• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.486-492
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• 2015

Drug metabolism mostly occurs in the liver. Cytochrome P450 (CYP) is a drug-metabolizing enzyme that is responsible for many important drug metabolism reactions. Recently, the US FDA and EU EMA have suggested that CYP enzyme induction can be measured by both enzymatic activity and mRNA expression. However, these experiments are time-consuming and their interassay variability can lead to misinterpretations of the results. To resolve these problems and establish a more powerful method to measure CYP induction, we determined CYP induction by using luminescent assay. Luminescent CYP assays link CYP enzyme activity to firefly luciferase luminescence technology. In this study, we measured the induction of CYP isozymes (1A2, 2B6, 2C9, and 3A4) in cryopreserved human hepatocytes (HMC424, 478, and 493) using a luminometer. We then examined the potential induction abilities (unknown so far) of mesalazine, a drug for colitis, and mosapride citrate, which is used as an antispasmodic drug. The results showed that mesalazine promotes CYP2B6 and 3A4 activities, while mosapride citrate promotes CYP1A2, 2B6, and 3A4 activities. Luminescent CYP assays offer rapid and safe advantages over LC-MS/MS and qRT-PCR methods. Furthermore, luminescent CYP assays decrease the interference between the optical properties of the test compound and the CYP substrates. Therefore, luminescent CYP assays are less labor intensive, rapid, and can be used as robust tools for high-throughput CYP screening during early drug discovery.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.27-37
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• 2023

Objectives: Moroccan Arbutus unedo is an essential medicinal plant; however, little is known about the biological properties of its leaves mentioned in Moroccan traditional medicine. Methods: Various standard experiments were performed to evaluate the phytochemical, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antibacterial, and acute and sub-chronic toxicity characteristics of A. unedo leaves. Results: Phytochemical screening led to the identification of several phytochemical classes, including tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and anthraquinones, with high concentrations of polyphenols (31.83 ± 0.29 mg GAEs/g extract) and flavonoids (16.66 ± 1.47 mg REs/g extract). Further, the mineral analysis revealed high levels of calcium and potassium. A. unedo extract demonstrated significant antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities by inhibiting α-amylase (1.350 ± 0.32 g/mL) and α-glucosidase (0.099 ± 1.21 g/mL) compared to the reference drug Acarbose. Also, the methanolic extract of the plant exhibited significantly higher antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract. Precisely, three of the four examined bacterial strains exhibited substantial susceptibility to the methanolic extract . Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values indicated that A. unedo harbor abundant bactericidal compounds. For toxicological studies, mice were administered with A. unedo aqueous extract at single doses of 2,000 and 5,000 mg/kg. They did not exhibit significant abnormal behavior, toxic symptoms, or death during the 14-day acute toxicity test and the 90-day sub-chronic toxicity test periods. The general behavior, body weight, and hematological and biochemical status of the rats were assessed, revealing no toxicological symptoms or clinically significant changes in biological markers observed in the mice models, except hypoglycemia, after 90 days of daily dose administration. Conclusion: The study highlighted several biological advantages of A. unedo leaves without toxic effects in short-term application. Our findings suggest that conducting more comprehensive and extensive in vivo investigations is of utmost importance to identify molecules that can be formulated into pharmaceuticals in the future.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.69-75
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• 1995

The present study was carried out to establish several spermatotoxicity test methods. For this purpose we investigated following parameters in the fertility study of DA-125, a new anticancer agent, in rats: testicular spermatid counts, epididymal sperm counts, daily sperm production rate, sperm morphology, and serum testosterone concentration. Motility and velocity of sperms were also measured using non-treated rats. At 0.3 mg DA-125/kg, spermatids per 1g testis and daily sperm production rate per 1g testis were significantly decreased, when compared with those of control group. Several types of abnormal sperms, such as no head, pin head, double head, hook at wrong angle, no tail, and small sperm, were found in both treated and control groups at a low frequency. Serum testosterone concentration at 0.3 mg DA-125/kg was close to the control value. Sperm motility and velocity measured with non-treated rats were in a good agreement with the results of other investigators. In our study established spermatotoxicity test methods can be used as a tool not only for the close examination of the cause of drug- or chemical-induced infertility, but also for the effective evaluation of reproductive toxicity.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2015

