• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.50 no.6
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• pp.629-635
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• 2018

In this study, the safety aspect of Maesil-cheongs with reduced amygdalin levels was investigated in terms of toxicokinetics and repeated oral toxicity. Plasma or UVC treatment was utilized to obtain Maesil-cheongs with reduced amygdalin levels. The toxicokinetic study demonstrated that the oral absorption of amygdalin decreased remarkably after a single-dose oral administration of both plasma- and UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs. The fourteen-day repeated oral toxicity study revealed that plasma- or UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs did not cause changes in body weight, food intake, water consumption, and absolute and relative organ weights. No significant effects on hematological and serum biochemical parameters were found. Histopathological examination showed no abnormality or toxicological change. These findings suggest that plasma- and UVC-treated Maesil-cheongs have no toxicity potential, and these processes will be useful to obtain products with safe, reduced amygdalin levels.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.370-378
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• 2019

The hepatic ischemic model has recently been widely used for the epidemiological study of ischemic reperfusion injury. This study was carried out to investigate the protective effect of vanillin, which is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, against hepatic and renal injury using an ischemia-reperfusion rat model, and we also investigated the mechanism related to vanillins' protective effect. The test material was administered at a concentration of 100 mg/kg for 3 days, followed by ligation of the liver for 60 minutes to induce ischemia reperfusion. As control groups, there was a negative control, sham control and ischemia-reperfusion-only ischemia reperfusion control, and the controls groups were compared with the drug administration group. In the vanillin group, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities were significantly inhibited compared with the AST and ALT activities of the ischemia-reperfusion group, and histopathological examination showed significant reduction of both inflammation and necrosis. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were significantly different from the ischemia-reperfusion group. In conclusion, vanillin showed a hepatocyte protective action by alleviating the cellular inflammation and cell necrosis caused by hepatic ischemia-reperfusion, and vanillin mitigated inflammatory changes in the kidney glomeruli and distal tubules. The protective effect is considered to be caused by vanillin's antioxidant function. Further studies such as on cell death and possibly vanillin's same effect on damaged tissue will be necessary for clinical applications such as organ transplantation.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.101-108
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• 2021

Objectives : A root of Dipsacus asperoides C. Y. Cheng et T. M. Ai (D. asperoides) has been traditionally used as a medicinal resource in several Asian countries, including Korean and traditional Chinese medicine that has been traditionally used for treating several medical conditions including pain, arthritis, and bone fractures in Korea. In the present study, we investigated potential subacute toxicities of D. asperoides extract. Methods : C57BL/6 mice (male, 7weeks) were randomly divided into 4 groups of 5 mice. Except for the control group, the mice were orally administrated D. asperoides extract at doses of 50, 150, or 450 mg/kg/day for 2 weeks. At the end of the treatment period, all mice were euthanized, and the following parameters were examined: mortality, body weight, clinical signs, gross findings, hematology, serum biochemistry, organ weight, and histopathology. Results : There were no abnormalities in mortality, clinical signs, body weight, gross findings, or organ weight after repeated administration of D. asperoides extract for 2 weeks, compared with the control group. In addition, there were no significant changes in hematological, serum biochemical, and histopathological parameters between the control group and D. asperoides extract administrated groups with doses of up to 450 mg/kg/day. Conclusion : In this study, D. asperoides extract showed no significant toxicities at a dose of up to 450 mg/kg/day in mice. Although we could not confirm the toxic dose of D. asperoides extract, it can be considered safe for further pharmacological use.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.117-122
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• 2021

This study is desinged to examine for radiation protection effect of Protaetia Brevitarsis Larvae extracts on the blood and prostate of male rat as a natural radiation protection agent. 5 groups were classified using 90 male rat as experimental animals. Each group was clssified as normal control group (NC Group), the group administered protaetia brevitarsis larvae extracts (PBE Group), irradiated group (IR Group), irradiated group after administration of protaetia brevitarsis larvae extracts (PBE+IR Group), the group administered protaetia brevitarsis larvae extracts after irradiaton (IR+PBE Group). In IR Group, 7 Gy/h of Co-60 gamma ray was irradiated to SD rats. In PBE+IR Group, protaetia brevitarsis larvae extacts wewe injected at 200 mg/kg/day for 14 days before irradiation, In IR+PBE Group, protaetia brevitarsis larvae extract was injeted after irradiation. On the 1, 7 and 21 days after irradiation, the experimental animals were sacrificed to evaluate the changes in blood cell component, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, histopathological evaluation of the liver and prostate gland. As a result, the PBE+IR Group and IR+PBE Group showed a significantly recovery of white blood cell (p<0.01, p<0.01), platelet (p<0.01, p<0.01) than the IR Group. It was also confirmed that SOD activity of PBE+IR Group (p<0.01) and IR+PBE Group (p<0.01) was significantly increased than the IR Group. Also PBE+IR Group and IR+PBE Group showed less inflammatory reactions of cystoplasm in the prostate gland than the IR Group. In conclusion, the protaetia brevitarsis larvae have radioprotection effect against blood and prostate gland. It is expected to be useful for research of radiation protection agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.246-256
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• 2022

