Background : The roots of Curcuma longa Radix is used to make herbal medicine, which is registrated in the Korean Pharmacopoeia. This species is a perennial herb, and is distributed throughout tropical and/or sub tropical regions. High temperature and humidity with small difference between daytime and nighttime is the finest environment condition in this species. Recently, demand for C. longa has been expanded to cultivation area as central region from southern region. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of harvest time on the growth, yield characteristics and main composition contents in C. longa. Methods and Results : Curcuma longa rhizomes were harvested from farmland in Jindo, Jeollanam-do in end October, early November, middle November, end November, early December, middle December and end December 2015. Harvested rhizome were dried in hot air drier, and it was investigated as growth characteristics and yield. Contents of curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, bisdemethoxycurcumin was analyzed from dried powder of rhizome. The analysis column was used to Phenomenex, Kinetex 2.6um F5 100A 100*2.1mm. 10 mg of standard was taken, 80% MeOH was added to dissolve in 10 ㎖ flask. 0.5, 1, 2, 4 ㎖ was taken from dissolved solution and then was added to 10 ㎖ of 80% MeOH. It was filtered through 0.45 ㎛ filter and then 5 μℓ was taken to make standard solution. Analytical calibration curve was measured to diluted solution within sample concentration. 2 g of ground sample was taken, 40㎖ of 80% MeOH was added to extract by ultrasound sonication during 60 minutes and then it was filtered through 0.2 ㎛ filter to analyze component content. Conclusion : The root weight significantly increased from 376.1 g in end October to 695.9 g in end December as 1.8 double. Curcumin contents differed significantly among harvest times in end November and early December. Demethoxycurcumin increased from early November to end November, and Bisdemethoxycurcumin increased to the early November.

Background : Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara. is used to cure internal organ, which is called to important one of the five “Sam (ginseng)” oriental medicinal herbs included Panax ginseng, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Sophora flavescens, Scrophularia buergeriana. Korea imported 24 ton 129 thousand dollar for medicinal herbs and 23 ton 29 thousand dollar for food at 2013. This study was carried out to investigate the effect of several organic compost on the growth and root yield of A. triphylla var japonica with organic fertilizer. Methods and Results : Seeds were collected from Adenophora triphylla var. japonica Hara. at last year in nursery of Department of Herbal Crop Research, NIHHS, RDA. Four types organic fertilizer (germiculture (GG), granular mix oil cake (CJ), mixed organic (DJ), plant oil cake (TG)), chemical fertilizer (CF) and non-fertilizer (NF) were treated. It was fertilized on soil before 2 month of planting. Seeds A. triphylla var. japonica were sowed in tray at early March and then were grown during 2 month. It were planted in furrowed nursery at early with 30 × 10 cm planting distance and black vinyl covering condition. Soil chemical property, survival rate, aerial part and root growth characteristics and yield were investigated at harvest time. For main composition analysis, 10 mg of standard (b-sitosterol, lupenone) was taken, 80% MeOH was added to dissolve in 10 ㎖ flask. 0.5, 1, 2, 4 ㎖ was taken from dissolved solution and then was added to 10 ㎖ of 80% MeOH. It was filtered through 0.45 ㎛ filter and then 5 μℓ was taken to make standard solution. Analytical calibration curve was measured to diluted solution within sample concentration. 2 g of ground sample was taken, 40㎖ of 80% MeOH was added to extract by ultrasound sonication during 60 minutes and then it was filtered through 0.2 ㎛ filter to analyze component content. Conclusion : GG and DJ were the most suitable for organic cultivation of denophora triphylla var. japonica. Content of beta-sitosterol showed the highest value in DJ treatment and the lowest value in CF. Content of lupenone showed the highest value in DJ and the lowest value in CJ.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the effect of harvest time on the growth, yield characteristics and loganin content in Dipsacus asperoides Wall. Methods and Results: Dipsacus asperoides seedlings were planted within a nursery environment in early May 2015 and harvested in early, middle and late October 2015, and early November 2015. Harvest time did not result significant differences in the plant height, stem diameter, branch length, leaf width and aboveground dry weight moreover, no significant differences were observed in root length, number of roots and root diameter. However, the diameter of lateral roots was greater in the harvests from the late October and period thereafter. The highest values of root dry weight and yield were recorded in early November. Specifically, the yield significantly increased from 205 ㎏/10 a (index: 100) in early October to 358 ㎏/10 a (index: 175) in early November, in terms of root part weight. Loganin contents of D. asperoides differed significantly among harvest times raging from 0.0766% in early October to 0.1704% in late November, thereby showing an increasing trend in later harvest times. Conclusions: These results suggest that the optimum harvest time for D. asperoides is early November, when the yield is the highest. Harvest time significantly affected loganin contents, which constantly increased from early October until early November.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate methods to reduce seeding expenses, thereby increasing farm income. This study investigated the effects of rain shelter controlled cultivation and adapted seeding times on the stable seed production of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. Methods and Results: Seed germination was conducted under 10 condition compose to control, water washing, cold storage at 4℃ for 15 days, seed sterilization with a benomyl pesticides, hormone treated seed by submerging in 100 ppm GA3 with the cold storage at 20℃ and 25℃, darkness in a covered petridish and illuminated with a 1,500 Lux lamp. There were three cultivation type, open cultivation with non-woven fabric mulching, cultivation with a vinyl covering and rain sheltered in a plastic greenhouse. Sowing dates were April 27, May 18, June 7 and June 28, 2013. Plants were spaced 10 ㎝ apart in rows 30 ㎝ apart. Mixed oil cake fertilizer, N-P2O5-K2O (12-10-10) was applied at 600 ㎏• 10 a−1. Conclusions: Optimum germination occured in darkness at 25℃ and cold storage after submerging in GA3. The highest seed yields (4.5 ㎏• 10 a−1) occurred in the plastic greenhouse for the April 25 sowing. The highest root yield (17%) was found on April 1, under greenhouse conditions.

