• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.3-13
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• 2020

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a ubiquitous gram-negative bacterium causing serious infections. The P. aeruginosa T3SS is a syringe-like apparatus on the bacterial surface, with 4 effector toxins: ExoS, ExoT, ExoY, and ExoU. Here, we investigated the effect of ExoS and ExoT of the T3SS of P. aeruginosa K strain (PAK). The type three secretion system (T3SS) is a major virulence system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The effector protein Exotoxin S (ExoS) produced by P. aeruginosa is secreted into the host cells via the T3SS. For the purpose of screening the inhibitors with regard to ExoS secretion, we developed the sandwich-type enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) system. PAK clinical strains induce proinflammatory cytokine production through the T3SS, and this involves NF-κB activation in pneumonia mouse models. We tried to confirm the role of the NF-κB transcription factor in ExoS- and ExoT-induced pneumonia mouse models. pro-inflammatory cytokines induction in response to ExoS and ExoT infection relied on NF-κB activation. Our findings highlight the roles of natural poduct in inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine expression during ExoS and ExoT exposure in PAK infections, paving the way for a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of pulmonary infections.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.12a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2020

본 연구에서는 비트 새싹 추출물의 항산화 및 항염증 효능을 평가하기 위해 3가지 품종의 레드 비트(메를린, 우단, 디트로이트다크레드) 새싹을 60% 에탄올로 추출한 후 free radical 소거활성, 총 폴리페놀 함량을 측정하였다. 또한, LPS로 염증반응이 유도된 대식세포인 RAW264.7 세포에서 nitric oxide(NO) 생성억제 효과를 알아보았다. 메를린, 우단, 디트로이트다크레드 새싹 추출물의 총 폴리페놀 함량을 querceitn을 표준물질로 사용하여 측정한 결과 2.84 mg Que/g, 2.61 mg Que/g, 2.71 mg Que/g으로 나타났고 DPPH 라디칼 소거능은 농도 의존적으로 증가하였으며, 200 ㎍/ml일 때, 55%, 72%, 63%로 나타났다. 또한, DPPH 라디칼 소거능이 가장 높은 메를린 새싹 추출물은 LPS로 염증반응이 유도된 RAW264.7 세포에서 농도 의존적으로 iNOS와 COX-2를 억제하는 것을 확인하였다. 이러한 결과를 바탕으로 메를린 비트 새싹 추출물이 항산화 및 항염증제의 천연물 소재로 활용이 가능할 것으로 생각된다.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2013

This study was conducted not only to analyze ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity with fronds and rhizomes of nine Pteridophyte species, but also to select the plant materials suitable for natural ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor. Harvested rhizomes and fronds were washed, freeze-dried and grinded. After conducting ultrasonification extraction for 30 minutes in ultrasonic water tank with 100% methanol solvent, and vacuum filtration, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity was measured. Acarbose was used as the positive control. After mixing $100{\mu}L$ of 0.7 unit ${\alpha}$-glucosidase enzyme solution into $50{\mu}L$ of extract and reacting them at $37^{\circ}C$ for 10 minutes, $50{\mu}L$ of 1.5 mM ${\rho}$-NPG solution was taken and reacted at $37^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes. The reaction was stopped with 1 mL of 1 M $Na_2CO_3$ and absorbance was measured in 405 nm. With the regression analysis, the content of solubility solids (the value of $IC_{50}$) which can inhibit 50% of 0.7 unit ${\alpha}$-glucosidase solution's activity was investigated. The frond ($IC_{50}=14.00{\sim}913.33{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) and rhizome extracts ($IC_{50}=12.93{\sim}205.84{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$) of nine Pteridophyte species showed higher ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity in comparison with acarbose ($IC_{50}=1413.70{\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$). The extracts of fronds and rhizomes showed higher value than acarbose by 1.55~100.98 and 6.87~109.33 times each. Especially, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activities of Pyrrosia lingua in fronds and Osmunda cinnamomea var. fokiensis in rhizomes were the highest. The necessary biomass of fronds and rhizomes for inhibiting 50% of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity showed the lowest value, 0.35, 0.27 mg each, in O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis. $IC_{50}$ value of P. lingua was the highest among fronds of nine Pteridophyte species, but content of soluble solids was 2.4 times less than O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis. So frond of O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis is more economic in comparison with P. lingua. As the result of this study, O. cinnamomea var. fokiensis showed high ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibition activity even with small biomass. Therefore it was considered to be high-valued economic material as natural ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitor.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.107 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2018

