• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.280-286
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• 2023

In humic substances, fulvic acid (FA) is a subclass of diverse compounds known as humic substances, which are by-products of organic degradation from microorganisms. FA can suppress the proliferation of tumor cells. Despite numerous studies, the exact mechanism for the various effects of FA is not clearly understood. Based on results demonstrating anti-proliferation effects on human cancer, we investigated whether FA has similar effects on lung cancer in this study. Firstly, the anti-cancer effect of FA in pulmonary epithelial tumor cell lines (TC-1 cells) was examined by confirming its inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation of TC-1 cells. TC-1 cell proliferation was reduced by FA on a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. After 24 hours of FA treatment, cell morphological changes such as cell volume decrease, non-adherence and increased number of apoptotic cells were clearly observed. In addition, FA induced a DNA ladder pattern by increased of DNA fragments in TC-1 cells. In the intracellular regulatory pathway by FA, we confirmed that FA induced the reduction of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2 protein levels. These results indicate that FA has anticancer effect by inducing intracellular apoptotic pathway. Further research on the mechanism of anticancer effects will be basic data for the development of potential anticancer drugs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.650-658
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• 2010

We used green manure crops such as hairy vetch, crimson clover, rye, sorghum, and sudan grass by mixing with soils to assess the effects of green manure crops on nutrient supply and soil quality improvement. Temporal changes in soil inorganic nitrogen, carbohydrate, microbial biomass, and humus content were determined as soil quality indicators. Inorganic nitrogen content of the control maintained similar level during the whole period, but it had continually increased until 4 weeks after incorporation (WAI) of green manure crops. Especially, inorganic nitrogen content sharply increased in sudan grass. After incorporation of green manure crops, temporal change of soluble sugar in soils was as follows: it had gradually increased in legume green manure crops-incorporated soils until 7 WAI, which was the highest, and then showed the tendency to be reduced. Meanwhile, it in non-legume green manure crops-incorporated soils rapidly increased after the incorporation, and reached the maximum around 4 WAI. Humic acid by the decomposition of crop residues in green manure crops-incorporated soils was greatly enhanced with the elapsed time of 4 WAI, although it was low at the same level as the control until 2 weeks. In addition, there was a difference in fulvic acid by incorporated crops, fulvic acid in hairy vetch, sorghum and sudan grass showed a similar tendency with the change in humic acid. Our results suggest that soluble sugar, microbial activity and humic acid could be available indicators to evaluate the fertility of green manure crops-incorporated soils.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.163-172
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• 2004

The molecular size distribution and fluorescence properties of soil fulvic acids (FA) were characterized by using gel filtration chromatography (GFC) and luminescence spectroscopy. The objectives of this work were to fractionate the FA extracted from a forest soil into different nominal molecular size using GFC system and to characterize the fluorescence properties (excitation, emission and synchronous) of these fractions using luminescence spectrometer. The GFC column was calibrated with polyethylene glycols, acetone and dextrane Blue. The total permeation volume of the GFC system was 404 mL and the void volume 130 mL. The GFC molecular weight of the soil FA was in the range of 190~8,900 Dalton and the molecular weight at the peak on the chromatogram was 930 Dalton. The fluorescence intensity ratio ($I_{498nm}/I_{390nm}$) was found to be increased with an increasing molecular weight. This results may suggest that the fulvic acid fractions with high molecular weight have large amount of the condensed aromatic compound.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.341-345
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• 2014

Fate of fenarimol, chlorothalinol, and ethoprophos sprayed to control disease and pest was studied in a agroforest culture field of Jangsu-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea. Concentrations of fenarimol, chlorothalinol, and ethoprophos in runoff water ranged mostly to 0.2 mg/L at the first rainfall-runoff event. And then was rapidly decreased than detection limit at 60 days after the application. The fenarimol and chlorothalonil residue in soil was dissipated to below detection limit at 30 days after the application. But ethoprophos was decreased to below detection limit at 135 days after the application. The concentrations of experimental pesticides were highly detected in agroforest culture field than in open culture field. It is assumed that experimental pesticides were strongly adsorbed by organic matter such as fulvic acid and humic acid.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 1995

