• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1581-1590
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• 2009

Hizikia fusiforme is a kind of brown edible seaweed that mainly grows in the temperate seaside areas of the northwest pacific, including Korea, Japan and China, and has been widely used as a health food for hundreds of years. Recently, H. fusiforme has been known to exert pharmacological activities including antioxidant, antimutagenic and anticoagulant activities. However, the molecular mechanisms of H. fusiforme in malignant cells have not been clearly elucidated yet. In this study, the effects of ethyl alcohol extract of H. fusiforme (EAHF) on the anti-proliferative effects of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells were investigated. EAHF treatment resulted in a concentration-dependent growth inhibition by including apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells and G1 phase arrest in MCF-7 cells, which could be proved by MTT assay, DAPI staining, agarose gel electrophoresis and flow cytometry analysis. In MDA-MB-231 cells, the increase in apoptosis induced by EAHF treatment correlated with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. EAHF treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, $\beta$-catenin, phospholipase-${\gamma}1$ protein and DNA fragmentation factor 45/inhibitor of caspase-activated DNase. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. fusiforme.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.329-335
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• 2014

Sophora flavescens, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Dictamnus dasycarpus have been widely used in folk medicine for several inflammatory disorders in Korea and China. In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory effects of the ethanol extracts of S. flavescens (EESF), G. uralensis (EEGU) and D. dasycarpus (EEDS), and their mixtures (medicinal herber mixtures, MHMIXs) on production of inflammatory mediators and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages. Our data indicated that treatment with EESF, EEGU and EEDD significantly inhibited the excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The ethanol extracts and MHMIXs also attenuated the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$) and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$) by suppressing their protein expression, respectively. Interestingly, MHMIX-1, which basic ingredients are EESF, EEGU and EEDS in the proportion 3:1:1, more safely and effectively inhibits the LPS-induced inflammatory status in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages compared to ethanol extracts of each medicinal herb and other MHMIXs without causing any cytotoxic effects. Our study provides scientific evidence to support that a berbal mixture, MHMIX-1 may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory diseases by inhibiting inflammatory regulator responses in activated macrophages.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.10
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• pp.1207-1213
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• 2016

Schisandrae fructus (SF) and Mori folium (MF) have been used as traditional medicines for thousands of years in parts of Asia, including Korea, China, and Japan. Recent researches on SF and MF have documented a wide spectrum of therapeutic properties, including anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, immunomodulatory and anti-angiogenesis effects. However, the toxicity and safety of SF and MF, and their mixture (medicinal herber mixture, MHMIX) were not confirmed. Therefore, this study was performed to evaluate the acute toxicity and safety of SF, MF and MHMIX. SF, MF and MHMIX were orally administered at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg in ICR mice. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs and gross observation during the 14 days after dosing, upon necropsy. We also measured parameters of organ weight, clinical chemistry, and hematology. No dead and no clinical signs were found during the experiment period after administration of a single oral dose of SF, MF and MHMIX. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, or organ weight and no gross pathological findings in any treatment group. Therefore, LD50 value of SF, MF and MHMIX may be over 5,000 mg/kg and it may have no side toxic effect to ICR mice. The results on the single-dose toxicity of SF, MF and MHMIX indicate that it is not possible to reach oral dose levels related to death or dose levels with any harmful side effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.965-972
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• 2020

Sambucus sieboldiana var. miquelii (Nakai) Hara is distributed in Korea, China, and Japan, and has been used as an anti-rheumatic in folk medicine in oriental countries. The present study aims to investigate the potential use of this species in health functional foods, cosmetics, and food preservatives. Methanol extracts of leaves and branches from this plant were prepared to quantitatively analyze the total phenol and flavonoid contents, and to investigate the antioxidative and enzyme inhibitory activities, and the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production activity. The results showed that the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents of the crude extract were 1.52±0.1 mg/g and 1.73±0.1 mg/g, respectively. S. sieboldiana polyphenols exhibited potent scavenging activity shown by 2, 2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and 2, 2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation assay. The crude extract also exhibited significant α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 183.5 ㎍/ml and 323.9 ㎍/ ml, respectively. Additionally, the crude extract exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity determined through the nitric oxide inhibition assay in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ value of 36.7 ㎍/ml and no cytotoxic effect on the macrophages. Therefore, we demonstrated that the leaves and branches of S. sieboldiana extract possess antioxidant, anti-diabetic, depigmentation potential, and NO production inhibitory activities. According to recent research, S. sieboldiana has great potential as a source of the bioactive compound which could be used as food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical agents.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2002

