• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.5-5
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• 2021

Alcoholic and nonalcoholic steaohepatitis is a leading form of chronic liver disease with few biomakers ad treatment options currently available. a progressive disease of NAFLD may lead to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Recently, we extracted HIMH0021, which is an active flavonoid component in the Acer tegmentosum extract, has been shown to protect against liver damage caused by hepatic dysfunction. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether HIMH0021 could regulate steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis during alcoholic or nonalcoholic metabolic process. HIMH0021, which was isolated from the active methanol extract of A. tegmentosum, inhibited alcohol-induced steatosis and attenuated the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) during hepatocellular alcohol metabolism, both of which promote lipogenesis as well as liver inflammation. Treatment with HIMH0021 conferred protection against lipogenesis and liver injury, inhibited the expression of cytochrome P4502E1, and increased serum adiponectin levels in the mice subjected to chronic-plus-binge feeding. Furthermore, in hepatocytes, HIMH0021 activated fatty acid oxidation by activating pAMPK, which comprises pACC and CPT1a. These findings suggested that HIMH0021 could be used to target a TNFα-related pathway for treating patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2023.04a
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• pp.51-51
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• 2023

The world-wide rate of obesity is increasing continuously, representing a serious medical threat since it is associated with a variety of diseases including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and numerous cancers. Sophora japonicais used as a traditional herb for medicinal purposes in eastern Asia. However, the anti-obesity effects of S. japonicafruit have not been explored. The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation and adipogenesis by an ethanol extract of S. japonicafruit (EESF) in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Our results demonstrate that EESF suppressed the terminal differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes in a dose-dependent manner, as confirmed by a decrease in lipid droplet number and lipid content through Oil Red O staining. EESF significantly reduced the accumulation of cellular triglyceride, which was associated with a significant inhibition of the levels of pro-adipogenic transcription factors, including PPARγ, C/EBPα and C/EBPβ. In addition, EESF potentially down regulated the expression levels of adipocyte-specific proteins, including aP2 and leptin. In particular, EESF treatment effectively enhanced the activation of the AMPK signaling pathway; however, the co-treatment with compound C, an inhibitor of AMPK, significantly restored the EESF-induced inhibition of pro-adipogenic transcription factors and adipocyte-specific genes. These results indicate that EESF may exert an anti-obesity effect by controlling the AMPK signaling pathway, suggesting that the fruit extract of S. japonica may be a potential anti-obesity agent.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.136-144
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• 2006

This research evaluated how the composition of Yak-sun(oriental diet therapy), taken as a nutritional supplement with daily meals, can effect the medical condition of those suffering from modern diseases like obesity and hyperlipideia. We produced Yak-sun tea, determined its nutrient composition and physical characteristics and evaluated how this tea effects affects the active oxygen concentration inside the body by clinical practices. The study results indicated that this tea significantly decrease active oxygen concentration. We think that scientific and objective evaluation was done on the components of Yak-sun tea prescription. We concluded that we could apply the components not only in the form of tea, but also in other food forms. The information we received from this conclusion will provide basic information for the application of oriental medicinal resources into other foods and will also be a steppingstone in the field of functional food research for the development of medicinal herbs which is already an important research field world-wide.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.243-250
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• 2012

The ash content, mineral composition, total phenolics, antioxidant capacity, and neuroprotective effect of the antlers of deer fed with herb-incorporated feedstuff (HFS) or normal feedstuff (NFS) were comparatively evaluated. The contents of ash and mineral of the antler of deer fed with HFS were significantly lower than its counterpart. The ash and mineral contents of deer antlers decreased generally from the upper section toward the tip section. The ratios of Ca/ash, Ca/P, and Ca/Fe of antler of deer fed with HFS were lower than those of antler of deer fed with NFS. Antlers of deer fed with HFS had higher total phenolics, nitrite scavenging capacity, and antioxidant capacity than those of deer fed with NFS. Antlers of deer fed with HFS or NFS showed in vitro neuronal protection of PC-12 cells against oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner, where antler of deer fed with HFS generally had higher cellular viability than NFS. These results above suggest that the incorporation of the medicinal herbal complex into feedstuff may improve the biological effects of deer antlers.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.262-270
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• 2003

