This study was carried out to develop antitumor effect of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens on (KB cells) human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells. The cytotoxictty of methanollc extract of Perilla frutescens on KB cells was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay. The antitumor activity of various fractions obtained from n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens was evaluated in human oral epithelold carcinoma cells. The antitumor acavity of the n-butanol soluble fraction on human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells was evaluated by MTT assay of colorimetric method. The light microscopic study was carried out to observe morphological changes of cultured human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells. These results were obtained as follows; 1. The fractions 1,2 and 3 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens were shown significant antitumor activities. 2. The number of human oral epitheloid carcinoma cells were decreased and tend to form cell cluster by treatment with fractions 1,2,3 and 4 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perilla frutescens. 3. The fraction 1 of the n-butanol soluble fraction of Perllla frutescens showed the highest antitumor activity on Perilla frutescens. It has been selected as a lead fraction for further examinations.

Acute delayed neurotoxicity of KH-502 [O.O-Diethyl O-(1-phenyyl-3-trifluoromethyl-5-pyrazoyl) thiophosphoric acid ester], an insecticide synthesized newly in Korea, was studied in White Leghorn hens. The doses were determined on the basis of preliminary $LD_{50}$ study. High, middle and low doses were determined to be 1123 mg/kg, 762 mg/kg and 518 mg/kg, respectively. The animals were pretreated with atropine (30 mg/kg) prior to administration of KH-502. The chemical was administrated at the first and 21st day of the study. As positive controls, animals were admlnistrated with triorthocresylphosphate (TOCP 1000 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg). Animals administrated with TOCP or KH-502 were sacrificed by perfusion-fixation at 21st and 42nd day of the study, respectively. The central and peripheral nerve tissues were routinely treated for microscopic observation. As results, eight, three, one, and one chickens died within 2 day after adminiatration with signs of cholinergic acute toxicity in high, middle low and TOCP dose-group (500 mg/kg), respectively. No abnormal clinical signs were observed in the survived chickens administrated with KH-502 in the duration of the study. The chickens in positive control groups showed ataxia and incoordination at the 14th day after administration of TOCP. From necropsy, macroscopic changes were not observed in all groups including positive control groups. Histopathologically, oxonal swelling with myelin loss, focal gliosis, distention around axonal space were observed in the spinal cords of the chickens administrated with TOCP 1000 mg/kg. The lesions were distinct in the dorsal and lateral funiculi of cervical spinal cord, in the lateral and ventral funiculi of thoracic spinal cord and in ventral funiculi of lumbosacral spinal cord. Axonal swelling and mlcrogliosis were infrequently observed in the chickens of other groups including negative control one. However, they were nonspecifically distributed in the spinal cords. In this study, we concluded that the new chemical, KH-502 did not have acute delayed neurotoxicity in White Leghorn hens.

Ag-Os, water treatment agent, was administered orally to ICR mice and Sprague-Dawley rats to investigate the acute oral toxicity. $LD_{50}$ values were above 5 g/kg, 2,000 fold higher than the expected concentration in water, in both species with oral administration. There were also no differences in body weight changes, clinical signs and atopsy findings between all treated groups and control group. Therefore, it was concluded that Ag-Os is a very safe compound.

Hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and liver cancer caused by viral infection are among the most prevalent causes of death in Korea. Several medicines have been in use despite their nonsatisfactory effects on these disease. Some herbal medicines put to use recently have not shown beneficial effects, either. This paper evaluates the effects of extracts from 10 traditional Korean herbal medicines on rats with hepatic damage induced by galactosamine. Rubus coreanus showed an anti-inflammatory effect as shown on the data of activities of serum transaminases.

