• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.241-251
• /
• 2010

Crucian carp (Carassius auratus) has been used as the sentinel species for POPs (Persistent Organic Pollutants) monitoring in aquatic environment. However, there is little information for dioxin toxicity and especially, early life stage toxicity in crucian carp have been never carried out. In this study, we investigated several toxic effects for 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) in fertilized egg obtained by natural fertilization from crucian carp. The embryos at 3 h post-fertilization (hpf) were treated with 0.039, 0.156, 0.625, and 2.5 (${\mu}g/L$) TCDD by waterborne exposure for 60 minutes and changed with fresh water 2 times per day. Fertilized eggs started hatching at 51 hpf and TCDD exposed embryo showed decrease of hatching rate in a dose-dependent manner at 75 hpf. Pericardial edema was continuously observed in larvae exposed to TCDD from hatching start time (51 hpf), followed by the onset of mortality. In addition, AhR-related gene, CYP1A was clearly increased by TCDD in a dose dependent manner. These results indicated that fertilized eggs obtained from crucian carp have the TCDD related gene regulation and a distinct TCDD developmental toxicity syndrome by TCDD exposure. Therefore, we suggested that early life stage test in crucian carp could be used as test methods on dioxins toxicity.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.135-150
• /
• 2016

Research Methods: This research analyzed the data on those aged 20 and older from the Report on Korean Medicine Usage Research, which was conducted in 2011. The definitions of toxicity were defined by the presence of toxicity listed in the survey. The questions used in analysis were sex, age, household income, health insurance, medical fees, satisfaction rates on treatments, as well as the types of diseases and the presence of toxicity from treatments. The analysis was done through frequency analysis using SAS 9.2 and Fisher's Exact Test. Results: Toxicity occurred in 2.1% patients out of the 3518 studied. The types of toxicity were skin problems, such as hives and pruritus (34.7%), gastrointestinal problems (20.8%), neurological diseases (4.2%), liver(1.4%), kidney toxicity(1.4%), and others (22.2%). There were no differences in toxicity by sex, age, household income and the types of health insurances. However, toxicity were positively correlated with the increase in standard of education (p=0.0124). In addition, as treatment costs increased (p<0.0001) and satisfaction rates decreased, toxicity increased (p<0.0001). Toxicity increased in patients with low back pain (p=0.0429), hwabyung (p=0.0392), lumbar sprain (p=0.0004), correction body type (p=0.0118), growth (p=0.0045), and from motor accidents (p=0.0448). In logistic regression analysis, Toxicity were positively correlated with medical fees, and cancer treatment and negatively correlated with satisfaction rate on treatments. Conclusion: The toxicity that occurred in outpatients who used Korean medical clinics mostly happened in skin, digestive organs, nerves, livers, and kidneys toxicity. The occurrences differed by the Educational lengths, expensive costs of treatments, low satisfaction rates of the treatments, and cancer.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.15-18
• /
• 2011

The toxicities of phenanthrene (PH) and pyrene (PY) are less than benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), but both compounds are found in higher concentrations in the air, feed, and food. Most PAHs are metabolized to hydroxylated compounds by the hepatic cytochrome P450 monooxigenases system. Metabolites are excreted into urine and feces. We determined concentrations of PH, PY and BaP in muscle and hydroxylated metabolites, 3-OH-PH, 1-OH-PY, and 3-OH-BaP, respectively, in urine from dairy cattle (n = 24). We also evaluated the relationship between parent compounds in muscle and their metabolites in urine. Concentrations of PH and PY in muscle ranged from 0.7~4.8 ng/g ($1.8{\pm}1.7$) and 0.4~4.1 ng/g ($1.2{\pm}1.2$), respectively. Concentrations of 3-OH-PH and 1-OH-PY in urine ranged from 0.1~5.9 ng/ml ($2.9{\pm}3.7$) and 0.5~3.6 ng/ml ($1.9{\pm}2.3$), respectively. Correlation coefficient for PY concentration in muscle versus 1-OH-PY in urine was 0.657 and for PH concentration in muscle versus 3-OH-PH in urine was 0.579. Coefficient determination for PY and PH concentrations in muscle was 0.886 and for 1-OH-PY and 3-OH-PH in urine was 0.834. This study suggests that 1-OH-PY and 3-OH-PH could be used as biomarkers for PAHs exposure in dairy cattle.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.80-86
• /
• 2017

