• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.775-781
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• 2003

In this study, we investigated to elevate the modulatory effect of flavonoid(fustin, sulfuretin, 10 mg/kg) which was isolated from Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS) in male Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 weeks on the toxicity of paraquat. In the flavonoids pretreated groups, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, malondialdehyde and alkaline phosphatase activity in serum and malondialdehyde, alkaline phosphatase activity and collagen in lung tissue which was induced paraquat toxicity were slightly decrease compared to the normal group. In the lung tissue of flavonoids pretreated groups, malodialdehyde value, G-6-phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis were recovered to tile normal values and alkaline phosphatase activity was increased. From these results, we concluded that flavonoids which were isolated from RVS is an effective agent to inhibit the pulmonary and internal toxicities and hence we concluded that acitive components of fustin and sulfuretin which were isolated from RVS might be removed free radicals induced by paraquat.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.211-221
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• 2012

The fourth leaves (younger leaves) amongst extended 4-upper leaves in 18 squash cultivar were the highest tolerance to the paraquat application, followed by third, the second, and the first leaves (older leaves). The forth leaves in Joongangaehobak showed more than three times higher tolerance to the paraquat application than did the first leaves. When the combining of water extract from the fourth leaves with paraquat were applied to the leaves and stems of maize, the paraquat phytotoxicity in maize was reduced compared to the paraquat application alone. Therefore, this study continued to investigate if the phytotoxicity inhibitor exist in the fourth leaves. The water extract in the fourth leaves were isolated by silica gel column chromatography, Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, TLC, and HPLC, and the substance in the extract was speculated as a malic acid by identifying through NMR. The mixture malic acid and paraquat were applied to the maize to verify the application effect of malic acid on paraquat toxicity. The 100 ${\mu}M$ of paraquat application alone showed 62% of paraquat toxicity to the corn leaves, while the combined application of 100 ${\mu}M$ paraquat with malic acid at 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0% did not show the symptom.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.192-198
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• 1998

In this study, we intended to evaluate the modulatory effects of natural products, ${\beta}-carotene$, aloesin and semiessential amino acid, taurine on the toxicitiy of paraquat. In the taurine treated groups, serem glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (s-GOT), serem glutamic pyruvic transaminase (s-GPT). blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, malondialdehyde (MDA), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in serum and MDA, ALP activity, collagen in lung tissue were decreased to the normal values. In the aloesin treated groups, s-GPT, BUN, creatinine, MDA level in serum were decreased to the normal values significantly. In the ${\beta}-carotene$ treated group, only s-GPTactivity was reduced to the normal values. In the lung tissue of taurine treated groups, MDA value, G-6-phosphatase activity and collagen synthesis were recovered to the normal valuse and ALP activity was increase about 40%. From these results, we concluded that taurine is an effective agent to inhibit the pulmonary and internal organs toxicities induced by paraquat and the inhibition effects of taurine are due to remove free radicals directly.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.209-219
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• 1996

This study examined the effect of alcohol(AL) and/or paraquat(PQ) on serum TSH, thyroid hormones and enzyme activities, and the protective effect of selenium(SE) againse alcohol and/or paraquat-induced thyroid toxicity in guinea pigs. The experomental group consisted of control, 15% alcohol(AL), 4ppm sodium selentite(SE), 200ppm paraquat(PQ), AL+PQ, AL+SE, PQ+SE and AL+PQ+SE mixed in drinking water-fed guinea pigs for 4 weeks. The morphological changes of thyroid gland were studies on paraffin-embedded sections stained with H-E stain. Body weight losses, high serum concentration in TSH and cholesterol, and low values on triiodothyronine($T_3$), thyrozine($T_4$), free $T_4$ and alkaline phosophatase(ALP) were produced in the groups fed AL and/or PQ. We also noted that AL+PQ-fed group was marked increase in serum TSH. In AL or AL+PQ-fed groups when cpmpared to control group had increased the ratio of thyroid weight to body weight(ratio Twt/Bwt), whereas the ratio Twt/Bwt was decresed in SE or PQ-fed groups. However, the serum TSH, $T_3$,$T_4$ free $T_4$ and cholesterol values, and the ratio Twt/Bwt were reversed in groups given the combination of SE, compared with AL and/or Pq-fed groups, also ALP values were reversed in groups given the combination of SE, compared with AL or AL+PQ-fed groups. In microscope, morphological changes showed a remarkable between the AL or PQ-fed group and controls. In AL+PQ+SE-fed guinca pig, follicular colloid is high density in thyroid follicle and increased in connective tissue around the thyroid cells, and thyroidal epithelia were composed of cuboidal or columnar epithelium. The indicated that the morphological changes of thyroid were direct action in the thyroid cell. The results of this study confirmed that the toxic effect of AL or PQ on thyroid occur independently of changes in liver function, and that SE confers marked protection against AL or PQ-induced thyroid toxicity.

