• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.19 no.2
• /
• pp.116-121
• /
• 1999

Quercetin and its glycosides showed a strong free radical scavenging effect to DPPH radical generation. However, there were not big differences between quercetin aglycone and glycosides under experimental condition of this study. On the other hand, quercetin had pro-oxidant effect in bleomycin-dependent DNA assay. Quercetin aglycone and its glycosides, quercitrin inhibited $H_2$$O_2$- induced DNA damage in CHL cells. They also have an anticlastogenicity toward DNA breakage agent by radical generation like bleomycin. These results indicate that quercetin aglycone and its glycosides are capable of protecting the free radical generation induced by reactive oxygen species like $H_2$$O_2$. The mechanism of inhibition in hydrogen peroxide-induced genotoxicity may be due to their free radical scavenging properties. Therefore, quercetin aglycone and its glycosides may be useful chemopreventive agents by protecting of free radical generation which are involved in carcinogenesis and aging. However, quercetin and its glycosides must also carefully examined for pro-oxidant properties before being proposed for use in vivo.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.39-48
• /
• 2009

We have evaluated the effect of long term treatment of Enicostemma littorale (E. littorale) in type 2 diabetic patients taking pills of aqueous extract of E. littorale regularly as a complimentary medicine for at least 9 months. The effects of E. littorale on glycemic control, lipid profile, cardiac function and DNA damage in these patients were compared with those who had not been regular in taking E. littorale but regular in taking other conventional anti-diabetics. Our data suggest that, E. littorale can maintain normal blood glucose, serum insulin, serum triglycerides levels of type 2 diabetic patients if taken regularly. E. littorale also improves insulin sensitivity, and normalize disturbed lipogram and elevated creatinine levels, thereby produces beneficial effect in preventing cardiovascular complications and may preserve the kidney function. The finding that E. littorale also prevents DNA damage suggest a long term effect in diabetic patients. E. littorale thus can be considered as safe supplementary therapy for a long term and effective management of type 2 diabetic patients.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.27 no.1
• /
• pp.73-81
• /
• 2001

For an attempt to develop safe materials protecting UV-induced skin damage, plant extracts were evaluated for their antioxidative and free radical scavenging activities. From the results of these screening procedures, the ethanol extract of the flowers of Prunus persica was selected for further study. It was found that Prunus persica (50-200 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎖) inhibited UVB-induced DNA damage measured by tail moment in the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis(COMET assay) and inhibited UV-induced lipid peroxidation, expecially against UVB-induced peroxidation at higher than 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎖. Also P.persica(100∼1,000 $\mu\textrm{g}$/㎖) inhibited the amount of $\^$14/C-arachidonic acid metabolites release from UVB-irradiated keratinocytes and it possessed the protective activity against UV-induced cytotoxicity of keratinocytes. All these results indicate that the flowers of P. persica extract may be beneficial for protection UV-induced skin damage when topically applied.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.114-120
• /
• 2004

The $Comet{\acute{e}}$ Consultatif de $Thermom{\acute{e}}trie$ (CCT) under the Comete International des Poids et Measures (CIPM) has decided to perform the Key Comparison (KC) for triple point of water cells used as a reference fixed point of thermometry at the 21st meeting held at November 2001, and the Bureau International des Poids et Measures (BIPM) has been nominated as a KC coordinator. According to the KC protocol prepared by BIPM, KRISS performed the KC experiments and evaluate a uncertainty. The temperature difference between two reference cells for the Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science (KRISS) and a test cell for the transfer standard, which is moved to BIPM was 0.024 mK and the combined standard uncertainty evaluated 0.055 mK.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.97-103
• /
• 2005

The genotoxic effect of antimalarial drugs amodiaquine (AQ), mefloquine (MQ) and halofantrine (HF) was investigated in.at liver cells using the alkaline comet assay. AQ, MQ and HF at concentrations between $0-1000{\mu}mol/L$ significantly increased DNA strand breaks of rat liver cells dose-dependently. The order of induction of strand breaks was AQ>MQ>HF. The rat liver cells exposed to AQ and HF (200 and 400 ${\mu}mol/L$) and treated with (Fpg) the bacterial DNA repair enzyme that recognizes oxidized purine showed greater DNA damage than those not treated with the enzyme, providing evidence that AQ and HF induced oxidation of purines. Such an effect was not observed when MQ was treated with the enzyme. Treatment of cells with catalase, an enzyme inactivating hydrogen peroxide, decreased significantly the extent of DNA damage induced by AQ, and HF but not the one induced by MQ. Similarly quercetin, an antioxidant flavonoid at $50{\mu}mol/L$ attenuated the extent of the formation of DNA strand breaks by both AQ and HE. Quercetin, however, did not modify the effects of MQ. These results indicate the genotoxicity of AQ, MQ and HF in rat liver cells. In addition, the results suggest that reactive oxygen species may be involved in the formation of DNA lesions induced by AQ and HF and that, free radical scavengers may elicit protective effects against genotoxicity of these antimalarial drugs.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.335-340
• /
• 2006

