• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.1
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• pp.19-41
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• 2016

This study examined the flora and community classification in the Forest Genetic Resources Reserves (FGRR) at Mt. Daeseng and Juparyeong to understand the degree of disturbance and the state of forest stand development within the Civilian Control Line (CCL) and to provide baseline data for preservation and management. Of the vascular plants dispersed throughout the study site, there were 98 families, 311 genera, 507 species, 6 subspecies, 65 varieties, and 10 forms, for a total of 588 taxa. Of these, 92 families, 290 genera, 459 species, 6 subspecies, 58 varieties, and 9 forms, for a total of 532 taxa of native plants, were determined to be dispersed around the FGRR at Mt. Daeseng, and 94 families, 259 genera, 364 species, 6 subspecies, 50 varieties, and 8 forms, for a total of 428 taxa of native plants, were confirmed to be dispersed around the FGRR at Juparyeong. There were 21 taxa of endemic Korean plants growing in the FGRR at Mt. Daeseng, with 14 taxa growing in the FGRR at Juparyeong. In terms of rare plants, 26 taxa were confirmed in the FGRR at Mt. Daeseng, and 10 taxa were confirmed in the FGRR at Juparyeong. A Cluster analysis was performed using vegetation data taken from 58 sample plots in each FGRR. The results showed a total of three representative community classifications from Mt. Daeseng: mixed mesophytic forest, Quercus mongolica-Acer pseudosieboldianum, and Quercus mongolica-Fraxinus rhynchophylla communities. Four representative community classifications were observed from Juparyeong: Quercus mongolica-broad leaved forest, Fraxinus rhynchophylla-broad leaved forest, Quercus mongolica, and Quercus communities. On the whole, the species diversity of the communities in Mt. Daeseng FGRR was greater than for the communities in Juparyeong FGRR. At Mt. Daeseng, the mixed mesophytic forest had the highest species diversity index at 1.590, while at Juparyeong, the Fraxinus rhynchophylla-broad leaved forest had the highest species diversity index at 1.319. These study results should serve as useful baseline data for future preservation and management of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) and the surrounding area.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.2
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• pp.201-223
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• 2022

Currently, species extinctions are increasing due to climate change and continued anthropogenic impact. We selected 300 species for conservation with emphasis on plants co-occurring in the Baekdudaegan area, which is a large ecological axis of Korea. We aimed to investigate the vegetation community and environmental characteristics of Zabelia tyaihyonii in the limestone habitat among the target plant species in the Baekdudaegan region to derive effective conservation strategies. In Danyang-gun, Yeongwol-gun, and Jecheon-si, we selected 36 investigation sites where Z. tyaihyonii was present. We investigated the vegetation, flora, soil and physical environment. We also found notable plants such as Thalictrum petaloideum, Sillaphyton podagraria, and Neillia uekii at the investigation sites. We classified forest vegetation community types into 4 vegetation units and 7 species group types. With canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) of the vegetation community and habitat factors, we determined the overall explanatory power to be 75.2%, and we classified the environmental characteristics of the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii into a grouping of three. Among these, we detected a relationship between the environmental factors elevation, slope, organic matter, rock ratio, pH, potassium, and sodium. We identified numerous rare and endemic plants, including Thalictrum petaloideum, in the investigation site, and determined that these groups needed to be preserved at the habitat level. In the classification of the vegetation units analyzed based on the emerging plants and the CCA, we reaffirmed the uniqueness and specificity of the vegetation community in the habitat of Z. tyaihyonii. We anticipate that our results will be used as scientific evidence for the empirical conservation of the native habitats of Z. tyaihyonii.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.938-944
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• 2018

This study evaluated tyrosinase, elastase inhibitory, and antioxidant activities of fermented Rhododendron micranthum Turcz. extract using a lactic acid bacterium, Lactobacillus rhamnosus. The optimum conditions for fermentation of R. micranthum Turcz. extract were $37^{\circ}C$ and 3% R. micranthum Turcz. extract for 3 days based on the bacterial cell number, total phenolic compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity, and tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory activity. After culture for 3 days using 3% R. micranthum Turcz. extract, the cell mass of L. rhamnosus reached $5.7{\times}10^9CFU/ml$. The results indicated that R. micranthum Turcz. extract can be used for industrial lactic acid bacteria culture. After fermentation under optimum conditions, the total content of phenolic compounds of the fermented R. micranthum Turcz. extract was 157 GAE mg/ml, and the $IC_{50s}$ of DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory effects were 78.8, 79.8, 329.1, and $449.5{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. The fermented R. micranthum Turcz. extract exhibited 1.2-, 1.3-, 1.5-, 2.4-, and 5.6-fold higher total content of phenolic compounds, DPPH radical scavenging activity, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and tyrosinase and elastase inhibitory effects than the nonfermented R. micranthum Turcz. extract. These results indicated that fermented R. micranthum Turcz. extract using L. rhamnosus can be used for developing new natural functional ingredients for the health food or cosmetic industry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.303-309
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• 2022

