• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2007

Dietary flavonoids have antioxidant and antitumor promoting effects. Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) is a flavonoid-rich herbal medicine and has long been used as a food additive and an antitumor agent in Korea. Previous study demonstrated that a purified flavonoid fraction prepared from RVS, herein named RCMF (the RVS chloroform-methanol fraction), exhibited growth inhibition and induced apoptosis in human osteosarcoma(HOS) cells. This study evaluated if p53-mediated pathway is associated with the RCMF-induced apoptosis in HOS cells. RCMF was shown to be capable of inducing apoptosis of the cells, as expected, and transparently increased p53 expression in the cells. However, the RCMF-induced cytotoxicity was suppressed by transfecting the cells with antisense p53 oligonucleotide, which also inhibited the decrease of Bcl-2 and the increase of Bax in mitochondria, and the release of cytochrome c into cytosol. This finding suggests that p53-mediated mitochondrial stress is required for RCMF-induced apoptosis in HOS cells.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.87 no.2
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• pp.260-269
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• 1998

This study was conducted to screen the biological activity of urushiol in the sap of lac tree(Rhus verniciflua STOKES) which has been used in traditional folk remedies. Cytotoxic activity of urushiol was screened with L1210(mouse luekemia cell), PC-9(human lung adenocarcinoma cell), A427(human lung adenocarcinoma cell) and KATO III (human stomach adenocarcinoma cell) The stepwise hexane : acetone eluent fractions of the urushiol were obtained by the silica gel adsorption column chromatography and added to the culture media containing L1210, PC-9. A427, and KATO III, respectively. A hexane : acetone(90 : 10, v/v) eluent fraction of them showed the lowest 50% inhibition concentration($IC_{50}$) of $0.018{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ for the cell line of A427. Much lower level of $IC_{50}$ of the hexane : acetone(90 : 10, v/v) eluent fraction of the urushiol showed the equal inhibition effect with tetraplatin(i.e., anti-cancer drug of platinum complexes) on the cancer cell lines as follows ; 3.4 times lower for L1210, 3.9 times lower for PC-9, and 105.5 times lower for A427. However, $IC_{50}$ of the hexane : acetone(90 : 10 v/v) eluent fraction for KATO III was exceptionally 3.9 times higher than that of tetraplatin.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.288-300
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• 1997

Morphology and anatomy of the fruit and seed of eight species of Rhus (Anacardiaceae) were investigated. The inflorescence of R. typhina was an apical and erect thysus, that of R. javanica was panicle. while that of the others were an axillary and pendulous panicle. Anatomical investigation of the pericarp showed that exocarp and mesocarp in R. javanica and R. typhina were integrated, but its in the others were disintegrated and uniform. In all these species, endocarp consisted of distinctly three lignified cell layers (outer, middle and inner endocarp) and crystal layers. The surface sculpturing of mature seed was variable and also contributed to understanding of species delimitation and relationships within the genus. Categorization by cluster analysis with 27 characters obtained from morphological and anatomical features of the fruit and seed resulted in two groups : R. trichocarpa - R. javanica group vs. R. ambigua - R. verniciflua - R. sylvestris - R. succedanea group. Taxonomic significance for the genus by these characters was supported by results of principal component analysis. The keys for the genus Rhus were provided using morphological and anatomical characters of the inflorescence, and fruit and seed.

• 보존과학연구
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• s.25
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• pp.197-226
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• 2004

