• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.56-64
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• 1981

In order to evaluate the mode of action of ginseng saponin. metabolic changes in the plasma of normal and aloxan-intoxicated rats were compared Normal groups were administered only ginseng saponin 0, 5, 50mg/kg for 16 days, but alloxan-intoxicated groups were administered alloxan 25mg/kg for 3 days in addition to ginseng saponin. (1) No significant change in the concentration of glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride (TG) was observed in normal rats but great inhibitory effect, except elevation of TG, was observed in alloxan-intoxicated rats. However, blood urea nitrogen was elevated in both normal and alloxan- intoxicated rats by administration of ginseng saponin 50mg/kg, and it was considered to be due to the impaired kidney function caused by overdose toxicity. (2) In normal rats, COT and ALP actIn,its were not changed by administration of ginseng saponin but GPT activity was decreased significantly. In alloxan-intoxicated rats, ginseng saponin exerted inhibitory action on the elevation of COT, CPT and ALP activity. But administration of ginseng saponin Smghg was much more effective than administration of 50mg/kg. (3) There fore, we concluded that ginseng saponin has the adaptogenic activity showing little effect on normal metabolism but great preventive action on alloxan-intoxicated rats.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.461-466
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• 2000

Tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III from the flowers of Pueraria thunbergiana showed potent hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Intraperitoneal administration of these two compounds with 5 and 10 mg/kg, respectively, for seven days to streptozotocin-induced rats significantly reduced the blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL- and VLDI-cholesterol and triglyceride levels when compared with those of control group. Glycitein in which 5-OH is unlinked and tectoridin (7-O-glycoside of tectorigenin) isolated from the flowers of P. thunbergiana did not improve hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. In addition, tectorigenin showed in vitro antioxidant effects on 1,1-diphenyl-B-pirylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, xanthine-xanthine oxidase superoxide anion radical, and lipid peroxidation in rat microsomes induced by enzymatic and non-enzymatic methods. We further found that tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III protected the Vero cell line(normal monkey kidney) from injury by hydrogen peroxide. From these findings, it seems likely that the antioxidant action of tectorigenin and kaikasaponin III may alleviate the streptozotocin-induced toxicity and contribute to hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.739-744
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• 2009

This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic action of administration of Nigella sativa (NS) and Peganum harmala (PH) oils in diabetes and hepatic toxicity. Results show that treatment of diabetic rats with NS oil or PH oil ameliorate hyperglycaemia induced stress oxidative and hepatic dysfunction in diabetic rats. Administration of NS or PH oil to diabetic rats caused an anti-diabetic and antioxidant activities by the decrease in plasmatic glucose level and increase in hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activities, reduced glutathione (GSH) and glycogen contents compared to untreated diabetic rats. Besides, NS and PH oils protect the hepatic function observed by decrease of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TCh), and increase of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-Ch) levels in serum and hepatic tissues. Moreover, a diminution in the bilirubin, transaminase glutanic pyruvic (TGP), and transaminase pyruvic oxaloacetic (TPO) contents in serum and the thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances levels (TBARs) in hepatic tissues are also detected.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Objective: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common human enzyme defect. G6PD plays a key role in the pentose phosphate pathway, which is a major source of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH). NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for oxidation-reduction reductions involved in protecting against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species such as $H_2O_2$. We hypothesized that G6PD deficiency may reduce the amount of NADPH in sperms, thereby inhibiting the detoxification of $H_2O_2$, which could potentially affect their motility and viability, resulting in an increased susceptibility to infertility. Methods: Semen samples were obtained from four males with G6PD deficiency and eight healthy males as a control. In both groups, motile sperms were isolated from the seminal fluid and incubated with 0, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M$ concentrations of $H_2O_2$. After 1 hour incubation at $37^{\circ}C$, sperms were evaluated for motility and viability. Results: Incubation of sperms with 10 and $20{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$ led to very little decrease in motility and viability, but motility decreased notably in both groups in 40, 60, and $80{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$, and viability decreased in both groups in 40, 60, 80, and $120{\mu}M\;H_2O_2$. However, no statistically significant differences were found between the G6PD-deficient group and controls. Conclusion: G6PD deficiency does not increase the susceptibility of sperm to oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$, and the reducing equivalents necessary for protection against $H_2O_2$ are most likely produced by other pathways. Therefore, G6PD deficiency cannot be considered as major risk factor for male infertility.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.77-84
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• 2014

