Background : Ginseng berry(GB) is useful not only just in growing source but also in functional food source. The ingredients of crops varies with the maturity. So, GB ingredients need to be analyse for optimal harvesting stage of GB against appropriate use. Methods and Results : This study was carried out to determine optimal harvesting stage of GB. GB was harvested 5 day periods from July 12, started harvesting when pollination was 50 days old, until August 1. GB was analysed color, ginsenosides and fatty acids using colorimeter, LC and GC, respectively. As the majority of GB increase, color of freeeze drying GB powder were changed that lightness and yellowness was increased, redness was decreased. Ginsenoside Re, Rb1 and Rb2, major ginsenoside in GB, were increased and Ginsenoside F1, Rk1 and Rg5, minor ginsenoside, were increased for a time and then decreased. Oleic acid, the main fatty acid in GB, was decreased, and linoleic acid and total fatty acid content was increased to July 27 and then decreased. Conclusion : Total ginsenosides content was the highest on August 1 and total fatty acid content was the highest July 27. As the majority of GB increase, ratio of oleic acid on total fatty acid was decreased and linoleic acid was increased. Thus, GB is that the longer a harvest period and the more useful for food source.

Background : Perilla frutescens L. is a bisexual, annual plant belonging to the Labiatae. Dormancy period of Perilla seed usually ranged from 85-200 days. The germination enhancing effects in a reduced seed vigor during the GA3 treatment has been reported. Objectives of the present study was to evaluate the effect of GA3 on germination rate and the expression of germination-related genes expression by using perilla seeds. Methods and Results : Three different cultivars (Saeyeopsil, Okdong) and accession (line 141) of perilla were used in the experiment and treated with GA3 at different concentration (50, 100, 300, 500 μM) for one day at dark condition. Germination test for perilla seed was carried out by using 100 perilla seeds treated with GA3 at 25℃. Rate of germination were evaluated after 10 days and the experiments were repeated three times in similar condition. Samples were collected from each cultivar and accessions for RNA extraction. After cDNA synthesis quantification, templates were subjected to RT-PCR using actin primers. EST blast performed for sequencing the RT-PCR products. Conclusion : Result showed that 100μM GA3 treated seeds of three perilla cultivars and accessions showed the highest germination rate. However, concentration of GA3 over 100 μM and lower than 100 μM resulted into reduced germination rate. Furthermore, expression of germination-related genes from 100 μM treated GA3 was higher compared to untreated sample by using 100 μM GA3 treated sample by using pC12, pJ14 primers.

Background : Korean mountain ginseng(Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) are difficult to clinically apply because of its scarcity and high cost. Advances in plant biotechnology have made it possible to produce mountain ginseng extracts on a large scale using adventitious root cultures in bio-reactors. This study investigated the variations of ginsenoside compounds composition and biological activities of wild ginseng adventitious roots by fermentation process. Methods and Results : Wild ginseng adventitious roots with five days fermentation using four strain of bacteria(Leuconostoc mesenteroides(KACC 15744), Bacillus circulans(KACC 15822), Bacillus licheniformis(KACC 15823), Bacillus subtilis subsp. inaquosorum(KACC 17047)). Ginsenoside contents was analysed by using HPLC. To examine the antioxidant activity associated with biological functions, radical scavenging analyses DPPH, ABTS and SOD-like activity analyses were conducted. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated to determine the antioxidant activity increment. The result showed increased total ginsenoside contents by fermentation process. In particular, B. licheniformis showed the highest ginsenoside contents. Regarding ginseng fermented with B. licheniformis, values of 70.6 ± 1.4%, 44.3 ± 1.7%, and 88.4 ± 1.3% were measured using DPPH, ABTS, and SOD-like antioxdiant activity analyses, respectively. The total phenolic contents in ginseng fermented with B. licheniformis was 184.5 ± 0.9 ㎍·GAE/㎖, and the total flavonoid contents was 108.5 ± 1.8 ㎍·QE/㎖ in ginseng fermented with L. mesenteroides. Conclusion : The high activity of β-glucosidase was selected bacteria. The four types of lactic acid bacteria examined, the use of B. licheniformis to ferment ginseng resulted in greatest increase in biological activities and ginsenoside contents.

