• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.87 no.1
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• pp.62-73
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• 1998

This research was conducted to analyze the influence of the environmental factors on water quality such as contents of cation($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$) and anion($Cl^-$, $NO{_3}^-$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$) in rainfall, throughfall, soil water(A and B layer), and stream water at a small forested watershed. Rainfall, throughfall, soil water(A and B layer), and stream water were sampled at the study sites in Kwanak Arboretum, Seoul National University, in Mt. Kwanak for 14 months(Jul. 1, 1996~Aug. 31, 1997). $Cl^-$ content of stream water correlated with that of soil water tire than that of rainfall and throughfall. Also $NO{_3}^-$ content in soil water was correlated with that of rainfall. Cation($K^+$, $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, $Mg^{2+}$) contents in soil water at layer A and B were significantly correlated with anion($Cl^-$, $NO{_3}^-$, $SO{_4}^{2-}$) of that. The ratio of the average content of $NO{_3}^-$ to $SO{_4}^{2-}$ in rainfall was 0.66. Accordingly the content of $SO{_4}^{2-}$ was higher than $NO{_3}^-$ in rainfall. The amount of anion in stream water was significantly correlated with that in rainfall, throughfall, and soil water. Average content of cation and anion in hydrological processes were decreasing in the following order, soil water(B layer> A layer) > throughfall(Pinus rigida > Prunus serrulata var. spontanea > Carpinus laxiflora) > stream water > rainfall.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1156-1163
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• 2015

The present study investigated the immunomodulatory properties of four different medicinal plants in a cyclophosphamide-treated Balb/c mouse model. One of the four plants, Ulmus macrocarpa, showed partial resistance against immune suppression induced by cyclophosphamide. The bark of U. macrocarpa, commonly known as the Chinese elm, has been used as a pharmaceutical material in Korean traditional medicine to treat bacterial inflammation and induce wound healing. In this study, water extract of U. macrocarpa, named DEU-7, was used for its immunomodulating functional activity. DEU-7 increased the weight of the spleen and the number of splenocytes but did not significantly affect the liver, kidney, and thymus in vivo. A splenocyte viability assay confirmed that DEU-7 influenced ex vivo splenocyte survival. DEU-7 also increased the levels of cytokines, such as IL-2 and IL-4, and immunoglobulins, such as IgM, IgG, and IgA. These results indicated that DEU-7 is involved in the activation of T and B lymphocytes. In addition, DEU-7 was able to maintain the production of cytokines, such as TNF-α, IL-12, and IFN-γ, in the condition of cyclophosphamide-induced immune suppression, suggesting that DEU-7 activated innate immune cells, even under immune suppression. We concluded that DEU-7 aids immunological homeostasis, thereby preventing immune suppression, and aids both innate and adaptive immune response by maintaining the levels of various cytokines and immunoglobulins. Consequently, it is worth investigating the potential of DEU-7 as a supplemental source for immune-enhancing agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1151-1156
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• 2014

Traditional medicinal plants are widely used to treat many diseases, such as inflammation, infections, and even cancer. Ulmus macrocarpa Hance, a Chinese elm species, is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan. The stem bark is widely employed in Korean traditional medicine to treat dermatitis, mastitis, and edema. The aim of this study was to investigate whether water extract of U. macrocarpa Hance bark (Ulmus cortex) has a immune-modulating function in a mouse model. Three different concentrations (30 mg/kg, 100 mg/kg, and 300 mg/kg) of Ulmus cortex water extract (UCWE) were orally administered to mice for 14 days, and their immune responses were analyzed. Cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12, and IFN-${\gamma}$, increased in the blood of UCWE-fed groups when compared with a control group. In contrast, the IL-4 level did not change in any of the UCWE-fed groups Cell-mediated cytotoxicity was also assayed using lymphokine-activated killer cells (LAK). LAK showed greater cytotoxicity in the UCWE-fed groups than LAK in the control group. Internal organ indices, such as liver, kidney, spleen, and thymus, were similar in all the groups, including the control group, indicating that UCWE may have been nontoxic in the experimental animals. These data suggest that UCWE has an immune-modulating function in a mouse model.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2023

As a protective defensive mechanism against ultraviolet (UV) light exposure in skin tissue, melanocytes produce the pigment melanin. Tyrosinase plays a key role in melanin production in melanocytes. However, the overproduction of melanin can lead to lesions, such as freckles and dark spots. Thus, it is clinically important to find a modulating molecule to control melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase expression and/or activity. It is known that catechin, a plant flavonoid, can reduce melano- genesis through the downregulation of tyrosinase expression. Here, we tested whether catechin derivatives isolated from the stem bark of Ulmus parvifolia have an effect on melanin production by regulating tyrosinase in mouse melanoma cells and in vitro mushroom tyrosinase. The catechin derivatives used in this study included C5A, C7A, C7G, and C7X. Treatments using these catechin derivatives reduced melanin production in mouse melanoma B16F10 cells in which melanogenesis was stimulated by α-MSH. Notably, the anti-melanogenic effects of catechin derivatives were similar to those of kojic acid, a well-known anti-melanogenic molecule. Both C5A and C7A directly inhibited the activity of tyrosinase isolated from mushrooms in vitro. Furthermore, our in silico computational simulation showed that these two compounds were expected to bind to the active site of tyrosinase, which is similar to kojic acid. In addition, all four catechin derivatives reduced tyrosinase protein expression. In summary, our results showed that catechin derivatives can reduce melanogenesis by regulating tyrosinase activity or expression. Thus, this study suggests that catechin derivatives isolated from U. parvifolia can be novel modulators of melanin production.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.66-80
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• 1977

