To the best of our knowledge, no study has systematically reviewed and analyzed the research trends of wild-simulated ginseng (WSG) used for food or medicinal purposes in many countries. WSG, a non-timber forest product, has been traditionally produced using agroforestry practices, and it has been consumed in various ways for a long time. WSG has a great demand in the market due to its medicinal effects, particularly in improving forest livelihoods and human health. Due to the significance of WSG, we conducted this research to explore the global research trends on WSG using systematic review methodology and keyword analysis. We used two international academic databases, the Web of Science and SCOPUS, to extract 115 peer-reviewed articles published from 1982 to 2020. The research subjects, target countries, and keywords were analyzed. Our results indicate four categories of WSG research subjects, namely growth conditions, components, effects on humans/animals, and the environment of WSG, and the case studies were mainly from the Republic of Korea, China, and the USA. Through topic modelling, research keywords were classified into five groups, namely medicinal effects, metabolite analysis, genetic diversity, cultivation conditions, and bioactive compounds. We observed that the research focus on WSG changed from the biological properties and cultivation conditions of WSG to the precise identification and characterization of bioactive metabolites of WSG. This change indicates an increased academic interest in the value-added utilization of WSG.

The effects of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), a GABA receptor antagonist, were studied on passive avoidance learning and expression of heat shock protein 70 (hsp70), neuroglobin, and fatty acid binding protein‐7 (fabp‐7) genes. Zebrafish were trained to stay in a dark compartment to avoid a weight dropping in an acryl shuttle box with a central sliding door. In two training sessions of 2 h interval, each consisting of 3 trials, the crossing time was significantly increased from 43.2±14.4s to 149.3±38.5s in the first training session and remained 116.1 ±36.0 s in the first trial of the second training session in the control. In zebrafish treated with PTZ before the first training session, the crossing time was significantly increased neither in the first nor in the second training session. However, the increased crossing time was maintained in the second training session when 10 mM PTZ was treated three times for 10 min at 30 min intervals between the first and second training session. Quantitative real‐time PCR showed that expression level of hsp70 mRNA increased two to eight fold over that of control in the brain at 0–24 h after termination of PTZ treatment. No change in expression of neuroglobin and fabp‐7 mRNA was shown in PTZ‐treated zebrafish. Our studies suggest that PTZ impairs learning ability in avoidance response and also modifies expression of genes related to the neuroprotection.

Border regions face challenges managing natural resources, which include forests, wildlife, air, and rivers. This study aims to provide an overview of research on various natural resource conflicts and cooperation in borderlands worldwide, considering the five spheres of the Earth system, namely the atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and anthroposphere. The type, scope, and place of natural resource conflicts in the borderlands were examined and key findings for clarifying the conflicts, cooperation, and geographical characteristics were derived using a systematic review methodology. The results indicate that over the last two decades, the conflicts over the hydrosphere are the most dominant. In the following order, conflicts over the biosphere have been frequently dealt with in transboundary areas. In Africa, dams (the anthroposphere) related to the hydrosphere especially influence and cause conflicts as well as cooperation for benefit-sharing among riparian countries. In North America, governance along the transboundary areas has been developed. “In Asia, several neighboring countries are linked through various types of associations ranging from multilateral organizations to sub-national administrations in order to effectively manage the long and wide-ranging natural resources that exist beyond the borders of the countries”. In Europe, numerous protected areas related to the biosphere have been designated. Therefore, this research helps better understand transboundary conflicts based on natural resources and could contribute to designing natural resource management strategies or models in borderlands.