• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2011

The inhibitory effect of Chung-Jang-Hwan (C-mix) consisted of Geranium nepalense subsp. thunbergii, Saururus chinensis, and Rubus coreanus were investigated in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitic mice by microarray analysis. Treatment with Cmix improved colitic symptoms, including colon shortening and myeloperoxidase activity. Treatment with DSS alone upregulated the expression levels of inflammation-related genes, including IL-$1\beta$, IL-6, CCL2, CCL4, CCL5, CCL7, CCL8, CCL24, CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL5, CXCL9 and CXCL10, and other colitis-related genes such as COX-2, PAP, MMP family, S100a8, S100a9 and DEFA1 in mice. However, treatment with C-mix inhibited the expression levels of inflammation-associated genes induced by DSS. The increased expression levels of COX-2 and IL-$1\beta$, representative inflammatory genes, were confirmed by a quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction analysis. These results indicate that C-mix may ameliorate colitis by the inhibitory regulation of inflammation-associated genes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.6 s.67
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• pp.951-962
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• 2004

Hot water extracts of 141 indigenous plants were screened for antibacterial activity against 7 Gram (+) and 12 Gram (-) bacteria by agar diffusion method. Of the 141 plants tested, 55 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (+) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Geranium thunbergii (Geraniaceae), Lagerstroemia indica (Lythraceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 6 strains. Of the 141 plants tested, 45 showed antibacterial activity against one or more species of Gram (-) bacteria and especially extracts of Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae), Alnus firma (Betulaceae), Alnus hirsuta (Betulaceae), Magnolia kobus (Magnoliaceae) showed broad spectrum antibacterial activity on over 8 strains. The most active antibacterial plants were Oenothera stricta Ledebour (Onagraceae), Punica granatum (Lythraceae), Quercus variabilis Blume (Fagaceae), Schizandra chinensis Baillon (Magnoliaceae) which are edible as permitted by Korea Food & Drug Adminstration. With in-depth research, the hot water extracts of these plants can be applied as food preservatives and alternatives of antimicrobials for livestock feeds.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.200-208
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• 2007

Fifty-four natural plants from Jeju Island, Korea were extracted by 70% methanol. The extracts containing the highest total phenolic contents (TPC) (>250 mg gallic acid equivalents/g dry sample) were obtained from Ostrya japonica, Geranium thunbergii, Malus sieboldii, Ardisia japonica, and Agrimonia pilosa. DPPH inhibition activity was greatest in Ardisia crenata at 94.1%. A high correlation was observed between DPPH inhibition activity and TPC ($R^2=0.87$). Tyrosinase inhibition activities of more than 85% were obtained from the extracts of Persicaria filiformis, Rhus javanica, Alnus firma, and Myrica rubra. On the other hand, the P. filiformis and M. rubra extracts each showed more than 90% XOD inhibition activity. The five natural plants with the highest biological activities were also extracted by pressurized liquid (PLE, 100% methanol, 13.6 MPa, $40^{\circ}C$). The DPPH and tyrosinase inhibition activities were almost the same in both the 70% methanol and PLE extracts. The $IC_{50}$ for tyrosinase and elastase inhibition activities in PLE were 802 and 88 ppm in A. japonica, and 959 and 66 ppm in M. rubra, respectively.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.99 no.3
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• pp.267-276
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• 2010

This study was performed to obtain basic data about vegetation structure and site environment of rare and endangered plant, viola websteri in five natural habitats. The dominant species of Hongcheon habitat were Pyrus pyrifolia (tree layer), Morus bombycis (subtree layer), Pyrus pyrifolia (shrub layer) and Isodon inflexus (herb layer). Mt. Yeonin habitat were dominated by Quercus mongolica (tree layer), Morus bombycis (subtree layer), Philadelphus schrenckii (shrub layer) and Viola websteri (herb layer). Mt. Yumyung habitat were dominated by Cornus controversa (tree layer), Morus bombycis (subtree layer), Fraxinus rhynchophylla (shrub layer) and Adenocaulon himalaicum (herb layer). Mt. Daebu habitat were dominated by Acer mono (tree layer), Staphylea bumalda (subtree layer), Staphylea bumalda(shrub layer) and Dryopteris crassirhizoma (herb layer). And the dominant species of Mt. Worak habitat were Larix leptolepis (tree layer), Fraxinus rhynchophylla (subtree layer), Alangium platanifolium var. macrophylum (shrub layer) and Adenocaulon himalaicum (herb layer). It was found out that the average acidity of soil pH was 5.23; 0.30ds/m for electron conductivity; 12.6% for organic matter content; 0.68% for total nitrogen; 21.66 ppm for available phosphorous; and 23.45 cmol(+)/kg for CEC. Interchangeable cation was decreased in order of $Ca^{2+}$ > $Mg^{2+}$ > $K^{2+}$. Viola websteri had positive association with Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum and Geranium thunbergii but negative association with Poa sphondylodes. Species diversity index(H'), maximum Species diversity index (H' max), evenness(J') and dominance (1-J'), of investigated sites ranged 0.6816 (Mt. Worak)~0.9656 (Mt. Daebu), 1.0000 (Mt. Yeonin)~1.3010 (Hongcheon, Gangwon), 0.5330 (Mt. Worak)~0.8947 (Mt. Daebu) and 0.1053 (Mt. Daebu)~0.4670 (Mt. Worak) in woody layer and 1.0414 (Mt. Yumyung)~1.3295 (Mt. Worak), 1.4314 (Mt. Yumyung)~1.6435 (Mt. Daebu), 0.6984 (Hongcheon, Gangwon)~0.8356 (Mt. Worak) and 0.1644 (Mt. Worak)~0.3016 (Hongcheon, Gangwon) in herb layer, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.100-105
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• 2009

This study investigated the physiological characteristics of various medicinal plant extracts including Crataegi Fructus (CF), Perilla frutescens Britton var. acuta Kudo (PF), Geranium thunbergii sieb. et Zucc. (GT) and Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg (PM) for use in extending the shelf-life and improving the functional properties of seasoned pork. CF and GT showed a wide spectrum of antimicrobial activities against 5 kinds of Gram (+) bacteria and 5 kinds of Gram (-) bacteria. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts decreased as the heat treatment temperature increased between 60 and $121^{\circ}C$, but their activities remained relatively high following heat treatment. The total phenolic compound contents of the CF, PF, GT, PM extracts were 66.2, 29.0, 96.6 and 13.3 mg/g, respectively. The order of their DPPH radical scavenging activity was GT > CF > PF > PF. The nitrite scavenging activities of the CF, PF and GT extracts at 0.1% concentration were 10.5, 1.6 and 3.8%, respectively. The GT extract (99.7%) showed the highest degree of lipid rancidity inhibition compared to CF (90.3%), PF (88.9%) and PM (41.2%). After heat treatment for 15 min at $121^{\circ}C$, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of CF decreased but it increased in GT and PM. The nitrite scavenging activities of CF and GT decreased after heat treatment for 15 min at $121^{\circ}C$ but remained at relatively high levels. Also, degrees of lipid rancidity inhibition remained relatively high in PF (86.3%) and GT (99.8%) after heat treatment for 15 min at $121^{\circ}C$. These results suggest that CF and GT extracts could be used as ingredients in seasoning sauce to improve the shelf-life and functional properties of seasoned pork.