• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.81-92
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• 1998

Lately public interest in tree saps of maple and birch trees has been increased for sap drink as a natural medical beverage. To ensure tree sap drink for commercial production, species which are available in resources, their ecological regeneration characteristics in the natural forest stand, and tree sap resources should be investigated. Species for the collecting tree saps and their distribution were surveyed in the areas of Mt.Sobaek, Tanyang-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do. Mt.Sobaek area was selected to the proper place to survey as the feasible area for tapping tree saps for the natural beverage. Feasible tree species of this area are Betula costata, Betula schmidtii, Comus controversa, Acer mono, and Acer pseudosieboldianum based on the estimated tree sap amounts. Average and maximum species diversities of surveyed area were 4.2 and 5.39, respectively. Its evenness 0.78 referred that there are actively progressing ecological regeneration among diverse tree species. Tree saps are mainly harvested at the areas of upper and lower Wonmanteo. In terms of species, the most high sap amounts were from birch sap, next Comus controversa, the 3rd Acer mono. Many measures were suggested ecologically and technically, for commercial or practical production of tree sap drinks, though Mt.Sobaek area was evaluated as improper place because of geographical and transportational limitation.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.93-99
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• 1998

Lately public interest in tree saps of maple and birch trees stimulated to increase demands for sap drink as a natural medical beverage. In order to understand factors affecting tree sap flows, birch species, particularly Betula platyphylla in Mt.Sobaek area, were monitored for daily sap flows according to factors, such as DBH, tapping hole sizes and direction of hole drilling on the trunks. The chemical constituents of saps were also analyzed. The sap flow initiated from the end of March and finished at the end of April. The flow maxima appeared from April 14th to April 26th. Total amounts of the sap flow obtained from birch tree were over 1,800 ml per day per one tree. Sap flows were increased with increasing DBH and tree age. Six milimeter drilled hole resulted in the highest sap flows. Sap flows increased with increases of diameter and height of the trees. Hole drilling to downward side(south-facing) of tree produced almost doubled sap flows than that of upward one(north-facing), while rightside drilling produced same amounts of saps to that of leftside one. Six mm drilling gave the best results not only in maximum flows but also effective hole occluding rates. The saps have in the range of 4.5 to 5.6 pH and l.0 - 2.0% of saccharinity. Sucrose, glucose, fructose and high mineral contents were found in the saps of birch tree. The tree saps could be utilized not only medicinal drink, but also one of the healthy beverages.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.40-46
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• 1998

For the comparison of the urushiol composition and biological acitivity between the fresh sap and fire distilled sap of lacquer tree(Rhus vernicifera), we analysed the urushiol composition by HPLC and EI-MS, and investigated the antioxidative , antimicrobial and anticancer acitivities according to solvent fractionations. There was no difference in the urushiol composition between fresh and fire distilled saps of lacquer tree. The hexane frqctionsof two saps showed a strong DPPH radical scaverging activity (RC50 : 7.0-7.5$\mu\textrm{g}$). They also showed a strong antifungal activity onthe spore germination of Cladosporium herbarum(MIC : 8$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml), whereas they have no or low activity against the bacteria(BAcillus subtilis , Escherichia coli). In addition , hexane and butanol fractions of two saps showed a strong inhibitory activity against cultured tumour cell lines (GI50 : 0.35, 12.29$\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) in vitro. These results confirm that the fresh sap and fire distilled sap might have the similar urushiol compositions and biological activities.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.787-794
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• 2009

In this study, a new method for extending storage-life and palatability of Betula platyphylla sap by applying lactic acid bacteria fermentation was developed. The fluids of saps were filtered through 0.22 ${\mu}m$ membrane filter and each fermented by 8 different lactic acid bacteria which are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus brevis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Leuconostoc lactis, Lactococcus lactis, Pediocossus pentosaceus, Pediococcus dextrinicus, Streptococcus thermophilus. All the tested lactic acid bacteria except P. dextrinicus grew fast up to $10^6{\sim}10^7cfu/mL$ levels and lowered pH down to about pH 4 levels in 48 hours in both saps. The produced organic acids and lowered pH level inhibited the growth of spoilage microorganisms almost completely for 2 weeks during storage at room temperature. Addition of xylitol in the saps before fermentation accelerated the growth of lactic acid bacteria and increased the sweetness and overall taste of final product. The filtration process did not affect the mineral compositions of Betula platyphylla saps. Also the compositions and amounts of minerals showed very minor differences before and after fermentation in Betula platyphylla saps inoculated with L. acidophilus. By applying lactic acid fermentation to extend storage-life of tree saps instead of heat treatment, it was possible to keep natural minerals in active forms without any modifications.