• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.205-210
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• 2013

Cicuta virosa L. (Apiaceae) is a perennial emergent plant designated as an endangered species in South Korea. According to the former records, only four natural habitats remain in South Korea. A former study suggested that three of four populations (Pyeongchang: PC, Hoengseong: HS, Gunsan: GS) would be classified as different ecotypes based on their different morphological characteristics and life cycle under different environmental conditions. To evaluate this suggestion, we estimated genetic diversity in each population and distance among three populations by random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Seven random primers generated a total of 61 different banding positions, 36 (59%) of them were polymorphic. Nei's gene diversity and the Shannon diversity index increased in the order of PC < HS < GS, which is the same order of population size. In the two-dimensional (2D) plot of first two principal components in principal component analysis with the presence of 61 loci, individuals could be grouped as three populations easily (proportion of variance = 0.6125). Nei's genetic distance for the three populations showed the same tendency with the geographical distance within three populations. And it is also similar to the result of discriminant analysis with the morphological or life-cycle factors from the previous study. From the results, we concluded that three different populations of C. virosa should be classified as ecotypes based on not only morphology and phenology but genetic differences in terms of diversity and distance as well.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2014

The effect of elevated $CO_2$ and temperature on ecological characteristics of Cicuta virosa L., the endangered plant were examined under ambient $CO_2$+ambient temperature(AC-AT), ambient $CO_2$+elevated temperature(AC-ET) and elevated $CO_2$+elevated temperature for two years. Shoot length and the number of umbels were not different in three environmental gradients. The number of tillers was high in the order of EC-ET, AC-ET and AC-AT. The number of compound umbel was the lowest in the EC-ET. Fruit set rate was the highest in the AC-AT. These results mean that unsexual propagation of C. virosa may increase by promoting growth of tillers, rather than seed production under future global warming. This population growth study will be used as the important data for the research of Korean endangered species.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.71-78
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was fulfilled to investigate nominee materials as anti-inflammatory agent from ethanol extract of Chinese medicinal plants in Yanjin. Among the 20 candidates, we selected most effective one, the ethanol extract of Cicuta virosa L. (CVL). The mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of CVL is not clearly identified as yet. Accordingly, we clarified the anti-inflammatory effects of CVL and its underlying molecular mechanisms in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Methods : RAW264.7 macrophages were incubated with CVL (12.5, 25, or $50{\mu}M$) and/or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) ($1{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). Cytotoxicity was determined using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide assay and the level of nitric oxide (NO) production was measured with Griess reagent. The prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) production was measured with enzyme immunoassay kits and the protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined using Western blot analysis. Results : Among the 20 ethanol extract of Chinese medicinal plants of Yanjin tested, CVL significantly reduced the production of NO in a dose-dependent manner via inhibition the protein expressions of iNOS without cytotoxicity on the LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. In addition, CVL also effectively declined the production of $PGE_2$ in LPS-simulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Conclusions : Taken together, these data presented in this study demonstrate that CVL possesses anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators NO and $PGE_2$, and pro-inflammatory protein iNOS expression in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.87-107
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to present the basic data for maintenance and management of river ecosystem by surveying and analysing the kinds and their characteristics of vascular plants in Bukcheon stream, Gyeongju-si, South Korea. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 428 taxa including 92 families, 265 genera, 3 subspecies, 24 varieties, 6 forms, 5 hybrids and 5 cultivars. Among the identified taxa, there were 90 planted species. The endangered wild species was Cicuta virosa, and the rare plants were 5 taxa including Prunus × yedoensis, Juniperus chinensis L. var. sargentii and so on. The Korean endemic plants were 5 taxa Populus × tomentiglandulosa, Salix koriyanagi, Lespedeza maritima, Forsythia koreana and Aster pseudoglehni. The specific plants by floristic region were 26 taxa including 2 taxa of grade V, 3 taxa of grade IV, 2 taxa of grade III, 8 taxa of grade II and 11 taxa of grade I. The naturalized plants were 81 taxa including Euphorbia maculata, Erigeron strigosus, Vulpia myuros and so on. The invasive alien plants were 7 taxa including Humulus scandens, Rumex acetosella, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Lactuca seriola, Symphyotrichum pilosum and Paspalum distichum.