• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.5
• /
• pp.460-467
• /
• 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the word. Although radiation and chemotherapy are generally effective, there are various side effects that greatly limit the effectiveness of these treatments. Therefore, traditional herbs may have potential as important resources for the discovery of liver cancer therapeutics. In this study, we selected three Korean herbal medicine formulas from the Donguibogam, namely Bigihwan (BGH), Daechilgithang (DCGT), and Mokwhyangbinranghwan (MHBRH), and evaluated their anti-cancer effects on HCC cells. According to our results of three ethanol extracts, BGH was more effective at suppressing HCC growth than DCGT or MHBRH. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that inhibition of HCC proliferation by the three extracts was associated with the induction of apoptosis and autophagy. In particular, BGH significantly increased mitochondrial impairment and showed the possibility of inducing mitophagy in comparison with the other two extracts. BGH prominently upregulated the levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 without altering the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax. In addition, the levels of PTEN-induced kinase 1 were also markedly increased in BGH-treated HCC cells. Moreover, autophagy blocking improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis after the three treatments, indicating that autophagy by these extracts enhances HCC cells against cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our findings show that BGH demonstrates the highest anti-cancer activity among the three formulas and inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells through autophagy induction.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.917-923
• /
• 1999

To confirm therapeutic functionality of Urechis unicinctus which have been favored as a special seafood in Korea, the antitumor and immunological effect of those glycoprotein were studied. 4mg/kg dose of glycoprotein from Urechis unicinctus was most effective in solid tumor growth inhibition (43.63%) of sarcoma 180 cells. However, in case of mice injected with more than dose of 20mg/kg, tumor growth was not inhibited. The higher prolongation ratios were achieved at levels of 2mg/kg with 31.2% and 4mg/kg with 28.9%. The cytotoxic effect of glycoprotein on sarcoma 180 cells was increased slightly as administering level was increased. Number of total peritoneal exudate cells in all the glycoprotein administered groups increased remarkably meaning that Urechis unicinctus gly coprotein could help to improve immunity. Notable body weight change was not resulted in the glycoprotein treated mice compared with control group, but the ratios of both liver or spleen to body weight were increased in mice injected with 20mg/kg and 40mg/kg. These results suggest that the glycoprotein from Urechis unicinctus could stimulate immunity of the mouse bearing tumor cells. Furthermore, the number of leucocytes was also increased by 38.78% at the dose of 20mg/kg and by 46.30% of control at 40mg/kg, while the lower level of 2mg/kg or 4mg/kg showed no effect in increasing leucocyte number. The biochemical values such as GOT and GPT in serum were not changed in mice injected with glycoprotein in comparision with control group.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.183-193
• /
• 2016

This study attempted to investigate the possibility of the use of Morinda citrifolia (MC) as a cosmetic ingredient from its physiological activities such as antioxidant activity, cytotoxicity and anti-aging effect. MC is a tropical plant that has been used as traditional polynesian foods and medicines for over two thousand years. It has been reported that this shrub can improve antimicrobial, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects and strengthen an immune system. The in vitro antioxidant activity of MC was performed to see the DPPH scavenging activity by measuring total polyphenol content and total flavonoid content. As a result, a lack of any cytotoxicity was confirmed in human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) cell. When MC extract at a concentration of over $50{\sim}100{\mu}g/mL$ was added, MMP-1 expression considerably diminished. In an in vivo test, in addition, cream containing MC extract was prepared and applied to a total of 22 women in their 30 ~ 50s in ages in the morning and in the evening for four weeks. Changes in keratin, melanin index, pore, skin color and wrinkles under the naked eyes were then comparatively measured. Keratin levels slightly increased in the control group but decreased in the experimental group. In addition, wrinkles diminished in the experimental group. This study found that MC extract controls many MMP-1 related mechanisms with great potential for use as a natural ingredient of anti-aging cosmetics.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.307-316
• /
• 2015

Beetle larvae have been used as a traditional medicine to treat various human liver diseases. To prove the liver protective function of Allomyrina dichotoma larvae (ADL), we induced liver damage by the intraperitoneal injection of a hepatotoxic reagent, diethylnitrosamine (DEN), to C3H/HeN male mice and orally administered freeze-dried ADL powder. ADL powder lessened DEN-induced hepatotoxicity considering the reduced signs of acute and chronic hepatotoxicities, such as the ALP level in the blood serum, TUNEL-positive hepatocytes, ductural reactions, steatotic hepatocytes, and collagen deposition of the Masson’s trichrome staining. In addition to hepatoprotection, the anti-cancer activity of ADL has been examined. The ADL powder was extracted with ethanol and then fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, and water by a solvent partition technique. The ethyl acetate fraction showed cytotoxicity to various cancer cells through induction of apoptosis and necrosis, as well as the perturbed metabolism of the cancer cell to trigger autophagy. Collectively, ADL contains bioactive substances that can protect hepatocytes from toxic chemicals and trigger cell death in cancer cells. Thus, further purification and analyses of ADL fractions could lead to the identification of novel bioactive compounds.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.33-42
• /
• 2007

