• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2015

A natural mixed stand of Phragmites australis and Phacelurus latifolius was studied to clarify the distribution properties in a microsite in a tidal flat of Suncheon Bay. The height, density, and biomass of the shoots, as well as the biomass of the root system, were monitored for both species along with the altitude on a mound from June 2010 to October 2013. Firstly, the mean height and dry weight of both species were similar during the growth season. However, individual variations of the sizes of plants in the same species were noticeable. Secondly, the density and dry weight per unit area of P. latifolius increased, but that of P. australis decreased with the altitude on the mound. Thirdly, the root system (rhizomes and roots) of P. latifolius was mostly located in the upper layer (up to 20 cm depth), while that of P. australis was in the lower layer (over 70 cm depth) of the sediment. The roots of P. australis penetrated to the lower parts of the water table, while the roots of P. latifolius did not make contact with free water of the sediment. Fourthly, the removal of the shoot in the early growth season led to a visible reduction of biomass in the late growth season. The reduction rate was larger in P. latifolius than in P. australis. Lastly, in the area where the mound was removed, the density of P. australis increased in the first two years (2010-2011) and was highly sustained inthe last two years (2012-2013). However, the density of P. latifolius was low, and this plant was distributed at the edge of the mound only.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3363-3368
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• 2014

Background: Curcumin, a phenolic compound extracted from the rhizomes of Curcuma longa, has shown cytotoxic effects against a variety of cancers. The aim of this study was to identify potential microRNA (miRNA) mediators of the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells. Materials and Methods: SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were treated with curcumin ($10-60{\mu}M$) and miR-9 expression, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were assessed. The effects of miR-9 depletion on curcumin-mediated growth suppression were also examined. Phosphorylation of Akt and forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) was measured in cells with miR-9 overexpression or curcumin treatment. Results: Curcumin caused a significant and dose-dependent increase of miR-9 expression in SKOV3 cells, while significantly impeding cell proliferation and stimulating apoptosis. Depletion of miR-9 significantly (p<0.05) attenuated the growth-suppressive effects of curcumin on SKOV3 cells, coupled with reduced percentages of apoptotic cells. In contrast, overexpression of miR-9 significantly enhanced the cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase and promoted apoptotic death in SKOV3 cells. Western blot analysis showed that both miR-9 overexpression and curcumin similarly caused a significant (p<0.05) decline in the phosphorylation of Akt and FOXO1, compared to untreated cells. Conclusions: The present study provided evidence that curcumin exerts its cytotoxic effects against SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells largely through upregulation of miR-9 and subsequent modulation of Akt/FOXO1 axis. Further studies are needed to identify direct targets of miR-9 that mediate the anticancer effects of curcumin in ovarian cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.1031-1038
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• 2012

Background: Turmeric ($Curcuma$ $longa$) has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antitumor properties. However, despite the progress in research with $C.$ $longa$, there is still a big lacuna in the information on the active principles and their molecular targets. More particularly very little is known about the role of cell cycle genes $p57^{kip2}$ and Rad9 during chemoprevention by turmeric and its derivatives especially in prostate cancer cell lines. Methods: Accordingly, in this study, we have examined the antitumor effect of several extracts of $C.$ $longa$ rhizomes by successive fractionation in clonogenic assays using highly metastatic PC-3M prostate cancer cell line. Results: A mixture of isopropyl alcohol: acetone: water: chloroform: and methanol extract of $C.$ $longa$ showed significant bioactivity. Further partition of this extract showed that bioactivity resides in the dichloromethane soluble fraction. Column chromatography of this fraction showed presence of biological activity only in ethyl acetate eluted fraction. HPLC, UV-Vis and Mass spectra studies showed presence three curcuminoids in this fraction besides few unidentified components. Conclusions: From these observations it was concluded that the ethyl acetate fraction showed not only inhibition of colony forming ability of PC-3M cells but also up-regulated cell cycle genes $p57^{kip2}$ and Rad9 and further reduced the migration and invasive ability of prostate cancer cells.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.489-496
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• 2014

