This study demonstrated that the physiochemical properties and anti-oxidants activities of soy sauce with Oak mushroom (MK) and Astragalus memyranaceus (AK) improved in sensory acceptability and functionality during the ripening period of 30 days. The pH content was reduced and the total acidity content was increased with time. The total sugar of AK and MK was higher than traditional soy sauce (TK), and the changes in amino nitrogen of the AK increased dramatically from 0.50 to 0.98%. During the antioxidant experiments, the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents increased at a steady rate and studies showed that the DPPH free radical scavenging activities were higher in all treatments except in the traditional soy sauce. According to the results of this study, the antioxidant activities of the AK and MK were higher than the TK, while the preference for the AK and MK was higher than the TK. In conclusion, the AK could be used as a functional soy sauce.

This study was conducted to determine the contents of phenolic compounds and astragalosides in Astragalus membranaceus. Between the phenolic compound groups, flavonoids compounds (51.13%) had higher average concentrations than the phenolic acids groups. Among the 30 phenolic compounds, quercetin (353.11μg g-1) provided the highest concentrations. According to different cultivation year, 3-year-cultivated Astragalus (2612.57μg g-1) showed the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds. According to different harvest days, 6/5 harvesting Astragalus (2615.80μg g-1) showed the highest concentrations of phenolic acids. Comparison between the top and subterranean parts of harvested Astragalus plants cultivated for 2 years, 3 years, and 5 years showed big difference of total phenolic compounds in concentrations. Further, the top part had higher amounts of the total phenolic compounds than the subterranean part among all Astragalus. This tendency was similar to those of the top root and lateral root. The concentration of the phenolic compounds in the top root was higher than that of the lateral root.

This study was conducted to determine the contents of astragalosides in Astragalus membranaceus. The total astragaloside content (1701μg g-1) of 2 year-cultivated astragalus was the highest among the variously cultivated astragalus plants. Upon an increase in cultivation time, the average value of the total astragaloside content decreased (from 1650μg g-1 to 645μg g-1). Especially, the content of astragaloside decreased rapidly. Comparison between the top and subterranean parts of harvested astragalus plants showed that as the cultivation time increased, the astragaloside content of the top part decreased. On the other hand, the subterranean part demonstrated the opposite pattern. The astragaloside content of the top root increased compared to that in the lateral root (from 1.9μg g-1 to 33.4μg g-1). Further, the content of astragaloside increased in the top root as the cultivation time increased.

This studies were conducted to investigate the growth responses and yields of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge which were grown with organic cultivation using two organic fertilizers and two green manure crops of hairy vetch and rye in 2008 and 2009. The lengths of stems and roots were not clearly different between organic and conventional cultivations. The root diameters and the branch numbers were slightly thicker and more in all treatments of organic cultivation than that of conventional cultivation in 2008, although they were not significantly different between two cultivating methods in 2009. The dry weights of shoot and root were heavier on organic cultivation than those on conventional cultivation. The T/R ratios were commonly higher in organic culture, showing more clearly in 2008 than 2009. The yields were generally higher in organic cultivation than those in conventional cultivation in 2008 although the effect did not clear on yield in 2009. The organic cultivation using of organic fertilizers and green manure crops would be new method to have safety and qualitative products. The techniques of organic cultivation for Astragalus membranaceus Bunge would be studied more on utilizing the natural organic resources.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts on immunomodulators and prevention in a streptozotocin-induced diabetes rat model. A total of 28 male rats were divided into four dietary groups and fed a commercial diet (A), commercial diet plus induced diabetes by a streptozotocin (STZ) injection (B), induced diabetes by STZ plus medicinal crop extracts(I&H®) diet (C), and medicinal crop extracts (I&H®) diet (D). Immunoblotting analyses revealed cytokine expression, and ELISA analyses revealed immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production. As a results, the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) as a inflammatory cytokine were decreased. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and signal transducer and activation of transcription 3 (STAT3) cytokine related in diabetes expression through JAK/STAT3 pathway were also decreased. Furthermore, immunoglobulin E and nitric oxide production were decreased in the serum and lens, respectively. These results suggest that Lycii fructus and Astragalus membranaceus mixed extracts provide positive effects on immunomodulators and prevention in diabetes and eye disease complications.

