• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.5
• /
• pp.1977-1981
• /
• 2012

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (HCT) is a native herb found in Southeast Asia which features various pharmacological activities against allergy, inflammation, viral and bacterial infection, and cancer. The aims of this study were to determine the cytotoxic effect of 6 fractions obtained from silica gel column chromatography of alcoholic HCT extract on human leukemic Molt-4 cells and demonstrate mechanisms of cell death. Six HCT fractions were cytotoxic to human lymphoblastic leukemic Molt-4 cells in a dose-dependent manner by MTT assay, fraction 4 exerting the greatest effects. Treatment with $IC_{50}$ of HCT fraction 4 significantly induced Molt-4 apoptosis detected by annexinV-FITC/propidium iodide for externalization of phosphatidylserine to the outer layer of cell membrane. The mitochondrial transmembrane potential was reduced in HCT fraction 4-treated Molt-4 cells. Moreover, decreased expression of Bcl-xl and increased levels of Smac/Diablo, Bax and GRP78 proteins were noted on immunoblotting. In conclusion, HCT fraction 4 induces Molt-4 apoptosis cell through an endoplasmic reticulum stress pathway.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.819-827
• /
• 2011

Climate change is recognised as the best serious environmental problem in recent time, and high alpine or high latitudinal organisms especially endangered by its change. Leontice microrhyncha is recorded one of the endangered species by the Ministry of Environment Korea. We surveyed ten L. microrhyncha populations distributed at Taebaek Mountains, high mountain area in Kangwon province. L. microrhyncha is distributed 940m~1350m high altitude which equivalent of Warmth Index $53^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$ to $75^{\circ}C{\cdot}month$, the range of conspicuous cool temperate forest zone. The plant species distributed at slope of $5^{\circ}{\sim}23^{\circ}$ on northeast slopes. The vegetation structure at tree layer of L. microrhyncha distribution area is dominated by Quercus mongolica, Betula costata, Cornus controversa, Acer mono in tree layer, and by Staphylea bumalda, Deutzia glabrata, Stephanandra incisa in shrub layer. The species diversity of herb layer of each L. microrhyncha population showed from 0.21 to 0.98, and the importance value of L. microrhyncha in each population was the highest at blooming time of L. microrhyncha. These results will provide the basic information for the development of conservation strategies for this endangered species.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.16 no.4
• /
• pp.377-395
• /
• 1993

Habitat types, community structure and population characteristics of Koelreuteria paniculata were investigated in Mt. Wolak, Chungbuk and Naesokdong, Daegu, which are natural habitats of the species in inland region of Korea, and its origin was discussed. Habitats of Koelreuteria paniculata were classified to 3 types: sand bar formed by the sands flooded in the course of flow of the mountain stream (Type 1). crevice on the rock bed within the mountain stream (Type 2) and crevice of the rock around the edge of mountain stream (Type 3). Most Koelreuteria paniculata communities in Mt. Wolak site were composed of 3 layers of subtree layer, shrub layer and herb layer and that of Daegu site was 4 layers including tree layer. In the floristic composition of the Koelreuteria paniculata community, plants occurring frequently in the wet and open site, such as Zelkova serrata and Fraxinus rhynchoph-vlla showed high frequency. Frequency distribution of diameter at ground surface of Koelreutrria paniculata showed reversed J-shaped type. It was supposed that expansion of Koelreuteria paniculata community in Mt. Wolak site might be accomplished by the flow of the stream. Many saplings capable of becoming a successor of mature trees in Daegu site in near degenerating phase were established on the forest floor of the Koelreuteria paniculata community. From this result, it was supposed that these saplings originated from the seeds dispersed from a seed tree might form the Koelreuteria paniculata community of the next generation. On the other hand, the origin of Koelreutevia paniculata in inland sites was explained by two hypotheses: the one was that Koelreuteria paniculata might be transplanted by human and the other was that the present site might be native habitat of the community.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.277-285
• /
• 1999

