• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.694-705
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify marine bacterium with anti-methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) activity, and to purify the anti-MRSA compound, as well as to determine its activity and synergistic effects. Among the marine bacteria isolated in this study, the YJ-1 isolate had the strongest anti-MRSA activity. The YJ-1 isolate was identified on the basis of its biochemical characteristics and an analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. The YJ-1 isolate showed over 99.2% homology with Pseudomonas stutzeri, and was designated as a Pseudomonas sp. YJ-1. The optimal culture conditions were $25^{\circ}C$ and initial pH 7.0. For the purification of the anti-MRSA compounds, the YJ-1 was cultured in Pa PES-II medium, and the culture filtrates were extracted by ethyl acetate, hexane, and 80% MeOH. The 80% MeOH fraction was separated by a $C_{18}$ ODS column, silica gel chromatography and a reverse phase HPLC, to yield three anti-MRSA agents, the MR1, MR2, and MR3 compounds. When the MR1 compound of $250{\mu}g\;mL^{-1}$ concentration was applied to the MRSA cells, over 95% of bacterial cells was killed within 48 hr. Compared with vancomycin and ampicillin, the MR1 compound showed significant anti-MRSA activity. In addition, the anti-MRSA activity was increased by dose and time dependent manners. Furthermore, the combination of an MR1 compound with vancomycin produced a more rapid decrease in the MRSA cells than did the MR1 compound alone. Taken together, our results suggest that the Pseudomonas sp. YJ-1 and its anti-MRSA compounds could be employed as a natural antibacterial agent in MRSA infections.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2010

This study is aimed at reviewed and analyzed in order to suggest the improved plans related to natural monuments. The summary of this study is as followings; First, Replacing the current term 'cultural properties', which denotes the meaning of 'goods', we need to devise an new categorization that separates such properties into cultural heritage and natural heritage under the national heritage framework. Second, the designation criteria for natural monuments should be divided into the individual realm for animals and plants respectively, since they are not divided in the current Act. Third, the guidelines for naming of natural monuments should be established with the following new categories in accordance with the clear standards. Fourth, such imbalances require us to give priority to the relatively neglected types and areas. Fifth, as the big and old trees account for more than a half of the designated plants, it is necessary to search out new resources(wet plant communities, seashores, sand dune plant communities, etc.) such as geological resources, mineral springs, hot springs, and fossils that are in danger of completely being exploited and exhausted. While most of the designated animals are protected nationally, the existing designation system is required to protect habitats and breeding places for the systematic and efficient conservation. Sixth, as long as we need to preserve those historical and cultural resources for the future generations from national and global perspectives, we should enhance their values by designating them as natural monuments even though they are protected by other regulations such as the natural environment area. Seventh, as a result of the survey, we found that more budgets and experts in the local governments, more empowered organizations, more active public participation should be provided for the better Natural Monument management in Korea. Eighth, the Lap of Natural Heritage in the National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage needs to be developed to the Natural Heritage Institute to conduct the diverse activities such as researches, restoration, exhibition and education programs in a systematic and efficient way. Ninth and the last, major damages to natural monuments can be generally categorized into the artificial one and natural one, respectively. The artificial damages include toxics, soil covering, excessive humidity, fire, construction and management works, unlawful damages, fishing, oil spillage, etc, and the natural ones include lightning, storms(typhoons), heavy snowfalls, damage by insects and diseases, lack of prey, etc. This study will become meaningful in that it proposes specific measures for the improvement of the institutions, designation, and management of natural monuments on the basis of the comprehensive analysis on natural monuments. We wish to leave the other subjects related with this study to the future researches.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.109-118
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• 2013

Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation reduces epidermal hydration, which is paralleled by the reduction of natural moisturizing factors (NMFs). Of various NMFs, free amino acids (AAs) are major constituents generated by filaggrin degradation. In this study, we attempted to determine whether dietary supplementation of royal jelly (RJ) in UV-irradiated mice can alters epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins, and free AAs as well as of peptidylarginine deiminase-3 (PAD3), an enzyme involved in filaggrin degradation processes. Albino hairless mice were fed either a control diet (group UV+: UV irradiated control) or diets with 1% RJ harvested from different areas in Korea (groups RJ1, RJ2, and RJ3) or imported from China (group RJ4) for six weeks in parallel with UV irradiation. A normal control group (group UV-) was fed a control diet without UV irradiation for six weeks. Reduced epidermal levels of hydration, total filaggrins, and PAD3 were observed in group UV+; in group RJ1, these levels were increased to a level similar to that of group UV-. In addition, profilaggrins, two repeat intermediates (2RI), a precursor with two filaggrin repeats, and filaggrin were increased. Although no alteration of AAs was observed in any of the groups, and glutamate and serine, major AAs of NMF in group RJ1 were higher than in group UV+. Despite the increased levels of PAD3, epidermal levels of hydration, filaggrins, glutamate, and serine in groups RJ2, RJ3, and RJ4 were similar to those in group UV+. Dietary supplementation of RJ1 improves epidermal hydration in parallel with enhanced expression and degradation of filaggrin, but not by increased protein expression of PAD3, along with increased generation of glutamate and serine.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.13
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• pp.31-44
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• 1995

