• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.11
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• pp.1388-1396
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• 2013

This study used an S-180 cell-injected mouse model to evaluate the antitumor effects of the acute and subacute toxicity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract intravenously administrated in ICR mice. When administered intravenously (31.3-250 mg/kg body weight), Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract significantly inhibited the growth of the solid tumor cell. The antitumor activity of Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract increased in a dose-dependent manner. The highest dose (250 mg/kg body weight) was highly effective, reducing tumor formation by 42.7% compared with the control group. In the acute toxicity test, $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 632.84 mg/kg (♂) and 814.48 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. In addition, liver and spleen weight were increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the subacute toxicity test, the mice were intravenously administered over the course of 28 days. The $LD_{50}$ of the Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract showed 355.41 mg/kg (♂) and 383.53 mg/kg (♀) after intravenous administration. The liver and spleen weight also increased in a dose-dependent manner. In the case of the group that received more than 125 mg/kg of intravenous administration, exercise capacity, such as jumping ability and agility, were significantly increased. These results suggest that Keumsa (Phellinus linteus) extract can be regarded as a potent enhancer of the innate immune response, and it can be considered as a new natural product with low toxicity that may be used as a candidate for antitumor action.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-102
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• 2012

Bee venom (Apis mellifera L. BV) has been used as a cosmetic ingredient for anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the acute toxicity after a single dermal administration of BV, BV was administered to 2 groups of Sprague-Dawley (SD) male and female rats (5 animals/group) at doses of 0 and 1,500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross findings were continually monitored for 15 days following the single dose. There were no unscheduled deaths in any groups during the study period. No BV related clinical signs and body weight changes were observed in any groups during the study period. There were no abnormal gross findings at necropsy on day 15 after the treatment. On the basis of the above results, it was concluded that there were no treatment-related effect on mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and gross findings in SD rats treated with a single dermal dose of BV at dose of 1,500 mg/kg BW. Therefore, the approximate lethal dose of BV was considered to be over 1,500 mg/kg/day for both sexes of rats. BV may provide a developmental basis for a cosmetic ingredient or external application for topical uses.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.213-224
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• 2016

Objectives: Ginseng Rh2+ is enzyme-treated ginseng extract containing high amounts of converted ginsenosides, such as compound k, Rh2, Rg3, which have potent anticancer activity. We conducted general and genetic toxicity tests to evaluate the safety of ginseng Rh2+. Methods: An acute oral toxicity test was performed at a high-level dose of 4,000 mg/kg/day in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. A 14-day range-finding study was also conducted to set dose levels for the 90-day study. A subchronic 90-day toxicity study was performed at dose levels of 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day to investigate the no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of ginseng Rh2+ and target organs. To identify the mutagenic potential of ginseng Rh2+, we conducted a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) using amino-acid-requiring strains of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli (E. coli), a chromosome aberration test with Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cells, and an in vivo micronucleus test using ICR mice bone marrow as recommended by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Results: According to the results of the acute oral toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose (ALD) of ginseng Rh2+ was estimated to be higher than 4,000 mg/kg. For the 90-day study, no toxicological effect of ginseng Rh2+ was observed in body-weight changes, food consumption, clinical signs, organ weights, histopathology, ophthalmology, and clinical pathology. The NOAEL of ginseng Rh2+ was established to be 2,000 mg/kg/day, and no target organ was found in this test. In addition, no evidence of mutagenicity was found either on the in vitro genotoxicity tests, including the Ames test and the chromosome aberration test, or on the in vivo in mice bone marrow micronucleus test. Conclusion: On the basis of our findings, ginseng Rh2+ is a non-toxic material with no genotoxicity. We expect that ginseng Rh2+ may be used as a novel adjuvant anticancer agent that is safe for long-term administration.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2011

Naphthalene was composed of a substantial fraction of polycyclic aromatic ydrocarbons(PAHs) in crude oil and causes acute toxicity. In this study, we examined the toxicity of different kinds concentrations 0, 1000, 1800, 3200, 5600, $10000{\mu}g/L$ of naphthalene to juvenile flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus for 24h to determine 24-median lethal concentration($LC_{50}$) and acute effect on the hematological properties. 24h-$LC_{50}$ value of this species was $3600{\mu}g/L$. Hematocrit value significantly increased at 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$ naphthalene exposed group by 24h compared to control fish. Plasma. Glucose was significantly higher in the $10000{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.05). Plasma osmolality was significantly higher in the 3200, 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$. Plasma [$Na^+$] and [$K^+$] significantly increased in the 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$, however [$Cl^-$] was not affected by acute naphthalene exposure. The results of this study suggest the acute exposure to naphthalene affects both ionoregulation and osmoregulation in juvenile flounder.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 2014

