• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.1033-1041
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• 2016

In this study, we evaluated antioxidant and antiproliferating effects of Setaria italica extract (SIE), Panicum miliaceum extract (PME) and Sorghum bicolor extract (SBE). Antioxidant effects of these extracts were determined by assessing DPPH radical scavenging activity, $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity, reducing power and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity. From high concentrations ($1,000{\mu}g/mL$) of each extract at DPPH radical scavenging activities of SIE, PME and SBE were 10.5%, 5.5% and 86.8% respectively, $ABTS^+$ radical activities were 4.92%, 5.9% and 62.3% respectively, reducing powers (OD 700) were 0.15, 0.18 and 1.7 respectively, and SOD-like activities were 17.0%, 15.9% and 38.6% respectively. In addition, SBE significantly decreased the cell viability of androgen-sensitive lymph node metastasis type of prostate cancer (LNCaP) cells in a dose-dependent manner. Morphological study of SBE-treated LNCaP cells revealed distorted and shrunken cell masses. SBE-induced cell death was confirmed by observation of nuclear condensation and increased formation of apoptotic bodies. The antiproliferative effect of SBE seems to be associated with the antioxidant activity of its polyphenol content. The results of this study indicate that SBE can exert antioxidant and antiproliferative effects and may be as a useful food material.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.19-27
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• 2012

The open-top chamber (OTC) system is designed for long term studies on the climate change impact on the major tree species and their community in Korea. In Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI), the modified OTC system has been operating since September 2009. The OTC facility consists of six decagon chambers (10 meters in diameter by 7 meters high) with controlled gas concentration. In each chamber, a series of vertical vent pipes are installed to disperse carbon dioxide or normal air into the center of the chamber. The OTC is equipped with remote controlled computer system in order to maintain a stable and elevated concentration of carbon dioxide in the chamber throughout the experimental period. The experiment consisted of 4 treatments: two elevated $CO_2$ levels ($1.4{\times}$ and $1.8{\times}$ ambient $CO_2$) and two controls (inside and outdoors of the OTC). Average operational rate was the lowest (94.2%) in June 2010 but increased to 98% in July 2010 and was 100% during January to December 2011. In 2010~2011, $CO_2$ concentrations inside the OTCs reached the target programmed values, and have been maintained stable in 2011. In 2011, $CO_2$ concentrations of 106%, 100% and 94% of target values has been recorded in control OTC, $1.4{\times}$ $CO_2$-enriched OTC and $1.8{\times}$ $CO_2$-enriched OTC, respectively. With all OTC chambers, the difference between outside and inside temperatures was the highest ($1.2{\sim}2.0^{\circ}C$) at 10 am to 2 pm. Temperature difference between six OTC chambers was not detected. The relative humidity inside and outside the chambers was the same, with minor variations (0~1%). The system required the highest amount of $CO_2$ for operation in June, and consumed 11.33 and 17.04 ton in June 2010 and 2011, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.115-122
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• 2011

The impacts of elevated temperature and $CO_2$ were studied on the seedlings of Maackia amurensis and Viburnum opulus var. calvescens. The seedlings were grown in controlled-environment growth chambers with four combinations of temperature and $CO_2$ treatments: $25^{\circ}C$ + ambient $CO_2$ (400 ppm), $25^{\circ}C$ + elevated $CO_2$ (800 ppm), $30^{\circ}C$ + ambient $CO_2$ (400 ppm), and $30^{\circ}C$ + elevated $CO_2$ (800 ppm). Under elevated temperature and $CO_2$ concentration, the dry weight decreased in seedlings of M. amurensis, but increased in seedlings of V. opulus var. calvescens. In addition, the shoot to root (S/R) ratio in M. amurensis reduced but that of V. opulus var. calvescens increased under elevated $CO_2$ concentration. The S/R ratios of two tree species increased under higher temperature. M. amurensis represented lower carboxylation efficiency under higher temperature and $CO_2$ concentration and that of V. opulus var. calvescens showed lower values under the only higher temperature. Photosynthetic pigment content of in the leaves of M. amurensis was lower under higher $CO_2$ concentration and higher under the increase of temperature, but that of V. V. opulus var. calvescens decreased according to the increase of temperature. Chlorophyll a/b ratios of M. amurensis and V. V. opulus var. calvescens decreased obviously with the increase of $CO_2$ concentration and temperature, respectively. In conclusion, the growth and physiological responses under the environmental changes such as temperature and $CO_2$ concentration depend on the tree species. Therefore, more studies are needed to predict the response of each tree species against the climate changes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.298-304
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• 2021

The anti-aging and anti-inflammatory activities of hot-water (Ca-HW) and 70% ethanol (Ca-E70) whole-plant Calamagrostis arundinacea extracts, as well as their bioactive potentials, were investigated using cell-free and cell-mediated experimental systems. Use of the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical decolorization assay to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the Ca-HW and Ca-E70 extracts revealed DPPH radical scavenging activities of 27% and 48%, respectively. Neither extract caused significant cytotoxicity, and both showed cell proliferation and promotion effects using RAW 264.7, B16F10, and CCD986sk cells. B16F10 melanoma cells showed higher melanin synthesis when treated with 100 mg/ml Ca-HW or Ca-E70 than with arbutin, indicating a stronger inhibitory effect of arbutin on melanin synthesis. Ca-HW and Ca-E70 increased pro-collagen biosynthesis in the human fibroblast CCD986-SK cell line by 24.69% and 12.55%, respectively. Analysis of the anti-inflammatory effects of different concentrations of Ca-HW and Ca-E70 in RAW264.7 cells revealed that Ca-E70 appeared to inhibit the lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and IL-6, a proinflammatory cytokine; therefore, Ca-E70 showed an anti-inflammatory effect. These results suggested that C. arundinacea extracts could have skin anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.609-615
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• 2011

Forsythia saxatilis is a Korean endemic plant designated as rare and endangered by the Korea Forest Service (KFS). Growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis were investigated under two different light intensities in order to figure out an appropriate growth environment for conservation and restoration of the species in its natural habitat. Shoot length, leaf size and weight, photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic parameters were measured for F. saxatilis grown at two experimental plots under relative light intensities (RLI) of 20% and 60% of the full sun, respectively. Fresh leaf weight of plants grown under high relative light intensities (RLI-60) exceeded that of plants grown at 20% RLI. The ratio of fresh leaf weight to leaf size at RLI-60 was 1.47 times superior comparing to that recorded at RLI-20. The content of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were higher in plants grown at RLI-60, whereas the ratio of total chlorophyll to carotenoid content was higher in the leaves at RLI-20. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate at RLI-60 were, respectively, 2.5, 2.65 and 1.79 times higher comparing to those recorded at RLI-20. Water use efficiency, however, was higher at RLI-20. The chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio was 1.83 times higher at RLI-20 than at RLI-60. In contrast, the ratio of net photosynthesis to chlorophyll content at RLI-60 was 2.58 times higher than that of RLI-20. In conclusion, light intensity might be the major factor affecting growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis grown under canopy of tall tree species.