• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.1384-1392
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• 2015

Sagantang (SGT), a Korean multiherb formula comprising six medicinal herbs, Paeonia lactiflora Pall., Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC, Gardenia jasminoides Ellis, Poria cocos Wolf, Cimicifuga heracleifolia Komarov, and Artractylodes japonica Koidzumi, was recorded in “Dongeuibogam.” The present study investigated the anticancer potential of SGT in AGS human gastric carcinoma cells. The results indicated that SGT treatment significantly inhibited the growth and viability of AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, in addition to chromatin condensation and DNA fragmentation, and the accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by the SGT treatment was associated with up-regulation of Fas protein expression, truncation of Bid, and down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. The SGT treatment also effectively induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, a pan-caspase inhibitor significantly blocked the SGT-induced apoptosis and growth suppression in AGS cells. This study suggests that SGT induces caspase-dependent apoptosis through an extrinsic pathway by upregulating Fas, as well as through an intrinsic pathway by modulating Bcl-2 family members in AGS cells. The results suggest that SGT may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human gastric cancer cells. However, further studies will be needed to confirm the potential of SGT in cancer prevention and therapy in an in vivo model and to identify biological active compounds of SGT.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.531-540
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• 2012

In this study, the effect of yam juice on the quality characteristics of the salad dressing was evaluated. Salad dressings were prepared with the salad dressing base (plain yogurt:mayonnaise:fresh cream=8:1:1), mulberry, omija for acidity, and yam for viscosity in the ratios of 4:4:6:1 and 4:4:6:3. Fresh yam juice was added at the level of 0, 7, and 18% of the salad dressing. As the concentration of the yam juice increased, the salad dressing increased in pH and decreased in acidity. The Hunter color L (lightness), b (yellowness) and a (redness) values of the salad dressing decreased as the amount of yam juice increased. The viscosity increased with the amount of yam juice. The total phenol content also increased with the amount of added yam juice. The antioxidant activities such as DPPH and hydroxyl radical activity of the mulberry salad dressing increased as the amount of yam juice was increased. The sensory preference test results showed that the salad dressings with added yam juice had higher scores in the color, flavor, taste and texture in comparison to the control. In the overall preference, the 7% yam juice added salad dressing had the highest score among the treatments. From these results, it was suggested that the salad dressing with the added mulberry, omija for acidity, and yam juice for viscosity was a functional salad dressing with high antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2012

To investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of freeze-dried plum (Prunus mume Siebold and Zucc., PMS) or omija meal (Schizandra chinensis Baill.; SCB) on growth performance, organ weights, blood biochemical profiles and antioxidant defense system, a total of 96, 3-day-old male broiler chickens were assigned to three dietary groups: (1) control diet, (2) control diet supplemented with PMS at 0.2%, (3) control diet supplemented with SCB at 0.2%. In vitro antioxidant activity, plum and omija extracts showed a significantly higher radical scavenging activity (RSA). In particular, omija extract showed much higher RSA than plum extract. Dietary addition of plum or omija did not affect body weight, feed intake, feed conversion and the relative weight of digestive organ in birds. Plasma triglyceride significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diet supplemented with omija compared with those fed control diet without affecting the other blood biochemical components. Furthermore, reduced form of glutathione (GSH) in the liver or muscle significantly (P<0.05) increased in birds fed the diet fortified with plum and omija. However, the specific activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and MDA (malondealdehyde) in the intestine, liver and muscle were not altered by dietary antioxidant sources. In conclusion, dietary plum and omija resulted in a positive effect on some antioxidant indicators such as increased in vitro RAS in extracts and in vivo GSH level in the liver and muscle without affecting growth performance. Therefore, dietary addition of 0.2% of plum or omija could be applicable as potential antioxidant sources in broiler chick production.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.81-86
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• 2012

