• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.4 s.55
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• pp.331-335
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• 2006

The single dose toxicity of Buxus microphylla var koreana Nakai was evaluated in ICR mice. Twenty five mice of each sex were randomly assigned to five groups of 5 mice each and were administered singly by gavage at dose of 0, 222, 667, 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg body weight. After single administration, signs of toxicity were observed every hour for the first 6 hours and every day for 14 days. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed for gross postmortem examinations. Neither significant toxic signs nor death was observed during the observation period. In addition, no pathological changes were noticed in macroscopic examination at necropsy. These results indicate that the single oral administration of Buxus microphylla var. Koreana Nakai did not cause any toxic effect at the dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes and $LD_{50}$ of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai is greater than 5,000 mg/kg body weight.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-18
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• 1971

The histological structures of Buxus koreana were studied by cross section and compared with those of Buxus koreana var. elongata, B. koreana var. insularis, B. microphylla subsp. sinica (Taiwan) and B. liukiuensis(Okinawa). Many different points showed that B. koreana var. insularis is similar to B. microphylla subsp. sinica while B. koreana to B. liukiuensis. The extracts of Buxus koreana by three solvents are as follows: ether ext. 3.34%, dilute alcohol ext. 16.98%, water ext. 11.67%. The total alkaloid of Buxus koreana is approximately 0.01%. The general pharmacological effects of dilute alcohol ext. of Buxus koreana were studied and the following conclusions were obtained. Contraction of excised uterus of rabbit was augmented by treatment of dilute alcohol ext. Motility of excised intestine of rabbit was stopped for a moment and stimulated at once by treatment of dilute alcohol ext.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.17-24
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• 1983

Buxus leaves(Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai) have been used as a folk medicine in treating woman's disease. The chemical constituents, which have teen identified from Buxus sempervirens L. in Europe, are so far known in isolation of buxus alkaloids, cyclobuxine, buxamine, norbuxamine and buxaminol. But But any study on the pharmacological action of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai has not yet teen rallied out, however, active substances have not been identified. As an attempt to isolate the biologically active substances from this plant, the examination of chemical constituents was undertaken. In the experiment, the crystalline component$(C_{10}H_8O_4)$ obtained from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai was identified as a 6-methoxy, 7-hydroxy coumarin by chemical and physical methods. We named this crystal buxuletin. Therefore, we intended to screen the pharmacological action of buxuletin, especially, its diuretic effects in rabbits. Buxuletin was intraveneously injected to the rabbit in the dose of 20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg and 5 mg/kg. The variations of urine volume and minerals $(Na^+,\;K^+\;and\;Cl^-)$ in urine were measured at an interval of 15 minutes for 4 hours after the treatment of buxuletin. The observed results are as follows: 1) With the administration of buxuletin (20 mg/kg, 10 mg/kg), the remarkable increment of the excreted urine volume was observed during the relatively long period. Excretion rates of urinary minerals $(Na^+,\;K^+\;and\;Cl^-)$ were also increased. 2) In a dose of 5 mg/kg, the slight increment on the diuretic actions of rabbits was observed. From the above results, authors name this crystal buxuletin and buxuletin shows the diuretic action.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.46-57
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• 1992

