• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.7
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• pp.1054-1065
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• 2010

SH21B is a natural composition composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner (Ratio 3:3:3:3:3:2:2). In our previous study, we reported that SH21B inhibited adipogenesis and fat accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells through modulation of various regulators in the adipogenesis pathway. The aim of this study was to analyze the transcriptome profiles for the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B in 3T3-L1 cells. Total RNAs from SH21B-treated 3T3-L1 cells were reverse-transcribed into cDNAs and hybridized to Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST array. From microarray analyses, we identified 2,568 genes of which expressions were changed more than two-fold by SH21B, and the clustering analyses of these genes resulted in 9 clusters. Three clusters among the 9 showed down-regulation by SH21B (cluster 4, cluster 6 and cluster 9), and two clusters showed up-regulation by SH21B (cluster 7 and cluster 8) during the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells. It was found that many genes related to cell proliferation and adipogenesis were included in these clusters. Clusters 4, 6 and 9 included genes which were related with adipogenesis induction and cell cycle arrest. Clusters 7 and 8 included genes related to cell proliferation as well as adipogenesis inhibition. These results suggest that the mechanisms of the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B may be the modulation of genes involved in cell proliferation and adipogenesis.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.12
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• pp.989-996
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• 2022

Some flowers have high sensual appealability due to their unique shapes, colors, smells, and tastes. Such edible flowers receive social attention as a noble ingredient of functional teas. In this study, methanol extracts of 23 commercial flower teas (CFTs) were prepared, and their color differences were compared. No tar color pigments were detected in the 23 CFT. The average content of total polyphenol of the 23 CFTs was 80.2±50.92 mg/g and the extracts of jin-dal-rae (Rhododendron mucronulatum Turcz), mae-hwa (Prunus mume), mae-mil (Fagopyrum esculentum), mok-ryun (Magnolia kobus), and sal-gu (Prunus armeniaca var. ansu Maxim) flowers showed total polyphenol contents greater than 150 mg/g. The average content of total sugar of the 23 CFTs was 187.4±166.5 mg/g and the extracts of chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), kuk-hwa (Chrysanthemum morifolium), dong-baek (Camellia japonica L.), and won-chu-ri (Hemerocallis fulva) flowers showed total sugar contents greater than 400 mg/g. Among the 23 CFTs, the extract of jang-mi (Rosa hybrida hortorum) flower has prominent anti-thrombosis activity, and the extracts of dal-ma-ji (Oenothera lamarckiana), dong-baek, hibiscus (Hibiscus syriacus), and mae-mil flowers showed strong inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors. Also, the extracts of jang-mi, kum-jan-hwa (Tagetes erecta L.), mae-mil, mok-ryun dong-baek, and jin-dal-rae flower showed strong radical scavenging activities against DPPH, ABTS, and nitrite and reducing power. Our results suggest that the flowers of jang-mi, mae-mil, and dong-baek can be developed as promising anti-thrombosis treatments.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 1999

This paper is intended to find out what kinds of fruits are mentioned in the Bible and how they were used in those days. It has also analyzed in what terms they are expressed in the Korean Version of the Bible and studied agricultural regulations involved in the religion, and allegorical uses of the fruits. Olives were the primary fruit in the economy of the ancient times, followed by figs and vines. In addition, there are mentioned in the Bible almonds, apples, dates. mulberries and pomegranates. Olive trees have been grown for more than six thousand years. The Hebrew word. Zayit is mentioned in the Bible more than fifty times. Olive trees are not so beautiful in themselves but as they give us humans abundant reap and a lot of oil, they have been thought to be beautiful. Olive trees grow well on the seaside in the salty air and fog. Vines began to grown as early as in the Bronze Age(the period of 3000 to 2000 B.C.). In Northern Greece, grape seeds were found to belong to the year 4500 B.C. or so. The vine gardens produced raisins and wine as well as vines. Figs are the fruit which are first mentioned in the Bible(Genesis 3:7) and they were the precious product of the Palestine people, which is described in Deuteronomy 8:8. Figs are sweet and watery and can easily quench thirst on hot summer days. They were used for cookies and wine in the raw or dried state. An apple, which is tappuah in Hebrew, is mentioned as 'Sagwa' six times in the Revised Korean Version, and in the Korean Joint Version it is twice mentioned as 'Sagwa' and as 'Neungum' four times. In ASV and KJV, 'apple' appears eleven times. which is because' the apple of eye' is translated in the 'Nun-dong-ja(the pupil of the eye)'In the Korean Version. 'Sagwa(apple)'of Proverb 25:11, the Song of Songs 2:3, 2:5, 7:8, 8:5 and Joel 1 :12 have been thought to be doubtful. because apple trees cannot be grown in the areas mentioned in the Bible. Some maintain that the apples in the Bible refer to apricots(Prunus armeniaca, Citrus medica L.) or golden oranges (Citrus sinensis L. Obsbeck) which is confusing. In the Revised Korean Version, 'Salgu(apricots)' appears eight times while ASV and KJV translate almond into 'Salgu'. So since translating a genuine apricot into 'Salgu' can be confusing, a great care should be taken in the translation into Korean. Some hold that as some papyri arround the year 1200 B.C. describes pomegranate, apple, olive and fig trees growing on the Nile delta, tappuah rightly refers to 'Sagwa(apple)' In the Korean Joint Version, Sagwa and Neungum are used together to refer to the same fruit, which should be avoided. It is desirable to use the same word for the same thing. Sagwa' showing up six times In the HeL.Ised Korean Version should all be replaced by 'Neungum' Dates symbolized peace and abundance were used for food in the raw or dried state, and were made into honey. Pomegranates can be eaten in the raw state and be used for sherbets and wine. Juice made of promegranates can be mixed with wine and drunk.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.30-39
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• 2019