Mt. Kumjeong is located in south-eastern part of the Korean Peninsular($129^{\circ}$01' to $129^{\circ}$05' E, $35^{\circ}$03' to $35^{\circ}$17' N) and the altitude of the summit is 802 meter. In order to find out the vegetation units which made it possible to classify subtropical forest and south-temperate forest, Mt. Kumjeong (which is located in a border of between subtropical forest and south-temperate forest) was selected as a study area. The primary result of actual vegetation analysis in Mt. Kumjeong based upon the vegetation community analysis methods by the ZM-school, and the relationships between vegetation community and two parameters(altitude, topography) analyzed by using coincidence analysis method were summarized as followings. 1. Based upon analytic methods of the vegetation community by the ZM-schools, the primary analytic result of the analysis of vegetation community in Mt. Kumjeong was divided into 10 communities, 9 groups, 2 subgroups. 2. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community out of 16 vegetation units was thought as a indicator vegetation group which made it possible to border subtropical forest and south-temperate forest. 3. Natural regeneration of Stewartia koreana group was thought to be difficult because seedling and sapling was rarely showed, 4. In relationship between vegetation units and altitude, Carpinus tschonoskii community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus serrata community, Wisteria floribunda community,. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community, Pinus thunbergii community mainly distributed below altitude 500 meter, and Quercus mongolica community, Typical group of Pinus densiflora community, Quercus dentata community, Carpinus coreana community, Quercus acutissima community mainly distributed above altitude 500 meter. 5. In relationship between vegetation units and topography, Carpinus tschonoskii community, Quercus variabilis community, Quercus serrata community, Wisteria floribunda community,. Eurya japonica group of Pinus densiflora community distributed below middle slope, Quercus mongolica community, Typical group of Pinus densifiora community, Quercus dentata community, Carpinus coreana community, Pinus thunbergii community Quercus acutissima communily clistributed above midclle slope.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.9
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• pp.1133-1138
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• 2006

Smilax china root has been used as traditional medicinal remedy in China and Korea and reported to have various biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic and antimicrobial activities. In this study, the possibility of development as natural antioxidants of Smilax china root extracts was investigated. For the evaluation of antioxidant activity, aqueous- and 25% EtOH extract from Smilax china root were prepared and six different evaluation assay methods, i.e., measurement of total phenolics, radical scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite $(NO_2)$, reducing power, and inhibitory effect on tyrosinase activity, were used. The total phenolics content of two extracts was high as the level of 36 mg of gallic acid equivalent per 1 g of dried sample tested. The radical scavenging activities of ethanol extract toward DPPH and NO were better than those of aqueous extract (p<0.05). The $NO_2$ scavenging activity of both extracts showed the highest value at pH 1.2 (98%). Especially, the $NO_2$ scavenging activities of EtOH extract were significantly stronger than those of aqueous one at pH 4.2 (51%) and pH 6.0 (32%), respectively. In the reducing power test, both extracts revealed higher ferric ion reducing activity than known antioxidant, vitamin C at the level of $0.05\sim0.1mg/mL$ (p<0.01). The 1 mL of aqueous and 25% EtOH extract showed effective inhibition activity on tyrosinase activity as 45% and 53%, respectively. Therefore, these results suggest that two extracts from Smilax china root may serve as useful natural antioxidants.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2011