This research was carried as a part of the basic study, in which the aptitude of theKorean oak varieties as barrels for aging apple fine spirits was investigated, and thefollowing results were obtained. 1. Following was the result of the chemical analysis of the fruits which are now mass-produced and can be used as a substitute for raw materials for wine production. Apple (Malus pumila Miller var. domestica Schneider) : Total sugar. total acid, volatile acid and pectin of Jonathan (Hong-og) were 13.95%, 0.46%, 0.012%, 0.20% respectively. Total sugar, total acid, volatile acid and pectin of Ralls (Koog-kwang) were 13.35%, 0.43%, 0.011%, 0.45% respectively. 2. Because of low yield of apple juice due to cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose which are present besides sugars, acids in apples, the apple juice were treated with xylanase of Aspergillus niger SUAFM-430, cellulase and pectinase of Aspergillus niger SUAFM-6. This treatment increased the yield of apple juice. And the apple juice was sterilized by adding potassium metabisulfite $(K_2S_20_5)$ and Saccharomyces cerevisae var. ellipsoideus Rasse Johannisberg II (SUAFM-1018) as a cultivation yeast, which has a strong fermentation power was used to ferment. The yield of apple wine based on raw material was 86-87%. The amount of ethanol, extract and methanol obtained from Jonathan and Ralls were 13.5%, 5.4%, 0.04-0.05% respectively. 3. Wines were distilled for two times by the pot still method to make fine spirits. The yield of fine spirits from apple wine mash was 86.6%, and the pH of fine spirits from Jonathan and Ralls were 4.1, 4.2 respectively. 4. The oak chips made of inner part or outer part of 24 Korean oak varieties were used to select the barrel for aging fine spirits. Two oak chips (one oak chip: $1{\times}1{\times}5cm$) of the inner part or of the outer part of each oak variety were dipped into 300 ml of fine spirits, which was bottled in 640ml beer bottle, and followed aging. The colors, flavors and tastes of the fine spirits were checked during 6 months. A. As a criterion for the first screening of oak barrels for aging fine spirits, the rate five of color extraction was determined. The oak chips showed good results in their order as follows and the best 5 varieties were selected. Gal-cham: Quercus aliena Blume (Inner part), Gul-cham: Quercus variabilis Blume (Outer part), Gal-chain: Quercus aliena Blume (Outer part), Jol-cham: Quercus serrata Thumb (Inner and Outer part). Sin-gal-cham: Quercus mongolica Fisher (Outer and Inner part) Sang-su-ri: Quercus acutissima Carruthers (Outer and Inner part) B. To find out the influence of aging temperature on aging, apple fine spirits were aged by dipping each oak chip at room temperature $(24-25^{\circ}C)$) and $45^{\circ}C$. Aging at $45^{\circ}C$ gave the best result followed aging at $30^{\circ}C$ and then at room temperature. C. Apple fine spirits was aged for six months by dipping oak chips in Erlenmeyer flasks and was irradiated with U.V light. The U.V irradiation enhanced the aging effect by nearly two times, compared with the aging without U.V irradiation. D. In aging apple fine spirits by dipping two oak chips, it was observed that the extent of the extraction of most components of oak chips were strongly dependent upon the pH of fine spirits. E. Oak chips of five selected oak varieties and a Limousin white oak from France as a control were used. Each apple fine spitits was dipped by two oak chips, and was aged at room temperature $(24-25^{\circ}C)$, $30^{\circ}C$, $45^{\circ}C$, and with the U.V irradiation at room temperature shaking every week. After six months of aging, the panel test of these aged fine spirits (Young Brandy) showed the following result. Young brandy of apples aged at $45^{\circ}C$ by dipping oak chips of Gal-chain was almost as the fine spirits which were aged at room temperature by dipping Limousin white oak chips from France. Young brandy of with U.V. irradiation at room temperature which were aged by dipping oak chips of Gal-chain was a little worse than that from the fine spirits aged at room temperature by dipping Limousin white oak chips from France. And so, Korean oak varieties are thought to be able to be used for aging every apple fine spirit which was here investigated.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.61-68
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• 2017

