• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Vitis amurensis Rupreche, a sort of grape, grows naturally in Asian countries. It is known for important biological effects such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and angiogenesis inhibition. Although its root is used as a traditional folk medicine in Korea, the root's biological activities are poorly studied. In the present study, the effects of V. amurensis root methanol extract (VARM) and its solvent fractions on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were investigated. The VARM significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation, lipid accumulation, and the triglyceride (TG) content of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, without cytotoxicity. To identify active molecules, the VARM was fractionated with a series of organic solvents including dichloromethane ($CH_2Cl_2$), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butanol (n-BuOH). All the fractions also showed inhibition of lipid accumulation in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The $CH_2Cl_2$ fraction showed the most powerful anti-obesity effect through the modulation of cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosinethymidine (CCAAT)/enhancer binding protein ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$), $C/EBP{\beta}$, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) gene and protein expression. Oleanolic acid was one of the main active compounds involved in the anti-obesity activity of the V. amurensis root. These results provide important new insight into the potential potent anti-adipogenic effect of the V. amurensis root and illustrate that one of the main compounds involved in this effect is oleanolic acid.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.161-170
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• 2008

Recently irregular dark-colored patches were found on the Kentucky teeing ground in a golf course in Gyunggi providence. Interestingly, blue-green algae from the leaf tissue sample containing black spot-stained symptoms were largely observed through microscopic study. In general, algae present on the upper soil surface or in the upper layer of root zone form dark brown layers of scum or crust, which invoked harmful effects to turf growth such as poor drainage, inhibition of new root development. In this observation, unlike the algae were sometime found in senescing leaves on contacted soil in July and August, the blue-green algae were detected within black spot-stained Kentucky bluegrass leaf tissues including leaf blade, ligule, auriclea as well as leaf sheath. The blue-green algae were also detected on the leaf and stem tissue adjacent to the symptomatic leaf tissues. Two species of blue-green algae, Phomidium and Oscillatoria, were greatly observed. Oscillatoria species was more commonly notified in all samples. In addition, the two species were found on a putting green showing yellow spot disease at another golf course in Gyunggi providence. The data from chemical control assay revealed that chemicals such as propiconazole, iprodione, and azoxystrobin decreased blue-green algae population and leaf spots, which finally resulted in enhanced leaf quality. All taken together, we strongly suggested that the disease-like phenomenon by blue-green algae might be very closely mediated with infection/translocation process in relation with turfgrass. It indicates that blue-green algae in turf management may play an adverse role as a secondary barrier as well as a pathogenic agent. This report may be helpful for superintendents to recognize and understand the fact that algae control should be provided more cautiously and seriously than we did previously in upcoming golf course management.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 2009

From 2006 to 2008, natural habitat of Sparassis crispa were surveyed for investigating ecological conditions at sixteen different sites in Korea. The investigated sites showed very wide altitudinal distribution ranged from 240 meters to 1,100 meters above the sea level. In general, S. crispa showed distinct feature of heart-rot fungi as it occurs on soils around the stems of larch (Larix kaempferi) and Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis). But it also could be found on stems or on the stumps of dead trees, which indicated that the fungus might have several invasion routes and capabilities to grow on various ecological conditions. All of the sixteen sites were pure stands consisted with conifers such as larch or Korean white pine. The dominant tree layer showed $15.3{\sim}38.0$ meters for tree heights, thicker than twenty centimeters for the diameter at breast height (DBH), and all of them were older than thirty years. Since the stands were pure stand, species diversity of trees in the sites was extremely low. While the dominant tree layer showed only pure coniferous stand, the co-dominant tree layer, shrub layer and herbaceous layer showed more diverse features with higher Shannon-Wiener (H') indices. Soil texture of thirteen sites among sixteen investigated sites were loamy soils, and the contents of organic matter in soil were more or less higher than general forest soils in Korea with $3.79{\sim}14.32%$. The cation exchange capacity (CEC) was also relatively higher than general forest soils with $16.1{\sim}27.2$ cmol+/kg. The data indicated that the cauliflower mushroom occurring sites were relatively fertile than general forest soils. The soils were acidic with pH ranged from 4.2 to 5.2, which were typical features for conifer stands in Korea.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.387-394
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• 1994