This study was made to identify species of archaeological wood products excavated from three sites(Kwunbuk-ni, Gungnamgi, Wanggung-ni) of Sabi Era, Baekje. These sitesare presumably considered as capital areas of Sabi Era, Baekje. Total of 220 specimens were identified into five softwoods and eighteen hardwoods. Pinus densiflora(or Pinusthunbergii) and Quercus spp. are the most common and occupied 32%, 28% of totalspecimen, respectively. The others are follows : Torreya nucifera(1%), Abiesholophylla(3%), Cryptomeria japonica(4%), Thuja spp.(2%), Chamaecyparisobutusa(2%), Salix spp.(1%), Platycarya strobilacea (3%), Alnus spp.(1%), Carpinusspp.(0.5%), Castanea crenata(9%), Zelkova serrata (6%), Celtis spp.(0.5%), Prunusspp.(2%), Rhus verniciflua(1%), Rhus trichocarpa(0.5%), Meliosma oldhamii(1%),Hovenia dulcis(1%), Kalopanax pictus(0.5%), Cornus walteri(0.5%), Styrax japonica(1%),Fraxinus rhynchophylla (0.5%), F. sieboldiana(1%).Most of the identified species have been growing in this area until nowadays. However,a few species(Cryptomeria japonica, Thuja spp. Chamaecyparis obutusa, Torreyanucifera) didn’t grow natively around this area at that time. Two species(Cryptomeriajaponica, Chamaecyparis obutusa) are endemic species of Japan, indicating international trade or exchange of woods between Baekje Kingdom and Japan in 6-7th century. Torreyanucifera grows in limited areas in Korea (south of $35^{\circ}$10′N), however, is widely distributed in the southern Japan. Quercus spp. was identified the most in implements of Baekje and Pinus densiflora(orPinus thunbergii) was in the second place. Zelkova serrata was mainly used for raw materials of turnery products, e.g., wooden container. This species produces one of the hardest woods as 0.7 in specific gravity. It indicates that iron technologies have reached some high level in Sabi Era, Beakje.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.60-67
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• 2012

BACKGROUND: Anthracnose disease caused by Collectotrichum spp. is one of the most important worldwide devastating diseases in red pepper plants. Fungicides using plant extracts have several advantages, compared to synthetic chemical fungicides, because they are naturally occurring compounds, are usually safe for agricultural environment and are used for producing highly valuable agricultural products. Efforts for seeking an anti-fungal activities using naturally occurring compounds were mostly conducted from medicinal plant extracts. Sap of Rhus verniciflus was known to have healing effects on several human diseases. Recently, the extracts of Rhus verniciflus were actively tested for anti-cancer, anti-oxidative, and anti-fungal effects. In this study, the extract of Rhus verniciflus was tested for anti-fungal activity against Colletotrichum spp., which cause anthracnose in red-pepper. METHODS AND RESULTS: After neutralizing extracts of Rhus verniciflus (urushiol contents 70%) with autoclave, the crude extracts were used to investigate inhibitory effects for mycelial growth and spore germination of Colletotrichum spp. on PDA media. The mycelial growth and spore germination of Colletotrichum spp. were inhibited 18-39% and over 50% in response to crude extract of R. verniciflus (1.0 mg/mL). After spraying the extracts at the same concentrations above and then artificially inoculating Colletotrichum spp. on blue and red-pepper fruits, in vitro inhibition effects were examined. At 1.0 mg/mL, the crude extract of R. verniciflus showed inhibition activity in anthracnose incidence on blue- and red-pepper as 68.1-75.0%, through a artificial inoculation of Colletotrichum spp. in a laboratory. For in vivo inhibitory effects, the extracts (1.0, 0.1, and 0.01 mg/mL) were treated on red-pepper plants grown in green house 3 times at the interval of 1 week. Then inhibitory effects were determined by counting diseased fruits at 1 week after final treatment. The incidence of anthracnose was inhibited over 60% in the greenhouse by treatment of crude extract of R. verniciflus (1.0 mg/mL). CONCLUSION(s): Extracts of Rhus verniciflus were shown to have inhibitory effects on mycelial growth, spore germination of Colletotrichum spp. in vitro and on occurrence of anthracnose on pepper fruit in green house.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.23-31
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• 2019

Objective : Peripheral neuropathy refers to the symptoms caused by damage to peripheral fibers, inflammation and degeneration. This study reports the effects of moxibustion, electric moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture including GeonChil(Rhus verniciflua stokes, 乾漆)and Whalhyul(活血) pharmacopuncture on patients with peripheral neuropathy induced by anti-cancer drugs and chemotherapy. Method : We administered moxibustion, electric moxibustion, GeonChil and Whalhyul pharmacopuncture to two patients who showed peripheral neuropathy induced by anti-cancer drugs and chemotherapy. The symtoms were evaluated using Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy assessment tool (CIPNAT). Results : Following observations were made after treatments. Case 1 : After nine procedures, the score of VAS was decreased. Feeling of cold and numbness were improved, and as rotation movement of ankle was also possible, gait disturbance were improved. Case 2 : After, seven procedures symptoms of both shoulder pain were improved, and the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were eliminated. Conclusion : We found the possibility of symptom improvement after moxibustion, electric moxibustion, and pharmacopuncture treatment on peripheral neuropathy caused by anti-cancer drugs. Clinical studies of pilot study and control settings will need to be carried out later.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.130-136
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• 1996

