• Applied Microscopy
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.13-30
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• 1985

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of lead on organisms. Mice received 15mg or 30mg of lead acetate per kg body weight every day for 1, 2 or 3 weeks, and the livers and kidneys were removed 24h after repeated injections. The livers and kidneys were used as sources for measurement of enzyme activities and for observation of alterations in ultrastructure. It was observed that body weights of mice treated with lead acetate were decreased when compared with those before treatment. This decrease in body weight was proportional to dose. The enzyme activities of succinate and malate dehydrogenases of experimental group that was treated with lead acetate for 1 week were nearly unchanged when compared with controls, but the enzyme activities of experimental group that was treated with lead acetate for 2 or 3 weeks were lower than those of controls. Changes in the enzyme activities were dependent on, but were not proportional to dose. Histologic examination of livers and kidneys after lead treatment showed that lead compound was accumulated and damaged in nucleus and mitochondria mainly. It was also observed that intranuclear inclusion bodies were formed only in epithelial cell of kidney proximal tubule after lead treatment. The overall changes in the ultrastructure were much greater in the livers than in the kidneys. From the above results, it nay be possible to conclude that the lead results in the decrease in body weight, reduction in the succinate dehydrogenate and malate dehydrogenase activities, and damages in the ultrastructure of kidney and liver in mouse. The presence of intranuclear inclusion bodies only in the kidney implies that these bodies protect the kidney from lead toxicity to some extent.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.69-76
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• 2003

Effects of ambient nitrite, NO$_2$$\^$-/, at 1, 3, 10 and 30 mg/1, on the changes of plasma nitrite/nitrate and on hepatic drug - metabolizing enzyme activity were examined in the juvenile Israeli carp, Cyprinus carpio. When the fish were exposed to 1 and 3 mg/1 NO$_2$$\^$-/, there was an exposure duration-dependent increase in plasma NO$_2$$\^$-/ over the 96-hr period reaching 6∼7 fold excess the ambient concentration. In the fish exposed to 10 mg/1, a plateau concentration of less than 2-fold of the environment was attained in 12 hr. With 30 mg/1, however, the maximal plasma NO$_2$$\^$-/ was 41.25 mg/1 at 12 hr followed by a gradual decline. There was a concentration-dependent increase in methemoglobin (metHb) level in all NO$_2$$\^$-/ -exposed groups and a significant decrease in hematocrit value in 30 mg/l group after 96-hr exposure. Apart from the blunted increase in plasma NO$_2$$\^$-/ with higher NO$_2$$\^$-/ (10 and 30 mg/1) exposure, the ratio of plasma NO$_3$$\^$-/ to NO$_2$$\^$-/ was signifirantly higher in these groups compared to 1 and 3 mg/1. The imbalance in the plasma NO$_3$$\^$-//NO$_2$$\^$-/ at higher NO$_2$$\^$-/ exposure suggests a possible accelerated conversion of NO$_2$$\^$-/ to NO$_3$$\^$-/. Nitrite exposure did not affect the hepatic drug-metabolic activities in juvenile Israeli carp. All these data indicate that disposition of NO$_2$- differ depending upon exposed concentration and that metHb production may not be the exclusive toxic mechanism in carp.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1629-1636
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• 2009

Pine trees (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zacc.) have been used as a traditional health-promoting medicinal food in Korea. This research was performed to determine the antioxidative and antibacterial activities, tyrosinase, nitric oxide synthesis, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), and xanthine oxidase inhibition effects of the pine bud ethanol extract (PBE). Antioxidative activities of PBE were measured by using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity and superoxide dismutase-like activity (SODA). DPPH radical scavenging and SOD-like activities of PBE were remarkably increased in a dose-dependent manner, and were about 88.9% and 47.9% at 1 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml, respectively. The xanthine oxidase and angiotensin converting enzyme activities were inhibited about 71.9% and 60.8% at 1 mg/ml and $100{\mu}g/ml$ of PBE, respectively. The tyrosinase inhibitory activities of PBE were slightly increased in a dose-dependent manner. The PBE showed strong antimicrobial activities on Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Vibrio paraheamolyticus. Stimulation of the macrophages RAW264.7 cells with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) resulted in increased production of nitric oxide (NO) in the medium. However, NO synthesis was reduced up to 54% by addition of PBE at $200{\mu}g/ml$. These results revealed that pine buds have a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activity, and exhibit angiotensin converting enzyme and xanthine oxidase inhibitory activities. This suggests that pine buds have the greatest property as a source for natural health products.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2011

The anti-cancer effects of Angelica keiskei ethanol extract were evaluated in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. The concentrations of extract were 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mg/mL. Dose-dependent reductions in the number of cells with altered cell shape and pyknotic nuclei were observed at 48 h after treatments. MTT assay also exhibited a similar dose-dependent reduction in mitochondrial reductase activity (p<0.05), in particular, with a rapid reduction in the activity of the 5 mg/mL group. Analysis of cell death with propidium iodide (PI) staining revealed only a slight increase in cell death in the 5 mg/mL group. Analysis of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporations also showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell proliferation (p<0.05). Finally, increases in total radical oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in cells, as revealed by DCF-DA staining, were observed in the treated groups in a similar dose-dependent fashion (p<0.05). These results indicate that Angelica keiskei ethanol extract exhibiting anti-cancer effects in MDA-MB-231 cells causes multiple changes in cell shape, enzyme activity, and ROS accumulation, thereby inducing cell death.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.403-407
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• 1997

