The influence of sodium hypochlorite and ethephon on the germination of narrow-leaved purple coneflower (Echinacea angustifolia) was investigated. Treatment of seeds with ethephon (1 mM) for 2 h followed by soaking in 0.525% sodium hypochlorite greatly increased germination (>90%). The treatment of seed with a combination of sodium hypochlorite and ethephon shortened number of days required to reach 50% of the final germination (T₅₀) from 4.2 days in control to 1.1 days. Seedlings grown from ethephon-treated seeds had shorter and thicker hypocotyls and roots with higher dry weights compared to the control. The same trend was observed during seedling emergence from soil. Ethephon treatment longer than 2 h resulted in weaker seedlings, probably due to leaf senescence. Anthocyanin content in seedling leaves increased linearly from 0.04 mg/g fresh weight in control to 3.72 mg/g fresh weight in 24 h treatment as the time of seed exposure to ethephon increased. Seed treatment with bleach and ethephon may well be practiced to facilitate the establishment of E. angustifolia in the field.

The production of adventitious roots derived from root explant of Echinacea angustifolia and its secondary metabolite content were assessed in different types and levels of auxin. The induction of adventitious roots from root explant cultured in Murashige and Skoog solid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L indole -3-butyric acid (IBA) attained highest as 20.87 mg fresh weight and 3.07 mg dry weight per culture but root suspension culture at the same concentration of IBA enhanced biomass production as 3.07 g fresh weight and 0.38 g per culture after 4 weeks in culture. 3.0 mg/L α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) treatment had similar effect on root biomass production as 3.07 g fresh weight and 0.38 g per culture with liquid suspension culture, whereas adventitious roots exposed to over 3.0-5.0 mg/L IBA or 5.0 mg/L NAA were less responsive by reducing the number of adventitious roots and/or changing root morphology such as short and thick. The content of secondary metabolites such as phenolic, flavonoids and total caffeic acid in adventitious roots cultured on MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L IBA were attained highest as 27.20, 9.60. 10.67 mg/g dry weight, respectively. Overall, the best production of root biomass and secondary metabolites were given by 1.0 mg/L IBA.

일반적으로 쌍떡잎식물 국화과 허브의 한 종인 에키네시아는 미국 북미 대평원에 서식하는 야생 식물로 수세기동안 감기나 또 다른 바이러스 감염에 의한 질병에 대하여 면역 기능을 증진시키는 전통 식물 약제로 널리 사용되어 왔다. 본 연구에서는 생물반응장치를 이용하여 조직 배양된 에키네시아 식물체에 대하여 화장품 성분으로써 응용 가치를 평가하였다. 이미 몇몇 보고된 논문에서 에키네시아는 조직재생, 상처 치유, 그리고 염증 억제 등의 약리학적 활성에 대한 연구가 진행되었다. 본 연구에서는 생물반응장치를 이용하여 조직 배양된 에키네시아 추출물에 대하여 화장품 성분으로서 효능, 효과를 평가하였다. 실험 결과 조직배양된 에키네시아 추출물은 항산화 효과 및 단백분해효소 발현 억제 효과가 자연 상태의 에키네시아 추출물과 비교하여 우수한 결과를 보였다. 이러한 결과들은 피부보호를 위한 화장품 성분으로서 응용 가능성을 제공할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.