The skin exposure to solar irradiation and photoreactive xenobiotics may produce abnormal skin reaction, phototoxicity. Phototoxicity is an acute light-induced response, which occurs when photoreacive chemicals are activated by solar lights and transformed into products cytotoxic against the skin cells. Multifarious symptoms of phototoxicity are identified, skin irritation, erythema, pruritis, and edema that are similar to those of the exaggerated sunburn. Diverse organic chemicals, especially drugs, are known to induce phototoxicity, which is probably from the common possession of UV-absorbing benzene or heterocyclic rings in their molecular structures. Both UVB (290~320 nm) and UVA (320~400 nm) are responsible for the manifestation of phototoxicity. Absorption of photons and absorbed energy (hv) by photoactive chemicals results in molecular changes or generates reactive oxygen species and depending on the way how endogenous molecules are affected by phototoxicants, mechanisms of phototoxcity is categorized into two modes of action: Direct when unstable species from excited state directly react with the endogenous molecules, and indirect when endogeneous molecules react with secondary photoproducts. In order to identify phototoxic potential of a chemical, various test methods have been introduced. Focus is given to animal alternative test methods, i.e., in vitro, and in chemico assays as well as in vivo. 3T3 neutral red uptake assay, erythrocyte photohemolysis test, and phototoxicity test using human 3-dimensional (3D) epidermis model are examples of in vitro assays. In chemico methods evaluate the generation of reactive oxygen species or DNA strand break activity employing plasmid for chemicals, or drugs with phototoxic potential.

• 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.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.79-85
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• 2009

Aim : To evaluate the pharmaceutical safety of the herbal formula Myelophil, composed of Astragali Radix and Salviae Radix, via systemic subacute toxicological study using SD rats. Methods : Forty male and 40 female SD rats were fed with Myelophil (5000, 2500 or 1250 mg/10 mL/kg) or distilled water for four weeks. Adverse effects were examined intensively by comparing the differences between normal and drug-administered groups using clinical signs, necropsies, histopathologic findings, hematology, urinalysis, and blood biochemical analysis. Results : No altered clinical symptoms including body weight, diarrhea, anorexia, death, and abnormal necropsy of major organs were observed in male or female rats. No drug-induced abnormalities in histopathological finding, hematological values, urinalysis, and blood biochemical values were found at any doses of Myelophil. Conclusion : Myelophil should be very safe when used in a clinical application with a wide therapeutic index.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.51-59
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• 2015

Objectives: This study was performed to analyze the toxicity and to find the lethal dose of the test substance Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture when used as a single-dose in 6 week old, male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: All experiments were conducted at Biotoxtech (Chungwon, Korea), an institution authorized to perform non clinical studies, under the regulations of Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). SD rats were chosen for the pilot study. Doses of Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture extracts, 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 mL, were administered to the experimental group, and 0.5 mL doses of normal saline solution were administered to the control group. This study was conducted under the approval of the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee. Results: No deaths or abnormalities occurred in any of the groups. Also, no significant changes in body weights were observed among the groups, and no significant differences in hematology/biochemistry, necropsy, and histopathology results were noted. Hematologically, some changes in the male rats in two experimental groups were observed, but those changes had no clinical or toxicological meaning because they were not dose dependent. Histopathological tests on the injected parts showed cell infiltration in the male rats in one of the experimental groups; however, that result was due to spontaneous generation and had no toxicological meaning. Therefore, this study showed that Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture had no effect on the injected parts in terms of clinical signs, body weight, hematology, clinical chemistry, and necropsy. Conclusion: As a result of single-dose tests of the test substance Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture in 4 groups of rats, the lethal dose for both males and females exceeded 0.5 mL/animal. Therefore, the above findings suggest that treatment with Hominis placenta pharmacopuncture is relatively safe. Further studies on this subject are needed.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.300-306
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• 2000

