• Economic and Environmental Geology
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2003

The Dukpyung and the Chubu areas were selected to investigate the migration and enrichment of arsenic and other toxic elements in soils and crop plants in areas covered with black shales. Rock and soil samples digested in 4-acid solution (HCI+HNO$_3$+HF+HC1O$_4$) were analyzed fer arsenic and other heavy metals by ICP-AES and ICP-MS, and plant samples by INAA. Mean concentration of As in Okchon black shale is higher than those of both world average values of shale and black shale. Especially high concentration of 23.2 mg/kg As is found in black shale from the Dukpyung area. Mean concentration of As is highly elevated in agricultural soils from the Duk-pyung (28.2 mg/kg) and the Chubu areas (32.6 mg/kg). Arsenic is highly elevated in rice stalks and leaves from the Dukpyung (1.14 mg/kg) and the Chubu areas (1.35 mg/kg). The biological absorption coefficient (BAC) of As in plant species decreases in the order of rice leaves>com leaves>red pepper>soybean leaves=sesame leaves>corn stalks>corn grains.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2010

The contamination of a suite of heavy metals were evaluated in water and sediments of urban stream, Tancheon down the stream. Tancheon is a urban stream which goes all the way across the urban area where various pollution sources are present. The sixteen study sites from seven different areas were designated down the stream. The heavy metal levels of the streams were detected in the order of Zn>Cu>Ni>Pb>Cd>Cr>Sb. There was a difference in the relative order of the concentration ranking in lake sediments. There is a trend that the heavy metal levels are higher at the sites where the construction causes inflow of soil particles to stream. Toxicity tests using pore-water in sediments were conducted for samples collected in some study sites, and pore-water in one site was proven to be toxic to Japanes medaka (Oryzias latipes). The reason may be the fecal pollution rather than heavy metal effect. Strong odor was detected in the sediment whose pore-water samples showed ecotoxicity. We did not observed the increasing concentration of heavy metals down to stream since the soil texture varied in the stream area of our study. Further study is needed to find quantitative relations between the level of contamination and its eco-effect.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.219-231
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was designed to determine the effects of the GGEx18 ethyl acetate fraction(EF) on body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, and obesity-related factors in plasma as well as histology of liver and adipose tissues using high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, EF(1), EF(2) and EF(3). After mice were treated with EF for 9 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also analysed histology of liver and adipose tissues on high fat diet-fed male C57BL/6N obese mice. Results : Compared with control, EF-treated mice had significantly lower body weight gain and feeding efficiency ratio. Consistent with the effects on body weight gain, EF significantly decreased the adipose tissue weight compared with control. Consistent with the effects on feeding efficiency ratio, EF significantly decreased plasma leptin concentrations compared with control. EF reduced the size of adipocytes as well as hepatic lipid accumulation compared with control. EF seems to be safe since not only the plasma levels of ALT and AST are within the normal range, but also EF did not show any toxic effects on organs. EF(3) was most effective among EF(1), EF(2), and EF(3) at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that EF effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio in high fat diet-fed obese mice, leading to the modulation of obesity. In addition, EF decreases the size of adipocytes and improves plasma lipids and controls hepatic lipid accumulation, suggesting that EF may act as a therapeutic agent for obesity.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.201-213
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• 2010

Objectives : We investigated the effects of fermented soybean(FSOB) on body weight and examined whether hepatic lipid accumulation are inhibited by it in high fat diet-fed obese male mice. Methods : 8 weeks old, high fat diet-fed obese male mice were divided into 5 groups: C57BL/6N normal, control, FSOB(1), (2) and (3). After mice were treated with FSOB for 9 weeks, we measured body weight gain, food intake, feeding efficiency ratio, fat weight, plasma leptin and lipid levels. We also did histological analysis for liver and fat on the mice. Results : 1. Compared with controls, FSOB-treated mice had lower body weight gain and adipose tissue weight, the magnitudes of which were prominent in FSOB(3) and FSOB(1). 2. Compared with controls, FSOB-treated mice had lower feeding efficiency ratio and blood plasma leptin levels, the magnitude of which was prominent in FSOB(3). 3. Compared with controls, FSOB-treated mice had lower blood plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol levels. 4. Blood plasma AST and ALT concentrations were not changed by FSOB, indicating FSOB do not show any toxic effects. 5. Consistent with their effects on body weight gain, the size of adipocytes were significantly decreased by FSOB, whereas the adipocyte number per unit area was significantly increased, suggesting that FSOB decreased the number of large adipocytes. Hepatic lipid accumulation was decreased by FSOB. Conclusions : These results demonstrate that FSOB effectively reduces body weight gain, feeding efficiency ratio, blood plasma leptin level and improves hepatic lipid accumulation.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1984.09a
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• pp.63-74
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• 1984

