Background : This study was conducted to serve as a basis for the production of high quality organic cultivation Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots by analyzing the content of saponins according to organic fertilizer for organic farming. Methods and Results : Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix was treated by with biodegradable film, rice husks, and sawdust, non-mulching (hand weeding). A root of Platycodon grandiflorum were analyzed saponins using HPLC harvested on October. Content of Plantycodin D3 was an average of 68.5 ㎎/100g, which appeared as 111.2 ㎎/100g highest content in the sawdust treated. Deapioplatycodin D showed the highest 48.1 ㎎/100g in the sawdust treated. The content of Platycodin D was shown to 246.2∼373.8 ㎎/100g, the highest values were observed in non-mulching, it showed the lowest value in the rice husks treated. The content of Polygalacin D showed up to 156.0 ㎎/100g in the non-mulching as the biggest difference, the lowest value were 30.1 and 32.2 ㎎/100g in sawdust and rice husks treated. Large differences between fertilizers was not showed, but the overall saponin content of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix were low in value compared to the control than organic fertilizers. Conclusion : Large differences between mulching materials was showed, thus the overall saponin content of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix was highest in value compared to non-mulching than sawdust treatment. Mulching Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix with sawdust was an effective method for improving saponin contents.

Background : The root of Platycodin grandiflorum has been widely used as a crude drug or a dependent on the cultivation area and cultivation method. Therefore, this study was conducted to know the effect of organic fertilizer on the changes of antioxidents and antioxidant activity of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix. Methods and Results : As basal fertilizer were treated before transplanting Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix with chemical fertilizer(Super21, 21-17-17, Namhae Chemical), mixed organic fertilizer, bacterial culture, fermented oil cake and manure in each trial of nitrogen based on 3㎏/10a criteria. The total polyphenol content was highest values were 15.5mg/g appear in the mixed organic fertilizers, the lowest were 9.1mg/g appeared in the manure and control. Flavonoid content showed the highest 15.3 mg/g in the mixed organic fertilizer, and investigated at the lowest 5.0 mg/g in the fermented oil cake. ABTS radical scavenging activity was the highest in was 65.7 mgTE/g in the chemical fertilizer, showed the lowest value in the control to 13.0 mgTE/g. Therefore, both flavonoid and polyphenol content showed a high value on organic fertilizers. Conclusion : Therefore, both flavonoid and polyphenol content showed a high value on organic fertilizers. It is determined that to have researches for a variety of antioxidants by the organic fertilizers made in the future.

Background : This study was conducted to serve as a basis for the production of high quality organic cultivation Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots by analyzing the content of saponins according to organic fertilizer for organic farming. Methods and Results : As basal fertilizer were treated before transplanting Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix with chemical fertilizer(Super21, 21-17-17, Namhae Chemical), mixed organic fertilizer, livestock manure, bacterial cultures and fermented oil cake in each trial of nitrogen based on 3 ㎏/10a criteria. A root of Platycodon grandiflorum were analyzed saponins using HPLC harvested on October. Content of Plantycodin D3 was an average of 40.6 ㎎ /100g, which appeared as 48.1 ㎎/100g highest content in the bacteria cultures treated. Deapioplatycodin D showed the highest 70.9 ㎎/100g in the control, the rest was investigated 28.1∼54 ㎎/100g. The content of Platycodin D was shown to 327.4∼373.8 ㎎/100g, the highest values were observed in mixed organic fertilizer, it showed the lowest value in the control. The content of Polygalacin D showed up to 336.7 ㎎/100g in the manure as the biggest difference, the lowest value were 54.5 and 74.2 ㎎/100g in bacterial cultures and control. Large differences between fertilizers was not showed, but the overall saponin content of Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix were low in value compared to the control than organic fertilizers. Conclusion : For the increasing the yield that Pharmacological effect, organic fertilizer is effective to increase the number of fine-root high which high contented with saponins.

During the screening program to evaluate the antiallergic activity of herbal medicines, Schizandra chinensis was found to inhibit the mouse PCA reaction induced by IgE-antigen complex. To evaluate the antiallergic effect of the fruit of Schizandra chinensis Baill (Family Magnoliaceae), which attenuate compound 48/80 induced vascular permeability reaction and scratching frequency in mouse. and it also inhibited 43% acute type of contact dermatitis induced by TPA and in oxazolone induced chronic dermatitis model was investigated. Fruit of Schizandra chinensis suppressed 37.6% swelling of oxazolone-induced mouse ear contact dermatitis. These findings suggest that fruit of Schizandra chinensis improve symptom of allergic dermatitis

Carrots (Daucus carota L.) are consumed as an important dietary source of b-carotene (provitamin A), a-carotene and lutein. An HPLC method was applied to determine the content of the carotenoid composition in carrot cultivars from Korea. Analyses were carried out with five carrot cultivars (Socheon-5-chon, Hongsim-5-chon, Myeongju-5-chon, Seonhongbom-5-chon and Betarich) sown at April, 2007 and six cultivars (Yeoreum-5-chon, Hanyeoreum-5-chon, Sinheukjeon-5-chon, Bibariheukjeon, Manina and Betarich) sown at August of the same year. The former and the latter carrots were harvested after 110 and 96 days from seeding, respectively, and the carotenoids were extracted with acetone after freeze-drying. The amount of a-carotenewas similar to that of b-carotene for the carrot cultivars sown at spring, while the content was about a half of b-carotene content for the latter cultivars. In addition, the average content of lutein in the former cultivars was nine times higher than that in the latter cultivars. Among the spring cultivation types, Socheon-5-chon and Myeongju-5-chon showed higher amount of a-carotene and b-carotene, while the higher amount was determined in Yeoreum-5-chon and Sinheukjeon-5-chon among the autumn cultivation types. This difference between spring cultivation types and autumn cultivation types was also shown in commercial two types of carrots purchased from local market.

