• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.628-640
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• 2015

Cellulase is the key enzyme in the use of cellulose-based biomaterials. Because of its structure, cellulose is difficult to be degraded by enzymes. In order to utilize cellulose-based biomaterials efficiently, evolutionary wisdom of how to use enzymes accurately and harmoniously in a biological system is needed, such as the cellulose digestive system in animals. In this study, the symbiotic bacteria from snails, Achatina fulica, were identified and their cellulase activity was evaluated. The 16S rRNA sequence analysis of 100 aerobic bacteria showed that they belonged to 9 genus and almost half of the bacteria were Lactococcus spp. Among 100 identified strains, only two Aeromonas sp. strains showed cellulase activity. Aeromonas sp. KMBS020 had both endo-${\beta}$-glucanase and ${\beta}$-glucosidase activities but Aeromonas sp. KMBS018 had ${\beta}$-glucosidase activity only. None of the 100 bacterial colonies had any cellobiohydrolase activity.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.640-646
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• 2017

In this study, we elucidated anti-cancer activity and potential molecular mechanism of 70% ethanol extracts from Taxilli Ramulus (Taxillus chinensis (DC.) Danser) (TR-E70) against human colorectal cancer cells. Anti-cell proliferative effect of TR-E70 was evaluated by MTT assay. The effect of TR-E70 on the expression of cyclin D1 in the protein and mRNA level was evaluated by Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively. TR-E70 suppressed the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cell lines, HCT116 and SW480. Although TR-E70 decreased cyclin D1 expression in protein and mRNA level, decreased level of cyclin D1 protein by TR-E70 more dramatically occurred than that of cyclin D1 mRNA. Cyclin D1 downregulation by TR-E70 was attenuated in presence of MG132. In addition, TR-E70 phosphorylated threonine-286 (T286) of cyclin D1. TR-E70-mediated cyclin D1 degradation was blocked in presence of LiCl as an inhibitor $GSK3{\beta}$ but not PD98059 as an ERK1/2 inhibitor and SB203580 as a p38 inhibitor. Our results suggest that TR-E70 may downregulate cyclin D1 as one of the potential anti-cancer targets through $GSK3{\beta}$-dependent cyclin D1 degradation. From these findings, TR-E70 has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for human colorectal cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2003

Antimicrobial activities of plant extractives were investigated to develop a natural fungicide. Two stilbenoids and five flavonoids were isolated from wood extractives of Hovenia dulcis (Rhamnaceae) which had been selected due to its high antifungal activity among the tested species. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were determinded as : 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, 5,7-dihydroxyflavone (chrysin), 5,7-dihydroxyflavanone (pinocembrin), 3,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone (pinobanksin), 3,4',5,7-tetrahydroxyflavanone (aromadendrin), 3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene and 3,5-dihydroxystilbene (pinosylvin) on the basis of Mass and NMR spectroscopic data. According to the results of antifungal test, 3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene was evaluated as the strongest antifungal compound among the tested compounds and next were pinocembrin and pinosylvin, but those also had high hyphal growth inhibition activities against C. parasitica, T. versicolor, T. palustris and T. viride. However, pinobanksin, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, chrysin and aromadendrin showed very low antifungal activity. In this regard, it could inferred that high antifungal activity of wood extractives of H. dulcis were derived from 3-hydroxy-5-methoxystilbene, pinocembrin and pinosylvin, respectively.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.276-286
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• 2012

