• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.122-133
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• 2016

While ion beams are widely used in plant breeding, little is known about the sensitivity of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) to ionizing radiation. To compare the biological effects of different types of ionizing radiation on the germination and survival rates of lavender, we exposed lavender seeds to gamma rays, 3 MeV electron beams, and 1.89 MeV proton ion beams. We observed that the seed germination rate decreased with increasing dosages of all three types of ionizing radiation. The malformation rate of lavender seedlings exposed to electron beams and gamma rays increased with increasing radiation dosage. By contrast, the effect of the accelerated proton beams on the malformation rate was negatively correlated with the dosage used. The survival rate of lavender seedlings exposed to the three types of ionizing radiation decreased in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the survival rate of seedlings irradiated with proton and electron beams decreased more slowly than did that of seedlings irradiated with gamma rays. The half-lethal dose of gamma rays, electron beams, and proton beams was determined to be 48.1 Gy, 134.3 Gy, and 277.8 Gy, respectively, and the most suitable proton-ion energy for lavender seeds in terms of penetration depth was determined to be 5 MeV. These findings provide valuable information for the breeding of lavender by radiation mutation.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.376-382
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• 2013

[6]-Gingerol, a major polyphenol of ginger (Zingiber officinale), exhibits a variety of biological properties including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activity. However, the radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol is still unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the radioprotective effect of [6]-gingerol against radiation-induced cell cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. [6]-Gingerol pretreatment attenuated radiation-induced cell cytotoxicity caused by 5Gy (half lethal dose, $LD_{50}$ of HepG2 cells). The measurements of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were also performed. The results showed that [6]-gingerol pretreatment reduced increasing SOD and CAT activity after exposure of IR, indicating that [6]-gingerol protected oxidative stress by regulating cellular antioxidant enzyme (SOD and CAT) activity. These findings suggest that [6]-gingerol acts as a radioprotector by attenuating cell cytotoxicity and oxidative stress.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.361-365
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• 2005

This study was conducted to obtain the acute information of the oral dose toxicity of Polycan - originated from Aureobasidium pullulans SM-2001 (half of the dry material is -1,3/1,6-glucans), a UV induced mutant of A. pullulans, having various pharmacological effects, in male and female mice. In order to calculate $50\%$ lethal dose $(LD_{50})$, approximate LD and target organs, test article was administered twice by oral gavage to male and female ICR mice at total 1000, 500 and 250mg/kg. The mortality and changes on body weight, clinical signs and gross observation were monitored during 14 days after dosing. As the results, we could not find any mortalities, clinical signs, changes in the body weight and gross findings. The results obtained in this study suggest that the Polycan is non-toxic in mice and is therefore likely to be safe for clinical use. The L050 and approximate $(LD_{50})$ in mice after single oral dose of Polycan were considered over 1000 mg/kg, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.231-237
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• 2012

Toxicity of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated via FETAX (Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus) protocol using domestic frog embryos. Embryos of Black-spotted pond frog, Rana nigromaculata, were incubated and toxic effects of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were investigated by probit analysis. As a result, mortality and malformation rates were increased and larval body length was decreased in a dose dependant manner of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole. The half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 0.07, $12.7mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively and the half maximal lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole were 4.2, 39.1, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) were 61.4 in $Ni^{2+}$ and 3.1 in Tebuconazole, respectively. These results reveals that $Ni^{2+}$ and Tebuconazole suppress the development of Black-spotted pond frog embryos at the low concentration as showing teratogenic effects in other assay system. Therefore, teratogen assay system using the Rana nigromaculata embryos could be useful as a tool to evaluate the toxicity of the pollutants in environment.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.706-714
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• 2017

An investigation of the effects of Pb for domestic anuran embryos were evaluated with the Frog Embryo Teratogenesis Assay; Xenopus (FETAX). Depending on the species, the difference between the embryo size and the embryonic development time was determined. As a result, mortality and malformation rates were increased, malformation patterns were changed and larval body length were decreased in a dose dependent manner of the Pb. The half maximal lethal concentration ($LC_{50}$) of the Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, Rana nigromaculata and Bombina orientalis were 0.58, 0.49, 0.52, $0.54mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The half maximal effective concentration ($EC_{50}$) of the Bufo gargarizans, Hyla japonica, Rana nigromaculata and Bombina orientalis were 0.35, 0.74, 0.30, $0.29mg\;L^{-1}$, respectively. The teratogenic index (TI) were 1.66 in the Bufo gargarizans, 1.81 in the Hyla japonica, 1.73 in the Rana nigromaculata and 1.86 in the Bombina orientalis, respectively. Therefore, the Pb seems likely to have a teratogenic effect in all four species' embryonic development. The Bombina orientalis was the most sensitive to the Pb. This means that the difference between the different species, even if they have all been exposed to the same concentration of pollutants depending on the species. The result above show that the Pb acts as a teratogenic agent in the development of the four domestic frog species.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.117-119
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• 1984

To find toxic components in Korean higher fungi, the carpophores of Naematoloma fasciculare which had caused several cases of lethal intoxication were examined for toxicity. The components of high molecular weight were separated by ethanol precipitation and dialysis from the aqueous extract of the carpophores. After the components were freeze-dried, a brown powder was obtained. When a dose of 60mg/kg of this macromolecular fraction was intraperitoneally injected into mice, the mice began to die in six days and a half of them died within seven days. This toxic component was named nematoxin after the genus name of the mushroom.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.71-77
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• 1991

