• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.227-234
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• 1991

We surveyed 12 migrating large egrets, Egretta alba modesta, for their infection status with intestinal trematodes, from June to September, 1990. All of them were infected with one or more flukes. Total 5 species were identified. Their infection rates and total numbers of worms were Metagonimus sp. 67% and 1, 412, Centrocestus armatus 67% and 2, 306, Echinochasmus japenicus 50% and 99, Strigea falconis 83% and 635, and a diplostomid cuke 33% and 36. The number of worms in a bird was in the range from 6 to 896. This is the first record that the egret is a reservoir host of Metagonimus sp., C. armatus, E. japonicus, and S. falconis. S. falconis is a new parasite fauna in Korea. Migrating birds must play an important role in the transmission and spreading of these intestinal trematodes in Korea.

• Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.144-151
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• 2016

Background: Immunoregulatory elements have emerged as useful immunotherapeutic agents against cancer. In traditional medicine, Mori folium, the leaf of Morus alba L. (Moraceae), has been used for various medicinal purposes; however, the immunomodulatory effects have not been fully identified. We evaluated the immunoenhancing potential of water extract of Mori folium (WEMF) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. Methods: RAW264.7 cells were treated with WEMF for 24 hours and cell viability was detected by an MTT method. Nitric oxide (NO) levels in the culture supernatants were assayed using Griess reagent. The productions of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) and immune-related cytokines was measured using ELISA detection kits. The mRNA and protein expression levels of Inducible NO synthase, COX-2, and cytokines were assayed by reverse transcription-PCR and Western blotting, respectively. The effect of WEMF on phagocytic activity was measured using a Phagocytosis Assay Kit. Results: WEMF significantly stimulated the production of NO and $PGE_2$ as immune response parameters at noncytotoxic concentrations, which was associated with the increased expression of inducible NO synthase and COX-2. The release and expression of cytokines, such as $TNF-{\alpha}$, interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}$, IL-6, and IL-10, were also significantly increased in response to treatment with WEMF. Moreover, WEMF promoted the macrophagic differentiation of RAW264.7 cells and the resulting phagocytosis activity. Conclusions: WEMF has the potential to modulate the immune function by regulating immunological parameters. Further studies are needed to identify the active compounds and to support the use of WEMF as an immune stimulant.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.398-412
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to collect the basic data for effective creation and management of hilly pasture. The investigation of flora and vegetation was conducted at 59 $relev\acute{e}s$ in hilly pasture of Daegwallyeong from 2014 to 2016. The vascular plants of the hilly pasture were 121 listed taxa which contain 38 families, 90 genera, 104 species, 13 varieties, and 12 subspecies. The biological type of the hilly pasture was determined as the $Th-D_4-R_5-e$ type. Twelve taxa were of naturalized plants composed of 5 families, 9 genera, 12 species. The urbanization index and the naturalized index were 3.7% and 9.9%, respectively. The vegetation types in the hilly pasture were classified into the following 3 communities: the Spiraea miyabei-Spiraea salicifolia community, the Persicaria thunbergii community, and the Agrostis alba-Phleum pratense community. The Agrostis alba-Phleum pratense community was classified into the following 5 subcommunities: the Poa pratensis subcommunity, the Artemisia princeps subcommunity, the Festuca ovina subcommunity, the Rumex acetosella subcommunity, and the typical subcommunity. Two factors (slope and EC) had the strongest impact on plant community distribution. Especially, the steep sloping sites (over $40^{\circ}$) did not play a crucial role in maintaining adequate pasture because of the invasion and establishment of shrubs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1225-1231
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• 2016

