• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.7.1-7.7
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• 2015

Objectives The widely promising applications of graphene nanomaterials raise considerable concerns regarding their environmental and human health risk assessment. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the toxicity profiling of graphene family nanano-materials (GFNs) in alternative in vitro and in vivo toxicity testing models. Methods The GFNs used in this study are graphene nanoplatelets ([GNPs]-pristine, carboxylate [COOH] and amide [$NH_2$]) and graphene oxides (single layer [SLGO] and few layers [FLGO]). The human bronchial epithelial cells (Beas2B cells) as in vitro system and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as in vivo system were used to profile the toxicity response of GFNs. Cytotoxicity assays, colony formation assay for cellular toxicity and reproduction potentiality in C. elegans were used as end points to evaluate the GFNs' toxicity. Results In general, GNPs exhibited higher toxicity than GOs in Beas2B cells, and among the GNPs the order of toxicity was pristine > $NH_2$ > COOH. Although the order of toxicity of the GNPs was maintained in C. elegans reproductive toxicity, but GOs were found to be more toxic in the worms than GNPs. In both systems, SLGO exhibited profoundly greater dose dependency than FLGO. The possible reason of their differential toxicity lay in their distinctive physicochemical characteristics and agglomeration behavior in the exposure media. Conclusions The present study revealed that the toxicity of GFNs is dependent on the graphene nanomaterial's physical forms, surface functionalizations, number of layers, dose, time of exposure and obviously, on the alternative model systems used for toxicity assessment.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.725-730
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• 2017

A heteronemertean, Yininemertes pratensis, was collected in Han River Estuary, South Korea. This estuarine nemertean has been known by the local fishermen for harmful effects to the glass eels, juveniles of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica, migrating to fresh water. The present study confirmed the neurotoxic effects of this heteronemertean ribbon worm at the cellular level. Derivative types of neurotoxic tetrodotoxin (TTX), 5,11-dideoxy TTX (m/z 288) and 11-norTTX-6(S)-01 (m/z 305.97), were identified through HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS. However, significant neurotoxicity was confirmed in the fraction containing an undefined molecule corresponding to the 291.1 (m/z) peak, when tested in rat primary astrocytes and dorsal ganglion cells. This study is the first to report neurotoxins of the estuarine nemertean, fairly abundant in the Han River estuary, and suggests the long-term monitoring of population dynamics and surveillance of the toxicity in this river estuary.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.2807-2811
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• 2015

Scorpion venom peptides recently have attracted attention as alternative chemotherapeutic agents that may overcome the limitations of current drugs, providing specific cytotoxicity for cancer cells with an ability to bypass multidrug-resistance mechanisms, additive effects in combination therapy and safety. In the present study, BmKn-2 scorpion venom peptide and its derivatives were chosen for assessment of anticancer activities. BmKn-2 was identified as the most effective against human oral squamous cells carcinoma cell line (HSC-4) by screening assays with an $IC_{50}$ value of $29{\mu}g/ml$. The BmKn-2 peptide killed HSC-4 cells through induction of apoptosis, as confirmed by phase contrast microscopy and RT-PCR techniques. Typical morphological features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage and rounding characteristics were observed in treated HSC-4 cells. The results were further confirmed by increased expression of pro-apoptotic genes such as caspase-3, -7, and -9 but decrease mRNA level of anti-apoptotic BCL-2 in BmKn-2 treated cells, as determined by RT-PCR assay. In summary, the BmKn-2 scorpion venom peptide demonstrates specific membrane binding, growth inhibition and apoptogenic activity against human oral cancer cells.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.59-59
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• 2003

Aflatoxins are produced by Aspergillus flavus, parasiticus and their related fungi that grow in improperly stored foods such as com, rice, peanuts and other cereals. In addition to its high mutagenicity and cytotoxicity, aflatoxin B$_1$ (AFB$_1$) is a potent hepatocarcinogen in experimental animals and an important factor for the human liver cancer. In spite of a high attention to the hepatocarcinogenicity of aflatoxins, the relative toxicity, for the risk assessment, of other types (AFB$_2$, AFG$_1$ and AFG$_2$) of the toxin was not fully studies.(omitted)

• Journal of Apiculture
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2018

Ethanol extracted propolis (EEP) was mixed with honey (honeypolis) to dissolve well in water and in vitro skin irritation test was conducted. In vitro method is designed to predict and classify the skin irritation potential of a chemical by assessment of its effect on $EpiDerm^{TM}$, a reconstituted three-dimensional human epidermis model. Cytotoxicity is expressed as the reduction of mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity measured by formazan production from MTT after a 60 min exposure period. In this study under the given conditions honeypolis showed no irritant effects. Honeypolis meets acceptance criteria if: mean absolute OD 570 nm of the three negative control tissues is ${\geq}0.8$ and ${\leq}2.8$, mean relative tissue viability of the three positive control tissues is ${\leq}20%$, standard deviation of relative tissue viability obtained from each three concurrently tested tissues is ${\leq}18%$. Honeypolis is therefore classified as "non-irritant" in accordance with UN GHS "No Category".

