• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10273-10276
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• 2015

Objective: To explore the clinical effects of nimotuzumab combined with chemotherapy in the treatment of late gastric cancer. Methods: A total of 34 reoccurrence or metastatic patients with late stage gastric cancer who were confirmed by histopathology and/or cytology were selected and randomly divided into observational and control groups, of 17 cases each. Patients in the control group were treated with the standard DCF plan, while patients in observational group additionally received nimotuzumab. The short-term and long-term efficacy and adverse reactions in the 2 groups were followed. Results: The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were 64.7% (11/17) and 82.4% (14/17) in observational group and 25.0%(4/16) and 37.5%(6/16) in the control group(ORR and DCR between 2 groups, ${\chi}^2=5.2412$, P=0.0221 and ${\chi}^2=6.9453$, P=0.0084). The median progression-free survival (PFS) time and median overall survival (OS) time were 6.50 months and 12.50 months in observational group and 4.50 months and 8.25 months in the control group (P=0.0212; P=0.0255). The main toxic and side effects in the 2 groups were reduced leukocytes and hemoglobin, gastrointestinal reactions and hair loss and these were relieved after symptomatic treatment and nutrition support therapy. There were no differences in the occurrence of toxic and side effects between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Nimotuzumab combined with DCF plan is effective in treating late stage gastric cancer. A larger scale study is now warranted for confirmation of the findings.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2010

In this study, the effects of HP4060, a pomegranate extract, on Sprague-Dawley (SD) female rats were investigated. SD rats used in the experiment were divided into 3 groups: a control group, 100 mg HP4060/kg rat powder fed group, and 25 mg HP4060/kg rat liquid fed group. After 20 days of administration, the changes of the brain neurotransmitters were measured. The data showed that the concentration of the serotonin and the norepinephrine were increased, whereas that of the epinephrine was decreased in HP4060 administered groups. In addition, the improving effect of HP4060 on depression symptom of menopause women were shown by increased immobility time of the SD rates in a separate experiment. The uterus weight of HP4060 fed groups were also shown to be increased. In order to monitor toxic effect of HP4060, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels were measured, and the results showed that no significant difference in GOT and GPT levels among experimental groups implying no significant toxic side effects of HP4060. According to these results, it seems clear that HP4060 may improve symptoms of hot flush and depression caused by menopause without significant level of toxic effects.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.7
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• pp.756-760
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• 2005

Polyene macrolide amphotericin B (AmB) is the drug of choice for the treatment of disseminated fungal infections. However, because of its pronounced side effects, the drug has limited applicability. There are few interesting reports, which state that co-administration of the drug with homo-peptide of polyaspartic acid reduces the side effects of the drug. In our present study, an approach has been made to systematically synthesize low molecular weight heteropeptides consisting of L-aspartic acid and its derivative. It was hypothesized that such heteropeptides will reduce the toxic side effects of the drug by facile hydrophobic binding between the polymer and the drug. We have employed the strategy of solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to synthesize low molecular weight hetero-peptides by using L-aspartic acid and benzyl-L-aspartic acid to induce the hydrophobic binding between the peptide and the drug. In future, the proposed methodology can be employed to tailor other polypeptides substituted with benzyl groups to reduce the nephrotoxicity of AmB.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4385-4394
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• 2014

Cancer is the most deadly disease that causes the serious health problems, physical disabilities, mortalities, and morbidities around the world. It is the second leading cause of death all over the world. Although great advancement have been made in the treatment of cancer progression, still significant deficiencies and room for improvement remain. Chemotherapy produced a number of undesired and toxic side effects. Natural therapies, such as the use of plant-derived products in the treatment of cancer, may reduce adverse and toxic side effects. However, many plants exist that have shown very promising anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo but their active anticancer principle have yet to be evaluated. Combined efforts of botanist, pharmacologist and chemists are required to find new lead anticancer constituent to fight disease. This review will help researchers in the finding of new bioactive molecules as it will focus on various plants evaluated for anticancer properties in vitro and in vivo.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.40-42
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• 2003

Korean people use a lot of herbal agents for medical purposes, such as curing diseases, improving health state, but some of the herbal agents have toxic side effects. In terms of toxicology, herbal agents classified into 3 categories generally nontoxic, potentially toxic and toxic. But, there are few studies about the mechanisms and clinical features of intoxication of herbal agents. So detoxification or initial treatment of these agents is very difficult to clinicians in hospital. Authors experienced an uncommon case of intoxication after Arisaematis Rhizoma Ingestion. We report this case with review of Arisaematis Rhizoma.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.63 no.4
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• pp.33.1-33.5
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• 2023

