• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.15-26
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• 2009

Objectives: This paper is intended to illustrate and to discuss the organization and functioning of community resident groups (CRGs) in a community-based participatory health promotion program for healthy aging. Methods: CRGs were convened in 12 government-subsidized apartment communities for low-income seniors in Pennsylvania, U.S.A., to promote healthy aging. Researchers facilitated CRG meetings following a 6-step process of community empowerment and utilizing a social ecological model for assessment and planning. Almost 200 project-related documents were qualitatively analyzed using matrix analysis principles such as cross-classification of multiple dimensions to identify patterns in the data and matrix building for displaying such patterns. Results: CRGs were venues at which apartment building residents could interact, discuss health priorities, and become change agents in their building. CRG members' community health priorities were about their daily living, including building conditions, poor access to fresh food, and unhealthy resident relations. Specific patterns arose in analysis indicating that leadership withing the CRGs, consistency of meetings and participants' attendance, and ability to link health concerns to daily experience impacted the CRGs' capability to identify and accomplish their goals. Conclusion: Community health issues and solutions to those issues identified by CRGs were unique to community contexts and interests. Consistent participation by community members, a consistent pattern of group activities such as monthly meetings, and having established leadership to manage CRG activities were prominent characteristics of community group functioning.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.121-130
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• 1995

Greenhouse and laboratory studies were conducted to investigate allelopathic potential of some weed species on alfalfa(Medicago sativa L.) germination and seedling growth. In the comparison between top(leaves+stems) and root extracts, top extract exhibited greater allelopathic effects on alfalfa germination than that of root. The various weed species extract differently responded to alfalfa test species, WL-320, in terms of allelopathic effect. Top and root aqueous extracts of lambsquarter(Chenopodium album L.), giant foxtail(Setaria faberii Herrm.), redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L.), velvetleaf(Abutilon theophrasti Medic.), crabgrass(Digitaria sanguinalis L.), canada thistle(Cirsium arvense L.) and prostrate knotweed(Polygonium aviculare L.) significantly inhibited germination, seedling length, weight, vigor, and rate of germination of alfalfa. The regression slopes of various top extracts showed that velvetleaf(b=3.69) extracts were the most inhibitory, while large crabgrass(b=2.39) extracts had the least allelopathic effect on alfalfa germination. Germination, seedling length and weight of alfalfa were inversely proportional to the concentration of dried velvetleaf extracts. Also, more of the toxic effects were observed from the dried extracts compared to the fresh extracts. Residue of velvetleaf inhibited significantly alfalfa emergence and survival percentage compared to the control. The emergence and survival percentage of alfalfa were 44%, 57% at 1.0% residue treatment, respectively. When weed residues were mixed with silica sand with incubation time, velvetleaf residue most inhibited alfalfa growth. The degree of inhibition increased as incubation time increased. An incubation for 72h caused the greatest inhibition of alfalfa growth. These results demonstrate the different allelopathic activity of weed species extracts on alfalfa and suggest that weed may affect alfalfa growth and development through the inhibitory effects of allelochemicals present in weed tissue.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.108 no.1
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• pp.116-126
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• 2019

The production volume and amount of non-timber forest products in Korea has been on the increase for the past five years. In particular, the production amount of wild vegetables (edible mountain plants) is approximately KRW 400 billion as of 2017, accounting for 14 % of the total production amount of non-timber forest products. Among wild vegetables, especially the production volumes and amounts of bracken, saw-wort (Saussurea), and thistle have grown steadily. Nevertheless, severe price competition with cheap imports and little changes in the pattern of wild vegetable consumption may negatively affect the prices of domestic wild vegetables. This, in turn, can decrease the overall consumption of wild vegetables. Recently, however, consumers have preferred healthy food with increases in their income and interest in health. Therefore, now is a crucial time for the wild vegetable market. Accordingly, this study analyzed consumers' purchase and consumption behavior related to wild vegetables through a consumer survey to contribute to establishing various strategies and policies for promoting the consumption of these vegetables. Also, this study identified consumers' awareness and intention regarding wild vegetables by analyzing social big data. Different from previous studies, this study investigated consumers' awareness and intention by analyzing SNS social big data, as well as conducting a survey. The results of the study will help prioritize strategies and policies for boosting the consumption of wild vegetables.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1120-1125
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• 2012

