Common thistle contains water-soluble substances that are antioxidative to foods. Antioxidant activities measured by DPPH method for the ground samples were the greatest in leaves, although was less than that of commonly used antioxidants, BHT and ascorbic acid. Methanol extracts and fractions from Xanthium occidentale plants dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity, in vitro test. The extracts from leaves showed the strongest antioxidant activity. DPPH scavenging activity of the individual fraction was in order of n-butanol>water>ethyl acetate>n-hexane fraction. By means of HPLC analysis, leaf samples of Xanthium occidentale had the highest amount of phenolic compounds, related with antioxidant activity, and followed by stems and roots. Total content of these antioxidant phenolic com­pounds for leaves extracts were detected in water fraction (36.7 mg 100 g-1 ) as the greatest amount, especially chlorogenic acid (39.4 mg 100 g-1 ) was the greatest component. These results suggest that Xanthium occidentale plants had potent antioxidant activity, and their activities were differently exhibited depending on plant part and fraction.

산채 자원과 문화의 보존 및 산업화를 위한 기초자료 확보 측면에서 대학생 316명을 대상으로 산채에 대한 기호도, 이미지 및 인지도에 대해 조사하였다. 산채에 대해 여대생들은 76.8%가, 남학생들은 67.7%가 좋아한다고 응답하였다. 산채에 대해 싫어한다는 응답은 전체적으로 8.2%에 불과하였다. 산채를 좋아하는 이유에 대해서는 복합적 요인(44.3%), 향이 좋다(20.6%), 맛이 좋다(14.9%), 기능성이 있다(10.4%), 건강에 도움이 된다(9.8%) 순으로 나타났다. 산채의 이미지어 중 계절감, 변비 개선 효과, 다이어트효과, 무공해식품, 구입의 어려움, 독특한 맛, 신선함 등이 다른 이미지어와 상관이 높았다. 산채의 종류별 섭취경험 정도에 대해 다수의 응답자들은 고사리, 냉이, 더덕, 도라지, 쑥 등 5종류는 6회 이상, 11종류는 1～5회, 나머지 26종류는 섭취 경험이 없다고 하였다. 산채 종류에 따른 인지 정도에 대해 고사리, 냉이, 더덕, 도라지, 민들레, 쑥은 식물을 구별할 수 있다 이상이다는 응답률이 37% 이상이었으며, 잔대, 참죽나무, 반디나물, 윤판나물, 합다리나물, 초피나무 등에 대해서는 전혀 모른다는 응답률이 90% 이상이었다.

산채 자원의 발굴과 산업화를 위한 기초 자료의 확보를 위해 2005년 3월 초부터 동년 7월 중순까지 식물도감과 산채관련 문헌에 나타난 식용가능 자생식물과 재래시장에서 유통되고 있는 산채류의 종류 수와 식용부위, 식용여부 등을 조사 분석하였다. 우리나라 자생식물을 대상으로 문헌상 식용이 가능하거나 산채용으로 유통되고 있는 식물을 조사한 결과 71과 547종류였다. 식용 가능 자생식물로 조사된 547종류 중에는 국화과가 127종, 백합과 59종, 산형과 26종, 미나리아재비과 24종, 십자화과 23종, 장미과 21종, 꿀풀과가 20종, 초롱과가 20종, 기타과 순으로 많았다. 산채류를 초본과 목본으로 구분한 결과 90% 이상이 초본으로 나타났다. 식용부위는 어린순과 잎, 엽병 등을 이용하는 것이 475종(86.8%), 뿌리와 잎 등 식물체 전체를 이용하는 것이 38종(7.0%), 뿌리 또는 지하경, 인경 등을 이용하는 것이 23종(4.2%), 꽃 등 기타 부위를 이용하는 것이 11종(2.0%)이었다. 식용 가능 자생식물 547종류 중 식물도감에 식용 가능한 것으로 표기된 것은 521종류, 식물도감에는 없고 산채관련 문헌에만 있는 것은 17종류였으며, 갯개미자리, 방풍, 합다리나무는 식물도감이나 산채관련 문헌에는 없었으나 재래시장에서 유통되고 있었다. 식용 가능한 547종류의 자생식물 중 3종류 이상의 산채 관련 문헌에 나타난 것은 81종류였는데 이중 28종류만이 시장에서 관찰되었고, 29종류는 유통되지 않고 있었다. 경남, 전남 및 전북의 재래시장과 5일장에서 관찰된 산채 종류 수는 70종류로 식용 가능한 식물로 조사된 547종의 12.8%에 해당되었다. 시장에서 관찰된 산채 종류의 과는 국화과(23종, 42.0%), 백합과(8종, 14.6%), 산형과(6종, 11.0%)가 주류를 이루었다. 식품의약품안전청의 구분 기준에 의하면 식용 가능 자생식물로 구분된 547종류 중 127종은 식용 가능, 22종은 식용이 불가능, 나머지 398종은 불확실한 것으로 나타났다.

