• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.189-197
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• 2022

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by recurring symptoms, airflow obstruction, and bronchial hyper-responsiveness. The onset of asthma for most patients begins early in life, and current asthma treatment with anti-inflammatory agents can have adverse effects, eventually leading to impaired quality of life. In the pathogenesis of asthma, macrophages and basophils play a vital role during progression. Macrophages not only induce inflammation by secreting inflammatory cytokines but also promote DNA damage and mucus production through nitric oxide (NO) production. Basophils enhance eosinophil recruitment and aggravate asthma through the FcεRIα receptor with high affinity for histamine and IgE. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether the activation of macrophages and basophils is suppressed by the individual extracts of 28 natural products. RAW 264.7 cells (mouse macrophages) were treated with the natural products in LPS, and 4 natural product extracts resulted in decreased NO production. In β-hexosaminidase assay using RBL-2H3 cells (rat basophils), 19 natural product extracts decreased β-hexosaminidase production. In NO production and β-hexosaminidase assay using macrophages and basophils, 3 natural product extracts (Plantago asiatica, Centella asiatica, and Perilla frutescens var. japonica) significantly inhibited NO production and β-hexosaminidase release. Overall, we examined the inhibitory effects of 28 natural product extracts on macrophage and basophil activity, and the findings demonstrated the potential of natural product extracts for treating asthma and macrophage- and basophil-related diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.98-106
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• 2010

Bangseonmun(訪仙門) is the attractive spots where Shinseon(神仙: Taoist hermit) ideas that makes Mt. Younju(瀛洲山) or the current Mt. Halla mystique has still remained and situated at Hancheon(漢川) Valley. Bangseonmun, which is known as 'Landscape Setting Here($L_{SH}$)' of Youngguchunhwa(瀛丘春花), which is one of ten famous spots in Youngjusipkyung(瀛洲十景), and Deulreonggui refer to 'the gate to the place where Shinseon is living.' It is described as the path to Mt. Youngju for Shinseon and the boundary between the mundane world and the world beyond the mundane. The old scholars at Mt. Halla entered the gate and met Shinseon, carving the word or picture of Bangseonmun, Whanseonmun, Wuseondae or Deungyounggu so as to structure the enchanting image on Bangseonmun. It is the poetic expression of the taste for the arts, breaking from the troublesome mundane world and riding the white deer to become the Shinseon, the desire for the ideal world in Taoism, and the identity of four famous scenic spots of Bangseonmun. Besides its enchanting meaning and the locational value of Bangseonmun, geological features of the valley and river and ecological value prove its unique value as a natural scenic beauty. Not to mention the locational identity and enchanting meaning of the poets carved in Meeaegak of Bangseonmun and the scenic view of 'Youngguchunhwa' as the subject of 10 famous scenes of Youngju, it is the place for communing with nature with the natural beauty of Bangseonmun Valley. As the cultural place for being together with Jeju people, it simultaneously shows the typical model as a scenic spot in our living. Viewing the scenic value and standard from the aspect of the Cultural Properties Protection Law, Bangseonmun Valley in Jeju must be the typical place and space that meet the requirements to become scenic sites.