• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.109-114
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• 2003

To investigate ecophysiological characteristics of plants species adapted to moor habitat, we selected 22 species plants and analyzed inorganic cations (K, Ca, Mg), heavy metals (Al, Fe, Mn) and total nitrogen and phosphorus quantitatively. Moojechi moor indicated typical acidic and oligotrophic conditions with pH of 5.0∼5.6 (pH 4.3∼5.1 in soil) and EC of 15∼30μ S/cm, and contained very low contents of soil divalent cation such as Ca and Mg but high contents of heavy metals (esp. Al). With respect to inorganic cation contents, investigated plants species showed remarkable interspecific difference. Plant species belonging to J. effusus var. decipiens, M. japonica, I. globosa, M. sacchariflorus, R. mucronulatum, R. yedoense var. poukhanense, H. micrantha, D. rotundifolia showed very low contents of inorganic cation below 400 μ M/g DW, but plant species of C. palustris var. spontanea, L. sessilifolia, P. mandarinorum, C. lineare, S. austriaca sub. glabra, V. mandshurica, A. decursiva showed high cation contents in leaves. Especially, S. austriaca sub. glabra (Compositae) and V. mandshurica (Violaceae) showed pattern accumulating Ca and Mg with plant growth, but I. ensata var. spontanea (Iridaceae) and S. officinalis (Rosaceae) showed decreasing tendency. Meanwhile, most plant species showed low contents of soluble metal ions in leaves in spite of high heavy metal contents on soil, and indicated remarkable interspecific differences in the total contents and composition of heavy metals accumulated. Despite low contents of N and P on soil, most plant species indicated relatively high contents of N and P in leaves at the early stage of growth, and showed slowly decreasing pattern according to growth. Consequently, it seems that plant species inhabited on Moojechi moor cope with acidic-oligotrophic conditions, accumulating inorganic cations and nitrogen at the early growing stage and reutilizing them in the course of growth, and developing heavy metal excluding mechanism.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.12
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• pp.967-977
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• 2023

Rubus crataegifolius (RC) is a traditional Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Rosaceae family. The fruits of RC are known to prevent adult diseases through antioxidants. In this study, the effects of RC extract (RCex) on obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated in animal models. Twenty-eight male C57BL/6J mice were induced to become obese for 8 weeks and then the extract was orally administered for 8 weeks. RCex reduced body weight, adipose tissue, liver weight. RCex improved biochemical biomarkers including lipid metabolism (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), plasma triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol). The activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) reduced the expression of adipogenesis genes (liver × receptor (LXR), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), fatty acid synthesis (FAS), acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1 (ACC1) and the effect of enhancing carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity by RCex was verified. RCex also influence on plasma production of hormones (adiponectin & leptin) related on energy expenditure and metabolism. In addition, we confirmed that RCex improved glucose intolerance in HFD-induced obese rats. RCex was first demonstrated to have anti-obesity as well as anti-NAFLD effects by regulating fatty acid oxidation and fatty acid synthesis by phosphorylation of AMPK. This suggests that RCex could be a good supplement for the prevention of obesity and related NAFLD.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.396-418
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• 2018

This study was carried out to investigate the flora and the vegetation of Samusan mountain on Jecheon-si, located in the middle part of the Korean peninsula. The vascular plants which were collected in 9 times from June 2014 to October 2015 were identified as 502 taxa in total, including 102 families, 314 genera, 445 species, 6 subspecies, 49 varieties, 1 form and 1 hybrid. The largest families were as follows; Asteraceae (70 taxa), Poaceae (52 taxa), Rosaceae (30 taxa), Fabaceae (28 taxa), and Cyperaceae (20 taxa). Of them, Korean endemic plants numbered 10 taxa, and vascular plants listed in the red data according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) numbered 14 taxa. The floristic regional indicator plants found in this area were 61 taxa in total. Among them, 5 taxa revealed the floristic grade V, 11 for floristic grade IV, 14 for floristic grade III, 10 for floristic grade II, and 21 for floristic grade I. The alien plants were identified as 43 taxa and the percentage of naturalized index (NI) was 8.6%, and urbanization index (UI) was 13.4%, respectively. Samples of the forest vegetation on the Samusan Mt. were mainly classified as Pinus densiflora, Quercus variabilis, Q. acutissima, Q. mongolica, Zelkova serrata and Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The vertical structures of the forest were stable and the DBH-Class analyses showed that the dominant tree species would be maintained. In the surveyed areas, high plant diversity was shown, and a number of endemic, rare, calcicole plants and phytogeographically important plants were found. Nonetheless, numerous and diverse biological resources native have been consistently disturbed or damaged by human activities without some form of protection. Therefore, it is needed to set up strategies for conservation forest vegetation in this study area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.76-88
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• 2011

