• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.105-131
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of Gyodongdo island (Ganghwa-gun). The vascular plants from 11 field surveys were revealed to belong to a total of 629 taxa; 118 families, 364 genera, 561 species, 5 subspecies, 53 varieties, 7 forms and 3 hybrids. 184 taxa were the first records from this region. The plants in Gyodongdo island are composed of the deciduous broad-leaved and conifer-mixed forests which are the common ones in the middle part of the Korean Peninsula. Five taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Clematis brachyura Maxim., Viola seoulensis Nakai, Populus ${\times}$ tomentiglandulosa T. B. Lee, Forsythia koreana (Rehder) Nakai and Hemerocallis hakuunensis Nakai were collected. Endangered wild plants designated by the law called 'Protection Law for Endangered wild fauna and flora' were one taxon. The red list plants according to IUCN valuation basis were examined for 13 taxa; endangered (EN) species of Prunus yedoensis Matsum., Vulnerable (VU) species of both Utricularia pilosa (Makino) Makino and Iris ruthenica var. nana Maxim., Near Threatened (NT) species of Senecio argunensis Turcz., Least Concern (LC) species of Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco, Potentilla discolor Bunge, Limnophila sessiliflora (Vahl) Blume, Acorus calamus L., Phacelurus latifolius (Steud.) Ohwi, Pseudoraphis ukishiba Ohwi, Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC., and Not Evaluate (NE) species of both Astragalus sikokianus Nakai and Potamogeton oxyphyllus Miq. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were a total of 47 taxa comprising three taxa of grade V, four taxa of grade IV, nine taxa of grade III, 10 taxa of grade II, and 21 taxa of grade I. The naturalized plants were identified as 62 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 9.9 % and the percentage of urbanization index (UI) was 19.3 %, respectively. Furthermore, hemicryptophytes (28 %), therophytes (26 %), hydrophytes (13 %) and geophyte (12 %) showed high proportional ratio in life form spectrum.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.441-455
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• 2015

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of Mt. Byeollipsan (Ganghwa-gun). The vascular plants from 13 field surveys were revealed to total of 574 taxa; 116 families, 355 genera, 505 species, 8 subspecies, 52 varieties, 7 forms and 2 hybrids. A high plant diversity were Asteraceae (12.3%), Poaceae (10.6%), Cyperaceae (6.1%), Fabaceae (4.5%) and Rosaceae (4.2%) in regular order. The seven taxa of Korean endemic plants such as Clematis brachyura, Viola seoulensis, Populus × tomentiglandulosa, Salix koriyanagi, Ajuga multiflora f. rosea, Hemerocallis hakuunensis and Polygonatum infundiflorum were collected. The red data of vascular plants according to IUCN valuation basis were examined five taxa; Least Concern (LC) species of both Phacelurus latifolius and Belamcanda chinensis, Not Evaluate (NE) species of Lithospermum arvense, Scorzonera austriaca ssp. glabra and Polygonatum infundiflorum. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 34 taxa comprising one taxa of degree IV, six taxa of degree III, 11 taxa of degree II, and 16 taxa of degree I. In addition, the naturalized plants were identified as 46 taxa and the percent of naturalized index (NI) was 8.0%, Urbanization Index (UI) was 14.3%, respectively.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.476-485
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• 2018

Although tectorigenin (TG), a major compound in the rhizome of Belamcanda chinensis, is conventionally used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, its effects on osteogenesis and osteoclastogenesis have not been reported. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects and possible underlying mechanism of TG on in vitro osteoblastic differentiation and in vivo bone formation, as well as in vitro osteoclast differentiation and in vivo bone resorption. TG promoted the osteogenic differentiation of primary osteoblasts and periodontal ligament cells. Moreover, TG upregulated the expression of the BMP2, BMP4, and Smad-4 genes, and enhanced the expression of Runx2 and Osterix. In vivo studies involving mouse calvarial bone defects with ${\mu}CT$ and histologic analysis revealed that TG significantly increased new bone formation. Furthermore, TG treatment inhibited osteoclast differentiation and the mRNA levels of osteoclast markers. In vivo studies of mice demonstrated that TG caused the marked attenuation of bone resorption. These results collectively demonstrated that TG stimulated osteogenic differentiation in vitro, increased in vivo bone regeneration, inhibited osteoclast differentiation in vitro, and suppressed inflammatory bone loss in vivo. These novel findings suggest that TG may be useful for bone regeneration and treatment of bone diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.11-27
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• 2016

This study is a survey of the flora distributed in Seocheon tidal flat wetland protected area of nearby island (Daejuk-do, Tokki-deung, Muk-do) and Yubo-do Seocheon-gun Chuncheongnam-do, Korea. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 231 taxa including 65 families, 167 genera, 204 species, 2 subspecies, 23 varieties and 2 forms. The halophytes were 33 taxa including 15 families, 29 genera, 29 species, 3 varieties and 1 form (Chenopodium album var. stenophyllum, Cnidium japonicum, Juncus haenkei and so on). The rare plants were 4 taxa including Pseudoraphis ukishiba (VU), Belamcanda chinensis (VU), Phacelurus latifolius (LC) and Polygonum bellardii (DD). The Korean endemic plants were 2 taxa including Salix pseudolasiogyne and Forsythia koreana. In the specific plants by floristic region were 24 taxa, a degree I were 19 taxa (Rhodotypos scandens, Zanthoxylum planispinum, Cynodon dactylon and so on), 2 taxa of a degree III (Elymus mollis and Asparagus oligoclonos), 3 taxa of a degree IV (Polygonum bellardii, Wisteria floribunda and Pseudoraphis ukishiba) and degree II, V were not found. The naturalized plants were 40 taxa including Phytolacca americana, Sicyos angulatus, Lactuca scariola and so on. Naturalization rate (NR) was 17.3% of all 231 taxa of vascular plants and urbanization index (UI) was 12.5% of all 321 taxa of naturalized plants. This study was performed to used as a basic data to identify the protected from plant ecosystems of type classify into analyze the vegetation characteristic of based on flora distributed in Yubu-do and nearby islands.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.233-246
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• 2001