To develop a better restoration technique for altering urban planted forest to more natural forest, the changes of flora, vegetation structure and woody plant growth in the early stage after lumbering only Populus albaglandulosa of the tree layer were studied in Chungdam Park, Chungdam-dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul for two years (from 1997 to 1998). The results were as follow. First, in the year after lumbering, the species changes occurred not in woody plants but in herbs, which increased by 44%. Three species including Viola verecunda disappeared, and 15 species including ruderals such as Metaplexis japonica and introduced species such as Erechtites hieracifolia appeared newly. Second, lumbering caused the coverages of Quercus aliena, Q. mongolica, Q. acutissima and Sorbus alnifolia in the subtree, or shrub layer, to be increased abruptly. The coverage of Lespedeza bicolor was affected by neighboring plants. Third, in the herb layer the coverage of Artemisia keiskeana was conspicuously increased but those of the others were not. Fourth, by ridding the upper layer canopy, Quercus' growth rates were increased highly. Rates of DBH growth of Q. aliena, Q. mongolica and Q. dentata were increased to 53.0%, 22.9% and 8% in the experimental area, and 23.1%, 8.3% and 6.1% in the control area, respectively, during two growing seasons (from May 11, 1997 to October 27, 1998). The ratios of twig biomasses of the previous year to the next year were 100:565 in Q. aliena, 100:197 in Q. mongolica and 100:644 in Q. dentata in the experimental area. There were also growth ratios of 100:117 in Q. aliena, 100:100 in Q. mongolica and 100:42 in Q. dentata in the control area, respectively. The growth rate increases of Q. aliena and Q. dentata were thus conspicuous in twig rather than in trunk, but that of Q. mongolica was vice versa.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
• /
• v.8 no.3
• /
• pp.132-140
• /
• 2006

Forest vegetation classification and species composition of Mt. Ilwol, Yeongyang-Gun, Korea, were studied combining the Braun-Blanquet approach with numerical syntaxonomical analyses (TWINSPAN). Vegetation types and various ecological characteristics such as flora, constancy classes, species ratio of life-form, species diversity and importance value were analyzed. Sixty-eight samples were taken from a $100m^2$ square plot each. Forest communities were identified as two great types: arid landform of mountainside (AM) and humid fertility of piedmont and valley (HP). The former was divided into 3 communities (Rhododendron mucronulatum, Quercus variabilis, Hosta capitat community) and 2groups, and the latter into 3 communities (Tilia amurensis, Vitis coignetiae, Philadelphus schrenckii community) and 2 groups. Vegetation was classified into 8 units. Floristically, the most represented family was Compositae with 26 species. Species with percentage constance degree of more than 61% was Quercus mongolica (72.1%, IV); Carex siderosticat (III) and Fraxinus rhynchophylla (III) were 50.0 and 41.1%, respectively. Life-forms species ratios for trees, subtrees, shrub, vines, grominoids, forbs and ferns were 18.5, 5.7, 14.9, 6.6, 8.8, 42.4 and 3.1%, respectively, PH type showed from $1.70{\pm}0.50\;to\;1.97{\pm}0.57$ and AM type was from $1.40{\pm}0.18\;to\;1.62{\pm}0.20$ in species diversity; therefore, the former type showed higher species diversity than the latter, According to importance value analysis, Pinus densiflora, Quercus mongolica and Q. variabilis were higher in the tree layer, Q. mongolica in the subtree layer, Fraxinus sieboldiana, R. schlippenbachii, etc. in the shrub layer and Carex siderosticta, Carex humilis, etc. in the herb layer.

• Journal of Plant Biology
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.1-21
• /
• 1959