In this study, the antifungal activity of Cryptomeria japonica essential oil against superficial and allergic fungi, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton tonsurans, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Trichophyton rubrum, Epidermophyton floccosum, and Aspergillus fumigatus, was evaluated for determining the potential compound as dermatitis treatment. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) measurement, TLC bioassay and agar dilution methods were used for determining the antifungal activity of crude essential oil and its fractions from C. japonica. Also, their major constituents were analyzed by GC/MS. The MICs were below 500 ppm at all superficial fungi, and spot 1 of C. japonica essential oil showed highly effective antifungal activity by TLC bioassay. In antifungal activity by agar dilution methods, crude oil showed high antifungal effect at more than 500 ppm and fraction D was significantly effective at even 100 ppm except for A. fumigatus. The major compounds of spot 1 and fraction D of C. japonica oil determined by GC/MS were elemol, ${\gamma}$-eudesmol, and ${\beta}$-eudesmol, which could be used as atopic dermatitis treatment material.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.217-224
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to clarify the effects of the conversion of the forest management type from a natural deciduous broad-leaved forest to an artificial evergreen coniferous forest based on organic matter dynamics. We investigated the amounts and carbon contents of the forest floor and the litterfall, soil chemical characteristics and cellulose decomposition rates in the natural deciduous broad-leaved forest and adjacent artificial evergreen coniferous forest. In the artificial evergreen coniferous forest were planted Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) on the upper slope and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) on the lower slope. The soil carbon and nitrogen contents, CEC and microbial activity had decreased due to the conversion of the forest management type from a natural deciduous broad-leaved forest to an artificial Japanese cypress forest, and were almost the same for the conversion to a Japanese cedar forest. Under the same conditions, it is considered that the soil fertility was different by planting specific tree species because the organic matter dynamics were changed by them.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.555-564
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• 2019

Biodiesel is produced through the transesterification process in the presence of alcohol and a catalyst that catalyzes the conversion of triglycerides to esters and glycerol compounds. A more optimal product conversion can be achieved using enzymes, such as lipase. Lipase is reported to be produced in osmophilic yeasts due to the low water content in their natural habitats. Wild forest honey is one of the osmophilic natural habitats in Indonesia. However, lipase-producing yeast has not been reported in the Indonesian honey. In this study, we screened the lipase-producing yeasts isolated from wild forest honey collected from Central Sulawesi. The production profile and activity of lipase were determined at different pH values and temperatures. One promising yeast was isolated from the honey, which was identified as Zygosaccharomyces mellis SG 1.2 based on ITS sequence. The maximum lipase production (24.56 ± 1.30 U/mg biomass) was achieved by culturing the strain in a medium containing 2% olive oil as a carbon source at pH 7 and 30℃ for 40 h. The optimum pH and temperature for lipase activity were 6 and 55℃, respectively. The enzyme maintained 80% of its activity upon incubation at 25℃ for 4 h. However, the enzyme activity decreased by more than 50% upon incubation at 35 and 40℃ for 2 h. This is the first study to report the lipase producing capability of Z. mellis. Further studies are needed to optimize the enzyme production.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.333-341
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• 2010

The objective of our study was to investigate the major reasons for the different growth and visible injury on the needles of black pine growing in Ulsan and Yeocheon industrial complex areas, South Korea. After 12 years of growth, we collected climatic and air pollutant data, and analyzed soil properties and the physiological characteristics of black pine needles. Annual and minimum temperatures in Ulsan were higher than those in Yeocheon from 1996 to 2008. Ozone ($O_3$) was the pollutant in greatest concentration in Yeocheon, and whereas the $SO_2$ concentration in most areas decreased gradually during the whole period of growth, $SO_2$ concentration in Yeocheon has increased continuously since 1999, where it was the highest out of four areas since 2005. Total nitrogen and cation exchange capacity in Yeocheon soil were significantly lower than those of Ulsan. The average growth of black pine in Yeocheon was significantly smaller than that in Ulsan, and the growth of damaged trees represented a significant difference between the two sites. Photosynthetic pigment and malondialdehyde content and antioxidative enzyme activity in the current needles of black pine in Yeocheon were not significantly different between damaged and healthy trees, but in 1-year-old needles, there were significant differences between damaged and healthy trees. In conclusion, needle damage in Yeocheon black pine can be considered the result of long-term exposure to oxidative stress by such as $O_3$ or $SO_2$, rather than a difference in climatic condition or soil properties, and the additional expense of photosynthate needed to overcome damage or alleviate oxidative stress may cause growth retardation.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Landscape Architecture
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.162-176
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• 2016