BACKGROUND: Pesticides is exposed in an aquatic environment and effected to benthic animals. Especially, sediment-associated pesticides is required for determination of sediment toxicity on aquatic organisms. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of six pesticides (chlorfluazuron, difenoconazole, dithianon, flufenoxuron, flutianil, pendimethalin) on Chironomus riparius in aquatic ecosystems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chlorfluazuron, difenoconazole, dithianon, flufenoxuron, flutianil and pendimethalin were used as a model compounds, which have a sediment-associated potential ($K_{oc}$>3). Acute and chronic toxicity tests on Chironomus riparius were performed at six concentrations of each pesticide with four replicates of each based on OECD test guideline 235 and 218. The calculated 48-h $EC_{50}$ values of chlorfluazuron, flutianil, pendimethalin, difenoconazole, dithianon and flufenoxuron were 6.72, 2.55, 2.27, 0.77, 0.30 and 0.11 mg/L, respectively. Flufenoxuron was the lowest 48-h $EC_{50}$ value in this study. The No Observed Effective Concentration (NOEC) and the Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC) of flufenoxuron for Chironomus riparius in 28-days test were 30 and $60{\mu}g/kg$, respectively. CONCLUSION: Pesticides of the sediment-associated have the potential effect for Chironomus riparius in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, sediment toxicity assessment of these pesticides should be further investigated to evaluate the impact to benthic organisms.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.200-230
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Ginseng, Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng, has been used for thousands of years in Traditional Korean Medicine. Red ginseng can be made by a steaming process of white ginseng changing a variety of ginsenosides and ingredients such as dencichine. This article reviews red ginseng for mechanisms for pharmacodynamics and toxicity based on the content of ginseng's active ingredients, ginsenoside changed by steaming. Methods: The following electronic databases were searched: PubMed, Science Direct and Chinese Scientific Journals full text database (CQVIP), and KSI (Korean Studies Information) from their respective inceptions to June 2012. Results: Compared with unsteamed ginseng, the content of ginsenosides Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 called red ginseng-specific ginsenosides increased after the steaming process. Different ginsenosides have shown a wide variety of effects such as lowering or raising blood sugar and blood pressure or stimulating or sedating the nervous system. Especially, the levels of Rg2, Rg3, Rg5, Rh1, Rh2 and Rk1 were increased by the steaming process, showing a variety of pharmacodynamics in biological systems. Also, various processing methods such as puffing and fermentation have been developed in processing crude ginseng or red ginseng, affecting the content of ginseng's ingredients. The safety issue could be the most critical, specifically, on changed ginseng's ingredients such as dencichine. The level of dencichine was significantly reduced in red ginseng by the steaming process. In addition, the possible toxicity for red ginseng was affected by cytochrome P450, a herbal-drug interaction. Conclusions: The variety of pharmacological and toxicological properties should be changed by steaming process of Panax ginseng C. A., white ginseng. Even if it is not sure whether the steaming process of white ginseng would be better pharmacologically, it is sure that steaming reduces the level of dencichine causing a lower toxicity to the nervous system.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.134-144
• /
• 2015

The anti-diabetic effects of Allium tuberosum Rottler extracts (ATE) and ATE fermented with lactic acid bacteria in db/db mice were evaluated. The electron donating activity of ATE fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum, and Lactobacillus casei, respectively, increased compared to that of ATE, but the superoxide radical scavenging activity of the ATE incubated with L. plantarum decreased. The superoxide radical scavenging activity of the ATE fermented with both L. plantarum and L. casei was similar to that of the ATE. Therefore, fermented ATE (FATE) was prepared for in vivo testing by incubating it with both L. plantarum and L. casei. The db/db mice were divided into six groups: normal (non-diabetic mice), diabetic control (DM), and four experimental groups administered 200 or 400 mg/kg/day ATE (ATE200 and ATE400) and 200 or 400 mg/kg/day FATE (FATE200 and FATE400). Weight gain was significantly inhibited in the FATE200 group compared with that in the other db/db mice groups (p<0.05). The areas under the curve of the ATE400 and FATE400 groups were significantly smaller than that of the DM group in the glucose tolerance evaluation. The serum glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in the ATE400 and FATE400 groups increased. These results indicate that administering ATE and FATE may be effective against anti-hyperglycemia by regulating insulin resistance. In particular, FATE may be beneficial for controlling obesity in type 2 diabetes.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.67-72
• /
• 2014

