• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2016

Korea has a long history of brewing traditional rice wine using a authentic starter culture called nuruk, which contains natural microbial flora. Because rice wine is consumed fresh without filtration, its viable cells contribute to the biological activities of the wine. In numerous studies, microbial strains isolated from rice wine have been screened for their functionalities, which were mainly probiotic properties and antimicrobial activities. Indeed, some lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were confirmed to have strong probiotic activities as well as other health-promoting effects. Moreover, some of the isolated probiotic strains produced functional compounds, such as exopolysaccharides and γ-aminobutyric acid. For antimicrobial activities, some LAB and yeast strains were identified to produce bacteriocins and killer toxins, respectively, with significantly broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. These functional strains originating from traditional rice wine and their metabolites can be used directly for the production of value-added food products.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2004

A number of plants from different geographical origins have been shown to possess antioxidant activity. Some of them have been developed as natural antioxidant formulations for food, cosmetic and other applications. Bangladeshi flora is a rich source of a range of plant species, many of which are medicinal plants, and have been used in the preparations of the Unani and Ayurvedic traditional medicines. There are no, or just a few, reports on any systematic screening of the extracts of Bangladeshi plants for free radical scavenging activity using DPPH assay available to date. As part of our on-going search for biological activity in Bangladeshi plants, Kadam (Anthocephalus chinensis), Goran (Ceriaps decandra), Swarnalata (Cuscuta reflexa), Gab (Diospyros peregrina), Sundari (Heritiera fomes), Dhundul (Xylocarpus granatum) and Possur (Xylocarpus mekongensis) have been selected for the assessment of their free radical scavenging activity, and studies on the contents of alkaloids, anthraqunones, flavonoids and tannins in these extracts. Most of these species have been used in traditional medicine in Bangladesh and other countries for the treatment of various illnesses ranging from common cold to cancer. All extracts, except the methanol extract of Cuscuta reflexa, displayed significant free radical scavenging activity in the DPPH assay $(RC_{50}$ values within the range of $2.75\;{\times}\;10^{-2}\;to\;4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$. Among these extracts, the methanol extract of Xylocarpus granatum exhibited the most potent activity $(4.7\;{\times}\;10^{-3}\;mg/mL)$ and that of Cuscuta reflexa had the least activity $(1.64\;{\times}\;10^{-1}\;mg/mL)$. While none of these plants showed positive tests with Dragendorff's reagent, presence of low to moderate amounts of phenolic compounds, e.g. anthraquinones, flavonoids and tannins was evident in all of these plants, except for the methanolic extracts of C. reflexa and the barks of D. peregrina, which did not display any evidence for the presence of flavonoids and anthraquinones, respectively.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.295-302
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• 2013

Indigo is utilized in various industries including textile dyeing, cosmetics, printing and medicinal products and its reduced form, leuco-indigo, is mainly used in these process. Chemical reducing agent (sodium dithionite, sodium sulfide, etc.) is preferred to use for the formation of leucoindigo in industry. In traditional indigo fermentation process, microorganisms can participate in the reduction of indigo and thus it has been known to reduce environmental pollution and noxious byproducts. However, in fermentation method using microorganisms it is difficult to standardize large scale production process due to low yield and reproducibility. In this study, we attempted to develop the indigo reduction process using microbial flora which was isolated from naturally fermented indigo vat or deduced by metagenomic approach. From the results of library analyses of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes from the traditional indigo fermentation vat sample (metagenome), it was confirmed that Alkalibacteriums (71%) was distinctly dominant in population. Some strains were identified after confirming that they become pure culture in nutrient media modified slightly. Four strains were separated in this process and each strain showed obvious reducing ability toward indigo in dyeing test. It is expected that the analyzed results will provide important data for standardizing the natural fermentation of indigo and investigating the mechanism of indigo reduction.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.25-34
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• 2002