This study was performed to discover the comparison of the understory species composition and the growth velocity of the regeneration seedlings in Pinus densiflora forests being managed by the seed-tree method from 2008 year. The investigation site located in Bonghwa, Gyeongsangbuk-do province was established by eighteen quadrats such as six control ones, six slope ones and 6 concave ones, in which we carried out the vegetation survey and measured annual height growth of each seedlings. As a result of vegetation analysis, the understory vegetation of the seed-tree forest area was mainly composed of shrub plants such as Lespedeza bicolor, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Securinega suffruticosa, Lespedeza maximowiczii and Stephanandra incisa, herb plants such as Miscanthus sinensis var. purpurascens, Carex humilis var. nana, Spodiopogon sibiricus and Artemisia keiskeana, and vine plants such as Pueraria lobata, Smilax sieboldii, Dioscorea batatas, Actinidia arguta, Vitis amurensis and Rubus crataegifolius. Especially, the vine plants were relatively more imported to the concave site than the control site and the slope site. As a result of measurement of growth velocity, the seedlings of the Pinus densiflora appeared to be 3,175 trees/ha for the non-suppressed trees and 7,842 trees/ha for the suppressed trees. In cases of the concave site, individuals of seedlings were much lower than those on the slope site, probably due to the competition effects of vine plants. Consideringly, silvicultural practices for clearing the vine plants should be inevitably accompanied. Also, the growth velocity of the suppressed and non-suppressed trees has been constantly increasing, those of the non-suppressed trees much higher than the suppressed trees. This represents that the seedlings grow rapidly after the suppressed period with competition to the surrounding plants. Therefore, specific practices such as blush control and vine clear should be carried out at the beginning stage of regeneration in the seed-tree stand.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2018

Brazzein is the smallest sweet protein and was isolated from the fruit pulp of Pentadiplandra brazzeana Baillon, native to tropical Africa. From ancient times, the indigenous people used this fruit in their diet to add sweetness to their daily food. Brazzein is 500 to 2000 times sweeter than sucrose on a weight basis and 9500 times sweeter on a molar basis. This unique property has led to increasing interest in this protein. However, it is expensive and difficult to produce brazzein other than in its native growing conditions which limits its availability for use as a food additive. In this study, we report high production yields of, brazzein protein in transgenic rice plants. An ORF region encoding brazzein and driven by the $2{\times}CaMV\;35S$ promoter was introduced into rice genome (Oryza sativa Japonica) via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. After transformation, 17 regenerated plant lines were obtained and these transgene-containing plants were confirmed by PCR analysis. In addition, the selected plant lines were analyzed by Taqman PCR and results showed that 9 T0 lines were found to have a single copy out of 17 transgenic plants. Moreover, high and genetically stable expression of brazzein was confirmed by western blot analysis. These results demonstrate that recombinant brazzein was efficiently expressed in transgenic rice plants, and that we have developed a new rice variety with a natural sweetener.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.353-357
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• 2004

Large economic losses have been reported by root-knot nematide, Meloidogyne incognita, in Korea. However, fewy environmentally-friendly nematicide alternatives for the control of M. incognita have been developed. This study was conducted of Korean native plants to screen nematicidal activity which could be used by organic farmers. Methanol extracts (1,000 mg $L^{-1}$) from fifty-three Korean native plants were applied to 24-well tissue culture testplates containing $1\times10^2$ M incognita and the nematicidal activities were determined. Nematicidal activities of the methanol extracts in common purslain (Portulaca oleraceae L.) and water mouse-ear-chickweed (Stellaria aquatica Scop.) were 60.0% and 40.6%, respectively, compared with that of control, however, those of other forty-one plants were less than 30%. Our results suggest that the methanol extracts of common purslain and water mouse-ear-chickweed contain nematicidal active compounds.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.593-599
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• 2014