This study was carried out to compare physiological characteristics of winter green cultivar (Buxus microphylla van. koreana 'Hanlim') with those of native cultuvar and clucidate the effect of environmental factors such as light intensity, time of shading, and nutrients etc. on leaf color in Korean boxwood(Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai). The results are summarized as followed; The 'Hanlim' cultivar had higher contents of chlorophyll as compared with native cultivar from September, 1989 to March, 1990. However, at April, 1990, native cultivar had higher chlorophyll contents. In the rate of photosynthesis, 'Hanlim' cultivar was higher than native cultivar from September to December, 1989, but showed the opposite trend from March to April, 1990. As to the period of browning, 'Hanlim'cultivar had stayed green even after November 22, 1989, while the foliage of native cultivar turned yellowish brown color through the winter. The contents of nitrogen and potassium of 'Hanlim' cultivar werehigher than those of the native cultivar. However native cultivar had higher rate of phosphorus, magnessium, and calcium. In the effect of environmental factors such as light intensity, time of shading, and nutrients etc. on leaf color in Korean boxwood(Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai), chlorophyll contents were increased with shading and leaves grown 70% shading had twice as much as those of full sunlight, fertilized plot. Nutrient fertilization increased chlorophyll contents and values of color in boxwood too. In the shading times, early shading time maintained effectively green color of boxwood in winter. Therefore, in case of native cultivars, it has planted at full sunlight area until now and color of leaves turned yellowish brown color through the witner. However, it will maintain green color of leaves by planting at shade area. In addition to, as 'Hanlim' cultivar had benefits of maintain green color of leaves during winter, it will be planted at full sunlight area to landscape plants.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2002

In order to select proper plants for phytoremediation at heavy metal contaminated areas, eight species of non-edible plants were cultivated at the heavy metal contaminated soils near a metal smelter. The content of the absorbed heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and As) at different part of the plants were analyzed. Plants included five tree species (Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Euonymus japonica, Acer palmantum, Celtis sinensis, Buxus microphylla), two flower species (Rhododendron lateritium, Calendula officinalis), and lawn (Zoysia japonica). Biomass yield of tree species was higher than those of flower or lawn species. Heavy metals were highly accumulated in roots compared to those In leaves and stems. The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and As in Buxus microphylla were greater than those in other plant species. Total absorbed Cd and Pb contents, from high to low by each plant in experimental plots were in the order of Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Celtis sinensis and Acer palmantum. They were Celtis sinensis, Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii and Buxus microphylla for Cu, and Buxus microphylla, Acer palmantum and Populus nigra x P. maimowiczii for As. It was estimated that among eight plant species used in the experiment Populus nigra x P. maximowiczii, Buxus microphylla, Acer palmantum, and Celtis sinensis were the most effective species for phytoremediation in the heavy metals polluted areas considering biomass yield and heavy metal uptake.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.39-45
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• 2013

Objectives: Buxus Microphylla var. Koreana Nakai Extract (BMKNE) is used as a folk remedy for malaria and veneral disease. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BMKNE in the growth and the survival of AGS cells, the most common human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines. Methods: The AGS cells were treated with varying concentrations of BMKNE. Analyses of the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were conducted to determine whether AGS cell death occured by apoptosis. Also, to identify the role of transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 7 channels in AGS cell growth and survival, we used human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells overexpressed with TRPM7 channels. Results: Experimental results showed that the sub G1 peak, the caspase-3 and -9 activities, and the mitochondrial depolarization were increased. Therefore, BMKNE was found to induce the apoptosis of these cells, and this apoptosis was inhibited by SB203580 (a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor), and by a c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) II inhibitor. Furthermore, BMKNE inhibited TRPM7 currents and TRPM7 channel over-expressions in HEK 293 cells, exacerbating BMKNE-induced cell death. Conclusions: These findings indicate that BMKNE inhibits the growth and the survival of gastric cancer cells due to a blockade of the TRPM7 channel's activity and MAPK signaling. Therefore, BMKNE is a potential drug for treatment of gastric cancer, and both the TRPM7 channel and MAPK signaling may play an important role in survival in gastric cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.23-41
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• 1987

