• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2009

Metal pollution of aquatic ecosystems is a problem of economic and health importance. Information regarding molecular responses to metal exposure is sorely needed in order to identify potential biomarkers. To determine the effects of heavy metals on chironomids, the full-length cDNA of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH3) from Chironomus riparius was determined through molecular cloning and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The expression of ADH3 was analyzed under various cadmium and copper concentrations. A comparative and phylogenetic study among different orders of insects and vertebrates was carried out through analysis of sequence databases. The complete cDNA sequence of the ADH3 gene was 1134 bp in length. The sequence of C. riparius ADH3 shows a low degree of amino acid identity (around 70%) with homologous sequences in other insects. After exposure of C. riparius to various concentrations of copper, ADH3 gene expression significantly decreased within 1 hour. The ADH3 gene expression was also suppressed in C. riparius after cadmium exposure for 24 hour. However, the effect of cadmium on ADH3 gene expression was transient in C. riparius. The results show that the suppression of ADH3 gene by copper exposure could be used as a possible biomarker in aquatic environmental monitoring and imply differential toxicity to copper and cadmium in C. riparius larvae.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.120-124
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• 1998

For the purpose of evaluating protective components against alcohol-induced toxicity, the active components enhancing alcohol metabolism was pursued from water soluble fraction by ethanol precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatographic technique. As a result, various high molecular weight fractions from Aloe vera and Aloe arborescens, on a single oral administration in rats were found to cause a significant decrease in the blood ethanol concentration as well as enhancement of liver cytosolic ADH and ALDH activities and among which, a strong acidic high molecular weight fraction was demonstrated to exhibit the most potent enhancing activity on ethanol metabolism.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-20
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• 1978

Alcohol extracts of plants widely used in the traditional medicine have been tested to establish if they affect the metabolism of drug in mice. Forteen of the plants tested exhibited prolonging and/or inhibitory effect on hexobarbital sleeping time. Some of them also showed increasing effect on strychnine mortality, whereas piperis retrofracti Fructus reduced the toxicity of strychnine.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.470-477
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• 1995

Flavonoids from Scutellariae Radix possessed a dual function both as an anti-inflammatory agent and an enhancer of cellular activity in gingival fibroblast. The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the toxicity of ethanolic extract from the root of Scutellariae Radix Georgi and its flavonoids, Wogonin, Baicalein, and Baicalin were isolated and purified by the following method. The crude drug was extracted with ethyl acetate and the residue was dissolved in ethyl alcohol. The ethyl alcohol soluble fraction was separated, concentrated, and then chromatographed on a silica gel column. The acute oral LD 50 in rats was determined for EtOH ex. of Scutellariae Radix and three compounds were evaluated with a single oral gavage at three graded dosage levels. The acute intravenous LD 50 was determined with a single intravenous injection via the jugular vein at three graded dosage levels. Groups of 5 male and 5 female rats, 6 week of age at the start of the study, were fed diets containing 3 graded dosage levels for 14 days. Groups of 5 male and 5 female hamster received O.5ml of the test article at once in a day for 5 days to the buccal cheek pouch for two minutes each. The acute oral LD50 for EtOH ex. of Scutellariae Radix is 1430mg/kg, and for Wogonin 1320mg/kg, for Baicalein 1250mg/kg, for Baicalin 1330mg/kg. The acute intravenous toxicity of EtOH ex. of Scutellariae Radix and its extracts was found to be 27mg/kg body weight No toxic effects were observed in rats fed up to 200mg/kg of EtOH ex. of Scutellariae Radix, Wogonin, Baicalein and Baicalin in the diet for 14 days. The acute Mucouse Membrane LD 50 in hamsters was found to be greater than 100mg/kg. These results suggested that EtOH ex. of Scutellariae Radix and its flavonoids are safe for oral care products using limited amount of extract.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.173-179
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• 2002

N-nitrosoethylurea (NEU) -induced changes of lipid peroxide content, aldehyde metabolic enzyme activities and antioxidant enzyme activities were examined in cultured rat liver cell. Aldehyde metabolic enzymes tested in this investigation were alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase. Several antioxidant enzymes tested were glutathione transferase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase and catalase. When the cell was exposed with various concentrations of NEU, lipid peroxide content increased about 2.5 fold with 6.25 mM NEU. Maximun 2.3 times higher alcohol dehydrogenase activity was found after NEU treatment. About 2 times higher aldehyde dehydrogenase activity could also be observed. Only slight increases of glutathione transferase and catalase activities occurred with NEU treatment. In addition mnximun 1.5 times higher superoxide dismutase activities and 3 times higher glutathione reductase activities were found after NEU treatment. Therefore, it is likely that the increases of superoxide dismutase and glutathione reductase could contribute in a antioxidative process against NEU toxicity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.311-321
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• 2016

