• Title/Summary/Keyword: Natural Ecology Center

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Population Characteristics of Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai, a Endemic Plants in Korea (한반도 특산식물 개느삼의 개체군 특성)

  • Kim, Sodam;Moon, Ae-Ra;An, Jong-Bin;Jung, Ji-Young;Park, Wan-Geun;Son, Sungwon
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.18-26
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    • 2020
  • Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai an endemic plant with limited distribution in some parts of the Korean Peninsula, is designated as "Endangered" species on the IUCN Red List. The species is under the threat of deterioration in nature due to various environmental changes causing loss of natural habitats. We investigated the distribution pattern and population structure of E. koreensis to serve as a basic reference for identifying the dynamics and persistence of natural populations of this species in the future. To determine the characteristics of the E. koreensis population, we laid two to three large plots sized 20m×30m on the ridgeline as the reference in Yanggu, Chuncheon, and Hongcheon and laid four to seven small quadrats sized 1m×1m on the transect. A total of 530 plots were laid, 10 each at 2m interval, to measure the number of the stems, the number of fruiting, height, and other factors. The collected distribution information was compared with the existing IUCN assessed categories by applying IUCN Red List ver 3.1 Criteria B. The average population density of the three surveyed areas was 3.47 stem/㎡; the density of each area was 3.95 stems/㎡ in Yanggu, 3.37 stems/㎡ in Chuncheon, and 2.87 stems/㎡ in Hongcheon. The number of fruiting per stem was 0.0038, indicating only 7 fruits out of 1,837 stems and that vegetative reproduction is likely to be more dominant than sexual reproduction. The distribution tendency of population density in the small plots in three surveyed areas showed that the density of E. koreensis tended to decrease toward the center of the forest with low crown openness and around the mountain ridge with high crown openness. It indicated that the quantity of light could be a very important factor for the growth of individuals of this species. The analysis of the heights of individuals present in the surveyed plots showed a range of 2.3 ~ 68.5cm and an average of 20.1cm. An analysis on the stage-structure of the E. koreensis population based on the sieve height found that the appearance frequency decreased with increasing height above 15 ~ 20cm and that the percentage of individuals lower than 10cm, which were presumed to be seedlings, was severely low, indicating a necessity of study on the population sustainability based on the monitored data. The occupied area calculated with the collected species distribution information was 200㎢, indicating the EN category according to the IUCN Red List Reference B.

The Effect on the Forest Temperature by Reduced Biomass Caused by Natural Forest Thinning (천연림 간벌에 기인한 산림생물량 감소가 산림 내부 온도에 미치는 영향 연구)

  • Kang, Rae-Yeol;Hong, Suk-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.32 no.3
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    • pp.303-312
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    • 2018
  • This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the decrease of forest biomass by forest thinning and the change of temperature in the natural forest by measuring forest biomass and temperature before and after forest thinning in the Pusan National University forest where afforestation had been carried out. We intended to investigate the relationship between the forest biomass, estimated by calculating the Basal area, Crown area and Crown volume using the same formula to the same quadrat before and after forest thinning, and the forest temperature. Temperature measurement was carried out on April 20, 2016 through 28 before forest thinning, July 26, 2016 through November 4 around the time of forest thinning, and April 15, 2017 through May 8 after forest thinning. A temperature data logger was installed to point north at the height of 2.0 m above the ground in the center of the quadrat to record data every 10 minutes during the measurement periods. We used the AWS (Automatic Weather Station) data of the Dongnae-gu area located in the nearby city because it was difficult to set the control group since the whole forest was the subject to the forest thinning. The analysis of the relationship between forest biomass change and temperature showed that the change in temperature inside the forest was the greatest in the midday (12:00 - 15: 00) and was highly correlated with the Crown volume in the forest biomass. The temperature increase was much larger (average $1.91^{\circ}C$) 1 year after forest thinning than immediately after forest thinning (average $0.74^{\circ}C$). The comparison of the decrease rate of Crown volume and the increase in temperature showed that the Pitch pine community, which showed the highest decrease of Crown volume by 15.4%, recorded the highest temperature rise of $1.06^{\circ}C$ immediately after forest thinning and $2.49^{\circ}C$ 1 year after forest thinning. The Pitch pine-Korean red pine community, which showed the lowest Crown volume reduction rates with 5.0%, recorded no significant difference immediately after forest thinning but a temperature rise of $0.92^{\circ}C$ 1 year after forest thinning. The results confirmed that the decrease of forest biomass caused by forest thinning led to a rapid increase of the internal temperature. The fact that the temperature increase was more severe after 1 year than immediately after forest thinning confirmed that the microclimate changes due to the removed biomass cannot be recovered in a short time.

