• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.144-154
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• 2023

Background: As the major pathophysiological feature of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is vital for the occurrence of cardiovascular complications. The activation of calpain-1 mediates the production of endothelial reactive oxygen species (ROS) and impairs nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, resulting in vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED). Ginsenoside Rg1 is thought to against endothelial cell dysfunction, but the potential mechanism of CIH-induced VED remains unclear. Methods: C57BL/6 mice and human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) were exposed to CIH following knockout or overexpression of calpain-1. The effect of ginsenoside Rg1 on VED, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the expression levels of calpain-1, PP2A and p-eNOS were detected both in vivo and in vitro. Results: CIH promoted VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction accompanied by enhanced levels of calpain-1 and PP2A and reduced levels of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Ginsenoside Rg1, calpain-1 knockout, OKA, NAC and TEMPOL treatment protected against CIH-induced VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, which is likely concomitant with the downregulated protein expression of calpain-1 and PP2A and the upregulation of p-eNOS in mice and cellular levels. Calpain-1 overexpression increased the expression of PP2A, reduced the level of p-eNOS, and accelerated the occurrence and development of VED, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in HCAECs exposed to CIH. Moreover, scavengers of O₂^·-, H₂O₂, complex I or mitoKATP abolished CIH-induced impairment in endothelial-dependent relaxation. Conclusion: Ginsenoside Rg1 may alleviate CIH-induced vascular endothelial dysfunction by suppressing the formation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species through the calpain-1 pathway.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.8
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• pp.497-505
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• 2011

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which include superoxide anions and peroxides, induce oxidative stress, contributing to the initiation and progression of cardiovascular diseases involving atherosclerosis. The endogenous and exogenous factors hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and shear stress induce various enzyme systems such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (phosphate) oxidase, xanthine oxidase, and lipoxygenase in vascular and immune cells, which generate ROS. Besides inducing oxidative stress, ROS mediate signaling pathways involved in monocyte adhesion and infiltration, platelet activation, and smooth muscle cell migration. A number of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., superoxide dismutases, catalase, glutathione peroxidases, and peroxiredoxins) regulate ROS in vascular and immune cells. Atherosclerosis results from a local imbalance between ROS production and these antioxidant enzymes. In this review, we will discuss 1) oxidative stress and atherosclerosis, 2) ROS-dependent atherogenic signaling in endothelial cells, macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells, 3) roles of peroxidases in atherosclerosis, and 4) antioxidant drugs and therapeutic perspectives.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1081-1092
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• 2008

This study was conducted to provide scientific information for establishing efficient and systematic measures for nature conservation and management in Manjang-gul lava tube. The number of vascular plants was 204 taxa (82 families, 176 genera, 144 species, 1 subspecies, 26 varieties and 1 forma). Of those, pteridophyte were 5 families, 12 genera, 14 species and 1 variety and gymnosperm were 4 families, 6 genera, 5 species and 1 variety. Seventy three families, 149 genera, 157 species, 1 subspecies, 24 varieties and 1 forma in angiosperm composed of 62 families, 123 genera, 137 species, 1 subspecies, 17 varieties and 1 forma in dicotyledon and 11 families, 26 genera, 20 species and 7 varieties in monocotyledon. The number of naturalized plants was 9 families, 17 genera, 18 species and 3 varieties, totaling 21 taxa.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.37-45
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• 2008

The vascular plants of the studied area in Nonsan economical forest growing site appeared to be 341 taxa; 81 families, 218 genera, 290 species, 1 subspecies, 42 varieties and 9 forms. Based on the list of Korean endemic plants, 5 taxa existed; Cephalotaxus koreana, Thalictrum actaefolium, Asperula lasiantha, Populus tomentiglandulosa (Planted species), Paulownia coreana (Planted species). Specific plant species by floral region were total 13 taxa; Cirsium setidens in class III, Potentilla dickinsii in class II, Cephalotaxus koreana, Pinus koraiensis (Planted species), Hosta capitata, Juglans mandshurica, Alnus hirsuta, Quercus variabilis, Ulmus parvifolia, Dictamnus dasycarpus, Gwenia biloba var. parviflora, Vaccinium oldhami, Trigonotis icumae in class I. The naturalized plants in this site were 9 families, 19 genera, 20 species, 1 varieties, 21 taxa and naturalization rate was 6.1% of all 341 taxa vascular plants. The communities were classified into Quercus acutissima community, Pinus densiflora community, Quercus variabilis community, Platycarya strobilacea community, Quercus aliena community of natural forests and Pinus rigida community, Metasequoia glyptostroboides community, Larix leptolepis community of artificial forests.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.9
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• pp.519-524
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• 2015

Vascular inflammatory process has been suggested to play a key role in initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Thus, in this study, we attempted to determine whether three structurally related polyphenols found in the Chinese herb Huang Qui, namely baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin, can suppress vascular inflammatory processes induced by high glucose (HG) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and mice. Data showed that HG induced markedly increased vascular permeability, monocyte adhesion, expressions of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Remarkably, all of the above mentioned vascular inflammatory effects of HG were attenuated by pretreatment with baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin. Vascular inflammatory responses induced by HG are critical events underlying development of various diabetic complications, therefore, our results suggest that baicalin, baicalein, and wogonin may have significant therapeutic benefits against diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(9): 519-524]