Background: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is known to modulates the cellular functions, including cell proliferation and apoptosis. It is known that a high level of HO-1 expression is found in many tumors, and HO-1 plays an important role in rapid tumor growth on account of its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects. Cisplatin is a widely used anti-cancer agent for the treatment of lung cancer. However, the development of resistance to cisplatin is a major obstacle to its use in clinical treatment. We previously demonstrated that inhibiting HO-1 expression through the transcriptional activation of Nrf2 induces apoptosis in A549 cells. The aim of this study was to determine of the inhibiting HO-1 enhance the chemosensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin. Materials and Methods: The human lung cancer cell line, A549, was treated cisplatin, and the cell viability was measured by a MTT assay. The change in HO-1, Nrf2, and MAPK expression after the cisplatin treatment was examined by Western blotting. HO-1 inhibition was suppressed by ZnPP, which is a specific pharmacologic inhibitor of HO activity, and small interfering RNA (siRNA). Flow cytometry analysis and Western blot were performed in to determine the level of apoptosis. The level of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) generation was monitored fluoimetrically using 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate. Results: The A549 cells showed more resistance to the cisplatin treatment than the other cell lines examined, whereas cisplatin increased the expression of HO-1 and Nrf2, as well as the phosphorylation of MAPK in a time-dependent fashion. Inhibitors of the MAPK pathway blocked the induction of HO-1 and Nrf2 by the cisplatin treatment in A549 cells. In addition, the cisplatin-treated A549 cells transfected with dither the HO-1 small interfering RNA (siRNA) or ZnPP, specific HO-1 inhibitor, showed in a more significantly decrease in viability than the cisplatin-only-treated group. The combination treatment of ZnPP and cisplatin caused in a marked increase in the ROS generation and a decrease in the HO-1 expression. Conclusion: Cisplatin increases the expression of HO-1, probably through the MAPK-Nrf2 pathway, and the inhibition of HO-1 enhances the chemosensitivity of A549 cells to cisplatin.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.87-96
• /
• 1994

Background : Since tumor necrosis factor was discovered in 1975, TNF has been well known about its cytotoxic effect on tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. According to the recent improvement of molecular biological techinques, it is possible that exogenous TNF gene is transferred to tumor cells and is expressed in theirs. By virtue of TNF gene transfer, we have expected that TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells in vivo without systemic side effect. The expected mechanisms in which antitumor effects of TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells are working would be as followings. In the first mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill tumor cells around(like homicide). In the second mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would kill themselves(like suicide). In the third mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would recruit immune effector cells and kill tumor cells indirectly. In the last mechanism, TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cells would augment cytokine such as interferon-$\gamma$ to kill tumor cells. Among these four mechanisms of antitumor effect, only the second mechanism has not been established yet. Therefore, to elucidate the second mechanism, We performed this study. Method : We transferred TNF-$\alpha$ gene to NCI-H2058, a human mesothelioma cell line and WEHI164, a murine fibrosarcoma cell line by using retroviral vector(pLT12SNTNF). And, We determined by using MTT assay whether TNF expressed in TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would kill themselves like suicide or not. Then, if TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines would not suicide themselves, I would know more about the TNF sensitivity of TNF-gene-transferred tumor cell lines to exogenous TNF also by MTT assay. Result : NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 which were sensitive to TNF, became far less sensitive to endogenous and exogenous TNF after being transferred TNF-$\alpha$ gene to. Conclusion : TNF-gene-transfer to NCI-H2058 and WEHI164 gave them resistance to TNF.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.34 no.3
• /
• pp.265-272
• /
• 2006

