The effect of Al and Cd on the growth, photosynthesis, and accumulation of Al, Cd and plant nutrients in two soybean genotypes were determined using hydroponic culture. There were six treatments: pH 6.5; pH 4.0; pH 6.5+1.0 micromol/L Cd; pH 4.0+1.0 micromol/L Cd; pH 4.0+150 micromol/L Al; pH 4.0+1.0 micromol/L Cd+150 micromol/L Al. The low pH (4.0) and Al treatments caused marked reduction in root length, shoot height, dry weight, chlorophyll content (SPAD value) and photosynthetic rate. Al-sensitive cv. Zhechun 2 accumulated comparatively more Al and Cd in plants than Al-tolerant cv. Liao 1. Compared with pH 6.5, pH 4.0 resulted in significant increase in Cd and Al concentration in plants. Combined application of Cd and Al enhanced their accumulation in roots, but caused a reduction in shoots. The concentrations of all 10 nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and B), except Mo were also increased when plants were exposed to pH lower than pH 6.5. Al addition caused a reduction in the concentration of most nutrients in plant roots and shoots; but K, Mn and Zn in roots were increased. Treatments with Cd alone or together with Al reduced the concentrations of all the plant nutrients in plants. Al-sensitive genotype Zhechun 2 has lower nutrient concentration than Al-tolerant genotype Liao 1. The current findings imply that Al and Cd are synergistic in their effect on plant growth, physiological traits and nutrient uptake.
Aluminum ; toxicity ; Cadmium ; toxicity ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Soybeans ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

ln order to investigate the mutagenic activity of Meju, an important component of the Korean diet, both chemical techniques and the Ames test were used. To determine if antimutagenic activity is present in Meju and other soybean based foods, the Ames Test was done in the presence of aflatoxin B1, benzo(a)pyrene, and other mutagens. Although aflatoxin contamination was found in 6 of 43 samples of Meju tested, the amounts were less than 1 ppb in all but one. Meju had a protective effect against mutations produced by both aflatoxins and benzo(a)pyrene, both of which act via an epoxide, but not against other mutagens tested.
Aflatoxins/analysis/*toxicity ; Fermentation ; Food Contamination/*analysis ; In Vitro ; Korea ; Mutagenicity Tests ; *Mutation ; Plant Extracts/toxicity ; Soybeans/*toxicity ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

OBJECTIVETo investigate the subchronic toxicity of soy isoflavones (SIF) in male rats.

METHODFifty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups, 10 rats per group. SIF were given to rats in different groups by gavage at dose of 0, 0.2, 0.5, 1.5, and 4.5 g/kg bw, respectively for 13 weeks. Clinical manifestations, body weight, and food consumption were observed weekly. At the end of the study, urinalysis, hematology, clinical chemistry, total testosterone, and follicle-stimulating hormone were tested, and histopathological examinations were performed.

RESULTSNo mortality, ophthalmic abnormalities or treatment-related clinical signs were identified during the study. As compared with the control group, significantly lower body weights and food consumption were observed in 1.5 and 4.5 g/kg bw groups. In clinical chemistry tests, triglyceride was significantly decreased and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased in all SIF-treated groups. Total testosterone levels were significantly lower in 0.50, 1.50, and 4.5 g/kg bw dose groups than in the control group. Microscopic examination showed that the mammary glands exhibited hyperplasia and excreted latex in rats of the 4.5 g/kg bw group. No changes attributable to treatment of SIF in other parameters were found.

CONCLUSIONSIF at high dosages caused significant endocrine disruption in male rats. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of SIF to male rats in this study is considered to be 0.20 g/kg bw.

Animals ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Drug Administration Schedule ; Follicle Stimulating Hormone ; blood ; Isoflavones ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; toxicity ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Thyroxine ; blood ; Triiodothyronine ; blood

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effect of soyasaponins on acute liver injury induced by D-galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice.

