• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.14-18
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• 2023

Jukyeo (竹茹; Bambusae Caulis in Taeniam: BCT) is an herbal medicine made from the inner part of the bamboo stem of Phyllostachys nigra Munro var. henonis Stapf ex Rendle or Phyllostachys bambusoides Siebold et Zuccarini. Although medical literature published in China and Korea decades ago introduced BCT as a remedy for reducing vomiting, fever, and hematemesis, decoctions containing BCT as a main herb (君藥) in Korea have been approved only for treating neurologic symptoms. Here, we discuss the anti-inflammatory function of BCT. Combined with the clinical usage of a BCT-containing decoction in treating inflammatory diseases in Japan, we raise the possibility of repurposing the BCT-containing decoctions for treating inflammatory diseases. The anti-inflammatory activity of BCT was mainly assessed by using RAW 264.7 cells. The regulation of NF-κB, Nrf2 and A20 activities was determined by western blot and quantitative RT-PCR. The list of decoctions containing BCT currently approved in Korea was obtained from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (KFDA). BCT suppressed the activity of pro-inflammatory factor NF-κB elicited by LPS, activated an anti-inflammatory factor Nrf2, and induced A20 that is known to block several inflammatory pathways simultaneously, suggesting that BCT can suppress inflammation via at least 3 different pathways. KFDA approved 11 decoctions containing BCT as a major herb, including Gamiondam-tang (加味溫膽湯; GOT), for treating neurologic disorders. Interestingly, Jukyeoondam-tang (竹茹溫膽湯; JOT), whose composition is almost identical to GOT except for one herb, has been used to treat inflammatory pulmonary disorders including Covid-19 pulmonary infection in Japan Given the anti-inflammatory function of BCT evidenced by medical literature and experimental results and the clinical usage of JOT in treating inflammatory pulmonary disorders, we suggest a repurposing and extension of the BCT-containing decoctions approved in Korea to treating inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.347-359
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• 1996

This study was carried out to find the plant succession stage on highway cut-slopes. In order to analyze succession stage, plant survey with belt transect method was carried out in 1989 and 1995 at Joongbu-highway cut-slopes. The results could be summarized as follows ; The mean plant coverage of cut-slope was 78.3%. Plant coverage of Lower part area was higher than that of upper part area. Pioneer herb species on cut-slope were Miscanthus spp., Arundinella spp., Artemisia spp. etc., and pioneer woody species were Rubus crataegifolius, Robinia pseudoacacia, Pueraria thunbergiana, Pinus spp. etc. Also, among the introduced turf grasses, Eragrostis curvula is the pioneer species. Due to short of maintenance works, Zoysia japonica which has been planted by sodding work was found to decrease or diminish gradually. The ratio of pioneer stage plants, domestic and introduced herb species, seems to decrease, while the ratio of woody species which are advanced stage plants seems to increase. Maintenance works are needed to management and monitoring of plant succession on cut-slope, and use of herb and woody species will be effective.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.871-876
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• 2010

Seven native and four introduced herbs namely $Thymus$ $quinquecostatus$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, etc. were selected for analysis of the DPPH radical scavenging and anti-microbial activity of their extracts. These perennial herbs are classified as $Labiatae$ and $Compositae$ except for $Saururus$ $chinensis$ and can be propagated through seedling and cuttage. These edible herbs are used as medicinal as well as ornamental plants. Their extract has electron donating ability which ranges from 69.7 to 78.7% for native herbs and 67.4 to 75.4% for introduced herbs. Native herbs have higher (3.54%) average DPPH radical scavenging than introduced herbs. In native herbs, maximum DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed in $Agastache$ $rugosa$ (78.7%) followed by $Saururus$ $chinensis$ while $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ showed highest activity among the introduced herbs. Many herbs viz. $Saururus$ $chinensis$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$ and $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantean$ showed excellent anti-microbial activity against gram positive $Enterococcus$ $faecalis$, maximum (80.0%) by $Saururus$ $chinensis$. Other herbs viz. $Solidago$ $virga-aurea$ var. $gigantea$, $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, $Salvia$Salvia $plebeia$, $Chrysanthemum$ $indicum$, $Rosmarinus$ $officinalis$, $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$ and $Lavandula$ $stoechas$ showed anti-microbial activity against gram negative $Citrobacter$ $freundii$. Especially, the inhibition of colony growth of $Citrobacter$ $freundii$ was highest in the extract of $Chrysanthemum$ $zawadskii$ var. $latilobum$, and $Chamaemelum$ $nobile$.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.33-44
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• 2012