Polygonatum is a genus placed in the family Liliaceae, distributed throughout the Northern Hemisphere and 16 of the species are grown naturally in Korea. In oriental medicine, the rhizomes of Polygonatum have been used as two different medicines, Okjuk (Polygonati odorati Rhizoma) and Hwangjeong (Polygonati Rhizoma). However, it is difficult to identify the morphological and chemical differences between the medicinal groups and thus easy to confuse the one with the other. Therefore, a clear classification standard needs to be established so as to be able to discriminate between them. In the study, the morphological characteristics of the plants, Polygonatum spp., were examined. Then, the differences in SNPs among the DNA sequences of 7 of the Polygonatum spp. and 1 of the Disporum spp. were analyzed by DNA barcoding with rpoC1, rpoB2, matK, and psbA-trnH of the cpDNA region. In the results, three regions, rpoC1, rpoB2, and matK were useful for discriminating the species, P. stenophyllum and P. sibiricum. Furthermore, it was possible to discriminate the individual germplasm within the species by using the combination of the results obtained from rpoB2, rpoC1, and matK.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.671-676
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• 2006

We investigated the effect of gingerol (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae) on Bcl-2 and Bax expression in MDA-MB-231 human breast cell lines. The oleoresin from rhizomes of ginger contains [6]-gingerol (1-[4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxyphenyl]-5-hydroxy-3-decanone). We previously reported that [6]-gingerol inhibits cell proliferation in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. In this study, we examined protein and mRNA expression associated with cell apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines. We cultured MDA-MB-231 cells in presence of various concentrations 0, 2.5, 5 and $10\;{\mu}M$ of [6]-gingerol. Bcl-2 protein and its mRNA levels were decreased dose-dependently in cells treated with [6]-gingerol, but Bax protein and its mRNA levels were unchanged by [6]-gingerol treatment. Bcl-2/Bax ratio was decreased in a dose dependent manner treated with [6]-gingerol. Caspase-3 activity was significantly increased dose-dependently in cell treated with [6]-gingerol (p<0.05). In conclusion, we have shown that [6]-gingerol induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 1999

Insecticidal potentials of polar and non-polar tractions obtained from 84 medicinal plants were screened against five major agricultural insects. Based on the primary and secondary screening results, non-polar fraction of Atractylodes koreana Kitam. rhizomes was selected to isolate and identify an active compound effective to diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella L.) larvae. Counter-current distribution separation on the non-polar fraction and TLC and spectroscopic analyses (GC-MS and $^{1}H$- and $^{13}C$-NMR) revealed that molecular formula of the active compound was $C_{15}H_{22}O$ known as a sesquiterpenoid 4,11-selinadien-3-one (${\alpha}$-cyperone). However, ${\alpha}$-cyperone was not detected in the non-polar fractions that showed high insecticidal potential against the diamondback moth. Although ${\alpha}$-cyperone has been first identified from Cyperus rotundus, the compound did not occur in C. rotundus cultivated in Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.37-44
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• 2005

Nitrate($NO_3-N$) and total nitrogen(TN) removal by a reed wetland with open water(Wetland 1) was compared with that of a reed wetland without open water(Wetland 2) from March to October 2002. The two wetlands were 25mL by 6mW. An open water area, 3mL by 6mW was designed at the middle of Wetland 1. Reeds(Phragmites australis) were transplanted into the wetlands in June 2000. Water of Sinyang Stream flowing into the Kohung Estuarine Lake located in the southern part of Korea was pumped into a primary treatment pond, whose effluent was discharged into the secondary pond. Effluent from the secondary pond was funneled into the wetlands. Inflow into the wetlands averaged about 20.0$m^3$/day and their hydraulic retention time was approximately 1.5 days. Average $NO_3-N$ removal by Wetland 1 was 117.61mg/$m^2{\cdot}day$ and that by Wetland 2 was 106.39mg/$m^2{\cdot}day$. $NO_3-N$ removal efficiency of Wetland 1 and 2 was 37% and 34%, respectively. TN removal by Wetlands 1 and 2 averaged 226.80 and 214.54mg/$m^2{\cdot}day$, respectively. TN abatement efficiency of Wetland 1 was 43% and that of Wetland 2 was 40%. $NO_3-N$ removal efficiency of Wetland 1 was significantly higher(p=0.038) than Wetland 2. TN removal efficiency of Wetland 1 was also significantly higher(p=0.044) than Wetland 2. The wetland with open water was more efficient for removal of $NO_3-N$ and TN than one without.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.623-627
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• 2014

