• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.41-47
• /
• 2019

Objectives : A traditional herbal prescription, Kyung-Ok-Ko (KOK), has long been used in oriental medicine as an invigorant for age-related diseases, such as amnesia and stroke. However, the beneficial value of KOK for immune responses is largely unknown. Based on the above mentioned effects of KOK, other previous reports, and its use in traditional medicine, we hypothesized that KOK displays beneficial effects against methotrexate (MTX)-induced immune suppression. Methods : We investigated the effects of KOK (0.6 g/kg/day, oral (p.o.)) on deteriorated immunity caused by MTX (2 mg/kg/day, p.o.) in an immune suppression mouse model. MTX was fed to mice once a day for 7 days. After the immune responses of the mice deteriorated by MTX treatment, KOK in water was fed to the mice once a day for 14 days. We then measured the expression levels of various cytokines, such as T helper cell (Th1, Th2) cytokines, and the number of immune cells, such as spleen T cells, B cells, and macrophages. Results : The data showed that MTX decreased Th1 profiles (interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-12) and the number of immune cells, and increased Th2 profiles (IL-4, IL-5, IL-13), which were normalized significantly by post-administration of KOK. However, there was no significant difference in body-weight gain between MTX- and KOK-treated mice. Conclusion : These results indicate that KOK has immune-enhancing functions and reduces immunotoxicity of MTX, suggesting that supplementation with KOK will improve immune responses clinically and be useful for the prevention of immune-related diseases.

• Membrane Journal
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.314-324
• /
• 2022

This study is aimed to design a membrane process that systematically removes contaminants including microplastics in sun-dried salt using a separation membrane. In this study, we selected the separation membrane material, pore size, and module suitable for the sun-dried salt fields, and proceeded with the experiments under the salt fields and laboratory conditions. A pilot plant was constructed and tested in our lab and in the actual saltern with the selected 200 kDa, 4 kDa ultrafiltration membranes, and 3 kDa nanofiltration membranes. Most of the impurities in the sea salt were 0.1 ㎛ in size, and more than 7 types of various microplastics were detected in the impurities. After that, as a result of checking the filtered water through the separation membrane process, no impurities were detected. As a result of comparing the existing sea salt component and the sea salt component prepared with separation membrane filtrate, impurities were effectively removed without change in the sea salt component.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.165-171
• /
• 2006

This is the research to prepare a purification program for relatively less polluted stream by using phytoremediation. We calculated a treatment amount of nutrients followed by growth of Helianthus annuus (a kind of sunflower), setting up the plant reactor in the hothouse. Moreover, to investigate a field applicability, we could find increased contents of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen in plants by setting up a H. annuus planted artificial floating island in an irrigation canal. When we changed the dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN) concentration of the influent from 28.5 to 199.2 mg/l and the dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP) concentration of the influent from 13.3 to 25.4 mg/l, growth disorder has not appeared though it is much higher than the criterion of water for irrigation. In this case, the removal rate of DIN was $81.7\sim98.6%$, and that of DIP was $81.9\sim98.4%$ in 3 days stay on average. It has appeared that the efficient hydraulic retention time(HRT) was 48 hours. The following contents of nitrogen, carbon and hydrogen of H. annuus appeared in the artificial floating island: nitrogen was $3.2\sim7.8%$ in the trunk and $3.0\sim6.3%$ in the root. Carbon was $40.1\sim57.7%$ in the trunk and $43.4\sim53.8%$ in the root.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.121-126
• /
• 1993