Objectives : There is a pressing need to determine the clinical and scientific validity of herbal therapies for animal model with atopic dermatitis since some differences in systemic cytokine polarization between in animal model and in patients with atopic dermatitis has been reported. New studies for tang, medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-atopic dermatitis effectiveness are reviewed in terms of cytokine regulation. Methods : Those herbal therapies used to treat atopic dermatitis in animal model were introduced and the expression pattern of cytokine and the activity of mast cell were compared in both animal model and patients with atopic dermatitis. Results : In case of atopic dermatitis in human, there is a biphasic pattern of cytokine expression in atopic dermatitis, with acute skin inflammation associated with a predominance of IL-4 and IL-13 expression from Th2 cells, and chronic inflammation associated with increased IL-5 from Th2-cells and IFN-${\gamma}$ from Th1-cells. However, a pattern of cytokine expression in animal model with atopic dermatitis is not matched well to the biphasic pattern of cytokine expression in patients with atopic dermatitis. In addition, a kind of cytokine is different by animal model with atopic dermatitis. These differences would make herbal medicines, showing their effectiveness on atopic dermatitis, difficult to apply to patients with atopic dermatitis. Conclusion : The pattern of local cytokine expression plays an important role in modulating tissue inflammation, and in atopic dermatitis this pattern depends on the acuity or duration of the skin lesion. Thus, in order to develop medicinal herb itself or effective ingradients of medicinal herb showing anti-atopic dermatitis effectiveness, biphasic pattern of cytokine expression should be considered in animal model with atopic dermatitis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.975-982
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• 2017

Curcumin, a hydrophobic polyphenol derived from the rhizome of the herb Curcuma longa, possesses diverse pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antiangiogenic activities. Two curcuminoids (dicinnamoylmethane and bisdemethoxycurcumin) were synthesized from glucose in Escherichia coli. PAL (phenylalanine ammonia lyase) or TAL (tyrosine ammonia lyase), along with Os4CL (p-coumaroyl-CoA ligase) and CUS (curcumin synthase) genes, were introduced into E. coli, and each strain produced dicinnamoylmethane or bisdemethoxycurcumin, respectively. In order to increase the production of curcuminoids in E. coli, the shikimic acid biosynthesis pathway, which increases the substrates for curcuminoid biosynthesis, was engineered. Using the engineered strains, the production of bisdemethoxycurcumin increased from 0.32 to 4.63 mg/l, and that of dicinnamoylmethane from 1.24 to 6.95 mg/l.

• Journal of Biosystems Engineering
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.51-62
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• 1988

Bulk-type dryers which are widely used for drying special agricultural products such as tobaco leaf, red pepper, mushroom, ginseng, medicinal herb, etc, began to be distributed on a full scale since 1980 and the total number of dryers introduced to farms reached to about 36,600 units as of the end of 1986. In this study a survery was carried on the farmers cultivating special crops, dryer manufacturers and related administrative institutes and associations by means of on-the-spot investigation, mail or interview to collect data on scales and patterns of farming, utilization of bulk-type dryers, production and price streams of the special crops etc. Based on the analysis of the data surveyed predictions were made for the total demand on the bulk-type dryers and for annual demand over five-year span.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.546-551
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• 2009

We examined the growth characteristics, fresh tuber yield, rotenone content of two yam beans (Pachyrhizus erosus and P. ahipa) introduced from Mexico. P. erosus species showed better adaptable ability than P. ahipa species in seed productivity and tuber yield. Rotenone content in the P. erosus species extracted with chloroform was 3.6 folds much more extracted than ethanol extraction. The order of rotenone content found in crude extract obtained by different solvent extraction from the highest to the lowest was mature seed (484.7 ${\mu}g$) and leaves (17.2 ${\mu}g$) of the P. erosus species, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.86-94
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• 2002

