• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.107-116
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• 2018

The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant and intracellular anti-inflammatory efficacy of blueberry leaf extracted with hot water (BLW), 70% ethanol (BLE), and 70% acetone (BLA) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. In order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of blueberry leaf extracts, RAW 264.7 macrophages were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce the production of inflammation-related factors, which were measure by Western blotting and real-time PCR methods. i-NOS, COX-2 protein, and mRNA expression showed concentration-dependent decrease. The decreases in the mRNA expression levels of interleukin-$1{\beta}$ (IL-$1{\beta}$), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$), and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) were concentration-dependent. Further, the antioxidant effects of blueberry leaf on total polyphenol contents, electron donating ability and $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity were evaluated. The total polyphenol contents of BLW, BLE, and BLA were $217.04{\pm}2.98$, $156.72{\pm}3.90$, and $182.88{\pm}3.02mg\;TAE/g$, respectively, while the electron donating abilities at $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 81.7, 79.6, and 79.3%, respectively. The $ABTS^+$ radical scavenging activity was fond to be concentration dependent. The nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition activities at $50{\mu}g/mL$ of BLW, BLE, and BLA were 35.1, 42.4 and 42.7%, respectively. In conclusion, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory test results indicate that blueberry leaf extracts (BLW, BLE, and BLA) can be used as potential anti-inflammatory agents.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.336-341
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• 2015

Blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) is a bush that grows well at special cultural environments such as acid soil, high organic matter content, and a good drainage and aeration compared to other general crops. Blueberries are well known to contain high amounts of anthocyanins and phenolic compounds, resulting in high antioxidant activity that provides health benefits, and expanding the cultivation areas and consumer's demand in the worldwide. However, the full genome of blueberry has not been announced until now. Furthermore, the genomic analysis and transcriptome approaches are not so popular compare to major crops such as orange, apple, and grape. The aim of the review about blueberry genomic research is to establish the platform for setting blueberry breeding target, increasing proficiency of blueberry research, and making the practical cultivation techniques in Korea. The main topics in the blueberry genomic research including transcriptome, genetic mapping, and various markers are related with cold hardiness, chilling requirement, hot tolerance, anthocyanin content, and flavonoid synthesis pathway on various tissues like flower bud, leaf bud, shoot, root, and berry fruit. The review of the current status of blueberry genomic research will provide basic information to the breeders and researchers and will contribute to development of blueberry industry with sustainable productions and increase of blueberry consumption as new profitable crops in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.104 no.2
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• pp.193-197
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• 2015

To develop superior cultivars for edible or medicinal purposes, we investigated morphological characteristics and total anthocynin contents for the fruit of 24 individuals from 4 populations in Korea. ANOVA analysis showed significant differences among populations and among individuals within population in all characteristics. The mean characteristics of the species were 8.2 mm, 7.8 mm, 0.4 g, 11.7 Brix., 7.7 ea and 474.4 mg/100 g in the fruit width, fruit length, fruit weight, soluble solids contents, number of fruit per punch and total anthocyanin contents, respectively. Especially, total anthocyanin contents (474.4 mg/100 g) of V. oldhamii showed 1.9 times higher than that of American blueberry (237.3 mg/100 g) using as control. Consequently, the investigation suggests that V. oldhamii fruits can be used to develop the functional cultivars with enhanced health benefits by the selection breeding. Selection effect with outstanding candidate trees including superior 3 individual trees was estimated at 129.6%, 109.5% and 140.5% in fruit weight, number of fruit per punch and total anthocyanin content, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.257-277
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• 2007