The flora of vascular plants in the mountains located in the Uiryeong-gun area, in the South province of the Korean Peninsula, such as Jagul-san(897.1 m), 676 Highland(676 m), Byeokhwa-san(522 m), and the Bangeo-san(530.4 m), was investigated between April 2008 and August 2009. These investigations found 580 taxa consisting of 496 species, 1 subspecies, 77 varieties, and 6 forms, found within 319 genera under 103 families. The count totaled at 744 taxa(16.2% of all vascular plant taxa in Korea), which was made up of 648 species, 3 subspecies, 81 varieties, and 12 forms, found within of 362 genera under 109 families, when voucher specimens from the previous research studies were added. Forests of the investigated areas were generally composed of mixed Pinus densiflora and Quercus sp. The areas with comparatively excellent vegetation were the valley neighboring Baekun-sa(temple) (in the eastern slope of Mt. Jagul-san), the southwest slope of Mt. 676 Highland, the eastern slope of Mt. Byeokhwa-san, and the northern slope of Mt. Bangeo-san. 10 families were collected in abundance: Compositae, Graminae, Leguminosae, Liliaceae, Rosaceae, Cyperaceae, Labiatae, Polygonaceae, Ranunculaceae, and Violaceae these families made up 50% of all collected taxa. 19 taxa were endemic to the area, including Salix hallaisanensis H.Lev, S. koriyanagi Kimura, Aconitum austrokoreense Koidz, A. pseudolaeve Nakai, Clematis trichotoma Nakai, Thalictrum uchiyamai Nakai, Stewartia pseudocamellia Maxim, Philadelphus schrenkii Rupr., Lespedeza ${\times}$ robusta Nakai, Vicia chosenensis Ohwi, Euonymus trapococca Nakai, and Angelica cartilagino-marginata var. distans(Nakai) Kitag. Eight of the taxa were rare and endangered plants, as designated by the Korea Forest Service, including Jeffersonia dubia(Maxim.) Baker & S. Moore and Viola diamantiaca Nakai. 38 taxa of alien plants were found. Vegetation of the surveyed areas falls in the South province of the Korean Peninsula. Of all the taxa collected, 463 taxa(10.06% of all vascular plants in Korea) are considered useful plants, 231 taxa are edible, 193 taxa have medicinal uses, 65 taxa are used ornamentally, 234 taxa are important forage, 3 taxa are used as an industrial raw material, 17 taxa are used for timber, 18 taxa contain useful dyes, and 7 taxa are used for fiber.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.602-611
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• 2015