The purpose of this study was to suggest the possibility of utilizing the wildflower pasture for promoting public interest. Growth characteristics, botanical composition, fauna distribution on wildflower pastures were observed. The experimental design included two treatments: native wildflower pasture(NWP, turf grasses 6 species + native wildflower 11 species) and introduced wildflower pasture(lWP, turf grasses 6 species + introduced wildflower 9 species). The field trials were carried out on the experimental pasture plots at Chungnam National University from 1997 to 2000. The results obtained are as follows: 1. The flowering of wildflower was maintained continuously from May to September, and the colors of wildflowers; varied seasonally during this period. With native flowers, however, Hemerocallis fulva, Belamcanda chinenis and Aster koraiensisi showed problems in lately germination and early establishment. Meanwhile, Introduced wildflower showed not only excellent germination and early establishment compared to native flowers species but also maintained brighter colors. But Coreopsis tinctoria, Achillea mi/lefolium and Rudbeckia bicolor had colonized at a higher height or possessed stronger rhizome. 2. The appropriate species of turf grass which maintained continuous seasonal distribution are thought to be tall fescue, perennial ryegrass. Kentucky bluegrass in NWP and IWP. 3. Botanical composition of wild flower in NWP was arranged in the order of Achillea sibirica > Lotus corniculatus var. Japonicus > Dianthus chinensis > Plantago asiatica > Taraxacum pla~ycarpum > Viola mandshurica > Aster koraiensis > Vicia tetasperma > Lespedeza stipulacea > Hemerocallis fulva, respectively. The highest seasonal distribution of native wildflower, Achillea sibirica was in spring and summer, Lotus corniculatus var. Japonicus was in autumn. Botanical composition of wild flower in IWP was arranged in the order of Achillea millefolium Coreopsis tinctoria > Silene armeria > Coreopsis lanceolata > Rudbeckia bicolor > Sanguisorba oficinalis > Centaurea cyanus > Chrysanthemum leucanthemum > Dianthus petraeus, respectively. The highest seasonal distribution of introduced wildflower, Silene armeria was in spring, Achillea millefolium was in summer, and Coreopsis tinctoria was in autumn.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.764-770
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• 1999

Antimicrobial activities were assayed through the hot-water extracts from 41 species of medicinal plants against Helicobacter pylori which is known as the ulcerogenic phathogen. Opuntia ficus-indica, Houttuynia cordata, Sinomenium acutum, and Coptis japonica showed the MIC at the concentrations less than 100 ppm, Pulsatilla koreana, Forsythia koreana, Rheum undulatum, and Perilla frutescens less than 200 ppm, Belamcanda chinensis, Arctium lappa, Cassia tora, Citrus tachibana, Siegesbeckia orientalis, and Caesalpinia sappan less than 300 ppm by the 2-fold dilution method. In disc method only three of them were confirmed to have antimicrobial activities which were increased in the order Perilla frutescens, Coptis japonica, Caesalpinia sappan. Three extracts were partitioned with chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol in sequence and examined for the activity to inhibit H. pylori. The major ativities were observed in ethyl acetate fraction of Caesalpinia sappan, butanol fraction of Perilla frutescens, butanol and chloroform fraction of Coptis japonica. The partitioned fractions were found to have increased antimicrobial activities in all extracts. The experiments in which the extracts were added into urea R broth containing the crude urease derived from H. pylori resulted in the increase of pH and optical density at 560 nm to 8.15 and 1.7 respectively. Urease activity of H. pylori was inhibited over 80% by Caesalpinia sappan, Perilla frutescens, and Coptis japonica, of which Caesalpinia sappan suppressed up to 95%.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1384-1392
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• 2015

Sagantang (SGT), a Korean multiherb formula comprising six medicinal herbs, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Poria cocos Wolf, Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komarov, and Artractylodes japonica Koidzumi, was recorded in “Dongeuibogam.” The present study investigated the anticancer potential of SGT in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. The results indicated that SGT treatment significantly inhibited the growth and viability of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, in addition to chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, and the accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by the SGT treatment was associated with up-regulation of Fas protein expression, truncation of Bid, and down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. The SGT treatment also effectively induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, a pan-caspase inhibitor significantly blocked the SGT-induced apoptosis and growth suppression in AGS cells. This study suggests that SGT induces caspase-dependent apoptosis through an extrinsic pathway by upregulating Fas, as well as through an intrinsic pathway by modulating Bcl-2 family members in AGS cells. The results suggest that SGT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human gastric cancer cells. However, further studies will be needed to confirm the potential of SGT in cancer prevention and therapy in an in vivo model and to identify biological active compounds of SGT.