• Korean Journal of Weed Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.224-231
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• 1995

Paraquat, the representative bipyridilium herbicide, has high phytotoxic activity through generating toxic oxygen species such as superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxy radical. The response patterns of plants to paraquat were various. It was assumed that the different response was derived from different antioxidative mechanisms including antioxidative enzymes and antioxidant. Paraquat treatment increased reducing sugar content and malondialdehyde formation at 35 days after treatment in a dose-dependent manner but chlorophyll content decreased. Glutathione content increased by paraquat treatment and tolerant species showed more glutathione content than susceptible species. Superoxide dismutase activity increased with the increase in paraquat concentration and that was higher in tolerant species than susceptible species. Photosynthetic activity(PSII activity) was affected by paraquat, so the susceptible species showed more reduced oxygen evolving capacity than tolerant species. Catalse, NADPH-cytochrome C reductase, and malate dehydrogenase, the enzymes tested in this study, showed that the activities decreased by paraquat treatment. Further studies are necessary to determine whether antioxidative system cause the tolerance to paraquat.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.276-285
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• 2000

Paraquat is a very potent herbicide which causes fatal toxicity when ingested, and there is no specific antidote against it. Human ingestion induces acute renal failure, hepatic dysfunction and progressive respiratory failure with high mortality rate. Clinical investigation and medical treatment were done on two cases of acute renal failure caused by paraquat poisoning admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine, Wonkwang University Oriental Chonju Medical Hospital. We report two cases of patients who survived after acute paraquat intoxication, by means of oriental medicine such as Gamdutang, a typical antidote of toxins, chinese ink as an absorbent and burned powder of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma for laxative and so on, western medicine such as gastric lavage, diuretics and fluid therapy. We suggest more experiments and studies related to such treatment for paraquat poisoning be conducted.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.96-104
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate cytotoxicity of paraquat on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts, toxicity of paraquat and compensatory effects of 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) on the rat lung. In order to conduct MIT [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyl -2H-tetrazolium-bromide] and NR (Neutral red) assay, the $5.0{\times}10^4cell/ml$ of NIH 3T3 fibroblast in each well of 24 multi-dish were cultured. After 24 hours, the cells were treated with solution of paraquat (1, 25, 50 and $100{\mu}M$ respectively). After the NIH 3T3 fibroblast of all groups were cultured in same condition for 48 hours. MIT and NR assay were performed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of cell organelles. $MTT_{50}\;and\;NR_{50}$ of paraquat were $1668.97{\mu}M\;and\;1030.85{\mu}M$, respectively. These $IC_{50}$ of Paraquat were decided as a low cytotoxicity by Borenfreund and Puemer (1984). In order to observe the toxicity and compensatory effects of paraquat on the rat lung, Spraque Dawley male rats were used as experimental animals and were divided into paraquat only treated group and simultaneous application group of paraquat and 3-MC, at 30 min and 1, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 96 hrs interval after each treatment. The animals were sacrificed by decapitation and their or the lungs were immediately removed, immersed in fixatives, and were processed with routine method for light microscopic study. Paraffin sections were stained with H&E and iron hematoxylin of Verhoeff. Under the light microscopy, erythrocytes were full in alveolar capillaries at 3 hrs and congested at 24 hrs after paraquat administration. The great alveolar cells (Type II cell) were increased and mitosis of great alveolar were observed in interalveolar septa. Many lymphocytes, macrophages and polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells were observed in connective tissue surrounding lung tissue and germinal center in lymph follicles of terminal bronchiole. Alveolar macrophages were increased in interalveolar septa and alveoli at 48 hrs. And observed many alveolar macrophages at 96 hrs. In iron hematoxylin stain of Verhoeff, Collagen fiber were increased in respiratory bronchiole, interalveolar septa and alveoli and breath of alveoli, and alveolar pore were broaden. But, in paraquat plus 3-MC treated group, morphological changes were mild in lung tissue. These results indicate that 3-MC has a compensatory effects against toxicity of paraquat by conjugation with oxygen.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.101-105
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• 2004

