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Quinoa is one of the crops well-adapted to high altitude regions that can grow relatively well under drought, humid, and high UV radiation conditions. This study was performed to investigate the effects of gamma-radiation on quinoa. Seeds were treated with various doses of 50 Gy, 100 Gy, 200 Gy, 300 Gy, 400 Gy, 600 Gy, 800 Gy, and 1000 Gy. We investigated germination, as well as plant height, chlorophyll content, and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at 0, 30, 44, 58, and 88 days after transplanting (DAT) and panicle weight at 88 DAT. The plants grown from the seeds treated at radiation doses greater than 200 Gy showed reduced values in most growth and physiological characteristics. The germination rate and germination speed were higher in the 50 Gy-treated seeds than in 0 Gy-treated (control) seeds. Plant height and panicle weight were highest in the plants from 50 Gy-treated seeds. Chlorophyll content was higher in all treated samples than in the controls. NDVI value showed the highest value in 0 Gy controls and plants treated with 50 Gy. The antioxidant activity was also higher in the plants from the seeds treated with 50 Gy and 100 Gy, showing a steady increase as the radiation dose increased even at 200 Gy. The plants from seeds treated with 0 Gy showed higher expression of proteins related to photorespiration and tubulin chains. The plants from seeds treated with 50 Gy induced more stress-responsive proteins.

Proper seed germination is important for seedling establishment and growth in fields under drought caused by climate change. In the present study, the beneficial effects of hydrogen peroxide on seed germination were investigated by proteome analysis. Sorghum seeds were subjected to drought stress adjusted to the various water potentials of 0, −0.2, and −0.5 MPa using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 6000 and treated with hydrogen peroxide at different concentrations (0, 10, 20, 50, and 100 mM). Germination percentage and seedling growth were determined at 6 days after imbibition, and proteins from embryos were analyzed. As a result of the study, it was found that the reduced germination percentage and seedling growth under drought stress were alleviated by hydrogen peroxide treatment. Proteins induced in hydrogen peroxide-treated embryos included glycolysis-related enzymes (25%) and stress-defense proteins (30%). Among the glycolysis-related enzymes, fructokinase-1 was higher only under drought and 0 mM H2O2 treatment, and phosphoglycerate kinase was higher than control under drought and 100 mM H2O2 treatment. Hydrogen peroxide treatment also increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes related to stress defense. The results that hydrogen peroxide treatment increases germination rate and seedling growth by increasing energy production and defense activity suggest a practical application of H2O2 at 100 mM for reducing the drought stress in sorghum.

Sludge produced from liquid crystal display glass substrate (LCD-sludge) was used as an alternative treatment medium for the removal of heavy metals (Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+) from aqueous solutions via adsorption. The elemental composition of the LCD-sludge obtained by X-ray fluorescence showed that it was mainly composed of CeO2 (26.48%), CaO (23.92%), and SiO2 (6.86%). The kinetic adsorption of Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+ on the LCD-sludge showed that equilibrium adsorption was reached within 12 h. The maximum adsorption amounts of Cd2+, Cu2+, Pb2+, and Ni2+ on the LCD-sludge were 1.29, 8.50, 8.47, and 3.02 mg/g, respectively. The adsorption data at equilibrium for all the heavy metals were better fitted to the Freundlich than the Langmuir model. Heavy metal adsorption by the LCD-sludge was an endothermic and involuntary reaction. The effects of other cations on heavy metal removal by the LCD-sludge followed the order of Al3+ > Ca2+ > Na+. As the LCD-sludge dose was increased, the removal percentage of Cd2+, Cu2+, and Pb2+ increased, but the adsorption amount per unit mass decreased. The results suggest that LCD-sludge can be used as an adsorbent for the removal of mixed heavy metals from aqueous solutions.

