• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.37 no.4 s.147
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• pp.307-313
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• 2006

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play an important role in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy by hyperglycemia. To find natural agents improving diabetic nephropathy, 63 natural resources which used to the treatment of diabetes mellitus in a folk remedy were investigated with an in vitro system employing radical scavenging activity and inhibitory activity of AGEs formation. In results, the extracts of Aspalathus linearis, Rubus coreanus, Rosa rugosa, and Epimedium koreanum significantly inhibited the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical with $IC_{50}$ values less than $10{\mu}g/ml$. The extracts of Zea mays, Cucurbita moschata, Cudrania tricuspidata, and Aspalathus linearis effectively reduced the formation of AGEs compared with the positive control $N-acetyl-_L-cystenine$ (NAC) and aminoguanidine (AG). In addition, the extracts of Aspalathus linearis, Commelina communis, Cornus officinalis, and Lespodeza cuneata showed the all inhibitory activity against DPPH radical and AGEs formation. Also, these resources definitely showed the radical scavenging activity against peroxynitrite $(ONOO^-)$ and hydroxyl radical $({\cdot}OH)$ relating to high glucose-induced ROS production. Thus, these results suggest that some natural resources may regulate the initiation and progression of diabetic nephropathy through inhibition of ROS production and AGEs formation.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.32 no.4 s.127
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• pp.330-337
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• 2001

Prickly pear(Opuntia ficus-indica var. saboten Makino, Cactaceae) is a tropical or subtropical plant, which is widely used as folk medicine for burned wound, edema and indigestion. Screening on the biological properties of the fruits(OFS-Fr) and stems(OFS-St) of the plant was carried out to prove the pharmacological significance. By hot plate and acetic acid-inducing writhing methods, significant analgesic effects of OFS-Fr and OFS-St were found in mice and anti-edemic effect was observed in carrageenin-induced inflammatory rats. However, the extracts showed no significant actions on central and autonomic nervous system and blood circulatory system, which imply no toxic effects to animal.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 1995

Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum is a wild plant growing only in Jeju-island, Korea, and in Japan. The whole part of this plant has been known to have the pharmacological actions such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, platelet-aggregation inhibitory, antitussive, and expectorant. With these assumed actions, the leaves (Crinum folium) of this plant has been used in the folk remedies for arthritis and arthralgia. There is, however, no scientific evidences for the pharmacological actions of Crinum asiaticum var. japonicum. In the present study, the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and platelet-aggregation inhibitory actions of Crinium folium were evaluated using writhing test, tail-flick test, carrageenin antiedema test, in vitro thromboxane $B_2$ quantitation assay and in vitro platelet aggregation test. In order to obtain the partially purified fraction whose pharmacological action is excellent, the methanol extract of Crinium folium was fractionated consecutively into four biological fractions such as ether, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fractions and their pharmacological actions of the fractions were investigated. Putting our results together, Crinium folium, especially ethyl acetate fraction was proven to have significant analgesic, anti-inflammatory and platelet-aggregation inhibitory actions by inhibition of prostanoids biosynthesis as one of its mechanism of action.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.250-262
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• 2014

