This study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity and α-amylase, α-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase inhibition in vitro by different solvent fractions from the roots of Codonopsis lanceolata. The values of IC50 against Calu-6 cell showed a high effect in n-hexane fraction (10.13 μg/mL) whereas DW fraction exhibited the weakest inhibition on cell viability, having an IC50 value of over 1,000 μg/mL. The values of IC50 against HCT-116 cell showed the highest activity in n-BuOH fraction (102.01 μg/mL), followed by n-hexane fraction (145.85 μg/mL), methylene chloride fraction (332.02 μg/mL), ethyl acetate fraction (462.93 μg/mL) and DW fracion (>1,000 μg/mL). α-Amylase inhibitory activity in methylene chloride fraction and ethyl acetate fraction was found to have a higher inhibitory effect with 24.5% and 25.6% than the other fractions. The highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was observed from the ethyl acetate fraction extract, while the extract of DW fraction showed the lowest level of inhibitory activity at given experiment concentration. The pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of C. lanceolata was found to have a higher the effect in ethyl acetate fraction. Inhibition of lipase activity of the ethyl acetate fraction and n-hexane fraction showed a relatively high, while the extract of DW fraction showed the lowest level at given experiment concentration. These results suggested that the roots of C. lanceolata may assist in the potential biological activity on carbohydrate, lipid Inhibitory activity and anticancer activity.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum species either dried or fresh, are used as an ingredient in salads and traditional cuisine in Korea. To interpret the root proteins, a systematical and targeting analysis were carried out from diploid and tetraploid roots. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 39 differential expressed proteins were identified from the diploid root under in vivo condition using image analysis by Progenesis Same Spot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 39 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR mass spectrometry. Except two proteins, the rest of the identified proteins were confirmed as down-regulated such as Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Proteasome subunit alpha type-2-B. However, the most of the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the oxidoreductase activity, nucleic acid binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity. The exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

Buckwheat sprouts are a vegetable; a functional food should provide health benefit and enhance performance as high nutritionally important substances. Buckwheat noodles are the major buckwheat food in Japan, Korea and China. In addition, Buckwheat as preventive medicine has undergone a great advancement in the last decade. Comparison of the functional properties distribution and utilization in tatary buckwheat is required of understanding the metabolites. The study was conducted to identify the sorts of phenolic compounds and metabolites in tatary buckwheat seedling at 4, 7, and 10 days seedling under the different combinations of lightemitting diode (LED) such as blue, red, mix (red, blue, and white), dark, and natural lights in stem and leaves. After breaking the dormancy, buckwheat seeds were grown in culture room under lights for 14 hrs and the dark condition for 10 hrs, at 25ºC for 10 days. Length of buckwheat was gradually increased under all of the conditions. Using HPLC, rutin was highest at 7 days under mix and natural light in stem and leaf, respectively. Quercetin was highest at 4 and 7 days under natural light in both. Chlorogenic acid was highest at 7 days under mix and natural in stem and leaf, respectively. Taken Together, this study indicates that phenolic compounds and metabolites present in those plants could be helpful for the human health and nutritional additive.

This study was conducted to clarify the antimicrobial effect, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of the biological composition having the Phytolacca americana, and to enhance the natural materials utilization of foods and cosmetics. The antimicrobial activities of the different parts of P. americana were evaluated using the agar diffusion test. The antimicrobial activity of P. americana was relatively high in Malassezia furfur known as a skin fungi and Vibrio parahaemolyticus compared to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. However, the antimicrobial activity in Vibrio parahaemolyticus did not show at all parts of P. americana. Both the DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity have been increased with the higher concentration of methanol extract. In particular, leaf extract of P. americana exhibited the highest activity both ABTS radical scavenging activity and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The nitrite scavenging activity was decreased when the pH was changed from pH 1.2 to pH 6.0. The highest nitrite scavenging activity was exhibited from the methanol extract of fruit, followed by root, stem, and leaf at pH 1.2. However, the nitrite scavenging activity at pH of 6.0 was not almost detected. All plant parts of P. americana showed tyrosinase inhibitory activity. The highest activity was found in the stem, and followed by root, leaf, and fruit in order. These tyrosinase inhibitory activity was progressively increased in a concentration-dependent manner. In this experiment on the methanol extracts of different organ from P. americana, we confirmed that the extract of P. americana showed potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. Taken together, we conjectured that the P. americana had the potent biological activities, therefore this plant having various functional components could be a good material for development into source of natural food additives and cosmetics