The present study was evaluated the antibacterial effect of the combination of $Coptidis$ $rhizoma$, $Glycyrrhiza$ $uralensis$ Fischet, $Schizandra$ $chinensis$ and $Corni$ $Fructus$(1:1:1) extracts(CGSC10). Furthermore, the effectiveness of CGSC10, sodium chlorate, and the combination of CGSC10 and sodium chlorate(CGSCS10) against $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 infection was studied using ICR female mice. During the incubation period, the dose of 5, 10, and 20% CGSC10 was inhibited the growth of $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 by 34.7, 60.2, and 76.4%, respectively. For 7 days after single challenge with $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7, forty female ICR mice were divided into four experimental groups which were administered in drinking water with saline, 10% CGSC10, 15 mM sodium chlorate, and CGSCS10, respectively. On the 3rd day, the number of $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 in mouse feces was significantly decreased by administration of CGSC10, 15 mM sodium chlorate, and CGSCS10 ($p$ < 0.001). On the 7th day-after administration, CGSC10, sodium chlorate, and CGSCS10 were decreased the number of $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 by 27.1, 67.7, and 83.3%, respectively. According to the results of the present study, administration of CGSCS10 to mice can reduce the severity of $E.$ $coli$ O157:H7 infection. In addition, it is suggested that CGSCS10 represents a good candidate for the treatment of enteric infections in domestic animals.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.209-215
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• 2011

BACKGROUND: The paddy ecosystem is periodically disturbed with a relatively consistent cycle in short term. However, in long term aspect, the paddy as habitats of organisms has been affected by the change in farming practices. Accordingly, the composition and their densities of fauna species inhabiting the wet paddy has been changed. The geological distribution of a species is very helpful to understand the past and current status of habitats and biodiversity. METHODS AND RESULTS: We monitored 290 sites of open plain paddy or terraced valley paddy located in 138 cities or counties of South Korea and analyzed examine geological distribution of a taxon of freshwater invertebrates, diving beetles (Dytiscidae) which inhabited the paddy ecosystem. This survey was conducted from 2005 through 2007. The total species of diving beetles found in the paddy were identified to be 15 genus 26 species among the family of Dytiscidae. Among them, 24 species were found in the terraced valleys-in paddy fields, and 19 species were found in the open plain paddy fields. Eleven species of them were rarely found in the paddy. The average body size of the adult diving beetles of each species was between 2.0 and 35.0 mm. Most of the diving beetle species except for 11 species with rare frequency of occurrence were found in almost all sites of the terraced valley paddy fields but three species (Agabus browni, Agabus japnicus, and Ilybius apicalis) were not found in the open plain paddy fields. The species distributed relatively widely over some sites of the open plain paddy fields were Guignotus japonicus, and Rhantus pulverosus. Specifically, Ilybius apicalis was found in a specific region, the east-southern part of Korean peninsula, whereas Coelambus chinensis was found only in valley paddy field of the region where Ilybius apicalis was not found. Overall distribution range of diving beetles in open plain paddy fields was limited to few area than in terraced valley paddy fields. CONCLUSION(s): The differences in the range of distribution of diving beetles between terraced valley paddy fields and open plain paddy fields was thought to be the result of an complex action of physico-chemical environments such as annual water status and the degree of chemical application involving differences in the extent of disturbance of the paddy ecosystem, the connectivity of the paddy to an adjacent biotope, and interrelationships among competitors.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.203-213
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• 2011

