• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.337-352
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• 1999

The effects of dried leaf powders and ethanol extract of persimmon, green tea and pine needle on lipid metabolism, lipid peroxidation and antioxidative activity were investigated in rats. Forty-nine male Spargue-Dawley rats weighing 107.8$\pm$1.8g were blocked into seven groups according to body weight. Rats were raised for four weeks with diets containing either 5%(w/w) dried leaf powders of one of three different Korea traditional teas, persimmon(Diospyros kaki Thunb), green tea(Camellia Sinensis O.Ktzc)or pine needle(pinus Koreansis Sieb. Et Zucc), or ethanol from equal amounts of each dried tea powder. Food intake, weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and weights of liver, kidney and epididymal fat were significantly higher in the green-tea-powder group, and significantly lower in the pine-needle-powder and pine-needle-extract groups. Persimmon-leaf powder was found to decrease plasma total lipid, triglyceride and cholesterol concentration by increasing fecal total lipid triglyceride and cholesterol excretions. Liver cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the green-tea and pine-needle-extract groups. Red-blood-cell superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-px) activities were significantly increased in rats fed green-tea extract. Liver SOD activity was increased in rats fed pine-needle powder or extract, and liver GSH-px activity was increased in rats fed greentea powder. Plasma and liver thiobarbituric acid reactive substance(TBARS) concentration were both decreased in rats fed dried leaf posers or extracts of persimmon or green tea. It is believed that high vitamin E levels in persimmon leaf, and high flavonoid, beta-carotene and vitamin C levels in green tea effectively inhibited lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, persimmon and green tea leaves were effective in lowering lipid levels and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in animal tissue, while pine needles were effective and lowering body weight gain. From these results, persimmon and green tea leaves can be recommended in the treatment and prevention of chronic discorders such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and aging. As ethanol extracts from these teas were also effecitive in lowering tissue lipid levels and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, we recommend the use of discarded tea grounds for this.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.466-472
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• 1999

These studies were designed to investigate the effects of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc.) needle extract (PNE) on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in liver membranes of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as a study on investigation of anti-aging effect and determination of chemical structures of PNE through the animal experiments. Male SD rats were fed basic diets (control group) and experimental diets (0.5% and 1.0%-PNE group) for 6 weeks. There were no significant differences in hydroxyl radical (·OH) formations of liver mitochondria and microsomes in 0.5%-PNE group, while ·OH formations were significantly decreased (10% and 18%, respectively) in liver mitochondria and microsomes of 1.0%-PNE group compared with control group. Microsomal hydrogen peroxides and cytosolic superoxide radicals were remarkably decreased (20% and 20∼25%, respectively) in 0.5% and 1.0%-PNE groups compared with control group. Mn-SOD activities in mitochondria were significantly increased about 10% in 1.0%-PNE group, while Mn-SOD activities in mocrosomes were remarkably increased (16∼20%) in 0.5% and 1.0%-PNE groups compared with control group. There were no significant differences in Cu, Zn-SOD activities of liver cytosol in 0.5% and 1.0%-PNE groups, while glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase (CAT) activities were significantly decreased (28∼30% and 15∼30%, respectively) in liver cytosols of 0.5% and 1.0%-PNE groups compared with control group. These results suggest that these PNE may play a effective role in a attenuating a oxygen radical formations and increasing a scavenger enzyme activities.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2010

In this study diverse dehydrogenative polymers (DHPs) were synthesized with three precursors of native lignin [p-coumaryl alcohol (PCA), coniferyl alcohol (CA), sinapyl alcohol (SA)] in the presence of horseradish peroxidase (HRP, EC. 1.11.1.7)/$H_2O_2$. To compare the structural features between DHPs and native lignin, the DHPs as well as pine/poplar milled wood lignins were simultaneously subjected to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) to determine average molecular weights and derivatization followed by reductive cleavage (DFRC) to investigate the frequency of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage. The highest yield of DHP was measured to 71% when CA was solely injected (G-DHP) and the yield of H-DHP was 42%. However, single injection of SA could not form any polymer in this system. The average molecular weights of DHPs were ranged between 3,000~4,700, which were only 1/2 fold compared with that of pine MWL (G-type lignin: Mw 7,340) and 1/3 scale compared with that of poplar MWL (GS-type lignin: Mw 13,250). DFRC analysis revealed that the formation of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage during dehydrogenative polymerization was the highest in the GS-DHP with ca. 502 ${\mu}mol$/g, which was, however, remained to only 50% compared to that in poplar MWL (1107 ${\mu}mol$/g). The ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage was estimated to ca. 286 ${\mu}mol$/g In the G-DHP, which was twice as much as that of H-DHP(127 ${\mu}mol$/g). Similar to GS-DHP, only half amount of ${\beta}$-O-4 linkage, compared to pine MWL, was formed during in vitro polymerization of CA by horseradish peroxidase/$H_2O_2$.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.241-249
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• 2023

