• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.81-89
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• 2012

Objectives : In this research, the genotoxic effect of $Scutellariae$ $Radix$(SR), the dried roots of $Scutellaria$ $baicalensis$ Georgi has been traditionally used as antipyretic agent, was evaluated using the mouse micronucleus test. Methods : SR aqueous extract(yield = 27.2%) was administered once a day for 2 continuous days by oral gavage to male ICR mice at doses of 2,000, 1,000 and 500 mg/kg. Cyclophosphamide(CPA) 70 mg/kg was used as a known genotoxic agent in a positive control. The appearance of a micronucleus(MN) in polychromatic erythrocyte(PCE) is used as an index for genotoxic potential, and PCE ratio is used as an index of cytotoxicity. Results and Conclusions : Although significant(p<0.01) increase of the number of PCE with one or more nuclei(MNPCE) was detected in CPA treated groups, no significant increases of MNPCE numbers were observed in all three different dosages of SR extracts treated mice with over 0.33 of the individual polychromatic erythrocyte ratio in all mice used in this study. The results obtained indicated that SR extract shows no genotoxicity effects up to 2,000 mg/kg dosing levels - the limit dosage in rodents.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.333-338
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• 2003

Cytogenetic and hematological analysis was performed in bovine peripheral blood from the regions around Wolsong nuclear power plant and control area. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from cattle was used as a biomarker of radiobiological effects resulting from exposure to environmental radiation. An estimated dare of radiation was calculated by a best fitting linear-quadratic model based on the radiation-induced MN formation from the bovine lymphocytes exposed in vitro to radiation over the range from 0 Gy to 4 Gy. MN rates in lymphocytes of cattle from Wolsong nuclear power plant and control area were 9.87/1,000 and 9.60/1,000, respectively. There were no significant differences in MN frequencies and hematological values in cattle between Wolsong and control area. The study indicates that the MN assay is a rapid, sensitive and accurate method that can be used to monitor a large population exposed to radiation.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.176-184
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• 2006

The controversy on genotoxicity of molinate, an herbicide, has been reported in bacterial system, and in vitro and in vivo mammalian systems. To clarify the genotoxicity of molinate, we performed bacterial gene mutation test, in vitro chromosome aberration and mouse lymphoma $tk^{+/-}$ gene assay, and in vivo micronucleus assay using bone marrow cells and peripheral reticulocytes of mice. In bacterial gene mutation assay, no mutagenicity of molinate ($12-185{\mu}g/plate$) was observed in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, 100, 1535 and 1537 both in the absence and in the presence of S-9 metabolic activation system. The clastogenicity of molinate was observed in the presence ($102.1-408.2\;{\mu}g/mL$) of metabolic activation system in mammalian cell system using Chinese hamster lung fibroblast. However, no clastogenicity was observed in the absence ($13.6-54.3\;{\mu}g/mL$) of metabolic activation system. It is suggested that the genotoxicity of molinate was derived some metabolites by metabolic activation. Molinate was also subjected to mouse lymphoma L5178Y $tk^{+/-}$ cells using microtiter cloning technique. In the absence of S-9 mixture, mutation frequencies (MFs) were revealed $1.4-1.9{\times}10^{-4}$ with no statistical significance. However, MFs in the presence of metabolic activation system revealed $3.2-3.4{\times}10^{-4}$ with statistical significance (p<0.05). In vivo micronucleus (MN) assay using mouse bone marrow cells, molinate revealed genotoxic potential in the dose ranges of 100-398 mg/kg of molinate when administered orally. Molinate also subjected to acridine orange MN assay with mouse peripheral reticulocytes. The frequency of micronucleated reticulocytes (MNRETs) induced 48 hr after i.p. injection at a single dose of 91, 182 and 363 mg/kg of molinate was dose-dependently increased as $10.2{\pm}4.7,\;14.6{\pm}3.9\;and\;28.6{\pm}6.3\;(mean{\pm}SD\;of\;MNRETs/2,000\;reticulocytes)$ with statistical significance (p<0.05), respectively. Consequently, genotoxic potential of molinate was observed in in vitro mammalian mutagenicity systems only in the presence of metabolic activation system and in vivo MN assay using both bone marrow cells and peripheral reticulocytes in the dose ranges used in this experiment. These results suggest that metabolic activation plays a critical role to express the genotoxicity of molinate in in vitro and in vivo mammalian system.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.243-249
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• 2004

The cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in combination with FISH technique using chromosome-specific centromeric probes for chromosome 1 and 4 was performed in mitogen stimulated human lymphocytes which were exposed to x-radiation to identify different sensitivity of chromosomes to the induction of micronuclei(MN) and aneuploidy by radiation. The frequencies of micronucleated cytokinesis-blocked(MNCB) cells and MN in binucleated lymphocytes(BN) increased with the increase in radiation dose. A significant induction of aneuploidy of chromosome 1 and 4 were found. The frequency of aneuploidy of chromosome 1 and 4 in the control were 9 per 2,000 BN cells and this increased to 47 and 71 following irradiation at a dose of 1 and 2 Gy, respectively. The induction of aneuploidy of chromosome 1 was higher than that of chromosome 4. The frequency of aneuploid BN cells with MN exhibiting positive centromere signal for either chromosome 1 and/or 4 increased in a dose dependent manner, and that for chromosome 1 is higher than that for chromosome 4. Among the total induced MN in irradiated lymphocytes, smaller proportion of MN exhibit centromeric signal of chromosome indicating that radiation-induced MN are mainly originated from chromosomal breakage rather than chromosomal non-disjunction. These results suggest that x-radiation can induce aneuploidy and supports the finding that chromosome vary in their sensitivity to aneuploidy induction by x-irradiation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.217-225
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the genotoxicity in comet and in vitro micronucleus assay and mutagenicity in Ames test of the extracts from leaves and stem of Morus alba L. The samples showed a very weak cytotoxicity on the NIH/3T3 cells by SRB assay. The cell viability of the extracts and fractions from leaves and stems of Morus alba L. was 80% over at $500\;{\mu}g/ml$, and that of the chloroform fractions from leaves and stems showed lower than others. The genotoxicity at $250\;{\mu}g/ml$ of 100% EtOH and water extracts on the NIH/3T3 cells in comet assay was about 40% compared to positive control, and most fractions from 100% EtOH extract of the leaves showed stronger genotoxicity than that offractions from the stem. The genotoxicity with S-9 mix in vitro micronucleus assay of the 100% EtOH and water extracts form Morus alba L. did not indicate any significant difference as compared with control group. The cytokinesis-binucleated cells were showed in the hexan, chloroform, ethylacetate and butanol fractions from the extract of the leaves without S-9, and sample with S-9 showed CB cells in the chloroform fraction from the leaves. In the Ames test, the water and 100% ethanol extracts of Morus alba L. did not have a strong mutagenicity in TA98 and TA100, but the fractions of organic solvents of the ethanol extract had $10{\sim}26%$ of mutagenicity on the TA100 strain.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.229-234
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• 2018

BACKGROUND: in vitro micronucleus test (vitMNT) is one of the promising alternative testing methods in genotoxicity test and was adopted as OECD test guideline for chemical registration. This study was conducted to optimize the cytoplasm conditions in vitMNT using Chinese hamster lung (CHL) cell. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study cytokinesis-block micronucleus test was conducted. Mitomycin C and colchicine were used as positive control chemicals and were treated for three hours (short time) or twenty-four hours (long time). Giemsa solution was used for cell staining. For optimization of vitMNT, the final fixative was prepared as five concentrations (0%, 1%, 3%, 5%, and 25%) of acetic acid in methanol, and treatment times of the final fixative were varied under four conditions (immediately, one hour, four hours, and one day). CONCLUSION: Acetic acid at 1% in methanol as the final fixative was most adequate to preserve the cytoplasm around the nucleus in the interphase cells. Also, fixative treatment time of cell suspension for one to four hours may minimize the cell rupture. These results can be helpful for getting an accurate result promptly due to clear visual distinction to score micronucleus in vitMNT using giemsa solution.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2008

Objectives : Buplueri Radix (BR), used medical plant in Korea traditional medicine, contains various compounds, including a series of triterpene saponins known as saikosaponins. We performed this study for the protective effect of BR against oxidative damage induced by 1,2,4-benzentriol(BT) in human lymphocytes. Methods : In order to investigate the protective effect of BR against carcinogens, genotoxicity induced by benzene metabolite, BT were performed using cytokinesis-block micronucleus(CBMN) assay and comet assay. Results : The frequency of micronucleus at 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M$ concentration of BT were $8{\pm}2.36$, $23{\pm}2.31$, $35{\pm}4.17$ respectively. In addition of BR with concentration of 25 and $50{\mu}g/mL$, MN frequencies were significantly decreased. According to comet assay, BT induced DNA damage in a dose-dependent manner at concentration of 10 and 50 while BT with BR treatment decreased DNA breakage. No genotoxicity was observed by BR($25{\sim}50{\mu}g/mL$) treatment alone on DNA breakage. Since BT can induce DNA damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species(ROS), we examined the level of ROS in human lymphocytes treated with BT and/or BR using DCF-DA, ROS-sensitive probe. The generation of ROS in BT-treated cells was also observed, and BR addition inhibited the level of BT-induced DNA damage. Conclusions : From above results it is suggested that BR could protect the cell and DNA from pro-oxidant effect by ROS by BT

