• Journal of Life Science
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.287-295
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• 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. The chemotherapeutic agents used to treat HCC patients are toxic and have serious side effects. Therefore, we investigated the efficacy of anticancer drugs that reduce side effects by targeting tumor cells without causing cytotoxicity in healthy hepatocytes. Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid derived from plant compounds, has emerged as a potential candidate for cancer treatment due to its diverse pharmacological properties. The effect of berberine on HepG2 cell viability was determined using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. HepG2 cell proliferation was determined through a colony-forming assay. The effects of berberine on HepG2 cell migration were evaluated using a wound-healing assay. Berberine inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells, as well as colony formation and migration. Berberine treatment increased the expression of autophagy-related genes and proteins, including Beclin-1 and LC3-II, and elevated the activities and mRNA expression of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3. Additionally, in experiments utilizing the Cell-Derived Xenograft animal model, berberine treatment reduced tumor size and weight in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the potential of berberine as a versatile anticancer agent with efficacy in both cellular and animal models of hepatocellular carcinoma. The findings herein shed light on berberine's efficacy against HCC, presenting opportunities for targeted and personalized therapeutic interventions.

• (The) Korean Journal of Advertising
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.7-25
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• 2016

According to recent studies, the location of visual information has a significant impact on consumers' interpretation and judgment in various contexts. In particular, vertical positioning is relevant to the perception of weight: consumers tend to interpret that products are heavier when information is placed at the bottom of a page or section rather than the top. This is due to the common perception that heavy things would sink to the bottom and light things would float up. Consistent with this research stream, the current study investigates how the vertical location of freebie information influences promotion evaluation. We hypothesize that consumers assume that the complimentary product is heavier when the information about it is displayed at the bottom compared to when the information is displayed at the top. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, we show how the location of "get one free" information impacts the evaluation of the sales promotion in a "Buy two and get one free" context. When the complimentary information was displayed below rather than above the main product information, consumers evaluated the sales promotion more favorably. Experiment 2 tests the generalizability of the vertical location effect by using a different type of information and product: a visual picture of vitamin tablets rather than the numeric information as in Experiment 1. The dependent variable was also extended to the perceived amount of the promoted product. We suggest the boundary condition that the proposed effect is moderated by the presence or absence of an explicit message about the amount. Without an explicit message about the amount of the product, the results were similar to those of experiment 1 in that consumers perceived that the product offered a greater amount when the complimentary information was displayed at the bottom rather than at the top. However, the location effect disappeared with an explicit message about the amount. This confirms the moderating effect that presenting an explicit message about the amount is a crucial boundary condition for location effect in a value added promotion. Marketers can use this knowledge to formulate strategies in a variety of sales promotion conditions.