• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2020.08a
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• pp.19-19
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• 2020

The Cassava(Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a tropical root crop, originally from Amazonia, that provides the staple food of an estimated 800 million people worldwide. It belongs to the family Euphorbiaceae which also includes rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). Among tropical crops, rice, sugarcane, maize and cassava are the most important sources of calories for human consumption. Problems in the propagation of cassava are virus diseases and low rates of seed germination. So we tried to optimize protocols for mass production of somatic embryo amenable to large-scale vegetative propagation of Cassava. After in vitro eight-week culture of leaves of Cassava, the medium which contained the 2,4-D, BAP and IBA showed the highest callus induction rate, embryogenesis callus formation rate and somatic embryo formation in Cassava culture. In the medium with GA₃ and myo-inositol, shoots were most vigorously regenerated from somatic embryos of Cassava. Our experiments confirmed that in vitro growth and multiplication of plantlets could depend on its reaction to the different medium composition, and this micropropagation techniques could be a useful system for healthy and vigorous plant production.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.387-398
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• 2024

Euphorbia humifusa Willd (Euphorbiaceae) is a functional raw material with various pharmacological activities. This study aimed to validate the inhibitory effect of Euphorbia humifusa extract (EHE) on adipocyte differentiation in vitro and in a high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced mouse model to evaluate the E.a humifusa as a novel anti-obesity and lipid metabolism enhancer agent. EHE effects on obesity and lipid metabolism were assessed in HFD-induced obese mice after 4-week treatments. Results were compared among four treatment groups (n = 7/group): low fat diet (LFD), high fat diet (HFD), and HFD-induced obese mice treated with either 100 or 200 mg/kg/day EHE (EHE100 and EHE200, respectively). EHE (50 to 200 ㎍/ml) and quercetin (50 ㎍/ml) significantly reduced 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation (p < 0.001), in a concentration-dependent manner. EHE affected lipid metabolism, as evidenced by changes in serum lipid components. The HFD-EHE100 and HFD-EHE200 groups exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) reduced triglycerides (TG, 97.50 ± 6.56 and 82.50 ± 13.20 mg/dL, respectively) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c: 40.25 ± 4.99 and 41.25 ± 6.36 mg/dL, respectively) compared to the HFD group (TG: 129.25 ± 19.81 mg/dL; LDL-c: 51.75 ± 11.59 mg/dL). Haematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and Oil red O staining showed that EHE markedly reduced lipid accumulation and inhibited lipogenesis in the liver. Interestingly, EHE significantly (p < 0.01) reduced the expression of adipogenic transcription factors in liver tissue. Our results indicated that EHE has the potential to be a therapeutic agent for addressing obesity and lipid metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.279-293
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• 2003

Somatic chromosomes about 13 taxa of Korean Euphorbia L. was investigated to estimate its taxonomic significance. Somatic chromosome numbers of treated taxa were 2n= 12, 20, 22, 28, 40, 42, 56, therefore basic chromosome numbers of those were x=6, 7, 10, 11. The chromosome numbers of E. pallasii Turcz. (2n=20), E. hylonoma Hand.-Mazz (2n=20.), E. fauriei H. L$\acute{e}$v. & Vaniot ex H. L$\acute{e}$v (2n=28) and E. jolkini Boiss. (2n=28) were determined for the first time in this study. The chromosome numbers of four taxa were same as previous ones; E. sieboldiana Moor. & Decne. (2n=20), E. ebracteolata Hayata (2n=20), E. humifusa Willd. ex Schlecht. (2n=22). But those of six taxa were different; E. esula L (2n= 16, 20, 60, 64 vs 2n=20), E. helioscopia L. (2n=12, 42 vs 2n=42), E. lucorum Rupr. (2n=28, 40 vs 2n=56), E. pekinensis Rupr. in Maxim. (2n=24 vs 2n=28, 56), E. maculata L. (2n=28, 42 vs 2n=12), E. supina Raf. (n=7 vs 2n=40). E. ebracteolata, E. pallasii and E. hylonoma were distingushcd from the other taxa by the chromosome numbers, size and satellites, E. maculata, E. humifusa, E. supina had the different basic and somatic chromosome numbers in spite of the similar morphological. anatomical and palynological chracters. The chromosomal character of Korean Euphorbia was supported the Ma and Hu's systems, and as above results, it was found to be a good character in delimiting above sections and estimating relationships for some species.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.339-362
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• 2002