Many scolicidal agents have been used to destroy fertile protoscolices, but these scolicidal agents have side effects, highlighting the need for research on effective and non-toxic replacement scolicidal agents. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are biocompatible and non-toxic. The current study examined the effects of AuNPs in killing the protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus in vitro using eosin staining. The protoscolices were treated with 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, or 1.0 mg/mL of AuNPs for 15, 30, 45, or 60 minutes. A concentration of 1.0 mg/mL was the most efficient in killing the protoscolices after 60 minutes exposure, reaching 96%, followed by 0.8 mg/mL (84.5%), whereas 0.4 and 0.2 mg/mL of AuNPs achieved a death rate of 76.8% and 68.5%, respectively. The loss of the protoscolices was lower at shorter exposure times with the same concentration of AuNPs and increased as the AuNP concentration was increased at the same exposure time. Significant differences were found between the different groups compared to the control group.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.119-126
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• 1984

Several publications in scientific journals affirming that ginseng could be toxic and have harmful effects on the organism, gave us reason to undertake extensive investigations as to the toxicity of the standardized ginseng extract G115, Acute and chronic toxicity, teratogenicity, carcinogenicity, its action on the cardiovascular and the hormonal system have been studied. The data obtained, which represent five years of research, are confirmed by clinical results: The standardized ginseng extract G115 is absolutely safe, no toxic actions or side effects were observed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.110-116
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• 2008

Purpose: Acute toxic hepatitis is a common cause of acute liver failure (ALF). We investigated the causes, clinical manifestation, and outcomes of ALF patients who underwent liver transplantation due to acute toxic hepatitis caused by herbal medicines and preparations. Methods: Between January 1992 and May 2008, we retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 24 patients who were transplanted due to acute toxic hepatitis caused by herbal medicines and preparations. We applied the RUCAM score to patients with acute toxic hepatitis and assessed the relationship between herbal preparations and liver injury. We studied the patients' medication history, liver function tests, and clinical outcomes. Results: The type of liver injury was divided into three groups: hepatocellular type, 14 patients (58.3%); cholestatic type, 4 patients (16.7%); and mixed type, 6 patients (25%). Polygonum multiflorum Thunberg (3 cases) was the most common cause of acute toxic hepatitis, followed by Acanthopanax senticosus (2 cases), pumpkin juice (2 cases), Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz (2 cases), Hovenia dulcis (1 case), Phellinus linteus (1 case), and Artemisia capillaries (1 case). One year survival after liver transplantation was 76%. Conclusion: We identified the herbal preparations leading to acute liver failure. Many patients consider herbal remedies to be completely free of unwanted side effects. However, we found that many herbal products have biological activities that can lead to severe hepatotoxicity.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

Objectives : Many of currently used anti-cancer drugs were developed to target cell death mechanisms and had serious side effects by causing damage to normal cells. Hangambujeongsan or Kangai Fuzheng Powder was a mixture based on the traditional Chinese medicine. It had been used in the local Chinese hospitals to treat cancer patients for decades and had shown a certain level of beneficial effects without major toxic effects. But its mechanism of action had not been elucidated yet. Thus this study aimed to investigate the effects of Kangai Fuzheng Powder in an in vitro experiment. Methods : Cancer lines or RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells were treated with Kangai Fuzheng Powder. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and morphological observation was also performed. Gene expression of cytokines in macrophages was determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Phagocytic function assay was also performed in macrophage cells. Results : Kangai Fuzheng Powder had no direct detrimental effect on cancer cells. When macrophages were co-cultured with cancer cells, Kangai Fuzheng Powder had toxic effect on cancer cells. After exposing macrophages to Kangai Fuzheng Powder, macrophages transformed into activated form and the mRNA level of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, interleukin-10 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 was significantly enhanced. Phagocytic activity of macrophages was dramatically potentiated. Conclusions : We demonstrated that anti-cancer effect of Kangai Fuzheng Powder was related to activation of macrophages including enhanced cytokine production and phagocytic function.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.513-518
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• 2004

Pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs (KMH) are known as effective therapeutic agents on various blood vessel disease. We have already reported the ameliorative effect of complex of pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs against hyperlipidemia. But safety and non - toxicity of pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs to normal animal cells have not been studied clearly. In this study, we investigated whether pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs show side effects on rat or not. These materials were administered to rats, and subacute toxicity was examined by measuring the hematological values, CBC differentiation, biochemical levels of blood (TP, total protein; albumin; ALP, alkaline phosphotase; AST, aspatate aminotrans- ferase; ALT, alanine aminotransferase; T-Chol., total cholesterol; T-Bil., total bilirubin) and urine analysis, suggesting that the sample have no side effects and cytotoxicity. These results indicate that the complex of pine needle oil and Korean medicinal herbs may effective non- toxic, safety therapeutic agents on hepatocytes and hyperlipidemia.