• Toxicological Research
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2012

In this study, the 4-week oral toxicity and anti-cancer activity of the hexane layer of Melia azedarach L. var. japonica Makino's bark extract were investigated. We carried out a hollow fiber (HF) assay and 28-day repeated toxicity study to confirm the anti-cancer effect and safety of the hexane layer. The HF assay was carried out using an A549 human adenocarcinoma cell via intraperitoneal (IP) site with or without cisplatin. In the result, the 200 mg/kg b.w of hexane layer with 4 mg/kg b.w of cisplatin treated group, showed the highest cytotoxicity aginst A549 carcinoma cells. For the 28-day repeated toxicity study, 6 groups of 10 male and female mice were given by gavage 200, 100, or 50 mg/kg b.w hexane layer with or without 4 mg/kg b.w of cisplatin against body weight, and were then sacrificed for blood and tissue sampling. The subacute oral toxicity study in mice with doses of 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg b.w hexane layer showed no significant changes in body weight gain and general behavior. The cisplatin-treated group significantly decreased in body weight compared to the control group but regained weight with 100 and 200 mg/kg b.w of hexane layer. The biochemical analysis showed significant increase in several parameters (ALT, total billirubin, AST, creatinine, and BUN) in cisplatin-treated groups. However, in the group given a co-treatment of hexane layer (200 mg/kg b.w), levels of these parameters decreased. In hematological analysis, cisplatin induced the reduction of WBCs and neutrophils but co-treatment with hexane layer (100 and 200 mg/kg b.w) improved these toxicities caused by cisplatin. The histological profile of the livers showed eosinophilic cell foci in central vein and portal triad in cisplatin treated mice. These results show that hexane layer might have an anti-cancer activity and could improve the toxicity of cisplatin.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.128-133
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• 2015

BACKGROUND: Plant extracts have been used as environment friendly agricultural materials for organic farming in South Korea. However safety evaluation on the plant extracts was not properly tested. The aim of this study was to evaluate safety of the extracts from Melia azedarach, Nerium indicum and Coptis chinensis on cultivating rice. METHODS AND RESULTS: Pant extarcts 300-fold diluted were treated on rice, and residues of M. azedarach, N. indicum and C. chinensis were determined. The analytes from the rice samples were detected by liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The method was validated, and good linearities ($r^2=0.995-0.998$), specificity, and recoveries were obtained. Limits of detection were 0.01 mg/kg for all of the target compounds. Recoveries were 79.3-118.3% at 0.1 mg/kg and 75.2-111.5% at 0.5 mg/kg. The residue levels were below 0.030 mg/kg for azadirachtin, 0.320 mg/kg for oleandrin and 1.460 mg/kg for berberine. CONCLUSION(S): The extracts of M. azedarach, N. indicum and C. chinensis contained azadirachtin, oleandrin and berberine as an active ingredient, respectively. The residue of three active ingredients dramatically decreased after treatment in all fruits, stems and roots of rice.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.6
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• pp.832-837
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• 2012

The oxidative potential of the fungus Penicillium brasilianum, a strain isolated as endophytic from a Meliaceae plant (Melia azedarach), was investigated using 1-indanone as substrate to track the production of monooxygenases. The fungus produced the dihydrocoumarin from 1-indanone with the classical Baeyer-Villiger reaction regiochemistry, and (-)-(R)-3-hydroxy-1-indanone with 78% ee. Minor compounds that had resulted from lipase and SAM activities were also detected. The biotransformation procedures were also applied using a collection of Penicillium and Aspergillus fungi obtained from M. azedarach and Murraya paniculata. The results showed that Baeyer-Villiger were mostly active in fungi isolated from M. azedarach. Almost all fungi tested produced 3-hydroxy-1-indanone.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.211-226
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of plant extracts, Chrysanthimum cinerariefolium and Melia azedarach to natural enemies and management of two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae in organic strawberry fields in Jeonnam area. Plant extracts were highly toxic against Phytoseiulus persimilis, but low against Orius laevigatus. In the residual effect against Phytoseiulus persimilis, C. cinerariefolium showed lower level than M. azedarach which safe at least 1 day after spray. Emergence rates of parasitoids were about 40% at seven days after spray. Eretmocerus eremicus has very low emergence rate in treatment of M. azedarach, so it should release after spray of M. azedarach. To control of T. urticae C. cinerariefolium (CC) sprayed first and then sprayed C. cinerariefolium or M. azedarach (MA) for two and three times at a week interval. In the treatment of CC+MA and CC+CC+MA, the density of T. urticae was inhibited by 15th day but increased afterward. In CC+MA+CC, that of T. urticae inhibit from 8 days but also increased after I5th day. In case of spray M. azedarach (MA) first, the treatment of MA+CC, MA+MA+CC, MA+CC+MA suppressed T. urticae from the first day so the densy of T. urticae maintained low level to 30 days after spray. It suggested that M. azedarach should spray first and then alternative spray. When C. cinerariefolium sprayed before and behind to release of P. persimilis, the density of P. persimilis maintained unchanged but could not suppress T. urticae after 8 days which T. urticae increase time. When M. azedarach sprayed, the density of T. urticae rapidly decreased. It was accompanied with P. persimilis so T. urticae did not occur at 8 days after treatment.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the effects of storage, temperature, and pre-treatments on the germination of Melia azedarach seeds collected from Buan, Jeonju, and Jeju provenance. M. azedarach seeds stored with or without pericarp in the ground, which collected from Buan provenance evidenced the highest germination percentage (PG, %) and the shortest time to first germination (days). The seeds collected from Jeonju and Jeju provenance were placed at both six continuous temperatures (15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and $40^{\circ}C$) and two alternating temperatures ($20{\leftrightarrow}30^{\circ}C$ and $25{\leftrightarrow}35^{\circ}C$) for seed incubation. The results showed a significant effect for temperature of seed incubation. The seeds incubated at $35^{\circ}C$ had the highest PG among the continuous temperatures and germinated significantly more at the two alternating temperatures than at $35^{\circ}C$. Concerning mean germination time (MGT), the seeds incubated at $35^{\circ}C$ evidenced the shortest germinations among the continuous temperatures while those at the alternating temperatures germinated for a shorter period than those at $35^{\circ}C$. The germination rate (GR) and germination performance index (GPI) were similar to PG. The seeds collected from Jeonju provenance were treated using five pre-sowing treatments (scarification, scarifcation+$GA_3$, scarification+$KNO_3$, $GA_3$, and $KNO_3$) prior to the germination experiments. Compared with the intact seeds (control), most of the pre-treatments were significantly (especially scarification+$GA_3$ 100 ppm and scarification+$KNO_3$ 1.0%) higher in PG, GR, and GPI, as well as shorter in MGT.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.744-750
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• 2012

