• Toxicological Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.85-94
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• 1988

In order to elucidate the mechanism of toxic action of a pisonous mushroom, Amanita pantherina, biochemical effects of the mushroom extracts on mice were studied. A hotwater extract of Amanita pantherina injected intraperitoneally into male ICR mice evoked signs similar to those observed clinically upon acute poisoning by the mushroom and also changed the levels of component enzyme activities in blood, liver and urine. The serum cholinesterase activity was decreased significantly during 1-3 h after injection.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.779-784
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• 2007

Dinitrophenol is preventing cells from making energy for growth and it has been suggested that pH may be important in mitigating effects of uncouplers. The effect of pH on toxicity of dinitrophenol at high concentration was investigated, over a pH range of 5.7 to 8.7. DNP inhibition was found to be strongly dependent on mixed liquor pH. The DNP degradation rate was highest in the pH range of 7.0 to 7.8; at pH 6.0 degradation of 0.41 mM dinitrophenol was significantly inhibited; at pH <5.7, dinitrophenol degradation was completely inhibited after approximately 25% of the dinitrophenol was degraded. However no significant effect of pH variation was seen on glucose uptake by the activated sludge mixed culture.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.235-242
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• 2014

Cancer cells are known to drastically alter cellular energy metabolism. The Warburg effect has been known for over 80 years as pertaining cancer-specific aerobic glycolysis. As underlying molecular mechanisms are elucidated so that cancer cells alter the cellular energy metabolism for their advantage, the significance of the modulation of metabolic profiles is gaining attention. Now, metabolic reprogramming is becoming an emerging hallmark of cancer. Therapeutic agents that target cancer energy metabolism are under intensive investigation, but these investigations are mostly focused on the cytosolic glycolytic processes. Although mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation is an integral part of cellular energy metabolism, until recently, it has been regarded as an auxiliary to cytosolic glycolytic processes in cancer energy metabolism. In this review, we will discuss the importance of mitochondrial respiration in the metabolic reprogramming of cancer, in addition to discussing the justification for using mitochondrial DNA somatic mutation as metabolic determinants for cancer sensitivity in glucose limitation.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.276-288
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• 2014

The six polysaccharide fractions were prepared by chromatographic procedure from the hot water extracts of the aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus. These six polysaccharides from aboveground parts of Astragalus membranaceus Bunge were tested for gut-mucosal immune activity and acute toxicity. In a view of molecular weight, the six fractions were estimated to be 75000, 88000, 129000 and 345000 Da, respectively. Component sugar analysis indicated that these fractions were mainly consisted of galactose (46.3 ~ 11.8%) and arabinose (35.4 ~ 9.9%) in addition to glucose, rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid. Among the six major purified polysaccharides, AMA-1-b-PS2 showed highest bone merrow cell proliferation and lymphocyte of Peyer's patch stimulating activity. It may be concluded that intestinal immune system modulating activity of aboveground parts from Astragalus membranaceus Bunge is caused by polysaccharides having a polygalacturonan moiety with neutral sugars such as arabinose and galactose. In single oral dose toxicity study, no differences were observed between control and treated groups in clinical signs. The results indicated that lethal dose 50 ($LD_{50}$) of water extracts from Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground parts was found to be higher than 5000 mg/kg/day in this experiment. From the above results, we may suggest that Astragalus membranaceus-aboveground parts might have useful as a safe material for functional food and pharmaceutics.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.75-82
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• 2010

