• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.246-252
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• 2002

In recent years, the safety of sunscreens has been challenged based on the reports of their adverse effect on users; dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis and photo allergic contact dermatitis. The unscientific idea that higher SPF sunsreen is good for health mealeads many users to tend to prefer higher SPF sunscreen. In the toxicological aspect, the need to investigate the safety of sunscreens is steadily increasing. However, there were few studies on the correlation between sun protection factor (SPF) and the safety of sunscreens. The objective of this study was to assess whether there was a correlation between SPF and the safety of sunscreens. We measured in vitro SPF index using homosalate as a standard and examined the toxicity tests such as primary skin irritation tests, ocular irritation test and skin sensitization test. Homosalate (HS), octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), octyl salicylate (OS), octocrylene (OC) as UVB organic filter and benzophenone-3 (BP3), butyl methoxy dibenzoil methane (BMDM) as UVA organic filter, and titanium dioxide (TD), zinc oxide (ZO) as inorganic filters were used. The skin irritation indexes in rabbits treated with HS, OMC, OS, BP3, and BMDM were significantly increased as SPF indices were increased. Neither ocular irritation in rabbits nor skin sensitization in guinea pigs were increased. It suggests that there might be a good correlation between SPF and the skin irritation indices of organic UV filters and skin irritation might be one of most sensitive index to assess the safety of sunscreens.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.159-166
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• 2004

Safety pharmacological properties of CJ-11555, an anti-cirrhotic agent, were investigated in experimental animals and in vitro test system. CJ-11555 had no effects on normal body temperature in rats, motor coordination, chemoshock induced by pentetrazol, electric shock induced by electric shocker and writhing syndromes in mice at dose levels of 100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg. CJ-11555 inhibited intestinal activity and prolonged hexobarbital-induced sleeping time in mice at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg. CJ-11555 affected on general activity and behaviour tests in SD rats, such as lacrimation, ptosis, piloerection, decreased body tone, abnormal dispersion within the cage, diarrhoea, red colored faeces, slight hypothermia and decreased grooming, at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg in rats. CJ-11555 was effected on cardiovascular and respiratory system in anesthetized beagle dogs, such as tachycardia, increase of mean blood pressure and decrease of PR interval, decrease of respiratory rate and minute volume, at dose levels of 10 and 30 mg/kg. However, these effects were also observed in vehicle treated anesthetized beagle dogs. In in vitro experiments, CJ-11555 inhibited agonists (histamine, acetyl-choline or $BaCl_2$) induced contraction of isolated guinea-pig at the concentration of 30$\times$$10^6$ M. CJ-11555 was weekly inhibited hERG channel current at concentrations of 10 and 30$\times$$10^6$ M, and $IC_{50}$ was estimated to be higher than 30${\times}$$10^6$M. Based on these results, it was concluded that CJ-11555 affected on cardiovascular and respiratory system, general activity and behaviour and hexobarbital-induced sleeping time at the dose level of 1,000 mg/kg and contraction of the smooth muscle and hERG channel current at the concentration of 30$\times$$10^6$ M.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.139-145
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• 2006

Kaneka Corporation (Kaneka) has been manufacturing CoQ10 under GMP regulation since 1977. Kaneka has a sophisticated quality control system and has been supplying high quality CoQ10 materials to the worldwide customers (Kaneka CoQ10) for about 30 years. Kaneka CoQ10 is characterized by a lot of safety data, which are derived from clinical trials with healthy volunteers (single-dose and 4-week multi-dose safety studies), animal studies (13-week sub-chronic study in dogs and 52-week chronic study in rats), three types of mutagenicity test, six type of skin irritation test (for cosmetics), and others. The risk assessment of CoQ10 was performed by Council for Responsible Nutrition (USA). They reviewed many of available clinical data including clinical trials using Kaneka Q10, and concluded that the upper level for supplements (ULS) of CoQ10 is 1,200mg/day (Hathcock and Shao. 2006, Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, $\underline{45}$, 282 - 288).