Dystaenia takesimana is an endemic plant found only in Korea, especially on Ulleung Island. The leaves and roots of D. takesimana have been used as food, forage, and oriental medicine. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and α-glucosidase inhibition biological activities have been reported in the plant's root extract. However, studies concerning the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana are still in the rudimentary stage. In this study, the extracts of the leaf (DT-L), stem (DT-S), and root (DT-R) of D. takesimana were prepared using 70% ethanol, and their anti-thrombosis activities were evaluated. DT-L extracts (0.25 mg/ml) showed strong inhibitions against platelet aggregation, comparable to aspirin, with strong radical scavenging activities. Furthermore, the DT-L extract did not show any RBC hemolysis up to 1 m/ml. The ant-coagulation and antioxidant activities of the DT-S extract were ignorable. While the DT-R extract showed inhibitions against thrombin and blood coagulation factors, it also showed strong platelet aggregation. This is a first report of the anti-thrombosis activities of D. takesimana, and our results suggest that DT-L could be developed as a valuable bioresource for high value-added products.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.100 no.4
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• pp.609-615
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• 2011

Forsythia saxatilis is a Korean endemic plant designated as rare and endangered by the Korea Forest Service (KFS). Growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis were investigated under two different light intensities in order to figure out an appropriate growth environment for conservation and restoration of the species in its natural habitat. Shoot length, leaf size and weight, photosynthetic pigment content and photosynthetic parameters were measured for F. saxatilis grown at two experimental plots under relative light intensities (RLI) of 20% and 60% of the full sun, respectively. Fresh leaf weight of plants grown under high relative light intensities (RLI-60) exceeded that of plants grown at 20% RLI. The ratio of fresh leaf weight to leaf size at RLI-60 was 1.47 times superior comparing to that recorded at RLI-20. The content of photosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll a, b and carotenoid were higher in plants grown at RLI-60, whereas the ratio of total chlorophyll to carotenoid content was higher in the leaves at RLI-20. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance and transpiration rate at RLI-60 were, respectively, 2.5, 2.65 and 1.79 times higher comparing to those recorded at RLI-20. Water use efficiency, however, was higher at RLI-20. The chlorophyll/nitrogen ratio was 1.83 times higher at RLI-20 than at RLI-60. In contrast, the ratio of net photosynthesis to chlorophyll content at RLI-60 was 2.58 times higher than that of RLI-20. In conclusion, light intensity might be the major factor affecting growth and physiological characteristics of F. saxatilis grown under canopy of tall tree species.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.102-109
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• 2016

The sustainability of Iris koreana, a rare and endemic plant designated by the Korea Forest Service, is threatened due to artificial factors such as habitats loss and climate change etc. and internal factors such as changes in biological properties of the habitats etc. but conservation biology research has not been performed in South Korea. The objective of this study is to establish the species conservation strategies by analyzing the characteristics of their habitats, including: 1) Population characteristics, and 2) habitat analysis of the vegetation and abiotic environments. From April to May, 2015, population characteristics [density (stems $m^{-2}$), flowering rate (%) and leaf area size ($cm^2$)] in I. koreana habitats such as Buan1~6 (BA1~6), Jangseong1~2 (JS1~2) and vegetation characteristics (phytosociological research and ordination analysis), and abiotic environments [soil temperature ($^{\circ}C$), soil humidity (%), transmitted light ($mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$) and canopy openness (%)] were measured. I. koreana was mainly distributed at elevation 50 to 150 m and 2 to $11^{\circ}$ slope. Slope direction was shown as 90 to $193^{\circ}$. The average degree of canopy openness was 11.9%. It showed the highest at BA2 (17.5) and the lowest at JS1 (7.7). The average degree of transmitted light was $6.3mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}d^{-1}$. It showed the highest at BA2 (10.1) and the lowest at JS1 (3.6). Population density showed average 25.8 (stems $m^{-2}$). It showed the highest at JS2 (19.7) and the lowest at JS1 (9.3). flowering stems showed average 16.9 (stems). It showed the highest at BA3 (35) and the lowest at BA5 (4). Leaf area size was average $94.1cm^2$.