The behaviors of inorganic nitrogen derived from solid animal waste in soil has been received too much concern partly because nitrate which occurred from nitrification can act as a pollutant to soil and groundwater and partly because the loss of nitrogen from surface soil by downward movement of water is disadvantageous in the view of plant nutrient. This present study was conducted to get fundamental imformations on nitrogen behavior and to provide improved basical concepts on the management of animal waste. Fresh or fermented pig manure was mixed with a sandy loam soil in the ratio of 2:1(soil:pig manure), packed into test tube and incubated at $30^+/-1^{\circ}C$ for 8 weeks under aerobic- or anaerobic condition. Sample tubes were taken at the one week interval and analyzed on pH, the amount of $CH_4$ produced under anaerobic condition and inorganic nitrogen. The pH of soil treated with fresh pig manure under anaerobic condition was lowered by 1.87 unit compared to that of under aerobic condition, but at the treatment with fermented pig manure, pH change was very little between aerobic and anaerobic condition. The coefficients of regressional equations which were obtained from pH and incubation time were -0.114 in fresh pig manure and -0.089 in fermented pig manure, and the extent of pH decrease due to incubation was greater in fresh pig manure than that of fermented pig waste. No differences in the amounts of $CH_4$ produced under anaerobic condition between fresh and fermented pig manure was observed until 3 weeks of incubation, however, after that the amount of $CH_4$ produced in fresh pig manure was abruptly increased and cumulative amont of $CH_4$ was reached 8.6 mole/g. K values on $CH_4$ production in fresh and fermented pig manure was 0.211 mole/g/day and 0.046 mole/g/day, respectively, for 5 weeks from the 3rd to the 8th week. $NH_4-N$ concentration at aerobic condition with fresh pig manure treatment was lowered by passing time of incubation, but $NO_3-N$ concentration was elevated from 11.2 ppm at initial state to 67.3 ppm after incubation and this trend on $NH_4-N$, $NO_3-N$ concentration was very similar to the treatment of fermented pig manure. While $NH_4-N$ concentration under anaerobic condition was greatly increased. $NO_3-N$ concentartion was not only very low but also no great changes, that was ranged from 4 to 8 ppm.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2015

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of soluble potassium silicate by soil drenching application on watermelon growth, yield, and nutrient uptake. The potassium silicate rates were control (No potassium silicate), 1.63mM, 3.25mM, 6.50mM. The potassium silicate were treated 6 times (twice before fruit forming and 4 times after fruit forming per 7 day. Soil chemical properties, such as soil pH, EC, available phosphorus and silicate, exchangeable K, nitrate-N levels were increased after potassium silicate treatment, while the concentrations of soil organic matter, exchangeable Ca and Mg were similar to control. The growth characteristics of watermelon, such as stem diameter, fresh and dry weight of watermelon at harvest were thicker and heavier for increased potassium silicate treatment than the control, while number of node, and plant length were same for all treatments. With increased potassium silicate treatment, nutrient concentrations, such as P and K in the watermelon leaf at harvest were increased, N concentration in the leaf was decreased, and Ca and Mg concentrations in the leaf were same. Chlorophyll content was increased with increased potassium silicate application. The occurrence of powdery mildew was lower for the potassium silicate treatments than the control. Fresh watermelon weight for the potassium silicate treatments was 0.1 to 0.5kg per watermelon heavier than the control, sugar content was 0.5 to $0.6^{\circ}Brix$ higher than control, and merchantable watermelon was 2 to 4% increased compared to the control. These results suggest that potassium silicate application by soil drenching method in the greenhouse can improve watermelon nutrient uptake, merchantable watermelon and suppress the occurrence of powdery mildew.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.348-365
• /
• 2010