Chronic or acute alcohol abuse often leads to liver injury associated with alcoholic hepatitis, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. In addition to the liver, alcohol abuse also induces a variety of other tissue injuries including pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, neurotoxicity and muscle loss. Chronic skeletal muscle myopathy, independent of peripheral neuropathy, is well recognised in alcoholic patients. Several mechanisms may be involved in the pathogenesis of alcoholic myopathy. Ethanol is a potent inhibitor of muscle protein synthesis. Gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles are Type II fiber-predominant and usually considered representative of the musculature as a whole. Whereas, soleus muscle is Type I fiber predominant. Shihosogan-san is a traditional Korean medicine that is widely employed to treat indigestion and liver diseases. Muscle diseases are often related to liver diseases and conditions. We therefore tested the hypothesis that treatment with Shihosogan-san could ameliorate the ethanol-induced changes in muscle protein synthesis. Young male Sprague-Dawley rats were orally given 25% ethanol (5ml/kg, body weight) daily with Ethanol for 28 days. Normal group was similarly administrated with saline. In Shihosogan-san treated group, rats were orally administrated Shihosogan-san extract, and rats of EtOH group were given with the vehicle only. After 4 week, the morphology of gastrocnemius and plantaris muscles were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. For comparative purposes, liver function was also investigated. The muscles from rats of EtOH group displayed a significant reduction in average cross section area compared to Normal group. Shihosogan-san treated group had increased fiber compared to the EtOH group. Moreover, Shihosogan-san treated group compared with EtOH group showed significantly decreased pro-apoptotic BAX expression and increased anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression. In conclusion, Shihosogan-san extract showed ameliorating effects on chronic alcohol toxicity in skeletal muscle.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.345-359
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• 2003

A number of toxicants have been incriminated as a causing hepatic disease. Among many detrimental injury, alcohol has been noted for hepatitis, fatty liver, fibrosis, and hepatic cirrhosis. The purpose of this study was to develop animal model for hepatic fibrosis in pigs fed ethanol, and to search for a new anti-fibrogenic agent via this model. Twelve male Landrace pigs were divided into 3 groups of 4 animals each. Group 1, 2 and 3 were fed with active ceramic water only, ceramic water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol and normal tap water + liquid diet containing 15% ethanol for 12 weeks, respectively. At week 12, all pigs were immediately sacrificed for collection each tissue and blood. Serologically, serum ALT and AST levels were significantly reversed in group 2, as compared to group 3. They were normal range in pigs of group 1. Microscopically, macrovesicular lipid droplets and moderate hepatocellular necrosis were evident in the tap water + ethanol fed group 3. However, the active ceramic water treated group 1 showed normal architecture. Moreover, in group 2, mild fatty changes and necrosis were observed in hepatocytes. Collagen fibers were increased in spaces surrounding periportal and interlobular connective tissues in the group 3 of tap water + ethanol, but collagen synthesis and its thickness of fibrotic septa connecting portal tracts were markedly reduced in the group 2 of ceramic water + ethanol. Myofibroblasts were detected mainly in the interlobular connective tissues of pig liver of group 3 treated ethanol and tap water. Few to no myofibroblasts were observed in groups 1 and 2. CYP2E1 was not or rarely detected in group 1 fed ceramic water. However, group 2 showed slightly activation of CYP2E1 in the area of pericentral vein, while CYP2E1 was significantly activated in group 3 fed tap water and ethanol. Based on the above data, we believe that we have developed a unique alcohol induced fibrosis model in pig, which will be useful in developing anti-fibrotic agents and drugs. Furthermore, the active ceramic water used in our study had an inhibitory and may be protective against ethanol induced hepatic toxicity and fibrosis.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.533-564
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• 1998

