• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.7
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• pp.1263-1276
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• 2024

Objective: Pine needles are rich in many nutrients and exhibit antibacterial and antioxidant biological activities; however, the effects of different production methods of pine needle additives on the growth performance and intestinal flora of broiler chickens are not known. Methods: Normal diets were supplemented with pine needle fermentation juice (PNF), pine needle soaking juice (PNS), or pine needle powder (PNP), and the associated effects on growth performance, relative organ weights, intestinal development, intestinal histological morphology, intestinal flora, meat quality, and serum indicators in broiler chickens were observed. Results: The results showed that PNF, PNS, and PNP all significantly improved feed utilization and promoted the growth and development of broilers. All three additives also significantly improved the structure of the intestinal flora, specifically increasing the diversity of bacteria; increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Faecalibacterium, Rikenella, and Blautia; and decreasing the abundance of harmful bacteria, such as Staphylococcus. The antioxidant properties of pine needles were also found to intensify lipid metabolic reactions in the blood, thus leading to lower triglycerides and total cholesterol. Meanwhile, high doses of PNF reduced jejunum and ileum weights and also increased meat yellowness. Lastly, none of PNF, PNS, or PNP had an effect on relative organ weights or intestinal histological morphology. Conclusion: The addition of pine needles to the diet of broiler chickens can effectively promote their growth performance as well as improve their intestinal flora and serum status without side effects; in particular, the dose of 0.2% of either PNF and PNS is expected to have the capacity to replace growth-promoting antibiotics as diet additives.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.305-320
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• 1996

It is necessary to obtain information about the productivity of the human-influenced forest and to understand the consumption of biomass resources in secondary forest in order to examine the resource flux by human activity in rural landscape. Thus the aims of this study were to elucidate the biomass and their use of secondary Pinus densiflora forests and to discuss sustainable utilization of secondary forests in rural landscape system. This study was carried out in Yanghwa-ri, Kongjugun, Chungcheongnam-do, central Korea. The changes of growth rate and aboveground biomass of a pine forest for 2 years were analyzed to understand forest management regimes in rural pine forests. Through allometric equations deduced from 25 sample trees, biomass was estimated. The biomass increase of pine forest was approximately 16.36 t/ha/yr in the unexploited stand and 12.24 t/ha/yr in the exploited stand. These were nearly equal to those of natural pine forests in central Korea. This result proved that human-influenced pine forest in rural landscape as well as the natural one has high potentiality to provide forest products. Making graveyard in forest-land was the important disturbance and land-use which currently occurring in rural landscape in the study area. Finally, we presented some forest management for stutainable and positive uses of secondary forests as one of the local energy resources in terms of the holistic landscape-ecological view.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.116-125
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• 2015

Objective: This study was carried out to use pine needles as a passive air sampler (PAS) for atmospheric polychlorinared dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs). Methods: PCDD/Fs concentrations in ambient air ($C_a$, $pg/m^3$) and deposited pine needles ($C_p$, pg/g dry) were analyzed simultaneously from June 1 to December 31. Air samples were taken using two low volume PUF active air samplers with an overall average air volume of approximately $1,200Sm^3$. Pine needles were collected the end of December near the air sampler. PCDD/Fs was analyzed by HRGC/HRMs. Results: A good correlation was shown ($R^2=0.6357$, p=0.0001) between $C_a$ and $C_p$, but a better correlation ($R^2=0.7372$, p<0.0001) existed between the logarithm of octanol-air partitioning coefficient ($LogK_{oa}$) and Log($C_p/C_a$). The average PCDD/Fs sampling rates from air to pine needles were 0.045($0.018-0.185m^3/day-g\;dry$). Conclusion: It was found that pine needles can be used as PAS for atmospheric PCDD/Fs, and they are especially suitable for long time PAS compared to PUF disk PAS.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.179-186
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• 2017

This study was conducted to identify characteristics of domestic pine forest soils and to elucidate major soil influencing factors for natural regeneration. We analyzed the physico-chemical characteristics of the soil samples collected from 23 pine forests and confirmed the similar results with the forest soil characteristics. Soil pH, organic matter content, total nitrogen, exchangeable Ca, silt content, and exchangeable Al were selected as the major soil factors among the exposed soils through 10 days of pine seedlings exposure and cultivation experiments and statistical analysis. Multiple regression analysis showed that soil pH had a positive effect on specific root length (SRL) of red pine seedlings and exchangeable Al was a significant factor affecting negative change in SRL. Taken together, the reduction of exchangeable Al by soil pH adjustment would be helpful for natural regeneration by restoring the forest and improving the fine root and root integrity of pine seedlings. Therefore, soil pH and exchangeable Al could be recommended as a major soil factor to be carefully considered in the monitoring and management of soil in pine forests that need to be renewed in the future.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2009

This study was conducted to measure the concentration of PCBs in pine needles and soil in urban (Seoul, many artificial sources of PCBs), semi-rural (Anseong, small town located below Seoul in wind direction) and rural areas (Jincheon, rarely artificial sources of PCBs) in which the artificial production amount of PCBs are different. The total PCBs concentrations in pine needles, which did not show big difference in three sampling sites, were 107.5 pg/g (urban), 94.8 pg/g (semi-rural) and 78.8 pg/g (rural) respectively. The low chlorinated PCBs were major component in pine needles and the PCBs congener concentration profile of each sampling area were similar each other, and the octanol-air partitioning coefficient, Koa, highly correlated with the PCBs concentrations in pine needles. The total PCBs concentrations in soil which did show big difference in three sampling sites, were 830.0 pg/g (urban), 314.1 pg/g (semi-rural) and 136.5 pg/g (rural) respectively. The high chlorinated PCBs were major component in soil and the PCBs congener concentration profile of each sampling area were similar each other. There was no similarity between the PCBs concentration of pine needles and those of soil at each site, because of the different mechanism of deposition and volatilization processes of PCBs. The total PCBs concentrations of 2009 became 12.9 times lower than those of 2001. The reduce rate of PCB 28 was the greatest.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.308-311
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• 2010

