• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2014

Objectives : To determine a dose of medicine precisely and conveniently, this study was tried to specify the weight of Bangyakhappyun pills by measuring in terms of grams. Methods : 1. Selected typical prescriptions in order of size and formula written down in Bangyakhappyun. 2. Pulverized each medicine in prescription and weighed one Bangchonbi(方寸匕). 3. Weighed the 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) which were mixed with auxiliary materials such as water, honey, starch paste, etc. 4. The dosages of other type forms were measured based on the weigh of 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大). Results : 1. A well-used size of pills is Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) 2. Honey and starch paste are typical auxiliary materials for formulating pills. 3. A weigh of starch paste based 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) ranged between 1.09g and 2.55g. 4. A weigh of honey based 10 seeds of Firmiana simplex sized one(梧子大) ranged between 1.18g and 2.77g. Conclusions : A dosage of each prescription can be calculated in terms of grams. 1. In case of Firminia simplex sized one(梧子大) with paste, a daily dose is 5.28g to 17.8g. 2. In case of Firminia simplex sized one(梧子大) with honey, a daily dose is 11.8g to 17.3g. 3. The dosage of pills with toxic herb and mineral medicinal material for baby is the least amount of 0.017g. 4. The dosage of most tonifying medicinals are over 10g. Table 3. shows more details.

• Journal of Plant Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.191-199
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• 1991

This study has been conducted to investigate the developmental changes of cambial initials and their derivatives in relation to the growing girth of tree in Diosypros kaki and Firmiana simplex. In D. Kaki and F. simplex with typical storeyed cambium, increase in the girth of camium occurred by radial anticlinal division in general, however occasionally the increase was companied by pseudotransverse division. The length of fusiform initials, vessel member, and sieve tube member remained relatively constant throughout the secondary growth but that of fiber showed general tendancy to increase with growing girth of tree. During the girth increase of tree, height and number of ray remained constant in D. kaki, however in F. simplex, height of ray markedly decreased while the number of ray per unit area more or less increased. The secondary ray was originated from the segmentation or division of the side or end of fusiform initials.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.34-38
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• 2005

A new neolignan, named simplidin was isolated from the n-butanol extract of stem of Firmiana simplex, together with six known compounds, scopoletin (1), syrigaresinol (2), aquillochin (3), nitidanin (4), tamarixetin 3-rhamnoside (6), and quercitrin (7). On the basis of spectral and chemical evidence, simplidin (5) was determined to be rel-(7R, 8R)-4, 5, 9, 9'-tetrahydroxy-3,3'­dimethoxy-7-O-5', 8-O-4'-neolignan. All the six compounds were also isolated for the first time from this plant.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.519-527
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• 2017

Excessive activation of microglia causes the continuous production of neurotoxic mediators, which further causes neuron degeneration. Therefore, inhibition of microglial activation is a possible target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Balanophonin, a natural neolignoid from Firmiana simplex, has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-neuroinflammatory effects and mechanism of balanophonin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia cells. BV2 microglia cells were stimulated with LPS in the presence or absence of balanophonin. The results indicated that balanophonin reduced not only the LPS-mediated TLR4 activation but also the production of inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), $Interleukin-1{\beta}$ ($IL-1{\beta}$), and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ ($TNF-{\alpha}$), in BV2 cells. Balanophonin also inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) protein expression and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK. Interestingly, it also inhibited neuronal cell death resulting from LPS-activated microglia by regulating cleaved caspase-3 and poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) cleavage in N2a cells. In conclusion, our data indicated that balanophonin may delay the progression of neuronal cell death by inhibiting microglial activation.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.4 no.4
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• pp.337-340
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• 2000