Objectives: This study evaluated the single-dose toxicity of Saeng Maek San (SMS) in rats. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech (Chungwon, Korea), an institute authorized to perform non-clinical studies under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). A single-dose intravenous toxicity study was carried out on 40 6-week-old Sprague-Daley rats. The animals were randomly divided into the following four groups of ten animals each: Group 1 (G1) was the control group, with each animal receiving an intravenous injection of 1.0 mL of saline, and Groups 2, 3 and 4 (G2, G3 and G4) were the experimental groups, with the animals in the groups receiving an injection of 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mL of SMS, respectively. Mortality, clinical signs, body-weight changes and gross pathological findings were observed for 14 days following a single administration of SMS or saline. Organ weights, clinical chemistry and hematology were analyzed at 14 days. This study was conducted with the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups, indicating that the lethal dose of SMS in rats is greater than 1.0 mL/animal. Some changes in weights of male rats between the control group and the experimental groups were observed, but no significant changes in the weights of female rats were noted. To identify abnormalities in organs and tissues, we stained representative sections of each specified organ with hematoxylin and eosin for examination with a light microscope. No significant abnormalities were observed in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusion: The results suggest that intravenous injection of SMS is a safe method of treatment.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.61-65
• /
• 2014

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the oral toxicity of Gami-Jakyak Gamcho buja Decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments. Methods: All experiments were conducted at the Medvill, an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. In order to investigate the oral toxicity of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of Mecasin, 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg, were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 10 mL/kg, was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical signs, and gross findings. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. Although slight decreases in the weights of some female rats were noted on the third day, no significant changes in weights or gross findings between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs. Conclusion: The results showed that administration of 500 - 2,000 mg/kg of Mecasin did not cause any changes in weight or in the results of necropsy examinations. It also did not result in any mortalities. The above findings suggest that treatment with Mecasin is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.48-52
• /
• 2012

Objective: This study was performed to analyze the single-dose toxicity of Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. pharmacopuncture (AKRP). Methods: All experiments were conducted at the Korea Testing & Research Institute (KTRI), an institute authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Twenty (20) Sprague-Dawley rats were chosen for the pilot study. The animals were divided into four groups of five animals per group: group 1 (G1) being the control group with each animal receiving an injection of 0.3 ml of saline and groups 2, 3, and 4 (G2, G3, and G4) being the experimental groups with each animal receiving an injection of 0.1, 0.2 or 0.3 ml of AKRP, respectively. This study was conducted with the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the 4 groups, and the $LD_{50}$ of AKRP administered via IV was higher than 1.77 ml/kg. Some changes in the weights of the male rates were observed between the control group and the experimental groups, but no significant differences were noted in the weights of the female rats. To check for abnormalities in organs and tissues, we stained representative sections of each specified organ with Hematoxylin & Eosin for light microscopic examination. The results showed no significant differences in any of the organs or tissues. Conclusions: The above findings suggest that Aconitum kusnezoffii Reichb. pharmacopuncture is a relatively safe treatment. Further studies on the subject should be conducted to yield more concrete evidence.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.18 no.3
• /
• pp.63-67
• /
• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the single-dose oral toxicity of the super key (processed sulfur). Methods: All experiments were conducted at Medvill, an institution authorized to perform non-clinical studies, under the Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) regulations. In order to investigate the oral toxicity of super key. We administered it orally to Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The SD rats were divided into four groups of five male and five female animals per group: group 1 being the control group and groups 2, 3, and 4 being the experimental groups. Doses of super key 500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/kg and 2,000 mg/kg were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution, 10 mL/kg, was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rates, weights, clinical signs, gross findings and necropsy findings. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. (Approval number: A01-14018). Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the four groups. Although slight decreases in the weights of some female rats were noted, no significant changes in weights or differences in the gross findings between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. To check for abnormalities in organs, we used microscopy to examine representative histological sections of each specified organ; the results showed no significant differences in any of the organs. Conclusion: The results of this research showed that administration of 500 - 2,000 mg/kg of super key did not cause any changes in the weights or in the results of necropsy examinations. Neither did it result in any mortalities. The above findings suggest that treatment with super key is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed to yield more concrete evidence.