• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2021

Stachys sieboldii Miq. (SSM) and Acorus gramineus Soland. (AGS) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SSM and AGS have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, neurodegenerative disease effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SSM and AGS, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. SSM, AGS and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SSM, AGS and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SSM, AGS and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SSM, AGS and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.270-281
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• 2002

The growth of Enterobacteria, Lactobacillus acidophilus and L. plantarum was promoted by natural products themselves bearing antioxidative capacity and combined two, three and four kinds of them.1. acidophilus was promoted by Paeonia japonica, Acori graminei rhizoma, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium, alone, and two mixed combinations were composed of Acori graminei rhizoma and Cinnamomi cortex, Aurantii nobilis pericarpium and Puerariae radix, and three mixed combinations were formed with Cimicifugae rhi- zoma, Cinnamomi cortex and Glycyrrhizae radix, and four mixed combinations were made up Glycyrrhizae radix, Theae folium, Scutellaria baicalensis george and Cinnamomi cortex. There four combination promoted growth of 1. acidophilus with 1.3 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that off times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 70% in dilution rate of 100 times. In the case of 1. plantarum was premoted by Corm fructus, Nelumbo nuclfera gaertner Sophorae flos, alone, and two mixed combinations were organized with Schizandrae Iructus and Theae folium, Paeonia japonica and Epimedii herba, and three mixed combinations were combined with Corni fructus and Theae folium and Paeonia japonica, Corni fructus and Coptidis rhizoma and Schieandrae fructus, and four mixed combinations were composed of Corm fructus, Theae folium, Coptidis rhizoma, Scutellaria baicalensis george, and Corm fructus, Schizandrae fructus, Paeonia japonica, Theae folium. These four combinations assisted growth of 1. plantarum with 1.5 times than that of control, and their antioxidative capacity also higher than that of 4-5 times, the ratio of elimination of hydroxyl radical was more than 75% in dilution rate of 100 times. As these combinations of natural products could activate some parts of body, they might be applied pharmaceuitcal sources, functional foods, and expected to fermentative beverages.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.1208-1214
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• 2011

Caffeine, a psychoactive stimulant, has been implicated in the modulation of learning and memory functions due to its action as a non-selective adenosine receptors antagonist. On the contrary, some side effects of caffeine have been reported, such as an increased energy loss and metabolic rate, decrease DNA synthesis in the spleen, and increased oxidative damage to exerted on LDL particles. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a safe stimulant from natural plants mixture (Aralia elata, Acori graminei Rhizoma, Chrysanthemum, Dandleion, Guarana, Shepherd's purse) that can be used as a substitute for caffeine. Thirty SD rats were divided into three groups; control group, caffeine group (15.0 mg/kg, i.p.), and natural plants mixture group (NP, 1 mL/kg, p.o.). The effect of NP extract on stimulant activity was evaluated with open-field test (OFT) and plus maze test for measurement of behavioral profiles. Plasma lipid profiles, lipid peroxidation in LDL (conjugated dienes), total antioxidant capacity (TRAP) and DNA damage in white blood, liver, and brain cells were measured. In the OFT, immobility time was increased significantly by acute (once) and chronic (3 weeks) supplementation of NP and showed a similar effect to caffeine treatment. Three weeks of caffeine treatment caused plasma lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver cells, whereas there were no changes in the NP group. NP group showed a higher plasma HDL cholesterol concentration compared to the caffeine group. The results indicate that the natural plants mixture had a stimulant effect without inducing oxidative stress.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.35 no.4 s.100
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• pp.285-294
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• 2002

