• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.106-114
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• 2021

We evaluated the anti-cancer activity against human prostate cancer cells and the associated molecular mechanism of extracts from the branches of Rhamnus yoshinoi (RYB). Treatment with RYB suppressed viability of human prostate cancer cells (PC-3) and decreased protein levels of both β-catenin and T-cell factor 4 (TCF4). This was reflected in reduced TCF4 mRNA, but not decreased β-catenin mRNA. PC-3 cells were pretreated with the proteosome inhibitor MG132 before treatment with RYB, which blocked RYB-mediated down regulation of β-catenin in PC-3 cells, thus confirming that RYB promotes the proteasomal degradation of β-catenin. RYB induced β-catenin phosphorylation, and GSK-3β inhibition by LiCl blocked the phosphorylation and proteasomal degradation of β-catenin by RYB. These results suggest that GSK-3β may be an important upstream kinase for RYB-mediated regulation of β-catenin. Finally, GC/MS analysis of RYB identified 18 compounds. Based on these findings, RYB shows potential for development as a therapeutic agent for prostate cancer.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 1997

An unbleached hardwood kraft pulp was bleached in vitro with partially purified manganese peroxidase (MnP) from the fungus Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 without the addition of MnSO$_4$ in the presence of oxalate, malonate or gluconate known as manganese chelator, When the pulp was treated without the addition of MnSO$_4$, the pulp brightness increased by about 10 points in the presence of 2 mM oxalate, but the brightness did not significantly increase in the presence of 50 mM malonate. Residual MnP activity decreased faster during the bleaching with MnP without MnSO$_4$ in the presence of malonate than in the presence of oxalate. Oxalate reduced MnO$_2$ which already existed in the pulp or was produced from $Mn^{2+}$ by oxidation with MnP and thus supplied $Mn^{2+}$ to the MnP system. Thus, bleaching of hardwood kraft pulp with MnP, using manganese originally existing in the pulp, became possible in the presence of oxalate, a good manganese chelator and reducing reagent. Properties of partially purified MnPs from liquid cultures of white rot fungi, Ganoderma sp. YK-505, Phanerochaete sordida YK-624 and Phanerochaete chrysosporium were compared. MnP from Ganoderma sp. YK-505 was superior to MnPs from P. sordida YK-624 and P. chrysosporium in stabilities against high temperature and high concentration of $H_2O$$_2$. The MnP from Ganoderma sp. YK-505 differed in pH-activity profile from other MnPs. These data suggest that MnP from Ganoderma sp. YK-505 has different structure from those of other fungi. Bleaching of hardwood kraft pulp using the MnP from ganoderma sp. YK-505 is now in progress.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.412-418
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• 2019

Background: Previously, studies have observed that the leaf extract of Cotoneaster wilsonii Nakai has potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activites. Therefore, further research was conducted to separate the active antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds in the leaf of the C. wilsonii. Methods and Results: The anti-oxidant effects were evaluated by analyzing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, estimating the totla phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), and using reducing power assay method. The ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction demonstrated the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀; 9.69 ㎍/㎖), and the highest TPC and TFC (345.98 mg·GAE/g, and 74.23 mg·QE/g). Moreover, it indicated the highest effects on nitric oxide production. Therefore, the active compound was separated using the EtOAc fraction, determined on the basis of spectral data, and identified as (+)-catechin. Conclusions: The first compound separated was made from the leaf of C. wilsonii was (+)-catechin, which produced potent anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.339-344
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• 2022

The development of drug resistance is one of the most severe concerns of malaria control because it increases the risk of malaria morbidity and death. A new candidate drug with antiplasmodial activity is urgently needed. This study evaluated the efficacy of different dosages of aqueous extract of Strychnos ligustrina combined with dihydroartemisinin and piperaquine phosphate (DHP) against murine Plasmodium berghei infection. The BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were divided into 6 groups, each consisting of 10 mice. The growth inhibition of compounds against P. berghei was monitored by calculating the percentage of parasitemia. The results showed that the mice receiving aqueous extract and combination treatment showed growth inhibition of P. berghei in 74% and 94%, respectively. S. ligustrina extract, which consisted of brucine and strychnine, effectively inhibited the multiplication of P. berghei. The treated mice showed improved hematology profiles, body weight, and temperature, as compared to control mice. Co-treatment with S. ligustrina extract and DHP revealed significant antimalarial and antipyretic effects. Our results provide prospects for further discovery of antimalarial drugs that may show more successful chemotherapeutic treatment.