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous or methanol extracts and plant residues from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine its allelopathic effects, and the results showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts of 40g L-1 were completely inhibitory on root growth of alfalfa, while root growths of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) were less sensitive. Leaf residue incorporation at 100g kg-1 into soil on seedling growth of barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli Beauv. var. oryzicola Ohwi) inhibited both shoot and root fresh weights of barnyard grass by 94 and 96%, respectively. Methanol extracts from BuOn and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did those from hexane and water fractions. The results based on bioassay of extracts and residues show that X. occidentale had potent an allelopathic activity against other plant species.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is known to contain water-soluble substances that improve antioxidant status due to the richness in antioxidants. Greenhouse experiment was carried out under different shading conditions during spring lettuce growing season. Shade significantly reduced shoot weight, number of leaves and chlorophyll content, while it increased shoot length of lettuce plants. The antioxidant potential of the individual fraction was in order of n-butanol 〉 ethyl acetate 〉 water 〉 n-hexane fraction, although was less than that of commonly used antioxidants, BHT and ascorbic acid. Fractions from lettuce plants dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity, in vitro test. By means of HPLC analysis, BuOH fraction of cultivar 'Hwahyang' (57.93 mg 100g-1) had the highest amount of antioxidant chi orogenic acid. Shading treatment increased average amount of chlorogenic acid of all cultivars in BuoH, EtOAc, hexane and water fractions by 33, 120, 144, and 58%, respectively. These results suggest that lettuce plants had potent antioxidant activity, and their activities were differently exhibited depending on cultivar and fraction.

