• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.442-449
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• 2019

This study sought to evaluate the effects of Asiatic acid in LPS-induced BV2 microglia cells and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridine ($MPP^+$)-induced SH-SY5Y cells, to investigate the potential anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Asiatic acid in Parkinson's disease (PD). SH-SY5Y cells were induced using $MPP^+$ to establish as an in vitro model of PD, so that the effects of Asiatic acid on dopaminergic neurons could be examined. The NLRP3 inflammasome was activated in BV2 microglia cells to explore potential mechanisms for the neuroprotective effects of Asiatic acid. We showed that Asiatic acid reduced intracellular production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and altered the mitochondrial membrane potential to regulate mitochondrial dysfunction, and suppressed the NLRP3 inflammasome in microglia cells. We additionally found that treatment with Asiatic acid directly improved SH-SY5Y cell viability and mitochondrial dysfunction induced by $MPP^+$. These data demonstrate that Asiatic acid both inhibits the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome by downregulating mitochondrial reactive oxygen species directly to protect dopaminergic neurons from, and improves mitochondrial dysfunction in SH-SY5Y cells, which were established as a model of Parkinson's disease. Our finding reveals that Asiatic acid protects dopaminergic neurons from neuroinflammation by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome activation in microglia cells as well as protecting dopaminergic neurons directly. This suggests a promising clinical use of Asiatic acid for PD therapy.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2019

This study investigated the cytotoxic effects and mechanism of action of asiatic acid in pancreatic cancer cell lines. First, we confirmed the cell viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells after asiatic acid administration for 48 and 72 h. The viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner following asiatic acid administration. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we performed a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, annexin V assay, and western blotting. Asiatic acid induced apoptosis and autophagy through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Finally, the expression of miR-17 and miR-21, known as oncogenes in pancreatic cancer, was decreased by asiatic acid. These results indicate that asiatic acid has potential as a new therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.963-967
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• 2014

Previous studies have suggested anti-tumor effects of asiatic acid in some human cancer cell lines. This agent is reported to increase the levels of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ in human breast cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms have not been established. Here we report that asiatic acid up-regulates $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ protein expression but not the level of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ mRNA in HepG2 human hepatoma cells. Furthermore, we found that the asiatic acid induced increase of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ protein was associated with decreased phosphorylation (ser-146) of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$. Knockdown of NDR1/2 kinase, which directly phosphorylates $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ protein at ser-146 and enhances its proteasomal degradation, increased the levels of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ protein and eliminated the regulation of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ stability by asiatic acid. At the same time, the expression of NDR1/2 kinase decreased during treatment with asiatic acid in HepG2 cells. Moreover, asiatic acid inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, this being attenuated by knockdown of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$. In conclusion, we propose that asiatic acid inhibits the expression NDR1/2 kinase and promotes the stability of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ protein through attenuating NDR1/2 dependent phosphorylation of $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ in HepG2 cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.29 no.7
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• pp.556-562
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• 2006

Ten semi-synthetic derivatives of asiatic acid were prepared and their wound healing effects were evaluated by employing a tensile strength assay and a wound area assay. Among them, ethoxymethyl 2-oxo-3,23-isopropylidene-asiatate (12) showed the strongest and the fastest wound healing activity. Furthermore, it left the smallest scar after healing.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.309-338
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• 2003

China, the largest country in East Asia, has a pteridoflora of over 2000 species, belonging to about 220 genera in 63 families. There are about 28 East Asiatic genera of Pteridophytes and 6 genera specifically endemic to China. Most of these genera are oligotypic or monotypic groups. Five distribution patterns of the East Asiatic genera are distinguished, i.e., I. Sino-Himalayan type, 10 genera; II. Sino-Japanese type, 4 genera; III. Japan-Himalayan type, 6 genera; IV. Temperate East Asiatic type, 3 genera; and V. Tropical East Asiatic type, 5 genera. The Chinese endemic genera are mainly distributed in southwestern China. The distribution, ecology, taxonomy, and systematics of these genera are discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2021