Change of Green Space Arrangement and Planting Structure of Apartment Complexes in Seoul (서울시 아파트단지의 녹지배치 및 식재구조 변화 연구)

  • Lee, Dong-Wook;Lee, Kyong-Jae;Han, Bong-Ho;Jang, Jae-Hoon;Kim, Jong-Yup
    • Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.1-17
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    • 2012
  • This study was carried out to propose the improved method by analyzing the change of green space arrangement and planting structure of apartment complexes in Seoul. 12 survey sites, which have obvious differences, were selected by reflecting the change of floor area ratio, underground parking place, and green space ratio. We divided the survey sites into four types that high green ratio(over 40%) apartment on natural ground, low green ratio(under 40%) apartment on natural ground, low green ratio(under 40%) apartment on artificial ground, and high green ratio(over 40%) apartment on artificial ground each period based on green space ratio and ground structure, plant crown volume, planting density, and planting pattern. The main factors of change of green space arrangement were green space ratio and ground structure. The Green space ratio was changed by the floor area ratio with constructing underground parking place and floor area ratio was adjusted by government policy and economic status. Average width of front green area has been changed from 10.0m in high green ratio apartment on natural ground for 3.5m, 2.7m, and 4.5m each period. The average width of the buffer green area has been changed from 15.0m in high green ratio apartment on natural ground of 7.7m, and 2.7m by extending parking place in the low green ratio apartment of artificial ground, so buffer green areas have been reduced and disconnected. So buffer green area in apartment complexes has been extended that the average width of the buffer green area was 3.8m caused by growing recognition of green since 2001. The ratio of native plant in canopy layer was increased from 45.1 % in the case of the high green ratio apartment of natural ground in 1980~1983 to 55.6%. Average plant crown volume increased from $1.27m^3/m^2$ in high green ratio apartment on natural ground for $3.47m^3/m^2$ in a low green ratio apartment on natural ground. But average plant crown volume is $0.27m^3/m^2$ in the high green ratio apartment of the artificial ground plant density of canopy layer was changed from 5 individuals per $100m^2$ to 14.5 individuals per $100m^2$. We should construct the buffer green area with natural ground and get the function of ecological and beautiful environment regarding to garden concept in case of front green area, width 4.5m. We should get the function of increasing green volume by multi-layer planting with shade woody species and flower woody species in case of back-side green area, width over 5.0m. We should get the function of covering the wall and increasing green landscape by planting with high woody species in case of side green area. We should apply the ecological planting technique to buffer green area and connect buffer green area to inner green area in apartment complexes.

Spawning and Adaptation Characteristics Inside the Mussel, Unio douglasiae of Autumn Spawning Bitterling, Acheilognathus rhombeus (Pisces: Acheilognathinae) (추계산란종 납지리, Acheilognathus rhombeus (Pisces: Acheilognathinae)의 말조개, Unio douglasiae 내 산란과 적응특성)

  • Kim, Hyeongsu;Park, Jongsung;Kim, Hyuntae
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.34 no.4
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    • pp.274-281
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    • 2020
  • This study aimed to investigate the autumn spawning by bitterling (A. rhombeus) inside mussel (Unio douglasiae) and the adaptation characteristics at the Bongseocheon Stream of Mankyeonggang River. The survey was carried out between August 2015 and July 2016. The spawning season was from September to November, and 17-75 (36.2 ± 16.44) eggs were found from mature females. During the survey period, 476 mussels were collected, 129 (27.1%) of spawned A. rhombeus. Mussels that spawned eggs, embryos, and larva of A. rhombeus (46.3 ± 4.55 mm, n = 129) were larger than than those that did not spawn (42.6 ± 8.51 mm, n = 347). The appearance frequency of A. rhombeus larva before and after the formation of lens was 99.8% (n = 597) vs. 0.2% (n = 1) from October 2015 to March 2016, 25.6% (n = 23) vs. 74.4% (n = 67) in April 2016, 0% (n = 0) vs. 100% (n = 40) on May 2016. The number of eggs, embryos, and larvae of A. rhombeus inside the mussels were 1-18 (5.6 ± 3.81). The number and appearance frequency of A. rhombeus eggs, embryos, and larvae inside the mussel according to mussel gill demibranchs position were 1 (0.01 ± 0.09, n = 1) and 0.78% in the left outer demibranch, 1-18 (2.33 ± 3.31, n = 63) and 48.84% in the left inner demibranch, 1-15 (2.97 ± 3.79, n = 76) and 58.91% in the right inner demibransh, and 1-12 (0.33 ± 1.71, n = 7) and 5.43% in the right outer demibransh. The highest frequency of the developmental position of eggs, embryos, and larvae occurred 71.8% (n = 445) in lower part 3 (L3) before formation lens and 94.4% (n = 102) in L3 after formation lens, indicating that L3 was dominating position for eggs, embryos, and larvae. More eggs, embryos, and larvae of A. rhombeus were found more often in the inner demibranshs than outer demibranchs. Since A. rhombeus is a species that spawn in the autumn and thus avoids the competition with interspecific and glochidia. However, they have to spend the winter in low water temperature. Consequently, we assume that A. rhombeus have evolved toward embryonic diapause under the low water temperature before the formation of lens and spawning inside the supracranchial cavity to save the transit energy from the water space to the suprabranchial cavity after the achieving movement ability with the formation of lens.