Background : This study was performed to investigate by antioxidant activity, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, and effective component of Astragalus membranaceus treated with different artificial light Sources (fluorescent lamp, red, blue, green, white, LEP). Methods and Results : We investigated the effects of various artificial light sources on the DPPH radical activity, total phenol and flavonoid contents, tyrosinase activity and main flavonoid compounds contents (formononetin and calycosin) and other biological activities in A. membranaceus. Antioxidant activities were 53.6% as the highest level of activity under LEP light. Growth under LEP light also produced the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents of 36.05 and 5.94 mg/ml, respectively. Extracts from plants grown under LEP light caused the highest inhibition of tyrosinase activity with inhibition of 35.37, 61.87, and 65.49%, respectively, for extract concentrations of 100 μg/ml, 500 μg/ml, and 1000 μg/ml compared with other artificial light treatments. Conclusion : Little information is available on the influence of LED and LEP light sources on antioxidant production or other biological activities in A. membranaceus. Our goal in this study was to determine the effects of LED and LEP artificial light sources on the production of new functional compounds in A. membranaceus.

Background: This study examined the use of new bio-materials with enhanced value and functionality, which were derived from fermented wild ginseng cultures. Methods and Results: To examine the antioxidant activity associated with biological functions, radical scavenging analyses (2,2- diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, ABTS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity analyses were conducted. Furthermore, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of wild ginseng fermented with microorganisms (Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus licheniformis and B. subtilis subsp. inaquosorum) were evaluated to determine the antioxidant activity increment. Regarding ginseng fermented with B. licheniformis, values of 70.6 ± 1.4%, 44.3 ± 1.7%, and 88.4 ± 1.3% were measured using DPPH, ABTS, and SOD-like antioxdiant activity analyses, respectively. The total phenolic content in ginseng fermented with B. licheniformis was 184.5 ± 0.9 ㎍• GAE/㎖, and the total flavonoid contents was 108.5 ± 1.8 ㎍• QE/㎖ in ginseng fermented with L. mesenteroides. Conclusions: Of the four types of lactic acid bacteria examined, the use of B. licheniformis to ferment ginseng resulted in greatest increase in antioxidant activity. Therefore, ginseng fermented by microorganisms might be used to produce functional bio-materials.

Background : Ginsenosides, the main ingredient of ginseng roots can be confirmed various physiological activity such as anticancer, antioxidant, a natural ginsenosides is there a structure to be absorbed into the body does not work well absorbed through this process biologically active thus a high conversion ginsenosides. β-glucosidase enzyme is observed in several of the microorganism with an enzyme that serves to convert a ginsenoside prosper that is absorbed into the body. Methods and Results : To view a primary β-glucosidase activity, the bacteria were innoculated in esculin agar medium and the color change of the media were measured by the time and degree of changing color. In the other method, 5 mM of p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG) containing 25 mM phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) was added to 50 ul enzyme solution. Then the solution was added to 50 ul reaction for 5 min at 30°C. The amount of p-nitrophenol liberated measured at 405 nm absorbance. The experimental results showed higher β-glucosidase activity in Pediococcus pentosaceus, Leuconostoc mesenteroide, Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. cremoris, and Paenibacillus polymyxa by using esculin agar medium method. Similarly in second method, β-glucosidase activity was higher in P. pentosaceus 402.32±11.43 unit/l, L. mesenteroide 353.73±14.64 unit/l, Lactobacillus sakei 198.4±15.47 unit/l Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum 164.1±8.12 unit/l. Conclusion : The result that the β-glucosidase activity was higher in P. pentosaceus, L. mesenteroide, and L. plantarum subsp. plantarum as compared to tested microbes. Therefore selected bacteria can be used in the industry of functioned foods and beverage to improve human healths.