Low molecular weight proteins are promising molecules for rice plants. The objectives of this study were to develop an optimized method for protein extractions and protein chips and to perform practical application for isolation of low molecular weight proteins/peptides as potential biomarkers of three rice cultivars, Ilpumbyeo, Hwaseongbyeo, and Nakdongbyeo, using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization (SELDI) time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry (MS). Among five protein extraction methods tested, we found that the trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-acetone method was the most effective for the extraction of low molecular weight proteins/peptides. Four protein chip arrays, including CM10 (weak cation exchanger), Q10 (strong anion exchanger), H50 (reverse phage), and IMAC30 (immobilized metal affinity), were used under low and high stringency conditions at varying pH with two energy absorbing molecules, alpha-Cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA) and sinapinic acid (SA). Of the 70 proteins isolated by the Q10 array, 20 showed significant differences in expression between the three cultivars (p

Nutria (Myocastor coypus) are semi-aquatic rodents that were introduced in South Korea for commercial farming but significantly damaged aquatic ecosystems. Understanding nutria ecological behavior is essential for developing effective control and eradication strategies to mitigate their impacts. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the home range and activity patterns of 24 nutria (12 males and 12 females) in the Macdo wetland in South Korea from 2015–2016 through radio tracking. The average minimum convex polygon home range of the nutria was 0.29 ± 0.55 km2, with a 95% kernel density estimation (KDE) home range of 0.43 ± 0.85 km2 and a 50% KDE home range of 0.05 ± 1.1 km2. The home range of males was larger than that of females; however, the winter home range of females was as large as that of males. The home range also varied seasonally, with the smallest observed in winter. The nutria showed crepuscular and nocturnal activity patterns throughout the year, with no significant difference between sexes. The activities in spring, summer, and autumn showed no significant differences, but the activity in winter was significantly different from that in the other seasons. This study may serve as a basis for developing appropriately timed and scaled management strategies to mitigate the impacts of nutria on ecosystems. In conclusion, several environmental and biological factors contribute to the behavior of nutria in South Korea.

Purpose Quinoa is an annual plant that grows well in high altitude regions with high radiation and ultraviolet intensity. It has known that high-dose radiation damages living organisms, but low-dose radiation also has a beneficial effect. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the hormesis effect of gamma-ray on quinoa by growth analysis and hyperspectral imaging. Materials and methods Quinoa seeds were irradiated at 50, 100, and 200 Gy emitted by 60CO. Subsequently, the seeds were germinated and transplanted into pots, then conducted growth analysis and physiological evaluation every week, and hyperspectral imaging. Photosynthetic ability was measured at 35 days after transplanting (DAT), and the plants for each dose were divided into aerial and underground parts for biomass evaluation at 91 DAT. Various vegetation indices were estimated from 14 to 35 DAT by hyperspectral analysis, and the specific bands were extracted based on the PLS model using plant height, SPAD value, and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters.Results and conclusion: We found that plant height and biomass were increased in quinoa plants treated with a low dose (50 Gy) as compared to control. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were not different between doses at the early growth stage, but as growth progressed, the plant irradiated at 200 Gy began to be lower. The photosynthetic ability of the quinoa plant treated at 50 Gy was greater than other plants at 35 DAT. The vegetation indices related to the pigment status also were higher in the plants treated by irradiation at 50 Gy than the plants grown in other doses treatment units at the beginning of the growth. Using the PLS model we collected sensitive band wavelengths from hyperspectral image analysis. Among the collected bands, eight bands closely related to plant height, nine bands to chlorophyll content, and ten bands to chlorophyll fluorescence were identified. Conclusion Our results showed that the growth and physiological parameters of quinoa treated by low dose gamma irradiation to seeds were greater than that of control as well as the plant with higher doses. These findings confirm that the positive changes in the characteristics of quinoa with low dose radiation indicated that hormesis occurs at 50 Gy radiation.

The global climate change, including increases in temperature and precipitation, may exacerbate the invasion by P. hysterophorus. Here, MaxEnt modeling was performed to predict P. hysterophorus distribution worldwide and in South Korea under the current and future climate global climate changes, including increases in temperature and precipitation. Under the current climate, P. hysterophorus was estimated to occupy 91.26%, 83.26%, and 62.75% of the total land area of Australia, South America, and Oceania, respectively. However, under future climate scenarios, the habitat distribution of P. hysterophorus would show the greatest change in Europe (56.65%) and would extend up to 65°N by 2081–2100 in South Korea, P. hysterophorus currently potentially colonizing 2.24% of the land area, particularly in six administrative divisions. In the future, P. hysterophorus would spread rapidly, colonizing all administrative divisions, except Incheon, by 2081–2100. Additionally, the southern and central regions of South Korea showed greater habitat suitability than the northern region. These findings suggest that future climate change will increase P. hysterophorus distribution both globally and locally. Therefore, effective control and management strategies should be employed around the world and in South Korea to restrict the habitat expansion of P. hysterophorus.

