Rhizome extracts of Gunnera perpensa are used in traditional remedies in South Africa to treat endometritis both in humans and animals. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether this plant possesses antibacterial activity, which may explain its efficacy. Gunnera perpensa rhizome extracts were prepared serially with solvents of increasing polarity and tested for antibacterial activity. Test bacteria included the Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A moderate to weak level of antibacterial activity in most of the extracts resulted, with the best minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 2.61 mg ml-1 shown by the acetone extract against S. aureus. The extracts were also submitted to the brine shrimp assay to detect possible toxic or pharmacological effects. All the extracts were lethal to the brine shrimp larvae at a concentration of 5 mg ml-1. The acetone extract was extremely toxic at 1 mg ml-1, with some toxicity evident at 0.1 mg ml-1. The remainder of the extracts generally displayed little activity at concentrations lower than 5 mg ml-1. In summary, the results indicate that although the extracts demonstrated a level of pharmacological activity, the relatively weak antibacterial activity is unlikely to justify the use of G. perpensa rhizomes in the traditional treatment of endometritis. Rather, the slightly antibacterial nature of the rhizomes may contribute to an additive effect, along with their known uterotonic activity, to the overall efficacy of the preparation.

In the present study, we expected the anti-tumor effect by combined treatment of arsenic trioxide and interferon (IFN)-α on murine Lewis lung carcinoma (LL2) cells through in vivo study. As a experimental model, LL2 cells (1×10∨6/mouse) were injected subcutaneously into the back region of mice. When the tumor volume reached 100 ㎣, mice were treated with 1 mg/kg arsenic trioxide, 50000 IU IFN-α, or arsenic trioxide and IFN-α. The development of tumor cells was significantly inhibited by combined treatment with arsenic trioxide and IFN-α. In arsenic trioxide and IFN-α treated group, apoptotic index was reached a peak valve at 48 hr after the treatment and it was restored to approximately the control level at 8 days.

The present study was carried out to investigate the skin irritation potential of oregano oil in rabbits. A volume of 0.5 ml of test article was applied to intact and abraded skins, respectively, for 24 h in 6 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits. Parameters measured during 72 h observation period were mortality, clinical signs, body weight changes, and local irritation. Treatment-related toxic symptoms, as evidenced by anorexia and decreased locomotor activity, were observed in all rabbits tested. Two rabbits out of the 6 total died on day 2 after the application of test article due to treatment-related toxicity.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antibiotic resistance pattern of E. coli and Salmonella spp. isolated from chicken feces. One hundred and forty-seven E. coli isolates showed resistance to tetracycline (95.2%), erythromycin (89.2%), ampicillin (70.1%), streptomycin (59.2%), cephalothin (56.5%), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (53.7%), ciprofloxacin (57.1%), enrofloxacin (59.2%) and norfloxacin (57.1%). The multiple resistance was seen in 144 isolates (97.9%) and the rate of five, six and seven drugs resistance pattern were 20.4%, 18.4% and 16.3%, respectively. Also, the multiple resistance of E. coli to twelve drugs were seen in 1 isolates (0.7%).

Much of the interest on the chemopreventive properties of herbs and plants has been raised, whereas little is regarding to anti-tumor effect of farming and aquatic products. In the present study, the anti-tumor effect of hot-water extract of a seaweed, BLC (Sargassum fulvellum) and BLC/HEN egg was investigated using MCF-7 cells in vitro and in vivo systems. We found that the BLC extract and BLC/HEN egg inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner, which might be mediated through up-regulation of p53. Furthermore, this test compound can directly induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells, which might be mediated through up-regulation of a pro-apoptotic Bax protein and down-regulation of a anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein, not by immune system.

Systemic aspergillosis were outbroken of 17 Korean native calves at livestock farm in Kyunggi province. Two 3 months old calves were died after having diarrhea, coughing, dyspnea, nasal discharge, and abdominal breathing. These calves were diagnosed of aspergillosis as multifocal to coalescing pyogranulomatous inflammation with intralesional aspergillus infiltration at liver, kidney, spleen, heart, lymph nodes, lungs, intestine and cerebrum. Aspergillus fumigatus was cultured from the affected tissues. And the small intestine was positive against bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus on FA test. We considered that the secondary fungal infections killed the calves after BVD virus infection primarily.

Resistance to antibiotics is a problem all over the world, and this problem also is so extended in veterinary fields. Therefore, this study aimed to find out the antibacterial substances from natural medicinal herbs against bovine mastitis pathogens, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Among seventy two medicinal herbs, Terminaliae chebula extract showed antimicrobial effect against MRSA isolated from mastitis milk in cow and patient in human. However, Terminaliae chebula extract didn't show antibacterial effects on various strains including other contagious and environmental pathogens related with mastitis of dairy cows.

The purpose of this study is to examine the elemental compositions, antioxidant and antitumor activity of water, 20%, 40%, 60%, and 80% ethanol extracts obtained from the fruiting body of Phellinus gilvus. In electron donating ability test, the strong activities more than 70% were observed in 80 μg/ml of 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% ethanol extracts from the fruiting body of P. gilvus grown in oak and sawdust. The antitumor activity was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) in terms of cell survival level. The tumor cells (sarcoma 180) were treated with various ethanol extracts (water, 20, 40, 60 and 80%). The results showed that all extracts inhibited proliferation showing a dose-dependent manner against tumor cells.

Epidemiological characteristics of a total of 48 swine herd with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea in Gyeongsang-do between 1999 and 2000 were performed to evaluate the prevalence of Salmonella spp., their serotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns with respect to the different stages of swine production system. A total of 139 Salmonella spp. (21%) were isolated from 662 fecal samples and the overall herd prevalence of Salmonella spp. ranged from 12.5% to 88%. The average prevalence of Salmonella spp. from swine stages of suckling/nursery, grow/finisher and sow stage were 25.7%, 19.2% and 18.4%, respectively.

We examined the teats of slaughtered cattles to investigate the prevalence of papilloma and to detect bovine papilloma virus (BPV) from those samples. Among 880 heads, 432 (49.0%) was Holstein and 448 (51.0%) was Korean native cattle. Grossly, out of 432 heads (Holstein), 263 (60.8%) had papilloma lesions on teats. However, out of 448 heads (Korean native cattle), only 33 (7.4%) had papilloma lesions on teats. Immunohistochemically, BPV antigen was detected in 35 heads (22.9%) of 153 (Holstein) which had papilloma lesions. But, in Korean native cattle, BPV antigen was detected in 1 head (3.8%) of 26.