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.296-301
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• 2020

The purpose of this study was performed to evaluate antioxidant activity of the Artemisia asiatica Nakai and Moringa oleifera Lam mixture extract. Mixture extracts were manufactured by concentration and compared with a single extract (only the Artemisia asiatica Nakai mixture and only the Moringa oleifera Lam mixture). The experiments conducted Total polyphenol measurements, Total flavonoid measurements, DPPH radical scavenging activty, ABTS radical scavenging activty and LDH assay. The LDH assay assessment shows that all extracts are cells compared to controls. The toxicity was weak. Finally, The antioxidant capacity was rated higher than mixture extract of a single extract. Also, the optimized mixture was determined AM5 (Artemisia asiatica Nakai mixture: Moringa oleifera Lam mixture = 3:1). For extracts of AM5, Total phenol and flavonoid contents were 271.769±18.087 mg/g and 45.384±5.026 mg/g. and DPPH and ABTS scavenging activity were 70.8±6.496% and 77.1±9.634%. Therefore, it is expected that the value of the extract will increase as it increases its antioxidant activity if it is manufactured according to the appropriate ratio.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.412-417
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• 2023

There is increasing interest in the rapid and highly sensitive monitoring of cell viability in biological and toxicological research. Conventional methods depend on optical assays using Water Soluble Tetrazolium-8 (WST-8) or 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, which requires a large volume of samples and special instruments, necessitating shipment of clinical samples to laboratories. This paper reports on the development of a rapid and sensitive electrochemical (EC) sensor using screen printed electrode (SPE) and surface modification using 4'-mercapto-N-phenylquinone diamine (4'-NPQD), as double electron mediators, for monitoring cell viability via the measurement of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH). We used the sensor to observe the viability of MCF-7 and doxorubicin (Dox)-treated cells. The oxidation current of NADH was measured via chronoamperometry (CA), and the EC results showed a good linear relationship when compared with NADH quantification using WST-8 assay. The analysis time was only 10 s and limit of detection (LOD) of NADH was 1.78 µM. Our EC method has the potential to replace conventional WST assays for cell viability and cytotoxicity experiments.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.65-75
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• 2024

The growing demand for functional cosmetics, driven by modern individuals' quest for healthy and aesthetically pleasing skin, is being challenged by reports of side effects and toxicity associated with these products. This underscores the importance of exploring natural plant-based materials for functional cosmetics. This research focuses on the assessment of antioxidant and whitening properties of mixed extracts from Ipomoea nil, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, and Angelica gigas Nakai, all of which have proven pharmacological benefits. The study evaluated the extracts' total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities, SOD-like activity, and xanthine oxidase inhibition to determine their antioxidant capabilities. Moreover, the whitening potential was investigated through tyrosinase activity and melanin production assays, alongside a cytotoxicity evaluation via a cell viability test. The findings revealed that the extracts, IAA-1 to IAA-4, demonstrated both antioxidative and whitening capabilities without exhibiting cytotoxic effects. Notably, the extract IAA-4, processed through ultrasonic and ultrahigh pressure extraction, exhibited superior effectiveness. These results indicate that the cavitation formed during ultrasonic irradiation effectively destroys the plant cell wall by creating high pressure, and as a result, it is judged that useful components are easily extracted. As a result of the study, it was confirmed that the IAA-4 extract could be applied as a material for functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.4 s.249
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• pp.263-270
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• 2005

In recent years, a combination of two demographic phenomena, an increased number of older people in the population and an increase in the incidence of lung cancer with age, has made it mandatory to develop therapeutic modalities with less toxicity for the treatment of inoperable elderly patients with lung cancer. Therefore, we investigated the correlation between COX-2 expression and cytotoxicity of Nimesulide, a specific COX-2 inhibitor. Material and Method: Immunohistochemical staining of COX-2 was performed. After exposure of Nimesulide, XTT analysis, FACS analysis and Hoechst staining were carried out. Result: COX-2 protein was expressed in non-treated A549 cells strongly, but not in H1299. Cytotoxicity of Nimesulide against A549 cell and H1299 cell were similar and $IC_{50}$ of Nimesulide in both cell lines were $70.9{\mu}M$ in A549 cell line and $56.5{\mu}M$ in H1299 cell line respectively. FACS analysis showed $G_0/G_1$ arrest in both cell lines and the S phase cell fraction was decreased. Morphologic assessment of apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining, many apoptotic cells were detected in both cell lines. Conclusion: Selective COX-2 inhibitor, Nimesulide, can inhibit the proliferation of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines in vitro. Inhibitory effect of Nimesulide are induction of apoptosis and $G_0/G_1$ arrest. There is no correlation between COX-2 expression and cytotoxicity of Nimesulide, a specific COX-2 inhibitor. Therefore, highly selective COX-2 inhibitors such as Nimesulide can be expected to lead to even greater efficacy of their use as adjuncts to various anticancer angents and radiation therapy for the treatment of high-risk patients.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.208-214
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• 2018

Purpose: Platycodon grandiflorum (a domestic diploid variety, DV-PG) has been used as a food and component of various traditional oriental medicines. Although DV-PG is known to have an anti-allergic effect, little is known about the beneficial health effects of the tetraploid 'Etteum' variety in the Platycodon grandiflorum (TV-PG), which is a recently developed variety. In this study, we investigated the effect of TV-PG on the rat basophilic leukemia mast cell (RBL-2H3)-mediated allergic response. Methods: To examine the effects of TV-PG on the allergic response, RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with dinitropheny (DNP)-immunoglobin E, treated with various concentrations of TV-PG, and challenged with DNP-human serum albumin. We estimated cell granulation by measuring the release of ${\beta}$-hexosaminidase and production of inflammatory mediators by ELISA. Results: TV-PG had no effect on the proliferation or cytotoxicity of RBL-2H3 cells within the concentration range of 0 to $200{\mu}g/mL$. TV-PG inhibited degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells by antigen stimulation in a dose-dependent manner. TV-PG also suppressed the production of inflammatory cytokines and mediators such as interleukin-4, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$, prostagladin E2, and leukotriene B4 in RBL-2H3 cells by antigen stimulation. Conclusion: These results indicate that TV-PG exhibits anti-allergic activity via inhibition of degranulation as well as suppression of inflammatory mediators and cytokine release. These findings suggest that TV-PG may have potential as a preventive and therapeutic agent for the treatment of various allergic diseases.