Inhibition of Murine Norovirus and Feline Calicivirus by Edible Herbal Extracts

Human noroviruses (HuNoVs) cause foodborne and waterborne viral gastroenteritis worldwide. Because HuNoV culture systems have not been developed thus far, no available medicines or vaccines preventing infection with HuNoVs exist. Some herbal extracts were considered as phytomedicines because of their bioactive components. In this study, the inhibitory effects of 29 edible herbal extracts against the norovirus surrogates murine norovirus (MNV) and feline calicivirus (FCV) were examined. FCV was significantly inhibited to 86.89 ± 2.01 and 48.71 ± 7.38% by 100 μg/mL of Camellia sinensis and Ficus carica, respectively. Similarly, ribavirin at a concentration of 100 μM significantly reduced the titer of FCV by 77.69 ± 10.40%. Pleuropterus multiflorus (20 μg/mL) showed antiviral activity of 53.33 ± 5.77, and 50.00 ± 16.67% inhibition was observed after treatment with 20 μg/mL of Alnus japonica. MNV was inhibited with ribavirin by 59.22 ± 16.28% at a concentration of 100 μM. Interestingly, MNV was significantly inhibited with 150 µg/mL Inonotus obliquus and 50 μg/mL Crataegus pinnatifida by 91.67 ± 5.05 and 57.66 ± 3.36%, respectively. Treatment with 20 µg/mL Coriandrum sativum slightly reduced MNV by 45.24 ± 4.12%. The seven herbal extracts of C. sinensis, F. carica, P. multiflorus, A. japonica, I. obliquus, C. pinnatifida, and C. sativum may have the potential to control noroviruses without cytotoxicity.     

An overview on the enhanced gas condensate recovery with novel and green methods

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A consideration of the negative environmental aspects of fossil fuels has made natural gas the best choice to meet the human demand for energy. The...     

Comprehensive analysis on mercury stream of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) in Korea (Republic of)

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Due to the activation of the Minamata Convention, policies and treatment facilities for the safe management of mercury and mercury compounds have...     

Hydration properties of mixed cement containing ground-granulated blast-furnace slag and expansive admixture

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - The hydration characteristics of mixed cement containing fine powder of blast-furnace slag and expandable material were examined by X-ray...     

Combined toxic effect of airborne heavy metals on human lung cell line A549

Many studies have demonstrated that heavy metals existing as a mixture in the atmospheric environment cause adverse effects on human health and are important key factors of cytotoxicity; however, little investigation has been conducted on a toxicological study of a metal mixture from atmospheric fine particulate matter. The objective of this study was to predict the combined effects of heavy metals in aerosol by using in vitro human cells and obtain a suitable mixture toxicity model. Arsenic, nickel, and lead were selected for mixtures exposed to A549 human lung cancer cells. Cell proliferation (WST-1), glutathione (GSH), and interleukin (IL)-8 inhibition were observed and applied to the prediction models of mixture toxicity, concentration addition (CA) and independent action (IA). The total mixture concentrations were set by an IC₁₀-fixed ratio of individual toxicity to be more realistic for mortality and enzyme inhibition tests. The results showed that the IA model was statistically closer to the observed results than the CA model in mortality, indicating dissimilar modes of action. For the GSH inhibition, the results predicted by the IA and CA models were highly overestimated relative to mortality. Meanwhile, the IL-8 results were stable with no significant change in immune reaction related to inflammation. In conclusion, the IA model is a rapid prediction model in heavy metals mixtures; mortality, as a total outcome of cell response, is a good tool for demonstrating the combined toxicity rather than other biochemical responses.     

Health risk assessment and source apportionment of PM2.5-bound toxic elements in the industrial city of Siheung,Korea

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The emission sources and their health risks of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Siheung, Republic of Korea, were investigated as a middle-sized...     

Generation of waste personal protective equipment (PPE) related to COVID-19 using quantitative forecasting technique

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - With the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, lifestyles have totally changed and the characteristics of waste generation have also changed...     

Electrocatalytic conversion of nitrate waste into ammonia: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate waste into ammonia allows both the removal of nitrate contaminants and an alternative production of ammonia compared to...