Evaluation of plant extracts that might inhibit hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication was performed to find potent anti-HBV agents. Eighty-five species of plants from forty-three families were tested for their anti-HBV activities using HBV-producing HepG2-derived 2.2.15 cells. The anti-HBV activity of plant extracts was measured by slot blot hybridization technique and cytotoxicity was determined by crystal violet staining procedure. All plants were extracted with methanol and the extracts were partitioned into n-hexane, ethyl acetate and aqueous layer. The ethyl acetate fractions of Rhus verniciflua $(stem:\;EC_{50},\;8.2{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;9.4{\mu}g/ml)$, Gastrodia elata $(root:\;EC_{50},\;17.7{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, Raphanus sativus $(seeds:\;EC_{50},\;17.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;>20{\mu}g/ml)$, and Angelica gigas $(root:\;EC_{50},\;8.3{\mu}g/ml;\;CC_{50},\;15.6{\mu}g/ml)$ revealed the anti-HBV activity in 2.2.15 cell culture system and these fractions are under the process of further sequential fractionation by column chromatography to find the active principles against HBV.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.188-192
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• 2008

Methyl gallate isolated from bark of the tree Rhus verniciflua Stokes has significant antimicrobial activity against the fish pathogenic bacteria Edwardsiella tarda and Vibrio anguillarum. To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of gallate derivatives, eight alkyl gallates were tested. Ethyl gallate and propyl gallate had the highest activities, with MICs of $15.6-31.3{\mu}g/mL$ against E. tarda. For V. anguillarum, propyl gallate and butyl gallate were highly effective, with MICs of $7.81-31.3{\mu}g/mL$. When used in combination with antibiotics, methyl gallate exhibited synergistic effects with oxytetracycline against E. tarda and with norfloxacin against V. anguillarum. These results suggest that short-chain alkyl gallates can be used as alternatives to antibiotics against the fish pathogenic bacteria.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.151-165
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• 2019

Objectives : To analyze the latest study trend on effect of herbal medicine treatment for Colorectal Cancer in South Korea. Methods : The theses about colorectal cancer(from 1th January 2000 to 6th August 2016) were searched from National Assembly Library, KIOM OASIS, and National Digital Science Library. Results : 54 theses were analyzed from 87 studies. They were classified by the type of research; experimental theses and case report. The number of experimental theses is 48 and case report is 6. And, they were classified by the topic of research; Single herb, Herbal decoction, oriental foods and Pharmacopuncture, the number of theses about single herb is 29, herbal decoction is 14, oriental foods is 8 and Pharmacopuncture is 3. Rhus Verniciflua(乾漆), Beakduong-tang(白頭翁湯), Wild Ginseng Pharmacopuncture is the most commonly used herb in our research. Conclusion : There were many attempts to develop the way to cure colorectal cancer using korean herbs, and some meaningful results were reported. However, more clinical researches based on human body and more scientifically designed clinical studies are required to prove the effect on colorectal cancer.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.477-487
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• 1993

To investigate phenological differences among species, and relationship between phenology and air temperatures, we surveyed foliation and flowering times of several woody plants in two temperate forests, Namhansansung and Taegwallyong area, for three years, 1991, 1992 and 1993. In Namhansansung area, the leaves of Quercus mor~golica, Rhododendron mucronulatum, Prunus levezlleana and Symplocos chinensis for. pilosa expanded in the early season(about 10 April), and those of Quercus variabilis, Quercus dentata and Maackia amurensis in the late season(about 5 May). The foliation time of the earliest species(Rhododendron mucronulatum) was 27 days earlier than thzt of the latest(Maackia amurensis, Quercus variabilis and Quercus dentata). In Taegwallyong area, the leaves of Staphylea bumalda and Rhamnus yoshinoi foliated on 25 April and those of Rhus verniciflua and Fraxinus rhynchophylla on 25 May. The annual mean air temperature of Narnhansansung area was $5.5^{\circ}C$ higher than that of Taegwallyong area. Foliation times of the same species were earlier in the former: the differences between two areas were 8~24 day among species. In contrast, flowering times of the same species were 0~22 days earlier in the former. It is concluded that the budding time of leaves was related to year day index(YDI), and foliation time of leaves was related to Nuttonson's index(Tn).