Purpose: Paraquat is the most commonly used herbicide in Korea. Exposure to paraquat through the skin has resulted in local irritation or inflammation of varying degree, sometimes severe. The purpose of this study was to review the patients with paraquat poisoning by skin absorption. Methods: We analysed retrospectively the clinical and laboratory findings of 45 patients with paraquat poisoning after dermal exposure, who were admitted to Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital from January 1999 to December 2003. Results: Among 870 cases of paraquat poisoning, 45 cases were exposed to paraquat through the skin. The peak incidence was the fifth decade($40\%$). The clinical symptoms were pain, pruritus, nausea, and vomiting. The major skin lesions were generalized vesicobullae and necrotic erosion in face, scrotum, trunk, upper and lower extremities and etc. All patients were survived after skin contact or inhalation of paraquat. Conclusion: This study illustrates the extreme toxicity of paraquat and demonstrates that lethal quantities of paraquat may be absorbed if repeated exposure to it. Stricter precautions, including the mandatory use of protective clothing, should be recommended whenever this material is used.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.119-122
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• 2007

Paraquat poisoning is a fatal type of herbicide intoxication. It is characterized by multi-organ failure and pulmonary fibrosis with respiratory failure. Intravenous and intramuscular injection of paraquat is rarely described. However, We encountered two fatal cases of acute poisoning caused by paraquat injection. Two patients were admitted to our emergency unit after intravenous and intramuscular injection of 23.8% paraquat (about 476 mg of paraquat). A 37-year-old man diluted 2 ml of 23.8% paraquat solution with 1 ml of normal saline and injected it both intravenously into his left antecubital fossa and intramuscularly into his abdomen in a suicide attempt. He died 5 days later from respiratory failure and acute renal failure. A 92-year-old man was injected intravenously into his right antecubital fossa by his grandson with 2 ml of 23.8% paraquat solution diluted with 1 ml of normal saline. He died 2 days later from early circulatory collapse and multi-organ failure (metabolic acidosis, acute renal failure, coagulopathy). Intravenous and intramuscular injection with a small quantity of paraquat resulted in fatal toxicity in our patients.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 1992

Organic ligands in the environments are expected to play an important role in regulating the biotoxicity and fate of pesticides. Influences of dissolved humic and fulvic acids on the phytotoxicity of Paraquat were investigated using a bioassay with hydroponically grown rye as indicator species. Levels of Paraquat in water culture media were ranged from 0 to $12_{{\mu}M}$ and those of humic or fulvic acid were 1.0mM as a soluble carbon. Media were prepared in a factorial combination with pHs of 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5, Standard curves of necrosis days, fresh weight, and growth rates, as Phytotoxicity Indices, versus Paraquat concentrations were employed to evaluate the effects of organic ligands on phytotoxicity of paraquat. Organic ligand itself had little effect on rye growth, but Paraquat showed a high degree of toxicity. Paraquat started to show an intensive injury to rye at $0.4{\sim}0.6{{\mu}M}$ and upper critical phytotoxic concentration was estimated to be 11.0${{\mu}M}$ In the presence of organic ligands, times required to cause necrosis due to Paraquat were delayed upto 40%. Fresh weights and growth rates were upto 20% higher in treatments of organic ligands plus Paraquat than that of Paraquat alone. Results demonstrated that complexation of organic ligand with Paraquat reduced the bioabailability of Paraquat to rye.