In this study, 27 representative plants with symbolism and appreciation were extracted from 68 plants collected in Li Yu (1611-1680)'s monograph named 'Xianqingouji Zhongzhibu'. The interpretations were as follows. First, symbolism of plants could be summarized as 1) Li Yu thought that Paeonia suffruticosa was called 'the king of flowers', not only because of its beauty, but also because of its upright character. The only flower that could compete against Paeonia suffruticosa was Paeonia lactiflora Pall.. This flower was called 'the flower prime minister' by common people. But Li Yu thought that Paeonia lactiflora Pall. should also be included in the feudal princes. 2) Prunus persica and Camellia japonica were compared to 'beautiful cheeks', and Malus spectabilis (Ait.)Borkh, Jasminum sambac, Rosa multiflora var. platyphylla, Narcissus tazetta, Papaver rhoeas were compared to 'beautiful women', expressing his love for flowers. 3) Li Yu called Nelumbo nucifera a 'gentleman in flowers' and Buxus sinica Rehd. et Wils. Cheng a 'gentleman in trees'. On the contrary, Daphne odora was compared to 'villain in flowers'. 4) Ilex integra was compared to a hermit, and Campsis grandiflora was compared to an immortal. Second, appreciation of plants could be organized by 1) Appreciation of plants required assistive tools. When going to suburb to enjoy the scenery, tents needed to be prepared. Paper screens should be used to appreciate Prunus mume in the courtyard so as to gain more elegant. Li Yu also proposed that ornamental objects should be properly placed near Orchidaceae so as to gain more elegant. 2）Li Yu took Lagerstroemia indica and Prunus armeniaca L. as examples to interpret that plants were as perceptive as animals and human beings. 3) Li Yu took Salix pierotii and Albizia julibrissin as examples to interpret that people should communicate with plants through five senses to produce resonance. And took Nelumbo nucifera and Rosa rugosa to emphasize the ornamental and practical value of plants. 4) Plants were metaphored sth. similar to them. An interesting example was Celosia cristata L. which was more like an auspicious cloud in the sky than the crest on the cock's head. To sum up, Li Yu personified plants and thought that people should communicate with plants by multi-sensory world when appreciating plants. Through this, it fully showed his love for plants. Meanwhile, Li Yu's symbolism and appreciation of plants, to some extent, reflected the elegant life of literati in the early Qing Dynasty.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.729-735
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• 2010

In our previous study, it was reported that an herbal mixture, SH21B, inhibits fat accumulation and adipogenesis both in vitro and in vivo models of obesity. SH21B is a mixture composed of seven herbs: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Prunus armeniaca Maxim, Ephedra sinica Stapf, Acorus gramineus Soland, Typha orientalis Presl, Polygala tenuifolia Willd, and Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner (Ratio 3:3:3:3:3:2:2). The aim of this study was to investigate the detailed molecular mechanisms of the effects of SH21B on various regulators of the adipogenesis pathway. During the adipogenesis of 3T3-L1 cells, SH21B significantly decreased the expression levels of central transcription factors of adipogenesis, such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)$\gamma$ and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)$\alpha$. To elucidate the detailed molecular mechanism of the anti-adipogenic effects of SH21B, we examined the expression levels of the various pro-adipogenic or anti-adipogenic regulators of adipogenesis upstream of $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/$EBP{\alpha}$. The mRNA levels of Krox20 and Kruppel-like factor (KLF) 15, which are pro-adipogenic regulators, were significantly down-regulated by SH21B treatment, whereas the mRNA levels of C/$EBP{\gamma}$ and KLF5 were not changed. KLF2 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), which are anti-adipogenic regulators, were significantly up-regulated by SH21B treatment. These results suggest that the molecular mechanism of the anti-adipogenic effect of SH21B involves both the down-regulations of pro-adipogenic regulators, such as Krox20 and KLF15, and the up-regulations of anti-adipogenic regulators, such as KLF2 and CHOP, which results in the suppression of central transcription factors of adipogenesis including $PPAR{\gamma}$ and C/$EBP{\alpha}$.