A teratogenic study on Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won was carried out in SpragueDawley rats. Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won suspended in distilled water was administered to pregnant dams by oral gavage during organogenesis period (from 7th to 17th day of gestation) at daily doses of 1/9, 1/3 and I pill/kg. About two-thirds of dams were sacrificed at 20th day of gestation to scrutinize the pregnant performances and fetal development, and the remaining dams were allowed to deliver. The growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive function of F1 offsprings were examined. There was no treatment-related difference in body weight, food consumption and necropy findings of dams. No gross, skeletal and visceral abnormalities was observed in F1 fetuses from dams treated with Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won. F1 offsprings did not show any treatment-related difference in growth, reflex, behaviour and reproductive peuformance. At caesarean section of F1 dams, no growth retardation and gross abnormality was observed in F2 fetuses. In conclusion, Original Woo-Whang-Chung-Sim-Won did not show any potential teratogenic activity in rats.

Disulfiram (DSF) and diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a reduced form of DSF, protect the liver against toxicant-induced injury through inhibition of cytochrome P450 2E1. The effect of DSF and DDC on the levels of major hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression was comparatively studied, given the view that these enzymes are involved in terminal detoxification events for high energy intermediates of xenobiotics. Treatment of rats with a single dose of DSF (20-200 mg/kg, po) resulted in 2- to 15-fold increases in the mEH mRNA level at 24 hr with the ED$_{50}$ value being noted as 60 mg/kg. The mEH mRNA level was elevated ~15-fold at 24 hr after treatment at the dose of 100 mg/kg, whereas the hepatic mRNA level was rather decreased from the maximum at the dose of 200 mg/kg, indicating that DSF might cause cytotoxicity at the dose. In contrast to the effect of DSF, DDC only minimally elevated the mEH mRNA level at the doses employed. DSF moderately increased the major GST mRNA levels in the liver as a function of dose, resulting in rGSTA2, rGSTA3/5 or rGSTM1 mRNA levels being elevated 3- to 4-fold at 24 hr post-treatment, whereas the rGSTM2 mRNA level was not altered. DDC, however, failed to stimulate the mRNA levels for major GST subunits, indicating that the reduced form of DSF was ineffective in stimulating the GST the expression. The effect of other organosulfides including aldrithiol, 2, 2'-dithiobis(benzothiazole) (DTB), tetramethylthiouram disulfide (TMTD) and allyl disulfide (ADS) on the hepatic mEH and GST mRNA expression was assessed in rats in order to further confirm the increase in the gene expression by other disulfides. Treatment of rats with aldrithiol (100 mg/kg, po) resulted in a 16-fold increase in the mEH mRNA level at 24 hr post-treatment. DTB, TMTD and ADS also caused 5-, 9- and 12-fold increases in the rnRNA level, respectively, as compared to control. Thus, all of the disulfides examined were active in stimulating the mEH gene in the liver. The organosulfides significantly increased the rGSTA2, rGSTA3, rGSTA5 and rGSTM1 mRNA levels at 24 hr after administration. In particular, aldrithiol was very efficient in stimulating the rGSTA and rGSTM genes among the disulfides examined. These results provide evidence that DSF and other sulfides effectively stimulate the mEH and major GST gene expression at early times in the liver and that DDC, a reduced form of DSF, was ineffective in stimulating the expression of the genes, supporting the conclusion that reduced form(s) of organosulfur compound(s) might be less effective in inducing the mEH and GST genes through the antioxidant responsive element(s).

Scopoliae rhizoma is a perennial herb which has a similar effect with atropine on the cardiovascular system. It is also known to have a seditive and anticonvulsant activity on the central nerve system. In order to evaluate an acute toxicity of Scopoliae rhizoma, the present study was performed after administration the Scopoliae rhizoma prepared by both decoctional and frozen dried extract through three different routes (oral; 5,000 mg/kg, intraperitoneal; 2,000 mg/kg, subcutaneous; 5,000 mg/kg) to the female ICR mice. In the group treated intraperitoneally with a frozen dried extract, abnormal clinical signs such as decreased activity, crouch, potosis and abnormal walking were observed for 40 rain after administration. With regard to WBC, decreased number of lymphocyte and increased number of monocyte and granulocyte were also observed in the animals received intraperitoneally with Scopoliae rhizoma extract. Taken together, what toxicity of Scopoliae rhizoma was shown differently depending on its type for administration may be resulted in the differency of administered dose. The results provided here support a pharmacological and toxicological consideration for its clinical use in the regard of oriental medicine.

