• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2009

Heavy reliance on organosynthetic chemical methods to control agricultural pest tends to deteriorate and lower fertility of soil. We studied annual occurrence of earthworm in environment-friendly agroecosystem and attempted to determine the degree of soil contamination. Candidate bioindicators of earthworm in agroecosystem were selected through analysis of earthworm diversities. Depending on the degree of pesticide use, the fields were devided into conventional, less-pesticide, pesticide free, and organic fields. A nearby field not in agricultural use was chosen as a control. This study was carried out in the greenhouses (lettuce and grape) in 2006 and in orchards (apple, pear, peach, citrus and grape) in 2007. Earthworm was collected from 50 $\times$ 50 $\times$ 10 cm$^3$ of respective soil. We found 11 species from 5 genera and 3 families, and 12 species from 4 genera and 3 families in the greenhouses and in orchards, respectively. The contents of organic matter in soil in the greenhouses were variable but quite less so in orchards. Amynthas heteropodus occurred most frequently in both sites suggesting that it could be adopted as a bioindicator in agroecosystem in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.58-65
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• 2009

The chemopreventive effects of naringenin derived from citrus on tumor migration and the possible mechanisms involved in this protection were investigated in HT-1080 tumor cells. In this study, we found that naringenin reduced phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-enhanced matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-9 activation in a dose-dependant manner and further inhibited HT-1080 cell migration. In addition, naringenin suppressed PMA-enhanced expression of MMP-9 protein, mRNA and transcription activity levels through suppression of nuclear factor $\kappa$B (NF-$\kappa$B) activation and activator protein-1 (AP-1) translocation without changing tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 level. Therefore, our results suggested that the inhibitory effects of naringenin on MMP-9 activation, relation of tumor migration in vitro possibly involve mechanisms related to its ability to suppress PMA-enhanced MMP-9 gene and protein expression through NF-$\kappa$B activation and AP-1 translocation. Overall, naringenin may be a valuable anti-invasive drug candidate for cancer therapy.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 2018

Mitochondrial calcium overload is a crucial event in determining the fate of neuronal cell survival and death, implicated in pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. One of the driving forces of calcium influx into mitochondria is mitochondria membrane potential (${\Delta}{\psi}_m$). Therefore, pharmacological manipulation of ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ can be a promising strategy to prevent neuronal cell death against brain insults. Based on these issues, we investigated here whether nobiletin, a Citrus polymethoxylated flavone, prevents neurotoxic neuronal calcium overload and cell death via regulating basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ against neuronal insult in primary cortical neurons and pure brain mitochondria isolated from rat cortices. Results demonstrated that nobiletin treatment significantly increased cell viability against glutamate toxicity ($100{\mu}M$, 20 min) in primary cortical neurons. Real-time imaging-based fluorometry data reveal that nobiletin evokes partial mitochondrial depolarization in these neurons. Nobiletin markedly attenuated mitochondrial calcium overload and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in glutamate ($100{\mu}M$)-stimulated cortical neurons and isolated pure mitochondria exposed to high concentration of $Ca^{2+}$ ($5{\mu}M$). Nobiletin-induced partial mitochondrial depolarization in intact neurons was confirmed in isolated brain mitochondria using a fluorescence microplate reader. Nobiletin effects on basal ${\Delta}{\psi}_m$ were completely abolished in $K^+-free$ medium on pure isolated mitochondria. Taken together, results demonstrate that $K^+$ influx into mitochondria is critically involved in partial mitochondrial depolarization-related neuroprotective effect of nobiletin. Nobiletin-induced mitochondrial $K^+$ influx is probably mediated, at least in part, by activation of mitochondrial $K^+$ channels. However, further detailed studies should be conducted to determine exact molecular targets of nobiletin in mitochondria.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2013