Preventive effect of the saponin fraction extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer against ethanol intoxication of the liver has been investigated biochemically and morphologically. Previous work in this laboratory showed that the moderate amounts of ginseng sponins stimulated several enzymes including mitochondrial dehydrogenases and transaminases so far examined in vitro. It was also realized that the half life of the saponin in the liver was estimated approximately five hours and the saponin concentration in the liver was around $10^{-5}\%$ level at two hours after the saponin (1mg) administration orally. In this study, it was confirmed that ginseng saponins stimulated alcohol dehydrogenase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and microsomal ethanol oxidizing system in vivo as well as in vitro. It seemed likely that toxic aldehyde formed during ethanol oxidation in the body might be removed relatively quickly from the liver and the excess hydrogen was used for the biosynthetic work in the presence of the saponin, resulting in the liver protection from alcohol intoxication. Electron microscopic observation demonstrated that the hepatocytes of rats doses with $12\%$ ethanol instead of water for six days were found severely damaged while those of the ginseng saponin administered rats were not impaired suggesting that the sapcnin protected the liver against ethanol intoxication.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.391-396
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• 1992

Anabaena variabilis A TCC 29413. a photoautotrophic and nitrogen fixing cyanobacteria. was investigated on the environmental factors regulating the growth and nitrogen lixation activity. A good growth of cyanobacteria] cells was observed due to nitrogen t1xation by the heterocyst differentiation in nitrogen free Allen and Arnon (]/8) medium. The nitrogenase activity was appeared to be in proportion to the cell growth lor 6 days then drastically decreased in the later growth period when the nitraTe was accumulated to high level in the culture to cause the inhibition. The optima] conditions lilr the cell growth and nitrogenase activity of A. varillbili.l were anaerobic. IO.OO0 lux. $30^{\circ}C$ and pH 8 with the nitrogen Cree minimal medium. The activity was significantly inhihited by the low concentrations of ammonium and nitrate. but was stimulated b) the ]ow Ieve] of phosphate and carbonate sources. The treatments of several toxic heavy metals showed strong inhibition of the cell growth and nitrogenase activity by O.3~10 ppm in the order of $Hg^{2+}$ > $Cd^{2+}$ > $Co^{2+}$ > $Zn^{2+}$ > $Ph^{2+}$, and the concentrations for 50% inhibition of the maximum activity were 0.41. 0.47. 0.5 L 0.66 and 8.1 ppm. respectively. The addition of carbohydrates (0.5~ 1.0%) in the dark condition stimulated the growth and activity in the order of sucrose > fructose > glucose.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.311-319
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• 1996

DWP305, a preparation containing combination of ursodeoxycholic acid(UDCA), silymarin and vitamins ($B_1\;and\;B_2$), is a drug currently being developed for hep atic disorders. In order to evaluate the changes in hepatic function by multiple oral administration(2 and 4 weeks) of DWP305 in rats, several biochemical parameters in blood, bile acid composition, and the accumulation of UDCA and lithocholic acid(LCA),a toxic metabolite formed by enterobacteria, were examined using HPLC. In blood biochemical findings, DWP305 did not affect the normal level and there was no difference in total bile acid composition for UDCA, cholic acid(CA), deoxycholic acid(DCA), chenodeoxycholic acid(CDCA) and LCA compared to the UDCA administered group, although total ratio of UDCA and CA was different from normal group. In case of ratio of taurine and glycine conjugated forms, DWP305(186mg/kg as a UDCA) administered group was also similar to normal group and UDCA administered group, while high dosing of DWP305 was not different in the ratio of UDCA administered group(930mg/kg) but normal group. And the ratio of LCA was in order of UDCA(930mg/kg), DWP305(930mg/kg as a UDCA), UDCA(186mg/kg) and DWP305(186mg/kg as a UDCA) administered group, which was less than 4%. The free form of UDCA as well as most of bile acids was not detected at all in rat liver, indicating that there's no accumulation. These results suggest that multiple dosing of DWP305 in rats may not affect hepatic biotransformation and metabolism of bile acids.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.56-62
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• 2009

