Hypochaeris radicata, native to Europe and Eurasia, is a perennial plant of the Asteraceae family. In Korea, H. radicata was reported in 1992, mainly in Jeju Island, and gradually spreading to the inland. It overwinters in the form of a rosette and blooms yellow flowers from May to June. H. radicata propagates by seeds and rhizomes. The germination temperature of the seed is 15/20°C (day/night), and the rhizome forms a new plant at a depth of 2-3 cm in the soil. The roots of H. radicata secrete allelochemicals that inhibit the development of other plants. Some use it as a salad or forage substitute but to a limited extent. However, extensive research on ampicillin contained in H. radicata has been conducted, and its anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects have been recognized. There are only a few methods to manage H. radicata both culturally and physically. In orchards, soil treatments such as oxyfluorfen and diclobenil, or nonselective foliar treatments such as glufosinate-ammonium and glyphosate are used. Notably, there are no known biological control agents.

Background: Invasion of these invasive plants in the ecosystem threatens the habitat of endemic species, reduces biodiversity, and causes a disturbance in the ecological system. Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae), the most invasive plant in Korea, particularly in Jeju Island, invades farmlands, and autochthonous forests, resulting in the establishment of monocultures and modification of the ecosystem structure. Methods and Results: In this study was, we evaluated the biological activity of 70% ethanolic extracts from different parts of Hypochaeris radicata L. The biological activities of 70% ethanolic extracts of different parts, such as flower, leaf, stem, and root, of H. radicata were investigated. The total polyphenol content was highest in flower extracts (50.82 ± 3.16 ㎎ · GAE/g). In addition, the highest flavonoid content was observed in flower extract (15.19 ± 2.03㎎ · QE/g). The flower extract of H. radicata exhibited stronger DPPH radical-scavenging activities, ABTS radical scavenging activities, and reducing power than the other parts. The flower extract of H. radicata was observed to have the highest tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Conclusions: The flower extracts of H. radicata exhibited remarkable antioxidant activity as well as tyrosinase and α-glucosidase inhibitory effects. These activities might be related to the phenolic compounds present in the H. radicata flower extract.

Background : Some of invasive plants, which were introduced from foreign countries, have caused problems in Korea. Invasion of these invasive plants in the ecosystem threatens the habitat of endemic species, reducing biodiversity, and causing a disturbance in the ecological system. Hypochaeris radicata L. (Asteraceae), the most invasive plants in Korea, particularly in Jeju Island, invade farmland, and autochthonous forest, establishing monocultures and modifying the ecosystem structure. This invasive species has become a serious environmental problem because they displace the indigenous plant species. This study was conducted to evaluate the antioxidantive effects of ethanolic extracts from different parts (root, stem, seed and leaf) of the invasive exotic species Hypochaeris radicata L. Methods and Results : The aim of present study was to estimate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and to investigate in vitro antioxidant potential of ethanolic leaf, root, seed, and stem extracts of the Hypochaeris radicata. Antioxidant activity was assessed by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, reducing power activity, [2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] ABTS+ assay and ferrous ion chelating activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined and expressed in gallic acid and quercetin equivalent respectively. The results of the study indicate that the ethanolic extracts of the leaf, root, seed, and stem of H. radicata posses significant scavenging activity against DPPH (21.25% for leaf, 34.98% for root, 60.76% for seed and 45.25% for stem at 250 μg/ml each) and ABTS+ radical scavenging activity (14.85% for leaf, 17.40% for root, 35.91% for seed and 24.70% for stem at 250 μg/ml each), reducing power activity (0.178 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for leaf, 0.211 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for root, 0.447 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for seed, 0.276 absorbance at 300 μg/ml for stem). The free radical scavenging and antioxidant activities may be attributed to the presence of adequate phenolic (gallic acid content is 361.92.98 μg/g in leaf, 356.59μg/g in root, 719.72 μg/g in seed and 512.08 μg/g stem) and flavonoid compounds (219.52 μg/g in leaf, 75.67μg/g in root, 281.39 μg/g in seed and 215.66 μg/g stem). This study revealed that the ethanolic extracts of both leaf, root, seed and stem of H. radicata has demonstrated significant antioxidant activity. Conclusion : In conclusion, the present study has demonstrated that Hypochaeris radicata seed ethanol extracts are rich in phenolics and have a strong antioxidant activity and a radical-scavenging action in all of the tested methods. This suggests that Hypochaeris radicata is a good source of natural antioxidants.

서양금혼초의 군락 형성에 따른 경쟁적 우세원인을 규명하고 친환경농자재 개발을 위한 기초자료로 제공하고자 생육특성과 Allelopathy 효과를 알아보았다. 서양금혼초의 생육특성은 예초지역과 비예초지역간의 묘조(苗條) 수, 지상부 직경과 화주 수를 비교한 결과 예초지역의 묘조(苗條) 수, 지상부의 직경과 화주수가 비예초지역보다 높은 것으로 조사되었고, 서양금혼초의 수용성 추출액에 대한 레드클로버(Trifolium pratense), 들묵새(Festuca myuros), 도깨비바늘(Bidens bipinnata) 등 실험식물 14종 대해 발아와 생장 실험 결과 일반적으로 수용성 추출액의 농도가 증가함에 따라 검정식물의 발아율, 유식물의 뿌리털, shoot, root의 생장이 억제되었고 검정식물의 종류와 부위에 따라 억제정도에 있어서 차이를 보였다. 또한 서양금혼초의 수용성 추출액에 대한 실험곰팡이의 생장에 있어서는 Pythium속, Phytophthora속은 수용성 추출액의 농도가 높아짐에 따라 성장이 억제되는 경향을 보인 반면, Rhizoctonia속인 경우에는 농도가 높아짐에 따라 생장억제 현상이 뚜렷하지 않았다. 이와 같은 결과를 종합하여 보면 서양금혼초의 예초는 서양금혼초의 Split현상을 유도하여 더 많은 영양번식과 종자번식을 일으켜 군락을 형성하고, 서양금혼초에 함유된 allelochemicals에 의해 타 식물체의 발아와 생장, 미생물의 생장 등에 관여하기 때문에 제주도내 생태계에서 경쟁적 우위를 점하고 있으며, 친환경농자재로서의 활용 가능성이 있는 것으로 판단되었다.