Parathion is widely used in agriculture, but it is highly toxic and now clear that parathion behaves like a cholinergic drug by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase. In order to know acute toxicity and the changes of cholinesterase activity according to time lapsed in Sprague-Dawley rats injected single with half dose to LD$_{50}$ of parathion, cholinesterase activities in serum, spinal cord, whole brain and median lethal dose between sex difference were investigated. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1. 4LD_{50}$ values of parathion given intraperitoneally to male and female rats were 10.5mg / kg(95% confidence limits, 6.6-16.8mg/ kg) and 3.3mg/ kg(95% confidence limits, 1.9-5.6mg/ kg). 2. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in serum of parathion-injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 35.4%(male) and 32.4%(female) after 1 hour in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 3. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in spinal cord of parathion-injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 31.1% (male) and 36.3% (female) after 30 minutes in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 4. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in whole brain of parathion -injected rats according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 32.2%(male) and 42.6%(female) after 1 hour in comparison to control group, but cholinesterase activities were completely recovered after 48 hours.s.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.58-66
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• 1992

The insecticide p-nitropheny diethyl thiophospate is alse known by the symbol E.605 and a legion of trade names including “parathion”. The insecticide is widely used in agriculture, but it is highly toxic and now clear that parathion behaves like a cholinergic drug by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase. In order to know acute toxicity and the changes of glucose concentrations and activity according to time lapsed in female mice given orally single with the half dose to $LD_{50}$ of parathion, glucose contents and cholinesterase activities in serum as well as cholinesterase activities in whole brain and spinal cord were investigated, otherwise median lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) of parathion given orally against female mice was determined. The results obtained were summerized as follows ; 1. $LD_{50}$ value of parathion given orally to female mice was 7.1mg/kg(95% confidence limits, 3.8-13.1mg/kg) 2. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in serum of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 61% after 30 minutes in comparison to control group, but activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 3. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in whole brain of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 49% after 2 hours in completely recovered after 24 hours. 4. The inhibition rate of cholinesterase activities in spinal cord of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed were peakly decreased to 57% after 2 hours in comparison to control group, but activities were completely recovered after 48 hours. 5. The changes of glucose contents in serum of parathion-administrated mice according to time lapsed and in directly after death due to parathion poisoning were no significantly difference.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.101-107
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• 2010

Metal ions are essential to life. However, some metals such as mercury are harmful, even when present at trace amounts. Toxicity of mercury arises mainly from its oxidizing properties. Ionizing radiation (IR) is an active tool for destruction of cancer cells and diagnosis of diseases, etc. IR induces DNA double strand breaks in the nucleus, In addition, it causes lipid peroxidation, ceramide generation, and protein oxidation in the membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus. Yeasts have been a commonly used material in biological research. In yeasts, the physiological response to changing environmental conditions is controlled by the cell types. Growth rate, mutation and environmental conditions affect cell size and shape distributions. In this work, the effect of IR and mercury chloride (II) on the morphology of yeast cells were investigated. Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells were treated with IR, mercury chloride (II) and IR combined with mercury chloride (II). Non-treated cells were used as a control group. Morphological changes were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The half-lethal condition from the previous experimental results was used to the IR combined with mercury. Yeast cells were exposed to 400 and 800 Gy at dose rates of 400Gy $hr^{-1}$ or 800 Gy $hr^{-1}$, respectively. Yeast cells were treated with 0.05 to 0.15 mM mercury chloride (II). Oxidative stress can damage cellular membranes through a lipidic peroxidation. This effect was detected in this work, after treatment of IR and mercury chloride (II). The cell morphology was modified more at high doses of IR and high concentrations of mercury chloride(II). IR and mercury chloride (II) were of the oxidative stress. Cell morphology was modified differently according to the way of oxidative stress treatment. Moreover, morphological changes in the cell membrane were more observable in the frequently stress treated cells than the temporarily stress treated cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1333-1340
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• 2012

Epithelial ovarian cancer represents the most lethal gynecological cancer, and the high mortality rate makes this malignancy a major health concern. Poor prognosis results from an inability to detect ovarian cancers at an early, curable stage, as well as from the lack of an effective therapy. Thus, effective and novel strategies for prevention and treatment with non-toxic agents merit serious consideration. Resveratrol, obtained from grapes, berries, peanuts and red wine, has been shown to have a potent growth-inhibitory effect against various human cancer cells as well as in in vivo preclinical cancer models. The objective here was to evaluate potential antitumor effects of resveratrol in both in vitro and in vivo NuTu-19 ovarian cancer models. In vitro an invasion assay was performed. After 48 h, the numbers of viable cells that invaded the extracellular matrix layer were reduced by 94% with resveratrol in comparison to control. For the in vivo anti-tumor assessment, 10 rats were injected with NuTu-19 cells into the ovarian bursa. Thereafter, half were provided with a diet mixed with a dose of 100 mg resveratrol/kg body weight/day for 28 days. Following sacrifice, anticancer effects were assessed by histological evaluation of ovarian as well as surrounding tissues, and immunohistochemical detection of cell proliferation and apoptosis, but there were no observable differences between the control and resveratrol-treated groups for any of the biological endpoints. While resveratrol is effective in suppressing the in vitro cellular invasion of NuTu-19 ovarian cancer cells, these effects do not appear to impact on in vivo NuTu-19 ovarian cancers in rats.