• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.155-163
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• 2017

Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba, is a traditional medicinal herb that shows various pharmacological activities such as antiinflammatory, antidiabetic, antimelanogenesis, antioxidant, antibacterial, antiallergic, and immunomodulatory activities. However, the mechanisms of their inhibitory effects on adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis remain poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by ethanol extracts of Mori Folium (EEMF) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Treatment with EEMF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in the lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EEMF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which is associated with a significant inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-${\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$), and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ ($C/EBP{\alpha}$) and ${\beta}$ ($C/EBP{\beta}$). In addition, EEMF potentially downregulated the expression of adipocyte-specific genes, including adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (aP2) and leptin. Furthermore, EEMF treatment effectively increased the phosphorylation of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC); however, treatment with a potent inhibitor of AMPK, compound C, significantly restored the EEMF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results together indicate that EEMF has preeminent effects on the inhibition of adipogenesis through the AMPK signaling pathway, and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds in Mori Folium.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.869-878
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• 2013

Eleven functional plant materials were identified via a literature search, and their antioxidant capacity and inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells were tested. Yields from hot water extracts of the materials were the highest (52.10%) in Lycii fructus, and the yields from Phellinus linteus were the lowest (5.7%). The yields of another were 14.50-42.47%. Total phenol and flavonoids contents were the highest in P. linteus. The $EC_{50}$ values for DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities were lower than $100{\mu}g/ml$ for Salvia miltiorrhiza, whereas the values for P. linteus, Scutellaria baicalensis, and Paeonia lactiflora were $100-200{\mu}g/ml$. The $EC_{50}$ value for the superoxide anion radical scavenging activity of all the extracts was higher than $300{\mu}g/ml$. P. linteus for the reducing power was shown the highest activity. $Fe^{2+}$ chelating activity was the highest in the Morus alba extract. In an MTT assay, the cell viability of the RAW264.7 LPS-exposed cells was above 80% in extracts of $50{\mu}g/ml$ and above 77% in extracts of $100{\mu}g/ml$ in all the plant materials except Acanthopanax sessiliflorum. NO production in the RAW264.7 LPS-exposed cells showed a 12-fold increase compared to the control. The NO production level of all the extracts was $6.86-26.18{\mu}M$. Notably, $100{\mu}g/ml$ of S. baicalensis extract showed a remarkable decrease in NO production (72%) compared with the control. The potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of S.baicalensis, P. linteus, S. miltiorrhiza, M. alba, and P. lactiflora suggest that they are potential candidates as functional materials.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.62-89
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• 2016

The great part of the traditional knowledge on ethnobotanical plants and their uses is gradually vanishing due to industrialization, therefore ethnobotanical studies that explore and preserve the knowledge are in urgent needed before the knowledge are lost ever. This study was conducted to record and conserve the traditional knowledge of botanical taxa in Korea from 2006 to 2014. According to the survey results, derived from 17,328 sheets of 1,771 residents at 868 places, the ethnobotanical plants in Korea consisted of a total 924 taxa; 130 families, 493 genera, 813 species, 7 subspecies, 92 varieties and 12 form. Of them, herbs were 619 taxa (67.0%) and woody plants were 305 taxa (33.0%). 707 taxa (76.5%) out of 924 taxa grow wild, 44 taxa (4.8%) were cultivated wild species, 145 taxa (15.7%) were introduced for cultivation, and 28 taxa (3.0%) were naturalized plants. The analysis of usage for 924 taxa showed that the edible use was the highest with 58.9%, followed by medicinal with 26.9%, material with 3.7% and ornamental with 2.3%, respectively. The leaf of plant was the most useful part, followed by stem and root. Quantitative analysis of the ethnobotanical plants in Korea was performed by the basic values of FC, NU and UR, and indices of CI, RFC, RI and CV. As a result, The CI place Artemisia princeps in first position, followed by Aster scaber, Kalopanax septemlobus. The RFC place A. scaber in first position, followed by A. princeps, Aralia elata. The RI place A. princeps in first position, followed by Pinus densiflora, Morus alba. The CV place A. princeps in first position, followed by P. densiflora, K. septemlobus.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.44-54
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• 2016

