Background : Platycodon grandiflorum root(PGR) was one of the primary herbs used in a phlegm-relieving herb from the past. Purified platycoside compounds from the roots of PGR may exhibit neuroprotective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-allergy, improved insulin resistance, and cholesterol-lowering properties. To evaluate preference and functionality of PGR extracts, PGR was fermented by several lactic acid bacteria. Lactic acid bacteria used were Leuc. mesenteroides N12-4 and N58-5, L. plantarum N76-10 and 56-12, L. brevis N70-9 and E3-8. Methods and Results : This study was performed in order to investigate the changes of platycosides, as well as the antimicrobial activities on bronchus diseases inducing bacteria(C. diphtheriae, K. pnneumoniae, S. aureus, S. pyogenes) of Platycodon grandiflorum root(PGR) fermented by using lactic acid bacteria(Leuc. mesenteroides N12-4, Leuc. mesenteroides N58-5, L. plantarum N76-10, L. plantarum N56-12, L. brevis N70-9, L. brevis E3-8). Growth of L. plantarum on PGR was the most active during lactic acid fermentation by some different strains. Total platycoside, platycoside E, platycodin A, polygalacin D2, polygalacin D and diapioplatycoside E contents of PGR fermented for 96 hours at 37℃ by Leuc. mesenteroides and L. plantarum were increased, while platycodin D and platycodin D3 were decreased. The antimicribial activity on PGR fermented by L. plantarum N56-12 exhibited a strong microbial proliferation in all four kinds of bronchus diseases inducing bacteria and was higher than non-fermented PGR extract. Conclusion : Thus, this results showed antimicrobial activities on bronchus diseases inducing bacteria and platycosides content of PGR by L. plantarum N56-12 were higher than non-fermented PGR extract.

Background : This study was performed to know the effect of organic fertilizers on the growth and root characteristics 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 cultures and fermented oil cake, manure in each trial of nitrogen based on 3 ㎏/10a criteria. To measure the fresh weight and length, thickness and the number of fine root of the Platycodin grandiflorum Ridix roots harvested in October. Root length appeared in the mixed organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer were 25.3 and 24.0 ㎝ longest, oil cake was the shortest 15.3㎝. Diameter at the thickest showed 26.6 ㎜ in chemical fertilizer, the following phrase appeared bacterial cultures and mixed organic fertilizer application. The number of fine-root was investigated in mixed organic fertilizer and chemical fertilizer most pieces 20.0 and 17.0. Fresh weight, which is directly related to yield were mixed organic fertilizer to 55.7 g the highest in the number of fine-root and the longest root length. 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.

Plant breeding requires the collection of genetically diverse genetic resources. Studies on the characteristics of Platycodon grandiflorum resources have not been carried out so far. The present study was carried out to discriminate P. grandiflorum based on morphological characteristics and genetic diversity using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Methods and Results :We collected 11 P. grandiflorum cultivars: Maries II, Hakone double white, Hakone double blue, Fuji white, Fuji pink, Fuji blue, Astra white, Astra pink, Astra blue, Astra semi-double blue and Jangbaek. Analyses of the morphological characteristics of the collection were conducted for aerial parts (flower, stem and leaf) and underground parts (root). Next, the genetic diversity of all P. grandiflorum resources was analyzed using SSR markers employing the DNA fragment analysis method. We determined that the 11 P. grandiflorum cultivars analyzed could be classified by plant length, leaf number and root characteristic. Based on the genetic diversity analysis, these cultivars were classified into four distinct groups. Conclusions : These findings could be used for further research on cultivar development using molecular breeding techniques and for conservation of the genetic diversity of P. grandiflorum. Moreover, the markers could be used for genetic mapping of the plant and marker-assisted selection for crop breeding.

This study was designed to improve the sensory characteristics and mitigate the bitter taste of Platycodon gradiflorum. It was aimed at investigating the qualitative properties of fermented P. gradiflorum after repeated steaming and drying treatments. P. gradiflorum was heated for 2 hr at 95℃, being the first and third treatments compared afterwards. Lactobacillus plantarum, at a concentration of 10%, was used as starter culture. As a result, the third steaming process and the addition of starter improved the physical and chemical properties of P. gradiflorum i.e., crude saponin and total polyphenol contents increased significantly. Moreover, P. gradiflorum steamed three times and fermented by L. plantarum showed the higher overall preference score. Our results indicated that the three-time steaming and drying was an effective manufacturing process for the production of high-quality fermented P. gradiflorum. Lactic acid-fermented P. gradiflorum also could have a potential use as a valuable resource for the development of functional products.

Balloon flower (Platycodon grandiflorum A. DC.) is a perennial plant of mainly Campanulaceae family, which have been widely used as a food ingredient and herbal medicine in East Asia. Although demands on related products and yearly cultivation area for balloon flower are increasing, diverse fundamental technologies and molecular breeding studies are not very well supported in Platycodons. In this study, 30 random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers were test in an attempt to explore genetic diversities. In addition, sequences information of the actin gene, a well conserved gene encoding a globular protein that forms microfilaments, was retrieved and analyzed. Two actin homologs were recovered; 3.4 kb fragment is a Pg-actin and 1.4 kb fragment is a Pg-actin homolog with 28.6% similarity. We have confirmed that the Pg-actin gene is configured into 4 exons and 3 introns. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), G↔A, was detected on the intron 3, which served as a target for the CAPS marker development. The marker Pg-Actin-Int3 was applied to 32 balloon flower accessions. Balloon flower DNA sequence information generated in this study is expected to contribute to the analysis and molecular breeding and genetic diversity analysis of balloon flowers.

