• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.177-183
• /
• 2002

The extracts from approximately 40 different Korean traditional medicines were prepared to investigate the antimicrobial activities against poultry disease-related bacteria. Among tested, the extracts of Schizandra chinensis (SC), Melia azedarach (MA), Caesalpinia sappan (CS) and Rhus javanica (RJ) exhibited significant antimicrobial activities against Salmonella gallinarum, whereas the extracts of Elsholtzia ciliata (EC), Myristica fragrans (MF), Alpinia katsumadai (AK), Poncirus trifoliata (PT), Prunella vulgaris (PV), CS and RJ exhibited antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of MA, CS and RJ extracts against S. gallinarum were 1.2 mg/ml, whereas MIC of RJ extract for S. aureus was 0.6 ㎎/ml, which was the lowest among tested. The antimicrobial activities of SC and RJ extracts against S. gallinarum were reduced, but those of AK and CS extracts against S. aureus were not affected by heating treatment. The antimicrobial activities of SC extract against S. gallinarum and those of EC, PT and RJ extracts against S. aureus were stable by acid treatment but unstable by alkaline treatment. those of CS extract was not effected by either acid or alkaline treatment. The growth of all bacteria was significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 100 ppm and 300 ppm of RJ and CS extracts, respectively, compared with the control group. In conclusion, these findings suggest that RJ and CS extracts may play important roles for antimicrobial activities against poultry disease-related bacteria.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.84-96
• /
• 2007

The purpose of this study was to select herbaceous plants that can be used for presenting various views and biodiversity on the extensive rooftop greening. Experiment plots were constructed in July 2005 on the rooftop of the Administration Building in the Seoul Women's University. For this experiment, planters were used to design rooftop greening. The size of a planter is 500mm${\times}$500mm${\times}$100mm and each planter has the water storage plate in the lower part of it. The soil was constructed by mixing pearlite, vermiculite, cocopeat, and leaf mold in the ratio of 6 : 2 : 1 : 1. The plot was divided into the watered plot and the dry plot. Since each plot was constructed 2 times, finally 4 planters were constructed in total. One hundred species were used for the experiment and 9 plants per species were planted in each planter. Plants were organized according to types of plants and the experiment used 86 native herbaceous plants, 6 herbs, and 8 foreign plants. The plots were monitored once a month, from July to November 2005. The length and width of plants were tape-measured and covering rate was calculated by CAD program. "SPSS 10.1" was used for a statistical analysis. The result showed no significant difference between the watered plots and the dry plots. In cases of some plants, there were statistically significant differences between the watered planter and dry planter such as follows : Astilbe chinensis and Polygonatum odoratum which are shade plants were measured as the highest value on the watered pots, and Aquilegia buergeriana, Chrysanthemum zawadskii, Calendula arvensis and Gypsophila cerastioides D.Don which are sunny plants were measured as the highest value on the dry plots. According to the final analysis of the data collected and observed for growth condition during the first year of the research, 51 species including Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina and Veronica linaiaefolia in native herbaceous plant, 5 species with Lavandula angustifolia in herbs, and 3 species with Lantana camara and Muscari armeniacum in foreign plants showed the highest growth condition. In conclusion, it is suggested that various plants including sedums could be effectively used for extensive rooftop greening to improve landscape(a view) of the rooftop and increase ecological values.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.22-29
• /
• 2013

This research was carried out for revealing the co-relationships between insect-pollinators and the plant species of Labiatae and Umbelliferae, insects visiting in flower and the flowers in Korea, were studied from April 2010 to August 2012. The sum of flower visiting degrees in Labiatae are shown 21 in Hymenoptera, 16 in Lepidoptera, and the lowest 1 in Diptera and Coleoptera, respectively. The sum of flower visiting degrees in Umbelliferae are shown 27 in Diptera, 24 in Hymenoptera, 21 in Coleoptera, and 13 in Lepidoptera, respectively. 17 pollinator species visited the flower of Angelica gigas, next 15 pollinator species did the flower of Agastache rugosa, 13 pollinator species did the flower of Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina. 13 pollinator species foraged on the flower of Peucedanum terebinthaceum. and then 11 pollinator species on the flower of Angelica dahurica. Only 1 pollinator species visited the flower of Clinopodium chinense var. grandiflora and Isodon excisus. Pollinators of Coleoptera and Diptera visit more frequently to the flowers of Umbelliferae than those of Labiatae. Pollinators of Lepidoptera and Diptera visit more frequently white flower than purple one. This study found out that mutualistic relations between plants and insect pollinators in Korea.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.65 no.3
• /
• pp.121-128
• /
• 2022