The possibility of the allergic encephalomyelitis caused by the combined vaccine (KGCC95VI) for the prophylaxis against Japanese encephalitis and Hantaan virus infection, recently developed by Korea Green Cross Corporation, was investigated in the Hartley guinea pigs. The KGCC-95VI was administered to the guinea pigs subcutaneously to sensitize the animals three times at one month intervals. There were no clinical signs or gross pathological findings. There were no abnormal histopathological findings at cerebrums, cerebellums, brain stems and the spinal cords. The concentration of myelin basic protein was 1.10 ng/dose quantified by ELISA, which met the guide4ine of below 2 ng/ml/dose recommended by American Society of Health -System Pharmacists(AHPS) Drug Information. Accordingly, the KGCC-95VI is considered not to induce any allergic immune responses which may lead to the experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Many factors are known to be responsible for cerebral ischemic injury, such as excitatory neurotransmitters, increased intraneuronal calcium, or disturbance of cellular energy metabolism. Recently, oxygen free radicals, formed during ischemia/reperfusion, have been proposed as one of the main causes of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, to investigate the role of oxygen free radical during ischemia/reperfusion, in the present study the effect of endogenous oxygen free radical scavenger, superoxide dismutase / catalase(SOD / catalase) on the release of [$^3$H]-5-hydroxytryptamine([$^3$H]-5-HT) during hypoxia/reoxygenation in rat hippocampal slices was measured. The hippocampus was obtained from the rat brain and sliced 400 gm thickness with manual chopper. After 30 min's preincubation in the normal buffer, the slices were incubated for 20 min in a buffer containing [$^3$H]-5-HT(0.1 $\mu$M, 74 $\mu$Ci) for uptake, and washed. To measure the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT into the buffer, the incubation medium was drained off and refilled every ten minutes through a sequence of 14 tubes. Induction of hypoxia for 20 min (gassing it with 95% N$_2$/5% CO$_2$) was done in the 6th and 7th tube, and oxygen free radical scavenger, SOD / catalase was added 10 minutes prior to induction of hypoxia. The radioactivity in each buffer and the tissue were counted using liquid scintillation counter and the results were expressed as a percentage of the total activity. When slices were exposed to hypoxia for 20 min, [$^3$H]-5-HT release was markedly decreased and a rebound release of [$^3$H]-5-HT was observed on the post-hypoxic reoxygenation period. SOD / catalase did not changed the release of [$^3$H]-5-HT in control group, but inhibited the decrease of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in hypoxic period and rebound increase of [$^3$H]-5-HT in reoxygenation period. This result suggest that superoxide anion may play a role in the hypoxic-, and reoxygenation-induced change of [$^3$H]-5-HT release in rat hippocampal slices.

Fumonisin $B_{1}$ ($FB_{1}$) is hepatotoxic in all species, and initiator and promotor for hepatocarcinogenesis produced mainly by Fusarium moniliforme. This fungus is commonly natural contaminant of corn and other grains worldwide, and has been associated with animal and human diseases. In these study, natural occurrence of $FB_{1}$ was surveyed in 30 healthy domestic corn kernels in Chonbuk and Kangwon province, harvested in 1994 and intended for human consumption, and 15 imported American and Chinese samples of each, collected from different ship-loading at Inchon harbor for animal foodstuffs. $FB_{1}$ contents were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with a fiourescence detector. The data revealed that 2 out of 12 corn kernels from Kangwon province with 1.1 and 0.7 ppm, and 2 out of 18 corns from Chonbuk province with 0.5 and 1.3 ppm, respectively. However, there was no detection of $FB_{1}$ in imported corn samples, even though those were visibly moldy.