The nutria, (Myocastor coypus), is a semiaquatic rodent native to the subtropical and temperate regions of South America. The species was introduced to South Korea for meat and fur production purposes and a wild population has become established. The species subsequently invaded aquatic ecosystems and destroyed aquatic vegetation and cultivated crops. Thus, it is essential to understand their current distribution and future range expansion for effective control and eradication strategies to reduce the risk of colonization into new regions. In this study, we used niche modeling procedure to identify potentially suitable habitats for M. coypus under current and future predicted climate change using the maximum entropy algorithm. We found that the main habitat area of M. coypus is expected to expand under a warming climate from ~ 4069 km2 in the southern and southeastern regions of South Korea, to the northern border of the country, with estimated ranges of 21,744 km2, 55,859 km2, and 64,937 km2 by 2030, 2050, and 2070, respectively. The findings of the present study assist in identifying the future distribution and potential dispersion routes of M. coypus in South Korea, which is important for informing the government regarding essential management actions plans at regional and local scales.

The occurrence of exotic weeds and their influx into farmlands due to climate change poses many problems. Therefore, it is necessary to generate a prediction model for the occurrence pattern of these exotic weeds based on scientific evidence and devise prevention measures. The photosynthetic apparatus is known as the most temperaturesensitive component of a plant cell and its initial response to temperature stress is to inhibit the activation of photosystem II. This study investigated the potential of OJIP transients in assessing temperature stress in exotic weeds. The four exotic weeds currently flowing into Korean farmlands include Amaranthus spinosus, Conyza bonariensis, Crassocephalum crepidioides, and Amaranthus viridis. These weeds were treated at 5°C, 10°C, 15°C, 20°C, 25°C, 30°C, 35°C, and 40°C and the OJIP curves and JIP parameters were measured and analyzed. The results showed that heat and chilling stress affected the photosystem II (PSII) electron transport of A. spinosus, whereas C. crepidioides and A. viridis were more affected by high-temperature stress than by low-temperature stress. Lastly, C. bonariensis showed resistance to both high and low-temperature stress. The results of this study suggest that OJIP transients and JIP parameters can be used to analyze damage to the photosynthetic apparatus by temperature stress and that they can serve as sensitive indicators for the occurrence pattern of exotic weeds.

During the extensive forays for discovering the biodiversity of phytopathogenic fungi in Korea, powdery mildew-affected purple coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) were frequently found. Since 2004, nine samples have been deposited in the Korea University Herbarium. The initial symptoms include white, evanescent mycelia and irregular patches on mature leaves. Mild symptoms in the form of discolored lesions are also noticed on the stem and petal of the affected plants. Based on the morphological characteristics of the anamorph and the phylogenetic analysis of the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) rDNA sequences, the causal fungus was identified as Podosphaera xanthii. This is the first report that identifies the causal agent of powdery mildew disease affecting purple coneflower in Korea.

Sicyos angulatus is a serious threat to riverine ecosystem functions and services worldwide. Here, we studied the effect of species identity and diversity on biotic resistance to S. angulatus under two different soil nutrient levels (unfertilized vs. fertilized). Soil nutrient levels showed no significant effect on invasion by S. angulatus in the control treatment, where intervention by native plants was absent. Species identity of native plants and its interaction with soil nutrient levels had a significant effect on biotic resistance to S. angulatus. For instance, Pennisetum alopecuroides and Lespedeza cuneata best resisted invasion in fertilized soil, whereas Lespedeza bicolor and Lactuca indica best resisted invasion in unfertilized soil. In addition, a mixture of four plant species resisted invasion equally as well as the monoculture of a species in unfertilized soil, whereas the mixed treatment resisted invasion much better in fertilized soil compared with unfertilized soil. Structural equation modeling revealed that species identity and diversity as well as fertilizer application significantly influenced biotic resistance to S. angulatus invasion, while soil nutrients did not influence invasion success directly. Based on these results, we strongly suggest sowing seed mixtures of various species after eradicating S. angulatus plants to prevent re-invasion. Overall, these results demonstrate how native plants rely on resource availability to resist colonization by an invasive plant, such as S. angulatus. This information can be used for the development of improved guidelines for plant restoration and invasive species control.