Pollen morphology of 13 species of Korean Euphorbia was re-examined by means of LM and SEM. Taxonomic evaluation of palynological characters and relationships among taxa were also discussed based on the analysis of polar length, equatorial diameter, aperture size and exine thickness. Korean Euphorbia species were classified into three groups based on the mean size of polar length (P) and equatorial diameter (E) as follows:Group 1. sect. Tulocarpa and Tithymalus of subgenus Esula; $(P){\times}(E)=(54.88-67.17{\mu}m){\times}(44.30-64.75{\mu}m)$, Group 2. sect. Esula and Helioscpiae of subgenus Esula; $(P){\times}(E)=(39.98-47.24{\mu}m){\times}(36.07-38.83{\mu}m)$, Group 3. sect. Chamaesyce and Hypericifoliae of subgenus Chamaesyce; $(P){\times}(E)=(30.32-32.51{\mu}m){\times}(21.71-26.23{\mu}m)$. Various features of surface sculpturing were also grouped into 8 types by the characteristics of perporation size and distance of perporations as well as connection state of it. Pollen size and surface sculpturing were comparatively available in the levels of subgenus and section. Especially subgenus Chamaesyce was distinctly different from subgenus Esula by having compactly distributed perporations on exine surface as well as its small size of pollen grains. Because of the great variations in pollen size and the occurrence of various types of surface sculpturing according to the local poulations of each species, it was evaluated that they were unsuitable in classifying each species of Euphorbia. But such cases, that is, E. hylonoma being more familiar with E. ebracteolata than E. Pallasii, and E. pekinensis and E. fauriei as well as E. pallasii being strongly related with each other based on the similarity of surface sculpturing, reflected its usefulness in the classification of some Euphorbia species.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.109-117
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• 1999

Thirty two species of coastal plants (mainly halophytes) were investigated for their free amino acids and the total and water-soluble nitrogen contents in leaves. All plants except some species (e.g. Scutellaria and Linaria) contained proline, but only Ageratum. Tetragonia and Raphanus in rather high amounts, that it can be thought to serve as a cytoplasmic osmolyte. In some plant species (Euphorbia. Glehnia. Peucedanum. Raphanus and monocotyledonous Carex and Zoysia), however, hydroxyproline. (OH-Pro) rather than proline were accumulated to a considerable extent. The concentrations of total free amino acids were low in Aster tripolium, Linaria. Lysimachia. Plantago. Rumex, Vitex and especially in the members of the Chenopodiaceae and Crassulaceae. Marked differences also occurred in the nitrogen levels. Aizoaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Cruciferae, Euphorbiaceae and Leguminosae usually showed high values of total and soluble amino nitrogen, while the opposite was true for most of the Cyperaceae, Gramineae, Lamiaceae, Plantaginaceae, Scophuriaceae, and Verbenaceae. The free amino acids in the investigated plant species contributed very little to the nitrogen content, but in plants of Euphorbia, Messerschmidia and Orostachys. their amino acid-N made up for 25∼30% of the total nitrogen. In conclusion, only a few cases did proline known as compatible solute constitute a significant proportion of the free amino acid pool in coastal plants.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.165-178
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of weeds occurring in paeony field in June and July, 2015 in Uiseong, Cheongsong of Kyungbuk province, and Hwasun, Jangheung, Gangjin of Jeonnam province. In total paeony field, there were 35 families and 105 species, including 30 species of Asteraceae, nine species of Poaceae, eight species of Polygonaceae, and each five species of Fabaceae and Convolvulaceae, By life style, there were 49 species of annuals, 27 species of winter annuals and 24 species of perennials. In Kyeongbuk province, 30 families and 75 species were found including 20 species of Asteraceae, seven species of Poaceae, six species of Polygonaceae, each four species of Brassicaceae, Fabaceae and Convolvulaceae, three species of Euphorbiaceae. By life style, there were 35 species of annuals, 21 species of winter annuals and 19 species of perennials. In Jeonnam province, 34 families and 88 species were found including 23 species of Asteraceae, seven species of Poaceae, eight species of Polygonaceae, six species of Fabaceae and four species of Scrophulariaceae. By life style, there were 43 species of annuals, 15 species of winter annuals and 25 species of perennials. Therefore, there are various occurrences of annual, annual, and perennial weeds in peony fields, and weed control system should be set up accordingly.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.195-208
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• 2006

