Peucedanum japonicum has long been a staple in East Asian cuisine. In the context of traditional medicine, various members of the Peucedanum genus have been investigated for potential medicinal properties. In laboratory settings, some compounds derived from this plant have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties—characteristics often associated with potential medicinal applications. This study aimed to determine which part of the P. japonicum plants cultivated on two Korean islands contains the most antioxidant compounds. This determination was made through assessments of total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content, coupled with evaluation of antioxidant activity via DPPH and ABTS assays. The results showed that the aerial parts contain a richer array of bioactive compounds and demonstrate superior antioxidant activity compared to their root counterparts in the plants from both islands. To characterize the phytochemicals underpinning this bioactivity, LC-MS/MS and HPLC analyses were carried out. These methods detected varying amounts of chlorogenic acid, peucedanol 7-O-glucoside, rutin, and peucedanol, with good separation and retention times. This study addresses the lack of research on the antioxidant activity of different parts of P. japonicum. The findings hold significance for traditional medicine, dietary supplements, and the development of functional foods. Understanding antioxidant distribution aids in the development of medicinal and nutritional applications, influences agricultural practices, and contributes to regional biodiversity-conservation efforts. The study’s geographical scope provides insights into how location impacts the concentration of bioactive compounds in plants. Overall, the results contribute valuable data for future research in plant biology, biochemistry, and related fields.

Cephalotaxus harringtonia has garnered recent attention for its promising medicinal properties attributed to its alkaloid composition, including harringtonine and homoharringtonine known for their radical scavenging activities. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to assess the distribution of harringtonine, homoharringtonine, and ginkgetin in different plant parts of C. harringtonia. Additionally, DPPH and ABTS⁺ assays were conducted to evaluate the radical scavenging activity of C. harringtonia extracts. These results revealed that bud extracts from C. harringtonia exhibited the highest levels of polyphenols, along with elevated concentrations of harringtonine and homoharringtonine; nevertheless, this phenomenon only marginally influenced their antioxidant potential. These results suggest that, although a high concentration of compounds was detected in the buds of C. harringtonia, the detected compounds and their correlationwith radical scavenging activity appears to be weak. While harringtonine and homoharringtonine are synthesized and maintained at elevated levels within buds to fulfill various physiological functions, including modulation of signal transduction pathways and reinforcement of defense mechanisms, the involvement of other constituents and the potential synergistic interactions among compounds cannot be overlooked in mediating the observed radical scavenging activity. Moreover, the significant concentrations of harringtonine and homoharringtonine in bud extracts highlight the potential applications of C. harringtonia in the pharmaceutical industry and other similar fields. This study emphasizes the imperativeness of further exploring the medicinal applications of C. harringtonia and underscores its prospective implications in pharmaceutical and functional materials development.

Pyrus ussuriensis, also known as Ussurian pear, is a deciduous tree from the Rosaceae family. This study examined the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of different parts (1-year-old stem, 2-year-old stem, and leaves) of Pyrus ussuriensis Maxim. and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. The analysis included measurements of total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and evaluations of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) radical scavenging activities. Quantitative analyses were conducted using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UV). The analysis with one-way ANOVA indicated significant differences in TPC and TFC across tissues, with the stems exhibiting the highest TPC and the leaves showing the highest TFC in both P. ussuriensis and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. Among the examined structures, the stems exhibited the highest TPC, whereas the leaves exhibited the highest TFC in both P. ussuriensis and P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea. P. ussuriensis var. ovoidea displayed stronger antioxidant activity than P. ussuriensis. LC-MS/MS detected 18 phytochemicals, with chlorogenic acid being the most abundant, especially in leaf extracts, as confirmed using HPLC/UV analyses. This cultivar-based comparison highlights a tissue-specific distribution of bioactive compounds, with leaves primarily contributing to high flavonoid content and stems to polyphenolic content. Collectively, these findings provide valuable insights into the rich phytochemical diversity and antioxidant potential of P. ussuriensis cultivars, highlighting their versatility in various fields.

Glehnia littoralis F. (GLF), a perennial herb indigenous to the coastal areas of northern Pacific countries is widely utilized in medicine for various diseases and symptoms. The current study aimed to determine the relationship between phytochemicals and their diverse functional abilities. High-performance liquid chromatography and a photodiode array detector were used to identify chlorogenic acid (1), rutin (2), isoquercitrin (3), psoralen (4), 8-methoxy psoralen (5), and bergapten (6). 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺)- and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical-scavenging assays were conducted. It was found that GLF from the Chungnam Province had a higher content of compounds 4–6 contents of approximately 51.29 µmoL/g, which was primarily composed of bergapten (6) (44.44 µmoL/g). Moreover, GLF from Jeju Island exhibited the strongest ABTS⁺- and DPPH-radical-scavenging activities, with IC₅₀ values of 6.69 mg/mL and 10.26 mg/mL, respectively, followed by Chungnam Province and Jeonnam Province. In contrast, the radical-scavenging activities of GLF did not correlate with compounds 4–6 (furanocoumarins) and were predicted to be related to compounds 1–3. These differences in chemical composition and biological functions are consistent with differences in environmental conditions. Therefore, GLF with high amounts of flavonoid compounds such as rutin and isoquercitrin could potentially be utilized as herbal medicines; however, further research into their additional biological effects is needed.

This study examined the phytochemical compositions of ten Sapindus mukorossi samples from two regions in Korea: Suwon and Daegu. The Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to calculate the total polyphenol content (TPC). Among all extracts tested, leaf samples from Suwon and Daegu (SLE and DLE) exhibited the highest TPC at 2.70 and 2.90 mg tannic acid equivalent/g extract. Similarly, a modified aluminum chloride colorimetric test was used to determine the total flavonoid content (TFC). Similar results were obtained, with SLE and DLE having TFC values of 40.71 and 41.07 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, respectively. Liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect 13 compounds, whereas high-performance liquid chromatography was used to quantify the prominent compounds: rutin, nicotiflorin, and narcissin. Among these, rutin was the most abundant, especially in SLE and DLE (54.37 and 70.21 mg/g, respectively). Furthermore, rutin significantly contributed to the total content of these samples at 78.31 and 85.44 mg/g, respectively. There were significant variations in the distribution of these compounds across different parts of the plant. These findings highlight the importance of S. mukorossi as a source of natural bioactive chemicals and pave the way for further research into its potential applications in healthcare products.

Lindera erythrocarpa M., a medicinal plant commonly found in China, Japan, and Korea, is well known for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-cancer effects. However, data on the quantification of different marker compounds found in this species across plant parts and geographical regions remain limited. To address this gap in the literature, the marker compounds methyl lucidone (1), methyl linderone (2), and kanakugiol (3) in leaves and stems of L. erythrocarpa collected from five different regions in the Republic of Korea were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UV). Among the three compounds analyzed, kanakugiol (3) was the most abundant and was predominantly found in the stem samples. Overall, stems contained higher concentrations of methyl linderone (2) and kanakugiol (3) than the leaves. These findings highlight the importance of considering regional factors and plant part selection to maximize the yield of bioactive compounds. The results support the potential of L. erythrocarpa as a medicinal source and contribute to the standardization and quality improvement of herbal goods, thereby enhancing consumer protection and product efficacy.