1. The plant communities on Mt. Sulak, a typical alpine mountain in central Korea was researched from the standpoint of ecological survey. 2. The plant on this mountain can largely be classified into 2 categories, the warm zone (below 1100m) and the frigid zone. The former is again classified into a broad-leaved tree formation and a needle-leved tree formation, and the latter is calssified into a broad-leaved tree formation and needle-leaved tree formation, and shrub formation. 3. The broad-leaved tree formation in the warm zone can largely be classified into a Carpinus laxiflora-syringa Palibiniana var. kanibayashi association(1), a Carpinus erosa-Acer Pseudo-sieboldianun association(2), and a Quercus mongolica- Tripterygium Regelii association(3). 4. The needle-leaved tree formation in the warm zone can also largely ben classified into a Pinus densiflora- Miscanthus sinensis association(4), Abies holophylla- Tripterygium regelii association(5), Pinus kordiensis- Rhododendron schlippenbachii association(6) In the association(4), the canopy of the Pinus densiflora is gradually being occupied by the Quercus mongolica which is one kind of broad-leaved trees. 5. We can fully see a DryoPteris type of the flour layer plant type in the association (3) and also see a Sasamorpha type in the association (5). 6. The broad-leaved tree formation in the frigid zone can largely be classified into Quercus mongolica- Rhododendron schlippenbachii association (8). The constituents of tree and subtree layers in (7) and (8) associations are similar to those association (3), but the constituents of the shrub layer are different from those of associtation (3) due to the difference in height. 7. The needle-leaved formation in the frigid zone can largely be classified into Thuja koraiensisRodgersia podophylla var. viritis association (9) and Abies nephrolepis-Acer tschonoskii var. rubripes asscciation (10). The species of alpine plants or subalpine plants are gradually increased in this formation. 8. The shrub formation can also largely be classified into a Rhododendron mucronulatum- Patrinia saniculaefolia association (11) and Pinus pumila associatio (12). Association (12) has largely developed on the windy place. Association (12) was burned due to the bombing during the Korean war, but now we recoginized there occurred an invasion of Tripterygium Regelii in such a place. 9. The herb layer species which constitute the shrub formation are mostly alpine or subalpine plants of small size, and their kinds are also very few. 10. The growth of the Moss layer is especially good because of the varied conditions of the habitat. The kinds which can easily be seen are the genus of Thunidium, Haplocladium, Brachythecium, Macromitrium, Holonitrium, Atrichum, Schwstchkeopsis, Grimmia, Hedwigia, Rhynchostegium and Mnium. 11. The genus of the Sphagnum densly grows like a mat at the acid and moisturous place above 1100m. The authors should express their thanks to father. Yang Kisup, Dean of Catholic Medical College, Prof. Yoon Doksuen, from their valuable advice. Thanks arealso due to Prof. Numata, Chiba University, Prof. Takagi, Nagoya University and Prof. Ando, Hiroshima University in Japan for his kind help and identification of Bryophytes.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
• /
• v.39 no.4
• /
• pp.254-263
• /
• 2009

The distribution and habitat characteristics of Echinosophora koreensis (Nakai) Nakai were investigated to compile basic data for conservation and restoration. The species Echinosophora koreensis is distributed within fourteen regions of the Korean Province of Gangwon, including Yanggu-gun, Inje-gun, Cheorwon-gun, Chuncheon-si and Hongcheon-gun. Natural habitats were located at altitudes of 192-626 m, with inclinations of $1-45^{\circ}$. One hundred and fifty seven vascular plant taxa were identified from 42 quadrats in 14 habitats. Dominant species among the woody plants, based on importance value, were Pinus densiflora and Quercus dentata in the tree (T1) layer, Quercus variabilis, Pinus densiflora and Quercus mongolica in subtree (T2) layer, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Prunus sargentii, Zanthoxylum schinifilium, and Ulmus davidiana var. japonica in the shrub (S) layer. Importance values for members of the herb layer were: Echinosophora koreensis 28.34%; Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum 10.21%; Spodiopogon sibiricus 7.60%; Atractylodes ovata 4.77% and Carex lanceolata 4.13%. The importance values of the last four species were high, so they were at affinity with Echinosophora koreensis in their habitats. Average species diversity was 1.03, and evenness and dominance were found to be 0.82 and 0.16, respectively. The soil types were sandy loam and loam. Average field capacity was 13.28%, and the organic matter and soil pH were 6.70% and 5.77, respectively.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.21 no.5_3
• /
• pp.649-663
• /
• 1998

