To establish a non-antibiotic selection system that utilizes the phosphomannose-isomerase (PMI) gene for Chinese cabbage transformation, we first determined the optimum mannose concentration for selecting transformed cells. Hypocotyl and cotyledon explants that were grown on media containing more than 5 g L 1 mannose did not induce green calli but, rather became chlorotic and withered before dying. In contrast, media containing 20 g I. 1 sucrose plus 5 g L -1 mannose proved suitable for selection. We then used this particular level of mannose to transform hypocotyl tissues. Within 6 weeks, shoots were regenerated from some of the calli; subsequently, these plants were transplanted to pots and grown in the greenhouse. A 514-bp PCR fragment was obtained from most transformants but not from the non-transformed plants. Southern blot analysis also revealed the expected PMI gene in those PCR-confirmed transgenic plants. RT-PCR of total RNA was performed to confirm P&fl expression. We have now demonstrated that this gene does not inhibit the growth of transgenic plants, and that this selection system can be applied to Chinese cabbage transformation.

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To search for the aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors from Korean folk plants, the inhibition of rat lens AR in vitro using the methanol (MeOH) extracts from Korean folk plants was investigated. Among fifty four Korean folk plants tested, the MeOH extract of Cedrela sinensis showed highest inhibition of AR (IC50 value, 2.52 μg/ml). The plant C. sinensis has a possibility of new natural resources for the development of AR inhibitor for the prevention of diabetic complications.

This study was carried out in order to catalogue the folk plants of 7 counties and cities of northern region of Chungcheongbuk-do from March to October, 2011. Based on the 626 survey sheets collected from 67 residents at 17 places of 7 counties and were subsequently analysed. The identified folk plants in the northern region of Chungcheongbuk-do consisted of a total 348 taxa; 98 families, 250 genera, 298 species, 5 subspecies, 38 varieties, and 7 forms. The use by its usage were: 223 taxa; edible, 123 taxa; medicinal, 4 taxa; dye, 2 taxa; aroma, 6 taxa; spice, 32 taxa; ornamental, 11 taxa; oil, 4 taxa; starch, 22 taxa; and others, respectively, so the edible use is the highest. The most useful part was the leaf, followed by fruit and root. The consistency comparison between the scientific and the local name were the highest in the 50's and the lowest in 80's.

-We investigated the effect of extracts(50 µg/mL) from 31 folk plants in Ulleung Island on nitric oxide(NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Actinidia arguta(leaf, twig), Hovenia dulcis(leaf), Camellia japonica(leaf, twig), Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula(leaf, twig) and Fallopia sachalinensis(root) showed significant NO inhibition activity(42%~88% NO inhibition rate). Of them, we selected 3 samples (A. arguta, H. dulcis and C. japonica) showing more than 50% NO inhibition activity and little effect on cell viability. We found that the extracts suppressed the NO and prostaglandin E2(PGE2) produced by LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells in dose-dependent manners.