The experience and play activities in forest spaces have played an effective role in children's growth and development, therefore, many studies and projects related to forest activity space have progressed actively. However, the focus of previous research has been merely on the effectiveness of forest activity but little on providing the basis for the spatial design of these types of forest activity spaces. Thus, this study aims to identify the relationship between children's developmental play activity and the physical characteristics of forest activity spaces for evidence-based design. First of all, indicators for Cognitive-Social play(CSP) was selected and forest spaces were categorize into play facility spaces and forest spaces. More detailed environmental characteristics of each space were 'play area' and 'paving materials' for play facilities and 'density of tree and shrub', 'slope', 'paving materials' and 'fixing and type of natural loose parts' for forest space. Through environmental inventory and behavior observation, the types of play behaviors and the occurrence frequency of children aged four to five were collected and analyzed. The results were as follows: 1) In play facility spaces, play behaviors occurred at a high frequency at the facility playground with play facilities and sand area. In terms of CSP, functional-solitary and functional-parallel plays occurred predominantly. 2) In forest spaces, various play behaviors occurred at high frequency in the environment with low density planting and various natural loose parts. For CSP, functional-group and symbolic-group plays occurred at a high frequency. 3) Symbolic-group play appeared to be highly affected by environmental characteristics like tree area of scatter density or less, 10~20 degree slope, and the presence of fixed large stumps. In conclusion, this study provides standards of physical environmental characteristics for forest activity space design through direct observation and analysis of children's play behaviors.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural and Forest Meteorology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.173-182
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• 2010

This study was conducted to investigate ozone sensitivity of physiological indicators and the difference in ozone tolerance of 8 families of Sophora japonica seedlings on the basis of the standardized physiological indicators. After ozone treatment, photosynthetic parameters, photosynthetic pigments and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and antioxidative enzyme activities were analyzed from the leaves of S. japonica seedlings. Ozone tolerance indices among 8 families were calculated with the standardized physiological parameters. In addition, the reduction of carboxylation efficiency and apparent quantum yield were observed in the leaves of seven families, except for family No. 6 and 7, respectively. The apparent quantum yield varied from -27% to -61% of the control seedlings. Photosynthetic pigment content differed significantly among 8 families, but was not affected significantly by ozone treatment. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased from 7% to 64% after ozone exposure, and significant difference existed among 8 families. Ascorbate-peroxidase (APX) activity of 8 families increased by ozone treatment, and the activity of family No. 7 showed the highest increase (218%) in comparison to their respective control plants. On the basis of the standardized indices, family No. 6 showed the lowest tolerance by indicating higher reduction of both photosynthetic parameters and pigment content and lower increase of antioxidative enzyme activities. On the contrary, family No. 7 showed the highest tolerance as indicated by lower reduction of photosynthetic parameters, higher amounts of photosynthetic pigments, and higher enzyme activity.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.169-172
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• 2012

The aim of this research was to investigate the antibacterial activity of Clerodendron trichotomum. Antibacterial activities of the n-hexane, methylene chloride (MC), ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions from C. trichotomum were tested against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Helicobacter pylori. The n-hexane and MC fractions showed antibacterial activity against H. pylori at a concentration of 1.7 mg/mL and showed inhibition zones of 10 and 11 mm in disc assay, respectively. Further testing of 22-dehydroclerosterol and ${\beta}$-amyrin (each 3.4 mg/mL) from the MC fraction of C. trichotomum revealed moderate antibacterial effects against E. coli, S. aureus, and H. pylori. In particular, ${\beta}$-amyrin showed clear zones of 12 and 13 mm against E. coli and H. pylori, respectively, suggesting its potential as an antibacterial agent. The active compounds from C. trichotomum might provide a promising therapeutic agent against infections by E. coli, S. aureus, and H. pylori.