• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Life Science Conference
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• 2005.09a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2005

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 1997

The proteinase-activated receptor (PAR-2) belongs to the family of seven transmembrane region receptors, like the thrombin receptor, it is activated by specific proteolytic clea vage of its extracellular amino terminus and a synthetic peptide (SLIGRL). The earthworm protein fraction (EPF) extracted from Lumbricus rubellus elicted dose- and endothelium-dependent relaxations in phenylephrine-contracted rat thoracic aorta, whereas heat inactivated EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml) had no effect. In the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor NG-methyl-L-arginine (1.8 micro M), EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml)-induced relaxations were partially inhibited. Furthermore, EPF (0.5 ${\mu}g$ /ml) dramatically caused relaxation of thrombin-desenstized rat thoracic aorta. These results indicate that EPF activates PAR-2 in vascular endothelial cell. Intravenous injection of EPF (20 mg/kg, bolus) into anesthetized rats produced a marked depressor response. EPF (0 ~ 80 ${\mu}g$ /ml, gradient) was very effective on increasing of perfusion volume in rabbit ear vessel preparations. These results imply the usefulness of EPF as a vascular smooth muscle relaxant and indicate that the activation of PAR-2 may be a mechanism of EPF on hemokinetic improvement.

• BMB Reports
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.500-506
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• 1996

We have isolated a water-extracted novel regulator for blood coagulation from an earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus. As a folk remedy, the earthworm has been known to facilitate blood circulation. After complete heat inactivation of endogenous proteases in the earthworm, an anticoagulant(s) was purified through ammonium sulfate fractionation and three consecutive gel permeation chromatography of Sephacryl S-300, Sephadex G-75, and G-150 by measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) The anticoagulant was further purified to 2,800 fold with a C4 reversed-phase HPLC This activity was stable under heat ($100^{\circ}C$ for 30 min) and acidic conditions (0.4 N HCl). The effects of this partially purified anticoagulant on thrombin were observed with various substrates such as N${\alpha}$-benzoyl-DL-arginine-p-nitroanilide (BApNA), H-D-phenylalanyl-L-pipecoyl-L-arginine-p-nitroanilide (S-2238), N${\alpha}$-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester (TAME), and fibrinogen as a natural substrate. Only TAME hydrolysis, due to an esterase activity of the enzyme, was inhibited among the chromogenic substrates. In addition, the anticoagulant not only inhibited the conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin but also prolonged the fibrin clot formation monitored with the in vitro coagulation test. Based on these observations, we suggest the significance of measuring the ability of antithrombotic drugs to inhibit the esterase activity of thrombin. In this report, it was also shown that the earthworm indeed contained a water-extractable, heat- and acid-stable anticoagulant which could be used as a novel antithrombotic agent.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 1997

Earthworm extracts are known for anti-inflammatory, analgesic. antipyretic, and anticancer effects but can also influence blood circulation. It was previously shown that an earthworm, Lumbricus rubelius. contained a water-extractable anticoagulant which was a heat- and acid-stable molecule with hydrophilic property. In order to uncover the biochemical nature of this molecule, the anticoagulant was processed with various hydrolases such as trypsin, DNase, RNase. and lysozome. When the digested samples were analyzed with an in vitro coagulation test measuring activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and agarose gel electrophoresis, the anticoagulant proved to be a relatively homogeneous DNA fragment with relative molecular size around 72 base pairs. Interestingly, the activity was further stimulated with a trypsin digestion. RNA. on the other hand, did not prolong the APTT. It was also demonstrated that the DNA accelerated the antithrombin III (AT-III) inhibition of thrombin from $IC_{50}$ of 0.34 to 0.16 unit determined with S-2238 as a substrate, whereas heparin, a popular anticoagulant. shifted the value to 0.05. Therefore, it is suggested that the DNA could be considered as an alternative antithrombotic agent to heparin, which would exhibits bleeding side effects.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.374-377
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• 1998

The freeze-dried powder of Lumbricus rubellus earthworm was administered orally to rats and its fibrinolytic and antithrombotic effects were investigated. The fibrinolytic activity of plasma was determined by measuring the plasmin activity of the euglobulin fraction and was increased to two-folds of the control at a dose of 0.5 g/kg/day and five times with 1 g/kg/day after 4-day administration. The antithrombotic effect was studied in an arterio-venous shunt model of rats. The thrombus weight decreased significantly from 43.2 mg to 32.4 mg at a dose of 0.5 g/kg/day after 8-day treatment. The level of fibrinogen/fibrin degradation product (FDP) in serum was elevated in a dose-dependent manner during the treatment period. On the 8th day after administration, the FDP value was increased to 7.7 $\mu\textrm{g}$g/ml compared with the control value of 3.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$g/ml. These results support that earthworm powder is valuable for the prevention and/or treatment of thrombotic conditions.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.44-49
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• 2000