This study explored plant-derived natural antioxidants by evaluating the antioxidant activity of Lamiaceae plant seed extracts. Plants with the percentage of filled seeds at or above 90% and seed germination at or above 50% were selected. Of the ten species studied, the total phenolic content of the seeds was high in the species Phlomis umbrosa Turcz. (6.2 mg GAEs/g of seeds) and Elsholtzia ciliata (Thunb.) Hyl. (4.5 mg GAEs/g of seeds). The total flavonoid content of the seeds was high in E. ciliata (1.0 mg QEs/g of seeds) and P. umbrosa (0.6 mg QEs/g of seeds). Based on the EC₅₀ value of the seed extracts, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity was high in the seeds of the plants E. ciliata (27.5 ㎍/mL), Mosla dianthera (Buch.-Ham. ex Roxb.) Maxim. (29.2 ㎍/mL), and Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Nakai (33.3 ㎍/mL). In addition, 2,2'-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging activity was high in P. vulgaris var. lilacina (25.6 ㎍/mL), E. ciliata (25.9 ㎍/mL), and M. dianthera (27.6 ㎍/mL) seeds. The ferric reducing antioxidant power of the seed extracts was high in P. vulgaris var. lilacina (2910.4 µM Fe(II)/g of extract), E. ciliata (2836.2 µM Fe(II)/g of extract), and M. dianthera (2754.4 µM Fe(II)/g of extract). According to the cluster analysis based on antioxidant activity, the seeds of the ten species were classified into three groups, from group 1 with low antioxidant activity to group 3 with high antioxidant activity; E. ciliata, M. dianthera, and P. vulgaris var. lilacina were classified as group 3.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.80 no.2
• /
• pp.162-176
• /
• 1991

For the purpose of contributing to wild birds protection and propagation, distribution characteristics and ecological breeding habitats were surveyed in Mt. Chiri from September, 1986 to December, 1989 by the use of the nestboxes installed in four study sites by the altitude. The results were as follows ; 1. During the study period, observed birds were 2,403 individuals belong to 59 species, especially, at the 1,400m above altitude the rare species, Falco tinnunculus and the protecting bird species such as Ninox scutulata, Strix aluco and Prunella collaris were observed. 2. In the inhabitation structure of birds by the altitude, Fringilla montfringilla was the highest dominance (41.33%) among the inhabitated birds in the surveyed area. 3. Phasianus colchicus and Streptopelia orientalis which were mainly inhabited in hilly area were observed until the altitude of 900m. 4. The 92.5% of nest boxes was mainly used by the small birds, Parus spp. and Sitta europaea. These species preferred the nest boxes installed at the edge or along the mountaineering path, because they could get food and water easily from those places. 5. The utilization rate of the nest boxes was showed 86% at 500m, 96% at 900m, 98% at 1,400m and 90% at 1,700m above the altitude, respectively. 6. The breeding rate of birds in the nest boxes was showed from 6% to 46% by altitude. Parus varius was the highest breeding species in the surveyed area. These birds inhabited above 500m laid eggs from 15th, April to 22th, May(n=22), but those above 1,700m laid eggs from 28th, April to 27th, May(n=13), that 13 days were delayed at high altitude. 7. Food items of the chicks of the 5 species collected by the collar method were animal matters ; 91.3% of the food was forest insects such as Phalera asiimilis and Pleuroptya batteata except 8.7% of spiders.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
• /
• v.85 no.1
• /
• pp.1-14
• /
• 1996

The object of this study was to examine the effects of air pollution on forest vegetation structure in the vinicity of Sasang industrial complex in Korea. Forest vegetation structure was investigated at 19 sample plots surrounding industrial complex and at one site away from industrial complex as a control. The results obtained were as follows; 1. For analysis of vegetation structure, upperstory of forests was mostly consisted of Pinus thunbergii, and partly of Alnus firma and Robinia pseudoacacia. In midstory, major components were Pinus thunbergii, Robinia pseudoacacia, Rhus trichocarpa, Rhus chinensis and Styrax japonica, In lower story, Pinus thunbergii was a minor component, while Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus serrata, Rhus trichocarpa. and Rhododendron yedoense var. poukhanense which were known to be resistant to air pollution were found in large number. Especially, importance percentage of Robinia pseudoacacia was high, while that of Rhododendron mucronulatum was low in surrounding industrial complex. 2. For woody plants, number of species, species diversity and similarity index in industrial complex, were not significantly different from those in control plot. 3. For herbs, Oplismenus undulatifolius appeared in large number in most plots. The $SDR_3$ of Miscanthus sinensis, Calamagrostis arundinacea, Paederia scandens, Spodiopogon cotulifer and Carex humilis were high, but that of Aster scaber, Saussurea seoulensis, Solidago virgaaurea var. asiatica and Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina were low in the vicinity of industrial complex. 4. Number of herb species decreased to below 10 species at surrounding industrial complex as compared to 20 species in the control plot. In addition species diversity, and similarity index in the industrial complex were lower than those in control plot. It may be concluded that Pinus thunbergii forests in industrial complex consists of tree species resistant to air pollution, and that composition of woody vegetation in industrial complex was not much different from control plot, while composition of herbs was already quite different between the two plots. Forest vegetation structure, therefore, may change with time due to air pollution in the industrial complex.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.19 no.4
• /
• pp.491-496
• /
• 2006