The photosynthetic and stomatal responses of several woody plants (Powlonia coreana, Firmiana simplex, Quercus acutissima Q. variabilis and Q. serrata) to SO$_2$ were investigated in order to understand their ecophysiological tolerance to $SO_2$ Of the plants, P, coreana showed the largest reduction in its photosynthesis in response to exposure of 0.4 ppm $SO_2$ for 20 h. Fumigation of 0.7 ppm $SO_2$ for 20 h caused complete leaf necrosis of P. coreana and f simplex, which made them unavailable for the measurement of photosynthesis. Q. variabilis exhibited the smallest reduction in photosynthesis following exposure of 0.7 ppm $SO_2$ for 20 h. Both stomatal- and non-stomatal inhibition of the plants by $SO_2$ were determined according to equations by lkeda et at. (1992). When exposed to 0.4 ppm $SO_2$ for 20 h, F. simplex and P. coreana showed the lowest stomatal and non-stomatal inhibition, respectively, while Q. variabilis and Q. serrata exhibited the lowest stomatal and non-stomatal inhibition, respectively, in response to 0.7 ppm $SO_2$ for 20 h. The data are discussed with regard to resistance mechanisms of other plants to $SO_2$ exposure and implications for restoration of declined Korean forests.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.201-207
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• 1996

Selection of Al tolerant woody plants, and possibility of reforestation with the Al tolerant plants in soil conditions with different Al content, topography and slope exposures were studied on the slopes around Yeocheon Industrial Complex. Root growth in length of plants grown in 1/2 Steinberg solution decreased with increased Al concentrations of the solution. Relative root length showed that Paulownia coreana, Celtis sinensis and Firmiana simplex were sensitive to $500\muM$ Al, Pinus koraiensis, Alnus japonica and Ligustrum japonicum were intermediate, and Pinus rigida, P. densiflora and P. thunbergii were tolerant to $1, 000\muM$ Al. Coniferous plants appeared to be more tolerant to Al than deciduous ones. Soil pH was 4.2 and Al content was 509 ppm in average around the Yeocheon industrial complex. Al content and soil acidity were more deteriorated on the foothill and slope facing to the pollution source from the industrial complex than on the ridge and opposite slope.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.3-12
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• 2009

Ozone tolerance of tree species was determined by standard index of physiological damages and biochemical defense responses under short-term ozone exposure. At the end of 150ppb $O_3$ fumigation, photosynthetic characteristics and antioxidative enzyme activities were analyzed in the leaves of five species(Koelreuteria paniculata, Firmiana simplex, Styrax japonica, Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Viburnum sargentii). Injury index was determined by the effect of ozone on photosynthetic parameters and malondialdehyde(MDA) content, and tolerance index was calculated using the rate of increase in superoxide dismutase(SOD), ascorbate-peroxidase(APX), glutathione reductase(GR) and catalase(CAT) activities. Apparent quantum yield(AQY), carboxylation efficiency(Ce) and photo-respiration rate(PR) decreased in the leaves of five species with increasing ozone exposure time. These parameters were considered as an appropriate indicator for stress evaluation. Antioxidative enzyme activities showed various results depending on the tree species, exposure time, and enzyme types. SOD activity of K. paniculata increased with ozone exposure time, and that of F. rhynchophylla increased only after 6 hours of ozone exposure. CAT activity of $O_3$-exposed F. simplex was lower than the control. Based on standard index, ozone tolerance ability of five species was determined as two tolerant species(F. rhynchophylla > K. paniculata) and three sensitive species(S. japonica > F. simplex > V. sargentii).

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.271-278
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• 2002

Methanol extracts from 420 samples of 173 plant species in 58 families were tested at 5000 ppm for their insecticidal and acaricidal activities against five economically important arthropod pests by spray method. The responses varied with arthropod pest species, plant species and plant tissue sampled. In a test with Nilaparvata lugens Stal, extracts from Zanthoxylum piperitum barks, Chamaecyparis obtusa leaf and Quercus salicina leaf showed potent insecticidal activity. With Plutella xylostella L., potent larvicidal activity was observed from extracts of Platycarya strobilacea wood, Meliosma myriantha barks, Sophora japonica leaf, Zanthoxylum piperitum barks, and Pinus thunbergii wood. Methanol extracts of Sophora japonica leaf and Zanthoxylum piperitum barks showed high insecticidal activity against Spodoptera litura. In a test with Tetranychus urticae Koch, extract from Carpinus coreana leaf, Firmiana simplex barks, Elaeagnus macrophylla leaf, Aralia elata leaf, Comus controversa barks and Chamaecyparis obtusa leaf exhibited strong acaricidal activity. As a naturally occurring pest control agent, Zanthoxylum piperitum barks could be useful as new insecticidal and acaricidal products against various arthropod pests.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2006