산채류 관련 문화의 보존과 발전 및 산업화를 위한 기초자료 확보 측면에서 구례군, 남원시, 하동군, 함양군, 산청군 등 지리산 권역에서 산채류 유통실태와 이용문화를 조사하였다. 5일장에 출하된 신선한 산채류는 구례 18종, 남원 24종, 함양 19종, 산청 17종, 하동 15종이었다. 신선한 산채류 중 참취, 두릅나무, 고사리, 돌나물, 도라지, 머위는 전체적으로 판매처가 많았다. 구례에서는 가중나무, 음나무, 초피나무의 싹을 판매하는 곳의 비율이 다른 지역에 비해 상대적으로 높았다. 산채류의 판매처별 판매 산채 종류 수는 72% 이상이 4종류 이하였다. 산채류를 판매하는 사람들의 연령대는 50세 이상이 87% 이상을 차지하였다. 지리산권역의 토산품 및 농산물 전시판매장에서 판매되고 있는 마른 산채류는 참취, 얼레지, 원추리, 비비추, 쑥부쟁이, 고사리 등의 초본류와 가중나무, 음나무, 다래나무, 고추나무 등의 목본 식물이었다. 마른 산채류의 포장은 80～200g 단위로 되어있었다. 마른 산채류의 포장지에는 산채류 이름, 중량, 생산자에 대한 표기 비율은 높았으나 제조방법, 제조 연월일, 유통기간, 조리방법, 주의사항에 대해서는 표기 비율이 낮거나 표기가 안된 것도 많았다. 지리산권역의 산채전문 식당에서 판매하는 정식에서 산채류는 3～4종으로 전체 찬 중 16～18%에 불과했다. 산채정식에 이용된 나물의 종류는 지역 간에 큰 차이를 나타내지 않아 개성이 없었다.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is known to contain water-soluble substances that are biologically active. Aqueous or methanol extracts and residues from leaves of lettuce plants were assayed to determine their allelopathic effects, and the causative allelochemicals from fractions were quantified by means of HPLC analysis and bioassayed. Extracts from oven-dried leaf samples were more phytotoxic than those from freeze-dried samples. Leaf extracts of 40 g L-1 were completely inhibitory on root growth of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), while root growths of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and soybean (Glycine max L.) were less sensitive. Early seedling growth of both alfalfa and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was significantly reduced by methanol leaf extracts. The major allelopathic substances analyzed by HPLC were coumarin, trans-cinnamic acid, o-coumaric acid, p-coumaric acid and chlorogenic acid. Of them p-coumaric acid was found as the greatest amount (8.9 mg 100 g-1 ) in the EtOAc fraction; only coumarin was found in all the fractions. Hexane and EtOAc fractions of L. sativa reduced alfalfa root growth more than did BuOH and water fractions. These results suggest that lettuce had potent herbicidal activity, and that its activity differed depending on type and amount of causative compounds by fraction.

Several wild plant species are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to weed species as well as antioxidant to foods. Plant extracts or residues from leaves of 4 species, Achyranthes japonica (speedwell), Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Trifolium repens (white clover), and Vicia angustifolia (narrowleaf vetch) were bioassayed against Medicago sativa (alfalfa) or Echinochloa crus-galli (barnyard grass) to determine their allelopathic effects, and used for measurement of antioxidant activities. The aqueous extracts applied on filter paper significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous extracts or residues from V. angustifolia showed the most inhibitory effect on alfalfa or barnyard grass seedling growth and followed by A. japonica and T. repens. Oxidative stability by Rancimat method, antioxidant activity by TBA (2-thiobarbituric acid) method and DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity for the ground samples or methanol extracts were the greatest in V. angustifolia, although were less than those of commonly used antioxidants, BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and ascorbic acid. These results suggest that the wild plant species had potent allelopathic and antioxidant activities, and that their activities differed depending on plant species.

Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to agricultural crops as well as weed species. Aqueous extracts from leaves of Xanthium occidentale were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) to determine their allelopathic effects, and the result showed that the extracts applied onto filter paper significantly inhibited seed germination as well as root growth of alfalfa. Untreated seeds germinated in 60h, but extract concentrations greater than 30g ~textrmL-1 delayed seed germination. The extracts significantly inhibited seed germination of alfalfa, and β -amylase activity of alfalfa and barley seeds during 24-36 hours after treatment. Aqueous extracts of 40 g ~textrmL-1 from X. occidentale were completely inhibited the hypocotyl and root growth of alfalfa. Aqueous leaf extracts showed the highest inhibitory effect and followed by root and stem extracts. Early seedling growth of both alfalfa and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) was significantly reduced by methanol extracts. By means of high-performance liquid chromatography, chlorogenic acid and trans-cinnamic acid were quantified as the highest amounts from water and EtOAc fractions, respectively. BuOH and EtOAc fractions of X. occidentale reduced alfalfa root growth more than did hexane and water fractions. The findings of the bioassays for aqueous or methanol extracts reflected that the inhibitory effect of extract was closely related to the level of responsible allelochemicals found in plant extracts.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of Activated charcoal (AC) for stimulating growth and productivity of Curcuma longa Linne as affected by different concentrations of AC. Growth characteristics such as plant height and leaf length were the highest with the optimum amount of activated charcoal ranged from 10 to 30%. Root growth was elongated by the addition of 30% AC with the highest rhizome length and weight.

