• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.678-683
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• 2007

Extracts from the leaves of the Ginkgo biloba are becoming increasingly popular as a treatment that is claimed to reduce atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, and thrombosis. In this study, the effect of ginkgolide B (GB) from Ginkgo biloba leaves in collagen (10 ${\mu}g/ml$)-stimulated platelet aggregation was investigated. It has been known that human platelets release matrix metallo-proteinase-9 (MMP-9), and that it significantly inhibited platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen. Zymographic analysis confirmed that pro-MMP-9 (92-kDa) was activated by GB to form an MMP-9 (86-kDa) on gelatinolytic activities. And then, activated MMP-9 by GB dose-dependently inhibited platelet aggregation, intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization, and thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) formation in collagen-stimulated platelets. Activated MMP-9 by GB directly affects down-regulations of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) or $TXA_2$ synthase in a cell free system. In addition, activated MMP-9 significantly increased the formation of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), which have the anti-platelet function in resting and collagen-stimulated platelets. Therefore, we suggest that activated MMP-9 by GB may increase the intracellular cAMP and cGMP production, inhibit the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ mobilization and $TXA_2$ production, thereby leading to inhibition of platelet aggregation. These results strongly indicate that activated MMP-9 is a potent inhibitor of collagen-stimulated platelet aggregation. It may act a crucial role as a negative regulator during platelet activation.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.46-54
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• 2002

This study was conducted to diagnose the health of street trees with physiological characters, and to figure out the relation of physiological characters and cambial electrical resistances. Ginkgo biloba, Prunes serrulata and Salix koreensis were chosen in the Cheonan City. Soils under trees were collected to analyze dehydrogenase activities, and chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase and superoxide dismutase activities were analyzed from leaves sampled at the edge of crown in July. Cambial electrical resistances were measured in May, July and September, Soils with low dehydrogenase activity reflected the level of pollution. Chlorophyll content was the lowest in the leaves of P. serrulata at the Dongseo-street. Nitrate reductase activity of Ginkgo biloba was higher than P. serruluta and Satix koreensis. Nitrate reductase activity showed higher activity in the city than control(Independence Hall and Yonam College), but superoxide dismutase activity in the city lower than control. P. serruzatu in the Dongseo-street that cambial electrical resistance increase continuously during the growing season, showed the loss of vitality Cambial electrical resistance was negatively or positively correlated with nitrate reductase($r^2$=-0.566) and superoxide dismutase activity($r^2$=0.579). It was concluded that cambial electrical resistance might be suitable for diagnosing the tree health.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.155-161
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• 2007

Objectives: Evidences suggests that Ginkgo biloba, a widely used traditional medicine, shows a hypoglycemic effect. Thus, we investigatd the effect of G. biloba extract (GB) on glucose uptake in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells. Method : Effect of GB on glucose uptake and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase activity were assessed using Glucose uptake assay and PI 3-kinase assay, respectively. Also, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) expression were identified by Western blot. Results : Glucose uptake assay revealed that GB increased glucose uptake about 2.5-fold compared to thecontrol. GB stimulated the activity of PI 3-kinase which is a major switch element on the glucose uptake pathway. About a 6.5-fold increase in activity of PI 3-kinase was observed with GB. We then assessed the activity of AMPK, another regulatory molecule on the glucose uptake pathway. The result was that GB increased the phosphorylation level of both AMPK ${\alpha}$l and ${\alpha}$2. The activity of p38 MAPK, a downstream mediator of AMPK, was also increased by CB. Conclusion : These results suggest that GB may stimulate glucose uptake through both PI 3-kinase and AMPK mediated pathways in L6 skeletal muscle cells thereby contributing to glucose homeostasis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.25-28
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• 1980

