• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.25-32
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of Hovenia dulcis extract on acute and chronic liver injuries induced by alcohol and $CCl_4$ in mice and rats. Methods : In acute alcohol-induced liver injury, mice were administered Hovenia dulcis extracts (60 and 200 mg/kg) orally before and after alcohol administration. In chronic alcohol-induced liver injury, mice were administered alcohol containing liquid diet for 4 weeks. The mice were administered H. dulcis extracts (60 and 200 mg/kg) mixed with the liquid diet. In acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, rats received a single dose of $CCl_4$ (2 mL/kg in olive oil, intraperitoneally). Rats were administered H. dulcis extracts (30, 100 and 300 mg/kg) before and after $CCl_4$ administrations. After the ends of the administrations, the serum levels of AST and ALT were measured using chemical analyzer, and ${\gamma}$-GTP levels were measured using spectrophotometer. Results : In acute alcohol-induced liver injury, H. dulcis extracts treated group showed significant reduction in ALT levels compared to those of control group. In chronic alcohol-induced liver injury, it inhibited weight-loss compared to normal group and showed significant reduction in AST, ALT and ${\gamma}$-GTP levels compared to control group. In acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury, it also showed significant reduction in AST, ALT levels compared to control group. Conclusions : The results show that H. dulcis extract has hepatoprotective effect in acute and chronic alcohol-induced liver injury and acute $CCl_4$-induced liver injury. These findings suggest that H. dulcis could be a potent hepatoprotective agent.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.203-217
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• 2021

Background: Sea turtles, which are globally endangered species, have been stranded and found as bycatch on the Korean shore recently. More studies on sea turtles in Korea are necessary to aid their conservation. To investigate the spatio-temporal occurrence patterns of sea turtles on the Korean shore, we recorded sampling locations and dates, identified species and sexes and measured sizes (maximum curved carapace length; CCL) of collected sea turtles from the year 2014 to 2020. For an analysis of diets through stomach contents, we identified the morphology of the remaining food and extracted DNA, followed by amplification, cloning, and sequencing. Results: A total of 62 stranded or bycaught sea turtle samples were collected from the Korean shores during the study period. There were 36 loggerhead turtles, which were the dominant species, followed by 19 green turtles, three hawksbill turtles, two olive ridley turtles, and two leatherback turtles. The highest numbers were collected in the year 2017 and during summer among the seasons. In terms of locations, most sea turtles were collected from the East Sea, especially from Pohang. Comparing the sizes of collected sea turtles according to species, the average CCL of loggerhead turtles was 79.8 cm, of green turtles was 73.5 cm, and of the relatively large leatherback turtle species was 126.2 cm. In most species, the proportion of females was higher than that of males and juveniles, and was more than 70% across all the species. Food remains were morphologically identified from 19 stomachs, mainly at class level. Seaweeds were abundant in stomachs of green turtles, and Bivalvia was the most detected food item in loggerhead turtles. Based on DNA analysis, food items from a total of 26 stomachs were identified to the species or genus level. The gulfweed, Sargassum thunbergii, and the kelp species, Saccharina japonica, were frequently detected from the stomachs of green turtles and the jellyfish, Cyanea nozakii, the swimming crab, Portunus trituberculatus, and kelps had high frequencies of occurrences in loggerhead turtles. Conclusions: Our findings support those of previous studies suggesting that sea turtles are steadily appearing in the Korean sea. In addition, we verified that fish and seaweed, which inhabit the Korean sea, are frequently detected in the stomach of sea turtles. Accordingly, there is a possibility that sea turtles use the Korean sea as feeding grounds and habitats. These results can serve as basic data for the conservation of globally endangered sea turtles.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.347-353
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• 2022