We carried out a phytosociological study on pine forests in Korea with the method of Zurich-Montpellier School. We collected the data of 252 $relev{\acute{e}}s$ from 45 sites in the pine forests throughout the Korean Peninsula and its attached islands. The vegetation of the pine forests was classified into one association, three communities and seven subcommunities as follows: A: Quercus mongolica-Pinus densiflora community, A-1: Typical subcommunity, A-2: Vaccinium korean urn subcommunity, A-3 : Rhododendron micranthum subcommunity, B: Quercus serrata-Pinus densiflora community, B-1: Typical subcommunity, B-2: Juniperus rigida subcommunity, B-3: Styrax japonica subcommunity, B-4: Eurya japonica subcommunity, C: Saso-Pinetum densiflorae Yim et al. 1990, and D: Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii-Pinus densiflora community. The former three communities were integrated into the Lindero-Quercion mongolicae Kim 1990 em. 1992. The Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii-Pinus densiflora community remained to be studied in future to determine the association. The communities of Quercus mongolica-Pinus densiflora community was distributed throughout the montane zone in central-northern part of the Korean Peninsula. Quercus serrata-Pinus densiflora community occupied widely in the sub-montane and hilly areas in central and Southern Korean Peninsula. The association of Saso-Pinetum densiflorae was found in Cheju Island. Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii-Pinus densiflora community were distributed in the warm-temperate zone including islands off the south-west coast of the Peninsula.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.354-361
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• 2012

This study was conducted to evaluate on the freezing tolerance of introduced blueberry cultivars in Korea and to investigate availability of portable timber moisture meter for simple and rapid diagnosis of blueberry-shoot damage by freezing during wintering. Frost tolerance of blueberry cultivars showed big difference that rates of blueberry-shoot death were widely distributed from about 0% to 100% after wintering. Optical density in TTC reduction of blueberry twig treated low temperature was low in order of $-40^{\circ}C$ < $-21^{\circ}C$ < $4^{\circ}C$. Hardiness evaluation of visible injury in the cross-sectional surface color did not agree with that of rates of blueberry-shoot death during wintering. Lowest water content of blueberry stem measured by timber moisture tester during wintering was about 15%. During wintering, water contents of blueberry stems were higher at lower part of tree, but were low at end part of stems, and then when the blueberry grew again for spring, the water content gradually increased to 20~40%. Water content of blueberry stem with freezing injury during wintering decreased to under 5% by desiccation. Therefore it is assummed that the moisture content of blueberry stem injured by freezing during wintering was about under 14%, and it is expected that portable timber moisture meter could be available for rapid diagnosis of blueberry freezing injury in field.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.875-881
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• 2018

To select fruit trees suitable for shaded urban garden with Elaeagnus umbellata var. coreana, Malus domestica 'Alps Otome', Malus domestica 'Fujii', Prunus mume, Prunus persica for. persica, Rubus fructicosus, and Vaccinium corymbosum 'Reka', leaf growth in response to different light was investigated two years after 35% shade treatment. Leaf area of E. umbellata var. coreana, M. domestica 'Alps Otome', P. mume, P. persica for. persica, and V. corymbosum 'Reka' increased in shading. Fresh weight of leaves make inconsistent response to shading in every species but dry weight of E. umbellata var. coreana and P. persica for. persica showed the highest 150% and 148%, increment, respectively. Althought leaf water content of E. umbellata var. coreana decreased in shading, there is no difference in P. persica for. persica. Chlorophyll value of E. umbellata var. coreana and P. persica for. persica that showed higher than any other species is correlated with dark leaf green. Compared to specific leaf weight of E. umbellata var. coreana, P. persica for. persica, and V. corymbosum 'Reka' showed lower than any other species in shading, that of M. domestica 'Fujii', and R. fructicosus increased in reverse. These results indicate that E. umbellata var. coreana and P. persica for. persica that showed high value in several invesetigaton items are suitable for shady urban condition considering leaf growth in response to shading.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.29-33
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• 2004

Cranberries have long been used by lay people to relieve the symptoms of urinary tract infections. Recent research has determined that the component of cranberry called proanthocyanidin (PAC) is the primary mechanism for inhibiting P-fimbriated E.coli adhesion to uroepithelial cells in vitro. A series of experiments were performed to determine the effects of PAC on growth and adhesion of uropathogenic E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus to urinary catheter material. The results showed that PAC-inhibited binding of Gram positive S. aureus to collagen coated surfaces and significantly decreased the growth of these bacteria. P-fimbriated E.coli did not bind well to the biomaterial and their growth was unaffected by the cranberry extract with the exception of some loss in viability at 1000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL after 5 to 18 hours of exposure. This is the first report of the potential for cranberries to interfere with the adhesion and growth of S. aureus, a multi-drug resistant organisms responsible for morbidity and mortality especially in hospitalized patients.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.191-196
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• 2015