The Ministry of Environment of Korea has been releasing Asiatic black bears since 2004 at Jirisan National Park. It exceeded the target number of Asiatic black bears in 2018. As of July 2020, in addition to 67 traceable bears, many Asiatic black bears are dispersed outside Jirisan National Park. Jirisan National Park is a very dense place with more than 3 million visitors every year. In this study, the roads and trails through Jirisan National Park were considered to be the main dispersion factors of Asiatic black bears, and the fragmentation analysis was conducted. As of July 2017, the length of roads and trails in Jirisan National Park was 363.4km. Based on this, Jirisan National Park was fragmented into 163 patches. There is only one place that maintains a single area of more than 50㎢ that is suitable for large mammals to inhabit, and 141 places are less than 5㎢. There are 6 patches of 24 to 200㎢ area suitable for living of large mammals including Asiatic black bears, in Jirisan National Park. Compared to the announcement made by the Korea National Park Service in 2014, activities of Asiatic black bears were rare in areas below 5㎢ area and the frequency of activities was high in more than 20㎢ area. This shows that human activities in protected areas such as national parks can directly affect the activities of wild animals, including Asiatic black bears. Therefore, efforts should be made to improve the habitat of Asiatic black bears by reducing the pressure of visiting for Jirisan National Park. In addition, as a result of analyzing the fragmentation of the park's natural conservation zone 107.7km, 45% of the trail of Jirisan National Park, was opened, which is more fragmentation than other use zones. The park nature conservation zone accounts for about 32% of the total area of Jirisan National Park, but the average patch area is only 2.93㎢ and seven large shelters are located. Therefore the Asiatic black bears are negatively affected. This is the result of inconsistent national park use zone setting and actual park management. In overseas countries, research is active on the negative effects of human activity on ecosystems in protected areas. However, there is a lack of research of that in Korea. Thus, that research is required for protection area management in the future.

• FLOWER RESEARCH JOURNAL
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.221-225
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• 2009

Interspecific crossing was conducted to obtain hybrid lilly with better quality of adapting to the unfavorable environment using oriental Lilium spp. as a female parent. Average interspecific crossing rate between oriental and asiatic lines by cut-style pollination was as low as 29%. Although the average germination rate of zygotic hybrid embryo between oriental 'Rodolfa' ${\times}$ asiatic 'Toronto' was increased from 76.6% to 78.3%. on 114 or 1/6 strength MS medium compared to the control, the rate of zygotic embryos formation between oriental 'Farolito' ${\times}$ asiatic 'Buff Pixie' was significantly enhanced up about 86~90% on 1/2 strength MS medium. Meanwhile, germination rate of interspecific hybrid embryo between oriental 'Snow Cristal' ${\times}$ asiatic 'Royal Trinity' showed up 100%. Germination rate of interspecific hybrids slightly increased by addition of $0.5-1.0mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ GA. Germination rate of zygotic embryos between oriental 'Farolito' ${\times}$ asiatic 'Buff Pixie' and oriental 'Belcanto' ${\times}$ L. callosum was highest on the MS medium containing $0.01mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ NAA and $0.1mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$ kinetin, as 66.6% and 45.2% respectively.

• Korean Journal of Breeding Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2010