This study was carried out from March 2013 to July 2014 with the aim of examining folk plants used in Jeollabuk-do Province. The analysis of 885 surveys collected from 59 residents of 11 cities and counties shows that a total of 154 taxa composed of 137 genera, 140 species, 2 subspecies and 12 varieties belonging to 66 families are currently used in the province. Regionally, Wanju had the greatest variety with 135 taxa, followed by Gochang with 128, Muju with 104, and Jinan with 103. In terms of their use, the plants were most frequently used as food and medicine, with 112 taxa of edible, 62 taxa of medicine, 4 taxa of ornamental, 3 taxa of dye, 3 taxa of oil, 1 taxa of aroma, 1 taxa of sap, 1 taxa of spice, and 9 taxa of miscellaneous use. Regarding plant parts, leaves were used most often, followed by fruits, stems and roots. The coincidence degree between the standard names of plants and their local names was the highest in Muju at 59.4%, followed by Wanju at 51.8%, Buan at 51.0%, Gochang at 50.4% and Jinan at 46.3%. The information on how to use folk plants was almost always orally transmitted.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.107-119
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to examine the current status of vascular plants and naturalized plants growing in the Seongeup Folk Village in Jeju and to consider and compare their distribution patterns and the characteristics of emergence of naturalized plants in other folk villages and all parts of Jeju, thereby exploring measures to well manage naturalized plants. The result of this study is as follows.11) The total number of vascular plants growing in Seongeup Folk Village is identified to be 354 taxa which include 93 families, 260 genus, 298 species, 44 varieties and 12 breeds. Among them, the number of naturalized plants is 55 taxa in total including 22 families, 46 genus, 53 species, and 2 varieties, which accounts for 21.7% of the total of 254 taxa identified all over the region of Jeju. The rate of naturalization in Seongeup Folk Village is 15.5%, which is far higher than the rates of plant naturalization in Hahoi Village in Andong, Yangdong Village in Gyeongju, Hangae Village in Seongju, Wanggok Village in Goseong, and Oeam Village in Asan. Among the naturalized plants identified within the targeted villages, the number of those growing in Jeju is 9 taxa including Silene gallica, Modiola caroliniana, Oenothera laciniata, Oenothera stricta, Apium leptophyllum, Gnaphalium purpureum, Gnaphalium calviceps, Paspalum dilatatum and Sisyrinchium angustifolium. It is suggested that appropriate management measures that consider the characteristics of the gateway to import and the birthplace of the naturalized plants are necessary. In the meantime, 3 more taxa that have not been included in the reference list of Jeju have been identified for the first time in Seongeup Folk Village, which include Bromus sterilis, Cannabis sativa and Veronica hederaefolia. The number of naturalized plants identified within the gardens of unit-based cultural properties is 20 taxa, among which the rate of prevalence of Cerastium glomeratum is the highest at 62.5%. On the other hand, the communities of plants that require landscape management are Brassica napus and other naturalized plants, including Cosmos bipinnatus, Trifolium repens, Medicago lupulina, Oenothera stricta, O. laciniata, Lotus corniculatus, Lolium perenne, Silene gallica, Hypochaeris radicata, Plantago virginica, Bromus catharticus and Cerastium glomeratum. As a short-term measure to manage naturalized plants growing in Seongeup Folk Village, it is important to identify the current status of Cosmos bipinnatus and Brassica napus that have been planted for landscape agriculture, and explore how to use flowers during the blooming season. It is suggested that Ambrosia artemisiifolia and Hypochaeris radicata, designated as invasive alien plants by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, should be eradicated initially, followed by regular monitoring in case of further invasion, spread or expansion. As for Hypochaeris radicata, in particular, some physical prevention measures need to be explored, such as for example, identifying the habitat density and eradication of the plant. In addition, it is urgent to remove plants, such as Sonchus oleraceus, Houttuynia cordata, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Erigeron annuus and Lamium purpureum with high index of greenness visually, growing wild at around high Jeongyi town walls. At the same time, as the distribution and dominance value of the naturalized plants growing in deserted or empty houses are high, it is necessary to find measures to preserve and manage them and to use the houses as lodging places.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Traditional Landscape Architecture
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.18-27
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• 2016

A 'flowered-wall,' which are also called a 'flower plant patterned wall,' or a 'flower patterned wall,' is a wall of a building or a fence with various patterns on it. A flowered-wall can be an external mean to look into the owner's authority and values while internally it possesses the symbolic meaning of wishing the well-being and peace of the household. In the research area of the flowered-wall, the walls located in the palace were well researched in various studies across architecture, horticulture, and art design, however, the walls belonging to the local regional traditional folk houses and temples have been involved in little to no research in the landscape architectural area. Taking notice of this perspective this study researched and analyzed the cases of the flowered-walls of the traditional folk houses and the temples that belonged to the national and municipal cultural properties of Jeollabuk-do Province from the landscape architectural perspective. The whole samples were examined and it was shown that there were 9 traditional folk houses with flowered-walls. Among the temples there were 7 cases. Therefore the research focusing on tracing the shape and symbolic meaning of the flowered-walls in the 16 cultural properties located in the Jeollabuk-do Province which consisted of traditional folk houses and temples resulted in the following. Flowered-walls displayed hierarchical differentiation revolving around the main space and its spacial characteristic. This differentiation is variously displayed across the flowered-wall, gable, crack plastering, and chimney. In the case of the folk houses the symbols have the meaning of the prosperity of the household and progeny, exorcism, longevity, number of fortune, harmony, and peace etc that prays for practical wishes such as long life and good health with the prosperity of their descendants. Meanwhile in the temples, symbols indicating an easy passage into eternity, perpetuation of the Buddha-nature, and three marks of existence are applied, differentiating from the folk houses by the appliance of the religious values in the patterns. In conclusion this research resulted in the rightful illumination on the local landscape culture, the possibility of expressing the Korean sentiment through flowered-walls in the contemporary space, the reassessment of flowered-walls, and the provision of basic data for a plan to success the cultural heritage.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.112-116
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• 1997