In DNA level, genetic study of Angelica species was firstly conducted to discriminate the bolting-resistant or low bolting variety, so called as Manchu, from other Korea collected lines and also this technuque was applied to identify the origin of commercial dried materials obtained from current oriental medicinal market. By RAPD analysis with 72 primers including sixty of 10-mers and twelve of 20-mers, respectively, three primers, which were related to the bolting resistant traits of Angelica gigas, were identified. Comparing the RAPD bands, URP04 primer showed the 1.7 kb specific band, which seemed to be related to delaying bolting traits, since it was observed only in Jinbu elite lines but not in others. On the other hand, since 1.2 kb band amplified by OPD11 was observed in other collected lines but not in Manchu var. and Jinbu line, this primer also could be considered as a selection marker for identifying bolting resistant or delaying bolting traits. In the same manner, since OPP09 did not show 1 kb major band but produced 0.8 kb and 1.2 kb bands in Manchu var., these three bands amplified by the primer could be considered one of the important key specifying Manchu var. related with the trait of Angelica gigas. OPC02 primer showed the same band patterns in all Korean collected lines, but not in other foreign introduced lines, such as A. sinensis from China, and A. acutiloba from Japan. Since these four RAPD primers, OPD11, OPP09, URP04, and OPC02 showed the specific polymorphisms in Angelica species, thus, these were useful to discriminate the three Angelica species, A. gigas, A. sinensis, and A. acutiloba.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.38-46
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• 2005

To determine the actual hygienic status of domestic chicken meats sold in public markets (conventional markets and department stores), microbial contamination levels (Total cells, Coliforms and Staphylococcal cells) and zoonotic pathogens (Salmonella species, Campylobacter species, Listeria species, and Staphylococcus aureus) isolation tests were conducted. Chicken meats and eggs tested were collected from the conventional markets (Si-Jang) and department-stores located in Seoul and Kyung-gi regions in 1996. In total cells and coliforms contamination tests, chicken meats sold in department stores were much lesser contamination status than those of Si-Jang, but staphylococcal cells level was much more higher than that of conventional markets. Salmonella isolation frequency was investigated as $68.8\%$, but Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes isolation frequency were appeared both $64.0\%\;and\;63.3\%$. In case of eggs sold in public markets, one of S. gallinarum strain $(0.7\%)$ was isolated only on the egg-shell part among the four-hundred and fourty-six. In comparison with foreign imported chicken meats, there were no big differences in microbial contamination status. On the other hand, both Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were isolated only in the chicken wings from Korea and China, but not from U.S.A. This data suggest that more hygienic control system in order to produce the safe and hygienic chicken meats and eggs is need in our country as soon as possible.

• Journal of the Korean association of regional geographers
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.47-117
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• 1999

This study concern with the pattern of Pusan Station shopping district within Pusan City, Korea, one of the special functioned shopping district within Pusan City. This paper will serve as a part of series studies which attempt to clarify the internal structure of Pusan as a whole. Part(II) of this study deals with the functions including living related, restaurants and others. The pattern of floors, size of shops, street corners and widths of streets were also analysed. The results are as follows: 1. In terms of numbers of firms in living related function, Pusan Station shopping district is the $7{\sim}8th$ ranked central place among nine the highest centers within Pusan City. Pusan Station shopping district has not much promoted vertical spatial differentiation comparatively, and also it's intensity of land use is the lower among nine the highest centers. It is presented that intimate relationship between intensity of vertical land use and classes of central places within the city. The ratio of inns and hotels in Pusan Station shopping district is third ranked in Pusan City. And the size of inns and hotels in this area is the most largest among the nine highest ranked central places within Pusan City. These presented that the traditional characteristics of station area as a special functioned shopping district. Inns and hotels mainly located along the narrower and back street. And it forms agglomerated areas or 'an alley of inns' at the inner parts of blocks, some like a 'hidden flower'. In Korea, 'alley' means that an area of specialization gains the prestige, traditionally. 2. Restaurants mainly locate along the narrower and back streets. And agglomerated areas of restaurants coincide with the agglomerated area of drinking places. It shows that these two kinds of functions need the same locational conditions. The ratio of Chinese restaurants is the highest in the Pusan Station shopping district. It's due to the agglomerated area these kinds of restaurants at the 'China town'. 3. Pusan Station shopping district has been formed along the streets within the residential areas. It's means that this shopping district now at the initial or middle growth era in development stage of shopping areas. 4. In general, wholesales and light manufacturing are located at peripheries within shopping district. But in Pusan Station shopping district, it dose not appear these spatial pattern. It shows that this area is lower ranked central place and not much progressed in spatial differentiation. 5. Particular firms which customers and workers have stayed more longer period of time are located at the far from the first floor. This vertical spatial differentiation is similar to the horizontal sequences. 6. Firms which have more ability of rental payment are located at street comers such as banks and pharmacies. In Pusan Station shopping district commercial facilities could not invade into the second third floors at narrower streets and first floor of back streets, still now.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.567-587
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• 2018

