The present study was to survey the site environment, vegetation structure and soil characteristics in the wild habitats of Acer tegmentosum Maxim. and offers basic information for habitats conservation and restoration. Most of the wild habitats were located at altitudes between 605~1,413m with inclinations ranged as 8~30°. The bare rock rate were 8~50%. The vegetation structure by the PC-ORD based on the Two Way Cluster Analysis were divided into three groups CommunityⅠ(Acer tegmentosum – Quercus mongolica), CommunityⅡ(Acer tegmentosum - Carpinus cordata), CommunityⅢ(Quercus mongolica – Tilia amurensis). The species diversity(H') was highest in CommunityⅡ as 1.474, CommunityⅠwas 1.471, Community Ⅲ was 1.219. The soil textures were Clay loam, The average soil pH was 4.8, Soil organic matter was 15.15% and available phosphorus was 2.33ppm. Ordination analysis result by soil characteristics, community, characteristic species showed that the greatest effect factors were slope, altitude, tree and shrub’s cover rate, organic matter, total-nitrogen, calcium, magnesium. Correlation analysis between environment factor result showed that O.M. - (T.N., K+, Mg2+, CEC, EC), T.N. - (K+, Mg2+, CEC, EC) were positive correlations.

이 연구는 들메나무, 버드나무, 참조팝나무, 신나무, 다릅나무, 호랑버들 6종의 식물을 심적 산림 습지 내에서 생육하는 개체와 습지 밖의 산지사면에서 생육하는 개체의 광합성 특성과 엽록소 형광반응의 차이를 조사하여 습지환경이 이들 식물의 생육에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 참조팝나무와 들메나무의 경우 습지 내 생육하는 개체가 산지에서 생육하는 개체에 비하여 기공전도도의 저하로 인해 대기로부터 CO2와 수분의 교환이 원활하게 이루어지지 못하여, 증산량 감소, 기공제한 증가 및 엽육세포 내 CO2 농도 감소 등 광합성 활성에 관련하는 반응들이 상대적으로 저하되는 경향을 보였다. 특히, 참조팝나무는 습지에서 생육하는 개체가 산지에서 생육하는 경우보다 광계 Ⅱ의 광화학반응 과정에서 에너지 전달 효율이 감소되는 것으로 나타났으며, 광합성 기구의 활력에도 영향을 미치는 것으로 나타났다. 결과적으로 산지와 습지환경의 차이가 광합성 반응 및 엽록소 함량의 변화를 가져오며, 수종마다 다른 경향을 보여주고 있음을 알 수 있었다.

이상의 연구 결과로 미루어 볼 때, 댕댕이나무 잎과 가지 추추출물은 대장암 세포주 HCT116과 SW480세포의 생육을 억제 하였으나 열매추출물은 억제활성이 나타나지 않았다. 잎과 가지 추출물은 cell migration과 wound healing assay를 통해 비정상적인 세포증식 억제를 확인하였으며, β-catenin과 TCF4 의 단백질 수준을 감소시켜 비정상적인 Wnt 신호전달을 억제를 통해 대장암세포의 생육을 억제하는 것으로 판단된다. 따라서 댕댕이나무 잎과 가지는 항암을 위한 대체보완소재 및 천연 항암제 개발을 위한 소재로 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

이상의 연구 결과로 미루어 볼 때, 도깨비부채 잎(RPL)은 β -catenin의 분해 유도를 통해 대장암, 유방암, 폐암, 전립선암 및 췌장암 세포의 생육을 억제하는 것으로 나타났다. 본 결과는 도깨비부채 잎의 항암을 위한 대체보완소재 및 천연 항암제 개발을 위한 소재로 활용이 가능할 것으로 판단된다. 그러나 추가적 연구를 통해 도깨비 부채 잎의 항암 활성물질의 분석연구가 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of branch extracts of Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) on melanin synthesis in B16F10 cells. VOB promoted melanin production in absence or presence of α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in B16F10 cells. However, VOB did not affect the expression of tyrosinase and TRP-1 associated with melanin synthesis at the mRNA and protein levels in B16F10. But, VOB decreased TRP-2 protein level and induced tyrosinase activation in B16F10 cells. Inhibition of tyrosinase activity and tyrosinase knockdown attenuated VOB-mediated melanin synthesis. In conclusion, VOB may stimulate melanin synthesis through activating tyrosinase activity.