This study compared the physicochemical characteristics, proximate composition, taste compounds, and antioxidant properties of Sikhye prepared with mulberry fruit concentrate. Analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of Sikhye added with mulberry indicated that sugar content and titratable acidity increased significantly with increasing mulberry concentration, whereas pH decreased significantly. The whiteness index (L) was 36.77~51.40, which significantly decreased with increasing mulberry concentrate. The redness index (a) was -0.90~1.97 and highest in Sikhye sample containing 4% mulberry concentrate. The yellow index (b) was 0.03~1.90 and highest in Sikhye sample containing 1% mulberry concentrate. Analysis of the antioxidant properties of Sikhye added with mulberry indicated that total polyphenol content and flavonoid content increased significantly as the amount of mulberry concentrate increased above 1%. Total anthocyanin color also increased significantly with increasing mulberry concentrate. The mulberry Sikhye sample containing 8% extract showed the strongest antioxidant properties based on DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power, and FRAP assay. Evaluation of the sensory properties of Sikhye added with mulberry revealed that the most preferred flavor, color, and taste were observed in Sikhye samples containing 2%, 4%, and 8% extract, respectively. However, the highest overall preference was observed in Sikhye sample containing 2% extract, indicating that 2% concentration was most suitable for Sikhye and that flavor and aftertaste were more critical than taste. Analysis of the storage characteristics of Sikhye added with mulberry indicated that total bacteria count increased across all samples with increased storage period. However, total bacteria count in the added mulberry concentration group decreased in comparison to the control group as the amount of added mulberry increased.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.202-219
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to analyze the community structure of forest vegetation in Mt. Geumsusan belong to Woraksan National Park for providing basic information of ecological management. Data were collected by 41 plots from June to November in 2016 using Z-M phytosociology method, which was analyzed with vegetation types, mean importance value and coincidence method. As the results, the forest vegetation was classified into Quercus mongolica community group including Cornus controversa community, Castanea crenata community(Vegetation unit 3), Quercus variabilis community(Vegetation unit 4) and Q. mongolica community(Vegetation unit 5). C. controversa community was divided into two groups such as Ulmus davidiana var. japonica group(Vegetation unit 1) and Parthenocissus tricuspidata group(Vegetation unit 2). Mean importance percentage of vegetation unit 1 was showing Fraxinus rhynchophylla 14.9%, Morus bombycis 8.7% and Acer pictum subsp. mono 8.3%, that of unit 2 was Larix kaempferi 23.2%, C. controversa 20.1% and P. tricuspidata 6.5%, that of unit 3 was Q. mongolica 15.8%, C. crenata 13.4% and F. rhynchophylla 9.8%, that of unit 4 was Q. mongolica 26.6%, Q. variabilis 20.8% and Pinus densiflora 16.7%, that of unit 5 was Q. mongolica 48.3%, Styrax obassia 7.5%, F. rhynchophylla 5.3% in the order, respectively. Each vegetation unit was classified with dependance on environmental factors as 700m of altitude, $20^{\circ}$ of slope degree, middle slope of topography, 20% of bare rock, 30 taxa of present species, 80% of tree layer coverage rate and 20m of tree layer height. In conclusion, it was preferentially considered that development of peculiar and specific management methods with vegetation unit classified above should be needed for ecological and sustainable forest vegetation management.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.225-230
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• 2008

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death among Koreans. Control of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia is strongly correlated with decrease in risks for cardiovascular diseases, the most common and fatal diabetic complication. The effects of chronic feeding of a mixture of Chinese herbs on blood lipid profile were measured in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, db/db mice (C57BL/Ks). The Chinese herb mixture was composed of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer,Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycium chinense, Morus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Schizandra chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Dioscorea batatas, Polygonatum doratumvar. pluriflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa in a ratio of 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.4 : 0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9. Methanol extract of the Chinese herb mixture was tested for the inhibitory activity against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro. The Chinese herb mixture extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 25.2% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Four weekold male db/db mice (n = 14) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 10% powder of the Chinese herb mixture for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation period. Body weight (39.5 ${\pm}$ 1.6 g) and food intake (4.3 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (40.4 ${\pm}$ 2.6 g and 4.5 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day). Consumption of Chinese herb mixture significantly decreased plasma glucose level (442.5 ${\pm}$ 36.0mg/dL) compared with the control group (489.8 ${\pm}$ 34.6 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma cholesterol level (159.2 ${\pm}$ 18.4 mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group was significantly lower than that of the control group (185.4 ${\pm}$ 13.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Blood glycated hemoglobin (6.3 ${\pm}$ 0.8%) and plasma triglyceride levels (99.4 ${\pm}$ 15.0mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (6.7 ${\pm}$ 0.7% and 108.8 ${\pm}$ 11.0mg/dL). Thus, the Chinese herb mixture could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