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.52-58
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• 2018

In this report, we present a case study of how pharmacogenomics and pharmacometabolomics can be useful to characterize safety and pharmacokinetic profiles in early phase new drug development clinical trials. During conducting a first-in-human trial for a new molecular entity, we were able to determine the mechanism of dichotomized variability in plasma drug concentrations, which appeared closely related to adverse drug reactions (ADRs) through integrated omics analysis. The pharmacogenomics screening was performed from whole blood samples using the Affymetrix DMET (Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters) Plus microarray, and confirmation of genetic variants was performed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Metabolomics profiling was performed from plasma samples using liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A GSTM1 null polymorphism was identified in pharmacogenomics test and the drug concentrations was higher in GSTM1 null subjects than GSTM1 functional subjects. The apparent drug clearance was 13-fold lower in GSTM1 null subjects than GSTM1 functional subjects (p < 0.001). By metabolomics analysis, we identified that the study drug was metabolized by cysteinylglycine conjugation in GSTM functional subjects but those not in GSTM1 null subjects. The incidence rate and the severity of ADRs were higher in the GSTM1 null subjects than the GSTM1 functional subjects. Through the integrated omics analysis, we could understand the mechanism of inter-individual variability in drug exposure and in adverse response. In conclusion, integrated multi-omics analysis can be useful for elucidating the various characteristics of new drug candidates in early phase clinical trials.

• CELLMED
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.2.1-2.8
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• 2021

The clinical condition Amnesia causes difficulty in learning new information and the inability to recall past events. It is primarily concerned with recent memory loss. Majoon-e-Nisyan (MJN) is a polyherbal Unani formulation, present in a semi-solid form. It is widely used potent drug of the Unani System of Medicine (USM) for treating Nisyan (amnesia). In the present study polyherbal Unani formulation, MJN has been studied for its quality control and acute toxicity. Standardization (quality control) of drugs deals with drug identity, drug quality and purity determination. Standardization of MJN had been done as per the Unani pharmacopoeial parameters approved by World Health Organization (WHO) - Pharmacognostical parameters, Physico-chemical parameters, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC), microbial load, aflatoxin, and heavy metals. Solvents and chemicals used in the study were of analytical grade and used instrument were calibrated. By conducting an acute oral toxicity study in rats, the safety of MJN was assessed. The limit test method of OECD guideline 425 was followed in the study. Results of standardization and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for preparation of MJN may serve as the standard reference in the future. The data generated in the study for the quality control of MJN proved the quality of formulation and shows that MJN is not toxic in rats following acute dosing up to 2000 mg/kg bw. The data obtained in the paper for MJN may be used as a standard guideline for preparation of the formulation which can save time, cost, and resources for future research endeavours.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2021

Injection lipolysis or mesotherapy gained popularity for local fat dissolve as an alternative to surgical liposuction. Phosphatidylcholine (PPC) and aminophyl-line (AMPL) are commonly used compounds for mesotherapy, but their efficacy and safety as lipolytic agents have been controversial. Glycerophosphocholine (GPC) is a choline precursor structurally similar to PPC, and thus introduced in aesthetics as an alternative for PPC. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of GPC on adipocytes differentiation and lipolysis and compared those effects with PPC and AMPL using in vitro and in vivo models. Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 was measured by Oil Red O staining. Lipolysis was assessed by measuring the amount of glycerol released in the culture media. To evaluate the lipolytic activity of GPC on a physiological condition, GPC was subcutaneously injected to one side of inguinal fat pads for 3 days. Lipolytic activity of GPC was assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining in adipose tissue. GPC significantly suppressed adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 in a concentration-dependent manner (22.3% inhibition at 4 mM of GPC compared to control). Moreover, when lipolysis was assessed by glycerol release in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, 6 mM of GPC stimulated glycerol release by two-fold over control. Subcutaneous injection of GPC into the inguinal fat pad of mice significantly reduced the mass of fat pad and the size of adipocytes of injected site, and these effects of GPC were more prominent over PPC and AMPL. Taken together, these results suggest that GPC is the potential therapeutic agent as a local fat reducer.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.31-36
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• 2019

