• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2015

Various natural products or their derivatives, mostly originating from plants, fungi, and bacteria, have been exploited as therapeutic drugs to treat various human diseases. In addition to previously explored organisms, research on natural compounds has now expanded into unexamined living organisms in order to identify novel bioactive substances. Here, we determined whether or not the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle, contains cytotoxic substances that exclusively affect cancer cell viability. Ethanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions, hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, showed anticancer effects against various human cancer cells derived from the prostate (PC3 and 22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), liver (PLC/PRF5, HepG2, Hep3B, and SK-HEP-1), colon (HCT116), lung (NCI-H460), breast (MDA-MB231), and ovary (SKOV3). Cell death induced by the fractions was a mix of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The hexane fraction was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing a hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we concluded that worm extracts contain cytotoxic substances, which can be enriched by proper fractionation protocols, and further separation and purification could lead to the identification of novel molecules to treat human cancers.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2018

This study aimed to evaluate seaweed polysaccharide extracts as a cosmetic material. To assess anti-microbial efficacy, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was treated with seaweed polysaccharide extracts and zones of inhibition were measured. In addition, the anti-inflammatory effect was confirmed in RAW 264.7cells, and seaweed polysaccharide extracts was applied to the dorsal skin of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats to evaluate single-dose toxicity. As a results, seaweed polysaccharide extracts did not exhibit cytotoxicity at concentrations up to $1,000{\mu}g/mL$ in skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, when S. aureus was treated with 1% seaweed polysaccharide extracts, clear zones of $1.52{\pm}0.34cm$ formed, confirming sufficient anti-microbial activity. When RAW 264.7 cells were treated with seaweed polysaccharide extracts extract, nitric oxide (NO) production decreased in a concentration-dependent manner and the production of inflammation-related cytokines, such as interleukin 1 beta ($IL1{\beta}$), tumor necrosis factor alpha ($TNF{\alpha}$), and prostaglandin E2(PGE2), decreased. When seaweed polysaccharide extracts extract was applied at various concentrations to rats, symptoms did not change for more than 14 d, and there was no change in body or organ weights. In conclusion we found that seaweed polysaccharide extracts is not cytotoxic and has anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, it is suitable for use as a cosmetic material.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2015

In the present study, we investigated the oral toxicity of Amomum tsao-ko Crevost et Lemaire, (Zingiberaceae) extract in Balb/c mice (BALB, n=60) for 3 weeks. Balb/c mice (10 mice/group, 6 group, $20{\pm}2g$, 6 weeks) were orally administered for 21 days, with dosage of 250, 500, 1000, 2000 mg/kg/day. Ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko did not affect any significant change of mortality, clinical signs, organs and body weights. Also, there were not significantly difference from the naive group (control) in hematological and serum biochemical examination. Consequently, these findings indicate that 3-week treatment with the ethanol extract of A. tsao-ko was not any toxic effects in Balb/c mice and the no-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for oral toxicity was determined to be 2000 mg/kg/day under our experimental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.165-172
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• 1994

DA-125 is a new anthracycline antitumor antibiotic, which is derived from adriamycin. The potential of DA-125 to induce embryotoxicity was evaluated in the Sprague-Dawley rats. One hundred twenty naturally mated SD rats(sperm in vaginal lavage=day 0) were distributed among three treated groups and a control group. DA-125 was administered intravenously at dose levels of 0. 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0mg/ kg/day. Dams were treated from day 7 to 17 of gestation and were subjected to the caesarean section on day 20. At 1 mg/kg, reduced food intake, reduced body weight and decreased weight of spleen were observed in dams. An increase in the resorption rate and a reduction in the fetal weight were also found. In addition, various types of external, visceral and skeletal malformations occurred at an incidence of 11.9, 41.8 and 14.5%, respectively. Characteristic malformations include exencephalia, gastroschisis, cleft lip, dilatation of lateral and 3rd ventricle, fused ribs, among others. There were no signs of maternal toxicity or embryotoxicity at 0.1 and 0.3mg/kg. The results show that the test agent DA-125 is embryotoxic at maternally subtoxic dose in rats.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.775-780
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• 1998

Gamma irradiation at 5 kGy was applied to beefs for evaluation of their possible genotoxicity and acute oral toxicity. The genotoxicity of 5 kGy irradiated beef was evaluated by Salmonella typhimurium reversion assay and in vivo micronucleus assay using mouse bone marrow cells. The results were negative in the bacterial reversion assay with S. typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537. Clastogenic effects were not shown in vivo mouse micronucleus assay at 5 kGy dose tested. In an acute toxicity test, 5 kGy-irradiated beef was administrated orally at a dose level of 313 to 5,000 mg/kg, and then number of deaths, clinical signs, body weights, and pathological examinations were examined daily for 14 days post-administration. The results indicate that 5 kGy irradiated beef did not show any toxic effect on mice and oral $LD_{50}$ value was over 5,000 mg/kg on ICR mice.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.1324-1330
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• 2009

