• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• 제8권1호
• /
• pp.78-83
• /
• 2000

The objective of this study was to prevalidate the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD) rodent uterotrophic assay as a test method for screening of potential endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). This study was conducted exactly as described in the OECD protocol documents. A positive control substance, 17$\alpha$-ethinyl estradiol (EE), was administered daily for three days to ovariectomized (OVX) Sprague-Dawley rats at various doses for determine the dose-response curve. Additionally, a pure antiestrogenic chemical, ZM189, 154 was administered to OVX rats at the same time EE to determine the effectiveness of the material against blocking the estrogenic effects of EE. At higher concentration of EE (10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg), a statistically significant difference in body weight gain and food consumption was observed compared to vehicle controls. In uterine responses, EE produced a dose-related increase in uterus weights compared to vehicle control. These increases were statistically significant at the >1.0 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg doses. However, a similar dose-response relationship was not observed in vagina weight. A comparison of the two groups receiving ZM189,154 (0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) with 0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of EE and the group receiving only 0.3 $\mu\textrm{g}$/kg of EE showed dose-related decreases in uterus weights. However, statistical significance was shown in 1.0 mg/kg of ZM189,154. In conclusion, administration of EE produced a dose-related increase in uterine (wet and blotted) weights. Additionally, the 1.0mg/kg dose of ZM189,154 was effective in blocking the estrogenic activity of EE. These data suggest 3-day uterotrophic assay using OVX rats may serve as a good tool for EDCs screening.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제35권4호
• /
• pp.371-387
• /
• 2019

Although the dried root of Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Umbelliferae) is a popular medicinal plant in East Asia, there has been no systemic toxicological evaluation of a water extract of Saposhnikoviae Radix (SRE). In this experiment, an oral acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations of SRE (500-5,000 mg/kg body weight) were performed in both sexes of Crl:CD(SD) rats. Based on the results from mortality, clinical signs, effects on body weight and organ weight, clinical biochemistry, hematology, urinalysis, and histopathology, significant acute, 4-week repeated dose range finding (DRF) and 13-week subchronic toxicity of SRE was not observed in either sex of rats; thus, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 5,000 mg (kg/day). To identify anti-hyperuricemia potential of SRE, the suppressive effect of SRE was determined in mice challenged with potassium oxonate (PO; 250 mg/kg) via intraperitoneal injection for 8 days (each group; n = 7). SRE supplementation suppressed the uric acid level in urine through significant xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity. Kidney dysfunctions were observed in PO-challenged mice as evidenced by an increase in serum creatinine level. Whereas, SRE supplementation suppressed it in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, SRE was safe up to 5,000 mg (kg/day) based on NOAEL found from acute and 13-week subchronic toxicological evaluations. SRE had anti-hyperuricemia effect and lowered the excessive level of uric acid, a potential factor for gout and kidney failure.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제48권6호
• /
• pp.335-344
• /
• 2004

Interleukin-2 (IL-2), a glycoprotein mainly secreted by CD4+ T helper Iymphocytes, has been developed to use recombinant cytokine to augment the immune response against cancer since IL-2 not only stimulates T Iymphocytes but also enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity. In order to evaluate the immunological safety of recombinant mouse IL-2 (rmIL-2) in cancer therapy, renal cell carcinoma was established in the flank by s.c. injection of renca cell line. Tumor-bearing BALB/c mice were treated with I.p. injections with $2{\times}10^5$ Lu rmIL-2. Even though the tumor size was diminished, there were not significant recovery of body and relative lymphoid organ weights including thymic atrophy in rmIL-2 immunotherapy. Distribution ratios of T cell subsets in thymus were analysed using flow cytometry. Without regard to dosage of rmIL-2, the ratio of CD3+CD4-CD8- T cells was increased in accordance with survival of solid tumor but that of CD4+CD8+ T cells was decreased dramatically. Emergence of autoantibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, and anti-histone) in blood was measured after rmIL-2 treatment. The results showed that the levels of ANA and anti-dsDNA did not significantly changed, but the level of anti-histone was increased significantly owing to rmIL-2 therapy. These results indicate rmIL-2 immunotherapy is to induce the autoimmune potential, and the anti-histone measurement as a biomarker of autoimmunity is useful in cancer immunotherapy.

