• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.116-123
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• 2016

The ecotoxicity tests for metal plating wastewater were conducted using Daphnia magna (D. magna) and Euglena agilis (E. agilis). Evaluation for sources of toxicity was performed by 1) Correlation analysis between the concentration of individual metals in the metal plating wastewater and the toxic effects on D. magna, 2) Toxicant identification evaluation methods including graduated pH method, EDTA procedure and sodium thiosulfate procedure, 3) Comparison of toxic effect value ($EC_{50}$ or $LC_{50}$) of individual metal on D. magna and it's concentration in the metal plating wastewater. To evaluate the possibility of E. agilis, a Korean domestic organism, as a test model organism for metal plating waste water, E. agilis toxicity test was also assessed using on-line euglena ecotoxicity system (E-Tox system). Based on toxicant characterization test using D. magna, it was expected that SS, oxidants and heavy metals are responsible for toxicity of metal plating waste water. Especially Cu, Hg, and Ag were the major cationic metals that caused toxicity. E. agilis is less sensitive than D. magna based on the $EC_{50}$ value however it shows prompt response to toxic test substances. E. agilis shows even a significant effect on the cell swimming velocity within 2 min to toxic metal plating wastewater. Our study demonstrates that E. agilis test can be a putative ecotoxicity test for assessing the quality of metal plating waste water.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2001

The biological carbon dioxide fixation using microalgae and photo-bioreactor has been known as an effective carbon dioxide reduction technology. As algae has many other environmental factor for its growth, the desirable cultivation factors were investigated using a green alga, Euglena gracilis Z. In this study, Euglena gracilis Z showed good $CO_2$ fixation ability in high $CO_2$ concentration of 10-20% and it contained the high protein and vitamin E enough to be used as fodder. For the mass cultivation, the continuous and semi-continuous cultivation methods were employed. The optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) for the continuous cultivation was 4 days at carbon dioxide concentration of 10%. In this condition, the final cell number was $3.57{\times}10^6/m{\ell}$. The growth of Euglena gracilis Z increased according to the light intensity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.183-191
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• 2021

Euglena gracilis is a microalga of great biotechnological interest that can create high levels of bioactive compounds, such as tocopherol, paramylon, and folic acid. The objective of this study was to investigate the biological activities of extracts from E. gracilis, especially those focused on immunological activity. E. gracilis biomass was extracted with hot water (HWE) and the remaining pellet was continuously extracted with methanol (HWME). First, we examined the effect of two extracts from E. gracilis on the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of pro-inflammation cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. HWE treatment dose-dependently increased the production of IL-1β and TNF-α. On the other hand, treatment with HWME significantly decreased the generation of NO and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage cells. In addition, other biological activities of the extracts were further analyzed: α-glucosidase inhibition, protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP1B) inhibition, tyrosinase inhibition, xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition. Analysis of these biological activities showed that HWE has more inhibitory effects than HWME against α-glucosidase, tyrosinase, and XO agents. However, the inhibition of PTP1B and ACE with HWME were higher than with HWE. Taken together, the results suggested that E. gracilis possesses various biological activities―especially immunological capabilities―through regulation of cytokine production. Therefore, E. gracilis extract may be potentially useful for food material with immune-regulating effects.

• ALGAE
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 2008

The structure of phytoplankton community was studied for one year round at 6 stations in the Beopsu Marsh, Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea. One hundred seventy-eight taxa (69 taxa belonging to Chlorophyta, 55 taxa to Bacillariophyta, 33 taxa to Cyanophyta, 15 taxa to Euglenophyta, 2 taxa to Rhodophyta, 2 taxa to Dinophyta and 1 taxon to Xanthophyta) were observed. Phytoplankton bloom occurred at the staions 2, 3 and 4 where waters were polluted by sewage and treated water of purification plants from the vicinity. The species diversity index of phytoplankton was the lowest (0.66) in November at the station 3, which the station showed the most eutrophic water due to the diverse pollutants from surroundings of the marsh. For the whole seasons, Fragilaria sp. and Euglena sp. appeared in pollutant water at the station 3, while Cyclotella sp. and Pinnularia sp. inhabited in relatively clean water at the station 5. To reserve the natural treasure, the wetland should be more specially managed by a local governing institution.