The present study focused on the potential mechanism of betulin (BT), a pentacyclic triterpenoid isolated from the bark of white birch (Betula pubescens), against chronic alcohol-induced lipid accumulation and metaflammation. AML-12 and RAW 264.7 cells were administered ethanol (EtOH), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or BT. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed Lieber-DeCarli liquid diets containing 5% EtOH for 4 weeks, followed by single EtOH gavage on the last day and simultaneous treatment with BT (20 or 50 mg/kg) by oral gavage once per day. In vitro, MTT showed that 0-25 mM EtOH and 0-25 µM BT had no toxic effect on AML-12 cells. BT could regulate sterolregulatory-element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), lipin1/2, P2X7 receptor (P2X7r) and NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) expressions again EtOH-stimulation. Oil Red O staining also indicated that BT significantly reduced lipid accumulation in EtOH-stimulated AML-12 cells. Lipin1/2 deficiency indicated that BT might mediate lipin1/2 to regulate SREBP1 and P2X7r expression and further alleviate lipid accumulation and inflammation. In vivo, BT significantly alleviated histopathological changes, reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and triglyceride (TG) levels, and regulated lipin1/2, SREBP1, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor α/γ (PPARα/γ) and PGC-1α expression compared with the EtOH group. BT reduced the secretion of inflammatory factors and blocked the P2X7r-NLRP3 signaling pathway. Collectively, BT attenuated lipid accumulation and metaflammation by regulating the lipin1/2-mediated P2X7r signaling pathway.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.49-57
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• 2022

Objective : This study was conducted to investigate antidiabetic effects of chunggugjang with medicinal herbal complex (CJ) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced animal models. Method : STZ (65 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally to induce diabetes. Then rats were divided into 5 groups ; NG (normal diet + 0.9% saline), COS (STZ +saline 5 mL/kg), COB (STZ + fermented soybean(100 mg/kg), CJ 100/200 (STZ+CJ(100 and 200 mg/kg), CJ 300/600 (STZ+CJ(300 and 600 mg/kg). 4 weeks later, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed. After sacrificing rats, serum levels of blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), and triglyceride (TG) were measured and histological changes were observed. Result : Body weight change and food efficiency ratio (FER) were decreased in the CJ 300/600 group than in the COS group. But, there was no change in water intake. Serum levels of glucose, AST, ALT and BUN were lower in the CJ 300/600 group than in the COS group. Also, TG, TC, and creatinine were decreased in the CJ 300/600 group than in the COS group. According to OGTT, 120 minutes postprandial glucose levels were lower in the CJ 300/600 group than in the COS group. In addition, administration of CJ extracts restored histopathological damage. Conclusion : The results suggest that CJ can be used as a functional material for diabetes treatment as it has the effect to improve pathological symptoms in STZ-induced diabetic rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.4
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• pp.1005-1010
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• 2021

We report a case of Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) related disease involving the pterygoplataine fossa. A 83-year-old male presented with left ocular pain and visual disturbance. CT showed an isodense soft tissue lesion in the left pterygopalatine fossa with bony sclerotic changes and erosion. MRI revealed an infiltrative soft tissue mass in the left pterygopalatine fossa as a T2 slightly low signal intensity and heterogeneous enhancement. The patient underwent left ethmoidectomy, and biopsy of the mass was conducted. The histopathological diagnosis was IgG4-related disease. In this case, it was difficult to differentiate invasive aspergillosis, which is common in immunocompromised patients, considering the patient's clinical history of diabetes mellitus. This report describes the imaging findings of IgG4-related disease mimicking invasive sinusitis such as invasive aspergillosis.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.27-40
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• 1993

