• Toxicological Research
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.261-267
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• 2011

Artemisia iwayomogi, a member of the Compositae, is a perennial herb easily found in Korea and used as a traditional medicine to treat liver disease. AIP1, a water-soluble carbohydrate fraction from Artemisia iwayomogi, showed anti-tumor and immuno-modulating activities in animal studies. A subacute toxicological evaluation of AIP1 was performed for 4 weeks in ICR mice. After administration of AIP1 (0, 20, 100, 500 mg/kg/day), the clinical signs, mortalities, body weight changes, hematology, blood clinical biochemistry, urinalysis, organ histopathology, organ weights and gross finding were examined. The results showed that there were no significant differences in body weight changes, food intakes, water consumptions, or organ weights among different dose groups. Also we observed no death and abnormal clinical signs during the experimental period. Between the groups orally treated with AIP1 and the control group, there was no statistical significance in hematological test or serum biochemical values. Histopathological examination showed no abnormal changes in AIP1 groups. These results suggest that no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of the oral administration of AIP1 for 4 weeks was considered to be more than 500 mg/kg/day in mice under the condition investigated in current study.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.411-416
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• 2018

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is one of the most heavily used organophosphate pesticides and is useful as an insecticide drug. However, CPF also causes toxic effects in nontarget organisms, including humans and animals. Jageum-Jung (JGJ) is a traditional oriental medicine, composed of five specific herbs with antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties, used for detoxification. In the present study, highly concentrated CPF was orally administrated to male Institute of Cancer Research mice to produce acute toxicity, and the protective effects of JGJ administration were investigated through statistical analysis of changes in body and organ weights and serum biochemical parameters. JGJ caused body and organ weights to recover and reduced the levels of serum biochemical parameters indicative of liver damage, such as glutamic oxalate transaminase, glutamic pyruvate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactic dehydrogenase, urea, glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride, that had been increased by CPF treatment. Our results demonstrated that JGJ ameliorates the effects of acute chlorpyrifos-induced toxicity. Therefore, JGJ has the potential to be used as a traditional medicine to alleviate insecticide toxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.393-402
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• 2015

This study was conducted to measure toxicity of 1-chloropropane (CAS No. : 540-54-5). According to the OECD Test Guideline 413 (Subchronic inhalation toxicity: 90-day study), SD rats were exposed to 0, 310, 1,250, and 5,000 ppm of 1-chloropropane for 6 h/day, 5 day/week for 13 weeks via whole-body inhalation. Mortality, clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, motor activity, ophthalmoscopy, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, gross and histopathological findings were compared between control and all tested groups. No mortality or remarkable clinical signs were examined during the study. No gross lesions or adverse effects on body weight, food consumption, motor activity, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, organ weights were observed in any of male or female rats in all tested groups. In serum biochemistry, glucose was significantly decreased in males of 1,250 and 5,000 ppm groups compared to control group in dose-dependent relationship. In histopathological examination, vacuolation of acinar cells was observed in pancreas of all male and female groups exposed to 1-chloropropane. In conclusion, no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be below 310 ppm/6 h/day, 5 day/week for rats.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.155-164
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• 2013

Objectives : This study aimed to evaluate the single oral dose toxicity of Jaeumganghwa-tang (Ziyinjianghuo-tang) and Jaeumganghwa-tang (Ziyinjianghuo-tang) fermented with Lactobacillus acidophyllus in male and female ICR mice. Methods : In this single oral toxicity study, non-fermented and fermented Jaeumganghwa-tang (Ziyinjianghuo-tang) were administered to male and female ICR mice as an oral dose of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg. After single administration, body weight changes, general behavior, adverse effects and mortality were determined for 14 days. Serum chemistry, organ weights and necropsy findings were evaluated at the end of the experiment. Results : There were no mortality or signs of toxicity for 14 days. There were also no significant differences in body weights, organ weights, or serum chemistry values between treatment and control groups. Conclusions : These results indicate that the 50% lethal dose of Jaeumganghwa-tang (Ziyinjianghuo-tang) fermented with Lactobacillus acipophullus may be over 2000 mg/kg. This finding can be expected to provide scientific evidence for the safety of Jaeumganghwa-tang (Ziyinjianghuo-tang) fermented with Lactobacillus acidophyllus.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.3
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• pp.356-360
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• 2018

The fermentation of medicinal herbs facilitated by microbes is assumed to exert promising therapeutic efficacy on the absorption, bioavailability, and pharmacological effects by speeding up the making or conversion of active constituents into their metabolites. We examined the cardioprotective potential of fermented ginseng, GBCK25, against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced metabolic and functional illnesses as following the essential analysis such as electrocardiographic parameters, alterations of body and organ weights, and echocardiographic studies. The results exhibited that body weights were significantly reduced and the gain of different organ weights were partly eased by GBCK25 treatment. Echocardiography results proposed the amelioration of heart function through normalized levels of left ventricle systolic pressure, ejection fraction, and fractional shortening. These outcomes deliver straight confirmation that GBCK25 could be a potential nutraceutical source for the relief of HFD-induced obesity mediated cardiac dysfunctions.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.43-49
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• 2001

This study was performed to elucidate the effects of copper poisoning on the reproductive organ of rats. After consecutive oral administrations of copper sulfate, the weights of testis, the numbers and motilities of sperms, organ weights and histological changes of testes were compared between control and experimental groups. 1. Testis weights of 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 ppm/kg of copper sulfate-administrated rats gradually decreased compared with control group, and the values no significant changes. 2. The sperm numbers of 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 ppm/kg of copper sulfate-administrated rats were lowered in dose dependent manners than those of control group's and the values no significant changes. 3, The motilities sperms of 1,000, 2,000 or 4:000 ppm/kg of copper sulfate-administrated rats decreased significantly in dose-dependent manners compared with those of control group's. 4. The weights of livers and kidneys of 1,000, 2,000 or 4,000 ppm/kg of copper sulfate-administration rats decreased or increased. 5. Necrosis of hepatocytes around the central veins and infiltrations of fine granules-harboring macrophages in periportal and interstitial tissues were found out in the livers of copper sulfate-administrated rats. The Bowman's capsule and tubules of kidneys were filled with hyaline material.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.327-339
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• 2023

