• Journal of Species Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.79-88
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• 2022

The Ulvophyceae are a diverse group and most species are distributed in marine environments, however, a smaller diversity occurs in freshwater and terrestrial habitats. Also, the diversity of species belonging to Ulvophyceae has been superficially investigated in Korea. Here, we identify two freshwater ulvophycean species based on the morphology, ultrastructural observation, and phylogenetic analysis. As a result, their taxonomic classifications are as follows: order Ulvales Blackman and Tansley, 1902 - family Kornmanniaceae Golden and Cole, 1986 - Lithotrichon pulchrum Darienko and Proschold 2017; order Ulotrichales Borzi, 1895 - family Tupiellaceae Skaloud and Leliaert, 2018 - Tupiella speciosa Darienko and Proschold 2017. The family Tupiellaceae and the two genera Lithotrichon and Tupiella are reported for the first time in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2021

The genus Chroomonas is a group of blue-green colored cryptomonads. This study describes two freshwater Chroomonas species for the first time in South Korea: Chroomonas nordstedtii Hansgirg and Chroomonas coerulea (Geitler) Skuja. We examined the morphology and ultrastructure of these species by light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. These two Chroomonas species were blue-green colored and ovate to oval-shaped. Chroomonas nordstedtii was characterized by two Maupas ovals with hexagonal periplast plates, whereas C. coerulea was characterized by one eyespot with rectangular periplast plates. A molecular phylogeny with data from nuclear SSU rRNA and chloroplast rbcL genes revealed that Korean C. nordstedtii formed a distinct clade with NIES-708, NIES-1004 from Japan, and UTEX 2779 from Colorado, USA, while C. coerulea formed a clade with ACOI 1366 from Portugal.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2020

Purple loosestrife-Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the Lythraceae family. It has been used for centuries in Korea and other Asian traditional medicine. It has been showed pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant and anti-microbial effects. However, the mechanisms underlying its anti-cancer mechanisms are not yet understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of apoptosis signaling pathways by ethanol extract of Lythrum anceps (Koehne) Makino (ELM) in human leukemia U937 cells. Treatment with ELM significantly inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies (ApoBDs), DNA fragmentation and increased populations of sub-G1 ratio. Induction of apoptosis by ELM was connected with up-regulation of death receptor (DR) 4 and DR5, pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, and inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1, survivin), depending on dosage. This induction was associated with Bid truncation, mitochondrial dysfunction, proteolytic activation of caspases (-3, -8 and -9) and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase protein. Therefore, our data indicate that ELM suppresses U937 cell growth by activating the intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis pathways, and thus may have applications as a potential source for an anti-leukemic chemotherapeutic agent.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.58-58
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• 2021

Although hypoxic/ischemic injury is thought to contribute to the incidence of Alzheimer disease (AD), the molecular mechanism that determines the relationship between hypoxia-induced β-amyloid (Aβ) generation and development of AD is not yet known. In this study, we investigated the protective effects of Acorus gramineus Soland. (AGS) on oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R)-induced A β production in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Pretreatment of these cells with AGS significantly attenuated OGD/R-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and elevation of levels of malondialdehyde, nitrite (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) and glutathione, as well as superoxide dismutase activity. AGS also reduced OGD/R-induced expression of the apoptotic protein caspase-3, the apoptosis regulator Bcl-2, and the autophagy protein becn-1. Finally, AGS reduced OGD/R-induced Aβ production and cleavage of amyloid precursor protein, by inhibiting secretase activity and suppressing the autophagic pathway. Although supporting data from in vivo studies are required, our results indicate that AGS may prevent neuronal cell damage from OGD/R-induced toxicity.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2021.04a
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• pp.57-57
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• 2021

