activity, diabetes, and liver detoxication, and they have anti-nociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-inflammatory activities of complex saponins has not been scientifically investigated. The study aim was to determine the anti-inflammatory activities of the complex saponins extracted from a mixture of P. lobata flower and P. angularis on nitric oxide (NO) and in a prostaglandin E2 assay. The anti-inflammatory activities of the complex saponins extracted from a P. lobata flower and P. angularis mixture extract were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against lipopolysaccharide-induced NO and prostaglandin E2 expression in RAW264.7 cell lines. The extracted complex saponins exhibited inhibitory activity in both tests, with high percentage depression values in the range of 50–100 μg/ml. Inhibition of inflammation was higher in the prostaglandin E2 tests than in the NO tests. These results suggest that the complex saponins extracted from a mixture of P. lobata flower and P. angularis could be used as an anti-inflammatory agent. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Jeju Lava Seawater Enhances Anti-inflammatory Activity of Litsea japonica Fruit in LPS-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cells
- Boram Go, Seon-A Yoon, Sung Chun Kim, Ho Bong Hyun, Hyejin Hyeon, So Yeon Oh, Young Kyu Lee, Ha Jeong Boo, Young-Hwan Jung, Ki Ju Kim, Young-min Ham, Weon-Jong Yoon
- Litsea japonica fruit has been reported uses to relief bone pain, inflammation, and asthma. In a previous study, we demonstrated that Litsea …
- Litsea japonica fruit has been reported uses to relief bone pain, inflammation, and asthma. In a previous study, we demonstrated that Litsea japonica fruit extract (LFE) exerts anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing NO, iNOS, and COX-2 levels in LPS-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. This article aimed to address the synergistic effects of Jeju Lava Seawater (JLS) and LFE on anti-inflammatory activity. JLS was optimized to exhibit a Ca:Mg ratio of 2:1 and water hardness of 1,000 ppm. Combined treatment showed stronger inhibition of NO production and iNOS and COX-2 expression compared to the LFE-only treated group. Furthermore, the combined treatment also downregulated the phosphorylation of MAPK/NF-κB and degradation of IκB-α. This investigation indicates that JLS, containing trace elements such as Ca and Mg, would enhance the anti-inflammatory activity of LFE. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Undaria pinnatifida attenuates DSS-Induced Colitis through Inhibition of NF-κB Activation in Mice
- Su-Jin Kim
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, the symptoms of which include diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, and intestinal bleeding, resulting …
- Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic gastrointestinal disorder, the symptoms of which include diarrhea, weight loss, abdominal pain, and intestinal bleeding, resulting in epithelial barrier disruption. Undaria pinnatifida (UP), one of brown algae family, exerts various beneficial biological property including preventing arteriosclerosis and menopausal disorders. This study aims to assess the mechanism by which UP acts a protective effect against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in vivo. Mice were divided into four groups : Group I-control group, Group II-DSS alone group, Group III-DSS+ UP (10 ㎎/㎏), Group IV-DSS + UP (100 ㎎/㎏). We evaluated the effects of UP on DSS-induced clinical symptoms by analyzing weight loss and colon length. The regulatory effects of UP on inflammatory mediators were determined in colitis tissue. Results showed that mice UP treatment significantly improved DSS-induced clinical symptoms including weight loss, colon length decrease and diarrhea. Additionally, UP attenuates DSS-induced inflammatory cytokine by blocking nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation in the colons of colitis mice. Collectively, the findings of this study demonstrated the prospect of developing new agents from UP for UC treatment. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- An Unrecorded Variety of Ceratophyllum (Ceratophyllaceae) in Korea: Ceratophyllum demersum var. inerme J. Gay ex Radcliffe-Sm
