Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC's) are chemicals that either mimic endogenous hormones interfering with pharmacokinetics or act by other mechanisms. Some endocrine disrupters were reported to be chemical substances that cause apoptosis in cells. A number of reports have indicated that 1,3-DCP, one of the EDC's may act as an endocrine disrupter and also has possible carcinogenic effects. 1,3-DCP, present in commercial protein hydrolysates used for human nutrition, are genotoxic and 1,3-dichloro-2-propanol induced tumors in rats. In the present study, it was investigated whether 1,3-DCP induces ROS generation and apotosis in A549 adenocarcinoma cells. Here we show that 1,3-DCP inhibits the growth of lung cancer cell lines and generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), a major cause of DNA damage and genetic instability. It was investigated that 1,3-DCP increases G1 phase cells after 12 hours, thereafter abruptly draws A549 cells to G0 state after 24 hours by flow cytometric analysis. 1,3-DCP induces p53 and p21Cip1/WAF1 activation time- and dose-dependently by 24 hours, while the level p21Cip1/WAF1 was decreased after 48 hours. These results suggest that 1,3-DCP, an EDC's generates ROS and regulates genes involved with cell cycle and apoptosis.

The simultaneous analysis of multi-residual pesticides was developed using a gas chromatography (GC) method. In this study, a simple and reliable methodology was improved to detect 154 kinds of pesticides in ginseng extract sample by using a liquid-liquid extraction procedure, open column chromagraphy and chromatographic analysis by GC electron capture detector (ECD) and GC nitrogen-phosphorus detector (NPD). The 154 kinds of pesticides were classified in 4 groups according to the chemical structure. The extraction of pesticides was experimented with 70% acetone and dichloromethane/petroleum ether in order, and cleaned up via open column chromatography (3×30㎝) packed with florisil (30g, 130℃, 12hrs). The final extract was concentrated in a rotator evaporator at 40℃ until dryness. Then the residue was redissolved to 2㎖ with acetone, and analyzed by GC-ECD and GC-NPD. The applied concentration of pesticides was over 1~10㎍/㎖. The recovery tests were ranged from 70.7% to 115.2% with standard deviations between 0.3 and 5.7% of the standard spiked to the ginseng extract sample (Group Ⅰ~Ⅳ). The limit of detection (LOD) ranged from 0.001 to 0.099㎍/㎖ (Group Ⅰ~Ⅳ). The 9 kinds of pesticides were not detected. The developed method was applied satisfactory to the determination of the 154 kinds of pesticides in the ginseng extract with good reproducibility and accuracy.