• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2010

Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Betula ermanii segregate vertically at an elevation of approximately 1,850 m on Mt. Neko in Nagano Prefecture, Japan. B. platyphylla var. japonica and B. ermanii were the dominant species below and above this altitude, at which the mean-annual and growing-season air temperatures were $4^{\circ}C$ and $14.1^{\circ}C$, respectively. Based on a modification of Kira's warmth index which employs cumulative temperature represented as $^{\circ}C$ day, leaf unfolding in both species was observed to be initiated at $58^{\circ}C$ day and $169^{\circ}C$ day, respectively. In 1996, leaf unfolding was initiated on 18 May in B. platyphylla var. japonica (+/-6 days) and on 5 June in B. ermanii (+/-8 days), shortly after the last frost which occurred on 5 May 1995 above 1,850 m; below this elevation there was no risk of frost at the time. At elevations above 1,850 m, the unfolded leaves of B. platyphylla were damaged by late frost, while B. ermanii escaped injury because the leaves were still protected by winter buds. The optimum temperature for seed germination in both B. platyphylla and B. ermanii was $30^{\circ}C$. Temperature alternation from 10 to $30^{\circ}C$ and moist storage of seeds at $4^{\circ}C$ (stratification) prior to incubation increased germination rates in both species. The seedlings of B. ermanii had a greater survival rates than those of B. platyphylla var. japonica when planted above 1,850 m. Comparisons of the timing of leaf unfolding and the latest frost at a site appeared to be the main factors affecting the vertical distribution of these species.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.90 no.1
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• pp.55-63
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• 2001

Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica have been identified as possible species for use for phytoremediation of landfills. To identify the effects of waste leachate on growth and physiological characteristics in Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica, four different treatments were applied to seedlings for 3 months: leachate solution(100% leachate), 50% dilution(50% leachate: 50% water, v/v), 75% dilution(25% leachate: 75% water, v/v) and control(tab water) were applied to these two species. Treatment with waste leachate significantly stimulated both Populus euramericana and Betula platyphylla var. japonica height, diameter at root collar and biomass production relative to the water control. Chlorophyll contents, photosynthesis and transpiration of leachate irrigated-trees were significantly higher than those of water control. These results suggested that these two species could be suitable species for phytoremediation in landfills because these species showed good growth performance and were capable of taking up waste leachate.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.45-51
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• 2013

Objectives : This study was conducted to measure the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts from Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Punica granatum and Rhus javanica against various species of anaerobic bacteria. Methods : In order to evaluate the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts, DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activities were measured in various species such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans and Propionibacterium acnes that induce skin inflammation. Also the total amount of phenol in each water- and ethanol-extract was measured to identify its role in the antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of water- and ethanol-extracts from Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Punica granatum and Rhus javanica. The antibacterial activity of the extracts was measured by confirming the lowest concentrations in disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) tests. Results : It was observed that RJE (Rhus javanica-EtOH extracts) show the highest content of total phenol. In addition, for RJE the total phenol content was higher from samples taken from domestic sources than from samples taken from foreign sources. DPPH radical scavenging activity was increased by treatment with PGE (Punica granatum-EtOH extracts), RJE and RJW (Rhus javanica-water extracts). It was observed that SOD-like activity was highest in the treatment with PGE. All of the extracts showed antimicrobial activity on S. epidermidis, S. aureus, P. acnes and E. coli, including those from Punica granatum, and it was noted that the activity was higher with RJE than with RJW. Conclusions : These results provide evidence that ethanol extracts of Punica granatum and Rhus javanica may have a beneficial role as antioxidants and antibiotics. Extracts from domestic samples of Betula platyphylla var japonica appeared to have a greater efficacy than extracts from foreign samples.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.157.3-158
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• 2003