The aim of this study was development of natural antifungal compounds from softwood. We investigated antifungal activities of extracts from Pseudotsuga menziesii and Chamaecyparis obtusa against Tricholderma genus which is virus causing green mold disease and analyzed antifungal compounds by Gas chromatography -Mass Spetrometer. Extracts from P. menziesii had inhibition activities against Tricholderma genus on 1,000 ppm and had high antifungal activities against T. viride by 70.1%, T. harzianum by 67.3% and T. aggressivum by 64.7% on 4,000 ppm. And extracts from C. obtusa had antifungal activities against Tricholderma genus on 1,000 ppm and had high antifungal activities against T. viride by 63.2%, T. harzianum by 59.3% and T. aggressivum by 59.1% on 4,000 ppm. But mixing compounds which are made from P. menziesii and C. obtusa extracts by variety ratio had lower antifungal activities than original extracts. Main antifungal active components of P. menziesii extracts against Tricholderma genus were 2-Isopropoxy-ethylamine 46.5%, epifluorohydrin 8.6%, trans-2,3-Di-methyloxirane 7.6%, (IR)-(-)-Myrtenal 6.0%, 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol 3.9% and benzaldehyde 2.8%. In case of C. obtusa extracts, they were ${\alpha}$-Terpinenyl acetate 14.9%, Sabinene 10.9%, dl-Limonene 9.6%, ${\alpha}$-Terpinolene 7.5% and ${\alpha}$-Pinene 7.1%. As mentioned above, these results revealed extracts from P. menziesii and C. obtusa of softwood could be used as potential agents to inhibit Trichoderma genus.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.91-103
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to develop a rapid and cheap bioassay of four lignans (schisandrin, schisandrin C, the gomisin A and gomisin N) isolated from Schizandra chinensis Baill on seed germination and seedling growth of the radish. Its structure was determined by analysis of MS and NMR spectroscopic data. Radish seeds immersed for 1 hr in the solutions of $10^{-5}M$, $10^{-6}M$ and $10^{-7}M$ of schisandrin, schisandrin C, gomisin A, and gomisin N, seed germination was observed with in 60 hr after all of the treatments. Also, the seeds were germinated faster compared to untreated controls. At early germination stage, 48 hr after the treatment of the lignans, the suppression of germination was observed from all treatments; the suppression due to schisandrin and gomisin A was the highest at the concentration of $10^{-6}M$. The level of suppression increased as the concentration increased in the treatment of schisandrin C and gomisin N. Percent germination of seed after 184 hr was increased 90% at all treatments. For the effects of lignan treatment on seedling growth in radish, the growth of hypocotyl was promoted by gomisin A and gomisin N at all concentrations. Root elongation was significantly promoted by schisandrin and gomisin N at $10^{-5}M$ and $10^{-6}M$, respectively. Fresh and dry weights of the seedlings were high at a low concentration of $10^{-7}M$, but significantly reduced by schisandrin C at a high concentration of $10^{-5}M$. The results of the germination activity and seedling growth of the lignans from S. chinensis suggest their potential use as natural growth regulators.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.168-173
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• 2008

This study was conducted to determine biological characteristics of Acorus calamus L. angustatus by using aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts from the leaves and the rhizomes of Acorus calamus L. angustatus plants. The highest total phenol contents were found in the extracts from the leaves of Acorus calamus L. angustatus ($68.4mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) followed by rhizome ($49.3mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). At $1,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ the free radical scavenging activity of 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl showed the highest activity in the extracts of the leaves and the rhizomes by 86.3% and 86.1%, respectively. Total flavonoid contents at $2,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ extracts showed the greatest amount in the aqueous leaf extracts ($61.1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$), and the ethanol rhizome extracts ($15.4mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). Nitrite radical scavenging activity at $2,000mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ was highest in the methanol extracts from leaves and rhizomes by 75.7% and 77.9%, respectively. Mushroom tyrosinase inhibition activity of leaves and rhizome from the Acorus calamus L. angustatus was very low, showing less than 1.3% regardless of the extract solvent, plant part, and concentration. These results indicated that methanol extracts from leaves exhibited higher biological activities than other extracts from rhizomes.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.463-472
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• 2019

This study investigated the quality characteristics and antioxidant activities of morning bread containing various amounts of aronia sourdough starter. Morning breads were prepared with different volumes (0% (AS0), 15% (AS1), 25% (AS2), and 35% (AS3)) of aronia sourdough starter based on wheat flour. In AS3 group (35% added group), the specific volume and baking loss rate were the highest but the bread height was the lowest. When the aronia sourdough starter was added up to 25%, the expansion power, specific volume, and bread height were significantly increased (P<0.05). According to the added amount of sourdough starters, the lightness and yellowness of the morning bread were decreased, however, redness was increased (P<0.05). In the rheology analysis, hardness, gumminess, and chewiness were significantly decreased with increasing amounts of aronia sourdough starters (P<0.05). However, cohesiveness was the highest in the AS2 group (25% added group). In consumer preference, the highest scores were shown in AS2 group (25% added group) in color, texture, and appearance. The total polyphenol and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging ability were both significantly increased along with aronia sourdough content (P<0.05). In conclusion, morning bread with 25% aronia sourdough starter showed the best quality characteristics and antioxidant activities.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.495-501
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• 2019

Aloin [1,8-Dihydroxy-10-(${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl)-3-(hydroxymethyl)-9(10H)-anthracenone], is a natural anthraquinone from aloe. It has been shown to have antioxidant and anticancer effects in various types of human cancer cells, but the anticancer effects of aloin in human colorectal cancer cells HT-29 have not been elucidated. In this study, possible mechanisms by which aloin exerts its apoptotic action in cultured human colorectal cancer HT-29 cells were investigated. The results of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay shows that treatment with aloin (0, 100, 200, 300 and $400{\mu}M$) reduced cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner in HT-29 and showed no effects on cell proliferation in A375SM and AGS cells. In addition, it was confirmed that apoptotic body was significantly increased as shown by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, and increased apoptosis rate by flow cytometry in HT-29 cells treated with aloin (0, 200 and $400{\mu}M$). We confirmed by western blotting that aloin activated Bax (pro-apoptotic), cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3, -8 and Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic) were not changed compared with the control. Aloin induced up-regulation of phospho-p38 and down-regulation of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2. Therefore, aloin suppressed the growth inhibitory effects by the induction of apoptosis in human colorectal cancer cells and has potential as a cancer preventive medicine.