• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.112-117
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• 1994

The present conservation status on the rare and endangered plants in Tokyusan National Park were surveyed and re-evaluated by the new criteria which prepared by I.U.C.N. The species such as Lonicera vidalii, Clematis chiisanensis, Cypripedium macranthum and Allium taquetii were grouped as Critical, Eranthis stellata, Abies koreana, Taxus cuspidata, Tricyrtis dilatata, Paeonia japonaca, Stewartia koreana, Rhododendron tschnoskii, Buplerum euphorbioides, Lilium cernum and Oreorchis patens were grouped as Endangered, Adonis amurenis and Disporum ovale were grouped as Vulnerable. The above mentioned species were mainly located at the vicinity of mountain trails and projected developing sites. The potentials for the habitat destructions, mainly, due to human activities are expected to be serious in the future unless the proper management plans prepared for the specific plants and the specific habitats.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.407-414
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• 1998

The rare and endangered plants in Naesorak area were investigated for four months during May to August in 1997, and the results were summarized as 35 taxa which is classified as 19 families, 32 species, and 3 varieties. At the level of families, 19 families such as Pinaceae(1 species), Taxaceae(1 species), Cupressaceae(1 species and 1 variety), Liliaceae(5 species and 1 variety), Aristolochiaceae(2 species), Ranunculaceae(4 species), Berberidaceae(1 species), Saxifragaceae(2 species), Rosaceae(1 species), Oleaceae(2 species and 1 variety), Solanaceae(1 species), Scrophulariaceae(1 species), Valerianaceae(1 species), Campanulaceae(1species), and Compositae(1 species) were recorded. The most of the habitats of the species was easily found along the major mountain trails, and a kind of destructions of these plants by human interferences is due to the fact that the illegal collections for food and medicine are occurred. Those species of Taxus caespitosa, Rhododendron aureum, Vaccinium bracteatum, Allium victoralis var. platyphullum and Leontice microryncha has a few individuals in habitats and also shows the unfavorable growing state, so the intensive and continuous habitat management of the habitats were inevitably dimanded.

• Mycobiology
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 2022

The rare edible and medicinal fungus Antrodia cinnamomea has a substantial potential for development. In this study, Illumina HiSeq 2000 was used to sequence its transcriptome. The results were assembled de novo, and 66,589 unigenes with an N50 of 4413 bp were obtained. Compared with public databases, 6,061, 3,257, and 2,807 unigenes were annotated to the Non-Redundant, Gene Ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes databases, respectively. The genes related to terpene biosynthesis in the mycelia of A. cinnamomea were analyzed, and acetyl CoA synthase (ACS2 and ACS4), hydroxymethylglutaryl CoA reductase (HMGR), farnesyl transferase (FTase), and squalene synthase (SQS) were found to be upregulated in XZJ (twig of C. camphora) and NZJ (twig of C. kanehirae). Moreover, ACS5 and 2,3-oxidized squalene cyclase (OCS) were highly expressed in NZJ, while heme IX farnesyl transferase (IX-FIT) and ACS3 were significantly expressed in XZJ. The differential expression of ACS1, ACS2, HMGR, IX-FIT, SQS, and OCS was confirmed by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. This study provides a new concept for the additional exploration of the molecular regulatory mechanism of terpenoid biosynthesis and data for the biotechnology of terpenoid production.

• Journal of Wetlands Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.92-113
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• 2024

The Purpose of this study were to present the basic data for conservation and management of wetland ecosystem by surveying the characteristics of vascular plants distributed in Hwapocheon wetland protected area. The results are as follows. The numbers of vascular plants were summrized as 339 taxa including 81 familices, 221 genera, 315 species, 9 subspecies and 12 varieties and 2 forms. The rare plants were 7 taxa including Aristolochia contorta, Hydrocharis dubia and so on. The floristic target species were 32 taxa including 17 taxa of grade I, 7 taxa of grade II, 4 taxa of grade III, 2 taxa of grade IV and 2 taxa of grade V. The invasive alien plants were 66 Rumex crispus, Oenothera biennis, Veronica arvensis and so on. The ecosystem disturbing species were 11 taxa including Humulus scandens, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Ambrosia trifida, Lactuca seriola, Symphyotrichum pilosum and so on. The hydrophytes were 29 taxa including 16 taxa of emergent plants, 3 taxa of submerged plants, 4 taxon of free-floating plant 6 taxa of floation-leaved plants.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.219-226
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• 2023