The antioxidant and anticancer properties of a medicinal plant, Betula platyphylla var. japonica were investigated. The total methanol extract of B. platyphylla var. japonica had protective effects against hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in the Chinese hamster lung fibroblast (V79-4) cell line and induced apoptotic cell death in human promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells, a cancer cell line. B. platyphylla var. japonica extract significantly increased cell viability against $H_2O_2$. The extract also showed high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity ($IC_50$ 2.4 mg/ml) and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity ($IC_50$ below 4.0 mg/ml). (omitted)

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.165-172
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• 2003

The objectives of this study were to examine the physiological responses to ozone and to measure ozone uptake rates of Betula species exposed to relatively high concentration of pollutants. At the end of the growing season, photosynthesis, pigments contents, antioxidants (SOD and GR) and ozone uptake rates were measured or estimated at the leaves of five Betula species (Betula costata, B. davurica, B. platyphylla var. japonica, B. schmidtii and B. ermanii) exposed to 100ppb ozone concentration. On the termination of the experiment, growth effects were determined by measuring leaf area and dry weights of leaf, stem and root. Ozone treatment showed the significant reduction the leaf area and dry weight of four Betula species, except for B. ermanii. Shoot / root (SR) ratio of five species represented two different types. SR ratio of B. costata and B. davurica were lower than control, in contrast, SR ratio of B. platyphylla var. japonica, B. schimidtii and B. emani, were higher than that of control. The photosynthetic responses of five species were different in responses to ozone exposure. Four species, except for B. emanii, maintained or increased the stomatal conductance, but B. emanii decreased both stomatal conductance and photosynthesis. SOD activities of five species decreased by the ozone exposure, especially B. ermanii showed the largest reduction, GR activities of B. platyphylla var. japonica and B. schmidtii increased, B. costata and B. emanii decreased. Instantaneous ozone uptake rate was the highest at the leaves of B. ermanii and B. costata, ozone uptake per seedling was the highest at the leaf of B. schmidtii and B. emanii. It was concluded that B. costata, B. davurica and B. platyphylla var. japonica, appeared the growth reduction and visible ozone injury, were sensitive species to ozone, and B. schmidtii with the increased antioxidant activity and B. ermanii without the growth reduction were relatively resistant species to high ozone concentration at the early growing stage.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.95 no.5
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• pp.614-620
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• 2006

To study the chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic characteristics of 4 tree species of deciduous hardwoods; Betula platyphylla var. japonica, Zelkova serrata, Acer mono and Prunus sargentii were treated in 3 stages of shading; the full sun treatment, the medium shade treatment with 30% of transmittance comparing to full sun, the intense shade treatment with 8% of transmittance and their changes in chlorophyll contents and photosynthetic characteristics were examined and analyzed. Most hardwoods showed differences in the total chlorophyll contents in the order of May < September < July, however, that in Prunus sargentii increased progressively along with the lapse of time. Concerning the degree of shading, total chlorophyll contents increased in proportion to the level of shading. Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Prunus sargentii showed more than 2-3 times difference between the full sun treatment and the intense shade treatment. The changes in photosynthetic characteristics, the range of the light saturation point of the trees was $1,000{\sim}1,100{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ in May, before the shading was applied, and the intensity was shown in the order of Betula platyphylla var. japonica > Zelkova serrata > Acer mono > Prunus sargentii. The photosynthetic rate was $6.4{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}{\sim}27.1{\mu}mol{\cdot}CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ in the order of Betula platyphylla var. japonica > Prunus sargentii > Acer mono > Zelkova serrata that there were differences between species. Concerning the changes in light saturation point in each growth period after shading treatment, the light saturation point in the full sun treatment was found in the range of $560{\sim}1,100{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ and the level of intensity was shown in the order of May > July > September. The light saturation point decreased as the level of shading intensified and the level of changes in light compensation point in the full sun treatment for Betula platyphylla var. japonica and Prunus sargentii was shown in the range of $2.9{\sim}27.1{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ in the order of May > July > September, however, for Zelkova serrata and Acer mono was shown in the range of $3.9{\sim}11.7{\mu}mol{\cdot}CO_2{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$ in the order of July > May > September that there were differences between species.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2018