Agriculture modern environments can vary due to factors such as land consolidation and ditch enhancement projects. But, these improvements projects can include cover-ing-up of irrigation ditches with concrete, increasing the drop between paddy field and drainage ditches, which might decrease the abundance and diversity of fish fauna around paddy fields. In this study, for the management of agrobiodiversity on fish in paddy fields, we installed a small-scale fishways between paddy fields and drainage ditches, and evaluated the effects on the eco-connection of the paddy fields, ditches and stream. Five fish species were recovered at the drainage ditches. The species exhibited characteristics spawning and growth based on the paddy field. The results indicate that the five fish species could ascend the paddy fields through the small-scale fishways. There are no difference of species numbers at ditches of environment-friendly agriculture paddy fields (A) and good agricultural practices (B) region, but individual numbers were higher at the B region. This result could be interpreted as indicating that ditch diversity was affected by positional properties rather than farming practices because the water flow and connection to adjacent stream of B region were better than A region. After ascertaining the fish species capable of ascending in a pre-survey of the drainage ditches, we set up small-scale fishways at the drop between paddy fields and drainage ditches. Three species of fish (Aphyocypris chinensis, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus, M. mizolepis) arrived at the paddy fields via small-scale fishways. The main movement time was from 18:00~24:00 and 00:00~06:00, indicating a preference for the night time period rather than the day period for migration. Concentrating the operation time from night to dawn seems prudent for effective management of small-scale fishways.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1207-1214
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• 2017

Schisandrae Fructus (SF), the fruit of Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill., is widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of chronic diseases. SF extracts have been recently reported to attenuate the inflammatory responses in SW1353 human chondrocyte cells in in vitro and monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced cartilage degradation in in vivo osteoarthritis (OA) models. However, their protective and therapeutic potentials against OA in primary culture chondrocytes and animal models remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of the ethanol extract of SF on the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), biomarkers for diagnosis of OA, on interleukin $(IL)-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes and MIA-induced osteoarthritis in a rat model. Our data indicated that SF treatment significantly reduced the mRNA expression and enzyme activity of MMP-1, -3 and -13 in $IL-1{\beta}-induced$ primary cultured rat cartilage chondrocytes. The chondro-protective effects of SF were then analyzed in a rat OA model using a single intra-articular injection of MIA in the right knee joint. According to our results, the elevated levels of MMP-1 and -3 were markedly ameliorated by SF administration. Collectively, these findings indicate that SF could be a candidate for the treatment of OA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.517-523
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• 2018

Elevated levels of cortisol caused by chronic stress may lead to neuron damage in the hippocampus by activating the glucocorticoid receptors (GRs). In cortisol-deficient animals, corticosterone is known to function as a stress hormone. In humans however, corticosterone is considered a precursor of aldosterone and a glucocorticoid with similar properties to cortisol. Recently, many studies have been conducted on the role of cortisol and other synthetic glucocorticoids like dexamethasone in humans, but the exact function of corticosterone is unknown. This study examined the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells treated with various concentrations of corticosterone for 24 and 48 hr via MTT assay. The MTT-assay results showed that corticosterone had an antiproliferation effect on SH-SY5Y cells at higher concentrations (500 and $1,000{\mu}M$), while in lower concentrations ($100{\mu}M$), it showed no antiproliferation effect. Cytotoxicity analysis of extracts from three medicinal crops (Liriope muscari, Schisandra chinensis, and Wolfiporia extensa) revealed that they all possessed deleterious effects on SH-SY5Y cells depending on dosage. However, it was observed that, at a concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$, Liriope muscari attenuated the corticosterone-induced antiproliferation on SY-SH5Y cells and restored cell growth after 48 hours of treatment. The study examined the synergistic effect of six mixtures each containing $500{\mu}g/ml$ of Liriope and various concentrations of Schisandra (50 or $100{\mu}g/ml$) and Wolfiporia (10, 30, and $50{\mu}g/ml$). The results showed minor growth-restoration activity but less than that of Liriope muscari only, suggesting that Schisandra and Wolfiporia had no additive or synergistic effects.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.431-440
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• 2015