This study was conducted to investigate the planting status of the woody landscape plant species and to obtain some fundamental informations for improvement of production and sales circulation of the woody landscape plants. The details of 328 landscape projects which were carried out for 2 years from 1983 to 1984 were surveyed to investigate the utilization status of the woody landscpe plants. The results obtained are summarized as fellows ; 1) The utilization rate of the trees to the shrubs as woody landscape plants was 1 : 6 and that of the evergreens to deciduous plants was 1 : 4. The plant species which were most frequently used in landscaping were Buxus microphylla koreana, Juniperus chinensis, Zelkova serrata and Acer saccharinum, howevr, plants which were used in largest quantitites were Ligustrum obtusifolium, Forsythia koreana, Buxus microphylla koreans and Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense. 2) The number of plants planted among 3 shrub species(Ligustrum obtusifolium, Forsythia koreana and Buxus microphylla korana) exceeded half of the total number of shrubs planted for landscping, however, the number of plants planted among 8 tree species including Pinus koreainensis were about half of the total tree species. 3) The number of government price specified plant species was only 20%, but the utilization frequency of the price specified plants was as much as 6 times than unspecified plants and 85% of plants used in landscaping works were the price specified plants. The utilization rate of the price specified plants was significantly high in the shrubs than the trees and in the evergreen than deciduous plants. 4) The amounts in use of the price specified standardized plants were significantly more than those of unstandardized plants. When the plant heights are same, the plants having wider canopy or stem diameter were rather frequently used in the landscaping works. The ratio of the width of the canopy or stem diameter to the stem length of the plants in the Korean standard is significantly greater than that in the Japanese standard.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 1986

This study was undertaken to search for a new antiarrhythmic agent in natural plants. Extracts of Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai have been used as folk remedies of several diseases, including malaria and venereal disease, but any study on the pharmacological actions of this plant has not yet been carried out and its active ingredients have not been identified. In our laboratory, we isolated buxuletin (nonalkaloid) and cyclobuxine D (steroidal alkaloid) from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai and reported their pharmacological actions: diuretic effects of buxuletin in rabbits and hypotensive effect of cyclobuxine D in rats. In the present study, we investigated the effect of cyclobuxine D on isolated frog heart and heart rate in urethane anesthetized rats. In order to clarify the mechanism of bradycardic effect of cyclobuxine D, we examined the changes of the ECG parameters (PR, QRS and R ${\alpha}$ T interval) produced by intravenous injection of cyclobuxine D in anesthetized rats. Cyclobuxine D depressed the contractile force in isolated frog heart and exerted a dose-dependent bradycardic effect in anesthetized rats. Intracerebroventricular injection of cyclobuxine D caused a fall in blood pressure and an increase in heart rate, but those effects were not significant. Cyclobuxine D prolonged the PR interval and RaT interval (${\alpha}$ Tindicates the apex of T), but was without significant effects on the duration of the QRS complex and PRc in urethane anesthetized rats.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.201-208
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• 1986

The water status of the leaves of several evergreen plants was investigated in order to discuss the geopgraphical distribution of them. Relastionship between relative water content and water potential of the leaves showed linear decrease for evergreen conifers but exponential decrease for Korean box tree (Buxus microphylla var. koreana). On the basis of the leaf water potential, the water status of the conifers during wintering was distinctly divided into three periods; hardening, cold resistance and dehardening, but lacking in those periods for the Korean box tree, where the status continously decreased. In the cold resistance the leaf water potentials were -23 bar for both spruce (Picea jezoensis) and yew (Taxus cuspidata). From these results and threshold temperature at beginning of hardening, distribution of the conifers was explained that in order of the red pine, the Korean white pine, the yew and the spruce the distribution could be extended at higher altitudes and in more northward areas, whereas the distribution of the Korean box tree was restricted to the lowland of temperate zone.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 1987

Cyclobuxine D was extracted from Buxus microphylla var. koreana Nakai. The effects of cyclobuxine D on the biosynthesis of prostaglandins from arachidonic acid in guinea pig lung, prostaglandin production and leukocyte migration in carrageenin-induced inflammation was investigated. These effects of cyclobuxine D were compared with those of aspirin and dexamethasone. Cyclobuxine D does not inhibit significantly cyclooxygenase in guinea pig lung but reduces prostaglandin concentration and leukocyte migration in inflammatory exudates. These effects of cyclobuxine D differ from that of aspirin which inhibits biosynthesis of prostaglandin in vitro and has a relative small effect on leukocyte migration. Dexamethasone, which does not inhibit cyclooxygenase in vitro, has an effect similar to that of cyclobuxine D on leukocyte migration and prostaglandin production in inflammatory exudates.