• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2018

Background: Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. is a plant belonging to Saxifragaceae family and contains various active ingredients including astilbin and bergenin. It has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to improve fever, pain, and cough. Recently, a number of Korean medical resources have been studied for cancer and inflammation treatment, but A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. has not yet been investigated. Consequently, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. (ARE) on oxidative stress and colorectal cancer using RAW264.7 and the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116. Methods and Results: In total, $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE reduced cell viability by $38.96{\pm}1.32%$, and increased caspase-3 activity by $133.08{\pm}3.41%$ in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, TUNEL signaling and the early apoptosis ratio ($34.56{\pm}1.67%$) increased by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment. $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and cell death were diminished by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment through decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species). Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of ARE against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated by apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, and $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and cell death are decreased by ARE treatment in RAW264.7 cells. However, further study is required to explore how ARE treatment is involved in the signaling pathway to decrease ROS.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.235-240
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• 2016

Factors affecting germination of seeds in the forms of various environment and chemical compounds. The present study was aim to produced effective seed propagation method of Astilbe koreana (Kom.) Nakai which had expected high value for the cut flower, ornamental and pharmaceutical material. Seed width and length ranged 0.62, 2.22 ㎜, respectively, and weight of thousand seeds was 40.5 ㎎. As result of imbibition test, showed moisture content of fresh seed (2.57%) increased rapidly by water-soaking treatment under 24 hours, recording to maximum value of 29.8%, and expansion of the seed coat was observed. Seed germination was the best at 15℃ and light conditions (40.8%) among temperature and light conditions treated. Percent germination of seeds was improved under the low (15, 20℃) than high temperature (25, 30℃). In addition, the seed was not germinated at dark condition regardless of temperature. Seeds of A. koreana thus seemed that it had low temperature germinability conditions. To improve germination rate, seeds were submerged in various concentrations of growth regulators such as GA₃ and kinetin, and minerals as KNO₃ and KCl. As a results, KNO₃ treatment, regardless of concentrations, promoted germination compared to control. Especially, percent of germination (77.8%), germination energy (96.1%), mean germination time (11.3 days) and T₅₀ (6.5 days) were effectively improved by treatment of KNO₃ 20 mM.

• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.117-121
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• 2008

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate vegetation structure of Adenophora remotiflora population found to be distributed in Jeombongsan Danmokryeong. Methods : From 2007 June until November, $2m{\times}2m$ quadrat was established in Adenophora remotiflora community in order to record a dominants and coverage. Results : 1. The vegetation of Adenophora remotiflora community was classified into Astilbe chinensis subcommunity and Calamagrostis langsdodfii subcommunity. Differential species of community was Angelica deacrusica and Lychnis cognata. The Adenophora remotiflora community was found in south face, high of altitude and low slope degree. 2. The value of species diversity ranged from 5.547152 to 10.077886, euenness ranged from 0.779749 to 0.986358 and dominance ranged from 0.013642 to 0.220251. 3. Aconitum jaluense was located at the higher altitudes than those of other species. Lychnis cognata, Lychnis cognata and Pedicularis resupinata was located at the lower altitudes and slope degree than those of other species. Conclusions : The vegetation of Adenophora remotiflora community was classified into Astilbe chinensis subcommunity and Calamagrostis langsdodfii subcommunity. The value of species diversity was low and community was dominated by a large number species. The Adenophora remotiflora community was found in south face, high of altitude and low slope degree.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2004

Prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) is proline-specific serine protease, cleaving peptide bonds on the biologically active neuropeptides such as substance P, vassopressin, and thyrotropin-releasing hormone and is, therefore, suggested to play important roles in learning and memory process. In this work, the inhibitory effect of plant extracts on PEP was investigated. Out of 200 plant extracts, Prunus mume, Pyrola. japonica, Hypericum ascyron, Astilbe chinensis var. typica, and Elaeagnus umbellata inhibited more than 90% of PEP activity at the concentration of 5 ppm.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

Arachidonic acid (AA), which is stored in membrane glycerophospholipids, is liberated by phospholipase $A_2$ (PLA$_2$) enzymes and is sequentially converted to cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) then to various bioactive PGs, and LTs. In order to find the specific inhibitors of AA metabolism especially PLA$_2$, COX-2, 5-LO and lyso PAF acetyltransferase, 120 Korean residential plants extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on PGD$_2$, LTC$_4$ production from cytokine-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and arachidonic acid released from phospholipid and PAF production from lyso PAF. From this screening procedure, methanol extract of ten indigenous plant such as Salix gracilistyla, Sedum kamtschaticum, Cirsium chanroenicum, Hypericum ascyron, Astilbe chinensis, Agrimonia pilosa, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Vodia daniellii, Pyrola japonica, Styrax obassia were found to inhibit production of inflammatory mediators in vitro assay system.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.244-248
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• 2008

