• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.59-69
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• 2016

Objectives: The mushroom Ganoderma lucidum has been widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for many years. Although several studies have focused on the anti-oxidative activity of this mushroom, the molecular mechanisms underlying its activity have not yet been clearly established. The present study investigated the cytoprotective effect of ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum (EGL) against oxidative stress (hydrogen peroxide, $H_2O_2$) and elucidated the underlying mechanisms in a C2C12 myoblast cell line. Methods: Oxidative stress markers were determined by using the comet assay to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. Cell viability and Western blotting analyses were employed to evaluate the cellular response to EGL and $H_2O_2$ in C2C12 cells. Transfection with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-specific small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) was conducted to understand the relationship between Nrf2 expression and $H_2O_2$-induced growth inhibition. Results: The results showed that EGL effectively inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced growth and the generation of ROS. EGL markedly suppressed $H_2O_2$-induced comet-like DNA formation and phosphorylation of histone H2AX at serine 139 ($p-{\gamma}H2AX$), a widely used marker of DNA damage, suggesting that EGL prevented $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage. Furthermore, the EGL treatment effectively induced the expression of Nrf2, as well as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), with parallel phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Nrf2 in the C2C12 myoblasts. However, zinc protoporphyrin IX, a HO-1 inhibitor, significantly abolished the protective effects of EGL against $H_2O_2$-induced accumulation of ROS and reduced cell growth. Notably, transient transfection with Nrf2-specific siRNA attenuated the cytoprotective effects and HO-1 induction by EGL, indicating that EGL induced the expression of HO-1 in an Nrf2-dependent manner. Conclusion: Collectively, these results demonstrate that EGL augments the cellular anti-oxidant defense capacity through activation of Nrf2/HO-1, thereby protecting C2C12 myoblasts from $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative cytotoxicity.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.589-597
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• 2016

There are a number of industrial complexes which could be a source of heavy metal (loid)s contamination of arable soil in Gyeongnam province of South Korea. Heavy metal (loid)s accumulation of plant is more related to the concentration of plant available heavy metal (loid)s in arable soil than that of total heavy metal (loid)s. The objectives of this study were 1) to examine heavy metal concentrations in soils located near industrial complexes in Gyeongnam province and 2) to determine the relationship between concentration of plant available heavy metal (loid)s and chemical properties of soil. Soil samples were collected from 85 sites of arable lands nearby 7 industrial complexes in Gyeongnam province. Total heavy metal (loid)s concentration, available heavy metal (loid)s concentration, and chemical properties of collected soils were measured. The mean concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the soils were $5.8mg\;kg^{-1}$, $1.3mg\;kg^{-1}$, $0.03mg\;kg^{-1}$, $51.5mg\;kg^{-1}$, and $68.7mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. Total concentration of Cd and Zn in arable soil located near ${\nabla}{\nabla}$ industrial complex exceeded the warning criteria ($4mg\;kg^{-1}$ and $300mg\;kg^{-1}$ for Cd and Zn, respectively) as described by in the soil environmental conservation Act of Korea. The concentration of plant available heavy metal (loid)s was negatively related to the soil pH and available Pb and Zn concentrations had relatively high correlation coefficient when compared with other heavy metal (loid)s. The concentration of plant available Pb and Zn was negatively related to that of organic matter (OM). Based on the above results, it might be a good soil management to control pH and OM concentration with soil amendments such as lime and compost to reduce phytoavailability of heavy metal (loid)s in arable soil located near industrial complex.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.121-131
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• 1990

Four crop plants, such as green onion(Allium ascalonicum L.), radish(Raphanus sativus L.), potato(Solanum tubersum L.) and chinese cabbage(Brassica pekinensis Rupr), were grown in greenhouses to determine the accumulations of Cd and Zn absorbed by the plants grown on soils treated with municipal sewage sludge of different levels of 0, 22.5, 45.0 and 90.0 ton $ha^{-1}$ as soil dry weight. The result was analyzed to be comparable to the heavy metal content in the plant tissues among the crop species and the statistical characteristics were investigated to determin a possible relationship between causes of increased contents of Cd and Zn in plants and in soils. The results were as follows : 1. The Cd and Zn content in experimental crop plants increased with increase in quantity of treatment sludge. 2. The Cd and Zn content in roots of all experimental plants increased with sludge treatment amount in soil, in the following order : green onion>potato>chinese cabbage>radish. 3. The Cd content in leaves of crop plants were high in this order : green onion>radish>potato>chinese cabbage, and the Zn content in leaves of crop plants was high in this order. : potato>radish>chinese cabbage>green onion. 4. Concentrations of Cd in potato tubers, radish roots and chinese cabbage leaves ranged from 0.03 to 0.12 ppm. 5. Concentrations of Cd and Zn in plant tissues grown in sludge treated soil of 90.0 ton $ha^{-1}$ were 1.2 to 10 times and 0.4 to 2.3 times higher as compared with those absorbed from sludge-free soil, respectively. 6. The accumulation rates of Cd and Zn in sludge-treated plant tissue were almost constant except for green onion roots.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.48 no.5
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• pp.515-521
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• 2015