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.128.1-128
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• 1998

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Proceedings of the Zoological Society Korea Conference
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.127.2-127
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• 1998

No Abstract, See Full Text

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.71-76
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• 2000

The biological carbon dioxide fixation using microalgae has been known as an effective carbon dioxide reduction technology. With many environmental factors influencing microalgal productivity, the desirable cultivation factors were investigated using a green alga, Euglena gracilis. It has the high protein and vitamin E to be used as fodder. In batch culture with a photobioreactor, initial pH, temperature, carbon dioxide concentration and light intensity in the optimum cultivation condition were 3.5, $27^{\circ}C$,5-10% and $520{\mu}mol/m^2/s$, respectively. After that, the optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT for the continuous cultivation was 4 days at carbon dioxide concentration of 10%. In this condition, the final dry cell weight was 1.2g/l.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.34 no.2 s.94
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• pp.81-89
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• 2001

In order to know relationships between green euglenoids and environmental factors, the species composition and density were assessed for 12 months together with environmental variables in the Jeonjucheon urban drainage, Korea. Nitrate was a high of 3.22 mg/1 in June and phosphate concentration was over 0.71 mg/l in the winter. The euglenoids totaled 5 genera and 71 species throughout the year, increasing in the early summer (35 to 42 texa) and decreasing in the winter (below 20 taxa). The number of green euglenoids positively correlated with surface water temperature. the total density of the green euglenoids showed a typical bimodal pattern, being maximal in the winter (5,394 cells/ml in June). The winter peak was a result of active growths of Euglena caudata, E. geniculata and E. viridis, however, each of which positively correlated with the phosphate. The early summer peak was attributed to Euglena deses, Lepocinclis ovum, and Phacus trypanon, each of which positively correlated with the ammonium and nitrate. The complete bimodal spectrum of species number and density of green euglenoids provides a sensitive image in detecting the changes of environmental variables in polluted waters such as Jeonjucheon.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2015

Acute toxicity tests for 5 organic solvents were conducted using Euglena agilis carter (E. agilis), a Korean domestic organism. Organic solvents decreased the growth rate of E. agilis in a dose dependent manner. The toxicity to E. agilis was increased in the order of chloroform>acetone${\geq}$ethanol${\geq}$methanol>DMSO based on $EC_{50}$ values from growth test. Organic solvents also induced cell motility and morphological changes of E. agilis. Especially significant effects on the cell swimming velocity, motility, and compactness were observed for chloroform at the concentration of $EC_{50}$ calculated from 96 hr growth test. Overall, toxic responses of E. agilis to test substances are comparable to or more sensitive than D. magna, M. macrocopa and V. fischeri. Our study demonstrates that E. agilis can be a putative ecotoxicity test model organism to assess domestic water quality. Results obtained from this study can be applied to establish the standard test guidelines for ecotoxicity test using E. agilis.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.124-131
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• 2016

The toxic responses of flagellate Euglena agilis Carter to 8 heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Cr (VI), Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn) were measured using E. agilis system (E-Tox), an automated biomonitoring system. The E-Tox measures cell movement parameters, such as velocity, motility, and forms of the cells, as biological endpoints. $EC_{50}$ values from the E. agilis biomonitoring test were compared with the literature data from the tests with Daphnia magna, Vibrio fischeri and Euglena gracilis. Measurement of the E. agilis movement behavior and D. magna acute toxicity test were also conducted for the wastewater samples. E. agilis is less sensitive than D. magna but is comparable to or more sensitive than V. fischeri and E. gracilis for the heavy metals tested in this study. E. agilis shows prompt changes of these parameters for the toxic metal plating wastewater. Major advantages of the E-tox are automatic, easy to handle and fast ecotoxicity monitoring system compared to other biological test systems. These results imply that E. agilis biomonitoring test using E-Tox can be a putative ecotoxicity test as a good early warning tool for the monitoring of toxic wastewater.