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A taxonomic revision of Korean Ligustrum species is presented based on critical observations of wild populations and herbarium specimens. Species delimitations were re-evaluated on the basis of morphological characters, such as plant height, texture and shape of leaf, shape of inflorescence, shape of drupe and seed, and texture of endocarp. From the results, L. leucanthum (= L. acutissimum), being recorded in Korea, is excluded from the Korean flora because it comes from misidentifications of the herbarium specimen, whose identity is L. obtusifolium. We also treated L.obtusifolium subsp. suave and L. obtusifolium subsp. microphyllum as synonyms of L.obtusifolium. Ligustrum quihoui var. latifolium is placed into synonym of L. quihoui. In addition, the record of L. ovalifolium from Korea has proved to be a misidentification of herbarium specimens, the correct identity of which is L. salicinum. Consequently, we recognized the following six Ligustrum species in Korea: L. japonicum, L. lucidum, L. quihoui, L. salicinum, L. foliosum, and L. obtusifolium. Photographs and a key to six species of Ligustrum were provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonyms, and taxonomic notes.

A taxonomic revision of Korean endemic Spiraea chartacea is presented compared with its related three species, S. blumei, S. turczaninowii (≡ S. pubescens Turcz.), and S. chinensis, of section Chamaedryon in Korea. Species delimitations are re-evaluated based on critical observations of wild populations and extensive herbarium material. The shape of leaf, the type and distribution of trichome in stem, leaf, peduncle, pedicel, hypanthium, sepal, carpel, and follicle are useful diagnostic traits at the specific level. Almost all morphological and leaf anatomical observations of S. chartacea belong within the range of S. turczaninowii. Therefore, S. turczaninowii is placed into synonymy of S. chartacea by priority. Photographs and a key to three species of Spiraea section Chamaedryon are provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonymies, chromosome numbers, distributions, and specimens examined. Keywords: Anatomy, Morphology, Rosaceae, Section Chamaedryon, Spiraea L.

Variation or constancy in the chromosome number, within taxa of different categories, proves to be important characters for taxonomic groupings. To expand the current knowledge on somatic chromosome numbers of South Korean vascular plants, chromosome counts were made for 36 species (27 genera of 16 families). New chromosome numbers compared to previous studies were counted in Sedum oryzifolium, Cinnamomum japonicum, Lysimachia clethroides, and Chrysosplenium flagelliferum, respectively. Among studied species, the diploids prevail. In addition, Eupatorium lindleyanum, L. clethroides, and Lysimachia mauritiana showed polyploidy.

Turmeric is a well-known functional food exhibiting multiple biological activities in health and disease. However, low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability limit its therapeutic potential. Herein, we investigated the utility of nanoemulsions as a carrier to improve the efficacy of turmeric. Compared with turmeric extract (TE), 5% TE-loaded nanoemulsion (TE-NE), which contains 20-fold lower curcumin content than TE, achieved similar inhibition of palmitate-induced lipotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Exposure of HepG2 cells to 5% TE-NE also suppressed the palmitate-induced accumulation of lipid vacuoles and reactive oxygen species comparably with TE, and was accompanied by decreased levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ2 (PPAR-γ2), cleaved caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Consistent with these effects in HepG2 cells, oral administration of 5% TE-NE to mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) markedly suppressed lipid accumulation in liver, leading to a significant reduction in body weight and adipose tissue weight, equivalent to the effects observed with TE. Compared with TE, 5% TE-NE also equivalently inhibited the levels of SREBP-1, PPAR-γ2, cleaved caspase-3, and PARP in the liver of mice fed a HFD. Furthermore, TE and 5% TE-NE significantly improved serum lipid profiles in a similar manner. These observations indicate that nanoemulsions can improve the efficacy of turmeric, thereby eliciting more potent biological efficacy against palmitate- and high fat diet (HFD)-induced cellular damage.

Variation or constancy in the chromosome number within taxa of different categories have been proven to be important characters for taxonomic groupings. In order to expand the current knowledge on somatic chromosome numbers of South Korean vascular plants, chromosome counts were made for 50 species (38 genera of 17 families). The first chromosome information for Glaux maritima var. obtusifolia Fernald, Hemerocallis hakuunensis Nakai, Hylotelephium verticillatum (L.) H. Ohba, Orostachys iwarenge f. magnus Y.N. Lee, and Teucrium viscidum var. miquelianum (Maxim.) Hara is presented. New chromosome numbers compared with previous studies are also counted in Aconitum pseudolaeve Nakai, Securinega suffruticosa (Pall.) Rehder, and Tricyrtis macropoda Miq., respectively. In addition, Eupatorium japonicum Thunb. is proven to show polyploidy with tetra- and pentaploid. Among studied species, the diploids (66%) and tetraploids (24%) prevail.

Contamination of the world's oceans with plastic waste has attracted increasing attention in recent years. Whereas the ecological consequences of plastic pollution have been the focus of increasing research, the health-related implications of plastic pollution have been somewhat overlooked. In this study, we exposed whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), a widely consumed marine species, to nano-sized plastic (polystyrene) via a simulated marine food chain in which mussel (Mytilus edulis) was the food source, and evaluated the effects of plastic contamination on shrimp physical, biochemical, and nutritional characteristics over a 21-day exposure period. We identified the changes in certain important biochemical and nutritional indicators, including changes in the gut microbiota and contents of amino acids and fatty acids. The biochemical analysis revealed that microbial activities in the intestine and the glutathione S-transferase and superoxide dismutase activities changed in L. vannamei exposed to nano-sized plastic. In these individuals, the levels of some essential amino acids and fatty acids also decreased. Overall, our findings indicate that plastic pollution can directly interfere with nutritional changes in marine food resources, thereby indirectly causing potential health implications for human consumers. Keywords: Nanoplastic, Nutrients, Whiteleg shrimp, Trophic transfer

Background: Fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) protein level has been shown to be elevated in aged mice muscle compared to adult mice. It activates the satellite cell quiescence, which leads to satellite cell depletion and may accelerate aging process. The purpose of this study was to see the effect of resistance exercise on skeletal muscle FGF-2 protein level in aged mice. Methods: This study included eight young adult control C57BL/6 male mice (age 12 weeks, YCON group) and 14 aged C57BL/6 male mice (age 19 months), randomly divided into two groups (old control, OCON, n = 7; old resistance exercise, ORT, n = 7). Resistance ladder climbing exercise was conducted 3 d/wk for 12 weeks. Soleus and tibialis anterior muscles were collected for body composition, relative grip strength, and muscle wet weight and for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protein analysis. Results: Relative soleus muscle wet weight and hindlimb lean mass showed a significant increase in ORT group compared to OCON group (p = 0.013 and p = 0.015, respectively). In relative grip strength, both OCON and ORT showed a significant decrease compared to YCON (p