Phytic acid (PA) (Inositol hexaphosphate, IP6) is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate that is present in substantial amounts in almost all plants and mammalian cells. Recently PA has received much attention for its role in anticancer activity. In the present study, the preventive effects of PA on colon carcinogenesis were investigated. Six-week old Fisher 344 male rats were fed a AIN-93G purified diet and PA (0.5% or 2% PA in water) for 8 weeks. The animals received two (1st and 2nd week) injections of azoxymethane (AOM, 15 mg/kg b.w.) to induce colonic aberrant crypt foci (ACF). After sacrifice, the total numbers of aberrant crypts (AC) and ACF in colonic mucosa were examined after staining with methylene blue. Blood and serum were analyzed with a blood cell differential counter and an automatic serum analyzer. AOM induced the total numbers of 142.3 ± 22.3 ACF/colon and 336.6 ± 55.1 AC/colon. PA at the doses of 0.5 and 2% decreased the numbers of ACF and AC/colon in a dosedependent manner. The numbers of ACF/colon and AC/colon by PA at the dose of 0.5% were 124.4 ± 28.5 and 302.7 ± 67.3, respectively. PA at the dose of 2% significantly decreased the ACF and AC numbers to 109 ± 18.1 and 254.8 ± 50.6, respectively (p < 0.01). Especially, 2% PA significantly reduced the number of large ACF ( ≥ 4 AC/ ACF) from 26.8 ± 6.2 ACF/colon to 15 ± 6.7 ACF/colon (p < 0.01). Although some parameters in blood counts and serum chemistry were changed compared with the control, no specific toxicity was found. These findings suggest that phytic acid can be a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis resulting from inhibition of the development of ACF in the F344 rat.

The aim of this study was to examine the promoting effect of herbal extracts on hair regrowth in C3H/HeJ mice. The herbal extracts were obtained from the Damo-cosmetics Inc. There were four experimental groups including distilled water (D. W., negative control), 20% ethanol (EtOH, vehicle control), 3% minoxidil (MXD, positive control), and herbal extract (Ext). The herbal extract included the mixture of water and alcohol extract from Pleuropterus multflorus, Lonicera japonica Thunberg, Phellinus linteus, and Phaseolus radiatus. Test compounds were applied to the shaved dorsal skin of mice mouse for 3 weeks. The photograph of hair regrowth was taken at day 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. The herbal extract group showed faster hair regrowth than negative control group or 20% EtOH groups after 10 and 14 days of treatments. The elongation of hair follicles in MXD and the herbal extract groups were observed. The activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase were sfanificantly (γ-GT) increased in MXD and herbal extract groups compared with negative control group (p＜0.05). The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also sfanificantly hfaher in MXD and herbal extract group than negative control group (p＜0.05), althouah there were no sfanificant differences amoularhe groups of 20% EtOH, MXD, and herbal extract. These results suagest that the herbal extract used in this study may have grpromoting effect on hair regrowth by increasing activities of ALP and γ-GT and expression of EGF and VEGF.

Anti-wrinkle effect of herbal extracts was investigated on the skin of in a model of animal irradiated by ultraviolet rey B (UVB). The female albino hairless mice (HR/ICR) were randomly allocated to the normal control group (NC-non irradiated-vechicle), positive control group (PC, UVB irradiated vehicle) and herbal extract (HE) group. The herbal extract included the mixture of water and alcohol extract from Pleuropterus multflorus, Lonicera japonica Thunbert, Phellinus linteus, and Phaseolus radiatus. The herbal extract was treated dorsally with 0.2 ml per mouse five times a week for 12 weeks. At fifth week of the treatment, the animals were exposed to UVB irradiation for subsequent eight weeks three times a week. The intensity of irradiation was gradually increased from 30 mJ/㎠ to 240 mJ/㎠ (1MED: 60 mJ/㎠). Dorsal skins were obtained and stained with H&E to examine histological changes and epidermal/dermal thckness. The collagen fiber was also observed in Masson-Trichrome staining. Hydroxyproline assay and western blot analysis were also carried out to detect the change of collagen amount and to investigate MMP-1 expression, respectively. The HE group showed a better appearance and weak wrinkling, compared to PC group, The treatment of herbal extract significantly increased the thickness of dermis and the amount of collagen fibers compared to PC group (p＜0.05). The treatment of HE significantly increased the hydroxyproline amount compared to PC group (p＜0.05). The chronic UVB irradiation to hairless mice skin increased expression of MMP-1 but the treatment of HE decreased the expression of MMP-1. These results indicate that the herbal extract used in this study have a preventive effect on the UVB-induced wrinkle in a hairless mice model, partly due to the reduction of MMP-1 expression and increment of collagen amount.

