• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.309-315
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• 2009

Maintenance of adequate soil water content during the period of crop growth is necessary to support optimum plant growth and yields. A better understanding of soil water movement for precision irrigation would allow efficient supply of water to crops, thereby resulting in minimization of water drainage and contamination of ground water. This research reports on the characterization of spatial and temporal variations in water contents through three different textured soils, such as loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand, when water is applied on the soil surface using an one-line drip irrigation system and the soils are dried after the irrigation stops, respectively. Water contents through each soil profile were continuously monitored using three Sentek probes, each consisting of three capacitance sensors at 10, 20, and 30cm depths. Spatial variability in water content for each soil type was strongly influenced by soil textural class. There were big differences in wetting pattern and the rate of downward movement between loam and sandy loam soils, showing that the loam soil had a wider wetting pattern and a slower rate of downward movement than did the sandy loam soil. The wetting pattern in loamy sand soil was not apparent due to a low variability in water content (< 10%) by a lower-water holding capacity as compared to those measured in the loam and sandy loam soils, implying that the rate of water drainage below a depth of 30cm was high. When soils were dried, there were highly exponential relationships between water content and time elapsed after irrigation stops ($r^2$${\geq}$0.98). It was estimated that equilibrium moisture contents for loam, sandy loam, and loamy sand soils would be 17.6%, 6.2%, and 4.2%, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.643-647
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• 2010

Gamhongro-ju is a Korean traditional alcoholic beverage made from medicinal herbs and spices. In this study, polyphenol content and antioxidant activities of gamhongro-ju and the 8 individual herb extracts used to make the beverage were determined. Cinnamon, saposhnikovia root, clove, ginger, violet-root cromwell, licorice, citrus peel and logan (2.5 g each) were extracted with 1000 mL of 45% and 60% purified ethanol (PE), and 45% traditionally distilled ethanol (TDE). The individual herb (20 g each) was extracted with 1000 mL of 60% PE. Polyphenol content, DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities of the extracts were measured. In the combined herb extracts, polyphenols were significantly higher in the 45% and 60% PE extracted for 90 days than those for 30 days. In the 8 individual herb extracts, the clove extract had the highest polyphenol content (2421~2446 mg/L). ABTS $IC_{50}$ values of the combined herb extracts were lower in the 60% PE and 45% TDE extracted for 90 days than those for 30 days. In the 8 individual herb extracts, the clove and cinnamon had the lowest ABTS and DPPH $IC_{50}$ values. In the individual extracts, ginger had the lowest polyphenol content; however, it was the third in the antioxidant activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.73-82
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• 2008

The resource plants of the Mt. Geonji was listed 354 taxa; 92 families, 242 genera, 303 species, 48 varieties and 3 forms. 354 taxa listed consists of 205 taxa of edible plants(57.1%),234 taxa of medicinal plants(65.2%), 167 taxa of ornamental plants(46.5%) and 218 taxa of the others(60.7%). Specific plant species by floral region were total 22 taxa; Trapella sinensis var. antennifera in class IV, Iris ensata var. spontanea in Class II, 16 taxa(Salix glandulosa, Alnus hirsuta, Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, Mallotus japonicus, Ilex macropoda, Grewia biloba var. parviflora, Vaccinium oldhami, Lysimachia barystachys, Fraxinus mandshurica, etc.) in class I. The naturalized plants in this site were 12 families, 23 genera, 28 species, 2 varieties, 30 taxa(Bromus unioloides, Phytolacca americana, Oenothera erythrosepala, Ipomoea hederacea var. hederacea, Aster pilosus, Erechtites hieracifolia) and naturalization rate was 8.5% of all 354 taxa vascular plants. Wild plants disturbing ecosystem like Solanum carolinense and Ambrosia artemisiifolia var. elatior have been increasing. So, it needs continuing control and conservation measures on the plant ecosystem.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.16 no.3 s.76
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• pp.546-554
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• 2006