To compare the severe liver damage with the slight one on the bromobeazene metabolism in rats, the animal group described as B7 group was induced the stage of slight liver damage with 7 times bromobenzene injection every other day (400 mg/Kg body wt. i.p.), whereas B40 group was induced that of more severe liver damage with bromobeazene 40 times injection as identified with determination of serum levels of alanine aminotransferase(ALT) activity and the histopathological findings. In the present experimental animal model, the decreasing rate of glutathione(GSH) and the increasing rate of glutathione S-transferase activity to the control group were higher in B7 group than B40 group. Furthermore the single dose of bromobenzene was injected to the two groups and sacrificed at 8hr and the hepatic aniline hydroxylase(AH) activity, GSH content and GST activity were determined. The increasing rate of AH activity to the control was lower in B40 group than B7 group and the decreasing rate of GSH to the control was also lower in B40 than B7 group. Moreover, B7 group showed the increased activity of hepatic GST to the control whereas B40 group showed the decrease activity of the enzyme. And Vmax value in GST was more decreased in B40 group than B7 group.

To investigate the circadian variation in the bromobenzene metabolism, bromobenzene(400 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally administered to the rats every other day for 6 days both in the night; 24:00 and the day; 12:00. Each group of animals was sacrificed at 8hr after last injection of bromobenzene. The contents of hepatic CYP were more increased in control rats of night phase than those of day phase but in case of bromobenzene treatment there were no differences in hepatic CYP between rats of the night phase and those of day phase and the injection of prednisolon inhibited the hepatic CYP content in rats. Furthermore, the decreasing rate of hepatic glutathione contents to the control was higher in rats of day phase than those of night phase by the bromobenzene treatment. And the hepatic glutathione S-transferase activities were increased both in control and bromobenzene treated rats of the night phase than those of day phase. On the other hand, liver weight per body weight(%), hepatic lipid peroxide content, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase were more increased both in bromobenzene-treated and control rats of the night phase than those in the day phase. These results indicate that the rats of night phase may induce more accelerated formation of bromobenzene 3,4-oxide from bromobezene than those of day phase in rats.

Inductive effects of cytochrome P450 2B1 by $\alpha$- and $\beta$-ionone were characterized in individual liver lobes of male Sprague Dawley rats. When rats were administered ionones orally at 100, 300, and 600 mg/kg for 24 hr, cytochrome P450 2B1 was induced dose-dependently in liver S-9 fractions as measured by P450 2B-specific monooxygenases and Western immunoblotting. The activity of P450 1A- and P450 2B-specific monooxygenases was differentially expressed in each lobe of normal liver. In addition, the monooxygenase activity was induced by $\alpha$- and $\beta$-ionone with different potency in each lobe of the liver. Our present results indicate that the different induction of P450s by $\alpha$- and $\beta$-ionone in each lobe may explain different susceptibilities of rat liver lobes to certain hepatotoxicants which require metabolic activation for their toxicity and that $\alpha$- and $\beta$-ionone may be useful model inducers of P450 2B1 in studying the toxic mechanism of certain toxicants which may require the metabolic activation by P450.

