Aster koraiensis Nakai (A. koraiensis) which has been used as a food and medicinal plant in the past, is valuable as functional food material. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant properties and major phenolics of A. koraiensis extracts with different ethanol concentrations (0, 50, 70, and 100% aqueous ethanol solution). When ethanol concentration in the extraction solvent was increased, extraction yield decreased; 34.2, 23.2, 21.0, and 5.5% in 0, 50, 70, and 100% ethanolic extracts, respectively. Total phenolics content and antioxidant activities of extracts were increased in an ethanol concentration-dependant manner. The major phenolics in the extracts were chlorogenic acid (21.264~58.666 mg/g), isochlorogenic acid A (10.432~145.353 mg/g), and isochlorogenic acid C(0.239~13.148 mg/g), and these phenolic contents were higher in 70 and 100% ethanolic extracts than other extracts. Significant correlations were observed between ethanol concentration of extraction solvent, antioxidant properties, and major phenolics. These results indicated that the optimal ethanol concentration for extraction was 70%.

This study investigates the chemical compositions of Aster koraiensis Nakai essential oils and the quantitative changes of major terpene compounds according to various harvesting times. The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Aster koraiensis Nakai are being analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The essential oil compositions of Aster koraiensis Nakai are characterized byhigher contents of sesquiterpene compounds. Ninety-seven volatile flavor compounds are being identified in the essential oils from Aster koraiensis Nakai harvested in 2010, and caryophyllene oxide (8.38%), aristolene (7.08%), epiglobulol (5.57%), and ethyl furanone (4.73%) are the most abundant compounds. Ninety-five compounds are identified in the essential oils from the plants harvested in 2011, and aristolene (11.56%), calarene (9.33%), phytol (8.28%), ethyl furanone (7.63%), and epiglobulol (7.18%) are the most abundant compounds. Ninety-five compounds are being identified in the essential oils from the plants harvested in 2012, and calarene (15.3%), aristolene (14.24%), ethyl furanone (7.21%), phytol (6.98%) are the major compounds. The contents of aristolene, α-caryophyllene, α-muurolene, α-calacorene, aromadendrene oxide, and calarene increase significantly from 2010 to 2012. The contents of α-cubebene, isocaryophyllene, and diepi-α-cedrene epoxide decrease significantly from 2010 to 2012. The quantitative changes of aristolene and calarene according to harvesting time can be served as a quality index of the Aster koraiensis Nakai essential oils.

본 연구는 수확 후 몇가지 전, 후처리가 자생식물인 벌개미취의 수명과 품질에 미치는 영향을 구명하여 벌 개비취를 상품성이 있는 절화로 개발하고자 수행되었다. 수확 후 3% sucrose + 200 mg·L−1 HQC + 50 mg·L−1 AgNO3+ 50mg·L−1 BA와 3% sucrose + 200 mg·L−1 HQC + 50 mg·L−1 AgNO3+ 150mg·L−1 citric acid 용 액에 16시간 동안 전처리한 경우 증류수구보다 절화수 명이 1.4배 길어졌다. 3% sucrose + 200mg·L−1 HQC + 50 mg·L−1 AgNO3+ 50 mg·L−1 BA와 3% sucrose + 200mg·L−1 HQC + 50mg·L−1 AgNO3+50mg·L−1 GA3 보존용액에 계속 침지한 벌개미취는 증류수에 비해 절 화수명이 1.6배와 1.7배 길어졌다. 이 처리에서 생체중 이 증가되고 수분균형도 늦게까지 플러스 값을 유지하여 절화수명이 길어짐을 알 수 있었다. 벌개미취 절화수명에 생체중과 수분균형이 매우 큰 영향을 미치는 것으로 판단되었다.

Background: The plant Aster koraiensis has long been used as an ingredient in folk medicine. It has been reported that Aster koraiensis extract (AKE) prevents the progression of diabetes-induced retinopathy and nephropathy. However, although these beneficial effects of AKE on diabetes complications have been identified, the antidiabetic effects of AKE have not yet been completely investigated and quantified. In the present study, the glucose-lowering and antioxidant effects of aqueous and ethanolic AKEs were evaluated. Methods and Results: The glucose-lowering effects of aqueous and ethanolic (30%−, 50%−, and 80%-ethanol) AKEs were investigated via α-glucosidase inhibitory assays. The mode of inhibition by AKEs on α-glucosidase was identified through kinetic analysis. The total antioxidant capacity of each of the 4 AKEs was evaluated by assessing their conversion rate of Cu2+ to Cu+. The content of chlorogenic acid and 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, the bioactive compounds in AKE, in each extract were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The AKEs showed potent α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with mixed inhibition mode, and significant antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: These results of this study suggested that the AKEs tested had α-glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant effects. Among the extracts, the 80% ethanol extract showed the most significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 value) of 1.65 ± 0.36㎎/㎖ and a half maximal effective concentration (EC50 value) for its antioxidant activity of 0.42 ± 0.10㎎/㎖. It can therefore be used as a source of therapeutic agents to treat diabetes patients.

