Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji in Korea, has a wide range of pharmacologic properties, such as reducing adiposity and hyperlipidemia, and antiatherosclerotic effects. However, the mechanisms underlying these effects remain unclear. In order to profile proteins from the nodal segment, callus, root and shoot, high throughput proteome approach was executed in the present study. Two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 84 differential expressed proteins were confirmed out of 839 protein spots using image analysis by Progenesis SameSpot software. Out of total differential expressed spots, 58 differential expressed protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Out of 58 differential expressed protein, 32 protein spots were up-regulated such as ribulose- 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase, endoplasmic oxidoreductin-1, heat stress transcription factor A3, RNA pseudourine synthase 4, cysteine proteinase, GntR family transcriptional regulator, E3 xyloglucan 6-xylosyltransferase, while 26 differential protein spots were down-regulated such as L-ascorbate oxidase precursor, late embryogenesis abundant protein D-34, putative SCO1 protein, oxygen-evolving enhancer protein 3. However, frequency distribution of identified proteins using iProClass databases, and assignment by function based on gene ontology revealed that the identified proteins from the explants were mainly associated with the nucleic acid binding (17%), transferase activity (14%) and ion binding (12%). In that way, 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.

Platycodon grandiflorum is a perennial flowering plant, known as Chinese bell flower, widespread in northeast Asia. The roots of this species are used for centuries to treat diseases, and have extensive pharmacological effects such as reducing adiposity, hyperlipidemia as well as anti-atherosclerotic disorder. In this study, systematical and targeting proteome analysis were executed from the 3, 4 and 5 months aged diploid and tetraploid roots of Platycodon grandiflorum and the proteins were separated by 2-DE and stained by CBB. In diploid roots, a total of 30 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were analyzed using MASCOT search engine according to the similarity of sequences with previously characterized proteins along with the UniProt database. Among the 30 differentially expressed proteins, 21 proteins sopts were identified as up-regulated and 9 proteins were identified as down-regulated. In contrary, a total of 40 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from tetraploid roots whereas 28 protein spots were confirmed as up-regulated and 12 proteins were identified as down-regulated. However, the differentially expressed proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were classified into 12 and 14 possible functional categories respectively using Protein Information Resources. The results revealed that the identified proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots were mainly involved in oxidoreductase activity, nucleotide binding, transferase activity and catalytic activity in bellflower roots. In conclusion, the exclusive proteins from diploid and tetraploid roots may provide insight clues for better understanding the characteristics and functions of proteins and metabolic activity of Platycodon grandiflorum.

Platycodon grandiflorum, known as Doraji in Korea, is used in various medications and traditional cuisine in Korea. This study was conducted to characterize the hormonal effects of diploid and tetraploid roots of P. grandiflorum using proteomics technique. Prior to proteome analysis, different kinds of growth hormones; IBA (1mg/L), NAA (1mg/L) and IAA (1mg/L) were applied in the adventitious (Diploid and tetraploid) roots for investigation. Solid (1/4MS) and liquid (1/2MS) medium were performed in the present study to investigate the hormonal effects. In diploid roots, two dimensional gels stained with CBB, a total of 1154 protein spots were identified using image analysis by Ludesi REDFIN 3 programme (Ludesi AB, Lund, Sweden: www.ludesi.com). Out of 1154 differential expressed protein spots, a total of 33 protein spots (≥ 2-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Among the 33 protein spots, 7 protein spots were up-regulated in IBA, 12 proteins in NAA and 14 proteins in IAA. In the case of tetraploid roots that performed under solid medium, a total of 842 differentially expressed protein spots were identified of which 34 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were selected for mass spectrometry. Out of 34 protein spots, 11 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 10 proteins in NAA and 13proteins in IAA. However, a total of 659 differentially expressed proteins were confirmed from the liquid medium of tetraploid roots from which 32 proteins spots (≥ 1.5-fold) were sorted for MS analysis. Out of these 32 proteins, a total of 3 proteins were up-regulated in IBA, 7 proteins in NAA and 22 proteins in IAA. The identified proteins may provide insight clues for better understanding of the characteristics of proteins and biological activity from adventitious roots of Platycodon grandiflorum.

도라지를 수확 후 진공포장, 밀폐포장, 질소가스포장 후 저온과 상온에 100일 동안 저장하면서 저장 50일과 100일에 도라지 경도와 사포닌 함량을 조사한 결과를 요약하면 아래와 같다.1.저장온도에 따른 도라지의 경도는 저온저장이 상온저장보다 높게 나타났으며, 저장기간이 길어질수록 도라지의 경도는 낮아졌다. 2.저장방법에 따른 도라지의 경도는 저장 50일차 지퍼팩을 이용한 밀봉에서 1,765 g으로 가장 높게 나타났으며, 저장온도와 저장방법과의 상호작용에서는 고도의 유의성(P≤0.01)이 인정되었다.3.저장온도에 따른 platycodin D3, polygalacin D, 그리고 deapioplatycodin D의 함량조성이 다르게 나타났다.4. 저장기간에 따른 platycodin D3와 polygalacin D의 함량은 저장 50일 이후 감소하는 경향을 보였지만, deapio-platycodin D는 저장기간이 길어질수록 증가하는 경향을 보였다.

본 연구에서는 기능성이 우수한 도라지를 이용하여 흑도라지를 제조하였으며, 흑도라지 추출물, 사과즙, 대추추출물의 혼합비율을 달리하여 흑도라지 사과주스를 제조하고 각각의 품질특성과 기능성을 분석하였다. 흑도라지 사과주스의 pH는 3.90∼4.15이었으며, 산도는 1.2에서 1.5 사이를 나타내었다. 당도를 측정한 결과 흑도라지 사과주스 E가 가장 높은 값(9.33 °Brix)을 나타내었으며, 환원당 함량의 경우 흑도라지 사과주스 E가 85.05 mg/mL로 가장 높은 함량을 나타내었고, 흑도라지 사과주스 B가 41.23 mg/mL로 가장 낮은 함량을 보였다. 당산비 수치의 경우 당도와 환원당 함량이 가장 높은 흑도라지 사과주스 E가 6.98%로 가장 높은 수치를 보였다. 색도는 명도와 황색도는 흑도라지 사과주스 E가 가장 높았으며 적색도는 흑도라지 사과주스 C가 가장 높았다. 관능적 특성을 측정한 결과 향미를 제외한 모든 항목에서 흑도라지 사과주스 C가 가장 우수하게 나타났다. 총 폴리페놀 함량은 흑도라지 사과주스 D가 가장 높은 폴리페놀 함량(706 ㎍/mL)과 항산화 활성을 보였으나 흑도라지 사과주스 C와 항산화 활성에 유의적인 차이는 없었다. 따라서 흑도라지 사과주스 C가 관능적 특성 및 항산화 활성이 우수하여, 흑도라지 사과주스 제조를 위해 흑도라지 추출물, 사과주스, 대추추출물을 2:4:1의 비율로 혼합하는 것이 가장 바람직 할 것으로 판단된다.