• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2021

In this study, the extract of Cinnamomum yabunikkei leaves were investigated for the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities and their active constituents were identified. In the anti-inflammatory tests using LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) without causing cell toxicity. In addition, the EtOAc fraction reduced expression of iNOS protein and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β). Upon the anti-oxidative studies by DPPH and ABTS+ radicals, potent radical scavenging activities were observed in the EtOAc fraction. Five phytochemicals were isolated from the extract of C. yabunikkei leaves; (4S,5R)-4-hydroxy-5-isopropyl-2-methylcyclohex-2-enone (1), methoxy-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxyphenyl)ethanediol (2), afzelin (3), nicotiflorine (4) and narcissin (5). As far as we know, compounds 1-5 were isolated for the first time from this plant. In the anti-inflammatory tests for the isolates, compound 1, 3, 4 and 5 were determined to decrease NO production without causing cell toxicity. Furthermore, compound 1 reduced expression of iNOS protein and exhibited potent inhibitory activities of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6). Based on these results, it was suggested that the extract and isolated compounds from C. yabunikkei leaves could be potentially applicable as natural source for pharmaceutical and/or cosmetic ingredients.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.72-86
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• 2022

This study was conducted to identify structural characteristics of the evergreen broad-leaved forests distributed in Hak-dong, Geojae island. For a survey, 52 sites were set up in areas with changes in the vegetation community or location environment where Cinnamomum yabunikkei, Neolitsea sericea, and Machilus thunbergii dominated or appeared in the canopy, sub-canopy, or shrub layer. The community classification with TWINSPAN identified the following communities: N. sericea-C. yabunikkei, C. yabunikkei-Camellia japonica, Ca. japonica, Quercus variabilis-Ca. japonica, Pinus thunbergii-Ca. japonica, Castanopsis sieboldii, P. thunbergii, and Platycarya strobilacea-Mallotus japonicus. Considering the result of the study that succession series of warm-temperate forest reflecting the latent natural vegetation is the transition of conifers and deciduous broad-leaved forest to evergreen broad-leaved forest, the communities predominated by the communities predominated by the communities predominated by P. thunbergii, Q. variabilis, and Pl. strobilacea are likely to transform into the evergreen forest predominated by N. sericea and C. yabunikkei. The sites where C. yabunikkei, N. sericea, and Castanopsis sieboldii are dominant in the canopy and sub-canopy layers are likely to maintain the status quo if there is no artificial disturbance. The relationship between the impact of the environmental factors and the vegetation distribution showed silt among the physical properties of the soil directly or indirectly affected it, which was judged to be due to the fact that it was located on a steep slope. The soil acidity (pH) was 5-5.84, electrical conductivity 0.047-0.139 dS/m, and organic matter content was 3.32-12.06%. Although there were differences by the colony, they were generally low.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.52-63
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• 2019