This study was carried out to analyze forest vegetation of Jinaksan in Geumsan, Chungnam Province. Employing the releve method of Braun-Blanquet, 26 plots were sampled in forest of Jinaksan. The communities were classified into Quercus mongolica, Quercus variabilis, Quercus aliena, and Pinus densiflora communities. Coverage rate was 79.4% in tree layer,27.6% in subtree layer,37.0% in shrub layer, 31.1% in herb layer, respectively. The importance values were 45.51 in Q. mongolica,44.17 in P. densiflora,26.56 in Q. variabilis,26.78 in Q. serrata,20.81 in Q. aliena, and 15.58 in Prunus serrulata var. spontanea, respectively. Most of the DBH in the Q. mongolica, Q. variabilis, Q. aliena, and p. densiflora was between 5 cm and 15 cm. Therefore, Q. mongolica, Q. variabilis, and Q. aliena will be dominant species in the study area for several decades.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.25-36
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• 2020

Area exclosure is a widely practiced intervention of restoring degraded lands though its impact in sequestering terrestrial and soil carbon is scanty. The study was initiated to investigate the effect of exclosure of different ages on carbon sequestration potential of restoring degraded dryland ecosystems in eastern Tigray, northern Ethiopia. Twelve plots each divided into three layers were randomly selected from 5, 10 and 15 years old exclosures and paired adjacent open grazing land. Tree and shrub biomasses were determined using destructive sampling while herb layer biomass was determined using total harvest. The average total biomass obtained were 13.6, 24.8, 27.1, and 55.5 Mg ha^-1 for open grazing, 5 years, 10 years, and 15 years exclosures respectively. The carbon content of plant species ranged between 48 to 53 percent of a dry biomass. The total carbon stored in the 5 years, 10 years and 15 years age exclosures were 39 Mg C ha^-1, 46.3 Mg C ha^-1, and 64.6 Mg C ha^-1 respectively while in the open grazing land the value was 24.7 Mg C ha^-1. Carbon stock is age dependent and increases with age. The difference in total carbon content between exclosures and open grazing land varied between 14.3-40 Mg C ha^-1. Although it is difficult to extrapolate this result for a longer future, the average annual carbon being sequestered in the oldest exclosure was about 2.7 Mg C ha^-1 yr^-1. In view of improving degraded area and sequestering carbon, area exclosures are promising options.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.115-125
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• 2015

This study was carried out to analyze comparison of carbon storage and physicochemical properties of vegetation soil for extensive green rooftop established at Seoul National University in september 2013. For this study, 42 plots were made by 2 kinds of vegetation soil including A-type and B-type. A-type vegetation soil plots were made of 90% perlite and 10% humus and B-type vegetation soil plots were made of 60% perlite, 20% vermiculite, 10% coco peat and 10% humus. This study used 6 kinds of plants which are Aster koraiensis, Sedum takesimense, Zoysia japonica Steud, Euonymus japonica, Rhododendron indicum SWEET and Ligustrum obtusifolium. Field research was carried out in 11 months after planting. Physiochemical properties of B-type vegetation soil plots were better than A-type vegetation soil plots in every way and soil carbon content was also higher at B-type vegetation soil plots as well. B-type vegetation soil plots were maintained 10 to 20% higher soil water content than A-type vegetation soil plots of the study period. The species of herb which showed the best carbon storage was Zoysia japonica Steud at B-type vegetation soil plots. The species of shrub which showed the best carbon storage was Ligustrum obtusifolium at B-type vegetation soil plots. Plants generally showed better growth at B-type vegetation soil plots and B-type vegetation soil plots were higher than A-type vegetation soil plots in soil carbon stock.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2004

