• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.50-59
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• 2018

Background: Duodichogamy is the rarest form of dichogamy in angiosperms, which is characterized by flowering in the sequence of male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male. Disentangling factors promoting duodichogamy require the discovery of more duodichogamous species in angiosperms. However, extremely limited information on duodichogamous species makes it difficult to make general conclusions. Given the inflorescence morphology and flowering characteristics, the Meliaceae family is highly likely to contain duodichogamous species. Methods: We selected 48 individuals from 20 populations in Korea and investigated their flower morphology, arrangement of flowers by sexual condition within inflorescences, and flowering phases and duration of male and female flowers of Toona sinensis (Meliaceae) for 5 years (2011-2015) to determine if the species shows duodichogamous flowering. Results: Toona sinensis belonging to Meliaceae possessed functionally unisexual flowers with rudimentary parts of the opposite sex. The floral organs in male were larger than those in female, except for ovary length and width. In dichasium, male flowers were observed on primary or lateral branches, whereas female flowers were borne only on lateral branches. Overall, individuals from six different populations flowered in the male${\rightarrow}$female${\rightarrow}$male sequence, thereby male is blooming far longer than female flowers at the level of individual trees (male vs. female = 17-20 days vs. 2-4 days). Conclusions: This is the first study to report a duodichogamously flowering species, T. sinensis, within Meliaceae. Several flowering characteristics observed from T. sinensis may be important clues used to discover additional duodichogamous Meliaceae species. Short flowering period and relatively small number of female flowers, which is analogous to reduced ovule numbers observed in other duodichogamous species, may intensify male-male competition in T. sinensis. This study contributed to narrowing down potential candidates of duodichogamy based on their geographic distributions and flowering time.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.272-277
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• 1994

Meliae toosendan Fructus, the seed of Pagoda tree, Melia toosendan Sieb. et Zucc. (Meliaceae), has been used as a liver protective herbal drug in the Orient. Administration of seed oil to hyperlipedemic rats revealed the lipid lowering effects in serum and liver tissue without any toxicity in body weight increase and liver function.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 1996

A triterpenoid(melianone) and a limonoid(28-deacetyl sendanin) were isolated from the chloroform fraction of Meliae toosendan Fructus, the rippen fruits of Melia toosendan SIEB. et ZUCC.(Meliaceae) and were applied to serial experiments to clarify the liver protective activities. We found that the compounds promoted slightly the drug metabolizing enzyme activities and decreased serum transaminase activities which was elevated by carbon tetrachloride intoxication. And also they slightly increased the secretion of bile juice in rat.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.74-82
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• 2009

Pharmacological investigations were carried out with aqueous methanolic extract (AME) of Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. (Meliaceae) leaves. Acute toxicity studies revealed that the $LD_{50}$ dose of AME was 600 mg/kg, i.p. AME was found to possess significant anti-inflammatory activity in acute, sub-chronic and chronic models of inflammation. AME selectively inhibited cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 activity, which is involved in arachidonic acid metabolism and biosynthesis of prostaglandins under inflammatory conditions. Treatment with AME significantly enhanced total peritoneal cell count and the number of macrophages in normal mice, which revealed that AME may also alter the immune response along with its anti-inflammatory effect. The saponins or the alkaloids present in AME may be responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.63-68
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• 1993

Meliae toosendan Fructus is the fruit of Melia toosendan $S_{IEB}$. et $Z_{UCC}$. (Meliaceae), which is written in oriental terminology as clearing heat and drying dampness, and also explained using liver, stomach and small intestine for channels entered. Among the five fractions prepared from methanol whole extractive of the herb, the chloroform fraction which suggests the presence of triterpenoid, flavonoid and alkaloid stimulated the activities of drug metabolizing enzymes and bile secretion and lowered the serum transaminase activities of liver damaged by carbon tetrachloride.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.304-306
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• 2003

Two new protolimonoids, piscidenone (1) and piscidinol G (2) were isolated from the leaves of the plant Walsura piscidia together with piscidinol A and C. The structurers were assigned based on spectral evidences (IR, $^1HNMR$, $^{13}CNMR$ and MS).

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.192-194
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• 2003

Two new protolimonoids, piscidenone (1) and piscidinol G (2) were isolated from the leaves of the plant Walsura piscidia together with piscidinol A and C. The structurers were assigned based on spectral evidences $(IR,\;^1HNMR,\;^{13}CNMR\;and\;MS)$.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.245-249
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• 2010

As part of ongoing study focused on the discovery of natural antioxidants from Korean plants by measuring the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging effect and superoxide quenching activity, methanol extract of Cedrela sinensis (Meliaceae) was found to show potent antioxidant activities. Subsequent activity-guided fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of four phenolic compounds, (+)-catechin (1), (-)-epicatechin (2), catechin-($4{\alpha}{\rightarrow}8$)-catechin (3) and catechin-($4{\alpha}{\rightarrow}8$)-epicatechin (4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic studies. These compounds showed the significant antioxidative effects on DPPH. In riboflavin originated superoxide quenching activity, four compounds exhibited the formation of the blue formazan in a dose dependant manner.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.99-100
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• 2004

A 5-C-methylcoumarin was isolated from the petroleum ether extract of Toona ciliata stem bark. Its structure was established as 7-Hydroxy-4-methoxy-5-methylcoumarin on the basis of spectral data, including 2D NMR.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.306-310
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• 1993

The leaves of Cedrela sinensis have been used for food at south area in Korea and oriental medicine for treating enteritis, dysentery and itch. Kaempferol, methyl gailate, quercetin, afzelin, quercitrin, isoquercitrin and rutin were isolated from the leaves of this plant and characterized by spectral data. These compounds are reported for the first time from this plant.