In this study, the effect of a synbiotic mixture of probiotics and 3% inulin on the growth, non-specific immune response, and mortality due to disease resistance of Paralichthys olivaceus was investigated. The results revealed that an 8-week diet of synbiotic-added feed, had no significant effect on the growth of P. olivaceus, Analysis of the hematological parameters revealed that there was a significant difference in the content of AST, total protein, and cholesterol among the groups, whereas there was no significant difference in the ALT and glucose contents. Further, there was no significant difference in the lysozyme activity of the synbiotic and control group after 8 weeks' feeding. In addition, when the symbiotic mixture was used rather than probiotics alone, the NBT activity of the synbiotic group increased compared to that of the control group. Moreover, when only probiotics were used, the cytokine expression in the spleen of the samples was significantly lower than that in the control group, whereas the expression was significantly higher in the spleen of the synbiotics group. However, there was no significant difference in the cytokine expression in the liver, intestine, and kidney of the three groups. Lastly, after injection for 2 weeks, the mortality rates of the control group towards Edwardsiella tarda, Streptococcus parauberis, and Streptococcus iniae were 95, 85 and 85%, respectively; those of the probiotics group were 85, 80, and 80%, respectively; and those of the synbiotics group were 80, 80, and 85%, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.56 no.4
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• pp.380-387
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• 2023

Stocking density is associated with Paralichthys olivaceus growth; thus, fish should be rapidly reared at high densities for commercial reasons. Studies have reported that high stocking density retards growth; however, few have investigated the malformations caused by stocking density stress. This study compared the growth and malformation rates of P. olivaceus at different densities and stress- and immune-related gene expression between malformed and normal fish. Forty days post-hatching, fish (total length, 1.49±0.02 cm) were reared at 800 (low density; LD), 1500 (medium density; MD), and 4000 (high density; HD) fish/m², and the growth rate was measured weekly. On day 30, RNA was extracted from the kidneys, and the expression of stress-, immune-, and malformation-related genes was analyzed using qRT-PCR. The malformation rate in the HD groups was approximately three times higher (62%) than that in the LD and MD groups (approximately 20%), and growth was lower regarding length and weight. The stress-related (HSP70 and GPX) and immune-related (PIR and IgM) genes showed higher mRNA expression in the HD group and malformed fish than in the LD group and normal fish. However, TLR3 showed the opposite results. In summary, high stocking density suppressed growth and increased malformation risk in P. olivaceus.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.26-30
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• 2003

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction was determined in microsomes of three aquacultured fish species (Sebastes schlegeli, Paralichthys olivaceus and Pagrus major) and two wild fish species (Mugil cephalus and Stephanolepis cirrhifey) in vitro exposed to $\beta$-naphthoflavone (BNF). The microsomes of five fish were exposed to BNF (5 mM or 10 mM) in dimethylsulfoxide at $30^{\circ}C$ for 9 hr. The CYP contents in most fish increased according to exposure duration for 3 or 5 hour, and then decreased, while steady increase of CYP was observed in P. major for 9 hour. The induction of CYP contents in aquacultured fish species (207~422%) were higher than those in wild fish species (206~207%).

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.200-206
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• 1984

This study was conducted to examine the morphological, physical and chemical characteristics of the Bancheon, Gopyeong, Hwadong and Deogpyeong series derived from diluvium in Korea. The results were as follows. 1. The sequence of the Bancheon, Gopyeong, Hwadong and Deogpyeong series consists of the soil catena. Thus, the Bancheon and Gopyeong series are weil drained, the Hwadong and Deogpyeong series moderately well drained due to the influence of topography and irrigation water. 2. The surface soils of the Bancheon and Gopyeong series are yellowish red, dark yellowish brown fine silty texture and the subsoils are yellowish red, red and strong brown fine clayey with moderate to strong angular blocky or subangular blocky structure with clayey cutans on the structural face. The surface soils of the Hwadong and Deogpyeong series are dark grayish brown, grayish brown fine silty texture and the subsoils are strong brown, light olive brown and brownish yellow fine silty or fine clayey with moderate to strong prismatic, angular blocky or subangular blocky structure with clayey cutans on the structural face. The consistences of all the subsoil horizons are extremely compact and hard, whereas sticky and plastic when wet. 3. The lower the topography, the higher the silt/clay ratio, soil reaction, organic matter, available water and phosphate content but the higher the topography, the higher the active iron content. 4. These soils are classified as Hapludalfs by Soil Taxonomy in U.S.D.A. 5. These soils must be applied with much lime, phosphate and compost to improve the soil fertility.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.88-94
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• 1999