METHODThe mice were randomly divided into five groups: the normal control, the model group, the silymarin (positive control) group, and soyasaponins high and low-dose groups. They were administered with drugs once every day for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, GalN and LPS were injected intraperitoneally to all of the groups except for the normal group to establish the acute liver injury model. The pathological changes were detected with hematoxylin & eosin (HE) staining, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was detected by ELISA method, and the alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), reduced glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and the activation of Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 were detected by the colorimetric method.

RESULTSoyasaponins could reduce the activities of serum ALT and AST, the acute hepatic injury induced by GalN/LPS, serum TNF-alpha level, hepatic NO and MDA contents, and the Caspase-3 and Caspase-8 activations of liver tissues, and increase the hepatic CAT, GPx, GST and GSH levels.

CONCLUSIONSoyasaponins shows the protective effect on acute liver injury induced by GalN and LPS in mice, which may be related to its antioxidative ability and anti-liver apoptosis.

Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Caspases ; metabolism ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; metabolism ; pathology ; prevention & control ; Galactosamine ; toxicity ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Liver ; pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo investigate the protective effects and related mechanisms of soybean isoflavone (SI) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injury induced by H₂O₂ and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODSH₂O₂ and LPS were used to induce HUVECs injury in vitro. Nine experimental groups were examined: control group, H₂O₂ (2 mmol/L for 4 h), LPS (2 mmol/L for 4 h), H₂O₂+low dose SI (1 mg/ml), H₂O₂+moderate dose SI (2.5 mg/ml), H₂O₂+high dose SI (5 mg/ml), LPS+low dose SI (1 mg/ml), LPS+moderate dose SI (2.5 mg/ml), LPS+high dose SI (5 mg/ml). The survival ratio of HUVECs was detected with MTT assay. The cultured cells were loaded by Fura-2/AM and the change of [Ca²⁺] in HUVECs was measured by fluorospectrophotometry. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), reduced glutathione (GSH-Px) were measured by the commercial kits. The levels of tissue plasminogen activator IL-6 in the supematant were measured by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Apoptosis rate of the HUVECs was analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTSH₂O₂ and LPS significantly decreased HUVECs viability, increased the contents of MDA, IL-6 and decreased the contents of SOD and GSH-Px, and increased the apoptosis rate [(37.8 ± 1.8)% and (38.9 ± 1.1)%]. Co-treatment with SI could reduce MDA and IL-6 while increase SOD and GSH-Px and reduce apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONThe findings demonstrate that soybean isoflavone could attenuate H₂O₂ and LPS induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells through protecting mitochondrial function, improving antioxygenic activity, and suppressing the mobilization of cytosolic calcium.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; toxicity ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Lipopolysaccharides ; toxicity ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Soybeans ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the protective effect of soybean protease inhibitor on LPS-induced lung injury in rats.

METHODFifty male SD rats were randomly divided in five groups, 10 rats in each group as sham-operation group, model control group, positive medicine group, and high, moderate SBTI groups. Except the sham-group, other groups were induced by intratracheal instillation of LPS with a dose of 6 mg x kg(-1). All rats were given drug throughout intraperitoneal injection except the model controlled group, the positive medicine group was given PMSF with a dose of 50 mg x kg(-1), the high dose group of SBTI was given SBTI with a dose of 100 mg x kg(-1), a dose of the moderate group is 50 mg x kg(-1). We examined all rats in seven days. Index exam: cell quantity, activity of neutrophilic granulocyte released elastic protease proteins in BALF, histopathological examination and so on.

RESULTSoybean protease inhibitor can level down the level of total protein, cell quantity, PMN percent, activity of neutrophilic granulocyte in BALF. SBTI level down the content of NF-kappa B in nucleoprotein, while increase the content of I kappa B alpha in plasmoprotein.

CONCLUSIONSBTI is useful in protecting experimental pulmonary injury induced by LPS in rats.

