• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.281-290
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• 2018

Background: Lung cancer, the most common malignant disease worldwide, is the predominant cause of cancer deaths, particularly amongst men. Therefore, various researchers have focused on the growth inhibitory effects of medicinal plants used in traditional Korean medicine. This study aimed to investigate the growth inhibitory effects of ethanol extracts of Rubiae radix, Inulae flos, Nelumbinis receptaculum, Astilbe radix, and Lagerstroemia flos on NCI-H1229 cells. Method and Results: The viability of NCI-H1229 cells was evaluated in vitro using an MTS assay. Treatment with the ethanol extracts of the selected medicinal plants at $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ reduced NCI-H1229 cell viability and increased apoptotic cell death and caspase-3 activation. In addition, treatment with ethanol extracts of Inulae flos and Astilbe radix increases DNA fragmentation, as measured by the TUNEL assay. Conclusions: These results indicated that ethanol extracts of Rubiae radix, Inulae flos, Nelumbinis receptaculum, Astilbe radix, and Lagerstroemia flos exhibited growth inhibitory effects, inducing apoptotic cell death, DNA fragmentation and caspase-3 activation in NCI-H1229 cells. Therefore, these medicinal plant extracts may be used in the development of natural medicines to inhibit the growth of lung cancers. However, further study is needed to determine the active ingredients of the ethanol extracts from medicinal plants that are reposible for the inhibitory effect on lung cancer cell grwoth.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2003

To obtain the basic data for monitoring and the conservation of native plant species at the sub-alpine zone Jongseogdae in Jirisan (Mt.).40 plots(5m${\times}$5m) set up by random sampling method and the distribution of native shrub and herb species at the subalpine zone was surveyed. Leading shrub species at the subalpine zone of Jongseogdae were Tripterygium regelii with IP value of 23.45% : followed by Lespedeza maximowiczii, Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa and Lespedeza tomentella. Dominant species at the subalpine zone were Lysimachia clethroides, Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum, Synurus deltoides, Veratrum maackii var. japonicum, Hemerocallis fulva and Astilbe chinensis var. davidii. Rhododendron tschonoskii recorded from the rare and endangered species list of the Korea Forest Service distributed among the rocks on the top of Jongseogdae. The long-term sustainable habitat monitoring might be required to conserve this subalpine zone.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.69-77
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• 2003

Arachidonic acid (AA), which is stored in membrane glycerophospholipids, is liberated by phospholipase $A_2$ (PLA$_2$) enzymes and is sequentially converted to cyclooxygenases (COXs) and lipoxygenases (LOXs) then to various bioactive PGs, and LTs. In order to find the specific inhibitors of AA metabolism especially PLA$_2$, COX-2, 5-LO and lyso PAF acetyltransferase, 120 Korean residential plants extracts were evaluated for their inhibitory activity on PGD$_2$, LTC$_4$ production from cytokine-induced mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMC) and arachidonic acid released from phospholipid and PAF production from lyso PAF. From this screening procedure, methanol extract of ten indigenous plant such as Salix gracilistyla, Sedum kamtschaticum, Cirsium chanroenicum, Hypericum ascyron, Astilbe chinensis, Agrimonia pilosa, Aristolochia manshuriensis, Vodia daniellii, Pyrola japonica, Styrax obassia were found to inhibit production of inflammatory mediators in vitro assay system.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.24-32
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• 2003

This study was carried out to select proper species for early stage replantation of forest road cut-slope. From one to fourteen year elapsed forest roads in Gangwon-do, sample plots were selected, and their vegetations and environmental factors were investigated. Invaded species with high frequency ordered Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Lysimachia clethroides, Rubus crataegifolius, Patrinia villosa, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Youngia denticulata, Dactylis glomerata, Rhus chinensis, and Pinus densiflora. North cut-slope have the highest value of invaded species number and plant coverage, and so, north aspect could be best for plant invasion. According to ordination, distribution of species were influenced by elapsed year, cut-slope aspect, and cut-slope. Lespedeza bicolor, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Artemisia stolonifera, Miscanthus sinensis, Rubus crataegifolius, Rhus chinensis, Lindera obtusiloba, and Pinus densiflora were considered with proper species for replantation at south slope. Also, Lespedeza bicolor, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Arundinella hirta, Artemisia keiskeana, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Rubus crataegifolius, Weigela subsessilis, Stephanandra incisa, and Rhododendron mucronulatum were considered with proper species as replantation at north slope.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.84-93
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• 2004