A study on Restoration Plan of Cultural Forest and Change of $Pinus$ $densiflora$ Forest in Inwangsan(Mt.), Seoul (인왕산 소나무림의 경관변화와 문화경관림 복원방안 연구)

  • Cho, Jun-Soo;Lee, Kyong-Jae;Han, Bong-Ho;Ki, Kyong-Seok
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.26 no.2
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    • pp.219-232
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    • 2012
  • The purpose of this study was to find characteristics of $Pinus$ $densiflora$ forests in previous records and cultural landscape regions and to establish a management method for recovery of $P.$ $densiflora$ landscape. A total of 16 landscape paintings were analyzed to study $P.$ $densiflora$ forests in Inwangsan(Mt.) shown in figure data. As a result of analyzing figure data, $P.$ $densiflora$ $forests$ were found to be distributed mainly in the ridge line of east slope side of Inwangsan(Mt.) from landscape paintings of Jung Seon, Jang Si Heung and Gang Hee Un. In order to analyze the landscape of $P.$ $densiflora$ forests shown in photograph data on Inwangsan(Mt.), photographs of Inwangsan(Mt.) since late 1800s were searched and a total of 24 photographs were used for analysis. As a result of photographic analysis, $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were found to be distributed mainly in the low area and ridge line of western slope side of Inwangsan(Mt.). As a result of analyzing the distribution status of 10 cultural heritages of Inwangsan(Mt.), cultural heritages in the mountain were mainly established with rocks and $P.$ $densiflora$ forests as the background and are establishing their landscape not only as a form of cultural heritage but also including the natural landscape in the background. A method of restoring cultural landscape of P. densiflora forests was necessary. As a result of analyzing 26 rock beds of Inwangsan(Mt.), most of $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were distributed nearby rock beds since the past. Among such regions, restoration and management of introduced species in the accumulated soil regions to $P.$ $densiflora$ forests were deemed necessary. As a result of analyzing current vegetation of $P.$ $densiflora$ forest areas of the past, 51.87% of areas maintained $P.$ $densiflora$ forest and 25.80% were changed to artificial forests. Most of low areas of the mountain were turned into urban area (10.16%). Management type for restoration of $P.$ $densiflora$ landscape of Inwangsan(Mt.) was classified into preservation, $P.$ $densiflora$ restoration and maintenance. Preservation management was configured as $P.$ $densiflora$ distribution and rocky area distribution. The targets of $P.$ $densiflora$ restoration were indigenous broad-leaf trees, vegetation areas with introduced species and damaged regions within the mountain. The targets of maintenance were urban area in the low area of Inwangsan(Mt.) and military base at the top of the mountain.

Comparison of the Vegetation Structure between Base Mountain and Residual Mountain in the Urban Area, Wonju (원주시 도심 거점산림과 잔존산림의 식생구조 비교 연구)

