• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.540-545
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• 2022

Betulin is a triterpenoid natural product contained in several medicinal plants including Betulae Cortex. These medicinal plants have been used for controlling diverse inflammatory diseases in folk medicine and betulin showed anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anticancer activities. In this study, we tried to examine whether betulin exerts a regulative effect on the gene expression of MUC5AC mucin under the status simulating a pulmonary inflammation, in human airway epithelial cells. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with betulin for 30 min and then stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for 24 h or the indicated periods. The MUC5AC mucin mRNA expression and mucin glycoprotein production were measured by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), respectively. To elucidate the action mechanism of betulin, effect of betulin on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) signaling pathway was also investigated by western blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1) Betulin significantly suppressed the production of MUC5AC mucin glycoprotein and down-regulated MUC5AC mRNA expression induced by PMA in NCI-H292 cells. 2) Betulin inhibited NF-κB activation stimulated by PMA. Suppression of inhibitory kappa B kinase (IKK) by betulin led to the inhibition of the phosphorylation and degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκBα), and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65. This, in turn, led to the down-regulation of MUC5AC glycoprotein production in NCI-H292 cells. These results suggest betulin inhibits the gene expression of mucin through regulation of NF-kB signaling pathway, in human airway epithelial cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.415-420
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• 2001

Eighteen kinds of medicinal edible herbs, which are nontoxic and has been widely used in traditional folk medicine, were extracted and antimicrobial activity of the extracts was investigated against various foodborne pathogens or food poisoning microorganisms. Among them, the ethanol extract of Quercus mongolica showed the strongest antimicrobial activities against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria and followed by Quercus aliena and Quercus dentata, respectively. Thus, further study was conducted to determine the antimicrobial activity of Quercus species extracts. The plants were extracted with ethanol, methanol and water, respectively. The ethanol, methanol, and water extracts of Quercus mongolica leaf showed 10~21 mm inhibition zone against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria at two thousand $\mu\textrm{g}$ per disc, but little antimicrobial activity was observed against fungi and yeast. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the ethanol extract of Quercus mongolica leaf was 250$\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against Bacillus cereus. Salmonella typhimurium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 62.5~125 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.217-228
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• 2007

Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. has long been used for a useful natural agent ameliorating inflammation related symptoms in the folk medicine recipe. This study was performed to investigate effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb.(AP) on the expression of inflammation related genes such as the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7 cells. The AP (whole plants) was extracted with 80% ethanol and sequentially partitioned with solvents in order to increase polarity. Among the various solvent extracts of AP, the n-butanol (BuOH) fraction showed the most powerful inhibitory ability against nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells without affecting cell viability. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that the BuOH fraction provided a primary inhibitor of the iNOS protein and mRNA expression in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The DPPH and OH radical scavenging activities of the several fractions of 80% ethanol extracts of AP significantly increased by EtOAC and BuOH fractions. Thus, the present study suggests that the response of a component of the BuOH fraction to NO generation via iNOS expression provide an important clue to elucidate anti-inflammatory mechanism of AP.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.267-270
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• 2006

In Korea, for a long time Rhus verniciflua has traditionally been used as an herbal medicines plants. A stem of Rhus verniciflua has been used to treat gastrointestinal trouble with in form of boiled chicken as a folk medicine. But it has been recognized as an extremely active allergen causing skin reactions. The chief allergenic component, urushiol, is found within the oleoresinous sap of Rhus verniciflua. Most components of urushiol have unsaturated side chains. These unsaturated side chains of urushiol are important to polymerization of these natural products. The urushiol components in Korean lacquer were isolated by reversed phase HPLC. The molecular weight of purified urushiol was determined as 340 from mass analysis. This compound was identified as Heptadecatetraenyl catechol (MW 340).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2021