Background : Plants belonging to 5 species of the genus Eleutherococcus are currently distributed in the Korean peninsula. The traditional medicine ‘Ogapi’, derived from Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus and other related species, and ‘Gasiogapi’, derived from Eleutherococcus senticosus, are frequently mixed up and marketed. Therefore, accurated identification of their origins in urgently required. Methods and Results : Candidate genes from nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of Eleutherococcus plants were analyzed. Whereas the nrDNA-internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions were useful in elucidating the phylogenetic relationships among the plants, the cpDNA regions were not as effective. Therefore, a combined analysis with nrDNA-ITS was performed. Various combinations of nrDNA and matK were effective for discriminating among the plants. However, the matK and rpoC1 combination was ineffective for discriminating among some species. Based on these results, it was found that OG1, OG4, OG5, OG7, GS1, GS2, and GS3 were derived from E. sessiliflorus. In particular, it was confirmed that GS1, GS2, and GS3 were not derived from E. senticosus. However, more samples need to be analyzed because identification of the origins of OG2, OG3, OG6 and GS4 was not possible. Conclusion : The ITS2, ITS5a, and matK combination was the most effective in identifying the phylogenetic relationship among Eleutherococcus plants and traditional medicines based on Eleutherococcus.

Background : The aim of the present study was to identify an effective physicochemical control method to reduce Fusarium species infestation in adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L.) before and after harvesting. Methods and Results : We observed that prochloraz emusifiable concentrate and hexaconazol prochloraz emusifiable concentrate strongly inhibited the mycelial growth of 10 Fusarium species. Strong growth inhibitions and cell lysis were observed following treatment with 4% NaOCl solution. The total number of fungi detected were lower follwing treatment with thiophanatemethyl triflumizole wettable powder (1.1 × 104 CFU/g), hexaconazol prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.2 × 104 CFU/g), carboxin thiram dustable powder (1.6 × 104 CFU/g) and prochloraz emulsifiable concentrate (1.7 × 104 CFU/g) than in the non-treated control (7.7 × 104 CFU/g). The reduction of Fusarium fungi varies with the concentration and soaking time of NaOCl solution. Fungal detection was not observed after soaking in NaOCl solution for 24 h and harmful effects were not observed for plant growth by NaOCl after soacking for 6 - 12 h. Conclusion : Soaking seed for 6 - 12 h in 4% NaOCl could be an effective method of disinfectant treatment for the control of Fusarium fungi in adlay seeds.

