Specimens collected from sweet potato plants with slime mold symptoms in fields in Daejeon, Korea were examined. Two species of Myxomycetes, Fuligo septica and Stemonitis herbatica were identified based on their morphological characteristics. This is the first report that the two species of Myxomycetes cause slime mold of sweet potato in Korea.
Fungi* ; Ipomoea batatas* ; Korea ; Myxomycetes*

AIM: AMany oxidative stress-related diseases occur as a result of the accumulation of free radicals in the body. Free radicals are generated by various endogenous systems, exposure to different physiochemical conditions, or pathological states. A balance between free radicals and antioxidants is necessary for appropriate physiological function. A lot of studies are going on worldwide directed towards finding natural antioxidants of plant origin. FTIR spectroscopy is used to develop a rapid and effective analytical method for studying the main constituents in medicinal plants. The chemical constituents in the plants were identified and monitored for their medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activities and FTIR spectroscopic analysis of the ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides. METHOD: Free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract of the whole plant of E. alsinoides was evaluated by in vitro methods, including total antioxidant assay (FRAP method) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity using ascorbic acid as a standard. The degree of lipid peroxidation was examined by estimating the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) using standard methods and the functional groups were analyzed using FTIR spectroscopy. The IR spectrum in the mid-infrared region 4 000-400 cm(-1) was used for discriminatio and to identify various functional groups present in E. alsinoides. RESULTS: The findings indicated the presence of amino acids, amides, amines, carboxylic acids, carbonyl compounds, organic hydrocarbons, and halogens in the ethanolic extract of E. alsinoides, and the antioxidant activities were significantly increased, when compared with the standard antioxidant ascorbic acid, in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION The findings indicated promising antioxidant activity of the crude extract of E. alsinoides, and needs further exploration for their potential effective use.
Antioxidants ; analysis ; Convolvulaceae ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; Free Radical Scavengers ; analysis ; Plant Extracts ; analysis ; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared

Four new octadecanoid derivatives (1-4) including a pair of enantiomers (1/2), along with 12 known analogues (5-16), were isolatedfrom the seeds of Ipomoea nil. Their structures were determined by detailed spectroscopic analyses and comparison with reported data of structurally related compounds, with the absolute configurations of 1 and 2 being assigned by an in situ dimolybdenum ECD method. Our bioassays revealed that these isolates did not show ABTS radical scavenging activity while 10 and 13 displayed better α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than the positive control acarbose (IC 167.7 ± 1.55 μmol·L), with IC of 92.73 ± 3.12 and 11.39 ± 2.18μmol·L, respectively.
Fatty Acids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Ipomoea nil ; chemistry ; Molecular Structure ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Seeds ; chemistry

The aim of this study was to use purple sweet potato powder to develop a recipe for a nutritional cookie with an optimal composition of ingredients and texture, in order to acquire strong preference responses by all age groups in sensory tests. Wheat flour was partially substituted with purple sweet potato powder to reduce the wheat flour content of the cookies. Measurements were made and analyzed according to the Response Surface Methodology technique, which showed 16 experimental points including 3 replicates for the purple sweet potato powder, sugar, and butter. The compositional and functional properties of the sample were measured, and the values obtained were applied to a mathematical model. A canonical form and perturbation plot showed the influence of each ingredient on the final product mixture. The results of sensory evaluations showed very significant values for flavor (P<0.0071), texture (P<0.0306), taste (P<0.0190), and overall quality (P<0.0142). Instrumental analysis showed significant values for hardness (P<0.0027), yellowness (P<0.0061) and spread ratio (P<0.0001). The optimal compositional ratios were determined to be 21.75 g for the purple sweet potato powder, 37.05 g for the sugar, and 60.59 g for the butter.
Butter ; Flour ; Hardness ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Models, Theoretical ; Triticum

OBJECTIVEAn accurate and reliable analytical method for-simultaneous determination of six active components (scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C) in plants of Erycibe was developed.

METHODScopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C in the samples were well separated in analytical HPLC by gradual elution with methanol-0.1% formic acid solution. The chromatographic condictions: Agilent Poroshell 120 EC-C18 column, flowing rate being 1 mL x min(-1), detecting wavelength at 345 nm.

RESULTGood linearities of scopolin, chlorogenic acid, scopoletin, isochlorogenic acid A, isochlorogenic acid B and isochlorogenic acid C were in the range of 0.026 8-2.68, 0.027 0-2.70, 0.008 1-0.81, 0.018 8-1.88, 0.017 6-1.76, 0.019 6-1.96 μg, respectively (r > 0.999 6). The average recoveries of the six components were 98.1%, 98.7%, 100.8%, 100.4%, 99.7%, 101.1%; the relative standard deviations were 2.67%, 2.86%, 2.62%, 1.98%, 2.76%, 2.19%.

CONCLUSIONThe method is simple, feasible and reproducible and can be used for the quality control of plants of Erycibe.

China ; Chlorogenic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Convolvulaceae ; chemistry ; Coumarins ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; Glucosides ; analysis ; Scopoletin ; analysis

In this study, we aimed to characterize fungal samples from necrotic lesions on collar regions observed in different sweetpotato growing regions during 2015 and 2016 in Korea. Sclerotia appeared on the root zone soil surface, and white dense mycelia were observed. At the later stages of infection, mother roots quickly rotted, and large areas of the plants were destroyed. The disease occurrence was monitored at 45 and 84 farms, and 11.8% and 6.8% of the land areas were found to be infected in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Fungi were isolated from disease samples, and 36 strains were preserved. Based on the cultural and morphological characteristics of colonies, the isolates resembled the reference strain of Sclerotium rolfsii. Representative strains were identified as S. rolfsii (teleomorph: Athelia rolfsii) based on phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacer and large subunit genes along with morphological observations. To test the pathogenicity, sweetpotato storage roots were inoculated with different S. rolfsii strains. ‘Yulmi’ variety displayed the highest disease incidence, whereas ‘Pungwonmi’ resulted in the least. These findings suggested that morphological characteristics and molecular phylogenetic analysis were useful for identification of S. rolfsii.
Agriculture ; Fungi ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ipomoea batatas* ; Ipomoea* ; Korea* ; Mothers ; Soil ; Virulence

OBJECTIVETo identify the free radical scavenging activity of ethanolic extract of Evolvulus alsinoides.