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the adsorption capacity of casts for heavy metals. The casts were excreted by earthworm, Lumbricus rubellus, after having eaten the paper sludge. Various batch experiments on adsorption were performed to compare cast and activated carbon. The pH increase in solution due to extractives from cast was 1.3 and the cation exchange capacity which implies adsorption capacity for solubles is greater on activated carbon than on cast. According to the results of batch experiment, the removal rates of Pb, Cu, Cr, Zn using the activated carbon and casts as adsorbent were 98%, 93%, 94%, 89%, 82% and 95%, 90%, 88%,80%, 66%, respectivity, and this removal were achived less than 90 minutes. It can be said that casts is so good adsorbent as activated carbon is, although adsorption carbon was found to be some large than those of casts through Freundlich isotherm applied for adsorption of soluble. As a result on the experiment of isothermic adsorption from the mixed component solution in the batch, the order of preferable elements in heavy metal adsorption was found to be Pb＞Cd＞Cu＞Cr＞Zn on activated carbon, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 1990

This study was carried out to evaluate the possibllity of composting from cow manure using earthworms. In order to rear earthworms safely and control moisture soil was used as conditioner. Fusarium oxysporum and Fusarium sp.1 were isolated from soil and two isolates of Bacillus sp. were selected as antagonists from earthworm casts. By rearing earthworm, C/N ratio was reduced by 40.9% and 41.9% after 28 days, reducing sugar was also decreased by 37.1% and 37.5%. On the other hand, reduction of C/N ratio in cow manure alone was 9.67% and reducing sugar was 12.01%, respectively. Bacillus sp. was apparently increased in earthworm casts than in ordinary soil. It seemed that the earthworm casts contained antibiotic subatance.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1997 no.11
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• pp.482-483
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• 1997

Antifibrinolytic effect of lumbrokinase in mice, in vivo, was studied. Liquid phase lumbrokinse from Lumbricus rubellus was purified by column chromatography method. Lumbrokinase was orally inserted to mice. Although oral dosage of lumbrokinase, to investigate whether lumbrokinase in mice causes antifibrinolytic effect, we have concentration of lumbrokinase varied, and detection of antifibrinolytic effect was carried out using a FDP (fibrin degradation product) test and euglobulin fibrinolytic activity test. FDP test and euglobulin fibrinolytic activity test were compared the data of PBS ingestion. control with lumbrokinase ingestion. As a result, FDP was increased in 7.8mg, 26mg lumbrokinase concentrations after 25 hours succeeding oral prescription of lumbrokinase, and decreased after 49 hours, but 7.8mg lumbrokinase ingestion more increased than 26mg. Also, FDP of PBS ingestion control and 1.3mg lumbrokinase ingestion were not been observed nothing. Euglobulin fibrinolytic activity of PBS ingestion control and 1.3mg lumbrokinase ingestion were not been observed any clear zone after 8, 25, 48 hours, and 7.8mg and 26mg were observed the most largest clear zone after 25 hours and decreased after 48 hours. However, antifibrinolytic effect of oral prescription of lumbrokinase in mice was observed. Now we need to determine an efficient amount of lumbrokinase for antifibrinolytic effect.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 1996

The study on the ripening of leather waste sludge was performed to vemistabilize the sludge effectively using a laboratory scale darkened wood box reactor ($10{\times}10{\times}20cm$). The acceptable feed conditions for earthworm of Eh, alkalinity were obtained in the 30th and 35th days, respectively. The value of pH was gradually decreased from 7.8 to 7.1 through the ripening time. The contents of heavy metals of the ripened sludge were estimated as lower levels compared to the other regulatory standards for compost. After the ripening time for 50days, the physico-chemical properties of the sludge were estimated as pH 7.1, water content 72%, redox potential 85mV, electrolytic conductivity $2,620{\mu}mhos/cm$ and alkalinity 450 ppm as $CaCO_3$, respectively. In the ripened sludge, survival rate of the earthworms for 50 days was about 75%, and the live weight increase rate was about 230% at the temperature range of $20{\sim}25^{\circ}C$. Moreover, hatching rate of the earthworm cocoons was about 87% and the highest value was obtained in the 20~30th days. From the above results, it was evaluated that leather waste sludge could be vermistabilized effectively by earthworms, when the sludge was ripened during 50 days.