In order to screen for the best species for mitigating air pollutants by plants at an industrial complex area, we investigated antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation and nitrogen content in the leaves of 27 taxa of woody plants that are mostly utilized as roadside trees. Among 27 taxa, the highest value of antioxidant capacity was given by Cedrus deodara (91.4%) and the lowest one was by Firmiana simplex (56.9%). At lipid peroxidation level, little malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed in Lagerstroemia indica and Ginkgo biloba, but Platanus occidentalis, Castanoposis cuspidata var, sieboldii, Machilus thunbergii and Juniperus chinensis showed high MDA content. Antioxidant capacity of the deciduous woody plants was not significantly different in comparison with that of the evergreen ones. But MDA content of the deciduous woody plants was lower than that of the evergreen ones. The 27 taxa of woody plants appeared to be classified into four types: those of high antioxidant capacity and low lipid peroxidation, those of high antioxidant capacity and high lipid peroxidation, those of low antioxidant capacity and low lipid peroxidation, and those of low antioxidant capacity and high lipid peroxidation. The taxa included in these types are 7 (first type), 6 (second one), 8 (third one) and 6 (fourth one) taxa. first or second type species which have a high antioxidant capacity represented low nitrogen content in their leaves. However, third or forth type species which have low antioxidant capacity showed high nitrogen content in their leaves. Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Platycarya strobilacra and P. occidentalis which belong to the first or second type had extraordinarily high antioxidant capacity and high nitrogen content. Thus, three species are considered to be good phytoremediators for an industrial complex area.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.20-30
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• 2013

'Paulownia tree', one of a tree species which has been with human civilization, has been widely used as a garden plant. The purpose of this study is to investigate concrete species of 'paulownia tree,' which had been planted in Korean traditional garden, the position of plantation, and consider its usefulness therefrom. The results of the study can be summarized as follows. 1. As the result of considering old literatures as encyclopedia, agricultural book (農書), gardening book, etc., there's a difference in the description of 'paulownia tree' depending on the complier, as well, the classification of concrete species is quite ambiguous. Therefore, it judged a limit which is planted based on point of the compass is not apply to species of tress of paulownia tree. Merely, the point of suitability and evasion(宜忌) related to the plantation of 'paulownia tree' could be identified in "Jeungbosanrimgyeongje(增補山林經濟) and "Imwongyeongjeji(林園經濟志)", not "Sanrimgyeongje (山林經濟)". 2. It could be confirmed again through poetry and prose which describe old garden that the words such as 'O(梧)', 'Dong(桐)', 'Odong(梧桐)', etc. were used without significant division. However, it is supposed that the species 'Odong' which was actually adopted at the garden might be Catalpa as well including Korean Paulownia and Chinese parasol tree. 3. It is considered that the reference point of suitability and evasion(宜忌) regarding 'paulownia tree' plantation was not generally applied. That is, species of paulownia tree was not divided for planting according to direction, as well, they seemed to willingly plant paulownia trees nearby the house as well, e.g. front yard or nearby yard, etc. 4. The usefulness of paulownia tree as a garden plant of an old garden played a role of 'the messenger of fall,' emphasizing a sense of the season. 5. Paulownia tree has another usefulness as a tree which adds an Ephemeral landscape. Therefore, the ancient people considered 'paulownia tree' that goes with 'the moon' the best, and enjoyed the quaint beauty of those two are juxtaposed. Also, 'paulownia tree' was utilized as a tree which adds an atmosphere of a rainy day, such as enjoying the sound of rain dropping on the 'paulownia tree', etc. The limitation of this study is that the research was performed being restricted to the translation among lots of Chinese references. Later-on task of research is the necessity of a more in-depth study through the discover of new historical sources and the accumulation of translation outcome.