• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.1394-1398
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• 2007

Acaricidal activity of the active constituent derived from Pyrus ussuriensis fruits against Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus was examined and compared with that of the commercial benzyl benzoate. The $LD_{50}$ value of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained from the aqueous extract of P. ussuriensis fruits was 9.51 and $8.59{\mu}g/cm^3$ against D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus, respectively. The active constituent was identified as quinone by spectroscopic analyses. On the basis of $LD_{50}$ values with quinone and its congeners, the compound most toxic against D. farinae was quinone ($1.19{\mu}g/cm^3$), followed by quinaldine (1.46), benzyl benzoate (9.32), 4-quinolinol (86.55), quinine (89.16), and 2-quinolinol (91.13). Against D. pteronyssinus, these were quinone ($1.02{\mu}g/cm^3$), followed by quinaldine (1.29), benzyl benzoate (8.54), 4-quinolinol (78.63), quinine (82.33), and 2-quinolinol (86.24). These results indicate that the acaricidal activity of the aqueous extracts can be mostly attributed to quinone. Quinone was about 7.8 and 8.4 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate against D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus. Additionally, quinaldine was about 6.4 and 6.6 times more toxic than benzyl benzoate against D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus, respectively. Furthermore, the skin color of the dust mites was changed from colorless-transparent to dark brown-black by the treatment of quinone. These results indicate that quinone can be very useful as potential control agents, lead compounds, or the indicator of house dust mites.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 1990

Aconiti Tuber is the root of Aconitum sp (Ranunclaceae) which has been considered as one of the most important medicinal plant having cordiotonic, diuretic and analgesic effect. On the other hand, it has been known that Aconiti Tuber contained toxic agent, aconitine alkaloids so that only processed Aconiti Tubers have been used as herbal drug traditionally. For the safety evaluation of processed Aconiti Tuber, quantitative determination of aconitine and acute, subacute toxicity test were performed on 5 commercial processed Aconiti Tubers. Arapid and precise method using HPLC has been developed for the separation and determination of aconitine. Samples were extracted with hydrochloric acid (pH3) and hot water decoction. In case of d-HCL extracts, the contents of aconitine were from 0.08 mg/g to trace. But in case of hot water decoction extracts, the contents of aconitine were not detected. For the investigation of Aconiti Tuber toxicity in rats, hot water decoction samples and methanol extracts were tested. 1) Acute toxicity test Hot water decoction sample and methanol extracts from Aconiti Tuber did not show any toxic effects in rats by an oral administration. $LD_50values of 2 extracts were above 10.0 g/kg. 2) Subacute toxicity study In the repeated administration study, hot water decoction samples were given orally to Sprague-Dawlay rats for 2 week at daily doses of 5.0 g/kg. The results are as follows; No toxic manifestation, body weight changes and lethality were observed during wxperimental period. There were no significant changes in serum enzyme activities such as GOT, GPT, LDH, ALP between treated and control groups. However CPK values were decreased in the Subuja-treated group. (P<0.01). In addition, no gross and microscopic changes were noted in Aconiti Tuber-treated groups.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.5 no.1 s.8
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• pp.53-59
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• 2002

Objective: Through the literature on the effect of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, we are finding out the clinical possibility and revealing the more effective to untractable disease. Method: We investigated the literatures of Oriental Medicine and experimental reports about Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch. Results: 1.The taste of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is hot, wann and toxic, and the effect is dispelling wind, spasmolytic action and detoxication so it has been used for C.V.A, facial palsy, numbness of hands and feet, wounds and arthritis. 2. A toxic constituent of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is mainly located in the 1st limbs, and we can prevent toxic symptoms, if taken a dosage moderately. 3. The pharmacological action of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch is anti-convulsive action, analgesic action, lowering blood pressure, anti-inflammatory action, anti-tumor action and microbe inhibition. On the study of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans L. Koch, we thought it is effective to intractable disease, and it may be needed variable studies on toxicity and clinical effects.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.31-36
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• 1981