- KyoungSu Choi, Kang-Hyup Lee, Jin-Suk Kim, Yong Hwnag, Jeong-Ki Hong
- We report an unrecorded variety, Ceratophyllum demersum var. inerme from Jeju-do, South Korea. This taxon is similar to C. demersum var. demersum …
- We report an unrecorded variety, Ceratophyllum demersum var. inerme from Jeju-do, South Korea. This taxon is similar to C. demersum var. demersum by 1-2 × dichotomously divided leaves, but it is easily distinguished from the other varieties of C. demersum by absent of basal spines on the fruit. We provide accurate a description, photographs, and guidelines to distinguish this variety from other related taxa in Korea. Our findings will not only contribute to increasing biodiversity of South Korea, but will also be used as important basic data to conserve the taxon, which shows a limited distribution within the Korean Peninsula. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Efficacy of Antiviral Agents and Thermotherapy in Eliminating Viruses from In Vitro Plantlets Derived from Apical Meristems of Fire Blight Resistant Apple Rootstocks G11 and G30
- Young Hee Kwon, Ga Ram Lee, HyunJu Eom, Hee Kyu Kim, Se Eun Yoo, SoYoung Park
- Apple, the highest cultivated fruit crop in Korea, has been threatened by fire blight, a destructive disease caused by Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) …
- Apple, the highest cultivated fruit crop in Korea, has been threatened by fire blight, a destructive disease caused by Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) since its first report in May 2015. To combat this, researchers have turned to Cornell–Geneva (Geneva® series) apple rootstocks, known for their resistance to diseases, pests, and Korea’s cold weather. We aimed to produce virus-free plants using the fire blight resistant dwarfing apple rootstocks G11 and G30 in this study. We employed virus elimination methods such as apical meristem culture (size: 0.1∼0.3 ㎜), thermotherapy (37°C for 0, 10, 20 and 30 days) and antiviral treatment (ribavirin: 0, 20, 30, 40 ㎎/L). Since apple virus diseases such as Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV, Trichovirus), Apple stem pitting virus (ASPV, Foveavirus), Apple stem grooving virus (ASGV, Capillovirus), Apple mosaic virus (ApMV, Ilarvirus), and apple scar skin viroid (ASSVd) have been reported, they were used in the detection. As a result, after meristem culture, the virus-free rate for G11 and G30 was 30.3% and 20%, respectively. Additionally, shoot meristem cultures of G11 and G30 treated with 20.0 ㎎/L ribavirin showed increased virus elimination rates. Ribavirin treatment (20.0 ㎎/L) resulted in a 30.3% virus-free rate for G11 and 51.0% for G30. Thermotherapy (37℃) led to an 89.6% survival and 61.0% virus-free rate in G11 and 30.3% survival and 100% virus-free rate in G30. Combined thermotherapy (37°C) and ribavirin treatment (20.0 ㎎/L) for 20 days enhanced virus elimination to 100% in G30. This indicates that combining apical meristem culture, thermotherapy, and antiviral methods can effectively eliminate apple viruses from fire blight resistant apple rootstocks. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Impact of Soil Moisture and Nutrient Management on the Growth and Yield of Two Potato Cultivars
- Gyu Bin Lee, Hee Tae Lee, Jang Gyu Choi, Do Hee Kwon, Jae Youn Yi, Yong Ik Jin, Dong Chil Chang, Gun Ho Jung
- Effective moisture and nutrient management during tuber formation and growth significantly impacts potato yields. While many farms rely on natural rainfall, some …
- Effective moisture and nutrient management during tuber formation and growth significantly impacts potato yields. While many farms rely on natural rainfall, some enhance potato growth and yield using furrow irrigation, fountain hoses, sprinklers, and drip hoses. However, there is limited research on the optimal fertigation levels for potato cultivation in Korea. This study aims to determine the optimal moisture content for spring potato cultivation and establish suitable fertilization standards. To investigate the effect of soil moisture content on potato growth and yield, tests were conducted with soil moisture levels set at 10% and 20%. Results