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum are massively used in traditional herbal medicine as a remedy for pulmonary disease and respiratory disorders. However, in spite of its potential medicinal significance, the molecular mechanism of its roots is still unknown. In the present study, high throughput proteome approach was conducted to profile proteins from 3, 4 and 5 months aged diploid and tetraploid roots of Platycodon grandiflorum. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 68 differential expressed proteins were identified from diploid root out of 767 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 29 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR MS whereas a total of 24 protein spots were up regulated and 5 protein spots were down-regulated. On the contrary, in the case of tetraploid root, a total of 86 differential expressed proteins were identified from tetraploid root out of 1033 protein spots of which a total of 39 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR MS whereas a total of 21 protein spots were up regulated and a total of 18 protein spots were down-regulated. It was revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleotide binding, oxidoreductase activity, transferase activity. In that way, the exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum are known as traditional medicine, has been extensively used since ancient times as a therapeutic to treat cold, cough and asthma in Korean traditional medications. This study was conducted in order to profile proteins from the hormone induced diploid and tetraploid roots using high throughput proteome approach. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 64 differential expressed proteins were identified from the diploid root using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 20 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry whereas a total of 13 protein spots were up regulated and 7 protein spots were down-regulated. However, in the case of tetraploid root, a total of 78 differential expressed proteins were identified from tetraploid root of which a total of 28 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed by mass spectrometry whereas a total of 16 protein spots were up regulated and a total of 12 protein spots were down-regulated. However, proteins identified using iProClass databases revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding, oxidoreductase activity, transporter activity and isomers activity. The exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution is thought to be one of the leading threat to the environment due to its high toxicity. However, the molecular responses induced by Cd have so far been grossly overlooked. This study examines the morpho-physiological alterations combined with proteome changes in leaves of Sorghum bicolor when exposed to Cd. Ten days old sorghum seedlings were exposed to different concentrations (0, 100, and 150 μM) of CdCl2 and a significant accumulation of Cd in the leaves was recorded by ICP analysis. Furthermore, the effects of Cd exposure on protein expression patterns in S. Bicolor was investigated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and the 2-DE profile of leaf proteins from both control and Cd-treated seedlings were compared quantitatively using Progenesis SameSpot software. Results lined to morphological changes that plants treated with Cd suffered reduction of growth. The concentration of Cd was markedly reversed by the Cd treatments, whereas the absorption degree of Cd was increased by the higher concentration of Cd by confocal microscopy. Using 2-DE method, a total of 33 differentially expressed protein spots were identified by MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry. Of those, 13 protein spots were significantly enhanced/reduced while 20 reduced under Cd treatment. The most of the up-regulated proteins are involved in oxidative response, glutathione and sulfur metabolism as well as the secondary metabolite biosynthesis. Collectively, our study provides insights into the integrated molecular mechanisms of early responses to Cd and growth and physiological characteristics of sorghum seedlings hoping to provide references on the mechanism of heavy metal damaging plants.

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient required for growth and development of plants. But, at a high concentration in soil, copper acts as a major toxic element to plant cells due to its potential inhibitory effects against many physiological and biochemical processes. In this study, the morphological and physiological changes were observed in the leaf of sorghum plants treated with different concentrations (0, 100, and 150 μM) of Copper (Cu). The results linked to morphological changes that plants treated with Cu suffered reduction in growth and morphological changes. In the ion concentration investigation, the concentrations of Cu2+ increased, the concentration of others interacting ions (Zn2+, Ca2+, Mn2+, Fe2+) were changed dramatically. For proteome analysis, 2-D combined with MALDI-TOF-TOF mass spectrometry was performed. Two dimensional gels stained with silver staining, a total of 422 differential expressed proteins (≥ 2-fold) were identified using Progenesis SameSpot software. A total of 24 spots from Cu-induced sorghum leaf and 21 spots from Cu-induced sorghum root were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Out of 24 protein spots from Cu-stressed leaf, of which 16 protein spots were up-regulated and 8 protein spots were down-regulated whereas out of 21 protein spots, a total of 9 protein spots were up-regulated and 12 spots were down-regulated from Cu-stressed root. Taken together, these studies revealed the effects of heavy metal, Cu on the growth and physiological characteristics in sorghum seedlings and proteome investigation, hoping to provide references on the mechanism of heavy metal damaging plants.