This study was carried out to confirm the chromosome constitution and homoeologous recombination of progenies derived from various cross combination using tetraploid OA interspecific hybrid originated from mitotic chromosome doubling. Based on the chromosome analysis of progenies crossed reciprocally, there were only triploid progenies when crossed with diploid Asiatics as male or female parent. While only tetraploid progenies were produced when crossed tetraploid Asiatics or tetraploid OA hybrid with tetraploid OA hybrid, respectively. However, two types of progenies, that is, diploid and triploid plants, were produced from cross combinations between diploid Oriental hybrid and tetraploid OA hybrid. From the GISH analysis of OA hybrid, it was confirmed that diploid $F_1$ OA hybrid was consisted of 24 chromosomes (12 Oriental and 12 Asiatics) showing authentic OA hybrid. On the other hand, it was notified that triploid plants (3x=36) were consisted of 24 Asiatics lily chromosomes and 12 Oriental lily chromosomes by analysis of backcross progenies derived from either $A{\times}OA$ or $OA{\times}A$ crosses. In cross between tetraploid OA and OA, all the progenies were tetraploid with equal number of chromosomes without any homoeologous recombination, i.e. each 24 chromosomes of Oriental and Asiatics. In 2x-4x ($O{\times}OA$) cross combination, some progenies had 2x=24 chromosomes originated from only Oriental hybrid, and other progenies had 3x=36 chromosomes derived from 24 chromosomes of Oriental hybrid and 12 chromosomes of Asiatic hybrid. Only tetraploid Asiatics chromosomes without any Oriental one were produced in all the progenies from 4x-4x ($AA{\times}OA$) cross combination.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.3
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• pp.197-207
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• 2016

This study aims at providing basic data to objectively evaluate the areas suitable for reintroduction of the species of Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) in order to effectively preserve the Asiatic black bears in the Korean protection areas including national parks, and for the species restoration success. To this end, this study predicted the potential habitats in East Asia, Southeast Asia and India, where there are the records of Asiatic black bears' appearances using the Maxent model and environmental variables related with climate, topography, road and land use. In addition, this study evaluated the effects of the relevant climate and environmental variables. This study also analyzed inhabitation range area suitable for Asiatic black and geographic change according to future climate change. As for the judgment accuracy of the Maxent model widely utilized for habitat distribution research of wildlife for preservation, AUC value was calculated as 0.893 (sd=0.121). This was useful in predicting Asiatic black bears' potential habitat and evaluate the habitat change characteristics according to future climate change. Compare to the distribution map of Asiatic black bears evaluated by IUCN, Habitat suitability by the Maxent model were regionally diverse in extant areas and low in the extinct areas from IUCN map. This can be the result reflecting the regional difference in the environmental conditions where Asiatic black bears inhabit. As for the environment affecting the potential habitat distribution of Asiatic black bears, inhabitation rate was the highest, according to land coverage type, compared to climate, topography and artificial factors like distance from road. Especially, the area of deciduous broadleaf forest was predicted to be preferred, in comparison with other land coverage types. Annual mean precipitation and the precipitation during the driest period were projected to affect more than temperature's annual range, and the inhabitation possibility was higher, as distance was farther from road. The reason is that Asiatic black bears are conjectured to prefer more stable area without human's intervention, as well as prey resource. The inhabitation range was predicted to be expanded gradually to the southern part of India, China's southeast coast and adjacent inland area, and Vietnam, Laos and Malaysia in the eastern coastal areas of Southeast Asia. The following areas are forecast to be the core areas, where Asiatic black bears can inhabit in the Asian region: Jeonnam, Jeonbuk and Gangwon areas in South Korea, Kyushu, Chugoku, Shikoku, Chubu, Kanto and Tohoku's border area in Japan, and Jiangxi, Zhejiang and Fujian border area in China. This study is expected to be used as basic data for the preservation and efficient management of Asiatic black bear's habitat, artificially introduced individual bear's release area selection, and the management of collision zones with humans.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.298-301
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• 2004

Pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography was performed for both pregnant and non-pregnant Asiatic black bears which were being under hibernation. Pregnancy was diagnosed for a pregnant bear by detecting images of heart-beat and vertebrae on ultrasonograph. Serum progesterone levels were measured for both pregnant and non-pregnant bears. The level of serum progesterone was 5.79 ng/ml for a pregnant bear and 0.76 ng/ml for a non-pregnant bear, respectively, thereby it was considered that measurement of serum progesterone level can be also useful for pregnancy diagnosis for Asiatic black bear.