This study was carried out to evaluate the soil dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass C with soil type and land use in cropland of JeJu region. Soil chemical properties, dehydrogenase activity, and microbial biomass C were analyzed after sampling from upland (50 sites), orchard (50 sites), paddy (30 sites), horticultural facility (30 sites) in March. Average pH values was at 6.3 in upland soil, however soil chemical properties showed a large spatial variations in both orchard and horticultural facility soil. The Zn and Cu contents increased by the continuous application of pig manure compost in some citrus orchard soil. Soil dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass C were higher in non-volcanic ash than in volcanic ash soil regardless of land use type. Soil dehydrogenase activity was two to four times higher in upland than in the others. It was at 38.7 ug TPF $24^{h-1}g^{-1}$ in non-volcanic ash of upland soil. Microbial biomass C content was very high in horticultural facility soil and it showed at 216.8 $mg\;kg^{-1}$ in non-volcanic ash. Soil dehydrogenase activity showed a positive correlation with organic matter ($r^2$=0.59), Zn ($r^2$=0.65), and Cu ($r^2$=0.66) in non-volcanic ash horticultural facility soil. There was a negative correlation ($r^2$=0.57) between soil organic matter and dehydrogenase activity in volcanic ash upland soil.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1079-1086
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• 2000

Pectinesterase inhibitor(PEI) of ripened kiwi fruit(Actinidia chinensis) was separated with affinity chromatography using CNBr-activated Sepharose 4B being covalently bound by orange pectinesterse(PE). The affinity resin strongly and selectively bound PEI, which could be eluted in high yield as a single peak by pH 9.5 without loss of inhibitory activity. The separated PEI had maintained almost inhibitory activity at $-25^{\circ}C$ and $5^{\circ}C$ during 30 days but lost it at room temperature in 4 weeks. The PEI possessed a molecular weight of 16.6 KDa, as estimated by 12.5% SDS-PAGE. PEI had optimum pH of 7.5, optimum temperature of below $10^{\circ}C$ and stability up to $70^{\circ}C$. Also, optimum inhibitory activity for PEI was obtained in 0.2 M NaCl of substrate solutions. The kind of inhibition on tomato pectinesterase was found to be noncompetitive, using citrus pectin as substrate. Fresh orange juice added with crude PEI extracts maintained almost the same cloud stability as pasteurized juice. In case of apple juice, the addition of crude PEI extracts to apple juice had decrease of L-ascorbic acid with nearly no effect on cloud loss.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.1279-1285
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• 2011

Korea is currently underway research to estimate carbon footprint in agriculture centered on the RDA (Rural Development Administration). This study was estimated carbon footprint for major 47 crops. In addition, contribution of inorganic chemical fertilizers, main elements for production of crops were analyzed. The carbon footprint of $5.78E+00kg\;CO_2\;eq.\;kg^{-1}$ for citrus fruit in greenhouse was highest, grape in greenhouse, sweet pepper in greenhouse, ginseng, green pepper in greenhouse were followed by $4.61E+00kg\;CO_2\;eq.\;kg^{-1}$, $4.34E+00kg\;CO_2\;eq.\;kg^{-1}$, $4.23E+00kg\;CO_2\;eq.\;kg^{-1}$, $4.04E+00kg\;CO_2\;eq.\;kg^{-1}$ respectively. Next, production phase contribution of inorganic chemical fertilizer to carbon footprint of crop 1 kg were analyzed mean value 1.88%, 9.06% for single fertilizers and complex fertilizers respectively. And use phase accounted for mean value 14.24%. Therefore, to reduce the fertilization of inorganic chemical fertilizer will be reduced $CO_2$ from crop production, also greenhouse gas emissions of agricultural sector will be reduced.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.1-13
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• 2021

The concept of integrated pest management (IPM) first developed in the 1950s, and the concept of economic control via pest management was established in the 1960s. Research on IPM began in the United States and Europe, and IPM studies in Korea started with citrus insects and paddy field pests following the distribution of high-yield varieties of rice. Apple IPM in Korea began with research on pest control using chemical pesticides and pesticides resistant to insect pests, studies on the ecology of insect pests and their natural enemies, and the exploitation of sex pheromones on insect pests. Since the 1990s, IPM research and field projects have been carried out simultaneously for farming households. In the 2000s, the development of pest monitoring and forecasting models centered on mating disturbances, database programs for pests, and networks for sharing information. IPM technology has expanded via the development of unmanned forecasting systems and automation technologies in the 2010s.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1370-1382
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• 2021