  • Cho, Woo;Han, Bong-Ho;Choi, Jin-Woo;Noh, Tai-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.25 no.5
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    • pp.767-786
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    • 2011
  • This study analyzed and compared characteristic of vegetation structure in Bonghwa mountain, the base Mt. outside urban area, and Hakseoung neighborhood park, Ilsan neighborhood park and Musil neighborhood park, disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area of Wonju. Regarding vegetation of urban forest in Wonju, Quercus mongolica forest and Robinia pseudo-acacia forest were widely distributed in the base Mt. outside urban area. Quercus acutissima forest and Robinia pseudo-acacia forest were widely distributed in the disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. Forests in both areas were managed as part of forest management campaign. Analysis on importance value of a community classified by DCA and DBH class categorized communities into three groups according to the expected ecological succession. Community B was the one to be maintained as Pinus densiflora community. Community A, D and d were expected to be maintained as Quercus spp. Community. Community C, E, F, e, f and g were classified as exotic plant community. Ecological succession was suspended in both base Mt. outside urban area and disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. However, importance value of Quercus spp. which appeared in the understory layer and shrub layer and their DBH class showed that the potential for ecological succession of exotic plant community was higher in base Mt. outside urban area than disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area. According to the analysis on number of species and individuals and species diversity, understory and shrub layer were reduced due to Forest Management campaign and plant species which appear at an earlier stage of succession varied as time went by since the campaign began. Species diversity comparison between natural and artificial forest showed no clear difference in both base Mt. outside urban area and disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area due to man-made disruption such as thinning and brush cutting. Six communities in base Mt. outside urban area had 17.76~52.22% of similarity index. Four communities in disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area showed 13.34~37.01% of similarity index, which was lower than base Mt. outside urban area. Among naturalized plants, Tupatorium rugosum and Phytolacca americana appeared more in disconnected residual Mt. inside urban area.

Changes of Vegetation Structure in Naejangsan District, Najangsan National Park for Twenty Years(1991~2010), Korea (내장산국립공원 내장산지구 20년간(1991~2010년) 식생구조 변화 연구)

  • Bae, Ji-Yoon;Kim, Ji-Suk;Lee, Kyong-Jae;Kim, Jong-Yup;Yeum, Jung-Hun
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.27 no.1
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    • pp.99-112
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    • 2013
  • This study aims to show the changes of characteristics of vegetation structure for 20 years(1991~2010) in Naejangsan National Park. As a result of analysis of actual vegetation, the mixed community of Quercus variabilis and Quercus serrata was distributed with 56.1%, and Q. variabilis community showed in southern steep slope with 17.6%. Pinus densiflora community(5.8%) was observed on the ridge and Carpinu tschonoskii community distributed in the slope of the valley with 6.6%. Zelkova serrata and Prunus sargentii community were distributed in valley. The classification by TWINSPAN, ordination by DCA considering importance percentage and property of vegetation class were divided into 4 communities, which are community I(P. densiflora-Q. variabilis community), community II(Q. variabilis community), community III(C. tschonoskii community) and community IV(Mixed deciduous broad-leaved trees community). The age of Pinus densiflora was 32years old and Q. serrata was 36 years old in the community I, that of Q. variabilis was 64 years old in the community II, Q. serrata was 46 years old and C. tschonoskii was 45 years old in the community III, and Acer palmatum was 54 years old and Cornus controversa was 47 years old in the community IV. As the result of Shannon's index of species diversity, the community Iwas ranged from 0.9751 to 1.4199, community II was ranged from 1.0765 to 1.3278, community III was ranged from 1.0353 to 1.2881, and community IV was ranged from 1.1412 to 1.3807. The change of vegetation structure analyzed through the comparison with results of studies carried out 20 years ago were natural selection of P. densiflora, expansion of Quercus spp. and increase of C. tschonoskii. Especially, A. palmatum is dominated by Q. variabilis in canopy layer like the result of study 20 years ago. A. palmatum was analysed by 14.6% in the canopy layer of only mixed deciduous broad-leaved trees community. As a result of analysis of habitat property of Q. variabilis and A. palmatum, Q. variabilis was distributed in dry area with the low value of pH, O.M., exchangeable cations and Avail. P, and A. palmatum was located in the wet valley with huge value of nourishment. The tendency of reduction of bio-diversity by Sasa borealis is same as previous study but, the distributed areas were reduced in Naejangsan area.

Biodiversity and Characteristic Communities Structure of Freshwater Ecosystems in the Western Area of DMZ, Korea (민통선이북지역(DMZ) 서부평야 일대의 수생태계 생물다양성 및 군집 특성)