• 약학회지
• /
• 제42권4호
• /
• pp.422-430
• /
• 1998

In order to study the effects of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix on hepatic metabolism, we examined the pretreatment effect of those on the metabolism of 7-e thoxycoumarin (EC). Water extracts (1g/kg) of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix were administered orally to rats for 7 days, respectively. Livers were then isolated and perfused with 100mcM EC for 2 hours. The metabolites of EC, 7-hydroxycoumarin, sulfate conjugate and glucuronide conjugate were measured in the perfusates. The amount of glucuronide conjugates was decreased in Rhei rhizoma pretreated rats (p<0.01), however, 7-hydroxycoumarin was increased in Ephedrae herba pretreated rats (p<0.01). We examined whether the change of enzyme activity is related to the change of cytochrome P4501A1 and P4502B1 mRNA level in the perfused rat liver, which are responsible for EC metabolism. CYP1A1 and CYP2B1 mRNA level was increased, which was was not statistically significant with rhei rhizoma nor ephedrae herba pretreatment. We also assessed the hepatotoxicity of Rhei rhizoma, Ephedrae herba and Scutellariae radix. The activities of ALT and AST were assayed at 24 hours after 7 days administration. Only the ratio of ALT over AST was increased in ephedrae herba pretreated rats (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation was increased in Rhei rhizoma treatment (p<0.05), while histopathological examination performed after liver perfusion did not show any difference compared with vehicle treatment. These results suggest that Ephedrae herba pretreatment increases the o-deethy-lation of 7-ethoxycoumarin in rats, which may be mediated by CYP1A1 mRNA induction.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회지
• /
• 제26권4호
• /
• pp.125-132
• /
• 2006

Previous studies showed that epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG) have substantial effects of suppressing the N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine(MNNG)-initiated cell transformation process on the bases of foci formation frequency and loss of anchorage dependency. In this study we tried to clarify the molecular mechanism of suppressing the cell transformation process. Mouse cell line balb/c 3T3 A31-1-1 was exposed 2 days to MNNG followed by 15 days 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate(TPA) treatment for our transformation process. EGCG was added after the time point of 24 hours exposure to TPA and incubated for 19 days. 2029 genes were selected in our transformation process that showed fold change value of 1.5 or more in the microarray gene expression analysis covering the mouse full genome. These genes were found to be involved mainly in the cell cycle pathway, focal adhesion, adherens junction, TGE-$\beta$ signaling, apoptosis, lysine degradation, insulin signaling, ECM-receptor interaction. Among the genes, we focused on the 631 genes(FC>0.5) reciprocally affected by EGCG treatment. Our study suggest that EGCG down-regulate the gene expressions of up stream signaling factors such as nemo like kinase with MAPK activity and PI3-Kinase, Ras GTPase and down stream factors such as cyclin D1, D2, H, T2, cdk6.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제26권1호
• /
• pp.27-37
• /
• 2023