Medium components for maximum activity of NAD$^{+}$-dependent formate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.2; FDH) were optimized with a methanol-assimilating yeast Hansenula sp. MS-364, preserved by our laboratory. The maximum activity of the enzyme was obtained when the strain was cultivated at 30$circ$C for 24 hours in a medium containing methanol 3%(v/v), yeast extract 0.8%(w/v), K$_{2}$HPO$_{4}$, 0.1%(w/v), KH$_{2}$PO$_{4}$ 0.1%(W/V), MgSO$_{4}$, 7H$_{2}$O 0.05%(w/v), and the pH of the culture broth was adjusted at 5.0.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.290-297
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• 2022

This study was performed to investigate the organic acids, alcohol metabolism enzyme, and antioxidative, nitrite-scavenging, and hepatoprotective effects of Dendropanax morbifera vinegar prepared by a traditional fermentation method. Among the organic acids detected, acetic acid was the highest found, at 91.72 mg/ml, followed by lactic acid (7.31 mg/ml), malic acid (1.36 mg/ml), and succinic acid (1.20 mg/ml). The total polyphenol content of the D. morbifera vinegar was 13.73 ㎍ tannic acid equivalent (TAE)/ml. The 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazy (DPPH) radical scavenging activity of D. morbifera vinegar was 76.04% at a 60% concentration. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity of D. morbifera vinegar was increased in a dose-dependent manner, which was 95.14% at a 60% concentration, while the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of D. morbifera vinegar was 98.94% at a 10% concentration. The effects of D. morbifera vinegar on alcohol metabolism were determined by measuring the generation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). The ADH and ALDH activities of D. morbifera vinegar were increased in a dose-dependent manner, 43.62% and 60.39% at a 60% concentration, respectively. The D. morbifera vinegar showed significant protective effects against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells at the 0.6% concentration. These results suggest that D. morbifera vinegar has great potential as a resource for high quality functional health beverages.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.1572-1575
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• 2006

Water extract from Cnidii Rhizoma (CRW) was tested for colon cancer chemopreventive activity by measuring the induction of phase II detoxification enzyme activity [quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST)] and glutathion (GSH) levels and ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) activity in cultured human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. CRW inhibited cell proliferation in cultured HT-29 cells. CRW induced QR activity in a dose-dependent manner in a concentration range of 0.1${\sim}$5.0 $mg/m{\ell}$. GST activity was also induced with the treatment of CRW in HT-29 cells. In addition GSH levels was increased with CRW. CRW inhibited ODC activity, a key enzyme of polyamine biosynthesis, which is enhanced in tumor promotion. These results suggest that CRW has colon cancer chemopreventive activity by increasing phase II enzyme activity and GSH levels and inhibiting ODC activity in vitro.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.113-127
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• 1992

The present study was investigated to elucidate the effects of chlorambucil the heart tissue of various-aged rats. The male rats ranging from 3 to 36 months were used. The cytochemical and biochemical changes in myocardium of the rats were studied in the aspect of free radical roles in aging process. With the goals of evaluating the potential roles of free radicals in aging process, evidence was shought for alterations of myocardial lipid peroxide levels in control and chlorambucil treated rats. The result are summarized as follows: 1. Cytochemical studies showed that the activities of $Mg^{++}$-ATPase and succinic dehydrogenase increased with age. However, these enzyme activities were decreased with treatment of chlorambucil, when compared with control group. Interestingly it was observed that chlorambucil treatment increased the activity of acid phosphatase from 6 months upto 18 months, and decreased after 18 months. 2. The lipid peroxide level in myocatdium was increased with age; chlorambucil-treated group was higher than that of control group. 3. Age-dependent increase in activities of monoamine oxidase, xanthine oxidase and catalase was observed. But the increase of catalase activity was higher than that of monoamine oxidase and xanthine oxidase activity in control group. However, in chlorambucil-treated group, age-dependent decrease of these enzyme activities was observed, and catalase activity was more significant particularly with regard to other enzymes. In consequently, the morphological alterationsof myocardium due to chlorambucil treatment was exclusively observed. We demonstrate that this alteration is occured by lipid peroxidation upon chlorambucil treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.347-355
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• 2004

This study was undertaken in order to evaluate effects of methanol extracts of Stachys sieboldii MIQ and its related enzyme activities in brain tissues of rats. Sprague-Dawley(SD) male rats were fed within a control group, which is a basic diet group. The experimental diet group was given 100 and 200 mg/kg to supervise 100 and 200 mg/kg body weight per day for 20 days. Lipid peroxide levels and acetylcholine esterase activity in brain tissues were slightly decreased at a dose dependent manner, in vitro. Lipid peroxide levels were also decreased at a dose dependent manner; methanolic extracts of Stachys sieboldii MIQ demonstrated significant inhibitory effects, in vivo. Monoamine oxidase and xanthine oxidase activities were significantly inhibited in the brain tissues of experimental group compared to control group and the ratio of type conversion of xanthine oxidase were decreased.

• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2014

The biocide sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) is widely used for controlling algal growth, and this application can be extended to marine environments as well. This study evaluates the biocidal efficiency and cellular toxicity of NaOCl on the harmful dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides, with emphasis on pigment production and antioxidant enzyme activity. The test organism showed dose-dependent decrease in growth rate on exposure to NaOCl, and the 72 h $EC_{50}$ was measured to be $0.584mg\;L^{-1}$. NaOCl significantly decreased pigment levels and chlorophyll autofluorescence intensity, indicating possible detrimental effects on the photosystem of C. polykrikoides. Moreover, it significantly increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, suggesting the production of reactive oxygen species in the cells. These data indicate that NaOCl exerted deleterious effects on the photosynthetic machinery and induced oxidative damage in the dinoflagellate and this biocide could be effectively used for the control of algal blooms.