• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.595-601
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• 2017

Background: Red ginseng oil (RGO) is produced by supercritical $CO_2$ extraction of secondary products derived from Korean Red Ginseng extract. As the use of RGO has increased, product safety concerns have become more important. Methods: In the present study, the subacute oral toxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity of RGO were evaluated. Sprague-Dawley rats were orally administered with RGO for 28 d by gavage. Daily RGO dose concentrations were 0 mg/kg body weight (bw), 500 mg/kg bw, 1,000 mg/kg bw, or 2,000 mg/kg bw per day. Bacterial reverse mutation tests included five bacterial strains (Escherichia coli WP2 and Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and TA1537), which were used in the presence or absence of metabolic activation. The plated incorporation method for mutation test was used with RGO concentrations ranging from $312.5{\mu}g$ to $5,000{\mu}g$ per plate. Results: The subacute oral toxicity test results did not reveal any marked changes in clinical characteristics. There were no toxicological changes related to RGO administration in hematological and serum biochemical characteristics in either control or treatment animals. Furthermore, no gross or histopathological changes related to RGO treatment were observed. The bacterial reverse mutation test results did not reveal, at any RGO concentration level and in all bacterial strains, any increase in the number of revertant colonies in the RGO treatment group compared to that in the negative control group. Conclusion: The no-observed-adverse-effect level of RGO is greater than 2,000 mg/kg bw and RGO did not induce genotoxicity related to bacterial reverse mutations.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.103-106
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• 2012

The effect of continuous humidifier use on the bioaerosol concentration in an indoor environment was investigated. An ultrasonic humidifier was operated for 10 hr per day for 15 days in an apartment room. During this time period, viable bioaerosol samples were taken using a single-stage Andersen sampler containing culture media plates for bacteria and fungi. The culture plates were then incubated at room temperature for 2~7 days depending on the media. The counts for the air sample plates were corrected for multiple impactions using the positive hole conversion method and are reported as the colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). While the bacterial concentration measured using the tryptic soy agar (TSA) did not show any significant change during the first 3 days, the concentration increased from the $6^{th}$ day (6979 CFU/$m^3$) and reached a maximum on the $9^{th}$ day (46431 CFU/$m^3$). The concentration then decreased to 2470 CFU/$m^3$ on the $12^{th}$ day, at which point the fungal concentration increased rapidly to 14424~16038 CFU/$m^3$. Also, while the fungal concentration showed a significant change until the $9^{th}$ day of humidifier use, fungal growth was observed on the wallpaper and increased rapidly from the $12^{th}$ day. However, the bacterial concentration increased rapidly after the fungi were removed by remediation. The major fungal species identified in the samples were Penicillium representing 34%, Aspergillus representing 31%, Cladosporium representing 24%, and Alternaria representing 1%. The results also indicated that a relative humidity over 80% was easily achieved with continuous humidifier use. Yet, maintaining a high humidity in a room can cause a rapid outbreak of microbial growth.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.449-459
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• 2004

Bacterial byproducts and volatile sulfur compounds(VSC) have been found to be the leading intra-oral agents, specifically, the byproducts of gram negative anaerobic bacteria have been implicated as primary factors of halitosis in patients presenting with periodontal disease. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between periodontal treatment and the subsequent reduction in the level of halitosis. Forty-three subjects presenting with periodontal disease were examined before periodontal treatment, one week after treatment, one month after treatment, and finally, two months after treatment, using a portable sulfide monitoring $Halimeter^{(R)}$ to measure the VSC concentrations at the prescribed intervals. The results of the study were as follows: 1. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed at the one week, one month, and two month post-op intervals relative to the pre-op measurement. (p<0.05) 2. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed in subjects after completion of flap operations. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed at the one and two month post-flap operation measurement relative to the VSC concentration at one week (p<0.05), but no significant differences between the one month and two month VSC concentrations were found. (p<0.05) 3. Significant decreases in the mean VSC concentration were observed in subjects after completion of subgingival curettage (p<0,05). Significant decreases were found between the one week and one month measurements and between the one month and two month measurements, but significant differences were not observed between the one week and two month measurements. (p<0.05) The results of this study show significant decreases in VSC concentration in test subjects after periodontal treatment. It can be inferred from the results above, that periodontal disease is a significant contributing factor of halitosis, and that treatment of periodontal disease can been an effective means of reducing VSC concentration in patients presenting with halitosis concurrent with periodontal disease.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2010