Blueberry juice possesses rich-procyanidins and - anthocyanidin, comprised a group of with numerous health benefits such as protection against coronary heart disease, detoxification, and obesity. Blueberry (Vaccinium virgatum) juice extracts were analyzed and separated by an HPLC method for the purpose of the separation and quantification in polyphenolic groups. In specific HPLC conditions, a binary mobile phase consisting of formic acid: water (10:90, v/v, solvent A) and formic acid: water: acetonitrile (10:60:30, v/v/v, solvent B) was utilized and it is detected at 546 nm wavelength. The phenolic contents of the extracts are determined using Folin-Ciocalteu phenol reagent. In order to test anti-inflammation activity assay, after producing nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide activated RAW 264.7 cells, at concentration of $20-500{\mu}g/mL$ it reduced to NO production at a dose-dependent manner. Importantly, cytotoxicity assay with up to $500{\mu}g/mL$ of the extract from blueberry juice showed ~100% cell viability for RAW264.7 cell line. Therefore, Korean blueberry juice might have potential as anti-oxidant and antiinflammation agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2000

At Koppl area, undamaged natural habitat of sundew, I have analysed interspecific affinities and community composition through mathematical method and important environmental factors. Interspecific affinities of the species with frequency of more than 5% in vegetation table were analysed through chi-square test and showed obvious group of Drosera rotundifolia, Vaccinium uliginosum, Calluna vulgaris, Eriophorum angustifolium and 21 species. The result of ordination anlysis using DECORANA of VESPAN II showed eigenvalue of 0.6047 for axis I, 0.2024 for axis II and 0.0763 for axis Ⅲ. And it divided into 4 groups of quadrat number 1-5 for Sphagnum squarrosum-community, 6-10 for Crepis paludosa-community. 11-25 for Carex panicea-community and 26-35 for Scorpidium scorpioides-community. By the classification using TWINSPAN, the 7 areas divided into 2 groups of 1-10 and 11-35 at first level of division with high eigenvalue of 0.588 and indicator was Sphagnum squarrosum. At second level of division it divided into 4 groups as the results of DECORANA with eigenvalues of 0.268 and 0.423 and indicators were Pinguicula vulgaris and Scorpidium scorpioides. Microclimatic environment of studied area was low in temperature and high in humidity and soil environment showed high in field moisture capacity, acid, high organic matter content, low NO3 and K2O content, compare to normal soil, and high ground water level.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2008

The vascular plants of the studied area in Nonsan economical forest growing site appeared to be 341 taxa; 81 families, 218 genera, 290 species, 1 subspecies, 42 varieties and 9 forms. Based on the list of Korean endemic plants, 5 taxa existed; Cephalotaxus koreana, Thalictrum actaefolium, Asperula lasiantha, Populus tomentiglandulosa (Planted species), Paulownia coreana (Planted species). Specific plant species by floral region were total 13 taxa; Cirsium setidens in class III, Potentilla dickinsii in class II, Cephalotaxus koreana, Pinus koraiensis (Planted species), Hosta capitata, Juglans mandshurica, Alnus hirsuta, Quercus variabilis, Ulmus parvifolia, Dictamnus dasycarpus, Gwenia biloba var. parviflora, Vaccinium oldhami, Trigonotis icumae in class I. The naturalized plants in this site were 9 families, 19 genera, 20 species, 1 varieties, 21 taxa and naturalization rate was 6.1% of all 341 taxa vascular plants. The communities were classified into Quercus acutissima community, Pinus densiflora community, Quercus variabilis community, Platycarya strobilacea community, Quercus aliena community of natural forests and Pinus rigida community, Metasequoia glyptostroboides community, Larix leptolepis community of artificial forests.