• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.243-247
• /
• 2007

Retinoids have many important and diverse functions and particularly, have been widely used as anti-aging agent and for the treatment of acne and psoriasis in cosmetics. However, retinoids have low stability against the air, light, water, oxygen and heat, thus, to stabilize the retinoids in formulations is very critical procedure. In this study, cubic liquid crystalline phase of monoolein was applied to stabilize the retinylpalmitate (RP) and to enhance the transdermal permeation. Cubic liquid crystalline phase significantly enhanced the stability of RP. After 15 days, the content of RP in the cubic formulation was 94.7% while the content of RP in ethanol solution was below 0.5% at room temperature. Although BHT containing crystalline phase showed the slightly increased stability of RP, there were no significant differences in RP stability between with or without antioxidants (ascorbic acid, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, BHT, BHA) at $40^{\circ}C$. The skin retention of RP in crystalline formulations was approximately $5.3{\sim}6.4$ times greater than that of o/w cream formulation. Incorporation of RP into cubic liquid crystalline phase of monoolein effectively stabilized the RP and worked as excellent topical vehicle for RP. Liquid crystalline phase is considered to be suitable formulation for RP for topical delivery system as a stabilizer and permeation enhancing agent.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.175-187
• /
• 1999

To investigate the risk perception of environmental issues, two consequtive surveys were conducted to environmental professionals using a standardized questionnaire from September to October in 1999. The number of subjects were 72 for the first survey and 68 for the second one. The questionnaire was consisted of items such as the degree of environmental pollution in Korea, risk perception of some issues on human health and ecosystem, and seriousness of the problems in the real situation in Korea. For the degree of environmental pollution in Korea, the average risk rating in the second test (7.4 point) was significantly higher than that in the first test (7.2 point). The risk perception on the general human health and ecosystem, and the seriousness in Korea situation were analyzed in the order of ′air pollution′, ′water pollution′,′soil contamination′,′waste′,′toxic chemical pollutants′,′food contamination′,′ocean contamination′, ′odor pollution′, and ′noise pollution′. Also ′toxic chemical pollutants′ problem was perceived to be the highest risk on general human health or ecosystem, and on present situation in Korea. ′Automotive vehicle exhaust′ problem was perceived to be the most severe environmental problems among specific 30 items. ′Industrial source air pollution′,′toxic air pollutants′, and ′domestic and industrial source pollutants to surface water′ were relatively severe environmental problems comparing to other problems. The pollution issues were classified into four categories by two aspects of perception; risk in general setting and seriousness in Korea situation. If the issues were highly serious in Korea and low risk perception in general setting then it is named "the Korea-specific group". Those that were all high score in two aspects, named "the Common group". Those that were all low in two aspects, named "the Nonsignificant group". And the issues were high risk perception in general setting and low seriousness in Korean situation, named "the Latent group".

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.151-159
• /
• 2008

Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS), one of traditional medicinal plants in Asia, was found to have pharmacological activities such as antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects, raising the possibility for the development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. Thus, potential genotoxic effects of RVS in three short-term mutagenicity assays were investigated, which included the Ames assay, in vitro Chromosomal aberration test, and the in vivo Micronucleus assay. In Ames test, the addition of RVS water extracts at doses from 313 up to 5000 mg/plate induced an increase more than 2-fold over vehicle control in the number of revertant colonies in TA98 and TA1537 strains for detecting the frame-shift mutagens. The similar increase in reversion frequency was observed after the addition of RVS ethanol extracts. To assess clastogenic effect, in vitro chromosomal aberration test and in vivo micronucleus assay were performed using Chinese hamster lung cells and male ICR mice, respectively. Both water and ethanol extracts from RVS induced significant increases in the number of metaphases with structural aberrations mostly at concentrations showing the cell survival less than 60% as assessed by in vitro CA test. Also, there was a weak but statistically significant increase in number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes(MNPCEs) in mice treated with water extract at 2000 mg/kg while ethanol extracts of RVS at doses of up to 2000 mg/kg did not induce any statistically significant changes in the incidence of MNPCEs. Therefore, our results lead to conclusion that RVS acts as a genotoxic material based on the available in vitro and in vivo results.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.36 no.1 s.140
• /
• pp.44-49
• /
• 2005