Betula platyphylla var. japonica (Betulaceae), also known as Asian white birch, is an endemic medicinal tree, the bark of which has been used in Chinese traditional medicine for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases. In our continuing search for bioactive compounds from Korean natural resources, a phytochemical investigation of the bark of B. platyphylla var. japonica led to the isolation of 7-oxo-${\beta}$-sitosterol (1) and soyacerebroside I (2) from its ethanol extract as main components by liquid chromatography (LC)/mass spectrometry (MS)-based analysis. The structures of isolates were identified by comparison of $^1H$ and $^{13}C$ nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data and physical data with the previously reported values and LC/MS analyses. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that the isolated compounds, 7-oxo-${\beta}$-sitosterol and soyacerebroside I, were isolated in B. platyphylla var. japonica. We examined the effects of the isolates on the regulation of adipocytes and osteoblast differentiation. These isolates (1 and 2) produced fewer lipid droplets compared to the untreated negative control in Oil Red O staining of the mouse mesenchymal stem cell line without altering the amount of alkaline phosphatase staining. The results demonstrated that both compounds showed marginal inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation but did not affect osteoblast differentiation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.55-68
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• 1989

This experiment was carried out to investigate the crack of coated Nitrocellulose Lacquer on flatand edge-grained boards of Quercus acutissima, ring-porous wood, and Betula platyphylla var. japonica, diffuse-porous wood, by variations of moisture contents at 7, 13 and 21%. Cold check system was used as an accelerating method for crack development, in which one cycle of the system consisted of 10 replications of each unit cycle, $60^{\circ}C$ for 4hr followdd by $-20^{\circ}C$ for 4hr. The analysis of Nitrocellulose Lacquer characteristics was made by means of water permeation measurement, F.T.I.R. spectroscopy, N.M.R. spectroscopy, gel permeation chromatography, gas chromatography, and D.S.C. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The number of cracks increased with the increasing moisture content of board. 2. The crack of coated film on flat-grained board was fewer in number than on edge-grained board. 3. The crack occurred in Quercus acutissima was more numerous on edge-grained board but less frequent on flat-grained board compared with that in Betula platyphylla var. japonica, respectively. 4. The cold crack vertically developed to the grain both in Quercus acutissima and Betula platyphylla var. japonica. 5. Water permeability in intermediate coated film was lower than in under and top coated film, but the difference was not confirmed between under and top coated film.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.2
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• pp.238-243
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• 1996

Three half-sib families of Betula platyphylla var. japonica had been introduced from Japan and tested for their growth potentiality by comparing with control trees originating from previously introduced and cultivated stands of unknown seed origin. Two of the three introduced family groups from Japan showed superior tree growth in both diameter and height to control one up to the age of four. But only one family group remained superior to the control trees at age six. It appeared from the results that Betula platyphylla var. japonica families, introduced from Japan, can be directly used for the production of planting stocks for commercial planting and/or as parental trees for the production of intra- and interspecific hybrids.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 1999

Biomass, tissue (foliage, stem. and root) nutrient concentration, and nutrient use efficiency (NUE) were determined for 1-year-old Pinus densiflora, Larix leptolepis and Betula platyphvlla var. japonica seedlings in a greenhouse under nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization treatments. There were no consistent patterns in the effect of fertilization on seedling growth, however, in most cases the addition of N and P had no stimulating effect on biomass. In general, seedling tissue N and P concentrations increased after fertilization. It appeared that fertilization induced luxury nutrient consumption because uptake was increased without altering biomass. The NUE. calculated as the ratio between total above and belowground production and nutrient content in seedlings, decreased with increasing N and P supply for P. densiflora and B. platyphylla var. japonica while that for L. leptolepisthe did not change. B. platyphylla var. japonica had the highest NUE, L. leptolepis the lowest, with P. densiflora having the intermediate NUE.