Purpose: Carbamate insecticides are potent cholinesterase inhibitors capable of causing severe cholinergic toxicity. Use of carbamate rather than organophosphate insecticides has been increasing. Compared with organophosphate poisoning, relatively few studies have investigated carbamate-associated acute pancreatitis. We investigated general characteristics and pancreatitis of carbamate poisoning and the predictors, among those readily assessed in the emergency department. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of consecutive patients, aged over 18 years, who were admitted between January 2008 and April 2012 to an emergency department (ED) of an academic tertiary care center for treatment of carbamate poisoning. Patients who exhibited poisoning by any other material, except alcohol, were excluded. After application of exclusion criteria, patients were divided according to carbamate-induced pancreatitis and non-pancreatitis groups. Results: A total of 41 patients were included in this study. Among these 41 patients, the prevalence of acute pancreatitis was 36.6% (15 patients). Initial blood chemistry tests showed a statistically higher glucose level in the pancreatitis group, compared with the non-pancreatitis group (222, IQR 189-284 vs. 137, IQR 122-175 mg/dL, P<0.05). Regarding clinical courses and outcomes, a significantly higher proportion of patients developed pneumonia [10 (66.7%) vs. 6 (23.1%), P<0.05] and had a longer hospital stay (7 days, IQR 6-12 vs. 5 days, IQR 2-11, P<0.05), but no difference in mortality, in the pancreatitis group vs. the non-pancreatitis group. In multivariate analysis, the initial glucose was showing significant association with the presentation of carbamate-induced acute pancreatitis (odds ratio 1.018, 95% confidence interval 1.001-1.035, P<0.05). Conclusion: Carbamate-induced acute pancreatitis is common, but not fatal. Initial serum glucose level is associated with acute pancreatitis.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.263-268
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• 2010

This study was demonstrate a repeated oral dose toxicity of detoxication sulphur in 8-weeks-old female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The rats were treated with dose of 0.2%, 1%, 5% detoxication sulphur and 1% sulphur of feed consumption administered for 13 weeks. To evaluate the safety of detoxication sulfur, we examined the body weight, the feed intake, the clinical signs, the ophthalmological test, the hematological and the serum biochemical analysis. We also observed the histopathological changes of liver and kidney in rats. As a result, no significant differences in body weight, feed intake, hematological examination and histopathological between control and detoxication sulphur treatment group were found. Serum biochemical results were not shown significant differences in 0.2% and 1% the treated groups compared with control group. But glucose level were decrease, also ALT and ALP level were increase in 5% treated group. All of these results indicate that 1% detoxication sulphur of feed consumption may be safety in SD rat.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.123-134
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• 1979

For the purpose of developing a microbial insecticide utilizing Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, research was done and the following results were obtained. 1) As the freeze-dried matter of the cocoon-cooked water discarded from the filature contains much crude protein(51.825%) and a lot of inorganic salts, it can make a good nutrition source for the culture cf B. thuringiensis Berliner. 2) Based on the suspensibility, formula F-5 turned out to be the most suitable for insecticidal use. Its composition includes 0.2 g of the cell-spore-crystal mixture, 25 g of 200-mesh kaolin, 2.5 g of New Kalgen-NX-150, and 2.5 g of glycerine admixed with 8 ml of distilled water and granulated in 80-mesh size. 3) All the components of F-5, F-6 and F-7 are identical except that the amounts of cell-spore-crystal mixture of F-5, F-6, and F-7 are 0.2 g, 0.4 g, and 0.6 g, respectively. Accordingly, their physical properties are almost all the same. 4) Formulas F-5, F-6, and F-7 exhibited an excellent toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker, Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, and Margaronia perspectalis Walker at the concentration of 5%. 5) Formulas F-8 and F-9 which contain $NaHCO_3$ as one of their components showed a remarkably reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler than F-6 which does not contain $NaHCO_3$. 6) A maximum of $2.97{\times}10^9$ spores per ml was obtained by incubating B. thuringiensis in M-3 which has a pH of 7.05 and comprises 0.2% of ammonium sulphate and 0.8% of glucose dissolved in the cocoon-cooked water, with aeration for 96 hours. 7) Formula F-6 exhibited a somewhat reduced toxicity to Anomis mesogona Walker and Dendrolimus spectabilis Butler, when stored at room temperature for 70 days after formulation and it is desirable to keep it in a dark and cold place. 8) In held applications, formula F-6 showed a good activity in controlling Monema flavescens Walker. Margaronia perspectalis Walker, and Macrosiphum ibarae Matsumura.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.222-230
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• 1994

