• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.369-374
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• 2018

In this study, Lactobacillus brevis SM61 from traditional Kimchi was used for fermentation of aqueous extract of P. brevitarsis larva and mountain ginseng. As measured by MTT assay, aqueous extract of P. brevitarsis larva and fermented mixture of aqueous extract and mountain ginseng did not show specific cellular toxicity in RAW264.7 cells until a concentration of $5-1000{\mu}g/mL$. The polyphenol contents was highest in the fermented mixture of aqueous extract and mountain ginseng. DPPH radical scavenging activity was stronger in the fermented mixture of aqueous extract and mountain ginseng than the aqueous extract. Also, antibacterial activity was tested against E. coli, L. monocytogenes and S. aureus. The fermented mixture of aqueous extract and mountain ginseng showed antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria. Therefore, L. brevis SM61 as a starter might be used to improve functionality of P. brevitarsis larva.

• The Korean Journal of Vision Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.531-541
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• 2018

Purpose : To evaluate the acute cytotoxic effect of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and PHMB/EGCG mixture on the cultured human corneal epithelial cell (HCEpiC). Methods : HCEpiCs were cultured in the media of HCEpiC containing 0.00001~0.005% PHMB, 0.001~5% EGCG and 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG mixture respectively for 30, 60, 120 and 240 min. Cultured HCEpiCs were fixed and stained with Draq5 and cell viability and apoptosis were evaluated using confocal microscope and ImageXpress $Ultra^{TM}$. Results : Cultured HCEpiC did not show cytotoxic effect at below 0.00005% PHMB and below 0.05% EGCG concentration. In the media containing 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG, acute cytototoxic effect was not found, whereas damaged HCEpiCS were increased and survival cells were decreased in the media incubated for 240 min. Conclusion : The mixture of 0.00005% PHMB/0.05% EGCG showed non acute cytotoxic effect on the cultured HCEpiCs, however it is needed to investigate its chronic cytotoxic effect.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.384-395
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate whether a novel formulation of an herbal extracts has an inhibitory effect on obesity. To determine its anti-obesity effects, we performed anti-obesity-related experiments in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our present study was carried out to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of herbal extracts using a high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model and 3T3-L1 adipose cells. The effects of each herbal extracts on lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells were examined using Oil Red O staining. Results showed that treatment with each herbal extracts at $10{\sim}100{\mu}g/ml$ had no effect on cell morphology and viability. Without evidence of toxicity, herbal extracts treatment decreased lipid accumulation compared with the untreated adipocytes controls as shown by the lower absorbance of Oil Red O stain. Futhermore, compared with control-differentiated mature adipocytes, each herbal extracts significantly inhibited lipid accumulation in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In the HFD-fed obese mice, body weight, liver weight and white adipose tissue weights were significantly reduced by mixture of herbal extracts administration in mouse skin. Futhermore, we found that mixture of herbal extracts administration suppressed serum triglyceride (TG), and total cholesterol (TCHO) in HFD-induced obese mouse model. The mixture of herbal extracts of permeability was estimated by measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) value in pig skin. The optimized formulations of herbal extracts (Test 3 formulation) showed skin permeation. However, test 1 formulation containing essential oil as enhancer showed maximum skin permeation. After confirming the enhanced skin permeability, in vivo studies were performed to assess whether skin irritation potential on the basis of a primary irritation index (PII) in rabbit skin. Reactions were scored for erythema/edema reactions at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h post-application. It was concluded that the test 1 formulation was not irritation (PII = 0). The present study suggests that the test 1 formulation might be of therapeutic interest with respect to the treatment of obesity.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.365-375
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• 2019