This study was carried out to identify the relationship between naturally introduced vegetation on the abandoned coal mine lands and the surrounding forest, and to select the indigenous tree species for the revegetation of the real mine lands in Taeback, Kangwon Province, Korea. The apparent species in the surrounding forest of Sododong were 9 species of tree layer, 13 species of subtree layer, 23 species of shrub layer and 23 species of herb layer, respectively. The dominant species in Sarijae were 6 species of tree layer, 15 species of subtree layer, 31 species of shrub layer and 25 species of herb layer, respectively. The plant species in the abandoned real mine land were 31 species in Sododong and 30 species in Sarijae, respectively. The number of plant species in the abandoned coal mine land was smaller than the surrounding forest. The common species of the coal mine lands and the surrounding forest were 6 species(Betula schimidtii etc.) in Sododong and 4 species(B. costata etc.) in Sarijae. It was considered that the species in the coal mine lands introduced from the species of top layer in the surrounding forest. Especially, B. costata in Sarijae showed the edge effect which regenerates the vegetative community from the boundary area of coal mine land and surrounding forest. Natural revegetation in Sododong was also progressing by the invasion of tree species in surrounding forest, such as B. schmidtii. Consequently, natural revegetation in the disturbed coal mine lands may be related to the species composition of the surrounding forest.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.65-70
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• 2007

Chinese herb medicines have traditionally been used to treat or alleviate the symptom of various diseases. The rationale for use of certain herbs to certain disorder is now getting unveiled by modern technology. In the present study, we investigated whether herb mix extract(HMX), which is alleged to be useful for gastric ulcer, protects stomach from oxidative stress. Rats were allowed to normal diet with and without HMX (1, 5, 10 mg/kg) for 30 days. To induce gastric ulcer, ethanol (75%, 1.5 ml) or acidified aspirin (100 mg/kg in 0.2 N HCl) was administered by oral route in 24 h-fasted rats and examined the gastric ulceration(bleeding) by measuring the size 1 h after the treatment. Results indicated the area of gastric bleeding was significantly less in HMX fed rats than in normal diet fed ones, and it was dependent on the duration and amount of HMX. To investigate the underlying mechanism by which HMX protects stomach from oxidative stress, expression of enzymes like heme oxygenase (HO), cyclooxygenase (COX), and inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) were investigated in MKN-74 cells, where aspirin or H. pylori was introduced. The results were compared with RAW 264.7 cells to check if there's cell specificities exist. The expression of HO-1 but not COX-2, iNOS was significantly increased by HMX. Furthermore, HO-1 inhibitor, SnPP IX reduced the HO-1 activity and reversed the survival rate in HMX-treated MKN-74 cells. There's no difference between RAW 264.7 cells and MKN-74 cells. We, thus, concluded that HMX is beneficial for protection from oxidative injury, and induction of HO-1 by HMX in gastric cells is, at least, responsible for protection from oxidative stress such as ethanol, aspirin and possibly H. pylori infection.

• Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.43-47
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• 2018

Pimpinella saxifraga L. (Scarlet pimpernel or Burnet saxifrage), a newly introduced species, was found from Baekyakyi oreum (a parasitic cone or cinder cone) in Seogwipo, Jejudo Island. This species is native to Europe and western Asia and is reported as a widely invasive species around the world. Pimpinella saxifraga is distinguished from other related Korean taxa by leaves that are pinnately compound with 3-7 pairs of segments, which vary from simple, ovate, to 2-pinnatisect, with linear lobes. The vernacular name of "Baek-yak-yi-cham-na-mul" was assigned after the name of the cinder cone where it was initially discovered. We provide descriptions of the morphological characters, photographs and a key to allied taxa in Korea. The geographical origin and introduction routes are unknown, but it is highly likely that it was introduced as fodder given its high nutritious value for sheep and cattle or as a medicinal herb. This species invades commonly grasslands and woodlands and prefers dry, well-drained, and calcareous soils. The distribution of this species was analyzed by searching extensively in surrounding Baekyakyi oreum and adjacent cinder cones, but no other populations were observed. It is protected commonly at the edges or inside of the patchy pine forest in the cinder cone from grazing by cattle; given the worldwide invasive nature of this species, special monitoring and management plans should be developed.