Objectives. In order to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of DMF toxicity, recent studies have focused on hepatic drug metabolizing enzymes. In this study, we investigated the effects of DMF on the induction of P450 and the activities of other related enzymes in rat liver microsomes. Methods. DMF was administered to male Sprague Daweley rats by intraperitoneal injection at 0(control), 450(D1), 900(D2), 1,800(D3) mg DMF/kg body weight in olive oil once a day for three days. Hepatic P450 was measured by method of Omura and Sato. We evaluated selective assays for the three drug metabolizing cytochrome P450 isoenzymes 1A1, 2B1 and 2E1. Results. The content of microsomal protein, P450 and b5 were tended to be decreased in DMF treated group, but they were not statistically significant. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase was significantly increased dose dependently(p<0.01), but the activity of NADH-b5 reductase was decreased in the treated group(p<0.01). The activities of PROD and EROD were not significant between control and treated group. The activities of pNPH in the DMF treated groups were higher than that of the control group(p<0.01). When Western immunoblottings were carried out utilizing three monoclonal antibodies which were specific against P4501A1/1, P4502B1/2 and P4502E1, the strong density band corresponding to P4502E1 was observed with the microsomes obtained from the rats treated with DMF. But there were no significant increased in the P4501A1/2 and P4502B1/2 band densities in immunoblotting. Conclusions. These result suggested that P4502E1 was inducible by DMF and P4502E1 isozyme might be responsible for the hydroxylation of DMF to HMMF.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.16 no.2 s.27
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• pp.45-53
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• 1980

Lipid peroxidation in vitro has been identified as a basic deteriorative reaction in cellular mechanism of aging processes, such as air pollution oxidant damage to cell and to the lung, chlorinated hydrocarbon hepatotoxicity. Many experimental evidences were reported by several investigators that lipid peroxidation could be one of the principle causes for the hepatotoxicity produced by $CCl_4$. It is now reasonably established that $CCl_4$ is activated to a free radical in vivo, that lipid peroxidation occurs very quickly in microsomes prepared from damaged livers, that the peroxidation is associated with loss of enzyme activity of microsomes, and that various antioxidants can protect animals against the hepatotoxic effect of $CCl_4$. Recent studies have drawn attention to some other feature of microsomal lipid peroxidation. Incubation of liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH has led to a loss of cytochrome $P_{450}$. However, the presence of an antioxidant prevented lipid peroxidation and preserved cytochrome $P_{450}$. Decrease of cytochrome $P_{450}$ in microsomes under in vitro incubation can be enhanced by $CCl_4 and these changes were parallel to a loss of microsomal polyunsaturated fatty acid and formation of malonaldehyde. The primary purpose of this experiment was to study the effect of riboflavin tetrabutylate on lipid peroxidation, specially, the relationship between lipid peroxidation and drug metabolizing enzyme system which is located in smooth endoplasmic recticulum as well as the effect of ritoflavin tetrabutylate on drug metabolizing enzyme system of animal treated with $CCl_4$. Albino rats were used for experimental animal. In order to induce drug metabolizing enzyme system, phenobarbital was injected intraperitoneally. $CCl_$ and riboflavin tetrabutylate were given intraperitoneally as solution in olive oil. Microsomal fraction was isolated from liver of animals and TBA value as well as the activity of drug metabolizing enzyme were measured in the microsomal fractions. The results are summerized as following. 1) The secobarbital induced sleeping time of $CCl_4$ treated rat was about 2 times longer than that of the control group. However, the pretreatment with riboflavin tetrabutylate inhibited completely the lengthened sleeping time due to $CCl_4$ treatment. Furthermore TBA value was significantly increased in $CCl_4$ treated rat in comparison to control group tut the increase of TBA value was prevented by the pretreatment with riboflavin tetrabutylate. On the other hand, the activity of hepatic drug metabolizing enzyme was decreased in $CCl_4$ group, however, the pretreatment with riboflavin tetrabutylate also prevented the decrease of the enzyme activity caused by $CCl_4$. 2) The effect of riboflavin tetrabutylate on TBA value and the activity of drug metabolizing enzyme in vitro was similar to in vivo results. Incubation of liver microsome from rat in the presence of $CCl_4$, $Fe^{++}$, or ascorbic acid has led to the marked increase of TBA value, however, the addition of riboflavin tetrabutylate in incubation mixture prevented significantly the increase of TBA value, suggesting the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In accordance with TBA value, the activity of drug metabolizing enzyme was inhibited in the presence of $CCl_4$, $Fe^{++}$, ascorbic acid but the addition of riboflavin tetrabutylate protected the loss of the enzyme activity in microsome under in vitro incubation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.818-823
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• 2011