The clarify the ecological properties, and to predict change of understory vegetation of mt. Nam Park, population dynamics and interspecific competition of D. smilacinum and D. viridescens, which grow in understory of deciduous broad-leaved forest and pseudo-annuals, were studied from May 20 to May 30 1998. The depth of litter layer, soil moisture content, soil organic matter and soil texture were surveyed in 18 populations (15 D. smilacinum populations and 3 D. viridescens populations). Mean litter layer of d. smilacimum population was thinner than that of D. viridescens populations). Mean litter layer of D. smilacnum population was thinner than that of D. viridescens population. The contents of soil moisture and organic matter of D. smilacinum population were lower than that of D. viridescens population. The D. smilacinum growed in broad range of soil texture but D. viridescens in loamy soil. Because D. smilacinum could tolerate more broad range of soil moisture and soil texture than D. viridescens, the former covered the herb layer in earlier stage and the latter introduced in later stage when rhizome could grow easily. The numbers of individual in two marginal parts were smaller than that in center in same D. smilacinum patch. And the total numbers of individuals grown in (10 ${\times}$ 10)cm were from 0 to 12. The rhizome (subterranean runner) weight, rhizome length, root weight, shoot weight, lea weight and leaf number per subquadrat (cell) increased along the number of individual, that is, increased from marginal part to center. But rhizome weight and rhizome length per individual were vice versa. Therefore, the individuals in marginal part reproduced longer and stronger asexual propagules than that in center. The distribution pattern of D. smilacinum was contageous and that of D. viridescens was random or regular. Therefore, population growth of former was independent on density and that of latter was dependent on density. The distributions of size-class showed normal curves in two population, but the curves based on data of total dry weight showed positive skewness and those of leaf number showed negative skewness The correlation coefficient (CC) values between the properties of each organ were high in two population and significant at 0.1% level. The CC values of D. viridescens were higher of the two. Therefore, the former allocated the energy to each organ stable. The rhizome depth of d. viridescens was 2 times deeper than that of D. smilacinum. And rhizome length and weight of D. viridescens were longer (2 times) or heavier (4 times) than those of D. smilacinum. The patch size of D. viridescens increased 60 cm per year and that of D. smilacinum 30 cm. On this results, the intrinsic increase velocity of d. viridescens patch was 2 times faster than that of d. smilacinum, therefore, on the competition, the former had an advantage over D. smilacinum. The reason why d. viridescens defeated D. smilacinum resulted from that the leaf area of former was 4 times broader than that of latter. in Mt. Nam Park, it was thought that two disporum Population would change with the 3 thpes of environmental change as followings. First, no human impact and increase of soil moisture content resulted in increase of D. viridescens population. Second, mild human impact and similar condition of soil moisture content resulted in slow increase or no changes of D. smilacinum and d. viridescens population. Third, severe human impact and dry condition resulted in decrease or vanishment of two disporum populations.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.26 no.5
• /
• pp.223-236
• /
• 2003

The vegetation in this study area was divided into 10 plant communities: Pinus thunbergii, P. densiflora, Quercus acutissima, Q. mongolica, Q. serratea, Q. variabilis, Q. aliena, Q. dentata, Carpinus coreana, Betula davurica and 3 afforestations; Pinus rigida, Robinia pseudo-acacia, Castanea crenata. The dominant species in each stratum as determined by R-NCD appeared to be Q. acutissima, P. densiflora, Platycarya strobilacea, Sorbus alnifolia and Q. aliena in the tree-2 layer, Rhododendron mucronulatum, P. strobilacea, Q. serrata, Q. aliena and Q. acutissima in the shrub layer, and Carex lanceolata, C. humilis, R. mucronulatum, Mischanthus sinensis var. purpurascens and Oplismenus undulatifolius in the herb layer. The distribution of diameter at breast height(DBH) showed the highest percentage (56%) in the range of 2∼10㎝ in the study area and it was investigated as being in the restoration phase after disturbance. The average of the age of trees was under 40-years-od. The pH of soil collected at each site appeared to be within the range between 4.53 and 5.10(the average of 4.73) in each community, organic matters appeared higher than the value in Q. mongolica, P. rigida, C. crenata communities compared to P. thunbergii, P. densiflora communities. And soil organic matters and total nitrogen were highly correlated with their contents.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.291-300
• /
• 2004

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship of occurrence and distribution of Eupatorium rugosum by forest types and soil characteristics in Mt. Namsan in Seoul, Korea. E. rugosum is designated as a harmful non-indigenous plant in ecosystem by the Natural Environment Conservation Act in Korea. E. rugosum grew along roadside and in valleys with some favorable light conditions. E. rugosum occurred in aggregations under Pinus densiflora and Robinia pseudoacacia communities. And it was sparse in forests of Quercus mongolica and P. koraiensis. The representative herb layer species were Oplismenus undulatifolius, and Parthenocissus tricuspidata in the E. rugosum communities. There was a significantly negative correlation between the coverage of E. rugosum and the coverage of tree layer. However, the result of ANOVA of E. rugosum coverage by dominant species of tree layers did not show a significant difference (p>0.05). The level of soil moisture content, organic content, and pH, was slightly higher in communities with E. rugosum than without, but it was statistically non-significant difference. However, it was found that the coverage of E. rugosum was very significantly negative correlated with the depth of top soil profile (litter and fermentation layer, p<0.05).