This study was carried out to investigate the short term toxicity of nine phthalate diesters including di-2(ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP), di-n-octyl phthalate (DnOP), diethyl phthalate (DEP), butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP), dimethyl phthalate (DMP), di-isodecyl phthalate (DIDP), diundecyl phthalate (DUP), and di-isononyl phthalate (DINP) and five phthalate monoesters including mono- (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP), monobutyl phthalate (MBuP), monobenzyl phthalate (MBeP), monoethyl phthalate (MEP), monomethyl phthalate (MMP) and phthalic acid (PA) in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Animals were administered 250 mg/kg/day (monoesters and PA) or 500 mg/kg/day (diesters) of phthalate for two weeks. All animals were examined for body and organ weights, blood hematology, serum biochemistry, and urine analysis. The body weight gain was significantly lower in rats treated with BBP, DBP, DINP, MEHP, MBuP, and PA than that of control. Liver weights were significantly increased in the DEHP, DBP, DnOP, DIDP, and MEHP groups as compared to the control group. Testes weights were significantly decreased only in the DEHP-, DnOP-, and DIDP-treated groups as compared to the control. Significant differences in hematological changes were not observed in any treatment groups. Significant increases in blood glucose levels were observed in the DEHP, MEHP, and MBeP groups. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were significantly increased in the DBP, DUP, DINP, MBuP, and MBeP groups, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were significantly increased only in the DEHP and MEHP groups. Serum ALP levels were significantly higher in phthalate diester (500 mg/kg/day)-treated rats as compared to control. However, the total cholesterol level was significantly reduced in the DEHP- and DIDP-treated groups, whereas serum triglyceride (TG) levels were higher in the DINP-, MEHP-, and MBuP-treated groups. These results suggest that short term toxicity of phthalate monoesters produces adverse effects as similar to phthalate diesters in Sprague-Dawley rats.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.527-533
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of highly-developed rice varieties, Oryza sativa cvs. Jukjinjubyeo, Heuginjubyeo and Heughyangbyeo by a single oral dose in ICR mice. The test article was orally administered once by gavage at dose levels of 0, 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 g/kg body weight (n=10 for male and female mice for each dose). We examined the number of deaths, general clinical signs, body weights and biochemical analysis for sexes and doses of mice between control and experimental groups. As a result all of the groups were alive during experimental periods and none of the significant clinical symptom and body weight changes were shown in all of the groups. Plasma glucose levels were valued for both control and experimental groups and there were no significant differences between the groups. The activities of aminotransferase were not increased in all experimental groups compared to control groups. The results suggest that the toxicity of the aleurone layer of Oryza sativa cvs. Jukjinjubyeo, Heugjinjubyeo and Heughyangbyeo are low and its $LD_{50}$ is over 10.0 g/kg body weight in both male and female mice.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.129-135
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• 2008

Paraquat (1,1-dimethyl 4,4' -dipyridium dichloride; PQ) is a kind of herbicide. Terminalia chebulae (TC) has been used as a medicine in China and in Korea for treating illnesses such as diarrhea, collapsed anus, spasmodic, diphtheria, asthma etc.. This study was to examin new physiological activities of methanol extract of TC (TCM) on the toxicity of PQ. It was observed biochemical effects on the toxicity of PQ in kidney and lung tissues after treatment orally administered 100, 200, 300 mg/kg of TCM daily for two weeks. In the experiment related to the toxicity of PQ, we got following results: renal and pulmonary lipid peroxide contents, activities of aminopyrine N-demethylase, aldehyde oxidase and xanthine oxidase were significantly increased in control group as compared with normal group, in the treatment of TCM the values were decreased as compared with control group. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase which are free radical scavenging enzymes were also increased in control group as compared with normal goup, but were decreased in TCM group as compared with control group. Collagen content and glucose-6-phosphatase activity in lung tissue were increased in control group as compared with normal, but was decreased in TCM group as compared with control group. From these results, we concluded that TCM can playa role as an effective agent to decrease toxicity of PQ.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Marine Environment & Safety
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.191-196
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• 2011

Naphthalene was composed of a substantial fraction of polycyclic aromatic ydrocarbons(PAHs) in crude oil and causes acute toxicity. In this study, we examined the toxicity of different kinds concentrations 0, 1000, 1800, 3200, 5600, $10000{\mu}g/L$ of naphthalene to juvenile flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus for 24h to determine 24-median lethal concentration($LC_{50}$) and acute effect on the hematological properties. 24h-$LC_{50}$ value of this species was $3600{\mu}g/L$. Hematocrit value significantly increased at 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$ naphthalene exposed group by 24h compared to control fish. Plasma. Glucose was significantly higher in the $10000{\mu}g/L$ (P<0.05). Plasma osmolality was significantly higher in the 3200, 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$. Plasma [$Na^+$] and [$K^+$] significantly increased in the 5600 and $10000{\mu}g/L$, however [$Cl^-$] was not affected by acute naphthalene exposure. The results of this study suggest the acute exposure to naphthalene affects both ionoregulation and osmoregulation in juvenile flounder.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.973-979
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• 2005