벼에 발생하여 엽육을 전체적으로 식해해서 피해를 주는 혹명나방(Cnaphalocrosis medinalis)과 벼애나방(Naranga aenescens)의 곤충병원성미생물을 이용한 친환경적 방제를 위해, 국내토양에서 분리된 Bacillus thuringiensis 중에서 나비목 해충에 대해 살충활성 가능성을 가지며 이중피라미드형 내독소 단백질을 가진 균주들을 대상으로 생물검정을 수행하였다. 실험에 이용한 Bt 30균주 중, 약 14개 균주가 혹명나방에 50% 이상의 살충율을 나타내었고, 7개 균주가 벼애나방에 살충활성을 보였는데, 두 종 모두에 80% 이상의 살충율을 보이는 균주도 3균주나 확인되었다. 이들 균주는 두 종 해충 뿐만 아니라 배추좀나방, 담배거세미나방에도 높은 살충활성을 보인 것으로 나타나 생물농약으로서의 활용가능성을 보여 주었다. 반면, 이중피라미드형 내독소단백질을 가지고 있으나 두 종 모두에 살충활성이 전혀 나타나지 않은 균주도 확인되었다. 또한 살충활성은 거의 나타나지 않았지만, 처리한 식물체에 섭식저해 현상을 보이는 유충을 계속적으로 사육하면서 용화율, 우화율 및 번데기 길이를 조사함으로, Bt가 대상 해충의 생물학적, 생태학적 특성에 미치는 영향을 조사한 결과, 처리 후 조사기간 동안 생존한 개체라 할지라도 용화, 우화율이 정상개체에 비해 30~40%이상 낮게 나타났다. 특히나 혹명나방의 경우, 번데기 길이에서도 정상개체와 처리 후 생존개체가 차이를 보이며 섭식에 저해를 받은 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

This study was conducted to identify status of odor managing zones in incheon metropolitan city. There are four odor managing zones in incheon ; Namdong industrial complex, Seobu industrial complex, Seoknam-Wonchangdong industrial complex, Baekseok-Oryudong area. Each zone with 16 sampling sites consisted of three parts. One was inner area (1-1~1-4 site) and another was boundary area (2-1~2-4 site) and the third was outer area (3-1~3-8 site). We analyzed quarterly 18 items of odor pollutants in order to investigate air quality of odor managing zones during 2006. Data of inner area was higher than that of boundary or outer area and concentration of odor pollutants of night was higher than that of day. Overall results of this study showed that concentration of odor pollutants in some sampling sites of boundary and outer area was too low (about ND). Especially ambient hydrogen sulfide of inner area (1-1 site) and boundary area (2-1 site) in baekseok-oryudong odor zone were 0.82 ppm and 0.55 ppm respectively due to landfill gas.

지열을 이용한 열펌프 시스템이 온실의 냉방과 과채류의 묘소질에 미치는 영향을 구명하였다. 온실 내 기온은 주간에는 차광구에 비해서 포그+차광구가 3~4℃ 낮았고, 야간에는 지열-펌프+차광구가 차광 및 포그+차광구에 비해 5~7℃ 낮았다. 오이, 고추 및 토마토 묘의 초장은 차광이나 차광+포그구에 비해 지열-열펌프+차광구가 가장 짧았고, 엽면적과 건물중은 지열-열펌프+차광구가 다른 처리에 비해 약간 작았다. 결과적으로 건묘지수는 지열을 이용하여 냉방을 한 지열+차광구는 포그+차광구 및 차광구에 비해 모두 높게 나타났다.

It is well known that the imbalance between epithelial cell growth and inhibitor factors may cause human epithelial cancer. Over-expression of the epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR) has been implicated in the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. ZD1839 inhibits selectively the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and is clinically used for cancer patients. However the mechanisms by which it exerts its anti-tumor activity remains unclear. This study attempted to determine the mechanisms underlying the effects of ZD1839 on the cellular level and to characterize the effects of ZD1839 with regard to human oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC) cell growth. The YD-10B and YD-38 cell lines established from OSCC in the department of Oral Pathology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry and ZD1839(Iressa) were used for this study. The inhibition of cell proliferation induced by ZD1839 was reversible and the lowest dose of ZD1839 that produced statistically significant growth inhibition in YD cell lines were 0.1 μM. The delay in cell cycle progression was induced by 0.1 μM of ZD1839 treatment after 24 hr. This reduction in cell proliferation and cell cycle delay were associated with up-regulation of the cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor(CDKI), P21CIP1/WAF1 and P27KIP1. Reduced expression of cyclin D1 was also observed after treatment with ZD 1839 to YD-38 cells but not to YD-38. The present results suggest that the antiproliferative effects of ZD1839, in vitro was associated with degradation of cyclin D1, which may be used as a possible indicator of a high cell sensitivity to ZD1839.