Towards the end of 2019, an atypical acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in Wuhan, China and subsequently named Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The rapid dissemination of COVID-19 has provoked a global crisis in public health. COVID-19 has been reported to cause sepsis, severe infections in the respiratory tract, multiple organ failure, and pulmonary fibrosis, all of which might induce mortality. Although several vaccines for COVID-19 are currently being administered worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet effectively under control. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents to eradicate the cause of the disease and/or manage the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 should be developed to effectively regulate the current pandemic. In this review, we discuss the possibility of managing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 using natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling pulmonary inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. Diverse natural products have been reported to exert potential antiviral effects in vitro by affecting viral replication, entry into host cells, assembly in host cells, and release. However, the in vivo antiviral effects and clinical antiviral efficacies of these natural products against SARS-CoV-2 have not been successfully proven to date. Thus, these properties need to be elucidated through further investigations, including randomized clinical trials, in order to develop optimal and ideal therapeutic candidates for COVID-19.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.65 no.5
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• pp.313-319
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• 2021

Menthol (M) is a cyclic monoterpenode and is a major component of essential oils. Menthol, along with menthol, isomenton, etc., gives taste and odor of the mint plant, and when it comes to menthol in general, L- or (-) -menthol is usually used. Included in pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and pesticides. It has antimicrobial, antibacterial, antioxidant properties. It is also known that the licorice plant (Glycyrrhiza Glabra L.) differs from other types of plants by its medicinal properties. For many years it has been used in folk medicine. Extraction of licorice root revealed up to 25% glycyrrhizinic acid (GA). Its aglycone - glycyrrhizic acid is notable for its structural similarity to the adrenal cortex hormones. Currently, GA and glycyrrhizic acid are widely used in medicine as a remedy for colds, allergies, viral diseases, tumors. The biological activity of menthol and GA-based supramolecular compounds has been poorly studied, and their effect on the functional parameters of rat liver mitochondria has been studied little. For this purpose, in our experiments, the effect of menthol (M), glycyrrhizinic acid (GA) and their supramolecular complexes obtained in different proportions on in vitro and in vivo studies on rat liver mitochondria was studied.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.108-113
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• 1999

Natural products derived from not only medicinal but edible plants have been used as sources of folk remedies and other useful materials, like as appetizers, health supplements and food additives. A short-term in vitro biomarker assay was accompilshed to assess cytotoxic activity on the human lung and ovary adeno cancer cell lines based on sulforhodamine B (SRB) method. As a result, the EtOAc soluble fractions from Trichosanthes kirilowii Max. and Dioscorea japonica Thunb. showed potent cytotoxicity as a below 30% of growth ratio of cancer cell at a concentration of 40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml on lung and ovary adeno cancer cell lines, and lung cancer cell line, respectively. Cytotoxic activity present in plant extracts appear to be promising candidates as functional foods among Korean wild edible plants, and further studies are warranted.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.13-27
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• 2013