This study was carried out to select proper species for early stage replantation in granite forest roads cut-slope. From two to sixteen year elapsed forest roads in four regional areas of Gangwon-do, sample plots were selected, and their vegetations and environmental factors were investigated. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen, soil moisture content, and bulk density in the decomposed granite soils were below 1.32%, 0.08%, 10.0%, and above 1.24g/$cm^3$, respectively. The result indicated that the soil was not good for plant growth. The environmental factors affecting distribution of species in the granite forest roads were the elapsed year, cut-slope, elevation, and cut-slope aspect. Species with high frequency in the granite forest road cut-slope ordered Lespedeza bicolor, Rubus crataegifolius, Pinus densiflora, Lysimachia clethroides, Amorpha fruticosa, Dactylis glomerata, Lespedeza cyrtobotrya, Festuca arundinacea, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Artemisia stolonifera, and Weigela subsessilis. Herbs seeded in earth stage such as Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, and Festuca arundinacea had changed into perennial herbs such as Carex lanceolata, Poa sphondylodes, Patrinia villosa, Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Melica onoei, Artemisia keiskeana, Artemisia stolonifera, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Spodiopogon sibiricus, and those had changed into shrubs such as Rubus crataegifolius and Weigela subsessilis, and those had changed into trees such as Salix hulteni, Salix koreensis, and Fraxinus rhyncholhylla according to elapsed year of forest roads. Legumes such as Lespedeza sp., Pueraria thunbergiana, Amorpha fruticosa, etc., herbs such as Artemisia keiskeana, Artemisia princeps var. orientalis, Artemisia stolonifera, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Miscanthus sinensis, etc., and woody plants such as Pinus densiflora, Rubus crataegifolius, Weigela subsessilis, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Rhododendron mucronulatum, etc., with foreign herbs were considered as proper species for replantation in granite forest road cut-slope.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.205-216
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• 2010

This research identified a disturbance regime caused by wild boar in a mature Quercus mongolica forest and analyzed the impact of this disturbance on the structure and distribution of herbaceous plants in Mt. Jeombong, Korea. We demonstrate that disturbance by wild boar was most frequent from winter to early spring, but also occurred year round. Areas which were frequently disturbed by wild boar included the mountain ridge, the mild slope on the north face, and sites with high concentration of Erythronium japonicum. The disturbance cycle by the wild boar in this region was estimated at approximately 2.8 years. The wild boar's reduced the community's species diversity and herbaceous coverage, and increased its evenness. This disturbance reduced the coverage of spring ephemeral; Veratrum nigrum var. ussuriense, Symplocarpus niponnicus, Anemone koraiensis and Corydalis turtschaninovii were particularly sensitive. In addition, summer green herbaceous plants such as Astilbe chinensis, Ainsliaea acerifolia, Meehania urticifolia, and Pimpinella brachycarpa were sensitive to the wild boar's. It was found that wild boar ate E. japonicum most selectively of all plants in this investigation area. In conclusion, together with micro-topography, wind, formation of gaps of a forest and rearrangement of litter layer, wild boar's disturbance is an important factor influencing the dynamic changes of an herbaceous community in a mature temperate hardwood forest.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.34 no.1 s.132
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• pp.100-108
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• 2003

The regulation of plasma lipid level, particularly LDL cholesterol, represents the focus of current therapy for atherosclerosis. And $Lp-PLA_2$ is able to hydrolyse oxidized phosphatidylcholine within LDL into lyso-PC and oxidized fatty acids. $Lp-PLA_2$ is a potential biomarker of coronary heart disease and plays an important proinflammatory role in the progression of atherosclerosis. We investigated the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts of 224 natural plants on $Lp-PLA_2$ activity. Seven kinds of methanol extracts of tested plants showed above 50% inhibitory effect with the concentration of $100\;{\mu}g/ml$. The concentrated aqueous suspensions of each methanol extract were partitioned with n-hexane, $CHCl_3$, and EtOAc. Among them, EtOAc extracts of Astilbe chinensis var. davidii (root) and Pourthiaea villosa var. brunnea (leaf) significantly inhibited $Lp-PLA_2$ activity at the same concentration.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.213-225
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• 1988