  • Jung, Sang-Woo;Kim, Yoon-Ho;Kim, Hyun-Mac;Kim, Su-Hwan
    • Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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    • v.32 no.6
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    • pp.603-617
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    • 2018
  • This study surveyed the diversity and community characteristics of benthic macroinvertebrates and freshwater fish, which are the main animal classifications in a hydro ecosystem, from May to September 2017 in the western plains of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). The results showed a total of 125 species of benthic macroinvertebrates belonging to 66 families, 19 orders, and four phyla in the streams and wetlands. Among benthic macroinvertebrates, Coleoptera (27 spp.: 21.60%) was the largest group in terms of species richness followed by Odonata (26 spp.: 20.80%), non-Insecta (22 spp.: 17.60%), and Hemiptera (11 spp.: 8.80%) occupying in the lentic area. Of the feeding function groups (FFGs), predators (51 spp.: 56.67%) showed a relatively larger presence, indicating the dominance of hygrophilous invertebrates that usually inhabit the freshwater wetlands or ponds. Of the habitat oriented groups (HOGs), climbers (33 spp.: 24.44%) and burrowers (17 spp.: 12.59%) were the dominant groups. This observation is typical in a slow flowing habitat and can lead to the disturbance of the ecosystem due to cannibalism among predators. Cannibalism can be caused by stress induced by various population and environmental factors. For the ecosystem services benchmark (ESB) value, site 13 appeared to be the highest with 82 marks while other sites showed relatively lower rates and indices (III water quality class with ${\alpha}$-mesosaprobic). The analysis result of stability factors showed that almost all sites were evaluated to be the I characteristic group with high resilience and resistance or the III characteristic group that was sensitive to environmental disturbance and formed uneven and unstable communities. Of the freshwater fishes, 46 species (3,405 individuals) belonging to 39 families and 18 orders were identified in all the investigated sites. Among them, Cyprinidae (30 spp.: 65.2%) was the largest group, and Zacco koreanus was identified as the dominant species (728 individuals, 21.4%). The survey of freshwater fish communities found both stable communities (sites 7 and 13) with low dominant index (0.39) and high diversity index (2.29) and unstable communities (sites 2, 3, 8, and 10) in opposite tendency. This survey found five Korean endemic species, 17 species belonging to the export controlled species, two endangered species level II (Lethocerus deyrollei and Cybister chinensis), and rare species (Dytiscus marginalis czerskii) among benthic macroinvertebrates. The survey also found an invasive species, Ampullarius insularus, which was distributed throughout the whole area and thus can continuously disturb the ecosystem in the western plain area in the DMZ. Of freshwater fish, one natural monument (Hemibarbus mylodon) and three endangered species level II (Acheilognathus signifer, Gobiobotia macrocephalus, and G. brevibarba) were observed. The survey also found four introduced species (Pomacea canaliculate, Carassius cuvieri, Lepomis macrochirus, Micropterus salmoides) in the western DMZ area, indicating the need for the protection and conservation measures.

THE ECOLOGY, PHYTOGEOGRAPHY AND ETHNOBOTANY OF GINSENG

  • Hu Shiu Ying
    • Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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    • 1978.09a
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    • pp.149-157
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    • 1978
  • Ginseng is the English common name for the species in the genus Panax. This article gives a broad botanical review including the morphological characteristics, ecological amplitude, and the ethnobotanical aspect of the genus Panax. The species of Panax are adapted for life in rich loose soil of partially shaded forest floor with the deciduous trees such as linden, oak, maple, ash, alder, birch, beech, hickory, etc. forming the canopy. Like their associated trees, all ginsengs are deciduous. They require annual climatic changes, plenty of water in summer, and a period of dormancy in winter. The plant body of ginseng consists of an underground rhizome and an aerial shoot. The rhizome has a terminal bud, prominent leafscars and a fleshy root in some species. It is perennial. The aerial shoot is herbaceous and annual. It consists of a single slender stem with a whorl of digitately compound leaves and a terminal umbel bearing fleshy red fruits after flowering. The yearly cycle of death and renascence of the aerial shoot is a natural phenomenon in ginseng. The species of Panax occur in eastern North America and eastern Asia, including the eastern portion of the Himalayan region. Such a bicentric generic distributional pattern indicates a close floristic relationship of the eastern sides of two great continental masses in the northern hemisphere. It is well documented that genera with this type of disjunct distribution are of great antiquity. Many of them have fossil remains in Tertiary deposits. In this respect, the species of Panax may be regarded as living fossils. The distribution of the species, and the center of morphological diversification are explained with maps and other illustrations. Chemical constituents confirm the conclusion derived from morphological characters that eastern Asia is the center of species concentration of Panax. In eastern North America two species occur between longitude $70^{\circ}-97^{\circ}$ Wand latitude $34^{\circ}-47^{\circ}$ N. In eastern Asia the range of the genus extends from longitude $85^{\circ}$ E in Nepal to $140^{\circ}$ E in Japan, and from latitude $22^{\circ}$ N in the hills of Tonkin of North Vietnam to $48^{\circ}$ N in eastern Siberia. The species in eastern North America all have fleshy roots, and many of the species in eastern Asia have creeping stolons with enlarged nodes or stout horizontal rhizomes as storage organs in place of fleshy roots. People living in close harmony with nature in the homeland of various species of Panax have used the stout rhizomes or the fleshy roots of different wild forms of ginseng for medicine since time immemorial. Those who live in the center morphological diversity are specific both in the application of names for the identification of species in their communication and in the use of different roots as remedies to relieve pain, to cure diseases, or to correct physiological disorders. Now, natural resources of wild plants with medicinal virtue are extremely limited. In order to meet the market demand, three species have been intensively cultivated in limited areas. These species are American ginseng (P. quinquefolius) in northeastern United States, ginseng (P. ginseng) in northeastern Asia, particularly in Korea, and Sanchi (P. wangianus) in southwestern China, especially in Yunnan. At present hybridization and selection for better quality, higher yield, and more effective chemical contents have not received due attention in ginseng culture. Proper steps in this direction should be taken immediately, so that our generation may create a richer legacy to hand down to the future. Meanwhile, all wild plants of all species in all lands should be declared as endangered taxa, and they should be protected from further uprooting so that a. fuller gene pool may be conserved for the. genus Panax.