There is an increasing concern over heavy metal(loid) contamination of soil in agricultural areas including paddy soils. This study was conducted to monitor the background levels of heavy metal(loid)s, arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in major rice growing soils and its accumulation in brown rice in Korea. The samples were collected from 82 sites nationwide in the year 2012. The mean and range values of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in paddy soils were 4.41 (0.16-18.9), 0.25 (0.04-0.82), 13.24 (3.46-27.8), 0.047 (0.01-0.20), 13.60 (3.78-35.0), 21.31 (8.47-36.7), and 54.10 $(19.19-103.0)mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. This result indicated that the heavy metal(loid) levels in all sampled paddy soils are within the permissible limits of the Korean Soil Environment Conservation Act. The mean and range values of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in brown rice were 0.146 (0.04-0.38), 0.024 (0.003-0.141), 4.27 (1.26-16.98), 0.0024 (0.001-0.008), 0.345 (0.04-2.77), 0.113 (0.04-0.197), and 22.64 $(14.1-35.1)mg\;kg^{-1}$, respectively. The mean and range BCF (bioconcentration factor) values of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn in brown rice were 0.101 (0.01-0.91), 0.121 (0.01-0.70), 0.399 (0.05-2.60), 0.061 (0.016-0.180), 0.033 (0.004-0.44), 0.005 (0.003-0.013), and 0.473 (0.19-1.07), respectively, with Zn showing the highest. The results show that the levels of all metal(loid)s in all sampled brown rice are generally within the acceptable limit for human consumption.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.40-50
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• 1978

Effects of Zn, P and Fe on Cd uptake and accumulations by tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum Mill) and also their interactions on the uptake of Zn, Fe, Mn, P and Cd were investigated using batch type solution culture technique. Experiment 1 was a factorial scheme with 3 levels of Zn (0, 0.5, 2.5 ppm) and 3 levels of Cd (0, 0.2, 1.0 ppm). At 1.0 ppm Cd, significant yield reduction of dry matter and visual toxicity symptoms (yellowing and necrosis) of Cd was observed for all zinc levels. At this Cd level, increasing Zn treatment from 0 to 2.5 ppm increased Cd concentration from 199 to 235 ppm in leaves and from 124 to 145 ppm in stems. Similarly, Cd treatment did not suppress Zn uptake in leaves, and rather significantly increased in stems. Fe concentrations in leaves and stems were significantly reduced due to Cd treatment while Mn were increased by both Zn and Cd treatment. The results of experiment 2 with 3 levels of P (0.5, 2.0, 4.0m Mol) and 3 levels of Cd (0, 1.0, 2.0 ppm) in a factorial scheme also showed a growth reduction and visual toxic symptons from 1.0 ppm Cd level. Increasing P treatment tend to increase Cd concentrations in leaves and stems although it was not statistically significant. Increasing P concentration due to Cd treatment could be the 'concentration' effect as a result of reduced growth, while there was significant decrease in Fe concentration due to Cd treatment in spite of possible 'concentration' effect. Mn concentration was increased at 1.0 ppm Cd level and then dropped at 2.0 ppm Cd level. Zu concentration in leaves and stems showed significant increase as Cd treatment increased as observed in experiment 1. Experiment 3 had 3 levels of Fe (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 ppm) and 3 levels of Cd (0, 0.8, 1.6 ppm) treatments in a factorial design. Significant growth reduction and visual toxic symptoms as observed in experiment 1 and 2 were also observed from 0.8 ppm Cd level. Increasing Fe treatment obviously alleviated toxic symptoms, improved growth and significantly increased dry matter yield. At 0.8 ppm Cd treatment level, increasing Fe treatment from 0.5 to 2.0 ppm significantly decreased Cd concentration from 141 to 92 ppm in leaves and from 101 to 46 ppm in stems. At 1.6 ppm Cd treatment level the decrease was from 224 to 167 ppm in leaves and from 124 to 109 ppm in stems. As in the case of experiment 1 and 2, Fe concentration in leaves and stems were reduced as Cd treatment increased to 1.6 ppm at 0.5 and 1. 0 Fe treatment levels, whereas at 2.0 ppm Fe level, Cd treatment increased Fe concentration in leaves and stems showing significant interactions of Fe and Cd on Fe uptake. Cd effect on Zn and Mn showed similar results to experiment 1 and 2 and Fe treatments reduced Zn and Mn concentrations in plant tissue. The results of 3 experiments show that P and Zn did not manifest suppressive effect on Cd uptake, Fe significantly demonstrated it. Fe also alleviated Cd toxicity symptoms significantly in terms of visual symptoms and dry matter yield. Visual toxicity symptoms were definitely related to Fe status in plant tissue as well as possible physiological effect of Cd itself, and the results suggest that Fe requirement for normal growth increase as Cd element is present in plant tissue. Zn accumulated more in stems than in leaves whereas Cd, Fe and Mn showed the opposite trend in all experiments.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.291-295
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• 2002