Effects of environmental factors of light, temperature, nitrogen sources and water stress were analyzed quantitatively on the nodule formation and nitrogen fixation activity of autumn olive plant (Elaeagnu$ umbellala Thunb.) during the seedling growth. Seedlings showed the maximum nitrogenase activity of $72.5\;\mu\textrm{M}\;C_2H_4{\cdot}g\;fr\;wt\;nodule^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ in the early nodulation stage. The relative growth rate and T/R ratio changed from $1.60%{\cdot}d^{-1}$ and 1.12 in the earlier stage to $3.75%{\cdot}d^{-1}$ and 2.31 in the later stage, respectively. light conditions of 20-25, 1015 and 4-6% resulted in decreases of 41, 54 and 71% of the nitrogenase activity, respectively. Nodules incubated in 15, 20, 25 and $30^{\circ}C$ showed the activities of 5.4, 24.7, 51.6 and $58.5\;\mu\textrm{M}\;C_2H_4{\cdot}g\;fr\;wt\;nodule^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ respectively. Pretreatment with low temperature ($15^{\circ}C$) followed incubation at $30^{\circ}C$ attained higher nitrogenase activity ($66.5\;\mu\textrm{M}\;C_2H_4{\cdot}g\;fr\;wt\;nodule^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$) than that with higher temperature ($35^{\circ}C$). The oxygen pressure above 16 kPa is necessary for saturation of the nodule activity, but the activity was inhibited severely by physical impact such as the exision or isolation of nodules from the root. The relative activities of early nodules grown in pH 5.5, 6.5 and 8.0 were 89, 100 and 40% and those grown in 1 and 3 mM of $NO_3\;and\;NH_4$ were 6, 1 and 68, 50%, respectively. Watering levels of 20, 50 and 100 mL during the seedling growth resulted in 35, 120 and 8 mg of nodule formation and 33.6, 58.4 and $8.4\;\mu\textrm{M}\;C_2H_4{\cdot}g\;fr\;wt\;nodule^{-1}{\cdot}h^{-1}$ of the nitrogenase activity, respectively. Water stress with 86% decrease of soil water content caused temporary wilting point of leaf and a complete disappearance of nitrogenase activity of nodules, though the water content and transpiration rate in plant were reduced to 90 and 53%, respectively.tively.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.441-449
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• 2013

This study was conducted to select some useful plants as functional material candidates. A total of 38 plants were preliminarily screened for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The preliminarily selected 8 plants were further investigated to verify the in vitro inhibitory effect on inflammation and oxidative stress. Boehmeria platanifolia (root), Carpinus coreana (branch), and Eupatorium japonicum (leaf) inhibited the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells. Eupatorium japonicum (leaf) suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), whereas Boehmeria platanifolia (root) and Prunus yedoensis (branch) inhibited the transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). Treatment with the extracts ($2.5{\sim}20{\mu}g/ml$) of Abutilon theophrasti (leaf, flower/seed) and Hemistepta lyrata (stem) did not show toxicity on RAW 264.7 cell proliferation, but treatment with $2.5{\mu}g/ml$ of Boehmeria platanifolia (root) exhibited cell toxicity. Carpinus coreana (branch) and Prunus yedoensis (branch) showed potent scavenging activities on peroxynitrite. Akebia quinata (flower), Carpinus coreana (branch), and Prunus yedoensis (branch) effectively inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS). Abutilon theophrasti (leaf), Boehmeria platanifolia (root), Carpinus coreana (branch), and Eupatorium japonicum (leaf) exhibited strong inhibitory capacity with regard to nitric oxide (NO) production. The results suggested that Abutilon theophrasti (leaf) has in vitro anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, and that is a useful functional material candidate.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.30-40
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• 2009

Employing the Numata-type life form, the paper analyzed changes of plants for 4 years at the Human-made Wetlands along Boknaecheon of Juam Lake since its creation. The number of the species planted at the Human-made Wetlands along Boknaecheon of Juam Lake, which was completed in December 2002, were 15 in total including, 10 families, 13 genera, 12 species and 3 varieties. As for the three-featured life forms of the planted species, there were 6 perennial hydatophytes, recording the biggest number of species in dormancy form; species each of $R_5$, $R_3$, $R_{2-3}$ respectively in radicoid from; 20 species of geomantic dissenminule form ($D_1$) in disseminule form and erecred type(e) existed the most in growth form. With regard to the 3 features of life form identified during the final year of the monitoring that lasted 5 years after the completion of the Wetlands, the number of species and individuals was found to have increased but there was no significant change of tendency as against the composition ration(%) of life form. There were 43 species of therophytes (Th) that covered 24.29% in dormancy form, while $R_5$ was prevalent in radicoid form and $D_4$, $D_1$, and $D_{1,4}$ comprosed 77.39% of the whole disseminule form. Growth form was surveyed in the order of erected type (e), bunch type (t), temporal rosette type (pr), branch type (b) and straight rosette type (ps) and these species comprised 64.97% of the whole flora. Consequently, in case of the artificial wetlands along the Boknaecheon of Juam Lake, it turned out that the vegetation type in which pioneer species of succession, or gradually stabilized perennial vegetation favoring Wetlands because the higher dormancy form has its perennial plants' composition ratio getting, the more its succession is progressing. Even though single grained plants ($R_5$) belonging to radicoid in breeding form, succession is predicted to take place considering the fact that they actually belong to ~ plants like Phragmites japonica that form a connection on the surface of the earth. In addition, it is judged that geomantic disseminule form ($D_1$) conveyed by water and gravitational disseminule form favored by the development of waterside woody plants ($D_4$) seem to be better fit to this area in desseminule form. As for growth form, bunch type (t) is judged to become prevalent on the Wetlands while a good variety of phanerophytes will coexist on the earth due to artificial as well as natural disturbances.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.110-116
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• 2016