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An International Collaborative Program To Discover New Drugs from Tropical Biodiversity of Vietnam and Laos

  • Soejarto, Djaja D.;Pezzuto, John M.;Fong, Harry H.S.;Tan, Ghee Teng;Zhang, Hong Jie;Tamez, Pamela;Aydogmus, Zeynep;Chien, Nguyen Quyet;Franzblau, Scott G.;Gyllenhaal, Charlotte;Regalado, Jacinto C.;Hung, Nguyen Van;Hoang, Vu Dinh;Hiep, Nguyen Tien;Xuan, Le Thi;Hai, Nong Van;Cuong, Nguyen Manh;Bich, Truong Quang;Loc, Phan Ke;Vu, Bui Minh;Southavong, Boun Hoong
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.8 no.1
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2002
  • An International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) program based at the University of Illinois at Chicago initiated its activities in 1998, with the following specific objectives: (a) inventory and conservation of of plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and of medicinal plants of Laos; (b) drug discovery (and development) based on plants of Vietnam and Laos; and (c) economic development of communities participating in the ICBG project both in Vietnam and Laos. Member-institutions and an industrial partner of this ICBG are bound by a Memorandum of Agreement that recognizes property and intellectual property rights, prior informed consent for access to genetic resources and to indigenous knowledge, the sharing of benefits that may arise from the drug discovery effort, and the provision of short-term and long-term benefits to host country institutions and communities. The drug discovery effort is targeted to the search for agents for therapies against malaria (antimalarial assay of plant extracts, using Plasmodium falciparum clones), AIDS (anti-HIV-l activity using HOG.R5 reporter cell line (through transactivation of the green fluorescent protein/GFP gene), cancer (screening of plant extracts in 6 human tumor cell lines - KB, Col-2, LU-l, LNCaP, HUVEC, hTert-RPEl), tuberculosis (screening of extracts in the microplate Alamar Blue assay against Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra\;and\;H_{37}Rv),$ all performed at UIC, and CNS-related diseases (with special focus on Alzheimer's disease, pain and rheumatoid arthritis, and asthma), peformed at Glaxo Smith Kline (UK). Source plants were selected based on two approaches: biodiversity-based (plants of Cuc Phuong National Park) and ethnobotany-based (medicinal plants of Cuc Phuong National Park in Vietnam and medicinal plants of Laos). At mc, as of July, 2001, active leads had been identified in the anti-HIV, anticancer, antimalarial, and anti- TB assay, after the screening of more than 800 extracts. At least 25 biologically active compounds have been isolated, 13 of which are new with anti-HIV activity, and 3 also new with antimalarial activity. At GSK of 21 plant samples with a history of use to treat CNS-related diseases tested to date, a number showed activity against one or more of the CNS assay targets used, but no new compounds have been isolated. The results of the drug discovery effort to date indicate that tropical plant diversity of Vietnam and Laos unquestionably harbors biologically active chemical entities, which, through further research, may eventually yield candidates for drug development. Although the substantial monetary benefit of the drug discovery process (royalties) is a long way off, the UIC ICBG program provides direct and real-term benefits to host country institutions and communities.