• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.101-110
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• 1989

These studies were attempted to investigate the therapeutic effect earthworm (Lamnodrilus gotai Hatai) extract (LS) on the liver damage induced by carbon tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) in rats. Male rats (Sprague-Dawley) were treated with sub-chronic concentration of $CCl_4$, which was 0.2 ml/kg of $CCl_4$ via peroral administration twice a week. LS administration to rats (6 ml/kg,po) prevented the development of fatty liver, necrosis and fibrosis induced by $CCl_4$. Furthermore, as compared with rats suspended after treated with $CCl_4$ only, LS treatment significantly decreased the increment in serum enzyme activities, liver enlargement and improved growth rate. This protective effect was observed when LS was given monthly for 4 months after $CCl_4$ treated for 2 months. These results suggest that earthworm extract has appreciable therapeutic effect on $CCl_4$-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Weed & Turfgrass Science
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2016

Earthworm cast is a harmful factor which reduces the uniformity of management of turfgrass and play quality in golf courses and playground. This research was conducted to carry out the efficacy of some pesticide (bifenthrin GR + clothianidin GR, ethoprophos GR, imidacloprid SC, picoxystrobin WG, thiophanate-methyl WP) and tee tree (Camellia oliefera) extracts against reducing earthworm cast in golf courses. All tested materials were acted reducing earthworm cast, thiophanate-methyl among them showed the highest effect reducing earthworm casts in golf courses. Tea tree extracts was occurred similar efficacy among tested chemical pesticides. However, pellet type byproduct of tea seed extract and liquid formulation of tea tree extract were better than granule formulation of them. Byproduct of tea seed and tea tree extract can be used for alternative biological management material for reducing earthworm cast in heavily casting occurrence area.

• Asian Journal of Turfgrass Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.191-198
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• 2010

Effective sampling method and distribution of earthworms in turfgrasses of golf courses were investigated at 10 Korean golf clubs. Tea tree extract was highly effective in extracting Eisenia andrei compared with mustard oil or formalin. 1000-fold diluent of tea tree extract (4 L/$m^2$) was more effective than 500- and 2000-fold. Sampling efficacy of earthworm increased as soil depth decreased. Additional watering after treatment of tea tree extract did not significantly influence the sampling of earthworms. Eight earthworm species in 4 genera were collected from turfgrasses of 10 golf courses with 4 L of 1000-fold diluent of tea tree extract (15% tea saponin)/$m^2$. Among, dominant earthworm was Amynthas heteropodus and collected 147 individuals from 6 golf clubs. Thirteen Drawida japonica was collected from 3 golf clubs and A. hilgendorfi and A. hupeiensis were collected from 2 golf clubs. A. hupeiensis was not collected with 1000-fold diluent of tea tree extract (15% tea saponin)/$m^2$.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.137-143
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• 1981

In order to confirm the exact antipyretic component in the earthworm, etherial extract of American earthworm(Red Worm) was fractionated into five fractions by using silica gel column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. The fraction including free fatty acids was found to possess artipyretic response and standard arachidonic acid showed marked antipyretic response on typhoid vaccinated rabbits. Arachidonic acid was identified from the free fatty acid fraction of the earthworm by using gas liquid chromatography. Thus it was considered that the antipyretic activity of the free fatty acid may be due to the presence of arachidonic acid. Lipid-free earthworm powder was extracted with phosphate buffer (pH, 8.0, 0.1M) and all the proteins was salted out by ammonium sulfate. The crude precipitate was dialyzed and the impure proteins were eliminated at pH 5.4 and 4.6. The remaining protein solution was fractionated with various concentrations of acetone. The acetone fractions were identified by using S.D.S. polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and disc gel electrophoresis. The precipitate at 85% acetone concentration and the remaining proteins in the supernatant did not exhibit the antipyretic activity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.666-670
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• 1995

The plasmin activity of euglobulin fraction treated with earthworm extract(EWE) increased concentration dependently when EWE(0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg each) were added to normal plasma. It was shown that lumbrokinase in EWE may be moved to euglobulin fraction and activated plasminogen. Also anticoagulation and fibbrinolysis were studied when EWE(7.5, 30 and 120 mg/kg) were added to rat model. Prothrombin time (PT) were 19.7${\pm}$ 3.8, 22.5${\pm}$ 2.5 and 24.5${\pm}$ 5.0sec. activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were 25.7${\pm}$ 5.9, 28.7${\pm}$ 5.2 and 36.5${\pm}$ 19.1 sec. After 15 days, the production of D-dimer were 242.3${\pm}$ 47.4, 250.0${\pm}$ 11.9 and 205.8${\pm}$ 12.2mg/ml plasma, respectively. These data showed that EWE acted on the coagulation factor of intrinsic and extrinsic system.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 1999

An $\alpha$-D-galactosidase ($\alpha$-D-galactoside galactohydrolase, EC 3. 2. 1. 22) from earthworm was purified by affinity chromatography using N-$\varepsilon$-aminocaproyl-$\alpha$-D-galactopyranosylamine coupled to sepharose and its properties were examined. The specific activity of the purified enzyme, tested with p-nitrophenyl-$\alpha$-D-galactopyranoside as substrate, was 314 units/mg protein, representing an 122-fold purification of the original crude extract. The final preparation obtained from by Sephadex G-25 chromatography showed a single band on SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was determined to be 48,000 by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified galactosidase was showed maximum activity at pH 4.5 and 4$0^{\circ}C$, and was stable in the pH and temperature ranges from 4.0 to 5.5 and 30 to 5$0^{\circ}C$, respectively. The enzyme activity was inhibited by Zn2+, Hg2+ and Co2+. When the purified $\alpha$-galactosidase treated to guar gum for 6 hour, gel-promoting property was increased. It was clear that enzymatic elimination of galactose from guar gum by purified $\alpha$-galactosidase would lead to a significant increase in gelation ability.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2012

