• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Biology Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2002

Soil contaminants are common in industrialized sites, They can affect directly soil and indirectly ground water and food. Soil mutagens and carcinogens are of great interest due to their potentially hazardous effects on human health. The aim of this study was to monitor the genotoxicity of contaminated soils, Soil leachates were collected from two polluted sites and one control site in Cheongju. Tradescantia BNL 4430 clone was used as experimental matierials. Chromosomal damages induced by soil leachates were detected by the Tradescantia-micronucleus assay. It is known from the result that Tradescantia-micronucleus assay is an excellent botanical tool for detection of biological risk due to environmental toxicants.

• Korean Journal of Acupuncture
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.137-146
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• 2008

Objectives : The leaves of Artemisia argyi L. have been used for the treatment of bleeding-related diseases in traditional korean medicine. But the immunological activities with macrophage have not been sufficiently reported. This study is to investigate the immunological bioactivities of the herbal acupuncture solution obtained from leaves of Artemisia argyi L. (AAAS). Methods & Results : Against Nicotine and Acetaldehyde, AAAS increased significantly the production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) within mouse macrophage Raw 264.7 cells above the concentration of 10 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$. AAAS increased significantly the production of nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264. 7 cells above the concentration of 100 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ against EtOH. And AAAS increased significantly the production of nitric oxide (NO) in Raw 264. 7 cells above the concentration of 200 ${\mu}g/m{\ell}$ against Nicotine, Acetaminophen, and Acetaldehyde. Conclusions : These results suggest that AAAS could be thought to have the immunological activities related with the production of hydrogen peroxide and NO in macrophage.

• Proceedings of the Korea Environmental Mutagen Society Conference
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• 2002.05a
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• pp.111-111
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• 2002

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.1379-1384
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of water extract from Artemisiae Argi Folium Fermented with Lactobacillus pentosus (AFL) on hydrogen peroxide production within human hepatocyte HepG2 cells treated with gallic acid, EtOH, nicotine, acetaminophen, and acetaldehyde. AFL (0~400 ug/mL) was treated with gallic acid, EtOH, nicotine, acetaminophen, and acetaldehyde. And the intracellular productions of hydrogen peroxide were measured by dihydrorhodamine 123 (DHR) assay. AFL showed the restoration of the intracellular productions of hydrogen peroxide which were reduced by gallic acid, EtOH, nicotine, acetaminophen, and acetaldehyde in HepG2 Cells. AFL could be supposed to have the hepatoprotective effect related with hepatocytologic signaling activity against gallic acid, EtOH, nicotine, acetaminophen, and acetaldehyde.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.268-272
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• 2012

Nephrotoxicity occurs when kidney-specific detoxification and excretion do not work properly due to the damage or destruction of kidney function by exogenous or endogenous toxicants. Exposure to drugs often results in toxicity in kidney which represents the major control system maintaining homeostasis of body and thus is especially susceptible to xenobiotics. Understanding the toxic mechanisms for nephrotoxicity provides useful information on the development of drugs with therapeutic benefits with reduced side effects. Mechanisms for drug-induced nephrotoxicity include changes in glomerular hemodynamics, tubular cell toxicity, inflammation, crystal nephropathy, rhabdomyolysis, and thrombotic microangiopathy. Biomarkers have been identified for the assessment of nephrotoxicity. The discovery and development of novel biomarkers that can diagnose kidney damage earlier and more accurately are needed for effective prevention of drug-induced nephrotoxicity. Although some of them fail to confer specificity and sensitivity, several promising candidates of biomarkers were recently proved for assessment of nephrotoxicity. In this review, we summarize mechanisms of drug-induced nephrotoxicity and present the list of drugs that cause nephrotoxicity and biomarkers that can be used for early assessment of nephrotoxicity.

• The Journal of Natural Sciences
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2002

The results of laboratory experiments with microcosms containing Daphnia magna and Chlorella vulgaris demonstrated decrease of the structural exergy of artificial communities after the addition of model toxicants phenol and cobalt chloride. Structural exergy changes were more expressed than changes of components biomasses and total biomass of the community. It once more points to the possibility of the use structural exergy as ecosystem health reflecting parameter.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.05a
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• pp.190-191
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• 2003

Endometriosis is classically defined as the growth of endometrial glands and stroma at extrauterine sites. Although it is a common gynecological problem accompanied by chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and adhesion formation, the etiology of this disease is unknown. Endometriosis pathogenesis may involve endocrine and immune dysfunction since uterine endometrial growth is regulated by sex hormones in concert with bioactive mediators produced by uterine immune and endocrine cells. Thus, exposure to environmental toxicants disrupting endocrine and immune responses potentially affect the development and progression of endometriosis.