Acne is a chronic inflammatory follicular disorder of the skin, occurring in specialized pilosebaceous units on the face, and Propionibacterium acnes, a strict anaerobic pathogen, plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acne. To develop a reliable and effective anti-acne agent, we have evaluated antibacterial activity of 500 plant extracts, prepared from 335 plants, against P. acnes. Based on the results of disc-paper method, 25 plant extracts, including the extracts of Chloranthus japonicus (aerial part), Sophora flavescens (radix), Evodia officinalis (fructus), Ginko biloba (semem), Morus alba (root bark), Aralia continentalis (whole) and Reynoutria elliptica (radix), were selected as possible sources of anti-acne agent. Among them, the extract of S. flavescens (radix) was finally selected and kuraridin and kurarinone were identified as major active compounds of S. flavescens. These results suggested that medicinal and wild plants could be the potential source of anti-acne agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.32-38
• /
• 2009

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity activity of the herbal extract mixture (HEM). The inhibitory effect of HEM on triglyceride accumulation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte was examined by Oil-Red O staining. HEM inhibited the triglyceride accumulation of 3T3-L1 preadipocyte cell and reduced glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity. We further investigated the effect of HEM in prevention of obesity in male ICR mouse for 5 weeks. Experimental groups were divided into high fat diet group (HFD), HFD supplemented with 100 mg/kg HEM group (HEM1) and HFD supplemented with 200 mg/kg HEM group (HEM2). Body weight and food efficiency ration of HEM1 and HEM2 was decreased by 52% and 50% and by 45% and 50%, respectively. The amount of adipocyte in body weight was decreased. Blood triglyceride and total cholesterol of HEM1 was significantly decreased. These results indicate that HEM may be useful in preventing obesity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.47-54
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of green tea polyphenol (GTP) on anticancer treatment with cisplatin (CP), using both an in vitro cell culture model and an in vivo mouse model of established breast tumor. Mouse breast cancer cells (EMT6) were treated with or without GTP and CP followed by determination of the cell viability using an MTT assay. The relative cell viability of CP treated EMT6 cells was 96% at a 20 ${\mu}g/mL$ concentration of cisplatin; however, in combination with GTP (50 ${\mu}g/mL$), the cell viability decreased to 20% at the same concentration of CP (20 ${\mu}g/mL$). For the in vivo study, EMT6 cells were inoculated into Balb/c mice for the establishment of a tumor-bearing mice model. The tumor-bearing mice were treated with CP (5 mg/kg. i.p.) with or without dietary GTP (0.2% drinking water). Tumor growth was monitored by a measurement of tumor size using a digital caliper, and nephrotoxicity was determined by enzymatic and histological examinations. The levels of p53 and caspase-3 in tumor tissues were examined by a Western blot. In tumor-bearing mice treated with GTP plus CP, the increment of tumor volume showed a significant reduction, compared with CP or GTP alone. The levels of p53 and cleaved caspase-3 (caspase-3/p17) in tumor tissues of tumor-bearing mice were increased by CP and GTP compared to CP alone. In CP treated tumor-bearing mice, ${\gamma}$-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities were decreased, and marked tubular necrosis and dilatation were observed in the kidney. CP-induced enzymatic and histopathological changes in the kidney of tumor-bearing mice were reduced by combinations of GTP with CP. The results of these experiments demonstrated that dietary GTP has a potentiating effect on CP anti-tumor activity and a protective effect against CP-induced renal dysfunction. Therefore, GTP may be used as a modulator in anticancer treatment with CP.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.73-83
• /
• 2015

Dendropanax morbifera Leveille (Araliaceae) is an endemic species growing in the south-western part of South Korea and has been used in folk medicine. However, the effects of Dendropanax morbifera Lev. on skin biology remain to be elucidated. In this study, we isolated 1-tetradecanol and ${\beta}$-sitosterol from the n-hexane fraction of Dendropanax mobifera Lev. and To investigate the whitening effect of the fraction, we tested the inhibition of tyrosinase activity of 1-tetradecanol. The results show that the inhibitory effect of the 1-tetradecanol was higher than water extract and n-hexane fraction. And 1-tetradecanol significantly reduced melanin contents of B16F10 cells compared to more than water extract and n-haxane fraction dose-dependantly without cell cytotoxicitiy (below $100{\mu}g/mL$). We also investigated the skin moisturizing effect using HR-1 hairless mice. The transepidermal water loss (TEWL) in the 1-tetradecanol treated group was significantly smaller than that in the other groups. To investigate the effect of the preventing hair loss by ${\beta}$-sitosterol, we observed HR-1 hairless mice through periodic growth feature. The results suggest that hair loss of mice by ${\beta}$-sitosterol was delayed and it's hair density showed the highest. These data provide evidence that Dendropanax morbifera Lev. may be a potent candidate for the improvement of both skin whitening, moisturizing and alopecia from the point of cosmetic industry view.