The halophytes were investigated on Gyeonggi Bay from Aug. 1999 to Oct. 2001. The survey was conducted at 38 areas including natural salt marshes, dunes, abandoned salt farms and bank areas. During this study 46 species of halophytes were collected in the areas. Among the halophytes the following 7 species were found at natural salt marshes only; Triglochin maritimum L, Carex scabrifolia Steud., Salicornia herbacea L., Suaedu australis (R. Br.) Moq., S. martima Dum., S. japonica Makino, S. malacosperma Hara, on the other hand 8 species at dunes only; Glehnia littoralis Fr. Schm., Cnidium japonicum Miq., Messerschmidia sibirica L., Ixeris repens A. Gray, Corispermum stauntonii Miq., Vitex rotundifolia L. fil., Ischaemum anthephoroides Miq., Carex kobomugi Ohwi. The distributions of halophytes in each regions are as the followings : Isl. Gyodong-do 21 species, Isl. Seokmo-do 10 species, Isl. Ganghwa-do 28 species, Isl. Jangbong-do 16 species, Isl. Sin & Si-do 10 species, Isl. Daemuui-do 23 species, Isl. Deokjeok-do 23 species, Isl. Ijak-do 10 species, Isl. Yeongheung-do 29 species, Soyra 25 species, Isl. Daebu-do 15 species, Ssangsong-ri 6 species, Hogok-ri 16 species, Maehyang-ri 10 species.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.1-19
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• 2002

This study was carried out to provide basic data for biodiversity about phytoplankton at crater of Cheju parasite volcano from March to November 2000. In the study area, we identified 6 class 12 order 23 family 44 genus 87 species 13 variety 2 forma, Which were totally 102 taxa. Those were composed of 40 taxa(39.2%) of Chlorophyceae, 34 taxa(33.3%) of Bacillariophyceae, 14 taxa(l3.7%) of Canophyceae, 9 taxa(8.8%) of Euglenophyceae, 3 taxa(3.0%) of Dinophyceae, 2 taxa(2.0%) of Chrysophyceae, respectably. Monthly appearance of phytoplankton were 74 taxa on March, 46 taxa on May, 21 taxa on August, 22 taxa on November. Biodiversity of phytoplankton by station was 54 taxa in Moolchat, 22 taxa in Moolyoungari, 26 taxa in Mooljangauri, 12 taxa in Dongsuack, 6 taxa in Asungseang, 27 taxa in Samiaorum, respectably.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.38-50
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• 2010

Expressways are often upgraded by widening the lanes and/or by reshaping the roads to be more linear for faster travel time. However, during the process of improving the route of the expressways, the areas where the old expressways used to be are often unused and abandoned. When these neglected sites are left alone, they often become dump sites causing pollution and impacting the surrounding environment. Therefore, it is important to restore the abandoned expressway sites to its full natural beauty. In this study, the abandoned expressway at the Soksa interchange in Pyungchang county, located in Kangwon province was studied for establishing the model of ecological restoration project. Considering the characteristics of the site, the target flora species was chosen to be Quercus species and the target fauna species as amphibians. After the target species were carefully chosen, each species' habitat requirements were studied in order to figure out the appropriate methods toward habitat restoration specifically for these species. In addition, to determine the most efficient method toward restoration of abandoned expressways, the study utilized the planting hole techniques, the crack techniques, and the colonization techniques. In terms of the spatial organization, public education program is incorporated at the main entrance area and the programs for experimenting, and developing vegetation and habitat restoration techniques are placed in the vicinity. In the master plan-to provide natural ecosystem at the site-ASCON (asphalt concrete) was removed first, then plans for restoration including species' habitat restoration were established. Furthermore, the project included plans for improving water quality polluted through non-point source considering the surrounding nearby road and farm lands. Finally, the study established a planning process that will experimentally apply to the abandoned expressway restoration method. In the future, there will be a continuous monitoring of the methods applied to verify if the restoration methods are effective. Also, new restoration techniques should be available according to a variety of abandoned expressways' characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.61-79
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• 2009