Antimicrobial activity of 18 different traditional medicinal herbs extracts against Staphylococcus aureus was determined by a paper disc method. The Prunella vulgaris, Caesalpinia sappan and Rhus javanica extracts in 5 mg/ml, Poncirus trifoliata, Lonicera japonica and Seutellaria baicalensis extracts in 10 mg/ml and Schizandra chinensis, Alpinia katsumadai, Siegesbeckia orientalis extracts in 30 mg/ml showed a significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of medicinal herbs extracts were in the range of $1{\sim}34\;mg/ml$ and $1{\sim}46\;mg/ml$, in the case of MeOH extracts and EtOH extracts, respectively. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of each solvent fraction was most significant with EtOAc layer. Optical density at 620nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 100, 300 or 500 ppm of Caesalpinia sappan extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Caesalpinia sappan extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 100 ppm of Caesalpinia sappan extract. Optical density at 620 nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 300 ppm of Rhus javanica extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.03 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Rhus javanica extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was also significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 300 ppm of Rhus javanica extract. Optical density at 620 nm after 24 hours incubation of Staphylococcus aureus in the presence of 300 ppm of Seutellaria baicalensis extract ranged from 0.02 to 0.07 compared to 0.4 in the absence of Seutellaria baicalensis extract, indicating that growth of Staphylococcus aureus was also significantly inhibited within 24 hours by the addition of at least 300 ppm of Seutellaria baicalensis extract. In conclusion, these findings suggest that extracts from medicinal herbs may play important roles for antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.225-230
• /
• 2008

Diabetes mellitus is the fifth leading cause of death among Koreans. Control of hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia is strongly correlated with decrease in risks for cardiovascular diseases, the most common and fatal diabetic complication. The effects of chronic feeding of a mixture of Chinese herbs on blood lipid profile were measured in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus, db/db mice (C57BL/Ks). The Chinese herb mixture was composed of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer,Astragalus membranaceus, Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lycium chinense, Morus, Pueraria thunbergiana, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus, Schizandra chinensis, Scutellaria baicalensis, Dioscorea batatas, Polygonatum doratumvar. pluriflorum, Paeonia lactiflora, and Rehmannia glutinosa in a ratio of 1 : 0.7 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.4 : 0.7 : 1.1 : 0.9 : 0.4 : 0.4 : 0.7 :0.7 : 0.9 : 0.9. Methanol extract of the Chinese herb mixture was tested for the inhibitory activity against yeast ${\alpha}$-glucosidase in vitro. The Chinese herb mixture extract inhibited ${\alpha}$-glucosidase by 25.2% at the concentration of 0.5mg/mL. Four weekold male db/db mice (n = 14) were fed AIN-93G semipurified diet or diet containing 10% powder of the Chinese herb mixture for 6 weeks after 1 week of adaptation period. Body weight (39.5 ${\pm}$ 1.6 g) and food intake (4.3 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (40.4 ${\pm}$ 2.6 g and 4.5 ${\pm}$ 0.6 g/day). Consumption of Chinese herb mixture significantly decreased plasma glucose level (442.5 ${\pm}$ 36.0mg/dL) compared with the control group (489.8 ${\pm}$ 34.6 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Plasma cholesterol level (159.2 ${\pm}$ 18.4 mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group was significantly lower than that of the control group (185.4 ${\pm}$ 13.7 mg/dL, p < 0.05). Blood glycated hemoglobin (6.3 ${\pm}$ 0.8%) and plasma triglyceride levels (99.4 ${\pm}$ 15.0mg/dL) of the Chinese herb group were not significantly different from those of the control group (6.7 ${\pm}$ 0.7% and 108.8 ${\pm}$ 11.0mg/dL). Thus, the Chinese herb mixture could be useful in the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular complications of diabetes.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.135-153
• /
• 2021

The demilitarized zone (DMZ) is a border barrier with 248 kilometers in length and about 4 kilometers in width crossing east to west to divide the Korean Peninsula about in half. The boundary at 2 kilometers to the south is called the southern limit line. The DMZ has formed a unique ecosystem through a natural ecological succession after the Armistice Agreement and has high conservation value. However, the use of facilities for the military operation and the unchecked weeding often damage the areas in the vicinities of the southern limit line's iron-railing. This study aimed to prepare basic data for the restoration of damaged barren vegetation. As a result of classifying vegetation communities based on indicator species, 10 communities were identified as follows: Duchesnea indica Community, Hosta longipes Community, Sedum kamtschaticum-Sedum sarmentosum Community, Potentilla anemonefolia Community, Potentilla fragarioides var. major Community, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina Community, Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum-Carex lanceolata Community, Dendranthema zawadskii Community, Plantago asiatica-Trifolium repens Community, and Ixeris stolonifera-Kummerowia striata Community. Highly adaptable species can characterize vegetation in barren areas to environment disturbances because artificial disturbances such as soil erosion, soil compaction, topography change, and forest fires caused by military activities frequently occur in the barren areas within the southern limit line. Most of the dominant species in the communities are composed of plants that are commonly found in the roads, roadsides, bare soil, damaged areas, and grasslands throughout South Korea. Currently, the vegetation in barren areas in the vicinities of the DMZ is in the early ecological succession form that develops from bare soil to herbaceous vegetation. Since dominant species distributed in barren land can grow naturally without special maintenance and management, the data can be useful for future restoration material development or species selection.