Oxygen glucose deprivation/re-oxygenation (OGD/R) induces neuronal injury via mechanisms that are believed to mimic the pathways associated with brain ischemia. Stachys sieboldii Miq. (Chinese artichoke), which has been extensively used in oriental traditional medicine to treat of ischemic stroke; however, the role of S. sieboldii Miq. (SSM) in OGD/R induced neuronal injury is not yet fully understood. The present research is aimed to investigate the protective effect and possible mechanisms of SSM extract treatment in an in vitro model of OGD/R to simulate ischemia/reperfusion Injury. Pretreatment of these cells with SSM significantly attenuated OGD/R-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by increasing GPx, SOD, and decreasing MDA. SSM decreased mitochondrial damage caused by OGD/R injury and inhibited the release of cyt-c from mitochondrion to cytoplasm in SH-SY5Y cells. Furthermore, neuronal cell apoptosis caused by OGD/R injury was inhibited by SSM, and SSM could decrease apoptosis by increasing ratio of Bcl-2/Bax and inhibiting caspase signaling pathway in SH-SY5Y cells. SSM demonstrated a neuroprotective effect on the simulated cerebral ischemia in vitro model, and this effect was the inhibition of mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway by scavenging of ROS generation. Therefore, SSM may be a promising neuroprotective strategy against ischemic stroke.

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.341-354
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• 2023

This is the third series of catalogs reporting on Korean species discovered through the 'Discovery of Korean Indigenous Species'. This catalog includes 22 species of invertebrates, excluding insects. The catalog includes the scientific name, an abridged list of synonyms, collection sites, distribution, diagnosis, and figures for each species. Additionally, we provide the newly assigned Korean name, specimen voucher, and, if available, mitochondrial CO1 or 16S gene sequences of the species listed. All species identified and documented here will be officially listed on the 'National Species List of Korea', a database maintained by the National Institute of Biological Resources(NIBR).

• Journal of Species Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2014

As part of a study to understand the current status of Korean plant species propagated in foreign countries, we conducted extensive surveys on Korean living collections in the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, the oldest public arboretum in North America. Specifically, we collected and identified the voucher specimens of the living collections and further examined the collection databases to understand the history of how Korean plants were introduced to the Arboretum. We found that a total of 154 Korean taxa (belonging to 49 families and 81 genera) have been planted in the arboretum. Most plants originated from seeds that were directly collected in Korea or obtained via seed exchanges with botanical gardens in Asia, Europe, and U.S.A. Of the 154 taxa, 16 are Korean endemic species, and three are listed as endangered species. In addition, 62 taxa are as floristic regional indicator species of Korea used by the Ministry of Environment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.351-355
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• 2020

Argyreia gyrobracteata Traiperm & Chitchak (Convolvulaceae) is newly recorded in Vietnam. It is similar to A. mekongensis Gagnep & Courch in having a white campanulate corolla but differs from that species by having whitish surface of the abaxial leaf, narrowly lanceolate or linear-oblong, curly, rolled up the bract with a longer length of the petiole and a shorter pedicel. It was previously known only in Thailand, but was recently found in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, for the first time. The present study provides a detailed description, colorful photos and the distribution of the species. Furthermore, a comparison of the diagnostic characters between this species and a related species in Vietnam, A. mekongensis Gagnep & Courch, is provided.

• Mycobiology
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.402-407
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• 2015

Two new fungal species of the genus Talaromyces, Talaromyces purpurogenus and Talaromyces trachyspermus from the Trichocomaceae family, were recovered during an investigation of fungal communities in soil collected from the Gangwon-do and Jeollanam-do provinces of Korea. These two species have not been previously officially reported from Korea. In this study, detailed descriptions of internal transcribed spacer rDNA and beta-tubulin gene regions of these two fungi are presented. Morphological features of the two fungi in five agar media, potato dextrose, oatmeal, malt extract, czapek yeast extract, and yeast extract sucrose, are also reported. The species were identified on the basis of molecular and morphological analysis, and herein we present data with detailed descriptions and figures.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.9-21
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• 2018

Seven unrecorded species in the phylum Ascomycota, Emericellopsis pallida (KNU16-167), Scedosporium aurantiacum (KNU16-190), Duddingtonia flagrans (KNU16-279), Bionectria rossmaniae (KNU16-309), Exophiala xenobiotica (KNU16-79), Pseudocercosporella fraxini (KNU16-102), and Stachybotrys sansevieriae (KNU16-141), were isolated in 2016 from field soils collected from various locations in Korea. All of the species were identified and described based on morphological characteristics and rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence data. Morphological features of these fungi were examined on potato dextrose agar, oatmeal agar, malt extract agar, Czapek yeast extract agar, and yeast extract sucrose agar. Full descriptions and illustrations of their morphological characteristics are provided.