In this study, the optimal conditions for phenolic-compound extraction from medicinal plants were found to be 24 h and about 50% ethanol. The electron-donating scavenging activities (DPPH), ABTS radical-cation decolorization (ABTS), antioxidant protection factor (PF), and thiobarbituric acid reaction substance (TBAR) were measured to determine the antioxidant activities of the extracts of Sanguisorba officinalis Linn., Citrus unshiu Markovich, Melia azedarach L., Asparagus cochinchinensis Merr., Citrus unshiu S., Polygonum aviculare L., and Leonurus sibiricus L. The total phenolic contents of the extracts of medical plants were determined to be 0.45-3.00 mg/g in the water extracts and 0.33-3.15 mg/g in the 50% ethanol extracts. The electron-donating abilities (EDA) of the water and ethanol extracts were both above 85% at the $50{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. The ABTS radical-cation decolorization was above 80% at the $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration in all the extracts of various medicinal plants. The antioxidant protection factor (PF) of the Melia azedarach L. extracts was found to be $1.65{\pm}0.40$ PF in the water extracts at the $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration, and was higher than those of the other medicinal-plant extracts. The TBAR inhibition rates of all the medicinal-plant extracts, except Asparagus cochinchinensis Merr., were above 85% at the $100{\mu}g/ml$ concentration. These results confirmed that the various oriental medicinal plants (Sanguisorba officinalis Linn., Citrus unshiu Markovich, Melia azedarach L., Asparagus cochinchinensis Merr., Citrus unshiu S., Polygonum aviculare L., and Leonurus sibiricus L.) that were included in this study are useful functional-food sources.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.173.1-173.1
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• 2001

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.881-891
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• 2016

The susceptibility of the predatory mite, Neoseiulus californicus to extracts of Melia azedarach, Piper nigrum, Syringa velutina and their mixtures was evaluated in laboratory bioassays. In treatments with plant extracts tested, 76-86% of adult female predators survived after 7 days after treatment. Adult female predators treated with plant extracts tested produced 68.3-81.1% as many eggs as did control females and eclosion of eggs deposited by treated predators was not affected. Moreover, treatment of plant extracts tested showed no toxic effect on N. californicus eggs and produced 100% hatchability. Survival of N. californicus nymphs was not seriously affected by exposure to the plant extracts tested. Immatures of N. californicus survived on the leaf disc treated with plant extracts tested and 78-90% of immature predators reached adulthood. These results suggest that extracts of Melia azedarach, Piper nigrum, Syringa velutina and their mixtures expected to be promising candidates for use in integrated mite management program with N. californicus.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.652-657
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• 2013

In the present study, anti-oxidative and the RMC proliferation inhibitory propeties of 80% ethanol extracts from 63 kinds of traditional medicines were investigated. Inhibitory effects of RMC proliferation were showed that Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen., Melia azedarach Linn$\acute{e}$ and Hydnocarpus anthelmintica Pierre. Among them Hydnocarpus anthelmintica Pierre had the highest anti-oxidative activity ($ORAC_{PE\;value}=1.6$, DPPH = 81.1), but Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen. and Melia azedarach Linn$\acute{e}$ had no effects. These results suggest that the Hydnocarpus anthelmintica Pierre could prevent or protect from kidney disease as antioxidant and anti-proliferative agent for RMC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.180-188
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• 2010

This study was carried out to evaluate the analysis of environmental change (forest resources and soil water conservation by land types) after planting for prevention of between 2003 and 2006 from the stone hazarding areas in Guizhou province, China. Mean diameter growth of the trees was highest for Melia azedarach, followed by Robinia pseudoacacia, Lonicera fulvotomentosa, Choerospondias axillaris, Cupressus duclouxiana, and Eucommia uimoides Oliv. Mean height growth of the trees was greatest for R. pseudoacacia, followed by Ilex kudincha, M. azedarach, C. duclouxiana, C. axillaris, E. uimoides Oliv, Zanthoxylum bungeanum, and L. fulvotomentosa. Tree biomass was greater at the afforestation sites by 1.22-1.71 ton/ha compared to that of severely eroded mountain areas. The capacities of soil water conservation by land types were 2,790 ton/ha at latent rock desertification farmland, 2,655 ton/ha at rock desertification farmland, 1,680 ton/ha at dolomite sandstone hilly country, 1,650 ton/ha at halfstony hilly country, and 1,590 ton/ha at karst physiognomy site. Soil erosion was estimated to be 1,285 ton/$km^2$ which had been 2,178 ton/$km^2$ before afforestation. Also, we should be continuative manage after planting for prevention of the stone hazarding areas in Guizhou province, China.