The in vitro antibacterial properties of two kinds of chitosan solutions and their effect in protection of broccoli from bacterial head rot disease were evaluated. Results showed that the two kinds of chitosan solution at different concentrations exhibited strong antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas fluorescens. However, the antibacterial activity of chitosan A solution increased with the increase of chitosan concentration up to 0.10 mg/ml while the antibacterial activity of chitosan B solution increased with the increase of chitosan concentration up to 0.05 mg/ml. In addition, the antibacterial activity of chitosan A and chitosan B solution of 0.10 mg/ml increased with the incubation time within 12 h and 24 h, respectively. The disease incidence and the lesion diameter of broccoli inoculated with P. fluorescens were significantly reduced when plants were either pretreated or post-treated with six different combinations of chitosan solutions. Overall, the results indicated that the two kinds of chitosan solutions had a potential in controlling bacterial head rot of broccoli.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.183-184
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• 2003

Sophoricoside was isolated as the inhibitor of IL-5 bioactivity from Sophora japonica (Leguminosae). It has been reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect on rat paw edema model. To develop as an anti-allergic drug, genotoxicity of sophoricoside was investigated in bacterial and mammalian cell system such as Ames bacterial test, chromosomal aberration assay, Comet assay and MOLY assay. In Ames test, sophoricoside of 5000 ∼ 313 $\mu\textrm{g}$/plate concentrations was not shown significant mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537 strains. The cytotoxicity (IC$\_$50/ and IC$\_$20/) of sophoricoside was determined above the concentration of 5000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml in Chinese hamster lung (CHL) fibroblast cell and L5178Y mouse lymphoma cell line. At concentrations of 5000, 2500 and 1250 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, this compound was not induced chromosomal aberration in CHL fibroblast cell in the absence and presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. Also in comet assay, DNA damage was not observed in L5178Y cell line. Also in MOLY assay, sophoricoside of 5000 ∼ 313 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml concentrations was not shown significant mutagenic effect in absence of S-9 metabolic activation system. However, the higher concentration of 5000 and 2500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml of sophoricoside induced the increased mutation frequency (MF) in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. From these results, no genotoxic effects of sophoricoside observed in bacterial systems whereas, genotoxic effects observed in mammalian cell systems in the presence of metabolic activation system. These results suggested that the metabolite(s) of sophoricoside can cause some genotoxic effects in mammalian cells.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.9
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• pp.1264-1270
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• 2012

The ecotoxicological effects of nanomaterials on animal, plant, and soil microorganisms have been widely investigated; however, the nanotoxic effects of plant-soil interactive systems are still largely unknown. In the present study, the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on the soil-plant interactive system were estimated. The growth of plant seedlings in the presence of different concentrations of ZnO NPs within microcosm soil (M) and natural soil (NS) was compared. Changes in dehydrogenase activity (DHA) and soil bacterial community diversity were estimated based on the microcosm with plants (M+P) and microcosm without plants (M-P) in different concentrations of ZnO NPs treatment. The shoot growth of M+P and NS+P was significantly inhibited by 24% and 31.5% relative to the control at a ZnO NPs concentration of 1,000 mg/kg. The DHA levels decreased following increased ZnO NPs concentration. Specifically, these levels were significantly reduced from 100 mg/kg in M-P and only 1,000 mg/kg in M+P. Different clustering groups of M+P and M-P were observed in the principal component analysis (PCA). Therefore, the M-P's soil bacterial population may have more toxic effects at a high dose of ZnO NPs than M+P's. The plant and activation of soil bacteria in the M+P may have a less toxic interactive effect on each of the soil bacterial populations and plant growth by the ZnO NPs attachment or absorption of plant roots surface. The soil-plant interactive system might help decrease the toxic effects of ZnO NPs on the rhizobacteria population.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.53-59
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the mutagenic potential of dimethyl isophthalate (DMIP) using Ames bacterial reverse mutation test, chromosomal aberration test and mouse lymphoma $tk^{+/-}$ gene assay. As results, in Ames bacterial reversion assay, DMIP was tested up to the concentration of 5,000 ${\mu}g$/plate and did not induce mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535 and TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA with or without metabolic activation (S9 mix). Using cytotoxicity test, the maximal doses of DMIP for chromosomal aberration assay were determined at 1,250 ${\mu}g/mL$, which was a minimum precipitation concentration ($IC_{50}>1,940\;{\mu}g/mL$ or 10 mM) and at 155 ${\mu}g/mL$ ($IC_{50}:155\;{\mu}g/mL$) in the presence and the absence, respectively, of S9 mix. DMIP in the presence of S9 mix induced statistically significant (P<0.001) increases in the number of cells with chromosome aberrations at the dose levels of over 250 ${\mu}g/mL$, when compared with the negative control. However, DMIP in the absence of S9 mix did not caused significant induction in chromosomal aberrant cells. In MLA, DMIP at the dose range of 242.5-1,940 ${\mu}g/mL$ in the presence of S9 mix induced statistically significant increases in mutation frequencies related to small colony growth, whereas any significant mutation frequency was not observed in absence of S9 mix. From these results, it is conclusively suggested that dimethyl isophthalate may be a clastogen rather than a point mutagen.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.93-99
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• 2018

