• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1 s.29
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• pp.475-498
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• 1995

For the purpose of developing Korean Herbalogy with the plants of Urticaceae which grow wild and is planted in Korea, the these and writings on herbalogy, from literature of successive generations, have been thoroughly investigative and the results obtained were as follows: 1. There were totaled 11 genera and 44 species in Korea and among them medecinal plants are 9 genera, 19 species, some 43% in total but the number of species may be added because of similar plants. 2. According to the oriental name which can be used for medical purpose, the medicinal plants beloning to the Urticaceae were classified as Herba 10, Radix 8, Folium 3, Cortex 1, Flos 1, Rhizoma 1. Thus it was noticed that Herba was the main kind. 3. According to sum of 44 species in Urticaceae they were classified into Boehemeria genera 18, Urtica genera 9, Pliea genera 5, Elastosma genera 3, Parietaria genera 2, Pellionia genera 2, Achudemia 1, Debregeasia genera 1, Girardinia genera 1, Laportea genera 1, Nanocnide genera 1 etc. Thus it was noticed that Boehemeria genera was the main kind, some 41% in total. 4. According to nature and flavour of medicinal plants, they were classified into cold, cool; 6 each, wormth, heat; 4 each, balance 3. Thus it was noticed that cold and cool is the main in nature and flavour of medicinal plants. 5. According to the Properties and Principal Curative action, they were classified into, clearing up heat and toxin 9, drugs for urination an removing abscess 7, drugs for circulating blood and hemostasis 7, drugs for expelling wind 5, drugs for comporting embryo 4, 6. Comparing to whole medicinal plants 44 kinds, toxic durgs include minor toxin were 2 kinds, 5% of the whole. Thus toxic durgs were rare. From this result, It was revealed that the plants for medical purpose in Urticaceae was 43% kinds of the whole, in which Herba was mostly abundunt, toxic plants were so rare that it will be used for clinical treatments more easily. It is considered that many clinical experiments and approaches must be continued to use widely.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.149-153
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• 1989

The presence of saponin, terpenoid, steroid, anthraquinone and flavonoid were screened with the usual test methods in forty five(sixty four parts) Korean plants belonging to Urticaceae, Celastraceae, Rhamnaceae, Sterculiceae and Rubiaceae. Plants were extracted with methanol and fractionated with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and butanol. Each fraction was tested for the components. The result showed that in saponin test, 21 plants were positive and 11 plants were weak positive; in terpenoid and steroid test, 26 plants were strong positive; in anthraquinone test, 20 plants strong positive; in flavonoid test, 31 plants were positive and 9 plants were weak positive.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.361-364
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• 2011

We report an unrecorded plant species, Elatostema laetevirens Makino (Urticaceae), in Korea. This species was collected for the first time from under the canopy of an evergreen forest in Hyodoncheon, Sanghyo-dong, Soeguipo-si and Tamra valley in Ohdeung-dong, Cheju-si of the Province of Cheju in Korea. E. laetevirens Makino was quite distinct from others of the genus Elatostema in Korea owing to its perennial nature, the absence of trichomes in the stem and the absence of peduncles during the inflorescence period. This species was given the Korean name 'pu-reun-mong-ul-pul' based on the absence of luster and the bluish green color on the adaxial surface of its leaves.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.83-87
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• 1989

The alkaloids of thirty five Korean plants which belong to Rhamnaceae, Sterculiaceae, Celastracea, Urticaceae and Rubiaceae were screened. Plant was extracted and solvent fractionated to yield ether soluble alkaloidal fraction and butanol soluble fraction. Each fraction was subjected to alkaloidal test by Dragendorff's reaction. The result showed eighteen plants strong positive, fourteen weak and six negative to alkaloidal test.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.180-183
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• 1997

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the aerial parts of Pilea mongolica(Urticaceae) afforded two cytotoxic triterpenoids, epi-oleanolic acid (I) and oxo-oleanolic acid (II). The structures of the compounds were confirmed by spectral and synthetic evidences. Compound I and compound II exhibited cytotoxicity against cultured human tumor cell lines, A549 (non small cell lung adenocarcinoma), SK-OV-3 (ovarian), SK-MEL-2 (skin melanoma), XF498 (CNS) and HCT15 (colon) with $ED_{50}$ values of $3.2-8.1{\mu}g/ml$ and $0.7-6.8 {\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.213-221
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• 2023