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between purification characteristics and hydraulic conditions, and to clarify the basic and essential factors required to be considered in the construction and management of artificial wetland system for the improvement of reservoir water quality. The artificial wetland system was composed of a pumping station and six sequential plants beds with five species of macrophytes: Oenanthe javanica, Acorus calamus, Zizania latifolia, Typha angustifolia, and Phragmites australis. The system was operated on free surface-flow system, and operation conditions were $3,444-4,156\; m^3/d$ of inflow rate, 0.5-2.0 hr of HRT, 0.1-0.2 m of water depth, 6.0-9.4 m/d of hydraulic loading, and relatively low nutrients concentration (0.224-2.462 mgN/L, 0.145-0.164 mgP/L) of inflow water. The mean purification efficiencies of TN ranged from 12.1% to 14.3% by showing the highest efficiency at the Phragmites australis bed, and these of TP were 6.3-9.5% by showing the similar ranges of efficiencies among all species. The mean purification efficiencies of SS and Chl-A ranged from 17.4% to 38.5% and from 12.0% to 20.2%, respectively, and the Oenanthe javanica bed showed the highest efficiency with higher concentration of influent than others. The mean purification amount per day of each pollutant were $9.8-4.1\;g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in BOD, $1.299-2.343\;g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in TN, $0.085-1.821\;g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in TP, $17.9-111.6\;g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in SS and $0.011-0.094\;g{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$ in Chl-a. The purification amount per day of TN revealed the hi링hest level at the Zizania latifolia bed, and TP showed at the Acrous calamus bed. SS and Chl-a, as particulate materials, revealed the highest purification amount per day at the Oenanthe javanica bed that was high on the whole parameters. It was estimated that the purification amount per day was increased with the high concentration of influent and shoot density of macrophytes, as was shown in the purification efficiency. Correlation coefficients between purification efficiencies and hydraulic conditions (HRT and inflow rate) were 0.016-0.731 of $R^2$ in terms of HRT, and 0.015-0.868 of $R^2$ daily inflow rate. Correlation coefficients of purification amounts per day with hydraulic conditions were 0.173-0.763 of Ra in terms of HRT, and 0.209-0.770 daily inflow rate. Among the correlation coefficients between purification efficiency and hydraulic condition, the percentages of over 0.5 range of $R^2$ were 20% in HRT and in daily inflow rate. However, the percentages of over 0.5 range of correlation coefficients ($R^2$) between purification amount per day and hydraulic conditions were 53% in HRT and 73% in daily inflow rate. The relationships between purificationamount per day and hydraulic condition were more significant than those of purifi-cation efficiency. In this study, high hydraulic conditions (HRT and inflow rate) are not likely to affect significantly the purification efficiency of nutrient. Therefore, the emphasis should be on the purification amounts per day with high hydraulicloadings (HRT and inflow rate) for the improvement of eutrophic reservoir withrelatively low nutrients concentration and large quantity to be treated.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2000

The aim of this study was to discover whether Yukmijihwangtang which was added Plygalae Radix, Acori graminei Rhizoma, has antioxidant effects on aged senescence-accelerated mouse (SAM) P8. The control group used 12 months old SAM P8 and the experimental group was treated with Yukmijihwangtang extracts from 8 to 12 months old. In the liver, the MnSOD of the control group were approximately 11% higher than that of the experimental group treated with herbal extracts, but CuZnSOD activities of the experimental group were approximately 20% higher than that of the control group. The catalase activities of the experimental group was approximately 67% higher than that of the control group. The hepatocytes, in the control group compared with the experimental group, contained the dilated cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum and the abnormal mitochondira which had electron-dense matrix and indistinguishable cristae. The inner cavity of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum were slightly dilated, and a number of vacuoles and transitional vesicles occured in of the hepatocytes of the control group. These results suggest that the herbal extract has an antioxidant effects on the liver of SAM P8.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.5
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• pp.399-402
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• 2002

Angiotensin converting enzyme(ACE) belongs to the class of zinc protease and plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure. In this experiment, we investigated the inhibitory activities of medicinal plant extracts on ACE. Fifty medicinal plants were selected and the extracts were prepared by refluxing with 70% methanol. Among the extracts, eleven medicinal plant extracts such as Sedum sarmentosum Bunge, Petasites japonicus(s.et z.) Max, Rubus coreanus, Morus bombycis Koidz, Acorus calamus var. angustatus, Glycyrhiza glabra, Equisetum hyemale, Portulaca oleracea L., Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai, Sorbus commixta Hedl, Allium thunbergii showed more than 50% inhibitory activities, and Paeonia suffruticosa Andr., lnula helenium, Acanthopanax senticosus Harms, Dendrobium moniliforme, Juglans mandshurica, Zizyphus jujuba, Leonurus artemisia, Aster scaber Thunb, Vitex rotundifolia, Platycodon grandiflorum, Prunus persica, Ligularia fischeri showed $40{\sim}49%$ inhibitory activities. Therefore these extracts which contain high ACE inhibitory activities may be useful as antihypertension agents and to the treatment of hypertension.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.121-153
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• 2013

We investigated the flora of Mudeung-san (Mt.) located in Gwangju-gwangyeoksi, Hwasun-gun and Damyang-gun and discussed the vascular plants found there. 22 days separate fild trips were completed from March of 2009 to November 2011. As a result, we identified the distribution of 816 taxa in Mudeung-san (Mt.), comprising 123 families, 441 genera, 668 species, 5 subspecies, 121 varieties and 18 forms. There are a total 111 taxa of floristic regional indicator plants. The floristic regional indicator plants are as follows; nine taxa of level V such as Gastrodia elata Blume, six taxa of level IV such as Hylomecon hylomeconoides T. Lee, 21 taxa of level III such as Stewartia korena Nakai, 18 taxa of level II, and 66 taxa of level I. In addition, two critically endangered species (CR), Galeola septentrionalis Rchb.f. and Paeonia obovata Maxim., two endangered species (EN), Dryopteris cycadina (Franch. & Sav.) C.Chr. and Jeffersonia dubia Benth., and eight vulnerable species (VU), such as Lilium callosum Siebold & Zucc, were found in the investigated area. Also, 14 endermic plants of Korea, such as Salix koriyanagi Kimura and Aconitium chiisanense Nakai, were found.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.466-476
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• 2014