Background: Oxidative stress plays an important role in neuro-degenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. Oxidative stress is mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are implicated in the pathogenesis of numerous diseases, and account for the toxicity of a wide range of compounds. Methods and Results: In order to study the neuro-protective effect of the complex extracts of Aster scaber Thunberg (AS) and Chaenoleles sinensis Koehne (CSK) against hydrogen peroxide in PC12 cells, cell viability was evaluated by the MTT assay using tetrazole, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide and the intracellular ROS levels were determined the by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. In order to examine the anti-amnesic effects of the complex extracts of AS and CSK, behavioral tests were performed on male ICR mice. The ameliorating effect of the complex extracts against Aβ_1-42-induced learning and memory impairment was analyzed by y-maze and passive avoidance tests. The AS and CSK extracts showed neuro-protective activity both in vitro and in vivo, and the neuro-protective effect of their 60 : 40 (AS : CSK) mixture was better than that of the other mixtures. Moreover, the complex extracts synergistically inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and rapid peroxidation. Conclusions: A mixture of the AS and CSK extracts could be used to develop functional foods and serve as raw materials for the development of therapeutics against Alzheimer's disease.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.73-78
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• 2007

To evaluate the immuno-toxicity of magnolia extracts, mutagenicity of Salmonella, chromosome aberration of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells and micronucleus formation in rats were examined. Magnolia extracts at the concentrations of $312{\sim}5,000{\mu}g/plate$ did not induce mutagenicity in Salmonella typhimurium TA 98, TA 100 and TA 1535 with and without metabolic activation of S-9 mixture. In chromosome aberration assay, Magnolia extracts at the concentrations of $50{\sim}800{\mu}g/plate$ did not cause a significant chromosome aberration in CHO cells with and without metabolic activation of S-9 mixture. Magnolia extracts were treated with dose of 0.5, 1 and 2 g/kg in ICR mice. After 48 hours, the frequencies of the micro-nucleided polychromasia erythrocytes (MNPCE) were determined in bone marrows isolated from the mice. Magnolia extracts did not increase the incidence of polychromasia erythrocytes of bone marrow in ICR mice. These results show that Mgnolia extracts did not induce any harmful genotoxic effects.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.96-100
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• 1998

The effects of electron acceptors and acclimation of inoculum on the anaerobic degradation of benzene, toluene, and m-xylene (BTX) were investigated to enhance the rate of degradation by estuarine sediment inoculum. With the fresh sediment inocula, degradation of BTX ensued after a 10-week acclimation period, and 37~61% of benzene and 57~61% of toluene were degraded after 16 weeks. Sediments from heavily contaminated sites showed higher degradation rates of BTX. After a 6-month of acclimation, degradation onset rapidly from the time of BTX addition and no difference was found among the sediment inocula. Single compound of BTX was slowly degraded in the methanogenic conditions, however, the degradation of BTX mixture was slow in the denitrifying conditions. Although the degradation rate of m-xylene was the fastest among the components of BTX mixture, longer acclimation enhanced the degradation rate of BTX, especially that of benzene. When the culture fluids were tested with Microtox, anaerobic degradation of BTX reduced the toxicity of BTX as well.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2009

In this study, we polymerized new materials for soft contact lens using HEMA (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) which is the based-monomer of soft contact lens, EGDMA (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) as cross linkage agent, and the new additives of monoester or di-ester derived from itaconic acid commercially produced by the fermentation of Asp. itaconicus. New polymer materials for soft contact lens were synthesized with the mixture of HEMA and mono- or diester at different ratios and presented to a good water content and oxygen transmissibility (Dk/L) values. In case of polymerization with HEMA and mono-ester (15%), the water content and oxygen transmissibility of contact lens were found to be good values at 57.6% and 28.5 Dk respectively. The mixture of HEMA and mono-ester is more excellent than HEMA/di-ester in the water content and oxygen transmissibility. The toxicity of new contact lens materials were confirmed in the fibroblast L-929 cell line using a agar overlay test and a growth inhibition test with the extract solution of contact lens.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.17-30
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• 2013