• Journal of Sericultural and Entomological Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.43-54
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• 1983

In a field trial, the influence was studied by measurement of growth and leaf yields and chemical composition (in organic cations and anions and total nitrogen) with two nitrogen dressings (lower nitrogen treatment 25kg and higher nitrogen treatment 75kg urea/10a as the summer fertilizer) after the summer cutting. The results were as follows; 1. With increasingn nitrogen dressing, branch length and weight were enchanced. The fresh weight of leaves was higher to be 273.6kg/10a in the higher nitrogen treatment than in the lower nitrogen treatment on 20 September. 2. The moisture content of leaves lasted above 73% until on 30 August. Afterward it decreased sharply upto 63% on 20 September. In higher nitrogen treatment it was higher about 0.1∼1.8% than in lower nitrogen treatment. The increasing nitrogen dressings combined with leaf condition led to be soft until on 10 October. 3. Dry matter weight of leaves started decreasing around on 10 September, whereas that of branches increased until around 30 September indicating that the dry matter moved to branch and root from leaves. 4. The increase in Ca$\^$2+/ content was particularly evident, whereas the K$\^$+/ and Mg$\^$2+/ decreased with growth. The Ca$\^$2+/ content was much higher in the high nitrogen treatment than in the low nitrogen treatment. 5. With rapid decrease in total nitrogen and water in the leaves around the end of August, the Ca$\^$2+/ and Cl$\^$-/ which were higher in the lower part moved up to the upper part. Whereas the K$\^$+/, H$_2$PO$_4$$\^$-/ and SO$_4$$\^$2-/ which were higher in the upper part moved down to the lower part. 6. Total nitrogen content decreased sharply 3,200me/kg DM to 2,000me/kg DM at the end of August changing the maxmium content of total nitrogen from upper to lower part in the low nitrogen treatment on 12 September and in the high nitrogen treatment on 22 September, and an apex of branches was died and fallen 10 days after respectively. 7. The sum of cation in leaves (∑C) increased from 1400me/kg DM to 1600me/kg DM with growth, wherease that of anions (∑A) was approximatly the same during the whole growing season. As the result, the ionic balance (C-A) increased from 1000me/kg DM to 1200me/kg DM. 8. ∑C, ∑A and (C-A) were higher in the high nitrogen treatment than in the low nitrogen treatment due to be much higher of Ca$\^$2+/ content and higher of NO$\^$-/$_3$, SO$\^$2-/$_4$ and H$_2$PO$_4$$\^$-/ content.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 1971

As one part of the ecological studies of Korean white pine plantation, a synecological survey was made on the undergrowth vegetation of Korean white pine plantations of different age class i.e., 5, 15, 25, 35, and 40 year age classes under which shrub and ground vegetation were distinctly different. And, the results are summarized as follows. 1. In shrub, the important species is Corylus heterophylla var. japonica and the dominant species in each age-class stand are as follows; 5 year-class ; Quercus mongolica, Lespedeza Maximowiczi. 15 year-class ; Corylus heterophylla var. japonica, Lespedeza Maximowiczi. 25 year-class ; Corylus heterophylla var. japonica. 35 year-class ; Corylus heterophylla var. japonica, Maackia amurensis. 40 year-class ; Corylus heterophylla var. japonica. 2. The higher the age class of the plantation are, the lower the height and the density of the shrub become. 3. Dominant species of ground-vegetation under the shrub of each age-class are as follows; 5 year-class ; Arundinella hirta var. cilia, Miscanthus purpurascens. 15 year-class ; Arundinella hirta var. ciliata, Potentilla Freyniana. 25 year-class ; Physematium manchuriense, Viola xanthopetala, Rubus craegifolius. 35 year-class ; Viola xanthopetala, Rubus crataegifolius. 45 year-class ; Viola xanthopetala, Rubus crataegifolius. 4. The standing crops of ground vegetation under the shrub were decreased with increasing age-class, which also caused the decreasing height and density and changing floristic composition of the shrub. 5. The ratio of the standing crop of root to the standing crop of shoot was increased as the age class increased. 6. The floristic composition of ground vegetation has shown a change from heliophyte to sciophytes on the sere.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.2
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• pp.147-167
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• 2019