Background : Medicinal wild vegetables refer to wild medicinal plants whose aerial parts are edible. Recent researches for developing a functional food product from medicinal wild vegetables have been actively reported. The objective of this study is to test anti-diabetic activity of 2 medicinal wild vegetables, Allium victorialis and Aster koraiensis. Methods and Results : The medicinal wild vegetables were extracted using water and ethanol. Several medicinal wild vegetables were screened for anti-diabetic activity using α-glucosidase inhibitor screening test (colorimetric). It utilizes the ability of an active α-glucosidase to cleave a synthetic substrate and releasing a chromophore (OD 410 ㎚). In the presence of an α-glucosidase specific inhibitor, the enzymatic activity is greatly reduced which is detected by a decrease of absorbance readings. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of acarbose was compared with wild vegetables extracts at 1 ㎎/㎖. And A. victorialis and A. koraiensis extracts were selected. α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of A. victorialis and A. koraiensis extracts were confirmed in various concentration. Conclusion : These results suggest that A. victorialis and A. koraiensis could be good candidates for anti-diabetic material.

This study was conducted to elucidate the photosynthetic response to the environment and establish optimum cultivation conditions for the Korean endemic plant, Aster koraiensis. Photosynthetic characteristics according to growth stage, light, CO2, and soil water potential were investigated. During the first year of transplanting, photosynthetic rates were drastically increased until June, after which they slowly declined, During the second year, photosynthetic rates declined throughout the entire growth period. The highest level of light compensation point was shown the early growth stage. Photosynthetic rates affected by intercellular CO2 concentration were maintained or decreased over the CO2 saturation point. The lowest CO2 compensation point was 16.1 μmol･mol -1 during March. The morphological changes of leaves were observed due to shading with chlorophyll contents increasing. Photosynthetic rates were higher at 0% and 50% shading treatments than at 75%. There were rarely any morphological changes of leaves due to soil moisture, however, changes to leaf compactness were observed. Photosynthetic rate, apparent quantum yield, and respiration rate increased, whereas water use efficiency decreased over -25 kPa of soil moisture.

조경식물인 금낭화, 돌단풍, 할미꽃, 붉은잎동자꽃, 벌개미취의 개화기 예측에 필요한 적산온도를 구명하였다. 경기도 수원시에 위치한 국립원예특작과학원에서 2013년 3월 시험포에 식재된 관상식물 5종을 채취하여 컨테이너(30×30×30cm)에 원예용 상토를 이용하여 식재하여 시험포와 온실에 4반복으로 배치하였다. 1주일 간격으로 개아기, 전엽기, 개화기를 조사하였으며 온도를 측정하였다. 온실과 시험포의 적산온도의 비교 결과 조경식물 5종의 생육단계에 따른 적산온도는 금낭화 개아기 176.3±9.12℃, 전엽기 265.1±47.63℃, 개화기 476.1±112.43℃, 돌단풍 개아기 170.0± 32.56℃, 전엽기 352.8±176.84℃, 개화기 452.3 ±17.74℃, 할미꽃 개아기 152.0±7.17℃, 전엽기 266.2 ±54.36℃, 개화기 410.4± 41.58℃, 붉은잎동자꽃 개화기 186.1±22.92℃, 전엽기 205.8± 16.92℃, 개화기 1426.6±135.99℃, 벌개미취 개아기 163.5±9.02, 전엽기 190.6±4.55, 개화기 2714.9±88.97로 나타났다.

본 연구는 자생 벌개미취를 이용하여 다양한 토양에 오염된 중금속의 정화 가능성을 분석하기 위하여 시행되었다. 중금속으로 오염된 논, 밭 및 수림지에 벌개미취를 식재하여 8주간 재배한 후 생육 및 중금속 흡수능을 분석하였다. 벌개미취는 중금속으로 오염된 논, 밭 및 수림지에서 8주 동안 재배한 결과 벌개미취는 중금속 오염 토양에서도 생육이 우수한 것으로 나타나 중금속 내성이 있는 것으로 생각되었다. 또한 중금속에 오염된 다양한 토양에서 벌개미취가 흡수한 비소, 카드뮴, 구리, 납 및 아연의 함량을 분석한 결과, 벌개미취는 5종의 중금속을 모두 흡수하는 것으로 나타났으나, 토양 내 중금속의 함량 및 토성에 따라 흡수능이 각기 다르게 나타났다. 비소, 카드뮴 및 구리의 경우에는 토양 내 중금속 함량에 영향을 많이 받는 것으로 나타났으며, 토양 내 중금속의 함량이 높을수록 흡수능이 증가되었다. 납은 토양 내 중금속의 함량 보다는 토성에 의하여 흡수능이 달라지는 경향을 보였으며, 사질토인 수림지에서 흡수능이 가장 증가되었다. 아연의 흡수능은 토양 내 아연의 함량과 토성이 모두 영향을 미쳤는데, 고농도의 중금속으로 오염된 논과 밭에서 재배하였을 때 아연의 흡수능이 증가하는 것으로 나타났다. 연구의 결과, 벌개미취는 중금속에 대한 내성이 있으며, 다양한 중금속에 대한 흡수능이 우수하므로 중금속으로 오염된 여러 종류의 토양에 적용 가능한 경관식물 소재로 이용할 수 있을 것으로 생각되었다.