This study investigated flora and vascular plants area around Buyongdae where include optimum view point Okyeonjeongsa and Gyeomamjeongsa in Hahoe Village, Andong. Based on the findings, the aim of results was attempted to suggest the management plan of the vegetation area around Buyongdae which designated UNESCO World cultural heritage and folk village in Korea. The results of the study is as the following. All flora of this site, Buyongdae in Andong, were 301 taxa; 89 families, 217 genera, 251 species, 1 subspecies, 38 varieties and 11 forms. Vegetation of each of areas in site was classified Pinus densiflora as representative forest around Buyongdae, Quercus variabilis forest around Gyeomamjjeongsa and Koelreuteria paniculata forest in river cliff of Buyongdae. The 14 taxa(Polygala tenuifolia, Koelreuteria paniculata, and others) as the rare plants and the 7 taxa(Weigela subsessilis, and others) as endemic species were recorded in the surveyed site among the whole flora. The specific plants which is categorized to degree by the Ministry of Environment appeared as 32 taxa; degree IV was 4 species; Polygala tenuifolia, etc. and degree III was 10 species; Hypodematium glandulosopilosum, Pyrrosia petiolosa, etc. and degree I was 13 species; Hemiptelea davidii, Zizyphus jujuba var. jujuba, etc. Also, the 11 taxa were recorded in limestone area as the chamaephyte; Hypodematium glandulosopilosum, Celtis koraiensis, Siphonostegia chinensis, Artemisia gmelini, and others. The naturalized plants recorded as 25 taxa; Viola arvensis, Erechtites hieracifolia, etc. and invasion of Sicyos angulatus which is ecosystem disturbing plants. The naturalization rate(NR) was 8.3% and the urbanization index(UI) was 7.8% by field survey. For recovery of indigenous to traditional vegetation landscape in Buyongdae, Pinus rigida of upper-growth and Alnus sibirica of middle-growth need thinning. In addition, the site demands both sustainable management through long-term monitering and gradual elimination method for the naturalized plants including Sicyos angulatus where found in Kyumamjeongsa. Particularly, intentional planting for decoration and cultivation around Hwachunseowon, Helianthus tuberosus must be substitute with the native plants. Meanwhile, Polygala tenuifolia is potently demanded preventing habitate, confirming additional habitate, seed securing and preservation of gene resource internally or externally. Koelreuteria paniculata; denoting feature of river cliff, including Hypodematium glandulosopilosum, Siphonostegia chinensis, Zizyphus jujuba var. jujuba, Pyrrosia petiolosa, and Celtis koraiensis, also need an assertive preservation. Futhermore, Wisteria floribunda for. floribunda, located around Galmo rock to Chunggil course, remained by colonizing form, need preservation and observation for a while. Beside that, the information boards are required to educate visiting user about safe regulations on the narrow way in rock hill.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.1-19
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• 2015

The history of modernization of Korea is divided into two folds of the colonial era in the 20's and the economic development era in the 60's. Most of the spaces built in the process of modernization were public spaces developed by the drive of the government. These spaces of modernization are functionality-oriented public places of production and at the same time, and they are the spaces of national power to symbolize the identity of national authorities. Along with changes in the society, modern spaces were reduced down to monument buildings without functionality and this requires new definition to renew the identity of modern spaces. Small stations, power plants, mines, warehouses, abandoned factories, and etc... the study has paid attention to the process of changing thought, one of the main characteristics of modernization, the relations of modern concepts projected in the spaces, framework of modern society, and placeness in the process of framework building and relations of people in the spaces with video records on the process of rebuilding new identity of modern spaces and memories of the spaces. The relations of modern spaces and memory were explored in < Seoul Station > while the relations between modern spaces and records and place identity were explored in < Onyang Folk Museum > and < Okpo Shipyard > respectively. In the relations between space identity and memory in each space, the ironic relations of power in modern spaces (placeness) and personal narrative (memories) were explored with oral narrative and video footage.

• The Research Journal of the Costume Culture
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.199-214
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• 2020

The study investigates Atlas fabrics, the Ikat weaving method used by the Uygur People in Xinjiang, China. Based on domestic and foreign papers and other literature, different cultural characteristics of Ikat fabrics from various regions are compared. Following a theoretical investigation, characteristics of fabrics from the Indian Patola, Indonesian Ikat, Japanese Kasuri, and Uzbekistan Adras are summarized and compared with the characteristics of pattern, color, and manufacturing process of Atlas silk from Xinjiang China (also an Ikat fabric). The results are as follows. First, although the weaving process used for Ikat fabrics differs from country to country according to different national cultures, lifestyles, colors, patterns, and usage methods, they are all Ikat dyed fabrics. Therefore, they are all regarded as precious objects symbolizing a certain social status, and are used as a gift for special occasions, such as weddings. Second, the form of the pattern varies. Indian Patola has clear outlines and regular patterns, while the patterns of Japanese Kasuri are mainly inspired by folk life ideas. Indonesian Ikat contains influences from indigenous tribes, and Uzbekistan's and China's Atlas textiles are influenced by geography, religion, and national culture, including bright colors and pattern designs inspired by plants, musical instruments, and geometric figures. Finally, the patterns and colors of Xinjiang Atlas fabrics present strong ethnic characteristics. Unlike the Uzbekistan fabric which is mostly influenced by Islam, human and animal patterns would not feature in Xinjiang Atlas patterns, which mostly consist of long strips, repeated in a neat and orderly form.