Hibiscus syriacus L. (Malvaceae) is widely distributed over Korean, China, India and Siberia. The dried flower of Hibiscus syriacus is used as a folk medicine for curing of hematochezia, dysentery, obstruction due to wind-phlegm, regurgitation, and vomiting of food, and the dried root bark is used antipyretic, anthelmintic and antifungal agents. From a chloroform extract of root bark of this plant, compound I, II, and III were isolated and the structures were elucidated by various spectroscopic analyses. These compounds were identified as syringaresinol. E-N-feruloyltyramine, and Z-N-feruloyltyramine, respectively and were isolated from this plant for the first time. Compound II and III exhibited lipid peroxidation inhibitory activities with $IC_{50}$ of 15.5 and 28.6 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.95-103
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• 2017

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family Urticaceae. It was used in folk remedies for diuretic or anti-pyretic purposes and as an hepatoprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammation agent. In this study, we investigated the composition of free sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, and total polyphenol contents in parts of ramie (root, stem, and leaf) and different harvest areas (10 areas). Overall, free sugars were found as sucrose, glucose, fructose, and galactose at concentrations ranging from 24.5 to 1173.8 mg/g. Amino acids lysine, threonine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and histidine were detected at concentrations of 33.8 to 3735.3 mg/g. Major fatty acids were linoleic acid, palmitic acid, and linolenic acid at concentrations of 7.3 to 364.4 mg/g. In organic acids, the concentration of malic acid was highest of all with 672.2 mg/g. The content of free sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, and total polyphenol was higher in leaves than in roots and stems. In contrast, the total polyphenol content was higher in roots with 33.7 - 219.4 mg/g than in leaves or in stems. As seen in collecting region, the contents of free sugars, amino acids, fatty acids, organic acids, and total polyphenol of Bn-33, 39, 55, 65, and 90 were higher than other samples. Chemical compositions of different parts of ramie are important factors to consider in manufacturing functional foods. The results of this study provide fundamental information on the chemical compositions of ramie parts and would help develop new functional foods from ramie leaves or the whole plant.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.117-127
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• 2002

Saururus chinensis Baill has been used in Korean folk medicine for the treatment of various diseases such as edema, Jaundice, and furuncle. The components of this plant were extracted into four fraction. Among the four fraction, hexane and ethyl acetate fraction were highly toxic to 3T3 mouse embryo fibroblast and Raw 264.7 mouse macrophage, but n-butanol and residue fraction did not show any toxic effect to those cell lines. n-Butanol and residue fraction exhibited antioxidant effects on hydro-gen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide anion directly in vitro and in the 3T3 fibroblasts. All the four fractions inhibited lipid peroxidation measured by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation. In addition, n-butanol and residue fraction showed inhibitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide production, and also down-regulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA transcription 6 h after LPS stimulation in Raw 204.7 cells. Only n-butanol fraction, which mainly consists of flavonoids, inhibited NF-kB activation by decreasing IkBa degradation 90 min after LPS stimulation. horn the results, it is suggested that this plant could be a good candidate material for drug development based on its antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory constituents.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.324-333
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• 2015

Lepisorus thunbergianus (Kaulf.) Ching has been used in folk medicine in Korea. In this study, a L. thunbergianus methanol extract and its fractions were investigated for their antioxidant properties. The results showed that the ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of L. thunbergianus possess potent DPPH radical scavenging activities. Both fractions also possessed reducing power and inhibited reactive oxygen species formation. In addition, the cytotoxic activity of the L. thunbergianus n-hexane fraction (HF) was investigated. The results suggested that the HF remarkably suppressed proliferation of human breast, liver and colon cancer cells. These results demonstrate, for the first time, that L. thunbergianus extract induces apoptosis in SW620 cells, suggesting that L. thunbergianus may have potential as a therapeutic agent for colon cancer.