Plant nutrition one of the most important factors that increase plant production. Thus, the present study was carried out to investigate the effects of NPK (three main macro elements of fertilizer) and their interactions on morphological and biochemical contents of Deodeok (Codonopsis lanceolata). Results exhibited that application of different fertilization treatments had a considerable effect on the different vegetative growth characteristics of C. lanceolata compared to the non fertilizer control. Plant height showed significant results towards all fertilization group compared to non fertilizer group, and the highest value (266.8 cm) for plant height was observed from the N+P+K group. The growth of internode was converted to vine after node 5, no fertilizer effects were found on internode elongation. Chlorophyll content showed a high amount in the range of 42.8 to 46.6 against all fertilization treatment groups, except P+K group. The highest values (57.0 g) for the fresh weight of roots were obtained from the N+P+K groups compared to non fertilizer group. The mineral nutrient content of Na, Mg, Cu and Al of the roots of C. lanceolata showed the lowest amount from in P+K groups compared to other groups. In addition, P from N+K group, Mn from N+P group and Ca, Fe, Zn from N+P+K group also exhibited the lowest mineral content compared to other groups respectively.

This study was conducted to examine the effects of medium composition on organogenesis towards in-vitro cultured diploid and tetraploid Codonopsis lanceolata and obtain in-vitro mass propagation of superior species of C. lanceolata. Regarding MS medium composition for each concentration, diploid C. lanceolata was found to be declined. However, shoot and adventitious root formation were suppressed with higher mineral salt concentration, and active growth of shootand adventitious root was exhibited as 4.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/2 MS medium. While in tetraploid C. lanceolata, it showed 2.9 cm and 3.2 cm respectively in 1/4 MS medium. In the case of sucrose concentration, no consistent decrease was observed for growth of shoot and adventitious root of diploid both at high and low concentration. The growth of shoot (at 3% concentration) and adventitious root (at 7% concentration) was 2.3 cm and 2.0 cm respectively. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata in all concentrations with the range of 1.7 ~ 1.8, there was a slight decrease in shoot growth at high concentration. Results revealed that the adventitious root formation was suppressed at high concentration. Concentration of agar exhibited no significant difference in shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata at all concentrations. The highest result of adventitious growth (4.1 cm) was observed at 0.8% concentration. Slight inhibition of shoot formation and root formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata was observed at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata also exhibited inhibition at higher concentration. Shoot formation of diploid C. lanceolata was increased at lower pH and shoot growth was the highest (2.3 cm) at pH 3.8. Adventitious root formation was higher at lower pH. Although there was no difference in shoot formation of tetraploid C. lanceolata presenting 1.7 ~ 1.8 regardless of high and low pH, growth inhibition was showed at higher pH. Adventitious root formation and growth showed a little higher result at pH 5.8.

This study was executed to evaluate the phenolic content, DPPH radical scavenging rate, and the cytotoxic effect in human cancer cell, 3T3-L1 cell from C. lanceolata extracts at various ethanol concentration. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the C. lanceolata at various ethanol concentration showed the high amount in 70%, 100% ethanol extract. The DPPH radical scavenging activity progressively increased in a dose-dependent manner, and showed the highest in 100% ethanol extract. The cytotoxic effect against human cancer cell of the C. lanceolata was higher in 50% and 70% ethanol extracts. In particular, the cytotoxic effect in MCF-7 cell was relatively higher than in other cells. The IC50 (concentration causing 50% cell death) value showed the highest on MCF-7 cell (538.39 ㎍/㎖) in 70% ethanol extract, and exhibited significant activity against Hela cell (637.87 ㎍/㎖), Calu-6 cell (728.64 ㎍/㎖). The extract of 70% ethanol at 1,000 ㎍/㎖ exhibited a pronounced cytotoxic effect on 3T3-L1 cell comparable to that of the other extracts, and reduced in a concentration-dependent manner.

