• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.236-244
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• 2016

In this study, we compared the anti-inflammatory activity of Pinus koraiensis cone bark extracts prepared by conventional extraction and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Water extracts and 50% ethanol extracts prepared using MAE were applied to RAW 264.7 cell at 5, 10, 25, and $50{\mu}g/mL$ of concentrations, and tested for cytoxicity. The group treated with $50{\mu}g/mL$ of 50% ethanol extracts showed toxicity. In order to investigate the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW 264.7 cells, extracts of water and ethanol were treated with 5, 10, and $25{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations. The inhibitory activity of water and 50% ethanol extracts groups were determined as 40% and 60% at $25{\mu}g/mL$ concentration, respectively. We found concentration dependent decreases on inducible NO synthase. The inhibitory effect against forming inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandin $E_2$, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-$1{\beta}$, was also superior in the $25{\mu}g/mL$ treated group than the control group. According to these results, the water extracts and 50% ethanol extracts both inhibited inflammatory mediators by reducing the inflammatory response. Therefore, The MAE extracts of P. koraiensis cone bark can be developed as a functional ingredient with anti-inflammatory activity.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Pseudolaric acids of Pseudolarix kaempferi (Pinaceae) have been known as diterpenoids with potent anti-fungal-, anti-microbial, and cytotoxic activities. In the present study, the five MeOH extracts were prepared from the five plant part (root bark, stem bark, leaf, the inner part of root, and cone) to find the relation between the concentration of pseudolaric acids and cytotoxicity. Pseudolaric acids B and C were isolated from the root bark of P. kaempferi to use them as standard compounds. The five extracts were tested on cytotoxicity against six cancer cell lines, A549 (lung), HCT116 (colon), MDA-MB-231 (breast), SNU638 (stomach), and SK-hep-1 (liver) by SRB assay, but against K562 (leukemia) by SRB- or MTT assay. HPLC quantification were performed on a Shisheido Capcell PAK C18 column ($5{\mu}m$, $4.6mm{\times}250mm$) using 254 nm wavelength. The cytotoxicity ($IC_{50}$, $0.36{\mu}g/ml$ on K562 cell lines) of the root bark extract was potent and the content (101.1 mg/g extract) of pseudolaric acid B was very high in the root bark. These results suggest that the MeOH extract obtained from the root bark could be developed as the anti-cancer agent with a high quantity of pseudolaric acid B.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.275-281
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• 2019

The pathological condition of excessive melanogenesis causing freckles, melasma, senile lentigo, pigmented acne scars, and cancer has a critical impact on the wellness of individuals. The mechanism of melanogenesis is related to the expression of melanogenic enzymes. Here, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of pine cone (Pinus densiflora) extracts on melanogenesis. P. densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species in the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. P. densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones are rarely used as natural raw materials, although they contain many bioactive phytochemicals. The pine cone ethyl acetate fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to B16F10 cells at a concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/mL$. PEF inhibited the expression of microphthalmiaassociated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related factors in B16F10 cells treated with 3-Isobutyl1-methylxanthine (IBMX). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural melanogenesis inhibitory agent.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2019.04a
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• pp.119-119
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• 2019

Pinus densiflora, the Korean Red Pine, is the predominant tree species of the cool, temperate forests of northeast Asia, occurring in pure stands across Korea, Japan, and parts of northern China and Russia. Pinus densiflora leaves, pollen, and bark have been widely used for traditional medicine, or edible purposes. However, pine cones contain many bioactive phytochemicals, but they are rarely used as natural raw materials. This study was conducted to evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of pine cone extracts and its possbility of natural sources were evaluated. Pine cones were extracted with 80% methanol, concentrated and then partitioned with ethyl acetate, and the organic layer was used as a sample. The Pine cone Ethyl acetate Fraction (PEF) showed no toxicity to RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of less than $50{\mu}g/ml$. PEF inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Also, It suppressed the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and transcription of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-${\kappa}B$). These results suggest that pine cones can be used as an effective natural material for anti-inflammatory agent.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.6
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• pp.475-489
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• 2013

This work was conducted to investigate the effect of the addition of binders, such as rapeseed flour, coffee waste, bark, pine cone and lignin powder, on the fuel characteristics of the pellets fabricated with larch and tulip tree sawdust. Moisture content, bulk density and higher heating value of most pellets fabricated with the binders exceeded the 1st-grade pellet standard designated by Korea Forest Research Institute, but ash content of the pellets fabricated with rapeseed flour or bark of 10 wt% on the dry weight basis of sawdust was satisfied with just the 2nd- or 3rd-grade standard. The durability of tulip tree-pellets was positively influenced by the addition of rapeseed flour, coffee waste or lignin powder and increased with increasing the amount of the binders. For larch-pellets, the increase of binders did not greatly affect the durability, and even the durability reduced with the increase of bark or pine cone. From the microscopic observation, the obvious feature of pellet surfaces was not identified by the type of binder but by the addition amount of the binder. In summary, the addition of binders contributed to the fuel characteristics of wood pellets, and particularly the characteristics of wood pellets fabricated with coffee waste improved greatly. Therefore, if the binders are secured sufficiently with a reasonable cost, it might be possible to commercialize wood/binder pellets, which have better fuel characteristics than conventional wood pellets.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2022