METHODSThe free radical scavenging activity was evaluated by in vitro methods like reducing power assay, total antioxidant activity, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) reduction, superoxide radical scavenging activity, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS(+)) scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging assay, and nitric oxide radical scavenging assay, which were studied by using ascorbic acid as standard.

RESULTSThe extract showed significant activities in all antioxidant assays compared with the reference antioxidant ascorbic acid. The total antioxidant activity as well as the reducing power was also found to increase in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONEvolvulus alsinoides may act as a chemopreventive agent, providing antioxidant properties and offering effective protection from free radicals.

Antioxidants ; chemistry ; Benzothiazoles ; chemistry ; Biphenyl Compounds ; chemistry ; Convolvulaceae ; chemistry ; Ethanol ; chemistry ; Free Radical Scavengers ; chemistry ; Hydroxyl Radical ; chemistry ; Nitric Oxide ; chemistry ; Oxidation-Reduction ; drug effects ; Picrates ; chemistry ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; Sulfonic Acids ; chemistry ; Superoxides ; chemistry

In the present study, three compounds were isolated from Argyreia acuta, among them, compounds 1 and 2 were new and Compounds 1 and 3 were isomers. They were separated by several types of columns, such as normal phase, RP, size exclusion and preparative HPLC, and their structures were elucidated by several spectroscopic methods, such as 1D- and 2D-NMR and HR-TOF-MS.
Convolvulaceae ; chemistry ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; Glycosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Isomerism ; Mass Spectrometry ; Molecular Structure ; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular ; Plant Components, Aerial ; chemistry ; Resins, Plant ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Spectrophotometry

China is the largest country of cultivating sweet potato in the world. The resources of sweet potato vines (SPV) are huge. To exploit the rich resources, SPV of XuShu 18 was selected as raw materials since it is cultivated in China widely. Polysaccharide from SPV was extracted by pilot instrument and precipitated by ethanol. The decolouring technology was studied. By primary purification, we obtained the polysaccharide from SPV (PSPV) and studied its physical and chemical characters. Using DEAE-cellulose column and NaCl solution as eluting reagent, three kinds of pure polysaccharide, named PSPV I, PSPV II and PSPVIII respectively, were obtained. Then the molecular weight distribution and sugar compositions were studied using High Performance Gel Filtration Chromatography and GC. The followings are the results. PSPV I was separated from PSPV which was extracted from SPV harvested in the middle of June. Its M.W. is 6.278 x 10(4) D and is mainly composed of Xylose, Mannose and Glucose. PSPV II and PSPVIII were separated from PSPV which was extracted from SPV harvested in the middle of October. Their M.W. are 3.801 x 10(4) D and 1.418 x 10(4) D respectively. PSPVII is mainly composed of mannose and galactan. PSPVIII is mainly composed of glucose, xylose and rhamnose. The results provide theoretical basis for the utilization of SPV.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Ipomoea batatas ; chemistry ; Plant Stems ; chemistry ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification

OBJECTIVES: Vegetables are the most left over side dishes in school lunch programs. This study intended to analyze the differences in preference for vegetables among the students of different age groups in order to determine potential ways of increasing vegetable consumption in this study group. METHODS: A total of 308 primary to university students in Gyeongbuk area were recruited and a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The preference score (7-Likert scale: very much dislike (1)~so-so (4)~like very much (7)) and intake frequency (5-Likert scale) of 48 kinds of vegetables in 4 vegetable groups, such as vegetable (fruit-, root-, leaf-, and stalk- vegetable), seaweeds, mushrooms, and kimchi were investigated, and data were analyzed by SPSS WIN (ver 12.0). RESULTS: The preference scores of vegetables except for seaweeds were significantly different among school groups, university was the highest, followed by high school. Primary and middle school students showed the lowest preference score, especially for leaf- and stalk- vegetables. The preference score for seaweeds was the highest of 5.28, followed by kimchi of 4.99. With regard to kimchis, the preference score was the highest in university', followed by high school, middle school, and primary school' was the lowest. The number of vegetables with < 4.0 preference score was the highest in primary school of 16, 15 in middle school, 11 in high school, and 7, the lowest in university. The vegetable with preference score of < 4.0 in all 4 school groups were mallow, chard, bud, radish leaf, mugwort, butterbur and sweet potato stalk. With regard to the intake frequency of vegetables, kimchis, an indispensable part of the Korean diet, was the highest of 2 times/day, followed by cooked vegetables of 1.5 times/day. The correlation coefficients between preference scores and intake frequencies were statistically significant in all groups of vegetables. As for the coefficient of variation (CV) of preference score, primary school' was the highest and university' was the lowest. The number of vegetables with high CV and high inexperience were highest in primary school students. CONCLUSIONS: Providing more opportunities for consuming a variety of vegetables, such as leaf- and stalk- vegetable, it may be possible to increase vegetable consumption, especially for the primary school students.
Agaricales ; Artemisia ; Beta vulgaris ; Diet ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Ipomoea batatas ; Lunch ; Petasites ; Raphanus ; Vegetables*