In this study, 10 species of plants with high adaptability to aquatic environments were compared for selecting plant species suitable for vegetation-based low impact development (LID) facilities. The flooding tolerances of the plants were tested by analyzing their growth status under half-immersion and full-immersion conditions, with varying durations of immersion. In decreasing order of flooding tolerance, the comparative analysis of plant height and leaf width is as follows: Hemerocallis fulva, Juncus effusus var. decipiens, Iris pseudoacorus, Phragmites communis TRIN, Typha orientalis C.Presl, Aster koraiensis Nakai, Iris sanguinea, Equisetum hyemale, Acorus calamus. Specifically, Hemerocallis fulva, Juncus effusus var. decipiens. Iris pseudoacorus showed excellent growth status under both immersion conditions. Iris sanguinea and Equisetum hyemale. withered to death by around day 27 of the experiment, but their flooding tolerance was confirmed to be relatively high. Iris pseudoacoru showed flooding tolerance under the half-immersion condition unlike under the full-immersion condition, when compared on day 21 of the experiment. Aster koraiensis Nakai also thrived better under the half-immersion condition, proving to be a highly immersion-resistant species. On the basis of the results of this experiment, Hemerocallis fulva, Juncus effusus var. decipiens and Iris pseudoacorus, Typha orientalis C.Presl were selected as species suitable for vegetation-based LID facilities.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 2007

For restoration of disturbed ecosystem in Lake Paro, artificial floating island (AFI) was installed. Even though the lake water was oligo-mesotrophic, the macrophytes, such as Iris ensata, Iris pseudoacorus, Phragmites communis were growing well in the rubberized coconut fiber media. For elucidating this process, total bacterial numbers, active bacterial numbers and exoenzymatic activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase$ and phosphatase of pore water of media and lake water were analyzed. The average of total bacterial numbers, active bacterial numbers and exoenzymatic activities of ${\beta}-glucosidase$ and phosphatase were $28.6{\times}10^{6}\;cells/ml,\;22.7{\times}10^{6}\;cells/ml,\;452.9nM/L/hr,\;and\;16381.9nM/L/hr$ which were 10, 15, 22 and 38 times higher than those of lake water, respectively. Moreover, the total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentration of media showed high values of 0.82 mg/L and 7.0 mg/L, respectively, while those of lake water 0.07 mg/L and 2.3 mg/L. This results suggest that the bacteria was playing an important role for restoration of disturbed ecosystem with newly created microbial ecosystem in media of artificial floating island.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.359-367
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• 2006

The vascular plants of this site were identified as 641 taxa through field investigation; 101 families, 340 genera, 547 species, 80 varieties, 12 forms, 1 subspecies and 1 hybrid. Based on the Rare plants of the Forest Service and Korea Forest Research Institute, 9 taxa were listed except implanted species; Loranthus tanakae, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Aristolochia contorta, Viola albida, Cypripedium macranthum, Schpolia japonioa, Acanthopanax chiisanensis, Rhododendron micranthum. Based on the Korean endemic plants, 18 taxa were listed; Salix purpurea var, japonica, Asarum sieboldii var. mandshuricum for. misnadrum, Persicaria lapathifolia for. alba, Pseudostellaria sylvatica, Aconitum pseudolaeve var. erectum, Corydalis maculata, Corydazis albipetala, Corydalis grandicazyx, Cardamine amaraeiormis, Chrysosplenium barbatum, Filipendula glaberrima, Lespedeza x tomentella, Acanthopanax chiisanensis, Melampyrum setaceum var. nakaianum, Weigela subsessilis, Adenophora triphylla var. hirsute, Cirsium setidens, Saussurea pseudogracilis. Specific plant species by floral region were total 81 taxa (12.6%); Prunus yedoensis in class V, 13 taxa (Thuja orientalis, Cimicifuga heracleiiolia, Sedum middendorffianutn, Rhododendron micranthum, etc.) in class IV, 17 taxa (Equisetum palustre, Aceriphyllum rossii, Angelica gigas, Cirsium setidens, etc.) in class III, 15 taxa (Heloniopsis orientalis, Lychnis cognata, Saxifraga oblongifolia, Viola orientalis, etc.) in class II, 35 taxa (Hosta capitata, Cimicifuga simplex, Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, Campanula punctata, etc.) in class I. So, the naturalized plants were listed 53 taxa and the naturalization index was 8.2%, urbanization index was 20.7%.