The purpose of the this study was to compare the torlent tree to drought among the Pinus koraiensis, Abies holophylla, and Ginkgo biloba. The water relations parameters of leafy shoots were measured by the Pressure chamber technique from August 10 to September 4 in 1980. On the water relations parameters such as original osmotic pressure(${\pi}_0$), osmotic pressure(${\pi}_p$) and relative water content (RWC) at incipient plasmolysis, and Vp/Vo ratio of the volume of osmotic water (Vp) at incipient plasmolysis to total symplasmic water (Vo) basis, the Abies holophylla shoots showed ontogenetically a superior osmoregulation which are closely associated with drought resistance compared with Pinus koraiensis, and the Ginkgo biloba shoots showed the heighest among these three species.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.85-91
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• 2008

These days there is a constant possibility of exposure to UV radiation which can cause abnormal production of melanin and result in skin disease such as hyperpigmentation and melanoma. Many materials were investigated for skin whitening and protection against UV radiation. In this study, we assessed the melanogenesis inhibitory activities of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG, Ginseng Radix Rubra) and Ginkgo (EGb 761 Ginkgo Biloba) in an attempt to develop a new skin whitening agent derived from natural products. B16F10 melanoma cells were treated for 48 hr with KRG and EGb 761. The inhibitory effect on melanogenesis was measured and related cytokines and proteins expression were also investigated by RT-PCR and Western blotting. In addition, we also assessed the effects of these substances on the skin of C57BL/6 mice. Cell growth, melanin content and tyrosinase activity were inhibited effectively in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with KRG and EGb 761. Moreover, tyrosinase mRNA expression was inhibited clearly and melanogenesis related proteins (MRPs) containing tyrosinase, TRP1 and TRP2 were also reduced by KRG and EGb761, while cytokines such as IL-$1{\beta}$ and IL-6 were induced. In the case of UV irradiated mice, we observed induction of cytokine mRNA levels and reduction of MRPs mRNA expression. In addition, a decrease in pigmentation from treatment with KRG and EGb 761 on the skin of mice was observed. These results indicate that KRG and EGb 761 inhibit melanogenesis in B16F10 cells and have display protective activities against UVB. Therefore, we suggest that KRG and EGb 761 are good candidates to be used as whitening agents and UVB protectors for the skin.

• Journal of Korean Society for Atmospheric Environment
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.13-26
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• 1987

One-year-old seedlings of Ginkgo biloba, potted in three different soils (nursery soil, mixed and sandy soil), were treated with simulated acid rain (pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0 and 5.0) and tap water (control, pH 6.4) during the growing seasons (1985. 4. 28 - 1985. 10. 19) to examine the effects of acid rain on growth and physiological characteristics, and the relations between seedling growth and physiological characteristics. The results obtained in this study were as follows: 1. The effects of soil types on the total, top and root dry weight per seedling were significant at 5% level, and those of the pH of the rain treated at 1% level. The total dry weight of the pH 3.0 sub-plots was the highest for nursery soil, while for mixed and sandy soils, those of the control and the pH 5.0 sub-plots were the highest, respectively. 2. The leaf surface areas of pH 2.0 sub-plots severely decreased after July, but those of other sub-plots were not affected. The correlations between growth and leaf surface area differed among soil-types, however, the highest positive correlation was found in September. 3. The injured leaf rate increased with decreasing pH levels of acid rain. Highly negative correlations between growth and injured leaf rate were found. 4. The lower the pH level of acid rain treated was, the more the chlorophyll content was measured at the beginning of treatment, and the more severely it decreased at late growing season. A negative correlations were found in August, September and Octobfer. 5. The photosynthetic ability decreased rapidly after July with decreasing pH levels. A highly positive correlation between growth and photosynthetic ability was found in August.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.179-187
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• 2011

