Bioactive compounds from natural resources have been utilized by researchers as a tool of new drug discovery. Korea bioactive natural material bank (KBNMB) was established to support development of functional foods and medicinal drugs originating from natural products.
We have a collection of more than ten thousand crude extracts and fractions from all over the world, on the basis of traditional uses, botanical information and ongoing research. The purpose of KBNMB is to collect, conduct and collaborate with researchers on pure compounds and fractions from natural products having potential therapeutic effects on aging, metabolic syndrome and various diseases.
Plant DNA Bank in Korea (PDBK) is collecting the Korean vascular plants and valuable plants mainly growing in northeast Asia and building the genomic DNA database. PDBK has a collection of domestic plant genomic DNAs of Korean endemic, rare and dangerous plant species and also Northeast Asian species. PDBK is also developing the standard plant DNA barcode markers in collaboration with international scientific community.
Brassicaceae are economic crops and closely associated with Arabidopsis thaliana the model plant of genomic research. The Korea Brassica Genome Resource Bank was established to maintain various genetic resources of Brassicacea including Brassica rapa ssp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage). These resources are distributed on request internationally as well as domestically for research purposes. The collection and distribution of genetic resources help strengthening the on-going research on Brassica genetics and genomics in Korea.
Potato, the fourth most important food crop in the world is also used in the bio-fuel production which causes the price hike. Center for the Korea Potato Genetic Resources (KPGR) collects, evaluates and manages genetic resources of potato. Also KPGR is developing diversities of micropropagation, storage techniques and new genetic resources useful for the breeding. The bank will make an effort to develop the high valued products from the diverse genetic materials and elite clones of the collection and the advanced clones.
Citrus Genetic Resources Bank
2007 ~ 2012
Cheju National University
The purpose of Citrus Genetic Resources Bank is to develop and collect citrus genes, mutants and related materials that are essential for the researches on breeding of citrus and other crops. The bank has setup the management system for maintenance and service of the collections. Various resources including genes, materials and information are provided to anyone who need for their researches.
Ginseng is used in various researches on cancer, aging and metabolic disease. Ginseng Genetic Resource Bank (GGRB) was established for collection and distribution of various resources, which includes ginseng seeds, transformed ginseng, varieties, regenerated plants and whole ginseng. GGRB is preparing and providing genomic DNA, cDNA, EST and BAC library of ginseng. GGRB is also providing related materials such as ginsenoside saponin and ginseng-related literatures. GGRB is building a genetic and information database for ginseng researches.
Korea Cosmeceutical Material Bank (KCMB) collects plant materials for cosmeceutical uses, manages herbal medicine resources, and collaborates with other researchers. KCMB provides herbal medicine resources, related information and database system of the cosmetic materials for researches and industrial applications which will promote cosmeceutical, medicine, engineering chemistry, skin science and immune studies.
Drug discovery using traditional biomaterial is expected to become the key area of 21st century bio-industry. To support and facilitate the natural product drug discovery research, the Medicinal Plant Resources Bank was established in 2010. Based on traditional medicine and botanical information, East Asian and domestic medicinal plants are collected and stored in the form of dried medicinal materials, seeds, extracts, and evidential specimens. Stored materials are provided to scientists studying immune and metabolic diseases. The Bank provides important basic information of the origin and systematic taxonomical data for identification and confirmation of the major medicinal plants.
Developing new chemical drugs requires a lot of time and money. Botanical drugs are easier to develop than chemical drugs. In order to promote the development of botanical drugs, New Natural Material Bank (NNMB) was established. NNMB offers the standardized material with the information of its fundamental biological activities.
> RRCs > RRCs
Korea Bioactive Natural Material Bank
2012 ~ Now
College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University
http://kbnmb.knrrc.or.kr
Brassica Resource Bank