Simple Summary The spatial distribution and invasion risk of 10 intentionally introduced alien plant species (IIAPS) in South Korea were predicted from a species distribution model via a maximum entropy modeling approach. According to the model predictions, future environmental changes are likely to enlarge the range of the spatial distribution of all studied IIAPS in South Korea except Medicago sativa. We classified the IIAPS into three categories based on their spatial distribution and potential to spread; this revealed that four species (Coreopsis lanceolate, Eragrostis curvula, Ageratina altissima, and Lolium perenne) have the highest potential for invasion. Moreover, we classified invasion risk into three categories, low, moderate, and high, and estimated the area in each category. We found that, under current conditions, much of the country is at low risk (47.96%) of invasion, but by 2050 >54% of the country’s total area will be at high risk of invasion by IIAPS. Serious invasion of IIAPS into cropland, pastures, and forests results in the loss of native biodiversity and damage to the national economy. Therefore, immediate action is required to control and manage IIAPS in South Korea. Abstract Predicting the regions at risk of invasion from IIAPS is an integral horizon-scanning activity that plays a crucial role in preventing, controlling, and eradicating invasive species. Here, we quantify the spatial distribution area and invasion risk of IIAPS using a species distribution model under different levels of environmental change in South Korea. From the model predictions, the current average spatial extent of the 10 IIAPS is 33,948 km2, and the individual spatial extents are estimated to change by −7% to 150% by 2050 and by −9% to 156% by 2070. The spatial invasion risk assessment shows that, currently, moderate-to-high invasion risk is limited to coastal areas and densely populated metropolitan cities (e.g., Seoul, Busan, and Gwangju), but that the area with this level of risk is expected to spread toward the central and northern regions of the country in the future, covering 86.21% of the total area of the country by 2070. These results demonstrate that the risk of invasion by IIAPS is estimated to enlarge across the whole country under future environmental changes. The modeling system provided in this study may contribute to the initial control and strategic management of IIAPS to maintain the dynamic ecosystems of South Korea.

Bryophytes contain a variety of bioactive metabolites, but studies about the anti-inflammatory effect of bryophytes are meager. Therefore, the present study aimed to compare the anti-inflammatory effect of methanol extract of Marchantia polymorpha L. (liverwort) and Racomitrium canescens (Racomitrium moss) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced HaCaT cells. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of liverwort and Racomitrium moss, the levels of nitric oxide (NO) production and the mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in LPS-induced HaCaT cells were measured. The methanol extract of liverwort and Racomitrium moss significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production in HaCaT cells. When compared with Racomitrium moss extract, pre-treatment with methanol extract of liverwort markedly inhibited the expression of iNOS, COX-2, IL-6, and IL-1β at the concentration of 100 µg/mL with the exception of TNF-α. Further, liverwort extract markedly attenuated the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in the culture medium. In addition, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions obtained from the methanol extract of liverwort showed remarkable inhibitory activity against the production of NO in LPS-stimulated HaCaT cells. The LC-MS data revealed the presence of bisbibenzyl types of bioactive components in the methanol extract of liverwort. These data demonstrate that liverwort extract exhibits effective inhibitory activity against the production of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced HaCaT cells and may be useful for the treatment of inflammation-mediated diseases.