showed that growth and yield were highest in the 20% treatment group for both the ‘Superior’ and ‘Seohong’ cultivars. To determine additional fertilizer standards, the control group (basic fertilization without additional fertilizer) and treatments of 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 times the standard fertilizer amount were applied using compound fertilizer (NPK). Among these treatments, the growth and yield of potatoes were optimal in the 50-100% fertilization group for both cultivars. Therefore, to maximize yield during spring potato cultivation, it is recommended to maintain soil moisture at 20% and apply NPK fertilizer at 50-100% of the standard amount during the tuber formation and enlargement periods. This approach can effectively increase both the above-ground biomass and tuber yield. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Characterization of Foxtail Millet (Setaria italica L.) Germplasm Collected from Different Regions using Agronomic Traits: A Comparative Study
- Eun-Gyeong Kim, SuKyeung Lee, Yu-Mi Choi, Jungyoon Yi, Myoung-Jae Shin, Kebede Taye Desta, Gi-An Lee
- This study aimed to analyze the variation, correlation, and regional differences in key agronomic traits of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) …
- This study aimed to analyze the variation, correlation, and regional differences in key agronomic traits of foxtail millet (Setaria italica L.) collected from eight regions in Korea and China. A total of 53 foxtail millet accessions were evaluated for eight agronomic traits, including days to flowering (DTF), days to maturing (DTM), number of branches (NB), panicle length (PL), panicle width (PW), culm length (CL), stem thickness (ST), and 1,000-seed weight (SW). The analysis revealed positive correlations between the growth period (DTF and DTM) and structural traits such as CL, PL, and ST. In contrast, negative correlations were observed between the growth period and yield-related traits such as PW and SW. The results also highlighted regional selection practices, with foxtail millet accessions from southern regions exhibiting delayed flowering, thicker stems, and heavier seeds, reflecting local community preferences. Additionally, significant differences in panicle and leaf shape, leaf color intensity, and seed coat color were observed across regions, with specific forms favored by local populations. These findings demonstrate the influence of local preferences on the selection and maintenance of key traits in foxtail millet landraces and provide valuable insights for future breeding programs aimed at improving regional adaptability and trait optimization. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Evaluation of Morphological Traits and Resistance to Anthracnose in Watermelon Germplasm
- Aejin Hwang, Hyeonseok Oh, Parthiban Subramanian, Young-Wang Na, Soomuk Cho, Seong-Hoon Kim, Yoon-Jung Lee, Bum-Soo Hahn
- Anthracnose is a foliar disease affecting all over-ground parts of Cucurbitaceae species including watermelon. When watermelon plant is infected, the pathogen causes …
- Anthracnose is a foliar disease affecting all over-ground parts of Cucurbitaceae species including watermelon. When watermelon plant is infected, the pathogen causes lesions and necrosis on leaf and fruit, and reduces the fruit quality and yield as well. The relationship between resistance to anthracnose and morphological traits of watermelon are investigated in this study. Results indicated that, a total of six accessions showed a disease index ≤ 2.0. All the accessions exhibiting anthracnose resistance were collected from Africa. One accession belonged to was C. lanatus species and five were C. mucosopermus. Disease index (DI) was significantly correlated with leaf length and leaf width, size of pistil scar and soluble solids content. The germplasms were divided into three groups based on principle component analysis. Accessions in group 2 showed resistance to anthracnose. Their traits showed small leaf, small pistil scar and low soluble solids content. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Establishment of Environmental Factors and Cultivation Conditions for Rapid Generation Advancement of Carthamus tinctorius L.