Recently, we showed that green tea extract (GTE) markedly lowers the intestinal absorption of $^{14}C$-benzo[a]pyrene ($^{14}C$-BaP) and enhances its secretion into the biliary route, suggesting a protective role for GTE against body burden. These findings indicate that green tea could be used as an effective dietary means against the toxicity of BaP. The present study, therefore, was designed to investigate if green tea intake could affect the tissue distribution and deposition of $^{14}C$-BaP in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats had free access to a nutritionally adequate AIN-93G diet and deionized water. At ~340 g of weight, the rats were injected intraperitoneally with 27.4 kBq of [4-$^{14}C$]-BaP and 5.0 mg of BaP dissolved in $300\;{\mu}L$ of olive oil and then assigned randomly to the following two groups: one group (GTE) of rats was fed the AIN-93G diet with GTE via drinking water at approx. 4.7 mg of catechins/d, whereas the other was fed the same diet but without GTE (control). At 4 wk of dietary treatment with GTE, animals were euthanized and heart, liver, brain, spleen, kidney, retroperitoneal fat, testis, and epididymal fat were collected, weighed, and analyzed for tissue $^{14}C$-BaP. Both the control and GTE groups continuously gained weight throughout the study, but there was no significant difference between the groups. No significant differences were observed in the weights of heart, liver, brain, spleen, kidney, retroperitoneal fat, testis, and epididymal fat. However, the radioactivities of $^{14}C$-BaP, expressed in dpm/g, were significantly lower in the heart, liver, brain, spleen, and epididymal fat of rats receiving GTE as compared to their respective controls. These data indicate that green tea intake markedly lowers tissue accumulation of $^{14}C$-BaP. Taken together, these findings suggest that the decreased tissue levels of BaP by GTE intake may be associated with lowered intestinal absorption of BaP and its enhanced secretion into the bile.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.103-108
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• 2001

Toxic effect of TBTO on larva flounder was studied by the use of a food-chain system in which indirect toxicity from seawater or/and plankton can be measured, Under the treatment of 0.5 ng/L TBTO, the combined effect of diets ( Chlorella and rotifer) and seawater was significant by synergism, although the sole effect from TBTO treated diets or seawater was equally not, The values of $LT_{50}$ from results of acute-toxicity experiments for juvenile flounder were estimated to be 230.0, 48.0, 24.0, 14.6, 9.3 5.5 3.0 and 1.7 hr at 1, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 ng/L of TBTO, respectively, and $96hr-LC_{50}$ was 3.5 ng/L. From the above results, the experiments for chronic toxicity of TBTO was executed at the concentration range of $1\sim10 ng/L$. In long-term experiments for four months, the weight and the total length of the juvenile flounder in all TBTO treated experiments slowly increased when compared to control. No significant differences in the growth and survival of the juvenile flounder were found in the treatment of 1 ng/L TBTO(P>0.05), But, $90\%$ of the juvenile flounder died in 20 days under TBTO treated seawater at both concentrations of 5 and 10 ng/L, The TBTO treated on seawater was more effective and significantly different in the growth and survival of the juvenile flounder when compare with that on artificial diets (P<0.05). From the all results, TBTO should be regulated below 5 ng/L in a coast.