Effects of Korean mistletoe extracts (KM-110), Viscum album coloratum on the specific and non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel Anguilla japonica were examined. The optimal concentration not showing toxicity of KM-110 was determined to $30-40{\mu}g/ml$ in vitro and $100{\mu}g$/100 g of fish in vivo. Even $1000{\mu}g$ of KM-110/100 g of fish did not show any clinical problem in fish though the levels of toxic parameters were slightly increased. In terms of antibody production, KM-110 significantly elicited more antibody production than FCA or $\beta$-glucan. $\beta$-glucan plus KM-110 group synergistically enhanced antibody production. There was no significant difference between KM-110 and KM-110 plus $\beta$-glucan group. The ROI production by head kidney (HK) leucocytes of eel injected with 500 or $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 was significantly (P<0.05) enhanced than the control and FCA-treated group. Maximum increase in the NBT reduction value was observed in $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 group but no significant difference was found between 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM group. The level of serum lysozyme activity was significantly (P<0.05) higher in the 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110- or FCA-treated group than in the control and $200{\mu}g$ KM-110 group. The phagocytic activities of HK leucocytes isolated from eel injected with 500 and $1000{\mu}g$ KM-110 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than $200{\mu}g$ KM-110 and PBS-injected control group. Korean mistletoe appeared to be a good activator of the specific and non-specific immune responses of Japanese eel.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.31 no.2 s.51
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• pp.197-206
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• 2005

In the present study, the Chuncheon buckwheat extracts prepared from its seed coats, seeds and stems were used to determine anti-oxidative effects, the content of rutin and phytic acid, and the protective role against cadmium at the cellular level. futhermore, it was evaluated whether the buckwheat, mainly known as a healthy food source, might be applicable to functional cosmetics. Up to $100 {\mu}g/mL$ of the extract was not toxic in HaCaT and B16F10 cell lines using MTT assay. The anti-oxidative capacity of superoxide radicals was shown in seed coats extracts > stem extracts=seed extracts. Although its content of rutin, known as one of effective anti-oxidants, mainly exists in the stem, any extract did not eliminate hydroxyl radicals. Phytic acid, known as a heavy metal-chelate agent, was highly concentrated in the stem. The Chuncheon buckwheat extract had $10\%$ protective effect against the treatment of $50{\mu}M$ cadmium at which $50\%$ of HaCaT cells survived. Confocal laser scanning microscope revealed the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by cadmium treatment. Finally, we identified that the stem extract had the most protective effect on the elimination of ROS.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.222-228
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• 2020

Background: 20(S)-ginsenoside-Rg3 (C₄₂H₇₂O₁₃), a natural triterpenoid saponin, is extracted from red ginseng. The increasing use of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 has raised product safety concerns. Methods: In acute toxicity, 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 was singly and orally administrated to Kunming mice and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats at the maximum doses of 1600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg, respectively. In the 26-week toxicity study, we used repeated oral administration of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 in SD rats over 26 weeks at doses of 0, 20, 60, or 180 mg/kg. Moreover, a 4-week recovery period was scheduled to observe the persistence, delayed occurrence, and reversibility of toxic effects. Results: The result of acute toxicity shows that oral administration of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 to mice and rats did not induce mortality or toxicity up to 1600 and 800 mg/kg, respectively. During a 26-week administration period and a 4-week withdrawal period (recovery period), there were no significant differences in clinical signs, body weight, food consumption, urinalysis parameters, biochemical and hematological values, or histopathological findings. Conclusion: The mean oral lethal dose (LD₅₀) of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3, in acute toxicity, is above 1600 mg/kg and 800 mg/kg in mice and rats, respectively. In a repeated-dose 26-week oral toxicity study, the no-observed-adverse-effect level for female and male SD rats was 180 mg/kg.