The protective effects of the DWP-04 [DDB : selenium yeast: glutathione {31.1 : 6.8 : 62.1 (%, w/w)} against hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ were studied in rats. The rats were intraperitoneally injected with $CCl_4$ (50% in com oil) at initial dose of 1 ml/kg followed by 0.5 ml/kg 3 times during 1 week. The DWP-04 (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered everyday before the start of $CCl_4$ injection for two weeks. $CCl_4$ induced hepatocelluar degeneration and necrosis, which led to a great increase in serum aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase activity and serum lipid levels. It was found by biochemical analysis that $CCl_4$ treatment remarkably increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and physphatidylcholine hydroperoxide in hepatic tissues and induced antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Liver and serum lipids were significantly lower in rats fed on DWP-04 than in rats induced by $CCl_4$ only-treatment. These results suggested that the DWP-04 could be a promising candidate for the protection of liver injury based on the preventive effects against lipid peroxidation and serum biochemical parameters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.5
• /
• pp.1337-1343
• /
• 2005

The hepato-protective effects of the extract from Protaetia brevitarsis against hepatotoxicity by carbon tetrachloride ($CCI_4$) were studied in rats. The rats were orally treated with $CCI_4$ (50% in corn oil) at initial dose of $1\;m{\ell}/kg$ followed by $0.5m{\ell}/kg$ four times during 2-week period. The extract of P. brevitarsis (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg) or its vehicle was administered day after day from 1 week before $CCI_4$ Injection during five weeks. $CCI_4$ induced hepato-celluar degeneration and necrosis induced to increase in serum aspartate amintransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels. In biochemical analyses, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in hepatic tissues were remarkably increased by $CCI_4$ treatment. Not only increases in serum AST and ALT, but also induction of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant enzymes in hepatic tissues caused by $CCI_4$ were significantly attenuated by the P. brevitarsis extract in a dose-dependent manner. Such hepato-protective effects of P. brevitarsis extract were confirmed by histopathological examinations, wherein only mild hepatocytic vacuolations were observed in the liver of rats treated with a high dose (100 mg/kg) of P. brevitarsis extract in comparison with severe hepatocytic degenerations administered with $CCI_4$ alone. From these results, it is suggested that the extract of Protaetia brevitarsis could be a promising candidate for the protection of liver injury, based on the preventive effects against morphological cellular injuries, lipid peroxidation and serum biochemical parameters.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.249-257
• /
• 2010

Crataegii Fructus is commonly used as a improving digestion, removing retention of food, promoting blood circulation and resolving blood stasis agent in East Asia. Cadmium (Cd) is widely distributed in the environment due to its use in industry. An exposure to Cd causes dysuria, polyuria, chest pain, hepatic and renal tubular diseases. The liver is the most important target organ when considering Cd-induced toxicity because Cd primarily accumulates in the liver. This study investigated the protective effect of Crataegii Fructus water extract against cadmium ($CdCl_2$, Cd)-induced liver toxicity in H4IIE cells, a rat hepatocyte-derived cell line and in rats. Cell viability was significantly reduced in Cd-treated H4IIE cells in a time and concentration-dependent manner. However, Crataegii Fructus water extract (CFE) protected the cells from Cd-induced cytotoxicity via inhibition of PARP cleavage. To induce acute toxicity in rats, Cd (4 mg/kg body weight) was dissolved in normal saline and intravenously injected into rats. The rats then received either a vehicle or silymarin (as a positive control) or CFE (50, 100 mg/kg/day) for 3 days, and were subsequently exposed to a single injection of Cd. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were significantly increased by Cd treatment. In contrast, pretreatment with CFE reduced ALT, AST and LDH. In histopathological analysis, CFE reduced the hepatic degenerative regions and the number of degenerative hepatocytes. These are considered as direct evidences that Crataegii Fructus has favorable inhibitory effects on the Cd-intoxicated liver damages. The efficacy of Crataegii Fructus shows slight lower than that of silymarin in the present study.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.225-234
• /
• 2001

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRGWE) on developmental toxicity caused by the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) in Sprague-Dawley rats. fifty males successfully mated were randomly assigned to five experimental groups, 1.e., group I (vehicle control), group II (BPA 1000mg/kg), group III (KRGWE 400mg/kg), group IV (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 200mg/kg), and group V (BPA 1000mg/kg & KRGWE 400mg/kg). The test articles were administered by gavage to mated females from gestational days (GD) 1 through 20 (sperm vaginal lavage=day O). All females were subjected to caesarean section on GD 21 and their fetuses were examined for external, visceral, and skeletal abnormalities. In the group II, significant maternal toxic effects including suppressed body weight, decreased body weight gain during pregnancy, and reduced food consumption were observed in pregnant rats. The minimal developmental toxicity including fetal ossification delay was also found in fetuses. In addition, a tendency for increased pregnancy failure, increased pre-and postimplantation loss, and decreased fetal body weight was observed. However, no fetal morpho-logical abnormalities were seen in surviving fetuses at a dose level of 1000mg BPA/kg. On the other hand, the maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity found in the groups IV and V were comparable to those of the group II. There were no adverse signs of either maternal toxicity or developmental toxicity in the group III. These results showed that administration of BPA at a dose level of 1000mg/kg to pregnant rats resulted in significant maternal toxicity and minimal developmental toxicity, and that no protective effects on BPA-induced maternal toxicity and developmental toxicity were found by concomitant gavage dosing of KRGWE.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.36 no.1
• /
• pp.75-85
• /
• 2015