In this study, extracts from Caryopteris incana Miq. (C. incana) were investigated to assess anti-oxidation, skin-whitening and anti-wrinkle activity. The total phenolic compounds of C. incana extracts with water and 80 % ethanol showed 7.69 and 12.50 mg/g respectively. Antioxidation activity of C. incana extracts was measured by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), protection factor (PF), and Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs). At concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$, the DPPH free radical scavenging activity of water and ethanol extracts were 84 and 92 %, respectively. ABTS radical scavenging activity of water and ethanol extracts were both at approximately 99 %. Antioxidant PF of water and ethanol extracts were 1.56 PF and 1.67 PF, respectively. The TBARs of water and ethanol extracts were 62 and 82 %, respectively. In anti-wrinkle and skin-whitening activity, 80 % ethanol extract had more outstanding effect than water extract at concentration of $200{\mu}g/mL$. The levels of elastase and collagenase inhibitory activity related with anti-wrinkle were 58 and 89 % in ethanol extract. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity related with skin-whitening was 13 % in ethanol extract. The astringent effect of ethanol extract was 50 %. Throughout the results, C. incana extracts showed an excellent effect on anti-oxidation, skin-whitening and anti-wrinkle activity. Therefore, C. incana extracts can be used as a new material for cosmetics.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.94-99
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• 2014

This study was conducted to elucidate the effect of light sources and explant types on in vitro shoot multiplication and rooting of a rare and endangered plant Abeliophyllum distichum. Both apical buds and axillary buds were used as explants under 4 different light sources, cool white florescent light (F), 100% blue light-emitting diode (LED) (B), 50% blue and 50% red LED mixture (BR), and 100% red LED (R). Clear difference was observed in terms of shoot proliferation by light sources types but not by position-dependent explant types. Multiple shoot induction rates were enhanced under both B and BR light sources. Spontaneous rooting was induced in shoot induction medium under B light source. Both the rates of rooting and numbers of roots per explant were higher in apical bud explants compared to axillary bud explants. Interestingly R light source stimulated shoot elongation but inhibited root development. Therefore, our results suggest that the use of apical bud explants under B or BR light sources is suitable for in vitro micropropagation of a rare and endangered plant species, Abeliophyllum distichum.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.121-126
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• 1995

Diploid plants were obtained by anther culture of tetraploid poplar(Populus alba L. X P.glandutosa Uyeki). The effect 2,4D on callus formation from anther culture was greater than any other auxins tested. The highest average number of multiple shoots per callus was obtained when zeatin was used at levels of 6-8 ${\mu}$M. Regenerated shoots were excised and transferred to MS basal medium. Rooted plantlets were subsequently transferred to pots containing artificial soil mix. Finally 100 plane were transplanted in nursery located in forest Genetics Research Institute. for the 300 anther clones growing in greenhouse for 6 months after transplanting, 33% were slow-growing, 47% were rapid-growing and 20% had huge leaf size with rapid-growing characteristics. Chromosome study showed a narrow range of variation from diploid to tetraploid. DNA polymorphism studies using various RAPD markers revealed some extend of differences among the anther-clones in their band pattern.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.329-334
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• 1995

Transformation system of rolC gene, dwarf gene in Lycium chinenese Mill. established by using system. Pin-punctured leaves induced numerous adventious buds in abaxial side when cultured on 3/2 MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L zeatin. Survival rate and shoot regeneration frequency of leaf explants decreased as kanamycin sulfate level increased. Shoot buds were not regenerated on 3/2 MS medium containing 10 mg/L kanamycin sulfate and 2.0 mg/L zeaein. Of the level tested, 10 mg/L of kanamycin sulfate was optimum in selection of kanamycin sulfate resistant plant. Co-culture time of bacteria and leaf explants was affected at the frequency of shoot regeneration and survival of leaf explants. Leaf explants co-cultivated during above 48hr severely decreased survival rate and shooting rate. Best result on survival rate and shooting rate were obtained when exposed for 24 h. 80 explants of 105 leaf explants survived on 3/2 MS medium containing 2.0 mg/L zeatin and 10 mg/L kanamycin sulfate, and 15 shoots was regenerated on the same medium. To select kanamycin sulfate resistant plant, regenerate as cultured on 3/2 MS medium containing 10 mg/L kanamycin sulfate, and obtained 5 kanamycin resistant plants. Southern blot analysis conformed that the rolC gene was incorporated into the genomic DNA of kanamycin resistant plants.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.186-190
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• 2011

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of various kinds or concentrations in abscisic acid (ABA), reduced nitrogen sources (casein hydrolysate, casamino acid and L-glutamine) and osmoticum for production of somatic embryos (SEs) from pro-embryogenic mass (PEM) in yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera). In comparison of various concentrations of ABA, the highest number (640/10 mg PEM) of SEs was marked in the treatment of 0.5 mg/L. With higher concentration than 0.5 mg/L ABA, number of induced SEs were decreased. And the lowest number of SEs were obtained from the treatment of 20 mg/L ABA. Differences of 8 treatments of the nitrogen sources in the medium were also compared. In the experiment of 8 treatments for SEs production, the highest result showed in the treatment of 500 mg/L casamino acid (223/5 mg PEM). In comparison of different kinds/concentrations of osmotica for SEs induction, the best response was obtained from the treatment of 4% sucrose (317/5 mg PEM). In contrast, no SEs were found from the treatments supplemented with any concentrations of maltose.