Lindera obtusiloba Blume (LO), which is widely distributed in Korea, Japan and China, has traditionally been used as a popular folk medicine for the treatment of fever, abdominal pain, bruise and extravation. The purpose of this study was to examine the toxicities of the single and 14-day repeated doses in Sprague-Dawley rats orally administrated with LO at doses of 0, 500, 1000, 2000 (14-day repeated toxicity test) and 5000 (single toxicity test) mg (dry weight)/kg of body weight/day. The results showed that there was no difference in body weight change, food intake, water consumption, or organ weight among different dose groups. Also we observed no death and abnormal clinical signs during the experimental period. Between the groups orally administered LO and the control group, there was no statistical significance in hematological test or serum biochemical values. There were no evidences of histopathological alteration as well as abnormal gross finding mediated by single and 14 days treatments with LO. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral application of LO was considered to be more than 2000 mg/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.213-217
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• 1992

Locally advanced cervical carcinoma has shown high rate of local failure and poor survival rate despite the advances in modern radiation therapy techniques. Combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy demonstrated benefit in improving local control and possibly the overall survival. Twelve patients with advanced stages (Figo stage III, IV) or 11b with bulky tumors (>5 cm in diameter) were treated with combination of radiation therapy and concurrent weekly cisplatin between May of 1988 and September of 1991 at Inje University Paik Hospital. Cisplatin was administered in bolus injections of 50 mg at weekly intervals during the courses of radiation therapy. Median follow-up period was 34 months with ranges from 3 to 53 months. Eleven patients were evaluable for the estimation of response. Response was noted in all the 11 patients: complete response (CR) in 7 ($64\%$), partial response (PR) in 4 ($36\%$). Of the 7 patients with CR, all maintained local control, whereas only 1 of 4 with PR showed local control. Six of 7 with CR are alive disease free on the completion of follow-up. Eight of 11 patients ($73\%$) maintained local control in the pelvis. The median survival for CR patient is 27 months and 9 months for the PR patients. Analysis of survival by stage shows 11 b 4/5, III 2/3 and IV 1/3. Overall survival rate was $61\%$. Three patients recurred: 1 at local, 1 in distant site and 1 with local and distant site. Toxicity for the combination therapy was not excessive. These results are preliminary, but definitely encouraging in view of markedly improved response rate compared with the results of historical control group.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of ethanol extracts of the aleurone layer of Oryza sativa cvs. Obongbyeo, Ilpumbyeo, and Aranghyangchalbyeo by a single oral dose in ICR mice. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female mice at dose levels of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/kg body weight (n=10 for male and female mice for each dose). We examined numbers of deaths, general signs, weight measurement and biochemical analysis for sexes and doses of mice control and experimental groups. All mice were alive during the experimental period so can not yield death rate and $LD_{50}$. Any significant clinical symptom was not observed in all treated groups. No significant body weight changes in treatment groups in comparison with those of control groups was observed at any dose levels in experimental groups. Plasma glucose levels were valued both control and treated groups and there were no significant differences between groups. The activities of ALT and AST were not increase in all sample treated groups when compared with the control groups. The results suggest that the toxicity of Oryza sativa cvs. Obongbyeo, Ilpumbyeo, and Aranghyangchalbyeo are low and its $LD_{50}$ is over 10.0 g/kg body weight in both male and female mice.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2008

The subcronic toxicity of WK-38, a herbal preparation for the atherosclerosis, was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. WK-38 is composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Magonoliae Cortx, Moutan Cortex Radicis. Rats were treated with the test substance at a dose of 5 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg intragastrically for 13 weeks. Control rats were treated with vehicle only. No death and abnormal clinical signs were observed throughout the administration period. Also there was no difference in net body weight gain, food and water consumption, organ weight, gross pathological findings, and urine analysis among the groups of rats treated with different doses of the WK-38. Hematological findings and biochemical examination revealed no evidence of specific toxicity related to WK-38. The results suggested that under the condition employed in this study no observation effect level (NOEL) of WK-38 would be 500 mg/kg/day.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.91-95
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• 2010

The acute toxicity of a crude extract of maitake mushroom(Grifola frondosa practical compound: GFPC) and the mixture of maitake mushroom extract and white jelly mushroom extract(Tremella fuciformis practical compound: TFPC). For acute oral toxicity test, male and female ICR mice were randomly assigned to five groups, consisting of 12 animals each, six males and six females, received either GFPC or the mixture of GFPC and TFPC, at dose of 0, 2,000 and 5,000mg/kg b.w. by orally(10ml/kg b.w.). For the period of 48hr, clinical signs, body weight and food intake were measured. All animals survived during the study and did not show any clinical signs. Food intake was mildly decreased in both GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC treated groups, however, body weight gain showed no significant difference among the groups. It is suggested that LD50 of GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC by oral administration was estimated to be over 5,000mg/kg in both sexes of mice. These results conform that GFPC and the mixture of GFPC and TFPC are safe and no toxic at average dietary level.