This study discusses developing ecological trails and route alignment in mountainous rural area. Through a process of ecological resources survey, ecological trails and route alignment has been established. Mainly, by focusing on ecological resources in rural areas, it was indifferent to their own ecological resource and charm to make it unique strengths. Based on survey the results, Natural ecology resources, there were the climate factor, surface, geological, terrain analysis. Furthermore, ecological resources were researched and analyzed the elements of it, distribution of resources, types, location, semantic analysis. The results are expressed on the map and recorded by taking pictures. Plant ecosystem, there were actual vegetation, land use, flora analysis. Wild animal ecosystem, it was checked and recorded on 1/1,000 map partition the emergence of wild birds, the number of species distributed by foraging guild, the emergence of amphibians, reptile, mammals and insect species. The site is chosen as rural theme village in 2007, base on their own rich ecological and landscape resources. Therefore, we carried out ecological trails and route alignment plan in accordance with analyzed the natural ecological resource and after setting up the basic goal, ecological trail has been composed and planting has done and direction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.1-18
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• 2016

Baekdudaegan Mountain System (BDMS) is a unique and traditional concept in Korea that puts importance on the connectivity of energy when Korean people recognize their mountain system. Two main national organizations that are in charge of managing natural environment in Korea, Korea Forest Service (KFS) and Ministry of Environment (MoE), have been independently investigating the natural resources in protected areas of BDMS. Each organization released its first survey report for the whole protected areas in 2011. In order to provide better understanding of BDMS's natural environment, the results contained in the first reports of KFS and MoE were compared. It was found that KFS contains a wider variety of survey items, though many of the items are overlapped between the reports of KFS and MoE. It was noticeable that the survey results of KFS and MoE were not always matched even for the same or similar items in the identical target areas. The main causes of the different survey results are suggested to be the differences of the details of the survey conditions between KFS and MoE, such as the season of the surveys and the subjectivity of surveyors, and the type of literatures included in the indoor survey. As a result, it is difficult to directly compare the survey results of KFS and MoE, which leads to low usability of the data and low efficiency of the survey processes. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the sections and methodologies of survey should be clearly set with consideration for the research purposes. The survey data and geographical information should be digitalized and opened to the public for better accessibility to BDMS information. Also, the survey reports should include English summary, thereby the results can be utilized globally for scientific, cultural and political purposes, such as designation of a heritage site.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.303-308
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• 2011

Lemon and eucalyptus oils were known to have various biological effects such as anti-aging and sterilizing action. However these essential oils were not well studied about their antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity against specific skin flora. In this study, we investigated antioxidant activity and antimicrobial activity of lemon and eucalyptus oils by using DPPH radical scavening activity and paper disc method. Lemon oil showed the high DPPH scavenging activity, while eucalyptus oil did not. Blending oils of lemon and eucalyptus had little enhancememt onantioxidant activity. Paper disc method demonstrated that each oil had a high antimicrobial effect against C. albicans and P. acnes in a concentration dependent manner. The blending oils had enhancememt on antimicrobial effect against P. acnes. In conclusion, the blending oil of lemon and eucalyptus can be used as a more effective natural agents for cure of skin trouble and acne.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.104-123
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• 2002

The flora survey on Chungnyeongsan and Seorisan was conducted 6 times from 1998 to 2000.817 taxa such as 112 families 415 genera 688 species 1 subspecies 116 varieties 12 forma were recorded. Dominant species in investigated areas was Quercus mongozica and some deciduous broad-leaved species, such as Quercus sp., Acer sp., Fraxinus sp., Carpinus sp., etc. were codominant species in these areas. Pinus koraiensis and Larix teptozepis plantations were also found in these areas. The 16 taxa of rare plants protected by Forestry Service were found in these areas and among them 10 taxa were new populations which had not been recorded in these areas. Discovery of Erunthis stellata, Aconitum koreanum, Paeonia japonica, Scopotia japonica and Acunthopanax senticosus populations indicate that these areas could be regarded as very important one in a biogeographical aspect. Endemic plants were listed 35 taxa and among them 22 taxa including Corydalis maculata, Ulmus macrocarpa, Scrophutaria horuiensis, Cirsium setidens, etc. were new one. Naturalized plants were listed 39 taxa and among them 30 taxa were new one. Lower naturalized index(NI) and higher urbanized index(UI) were recorded compared to those of neighbored areas. There were many kinds of threatening factors fur the plant resources in survey areas, so it is necessary to limit the number of visitors and to introduce the natural relaxation system.