Aronia melanocarpa (Rosaceae family), black chokeberry, has significantly higher anthocyanin, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity than other berries. The aim of this study is to characterize the content of aronia makgeolli prepared with the additive method such as fresh-type and crushed-type and to investigate the effect of aronia on the quality of makgeolli at $25^{\circ}C$ for 8 days. The changes in pH, total acidity, ethanol content, color, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and sensory testing were determined. The pH values were 3.9~4.2 in fresh aronia makgeolli (the fresh group), and 3.6~3.9 in crushed aronia makgeolli (the crushed group). The total acidity of all samples gradually increased during the fermentation period. The ethanol content was 10~15% after the second stage of fermentation, and was reduced followed by an increase in the addition rate of aronia, showing the lowest values in 50% crushed aronia makgeolli. As the aronia content increased, both the antioxidant activity and the total polyphenol content significantly increased. In the fresh group, low values were seen in early fermentation, which significantly increased according to the progress of fermentation, while the crushed group showed high values for 6 days. In the sensory evaluation, the color, flavor, bitterness, and overall acceptance of the makgeolli with 30% fresh aronia showed higher values than the control and other samples. In conclusion, the present study suggests that fresh aronia without undergoing the breaking process is a more suitable additive method than the crushed type for antioxidant activity and palatability of aronia makgeolli.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.4
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• pp.493-512
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to provide the basic data necessary for establishing a vegetation management plan for the Yeongcheon River area by presenting a better understanding of the distribution and characteristics of naturalized plants through an investigation of the flora present in the Yeongcheon riverside, in Jinju, South Korea. Vascular plants were investigated for a total of 470 taxa, including 90 families, 282 genera, 425 species, one sub-species, 38 varieties, and six forms. Together, these accounted for 9.62% of the vascular plants (4,881 species) in Korea. Gramineae was the most abundant at 77 taxa (16.38%), followed by Cyperaceae at 56 taxa (11.91%), Leguminosae at 33 taxa (7.02%), Cyperaceae at 25 taxa (5.32%), and Rosaceae at 22 taxa (4.86%). Thirty species of indicator plants were surveyed and, among them, annual plants and hemicryptophytes accounted for a significantpercentage. Among ground plants, trees, shrubs, and sub-shrubs were surveyed to include 23 (4.89%), 17 (3.61%), and 14 taxa (2.97%), respectively. Furthermore, 36 aquatic plant taxa were found. Six rare plant taxa were surveyed including Penthorum chinense, Melothria japonica, Aristolochia contorta, Acorus calamus, Millettia japonica, and Magnolia kobus. Floristic special plants comprised 35 taxa,including 26 families, 34 genera, 34 species, and one variety. Plants endemic to Korea included six species. Naturalized plant species comprised 71 taxa, including 18 families, 53 genera, 68 species, and three varieties. The naturalization rate and urbanization index were 15.1% and 22.1%, respectively. Ecological disturbance species in Korea comprised nine taxa, including four families, eight genera, eight species, and one variety. These groups accounted for 64% of the ecological disturbance species in Korea. Ecological disturbance species in Korea tended to increase toward the downstream of Yeongcheon River. In particular, Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Sicyos angulatus, which cause human allergies and disrupt the habitats of plants and animals, must be removed artificially.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.240-252
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• 1999

Floristic composition and phytosociological studies of Mt. Chongok and Mt. Tuta were investigated, and that was compared with the previously published report in 1993. Vascular plants were composed of 100 families, 358 genera, 573 species, 95 varieties, and 18 formae, totaling 686 taxa. The vegetation was relatively well conserved based on Pteridophyta calculation (Pte-Q), 1.13. Compared with the vascular plants of the southern and northern slope area, the vascular plants of the southern slope area were composed of 87 families, 287 genera, 419 species, 73 varieties, and 11 formae, totaling 503 taxa, and those of the northern slope area consisted of 94 families, 293 genera, 427 species, 73 varieties, and 12 formae, totaling 512 taxa, respectively. Also, compared with the taxa in each side, both sides were composed of 332 species in common, southern sides, 172 species and northern sides, 182 species, respectively. The number of species of 11 families belonged to the higher level among total families taxa was composed of 328 species(47.8%). Among them, Compositae and Rosaceae were included much more species than remnant families. Korean endemic species were composed 16 families, 24 genera, 20 species, 8 varieties and 2 formae, totaling 30 species(4.4%). Compared with the Korean endemic taxa in each side, both sides were composed of 14 species in common, southern sides, 11 species and northern sides, 5 species, respectively. A naturalized plants were 20 species, correspond to 9.2% of totaling 218 species appeared in South Korea. Among them,12 species were appeared commonly in both sides, southern sides, 16 species and northern sides, 16 species, respectively. Life form spectra was H-D1-R5-e type and, useful resources plants are as follows; edible source(42.4%), medicinal source(31.5%), ornamental source(15.6%) and pasture source (13.3%) in the total region. The forest vegetation of the southern slope was classified into 1 order, 1 alliances and 5 communities; Rhododendro-Quercetalia mongolicae, Lindero-Quercion mongolicae, Quercus mongolica Typical community, Populus davidiana-Quercus mongolica community, Pinus koraiensis-Taxus cuspidata community, Pinus densiflora-Carex humilis var. nana community, Betula costata-Betula ermanii community. It is considered that the slight difference of the flora and vegetation in the northern and southern slope is mostly due to the topographical and climatic difference. Even closer investigation is required for the more accurate comparison in this area.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.199-212
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• 2016