Using light and scanning electron microscopy morphological studies of pollens were conducted to determine the sectional boundary and the relationships among eight species of section Zygophyllidium and its five related species of subg. Poinsettia. Pollen characters of 13 species were described, and their diagnostic keys were presented here. Based on the sculpturing patterns and the results of numerical analysis using 10 pollen characters 13 species were divided into four Pollen types: type I, having micro-reticulate shaped pollen (E. hexagona, E. lagunensis, E. hexagonoides and E. bilobata), type II, having reticulate shaped pollen (E. delicatula, E. extipulata, E. dentata, E. heterophylla, E. pulcherrima and E. cyathophora), type III, micro-reticulate shaped pollen with platten muri (E. lacera), and type IV, haying foveolate shaped pollen grains (E. chersonesa and E. eriantha). The results of pollen morphological studies suggest that the sect. Zygophyllidium should be delimited based on only four species, E. hexagona, E. lagunensis, E. hexagonoides and E. bilobata, E. delicatural and E. exstipulata of sect. Zygophyllidium must be transferred to subg. Poinsettia based on pollen morphology. E. eriantha and E. chersonesa having forveolate sculpturing pattern of pollen grains seem to be closely related with species from subg. Agaloma, and additional studies of these species are needed to determine the species relationships within Agaloma group.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.363-369
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• 2018

Since the establishment of the Korean Society of Plant Taxonomists (KSPT) on Dec. 13, 1968, the professional manpower training and research activities have been analyzed. The survey method was based on the homepage of the KSPT and the Korean J. Pl. Taxon, and on data provided by each university about professional manpower. Over the past 50 years, a total of 680 specialists in plant taxonomy have been trained, consisting of 537 master's degree holders (274 males, 263 females) from 30 universities and 143 PhDs (97 males, 46 females) from 26 universities, and the number has increased significantly since 1998. With regard to changes in the field of research over the last ten years, revision papers were the most common in the period of 1988-1997 (72%), but this rate has decreased to 51% over the last ten years, while the number of unrecorded papers has increased to 28%. In the 629 revision papers on taxa, 49% of the taxa belong to Asteraceae, Ranunculaceae, Cyperaceae, Liliaceae, Rosaceae, Fabaceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Orchidaceae, Oleaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Polygonaceae, and Amaryllidaceae. With regard to changes in research methods, the number of morphological papers increased from 6% to 51%, while pollen papers have decreased from a rate of 20% to only 2%. Chromosome studies account for 3-4%, chemotaxonomic studies 2%, and DNA studies remain low at 3-16%. The percentage of papers in English now stands at 43%, mainly due to the increased number of papers on unrecorded species.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.319-342
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• 2024