Background : Platycodon grandiflorum radix used as a therapeutic agent for lung and respiratory diseases in traditional Korean medicine. The saponin and sugar content in P. grandiflorum root is dependent on the drying temperature and method. In this study, we investigated saponins and antioxidant contents in dried P. grandiflorum roots either not cut or cut to different lengths. Methods and Results : P. grandiflorum roots were either cut to 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 ㎝ in length or left uncut. They were dried at 45℃ and the effect of antioxidant substances, antioxidant ability, and saponin content were investigated. P. grandiflorum roots rapidly dried out when cut to short lengths. The saponin contents (platycodin D, polygalacin D, and deapioplatycodin D) was highest in the uncut P. grandiflorum roots. When the cut lengths were long, the levels of polyphenolic compound increased. However, 2,2'-azinobis- 3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities were higher in the samples cut to shorter lengths. Conclusions : These results suggested that the saponin and antioxidant content of P. grandiflorum roots could be maximized by controlling the drying rate of the roots via adjustments to the root cutting length.

The roots of Platycodon grandiflorum species either dried or fresh, are used as an ingredient in salads and traditional cuisine in Korea. To interpret the root proteins, a systematical and targeting analysis were carried out from diploid and tetraploid roots. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 39 differential expressed proteins were identified from the diploid root under in vivo condition using image analysis by Progenesis Same Spot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 39 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were analyzed using LTQ-FTICR mass spectrometry. Except two proteins, the rest of the identified proteins were confirmed as down-regulated such as Isocitrate dehydrogenase, Proteasome subunit alpha type-2-B. However, the most of the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the oxidoreductase activity, nucleic acid binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity. 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.

This study was carried out in order to survey the soil physico-chemical, morphology and content of saponins of 5 year-old Platycodon grandiflorum radix from different areas in Gyeongnam. Soil physical properties was showed 1.01-1.29 of bulk density of soil and soil hardness was increased with increasing soil depth, especially below the 30 cm, however it was maintained or small increased below the 40 cm. T-N and OM contents of top soil were highest at Geochang as 0.27% and 56.9 g/kg, respectively, compared to other areas. The root length was longer at Kimhea and Geochang as 33.8 and 33.7 cm, respectively, and fresh weight was heavy at Geochang as 208.5 g. The contents of saponin of P. grandiflorum radix was higher in fine root compare to main root. By region, content of saponins of P. grandiflorum radix were higher at Hapcheon than other area. Mg content was highly negatively correlated at p ＜ 0.01 with platycodin D3, deapioplatycodin D, platycodin D, and deapioplatycodin D (-0.499**, -0.433**, -0.421**, -0.511** respectively). These results suggest that no-fertilized Mg effected on the improvement of saponin contents in P. grandiflorum.

도라지는 세계적으로 1속1종만 알려져 있는 식물로 관상용으로 도 가치가 있는 대표적인 약용 및 식용식물이다. 경상남도에서 제 정된 토종농산물 보존·육성에 관한 조례에 도라지가 포함되는 등 국내에 자생하는 토종 도라지에 관한 관심이 증대되고 있으며 여기 에 최근 국내 도라지 최대 수출국이던 중국의 자국 내 도라지 수요 증가로 수출물량의 감소로 인해 국내의 재배면적 및 생산량이 증가 하고 있는 추세에 있다. 이러한 추세에 발 맞춰 장백도라지의 대량 증식을 위한 조직배양 및 순화 조건, 도라지 재배로 인한 토양의 화 학적 특성변화, 뿌리 썩음 방제, 수확 후 저장 및 가공과정에 관한 연 구결과가 보고되고 있다. 한편, 국내산 토종도라지는 지표물질로 알려진 platycodin D 가 중국산에 비해 현저히 적다는 것이 다수의 연구결과에 의해 입증되고 있다. 하지만 기존 발표된 연구결과를 종합 해 볼 때 도라지의 다양한 약리작용을 platycodin D 가 대표하 지는 않는다는 점이 뒷받침 되므로 국내산 도라지의 고유성분에 대 한 연구와 이를 증가시킬 수 있는 재배방법 및 가공방법에 대한 체 계적인 연구가 시급한 실정이다. 따라서 본 고 에서는 도라지의 기 원, 재배, 가공, 효능에 대해 분야별로 최근 보고된 연구결과를 종합 하여 다음과 같이 국내도라지 연구에 대한 방향을 제안하고자 한 다. 첫째, 외래종에 비해 토종 도라지는 사포닌이 platycodin D에 편중되지 않고 재배기간이 길어질수록, 측근이 발달할수록 극성이 큰 사포닌 생성이 되므로 이러한 사포닌에 대한 생체이용률을 높이 기 위해서는 발효 또는 가열처리에 대한 연구가 필요하다. 둘째, platycodin D가 항암연구에 집중되어 있다면 platycodin D 이외 의 국내산 도라지에 함유된 다양한 사포닌으로 콜레스테롤 감소효 과, 면역조절작용 및 기억력개선작용에 대한 연구가 필요하다. 셋 째, 도라지의 뿌리 이외에 지상부에 함유된 페놀성 화합물의 항산 화작용을 이용한 연구가 필요하다고 결론지을 수 있다.