• Journal of Korea Foresty Energy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.12-27
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the vascular flora at Geonjisan, Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do and the findings are followings (1) The vascular plants identified and surveyed were 359 taxa(306 species, 49 varieties and 4 forms of 245 genera of 94 families) at the study sites. (2) There were 144 taxa (125 species, 15 varieties and 4 forms of 91 genera of 49 families) for the woody plants, while 215 taxa(181 species and 34 varieties of 157 genera of 54 families) were identified for the herbaceous plants. Twenty-nine taxa (28 species and 1 variety of 22 genera of 12 families) were investigated for the naturalized plants at the study sites. (3) Currently existing dominant vegetation forming the major trees layer at the study sites were Robinia pseudoacacia, Chamaecyparis pisifera, C. obutusa, Torreya nucifera, Castanea crenata and Acer buergerianum for the planted species, and naturally growing species forming the major trees layer were Quercus acutissima and Q- serrata.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.280-285
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• 2009

Korean folk medicine 'JoRitDae' has been used mainly to cure vomiting and cancer. With regard to the botanical origin of 'JoRitDae', it has been considered to designate the rhizome of Sasa species (Gramineae), but there was no pharmacognostical confirmation on it. To clarify the botanical origin of 'JoRitDae', the anatomical characteristics of the rhizome of Sasa species growing wild in Korea and Japan, Sasa borealis, S, kurilensis, S. quelpaertensis, S. charatacea and S. senanensis were studied. As a result, it was found the morphological criteria for the five Sasa species that could discriminate them by the number of cell layers in cortex, the ratio of thickness of cortex to rhizome radius, the number of cell layers in the vascular bundle sheath, the total number of vascular bundle and thickness of vascular bundle sheath. According to these criteria, it was clarified that the commercial folk medicine 'JoRitDae' was the rhizome of Sasa borealis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.41-54
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to present the fundamental data for conservation and management of wetland ecosystem by surveying and analysing the vascular plants distributed in major wetlands, Gyeongju National Park. The study sites were Tohamsan wetland, Amgok wetland and Namsan wetland. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 200 taxa including 70 families, 145 genera, 171 species, 2 subspecies, 23 varieties and 4 forms. The threatened species designated by Ministry of Environment was Utricularia yakusimensis, and the rare plants were 7 taxa including Utricularia yakusimensis, Drosera rotundifolia, Mosla japonica, Utricularia bifida, Pogonia japonica, Utricularia racemosa and Iris ensata var. spontanea. The Korean endemic plants were Lespedeza maritima and Weigela subsessilis. The specific plants by floristic region were 12 taxa including 3 taxa of grade V, 1 taxa of grade IV, 1 taxa of grade III, 2 taxa of grade II and 5 taxa of grade I. The plants with approval for delivering oversea were 9 taxa including Glycine soja, Saussurea pulchella, Habenaria linearifolia and so forth. The naturalized platns were 5 taxa including Rumex obtusifolius, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Bidens frondosa, Erigeron annuus and Erigeron strigosus, the invasive alien plant was Ambrosia artemisiifolia.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.87-107
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to present the basic data for maintenance and management of river ecosystem by surveying and analysing the kinds and their characteristics of vascular plants in Bukcheon stream, Gyeongju-si, South Korea. The numbers of vascular plants were summarized as 428 taxa including 92 families, 265 genera, 3 subspecies, 24 varieties, 6 forms, 5 hybrids and 5 cultivars. Among the identified taxa, there were 90 planted species. The endangered wild species was Cicuta virosa, and the rare plants were 5 taxa including Prunus × yedoensis, Juniperus chinensis L. var. sargentii and so on. The Korean endemic plants were 5 taxa Populus × tomentiglandulosa, Salix koriyanagi, Lespedeza maritima, Forsythia koreana and Aster pseudoglehni. The specific plants by floristic region were 26 taxa including 2 taxa of grade V, 3 taxa of grade IV, 2 taxa of grade III, 8 taxa of grade II and 11 taxa of grade I. The naturalized plants were 81 taxa including Euphorbia maculata, Erigeron strigosus, Vulpia myuros and so on. The invasive alien plants were 7 taxa including Humulus scandens, Rumex acetosella, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Lactuca seriola, Symphyotrichum pilosum and Paspalum distichum.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.93-108
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• 2014

The inventory list of wildlife species inhabiting or distributing in Gyeonggi Province was made by compiling species data from precedent surveys, 10 national level nature surveys, 1 survey that Gyeonggi-do conducted, and 46 local surveys presented in scientific journals. Total 2,913 wildlife species including 2,041 vascular plants, 39 mammals, 304 birds, 34 herptiles, 145 fish, and 350 benthic macro-invertebrates were listed in the inventory. It explains 47% of nationwide total species in vascular plants, 31.5% in mammals, 58.2% in birds, 65.4% in herptiles, 12.2% in fish. The total number of important species including endangered species, national monuments, national red lists, etc. was 628 species, accounting for 21.6% of all listed species in Gyeonggi Province. More than 90% of endangered bird species, almost half of endangered fish and herptile species were found in Gyeonggi Province. In particular, abundant bird diversity and inhabitation of many endangered bird species were identified in Gyeonggi Province. Species diversity was greater in the northern area adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone and the eastern forest area. The distribution of the important species such as national endangered species was more distinct in these areas, especially in Gapyeong and Yeoncheon Counties. The inventory list compiled in this study implicates the level of management for biological resources and can provide information for policy decisions regarding new survey sites, protection management of specific species and areas, management practices by spatial characteristics. It should be more compiled and updated with survey data to be utilized as basic indices for local biodiversity strategies and management of biological resources.