Cirsium pendulum plants were collected from Hongcheon, Pyeongchang, Wonju, Yangyang in Kangwondo, Gapyeong in Gyeongkido, and Choongju in Choongcheongbukdo. Cirsium setidens plants were collected from Taebaek in Kangwondo and Bonghwa in Kyeongsangbukdo. Genomic DNA was prepared from those plants and used for the amplification of 18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2, and part of 28S rDNA. The PCR products were sequenced, and the sequence was deposited in the GenBank. The comparison of those sequences has revealed that the rDNA sequences are identical for all six C. pendulum plants, but that the ITS1 and ITS2 sequences contain variable nucleotides. The two C. setidens plants had different nucleotides in 18S rDNA, ITS1, and ITS2. The comparison of the DNA sequences of C. pendulum and C. setidens collected in this study with C. pendulum of Hokkaido in Japan and C. japonicum of Anhui in China indicated that the plants of those three species are clearly divided into three distinct groups. The silymarin content of the collected plants was analyzed and turned out to be quite high. Therefore, it has been found that both C. pendulum and C. setidens plants are producing large amounts of silymarin, which has been reported to have various medicinal effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.243-248
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• 2015

Cirsium chanroenicum, Cirsium nipponicum, and Cirsium schantarense plants were collected from Changwon, Ulleungdo, and Dooryoon Mountain, respectively. Cirsium japonicum plants were also collected from various locations in Korea. Genomic DNA was prepared from the collected plants and used for amplification of the 18S rDNA, ITS1, 5.8S rDNA, ITS2, and part of 28S rDNA. The ITS1 and ITS2 sequences of the PCR products and from other Cirsium plants reported previously were aligned and compared. Cirsium chanroenicum, Cirsium nipponicum, and Cirsium setidens formed distinct branches on the neighbor-joining tree. Cirsium japonicum and Cirsium pendulum appeared to be close to one another, but Cirsium pendulum plants were clearly clustered in an independent clade. Cirsium shantarense was clustered with the other Cirsium japonicum plants. The most important characteristic that distinguished these two species was the direction of the flowers. All Cirsium japonicum flowers point upward, but Cirsium shantarense flowers point downward. Other than this feature, these two species are almost indistinguishable morphologically. Cirsium chanroenicum is indistinguishable morphologically from Cirsium setidens, but it still formed a distinct group on the neighbor-joining tree based on ITS sequences, suggesting that this species is worth considering as an independent species. Silymarin production of the collected plants was analyzed and appeared to be quite high, indicating that the ability to synthesize silymarin is common to all Cirsium plants analyzed so far.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.10
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• pp.776-782
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• 2023

Silymarin, which is derived from dried Silybum marianum (milk thistle) seeds and fruits, possesses various beneficial properties, such as hepatoprotective, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activity. This research aimed to explore the antioxidative activity of silymarin against oxidative stress and understand its molecular mechanism in RAW 264.7 cells. The study employed cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation assays and western blot analysis. The results demonstrated that silymarin effectively reduced intracellular ROS levels induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a dose-dependent manner without causing any cytotoxic effects. Moreover, silymarin treatment significantly upregulated the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1, a phase II enzyme known for its potent antioxidative activity. Additionally, silymarin treatment significantly induced the expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor (Nrf) 2, a transcription factor responsible for regulating antioxidative enzymes, which was consistent with the upregulated HO-1 expression. To investigate the involvement of key signaling pathways in maintaining cellular redox homeostasis against oxidative stress, the phosphorylation status of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) was estimated by western blot analysis. The results showed that silymarin potently induced HO-1 expression, which was mediated by the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. To further validate the antioxidative potential of silymarin-induced HO-1 expression, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage was employed and attenuated by silymarin treatment, as identified by a selective inhibitor for each signaling molecule. In conclusion, silymarin robustly enhanced antioxidative activity by inducing HO-1 via the Nrf2/p38 MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.340-347
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• 2019