When three cultivars, “Shinsunchalbyeo”, “Nokmi” and “GW-05-01”, which was collected from native glutinous rice, were exposed to increased salinity stress in exogenous solution and duration of salt stress, leaf relative water content (RWC), root water uptake and chlorophyll fluorescence were observed the significant decrease at ≥500mM NaCl concentration for 4 day stress. These decrease in leaf RWC showed 69%, 77% and 67% for Shinsunchalbeyo, Nokmi and GW-05-01, respectively, in water uptake these effects showed 84%, 85% and 91%. The difference in Fv/Fm of plants treated with 500mM NaCl showed 0.62, 0.68 and 0.78 compared with 0.78, 0.81 and 0.75 in control treatment. The effects of NaCl stress in rice seedlings indicate that the leaf RWC and photosynthetic capacity is more sensitive GW-05-01 in comparison with Shinsunchalbyeo and Nokmi, and water uptake in root is more resistant. Average plant height in Shisunchalbyeo, Nokmi and GW-05-01 showed 107, 102 and 111cm, and the 1000 grains weight were 25.5, 20.3 and 21.8, respectively.

Activity of senescence-induced antioxidant enzymes in the detached rice seedlings (Oryza sativa L. cv. Dongjin) was examined. The levels of ~textrmH2~textrmO2 content and peroxidase (POD) activity were gradually increased during leaf senescence, whereas catalase activity was decreased. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was increased, and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) were slightly increased until 3d and 4d of dark induced-senescence, and thereafter were decreased. The activation of all SOD isoforms showed a significant decrease after 6d and 7d. After 4d to 7d of dark senescence, there was a significant effect in enhancing the activity of APX-12 and -13 isoforms as compared with light, despite similar levels in total APX activity. GR-8 and -10 isoforms were more effective in leaf senescence at 4d to 7d, particularly with respect to dark-induced senescence. These results suggest that the metabolism of active oxygen species such as ~textrmH2~textrmO2 is dependent on various functionally interrelated antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, peroxidase, SOD, APX and GR.

The inhibitory effects of mercury ions on the growth of barley seedlings were studied and the distribution of metal elements in the organs of treated plants was investigated by using synchrotron radiation induced X-ray emission (SRIXE). Although the treatment of mercury ions caused growth inhibition, the mercury-specific increase in variable fluorescence and the abolishment of energy-dependent quenching in broken barley chloroplasts as shown by Moon et al. (1992) were not observed in the leaves of growth-inhibited seedlings. Instead the treatment of mercury decreased Fmax and Fo values. However, Fmax/Fo ratio and photochemical and nonphotochemical quenching coefficients were not affected significantly. By SRIXE analysis of 10μM mercury chloride treated seedlings, accumulation of mercury in roots was observed after 1 hour of treatment and similar concentration was sustained for 48 hours. Relative contents of mercury was high in roots and underground nodes where seeds were attached, but was very low in leaves. Iron and zinc were also distributed mainly in the lower parts of the seedlings. However after 72 hours of treatment the contents of these metals in roots decreased and their distribution became more uniform, which may lead to death of the plants. These results suggest that the observed inhibitory effects on barley seedlings upto 48 hours after the treatment is not due to direct damages in the photosynthetic apparatus, but due to its accumulation in roots and the consequent retardation of the growth of barley seedlings. The decrease in Fmax and Fo is probably due to the decrease in chlorophyll and protein contents caused by the retardation of growth. The observed slow expansion of primary leaves could be also explained by the retardation of growth, but the fluorescence induction pattern from the leaves did not show characteristic symptoms of leaves under water stress.

To find heavy metal-specific effects on the photosynthetic apparatus of higher plants, we investigated effects of CuCl_2, HgCl_2 and ZnCl_2 on electron transport activity and chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics of chloroplasts isolated from barley seedlings. Effects on some related processes such as germination, growth and photosynthetic pigments of the test plants were also studied. Germination and growth rate were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by these metals. Mercury was shown to be the most potent inhibitor of germination, growth and biosynthesis of photosynthetic pigments of barley plants. In the inhibition of electron transport activity, quantum yield of PSⅡ, and chlorophyll fluorescence induction kinetics of chloroplasts isolated from barley seedlings, mercury chloride showed more pronounced effects than other two metals. Contrary to the effects of other two metals, mercury chloride increased variable fluorescence significantly and abolished qE in the fluorescence induction kinetics from broken chloroplasts of barley seedlings. This increase in variable fluorescence is due to the inhibition of the electron transport chain after PSⅡ and the following dark reactions. The inhibition of qE could be attributed to the interruption of pH formation and de-epoxidation o1 violaxathin to zeaxanthin to thylakoids by mercury. This unique effect of mercury on chlorophyll fluorescence induction pattern could be used as a good indicator for testing the presence and/or the concentration of mercury in the samples contaminated with heavy metals