Previous studies have been conducted on domestic materials as a single extract. Research on complex mixtures for maximizing plant characteristics by individual extraction and potential interference with effects is insufficient. Therefore, this study confirmed the GC-MSD according to the extraction of essential oils for Agastache rugosa O. Kuntze(AR), Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zuccarini(PD), Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica(CC), Zingiber officinale Roscoe(ZR), Foeniculum vulgare Miller(FV), and Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle(CS). The cytotoxicity, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the blending oil were confirmed to confirm its potential as a cosmetic material. As a result of analyzing GC-MSD aroma components, the main components were estragole of AR, à-Pinene for PD, Zingiberene for CC and ZR, Anethole from FV, and D-Limonene for CS. At a concentration of 100 uL/mL with no confirmed cytotoxicity, NO production was inhibited by 70.62%, DPPH radical scavenging activity was 64.03%, and ABTS radical scavenging activity was 89.55%. Through this, blended essential oil suggests the possibility of useful application as a raw material with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in the cosmetic and food industries.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1118-1125
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• 2013

Naringenin, a naturally occurring citrus flavonone, is a potentially valuable candidate for cancer chemotherapy. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for its anticancer activity are largely unknown. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the mechanisms responsible for naringenin-induced apoptosis in human leukemic U937 cells. We found that naringenin markedly inhibited the growth of U937 cells by decreasing cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis, which was associated with the activation of caspases. A pan-caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, significantly inhibited naringenin-induced U937 cell apoptosis, indicating that caspases are key regulators of apoptosis in response to naringenin in U937 cells. Although the levels of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and proapoptotic Bax proteins remained unchanged in naringenin-treated U937 cells, Bcl-2 overexpression attenuated naringenin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, combined treatment with naringenin and HA14-1, a small-molecule Bcl-2 inhibitor, effectively increased the apoptosis through enhancement of XIAP down-regulation, Bid cleavage, and caspase activation, suggesting that the synergistic effect was at least partially mediated through the death receptor-mediated apoptosis pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.6 s.67
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• pp.895-905
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• 2004

Herb found in the farm of Korea were classified into 3 divisions, 5 classes, 31 orders, 51 families, 134 genera and 226 kinds. In the taxon of family, labiatae, compositae and umbelliferae have larser number of herbs than another families. In the taxon of genus, Rosa (34 kinds), Mentha (8), Thymus (7), Pelargonium (6), Salvia (6), Lavandula (5), Citrus (4), Ocimum (4), Allium (4) in order contain many species. In the geographical floristic regions, Holarctic were 149 kinds, and next came Paleotropical of 26 kinds, Neotropical of 18 kinds, Capetown of 8 kinds, and Australian of 6 kinds in order. Plants growing naturally over 3 geographical region were 4 kinds including Passiflora caerulea. And 166 kinds were growing in the only 1 geographical region. Among the all farms, (1) farm (in Cheongwon) were highest number of 137 kinds. On the other hand, (3) farm (in Cheongsong) were lowest number of 59 kinds. Herb cultivating in all farms were 37 kinds including Pelargonium crispum. Among these, plants of 24 kinds belong to the labiatae family. Also, herb cultivating in the only 1 farm were 50 kinds including Humulus lupulus. About the numbers of usage of herb, the first in numbers was for food $(54.4\%,\;122\;kinds)$ including Ginkgo biloba, the second for medicinal purpose $(39.8\%,\;90\;kinds)$ including Equisetum arvense, the third for cosmetic $(15.9\%,\;36\;kinds)$, th fourth for flavor $(14.2\%,\;32\;kinds)$, the next for perfume $(12.4\%,\;28\;kinds)$, the next for dye $(10.8\%,\;23\;kinds)$, the next for insecticide $(6.6\%,\;15\;kinds)$, the next for ornament $(1.8\%,\;4\;kinds)$, the last for antiseptic $(0.9\%,\;2\;kinds)$.