This study was designed to investigate the effects of a butanol (BuOH) fraction from an extract of pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb et Zucc.) needles, on oxygen radicals and their scavenger enzymes in the liver membranes of rats. Twenty-eight male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided into four groups over a 45 days study period: the control group on a basic diet, and three experimental groups on three different dietary levels of the butanol fraction, specifically 25 mg (BuOH-25), 50 mg (BuOH-50), and 100 mg (BuOH-100) butanol fraction/kg body weight/day, thereby 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1% of butanol extract of pine needles was added to basil diet respectively. At the end of the experimental period, body weights and food intakes were not different among the four groups. The results showed that cholesterol accumulation in the mitochondria and microsomes of liver cells was significantly inhibited in the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups: by 11.6% and 20.1% in the mitochondria of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, respectively; and by 10.5%, and 13.5% in the microsomes of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, respectively, compared with the control group. The levels of hydroxyl radicals (.OH) were significantly) lower in the liver mitochondria of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups (by 13.3% and 18.5%, respectively), while OH radicals were significantly lower in the microsomes or all three experimental groups (by 15.7% in the BuOH-25 group, 20.0% in the BuOH-50 group, and 20.6% in the BuOH-100group), compared with the control group. Superoxide radical (O$_2$) formation was also significantly inhibited in the liver cytosol of both BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups; the levels of these radicals were 8.0% lower for the BuOH-50 group and 11.1% lower for the BuOH-100 group, compared to the control group. Copper/Zinc - superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activities were significantly increased (by 10.3% and 15.9%, respectively) in the liver cytosols of the BuOH-50 and BuOH-100 groups, but Mn-SOD activities were almost identical in the three RuOH groups, compared with the control group. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were significantly increased in the three experimental groups (by 9.0% in the BuOH-25 group, 19.4% in the BuOH-50 group, and by 25.6% in the BuOH-100 group), compared with the control group. These results suggest that the butanol extract of pine needles may play an effective role in attenuating oxygen radicals and activating scavenger enzymes; consequently, aging may be very effectively modulated and/or inhibited.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.502-513
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• 2016

In this study, heavy metal distributions in the tissues of feral pigeon (Columba livia) were characterized using samples collected from bio-monitoring sites (Hangang Park and Hampyeong Park) of the NESB (National Environmental Specimen Bank), Korea, in order to evaluate the feasibility of feral pigeons as an indicator for the environmental monitoring. Cadmium (Cd) was analyzed to be accumulated in kidneys at higher concentration than in the other tissues. Such trend can also be found in the reviews on the Cd accumulations of the 34 cases including 17 avian species which showed that 31 cases had the highest Cd concentrations in the kidney among tissues. However, lead (Pb) was found to be richest in the bones in this study. 17 cases out of 30 reviewed cases had the highest Pb concentration in bones, whereas other 10 cases showed the highest concentration in kidneys, and 3 cases in livers. Therefore, kidneys together with bones can be a main target organ to test cadmium exposure to different habitat environments depending on physiological traits of birds. Zinc (Zn) was found to be the highest concentration in the pigeon livers of Hangang Park, but not in the bones. In contrast, the 13 cases of 16 reviewed cases had the highest Zn concentration in bones, and the 3 cases in livers. In addition, the heavy metal distribution patterns in relations to the metal accumulation mechanisms (a competition between Pb and Ca, a function of methallothionein protein, and etc.) were discussed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.215-221
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• 1994