A comparative study of leaf epidermal microstructures in the tribe Sorbarieae (Adenostoma: 3 spp., Chamaebatiaria: 1 sp., Sorbaria: 11 spp., Spiraeanthus: 1 sp.) including related genera Gillenia (2 spp.) and Lyonothamnus (2 spp.) was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to evaluate their significance in taxonomy. The leaves of Adenostoma, Chamaebatiaria, and Spiraeanthus were amphistomatic, whereas Gillenia, Lyonothamnus, and Sorbaria were hypostomatic. The size range of the guard cells is $7.84-48.7{\times}5.86-38.6{\mu}m$; the smallest one was found in Sorbaria tomentosa var. tomentosa ($7.84-11.8{\times}6.84-10.5{\mu}m$), while the largest measured example was Adenostoma fasciculatum var. obtusifolium ($30.3-48.7{\times}18.8-38.6{\mu}m$). Anomocytic stomata complex were the most frequent type (rarely cyclocytic), with usually both anomocytic and actinocytic types occurring in one leaf. On the surfaces, both the adaxial and abaxial anticlinal walls of the subsidiary cells vary (e.g., straight/curved, undulate, sinuate). Four types (unicellular non-glandular trichome, stellate, glandular trichome, pustular glandular trichome) of trichomes are found in the leaves. The epicuticular wax can be divided two types: membraneous platelets (Lyonothamnus) and platelets (Sorbaria arborea var. arborea, S. arborea var. subtomentosa, S. kirilowii, S. tomentosa var. tomentosa, Spiraeanthus schrenkianus). The trichome diversity (in particular, stellate, gland) and the existence of epicuticular wax may have taxonomic significance, although the leaf epidermal micromorphological characteristics do not provide synapomorphy in this tribe. These leaf micromorphological features are most likely better understood in the Sorbarieae when used in conjunction with external morphological characters.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.105 no.4
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• pp.401-413
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• 2016

Forest resources utilization and variable disturbance history have been affected the rarity and conservation value of forest relict trees, which served as habitat for forest biodiversity, important carbon stock and cultural role include human and natural history in South Korea. This study was conducted to establish the baseline data for forest resources conservation by clarifying species diversity, spatial distribution and ecological characteristics (individual and habitat) of forest relict trees (DBH > 300 cm) based on the data getting from mountain trail, high resolution aerial photos and field professionals and field survey. As results, 54 taxa (18 family 32 genus 48 species 1 subspecies 3 variety and 2 form) as about 22% of tree species in Korea was identified in the field. 837 individuals of forest relict trees were observed and the majority of the trees was in Pinaceae, deciduous Fagaceae and Rosaceae, which families are abundant in population diversity. High elevation area was important to relict trees as mean altitudinal distribution was 1,200 m a.s.l as likely affected by human activity gradients and mid-steep slope and North aspect was important environment for the trees remain. Many individuals exhibited 'damage larger branch' (55.6%) and consequent relatively lower mean canopy coverages (below 80%). Synthetically, present diversity and abundance of relict forest trees in South Korea were the result of complex process among climate variation, local weather and biological factors and the trees of big and old were estimated to important forest biodiversity elements. In the future, clarifying the role and function of relict trees in forest ecosystem, in- and ex- situ programmes for important trees and habitat, and activities for building the background of conservation policy such as "Guideline for identifying and measurement of forest relict trees".

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.369-392
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• 2021

This study aimed to provide basic data for efficient flora management of vascular plants, halophytes, and naturalized plants in the Gwangpo Bay area in Sacheon city, Gyeongsangnam-do. The flora found in this area incorporated 520 taxa, including 93 families, 299 genera, 466 species, 3 subspecies, 41 varieties, and 10 forma, and accounted for approximately 10.6% of total vascular plants (4,884 species) in Korea. According to the survey, 76 species of Gramineae showed the highest frequency (14.6%), followed by 67 species of Compositae (12.8%), 34 species of Leguminosae (6.5%), 27 species of Cyperaceae (5.2%), and 22 species of Rosaceae (4.2%). Rare plant species designated by the Korea Forest Service were categorized into six taxa, including three taxa in the LC grade, one taxon in the CR grade, one taxon in the VU grade, and one taxon in the EN grade. Korea endemic plants belonged to nine taxa consisting of seven families, seven genera, and nine species. The special floristic plants included 44 taxa, including one taxon (Prunus yedoensis) in the V grade, four taxa in the IV grade, ten taxa in the III grade, six taxa in the II grade, and 23 taxa in the I grade. Naturalized plants included 62 taxa consisting of 15 families, 47 genera, 59 species and 3 varieties. Halophytes consisted of 27 taxa, including 13 families, 24 genera, 24 species, 2 varieties, 1 forma, which consisted of Atriplex gmelinii, Suaeda glauca, Suaeda maritima, and Lathyrus japonicus. Invasive alien species in the Gwangpo Bay area included seven taxa. Since Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Sicyos angulatus, andPaspalum distichum var. indutummay have harmful effects on native plants, these plants must be artificially controlled.