This study was taken to examine the light microscopic and ultrastructural changes of gill and kidney of female tilapia{Oreochromis niloticus) adapted in 0%o, 10%o, 20%o, and 30%o salt concentrations, respectively, by light, scanning and transmission electron microscope. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: Gill chloride cell hyperplasia, gill lamellar epithelial separation, kidney glomerular shrinkage, blood congestion in kidneys and deposition of hyalin droplets in kidney glomeruli, tubules were the histological alterations in Oreochromis niloticus. Incidence and severity of gill chloride cell hyperplasia rapidly increased together with increase of salinity, and the number of chloride cells in gill lamellae rapidly increased in response to high external NaCl concentrations. The ultrastructure by scanning electron microscope(SEM) indicated that the gill secondary lamella of tilapia(Oreochromis niloticus) exposed to seawater, were characterized by rough convoluted surfaces during the adaptation. Transmission electron microscopy(TEM) indicated that mitochondria in chloride cells exposed to seawater, were both large and elongate and contained well-developed cristae. TEM also showed the increased chloride cells exposed to seawater. The presence of two mitochondria-rich cell types is discussed with regard to their possible role in the hypoosmoregulatory changes which occur during seawater-adaptation. Most Oreochromis niloticus adapted in seawater had an occasional glomerulus completely filling Bowman's capsule in kidney, and glomerular shrinkage was occurred higher in kidney tissues of individuals living in 10%o, 20%o, 30%o of seawater than in those living in 0%o of freshwater, and blood congestion was occurred severer in kidney tissues of individuals living 20%o, 30%o of seawater than in those living in 10%o of seawater. There were decreases in the glomerular area and the nuclear area in the main segments of the nephron, and that the nuclear areas of the nephron cells in seawater-adapted tilapia were of smaller size than those from freshwater-adapted fish. Our findings demonstrated that Oreochromis niloticus tolerated moderately saline environment and the increased body weight living in 30%o was relatively higher than that living in 10%o in spite of histopathological changes.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 1992

In order to investigate the changes of hydroxyproline amount and pathologic finding in rat lung which were instilled the natural coal and free silica dust intratracheally, the subjects were divided into two groups as follows. The control group was only administered intratracheally 0.5 ml of normal saline, and the experimental groups were instilled at once the turbid solution containing 10 mg, 30 mg and 50 mg of natural coal and free silica dust each, subjects were sacrified at the 3rd and the 20th week each after the experiment. Hydroxyproline amount in the right upper lung was measured by Woessner method and HPLC (modified Dunphy) method, and the pathlogic finding of lung tissue were observed for hematoxylin-eosin staining, Bielschowski method and Masson's trichrome method. The results were as follows. 1) The wet lung weights of all experimental groups excluding in the groups instilled 10 mg and 30 mg of natural coal dust at 3rd week, were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared with control group. The weight in each free silica group was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the same dose of natural coal dust group, while the weight in the same dose group of free silica dust was increased significantly at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. 2) The amount of hydroxyproline were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the natural coal and free silica groups at 20th week compared with the control groups, and in each experimental group instilled the same kind and dose of dust, its amount was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. And also the hydroxyproline in 30 mg and 50 mg free silica groups increased markedly (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the natural coal dust of the same dose. 3) The polymorphonuclear leukocytes, fibroblasts and macrophages in interstitium and alveolar space showed the increasing tendency in the free silica group more markedly than in the natural coal dust group. The exudate in alveolar space at 3rd week was disappeared at 20th week, and pneumoconiotic nodules observed microscopically in all experimental groups at 20th week, while the nodules apeared already at 3rd week in the 30 mg and 50 mg free silica dust groups. The significant increase of Hydroxyproline content in lung tissue and pneumoconiotic nodule formation in experimental groups found in this study indicate that the observation period, dust amount and kind of dust is important factors associated with pneumoconiosis. And these findings were generally more severe in free silica dust groups than in natural coal groups.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.261-270
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• 1989

The present study is intended to observe the chronologic changes of experimental sparganosis by histopathological observation and detection of circulating anti-sparganum IgG antibody using ELISA. Each of 25 mice was infected with aye spargana, and they were examined after 1, 2, 4, 10 weeks or 6 months from infection. The followings are summarized results. - 1. The plerocercoids were detected in the subcutaneous tissue of the trunk, neck or axilla, but a few often extended into the skeletal muscle. The recovery rates were 72% at the first week, 80% at the second week, 95% at the fourth week, 92% at the tenth week and 100% at .the sixth month. The larvae grew slowly in both length and weight until 6 months. 2. Histopathologically, most of the larvae were observed alive in the soft tissue or skeletal muscle. Numerous eosinophils, neutrophils, Iymphocytes and plasma cells were infiltrated focally around the worms by the second week, but they surrounded the worms to form a layer of inflammatory reaction after 4 weeks of infection. Also histiocytes and fibroblasts began to appear around the inflammatory cells at 4 weeks. After 10 weeks, the worms encircled by a thin fibrous layer were found. After 6 months, the worms were surrounded by either fibrous tissue or active inflammatory cells. The inflammation looked more severe in the tracks left by the worms, rather than around the worms. 3, The level of anti-sparganum IgG antibody in the serum showed an increase by the fourth week, and a rapid and continuous increase was observed thereafter by the tenth week after infection. The high level of the IgG antibody was maintained up to 6 months forming a plateau curve. The present results suggest that the tissue reaction and antibody production in subcutaneous sparganosis become distinctive by the fourth week after infection.