Background: This study analyzed the drought responses of five forest tree species grown in Korean peninsula, Korean fir Abies koreana (Ak), eastern white pine Pinus strobus (Ps), keyaki Zelkova serrata (Zs), tulip tree Liriodendron tulipifera (Lt), and Japanese elm Ulmus japonica (Uj). Physiological (chlorophyll, root collar diameter [RCD]) and biochemical responses (non-structural carbohydrates, proline, lipid peroxidase and abscisic acid [ABA]) of the plants grown under mild (MD) and severe drought (SD) were compared. Results: In this study, three soil moisture regimes: control (100% precipitation), MD (60% reduction in precipitation) and SD (20% reduction in precipitation) were applied. Soil moisture content showed high water content in control site compared to MD and SD. A decline in RCD was found for Korean fir, keyaki, and tulip plants, with eastern white pine and Japanese elm showing no significant decline to the prolonged drought exposure (both MD and SD). Total chlorophyll showed a significant decline in Korean fir and tulip, with the sugar levels indicating a significant increase in Korean fir and keyaki species under SD compared to control plants. Non-significant decline in sugar level was noted for eastern white pine and Japanese elm. High accumulation of ABA, malondealdehyde and proline was noted in Korean fir, tulip, and keyaki under SD compared to control. Signs of tree mortality was only observed in Korean fir under MD (38%) and SD (43%). Conclusions: The observed findings indicate the drought responses of five tree species. The majority of the morpho-physiological (especially mortality) and biochemical variables assessed in our study indicate superior long-term drought resistance of Ps and Uj compared to the highly sensitive Ak, and moderately sensitive Lt and Zs. The results provided will help species selection for afforestation programs and establishment of sustainable forests, especially of drought-tolerant species, under increased frequency and intensity of spring and summer droughts.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.8-14
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• 1999

A screening has been performed to find hyper-ligninolytic fungi, which degtrade beech and pine lignin extensively in order to broaden the understanding of the ligninolytic enzymes elaborated by various white-rot fungi. One hundred and twenty two ligninolytic strains were selected from decayed woods with a selective medium for screening ligninolytic wood-rotting fungi. Two of them, Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 and YK-472, showed much higher ligninolytic activity and selectivity in beech-wood degradation than typical lignin-degrading fungi, phanerochaete chrysosporium and Coriolus versicolor. They also degraded birch dioxane lignin and residual lignin in unbleached kraft pulp(UKP) much more extensively than P. chrysosporium and C. versicolor. During fungal treatment of beech wood-powder, the fungus strain P. sordida YK-624 showed higher activity of extracellular manganese peroxidase (MnP) in the medium than P. chrysosporium. It also showed MnP activity, which would not be lignin peroxidast during treatment of oxygen-bleached kraft pulp(OKP) and under enzyme-inducing conditin.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.11
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• pp.1819-1825
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• 2008

Degradation and glucose production from wood chips of white pine (Pinus strobus) and tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) by several white rot fungi were investigated. The highest weight losses from 4 g of wood chips of P. strobus and L. tulipifera by the fungal degradation on yeast extract-malt extract-glucose agar medium were 38% of Irpex lacteus and 93.7% of Trametes versicolor MrP 1 after 90 days, respectively. When 4 g of wood chips of P. strobus and L. tulipifera biodegraded for 30 days were treated with cellulase, glucose was recovered at the highest values of 106 mg/g degraded wood by I. lacteus and 450 mg/g degraded wood by T. versicolor. The weight loss of 10 g of wood chip of L. tulipifera by T. versicolor on the nutrient non-added agar under the nonsterile conditions was 35% during 7 weeks of incubation, and the cumulative amount of glucose produced during this period was 239 mg without cellulase treatment. The activities of ligninolytic enzymes (lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase) of fungi tested did not show a high correlation with degradation of the wood chips and subsequent glucose formation. These results suggest that the selection of proper wood species and fungal strain and optimization of glucose recovery are all necessary for the fungal pretreatment of woody biomass as a carbon substrate.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.291-295
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a butanol (BuOH) fraction from an extract of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc.) needles, on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in the liver membranes of rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups over a 45 days study period: the control group on a basic diet, and three experimental groups on three different dietary levels of the butanol fraction, specifically 25 mg (BuOH-25), 50 mg (BuOH-50), and 100 mg (BuOH-100) butanol fraction/kg body weight/day, thereby 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% of butanol extract of pine needles was added to basil diet respectively. At the end of the experimental period, body weights and food intakes were not different among the four groups. The results showed that cholesterol accumulation in the mitochondria and microsomes of liver cells was significantly inhibited in the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups: by 11.6% and 20.1% in the mitochondria of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, respectively; and by 10.5%, and 13.5% in the microsomes of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, respectively, compared with the control group. The levels of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) were significantly) lower in the liver mitochondria of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups (by 13.3% and 18.5%, respectively), while OH radicals were significantly lower in the microsomes or all three experimental groups (by 15.7% in the BuOH-25 group, 20.0% in the BuOH-50 group, and 20.6% in the BuOH-100group), compared with the control group. Superoxide radical (O$_2$) formation was also significantly inhibited in the liver cytosol of both BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups; the levels of these radicals were 8.0% lower for the BuOH-50 group and 11.1% lower for the BuOH-100 group, compared to the control group. Copper/Zinc - superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activities were significantly increased (by 10.3% and 15.9%, respectively) in the liver cytosols of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, but Mn-SOD activities were almost identical in the three RuOH groups, compared with the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly increased in the three experimental groups (by 9.0% in the BuOH-25 group, 19.4% in the BuOH-50 group, and by 25.6% in the BuOH-100 group), compared with the control group. These results suggest that the butanol extract of pine needles may play an effective role in attenuating oxygen radicals and activating scavenger enzymes; consequently, aging may be very effectively modulated and/or inhibited.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.604-609
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• 2011