In the present studies, we assessed the stability of active components and toxicological safety of irradiated Angelica gigas Nakai(Danggui). In order to confirm the stability of active components in the ${\gamma}$-irradiated roots of Danggui, the quantitative analysis of decursin and decursinol angelate of ${\gamma}$-irradiated sample was carried out by high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) methods using reverse phase columns and normal phase columns. From the root of Danggui, decursin and decursinol angelate were isolated by a silica gel column chromatography(toluene : ether (1 : 1), Hexane : EtOAc(15 : 1)). And then the structures were confirmed in the 1H and 13C-NMR analysis. The HPLC chromatograms of decursin and decursinol angelate in ${\gamma}$-irradiated Danggui were similar with those of non-irradiated sample. In the examination of in vitro genotoxicity of the water extract from ${\gamma}$-irradiated Danggui using Salmonella reversion assay(Ames test) and micronucleus test in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells, mutagenicity was not exhibited in the two assays with or without metabolic activation. These resutls suggest that active components in the ${\gamma}$-irradiated Danggui should be stable and that the safety of ${\gamma}$-irradiated Danggui could be revealed in further test in vivo.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.36-43
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• 2015

Objectives: Water-soluble carthami flos (WCF) is a new mixture of Carthami flos (CF) pharmacopuncture. We conducted a 4-week toxicity test of repeated intramuscular injections of WCF in Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods: Forty male and 40 female rats were divided into 4 groups of 10 male and 10 female SD rats: The control group received 0.5 mL/animal/day of normal saline whereas the three experimental groups received WCF at doses of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 mL/animal/day, respectively. For 4 weeks, the solutions were injected into the femoral muscle of the rats alternating from side to side. Clinical signs, body weights, and food consumption were observed; opthalmological examinations and urinalyses were performed. On day 29, blood samples were taken for hematological and clinical chemistry analyses. Then, necropsy was conducted in all animals to observe weights and external and histopathological changes in the bodily organs. All data were tested using a statistical analysis system (SAS). Results: No deaths were observed. Temporary irregular respiration was observed in male rats of the experimental group for the first 10 days. Body weights, food consumptions, opthalmological examinations, urinalyses, clinical chemistry analyses, organ weights and necropsy produced no findings with toxicological meaning. In the hematological analysis, delay of prothrombin time (PT) was observed in male rats of the 0.25- and the 0.5-mL/animal/day groups. In the histopathological test, a dose-dependent inflammatory cell infiltration into the fascia and panniculitis in perimuscular tissues was observed in all animals of the experimental groups. However, those symptoms were limited to local injection points. No toxicological meanings, except localized changes, were noted. Conclusion: WCF solution has no significant toxicological meaning, but does produce localized symptoms. No observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of WCF in male and female rats is expected for doses over 0.5 mL/animal/day.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.23-41
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• 2017

Objectives: In this study, we seek to perform a priority selection for test substances for chronic inhalation toxicity studies, including acute and subchronic inhalation toxicity studies, which are to be performed after the construction of a chronic/carcinogenicity inhalation toxicity study facility and enactment of pertinent legislation. Methods: Through this study, qualitative and quantitative priority evaluation of test substances according to acute, subchronic and chronic categories were respectively performed and priorities were suggested by expert group review, redundancy and other methods. Meanwhile, a draft on test substance selection criteria, procedures and methods referring to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) system was proposed. Results: This study selected priorities for candidate substances for chronic inhalation toxicity studies to be conducted from 2016. Conclusions: In the future, by assessing in advance the toxicological effects of chemicals to which workers can be potentially exposed in the workplace via long-term inhalation, expected health disturbances among workers will be reduced and it is anticipated that occupational disease induced by chemicals will be effectively prevented.