A newly recorded species, Boehmeria nakashimae Yahara, is confirmed for the first time to be distributed on forest edges on Jejudo Island, Korea. This species is known to be endemic to northern Kyushu, Japan. It is characterized by ovate to broadly ovate, elliptic-ovate, or sub-orbicular middle leaf shapes, serrulate-dentate and uniform margins, 17-29 teeth on one side, a short caudate or narrowly acute apex, dense glomerules at fruiting, and densely strigillose on the stems, both surfaces of the leaves, the perianth of staminate flowers, and achenes. Therefore, it is given the new name 'Je-ju-top-mo-si-pul' in Korean based on its serrulate-dentate leaf margin and geographical distribution. A description, photographs, illustrations, and keys of related taxa in Korea are provided.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.89-97
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• 2021

Two unrecorded alien plants, Pilea microphylla (L.) Liebm. (Urticaceae) and Elsholtzia griffithii Hook. f. (Lamiaceae), were found in Korea. P. microphylla was discovered in Seoul-si and Jeju-do. This species is distinguished from other related Korean taxa by leaf characteristics such as spatulate or obovate shape and 2-7 mm long with entire margin. E. griffithii was discovered in Incheon-si. This species is defined by spikes, narrowly lanceolate bract with 3 mm long and relatively shorter corolla length as ca 2.5 mm. Here, we provide Korean name, descriptions of the morphological characteristics, photographs and a key to allied taxa.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2006

The ethanolic extract of Fleurya interrupta Gaud, (Urticaceae) was tested for its possible neuropharmacological effects on experimental animals, For the primary neuropharmacological screening of this plant, the ethanolic extract of its aerial parts was subjected to preliminary evaluation for acute toxicity, antinociceptive activity and central nervous system (CNS) activities. At the doses of 125 and 250 mg/kg, the extract significantly (P < 0.01 and P < 0. 001) and dose-dependently increased the frequency of acetic acid induced writhing in mice. In the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time test, the extract at the above dose levels, significantly and dose-dependently decreased the pentobarbitone induced sleeping time (P < 0.001) and increased the time for onset of sleep (P < 0.001) in mice. In the open field and hole cross tests, test animals showed an increase in their movement in the both tests from the 2nd observation period (30 min) and persisted throughout the entire experimental period (240 min). These results of the extract may attribute a stimulating action on the CNS. On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that the extract exerts its stimulating effect on the CNS in mice by interfering with the cortical function or increasing the effect of some CNS stimulating neurotransmitters.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.115-132
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• 2021

Seven species and two varieties belonging to the genus Boehmeria Jacq. (Urticaceae) are known to be distributed in Korea. Among them, B. spicata, B. tricuspis, and B. tricuspis var. unicuspis were subjected to an external morphological study. Among the individuals believed to exhibit variations in the leaf shape, B. gracilis and B. silvestrii were newly recognized. Unlike related taxa, B. gracilis has middle leaves with an elliptic, broadly elliptic, ovate, or broadly depressed ovate shape, a regular and serrulate-dentate margin, and an unlobed and short caudate or cuspidate apex. Boehmeria silvestrii has middle leaves with 5-angled ovate, orbicular ovate or broadly ovate shapes, and 3- or 5-lobed and caudate apices. Therefore, we assigned the corresponding names 'Top-geo-buk-kko-ri' and 'Cham-geo-buk-kko-ri'. Meanwhile, the B. spicata complex (B. gracilis, B. silvestrii, B. spicata, and B. tricuspis var. unicuspis) is very closely related in terms of the morphological characters, whereas B. tricuspis exhibits no relationship. Furthermore, because the scientific name and type specimen of B. tricuspis var. unicuspis (Pul-geo-buk-kko-ri) are problematic, the correct name B. paraspicata Nakai and corresponding holotype are presented. Additionally, lectotypes of B. gracilis and B. silvestrii are newly designated here. A taxonomic treatment, descriptions, a key, photographs, type specimens, and leaf variation images of the B. spicata complex are provided in this study.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.100-108
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• 2022

We found Urtica dioica L., an unrecorded alien plant, in the Han River basin of Korea. U. dioica is considered to be native to Europe, much of temperate Asia and western North Africa. This plant has been introduced to many other parts of the world. In Particularly, it reported as an invasive species from East Asia (Japan), Oceania and South America. This species is distinguished from related Korean taxa of the genus by its unisexual flower and dioecious plant species. In the Neighbor-Joining tree, U. dioica samples from the Han River Park (Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul) and Yangjaecheon Stream (Daechi-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul) clustered into a clade consisting of a U. dioica s.s. Here, we provide a precise description, illustrations, a key to the related taxa, and photographs of its habitat.