• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.51 no.spc1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2006

Rice is the most important crop in Korea and its annual production of 5.2 million ton is followed by over 0.5 million ton of bran as by-products of milling process. Although rice bran contains various nutritious and pharmaceutical compounds, rice brans are rarely utilized as functional food sources in Korea. In recent, tocotrienols are well known having distinctive pharmaceutical effectiveness. So tocotrienols extracted from rice bran oil were evaluated about Pharmaceutical function. The $IC_{50}$ of tocotrienols products against liver cancer, HepG2 cells were $149mg\;mL^{-1}$, indicating anticancer activity of final products. By animal feeding tests, the final products containing tocotrienols did not induce any toxicity signs in mortality, Incidence of clinical signs, body weight, etc. after a single oral administration, which proved safety of the tocotrienol products. In conclusion, tocotrienol extracted from rice bran has pharmaceutical activity without any toxic effects, which is also suggested tocotrienol products may be a good fortifying nutrition far the health and medical care.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.304-309
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• 2010

Scutellaria pinnatifida A. Hamilt. (Lamiaceae) is an endemic Turkish herb. This plant is also endemic to Iran, and grows abundantly in other central and western Asian countries. Several species of the Scutellaria are known for their traditional uses in the treatment of hypertension, arteriosclerosis, inflammatory diseases, hepatitis, allergy, cancer and diarrhoea. Free-radical-scavenging property, antibacterial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of the n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of S. pinnatifida were assessed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, the resazurin microtitre plate based assay, and the brine shrimp lethality assay, respectively. The DCM and MeOH extracts exhibited free-radical-scavenging property, with the $RC_{50}$ values of 0.362 and 0.127 mg/ml, respectively. Among the solid-phase extraction fractions of the MeOH extract, the 50% aqueous-MeOH fraction showed the highest level of free-radicalscavenging activity ($RC_{50}$ = 0.039 mg/ml). While the DCM extract showed low level of antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis and ampicillin-resistant Escherichia coli, the MeOH extract was active against B. cereus, B. subtilis, E. coli and ampicillin-resistant E. coli. However, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the MeOH extract against these bacterial strains were >10 mg/ml. None of the extracts showed any significant toxicity towards brine shrimps ($LD_{50}$ = > 1.00 mg/ml).

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.2015-2020
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• 2012

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a naturally occurring triterpenoid in food materials and is a component of the leaves and roots of Olea europaea, Viscum album L., Aralia chinensis L. and more than 120 other plant species. There are several reports validating its antitumor activity against different cancer cells apart from its hepatoprotective activity. However, antitumor activity against skin cancer has not beed studied well thus far. Hence the present study of effects of OA against HaCaT (immortalized keratinocyte) cells - a cell-based epithelial model system for toxicity/ethnopharmacology-based studies - was conducted. Radical scavenging activity ($DPPH{\cdot}$) and FRAP were determined spectrophotometrically. Proliferation was assessed by XTT assay at 24, 48 and 72 hrs with exposure to various concentrations (12.5-200 ${\mu}M$) of OA. Apoptotic induction potential of OA was demonstrated using a cellular DNA fragmentation ELISA method. Morphological studies were also carried out to elucidate its antitumor potential. The results revealed that OA induces apoptosis by altering cellular morphology as well as DNA integrity in HaCaT cells in a dose-dependent manner, with comparatively low cytotoxicity. The moderate toxicity observed in HaCaT cells, with induction of apoptosis, possibly suggests greater involvement of programmed-cell death-mediated mechanisms. We conclude that OA has relatively low toxicity and has the potential to induce apoptosis in HaCaT cells and hence provides a substantial and sound scientific basis for further validation studies.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.245-251
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• 2000

In order to search the target organ of cylclohexane toxicity, the rats were intraperitoneally treated with cyclohexane (1.56 g/kg of body wt.) four times every other day. In the increasing rate of organ weight per body weight (%) in cyclohexane-treated animals, the lung was highest among the liver, spleen, small intestine, stomach, heart and kidney. And in the decreasing rate of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-Pase) activity in each organ, that of lung was also highest among all organs. Lung MDA content was significantly increased (p<0.05) by the cyclohexane treatment. On the other hand, microsomal aniline hydroxylase activity in lung tissue both of control and cyclohexane-treated rats was greatly low as could be scarcely measured, but that in liver possessing high activity was significantly increased (p<0.05) in cyclohexane-treated rats compared with control. Alcohol dehydrogenase activity in lung was markedly higher than that of liver and the latter was significantly (p<0.05) increased by the cyclohexane treatment. In conclusion, cyclohexane treatment to the rats showed mainly lung toxicity and it may be responsible for cyclohexanon, cyclohexane metabolite, distributed from liver.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 1999

Lipopolysaccharide(LPS) from Vibrio vulnificus was purified, the fatty acid composition was analyzed, and Limulus gelation activity and lethal toxic activity were tested in order to investigate the cause of cytotoxicity by V. vutnificus. These results were compared to those of Escherichia coli LPS and Salmonella typhimurium LPS. LPS from V. vulnificus had a different fatty acid composition from those of E coli and S. typhimurium. The major fatty arid from each LPS was lauric acid for E. coli, rapric acid for S. typhimurium, and myristic acid for V. vulnificus. The Limulus gelation activities of three LPSs were the same(0.1ng/ml) and the lethal toxicity in BALB/c mouse of V vulnificus LPS was similar to those of E. coli LPS and S. typhimurium LPS. Such factor as exotoxin need to be considered to be the cause of cytotoxicity by V. vulnificus LPS.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.775-781
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• 2003