Background: It is well known that oxygen free radicals(OFR) play a vital role in the various type of acute lung injury. Among various antioxidant defense mechanisms, the superoxide dismutases(SOD) are thought to be the first line of antioxidant defense by catalyzing the dismutation of two superoxide radicals to yield hydrogen peroxide and oxygen. Eukaryotic cells contain two types of intracellular SOD : cytosolic, dimeric copper/zinc- containing enzyme(CuZnSOD) and mitochondrial, tetrameric manganese-containing enzyme(MnSOD). The purpose of this study is to evaluate the time-dependent gene expression of MnSOD and CuZnSOD in the endotoxin-treated rats, and to compare with the manifestations of LPS-induced acute lung injury in rats. Methods: Total RNA from rat lung was isolated using single step phenol extraction 0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, 24 hours after E. coli endotoxin injection(n=3, respectively). RNA was separated by formaldehyde-containing 1.2% agarose gels elctrophoresis, transblotted, baked, prehybridized, and hybridized with $^{32}P$-labeled cDNA probes for rat MnSOD and CuZnSOD, which were kindly donated by Dr. Ho(Duke University, Durham, NC, USA). The probes were labeled by nick translation. Blots were washed and autoradiography were quantitated using laser densitometry. Equivalent amounts of total RNA/gel were assessed by monitoring 28S and 18S rRNA. Results: Endotoxin caused a rise in steady-state MnSOD mRNA levels by 4h with peak mRNA accumulation by 6h. Continued MnSOD mRNA expression was observed at 12h. CuZnSOD mRNA expression was observed from 1h to 24h with peak levels by 18h. Conclusion: These results suggest that SOD palys an important defensive role in the endotoxin-induced acute lung injury in rats.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.43-51
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• 2006

Generally abandoned mine soils have serious problems for introducing vegetation such as nutrient deficiency, poor physical properties, and phytotoxicity due to high levels of heavy metals. It is required to improve soil amenity for revegetation. One of its strategies is using organic materials such as compost manure and sludge. The pot experiments was conducted to evaluate the effects of pig manure and municipal sewage sludge on revegetation of mining area soil surface with Artemisia princeps and Zoysia japonica. Application rate of pig manure and municipal sewage sludge was $75{\sim}225$ Mg/ha and $150{\sim}450$ Mg/ha, respectively. The results showed that the application of manure and sludge increased organic matter about two-fold and total nitrogen contents about five-fold of mine soil and improved the growth of plants in all treatments compared to the control. The result of plant tissue analysis showed that both plants accumulate Cd, Cu and Zn in root tissue rather than shoot tissues. Increased sludge application reduced Zn accumulation in both plant tissue. Sequential extraction results indicated that addition of soil amendment induced increment of organically bound fractions of Cu and Zn. Organically bound fraction of Zn was significantly increased from 7.84% to 13.58% in Artemisia princeps planted soil and from 7.84% to 14.16% in Zoysia japonica planted soil, thereby bioavailability of heavy metals was reduced. The results suggested that application of organic materials to mine soil can reduce phytotoxicity of heavy metals and be helpful in introducing successful revegetation.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.31-37
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• 2010

Livestock manures have a potential to be a valuable resource with an efficient treatment. In Korea, 42 million tons of livestock manure were generated in 2008, and 84 % of them were used for compost and liquid fertilizer production. Recently recycling of livestock manure for biogas production through anaerobic digestion is increasing, but its utilization in agriculture is still uncertified. In this study, there was applied co-digestate to the paddy for rice cultivation based on N supplement. Co-digestate was fertilizer fermented with pig slurry and food waste combined with the ratio of 70:30(v:v) in its volumetric basis. For assessing the safety of co-digestate, it was monitored the contents of co-digestate for seasonal variation, resulted in no potential harm to the soil and plant by heavy metals. The results showed that soil applied with co-digestate was increased in exchangeable potassium, copper and zinc mainly due to the high rate of pig slurry in co-digestate applied. Considering high salt content due to the combination with food waste, strict quality assurances are needed for safe application to arable land though it has valuable fertilizer nutrient. Leachate after treatment showed that the concentration of nitrate nitrogen washed out within two weeks. Considering the salt accumulation results in soil, it is highly recommended that the application rate of co-digestate should not exceed the crop fertilization rate based on N supplement. With these results, it was concluded that co-digestate could be used as an alternative fertilizer for chemical fertilizer. More study is needed for the long-term effects of co-digestate application on the soil and water environment.