A study was undertaken to compare degradation patterns of carbofuran in soils between submerged and upland moisture conditions [$3-^{14}C$]Carbofuran was treated in each soils at the rate of 1.0 mg/kg (87.8 kBq $^{14}C/50g$ soil) and the time-course analysis for distribution of radioactivity and degradation products were conducted. Differences in the pathway and rate of carbofuran degradation in soils were observed between submerged and upland moisture conditiona major degradation being hydrolysis at 7-C position and oxidation at 3-C position, respectively. Carbofuran showed less persistence in soils of higher moisture contents A significant portion, $24{\sim}39%$ of the total radioactivity, resided in soils as nonextractable residues at 60 days after treatment The nonextractable radioactivity was mainly located in soil organic matter, fulvic acid, humic acid and humin factions Gel filtration chromatography confirmed the incorporation of carbofuran and its degradation products into the organic matter.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.254-263
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• 1988

Contents and distribution of amino acids in the humic acid and fulvic acid fractions of different types ($R_p$, B, A, P) were investigated. Extracted humic and fulvic acids were purified and analyzed. The results are summarized as the following: (1) Composition of Humus The total humus ($H_T$), amount of humic acid (a), amount of fulvic acid (b), and ${\Delta}logK$ all decrease in the order of $R_p$ > B > A > P type. The same trend was observed in the total nitrogen and carbon. (2) Contents and composition of amino acids in humic acids. 1) The total amounts of amino acids in the humic acid fraction of different types were in the following order for soils under coniferous forest trees: $R_p$ > B > A > P type, but for soils under deciduous forest trees the order was P > A > $R_p$ > B type. There were positive correlationships between total amino acids and total carbon and ${\Delta}logK$ for humic acids from soils under coniferous forest trees, but a negative correlationship was existed. between total amino acids and C/N ratios. No significant correlation was found for samples taken from soils under deciduous forest trees. 2) The ratios of one group of amino acids to the others were compared. The ratios of acidic amino acids were in the order of P > $R_p$ > B > A type. those of neutral amino acids followed the order of $R_p$ > B > A > P type and those of the basic amino acids were in the order of B > A >$R_p$ > P type for soils under coniferous forest trees. Contents of total amino acids were in the order of the neutral > the acidic > the basic amino acids. For the soils under deciduous forest trees the order of the ratio was different. Acidic amino acids followed the order of A > P > B > $R_p$ type, neutral ones followed the order of P > $R_p$ > A > B type, and the basic amino acids did the order of $$P{\geq_-}$$ A > B $$\geq_-$$ $-R_p$ type where the difference was very small. 3) In general aspartic aicd, glycine and glutamic acid were the major components in all samples. Histidine, tyrosine and methionine belonged to the group contained in a small amount. (3) Contents and composition of amino acids in fulvic acids. 1) The total amounts of amino acids of different types of fulvic acids were in the order of $R_p$ > B > P > A type regardless of origin of samples. There were positive correlationships observed between the toal amino acids and total carbon and ${\Delta}logK$ for soils under coniferous forest trees. For soils under deciduous forest trees, positive correlationships were observed among total amino aicds, total nitrogen, total humus ($H_T$), total humic aicd (a), and ${\Delta}logK$, but a negative correlationship existed between total amino acids and C/N ratio. 2) Thr ratio among acidic amino acids, neutral amino acids and basic amino acids of different types were $R_p$ > B > P > A type. In this respect there was no difference between the two soils. 3) In general glycine, aspartic acid, and alanine were the major constituents in all samples of different types, while tyrosine and methionine were contained in a small amount. Virtually no amount of arginine was measured.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.283-291
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• 2003

Humic and fulvic acids present in soils of different depth were extracted and their acidic functional groups and structural characteristics were analyzed and compared. The purpose of this study was to present a basic data needed to evaluate the effect of humic substances on depth distribution and migrational behaviour of radioactive elements deposited on soil. Acidic functional groups of the humic and fulvic acids were analyzed by pH titration method, and their proton exchange capacity (PEC, $mq\;g^{-1}$) and average $pK_a$ values were obtained. Structural characteristics of the humic and fulvic acids were analyzed using their CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectra and elemental composition data. pH titration data showed that fulvic acids have higher acidic functional group contents ranging from 5.5 to $7.0meq\;g^{-1}$ compared with that of humic acids ($3.8{\sim}4.8meq\;g^{-1}$). From depth profiles, it has been found that PEC values of humic acids in deeper soil (> 8 cm) were higher than those at the surface soils. Elemental compositions (H/C ratio) and spectral features ($C_{arom}/C_{aliph}$ ratio) obtained from CPMAS $^{13}C$ NMR spectra showed that the aromatic character in humic acids was a relatively higher than that of fulvic acids, while lower in carboxyl carbon content. The aromatic character and carboxyl carbon contents of humic acids tend to increase as soil depth increased, but those of fulvic acid showed little differences by the soil depth range.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.233-240
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• 2016