This study investigated the correlation between the trees planted on the slope of the first landfill where the landfill was completed and the soil environment. 69 plots (($7{\sim}20m{\times}5{\sim}20m$) were planted with 26 kinds of major trees in the first landfill slopes for vegetation survey. The survey was conducted from 2007 to 2009. Soil analysis from 2007 to 2008 was made on the basis of the injured index and the indicator species were selected. Depending on the rate of growth of the indicator species, seven survey locations were selected for soil sample analysis. 10 tree species appeared to adapt to the landfill environment. Among them, the coniferous trees were Pinus thunbergii (Seedling) and Juniperus chinensis and the deciduous trees were Quercus aliena, Salix preudo-lasiogyne, Castanea crenata (Seedling), Prunus armeniaca var. ansu, Quercus acutissima, Chionanthus retusus, Liriodendron tulipifera (Seedling) and Celtis sinensis. 8 species of trees did not adapt well to the landfill environment. Among them, two kinds were coniferous, the other six kinds were deciduous. In addition, judgment on the other 8 species of trees as to whether they adapted well or not was postponed. The species for which judgment was postponed included one coniferous tree and seven deciduous trees. Indicator species of injured index was the species that have more than 25 % of the defect. The soil was collected from where Catalpa ovata, Sophora japonica, Albizzia julibrissin and Acer palmatum were planted for analysis. According to the soil analysis, the soil pH showed that the soil was alkaline. Regarding the three phases of the soil, most sample soil showed 60 % for the solid phase or 55 % for the solid phase but with less than 10 % of gas phase. The organic matter content was found to be 0.14 to 2.52 %.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.9-17
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• 1990

Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora, Pseudomonas viridiflava and Pseudomonas marginalis pv. marginalis were tested for their pathogenicity to 35 kinds of domestic flowering plants. Among them, the following domestic flowering plants showed clear symptoms. 1. Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora : (Needle inoculation). Carnation(Dianthus catgophylius L.), madagascar periwinkle(Vinca rosea L.), flower gentle(Amaranthus tricolor L.), snapdragon(Antirrhinum majus L.), chrysanthemum(Chrysanthemum morifolium Ram.), mexiacan ageratum(Ageratum houstonianum Mill), china aster(Callistephus chinensis), youth and old age(Zinnia elegans Jacq.), common nasturtium(Tropaeorum majus L.), scarlet sage(Salvia splendens F.), dahlia(Dahia hybrida), pot marigold(Calendula officinalis L.), begonia treevine(Cissus dicolor Blume), cosmos(Cosmos bipinnatus Cav.), globe amaranth(Gomphrena globosa L.), black eyed susan(Thumbergia alata Bojer), common gypsophila(Gypsophila elegans Bieb.), ghent gladiolus(Gladiolus gandavensis Van.), indian shot(Canna orchiodes Bailey), iris(Iris nertschinskia Lodd), cyclamen primula(Dodecatheon meadia L.), scarlet kafir lily(Clivia miniata Regel.), flowering cabbage(Brassica oleracea L.). (Spray inoculation). Carnation, madagascar periwinkle, flower gentle, snapdragon, common nasturtium, ghent gladiolus, indian shot, cyclamen primula. 2. Pseudomonas viridiflava : (Needle inoculation). Carnation, madagascar periwinkle, snapdragon, chrysanthemum, cockscomb, mexican ageratum, china aster, common nasturtium, common petunia(Petunia hybrida Vilm), pot marigold, begonia treevine, cosmos, black eyed susan, common gypsophila, ghent gladiolus, indian shot, cyclamen primula, scarlet kafir-lily, flowering cabbage. (Spray inoculation). Common nasturtium, ghent gladiolus, indian shot, cyclamen primula. 3. Pseudomonas marginalis pv. marginalis : (Needle inoculation). Carnation, madagascar periwinkle, flower gentle, snapdragon, cockscomb, mexican ageratum, youth and old age, common nasturitium, common petunia, sweet william(Dianthus barbatus L.), pot marigold, begonia treevine, cosmos, common gypsophila, ghent gladiolus, indian shot, iris, cyclamen primula, scarlet kafir-Lily, flowering cabbage. (Spray inoculation). Common nasturtium, ghent gladiolus, indian shot, cyclamen primula.