In this study, we investigated the effect of the extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii on cell proliferation and the regulatory mechanisms of cyclin D1 protein level in human cancer cells. The branch extracts from Vaccinium oldhamii (VOB) showed higher inhibitor effect against the cell growth than leave extracts (VOL) and fruit extracts (VOF) in human colorectal cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, non-small lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and liver cancer cells. In addition, VOB decreased cyclin D1 level at both protein and mRNA level. MG132 treatment attenuated VOB-mediated cyclin D1 downregulation. A point mutation of threonine-286 to alanine attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. In addition, the inhibition of nuclear export by leptomycin B (LMB) attenuated cyclin D1 degradation by VOB. But, the treatment of PD98059 (ERK1/2 inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor), SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), LiCl (GSK3β inhibitor), LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) or BAY 11-7082 (IκK inhibitor) did not affect VOB-induced cyclin D1 degradation. In conclusion, VOB induced cyclin D1 degradation through redistribution of cyclin D1 from the nucleus to cytoplasm via T286 phosphorylation of cyclin D1, which resulted in the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation.

In this study, we evaluated anti-inflammatory effect of biji in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Biji inhibited the generation of NO and PGE2 through the suppression of iNOS and COX-2 expression. In addition, biji attenuated the expression of TNF-α and IL-1β induced by LPS. Biji blocked LPS-mediated IκB-α degradation and subsequently inhibited p65 nucleus accumulation in RAW264.7 cells, which indicates that biji inhibits NF-κB signaling. In addition, biji suppressed p38 phosphorylation induced by LPS. Our results suggests that biji may exert anti-inflammatory activity through blocking the generation of the inflammatory mediators such as NO, PGE2, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α and IL-1β via the inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and p38. From these findings, biji has potential to be a candidate for the development of chemoprevention or therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases.

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 GSK3β 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 GSK3β-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.

This study was carried out to survey the vascular plants on Mt. Seokbyeongsan (1,055 m) and provide a basis for the conservation and management of plant resources. The vascular plants were surveyed from March to October 2015. The flora on Mt. Seokbyeongsan was classified as follows: 102 families, 295 genera, 454 species, 4 subspecies, 51 varieties, 7 forms, and a total of 516 taxa. Endemic plants included 17 families, 24 genera, 25 species, 1 variety, and a total of 26 taxa. The Korea Forest Service assignment of rare plants, including 21 families, 33 genera, 33 species, 3 varieties, and a total of 36 taxa, was investigated. Moreover, the Ministry of Environment assignment of rare plants, including 13 families, 17 genera, 17 species, 1 variety, and a total of 18 taxa, was investigated. Floristic special plants in the surveyed area were divided into five classes (Classes Ⅰ–Ⅴ): 42 taxa of Class Ⅰ, 26 taxa of Class Ⅱ, 35 taxa of Class Ⅲ, 20 taxa of Class Ⅳ, and 9 taxa of Class Ⅴ for a total of 132 taxa. Naturalized plants were 18 taxa, and plants threatened by climate change were 48 taxa.

This study was carried out to investigate the flora of indigenous habitat of Simjeok forest wetland, Mt. Jeombomg forest wetland, Mt. Sohwangbyung forest wetland, Jilmoi-neup, and Mt. Myeon forest wetland in Gangwon Province. The vascular plants were summarized as 547 taxa; 92 families, 296 genera, 468 species, 4 subspecies, 67 varieties, 8 forms. The plants that are specially noteworthy are 17 taxa of Korean endemic plants, 3 taxa of Critical Endangered Species (CR), 4 taxa of Endangered Species (EN), 8 taxa of Vulnerable Species (VU) and 17 taxa of Least Concemed Species (LC) in rare plants as categorized by the Korean Forest Service. Furthermore, V, IV, III degrees of floristic regional indicator plants as categorized by the Korean Ministry of Environment included 9 taxa, 14 taxa and 34 taxa, respectively. In addition, 25 taxa of naturalized plants were observed. In this study, we identified a variety of plants observed in the wetlands of Gangwon Province. We believe that this study will provide useful data for future research on the conservation and management of wetlands.