Objectives: Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and high blood glucose level from progressive insulin secretory defect. The rhizome of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. (AJ) has been used for treatment of retention of water in oriental medicine. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of AJ on type 2 diabetes rats. Methods: Type 2 diabetes was induced by 60% high fat diet and low dose streptozotocin. Rats were divided into 4 groups (n = 6); Nor (normal control group), Con (diabetic group treated with vehicle), Met (diabetic group treated with 200 mg/kg metformin) and AJ (diabetic group treated with 100 mg/kg AJ). The body weights and food intakes were measured during the treatment period. After 4 weeks treatment, blood glucose level, HOMA-IR, and protein expressions of IRS-1, p-IRS-1, PPAR-${\gamma}$, and GLUT4 were measured, and histopathological examination of beta cell was performed. Results: Compared with the control group, blood glucose level and HOMA-IR were reduced in rats treated with AJ. Impaired beta cells in pancreas of rats were recovered and phosphorylation of IRS-1 was increased in rats treated with AJ. And also, protein expressions of PPAR-${\gamma}$ and GLUT4 were increased by treatment of AJ. Conclusions: The results suggest that Atractylodes japonica Koidz. may have anti-diabetic effect on type 2 diabetic rats through regulation of blood glucose level and insulin resistance. Therefore Atractylodes japonica Koidz. may have positive effects on patients with type 2 diabetes.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.83-91
• /
• 2015

Objectives : The present study was conducted to examine whether Cynanchi wilfordii radix (CWR) with or without fermentation has an ameliorative effect on hyperlipidemia in rats.Methods : We analyzed the contents of Conduritol F on Cynanchi wilfordii radix. The experimental animals were divided into six groups; normal diet fed group (N), high cholesterol fed control group (Con), Lovastatin 20 mg/kg (L), CWR-W 300 mg/kg (CWR-W), and CWR-F 300 mg/kg on hyperlipidemia model induced by feeding 1.25% cholesterol. Rats were administrated orally every day for 8 weeks. And lipid profile of serum and weight change were observed.Results : The vehicle displayed a markedly increased body weight and significantly increased liver and epididymal fat weight, however, the administration of CWR improved the body, liver, and epididymal fat weights. All drug treatment reduced significantly the serum level of total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol elevated by intake of high cholesterol diet. TG displayed a reducing tendency all drug treatment, however, CWR-W decreased significantly. Atherogenic index and cardiac risk factor increased high cholesterol diet fed control group, while the administration of CWR-W and CWR-F decreased significantly. The major index of liver injury such as AST and ALT improved in all drug treatment.Conclusions : These results suggest that CWR extended the effect of lipid enhanced. Therefore CWR with or without fermentation may be useful for therapeutic treatment of clinical conditions associated with hyperlipidemia. Finally, these require more investigations about the action mechanism of CWR in the future.

• Journal of Families and Better Life
• /
• v.20 no.6
• /
• pp.81-93
• /
• 2002

The purpose of this study is to analyze the effects of household income drops on household economic status during economic crisis periods. Using the data taken from Korean Household Panel Study for 1996 and 1998, it was investigated how household income change affected household income, expenditure, and assets/debt. The economic status change of the income-decreased group was compared with that of the income-increased group. The major findings were as follows: Average income of the total sample was 1,905 thousand won in 1996, while 1,419 thousand won in 1998. The household of which income was decreased during the period was 65.1% of total sample. Average income of the group was reduced from 2,263 thousand won to 1,239 thousand won. Among income sources, the amount of income from real asset was found to be the highest decreasing rate, and the amounts of both business and employed-work income were reduced almost up to an half of those in two years ago. The amounts for all expenditure categories were also decreased with decreasing household income. Especially the expenditures for food away from home, leisure, durable, recreation, and vehicle-related expense were found to have the highest income elasticity. The households with decreased income were found to reduce household expenditures by 377 thousand won per month, which was 70.9% of that in 1996. Decreases in household income resulted in decreases in net wealth by 10,170 thousand won. With decreases in household income, the amounts of total insurance and private savings such as gye were decreased, and so were the amounts of real assets and monetary assets.