Heavy metals which are present as trace elements in human body have been known to modify various enzymatic reaction. These metals can be essential or non-essential. Zinc, copper and calcium are essential in maintaining some biological processes, whereas non-essential metals such as cadmium, lead and mercury produce accumulatve toxic effect. Cadmium accumulated in pancreas can cause toxicity and damage of pancreatic cells, thereby influencing CHO metabolism. Lead compounds are known to produce toxic effects on the kidney, digestive system and brain fellowed by inhibition of activity of ${\rho}-aminolevulinic$ acid and biosynthesis of hemoproteins and cytochrome. Evidence has been accumulated that zinc not only acts as a cofactor in enzyme reaction but also prevents toxic effect induced by heavy metal such as copper and cadmium. To demonstrate the effect of heavy metals on pancreatic secretion, part of uncinate pancreas was taken and incubated in Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer with heavy metals used. Additional treatment with CCK-OP was performed when needed. After incubation during different period of time, medium was analyzed for amylase activity using Bernfeld's method. The present study was attempted in order to elucidate the effect of several kinds of heavy metal on exocrine pancreatic secretion in vitro. The results obtained are as follows: 1) CCK-OP stimulated significantly amylase release from pancreatic fragments in vitro. 2) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited by treatmant with cadmium, especially high doses of cadmium. 3) CCK-OP response of amylase release from pancreatic fragments was inhibited when pretreated with $10^{-4}M$ copper chloride. 4) Lead chloride at the concentration of $10^{-3}M\;and\;10^{4}M$ stimulated the basal amylase release in vitro but CCK-OP response did not augment by lead chloride. 5) Zine chloride did not affect amylase release from pancreatic fragment in vitro. From the results mentioned above, it is suggested that CCK-OP response was inhibited it the amylase release from pancreatic fragments pretreated with cadmium and copper chloride.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.16
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• pp.6773-6779
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• 2014

Background: Nanotechnology opens new applications in many fields including medicine. Among all metallic nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles (silver NPS) have proved to be the most effective against a large variety of organisms including toxic cyanobacteria. Materials and Methods: Silver NPs were biosynthesized in vivo with different alga species namely, Spirulina piatensis, Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus oh/iquus following two scenarios. First: by suspending a thoroughly washed algae biomass in 1 mM aqueous $AgN0_3$ solution. Second: by culturing them individually in culture media containing the same concentration of $AgN0_3$. Silver NPs were characterized using UV-Vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive analysis (EDX) and Fourier transform infra-red (FfIR) spectroscopy. The biosynthesized silver NPs were tested for cytotoxic activity against a cancer promoter cyanobacteruim Microcystis aeruginosa, considering effects on cell viability and chlorophyll content. Results: The surface plasmon band indicated the biosynthesis of silver NPs at ~400 nm. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the silver NPs had a mean average size below 100 nm. Energy-dispersive analysis X-ray (EDX) spectra confirmed the presence of silver element. FfIR spectral analyses suggested that proteins and or polysaccharides may be responsible for the biosynthesis of silver NPs and (-COO-) of carboxylate ions is responsible for stabilizing them. The toxic potentialities ofthe biosynthesized silver NPs against the cancer promoter cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa showed high reduction in viable cells count and the total chlorophyll content. Conclusions: The potential activity of the biosynthesized silver NPs from the studied algae species against Microcystis aernginosa cells is expected to be mainly mediated by the release of silver ions (Ag+) from the particle surface and bioactive compounds as indicated by FfIR analysis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.314-321
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• 2008

Acaricidal effects of materials derived from Diospyros kaki roots against Dermatophagoides farinae and D. pteronyssinus were assessed using impregnated fabric disk bioassay and compared with that of the commercial benzyl benzoate. The observed responses varied according to dosage and mite species. The $LD_{50}$ values of the chloroform extract of Diospyros kaki roots were 1.66 and $0.96{\mu}g/cm^2$ against D. farinae and D. pteronyssinus. The chloroform extract of Diospyros kaki roots was approximately 15.2 more toxic than benzyl benzoate against D. farinae, and 7.6 times more toxic against D. pteronyssinus. Purification of the biologically active constituent from D. kaki roots was done by using silica gel chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the acaricidal component was analyzed by GC-MS, $^1H-NMR,\;^{13}C-NMR,\;^1H-^{13}C$ COSY-NMR, and DEPT-NMR spectra, and identified as plumbagin. The acaricidal activity of plumbagin and its derivatives (naphthazarin, dichlon, 2,3-dibromo-1,4-naphthoquinone, and 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone) was examined. On the basis of $LD_{50}$ values, the most toxic compound against D. farinae was naphthazarin $(0.011{\mu}g/cm^2)$ followed by plumbagin $(0.019{\mu}g/cm^2),$ 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone $(0.079{\mu}g/cm^2)$, dichlon $(0.422{\mu}g/cm^2)$, and benzyl benzoate $(9.14{\mu}g/cm^2)$. Additionally, the skin color of the dust mites was changed from colorless-transparent to dark brown-black by the treatment of plumbagin. Similar results have been exhibited in its derivatives (naphthazarin, dichlon, and 2-bromo-1,4-naphthoquinone). In contrast, little or no discoloration was observed for benzyl benzoate. From this point of view, plumbagin and its derivatives can be very useful for the potential control agents, lead compounds, and indicator of house dust mites.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 1997

Methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) was fed to Drosophila melnogaster in order to investigate its toxic capability at developmental and adult stages, and the hereditary effect of toxicity and the potency for induction of sex-linked lethal mutation during the slyer-matogenesis by the means of an attached-X method. In the control group, the egg to adult viability of D. melnogaster was 95.2%, while 3. 5mM and 5.0mM treated groups were 90.0% and 84.1%, respectively. In the case of their progenies (Fl), the viability was 96.9% in the control group, while 3.5mM and 5.0mM treated groups were 54.5% and 1.6%, respectively. Therefore, these differences between two generations show significant physiological toxic effects in the next generation. In the parental generation, the developmental time was calculated 11.05 days in the control group, 12.43 days In 3.5%mM treated group, and 13.23 days in 5.0mM. In the case of Fl it was estimated 10.35 days in the control group, and 11.43 days In 3.5mM treated group. Compared with the control groups In two generations, the developmental time generally delayed as the dose of MMS increased. As to the sex-ratio, there was no differences between the control and MMS treated groups. The toxic values of adult stage showed which increased the frequency of mortality with MMS concentrations. The mortality at 120hr In the control group was 1.67% and it in 0.5mM MMS treated group 3.33%. In 2.5mM MMS treated group, it was 33.3% at 72hr, and it 95% at 120hr The increase of the morality was shown from 72hr in 4.0mM treated group which was 100% at 96hr. There was the concentration-dependent induction of sex-linked lethal mutation during the spermatogenesis by means of an attached-X method, MMS had more pronounced effect in sperm and spermaid stages in D. melnogaster.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.78-81
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• 2006

Mad-honey poisoning is mainly brought about by the honey imported from Napal, Turkey, Brazil and other parts of Europe. This mad honey is extracted from Ericaceae plants of Rhododendron species and contains grayanotoxins that causes poisoning. These toxic compounds exert a specific stimulatory action on membrane permeability to Na+ions in various excitable tissues and cause depolarization of cell membranes. The toxic effects of grayanotoxins contained honey are mainly cardiovascular disturbances with bradycardia, cardiac arrhythmia, hypotension. There are Other symptoms like nausea, vomiting, salivation, dizziness, weakness and loss of consciousness. The precise amount for a toxic dose is not known. In general the severity of the honey poisoning depends on the amount ingested. Two cases of mad-honey poisoning are described here. Both patients showed bradycardia and arterial hypotension after ingestion of honey which was brought from Nepal. They were recovered fully within 24 hours after administration of fluids and atropine sulphate.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.49-54
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• 2004

The present study was conducted to investigate the potential subacute toxicity of CKD-602 by a 5-day repeated intravenous administration in Sprague-Dawley rats. CKD-602 was administered intravenously to male rats at dose levels of 0, 0.08, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg for 5 days. Studies included general observation, body weight changes, ophthalmoscopic examination, hematology, se겨m biochemistry, gross findings at necropsy and organ weight measurement. There were no deaths in any treatment group and treatment related clinical sign was depilation in the 0.5 mg/kg groups. The decrease or suppression of body weight was also observed dose-dependently in all treatment groups. Decreased leukocyte in all treatment groups, decreased platelet in the above 0.2 mg/kg groups and increase in the serum levels of total cholesterol in the 0.5 mg/kg group were considered as a treatment related toxic effects. Decreased weight of thymus in all treatment groups anti decreased weight of spleen in the above 0.2 mg/kg group were observed. The intravenous administration of CKD-602 caused depilation and decreased weight and had toxic effect on the leukocyte, platelet, spleen and thymus. In the condition of this study, the target organs were spleen and thymus and the toxic effect level was determined to be 0.2 mg/kg, but no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) was considered to be lower than 0.08 mg/kg.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.33-49
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• 1977

These studies were carried out to detect the presence of mycotoxin fungi and detoxification of toxins in various kinds of grain and foodstuffs in Korea. The experiments were divided into three parts: mycologic, toxicologic and electron microscopic study. The resuIts were summarized as follows: 1. From the 210 various, samples(local grains, 150 samples; rice-cakes, 50 samples; meju, 10 samples), 1,205 colonies or fungi were isolated. In 1,127 of 1,205 colonies, it was possible to identify 21 genera. Among the identified strains, the predominant genera were Aspergillus sp.(28.5%), Penicillium sp.(27.1%) and Mucor sp.(7.8%). 2. In cytotoxicity test on HeLa cells, 25 strains showed severe toxic effects among the 240 strains of experiments. 3. In histopathologic test on mice, 21 strains showed severe toxic effect to mouse liver cells among the 240 tested strains. 4. In electron microscopic studies of HeLa cells and mouse liver cells from animal which had been treated with crude toxin, the liver cells showed the cytoplasmic change: dillatation or vacuolization of endoplasmic reticulum, swelling of mitochondria and disappearance of mitochondrial cristae, increased number of lipid and glycogen particles. Nucleus and nucelar envelope alterations, were also noted. 5. In the detoxification study with ultraviolet irradiation, 90% of the toxic substances were denatured by the ultraviolet light irradiation for 24 hours. 6. As a mass screening, the cytotoxicity test of HeLa cells and histopathologic study of mice liver cells treated with culture filtrates, employed and feasible to detect mycotoxin producing fungi.