The rhizomes and herbal medicines originating from Acorus gramineus, A. calamus, A. tatarinowii, and A. gramineus var. pusilus, show significant similarity, and the correct identification of species is very difficult. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Sequence Characterized Amplified Region (SCAR) were used to develop a reliable method for identification of these four species. Several distinct SCAR markers were developed from species-specific RAPD amplicons for each species. Furthermore, a useful molecular marker was established for multiplex-PCR, in order to the four species could be distinguished concurrently. These markers allow efficient and rapid identification of closely-related Acorus species and will be useful for standardization of herbal medicines.

Adenophora racemosa is recently reported as a new Korean endemic plant species. However, the phylogenetic relationship of this genus has been controversial due to the morphological similarity and frequent morphological change of aerial parts. To verify the phylogenetic position of Adenophora racemosa and phylogenetic relationship of genus Adenophora, we analyzed the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence of nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) using 21 individual of 6 Adenophora species, A. verticillata, A. divaricata, A. racemosa, A. remotiflora, A. stricata and A. tetraphylla. In comparative analysis of the nrDNA-ITS sequences, we could not found not only any species specific nucleotide sequence but also could not estimated their inter or intra species. In the phylogenic analysis based on the RAPD derived DNA polymorphism, Adenophora species were classified into four groups by clustering analysis of the UPGMA. These results suggest that the DNA fingerprinting based on RAPD is more suitable than nrDNA-ITS sequence for the phylogenetic analysis of Adenophora species.

Glycyrrhiza uralensis (Leguminosae) is a well-known herbal medicine that has long been valued as a demulcent to relieve inflammatory disorders. To compare the influence of different solvents on the anti-inflammatory efficacy of G. uralensis, we measured the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF-α, and PGE2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by extracts produced using different solvents (water, methanol, ethanol, or n-hexane). The results showed that methanol was the most effective solvent for the inhibition of both NO and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells. However, there was no difference among the extracts for inhibition of TNF-α. Further study must be performed for the analysis of correlation between the anti-inflammatory activity of extracts produced using different solvents and the content of major bioactive compounds in G. uralensis, such as glycyrrhizin and liquiritin. The present study suggests that methanol may be a more appropriate solvent of G. uralensis than other solvents (water, ethanol, and n-hexane) to yield the greatest anti-inflammatory activity for food additives and medicine.

This study was carried out to investigate the distribution of native Asparagus cochinchinensis and ecological characteristic in South Korea. Natural vegetative areas were investigated at 5 areas; Taean, Buan, Geoje, Namhae and Jindo. In this study, the 5m×5m quadrat was established for recording coverage and appearance species by phytosociological method. The flora of the studied area in native habitats were listed as 130 species. The native habitats was classified into Pinus thunbergii community and typical community. Two communities were located in a coastal cliff and have been destroyed. Therefore Asparagus cochinchinensis native habitats must be protected by regulation. In the studied sites, soil pH, organic matter, nitrogen, available phosphorus, exchangeable K, exchangeable Ca, exchangeable Mg and cation exchange capacity were ranged from 5.1~5.7%, 1.77~3.59%, 0.19~0.54%, 5.4~18.7 (mg/kg), 0.24~0.48 (cmol+/kg) 0.76~2.83 (cmol+/kg), 3.11~6.22 (cmol+/kg) and 8.7~24.5(cmol+/kg), respectively.

Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesque has been used as the immature fruit of the trifoliate orange tree. This study was carried out to investigate the quality change of Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesque depending on packing materials (vacuum packing, PP (polypropylene) packing, gunny sack packing), storage places and storage periods up to 12 months. The change of loss on drying content, content of poncirin were measured during the 12 months. As a result, the loss on drying content was decreased rapidly in gunny sack packing after storage of 12 months at room temperature. The content of poncirin was decreased generally according to storage conditions and its average loss percent was 38.8%.

The root of Angelica tenuissima Nakai (Umbelliferae) has been used in traditional medicines of Korea as a headache, common cold and a fever remedy. A. tenuissima contains ferulic acid and various compounds of essential oil group such as limonene, 3-butylidenephthalide, γ-terpinene, neocnidilide, ligustilide, senkyunolide and neocnidilide. This study carried out to compare the contents of ferulic acid, z-ligustilide and n-butylidenephthalide between native and cultivated species of A. tenuissima by HPLC. The average contents of ferulic acid, z-ligustilide and n-butylidenephthalide indicated that native species (9 samples) were 0.060%, 0.616%, 0.025% and cultivated species (15 samples) were 0.037%, 0.141%, 0.029%, respectively. All samples were collected from different places in Korea.

This study was investigated that quality inspection of distributed Scutellariae Radix in Korea. To evaluate the quality of these herbal medicines, we carried out TLC pattern, foreign matter in purity, loss on drying, ash, acid-insoluble ash, oil content, dilute ethanol-soluble, water-soluble, ether-soluble extracts contents, quantitative analyses, residual SO2, individual heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides. To measure contents of baicalin, baicalein and wogonin, we were quantitative analyzed using HPLC. The average contents of baicalin, baicalein and wogonin were detected by 13.28 (±0.43)%, 1.17 (±0.04)% and 0.40 (±0.02)%, respectively. Each average contents As, Cd, Hg and Pb was 0.059 (±0.054) mg · kg-1, 0.019 (±0.010) mg · kg-1, 0.017 (±0.057) ppm and 0.242 (±0.084) mg · kg-1, respectively.