The effects of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase on the toxicity of paraquat(PQ) were studied using diethyldithiocarbamate(DDC), 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole(AT) which are inhibitors of Cu, Zn-SOD and catalase in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were divide into 6 groups: control, DDC, PQ, AT, DDC+PQ, and AT+PQ group. The PQ (50 mg/kg body weight(BW); about half dose of $LD_{50}$) was administered with orally, otherwise AT(1.0g/kg BW) and DDC(1.0g/kg BW) were administered by intrperitoneal(iP) injection. The survival rate of rats in PQ+AT group was significantly decreased compared with PQ group while the difference of survival rate between DDC group and DDC+PQ group was not significant. The SOD activity after administration of DDC was decreased in liver, lung and kidney, but catalase activity was not changed. The catalase activity in liver, lung and kidney of AT treated rats was decreased, while SOD activity was not changed in this group. The effects of DDC and AT to the PQ toxicity was also observed in primary cultured rat Skin fibroblasts. The viable cells that was measured with MTT method, was decreased in AT+PQ treated group compared to PQ treated group, but the difference of cell viability between DDC treat group and DDC+PQ treated group was not observed. This result, AT potentlate PQ toxicity while DDC were not affect, suggested that the decreased catalase activity lead to elevation of hydrogen peroxide levels and PQ toxicity may be correlate with the hydrogen peroxide rather than the superoxides.

Adult male ICR mice were exposed to methylmercuric chloride (CH$_3$HgCI) through drinking water for 80 days. The distribution of mercury in the kidney, liver, spleen and cerebellum of the mouse was examined according to a autometallographic silver-enhancement technique based on a physical development process which renders mercury deposit visible. Grains of mercury traces were located in the proximal convoluted tubules. Lesser staining of the grains was seen in the collecting tubules of medulla. The glomerular basement membrane was void. In the liver, mercury accumulations were present primarily in the hepatocytes around portal area containing interlobular bile duct, artery and portal vein. Also grains of mercury traces were accumulated in the white pulp of the spleen and Purkinje cell layer of the cerebellum.

The influences of dietary supplement of citron tea on the hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis have been studied by examining placental glutathione S-transferase(GST-P) positive foci area in a liver tissue, contents of total cytochrome P450, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS) and glucose 6-phosphatase(G6Pase) in hepatic microsome and glutathione S-transferase(GST) activity. Weaning Sprague-Dawley male rats were fed AIN76 diet with or without citron tea supplement. Rats of CTR and CTR+ groups were fed diet without citron tea supplement while CDI and CDI+ groups were fed diet with citron tea supplement for the entire experimental period(13 weeks). Rats of CDP and CDP+ groups were fed diet without citron tea supplement for the first 7 weeks and swiched to citron tea containing diet for the last 6 weeks of experimental period. CTR+, CDI+ and CDP+ groups were carcinogen treated group. Diethylnitrosamine(DEN) was used as a carcinogen initiator and injected to the rats of carcinogen treated groups as a single dose of 200 mg/kg body weight intraperitoneally after 4 weeks of feeding. 2-Acethylaminofiuorene(AAF) was used as a carcinogen promoter and supplied in the diets of carcinogen treated rats as 0.02% content for the last 6 weeks starting from 2 weeks after DEN injection. Rats were sacrificed after 13 weeks of feeding. Liver/body weight ratio and GST activities were increased by carcinogen treatment. However, they were not changed by citron tea supplement. Total cytochrome P450 contents were not changed by carcinogen treatment or citron tea supplement. TBARS contents of carcinogen treated rats showed tendency to decrease by citron tea supplement. G6Pase activity decreased by carcinogen treatment and citron tea supplement. The area of GST-P positive foci detected in carcinogen treated rats were decreased by citron tea supplement and not affected by the timing and the duration of citron tea supplement. These results suggest that citron tea has suppressive effects on hepatocellular chemical carcinogenesis probably through antioxidant compounds by decreasing TBARS contents.

Synaptobrevin is a kind of vesicle associated membrane proteins (VAMPs) which plays a secretary role in the neuronal synapse and was recently known as the biochemical target of botulinum neurotoxin type B. The structural gene of the synaptobrevin was cloned from mouse brain using RT-PCR technique and was seqrtenced. The deduced amino acid sequence showed that the synaptobrevin protein from mouse brain is exactly the same with that of the rat brain in the amino acid level. The synaptobrevin gene was subcloned into pET3a vector and expressed in E. coli. The molecular weight of the recombinant protein was 19 kDa as expected. Moreover, when the recombinant synaptobrevin protein was incubated with the native neurotoxin of Clostridium botulinum type B, it was cleaved by the toxin in a time dependent manner. This implies that the recombinant synaptobrevin protein and the native toxin are reacted in the same way as the native synaptobrevin did in the neuronal cells.