This study analyzed the characteristics of vegetation structure of the camphor tree (Cinnamomum japonicum) community in the area of mount Tachibana, Kasuya county, Fukuoka Prefecture designated as a special natural monument in Japan. The survey showed overwhelming dominance of canopy tree in the canopy layer (about 30 m in tree heights and 92.79 cm in average breast height diameter) but no appearance in the understory layer or the shrub layer. In the understory layer and the shrub layer, Castanopsis sieboldii, Machilus thunbergii, Neolitsea sericea, and Cinnamomum yabunikkei, which were the competing species to the canopy layer and the late-successional species in the warm temperate climate zone, were mainly distributed. Moreover, the species diversity was generally low, indicating the vegetation characteristics that was not typical of evergreen broad-leaved forests. This is presumably because camphor trees were actively planted, protected, and cultivated to produce camphor which was valuable in the past. Although this site has not been artificially managed for the past 90 years as the raw materials of camphor have not been collected, vegetation transition did not proceed, which is unique. It is probably due to the fact that camphor was overwhelmingly dominant in the canopy layer so that the inflows of species were restricted, and young tree germination did not occur due to the allelopathy effects of camphor trees.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.235-248
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively analyze and investigate changes in the structural characteristics of the warm-temperate evergreen broad-leaved forest community in Mt. Cheomchalsan on Jindo Island. The Mt. Cheomchalsan has high conservation value because the representative warm temperate species such as Quercus acuta and Castanopsis sieboldii are distributed there. The community classification with TWINSPAN and DCA identified 4 communities: C. sieboldii community (I), C. sieboldii-Q. Salicina community (II), Q. acuta-C.sieboldii community (III), and deciduous broad-leaved trees-evergreen broad-leaved trees community (IV). According to the results of the mean importance percentage (MIP) analysis, C. sieboldii, Q. salicina, and Q. acuta were dominant species in the canopy layer, Camellia japonica, Ligustrum japonicum, and Cinnamomum yabunikkei were dominant in the understory layer, and Trachelospermum asiaticum, C. japonica, and C. sieboldii were dominant in the shrub layer. The comparison of the results of the diameter of breast height (DBH) analysis with the past data showed that the ratio of large-sized trees in the C. sieboldii and Q. acuta, which dominated the canopy layer, increased. However, there was no difference in the distribution of C. japonica and L. japonicum in the understory layer. In the future, it is necessary to generate a precision inhabiting vegetation map around the Natural Reserve to understand the actual habitation of evergreen broad-leaved trees and rezone the protective districts of evergreen broad-leaved trees forest with the watershed concept to preserve the evergreen broad-leaved forests of Mt. Cheomchalsan in Jindo.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.552-564
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to investigate vegetation characteristics of evergreen broad-leaved forests in the area of Duryunsan Provincial Park, where the deciduous broad-leaved trees and evergreen broad-leaved trees are mixed and thus had a high botanical value. To investigate the vegetation characteristics, we installed 40 quadrats with an area of $100m^2$ each for survey and analysis. Haenam-gun, where the Duryunsan Provincial Park is located, is a warm-temperate forest region. The meteorological data for the past 40 years showed a coldness index of $-8^{\circ}C$, a monthly warmth index of $109.2^{\circ}C$, and annual mean precipitation of 1,310.5mm, indicating it is an ideal habitat for the distribution of evergreen broad-leaved forest. The results of community classification based on TWINSPAN showed three categories of vegetation communities in the surveyed region: Quercus acuta community-I, Q. acuta community-II, and Neolitsea sericea-Aphananthe aspera community. In the evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Duryunsan Provincial Park, Q. acuta dominant in the canopy were expanding their presence in the understory. In addition to the Q. acuta, N. sericea and Cinnamomum yabunikkei, which are evergreen broad-leaved trees of the canopy, were found in all layers. The deciduous broad-leaved trees such as Q. variabilis, Q. serrata, and Carpinus tschonoskii were culled, and the transition to Q. acuta evergreen broad-leaved trees was ongoing. N. sericea community appeared locally. The species diversity index of N. sericea-A. aspera community was lower at 1.0798 than that of Q. acuta Community-I at 1.3208 and Q. acuta Community-II at 1.4916.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 2022

This study analyzed changes in the vegetation structure of 16 permanent plots (experimental and control) installed in Wando Arboretum in 1996 to monitor the long-term change process of evergreen broad-leaved forests in warm temperate. Especially, this study discusses the effects of trial treatment (selection cutting and plant introduction), introduced as a restoration technique in 1996, on vegetation development. In communities dominated by Quercus acuta in the canopy (permanent plots 1 through 3), this species's mean important percentage (MIP) decreased, and the evergreen broad-leaved species was introduced from outside increased, likely to change the vegetation structure in the future. The expansion of the evergreen broad-leaved species group was also confirmed in Q. acuta-deciduous broad-leaved forests (permanent plots 5 and 7) and Pinus densifloraforests (permanent plots 9 and 10). In the experimental plots where thinning was carried out, the zoochory (the dispersal of seeds by birds), Cinnamomum yabunikkei, Neolitsea sericea, Machilus thunbergii, etc., and the expansion of the influence of evergreen broad-leaved species were remarkable, so it is considered to have effectively promoted the vegetation development in warm temperate forests. Although evergreen broad-leaved species were planted in the experimental plot to change vegetation structure, it seems the effect on the change was weak due to the small amount of planting. Compared to other vegetation types, the change in the vegetative structure of the pine forest to an evergreen broad-leaved forest was clear due to the decline of P. densiflora and P. thunbergii.