• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.16.1-16.5
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• 2013

Hypertension induces many of the social costs related by cardiovascular diseases. Sodium is known as a crucial factor in inducing type I hypertension. In traditional Korean medicine, bamboo salt (BS) has been used in the attenuation of salts toxic coldness and nowadays it has shown various therapeutic effects. It contains mostly sodium chloride (about 91.7% of BS); however, the effect of BS on hypertension is still not completely understood. Thus, we investigated the effect of BS on blood pressure for the first time. Two group of BS, sun-dried salt (SDS), NaCl, or distilled water (DW, vehicle control) was administrated orally for 8 weeks. Although BS had no effect on body weight and food intake, it increased water intake (p < 0.05). The BS groups, in terms of blood pressure, was similar to the DW group; whereas the SDS and NaCl groups showed significantly increased blood pressure levels (p < 0.05). BS also decreased sodium-chloride cotransporter (NCC) mRNA expression, unlike SDS or NaCl. These observations indicate that BS may be a promising strategy for the prevention of various diseases including salt-related diseases.

• Environmental and Resource Economics Review
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.435-451
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• 2014

This paper attempts to evaluate an environmental regulation program which enforces installation of filtering equipment to reduce major air pollutants from used diesel vehicles. A real option model is presented to incorporate fuel cost uncertainty and irreversibility of emission-reducing investment. A finite-life option based on finite difference method is developed to consider the limited life expectancy of used vehicles. After taking into account social benefits from emission reduction and costs from decreasing fuel efficiency after the adoption of filtering technology, the result finds overall positive performance of the Pollution Reduction Program. However, the result suggests that the Program be designed to be more specific to vehicle types to improve program performance.

• Knowledge Management Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.189-208
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• 2014

In spite of its popularity among practitioner and academic audiences, few existing studies go into any detail in examining the mechanisms of creating shared value (CSV), especially as applicable to the context of everyday operations. Nor do they provide recommendations to practitioners with regard to facilitating CSV concept. In response to this problem, I introduce benefit-sharing practice which I argue provides a solid route to the concept of CSV. Based on observations from the case study, 10 networks' benefit-sharing practices are analyzed and its featured characteristics are extracted accordingly. Findings demonstrate that such benefit-sharing models as 'Green-Development', 'Protection of the Environment', and 'Accreditation for Food Safety Management' can solve critical societal challenges while simultaneously driving greater profitability for both buyers and suppliers. The findings also suggest that benefit-sharing is a good vehicle of the realization of the CSV concept. I conclude by assessing how the findings add to the existing debate around collaborative supply-relationship and shared value. I suggest that benefit-sharing can contribute positively to the feasibility of CSV concept and, thereby, counter the assertion that CSV is the only immature-concept that lacks clear criteria of demarcation and cases for businesses to follow.

• Nutritional Sciences
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.133-137
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• 2004

The present study was designed to investigate the effects of genistein, daidzein, and quercetin on the antioxidative systems of normal rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided randomly into seven groups and treated with flavonoids at either 2 or 20 mg/day or through vehicle for four weeks. Lipid peroxidation in the liver was inhibited significantly following administration of quercetin. Genistein and daidzein did not have significant effects except in rats treated with 20mg daidzein/day. Genistein and daidzein treatment did not affect the content of $\alpha$-tocopherol in the serum and liver, while quercetin caused a slight increase. In hepatic glutathione and its related enzymes, genistein and daidzein treatment tended to cause a decrease in $\alpha$-tocopherol content, although no significant difference was found. However, quercetin treatment significantly decreased the content of glutathione together with the activity of glutathione reductase in all doses in the liver but there was no significant difference in the brain. Interestingly, daidzein treatment in the brain at 2mg/day significantly increased glutathione (27.1% p＜0.05) compared with the control group, while at 20mg/day glutathione decreased significantly (26.6%, p＜0.05). In conclusion, genistein has not antioxidant effects. Daidzein quercetin may have the capacity to produce not only antioxidants but also have adverse effects including the production of pro-oxidants. Therefore, people should consider consumption at a high dosage.

• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.93-101
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• 2022

Cordyceps militaris mycelium extracts containing high amounts of cordycepin were evaluated in vitro for their anti-inflammatory and tumor cell growth-inhibitory activities. All extracts dose dependently inhibited the increased production of inflammatory mediators including reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and 𝛽-hexosaminidase in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory cells. All extracts were evaluated for anti-proliferative activity against normal RBL-2H3 cells and diverse types of cancer cell lines, including HCT, MC5-7, U-87MG, AGS, and A549 cells. The extract showed the strongest growth inhibition (IC₅₀ = 28.13 ㎍/mL) relative to vehicle-treated control cells against fibrosarcoma (MC5-7). We have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity of C. militaris via inhibition of NO, ROS production, and 𝛽-hexosaminidase release in activated cells. C. militaris mycelium extract was also evaluated mechanistically and found to exert six types of anti-cancer activity, confirming its pharmacological potential. Our study suggests C. militaris use as a potential source of anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agents. C. militaris may also be considered a functional food.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.29-38
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• 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the acute oral toxicity of 77 herbal formulas and performed in male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats as per the guidelines mentioned in Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Methods: Each sex of SD rat were administered a single dose (2000 or 5000 mg/kg) of 77 herbal formulas via oral gavage; the control group received vehicle only. After administration, the mortality, clinical signs, gross findings, and body weight were followed up for 15 days. Results: After administration of 77 herbal formulas, mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and gross findings related to the test substances were not observed in both male and female groups. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate the single-dose oral administration of 77 herbal formulas produced no mortality indicating the approximate lethal dose is greater than 2000 or 5000 mg/kg body weight.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.937-944
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• 2017