The present study was performed to investigate the effects of the colchicine concentrations on chromosome doubling for producing of tetraploid plants of Codonopsis lanceolata, and its effect on plant morphology. A total of 180 individuals germinated from 16 treatment groups, were exposed to various concentrations (0.05-1.0% w/v) of colchicine for different soaking duration (3-24 hour). The highest numbers of tetraploid plants (3) were observed from the lowest concentration of colchicine (0.05%), and one (1) tetraploid plant was obtained from the 0.5% concentration group with a 6 hour treatment. However, no tetraploid individual was observed in any other treatment groups. The plant height of the diploid (18.1 ㎝) was slightly shorter than that of the tetraploid (13.4 ㎝). The fresh weight of the main root in the diploid (0.5 g) was four-fold higher than the tetraploid (2.2 g). The colchicine-treated plant regeneration rate in C. lanceolata was decreased when the plants were subjected to high concentration of colchicine. In particular, the highest number of tetraploid plants (5 and 3) was obtained from the lower concentration (0.05% and 0.1%) of colchicine for 6-hour treatment, which were a higher rate (29.4% and 30%) of regenerated tetraploid plants than other regenerated plants. As in the seed treatment result, the plant height of the diploid was significantly higher (10.4 ㎝) than tetraploid. The higher morphological changes were observed comparatively from tetraploid plants than the diploid.

This study was executed to evaluate the immune activity, nitrite scavenging activity and ABTS radical scavenging activity against extracts of various concentration of ethanol solvent from Codonopsis lanceolata cultured at 6 local regions. The immune responses from both human T and B cell line was significantly enhanced in the cell growth compared to control while the cell growth was influenced at a certain period of culture. The results revealed that the cell growth of both human T and B cell was altered in a time dependent manner. The nitrite scavenging activity of ethanol extracts from various solvent concentration of C. lanceolata were affected by pH. At a pH of 1.2, the nitrite scavenging effect of all of the extracts tested observed higher than that of the other two pH ranges. There was no distinct detection of nitrite scavenging effects of the pH range 6.0. The ABTS radical scavenging activity was progressively increased in a dose-dependent manner, and the activity was the highest in 100% ethanol extract. The result from this investigation suggests that the extract of Codonopsis lanceolata could be an addition to basic medicine for immune modulation and natural food additives.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of temperature and shade, which are basic environmental conditions, on growth, yield, inorganic components, and general components of Codonopsis lanceolata, in order to obtain basic data for improving yield capacity. In natural light, in the 15, 20, and 25°C groups, the plant heights ranged between 218.9 cm and 223.9 cm, and there was no significant difference between groups. However, the leaf size was larger in shade, and the leaf area was significantly larger in the 15 and 30°C groups. In natural light, root length and diameter were shorter and thinner when the temperature was higher, and growth was highly suppressed at 30°C. With regards to macroelements, the contents of Na, Mg, and P increased as temperature increased, regardless of the plant part; however, no constant tendency was observed in K and Ca according to temperature. The contents of Mg and Ca (from highest to lowest) were in the order leaf>stem>root, whereas the contents of Na, P, and K were in the order stem>leaf>root. Contents of general components varied according to temperature, and were highest at 30°C. While the plant height was increased under the constant 25°C +DIF (Difference between day and night temperature) condition, growth was suppressed in the –DIF group, in which the night temperature was higher than the day temperature, which suggests that a change in night temperature is one of the factors that affects the growth of C. lanceolata. As in the growth of the above-ground parts, fresh weight of the root was high in the constant 25°C group and +DIF group. Notably, it was more than 2.5 times the fresh weights in the constant 15°C group, constant 20°C group, and –15 DIF group.

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.

Buckwheat sprouts are a vegetable which provides health benefit with their nutritionally important substances. Buckwheat has been considered as preventive medicine in the last decade. The present study was focused on the reference maps common (Fagopyrum esculentum Möench.) and tatary(Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn.) buckwheat leaf and stem cultured in light and dark condition. Proteins were extracted from 7-day germinated buckwheat sprout sand separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis(2-DE) with isoelectro focusing gel over pH3 to 10. A total of more than 1520 protein spots were revealed on 2-DE gel, in which 165 proteins were identified in the basis of peptide mass fingerprinting. Functional category analysis indicated that these differentially expressed proteins mainly involved in cellular process, defense responsive, energy production, metabolism, photosynthesis, DNA recombination, DNA replication, seed storage, signal transduction, stress responsive, transcription, translation, and energy transport proteins. The pattern at protein level suggested the important roles for energy and protein metabolism-related proteins in growing sprouts under dark and light condition, accompanied by the activated of the stress responsive and growth condition. The proteomic profiling of common and tatary buckwheat will give insight for understanding buckwheat physiology and application to buckwheat industry.