A severe haze event occurred in October 2015 in Gwangju, Korea. In this study, the driving chemical species and the formation mechanisms of $PM_{2.5}$ pollution were investigated to better understand the haze event. Hourly concentrations of $PM_{2.5}$, organic and elemental carbon, water-soluble ions, and elemental constituents were measured at the air quality intensive monitoring station in Gwangju. The haze event occurred was attributed to a significant contribution (72.3%) of secondary inorganic species concentration to the $PM_{2.5}$, along with the contribution of organic aerosols that were strongly attributed to traffic emissions over the study site. MODIS images, weather charts, and air mass backward trajectories supported the significant impact of long-range transportation (LTP) of aerosol particles from northeastern China on haze formation over Gwangju in October 2015. The driving factor for the haze formation was stagnant atmospheric flows around the Korean peninsula, and high relative humidity (RH) promoted the haze formation at the site. Under the high RH conditions, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ were mainly produced through the heterogenous aqueous-phase reactions of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$, respectively. Moreover, hourly $O_3$ concentration during the study period was highly elevated, with hourly peaks ranging from 79 to 95ppb, suggesting that photochemical reaction was a possible formation process of secondary aerosols. Over the $PM_{2.5}$ pollution, behavior and formation of secondary ionic species varied with the difference in the impact of LTP. Prior to October 19 when the influence of LTP was low, increasing rate in $NO_3{^-}$ was greater than that in $NO_2$, but both $SO_2$ and $SO{_4}^{2-}$ had similar increasing rates. While, after October 20 when the impact of haze by LTP was significant, $SO{_4}^{2-}$ and $NO_3{^-}$ concentrations increased significantly more than their gaseous precursors, but with greater increasing rate of $NO_3{^-}$. These results suggest the enhanced secondary transformation of $SO_2$ and $NO_2$ during the haze event. Overall, the result from the study suggests that control of anthropogenic combustion sources including vehicle emissions is needed to reduce the high levels of nitrogen oxide and $NO_3{^-}$ and the high $PM_{2.5}$ pollution occurred over fall season in Gwangju.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.361-366
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• 2014

In this study, Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Glycyrrhiza glabra extracts, with their countries of origin as Korea (Jecheon), Uzbekistan and China, were prepared under various extraction conditions. There were 8 extraction conditions which the licorice were subjected to, and all conditions had different extraction solvents, temperatures and times. Antimicrobial activity on skin flora was evaluated comparatively by a disc diffusion assay, broth macrodilution assay, and kill time curve assay. Based on the antimicrobial activity of their extract confirmed by disc diffusion assay, we established optimal extraction conditions. The Korean licorice extract (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) showed the best activity amongst the samples examined. In particular, its antimicrobial activity against Propionibacterium acnes was the highest. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) of the licorice extracts revealed that the Korean licorice ($156{\mu}g/ml$ and $1,250{\mu}g/ml$) had better antimicrobial activity than that of the Uzbekistani licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $2,500{\mu}g/ml$) and the Chinese licorice ($625{\mu}g/ml$ and $5,000{\mu}g/ml$). Taken together, it was shown that Korean licorice extracted in group F (85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h) had the highest antimicrobial activity amongst the licorices from the other countries of origin. These results also suggest that the optimal extraction conditions are 85% ethanol, $40^{\circ}C$, 12 h, and that licorice has a potential application as a natural preservative in cosmetics products, thereby replacing synthetic preservatives.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.393-407
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• 1997

A survey of biological and chemical characteristics in the middle-northern East Sea of Korea was carried out at 28 stations in October, 1995 on board R/V Tam-Yang. On the basis of the vertical profiles of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen, water masses in the study area were divided into 5 major groups; (1) Low Saline Surface Water (LSSW), (2) Tsushima Surface Water (TSW), (3) Tsushima Middle Water (TMW), (4) North Korean Cold Water (NKCW), (5) last Sea Porper Water (ESPW). Other 4 mixed water masses were also observed. It is highly possible that the LSSW which occured at depths of $0\~30m$ in the most southern part of the study area is originated from the Yangtze River (Kiang) of China due to very low salinity $(<32.0\%_{\circ})$ relatively high concentration of dissolved silicate and no sources of freshwater input into that area. Oxygen maximum layer in the vertical profile was located near surface at northern cold waters and became deeper at the warm southern area. Oxygen minimum layer af depths $50\~100m$, which is TMW, were found in only southern area. In the vortical profiles of nutrients, the concentrations were very low in the surface layer and increased drammatically near the thermocline. The highest concentration occurred in the ESPW. The relatively low value of Si/P ratio in the ESPW (13.63) compared to other reports in the East Sea was due to continuous increase of P with depth as well as Si. The N : P ratio was about 6.92, showing that nitrogenous nutrient is the limiting factor for phytoplankton growth. The exponential relationship between Si and P, compared to the linear relationship between N and P, indicates that nitrate and phosphate have approximately the same regenerative pattern, but silicate has delayed regenerative pattern.