• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.65-72
• /
• 2007

This study was conducted to obtain information of the oral dose acute toxicity of PGB-2, a novel polyglucosamine polymer produced from Citrobacter sp. BL-4 (a new strain) in male and female mice. Mortality, body weight changes, clinical signs were monitored during 14 days after single oral dose of test article at dose levels of 2000, 1000, 500, 250 and 125 ml/kg. Gross lesions, organ weight and histopathology of principal organs were examined after necropsy. As the results, we could not find any mortalities, clinical signs, changes in the body weight and gross findings except for white foci in the liver. In addition, no PGB-2-treatment related abnormal changes on the organ weight and histopathology of principle organs were detected except for atypical signs of liver. White liver foci were confirmed as focal infiltration of inflammatory cells. The results suggest that the PGB-2 is relatively safe in mice but the possibility of hepatotoxicity could not be excluded. The $LD_{50}$ and approximate LD in mice after single oral dose of PGB-2 were considered over 2000 mg/kg, respectively. In future, the potential hepatotoxicity of PGB-2 should be evaluated through the repeat dose toxicity test prior to develop as a new agent.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2010

By-products from grapes obtained during processing have been considered to be promising materialsfor various functional applications, and to have pharmaceutical properties. A grape powder was developed from a concentrate of by-products obtained during grape processing. As dextrin levels increased, the moisture content, L-, a-, and b- values all decreased, whereas sugar content generally increased. Catechin and resveratrol were detected in most samples, but quercetin was absent. Epicatechin and resveratrol levels either decreased or were not detected as dextrin concentration increased. These physiochemical properties indicate that a concentrate extracted using undiluted ethanol as solvent is optimal for industrial use.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.32 no.5
• /
• pp.612-617
• /
• 2012

The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of ovotransferrin were investigated in vitro. The antioxidant capacity of ovotransferrin was evaluated using the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging method, antimicrobial effects using the agar well diffusion method, and cytotoxicity using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenylatetetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The DPPH radical-scavenging capacity of ovotransferrin at 1 mg/mL level reached approximately 60% after 48 h of reaction. The antimicrobial effects of ovotransferrin against common food-borne pathogens, Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 32395, Bacillus cereus KCCM 40935, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 15313, Escherichia coli O157:H7 ATCC 43895, and Helicobacter pylori HpKCTC 26695 were dose dependant. Gram-positive bacteria was more sensitive to ovotransferrin than gram-negative bacteria. Ovotransferrin showed stronger antimicrobial effect against L. monocytogenes than other gram-positive bacteria tested. The cytotoxicity of ovotransferrin was evaluated in human cancer cell lines, various tissue origins, including the larynx (Hep-2), stomach (AGS), lung (SK-MES-1), liver (HepG2), breast (MCF-7), cervix (HeLa), and colon (HT-29). Ovotransferrin displayed relatively high cytotoxicity (${\leq}60%$ inhibition effects) at 40 mg/mL. At lower concentrations (${\leq}10mg/mL$), however, ovotransferrin cytotoxic effects were not significant in all cancer cell lines tested. These results indicated that ovotransferrin has potential to be used as an antioxidant or antimicrobial agent in foods or a pharmaceutical agent against cancers.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.7-13
• /
• 2013

Bio Clean Room(BCR) and pharmaceutical product manufacturing facilities require careful assessment of many factors, including HVAC, controls, room finishes, process equipment, room operations, and utilities. Flow of equipment, personnel, and product must also be considered along with system flexibility, redundancy, and maintenance shutdown strategies. It is important to involve designers, operators, commissioning staff, quality control, maintenance, constructors, validation personnel, and the production representative during the conceptual stage of design. Critical variables for room environment and types of controls vary greatly with the clean space's intended purpose. It is particularly important to determine critical parameters with quality assurance to set limits and safety factors for temperature, humidity, room pressure, and other control requirements. In this paper, oxygen cluster ion equipment was utilized in order to enhance the indoor air quality and to prevent the airborne infection of ward in hospital. Moreover, the performance test of the equipment was also performed in order to develop the optimal sterilization system of BCR using the equipment.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.54 no.2
• /
• pp.106-111
• /
• 2010