Acute Lung Injury ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Endotoxins ; toxicity ; Granulocytes ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathology ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Male ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Rats ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Trypsin Inhibitors ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVESThis paper aims to investigate the uterotrophic activities of lactational exposure to combination of soy isoflavones (SIF) and bisphenol A (BPA) and to examine estrogen receptor α (ERα) and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) expressions in hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis and uterus.

METHODSMaternal rats that were breeding about 8 litters were randomly divided into four groups with seven dams in each group. Dams in different treatment groups received corn oil (control), 150 mg/kg BW of SIF, 150 mg/kg BW of BPA or combination of 150 mg/kg BW of SIF and 150 mg/kg BW of BPA, respectively, from postnatal day 5 to 11 (PND5-11) by gavage. On PND12 and PND70, 10 female litters were killed and hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and uterus were collected. ERα and ERβ expressions in these organs were detected with Western blotting assay. And vaginal opening time and estrus cycle were examined in animals fed for PND70.

RESULTSOn PND12, the relative uterine weight of rats treated with ISF or BPA or their combination was significantly higher than that of untreated rats (P<0.05). But the relative uterine weight of rats in the co-exposure group was slightly lower than that in the group only exposed to SIF or BPA. On PND 70, however, the relative uterine weight in each treatment group was not statistically different from that in the control group (P>0.05). Vaginal opening time and estrus cycle in groups treated with SIF or BPA or their combination were similar to those in the control group (P>0.05). Exposure to SIF or BPA or their combination could up-regulate or down-regulate ERα and ERβ expressions in hypothalamus, pituitary, ovary and uterus on PND12 and PND70. These regulation patterns for ERα and ERβ were different in different organs at different time points.

CONCLUSIONLactational exposure to ISF or BPA or their combination could induce uterotrophic responses in neonate rats, which disappeared in later life. But these data fail to suggest a possibility for synergic actions between SIF and BPA. It was also demonstrated that the uterotrophic effects of SIF and BPA exposure might, at least, involve modification of ERα or ERβ expressions in the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzhydryl Compounds ; Blotting, Western ; Down-Regulation ; Drug Synergism ; Estrogen Receptor alpha ; biosynthesis ; Estrogen Receptor beta ; biosynthesis ; Estrogens, Non-Steroidal ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Female ; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Isoflavones ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Lactation ; metabolism ; Maternal Exposure ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Ovary ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Phenols ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Phytoestrogens ; isolation & purification ; pharmacokinetics ; toxicity ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sexual Maturation ; drug effects ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Up-Regulation ; Uterus ; drug effects ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the dose-dependent toxic effect of soybean isoflavone extracts (SIE) on reproductive development in immature rats.

METHODSGrowing male and female rats (n = 50 each, 4 weeks) were divided into five groups fed with a standard cereal-based diet and gastrogavaged daily with 0, 30, 150, 300, and 600 mg SIE/kg body weight, respectively, for 12 weeks. Body weight, organ weights, and serum level of estrogen and testosterone were measured.

RESULTSOral administration of SIE had no effect on food intake but decreased food efficiency ratio (P < 0.01). Suppression on body weight gain by SIE was dose-dependent and the effect was greater on male than on female rats (P < 0.01). SIE at high doses exhibited hepatotoxicity by increasing a relative liver weight, and also caused a smaller uterus but a greater relative ovary in female rats, while leading to larger relative testis and epididymis in male rats. SIE could decrease progesterone concentrations in female rats, whereas in male rats it reduced not only total testosterone level but also sperm count compared with the control group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIE at a range of 50-1000 times of human intake level affects not only growth but also development of reproductive system in growing rats.

Animals ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Epididymis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Estradiol ; blood ; Female ; Isoflavones ; toxicity ; Liver ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Male ; Organ Size ; drug effects ; Ovary ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Progesterone ; blood ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Sperm Count ; Testis ; drug effects ; growth & development ; Testosterone ; blood ; Uterus ; drug effects ; growth & development