The acute and subacute toxicity of water soluble dimethyl dimethoxy biphenylate derivative (new DDB), hepatitis therapeutics, were investigated in SD rats. In the acute toxicity study, body weights and clinical signs were observed for 7 days after the intravenous injection of new DDB at doses of 140, 182, 236, 307 and 400 mg/kg(r=1.3). Death. Severe convulsion, tremor and decrease motor activity were observed in almost treated groups (except the 140 mg/kg treated group). Changes of body weight in treated groups were not significantly different from control group. Autopsy of survived animals revealed no abnormal gross findings related to new DDB. As a results, the $LD_{50}$ values of new DDB were 244.1 mg/kg for male and 232.5 mg/kg for female. In subacute toxicity study, body weights and clinical signs were observed after intravenous injection of new DDB at doses of 57, 75 and 100 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Death, decrease motor activity and tremor were observed above 75 mg/kg treated groups. Statistically significant changes were observed in hematological and biochemical parameters of new DDB-treated groups; however, these changes were within normal range and had no relationship with dosage. Several abnormal findings were observed in microscopic examination of tissue; however, these findings were not caused by new DDB but environmental factor. The no toxic dose level of new DDB were estimated to be 57 mg/kg/day in this study.

l-Muscone is synthesized for use as substitutive material of musk which is the active ingredient of woohwangchungsimwon. The objective of this investigation was to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of l-muscone in rats. In oral acute toxicity test, SPF Sprague-Dawley male and female rats were gayaged with l-muscone of two doses(0, 5.0 g/kg). No dead animal and abnormal autopsy findings were found in control and treated group. Body weights were slightly decreased in both sexes of rats treated with 5.0 g/kg. Therefore, oral $LD_{50}$ of l-muscone was consider to be higher than 5.0 g/kg in male and female rats. In intraperitoneal acute toxicity test, rats were injected intraperitoneally with dosages of 0, 1,000, 1,316, 1,732, 2,279 and 3.000 mg/kg. Decreased body weights and motor activities were observed at high dose group. Intraperitoneal $LD_{50}$ of l-muscone were 1,920 mg/kg in male and female rats. In the subacute study, l-muscone was administrated orally to both sexes of rats for 4 weeks as several doses(0, 10, 100 and 1,000 mg/kg). There were neither dead animals nor significant changes of body weights during the experimental period. In addition, no differences were found between control and treated groups in clinical signs, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemical analysist and other findings. Above data suggest that no observed adverse effect level of l-muscone in rats might be over 1,000 mg/kg/day in this study.

Single and 4 weeks oral administration of l-muscone, a major active ingredient of musk, to beagle dogs of both sexes were performed to investigate both acute and subacute toxicity. Beagle dogs(3 males and 3 females) in acute experiments were administered orally with single dosage of 2,000 mg/kg and groups of 9 male and 9 female beagle dogs in subacute experiments were given daily different dosage of l-muscone, 0.2 mg/kg/day(low dosage group), 2 mg/kg/day(middle dosage group), or 20 mg/kg/day(high dosage group) once a day for 4 weeks by oral route according to the Established Regulation of Korean Food and Drug Administration(1996.4.16). $LD_{50}$ value for beagle dogs was more than 2,000 mg/kg on oral route for both male and females. In animals administered with l-muscone, there were neither dead animals nor significant changes of body weights. In addition, no differences were found between control and treated groups in clinical signs, urinalysis, eye examination, hematology, serum chemistry, organ weight and other findings. No histolopathological lesions were observed in both control and treatment groups. Above data strongly suggest that l-muscone in beagle dogs is considered to be safe.