In order to know the effect of proliferation and differentiation on edipocyte 3T3-L1 by prescriptions and herbs, Taeyangin(太陽人)'s Okapijangcheok-tang(五加皮壯脊湯) Mihudeungsikjangtang Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮) Phragmitis Rhizoma(蘆根) and Taeumin(太陰人)'s Taeumjowi-tang(太陰調胃湯) Cheongsimyonja-tang(淸心蓮子湯) Cheongpaesagan-tang(淸肺瀉肝湯) Galkeunbupyong-tang(葛根浮萍湯) Coicis Semen(薏苡仁) Rhei Undulati Rhizoma(大黃) Mori Cortex(桑白皮) Ulmi Cortex(楡根白皮) Holotrichia Vermiculus Kalopanaxii Cortex(海桐皮) Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) Imperatae Rhizoma(白茅根), were used and had some effects. 1. The proliferation effect of edipocyte 1) At the Taeyangin(太陽人)'s prescriptions and herbs, Okapijangcheok-tang(五加皮壯脊湯) Mihudeungsikjang-tang Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮) have a control effect at the boiling water-extract and ethyl alcohol-extract. Phragmitis Rhizoma(蘆根) have a control effect at the ethyl alcohol-extract. 2) At the Taeyangin(太陽人)'s prescriptions and herbs, Taeumjowi-tang(太陰調胃湯) Cheongsimyonja-tang(淸心蓮子湯) Cheongpaesagan-tang(淸肺瀉肝湯) Galkeunbupyong-tang(葛根浮萍湯) have a control effect at the boiling water-extract and ethyl alcohol-extract. Coicis Semen(薏苡仁) Rhei Undulati Rhizoma(大黃) Morl Cortex(桑白皮) Ulmi Cortex(楡根白皮) Kalopanaxii Cortex(海桐皮) · Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) of the boiling water-extract, Holotrichia Vermiculus Kalopanaxii Cortex(海桐皮) of ethyl alcohol-extract have a control effect on edipocytes. Rhei Undulati Rhizoma(大黃) Ulmi Cortex(楡根白皮) Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) of high-density have a cyto-toxicity. 2. The differentiation effect of edipocyte 1) At the Taeyangin(太陽人)'s prescriptions and herbs during the natural differentiation, Phragmitis Rhizoma(蘆根) of the boiling water-extract, Okapijangchek-tang(五加皮壯脊湯) Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮) of the ethyl alcohol-extract have a cyto-toxicity on the first-differentiation. 2) At the Taeumin(太陰人)'s prescriptions and herbs during the natural differentiation, Ulmi Cortex (楡根白皮) Kalopanaxii Cortex(海桐皮) of the boiling water-extract have a cyto-toxicity on the first-differentiation. Cheongsimyonja-tang(淸心蓮子湯) Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) of ethyl alcohol-extract have a control effect on the redifferentiation. 3) At the Taeyangin(太陽人)'s prescriptions and herbs on the first-differentiation during the induced differentiation, Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮) of ethyl alcohol-extract has a control effect. Okapijangchek-tang(五加皮壯脊湯) Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮) Phragmitis Rhizoma(蘆根) of the boiling water-extract have a cyto-toxicity. 4) At the Taeumin(太陰人)'s prescriptions and herbs on the first-differentiation during the induced differentiation, Coicis Semen(薏苡仁) Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) Imperatae Rhizoma(白茅根) of the boiling water-extract and Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) of the ethyl alcohol-extract have a control effect. Kalopanaxii Cortex(海桐皮) of the boiling water-extract and the ethyl alcohol-extract has a cyto-toxicity. Considering this result, the Taeyangin(太陽人) Taeumin(太陰人)'s prescriptions and herbs have a control effect on edipocytes during the proliferation. Acanthopanacis Cortex(五加皮), Coicis Semen(薏苡仁) Ephedrae Herba(麻黃) Imperatae Rhizoma(白茅根) have a control effect on edipocytes during the induced differentiation. In the future, for treating a obesity need a vivo assay and hope this study to help to know the mechanisms of obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.378-383
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activities of extracts from Acer tegmentosum Maxim. (AT) and the ability of these extracts to reduce the serum alcohol concentration in rats administered alcohol. The total amount of polyphenols in hot water and ethanol extracts from AT were $71.93{\pm}2.2{\mu}g/mg$ and $152.69{\pm}1.25{\mu}g/mg$, respectively, while the total amount of flavonoids in hot water and ethanol extracts from AT were $7.51{\pm}1.34{\mu}g/mg$ and $5.01{\pm}0.83{\mu}g/mg$, respectively. FRAP values in AT extracts were $1.67{\sim}1.75{\mu}M/{\mu}g$. AT extracts were capable of directly scavenging DPPH and ABTS free radicals, with higher inhibitory activities for TBA. The hepatoprotective effect of hot water extracts from AT against ethanol-induced oxidative damage was investigated. Ethanol-induced damage on HepG2 liver cells were protected by hot water extracts from AT. Administration of hot water extracts from AT (200 mg/kg) had reduced serum alcohol levels in acute alcohol-treated rats. These results indicate that AT extracts can be protective against alcohol-induced toxicity, potentially through its antioxidant properties.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.572-580
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• 2019

Recently, it has been reported that benzyl alcohol (BzOH) as an additive in cosmetics, food, and medicine lead to toxicity and allergy problem. Then, to circumvent this hurdle, we carried out the synthesis of benzyl alcohol galactoside (BzO-gal). Previously, it was confirmed that BzO-gal was synthesized by transgalactosylation reaction using Escherichia coli (E. coli) ${\beta}$-galactosidase (${\beta}-gal$). Meanwhile, in this study, two peaks of BzO-gal as sodium adduct ion (m/z=293.1004) and protonated ion (m/z=271.1180) were detected in the reaction mixture by liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-MS). In addition, the amount of ${\beta}-gal$ and BzOH concentration, temperature, pH, and lactose concentration, respectively, were optimized (${\beta}-gal$, 0.75 U/mL; BzOH, 185 mM; temperature, $40^{\circ}C$, pH, 7.5; lactose, 350 g/l). Under these optimal conditions, 185 mM BzOH was converted into about 131 mM BzO-gal, in which the conversion yield was about 72%. In the future, BzO-gal will be applicable as a substitute for BzOH as a less toxic preservative for the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries, and we are planning to investigate the characteristics of BzO-gal as a preservative.