황기의 자가불화합성 타파를 위한 노화수분 처리, NaCl 처리 및 CO2 처리에 대한 결과를 요약하면 다음과 같다. 비닐하우스에서 노화수분은 8월 하순에는 거의 수정이 되지 않았으며, 9월 상순부터 10월 상순까지는 개화 당일 부터 개화 후 2일까지 수정되었고, 9월 하순 개화 당일 수분한 것이 결협율 33.3%, 결실율 86.2%로 가장 양호하였다. 노지에서 노화수분은 대조구는 8월 하순부터 10월 상순까지 결협은 되었으나, 9월 중순과 9월 하순을 제외하고 결실이 되지 않았으며, 9월 하순의 개화 후 1일에 결협율 39%, 결실율 94.9%로 가장 양호하였다. NaCl 처리는 비닐하우스에서는 1% 농도 처리가 결협율은 10월에서 21.3%로 가장 좋았으나, 결실율은 9월 하순 66.7%로 가장 양호 하였고, 노지에서는 NaCl 농도 5%에서 결협율 7.3%, 결실율 90.9%로 가장 양호하였다. 식물생육상을 이용하여 CO2 700 ppm을 처리한 결과 무처리구와 큰 차이 없었다. 결론적으로 황기 자가불화합성 타파를 위하여 9월 중하순에 자화가 아닌 자가화를 개화당일 또는 개화 후 1일에 인공수분해주거나 NaCl 1~5%를 처리해주면 자가불화합성을 타파할 수 있다고 사료된다.

새로운 항산화 기능성 새싹채소를 개발하고, 항산화효과가 우수한 재배 조건을 구명하기 위하여 황기, 석결명, 술패랭이꽃, 질경이 새싹채소의 재배 중 녹화기간에 따른 항산화효과 변화를 분석하였다. 연구의 결과, 종에 따라 광합성이 항산화능에 미치는 영향이 각기 다르게 나타났다. 황기 새싹채소는 총 폴리페놀 함량은 녹화 0일, 총 플라보노이드 함량은 녹화 3일째에 가장 우수하였으며, DPPH radical 소거능은 녹화 0일, ABTS radical 소거능은 녹화 1일, Fe2+ chelating효과는 녹화 0일, 지질과산화 억제활성은 녹화 3일째에 가장 우수하였다. 석결명 새싹채소는 2일 녹화했을 때 항산화물질 함량이 높고 radical 소거능이 우수하였으며, Fe2+ chelating효과는 녹화 0일, 지질과산화 억제활성은 녹화 1일째에 가장 우수하였다. 술패랭이 새싹채소는 녹화 3일 째에 항산화물질 함량이 높고, Fe2+ chelating 효과가 우수하였으며, radical 소거능과 지질과산화 억제 활성은 녹화시키지 않았을 때 가장 우수하였다. 질경이 새싹채소의 항산화물질 함량 및 radical 소거능은 녹화 2일째에 가장 우수하였으며, Fe2+ chelating 효과는 녹화 0일, 지질과산화 억제활성은 녹화 3일째에 가장 우수하였다. 연구의 결과, 식물 종에 목표로 하는 항산화 효과에 따라 광합성이 미치는 영향이 다르므로, 식물 종과 원하는 항산화 효과에 따라 재배 방법을 달리해야 할 것으로 생각되었다.

Astragalus membranaceus has a long history of medicinal use in Chinese herbal medicine. It has been shown to have immunostimulant, tonic, antioxidant, antiperspirant, diuretic, anti-diabetic, expectorant properties, and a supplementary medicine during cancer therapy. In this study, we investigated the effect of anti-oxidation of Astragalus membranaceus root extract. The anti-oxidative activities of water, 80% methanol, and 100% methanol extracts from Astragalus membranaceus were analyzed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Superoxide dismutase-like activity, reducing power, and crude ash. The water extract demonstrated to be more effective than methanol extract for a DPPH radicals scavenging activities and reducing power. Superoxide dismutase-like activity showed higher efficiency in 80% methanol extract. Our results indicate that Astragalus membranaceus extracts could be used as a source of antioxidant ingredients in the food industry.