Artemisia capillaries THUNB is a perennial herb that belongs to the family compositae spp. and the most common plant among the various herbal folk remedies used in treatment of abdominal pain, hepatitis, chronic liver disease, jaundice and coughing in Korea. The object of this study is to observe the dosage-dependent anti-obestic effects of an aqueous extracts of dried aqueous extracts of stems of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg. [Artemisiae capillaris Herba, In-Jin in Korean, INJ] on 45%/Kcal high fat diet (HFD) supplied mice. 45%/Kcal rodent HFD are supplied to ICR mice from 1 week before initiation of INJ administration throughout the 12 weeks, and after the end of 12 weeks of 62.5, 125 and 250 mg/kg/day of INJ administration, the efficacy was divided into five categories 1) hypoglycemic, 2) hepato-protective, 3) nephroprotective, 4) hypolipemic, and 5) anti- obesity effects. The effects were compared to those of simvastatin (for hypolipemic activity), silymarin (for hepatoprotective and free radical scavenger effects) and metformin (for hypoglycemic and related anti-obesity effects). 7 animals per group (8 groups; total 56adapted mice on HFD were selected base on the body weight at 6 days after initiation of HFD supply) were used in this experiment. INJ and all three different reference drugs were directly suspended or dissolved in distilled water, and administered at a volume of 10 mL/kg, once a day for 84 days from 1 week after HFD supply. As results of 91 days of continuous HFD supply, mice showed marked obese states, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, liver damages and kidney damages. These mean the obesity, diabetes, diabetic hepatopathies, nephropathies and hyperlipemia were induced by HFD supply. After end of 84 days of continuous treatment of three different dosages of INJ, all diabetes related complications were inhibited; relatively favorable anti-obesity, hypolipemic, hepatoprotective, hypoglycemic and nephroprotective effects. These favorable effects showed relatively good dose-relations between all three different dosages of INJ treated, and INJ 250 mg/kg showed enough favorable effects on diabetes and related four complications tested as compared with one of each three different references. Otherwise, the efficacy of 62.5 and 125 mg/kg of INJ was somewhat slighter than those of all three reference drugs. Therefore, the suitable effective dosage of INJ is considered as 250 mg/kg/day in the present study. The overall anti-obesity effects of INJ 250 mg/kg-treated group was similar or more favorable than those of metformin 250 mg/kg-treated group, and INJ 250 mg/kg showed slighter hypoglycemic effects with silymarin 100 mg/kg and metformin 250 mg/kg, similar hypolipemic effects with simvastatin 10 mg/kg, and similar hepatoprotective effects with silymarin 100 mg/kg, and similar nephroprotective effects with that of silymarin 100 mg/kg and metformin 250 mg/kg, respectively. Obese, hyperglycemia, hyperlipemia, steatohepatitis and related nephropathies induced by HFD supply were dramatically inhibited by 84 days of continuous treatment of all three different dosages of INJ. It is, therefore expected that INJ extracts will be a favorable alternative agent for diet-related diabetes and complications.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.40 no.5
• /
• pp.651-660
• /
• 2007

Acid drainage has been recognized as an environmental concern in abandoned mine sites for long time. Recently, the environmental and structural damage by acid drainage is a current issue in construction sites in Korea. Here, the author introduces the type of damages by acid drainage in construction sites and emphasizes the importance of geoscience discipline in solving the problem. Metasedimentary rock of Okcheon group, coal bed of Pyeongan group, Mesozoic volcanic rock. and Tertiary sedimentary and volcanic rocks are the major rock types with a high potential for acid drainage upon excavation in Korea. The acid drainage causes the acidification and heavy metal contamination of soil, surface water and groundwater, the reduction of slope stability, the corrosion of slope structure, the damage on plant growth, the damage on landscape and the deterioration of concrete and asphalt pavement. The countermeasure for acid drainage is the treatment of acid drainage and the prevention of acid drainage. The treatment of acid drainage can be classified into active and passive treatments depending on the degree of natural process in the treatment. Removal of oxidants, reduction of oxidant generation and encapsulation of sulfide are employed for the prevention of acid drainage generation.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.40 no.4
• /
• pp.371-379
• /
• 2012

