• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.169-177
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• 2013

We investigated the effect of extracts($50{\mu}g/mL$) from 31 folk plants in Ulleung Island on nitric oxide(NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Actinidia arguta(leaf, twig), Hovenia dulcis(leaf), Camellia japonica(leaf, twig), Sambucus sieboldiana var. pendula(leaf, twig) and Fallopia sachalinensis(root) showed significant NO inhibition activity(42%~88% NO inhibition rate). Of them, we selected 3 samples(A. arguta, H. dulcis and C. japonica) showing more than 50% NO inhibition activity and little effect on cell viability. We found that the extracts suppressed the NO and prostaglandin $E_2(PGE_2)$ produced by LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells in dose-dependent manners.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.139-148
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• 2019

Purpose: Ulcerative colitis is a common inflammatory bowel disease. Prolonged colitis can be a risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Mulberry twig (MT, Sangzhi), a dry branch of Morus alba L., which is widely distributed throughout East Asia, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory activities in the cells. However, the effects of MT extracts on colitis in in vivo are limited. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of MT extracts in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced mouse colitis model. Methods: Six week-old, male ICR mice were divided into 3 groups: Control (n = 5), DSS (n = 7), and DSS+MT (n = 7) groups. Mice in the DSS and DSS+MT groups were administrated 3% DSS in drinking water for 5 days to induce colitis. At the same time, water extracts of MT (5 g/kg body weight/day) were orally administered to mice in the DSS+MT groups for 5 days. Results: The MT extracts significantly reduced the clinical and pathological characteristics of colitis. Disease activity index, mucosal thickness, and colonocyte proliferation were significantly reduced in the DSS+MT group compared with the DSS group. Furthermore, MT administration reduced the levels of plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, and the colonic myeloperoxidase activity as well as mRNA expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-6, Cox-2, and iNOS. Conclusion: Taken together, these results suggest that MT water extracts have potent anti-colitis activities in the mouse colitis model.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.297-302
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• 2018

We surveyed branches of acacia trees distributed nationally in Korea to establish a common survey method that can be used by investigators to monitor for over-wintering Metcalfa pruinosa eggs. A total of 189 samples was examined, and the number of eggs on the surfaces of the branches, bases of thorns and bases of twigs was recored. When including samples in which no eggs were found at all investigation sites, none of the data followed the normal distribution. However, when samples in which no eggs were found at all sites were exclued, the density of eggs investigated at the thorn bases and twig bases followed the normal distribution. When the density of eggs was sorted based on the thickness of the branches on which they were found, these data did not follow the normal distribution. The density of M. pruinosa eggs at the thorn bases and twig bases was significantly higher than that on the branch surfaces, but there was no significant difference among branches of different thicknesses. Therefore, monitoring for M. pruinosa eggs at the thorn bases and twig bases of the nationally distributed acacia tree, irrespective of the thickness of the branches, will be able to increase the precision with which the density of this insect's eggs could be estimated. It is thus expected that this method will contribute to developing methods to better characterize the distribution and predict the occurrence of this.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.24-34
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• 2023

Purpose: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to increase worldwide, and blood glucose control may reduce mortality from diabetic complications and healthcare costs. Mulberry twig (MT) has been used as a herbal medicine in Asia, and its antidiabetic efficacy has recently been reported, but research in this area is still limited. This study examined the antidiabetic effects of water extracts of MT in diabetic animals. Methods: Six weeks old male ICR mice were divided randomly into three groups; normal control (NC, n = 10), DM control (DC, n = 10), and MT (n = 10). Streptozotocin (STZ, 50 mg/kg/day) was injected intraperitoneally into mice in the DC and MT groups for 5 consecutive days. After 10 days of the last STZ injection, the mice in the MT group were administered orally with MT water extracts (5 g/kg body weight) for 16 days. Results: The MT water extracts ameliorated the swelling of the liver in the diabetic mice and reduced the elevated levels of fasting blood and plasma glucose, total cholesterol (T-CHO), low density lipoprotein-CHO, and the ratio of high density lipotrotein (HDL)-CHO/T-CHO. The liver triglyceride (TG) and glycogen contents were also significantly lower in the MT group mice than in the DC group. The small intestine disaccharidase activity was analyzed to understand the therapeutic effects and the mechanism of MT water extracts in diabetic animals. MT group mice showed reduced lactase and sucrase activity in the proximal part of the small intestine. On the other hand, body weight, plasma insulin, TG, HDL-CHO, and hepatic T-CHO levels were similar in the DC and MT groups. Conclusion: These results suggest that MT water extracts have antidiabetic effects and can be developed as a functional source to reduce the postprandial blood glucose or to prevent DM incidence.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.502-513
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• 2023