In this study, our investigated the antioxidant activities and compared other bioassay including anti-microbial, antifungal activities and total polyphenol contents of functional healthy drinks from some medicinal herbs and coffee mixture. The kind of medicinal herbs, chaga mushroom (Inonatus obliqurs), moringa (Moringa Oleifera), gravila (Anona muricata), mulberry (Morus alba), Dioscoreaceae (Dioscorea quinquelaba), Berberidaceae (Epimedii Herba), Asteraceae (Artemisia capillaries) and siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticous,). The functional healthy drinks, named C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, C6 and C7 were summered in Table 1. The in vitro antimicrobial activity was examined against Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacteria and a fungus. The functional healthy drinks were broad spectrum of anti-microbial activity without antifungal activity against Candida albicans KCTC7965. In particularly, the C7 showed strong activity against Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus CCARM3089, CCARM 3115 and CCARM3561. And, the C7 showed 88% of free radical scavenging effect on 0.5 mg/ml using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Functional healthy drink C7 was mulberry extracts from Morus alba, chaga mushroom from Inonatus obliqurs and moringa from Moringa olifera in additionally coffee extracts. Its results confirm that the potential use of mulberry extracts as a good source of antibacterial compounds or as a health promoting food and health drinks.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.49-67
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• 2020

This study was conducted to compare and analyze forest vegetation distributed in Geumosanseong-inside in Geumosan Provincial Park from 2017.10 to 2019.6. The vegetation structure was classified by the phytosociological method and TWINSPAN and the correlation between the community structure and the environmental factors was analyzed using DCCA ordination analydsis. The vegetation structures are Quercus mongolica, Fraxinus mandshurica, Q. acutissima, Larix leptolepis, Prunus padus and Morus alba community by the phytosociological method and 16 communities under TWINSPAN. The importance value of Q. mongolica(64.5) was the highest, and followed by F. mandshurica, L. leptolepis, Acer pseudosieboldianum, M. alba, P. padus, Q. acutissima, Sorbus alnifolia, P. serrulata var. pubescens, F. sieboldiana, Rhododendron schlippenbachii and Castanea crenata which is consistent with species having the dominance status by analysis of the vegetation structure. As the results of DBH analysis for taxon with high importance values, Q. mongolica and M. alba represented normal distribution, and thus, the dominance status of these species is likely to continue. L. leptolepis will maintain the dominance status due to high density of large individuals as compared with species above medium size. However, it will decrease because of high mortality after increase in age class. F. mandshurica and P. padus continue to show dominance status due to high density of young individuals as compared with species above medium size. Q. acutissima have high density of individuals above intermediate size and low density of young individuals, and thus, will maintain the dominance status. A. pseudosieboldianum, F. sieboldiana and R.schlippenbachii which are arborescent will present continuously high dominance status because of high density of young individuals. Soil analysis shows that whereas pH, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ in the research area were lower than the average values of overall forest soil and O.M, T-N, C.E.C and P₂O₅ were higher. We expected that these results were due to agricultures until 50 years ago in Geumosanseong-inside. As a result of DCCA ordination analysis using eleven environmental factors and communities classified by the phytosociological method analysis showed that Q. mongolica was distributed in the environment with higher elevation and O.M and steep slope, and lower P₂O₅, Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺. In contrast to F. mandshurica, Q. acutissima was distributed in higher K⁺ and lower pH. L. leptolepsis was distributed in various environment.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.724-731
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• 2012

This study was designed to elucidate whether combination with Korean red ginseng and Morus alba L. (MPM), traditional treatment for diabetes, ameliorates on high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. Animals were divided into four groups; Control receiving tap water, fructose-fed, rosiglitazone-treated fructose-fed rats, and MPM-treated fructose-fed rats both receiving supplemented with 60% fructose (n=10). The MPM or rosiglitazone groups initially received a high-fructose diet alone for 8 weeks, with supplementation with MPM or rosiglitazone, peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist, occurring during the final 6 weeks. Treatment with MPM significantly prevented the increase in c-reactive protein (CRP) levels in the high fructose group. MPM suppressed high fructose diet-induced vascular inflammation marker expression such as intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and E-selectin. MPM also reduced intima/media thickness of thoracic aorta. Histologic observation and oil red O staining demonstrated hepatic tissue damage and lipid accumulation were severe in high fructose group. Treatment with MPM ameliorated hepatic tissue morphology with minimized steatosis. In addition, MPM attenuated hepatitis by inhibition of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression. MPM-fed group showed lower serum GOT and GPT levels comparing with high fructose group. MPM and rosiglitazone (positive control) significantly decreased the size of epididymal adipocytes. Taken together, the administration of MPM inhibited high fructose-induced steatohepatitis and vascular inflammation. These results suggested that MPM is useful in the prevention or treatment of metabolic syndrome-related disorders such as fatty acid metabolism and vascular homeostasis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.1635-1647
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• 2023