This study was designed to explore new nutraceutical and cosmetic resources possessing biological activities from the plant kingdom. To fulfill this purpose, we analyzed the anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Zanthoxylum schinifolium extract (ZSE) and its solvent fractions using in vitro assays and cell culture model systems. Three kinds of ZSE treated with methanol, ethanol, and water exhibited potent anti-oxidative activities through DPPH radical scavenging capacity, and inhibited in vitro DOPA oxidation. Furthermore, Z. schinifolium methanol extract (ZSME) inhibited the ${\alpha}$-melanocyte stimulating hormone, which induces melanin contents in B16F10 cells. Its anti-melanogenic activity originates from the inhibition of tyrosinase enzyme activity and melanogenesis related protein expression. Moreover, lipopolysaccharide induced nitric oxide production in the RAW 264.7 cell line was also ameliorated by ZSME treatment in a dose dependent manner. Among the four solvent fractions of ZSME treated with dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water, three fractions, except water, showed significant anti-melanogenic and anti-inflammatory activities. Taken together, these results provide important new insights into Z. schinifolium, indicating that it possesses numerous biological activities such as anti-oxidative, anti-melanogenic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, it may well serve as a promising material in the field of nutraceuticals and cosmetics.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
• /
• v.17 no.1
• /
• pp.31-43
• /
• 1997

This study was carried out to investigate classfication of weedy rice (Oryza sativa) based on isozymes esterase and peroxidase, growth and developmental difference of weedy rices and rices grown under dry and water condition, and weedy rice control and tolerant difference of weedy rices in various herbicides using weedy rices collected from thirteen strains of Chonnam, one Chonbuk, two Kyeongki and two rice cultivars. 1. The collected weedy rices were classified into three groups based on isozyme esterase and peroxidase using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis(PAGE) method. The classified groups were not same each other. 2. Plant height was taller in collected weedy rices than rice cultivars at 18 days after seeding under dry and water conditions, but number of leaves, shoot fresh weight, root fresh weight and root length were not significantly different between collected weedy rices and rice cultivars. In addition, growths of collected weedy rices were greater in dry- than water-condition. 3. After thiobencarb(S-4-chlorobenzyl diethythiocarbamate), molinate(S-ethyl hexahydro-1H-azepine-1-carbothioate) and oxadiazon(5-tert-butyl-3(2,4-dichloro-5-isopropoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-one) were applied at 6 days before seeding, the weedy rices controlled 100% by thiobencarb at 2.1kg ai/ha and 024kg ai/ha oxadiazon treatment but controlled 26% to 67% by molinate at 6.5kg ai/ha. Rice due to the herbicides was injured severely(25% to 100%) in flood condition at time of rice seeding after oxadiazon at 0.48kg ai/ha and 2.1kg ai/ha thiobencarb application, except for molinate which injured rice slightly(4% to 13%) in drain condition. The collected weedy rices to all experimented herbicides showed slight intraspecific variations. The intraspecific variations of weedy rices decreased in the order of thiobencarb>molinate>oxadiazon.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.725-732
• /
• 2012

There is relatively high vulnerability of soil erosion in slope highland agriculture due to a reclamation of mountain as well as low surface covering during early summer with high rainfall intensity. Especially, in soybean cultivation, soil disturbance by conventional tillage and exposure of topsoil at the early stage of soybean have intensified soil loss. The aim of this study was to evaluate various surface covering methods for reducing soil loss in highland soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted in 17% sloped lysimeter ($2.5m{\times}13.4m$) with 8 treatments. Amount of runoff water and eroded soil, and soybean growth were investigated. Surface covering through sod culture and plant residue showed 3.4~45.0 runoff water amount with $177{\sim}2,375m^3\;ha^{-1}$ compared with control ($5,274m^3\;ha^{-1}$). And the amount of eroded soil was also reduced by 95% in surface covering treatment with $0.02{\sim}1.94Mg\;ha^{-1}$ than control with $40.72Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Yields of soybean pod showed $0.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in rye sod culture, $1.3Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in Ligularia fischeri var. spiciformis Nakai, $0.7Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in Aster koraiensis Nakai, $0.2Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in red clover and $2.0Mg\;ha^{-1}$ in non-covering, on the other hand, covering with cut rye showed $3.8Mg\;ha^{-1}$. Conclusively, covering the soil surface with cut rye were beneficial for reduction of soil loss without decreasing soybean yield in highland sloped fields.