Background : Pachyrhizus erosus (Leguminosae), locally called as “Yam bean” is a traditional medical plant that grows in the tropical and subtropical region. The root of P. erosus is used by the local people to treat insomania, treatment of osteoporosis and extracts of this plant have shown antioxidant activity, immunomodulatory activity, tyrosinase inhibitionby, antitumour properties and cardiovascular benefit. Methods and Results : Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using α-tocopherol and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as standard antioxidants. The radical scavenging activity was measured using the stable radical 1,1-diphenyl–2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS assay. Total phenolic content was determined by following Folin-Ciocalteau colorimetric method and Total flavonoids were determined using aluminium chloride calorimetric methods. Phenolic compound concentration and compositions were determined by HPLC-MS/MS system. Seedlings grown under the flourescent light (Fl) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity when compared to the plants treated with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and light emitting plasma (LEP). LED-Blue showed the higher DPPH radical scavenging activity and ABTS concentration of PE compared to other LEDs. The accumulation of phenolic compounds increased under different white-LEDs conditions as compared to LEP and FL light conditions. Conclusion : In this study, antioxidant activity and phenolic compound composition of P. erosus was improved by the application of LED and LEP.

Background : Plants live in restricted spaces that are constantly exposed to various environmental stresses. Under these stressful conditions, plants lead to biosynthesize specialized metabolites to adapt to environmental stresses. Here we investigate the effects of cold on the metabolome of tartaty buckwheat, focusing the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway. Methods and Results : From the metabolic profiling based on the GC-TOF-MS analysis, we identified the effect of cold on forty-four metabolites, including sugars, amino acids, and organic acids. Most of sugars and sugar derivatives remain nearly unchanged or slightly decreased in the plants grown at 25 ºC, whereas sugar and sugar derivative contents of cold-treated plants significantly increased, excepting galactose. Some of amino acid and amino acid derivatives contents decrease in cold-treated plants, whereas organic acid derived from tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle were increased the cold-treated plants compared with the plants grown at 25 ºC. Particularly, the contents of two anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, were significantly increased by cold treatment. Proanthocyanidins such as epicatechin and catechin were also significantly affected by cold. The expression of most flavonoid biosynthetic genes were significantly upregulated in cold-treated buckwheat seedling. Among the flavonoid biosynthetic genes, the expression of FtANS was notably upregulated in response to cold. Conclusion : By analyzing both primary metabolites and secondary metabolites of tartary buchwheat without or with cold, we showed that cold play a critical role in the modulation of the primary metabolites and flavonoid synthesis pathway in tartary buchwheat. Particularly, anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin biosynthetic pathways are strongly up-regulated in response to cold.

콜라비의 저장기간 동안 품질이 유지되는 적정 유통기간 설정을 위해, 2차대사산물 및 생리적 변화를 조사하였다. 그 결과, 콜라비를 상온에 저장할 경우, 저장 2주후부터 부패가 발생하기 시작함과 더불어 총 페놀 및 플라보노이드 함량 또한 급격한 감소를 보였다. 반면에 저온저장의 경우, 저장 2개월간 품질의 변화가 거의 없고 기능성 성분도 초기값을 유지하거나 높은 값을 유지하였다. 콜라비의 총 페놀 함량과 플라보노이드 함량은 저온저장으로 증가하였고, 상온저장 기간 동안 감소하였다. 또한 포장처리에 관하여, 콜라비의 페놀함량은 저장기간동안 포장처리 유무에 따른 유의적인 차이가 없었으나, 플라보노이드 함량은 0.05 mm PE 필름 밀봉시 이들 성분의 변화가 적은 것으로 나타나, 콜라비를 포장하여 저장하는 것이 플라보이드 함량 보존에 유효한 것으로 나타났다. 항암 성분으로 알려진 glucosinolate는 저장 기간 동안 유의적인 차이가 없는 것으로 나타나, 콜라비가 장기 저온저장동안 이들 유용한 성분을 유지하는 것으로 보인다. 본 연구에서 콜라비의 저장기간 동안 2차대사산물과 외관 품질변화는 밀접한 상관관계가 나타났다. 이러한 결과로부터, 페놀화합물과 같은 2차대사물질이 콜라비의 저장수명 구명을 위한 품질 지표로서 검토될 수 있을 것으로 제시한다.

This study investigated the protective roles and mechanism of magnolol, from the stem bark of Magnolia officinalis against potential neurotoxin 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK)-induced neuronal cell death. For the evaluation of protective role of magnolol, we examined cell viability, apoptotic nuclei, change of mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activity in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. It was found that 3-HK induces neuronal cell death in the human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line. The reduced cell viability produced characteristic features such as cell shrinkages, plasma membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, and nuclear fragmentation. The cells treated with 3-HK showed an increase in the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as in caspase activity. In addition, both are involved in the 3-HK-induced apoptosis. Magnolol attenuated the cell viability reduction by 3-HK in both a dose- and time-dependent manner. Optical microscopy showed that magnolol inhibited the cell morphological features in the 3-HK-treated cells. Furthermore, the increase in the ROS concentration and the caspase activities by 3-HK were also attenuated by magnolol. These results showed that magnolol has a protective effect on the 3-HK induced cell death by inhibiting ROS production and caspase activity.