- Gyeongju Gim, Eunae Yoo, Sookyeong Lee, Eun-Gyeoung Kim, Kebede Taye Desta, Gi-An Lee, Jaeeun Lee
- This study aimed to improve domestic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) productivity by shortening the cultivation period and enhancing breeding efficiency. The …
- This study aimed to improve domestic safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) productivity by shortening the cultivation period and enhancing breeding efficiency. The experiment was conducted with four main groups: 1) a control group cultivated in an environment similar to a greenhouse, 2) photoperiod treatments (15 h, 18 h), 3) photoperiod + temperature (30°C) treatments, and 4) photoperiod + temperature + nutrient solution treatments. The groups were evaluated based on days to flowering (DTF), plant height (PH), leaf length (LL), leaf width (LW), number of branches (NB), and number of seeds (NS). As a result, it was confirmed that the group treated with a 15 hour photoperiod, 30°C temperature, and nutrient solution showed a shortened cultivation period and superior growth characteristics. These findings are expected to contribute to safflower generation advancement and productivity improvement, positively impacting stable and efficient safflower production in domestic agriculture. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Effect of Diniconazole Treatments on Growth of Plug Seedlings in Melon (Cucumis melo L.)
- Jae-pil Jeong, Chang-Hyu Bae
- In order to promote healthy seedlings, foliar spraying of triazole-based diniconazole is mainly used in nurseries. As the inhibitory effect of foliar …
- In order to promote healthy seedlings, foliar spraying of triazole-based diniconazole is mainly used in nurseries. As the inhibitory effect of foliar spraying weakens, plant growth inhibitors are sprayed several times for prevention of over-growth and healthy seedling in some varieties, so the foliar spraying method causes fatal damage to the growing point of the plants. To solve the problem of the foliar spraying treatment, the effects between the foliar spraying and the irrigation with drenching methods on the growth inhibition of plug seedlings were evaluated using diniconazole treatments in melon (Cucumis melo L. var. ‘Ochigi’). As a result of the experiments, plant height, hypocotyl length, leaf length and width of all the melon seedlings were decreased significantly as the treatment concentration of diniconazole increased. In particular, compared to the foliar spraying, the inhibiting effect of the irrigation treatment on seedling growth was maintained until the shipment time of plug seedlings. Thus, the irrigation treatment was more effective than the foliar spraying to yield healthy seedlings. The result be able to be used as fundamental data for yielding healthy seedlings of gourd crops. - COLLAPSE
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Research Article
- Cryopreservation of 8 Korean Potato Cultivars Using Customized CIP Droplet-Vitrification Protocols
- Ji-Won Han, Ye-Ji Lee, Sung-Hee Nam, Manjung Kang, Ho Cheol Ko, Jae-Young Song, Jinjoo Bae, Do-Hee Kwon
- In this study, the PVS2 droplet-vitrification protocol developed by CIP was optimized and applied to establish cryopreservation collection for eight potato cultivars …
- In this study, the PVS2 droplet-vitrification protocol developed by CIP was optimized and applied to establish cryopreservation collection for eight potato cultivars bred by the Rural Development Administration (RDA). The protocol was adapted to the conditions of the National Agrobiodiversity Center (NAC) in Korea, with significant improvements achieved for four cultivars exhibiting comparatively low recovery rates among the eight tested. Optimization focused on four key parameters: carbon source concentration, cold hardening process, tissue size, and dehydration time. Notably, for the ‘Dami’ cultivar, replacing the 4°C treatment with a single cold hardening phase at 7°C improved recovery rates by over 24%. Furthermore, adjustments to sucrose concentrations enhanced donor plant quality, leading to a 30% increase in regeneration rates at 8 weeks. These results highlight the necessity of genotype-specific and cultivar-specific protocol optimization for successful cryopreservation, contributing to the secure, long-term preservation of genetic diversity in clonal crops such as potatoes, which are at risk of loss in the field or in vitro. Looking ahead, the RDA aims to reestablish a cryocollection system for domestic potato cultivars by fostering collaboration between the Highland Agriculture Research Institute and the National Agrobiodiversity Center. This initiative aligns with an integrated active, base, and safety (A-B-S) conservation strategy for sustainable potato germplasm preservation. - COLLAPSE