In this study, the antioxidative activity and functional food activities of water and ethanol extracts from Pinus densiflora root were examined. It was more effective to use ethanol than water when extracting phenolic compounds. The extracted phenolic compounds from Pinus densiflora root for biological activities were examined. The phenolic compounds extracted with water and 80% EtOH were $1.86{\pm}0.04mg/g$ and $6.85{\pm}0.16mg/g$, respectively. DPPH free radical scavenging activity of water and EtOH were each 86% and 85% at $100{\mu}g/mL$ phenolics, respectively. ABTS radical decolorization activity was 48% in water and 68% in EtOH at $200{\mu}g/mL$. Antioxidant Protection Factor (PF) were 1.74 PF in water and 1.96 PF in EtOH at $50{\mu}g/mL$. TBARs of water and EtOH were 93% and 98%, respectively at $100{\mu}g/mL$. The inhibition activity on xanthine oxidase was 83.7% in water extracts and 79.6% in ethanol extracts. Inhibition on xanthine oxidase of water and ethanol extracts showed a higher inhibition effect than allopurinol. The inhibition activity on ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was 14.8% in water extracts and 91.6% in ethanol extracts. The result suggests that P. densiflora root extracts may be useful as as functional food material.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.615-622
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• 2017

This study investigated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activities of Stachys sieboldii Miq. extracts by solvents (water, ethanol, butanol, chloroform, and hexane). The contents of total polyphenols (7.18-37.25 mg/g) and flavonoids (0.21-5.21 mg/g) in extracts from Stachys sieboldii Miq. showed a significant difference dependent on the extraction solvents, butanol > ethanol > water > chloroform > hexane. Antioxidant activities by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging were increased in a dose-dependent manner. These activity trends associated with the extraction solvent were different at each concentration, but resembled phenolic compound contents trend, generally. FRAP value increased in a dose-dependent manner, but there was a difference in radical scavenging activities when comparing between extraction solvents by butanol > ethanol > hexane > chloroform > water on all concentrations. The trend of ${\alpha}$-amylase inhibition of extracts from $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ to $2,000{\mu}g/mL$ was not affected as enzyme activity is promoted and not inhibited. The inhibition of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase was increased in a dose-dependent manner without water extracts, the activity on hexane extracts was higher than others per the extraction solvent. ${\alpha}$-Glucosidase inhibition of hexane extracts showed 57.76% at $250{\mu}g/mL$, which is 2.8 times higher than the second highest chloroform extract (20.65%). From these results, we presume that the active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. is different according to the extraction solvent and also the activity is different by these major functional groups.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.7
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• pp.826-832
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• 2015

This study describes the effects of activated charcoal on the removal of salts, detergents, and pigments from protein extracts of ginseng leaves and roots. Incubation of protein extracts with 5% (w/v) activated charcoal (100-400 mesh) for 30 min at 4℃ almost removed the salts and detergents including NP-40 as can be observed on SDS-PAGE. In addition, analysis of chlorophyll content showed significant depletion of chlorophyll (~33%) after activated charcoal treatment, suggesting potential effect of activated charcoal on removal of pigments too along with the salts and detergents. 2-DE analysis of activated charcoal treated protein samples showed better resolution of proteins, further indicating the efficacy of activated charcoal in clearing of protein samples. In case of root proteins, although not major differences were observed on SDS-PAGE, 2-DE gels showed better resolution of spots after charcoal treatment. In addition, both Hierarchical clustering (HCL) and Principle component analysis (PCA) clearly separated acetone sample from rest of the samples. Phenol and AC-phenol samples almost overlapped each other suggesting no major differences between these samples. Overall, these results showed that activated charcoal can be used in a simple manner to remove the salts, detergents and pigments from the protein extracts of various plant tissues.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.389-398
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• 2013

Platycodin D is a major constituent of triterpene saponins, which is found in the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, Platycodi Radix, which is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for the treatment of many chronic inflammatory diseases. Several pharmacological effects of this compound have been reported recently, such as anti-inflammation, immunogenicity, anti-adipogenesis, lowered cholesterol, and anti-cancer activity. However, the mechanism by which this action occurs is poorly understood. In this study, we found that platycodin D greatly increased the potential of the anti-proliferative effect in various cancer cell lines. Our data revealed that platycodin D treatment resulted in a time- and concentration-response growth inhibition of U937 cells by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. Apoptosis induction of U937 cells by platycodin D correlated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and caused the down-regulation of IAP family members. In addition, platycodin D treatment resulted in proteolytic activation of caspase-3, the concomitant degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and the collapse of the mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}_m$). However, the cytotoxic effects induced by platycodin D treatment were significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 inhibitor, which demonstrated the important role that caspase-3 played in the observed cytotoxic effect. These findings suggest that platycodin D may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for use in the control of human leukemia U937 cells. These findings also provided important new insights into possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of platycodin D.