Muscle atrophy, which is defined as a decrease in muscle mass and strength, is caused by an imbalance between the anabolism and catabolism of muscle proteins. Thus, modulating the homeostasis between muscle protein synthesis and degradation represents an efficient treatment approach for this condition. In the present study, the protective effects against muscle atrophy of ethanol extracts of Morus alba L. (MA) and Angelica keiskei Koidz. (AK) leaves and their mixtures (MIX) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that MIX increased 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide-induced C2C12 myotube thinning, and enhanced soleus and gastrocnemius muscle thickness compared to each extract alone in dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy Sprague Dawley rats. In addition, although MA and AK substantially improved grip strength and histological changes for dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in vivo, the efficacy was superior in the MIX-treated group. Moreover, MIX further increased the expression levels of myogenic factors (MyoD and myogenin) and decreased the expression levels of E3 ubiquitin ligases (atrogin-1 and muscle-specific RING finger protein-1) in vitro and in vivo compared to the MA- and AK-alone treatment groups. Furthermore, MIX increased the levels of phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), protein kinase B (Akt), and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) that were reduced by dexamethasone, and downregulated the expression of forkhead box O3 (FoxO3a) induced by dexamethasone. These results suggest that MIX has a protective effect against muscle atrophy by enhancing muscle protein anabolism through the activation of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway and attenuating catabolism through the inhibition of FoxO3a.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.25 no.2 s.81
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• pp.130-132
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• 1997

Artificial cultivation of Phellinus linteus was studied. The best yield (B.E. $9.4{\pm}1.6$) of basidiocarps including basidiospore was obtained using Quercus acutissima among the logs of Morus alba, Quercus acutissima, Alnus japonica, Castanea crenata. Optimum temperature and required periods for the basidiocarps formation were $25^{\circ}C$ and about 10 months, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.32 no.7
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• pp.960-964
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• 2003

Effects of pH, sugars, organic acids, and metal ions on the stability of anthocyanin pigments extracted from mulberry (Morus alba L) fruit were studied. The pH had marked influences on the color of the anthocyanine pigment: i.e. the lower pH of the anthocyanin solution was, the more stable and intense of the pigment was. Among the sugars, sucrose was the most deleterious followed by fructose, glucose and maltose. Among the organic acids, maleic acid was found to be the most effective in stabilizing the pigment followed by acetic acid, citric acid and tartaric acid. Most metal ions except C $u^{+2}$ and F $e^{+3}$ were found to be effective in stabilizing the pigment.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.237-244
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• 2007

We investigated the foraging habitat preferences of herons and egrets in an agricultural area in Asan city, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. In the study area, rice fields were the most abundant habitat type (86.8%) and total suitable feeding habitat was greater in the northern area (59.0%) than the southern area (22.5%) of the colony. Most feeding herons and egrets were located in the northern area of the colony. The number of feeding individuals in a given area was related to the available feeding area (Pearson correlation, r=0.773, p<0.001 for field habitats; r=0.901, p<0.001 for freshwater habitats). Feeding habitat preferences differed among species. Grey herons (Ardea cinerea), great egrets (Egretta alba), and black-crowned night herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) used reservoirs and ditches. However, intermediate egrets (E. intermedia) and cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) were dependent on rice fields. The little egret (E. garzetta) was a habitat generalist using all types of habitats. The two largest species, grey herons and great egrets, fed at deeper site than little egrets and foraged in deeper sites in reservoirs than in ditches (${\chi}^2-test,\;{\chi}^2{_3}=26.6$ and p<0.001 for grey herons, ${\chi}^2{_3}=17.5$ and p<0.001 for great egrets). All species displayed seasonal changes in feeding habitat use and these changes were related with changes in availability of feeding habitats.