A series of aqueous extracts and residues from leaves, stems, roots, pods and seeds of Korean black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) were assayed against alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) to determine their allelopathic activities through petri-dish and greenhouse experiments, and the results showed highest inhibition in the extracts or residues from the seeds, and followed by pods. The extracts of 40g dry tissue ~textrmL-1 applied on filter paper in petri-dish bioassay significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa, and especially extracts from seeds and pods reduced root length of alfalfa more than those from leaves, stems, or roots. Plant height, root length, shoot and root dry weights of barnyard grass were reduced significantly by residue incorporation of seeds and pods as the incorporated amount increased. These results suggest that black soybean plants had herbicidal potential, and their activities were exhibited differently depending on plant parts.

Some Compositae plants are known to contain biologically active substances that are allelopathic to weeds species as well as antioxidant to foods. Aqueous extracts from leaves of 3 plant species, Cirsium japonica, Kalimeris yomena, and Lactuca saliva, were bioassayed against alfalfa (Medicago saliva) to determine their allelopathic effects. The extracts applied on filter paper in bioassay significantly inhibited root growth of alfalfa. Extracts of 20 g dry tissue ~textrmL-1 from Lactuca sativa showed the most inhibitory effect on alfalfa seedling growth and followed by Cirsium japonica and Kalimeris yomena. Oxidative stability by Rancimat method and antioxidant activity by TBA method for the ground samples were the greatest in Lactuca sativa although were less than that of a commonly used antioxidant, 1% ascorbic acid. Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts on storing meat was stably kept for 28days and was excellent compared to control. These results suggest that three Compositae plants have potent allelopathic and antioxidant effects, and that their activities differ, depending on plant species.

Herbicidal activity of δ -aminolevulinic acid(ALA), an intermediate for the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles such as chlorophyll, heme, bacteriochlorophyll, and vitamin ~textrmB12 analogues, was examined to determine the variation in phytotoxic potential against different plant species as affected by different application methods. Seed-soaking treatment, ALA at low concentrations did not affect shoot and root lengths of test plants while at highest concentration reduced them by 20 to 30%. Alfalfa showed the most tolerant response to ALA in both pre- and post-emergence application, and followed by rice. When applied with pre-emergence, cotyledons of Chinese cabbage were severely bleached with 0.5 mM of ALA at 24 hrs after application, and root growth of rice, barnyard grass, and alfalfa was significantly inhibited with increasing of concentration. With post-emergence application, ALA at 2 to 4 mM reduced shoot and root growths of Chinese cabbage and barnyard grass completely. Herbicidal effects of ALA were more enhanced in the treatment combined with 2,2-dipyridyl sthan single application in barnyard grass and Chinese cabbage. The results suggest that alfalfa was the most tolerant to ALA among the tested plants, and that post-emergence application of ALA exhibited greatest photodynamic activity against tested plants.

To develop optimumal storage method of root of Bupleurum falcatum Radix grown on major cultural herbal medicine materials, root of Bupleurum falcatum Radix was stored for 10 months with different packing materials and sealing methods. The loss in dry weight as influenced by packing materials and sealing methods was the lowest at vacuum packing and followed by complete sealing methods with transparent polyethylene film. The ratio of root rot during the storage period was not significantly different between packing materials but was significantly different between sealing conditions. Conclusionally, vacuum packing and complete sealing with polyethylene film appears to be optimal for storage of Bupleurum falcatum Radix.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) plants have been reported to contain water-soluble substances that are autotoxic as well as allelopathic. Laboratory experiment through a petri-dish assay with imbibed seeds was conducted to evaluate both autotoxic and allelopathic effects of alfalfa leaf extracts on the germination and early seedling growth of alfalfa, red clover, crested wheatgrass, and Russian wildrye. Alfalfa seed germination was delayed dependent on extract concentration, with no difference in final germination at 72 hours. Root growth of alfalfa was stimulated up to 14% above control at very low concentrations of both leaf and stem extracts of alfalfa and was significantly reduced at extract concentration of more than 0.5g dry tissue/L (gL-1 ). Leaf extracts were generally more autotoxic for root growth than were stem extracts. Hypocotyl growth was not affected by all the concentrations of both leaf and stem extracts. Root length of legumes was more sensitive to the autotoxic chemicals from leaf extracts than was germination or shoot length. Hypocotyl growth of two legume plants and plant height of two grasses were not influenced by extracts. Seed germination and root growth of legumes were more inhibited by aqueous extracts of alfalfa leaf than were those of grasses. This result indicates autotoxic effect of alfalfa leaf extracts seems to be greater than allelopathic effect.