This study was conducted to suggest vegetation mat forming methods with native wildflowers, introduced wild flower, grasses and native herb plants which can be used for erosion control of the disturbed slopes. The main results are summarized as follows. In forming the vegetation mat at early stage, foreign grasses, native wild plants shows more effective than the other seed mixture types. But, after 12 weeks, using native wild flowers shows more effective than foreign grasses. Also, the mixture of the native grasses and kentucky bluegrasses (seed mixture type F) are the best in ground coverage among the seed mixtures types. In order to restore slopes more naturally, more diverse plants should be used. The native grasses such as Marrubium incisum Bentham, Lutos comiculatus L. var. japonicus Regel, and Artemisia princeps Pampan seems to be useful to forming the vegetation mat, also it will be more easy if mixing with foreign grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass. The mixture of native grasses and introduced wild flowers are not proper in forming the vegetation mat. Also, pot planting of the native grasses are not proper in forming the vegetation mat.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.167-181
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• 1999

Rhizoma Arisaematis, Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Folium Perillae, Radix Sophorae Subprostratae, Radixi, Radix Ledeboutriellae, Rhizoma Atractylodis, Herba Ephedrae, Radix Puerariae and Radi Aconitx Bupleuri have been used in Korea for many centuries as a treatment for various disease. The purpose of the present study is to determine the effect of several herbs on norepinephrine(NE) induced blood vessel contraction in rabbits and pigs. Rabbit(2 kg, male) were killed by $CO_2$ exposure and a segment (8-10mm) of each rabbit was cut into equal segments and mounted in a tissue bath. Contractile force was measured with force displacement transducers under 2-3 g loading tension. The dose of norepinephrine(NE) which evoked 50% of maximal response $(ED_{50})$ was obtained from cumulative dose response curves for NE $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-3}M)$. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Rhizoma Arisaematis, Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Folium Perillae, Radix Sophorae Subprostratae and Herba Ephedrae in abdominal aorta. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly be Lignum Akebiae, Rhizoma Zedoariae, Cortex Eucommiae, Herba Ephedrae, Radix Puerariae and Radix Bupleuri in femoral artery. Contractions evoked by NE $(ED_{50})$ were inhibited significantly by Radix Sophorae Subprostratae, Radix Aconiti and Herba Ephedrae in renal artery. These results indicate that each herb can relax NE induced contraction of rabbit and pig blood vessel selectively, and that this relaxation relates to Gui-Gyung(歸經).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1562-1568
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• 2013

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of indigenous herbal supplements on growth, blood metabolites and carcass characteristics in the late fattening period of Hanwoo steers. In a 6 month feeding trial, thirty Hanwoo steers ($647{\pm}32$ kg) were allotted to one of 5 treatment groups, control (basal diet contained lasalocid), licorice, clove, turmeric and silymarin, with six steers per pen. All groups received ad libitum concentrate and 1 kg rice straw/animal/d throughout the feeding trial. Blood samples were collected at the beginning, middle, and the end of the experiment and the steers were slaughtered at the end. Blood glucose, triglyceride, total protein, and albumin concentrations were higher in the turmeric treatment compared with other treatments. Blood urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations were highest (p<0.003 and p = 0.071, respectively) in steers treated with silymarin. Alanine aminotransferase activity was lower (p<0.06) for licorice and silymarin compared with the control group. There were no alterations in serum aspartate aminotransferase and gamma glutamyltransferase activities as a consequence of herb treatments (p = 0.203 and 0.135, respectively). Final body weight, body weight gain, average dairy gain and dry matter intake were not significantly different among treatments. Yield grade, marbling score and quality grade were higher for silymarin group than those of the control group (p<0.05). Therefore, the results suggest that silymarin can be used an effective dietary supplement as an alternative to antibiotic feed additive and a productivity enhancer, providing safe and more consumer acceptable alternative to synthetic compounds during the late fattening period of steers.