In vitro and in vivo experiments using Achyranthis radix and Drynariae rhizoma extracts were conducted. Antioxidant properties were analyzed and the effects on bone, glucose and lipid metabolism were investigated. Drynariae rhizoma (64.67%) obtained higher DPPH radical scavenging activity compared to Achyranthis radix (19.03%). Similar results were obtained in the reducing power. No differences were observed on the ABTS radical scavenging ability and SOD. In contrast, Achyranthis radix (77.60%) has higher chelating ability compared to Drynariae rhizoma (46.21%). In vivo experiments revealed higher plasma TBARS in OVX-DR than in OVX-AR. Opposite result was seen in erythrocyte TBARS. Hepatic, nephritic and erythrocyte enzymes were considered for the antioxidant enzyme activities. GSH-Px and PON of hepatic enzymes were higher in OVX-AR. While the CAT and GR were higher in OVX-DR. SOD, GSH-Px, GR and PON of nephritic enzymes of OVX-DR were higher compared to OVX-AR. Almost similar values were obtained in CAT using both extracts. The OVX treated rats obtained higher CAT and GR in the erythrocyte enzymes compared to SHAM. The SOD of erythrocyte enzymes in OVX-DR was higher compared to OVX-AR. On the other hand, the GSH-Px was higher in OVX-AR.

Background : This study examined the effect of harvesting time on the growth, yield characteristics, and major beneficial components in Salvia miltiorrhiza. Methods and Results : Although plant height, stem diameter and branch length were not affected by harvesting time, the number of stems was highest when harvested in mid October. There were no differences in root length and thickness, however, the rhizome was thicker when it was harvested at the end of October or early November than when it was harvested in early and mid October. The dried root weight also showed a similar pattern. However, there was a statistically significant increase to 408 ㎏ (16%) in the rhizome weight when in late October and a rise to 455 ㎏ (29%) when harvested in early November. Harvest time had little effect on the content of the major component of S. miltiorrhiza. For example, salvianolic acid content rose from 9.42 to 9.64% with later harvest times, and tanshinone ΠA content was tended to be slightly more increased in mid October which S. miltiorrhiza has 0.22% tanshinon ΠA than in early October. Conclusions : According to these results, the optimum harvest time for S. miltiorrhiza is early November when plant or major component yields are hightest. There were no significant harvest time effects on the major beneficial components.

Background : A series of studies were conducted to optimize adventitious root induction in vitro from explants of Astragalus membranaceus using various nutrient media supplemented with plant hormones. Methods and Results : Levels of active components were analyzed from adventitious roots induced under different media conditions. Among the different media conditions, Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0㎎• ℓ −1 indole-3-butyric acid resulted in the greatest adventitious root induction rate. The amount of the major active component of the adventitious roots of Ama1, calycosin-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside was higher than that of other adventitious root samples. Conclusions : These results suggest that the adventitious roots of A. membranaceus could be used for the commercial production of medicines.

The objective of this study was to establish the optical storage condition in cutting slips of Lycium chinense Mill. We investigated the different influential growth factor of this plant including two soil types (soil and vermiculite) and storage methods (gauze, parafilm, vinyl, and paper). Our result revealed that the formation of axillary bud was highest (4.8 ± 0.75 ea) from the cutting slips stored in vinyl and vermiculite treatment. Root length was long (2.8 ± 0.13 ea) in parafilm storage using soil. Maximum plant height was 135.33 ± 12.81㎝ with gauze storage using vermiculite. The number of leaves was maximum (130 ± 2.5 ea) at 90 days from the cutting slips of gauze storage using vermiculite. Highest number of fruit was harvested (149 ± 16.05 ea) from the cutting slips stored in parafilm and grown in vermiculite. It can be concluded that the storage treatment and soil type influence the affecting to general growth of Lycium chinense Mill.