Breeding and cultivation techniques are being treated very severely regarding ecological and physiological development in buckwheat. This study was conducted to focus on the diversity occurring in the cultivated and tartary buckwheat and provide an overview of the characteristics and genetic resources activities. Morphological results showed that the height of common buckwheat ranges from 82-90cm, common buckwheat induced by 200Gy ranges from 52-75cm, common buckwheat induced by 300Gy ranges from 43-56cm, common buckwheat induced by 400Gy ranges from 33-60cm whereas the tartary buckwheat hight ranges from 65-87cm, and while it exposed to various radiation (200Gy, 300Gy and 400Gy), the obtained height ranges from 73-92cm, 55-80cm and 60-75cm respectively. However, the stems from the both cultivar are hollow and that’s why, the plant is very prone to lodging. The leaf color of common buckwheat was green, 200Gray, 300Gy 400Gy common buckwheat light green and green, whereas the tartary buckwheat green and bottle-green, 200Gray 300Gy 400Gy tatary buckwheat bottle-green, common buckwheat (control, 200Gy, 300Gy, 400Gy) stem color is light green and pink, flower color is white, tartary buckwheat (control, 200Gy, 300Gy, 400Gy) flower color is light green. The stem color from tartary buckwheat showed (200Gy, 300Gy, 400Gy) light green and light red color. The results revealed that the two buckwheat cultivars showed diversified characteristics.

This experiment was conducted to obtain the have higher contents of pharmaceutical constituents as well as higher yield from colchicine induced diploid and tetraploid extracts of Platycodon grandiflorum. In order to determine the biological activity, this study was focused to evaluate the cytotoxicity, antimicrobial on the bronthus disease bacteria, antioxidant enzyme activity of diploid and tetraploid extracts in P. grandiflorum. The activities of antioxidant enzyme according to different solvent extracts were measured as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). The cytotoxicity of methanol extracts of P. grandiflorum showed significant differences between tetraploid and diploid. That is, the cytotoxic effect against human cancer cell was higher in tetraploid than in diploid. At all extracts concentration, tetraploid samples showed high toxicity and the IC50 (concentration causing 50% cell death) value showed the highest on HCT-116 cell (105.91 μg/mL), and exhibited significant activity against the Hep 3B cell (140.67 μg/mL), SNU-1066 cell (154.01 μg/mL), Hela cell (158.37 μg/mL), SNU-601 cell (182.67 μg/mL), Calu-6 cell (190.42 μg/mL), MCF-7 cell (510.19 μg/mL). Antimicrobial activities of diploid P. grandiflorum were relatively low compared to tetraploid P. grandiflorum on most of the bacterial strains. In tetraploid P. grandiflorum, K. pneumoniae showed the clear zone formation (18~19 mm) of growth inhibition, followed by the clear zone formation of 13~15 mm on C. diphtheria and S. pyogenes. The antimicrobial activities in diploid P. grandiflorum were the highest on K. pneumonia (14~15 mm), and showed the clear zone formation of 11~12 mm on C. diphtheria and 12~13 mm on S. pyogenes. The antimicrobial activity is thought to look different depending on the bacterial strains and the polyploidy of P. grandiflorum. The root extract of P. grandiflorum had the highest (97.2%) SOD enzyme activity in ethyl acetate partition layer of tetraploid while water partition layer of diploid showed the lowest (48.6%) SOD enzyme activity. The activity of CAT showed higher values in the root of tetraploid than in the diploid of P. grandiflorum in all partition layers except butyl alcohol. The activities of APX and POD showed higher values in the root of tetraploid than in the diploid of P. grandiflorum in all fraction solvents except water layer. These results indicate that the tetraploid P. grandiflorum can be used as a source for developing cytotoxic agent and antimicrobials which can act against bronchus diseases bacterial strains.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of pre-germination soaking on germination in 90 Korean soybean varieties and identification of protein in seeds of 7 soybean varieties. The results obtained that germination rate of soybean seeds was decreased as amount of soaking water and soaking duration in number of days. Difference in germination rate of soybean seeds was significant at three days soaking with water volume of 90 ml. Water absorption of seeds was rapidly increased during the first 6 hours, followed by slow increase until 24 hours and then decreased 24 to 48 hours after soaking soybean varieties for bean sprout soaked the lowest amount of water, while soybean varieties for cooking with rice showed the lowest seed water content. Dissolved oxygen (DO) in soaking water was rapidly decreased during the first 3 hours after soaking, and then slowly decreased. Soybean varieties for vegetable and early maturity showed the lowest DO during early soaking periods, but showed higher DO after 24 hours than other groups of soybean varieties. Electrical conductivity and Total Dissolved Solid (TDS) were increased as number of soaking days increased. Soybean varieties for vegetable and early maturity showed the highest electrical conductivity and TDS, followed by those for sauce and paste or cooking with rice, while showed the lowest electrical conductivity and TDS, varieties for bean sprout. Among 90 Korean soybean varieties, varieties which showed the highest germination rate were Jangsu-kong for sauce and paste, Sobaegnamul-kong for bean sprout, Seonheuk-kong for cooking with rice, Seunnokkong for vegetable and early maturity. On the ather hand varieties which showed the lowest germination rate were Iksan and Songhak-kong for sauce and paste, Pangsa-kong for bean sprout, Jinyeul-kong for cooking with rice, Sinlok-kong for vegetable and early maturity. Germination rates of soybean seeds were higher when electrical conductivity, TDS and water absorption of seeds were lower. There were negative correlations between electrical conductivity, TDS and water absorption of seeds and germination rate, while there were positive correlations among electrical conductivity, TDS and soybean seed weight.