A large number of toxicological substances and pharmacological and physical agents can cause reproductive intervention at the cellular and molecular level. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mercury ($HgCl_2$) at 50 to $550{\mu}M$ concentration ranges, in vitro, on the sperm membrane and DNA integrity, viability, and acrosomal status of normal bull spermatozoa. The samples were processed for sperm analyses using semen-diluting fluid (PBS, pH 7.2). We recorded a sharp increase in the lipid peroxidation/LPO rate; the highest was at $550{\mu}M$ mercury concentration, indicating a deleterious effect of mercury on the sperm membrane intactness. There was also a strong negative correlation between LPO rate and % viable spermatozoa (R = 0.987, p<0.001). Data obtained from a comet assay technique revealed that mercury is capable of inducing DNA breaks in the sperm nuclei. Interestingly, 92% of DNA breaks were double-stranded. The correlation between LPO rate and % DNA breaks was 0.984. Performing the gelatin test indicates that mercury is able to alter the integrity of acrosomal membranes showing an abnormal acrosome reaction. In this regard, a strong link was found between LPO rate and % halos (R = 0.990, p<0.001). Collectively, mercury proved to be a potent oxidant in the category of environmental factors affecting bull spermatozoa. Hence, considering the wide spread use of mercury and its compounds, these metals should be regarded with more concern.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.279-283
• /
• 2013

Acanthopanax koreanum Nakai, a well known traditional herb grown in Jeju Island, South of Korea, has been used as a tonic and sedative agent, as well as in the treatment of diabetes and immune diseases. Mutagenicity of two lignans, syringaresinol and tortoside A isolated from A. koreanum, was assessed using Salmonella/microsome (Ames) test. Tester strains used were Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, and Escherichia coli WP2uvrA. The mutagenic activity was determined both in the absence or presence of S9 mixture. As a result, tortoside A did not cause any increase in the number of $his^+$ revertants in S. typhimurium and E. coli WP2uvrA strains in the presence or absence of S9 mix, compared to the controls. Similarly, low concentrations of syringaresinol (750 and 1,500 ${\mu}g$/plate) did not show any mutagenic properties in all bacterial strains, in the presence or absence of S9 mixture. However, in the high concentration of syringaresinol (3,000 ${\mu}g$/plate), the number of revertants were increased in TA1535 strains, in the absence of S9 metabolic activation. Therefore, in vivo experiments such as comet assay are needed to further determine the genotoxic/carciogenic potential of syringaresinol isolated from A. koreanum.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.24-34
• /
• 2010

This study was carried out to analyze some influences on ecological health conditions, threaten by various stressors such as physical, chemical and biological parameters. We collected samples in 2008 from three zones of upstream, midstream and downstream, Gap Stream. We applied multi-metric fish assessment index (MFAI), based on biotic integrity model to the three zones along with habitat evaluations based on Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI). We also examined fish fauna and compositions, and analyzed relations with MFAI values, QHEI values, and various guild types. Chemical parameters such as oragnic matter (BOD, COD), nutrients (TP, $NH_3$-N), coli-form number (as MPN), and suspended solids (SS) were analyzed to identify the relationship among multiple stressor effects. Using the sentinel species of Zacco platypus, the population structures and condition factors were analyzed along with DNA damages related with genotoxicant effects by comet assay. This study using all these parameters showed that stream condition was degraded along the longitudinal gradient from upstream to downstream, and the downstream, especially, was impacted by nutrient enrichment and toxicant exposure from the point source, wastewater treatment plant. Overall results indicated that our approaches applying various parameters may be used as a cause-effect technique in the stream health assessments and also used as a pre-warning tool for diagnosis of ecological degradation.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.45 no.3
• /
• pp.101-109
• /
• 2018

In an age when a small quantity of sperm can lead to pregnancy through in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection, selecting healthy sperm is important. Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) is known to be higher in infertile men. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL) and the alkaline comet test are SDF tests that directly measure DNA damage and have shown closer correlations with assisted reproduction results than indirect tools such as the sperm chromatin structure assay or the sperm chromatic dispersion test. It is difficult; however, to endorse a single test as the best test overall; instead, it is best to select a testing method based on each patient's clinical condition and goals. In a couple struggling with infertility, if the male partner has a high level of SDF, he should aim to decrease SDF through lifestyle modifications, antioxidant treatment, and ensuring an appropriate duration of abstinence, and physicians need to treat the underlying diseases of such patients. If sperm DNA damage continues despite the patient's and physician's efforts, other methods, such as micromanipulation-based sperm selection or testicular sperm extraction, should be used to select healthy sperm with nuclear DNA integrity.

• Publications of The Korean Astronomical Society
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.31-44
• /
• 2018

Song, I-Yeong (1619 ~ ?) was an active astronomer in the Joseon dynasty at the era of adopting the Shixian-li, Chinese calendar in Qing dynasty. His astronomical contribution was recorded in Annals of the Joseon Dynasty, Diary of the Royal Secretariat, Comparative Review of Records and Documents-Its Revision and Enlargement, and Treatise on the Bureau of Astronomy. In addition the details on his life and works were found at the genealogies of the Song Family from Yeonan and the Kim Family from Seonsan. His major astronomical activities can be summarized in three items. First, as a specialist astronomer, he has attempted to make a systematic observation of two comets. Second, he designed and fabricated the Jamyeong-jong, the weight-powered armillary clock, which became a typical model of the astronomical clock in the Joseon dynasty. Last, he served as a royal astronomical professor, greatly contributing on implementing the Shixian-li. Song has concentrated on performing astronomical duties for his royal official service time. Song is regarded as an important astronomer who made it possible to enforce the Shixian-li until the late Joseon dynasty.