This study evaluated in vitro cytotoxicity of 5 pesticides, including 2 herbicides, 2 germicides, and an insecticide, as an alternative to the fish acute toxicity test. The in vitro cytotoxicity was tested using a neutral red uptake (NRU) assay with epithelioma papulosum cyprini (EPC) cells that originated from the epidermal tissue of Cyprinus carpio (common carp). An in vivo fish acute toxicity test was conducted according to OECD Test Guideline No. 203 using Aphyocypris chinensis (Chinese bleak), Oryzias latipes (Japanese medaka), and C. carpio. The results showed that the sensitivity of the cell viability assay for the pesticides was similar to the fish acute test in ranking order despite having approximately 10 times less absolute sensitivity. The $r^2$ correlation values were calculated as 0.38 (p = 0.26), 0.76 (p = 0.05) and 0.90 (p = 0.01) for A. chinensis, O. latipes, and C. carpio, respectively. These results suggested that the potential of EPC cell viability assay as an alternative to the fish acute toxicity test due to their good correlation and NRU assay is expected to serve as a useful tool for predicting acute fish lethality for pesticides if further studies with a large set of pesticides are conducted.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.425-432
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• 2007

The water flea has been used as a test organism of toxicity test for surface water. Toxicity test with water flea is categorized into two parts. One is acute toxicity test with observing immobility and mortality and the other is chronic toxicity test determined by survival and reproduction of water flea. Heartbeat measurement of water flea was designed as a short-term toxicity test in this study. Direct measurement of heartbeat under microscope by aid of video camera gives and early diagnosis of mortality in short time. Therefore, the effects of measuring illumination, measuring time, and non-feeding during the test on heartbeat of water flea was evaluated to establish a new test approach. Test organisms used in this study are Daphnia magna, a well standardizes toxicity test organism, and Simocephalus mixtus, a newly refined organism $IC_{50}$ values of these test organism by heartbeat measurement were compared and discussed. It was found that toxicity test by heartbeat measurement was a reproducible, easy and simple method accomplished in a few hours.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.200-203
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• 2003

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of bamboo leaf water extract by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty male and female rats aged 5 weeks were randomly assigned to four groups of 5 rats each and were administered singly by gavage at dose levels of 0, 1250, 2500, or 5000 mg/kg body weight. Mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were monitored for the l4-day period following the administration. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete gross postmortem examinations were performed. Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, and gross finding at any dose tested. The results showed that the single oral administration of bamboo leaf water extract did not induce any toxic effect at a dose level of below 5000 mg/kg in rats and that the minimal lethal dose were considered to be over 5000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.167-170
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• 2000

The present study was conducted to investigate the acute toxicity of plant sterol ester by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. Ten males and 10 females aged 5 weeks were randomly assigned to two groups of 5 rats each and were administered by gavage at dose level of 0 or 20 ml/kg body weight. Parameters measured during the 14-day observation period were mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and gross findings. No mortality was observed in the present study. Treatment-related clinical signs, such as pasty stool and diarrhea, were observed on the day of treatment and these signs resulted in soiled fur on day 1 after the treatment. However, no clinical signs were observed on days 2-14 after the treatment. There was no significant difference in body weight changes between the control and treatment groups. At necropsy on day 14 after the treatment, no treatment-related gross findings were observed in the treatment group. Based on these results, it was concluded that a single oral dose of plant sterol ester induced pasty stool and diarrhea in Sprague-Dawley rats at dose level of 20 ml/kg and that the lethal doses were considered to be over 20 ml/kg for both sexes.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.325-328
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• 2004

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of Balbusae caulis in taeniam by a single oral dose in Sprague-Dawley rats. Twenty rats of each sex were randomly assigned to four groups of 5 rats each and were administered singly by gavage at dose levels of 0, 1250, 2500, and 5000 mg/kg body weight. Mortalities, clinical findings, and body weight changes were monitored for the 14-day period following administration. At the end of 14-day observation period, all animals were sacrificed and complete gross postmortem examinations were per-formed. Throughout the study period, no treatment-related deaths were observed. There were no adverse effects on clinical signs, body weight, and gross finding at any dose tested. The results showed that the single oral administration of Balbusae caulis in taeniam did not cause any toxic effect at the dose levels of 5000 mg/kg or lower in rats and the minimal lethal dose was considered to be over 5000 mg/kg body weight for both sexes.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.47-52
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the acute toxicity and safety of fermented Soshiho-tang extract using male and female ICR mice. Mice were treated with fermented Soshiho-tang extract once orally at 1250, 2500 or 5000 mg/kg and observed for two weeks. At the doses used, no mortality or abnormal clinical signs in animals were shown during at the observation period. In addition, no differences were found between control and treated groups in body weight, hematology and biochemical analysis, and other findings. Above data strongly suggest that no observed adverse effect level of fermented Soshiho-tang extract might be over 5000 mg/kg/day in this study.