Pine (Pinaceae family such as Pinus densiflora, P. rigida, and P.taeda) has been used as traditional medicine, its various parts (pine needle, bark, sap) have been used for hemostasis, bruises, and burns. These species were reported that have phenolics and flavonoids. We evaluated the anti-inflammation effects of PRT in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. These results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of cone from Pinus rigida x P.taeda (ECRT) stabilized free radicals by reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing the production of nitric oxide (NO). ECRT decreased the expressions of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). In addition, ECRT significantly suppressed mRNA levels of inflammation-related factors such as cytokines, iNOS, and COX-2. As a result, ECRT was related to alleviating various pro-inflammatory mediators through IκB/NF-κB signaling pathways, including p65 translocation to the nucleus.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.1086-1093
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• 2018

Honokiol, a bioactive compound isolated from the cone and bark of Magnolia officinalis, has been shown to have various activities including inhibition of the growth of Candida albicans. We investigated the roles of the Hsp90-calcineurin pathway in the antifungal activity of honokiol. The pharmacologic tool was employed to evaluate the effects of Hsp90 and calcineurin in the antifungal activity of honokiol. We also evaluated the protective effects of the calcineurin inhibitor cyclosporin A (CsA) on honokiol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction by the fluorescence staining method. The Hsp90 inhibitor potentiated the antifungal activity of honokiol. A C. albicans strain with the calcineurin gene deleted displayed enhanced sensitivity to honokiol. However, co-treatment with calcineurin inhibitor CsA attenuated the cytotoxic activity of honokiol due to the protective effect on mitochondria. Our results provide insight into the action mechanism of honokiol.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.381-386
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• 2008

Virtual 3D audio methods that create 3D sound effects are researched highly for multimedia devices using 2 speakers or headphone. The most typical method to create 3D effects is a technology through use of head related transfer function (HRTF) which contains the information that sound arrives from a sound source to the ears of the listener. But it can decline some 3D effects by cone of confusion between front and back directions due to the non-individual HRTF depending on each listener. In this paper, we propose a new method to use psychoacoustic theory that creates realistic 3D audio. In order to improve 3D sound, we calculate the excitation energy of each symmetric HRTF and extract the ratio of energy of each bark range. Informal listening tests show that the proposed method improves the front-bach sound localization characteristics much better than the conventional methods.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Rural Architecture
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.101-109
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• 2008

It is very hard to find out Tongbanga-millhouse installed nearby a streamlet to use water with Tongbanga(a kind of water-mill) to polish cereals by pounding like a visage of its old days. It plays an important part in folkloric, architectural and educational aspects. The purpose of this study is to analyse the architectural features of Tongbanga and millhouse itself so that to find the way how to build and fabricate the materials and frame members. Therefore this study has been focused on the composition principle and fabrication method of Tongbanga-millhouse on the side of architecture. The fabrication methods of its house in accordance with regular sequences are as follows. ${\cdot}$ Firstly the decision of location of Tongbanga-millhouse and Hwak(a big mortar made of stone). ${\cdot}$ Slantly three rafter installation at an angle of $50^{\circ}$ to err on the safe side and then slantly fifteen rafter installation making a circular cone shape. ${\cdot}$ Installation of twigs to be circles from bottom to top. ${\cdot}$ Manifoldly covering of trunks peeling the barks from flax plants. ${\cdot}$ Threefoldly thatching with upside barks of oak trees. ${\cdot}$ Placing woods alike rafter on the bark thatches as a weight not to fly away by wind. ${\cdot}$ Binding woods alike rafter with vines of arrowroots to maintain the proper place. The decayed Tongbanga-millhouse by means of upper ways was restored out of all recognition.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.102 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2013

Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) has been extensively planted in Korea as a reforestation species but their supply has been a major bottleneck due to sporadic natural seed production. In this study, stem girdling was applied to 32-year-old grafted Japanese larches, resulting in significantly enhanced seed production compared to the controls. Stem girdling induced about 4 times higher cone production than that of controls in the Japanese larch seed orchard. Time-dependent metabolic alterations after girdling were investigated by stable isotope ratio mass spectrometer, HPLC, and GC-MS analysis. In girdled trees, the contents of total nitrogen, sucrose, and total free amino acids were significantly higher than the non-girdled trees at the flowering differentiation season (from July to August). Moreover, the numbers of female strobilus per tree were positively correlated with the contents of both total nitrogen (r=0.765, p<0.01) and total amino acids (r=0.802, p<0.01) in the bark being collected at the flowering differentiation time (August 20). Interestingly, the levels of various individual amino acids at the flowering differentiation times, such as aspartic acid, glutamic acid, glycine, serine, and cysteine, were also significantly correlated (p<0.05) with the numbers of strobilus, suggesting that those amino acids might be involved in the induction of female strobilus formation of Japanese larches.