This study was conducted to determine the antioxidant potentials of some available plants to source alternate antioxidants and antibiotics. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by determining the antioxidant activity reducing powers and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activities of extracts from some local edible native plants. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts was found to have been 0.41-94.84%. The Elsholtziasplendens NAKAI extract ($85^{\circ}C$, ethanol, accelerated solvent extraction) showed the highest level of antioxidant activity. Eight samples of plant extracts were evaluated for their antimicrobial activities against three microflora (Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans) using disc diffusion assay. Two samples (Geranium krameri FR. Et SAV. and Cleyera japonica Thunb.) had much more intensive antimicrobial activities than the control. However, their DPPH free radical scavenging activity levels were only 14.50 and 13.85, respectively. It is suggested that they could be used as natural preservatives against bacterial contamination in cosmetics and foods, in place of the common synthetic preservatives currently used.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.3 s.83
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• pp.412-419
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• 2007

In the present study, we investigated antimicrobial activity of the medicinal plants against various strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Among the tested, the plants extracts of Asiasarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum, Coptidis rhizoma, Reynoutria elliptica Migo., Solidago virga-aurea var. gigantea Miq.seed exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against MRSA KCCM 11812, 40510 and S. aureus ATCC 25923. The methanol extract of Asiasarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum showed strong antimicrobial activity against MRSA KCCM 11812, 40510 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 at the 5 mg/disc. A synergistic effect was found in combined extracts of Asiasarum heterotropoides var. mandshuricum and Coptidis rhizoma as compared to each extracts alone. The result suggests that medicinal plant extracts can be used as an effective natural antimicrobial agent in food.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.491-501
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• 2021

This study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of seedlings of Korean fir (Abies koreana) in Korean fir forest located on the eastern slope of Mt. Halla National Park. Between June and August in 2016, the systematic sampling method was applied to 125 plots of 5 m × 5 m quadrats and field survey was came out to measure the characteristics of sites and understory vegetation. Correlation analysis was applied to the variables quantified from the data collected. Total number of flora found at the study site is 31 in families, 44 in genera, and 56 in species. The main lower layer vegetation was investigated such as Jeju dwarf bamboo, Toothed club moss (Lycopodium serratum), Pacific fir moss (Lycopodium chinense), Climbing hydrangea (Hydrangea petiolaris) etc. Among these plant species, the vegetation which had a high positive correlation with the frequency and the coverage of seedlings of Korean fir were Jeju dwarf bamboo, Toothed club moss and Pacific fir moss.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.145-154
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of natural antioxidants as stabilizers for meat by-products to prevent lipid oxidation. The white internal organs were evaluated using different treatments: no antioxidant (control), ascorbic acid (T1), Artemisiacapillaris Thunb. (T2), Opuntia (T3), Schisandra chinensis (T4), and Saururuschinensis (Lour.) Baill (T5). Antioxidant activities were analyzed by measuring DPPH contents, superoxide anion radical levels, nitrate scavenging activities, and total polyphenol contents. T1 and T2 showed higher antioxidant activities and total polyphenol contents (p<0.05). Additionally, changes in physicochemical properties (pH, color, volatile basic nitrogen [VBN], and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]) and microbiological aspects in white internal organs processed with antioxidants were investigated. As storage time increased, the CIE $a^*$ and $b^*$ values of the white internal organs processed with natural antioxidants were decreased (p<0.05), and CIE $L^*$ values were low, particularly for the T3 sample relative to that in the control. Moreover, the pH, VBN, and TBARS values of samples T2-T5 were increased after 7 days of storage, but showed low values compared with those of the control (p<0.05). Moreover, compared with the control group, the treatments showed antimicrobial effects. Our results indicated that these natural antioxidants could be used as lipid oxidation stabilizers of meat by-products during storage and that Artemisiacapillaris Thunb. and Opuntia may have applications as natural antioxidants in the meat by-product industry.