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-adipogenic and anti-inflammation effects of extract from Maclura tricuspidata twig fermented with Ganoderma lucidum mycelium (EMFG) in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. 3T3-L1 adipocytes were treated with 100, 200, 300 ㎍/mL of EMFG. The result showed that EMFG dose-dependently inhibited the accumulation of intracellular lipid content in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes and enhanced increase of adiponectin release and inhibition of leptin release. EMFG treatment reduced expression of adipogenic transcriptional factor such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα). EMFG also decreased production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] and the protein expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible NOS (iNOS) in differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The study demonstrated that EMFG inhibited adipogenesis and inflammation in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that EMFG may have potential as an anti-obesity and anti-metabolic disease agent that works by inhibiting adipogenesis and inflammation.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.170-178
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• 2023

We investigated the free radical scavenging and digestive enzyme inhibitory activities of the hot water extract of peach twig (Prunus persica L. Bastch). This extract of the peach twigs was further split up into n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and n-butyl alcohol(n-BuOH), which resulted in three solvent-soluble fractions. Free radical scavenging activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS⁺) assay systems, while hypoglycemic effect of the peach twig extract and the solvent-soluble fractions were tested using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Accordingly, the EtOAc layer showed a greater free radical scavenging activity compared to other solvent-soluble fractions. Furthermore, based on the α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays, the IC₅₀ values were determined to be 38.2±1.6 and 69.6±6.1 ㎍/mL for the EtOAc-soluble fractions, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that the fractions obtained from the peach twig extract can be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant and hypoglycaemic constituents.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.307-314
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• 2024

Broussonetia kazinoki twig extract (BKT) is recognized for its antioxidant and anti-cancer effects and natural whitening properties. So, it is used as a raw material for cosmetics. B. kazinoki twig is also an edible raw material. B. kazinoki has been used in Asia for paper production and oriental medicine, has anti-diabetic effects, and contains various flavonoids and alkaloids. In this study, to evaluate the efficacy of BKT on allergic skin inflammatory responses, we investigated its effects on factors related to skin inflammation in HaCaT keratinocytes and allergic responses in RBL-2H3 cells. There was no cytotoxicity of the 70% ethanol extract against HaCaT and RBL-2H3 cells. In HaCaT cells, stimulation with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-𝛼) and interferon-gamma (IFN-𝛾) increased the production of several chemokines, including thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). However, it was observed that this elevation was notably mitigated in a concentration-dependent manner upon treatment with BKT. Furthermore, BKT treatment demonstrated a significant reduction of 𝛽-hexosaminidase and inflammatory cytokines TNF-𝛼 and IL-4 in IgE-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. Thus, it is expected that BKT can be used as a natural cosmetic and food ingredient that effectively suppresses allergic inflammatory reactions.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.294.1-294.1
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2000.10a
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• pp.123-130
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• 2000

Sanchung-mok is a tall defoliate broad leaved tree grows in middle & north regions of our country. The leaves, twig and bark of this tree has apparent treatment action for fatty liver, hepatitis, hepatocirrhosis, liver cancer and etc. I, the writer of this article hereby present the result as we have acquired good result by dosing the sanchung-mok to many sorts of liver disease patients since 1998.

• ETRI Journal
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.849-856
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• 2011

This research introduces three new fractal array configurations that have superior performance over the well-known Sierpinski fractal array. These arrays are based on the fractal shapes Dragon, Twig, and a new shape which will be called Flap fractal. Their superiority comes from the low side lobe level and/or the wide angle between the main lobe and the side lobes, which improves the signal-to-intersymbol interference and signal-to-noise ratio. Their performance is compared to the known array configurations: uniform, random, and Sierpinski fractal arrays.