The chemical structures of eight compounds purified from two plants (Polygala tenuifolia Willdenow and Dioscorea batatas Decene) were determined and their anti-microbial activity against three microbial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans) was tested. The three micro organisms were cultured in 96-well plates or Petri dishes without (control) or with the eight compounds added at concentrations of 100 to 0.01 ${\mu}M$ (wt/vol). The growth of the microorganisms in the medium was examined after a 24-h incubation. The inhibitory effect of each compound on the growth of the microorganisms was calculated from the optical density measured at 595 nm, turbidity, and size of the inhibition zone around the treated paper disc. The minimum inhiitory concentration (MIC) of compounds 4 to 7 against S. aureus was 0.08, 0.05, 1.3 and 0.02 ${\mu}M$, respectively, and 0.09, 0.1, 0.2 and 100 ${\mu}M$ against C. albicans. The $IC_{50}$ (50% inhibition) values of compounds 5 and 6 were 3.1 and 6.4 ${\mu}M$ against S. aureus, respectively, and 10 and 2.4 ${\mu}M$ against C. albicans. Therefore, compounds 4 to 6 were the most potent anti-microbial agents among the eight compounds tested.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.323-332
• /
• 2024

Background: Studies have reported that the combination of two or more therapeutic compounds at certain ratios has more noticeable pharmaceutical properties than single compounds and requires reduced dosage of each agent. Red ginseng and velvet antler have been extensively used in boosting immunity and physical strength and preventing diseases. Thus, this study was conducted to elucidate the skin-protective potentials of red ginseng extract (RGE) and velvet antler extract (VAE) alone or in combination on ultraviolet (UVB)-irradiated human keratinocytes and SKH-1 hairless mice. Methods: HaCaT cells were preincubated with RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 2 h before UVB (30 mJ/cm²) irradiation. SKH-1 mice were orally given RGE/VAE alone or in combination for 15 days before exposure to single dose of UVB (600 mJ/cm²). Treated cells and treated skin tissues were collected and subjected to subsequent experiments. Results: RGE/VAE pretreatment alone or in combination significantly prevented UVB-induced cell death, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species production, and DNA damage in keratinocytes and SKH-1 mouse skins by downregulating mitogen-activated protein kinases/activator protein 1/nuclear factor kappa B and caspase signaling pathways. These extracts also strengthened the antioxidant defense systems and skin barriers in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells and SKH-1 mouse skins. Furthermore, RGE/VAE co-administration appeared to be more effective in preventing UVB-caused skin injury than these extracts used alone. Conclusion: Overall, these findings suggest that the consumption of RGE/VAE, especially in combination, offers a protective ability against UVB-caused skin injury by preventing inflammation and apoptosis and enhancing antioxidant capacity.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.39 no.3
• /
• pp.243-249
• /
• 2015

Background: Anticancer agents induce a variety of adverse effects when administered to cancer patients. Busulfan is a known antileukemia agent. When administered for treatment of leukemia in young patients, busulfan could cause damage to the male reproductive system as one of its adverse effects, resulting in sterility. Methods: We investigated the effects of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) on busulfan-induced damage and/or dysfunction of the male reproductive system. Results: We found that administration of busulfan to mice: decreased testis weight; caused testicular histological damage; reduced the total number of sperm, sperm motility, serum testosterone concentration; and eventually, litter size. Preadministration of KRGE partially attenuated various busulfan-induced damages to the male reproductive system. These results indicate that KRGE has a protective effect against busulfan-induced damage to the male reproduction system. Conclusion: The present study shows a possibility that KRGE could be applied as a useful agent to prevent or protect the male reproductive system from the adverse side effects induced by administration of anticancer agents such as busulfan.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.97-105
• /
• 2012

$Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon is a traditional folk medicine plant that is used to treat and prevent several inflammatory diseases and cancer in Korea, but the underlying mechanisms involved in its anti-allergic activity are not fully understood. This study was designed to investigate mechanisms of anti-allergic activity of a $Schizandra$ $chinensis$ Baillon water extract (SCWE) in immunoglobulin E (IgE)-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells and to assess whether gastric and intestinal digestion affects the anti-allergic properties of SCWE. Oxidative stress is an important consequence of the allergic inflammatory response. The antioxidant activities of SCWE increased in a concentration-dependent manner. RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with monoclonal anti-dinitrophenol (DNP) specific IgE, treated with SCWE, and challenged with the antigen DNP-human serum albumin. SCWE inhibited ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase release and expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-13, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) mRNA and protein in IgE-antigen complex-stimulated RBL2H3 cells. We found that digested SCWE fully maintained its antioxidant activity and anti-allergic activity against the IgE-antigen complex-induced activation of RBL-2H3 cells. SCWE may be useful for preventing allergic diseases, such as asthma. Thus, SCWE could be used as a natural functional ingredient for allergic diseases in the food and/or pharmaceutical industries.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.12 no.1
• /
• pp.8-17
• /
• 2012

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract diseases in infancy and early childhood. Despite its importance as a pathogen, there is no licensed vaccine against RSV yet. The attachment glycoprotein (G) of RSV is a potentially important target for protective antiviral immune responses. Recombinant baculovirus has been recently emerged as a new vaccine vector, since it has intrinsic immunostimulatory properties and good bio-safety profile. Methods: We have constructed a recombinant baculovirus-based RSV vaccine, Bac-RSV/G, displaying G glycoprotein, and evaluated immunogenicity and protective efficacy by intranasal immunization of BALB/c mice with Bac-RSV/G. Results: Bac-RSV/G efficiently provides protective immunity against RSV challenge. Strong serum IgG and mucosal IgA responses were induced by intranasal immunization with Bac-RSV/G. In addition to humoral immunity, G-specific Th17- as well as Th1-type T-cell responses were detected in the lungs of Bac-RSV/G-immune mice upon RSV challenge. Neither lung eosinophilia nor vaccine-induced weight loss was observed upon Bac-RSV/G immunization and subsequent RSV infection. Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that intranasal administration of baculovirus-based Bac-RSV/G vaccine is efficient for the induction of protection against RSV and represents a promising prophylactic vaccination regimen.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.99-103
• /
• 1999

Self-Emulsifying System(SES), an isotropic mixture of oil and surfactant which forms oil-in-water emulsion, is expected to improve in vitro drug dissolution and enhance in vivo drug absorption. A poorly water soluble drug, ibu-profen(IBP) was incorporated into the SES to improve absorption, and enhance bioavailability of drug. Medium chain triglyceride, glyceryl tricaprylate(GTC) as an oil, and Tween 85 as a surfactant were used to formulate SES. To characterize SESs with various concentrations of Tween 85, the phase separation and solubility of IBP-SEDDS containing IBP as a function of Tween 85 concentration were conducted, and the particle size was measured using photon correlation spectroscopic method. The SES with optimal concentration of Tween 85(35%(w/w)) was selected based on its high drug loading, small particle size and low surfactant concentration. After an oral administration of IBP-SEDDS and IBP suspension in methyl cellulose equivalent to 40.0 mg/kg to rats, the pharmacokinetic parameters were compared. The $C_{max}(163.17\;vs\;88.82\;{\mu}g/ml)$, $AUC(12897.01\;vs\;8751.13\;{\mu}g\;min/ml)$ and Bioavailability(86.44 vs 58.65%) significantly increased but $T_max(10\;vs\;20\;min)$ was significantly advanced. The current SEDDS containing IBP provide an alternative to improve an oral bio-availability of IBP.