Control degree and property changes of dissolved organic matter (DOM) were conducted by coagulation of chemical treatment for 2 sewage treatment plants with different technical methods. As the result, SUVA value of the second treated water (supernatant of the second settling pond after biological treatment) was increased and DOC was reduced in comparison with supplied raw water. And, SUVA value and DOC were reduced by coagulation after coagulation treatment of the second treated water. Properties of dissolved organic matter for 2 sewage treatment plants's DOC were divided. As the result, there was lots of hydrophilic component with hydrophilicity in case of plant A. In case of the second treated water, Plant A showed fulvic acid with little molecular weight was reduced among the hydrophobic component with hydrophobicity, but numic acide with lots of molecular weight was increased. However, in case of plant B, both fulvic acid with little molecular weight and humic acid with lots of molecular weight were increased among the hydrophobic components with hydrophilicity. Before the operation of phosphorus facility, properties of dissolved organic matter after biodegradation with effluent water showed hydrophilic components were reduced and hydrophobic components were increased. However, after coagulation treatment of the second treated water, hydrophilic components and hydrophobic components were outstandingly decreased or increased. During the biodegradation after coagulation treatment, hydrophilic components were significantly decreased and hydrophobic components were increased.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1067-1074
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• 2008

In this study, the organic carbon normalized-sorption coefficients (Koc) for the binding affinity of phenanthrene (PHE) to 16 different soil humic and fulvic acids of various origins were determined by fluorescence quenching. The humic and fulvic acids used in this study were isolated from 6 different domestic soils including Mt. Hanla soil, IHSS standard soil and peat as well as Aldrich humic acid and characterized by elemental composition, ultraviolet absorption at 254 nm, composition of main structural fragments determined by CPMAS $^{13}$C NMR. The Koc values($\times$10$^4$, L/kg C) for each of HA and FA samples were in the range of 1.48$\sim$8.65 and higher in HA compared to that of FA(3.13$\sim$8.65 vs 1.48$\sim$2.48) in the experimental condition([PHE]/[HS] = 0.02$\sim$0.2(mg/L)/(mg-OC/L), pH 6). The correlation study between the structural descriptors of humic and fulvic acids and log Koc values of phenanthrene, show that the magnitude of Koc values positively correlated with the UV$_{254}$ absorptivity([ABS]$_{254}$) and two $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (C$_{Ar-H,C}$, $\sum$C$_{Ar}$/$\sum$C$_{Alk}$), while negatively correlated with the independent descriptors of the(N+O)/C atomic ratios and $^{13}$C NMR descriptors (I$_{C-O}$/I$_{C-H,C}$). These results confirmed that the binding affinity for the hydrophobic organic compound, phenanthrene are significantly influenced by the polarity and aromaticity of soil humc and fulvic acids.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.93-101
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• 2002

The seasonal patterns of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in Lake Kasumigaura, a shallow, eutrophic lake, and serveral DOM sources in its catchment area were investigated. DOM was fractionated using three resin adsorbents into classes: aquatic humic substances (AHS=humic acid+fulvic acid), hydrophobic neutrals (HoN), hydrophilic acids (HiA), bases (BaS) and hydrophilic neutrals (HiN). The DOM produced significantly different fraction distributions depending on the origin of sample. AHS and HiA prevailed over AHS in the lake while AHS and HiA existed at almost the same concentration levels in the rivers. AHS seems to be a more dominant component in rever water than lake water. The dominance of organic acids was also observed in the DOM sources: forest stream (FS), plowed field percolate (PFP), domestic sewage (DS) and sewage treatment plant effluent (STPE).