The plant communities of the eastern ridge in Mt. Cheonma, Central Korea, Quercus mongolica, Q mongolica-Acer pseudo-sieboldianum, and Q. mongolica-Rhododendron schlippenbachii communities in the northern slope and Q. variabilis and Q. cutissima communities in the southern slope were detected by Zurich-Montpellier method. The undergrowth of Q mongolica community in the northern slope was dominated by Ainsliaea acerifolia, Carex siderosticta, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Heloniopsis orientalis, Pseudostellaria palibiniana, ranging 3.3 to 2.2 in dominance-sociability, while the those of Q variabilis and Q acutissima in the southern slope were dominated by Spodiopogon cotulifer, Artemisia keiskeana, Carex humilis, Atractylodes japonica, Lysimachia clethroides and Disporum smilacinum with similar degree in dominance-sociability to that of Q mongolica community. The two communities were considered as regenerating forest after severe disturbance judging by their age structure. The relationship between Shannon's diversity index (H') and Simpson's dominance index (i) was in reciprocal proportion in both two communities. The Q. mongolica and Q. variabilis communities were showed 13 and 12 m respectively. Seasonal changes of undergrowth coverage in the two communities were seemed to be affected especially with soil moisture among environmental factors such as temperature, light intensity, relative humidity and organic matter.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.67-74
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• 2008

This study was carried out to select proper species for early stage replantation in cutting-slope area of the Baekdu Range roadside. In the cutting-slope area and upper forest area of the cutting-slope area, sample plots of 104 were selected and their vegetations and environmental factors were investigated. We found total 151 species in the 104 plots. The species of high frequency of Baekdu Range roadside were found in the order of Lespedeza bicolor, Festuca arundinacea, Eragrostis curvula, Pinus densiflora, Salix hulteni, Lespedeza cuneata, Erigeron annuus, Rubus crataegifolius, Spodiopogon sibiricus, etc. The dominancy of Festuca arundinacea, Eragrostis curvula, Lespedeza bicolor, Pinus densiflora, Salix hulteni, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Miscanthus sinensis, Lespedeza maximowiczii, Acer ginnala were 12.74%, 10.43%, 7.48%, 4.42%, 4.09%, 3.13%, 2.49%, 2.45%, 2.40% in the roadside cutting-slope, respectively. The importance value of Quercus mongolica, Lindera obtusiloba, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Lespedeza maximowiczii, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Lespedeza bicolor, Quercus serrata, Rhus trichocarpa were 17.32%, 13.82%, 11.60%, 11.31%, 8.76%, 8.04%, 7.65%, 7.10% in shrub layer of the upper forest area, respectively. The species of Carex lanceolata, Spodiopogon sibiricus, Carex siderosticta, Miscanthus sinensis, Artemisia sp., Potentilla fragarioides var. major, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum, Aster scaber, Lysimachia clethroides, Patrinia villosa, Lindera obtusiloba, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Rhododendron schlippenbachii, Rhus trichocarpa, Stephanandra incisa, Zanthoxylum schinifolium, Lespedeza sp., Lespedeza cuneata, Amorpha fruticosa, Ligustrum obtusifolium, and Weigela subsessilis, may be more helpful in stabilizing of the cutting-slope area and making harmony with the surrounding forest area.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.104-111
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• 1994

The marsh vegetation in the vicinity of Tumunsan, Tokyusan National Park, Chollapuk-do, Korea was analysed in order to find out the vegetational characteristics. The total number of vascular plants surveyed were summarized as 39 familieis, 77 genera, 74 species, 18 varieties and 1 form. The ten species such as Juncus effusus var. decipiens, Carex leiorhyncha, Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica, Sirpus triqueter, Scirpus karuizawensis, Caltha palustris var. membranacea, Carex doniana, Carex humilis, Vicia venosa, and Disporum smilacinum showed the Importance Value more than 10 % in herbaceous marsh vegetation. The species such as Heloniopsis orientalis, Astilbe chinensis var. davidii, Trignotis peduncularis, Lycopus ramosissimus var. japonicus, Iris nertschinskia and Hosta capitata were distributed at very limited or wide spread localities in the marsh. The marsh vegetation in this area is one of the rare and very distinct natural resources in Tokyusan National Park and the proper Action Plan of Management is strongly needed because the projected developing works in this site will act seriously in marsh vegetational changes in the future.