In this study, we investigated to elevate the modulatory effect of flavonoid(fustin, sulfuretin, 10 mg/kg) which was isolated from Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS) in male Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 weeks on the toxicity of paraquat. In the flavonoids pretreated groups, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, malondialdehyde and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum and malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen in lung tissue which was induced paraquat toxicity were slightly decrease compared to the normal group. In the lung tissue of flavonoids pretreated groups, malodialdehyde value, G-6-phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis were recovered to tile normal values and alkaline phosphatase activity was increased. From these results, we concluded that flavonoids which were isolated from RVS is an effective agent to inhibit the pulmonary and internal toxicities and hence we concluded that acitive components of fustin and sulfuretin which were isolated from RVS might be removed free radicals induced by paraquat.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.32 no.8
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• pp.795-801
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• 2010

The acute toxicity of arsenic compounds was assessed and compared using following four bioassays; bioluminescence activity of the recombinant strain RB1436, germination of four different seeds, ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity produced by Bacillus lichemiformis, acute genetic revertant mutation using mutant strain Salmonella typhimurium. Different sensitivities were observed among tested bioassays, but generally the toxicity by arsenite was greater than that of arsenate. Among tested four seeds, sensitivities of Lactucus and Raphanus were greater than others, and these two seed types were appeared as proper type for bioassay. High revertant mutation ratio (5.1) was observed with 1 mg/L arsenite, indicating high mutagenicity. The sensitivity of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase activity on arsenic compounds was much lower than other methods. The evaluation of interactive toxic effects using various bioassays may comprise a useful tool for the bioassessment of environmental pollutants.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.13-24
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• 2019

Numerous ethnomedicinal uses have been attributed to different parts of Annona senegalensis (ASE), including its uses as food and food additives. The present study investigated toxicological and antioxidant effects of 28 days administration of ethanol extracts of ASE stem bark to Wistar strain albino rats. Acute toxicity test was done to determine lethal dose in Wistar rats while sub-acute toxicity test was conducted on rats divided into four groups (A - control, B - 50 mg/kg, C - 100 mg/kg, D - 150 mg/kg, respectively and treated for 28 days. Oxidative stress markers in liver and kidney as well as hepatic succinate dehydrogenase activity in the mitochondrial and post mitochondrial fractions (PMF) were evaluated. The $LD_{50}$ value of ASE was > 2,000 mg/kg. White blood cell counts gradually increased, but red blood cell counts and haematocrits level decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by about 50%. Liver enzymes in the serum and mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase activity increased significantly (p < 0.05). Superoxide dismutase and catalase activities also increased in liver mitochondria and PMF while malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione levels increased only in the PMF. Furthermore, only MDA levels increased significantly in the kidney after 28 days extract administration. Histopathological examination showed hepatic necrosis and no obvious signs of nephrotoxicity. Anona senegalensis is relatively safe, but prolonged ingestion could induce oxidative stress and impair ATP synthesis through the modulation of the activity of mitochondrial succinate dehydrogenase.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.81-91
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• 2023

Purpose: Edible insect extracts have been used as an alternative source for medicinal supplements due to their significant antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity. Recent studies have reported that anti-microbial peptides from insects have neuroprotective effects on dopamine toxins. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective functions of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) extract (MWE) on N-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced cellular toxicity in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Methods: Cellular toxicity induced by the MPTP toxin and the impact of MWE on cell survival were analyzed using MTT assays. DAPI staining was performed to observe apoptotic phenomena caused by MPTP. Changes in caspase-3 activity and protein expression were observed using enzyme activity assays and western blot assays, respectively. Results: MWE exerted significant antioxidant activity, which was measured by both DPPH and ABTS radical assays, with a dose-dependent relationship. Furthermore, MWE resulted in cellular proliferation in SHSY5Y cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MWE pretreatment significantly inhibited MPTP-induced cytotoxicity, with a dose-dependent relationship. The morphological characteristics of apoptosis and increased reactive oxygen species induced by MPTP were also significantly reduced by MWE pretreatment. Conclusion: MWE treatment significantly attenuated MPTP-induced changes in the levels of proteins associated with apoptosis, such as caspase-3 and PARP. These findings suggest that MWE exerts neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells subject to MPTP-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 1980

Potential antinumor activity of sixteen Korean medicinal plants was tested against leukemia SN 36, murine tomor model. Survival studies by measuring life span indicated that Morus alba (Moraceae), Verbascum phlomoides (Scrophulariaceae), Curcuma longa (Zingbieraceae), Torilis japonica (Umbelliferae), Bupleurum falcatum (Umbelliferae) and Codonopsis pilosula (Campanulaceae) exhibited significant antitumor activity with the dose-schedule employed in the experiment. Methanol (70%) extracts of Platycodon gradiflorum (Campanulaceae), Bupleurum longeradiatum (Umbelliferae) and Asiasarum sieboldii (Aristolochiaceae) showed rather potent toxicity.