Background: The current study is the first quantitative ethnobotanical evaluation of Fateh Pur Thakyala, an unexplored area of Azad Kashmir, Pakistan. The exploration and quantification of ethnobotanical knowledge among people of the study area mainly focused during field survey. The study likely focuses on documenting and preserving the indigenous knowledge and practices related to medicinal plants in the region. A total 70 informants (45 males and 25 females) selected randomly to collect data were interviewed using semi structured questionnaire. The data like demographic characteristics of informants, methods of preparation, life form, modes of application, parts used, and ethnomedicinal uses was documented. The quantitative indices including relative frequency of citation (RFC), use value (UV), informant consensus factor (ICF), fidelity level (FL), consensus value for plant part (CPP), rank order priority (ROP), percentage respondent knowledge (PRK), were applied to analyze the collected data. Furthermore, primary data were also compared with fifteen papers published from adjoining areas by Jaccard index (JI). Results: The current study reported 135 medicinally important plants species belonging to 115 genera and 54 families. The dominating family was Asteraceae (14 sp.), followed by Fabaceae (11 sp.), Rosaceae (11 sp.), Lamiaceae (8 sp.), Moraceae (5 sp.), Solanaceae, Cyperaceae, Euphorbiaceae (4 sp.) and Poaceae, Sapindaceae, Rhamnaceae, Mrytaceae, Malvaceae (3 sp.) for each. The study revealed that there were small differences in usage of medicinal plants of different families. The herbaceous life form was dominating the study area with (79 sp.) used as herbal medicines followed by shrubs (23 sp.) and trees (33 sp.). The comparative study of for novelty of species and their uses by JI revealed 13 novel plants species which were not reported earlier from this region. Conclusions: Local inhabitants still prioritize herbal medicines as an effective way to treat a wide variety of ailments. Elders and health practitioners of the study area are well aware of indigenous knowledge about medicinal plants, but young people are not much interested in herbal practices. Thus, valuable knowledge about the use of plants is on the verge of decline. The overexploitation and seasonal fires are major threats for medicinal flora in the area.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.8-17
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• 2004

Antifungal, antibacterial, and antioxidative activities of ethanol extracts from 65 families 263 species were investigated to select tree species for the utilization of natural fungicide or preservative resources. The antifungal activities of extracts from wood, leaf and bark were measured as hyphal growth inhibition rate using four plant pathogenic and five wood rotting fungi. High inhibitory effect on the fungi growth was found in five species of Pinaceae (Pinus koraiensis, P. rigida, P. densiflora, P. banksiana. Cedrus deodara), three species of Cupressaceae (Juniperus rigida, J. chinensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa) and three species of Leguminosae (Albizzia julibrisssin, Sophora japonica, Maackia amurensis), respectively. Antibacterial activities of ethanol extracts were determined by means of disc-agar plate diffusion method using three gram-positive and five gram-negative bacteria. The ethanol extracts, which showed prominent effect on the suppression of bacteria growth, were six species of Betulaceae (Carpinus tschonoskii, C. coreana, C. laxiflora, Alnus hirsuta, A. firma, Betula schmidtii), five species of Fagaceae (Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii, Quercus serrata, Q. mongolica, Q aliena, C crenata), four species of Euphorbiaceae (Aleurites fordii, Sapium sebiferum, S japonicum Mallotus japonicus) and three species of Elaeagnaceae (Elaeagnus umbellata, Elaeagnus glanbra, Elaeagnus macrophylla). According to these results, the extracts from Zelkova serrata, Pinus densiflora, Maackia amurensis, Chamaecyparis obtusa and Juniperus chinensis could be available for natural fungicide or food preservatives, because ethanol extracts from these species indicated excellent antifungal and antibacterial activities. In order to test antioxidative activities of ethanol extracts, free radical scavenging method was adopted with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrohydrazyl (DPPH). Free radical scavenging activity was proved very high in the extracts of eight species of Rosaceae (Eriobotrya japonica, Prunus takesimensis, P yedoensis, P padus, P armeniaca var. ansu, Chaenomeles sinensis, Stephanandra incisa, Rosa multiflora) and five species of Ericaceae (Rhododenron mucronulatum, R. scblippenbacbii, R. yedoense var. poukhanense, Vaccinium bracteatum, V oldbami), resvectively. It turned out from this study that only six species among 48 species of Rosaceae showed less than 80% free radical scavenging activity. As a consequences, it could be deduced that the components effective on antioxidative activity commonly exist in Rosaceae plant family.