Curcuma alismatifolia is becoming popular for cut flowers and potted plants due to its long inflorescence with many showy pink flowers. It is propagated by rhizomes and inflorescences that are similar to those of lotus. However, initiation of inflorescence development of each bract and flower has not been investigated. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to study the inflorescence development of Curcuma alismatifolia 'Chiangmai Pink' by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). When new shoots grew to 15-20 cm in a greenhouse at $25^{\circ}C$, the first bract initiated with a dome-shaped inflorescence apex, followed by initiation of additional bracts, forming the shape of the flower head. Florets were subtended by the first bract when five to seven bracts were formed. Four to six florets were subtended by each bract. The floret positioned in the center initiated and progressed upward first. When the center florets in the upper bracts were formed, florets next to the center floret subtended by the first bract were formed, and formation of the axillary florets progressed upward in sequential order.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.201-208
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• 2005

Earlier we have reported the antidiabetic activity of fresh juice of rhizomes of Zingiber officinale (Z. officinale) and its correlation with 5-HT receptor antagonism. Since 6-gingerol the marker compound of Z. officinale is reported to posses 5-HT anatgonistic activity, the present investigation, was undertaken to find out the concentration of 6-gingerol present in methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its different fractions (petroleum ether, toluene and chloroform). We also evaluated these fractions for antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced neonatal type 2 diabetic rats. Fasting glucose and insulin levels in non insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) rats were found to be significantly (P < 0.05) higher than control rats and these were significantly decreased by treatment with methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its fractions. The results of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) showed that methanolic extract and its fractions significantly (P < 0.05) decreased both STZ-induced increase in $AUC_{glucose}$ and $AUC_{insulin}$ values in NIDDM groups. Treatment with petroleum ether fraction produced a greater reduction in elevated glucose and $AUC_{glucose}$ levels as compared to treatment with other fractions. Treatment with methanolic extract of Z. officinale and its fractions also produced significant reduction in the elevated lipid, serum glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) and serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) levels in NIDDM rats. The effect of petroleum ether fraction on elevated lipid, SGOT and SGPT levels was significantly greater as compared to treatment with other fractions. The concentration of 6-gingerol was found to be maximum in petroleum ether fraction (11.430%) and minimum in chloroform fraction (0.973%). The methanolic extract and toluene fraction was found to contain 3.080% and 2.191 %, 6-gingerol respectively. In conclusion, our data suggest that methonolic extract and its fractions possess significant antidiabetic activity in NIDDM rats. The extent of activity appears to be dependent on the concentration of 6-gingerol present in the extract or its fractions.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.318-322
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• 2015

A new species, Fimbristylis jindoensis J. Kim & M. Kim, is herein named and described. It is found on wet lowland mountain slopes in Jindo-gun, Jeollanam-do, Korea. Fimbristylis jindoensis shares several characteristics (long-creeping rhizomes, oblong spikelets, brown scales, and three-sided achenes) with the related species F. pierotii Miq. It is, however, distinct from F. pierotii, which has terete culms with five to six furrows that are 9-48 cm tall, flowers in June to July, a dry grassland habitat, fewer than ten spikelets, and simple anthela inflorescences. In contrast, the new species has shallow furrowed oval culms which are 57-93 cm tall, flowers in July to August, a wet mountain habitat, more than twenty spikelets, and compound anthela inflorescences.