Young Min Kang

Rapid comparison of metabolic equivalence of standard medicinal parts from medicinal plants and their in vitro -generated adventitious roots using FT-IR spectroscopy

To determine whether metabolite fingerprinting for whole cell extracts based on Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy can be used to discriminate and compare metabolic equivalence, standard medicinal parts from four medicinal plants (Cynanchum wilfordii Hemsley, Atractylodes japonica Koidz, Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg and Astragalus membranaceus Bunge) and their in vitro-produced adventitious roots were analyzed by FT-IR spectroscopy. The principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) from the FT-IR spectral data showed that the whole metabolic pattern from Cynanchum wilfordii was highly similar to Astragalus membranaceus. However, Atractylodes japonica and Polygonum multiflorum showed significantly different metabolic patterns. Furthermore, adventitious roots from Cynanchum wilfordii and Astragalus membranaceus also showed similar metabolic patterns compared to their standard medicinal parts. These results clearly show that mass proliferation of adventitious roots may be applied to aquire novel supply of standard medicinal parts from medicinal plants. However, the whole metabolic pattern from adventitious roots of Atractylodes japonica and Polygonum multiflorum were not similar to their standard medicinal parts. Furthermore, FT-IR spectroscopy combined with multivariate analyses established in this study may be applied as an alternative tool to discriminate the whole metabolic equivalence from several standard medicinal parts. Thus, we suggest that these metabolic discrimination systems may be applied for metabolic standardization of herbal medicinal resources.

Development of molecular markers for authentication of the medicinal plant species Patrinia by random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis and multiplex-PCR

The authentication of components from plant species is vital for the quality control and standardization of herbal medicines. Due to morphological similarities when dried, it is very difficult to distinguish authentic medicinal plants Patrinia villosa and P. scabiosifolia from adulterants of P. rupestris and P. saniculifolia in the herbal medicine Patriniae Radix. To establish a reliable authentication tool distinguishing authentic Patriniae Radix species from adulterants, we used random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) genomic profiling and obtained several species-specific DNA fragments for each of the four Patrinia species. Based on the sequences of these amplicons, we developed sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers as stable molecular authentication tools. SCAR markers to identify the authentic Patriniae Radix species, P. villosa and P. scabiosifolia, were developed. To accurately identify adulterants, we also developed SCAR markers able to identify the inauthentic P. rupestris and P. saniculifolia species. Furthermore, we established multiplex-PCR SCAR assays to simultaneously distinguish all four species using combinations of species-specific SCAR marker primer sets. These efforts resulted in reliable DNA-based molecular markers to identify authentic Patriniae Radix species from their adulterants and a rapid authentication assay for the efficient identification of Patrinia species. These markers will facilitate the standardization of Patriniae Radix preparations and therefore prevent the distribution of adulterants.

Molecular identification of Pinelliae Tuber, Arisaematis Rhizoma, and its common adulterants based on the DNA barcode sequences

PKA inhibitor which decreased hypertonic stress-induced AQP2 expression. On the other hand, pretreatment with ORS attenuated hypertonic stress-induced cell death. Hypertonic stress-induced Bax or caspase-3 expression was decreased by ORS, resulting in anti-apoptotic effect. Conclusion: Taken together, the present data suggest that the beneficial effect of ORS in water balance and apoptosis against in vitro hypertonic stress of renal collecting ducts. Contact: So Min Lee, dasonya@kiom.re.kr

Species Distribution and Characteristics of Wild Mice in Mt. Keumwon Recreational Forests

Abstract To provide basic information for wildlife management, we investigated the distribution and ecology of wild mice in Mt. Keumwon recreational forests. The trapped wild mice were a total of 4 species such as Eothenomys regulus, Apodemus speciosus peninsulae, Apodemus agarius, and Crocidura suaveolens. A total of 79 individuals from four species were trapped. Number of Eothenomys regulus was the highest as 41 individuals followed by Apodemus speciosus peninsulaeof 31 individuals, Apodemus agarius of 4 individuals, and Crocidura suaveolens of 4 individuals. Depending on forest type, 51 individuals were captured in broad-leaved forests, whereas 28 individuals were captured in coniferous forests. Average weight of the trapped Eothenomys regulus, Apodemus speciosus peninsulae, Apodemus agarius, and Crocidura suaveolens was 37.13 g, 36.29 g, 31.25 g, and 15 g, respectively. Among the trapped wild mice, vole which has the largest head and ears were Eothenomys regulus and vole which has the longest tail was Apodemus speciosus peninsulaeand Apodemus agarius (p＜0.5). This study might be valuable to control and predict some damages related to wild mice in Mt. Keumwon for protecting forest trees.Key Words: Apodemus agarius, Apodemus speciosus peninsulae, Crocidura suaveolens, Eothenomys regulus, Mt. Keumwon Recreational Forests

Essential Oil Yields and Chemical Compositions of Chamaecyparis obtuse Obtained from Various Populations and Environmental Factors

Abstract Essential oil yields and chemical compositions from 5 populations of Chamaecyparis obtusa with several environmental factors were investigated through essential oil extracted distillation apparatus and metabolite profiling by GC-MS analysis. Among the populations, content of essential oil at Gokseong was significantly higher than other populations. To compare the several environmental factors affecting on chemical composition and essential oil yields from C. obtuse at Gokseong, the environmental factors (soil condition, temperature, humidity, and moisture content) were measured during 1 year. The essential oils at Goksung based on humidity on March, July, and November was significantly different from other months. The essential oils at Goksung based on temperature on July and August was significantly different from other months. The essential oils at Goksung based on the moisture content on September were significantly different from other months. The percentage of T-N, OM, and yield of oil at Gokseong were significantly different on from other populations. The main constituents of C. obtusa at all populations were α-pinene, β-pinene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, terpinene-4-ol, isobonyl acetate, terpinyl acetate, and cedar acetate. Specially, Essential oil compositions (%) of α-terpinene and cedar acetate were higher at Gokseong than at other populations. The chemical compositions of essential oils were variable depend on populations and environmental conditions. Therefore, this study might be used as fundamental research on study for selection of high productive terpenoids and for understanding about biosynthesis of essential oils in C. obtusa.Key Words: Chamaecyparis obtusa, chemical composition, essential oil yields, environmental factors, terpenoids