Environment-friendly agro-materials are are likely to be preferred to chemical insecticides recently. For this reason, many studies are conducted to develop environment-friendly insecticides containing natural materials. This study was also conducted so as to assess ecotoxicity for Emulsifiable concentrate (EC) containing 30% of garlic extract or two plant essential oils (Zanthoxylum, Lemongrass) expected to prevent from pests and be used for agro-materials. Target species used to assess acute toxicity were invertebrate (Daphina magna), fish (Oryzias latipes), honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The $EC_{50}$ values for of garlic extract 30% EC, Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC to Daphina magna were 3.3, 10, and $10mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The category of garlic extract 30% EC was moderately toxic, while those of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were slightly toxic according to standard of USEPA. $EC_{50}$ for both of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were more than $10mg\;L^{-1}$ then they were considered as slightly toxicity. In case of acute toxicity test to fish, $LC_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC was $3.3mg\;L^{-1}$. Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC indicated $LC_{50}$ > $10mg\;L^{-1}$. Classification of acute toxicity to all test substances was in Korea criteria. Acute contact and oral toxicity test to Honeybee were conducted. As a result, $LD_{50}$ of all test substances were more than 100 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$ in the acute contact test while $LD_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC was 4.4 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$ and $LD_{50}$ of Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were more than 100 a.i. ${\mu}g\;bee^{-1}$. In case of acute toxicity test to earthworm, $LC_{50}$ of garlic extract 30% EC, Zanthoxylum oil 30% EC and lemongrass oil 30% EC were 267, 592, and $430mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. In conclusion, if the safety for earthworm is confirmed, these substances are expected to be use for environment-friendly insecticide materials with low risk against ecosystem and contribute to developing environment-friendly agro-materials.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.141-150
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• 2006

To develop the microbial agents for the environmentally-friendly treatment and recycling of food waste, useful microorganisms, which showed higher degradation activities to various organic compounds and possessed flocculating activities, were isolated from the earthworm. One of the isolated strains, named JS-01, was further selected due to its higher flocculating activity against 0.5% Kaolin clay. JS-01 was identified as Bacillus pumilus sp. by 16s rDNA analysis. The optimal temperature and pH for the growth of JS-01 to express the flocculating activity was found to be at $37^{\circ}C$ in pH 7.0 of EPS broth medium. JS-01 also expressed good degrading activity against cellulose, which is one of the representative organic materials in food waste. We propose that JS-01 will be a good candidate for the efficient treatment of food waste and leachate due to the property to degrade cellulose and flocculating activity.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.343-349
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• 2013

Environment-friendly agro-materials tend to be preferred to chemical insecticides recently. For this reason, many studies are conducted to develop environment-friendly insecticides containing natural materials. The purpose of this study was to assess ecotoxicity for pepper extract and cassia oil (11.5+46%, A), pepper extract and cassia oil (23+34%, B), and pepper extract and lavender oil (40+10%, C). They are expected to prevent from pests especially diamondback moth, and can be used for agro-materials. Their formulation was emusifiable concentration (EC). Target species used to assess acute toxicity were aquatic invertebrate (Daphina magna), fish (Cyprinus carpio), honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) and earthworm (Eisenia fetida). The $EC_{50}$ value of A, B, and C to aquatic invertebrate were 0.46, 1.9, 0.25 mg $L^{-1}$ respectively and these values were moderately toxic according to standard of USEPA. In case of acute toxicity test to fish, the $LC_{50}$ of A, B, and C were 1.9, 2.9, 3.8 mg $L^{-1}$ respectively. A was category II in acute toxicity of fish and not acceptable to evaluation criteria of environment-friendly agro-materials. B and C were category III and acceptable. Acute contact and oral toxicity test to honeybee were conducted and the $LD_{50}$ of A, B, and C were > 100 ${\mu}g$ a.i. $bee^{-1}$ in both of tests. It indicated they were low toxic to honeybee. In case of acute toxicity test to earthworm, $LC_{50}$ of A, B, and C were 695, 988, and 564 mg $kg^{-1}$. In conclusion, pepper extract+cassia oil 57% EC and pepper extract+lavender oil 50% EC were expected to be used for environment-friendly insecticide materials with low risk against ecosystem and contribute to developing environment-friendly agro-materials.

• The Korean Journal of Soil Zoology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.81-85
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• 1999

Efficiencies of hand sorting, vermifuge application and combined methods of them for sampling earthworms in the field were compared. 1) hand sorting : sampling unit of soil (50 cm${\times}$50 cm${\times}$30 cm, width${\times}$length${\times}$depth) was dug out and earthworms were sorted by hands. 2) Vermifuge application : Solution of mustard, pepper or formalin was treated onto the soil surface of smpling unit (50 cm${\times}$50 cm, width${\times}$length). 3) Combined method : In a sampling unit of soil (50 cm${\times}$50 cm${\times}$30 cm, width${\times}$length), hand sorting was carried out into the depth of 10 cm or 15 cm and then vermifuge was treated. Earthworms were collected more in numbers by hand sorting than vermifuge application although it was much more time-consuming and labor intensive. Efficiency of mustard to extract earthworms was as same as formalin but much better than that of pepper. Combined method of hand sorting with mustard treatment was more efficient than vermifuge applications and other combined methods. And it could collect earthworms as many as hand sorting, but was much less time-consuming and labor-intensive than hand sorting. Thus combined method of hand sorting (to the depth of 15 cm) with mustard treatment could be recommended for the sampling of earthworms in the field.