Furanocoumarin 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP) is the parent compound that naturally occurs in traditional medicinal plants used historically. 8-MOP has been employed as a photochemotherapeutic component of Psoralen + Ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy for the treatment of vitiligo and psoriasis. Although the role of 8-MOP in PUVA therapy has been studied, little is known about the effects of 8-MOP alone on human gastric cancer cells. In this study, we observed anti-proliferative effect of 8-MOP in several human cancer cell lines. Among these, the human gastric cancer cell line SNU1 is the most sensitive to 8-MOP. 8-MOP treated SNU1 cells showed G1-arrest by upregulating p53 and apoptosis by activating caspase-3 in a dose-dependent manner, which was confirmed by loss-of-function analysis through the knockdown of p53-siRNA and inhibition of apoptosis by Z-VAD-FMK. Moreover, 8-MOP-induced apoptosis is not associated with autophagy or necrosis. The signaling pathway responsible for the effect of 8-MOP on SNU1 cells was confirmed to be related to phosphorylated PI3K, ERK2, and STAT3. In contrast, 8-MOP treatment decreased the expression of the typical metastasis-related proteins MMP-2, MMP-9, and Snail in a p53-independent manner. In accordance with the serendipitous findings, treatment with 8-MOP decreased the wound healing, migration, and invasion ability of cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, combination treatment with 8-MOP and gemcitabine was effective at the lowest concentrations. Overall, our findings indicate that oral 8-MOP has the potential to treat early human gastric cancer, with fewer side effects.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.303-326
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of Mt. Gaji(Gyeongsang nam-do). The vascular plants which are collected in 12 times(from May to Oct. 2006 and Mar. to Oct. 2009) were identified as 573 taxa in total, including 106 families, 314 genera, 503 species, 6 subspecies, 56 varieties, 8 forms. There were many useful plants such as 20 taxa of Korean endemics and 10 taxa of specially designated plants which were determined by the Korea Forest Service. The designated in endangered plants by the Ministry of Environment, which should be protected by the wildlife protection law, were identified as 3 taxa and 64 taxa of specially designated floristic regional indicator plants by the Ministry of Environment. Based on the list of approved for delivering overseas of plants, 23 taxa were recorded in the investigated area. The naturalized plants were identified as 22 taxa, and their naturalization ratio were found to be 3.8% respectively. The 573 taxa listed consists of 217 taxa(37.8%) of edible plants, 181 taxa(31.5%) of medicinal plants, 91 taxa(15.8%) of pasture plants, 86 taxa(15%) of ornamental plants, 19 taxa(3.3%) of timber plants, 11 taxa(1.9%) of fiber plants and 7 taxa(1.2%) of industrial plants.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.61-65
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• 2000

It was investigated 91 families, 305 genera, 470 species, 1 subspecies, 30 varieties, 2 forma and total 503 taxa of herbal resources plants in Chollabuk-do area in this study. Among them 45 taxa belong to Compositae, 30 taxa belong to Rosaceae and 23 taxa belong to Leguminosae in order were occurred frequently. In general the herbal resources plants were distributed abundantly in Togyusan, Naejangsan, Changansan and Taedunsan area. Comparatively high frequent species was surveyed as follows: Schizandra chinensis, Cimicifuga heracleifolia, C. simplex, Asarum sieboldii, Arisaema amurense var. serratum, Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum, Prunella vulgaris var. lilacina and Veratrum patulum etc. There was growing 30-50 individuals of Codonopsis lanceolata in 5m$\times$5m quadrat, 90 Chrysanthemum zawadskii var. latilobum plant in 1m$\times$1m and 100 Polygonatum odoratum var. pluriflorum plant in 1m$\times$1m quadrat from Togyusan quantitatively. Rare and herbal worth species were observed to distribute such as Gastrodia elata in Naejangsan and Togyusan and Acanthopanax senticosus in Mandoksan, Chinan-gun, respectively. Cultivating species in the farm now and/or favorable species in the future will be recommended here, for example, Codonopsis pilosus, A. senticosus, G. elata, Rubus coreanus, C. lanceolata and Pleuropterus multiflorus.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.30-42
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• 2018