This study was conducted to determine the characteristics of fertilization process and embryo development of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge (Astragali Radix) to provide basic data needed in its breeding. A. membranaceus showed poor seed setting when self-pollination was induced. When artificial pollination was induced, it showed less than 5% bearing in late August, but more than 13% bearing from the beginning of September 4th. The flower size was about 17.0 mm×4.0 mm and pistils and stamens had the same length of 15.0mm at flowering stage. When self-pollination or cross-pollination was induced, pollen tubes extended to an ovule. While pollen tube was extending to the ovule, reproductive cell split and formed two male generative nuclei and a vegetative nucleus. In the case of self-pollination, fertilized embryo was not observed, but was formed in the case of cross-pollination. A. membranaceus is noted to have zygote self-incompatibility. In the case of cross-pollination, fertilization was observed in 6 to 8 h after pollination, where apical cell derivatives split after fertilization. A spherical pro-embryo was then formed three days after fertilization. The seed attained full shape with a seed coat showing its distinctive contour 15 days after fertilization. Thus, A. membranaceus in Leguminosae family is found to have zygote selfincompatibility although its flower shape is shown to match the self-compatibility plant.

황기는 한국의 중요 약용작물로 한약재 및 식품의 용도로 이용되고 있으며. 재배시 가장 중요한 조건은 병해 및 각종 재해 등에 대한 안정성의 확보이다. 본 연구에서는 황기의 돌연변이 육종체계 확립 및 유용변이체를 육성하기 위한 목적으로, Y-선 처리에 의한 발아, 출현 및 생존율 등에 대한 감수성을 구명하여 각종 병해 및 재해에 안정성을 지닌 돌연변이체를 육성하기 위한 기초자료를 얻고자 하였다. 시험재료로는 포천 재래종을 이용하였고 파종 후 4일째부터의 발아율은 무처리에 비하여 고선량 (300 Gy 이상)에서 유의하게 낮아지는 것으로 나타났으며, 감마선량별 생존율은 무처리 대비 100 Gy 32%, 200Gy 43%, 300 Gy 63%, 400 Gy 이상에서는 72~89%로 현저히 감소하였다. 감마선에 민감한 형질은 초장과 분지수였고, 둔감한 형질은 엽폭, 엽장, 엽수의 순으로 나타났으며, 초장, 분지수 및 생존율을 대상으로 한 황기의 생육 및 생존 반감 (LD50)에 해당하는 선량은 200~300 Gy로 나타났다. 종합적으로 감마선 처리구의 발아, 생존율 및 생육차이를 감안해 보았을 때 황기 돌연변이 유기를 위한 적정 감마선량은 200~300 Gy로 판단되었다.

의학적 중요성에도 불구하고 다년생 약용식물의 하나인 황기(Astragalus membranaceus)와 관련된 분자육종 연구의 전무한 편이다. 본 연구에서는 황기의 유묘를 대상으로 agroinfiltration법을 이용한 in planta 형질전환을 시도하였다. 형광 및 염색법에 의한 GUS발현 분석에서 황기는 Agrobacterium 감염이 쉽지 않은 것으로 나타났다. 그러나 발아 후 2-3일이 결과한 유묘에 대하여 NaOH나 과산화수소를 적절히 처리

황기(Astragalus membranaceus)를 첨가한 청국장의 품질 특성을 조사하였다. 수분함량은 발효가 진행됨에 따라 감소하였고 조단백은 약간 증가하였다. pH는 발효초기에 약간 감소한 후 증가하는 경향을 보였으며, 아미노태질소는 24시간까지는 황기 첨가구가 높았으나 이후에는 대조구가 높았다. 색도(명도, 적색도, 황색도)는 감소하였다. 발효온도 에서 ACE 저해도는 대조구 48시간 86.0%, 황기첨가구 24시간 95.3%로 가장 높은