To investigate the beneficial effects of fiber derived from agar on the lipid and glucose metabolism of obese model mice, changes in the fat accumulation, lipid content, and insulin concentration were measured in C57BL/6N mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated with a beverage containing agar (BCA) for 9 weeks. The feed efficiency ratio was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCA treatment group, although the body weight and food intake were maintained a constant level. Also, the fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver were lower in the HFD+BCA treatment group than in the HFD+Vehicle treatment group. Furthermore, a significant decrease was detected in the levels of total cholesterol (TC) and LDL after the BCA treatment, while a constant HDL level was maintained in the same group. Moreover, the serum insulin concentration was significantly decreased in the HFD+BCALo (Low concentration) and HFD+BCAMi (Middle concentration) groups compared to the HFD+Vehicle group. Therefore, the results suggest that the long-term administration of dietary fiber from agar can improve fat accumulation in the fatty tissue and liver, the serum lipid profile, and the insulin concentration in the blood. Also, the results provide evidence that the inclusion of agar fiber in beverages results in significant hypolipidemic and hypoinsulinemic effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.1648-1657
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• 2014

In this study, the hepatic lipid-lowering effects and related mechanism of action of sujeonggwa were examined in hypercholesterolemia-induced apoprotein E knockout (apo E ko) mice. Sujeonggwa drink was prepared with cinnamon, ginger, and sugar by modifying the traditional recipe of sujeonggwa. Sugar was partially substituted with either stevia or short chain fructooligosaccharide (scFOS) in order to reduce the calorie content of sujeonggwa, which was measured by descriptive analysis. Apo E ko mice (n=42) were induced to have hypercholesterolemia (plasma total cholesterol concentration >1,000 mg/dL) by administration of a high cholesterol diet for 4 weeks, followed by division into six groups. Experimental groups were orally administered water as a vehicle (normal group), sugar solution (control group), commercially available 'V' sujeonggwa drink (positive control group), or three different types of sujeonggwa drinks (S-sugar, S-stevia, and S-scFOS group) for 6 weeks while high cholesterol diet was provided to all animals. Compared to the control group, concentrations of hepatic triglycerides, total cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species in S-sugar, S-stevia, S-scFOS were significantly reduced (P<0.05), indicating that sujeonggwa had inhibitory effects on hepatic lipid accumulation. Protein expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and its transcription factor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1 responsible for triglyceride synthesis, as well as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR) and its transcription factor, SREBP-2 responsible for cholesterol synthesis, were also reduced in S-sugar, S-stevia, and S-scFOS groups (P<0.05). These benefits of sujeonggwa were even greater in S-stevia and S-scFOS compared to S-sugar. The beneficial effects of S-stevia on regulation of hepatic lipid metabolism were slightly greater than those of S-scFOS although the differences were not significant. In conclusion, sujeonggwa drinks, especially functional sujeonggwa drinks in which sugar was partially substituted with stevia or scFOS, inhibited hepatic lipid accumulation via suppressing FAS and HMGCR protein expression through down-regulation of SREBP-1 and 2.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.147-168
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• 2008

HYTE (Hyeonggaeyeongyotang Extract), a polyherbal formula has been used as folk medicine, 28days repeat oral dose toxicity was tested in SD rats according to KFDA Guideline[2005-60]. Methods : In this study, mortality, clinical signs, body weight and gains, food and water consumption, ophthalmologic observation, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weight and histopathological observations were conducted during 28days of dosing periods. Results: 1. No HYTE treatment-related mortalities and clinical signs were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats during the whole experimental periods. 2. No HYTE treatment-related changes on body weight, gains and food consumption were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats during the whole experimental periods except for 2000mg/kg-dosing female groups in which significantly increase of body weight, gains, food and water consumption were detected compared to that of vehicle control in some points. 3. No HYTE treatment-related changes on ophthalmologic examination were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats. 4. No HYTE treatment-related changes on urinalysis were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for 2000mg/kg-dosing female groups in which, significantly increase of urine volume and related decrease on the urine specific gravity were detected as secondary effects of increase on the water consumptions not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. 5. No HYTE treatment-related changes on hematology were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for increases in the total WBC count and lymphocytes of 2000mg/kg-dosing male and female groups with decrease of large unstained cells as pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. 6. No HYTE treatment-related changes on serum biochemistry were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats. 7. No HYTE treatment-related changes on gross findings, organ weight and histopathology were detected in all dosing levels tested in male and female rats except for 2000mg/kg-dosing male and female groups in which, spleen and thymus organ weights, hypertrophy at gross observation and hyperpalsia of lymphoid cells and follicles at histopathological observation in spleen and thymus were detected as pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs. Conclusions : Based on these results, the NOAEL and MTD of HYTE in SD rats were considered as over 2000mg/kg, respectively at 28days repeat oral dose toxicity test because most of these findings were considered as results of pharmacological effects of immune enhancements not HYTE treatment-related toxicological signs or secondary effects.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.169-176
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• 2008

The subcronic toxicity of WK-38, a herbal preparation for the atherosclerosis, was examined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats. WK-38 is composed of Rhei Rhizoma, Magonoliae Cortx, Moutan Cortex Radicis. Rats were treated with the test substance at a dose of 5 mg/kg, 50 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg intragastrically for 13 weeks. Control rats were treated with vehicle only. No death and abnormal clinical signs were observed throughout the administration period. Also there was no difference in net body weight gain, food and water consumption, organ weight, gross pathological findings, and urine analysis among the groups of rats treated with different doses of the WK-38. Hematological findings and biochemical examination revealed no evidence of specific toxicity related to WK-38. The results suggested that under the condition employed in this study no observation effect level (NOEL) of WK-38 would be 500 mg/kg/day.