Objectives : This study conducted a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity test in order to up-cycling Schisandra fruit extract powder(SFEP) using discarded Schisandra chinensis by-products and evaluated the NOAEL of SFEP. Methods : SD-rats were orally administered SFEP at concentrations of 0, 62.5, 125, and 250 mg/kg once daily for 90 days. Body weights and clinical signs were observed during the administration period. After completion of the experiment, the experimental animals were autopsied to observe necropsy findings and organ weights changes, and hematological parameters and blood chemistry values were measured. Results : During the SFEP administration period, clinical signs such as salivation, wounds, and erosion were sporadically observed in 1 to 2 animals. In the SFEP 250 mg/kg administered group, weights of the liver and thyroid gland significantly increased compared to the control group, but no significant changes were observed in organ weights according to body weights. As a result of measuring hematological parameters and blood chemistry values, a decrease in RDW, T-BIL, and TBA, and an increase in TP, ALB, and Ca were observed due to SFEP administration. However, these changes following SFEP administration were accidental and not dose-dependent. Additionally, no correlation was found between gender and other parameters. Conclusions : Therefore, the NOAEL of SFEP was confirmed to be 250 mg/kg.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2 s.62
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• pp.32-51
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• 2005

Objectives: To study the effect of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba extracts, that have been used as oriental medicine to treat liver disease, on the perinatal and lactational n;)productive toxicity of SD rats when administered by oral lavage. Methods: Female SD rats were dosed from 6 days of gestation to 3 weeks postpartum. This was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the KFDA Guidelines for Detection of Toxicity to Reproduction for Medicinal Products. Results: No Artemisiae Capillaris Herba extracts treatment-related changes in clinical signs, mortalities, implantation number, dead fetus number, loss rate of fetus, number of live young, survival rate of fetus, sex ratio of live young, external anomalies, pregnancy periods, viability index, lactational index, survival rate of litters at 4 days after birth or delivery index were demonstrated in any dosed levels in this study. However, the body weight and gains, food consumption and absolute organ weights of brain, adrenal glands, liver, spleen, kidney, ovaries and heart were significantly increased in 2000 or 1000mg/kg-dosing groups and the relative organ Weights of adrenal glands were significantly increased in 2,000mg/kg-dosing groups. Therefore, it was concluded that this increase was natural according to growth. Also, no changes of gross findings, clinical signs, mortalities, body weight and gains, physical development results, necropsy findings, organ weight, faculty test, open filed test and water-filled simple T-maze test, copulation, fertility, pregnancy indices, body weight and gains during gestation periods, necropsy findings, corpora lutea number, implantation number, implantation rate, dead fetus number, post-implantation loss rate, live young, post-implantation survival rate, sex ratio of live young, external anomalies and individual body weights of live young were demonstrated in any dosed levels in this study. Conclusions: It is considered that the NOAEL (No-Observed-Adverse-Effect Level) for perinatal and lactational reproductive toxicity of Artemisiae Capillaris Herba extracts was up to 2000mg/kg/day because no changes of other perinatal and lactational reproductive indices were demonstrated.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-171
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• 2017

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in a polymerization reaction in the production of polycarbonate plastics. It has been used in many consumer products, including plastics, polyvinyl chloride, food packaging, dental sealants, and thermal receipts. However, there is little information available on the inhalation toxicity of BPA. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine its inhalation toxicity and effects on the estrous cycle, spatial learning, and memory. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 0, 10, 30, and $90mg/m^3$ BPA, 6 hr/day, 5 days/week for 8 weeks via whole-body inhalation. Mortality, clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum chemistry, estrous cycle parameters, performance in the Morris water maze test, and organ weights, as well as gross and histopathological findings, were compared between the control and BPA exposure groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in serum chemistry and organ weights upon exposure to BPA. However, there was no BPA-related toxic effect on the body weight, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weights, estrous cycle, performance in the Morris water maze test, or gross or histopathological lesions in any male or female rats in the BPA exposure groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggested that the no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) for BPA in rats is above $90mg/m^3$/6 hr/day, 5 days/week upon 8-week exposure. Furthermore, BPA did not affect the estrous cycle, spatial learning, or memory in rats.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.102-106
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• 2009

We exposed ICR mice to low-dose (0.2 Gy) and low-dose-rate (0.7 mGy/h) $\gamma$-radiation ($^{137}Cs$) in the Low-dose-rate Irradiation Facility at the Radiation Health Research Institute to evaluate systemic effects of low-dose radiation. We compared the body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells and platelets), levels of biochemical markers in serum, and frequency of micronuclei in polychromatic erythrocytes between low-dose irradiated and non-irradiated control mice. The ICR mice irradiated with total doses of 0.2 and 2 Gy showed no changes in body and organ weights, number of blood cells (white and red blood cells), or frequency of micronuclei in the polychromatic erythrocytes of peripheral blood. However, the number of platelets (P = 0.002) and the liver weight (P < 0.01) were significantly increased in mice exposed to 0.2 and 2 Gy, respectively. These results suggest that a low-dose-rate of 0.7 mGy/h does not induce systemic damage. This dose promotes hematopoiesis in the bone marrow microenvironment and the proliferation of liver cells. In the future, the molecular biological effects of lower doses and dose rates need to be evaluated.