Objectives : In this animal study, we performed the single oral dose toxicity test of Standardized Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. and Psoralea corylifolia L. 30% ethanol extract (SCP) in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats owing to aims for verifying approximate lethal dose (ALD). Methods : According to OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals section 4 health effects test No. 420 acute oral toxicity study - fixed dose procedure (17 December 2001), single oral dose toxicity test was performed. Animals were divided into two groups: Group 1, vehicle-treated rats (Control); Group 2, SCP 5000 mg/kg treated rats. SCP is composed of two medicinal herbs: Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. (650 g) and Psoralea corylifolia L. (350 g) in 30% ethanol. SCP was once orally administered to female and male SD rats at dose levels of 5000 mg/kg. Animals were monitored on the mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes and necropsy findings for 14 days. Results : After single oral treatment of SCP, we could not find any mortality up to 5000 mg/kg. Compared with the control group, there were also no significant differences in clinical sign, weight change, weight gain and gross abnormalities in SCP 5000 mg/kg-treated group. Conclusions : Taken together, these results suggest that the ALD of SCP in both female and male SD rats were considered as over 5000 mg/kg. Results from this study provide scientific evidence for the safety of SCP.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.71-76
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• 2018

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the single oral toxicity of HBX-6 in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Methods : Twenty SD rats were randomly assigned to four groups of 5 rats each and were administrated singly to female and male SD rats, as an oral dose of 2000 mg/kg. HBX-6 is a newly combined Korean herbal medicine formula 30 % Ethanol extract derived from The Dongui Bogam. Now we are developing the prescription for the aim of improving benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) without undesirable side effects. HBX-6 is composed of nine medicinal herbs: Aconiti Lateralis Radix Preparata, Corni Fructus, Cistanchis Herba, Psoraleae Semen, Dendrobii Herba, Morindae Radix, Cuscutae Semen, Trigonellae Semen, Foeniculi Fructus. Animals were monitored for the mortality and changes in the body weight, clinical signs, gross observation and necropsy findings for the 14 days according to "Standard for Toxicity Study of Pharmaceuticals" of Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) guideline and "Acute Oral Toxicity - Fixed Dose Procedure" of OECD Test Guideline. Results : We could not find any mortality. Compared with the control group, significant weight change was not observed in the experimental group. After administration, the more common symptoms were not observed. There were no gross abnormalities in all cases. Conclusions : Taken together, these results suggest that the approximate lethal dose of HBX-6 in both female and male SD rats were considered as over 2000 mg/kg.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an inflammatory and infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus with a complex pathophysiology. While COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are available, treatment of the disease is primarily supportive and symptomatic. Several research have suggested the potential of herbal medicines as an adjunctive treatment for the disease. A popular herbal medicine approved in the Philippines for the treatment of acute respiratory disease is Vitex negundo L. In fact, the Department of Science and Technology of the Philippines has funded a clinical trial to establish its potential as an adjunctive treatment for COVID-19. Here, we utilized network pharmacology and molecular docking in determining pivotal targets of Vitex negundo compounds against COVID-19. The results showed that significant targets of Vitex negundo compounds in COVID-19 are CSB, SERPINE1, and PLG which code for cathepsin B, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, and plasminogen, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that α-terpinyl acetate and geranyl acetate have good binding affinity in cathepsin B; 6,7,4-trimethoxyflavanone, 5,6,7,8,3',4',5'-heptamethoxyflavone, artemetin, demethylnobiletin, gardenin A, geranyl acetate in plasminogen; and 7,8,4-trimethoxyflavanone in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1. While the results are promising, these are bound to the limitations of computational methods and further experimentation are needed to completely establish the molecular mechanisms of Vitex negundo against COVID-19.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.242-244
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• 1995

In vitro cell culture system has been proposed as a promising alternative model to in vivo skin irritation test. These studies were performed to screen the cytotoxicity effects of surfactants using normal human skin fibroblasts. Cell membrane integrity assessed by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and mitochondrial integrity by MTT [3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromides reduction test were affected in a dose dependent manner. The irritation potential of surfactants to human skin patch test, and the changes of capillary permeability by rabbit intradermal safety test were assessed as in vivo methods. Our results suggest that LDH leakage assay and MTT reduction test using cultured human fibroblasts could be predictive for the irritancy of various surfactants in human, and LDH assay is superior correlated with in vivo test (r=0.886) to MTT test with in vivotest (r=0.757).