Porous SiC samples were prepared with three types of wood (poplar, pine, big cone pine) by simply embedding the wood charcoal in a powder mixture of Si and $SiO_2$ at 1600 and $1700^{\circ}C$. The basic engineering properties such as density, porosity, pore size and distribution, and strength were characterized. The samples showed full conversion to mostly $\beta$-SiC with good retention of the cellular structure of the original wood. More rigid SiC struts were developed for $1700^{\circ}C$. They showed similar bulk density ($0.5{\sim}0.6\;g/cm^3$) and porosity (81~84%) irrespective of the type of wood. The poplar sample showed three pore sizes (1, 8, $60\;{\mu}m$) with a main size of $60\;{\mu}m$. The pine sample showed a single pore size ($20\;{\mu}m$). The big cone pine sample showed two pore sizes (10, $80\;{\mu}m$) with a main size of $10\;{\mu}m$. The bend strength was 2.5 MPa for poplar, 5.7 MPa for pine, 2.8 MPa for big cone pine, indicating higher strength with pine.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.26
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• pp.4.1-4.6
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• 2011

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine whether or not pine needles can be used as passive samplers of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using the correlation between accumulated PAH concentrations in air (Ca, ng/$m^3$) and those deposited on pine needles (Cp, ng/g dry). Methods: PAHs in ambient air was collected using low volume PUF sampler and pine needles was gathered at same place for 7 months. Results: A good correlation ($R^2$=0.8582, p<0.05) was found between Ca and Cp for PAHs with a higher gaseous state in air (AcPy, Acp, Flu, Phen, Ant, Flt, Pyr, BaA and Chry), but there was a poorer correlation ($R^2$=0.1491, p=0.5123) for the PAHs with a lower gaseous state (BbF, BkF, BaP, DahA, BghiP and Ind123). A positive correlation ($R^2$=0.8542) was revealed between the logarithm of the octanol-air partitioning coefficient ($logK_{oa}$) and Cp/Ca for the PAHs with a higher gaseous state in air, but there was a negative correlation ($R^2$=0.8131) for the PAHs with a lower gaseous state. The Ca-Cp model could not be used to estimate PAHs concentrations in air using deposited PAHs concentrations on pine needles, but the logKoa-Cp/Ca model could be used. Conclusions: It was found that pine needles can be used as passive samplers of atmospheric PAHs.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2019

The pathological condition of excessive melanogenesis causing freckles, melasma, senile lentigo, pigmented acne scars, and cancer has a critical impact on the wellness of individuals. The mechanism of melanogenesis is related to the expression of melanogenic enzymes. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of pine cone (Pinus densiflora) extracts on melanogenesis. P. densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species in the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. P. densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones are rarely used as natural raw materials, although they contain many bioactive phytochemicals. The pine cone ethyl acetate fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to B16F10 cells at a concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/mL$. PEF inhibited the expression of microphthalmiaassociated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related factors in B16F10 cells treated with 3-Isobutyl1-methylxanthine (IBMX). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural melanogenesis inhibitory agent.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2019

Pinus densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species of the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. Pinus densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones contain many bioactive phytochemicals, but they are rarely used as natural raw materials. This study was conducted to evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of pine cone extracts and its possbility of natural sources were evaluated. Pine cones were extracted with 80% methanol, concentrated and then partitioned with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was used as a sample. The Pine cone Ethyl acetate Fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of less than $50{\mu}g/ml$. PEF inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, It suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural material for anti-inflammatory agent.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.409-419
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• 2017

Although Korean red pine (Pinus densiflora) forests near temples are valuable as forests of the cultural landscape, they are likely to be deteriorated because of vegetation succession and climate changes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the vegetation structure, the pine vitality, and the site environmental characteristics of the pine forests near temples to identify the correlation between pine tree growth and location environment. We selected Chuneunsa, Wonhyosa, Jeungsimsa, and Taeansa Temples since these four areas still had the healthy pine forests. In all four studied area, the pine trees dominate the canopy layers while the deciduous broadleaf trees mostly inhabited appeared in the lower layers. The growth of pine trees in Jeungsimsa and Wonhyosa areas was not as good as Chuneunsa area where the pine trees tended to be older. We found higher total nitrogen content in soil in Jeungsimsa area than other areas, maybe because of increase in total nitrogen caused by the development of low vegetation in the area. This peculiarity may have led to the pine trees in the area to fall behind the deciduous broadleaf trees in competition for nitrogen nutrient and thus to show deteriorated growth. The altitude and the twig length showed a negative correlation as did the degree of slope and the mean importance percentage of the pine tree. In other words, the growth environment such as soil became poorer when the altitude and the degree of slope increased, and thus the growth amount and dominance of the pine trees were lower. The degree of slope showed a positive correlation with the twig length of the pine tree. Within boundaries of location environment where the pine tree forests were dominant, it seemed that growth of the pine trees was more favorable as the slope was steeper because the trees could avoid competition with deciduous broadleaf trees. On the other hand, the growth of pine trees deteriorated as the electrical conductivity of soil increased; increase in soil nutrients might have accelerated vegetation development of deciduous broadleaf trees and thus aggravated the growth environment of pine trees to negatively affect maintaining the health of the pine tree forests.