We performed a safety survey on residual pesticides in dried agricultural products. A total of 110 samples of dried agricultural products distributed in Gyeonggi-do were analyzed for 263 pesticides according to multi class pesiticide multiresidue method. Ten types of pesticides were detected in 10 samples. Chlorpyrifos was detected in Ricinus communis leaves, chlorpyrifos, hexaconazole, pyridalyl in Chwinamul (wild aster), diniconazole, isoprothiolane, lufenuron in radish leaves, hexaconazole in Cirsium setidens (Korean thistle), bifenthrin, and chlorothalonil, boscalid, and pyraclostrobin in pepper leaves. The detection rate of pesticides was 9.1%, and among these samples, one was detected over Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs). In the validation study, the values of limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ), coefficient of determination ($R^2$) and recovery were in the range of 0.002~0.027 mg/kg, 0.006~0.083 mg/kg, 0.9964~1.0000 and 74.8~118.9%, respectively. The Positive List System (PLS) was newly introduced as part of the safety management of residual pesticide in agricultural products in Korea in 2019. With the application of the PLS, if the MRL is not established, 0.01 mg/kg limit is applied uniformly. In spite, these of strengthened residue limits, the MRLs of dried agricultural products are still insufficient. Therefore, this study could be utilized as basic data for the setting of proper MRLs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.442-449
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• 2017

We analyzed the content of total phenolic and silymarin compounds of Cirsium japonicum (CJ), and its antioxidant activities and Liver protective effects were compared with those of Silybum marianum (SM). The total phenolic content in the aerial part ($97.22{\pm}5.51mg/g$) of CJ is higher than that in the underground part ($85.32{\pm}3.06mg/g$). The total silymarin content of CJ was 55.56% of SM, with the underground part ($0.47{\pm}0.03mg/g$) having higher content than the aerial part ($0.18{\pm}0.02mg/g$). The antioxidant activity of CJ was generally slightly lower than that of milk thistle, and the underground part of CJ generally had higher activity compared to the aerial part. When CJ extracts were processed at 1 mg/ml, DPPH activities were $83.76{\pm}0.60$ and $88.28{\pm}0.17%$, and FRAP activities were $77.63{\pm}0.70$ and $82.83{\pm}0.39%$ for extracts from aerial part and underground part, respectively. ABTS activities were $68.60{\pm}1.24$ and $63.41{\pm}0.57%$ for underground and aerial part respectively when extracts were processed at 0.1 mg/ml. The Liver protective effects of CJ were higher in the extracts from underground part compared to the aerial part, Liver cells were damaged by treating them with t-BHP, $H_2O_2$ and Ethanol, and then they were treated with 0.2 mg/ml CJ extracts. The survival rates of the damaged liver cells were $49.58{\pm}0.34$, $76.87{\pm}1.10$ and $71.73{\pm}0.58%$ respectively, which were higher than the cells not treated with extracts.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Salsola collina, also known as Russian thistle, is widely distributed in and around waste facilities, roadsides, and drought and semi-drought areas, and is used as a traditional folk remedy in Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the ethanol extract of S. collina Pall. (EESC), and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects on human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. EESC exhibited anti-oxidative activity through DPPH radical scavenging capacity and showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. After EESC treatment, HT29 cells altered their morphology, becoming smaller and irregular in shape. EESC also induced cell accumulation in the G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease of cell population in the G1 phase. The G2/M arrest by EESC was associated with the increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates, or inactivates, Cdc2. EESC treatment induced the phosphorylation of Cdc2 and Cdc25C, and inhibited cyclin A and Cdc25C protein expression. In addition, S arrest was induced by the highest concentration of EESC treatment, associated with a decrease of cyclin A and Cdk2 expression. These findings suggest that EESC may possess remarkable anti-oxidative activity and exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by cell cycle regulation.