To investigate the effect of Pinus densiflora on biochemical parameters in type I diabetic rats, we evaluated the changes of body weight, fasting blood glucose level, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and biochemical parameters after the intraperitoneal injection of distilled solution of Pinus densiflora in streptozotocin (STZ)­induced rats. Thirty-seven male Sprague Dawley rats $(180\pm10g)$ were divided into four groups; diabetic mellitus (DM) group received STZ (50 mg/kg BW, i.v.); low level of pine extract (LP) group received Pinus densiflora (5 mg/kg BW, i.p.), high level of pine extract (HP) group received Pinus densiflora (10 mg/kg BW, i.p.) after the single injection of STZ (50 mg/kg BW, i.v.), respectively. Normal control (NC) group received saline. The change of fasting blood glucose level and OGTT were measured using glucocard II, and the change of biochemical parameter were measured by Automatic Chemistry Analyzer (Hitach-747, Japan). Mean body weight change of DM group was retarded greatly by STZ-exposure. While, body weights of LP and HP groups were progressively increased with some fluctuation, although the increase rates were slower than that of NC group. Fasting blood glucose levels of LP and HP groups were reduced by Pinus densiflora injection, although the fasting blood glucose levels were higher than that of NC group. The results of OGTT was significantly improved in both of LP and HP group compared to DM group. Increases of blood glucose, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels by STZ-exposure were attenuated by the Pinus densiflora treatment (p<0.05). From the results, it was suggested that Pinus densiflora has a tendency to decrease STZ-induced toxicity in terms of monitoring fasting blood glucose, OGTT and some biochemical parameters of rat.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.1 no.6
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• pp.749-758
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• 1997

Myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury is known to be mediated by reactive oxygen species. The myocardial cell is equipped with endogenous antioxidant defensive system which can be adaptively stimulated by various oxidative stress. It is postulated that an increased oxygen partial pressure induced by hyperbaric oxygenation impose an oxidative stress on the cells, resulting alterations in the endogenous antioxidant system. In this study we investigated the effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on the activities of myocardial antioxidant enzymes and observed whether the hyperbaric oxygenation could protect the ischemia-reperfusion injury of heart. Rats or rabbits were pretreated with hyperbaric $oxygenation(2{\sim}3\;atm\;O_2/1{\sim}3\;hrs/1{\sim}10\;days)$. The changes in activities of major antioxidant enzymes(superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glucose-6-phasphate dehydrogenase), functional recovery and infarct size were observed in the experimentally induced ischemia-reperfused hearts. In the hearts isolated from rats pretreated with $2\;atm\;O_2/1{\sim}2\;hrs$ for 5 days, the functional recovery after reperfusion(20 min) following global ischemia(25 min) was significantly increased without any observable oxygen toxicity. Lactate dehydrogenase release was also significantly reduced in this hyperbaric oxygenated rat hearts. In in vivo regional ischemia(30 min) model of rabbit hearts, pretreatrment with $2\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr$ for 5 days significantly limited the infarct size. Among the myocardial antioxidant enzymes of rat hearts pretreated with the hyperbaric oxygenation, the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase were increased, while those of glutathione peroxidase and reductase were not changed. There were lethal cases in the groups of rats exposed to 3 atm $3\;atm\;O_2/2{\sim}3\;hrs$ for 5 days. A lipid-peroxidation product, rnnlondialdehyde was increased in brains and livers of the rats exposed to$2\;atm\;O_2/2{\sim}3\;hrs/5\;days\;and\;3\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr/5days$. The present results suggest that the pretreatment of hyperbaric oxygenation can protect the post-ischemic rererfused hearts in association with a stimulation of the activities of myocardial antioxidant defensive enzymes, and that the hyperbaric oxygenation of $2\;atm\;O_2/1\;hr$for 5 days would be a safe condition which does not produce any oxygen toxicity.