This study was conducted to analyze forest vegetation structure in the Marugeum (Ridge) area of Gitdaebaegibong to Jukryeong, Baekdudaegan. Data were collected in 298 quadrates through a Braun-Blanquet vegetation survey from April, 2018 to October, 2018. Forest vegetation was classified into 13 vegetation units. A Quercus mongolica community was divided into Morus bombycis, Filipendula glaberrima, Fraxinus sieboldiana, Prunus maackii unit and Q. mongolica typical unit. The M. bombycis unit was further classified into a Deutzia glabrata group and M. bombycis typical group. The F. glaberrima unit was subdivided into a Veratrum oxysepalum group, Arundinella hirta group, and F. glaberrima typical group. The F. sieboldiana unit was divided into a Pinus densiflora group, Larix kaempferi group, and F. sieboliana typical group. The relationship between vegetation units and environmental factors was studied through coincidence analysis and CCA. The F. glaberrima unit (VU 6~8) was distributed by elevation above 1,200 m and other vegetation units were distributed below 1,200 m. Results of the CCA analysis showed that the F. glaberrima unit distribution is positively correlated with elevation. As a result of species diversity, the F. glaberrima unit was higher than other vegetation units. A similarity index analysis revealed that the F. sieboldiana unit (VU 9~11) was relatively homogeneous, and the M. bombycis unit (VU 1~5) and A. girta group (VU 7) were relatively heterogeneous. A detrended correspondence analysis determined that the distance between the statistical axes of the M. bombycis and F. glaberrima units was the greatest, which is consistent with the analysis of the similarity index. As a result of interspecific correlation of major woody plants, hydrophilic species were positively correlated, and a negative correlation was found between Q. mongolica and intolerant species such as P. densiflora and L. kaempferi.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.2
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• pp.165-178
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• 2021

Owing to the lack of consistent research on endangered plant species in Korea, there are insufficient data to preservespecies and expand habitats. This study analyzed the preferred habitat and threats to the survival of Aconitum austrokoreense, found on Baekwun Mountain in Gurye-gun, Gwangyang-si, Jeollanam-do Province, and classified as a level two endangered wild plant by the Ministry of Environment, by investigating major environmental factors such as climate, location, soil, and stand structure. By examining five selected sites inhabited by Aconitum austrokoreense on BaekwunMountain, this study found that the habitat had an altitude of 420 to 675 m above sea level and showed a northeast tendency, spreading over a range of inclination angles between 15° and 37°. The average number of plants across the five sites was 156. Site 4 (550 m) had the highest density of 372 plants, with an average height of 0.6 m. The average soil moisture and relative light intensity were 20.48% and 7.34%, respectively. Layer soil was presumed to be sandy loam, characterized by high sand content and good drainage. The habitat had average soil pH of 5.2, average organic matter of 16.46%, average nitrogen of 0.86%, average available phosphate of 11.86 mg/kg, average electrical conductivity of 0.44 dS/m, and average cation exchange capacity of 37.04 cmolc/kg. The total carbon in soil averaged 10.68%. From the analysis of the vegetation structure of sites inhabited by Aconitum austrokoreense, the dominant populations were Pinus koraiensis and Lindera erythrocarpa in Site 1, Magnolia obovata and Carpinus laxiflora in Site 2, Zelkova serrate and Quercus variabilis in Site 3, Staphylea bumalda and Lindera erythrocarpa in Site 4, and Morus bombycis,Styrax japonicus, and Carpinus laxiflora in Site 5. With most habitats located near trails and sap collection sites of Acer pictum, the species were exposed to artificial damage and interference threats.