• Mycobiology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2006

Chestnut blight disease caused by Cryphonectria parasitica is widely distributed throughout chestnut tree plantations in Korea. We surveyed 65 sites located at 9 provinces in South Korea, and isolated 248 virulent and 3 hypovirulent strains of chestnut blight fungus. Hypovirulent strains had dsRNA virus in the cytoplasm, which is one of the typical characteristics of hypovirulent strains. In addition, they showed more characteristics of hypovirulent strains, i.e., suppressed conidiation, reduced pigmentation in colony color, and reduced phenol oxidase activity as well as reduced pathogenicity. Hypovirulent strains, KCPH-22, KCPH-135 and KCPH-136, had a genomic dsRNA band with the molecular weight of 12.7 kb, which is the L-dsRNA of CHV1. They also had a 2.7 kb defective dsRNA band. Single conidia isolated from hypovirulent strains were cultured and various phenotypes and absence of dsRNA bands were obtained from single conidial cultures, which means that hypovirulence transmission is unstable in asexual reproduction and variations in viral heredity by asexual reproduction. Biocontrol trial using hypovirulent strains was also carried out in the chestnut tree plantations, and canker expansion in the treated trees was stopped and healed by callus formation at the margin of the canker. These results show the potentials in successful biocontrol of chestnut blight if the vegetatively compatible hypovirulent strains could be directly used around the canker formed by compatible virulent strains.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.225-232
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• 1984

Panax ginseng extract is capable of enhancing antibody plaque forming cell response and circulating antibody titre against sheep erythrocytes, cell mediated immunity against Semliki forest virus antigen and natural killer cell activity in mice. It also enhanced production of interferon of both the pH stable and labile types induced by an interferon inducer of fungal origin.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.73-77
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• 2009

This study was carried out to investigate the valuable antioxidative compound from extracts of Alnus hirsuta Turcz. which has a nationwide distribution. The bark (2 kg) was extracted with 70% aqueous acetone and fractionated, and the ethyl acetate and $H_2O$ fractions, separately, were chromatographed on a Sephadex LH-20 column to purify the mixture and to give two diarylheptanoid compounds. The isolated compounds were analyzed by NMR spectroscopy, including $^1H$, $^{13}C$ and two-dimensional NMR, and identified as oregonin (1) and 1,7-bis-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-heptane-5-O-${\beta}$-D-xylopyranoside (2). The antioxidative activity was evaluated by DPPH method using two diarylheptanoids and acid-hydrolyzed oregonin derivative which indicated higher activity potential. Of those the acid-hydrolyzed oregonin derivative showed highly active potential with the value of 2.6 of $IC_{50}$.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2015

In this study, a new cultivar of Lentinula edodes was bred from dikaryotic KFRI 490 and monokaryotic KFRI 536 by Di-mon method. The new breed was named "Poongnyunko" and physiological characteristics was investigated. Its optimal growing temperature was $25^{\circ}C$, and it had thin density. Its colony was colorless and did not form any epithelium. On the $7^{th}$ day of mycelial growth, "Poongnyunko" was 56.6 mm, and showed higher cellulase activity compared with "Sanlim 4-ho"(52.9 mm). On the $5^{th}$ day of mycelial growth, "Poongnyunko" was 58.0 mm, and showed higher laccase activity compared with "Sanlim 4-ho" (55.6 mm). Its pH at a substrate was 6.0. Before cultivation, the pH of sawdust substrate was 4.7-5.5 went down to 3.7-3.9 after 120-day cultivation. After 60 days of cultivation, the change of $CO_2$ was the greatest. During the cultivation, $CO_2$ concentration in a growing bag was 4.67% to 3.90%.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 1997

Urban river needs continuous observation for the river conservation because river surrounding environment sensitivly is changed by human activity. In order to grasp the effect of human activity against Taebaek river in Chunchon city, this research analysed the channel shape change, fluctuation volume and bias degree over five times, for June, 1993 to June, 1996. The results were as follows : 1. The change of channel shape on each surveying time mainly occurred in June, 1996 and maximum deposition. $1,247m^3$ occurred on 19~20 section, maximum scouring, $340m^3$ occurred on 6~7 section, 2. When comparing with June, 1993, increased deposition volume of channelbed was about $4,600m^3$ in June, 1996, 3. The bias degree of channel mainly occurred in June, 1996 of surveying times and at 6, 7, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 line of surveying lines.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.110 no.3
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• pp.419-430
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• 2021

This study investigated spatiotemporal trends of sediment-related disasters in North Korea from 1960 to 2019 and post-disaster recovery cases based on a literature review and satellite images. Results showed that occurrence status of sediment-related disasters was initially externally reported in 1995 (during the Kim Jongil era); their main triggering factor was heavy summer rainfall. Furthermore, forest degradation rate was positively correlated with population density (R² = 0.4347, p = 0.02) and occurrence number of sediment-related disasters was relatively high on the west coast region, where both variables showed high values. This indicates that human activity was a major cause of forest degradation and thus, significantly affected sediment-related disasters in mountain regions. Finally, sediment- related disasters due to shallow landslides, debris flow, and slow-moving landslides were observed in undisturbed forest regions and human-impacted forest regions, including terraced fields, opencast mines, forest roads, and post-wildfire areas, via satellite image analysis. These disaster-hit areas remained mostly abandoned without any recovery works, whereas hillside erosion control work (e.g., treeplanting with terracing) or torrent erosion control work (e.g., check dam, debris flow guide bank) were implemented in certain areas. These findings can provide reference information to expand inter-Korean exchange and cooperation in forest rehabilitation and erosion control works of North Korea.