• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.289-294
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• 2014

Maesa japonica (Thunb.) is an evergreen shrub belonged to the Myrsinaceae family, which was discovered in 2006 in South Korea. And, its biological functions have not been well studied. In this study, we determined the antioxidant activities, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory effects and antimicrobial activities of methanol extract and the solvent fractions of M. japonica leaves and twigs. The highest antioxidant activity obtained by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging assay and reducing power assay was found in the ethylacetate fraction of twigs methanol extract, which contained the highest level of total phenolic compounds compared to the other fractions. In addition, ethylacetate fraction of twigs extract exhibited higher inhibitory activities against ${\alpha}$-glucosidase ($IC_{50}=0.8{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) compared to the $IC_{50}$ of the buthanol fraction ($IC_{50}=16{\mu}g/m{\ell}$) of leaves extract. It showed antimicrobial activities against Bacillus atrophaeus and Bacillus subtilis subsp. Spizizenii. Although the data is too limited, the current study is the first report on biological functions of M. japonica.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2006

Two Unrecorded species from Jeju Province are reported: Maesa japonica of Maesaceae which is unrecorded family and Cardamine tanakae of Brassicaceae. Monotypic family Maesaceae, is distinguished from Myrsinaceae and Primulaceae by having pedicels with a pair of bracteoles, flowers without staminodia, semi-inferior ovary and indehiscent fruits with many seeds. M. japonica is readily distinguishable from M. salicifolia in China and M. montana var. formosana in Taiwan and Japan by shapes of blades, corolla and bracteoles, the presence/absence of serrulation of leaf margins, ratio of length of corolla tube and corolla lobes, feature and color of fruit surface. C. tanakae is most similar to Korean endemic C. glechomifolia in morphology, however, the two taxa are readily distinguishable by the number of leaflets of cauline leaves, size of terminal leaflets, number of flowers per inflorescence, the presence of whitish hairs on ovary and fruits.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.462-469
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• 2021

Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi & Zoll. is a rare evergreen shrub that occurs in west Gotjawal, Jeju island, Korea. This study was conducted to investigate effects of an artificial shading on flowering and growth characteristics of M. japonica seedlings. The level of shading had been set to be 35%, 55% and 75% using shading net. The stage of flowering and flowering ratio, seedling height, the number of leaves and stems, leaf area were measured. Flowering timings were delayed by shading. The number of flowering seedlings per plot and inflorescences per seedling were the most in 55% shading level. Tendency of decreased seedling height with increased shading level was shown. The number of leaves and stems were the fewest values in 75% shading level. The increased biomass with decreased shading level was statistically significant. Aboveground and underground biomass were 2.1 and 1.7 times higher in shading 35% than in shading 75%, respectively. Meanwhile, all seedlings in non-shading plots were dead in winter. Such might be speculated as results of the light stress. As a result, we conclude that M. japonica vitally demands the shading for growth and the optimal shading levels for growth and flowering are 35% and 55%, respectively.