Several Cissus species have been used and reported to possess medicinal benefits. However, the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Cissus subtetragona have not been described. In this study, we examined the potential anti-inflammatory effects of C. subtetragona ethanol extract (Cs-EE) in vitro and in vivo, and investigated its molecular mechanism as well as its flavonoid content. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages as well as LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) and HCl/EtOH-induced acute gastritis mouse models were utilized. Luciferase assays, immunoblotting analyses, overexpression strategies, and cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) were performed to identify the molecular mechanisms and targets of Cs-EE. Cs-EE concentration-dependently reduced the secretion of NO and PGE₂, inhibited the expression of inflammation-related cytokines in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, and decreased NF-κB- and AP-1-luciferase activity. Subsequently, we determined that Cs-EE decreased the phosphorylation events of NF-κB and AP-1 pathways. Cs-EE treatment also significantly ameliorated the inflammatory symptoms of HCl/EtOH-induced acute gastritis and LPS-induced ALI mouse models. Overexpression of HA-Src and HA-TAK1 along with CETSA experiments validated that inhibited inflammatory responses are the outcome of attenuation of Src and TAK1 activation. Taken together, these findings suggest that Cs-EE could be utilized as an anti-inflammatory remedy especially targeting against gastritis and acute lung injury by attenuating the activities of Src and TAK1.

In this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of Gloydius saxatilis using Illumina next-generation sequencing. The total length of the mitogenome was 17,223 bp, and contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNAs (tRNAs), two non-coding control regions (CRs), and the origin of light (OL)-strand replication. The genome structure and order of the genes were similar to other Crotalinae species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 13 concatenated PCGs indicated that G. saxatilis closely related to G. intermedius and, G. shedaoensis.

We studied the relationship between the Korean crevice salamander (Karsenia koreana) and several environmental factors, thereby contributing to the basic ecological knowledge required for the future conservation of salamander populations. The aims of this study were to derive a habitat suitability model for K. koreana using presence-absence data for the species and habitat factor information, and to identify the environmental factors that greatly influence the occurrence of K. koreana. In 2015 and 2017, 179 survey plots within five forested areas of Daejeon Metropolitan City were surveyed for the presence of K. koreana using both line transect surveys and time-constrained surveys. Three categories of environmental factors were measured for each habitat. Habitat suitability model of K. koreana was derived from this information, and factors that significantly affected the presence of K. koreana were determined. The presence of K. koreana was detected at 77 survey plots within the five forested areas. In terms of forest structural factors, the amount of coarse woody debris and the percentage cover of various substrate types were found to be major factors determining the occurrence of K. koreana. Leaf litter depth and pH were found to be important soil condition factors, and water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and channel width were the major water condition factors. These factors need to be referenced and utilized for the future conservation of the species, and extensive studies are needed to identify further correlations among these factors.

We report the complete mitochondrial genome of the Korean Clawed Salamander (Onychodactylus koreanus), endemic to the Korean Peninsula. The 16,445 bp mitogenome, assembled from Illumina HiSeq data, contains 37 genes (13 PCGs, 22 tRNAs and 2 rRNAs) plus the control region and has an A + T content of 68.6%. Phylogenetic analysis confirms it is a distinct lineage within Onychodactylus, closely related to O. fischeri and O. zhaoermii. These findings enhance our understanding of Hynobiidae diversity and evolution.