• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.215-224
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• 2019

As various populations are rapidly becoming an aging society worldwide and interest in health issues has increased, demand for functional foods including herbal products has increased markedly to maintain a healthy state which has led to safety issues about their intake as an inevitable result. The objective of this study was to identify the safety profile of a Korean red ginseng and Salvia plebeia R. Br. extract mixture (KGC-03-PS) which is a valuable ingredient that can be used as a functional food. In the present study, the subacute oral toxicity and bacterial reverse mutagenicity of KGC-03-PS were evaluated. Sprague Dawley rats were administered KGC-03-PS orally for 28 days by gavage. Daily KGC-03-PS dose concentrations were 0, 500, 1,000, or 2,000 mg/kg body weight (bw) per day. Bacterial reverse mutation test with KGC-03-PS dose levels ranging from 312.5 to $5,000{\mu}g/plate$ was carried out by OECD test guideline No. 471. Five bacterial strains (Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537, and Escherichia coli WP2) were tested in the presence or absence of metabolic activation by plate incorporation method. There were no toxicological effects related with test substance in the clinical evaluation of subacute oral toxicity test including clinical signs, body weight, and food consumption. Moreover, no toxicological changes related to KGC-03-PS were observed in the hematological and serum biochemical characteristics as well as in the pathological examinations, which included organ weight measurements and in the gross- or histopathological findings. KGC-03-PS did not induce an increase in the number of revertant colonies in all bacterial strains of the bacterial reverse mutation test. The no-observed-adverse-effect level of KGC-03-PS is greater than 2,000 mg/kg bw/day, and KGC-03-PS did not induce genotoxicity related to bacterial reverse mutations under the conditions used in this study.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.225-234
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• 2001

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRGWE) on developmental toxicity caused by the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) in Sprague-Dawley rats. fifty males successfully mated were randomly assigned to five experimental groups, 1.e., group I (vehicle control), group II (BPA 1000mg/kg), group III (KRGWE 400mg/kg), group IV (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 200mg/kg), and group V (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 400mg/kg). The test articles were administered by gavage to mated females from gestational days (GD) 1 through 20 (sperm vaginal lavage=day O). All females were subjected to caesarean section on GD 21 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. In the group II, significant maternal toxic effects including suppressed body weight, decreased body weight gain during pregnancy, and reduced food consumption were observed in pregnant rats. The minimal developmental toxicity including fetal ossification delay was also found in fetuses. In addition, a tendency for increased pregnancy failure, increased pre-and postimplantation loss, and decreased fetal body weight was observed. However, no fetal morpho-logical abnormalities were seen in surviving fetuses at a dose level of 1000mg BPA/kg. On the other hand, the maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity found in the groups IV and V were comparable to those of the group II. There were no adverse signs of either maternal toxicity or developmental toxicity in the group III. These results showed that administration of BPA at a dose level of 1000mg/kg to pregnant rats resulted in significant maternal toxicity and minimal developmental toxicity, and that no protective effects on BPA-induced maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity were found by concomitant gavage dosing of KRGWE.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.222-228
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• 2008

Algal Growth-inhibition tests were conducted with 6 pesticides butachlor GR (5%), butachlor EW (33%), isoprothiolane GR (12%), isoprothiolane EC (40%), diazinon GR (3%) and diazinon EC (34%) to determine their comparative toxicity to three species of freshwater green algae Selenastrum capricornutum, Scenedesmus subspicatus, Chlorella vulgris and one species diatom Nitzschia palea. The test species were exposed to the test pesticide for 72 hours and the toxicity represented $EC_{50}$ value calculated by the reduction in growth rate at 72 hours. The toxicity of EC or EW formulation to green algae and diatom was higher than the toxicity of GR formulation at all test in this study. Also, the toxicity of EC formulation was higher than the toxicity technical pesticide. These results indicate that the types of pesticide formulation may affect on their toxicity on algae and the green alga, S. capricornutum and S. subspicatus were more sensitive than C. vulgris. Also, the sensitivity of the diatom, N. palea showed equal or lower than S. capricornutum, S. subspicatus but more sensitive than C. vulgris.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

Objectives: In this study, we investigated the 4-week repeated-dose oral toxicity of gami-jakyak gamcho buja decoction (Mecasin) to develop safe treatments. Methods: In order to investigate the 4-week oral toxicity of Mecasin, we administered Mecasin orally to rats. Sprague-Dawley (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 Mecasin of 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg of body weight were administered to the experimental groups, and a dose of normal saline solution of 10 mL/kg was administered to the control group. We examined the survival rate, weight, clinical signs, and gross findings for four weeks. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths occurred in any of the four groups. No significant changes in weights or food consumption between the control group and the experimental groups were observed. Serum biochemistry revealed that some groups showed significant decrease in inorganic phosphorus (IP) (P < 0.05). During necropsy on the rats, one abnormal macroscopic feature, a slight loss of fur, was observed in the mid dosage (1,000 mg/kg) male group. No abnormalities were observed in any other rats. In histopathological findings, the tubular basophilia and cast of the kidney and extramedullary hematopoiesis of the spleen were found. However, those changes were minimal and had occurred naturally or sporadically. No other organ abnormalities were observed. Conclusion: During this 4-week, repeated, oral toxicity test of Mecasin in SD rats, no toxicity changes due to Mecasin were observed in any of the male or the female rats in the high dosage group. Thus, we suggest that the doses in a 13-week, repeated test should be 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg respectively.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2009