Lysozyme is present in tears and has the ability to inhibit bacterial growth. In addition, it acts as a physiological scavenger for harmful substances. In the present study, sixteen tear samples from people of different ages were evaluated for their antibacterial spectrum against selected bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella enterica Typhi). A radial diffusion assay was used to evaluate the antibacterial potential of tear samples. To correlate the antibacterial activities of these tear samples, the concentration of lysozyme in the tear samples was also determined. Ampicillin was used as a standard drug. The zone of inhibition (mm) was used to measure the antibacterial property of the tears. All samples showed good antibacterial activities. The tear samples of children showed antibacterial activities in the range of 4.40~5.00 mm inhibition zones against the selected bacterial strains. The tear samples from the young and adults showed good antibacterial potential with a zone of inhibition in the range of 3.20~4.00 and 4.00~5.50 mm, respectively. The tear samples from the old age group showed inhibition zones from 1.50~5 mm. The adult tear samples showed the maximum inhibition against the selected bacterial strains among all groups. The lysozyme concentration was 1.7 mg/mL, 1.95 mg/mL, 2.13 mg/mL, and 1.76 mg/mL for children, young, adults, and elderly, respectively. In conclusion, the tears from adults have the high inhibition potential. In addition, this data also showed that the lysozyme contents in the tear sample increased with age until 40~42 years.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.19 no.6 s.89
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• pp.451-456
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• 2004

The effects of variation in composition of the medium on the conversion of Gluconacetobacter hanseii PJK cells producing cellulose ($Cel^+$) to non-cellulose producing ($Cel^-$) mutants and the production of bacterial cellulose (BC) in an agitated culture were investigated. The impeller speed greater than 500 rpm was required to decrease the population of $Cel^-$ mutants to minimum in a basal medium containing $1.5\%$ ethanol because the optimum impeller speed to minimize the population of $Cel^-$ mutants increased with the concentration of ethanol added to a basal medium. Ethanol fed-batch culture could not increase the BC production in an agitated culture unlike that of a shaking culture. The amount of BC produced in a basal medium containing $1\%$ ethanol was $39\%$ more than that of the same medium with $0.27\%\;Na_{2}HPO_4$. Increase in the concentration of acetic acid in a basal medium decreased the BC production. The pH control of the culture broth increased the cell mass in the batch culture and improved the production yield of water-soluble polysaccharide (WSPS), but did not affect the production of BC.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.34-46
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• 2012

Objectives: The object of this study was to observe the in vitro antibacterial effects of Wandae-tang extracts and combination of Wandae-tang extracts and Clindamycin against Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC14018. Methods: Antibacterial activities against Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC14018 of Wandae-tang extracts were detected using standard agar microdilution methods. In addition, the effects on the bacterial growth curve were also monitored at minimal inhibitory concentration(MIC) and $MIC{\times}2$ levels. The combination effects of Wandae-tang extracts with Clindamycin were observed by Checkerboard microtiter assay, and the effects of bacterial growth curve was treated with Wandae-tang extracts MIC+Clindamycin MIC, 1/2 MIC and 1/4 MIC, respectively. Results: MIC of Wandae-tang extracts and Clindamycin against Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC14018 were detected as $1.719{\pm}0.856$(0.782~3.125) $mg/m{\ell}$ and $0.010{\pm}0.006$ (0.004~0.016) ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. In addition, Clindamycin and Wandae-tang extracts were also showed marked dosage-dependent inhibition of bacterial growth, and more dramatical inhibitions were detected in Clindamycin+Wandae-tang extracts MIC treatment. Fractional inhibitory concentration index in combination of Wandae-tang extracts and Clindamycin were detected as $0.294{\pm}0.052$(0.250~0.375) at Checkerboard microtiter assay. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study suggest that Wandae-tang extracts showed antibacterial effects against Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC14018, and they also showed dosage-dependent inhibitory effects on the bacterial growth. In addition, combination treatment of Wandae-tang extracts with Clindamycin showed more synergistically potent inhibitory effects on the growth of Gardnerella vaginalis.