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.150-156
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• 2005

Analysis of chromosome aberration (CA) and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay in peripheral lymphocytes of nurses exposed to low levels of anticancer drug and Ethylene Oxide(EO) gas in a hospital were performed. The frequency of CA was increased in the exposed compared to the controls whereas no increase of the frequency of MN was found. The frequencies of chromatid type CA were 1.2, 3.91 and 9.67 per 500 cells in the controls, workers exposed to anticancer drug and workers exposed to EO, respectively. Lower frequency of CA in nurses handling anticancer drugs with safety covers compared to those without safety covers was observed, but it was not statistically significant. The frequency of CA in nurses handling anticancer drugs increased by the frequency of mixing anticancer drugs. Poisson regression analysis showed a significant association of the frequency of chromatid type CA with age, duration of wort exposure to anticancer drug and EO gas exposure, but no association of the frequency of chromosome type CA with any variables. The results suggested that there were associations between CA and the occupational exposure to low levels of anticancer drug and EO gas.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2961-2966
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• 2012

Extremely low frequency electro magnetic fields (EMFs) have been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. An increased number of chromosomal alterations in peripheral lymphocytes are correlated with elevated incidence of cancer. The aim of the present study was to assess occupationally induced chromosomal damage in EMF workers exposed to low levels of radiation. We used conventional metaphase chromosome aberration (CA) analysis and the micronucleus (MN) assay as biological indicators of non ionizing radiation exposure. In the present study totally 70 subjects were selected including 50 exposed and 20 controls. Informed written consent was obtained from all participants and the study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and the approval of the local ethical committee. A higher degree of CA and MN was observed in exposed subjects compared to controls, the frequency of CA being significantly enhanced with long years of exposure (P<0.05). Moreover increase in CA and MN with age was noted in both exposed subjects and controls, but was significantly greater in the former. The results of this study demonstrated that a significant induction of cytogenetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to EMFs in electric transformer and distribution stations. In conclusion, our findings suggest that EMFs possess genotoxic capability, as measured by CA and MN assays; CA analysis appeared more sensitive than other cytogenetic end-points. It can be concluded that chronic occupational exposure to EMFs may lead to an increased risk of genetic damage among electrical workers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1773-1777
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• 2016

Diagnostic and therapeutic radiation fields are planned so as to reduce side-effects while maximising the dose to site but effects on healthy tissues are inevitable. Radiation causes strand breaks in DNA of exposed cells which can lead to chromosomal aberrations and cause malfunction and cell death. Several researchers have highlighted the damaging effects of high dose radiation but still there is a lacuna in identifying damage due to low dose radiation used for diagnostic purposes. Blood is an easy resource to study genotoxicity and to estimate the effects of radiation. The micronucleus assay and chromosomal aberration can indicate genetic damage and our present aim was to establish these with lymphocytes in an in vitro model to predict the immediate effects low dose radiation. Blood was collected from healthy individuals and divided into 6 groups with increasing radiation dose i.e., 0Gy, 0.10Gy, 0.25Gy, 0.50Gy, 1Gy and 2Gy. The samples were irradiated in duplicates using a LINAC in the radiation oncology department. Standard protocols were applied for chromosomal aberration and micronucleus assays. Metaphases were stained in Giemsa and 200 were scored per sample for the detection of dicentric or acentric forms. For micronuclei detection, 200 metaphases. Giemsa stained binucleate cells per sample were analysed for any abnormality. The micronuclei (MN) frequency was increased in cells exposed to the entire range of doses (0.1-2Gy) delivered. Controls showed minimal MN formation ($2.0%{\pm}0.05$) with triple MN ($5.6%{\pm}2.0$) frequency at the lowest dose. MN formation increased exponentially with the radiation dose thereafter with a maximum at 2Gy. Significantly elevated numbers of dicentric chromosomes were also observed, even at doses of 0.1-0.5Gy, compared to controls, and acentric chromosomes were apparent at 2Gy. In conclusion we can state that lymphocytes can be effectively used to study direct effect of low dose radiation.