Animal models are important tools in thrombosis research and preclinical drug development. In recent studies, ferric chloride ($FeCl_3$) has been widely used to induce arterial thrombosis in a variety of species. The purpose of this study was to find an optimal concentration of $FeCl_3$ and validate this model suited better for thrombosis research. A small piece of filter paper, soaked in $FeCl_3$ solution (10, 20 or 35%, v/v, in distilled water) was topically applied on the carotid artery of SD rats to measure the time to occlusion (TTO) and thrombus weight (TW) to ascertain 35%, as an optimal $FeCl_3$ concentration ($8.63{\pm}0.92min$; p =0.000, $0.79{\pm}0.03mg/mm$; p =0.000, respectively). To validate this experimental model, Ginkgo biloba special extract EGb761 (5, 10 or 30 mg/kg) as a reference agent administered by peritoneal route for 1h prior to the induction of thrombosis, showed significantly delayed TTO in a dose dependent manner ($18.50{\pm}2.17$, $29.17{\pm}1.83$, and $38.00{\pm}1.79min$, respectively) and significantly reduced TW and repaired collagen fibre in the injured vessel compare to vehicle group. Our results provide a simple, reproducible and well controlled in vivo screening system to induce thrombosis in rats by the topical application of 35% $FeCl_3$ to assess the efficacy of the new anti-thrombotic agents.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 1992

To find out the extent of air pollution in Taejon city, we investigated the concents of heavy metals in barks of trees in principal roadside, the outer block of a roadside and Pomunsan Park. Among the road-side trees in these areas, Platanus orientalis, Ginkgo biloba and Liriodendron tulipifera have been chosen. And we analyzed the relationship between the content of heavy metal of the barks and the traffic volume expressed by cars passing through for an hour. The range of contents of the lead in barks of the trees in the roadside and Pomunsan Park were respectively 2-1109 ppm and 5-11 ppm. Generally the contents of lead of barks of the trees in roadside was much higher than that in Pomunsan Park. And there has been positive correlation between the traf-fic volume and the content of lead in the barks. The more cars passing through for an hour, the higher the maximum in contents of lead in the barks of roadside trees. By the way the contents of cadmium in barks of the roadside trees was slightly higher than that in Pomunsan Park and was little variable.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.261-266
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• 2010

Acidic hydrolysis conditions prior to HPLC analysis of plant flavonoids was investigated by response surface methodology (RSM), using leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. Ten hydrolysis conditions using 0.5-2.5 M HCl and 0.5-2.5 hr hydrolysis time were chosen to form a central composite rotatable design (CCRD), and optimization by RSM was achieved by measuring myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol levels by HPLC. Optimum hydrolysis condition was 1.5 M HCl for 1.5 hr. The levels of flavonoids obtained under the condition were in good agreement with predicted maximum values, with yields of more than 95%. These optimum hydrolysis condition was applied to analysis of flavonoid content in the leaves of Camellia sinensis, Ficus carica, and Sageretia theezans.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.229-236
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• 2010

As air pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing urban environmental concerns, many studies have investigated the influence of air pollutants(ex: $O^3$, $NO^2$, $SO^2$, Acid rain, etc.) on roadside trees and urban grove. In Korea, population density started to increase since the industrialization. Since dense population aggravates our living conditions, it's very important for us to preserve and keep a lively and refreshing nature in order to live with green nature in harmony under the current artificial environment-dominating world. In metropolitan cities, the production of pollutants increases in proportion to population growth. The vehicle exhaust gas and air pollutants from cooling and heating systems have been the major causes of acid rain. Furthermore, tire particles which are naturally produced by tire wearing on roads and other toxic substances in exhaust gas have caused a problem in human health directly and indirectly. In fact, a lot of studies have analyzed air pollution, roadside trees and plants in Korea. However, they are mostly limited to covering the influence of air pollution on the growth of plants. No paper has clearly explained why air pollution-resistant or-vulnerable species has shown different reactions yet. Even though a lot of urban roadside trees have died or stopped to grow from time to time, this kind of problem has not been properly examined. This paper is aimed to comparatively analyze physio-ecological characteristic such as photosynthesis, chlorophyll contents, soil volume water figure out their relationship with environmental factors against the expanding roadside trees in Cheong-ju, and provide basic data for management of roadside trees and elaboration of urban environment preservation policies.