Soybean is very useful crop to supply vegetable protein for human. However, cultivation arear of this economically important crop is gradually diminished in upland field. Hence, cultivation area of soybean is increased in paddy field. During the growth duration of soybean, excessive moisture injury is serious problem for sustainable production and supply. We investigated protein expression according to different period of seed soaking and germination after seed soaking. For comparison on expression of protein according to different condition, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis. After electrophoresis analysis, we selected differentially expressed protein spots according to different condition such as soaking period and germination after soaking to identify protein function by using MALDI-TOF. Results revealed that pattern of expression of protein according to soaking period and germination after soaking were generally not different in major spots. However, degree of expression of protein in some protein spots was increased in accordance with decrease of soaking period. Especially, in Hwangkeum-Kong, Danyeop-Kon, and Pecking, the degree of expression of protein was remarkably increased for 4 days after soaking. But, according to germination after soaking, degree of expression of protein in germinated seeds of all cultivars was higher than un-germinated seeds. In results of MALDI-TOF analysis, specific proteins were identified by different soaking period such as Allergen Gly m Bd 28K, P24 oleosin isoform B. Also, in accordance with germination, degree of protein expression of the related protein, Gibberellin was increased in un-germinated seeds of Iksan-Kong. In ungerminated seeds of Sinpaldal-kong, proteins were identified as down-regulated by soaking such as ATP binding and Inhibitor II', proteinase.

This study was conducted to find out the effective induction method of tetraploid plants to obtain potential data for cultivating superior varieties by colchicine treatment. The seed germination were decreased by the higher concentration of colchicine treatment and longer soaking time. A total of 907 individuals were germinated in 16 treated plots except control (untreated plot) and 28 tetraploids were induced which was about 3.1% of the number of seed germinated. The plant regeneration rate by colchicine treatment on explant of Prunella vulgaris for. albiflora Nakai under in vitro culture was decreased with the higher concentration of colchicine. While a total of 312 individuals were regenerated in all treatments, the explant was soaked in more than 0.05% for over 1 hour, tetraploid could be obtained. In particular, for the soaking treatment in 0.05% for 6 hours and 12 hours, 37 tetraploids were induced, which was about 57.8% of the number of plant regenerated. In accordance with the observation on doubling of DNA contents in leaf in order to identify polyploid, the peak DNA content of G1 phase was 101.3 for diploid and 197.2 for tetraploid. The result confirmed the doubling of DNA content. Furthermore, the number of chloroplasts per guard cell depending on polyploid was around 10 in diploid and 19.3 in tetraploid, which was around 1.9 times as much as diploid.

Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji in Korea, has a wide range of pharmacologic properties, such as reducing adiposity and hyperlipidemia, and antiatherosclerotic effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In order to profile proteins from the nodal segment, callus, root and shoot, high throughput proteome approach was executed in the present study. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 84 differential expressed proteins were confirmed out of 839 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 58 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Out of 58 differential expressed protein, 32 protein spots were up-regulated such as ribulose- 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, endoplasmic oxidoreductin-1, heat stress transcription factor A3, RNA pseudourine synthase 4, cysteine proteinase, GntR family transcriptional regulator, E3 xyloglucan 6-xylosyltransferase, while 26 differential protein spots were down-regulated such as L-ascorbate oxidase precursor, late embryogenesis abundant protein D-34, putative SCO1 protein, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3. However, frequency distribution of identified proteins using iProClass databases, and assignment by function based on gene ontology revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding (17%), transferase activity (14%) and ion binding (12%). In that way, the exclusive protein profile may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics of proteins and metabolic activity in various explants of the economically important medicinal plant Platycodon grandiflorum.

In the present study, different expression of protein from Taekwang was revealed by 2-DE, and expressions of protein on each week after flowering was investigated. After analysis of expression of protein, MALDI-TOF was executed to identify expected protein function. Results revealed that there were three patterns of expression of protein during the maturing. The first pattern was that proteins were gradually expressed as up-regulation from 1 week to 6 week. The second pattern was that proteins were expressed gradually from 1 week to 5 week and then it started down-regulation in 6 week. The last pattern was that proteins were gradually as up-regulation from 1 week to 3 week and then down-regulation until 6 week. This phenomenon suggests that young stage has more protein related to correspondence mechanism against disease and growth and then maturing stage has more expression of protein related to storage protein. In MALDI-TOF analysis, p24 oleosin isoform A protein was identified that relates oleosin which is synthetic product in oil body. This protein spot increased gradually until 5 week and then decreased after 5 week. It explained that the protein is active until maturing stage to protect oil in seed and then its activity has gradually degraded. This result may be expected that a protein, related to growth of a seed has increased until maturing and then a seed fills up with a storage protein

Soybean is very useful crop to supply vegetable protein for human. Supply of soybean is increased because it has useful ingredient. Recently, cultivation of soybean in paddy field is increasing due to the increase of rice stockpile in Korea. Hence, in this study, expression of protein was identified regarding different environment for cultivation to investigate the effect of different environment on protein expression. Two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed to investigate the expression of protein using image analysis program to measure degree of protein expression in numerical value. Hannam-kong, Beakcheon-Kong, Hwangkeum-Kong, and Danwon-Kong were used as plant material. 2-DE combined with image analysis revealed that each degree of protein expression of Hannam-Kong and Hwangkeum-Kong in upland field was higher than degree of protein expression in paddy field. However, in case of Beackcheon-Kong, the phenomenon was opposite. In Danwon-kong, the degree of protein expression was not different between up-land field and paddy field. To this end, major protein spots were not different between paddy field and upland field among all cultivars. It could be suggested that protein expression is not severely different by various environment, but different environment affects degree of protein expression.

Two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) was executed to separate the seed storage proteins from the buckwheat. The proteins extracted from the whole seed proteins were better separated and observed in the use of lysis buffer. Using this method, the highly reproducible isoelectric focusing (IEF) can be obtained from polyacrylamide gels, and IEF from the polyacrylamide gel at all the possible pH range (5.0-8.0) was more easily separated than IPG (immobilized pH gradient) gels. The polyacrylamide gels in the first dimension in 2-DE was used to separate and identify a number of whole seed proteins in the proteome analysis. In this new apparatus using 2-DE, 27cm in length of plate coated with polyacrylamide gel was used and the experiment was further investigated under the various conditions.

