• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.30-39
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• 2010

We researched community structure, species composition, and habitat environment of Dendropanax morbifera populations distributed in Goheung, Haenam, Wando (I.), and Bogildo (I.) at south coast of the Korean Peninsula. Our research was also estimated possible area for growth of Dendropanax morbifera by analyzing meteorological factors of the habitat thereof. Dendropanax morbifera community divided into Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii group and Carpinus laxiflora group by difference of species composition. Broad-leaved evergreens showed high dominance value in view of rNCD in Dendropanax morbifera community as follows: Camellia japonica (100.0), Quercus acuta (88.6), Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii (55.8), Dendropanax morbifera Lev. (41.4), Trachelospermum asiaticum var. intermedium (23.8), Eurya japonica (19.9) and Ligustrum japonicum (11.5). In the population distribution, 94.2% of Carpinus laxiflora group consisted of sapling and small size class that are less than 5 cm in DBH while 54.2% of Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii group did. The soil environment of habitat showed low soil acidity, good organic matter and water content, and good drainage. The distribution area of Dendropanax morifera habitat had $13^{\circ}C$ or more in annual mean temperature, $7.4^{\circ}C$ or more in daily minimum temperature, $100^{\circ}C$ month or more in warmth index, and approximately 1,344 mm in mean annual precipitation. Dendropanax morifera habitat corresponded to evergreen broad-leaved forest zone located in islands and coast in the southwest region of the Korean Peninsula. The northern limit line of Dendropanax morifera community was determined as Gunsan-Jeongeup-Gwangju-Jinju-Pohang-Youngdeok line based on $13^{\circ}C$ in annual mean temperature that was confirmed in natural habitat of Dendropanax morifera community.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.394-402
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• 2014

Purpose: Dendropanax morifera Leveille (DML) exhibits diverse biological and pharmacological activities, including anti-oxidative effect, anti-cancer activity, hepatoprotection, immunological stimulation, and bone regeneration. As part of the identification for novel functions of DML, we investigated the therapeutic effects of DML on diabetes induced by streptozotocine (STZ) treatment. Methods: First, the four extracts including the water extract of leaf (DLW), the ethanol extract of leaf (DLE), the water extract of stem (DSW), and the ethanol extract of stem (DSE) were collected from the leaf and stem of DML using a hot water and ethanol solvent. Alterations in body weight, glucose concentration, insulin level, and pancreatic islet structure were investigated in diabetic mice after treatment with extracts of DML for 2 weeks. Results: Among four extracts, the highest level of total polyphenols and total flavonoids was detected in DLW, while the lowest level of these was measured in DSE. The radical scavenging activity was also higher in DLW than in the other three extracts at the concentration of $25-100{\mu}g/mL$, although this activity was maintained at a constant level in all groups at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/mL$. Based on the results of anti-oxidant activity, DLW and DLE were selected for examination of anti-diabetic effects in a diabetes model. Body weight was gradually decreased in all STZ treated groups compared with the No treated group. However, four STZ/DML treated groups maintained a high level of body weight during 7-14 days, while the STZ/vehicle treated group showed a gradual decrease of body weight during the same period. Also, a significant decrease or increase in the concentration of glucose and insulin in the blood of the diabetes model was detected in a subset of groups, although the highest increase was detected in the STZ/DLE-200 treated group. In addition, the histological structure of pancreatic islet was significantly recovered after treatment with DLW and DLE. Conclusion: These results suggest that DLW and DLE may contribute to attenuation of clinical symptoms of diabetes as well as prevent the destruction of pancreatic ${\beta}$-cells in STZ-induced diabetes mice.