Most parts of alfalfa plant have been reported to contain autotoxic substances that inhibit seed germination and early seedling growth, however, the chemical(s) is not still studied much. Effect of seed leachates of 'Vernal' alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) was evaluated for inhibition of alfalfa germination and root growth through bioassay. Alfalfa seeds were extracted in 1 L deionized water for 1 h after soaking and the leachates caused to reduce root length of alfalfa significantly as the soaking time increased. Crude seeds at 4 g LL-1 exudated autotoxins that reduce significantly root length by 34 % compared to the control, when the seeds soaked in deionized water for 24 h. However, the extracts did not affect final germination as well as speed of germination. Extracts from ground seeds significantly reduced speed of germination (GT 50) and root length. The results indicate that release of autotoxic substances from seeds during seed imbibition was increased with increase of soaking time and seed amount, and that autotoxicity was more occurred in ground seeds than in crude seeds.

Autotoxicity restricts reseeding of new alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) after alfalfa until autotoxic chemical(s) breaks down or is dispersed into external environments, often requiring up to a year or more. One solution for reducing autotoxicity would be to select germplasms or cultivars with tolerance to the autotoxic chemical(5) and use genetically breeding program. Bioassay of seed germination and early seedling growth was conducted to evaluate autotoxic responses of 3 varieties of alfalfa to the water-soluble extracts(at 4 and 8g/L) from alfalfa ‘Cody’leaf by using agar and filter paper medium in a petri-dish assay. Root length at 5 days after seeding was more sensitive to the extract than was hypocotyl length or seed germination, and was a better parameter of autotoxic effects of alfalfa leaf extracts. Use of an agar medium gave better sensitivity of root length than did use of filter paper. Evaluating tolerance with percent of control was more important indicator than was mean of root length because of significant variation among varieties in root length of control treatment. Bioassay ranked varieties in the following order of tolerance on the basis of relative root length; “Cody” >“ Pioneer 5373” >“ Alfagraze”. Seedling growth from old “Cody” seed was more sensitive to the autotoxic chemical(5) than was that from newly produced seed.

Umbelliferae medicinal crops have low germination under natural condition. Special objective of this study is to investigate morphological characteristics of seeds and effects of environmental factors such as light and temperature on their germination and seedling growth in Umbelliferae plants, using them as oriental medicine materials. Fruits of Umbelliferae are bi-partite type and form 2 seeds. Their oil canals and funiculus or carpaphore has apparently specific shape. Seed shape of Buplerum falcatum, Ligusticum acutilobum and Foeniculum vulgare are oblong, Ledeboutiella seseloides, Angelica dahurica, Angelica gigas elliptic, and Ostericum koreanum ovate. Color of seed coats varied from yellow to dark brown. Seed size was 3.2 to 6.9 mm in length, 1.7 to 4.9 mm in width. One thousand-seed weight of Buplerum falcatum was lowest(at 1,660 mg) and Ledebouriella seseloides and Angelica gigas were relatively highest(at 3,970 mg) having larger size than any others. Optimum temperatures for seed germination and seedling growth ranged from 20 to 25℃ and especially temperature at 25℃ improved seed germinations of Ledebouriella seseloides, Angelica dahurica and Ligusticum acutilobum regardless of light condition.