Background: The southern and eastern parts of the Gobi Desert area are a unique dry ecosystem with a diverse regional desert, semi-desert, and mountain dry steppe flora. This area habitat is located at the overlap of different floristic regions; on its northeast side, Central Asian desert flora is dominating, and on the eastern side, East Asian flora is observed. The comprehensive survey was carried out to find the floral diversity of the medicinal plants on the region. Methods: All recorded species in this study were based on the collected voucher specimens between June and August in the year 2017. Results: We recorded 23 families, 57 genera, and 78 species of vascular plants. The families Asteraceae (15 species), Fabaceae (10 species), and Amaranthaceae (10 species) were represented most in the study area, while Caragana (5 species), Salsola (4 species), and Arnebia (3 species) were the most common genera found. Conclusion: Conservation status for remarkable species was also reviewed based on the literature. Around the study area, 24 species as "sub-endemic," 10 species as "very rare," 4 species as "rare," 1 species as "alien," 13 species as "relict," 10 species as "Red Book," 2 species as "endangered (EN)," 3 species as "vulnerable (VU)," 3 species as "near threatened (NT)," and 2 species as "least concern (LC)" plants are growing.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.169-181
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to understand the geographical and environmental distribution of animals and plants in Baekdudaegan region using field survey and GIS data. Crucial factors were selected and analyzed to understand the distributional characteristics of wild animals (16 species in 5 orders) and rare endemic plants (20 species in 12 orders). These crucial factors include stand factor (forest type, DBH class, and crown density), soil factor (bed rock, soil texture, and organic matter), geographical factor (elevation, slope, aspect) and climatic factor (temperature, rain fall, humidity). Finally, ten crucial factors were selected by statistical analysis and categorized for analyzing geographical and environmental features. Three orders such as Rodentia, Carnivora, and Artiodactula in wild animal showed the similar habitat characteristics with the small diameter and the elevation range from 801 to 1,000m. The Hydropotes inermis of Artiodactyla and Rattus norvegicus of Rodentia were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the coniferous forest and loam. On the other hand, four orders such as Tubiflorales, Liliales, Ericales, and Rhamnales in the rare and endemic plants were showed high occurrence rate in the organic matter between 4 and 6%. The Rodgersia podophylla of Rosales and Gastrodia elata Blume of Microspermae were different in the type of orders, but they had the similar habitat characteristics with the stand factor and soil factor.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.146-156
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• 2023

Background: Endemic species are important components in the flora of most world regions. Most of these species have become threatened and exposed to extinction within the last few years. The present study aims to evaluate the ecosystem services offered by the endemic plant taxa in Egypt and the threats that affect them. Twenty-five field visits were conducted during summer 2018 to spring 2022 to several locations all over Egypt. In each location, the main habitats, national distribution, abundance, goods and threats were recorded. Results: Egypt has 41 endemic taxa belonging to 36 genera and 20 families inhabiting 10 main habitats. Rocky surfaces and sandy formations have the highest number of endemic species. The relation between the number of endemic taxa and the abundance categories indicated that 2 taxa are rare (4.9% of the total taxa), while the remaining were very rare (95%). The most represented offered good was the medicinal uses (32 taxa = 78%), while fuel plants were only represented by 2 taxa (2 taxa = 4.9%). Besides, 14 taxa (34.1% of the total studied taxa) have at least 1 environmental service. Soil fertility (7 taxa = 50%) was the most represented, followed by sand accumulations (6 taxa out of 14 taxa = 43%), while shading plant was the least (1 taxon = 7.1%) (Rosa arabica). The most represented threat is over-cutting and over-collecting (38 taxa = 92.7%), while mining and quarrying is the least represented (4 taxa = 9.8%). Conclusions: The potential and actual goods, services and threats of the endemic taxa were assessed as follows; field observation, information collected from local inhabitants and herbalists, and a literature review. The present study recommended planning a strategy about the importance, threats and conservation of endemic taxa in Egypt that would help in the protection and rescue of these plants and increase awareness about the importance of these plants.