Objectives: Moroccan Arbutus unedo is an essential medicinal plant; however, little is known about the biological properties of its leaves mentioned in Moroccan traditional medicine. Methods: Various standard experiments were performed to evaluate the phytochemical, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and acute and sub-chronic toxicity characteristics of A. unedo leaves. Results: Phytochemical screening led to the identification of several phytochemical classes, including tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones, with high concentrations of polyphenols (31.83 ± 0.29 mg GAEs/g extract) and flavonoids (16.66 ± 1.47 mg REs/g extract). Further, the mineral analysis revealed high levels of calcium and potassium. A. unedo extract demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities by inhibiting α-amylase (1.350 ± 0.32 g/mL) and α-glucosidase (0.099 ± 1.21 g/mL) compared to the reference drug Acarbose. Also, the methanolic extract of the plant exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract. Precisely, three of the four examined bacterial strains exhibited substantial susceptibility to the methanolic extract . Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values indicated that A. unedo harbor abundant bactericidal compounds. For toxicological studies, mice were administered with A. unedo aqueous extract at single doses of 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg. They did not exhibit significant abnormal behavior, toxic symptoms, or death during the 14-day acute toxicity test and the 90-day sub-chronic toxicity test periods. The general behavior, body weight, and hematological and biochemical status of the rats were assessed, revealing no toxicological symptoms or clinically significant changes in biological markers observed in the mice models, except hypoglycemia, after 90 days of daily dose administration. Conclusion: The study highlighted several biological advantages of A. unedo leaves without toxic effects in short-term application. Our findings suggest that conducting more comprehensive and extensive in vivo investigations is of utmost importance to identify molecules that can be formulated into pharmaceuticals in the future.

• 대한약침학회지
• /
• 제25권3호
• /
• pp.242-249
• /
• 2022

Objectives: The aim of this work is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antiobesity effects of Euphorbia resinifera extracts and investigate the phenolic constituents and the toxicity of these extracts. Methods: Phytochemical screening was performed to detect polyphenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by four methods (DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase inhibition). The hypoglycemic effect was determined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro and via a starch tolerance study in normal rats. The antiobesity effect was estimated by in vitro inhibition of lipase. Results: Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in polyphenols (99 ± 0.56 mg GEA/g extract) and tannins (55.22 ± 0.17 mg RE/g extract). Moreover, this extract showed higher antioxidant activity in different tests: the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 53.81 ± 1.83 ㎍/mL), ABTS assay (111.4 ± 2.64 mg TE/g extract), H₂O₂ (IC₅₀ = 98.15 ± 0.68 ㎍/mL), and xanthine oxidase (IC₅₀ = 10.26 ± 0.6 ㎍/mL). With respect to hypoglycemic effect, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed IC₅₀ values of 119.7 ± 2.15 ㎍/mL and 102 ± 3.63 ㎍/mL for α-amylase and 121.4 ± 1.88 and 56.6 ± 1.12 ㎍/mL for α-glucosidase, respectively, and the extracts lowered blood glucose levels in normal starch-loaded rats. Additionally, lipase inhibition was observed with aqueous (IC₅₀ = 25.3 ± 1.53 ㎍/mL) and ethanolic (IC₅₀ = 13.7 ± 3.03 ㎍/mL) extracts. Conclusion: These findings show the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hyperlipidemic effects of E. resinifera extracts, which should be investigated further to validate their medicinal uses and their pharmaceutical applications.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제5권2호
• /
• pp.79-87
• /
• 1989

Changes in urinary $Na^+$ and $K^+$ excretions, renal cortical microsomal $Na^+$ -K-ATPase activity, cortical tissue electrolyte content and plasma aldosterone level were studied in rats treated with CdCl2 (2 mg Cd/kg/day, s.c. injection) for 7-14 days. After 7 days of cadmium exposure, urinary excretion of $Na^+$ was markedly reduced. This change was accompanied by an increase in $Na^+$-$K^+$-ATPase activity, a fall in tissue $Na^+$ content, a rise in tissue $K^+$ content and an elevation of plasma aldosterone level.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• 제9권2호
• /
• pp.253-262
• /
• 1993

The effects of dichloromethane (DCM) on carbon tetrachloride (CT) toxicity were examined in adult male rats. A concomitant treatment of rats with DCM (0.3, 0.6, 1.2 g/kg, po) significantly potentiated the hepatotoxicity of CT (1.0 g/kg, po) as determined by increase in serum GPT (glutamic pyruvic transaminase), GOT (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase), and SDH (sorbitol dehydrogenase) activity 24 hr following the treatments. Serum LDH (lactate dehydrogenase) activity was increased by either DCM or CT treatment.

• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 한국환경성돌연변이발암원학회 2003년도 추계학술대회
• /
• pp.166-166
• /
• 2003