Quinoa is an annual plant that grows well in high altitude regions with high radiation and ultraviolet intensity. It has known that high-dose radiation damages living organisms, but low-dose radiation also has a beneficial effect. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the hormesis effect of gamma-ray on quinoa by growth analysis and hyperspectral imaging.Quinoa seeds were irradiated at 50, 100, and 200 Gy emitted byWe found that plant height and biomass were increased in quinoa plants treated with a low dose (50 Gy) as compared to control. Chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence were not different between doses at the early growth stage, but as growth progressed, the plant irradiated at 200 Gy began to be lower. The photosynthetic ability of the quinoa plant treated at 50 Gy was greater than other plants at 35 DAT. The vegetation indices related to the pigment status also were higher in the plants treated by irradiation at 50 Gy than the plants grown in other doses treatment units at the beginning of the growth. Using the PLS model we collected sensitive band wavelengths from hyperspectral image analysis. Among the collected bands, eight bands closely related to plant height, nine bands to chlorophyll content, and ten bands to chlorophyll fluorescence were identified.Our results showed that the growth and physiological parameters of quinoa treated by low dose gamma irradiation to seeds were greater than that of control as well as the plant with higher doses. These findings confirm that the positive changes in the characteristics of quinoa with low dose radiation indicated that hormesis occurs at 50 Gy radiation.

In the present study, the effects of ginseng-added brown rice cookie (GBRC) on the regulation of hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism mediated through the insulin signaling pathway were examined in db/db mice. Isocaloric diets, prepared by adding the individual ingredients of rice cookie (RC) or GBRC to AIN-93G diet (10%, w/w), were fed to the animals for 10 weeks (n = 7 per group). The plasma insulin level and oral glucose tolerance test-derived area under the curve were lower in the GBRC group than in the RC group (P P P P P < 0.05). In conclusion, GBRC revealed antidiabetic effects by promoting hepatic glucose utilization mediated through the insulin signaling pathway, which enhanced lipid oxidation rather than triacylglycerol synthesis.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and neuroprotective activities in the aerial parts of seven Eragrostis species (Poaceae) and to find antioxidant or neuroprotective compounds from the most active species. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 1,1-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity (DPPH RSA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and neuroprotective activity against amyloid beta peptide induced toxicity in PC12 cells were measured in the methanol extracts of the aerial parts of E. ferruginea, E. cilianensis, E. minor, E. multicaulis, E. pilosa, E. japonica, and E. curvula collected from June to August 2013. All species showed antioxidant or neuroprotective activities and, among them, E. japonica was the most active species to isolate antioxidant or neuroprotective compounds, because it was found to show both the highest TPC (10.63 ± 0.31 mg/g) and TFC (2.83 ± 0.06 mg/g) values, as well as TAC (11.34 ± 0.80 mg/g) and DPPH RSA (47.07 ± 2.81 µg/mL), with the second-highest neuroprotective value (23.0 µg/mL). Three known compounds were isolated from E. japonica by the bioassay guided approach and these were identified as isoorientin, isovitexin, and caffeic acid that have antioxidant and neuroprotective activities.

The lipid-lowering and antioxidant effects of the traditional Korean rice cookie (KRC), dasik, were compared with those of a western style cookie (WSC) in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). The KRC or WSC was supplemented to the HFD as 7% of the total calories. The experimental groups (n = 7) were the normal diet group, HFD group, HFD-KRC group, and HFD-WSC group. The plasma and hepatic triglyceride concentrations of the HFD-KRC group were found to be lower than those of the HFD-WSC group as a result of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 and fatty acid synthase expression downregulation, and concomitant peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, and acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 expression upregulation (p

The nationwide weed survey was conducted in arable land, paddy field, upland, orchard and pasture, over whole country of Korea during 3 years from 2013 to 2015. Also, these survey were conducted in order to determine a change of weed community and to identify a major dominant weed species, and problem weeds. Weeds of arable land were composed of 619 species belonging to 81 families. Weeds occurred in paddy field were 90 species belonging to 28 families, upland weeds were 375 species of 50 families, orchard weeds were 492 species of 63 families and pasture weeds 275 species of 52 families. Among total 81 families, the Asteraceae (15.5%) was the biggest family, followed by Poaceae (13.1%), Fabaceae (5.5%), Cyperaceae (5.2%), Polygonaceae (6.3%), respectively. And these weed species were composed of annual weeds of 209 species (33.8%), winter annual of 102 species (16.4%) and perennial weeds of 308 species (49.8%). Exotic weeds naturalized in Korea were investigated as 166 species. Weed flora in Korean cultivation area have been increased as much as 13 families and 186 species for 10 years compared to 2000~2004 weed survey result of 68 families and 433 species. The increment could be resulted from the change of weed population such as increase of the herbicide-resistant and the difference of investigation method.