Background: Paraquat, a widely used herbicide, is extremely toxic, causing multiple organ failure in humans. Paraquat especially leads to irreversible progressive pulmonary fibrosis, which is related to oxygen free radicals. However, its biochemical mechanism is not clear. Natural mechanisms that prevent damage from oxygen free radicals include changes in glutathione level, G6PDH, superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. The authors think catalase is closely related to paraquat toxicity in the lungs Method: The effects of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole(aminotriazole), a catalase inhibitor, on mice administered with paraquat were investigated. We studied the effects of aminotriazole on the survival of mice administered with paraquat, by comparing life spans between the group to which paraquat had been administered and the group to which a combination of paraquat and aminotriazole had been administered. We measured glutathion level, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase(G6PDH), superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue of 4 groups of mice: the control group, group A(aminotriazole injected), group B(paraquat administered), group C(paraquat and aminotriazole administered). Results: The mortality of mice administered with paraquat which were treated with aminotriazole was significantly increased compared with those of mice not treated with aminotriazole. Glutathione level in group B was decreased by 20%, a significant decrease compared with the control group. However, this level was not changed by the administration of aminotriazole(group C). The activity of G6PDH in all groups was not significantly changed compared with the control group. The activities of SOD, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase(GPx) in the lung tissue were significantly decreased by paraquat administration(group B); catalase showed the largest decrease. Catalase and GPX were significantly decreased by aminotriazole treatment in mice administered with paraquat but change in SOD activity was not significant(group C). Conclusion: Decrease in catalase activity by paraquat suggests that paraquat toxicity in the lungs is closely related to catalase activity. Paraquat toxicity in mice is enhanced by aminotriazole administration, and its result is related to the decrease of catalase activity rather than glutathione level in the lungs. Production of hydroxyl radicals, the most reactive oxygen metabolite, is accelerated due to increased hydrogen peroxide by catalase inhibition and the lung damage probably results from nonspecific tissue injury of hydroxyl radicals.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2007

The present study was carried out to investigate the potential acute toxicity of ethanol extracts of the aleurone layer of Oryza sativa cvs. Obongbyeo, Ilpumbyeo, and Aranghyangchalbyeo by a single oral dose in ICR mice. The test article was orally administered once by gavage to male and female mice 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 numbers of deaths, general signs, weight measurement and biochemical analysis for sexes and doses of mice control and experimental groups. All mice were alive during the experimental period so can not yield death rate and $LD_{50}$. Any significant clinical symptom was not observed in all treated groups. No significant body weight changes in treatment groups in comparison with those of control groups was observed at any dose levels in experimental groups. Plasma glucose levels were valued both control and treated groups and there were no significant differences between groups. The activities of ALT and AST were not increase in all sample treated groups when compared with the control groups. The results suggest that the toxicity of Oryza sativa cvs. Obongbyeo, Ilpumbyeo, and Aranghyangchalbyeo are low and its $LD_{50}$ is over 10.0 g/kg body weight in both male and female mice.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.21-30
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• 1989

Lauryl alcohol was used as extracting solvent of ethanol, and its toxicity on the free cells or immobilized cells was tested. To increase ethanol productivity, extractive fermentation method combined with ethanol fermentation and ethanol recovery was applied to the immobilized batch and continuous fermenter. As the concentration of LaOH was increased, the lag phase became longer, but specific growth rate did not change greatly. And a cell entrapment technique could protect the yeast cells against both substrate inhibition and solvent toxicity. When the glucose concentration was 400 g/l and the LaOH/fermentation medium ratio was 4, total ethanol productivity increased with the enhancement of LaOH volume, and maximum productivity was 2.75 g/l.hr in the immobilized batch fermentation.