Pine (pinus densiflora) needles have long been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of pine needle extracts on the hepatic antioxidant system in the damaged liver of carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$)-treated rats. Nine-week-old Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups: normal group (NOR), $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL), pine needle hot water extract and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-P), and Vitamin C and $CCl_4$-treated group (CCL-V). The enzyme activities and antioxidant effects of the pine needle hot water extracts were investigated at the levels of liver homogenates and serum of rats intoxicated with $CCl_4$. Serum GOT and GPT activities by $CCl_4$ treatment increased compared to those of the NOR group. However, they tended to decrease in the hot water extract-administered group. Liver SOD activity in the CCL group was significantly lower than the NOR group (p<0.05). However, they increased in the CCL-P group compared to the CCL group. Further, the CAT and GPx activities of serum treated with $CCl_4$ were higher compared to those of the NOR group but lower in the CCL-P group compared to CCL group. These results suggest that pine needle hot water extract increases antioxidant activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.411-418
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• 2007

Oxidative stress can play a key role in cadmium (Cd)-induced dysfunction. The present study examined the effect of pine needle water extract (PN) on Cd-induced oxidative stress in rats. Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into three groups: normal group, Cd control group (Cd) and PN-administered Cd group (Cd-PN). $CdCl_2$ in 0.9% NaCl was administered orally with a dose of 5mg/kg of body weight/week, while the PN was administered orally with a dose of 1.26g/kg of body weight/day. Body weight gain was not different between groups, whereas food intakes were significantly lower in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Relative liver weight was significantly increased by cadmium administration compared to the normal group. Hepatic cytochrome P450 was significantly lower in Cd and Cd-PN groups than in normal group, while xanthine oxidase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities were significantly higher in the Cd-PN group than in normal or Cd group. Increased hepatic superoxide dismutase, monoamine oxidase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase activities by cadmium administration were significantly decreased by PN supplement. PN did not affect the hepatic glutathione content in cadmium-administered rats; however, PN significantly lowered the hepatic lipid peroxide level and plasma alanine transferase activity compared to the Cd control group. These results suggest that the PN may alleviate Cd-induced oxidative stress without hepatotoxicity.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.4
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• pp.601-607
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to identify the effects of ozone pollution on the one woody species and two indoor plants in controlled environment. Pinus densiflora, Spathiphyllum patinii and Epipremnum aureum seedlings were exposed in both control and ozone chambers to investigate photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, antioxidative enzyme activities such as GR(Glutathione reductase) and APX(Ascorbate peroxidase) activity and leaf anatomical response. Ozone was fumigated 8 hours for a day with 30 ppb concentration for 50 days. Pinus densiflora seedlings showed no significant difference on photosynthetic rate, water use efficiency, antioxidant enzyme activity during ozone exposure. Ozone concentration (30 ppb in this study) is not high enough to generate ozone damage on Pinus densiflora species. In contrast, ozone generally altered photosynthetic rate, antioxidant enzyme (especially GR) activity and leaf anatomy in two indoor species (Spathiphyllum patinii and Epipremnum aureum) exposed in ozone chamber were significantly differ from those of control in every measurement. These data suggest that two indoor species(Spathiphyllum patinii and Epipremnum aureum) are more sensitive to ozone than Pinus densiflora.