Ambrosia trifida L., known as giant ragweed, is native to North America and was introduced in Korea in the 1970s (4). It is now widely naturalized, and since 1999, has been designated as one of 11 most ‘harmful nonindigenous plants’ by the Korean Ministry of Environment because of its adverse effects on native plants. Various strategies to eradicate this noxious weed have been unsuccessful (4). In June 2008, leaf spot symptoms on this weed were found in Inje, Korea. Hundreds of giant ragweed growing along stream banks contained leaf spots with leaf yellowing and premature defoliation. Leaf lesions were 1 to 5 mm in diameter, angular to irregular, dark brown without a distinct margin, later becoming pallid with a brown margin. Between 2008 and 2011, the authors observed the same symptoms in Dongducheon, Yangku, Namyangju, and Pocheon, Korea. Voucher specimens have been housed in the herbarium of Korea University. Numerous black pycnidia were formed on the lesion. Pycnidia were amphigenous, globose, dark brown, ostiolate, and measured 80 to 130 μm in diameter. Conidia were filiform, straight to mildly curved, eguttulate, hyaline, 18 to 36 × 1.5 to 2.5 μm, one to three septate, subtruncate at the base, and tapering to a rounded apex. Single-conidial isolations onto potato dextrose agar formed dark grayish colonies. Pycnidia matured after 5 weeks when plates were incubated under fluorescent illumination for 12-h photoperiods at 25°C. On the basis of morphological and cultural characteristics, the fungus was identified as Septoria epambrosiae D.F. Farr (2). Three isolates were deposited in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC). Preliminary morphological identification of the fungal isolates was confirmed by molecular data. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the ITS1/ITS4 primers and sequenced. The resulting sequences of 449 bp obtained from the three isolates were identical to each other. They showed 100% similarity when compared with a sequence of S. epambrosiae (GenBank No. AF279582). The nucleotide sequence of a representative isolate (KACC43850) was deposited in GenBank (No. JN695498). Pathogenicity was confirmed by inoculating the leaves of three seedlings with a conidial suspension (~2 × 105 conidia/ml). Three noninoculated seedlings served as controls. Plants were maintained in a glasshouse at 100% relative humidity for 48 h. After 6 days, typical leaf spots, identical to the one observed in the field, started to develop on the leaves of the inoculated plants. No symptoms were observed on the control plants. The fungus was successfully reisolated from the symptomatic plants, fulfilling Koch's postulates. A leaf spot disease associated with S. epambrosiae has previously been recorded on A. artemisiifolia in Hungary (1–3) and A. trifida in North America (2,3). To our knowledge, this is the first report of S. epambrosiae on giant ragweed in Asia. Because of its potential as a biocontrol agent, further studies are needed. References: (1) G. Bohar and I. Schwarczinger. Plant Dis. 83:696, 1999. (2) D. F. Farr and L. A. Castlebury. Sydowia 53:81, 2001. (3) D. F. Farr and A. Y. Rossman. Fungal Databases. Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA. Retrieved from http://nt.ars-grin.gov/fungaldatabases/ , September 20, 2011. (4) S. M. Oh et al. Impacts of Invasive Alien Weeds and Control Strategies of Noxious Weeds in Korea. National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, Suwon, Korea, 2007.

Consumption of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) is associated with a reduced incidence of atherosclerosis. Perilla oil (PO) is a vegetable oil rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), an n-3 PUFA. In this study, antiatherogenic effects and related mechanisms of PO were investigated in atherosclerotic mice. Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE KO) mice (male, n = 27) were fed high-cholesterol and high-fat diets containing 10 % w/w lard (LD), PO, or sunflower oil (SO) for 10 weeks. Plasma triglyceride, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations reduced in the PO and SO groups compared to the concentrations in the LD group (P