Objectives This experimental study was designed to investigate the effects of Mulberry leaves contained herbal mixture (MLHM) on body weight, serum lipid level and adipocyte differentiation in high fat diet-fed obese mice. Methods Four-week old mice (wild-type C57/BL6) were used for all experiments. Cells were incubated with MLHM at the indicated concentration (0.04-4mg/ml) for 24h, and growth rate was assessed by MTT ((3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were incubated in DMEM for 2 days with the indicated concentrations of MLHM, and on Day 6, the cells were fixed and the cellular lipid contents were assessed by Oil-Red-O staining. The expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor ${\gamma}$ (PPAR ${\gamma}$) and cytidine-cytidine-adenosine-adenosine-thymine (CCAAT)/enhancer-binding proteins ${\alpha}$ (C/EBP ${\alpha}$) as adipocyte-specific proteins were determined by real time RT-PCR and western blotting. In addition, body weight gain and serum lipid levels were measured in the mice with obesity induced by the high fat-diet for four weeks. Results Though MLHM did not show toxicity even at the concentration of 4mg/ml, MLHM significantly inhibited the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocites in a dose-dependent manner. Also, MLHM significantly reduced the expressions of PPAR ${\gamma}$ and C/EBP ${\alpha}$ in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MLHM significantly reduced body weight gain and LDL-cholesterol contents in high fat diet-fed obese mice. Conclusions These results demonstrate that MLHM exerts anti-obesity effect in 3T3-L1 cells and mice with obesity by high-fat diet.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.187-197
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to find a reasonable solution to a current status of drug classification between the drugs of western conventional (allopathic) medicine and Korean medicine. A clear and distinct concept on the drugs of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine based on reasonable concepts and broad consensus is a pressing issue in Korea, and will facilitate the development of herbal medicinal products and pharmaceutical industry. Methods : Considering the issue of drug classification from domestic and international regulations, we reviewed the current Drug Law of Korea and China, Guidance for Industry, Botanical Drug Products of USA, Directive 2004/24/EC of the European parliament and of the council. Results : In Korea, the drug classification of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine is quite vague even though differential licensure system is enforced for the clinicians of allopathic medicine and Korean medicine field. According to the definition in the Drug Law, the scope of Korean medicine drug is so broad that even a drug made of single-compound material, as well as herbal extract of crude mixture, is regarded as a drug of Korean medicine, as long as the material may be separated from medicinal herbs, animal tissues, or mineral resources. Only new compound not found in natural resources are outside of the scope of Korean medicine drug. In USA and EU, medicinal products manufactured from herbs are approved by separate regulations for the herbs with special waivers. In China, the category of new medicine and the definition of allopathic medicine and traditional chinese medicine are clearly specified and classified. Conclusions : As medicines are validated therapeutic materials for efficacy and toxicity, we suggest that generally the concept of conventional medicines is based on a single compound that has been synthesized and individually validated and that of Korean medicines is based on a compound extracted from natural materials or a complex of compounds that has been validated as a whole in its totality.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.245-251
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• 2007

Water extract of Cordyceps militaris grown upon Protuetja dreujtarsis (CMPD) was examined for the genetic toxicity-bacterial mutagenicity, chromosome aberration, and micronucleus formation. For mutagenicity assay, bacterial reversion test with Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA 1537, and E. coli WP2uvrA were performed. The extract at the concentrations of $50{\sim}5,000{\mu}g/plate$ did not induce mutagenicity at all. Chromosome aberration test was performed by using Chinese lung (CHL) cells. There was no significant chromosome aberration in CHL cells with S-9 mixture at the concentrations of $312.5{\sim}1,250{\mu}g/ml$ of the extract and without S-9 mixture at the concentrations of $1.2{\sim}19.5{\mu}g/ml$ of the extract. For micronucleus test, ICR mice were treated with the extract at the dose of 0.5, 1, and 2g/Kg. The frequencies of the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) in bone marrow preparations of the extract-treated group were not increased compared to the untreated control group. Taken together, our results show that water extract of CMPD did not induce any harmful genotoxicity.