• The Sea:JOURNAL OF THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF OCEANOGRAPHY
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2008

As an aquatic ecotoxicity test method, a bioassay using the inhibition of sporualtion of the green macroalga, Ulva pertusa, has been developed. Optimal test conditions determined for photon irradiance, pH, salinity and temperature were $100\;{\mu}mol{\cdot}m^{-2}{\cdot}s^{-1}$, $7{\sim}9$, $25{\sim}35\;psu$ and $15{\sim}20^{\circ}C$, respectively. The validity of the test endpoint was evaluated by assessing the toxicity of four metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn) and elutriates of sewage or waste sludge collected from 9 different locations. When the metals were assayed, the $EC_{50}$ values indicated the following toxicity rankings: Cu ($0.062\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Cd ($0.208\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Pb ($0.718\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$) > Zn ($0.776\;mg{\cdot}L^{-1}$). When compared with other commonly used bioassays of metal pollution listed on US ECOTOX database, the sporualtion test proved to be the most sensitive. Ulva sporulation was significantly inhibited in all elutriates with the greatest and least effects observed in elutriates of sludge from industrial waste ($EC_{50}=6.78%$) and filtration bed ($EC_{50}=15.0%$), respectively. The results of the Spearman rank correlation analysis for $EC_{50}$ data versus the concentrations of toxicants in the sludge presented a significant correlation between toxicity and four heavy metals(Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn). The method described here is sensitive to toxicants, simple to use, easy to interpret and economical. It is also easy to procure samples and maintain cultures. The present method would therefore probably make a useful assessment of aquatic toxicity of a wide range of toxicants. In addition, the genus Ulva has a wide geographical distribution and species have similar reproductive processes, so the test method would have a potential application worldwide.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.510-515
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• 2014

Duckweed (Lemna perpusilla J. Torrey) is a typical floating aquatic macrophyte that has been used for evaluating phytotoxicity of toxicants. In this study, we evaluated the responses of duckweed to PAHs and ammonium as toxicants that frequently affect the growth of plants in polluted industrial and agricultural areas. As the duckweed is growing in aquatic environment, the PAHs and ammonium were incorporated into nutrient solution and the fronds were cultured hydroponically. Frond growth was responded differentially to the concentration and type of PAHs. The severe inhibition of frond growth was observed in the treatment of fluorene. Fluoranthene and pyrene, however, showed weak inhibition of frond growth. The latter PAHs that showed weak inhibition did not reduced frond number at the low concentration of 30 ppm. Pigment contents were also responded differentially. Phenanthrene and fluorene reduced chlorophyll content more strongly than fluoranthene and pyrene. Carotenoids, well-known antioxidative compound, was relatively increased at the low concentration of PAHs up to 30 ppm by the treatment of fluoranthene and pyrene, suggesting an increased antioxidative activity in fronds. Ammonium treatment showed higher inhibitory effect even low concentration of 3 mM.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.53-58
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• 2006

Normally, environmental toxicants are classified as endocrine disruptors if they interfere with regulation of cellular function by endogeneous steroids through inhibition of receptor binding and/or transcriptional activation. So, many studies have been performed about agonist/antagonist of hormone receptor to study mechanisms of endocrine disruptors. If toxicants affect steroid biosynthesis and/or degradation and alter hormone homeostasis, these also are classified as endocrine disruptors. But there are not many studies of the mechanisms of endocrine disruptors on the basis of alteration of steroid biosynthesis and/or degradation. Isolation and culture of Leydig cells from testis is one of methods for the steroidogenesis screening assays to evaluate a substance for altering steroidogenesis. Leydig cells were harvested using the method described by Klinefelter with modifications. Leydig cells were purified by perfusion of testis and incubation ($34^{\circ}C$, 80cycles/minute, 20 minutes) with collagenase (0.25 mg/kg), centrifugal elutriation, percoll gradient centrifugation and BSA multidensity gradient centrifugation. To confirm if this method is one of appropriate tools to evaluate a substance for altering steroidogenesis, ketoconazole, positive control was administered to purified Leydig cells. Ketoconazole ($10^{-8}M$ and above) significantly reduced testosterone production in purified Leydig cells. From above results, we suggest that this method for steroidogenesis screening assay appears to be a appropriate tool to detect suspected compounds for altering steroidogenesis.