KNI3126 which is the eco-friendly material made by plant extracts - neem and matrine - have been evaluated for efficacies against 6 main pests and toxicity on natural enemies. Insecticidal efficacies of KNI3126 against plant hopper were above 95% at 5 days after treatment (DAT), whereas pesticidal effects against the cotton aphid were above 95% at 3 DAT and slightly decreased at 5 DAT. Insecticidal efficacy against the palm thrips resulted in lower control value as 68.1% than that of chemical insecticides. KNI3126 showed more than 95% control value against diamond back moth, suggesting that it could suppress the population of pest hard to control as eco-friendly material. Mortalities against two-spotted spider mite were about 80% at 1 DAT and over 90% at 5 DAT, respectively. For evaluation of the toxicity on natural enemies, effect against predatory natural enemy was classified as moderate selective toxicity based on the criterion of International Organization of Bio-Control (IOBC), whereas against parasitic natural enemies was found to be relatively safe. Repellent effect was weak against plant hopper, but strong against two-spotted spider mite. In the toxicity test for safety, KNI3126 was classified as the lowest level at acute oral, acute dermal and fish toxicity test and did not induce the irritancy at skin irritation test and eye irritation test.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.357-369
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• 2007

Water fleas are very important organisms in aquatic ecosystem because they are key constituents of food webs as either glazers or foods for predators. Daphnia magna is a representative test species and it has been extensively used in ecotoxicity evaluation. However, Daphnia magna has not been found yet in Korean water environment. There are limitations of using the foreign species such as Daphnia magna to reflect domestic situations in Korea. Consequently it is mandatory to find domestic species suitable for bioassay, and to develop corresponding toxicity test methods using the domestic species. In this study, we widely collected the domestic and foreign toxicity test methods performed by using domestic water fleas in Korea. The 58 test methods were collected from the standard methods (OECD, US EPA, ASTM), government reports, SCI papers and domestic papers. Ten domestic water fleas selected were Bosmina longirostris, Ceriodaphnia dubia, Ceriodaphnia reticulata, Daphnia obtusa, Daphnia puex, Moina macrocopa, Moina micrura, Simocephalus mixtus, Simocephalus serrulatus, and Simocephalus vetulus. We suggested the domestic ecotoxicity test methods using domestic water fleas in Korea through providing a range of test conditions, and future directions for toxicity test using water flea. This study could be a useful basis for establishing the aquatic toxicity test methods with domestic organisms in Korea.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.135-144
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• 1999

Environmental toxicities of priority water pollutants were evaluated by two selected bioassays, Lettuce seed germination/elongation test and Microtox acute toxicity test. Toxic chemicals (heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phenolic compounds) inhibited the germination rate and root elongation of Lettuce seed, as well as the bioluminescence of Microtox bacteria. When test biota were exposed to target chemicals, the sensitivity of Lettuce bioassay was relatively lower than that of Microtox bioassay. However, Lettuce bioassay may be a good candidate for prescreening the environmental toxicities of priority water pollutants, since the testing method with Lettuce seed was relatively easier and more economic than with Microtox bacteria. Toxicity tests were conducted to compare the validity and sensitivity of both bioassays for sediment from a small stream passed through urban area as well as leachate from a municipal solid waste landfill. From experimental results, we found that Lettuce test and Microtox test are compensated each other as a battery of bioassay for evaluating the environmental toxicities of field samples obtained from a small stream contaminated by pollutants.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.274-276
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• 2005

To investigate bioassay for toxic level evaluation of wastewater, toxic levels were checked influents and effluents of 6 wastewater discharge facilities with Daphnia magna and Vibrio fischeri. In view of test duration, D. magna is preferred at 48 hours. And it was judged to efficient that one of the two was choosen for toxicity test method (Daphnia test and Vibrio test). Analysis data for wastewater is average toxic level for influent more higher than effluent. And effluent toxic level is sharp decrease than effluents.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.20 no.4 s.64
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• pp.26-32
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• 2006

Nowadays in Korea, KS F 2271 has been using for the test of fire safety performance of sandwich panels. Smoke toxicity test is the test for the toxicity evaluation of smoke and hazardous gas, caused by combustion of building materials and finishing materials. Smoke toxicity can be evaluated by the mean incapacitation time of mice; however this method is not a quantitative way. This test result can be influenced by the health status of mice and test condition. Specific optical density can be quantitatively measured by ISO 5659-2 single chamber method and toxic gases can be quantitatively measured by FTIR analysis. In this study, specific optical density of sandwich panel insulations, which are widely used in Korea, were tested using the ISO 5659-2 single chamber test method and compared with each test. Also, in the second test of three tests for each specimen, FTIR analysis was performed and quantitative test results(HCl, $NO_2$, etc) were compared with each test result.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to examine the four week repeated toxicity in Sprague-Dawley rats orally administrated with Rhus-II (water fraction of Rhus Veniciflua). In acute toxicity test, three groups (40 rats of both sex) were administrated different dosages of Rhus-II, 2 g/kg (high dosage group), 1 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg and one group (10 rats of both sex) were received by orally only saline according to the Regulation on Korea Food and Drug Administration, respectively. There was no difference in body weight change, feed intake and water consumption among different dose groups. There was no alteration in relative organ weight by the administration of Rhus-II. No death of abnormal clinical signs was observed during the experimental period. Between the groups orally administered Rhus-II and the control group, there was no statistical significance in urinalysis, hematological test or serum biochemical values. There were no gross findings at final sacrifice. There was no evidence of histopathological alteration mediated by four week treatment with Rhus-II. These results suggest that no observable effect level(NOEL) of the test orally administration was considered to be more than 2g/kg in rats under the conditions employed in this study.