It is well known that excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) leads to oxidative stress, loss of cell function, and ultimately apoptosis or necrosis. To search for natural antioxidants able to modulate cellular oxidative stress, we investigated the protective effect of ethanol extracts of 17 medicinal plants selected from the preliminary antioxidant screening on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BuOOH)-induced oxidative stress in human keratinocytes. The result showed that extracts of the four plants, Distylium racemosum, Astilbe chinensis, Cercis chinensis and Sapium japonicum, exhibited significant cytoprotective activity (over 50% protection) against t-BuOOH-induced cellular injury.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.84-93
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• 2004

This study was carried out to select proper species for early stage replantation in granite forest roads cut-slope. From two to sixteen year elapsed forest roads in four regional areas of Gangwon-do, sample plots were selected, and their vegetations and environmental factors were investigated. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen, soil moisture content, and bulk density in the decomposed granite soils were below 1.32%, 0.08%, 10.0%, and above 1.24g/$cm^3$, respectively. The result indicated that the soil was not good for plant growth. The environmental factors affecting distribution of species in the granite forest roads were the elapsed year, cut-slope, elevation, and cut-slope aspect. Species with high frequency in the granite forest road cut-slope ordered Lespedeza bicolor, Rubus crataegifolius, Pinus densiflora, Lysimachia clethroides, Amorpha fruticosa, Dactylis glomerata, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Festuca arundinacea, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Artemisia stolonifera, and Weigela subsessilis. Herbs seeded in earth stage such as Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, and Festuca arundinacea had changed into perennial herbs such as Carex lanceolata, Poa sphondylodes, Patrinia villosa, Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Melica onoei, Artemisia keiskeana, Artemisia stolonifera, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Spodiopogon sibiricus, and those had changed into shrubs such as Rubus crataegifolius and Weigela subsessilis, and those had changed into trees such as Salix hulteni, Salix koreensis, and Fraxinus rhyncholhylla according to elapsed year of forest roads. Legumes such as Lespedeza sp., Pueraria thunbergiana, Amorpha fruticosa, etc., herbs such as Artemisia keiskeana, Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, Artemisia stolonifera, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Miscanthus sinensis, etc., and woody plants such as Pinus densiflora, Rubus crataegifolius, Weigela subsessilis, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Rhododendron mucronulatum, etc., with foreign herbs were considered as proper species for replantation in granite forest road cut-slope.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2010

This research identified a disturbance regime caused by wild boar in a mature Quercus mongolica forest and analyzed the impact of this disturbance on the structure and distribution of herbaceous plants in Mt. Jeombong, Korea. We demonstrate that disturbance by wild boar was most frequent from winter to early spring, but also occurred year round. Areas which were frequently disturbed by wild boar included the mountain ridge, the mild slope on the north face, and sites with high concentration of Erythronium japonicum. The disturbance cycle by the wild boar in this region was estimated at approximately 2.8 years. The wild boar's reduced the community's species diversity and herbaceous coverage, and increased its evenness. This disturbance reduced the coverage of spring ephemeral; Veratrum nigrum var. ussuriense, Symplocarpus niponnicus, Anemone koraiensis and Corydalis turtschaninovii were particularly sensitive. In addition, summer green herbaceous plants such as Astilbe chinensis, Ainsliaea acerifolia, Meehania urticifolia, and Pimpinella brachycarpa were sensitive to the wild boar's. It was found that wild boar ate E. japonicum most selectively of all plants in this investigation area. In conclusion, together with micro-topography, wind, formation of gaps of a forest and rearrangement of litter layer, wild boar's disturbance is an important factor influencing the dynamic changes of an herbaceous community in a mature temperate hardwood forest.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.100-108
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• 2003

The regulation of plasma lipid level, particularly LDL cholesterol, represents the focus of current therapy for atherosclerosis. And $Lp-PLA_2$ is able to hydrolyse oxidized phosphatidylcholine within LDL into lyso-PC and oxidized fatty acids. $Lp-PLA_2$ is a potential biomarker of coronary heart disease and plays an important proinflammatory role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 224 natural plants on $Lp-PLA_2$ activity. Seven kinds of methanol extracts of tested plants showed above 50% inhibitory effect with the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. The concentrated aqueous suspensions of each methanol extract were partitioned with n-hexane, $CHCl_3$, and EtOAc. Among them, EtOAc extracts of Astilbe chinensis var. davidii (root) and Pourthiaea villosa var. brunnea (leaf) significantly inhibited $Lp-PLA_2$ activity at the same concentration.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2003

To obtain the basic data for monitoring and the conservation of native plant species at the sub-alpine zone Jongseogdae in Jirisan (Mt.).40 plots(5m${\times}$5m) set up by random sampling method and the distribution of native shrub and herb species at the subalpine zone was surveyed. Leading shrub species at the subalpine zone of Jongseogdae were Tripterygium regelii with IP value of 23.45% : followed by Lespedeza maximowiczii, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa and Lespedeza tomentella. Dominant species at the subalpine zone were Lysimachia clethroides, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Synurus deltoides, Veratrum maackii var. japonicum, Hemerocallis fulva and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii. Rhododendron tschonoskii recorded from the rare and endangered species list of the Korea Forest Service distributed among the rocks on the top of Jongseogdae. The long-term sustainable habitat monitoring might be required to conserve this subalpine zone.