Using ²²²Rn as a naturally occurring tracer to estimate NAPL contamination in an aquifer.

The naturally occurring radioisotope (222)Rn was used as a partitioning tracer to evaluate the presence and amount of a non-aqueous phase liquid (NAPL) in an aquifer. The batch experiment results of a diesel contaminated soil showed that the emanation rate of (222)Rn decreased to 31%, relative to a background rate. Batch experiment results of water contaminated by gasoline, diesel, PCE and TCE were similar. A field study to examine TCE contamination was conducted using 54 groundwater samples in Wonju city, Republic of Korea. Estimates of TCE contamination ranged from <0.001 mg/L to 14.3mg/L, and (222)Rn concentrations ranged from 1.89 Bq/L to 444. Results of (222)Rn analysis showed that TCE contamination was mainly restricted to an asphalt laboratory area and that the (222)Rn values of a NAPL-contaminated aquifer were correlated with TCE analytical results.

Anti-oxidant and Anti-hypercholesterolemic Activities of Wasabia japonica.

The effects of Wasabia japonica (WJ) were investigated in vitro and in vivo for their anti-oxidant and anti-hypercholesterolemic activities. It was found that the aqueous extracts of WJ leaves (WJL) had strong scavenging activities towards 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radicals in cell free systems. WJL also inhibited NO production and the expressions of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) mRNA and enzyme protein, determined by Griess reactions, RT-PCR or Western blotting respectively in Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages cells. The anti-hypercholesterolemic effects of WJ diet were investigated in hypercholesterolemia rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups and were fed with either normal diet (Group 1), or diet containing 1%(w/w) cholesterol (Groups 2, 3 and 4). After 4 weeks, Group 2 was changed to normal diet, Groups 3 and 4 were changed to the diet containing 5% WJ leaf and or 5% WJ root, respectively. 3 weeks after WJ diets, Serum HDL-cholesterol levels were significantly increased in WJ diet groups compared with the normal diet hypercholesterolemia rats. In contrast, the serum LDL-cholesterol levels and liver xanthine oxidase (XO) activity in WJ diet groups were significantly decreased. The results indicate that the WJ extracts have significant anti-oxidant activities, and the WJ diet exhibited anti-hypercholesterolemic action in high cholesterol diet rats, which was companied with modulations of cholesterol metabolism and decrease in liver XO activity.

Mycelial extract of Cordyceps ophioglossoides prevents neuronal cell death and ameliorates beta-amyloid peptide-induced memory deficits in rats.

Ameliorating effects of methanol extracts of Basidiomycetes against in vitro and in vivo model of Alzheimer's disease were investigated. The extracts of Cordyceps ophioglossoides and Hypocrea citrina var. citrina prevented the beta-amyloid((25-35)) (Abeta((25-35)))-induced cell death in SK-N-SH neuronal cells. However, in rat model of Alzheimer's disease, 30-d intraperitoneal administration with only the extract of Cordyceps ophioglossoides significantly prevented spatial memory loss by intracranial injection of Abeta((25-35)), which was assessed in water maze task. Interestingly, the scavenging activity of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated in Abeta((25-35))-treated cells was also found in the extract of Cordyceps ophioglossoides, but not in the extract of Hypocrea citrina var. citrina. These results suggest that the extract of Cordyceps ophioglossoides may protect the Abeta-induced neuronal cell death and memory loss through free radical scavenging activity. These results further suggest that Cordyceps ophioglossoides mycelium may be valuable for the protection from Alzheimer's dementia.