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Ca-gluconate (Ca-glu) on fruit firmness and softening enzyme activities of hydroponically grown tomato (Solanium esculentum Mill.). The obtained results revealed that the rate of weight loss was markedly increased from at storage to 5 days after storage (DAS) in control, and was constantly increased until 7 DAS as 4.1% in Ca-glu treatment. Fruit firmness was more rapidly decreased in Ca-glu induced fruit compared to control. Results showed that fruit firmness in control and Ca-glu treated fruit were 0.67 and 0.95 kg좵즤12 mm-1, respectively. In our investigation, no difference was revealed in Hunter…s ‥a… value between control and Ca-glu treated fruit. Total carotenoids content of control fruit were rapidly increased while the Ca-glu treated fruit were gently increased. Lycopene content was higher (63.3 즗g；g-1 FW) in control than Ca-glu treatment (56.8 즗g；g-1 FW). The activity of Polygalacturonase (PG) was rapidly increased with increasing storage period as from 0.4 to 1.2 units whereas the PG activity of Ca-glu treatment was gently increased from 1 to 7 DAS, and rapidly increased from 7 to 11 DAS. However, the pectinesterase (PE) activity was rapidly increased in control fruit, when the storage period was increased, but interestingly, the Ca-glu treated fruit was slowly increased from 1 to 7 DAS, and rapidly increased 7to 11 DAS. ?-galactosidase activity of Ca-glu induced fruit was rapidly increased from 1 to 7 DAS as from 1.6 to 3.0 units, and gently increased from 7 to 11 DAS. ?-galactosidase activity of control were higher than Ca-glu treatment.

Platycodon grandiflorum is a perennial flowering plant, known as Chinese bell flower, widespread in northeast Asia. The roots of this species are used for centuries to treat diseases, and have extensive pharmacological effects such as reducing adiposity, hyperlipidemia as well as anti-atherosclerotic disorder. In this study, systematical and targeting proteome analysis were executed from the 3, 4 and 5 months aged diploid and tetraploid roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and the proteins were separated by 2-DE and stained by CBB. In diploid roots, a total of 30 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Among the 30 differentially expressed proteins, 21 proteins sopts were identified as up-regulated and 9 proteins were identified as down-regulated. In contrary, a total of 40 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from tetraploid roots whereas 28 protein spots were confirmed as up-regulated and 12 proteins were identified as down-regulated. However, the differentially expressed proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were classified into 12 and 14 possible functional categories respectively using Protein Information Resources. The results revealed that the identified proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were mainly involved in oxidoreductase activity, nucleotide binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity in bellflower roots. In conclusion, the exclusive proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics and functions of proteins and metabolic activity of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Platycodon grandiflorum, known as Doraji in Korea, is used in various medications and traditional cuisine in Korea. This study was conducted to characterize the hormonal effects of diploid and tetraploid roots of P. grandiflorum using proteomics technique. Prior to proteome analysis, different kinds of growth hormones; IBA (1mg/L), NAA (1mg/L) and IAA (1mg/L) were applied in the adventitious (Diploid and tetraploid) roots for investigation. Solid (1/4MS) and liquid (1/2MS) medium were performed in the present study to investigate the hormonal effects. In diploid roots, two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 1154 protein spots were identified using image analysis by Ludesi REDFIN 3 programme (Ludesi AB, Lund, Sweden: www.ludesi.com). Out of 1154 differential expressed protein spots, a total of 33 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Among the 33 protein spots, 7 protein spots were up-regulated in IBA, 12 proteins in NAA and 14 proteins in IAA. In the case of tetraploid roots that performed under solid medium, a total of 842 differentially expressed protein spots were identified of which 34 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Out of 34 protein spots, 11 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 10 proteins in NAA and 13proteins in IAA. However, a total of 659 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from the liquid medium of tetraploid roots from which 32 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were sorted for MS analysis. Out of these 32 proteins, a total of 3 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 7 proteins in NAA and 22 proteins in IAA. The identified proteins may provide insight clues for better understanding of the characteristics of proteins and biological activity from adventitious roots of Platycodon grandiflorum.