To understand antitumor activity of Zanthoxylum schinfolium, which has been used as an aromatic and medicinal plant in Korea, the cytotoxic effect of various organic solvent extracts of its leaves on human tumor cells were investigated. Among these extracts such as methanol extract (SL-13), methylene chloride extract (SL-14), ethyl acetate extract (SL-15), n-butanol extract (SL-16), and residual fraction (SL-17), SL-14 appeared to contain the most cytotoxic activity against leukemia and breast cancer cells tested. The methylene chloride extra.1 (SL-14) possessed an apoptogenic activity causing apoptotic DNA fragmentation of human acute leukemia Jurkat T cells via mitochondrial cytochrome c release into cytoplasm, subsequent activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, and cleavage of PARP, which could be negatively regulated by antiapoptotic protein Bcl-xL. The GC-MS analysis of SL-14 revealed that the twenty-two ingredients of SL-14 were 9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-3-ol (15.1%), 2-a-methyl-17, b-hop-21-ene (15.1%), 15-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1H benzazepin (11.95%), phytol (10.38%), lupeol (9.92%), 12-methylbenzofuran (8.23%), hexadecanoic acid (5.96%), cis,cis,cis-9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid-methyl-ester (5.49%), 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid-methylester (3.59%), 15-methyl-4-(1-methylethylidene)-2-(4-nitrophenyl) (3.36%), hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (1.93%), vitamine E (1.88%), beta-amyrin (0.96%), and auraptene (0.89%). These results demonstrate that the cytotoxicity of the methylene chloride extract of the leaves of Z. schinifolium toward Jurkat T cells is mainly attributable to apoptosis mediated by mitochondria-dependent caspase cascade regulated by Bcl-xL, and provide an insight into the mechanism underlying antitumor activity of the edible plant Z. schinifolium.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.487-493
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• 2004

This study has been undertaken to increase availability of native camellia in Jeonnam as a medicinal resource and to isolate the effective components from them. Fresh leaf and flower of camellia, single camellia tea and camellia tea mixed with green tea, herbs were screened for cytotoxicity on MCF -7 (human breast adenocarcinoma pleual effusion), Calu-6 (human pulmonary carcinoma), SNU-601 (human gastric carcinoma) cells. Also their multidrug-resistance reversing activity were evaluated using drug sensitive AML-2/WT and multidrug-resistant AML-2/D100 cells. Among the camellia extracts, young leaf and camellia tea mixed with green tea had strong growth inhibitory effects in below 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against human cancer cells. In result, young leaf showed the strongest inhibitory effects on MCF -7 ($IC_{50}$/ = 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL ↑), Calu-6 ($IC_{50}$/ = 79 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL), and SNU -601 ($IC_{50}$/ = 39 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL), and AML-2/WT ($IC_{50}$/ = 64 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL). Chemosensitizing effect was the extracts of mature leaf ($IC_{50}$/ = 97 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, RF=3.0), roasted tea ($IC_{50}$/ = 76 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, RF = 2.6 ↑) and steam tea ($IC_{50}$/ = 70 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, RF=2.8 ↑) strongly potentiate vincristine cytotoxicity in AML-2/D100 cells. But their cytotoxicities to both sensitive AML-2/WT and resistant AML-2/D100 cells were in the same order of magnitude. This results indicate that crude extracts of camellia mature leaves would contain some principles which have chemosensitizing activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.12
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• pp.1966-1971
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• 2013

Pholiota adiposa is an edible as well as medicinal mushroom cultured in China and Japan with anti-tumor, anti-microbial, anti-hypertensive, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. This study was carried out to investigate the quality characteristics of cookies added with Pholiota adiposa powder. Chemical composition of Pholiota adiposa powder was as follows: 3.8% moisture, 6.9% ash, 1% crude lipids, 3% protein, 53.3% carbohydrates, and 31.9% crude dietary fiber. To analyze quality characteristics during the manufacture of cookies, pH, texture, color, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, and sensory evaluation were determined. As the content of Pholiota adiposa powder increased, the pH of cookies decreased from 6.7 to 6.02. Hardness of cookies decreased with increasing Pholiota adiposa powder content, and cookies added with 5% powder were softer than the control. Regarding surface color, L-value decreased with increasing powder content compared to that of the control, whereas in surface color among various powder levels was not significantly different. As the content of Pholiota adiposa powder increased, both antioxidant activity and total polyphenol content increased. In the sensory evaluation, cookies added with 3% Pholiota adiposa powder showed remarkably higher values compared to control and other amples in all aspects.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.59 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2014

Yams (Dioscorea spp), which are edible or medicinal tuber crops, are a important crop in South Korea. Yams require a high level of soil fertility. The various cultural practices such as fertilizing and plowing were tested for marketable tuber production in Chinese yam (Dioscorea opposita). Tuber yield was also affected by organic matters in soil. Application higher level of organic matters result in increased each tuber weight and tuber yield per unit area. The nutrient absorption quantity of the plant such as nitrogen, phosphoric acid, calcium and potassium was increased from 100~120 days after planting, which time to begin tuber enlargement. The tuber yield was increased when the fertilization increased in quantity. Total yield and marketable ratio were the highest in 31~32 kg/10a of nitrogen fertilizer. From above result, income become larger with increase of marketable yield and quality improvement at 63% (27 kg/10a) level of conventional N fertilization (43 kg/10a). The tuber yield was not significantly different between with in various application level of potash fertilizer. Tuber size and weight decreased accordingly to decreased fertilizing level, so the rates of small tubers increased greatly at cultivation without chemical fertilizer. In considering the accumulation rates of allantoin in Chinese yam tubers, the apt harvest season was after October. The allantoin quantity of it was not influenced with nitrogen fertilizing. Moreover it was advantageous with decrease of chemical fertilizer and appropriate fertilizing in soil environment protection. Commercial tuber's number and yield were increased in trenching before planting with trencher compared with rotavating with tractor.

• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.358-365
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• 2011

Lespedeza cuneata G. Don is a plant commonly grown in Asian countries, which has been widely used as an oriental medicinal herb to treat diabetes, diarrhea and various other inflammatory diseases. The phenolics of dry leaves of L. cuneata G. Don were extracted by using 80% (v/v) aqueous methanol in assistance with homogenization and sonification. The phenolic extract and its five different fractions (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water) were used to evaluate the levels of total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity as well as the inhibitory effect of tyrosinase activity. Ethyl acetate fraction (1 g) had the highest levels of total phenolics at 240.8 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE), total flavonoids as 90.4 mg catechin equivalents (CE) as well as antioxidant capacity at 523.4 mg vitamin C equivalents (VCE) on ABTS assay and 329.5 mg VCE on DPPH assay among fractions. One g of water fraction contained total phenolics at 133.1 mg GAE, total flavonoids at 34.5 mg CE, and antioxidant capacity at 333.4 mg VCE for ABTS assay and 313.2 mg VCE for DPPH assay. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity of water fraction at 300 ${\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ was at 47.2% and 21.1% for L-tyrosine and L-DOPA as its substrate, respectively. On the other hand, ethyl acetate fraction at 300 ${\mu}g{\cdot}mL^{-1}$ showed tyrosinase inhibition of 10.2% for L-tyrosine and 11.9% for L-DOPA. These results suggested that the phenolics from dry leaves of L. cuneata G. Don may be utilized as a potent source of antioxidants and skin whitening agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.509-518
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• 2016

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a medical plant that has long been used to treat fever, cough, kidney disease, breast cancer, inflammatory disease and brain disease in northeast Asian countries. Although several studies have been conducted on the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of A. cochinchinensis, the correlation between these effects and nerve growth factor (NGF) has not yet been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract of A. cochinchinensis (AEAC) on the secretion and action mechanism of NGF in neuronal cells. The concentration of the NGF protein in the supernatant collected from cultured cells increased significantly in B35 cells treated with AEAC in comparison with the vehicle-treated group without any specific cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the mRNA expression of NGF showed a very similar pattern to its protein concentration. To examine the bioactivity of NGF secreted from B35 cells, undifferentiated PC12 cells were cultured in an AEAC-conditioned medium and neuritic outgrowth was observed. The dendrite length of PC12 cells in the AEAC-treated group was significantly higher than that in the vehicle-treated group. Moreover, the level of the downstream effectors p-TrkA and p-ERK of the high-affinity NGF receptor was significantly higher in the AEAC-treated group, while the expression of the downstream effectors of the low-affinity NGF receptor was significantly lower in the same group. These results suggest that AEAC may contribute to the regulation of NGF expression and secretion in neuronal cells; it is therefore an excellent candidate for further investigation as a therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.219-227
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• 2009

The antifatigue and endurance promoting properties of two Korean medicinal herb extracts and molasses with various mineral components were studied by evaluating forced-swimming capacity and biochemical parameters in ICR mice. The treatment groups were orally administered mineral beverages which were contained 6% sugar with the mixture of Maesil (Prunus mume fruit) extracts, Omija (Schisandra chinensis fruit) extracts and molasses for 4 weeks. The exercised forced-swimming tests were conducted after 28 days of beverage supplementation. The swimming times to exhaustion were longer 1.5${\sim}$2 times in group 6 and group 10 than control goup (Control: 93.2${\pm}$10.4 sec; Beverage 6; 190.8${\pm}$25.6 sec, Beverage 10; 173.6${\pm}$21.8 sec; p<0.05). Moreover, the activity of hexokinase (Control: 5.23${\pm}$0.38 ${\mu}mol$l/g tissue; Beverage 6: 5.99${\pm}$0.18 ${\mu}mol$/g tissue, Beverage 10: 6.13${\pm}$0.25 ${\mu}mol$/g tissue, p<0.05) and citrate synthase (control: 42.9${\pm}$1.87 ${\mu}mol$/g tissue; Beverage 6: 56.8${\pm}$3.98 ${\mu}mol$/g tissue, Beverage 10; 59.5${\pm}$3.09 ${\mu}mol$/g tissue, p<0.05) were also significantly higher than those of control group. Even if the treatment groups had long swimming than control group, there is no significant difference in the glycogen contents of gastrocnemus muscle or liver between the control group and each treatment group. This demonstrated an improvement in endurance. These results suggest that reported herbal beverage is very effective to combat fatigue, improve endurance and increase overall physical activity.