• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.247-250
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• 2014

A lipid-soluble extract in ginseng marc was prepared by n-hexane extraction to evaluate its antioxidant and anticancer potential. A hexane extract of ginseng marc (HEGM) possessed a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl free radical scavenging activity which was related to the amount of total phenolics. Also, HEGM showed a potent inhibitory activity on human non-small cell lung cancer (A549, $GI_{50}=34.0{\mu}g/mL$) and colon cancer (SNU-C4, $GI_{50}=45.2{\mu}g/mL$) cells proliferation in vitro in a concentration-dependent manner as did the hexane extract of ginseng with $GI_{50}$ values of $20.0{\mu}g/mL$ in A549 and $37.0{\mu}g/mL$ in SNU-C4. These results imply that HEGM can be utilized as an antioxidant and anticancer substance.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.563-567
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• 2012

In our era there has been several anti-cancer drugs which have undergone both experimental and clinical trials; however, due to their poor solubilities, numerous side effects, insufficient bioavailability and poor compliance, many have resulted into poor outcomes. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the effects of novel hydrophilic taxanes analogues CQMU-0517 and CQMU-0519 on growth of A549 lung, SKVO3 ovary and MCF7 breast carcinoma cell lines. Different concentrations of original paclitaxel, CQMU-0517, original docetaxel and CQMU-0519 were utilized on three cell lines, where cell growth was assessed using cell culture kit-8 and flow cytometry analysis. The results unveiled that CQMU-0517 and CQMU-0519 suppressed cell growth in the three particular cell lines, cell cycle arrest being evident in the G2/M phase. Hence, the results showed that these new taxane analogues have potential and warrant future clinical trials.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2017

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a common gram-positive bacterium that causes serious infections in humans and animals. With the continuous emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains, antibiotics have limited efficacy in treating MRSA infections. Accordingly, novel agents that act on new targets are desperately needed to combat these infections. S. aureus alpha-hemolysin plays an indispensable role in its pathogenicity. In this study, we demonstrate that sclareol, a fragrant chemical compound found in clary sage, can prominently decrease alpha-hemolysin secretion in S. aureus strain USA300 at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Hemolysis assays, western-blotting, and RT-PCR were used to detect the production of alpha-hemolysin in the culture supernatant. When USA300 was co-cultured with A549 epithelial cells, sclareol could protect the A549 cells at a final concentration of $8{\mu}g/ml$. The protective capability of sclareol against the USA300-mediated injury of A549 cells was further shown by cytotoxicity assays and live/dead analysis. In conclusion, sclareol was shown to inhibit the production of S. aureus alpha-hemolysin. Sclareol has potential for development as a new agent to treat S. aureus infections.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.681-688
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• 1995

An n-hexane extract of the roots of Aralia cordata Thunb. (Araliaceae) was found to show significant in vitro cytotoxic activity against P388D$_{1}$ lymphocytic leukemia cell in culture. Bioactivity-directed fractionation of this extract led to the isolation of four polyacetylenes, falcarindiol (1), dehydrofalcarindiol (2), falcarindiol-8-acetate (3) and dehydrofalcarindiol-8-acetate (4). Cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 3 was found to be better than that of compounds 2 and 4 when these compounds were tested against eight in vitro tumor cell lines, namely, A549, HCT15, DLD1, MCF7, SKOV3, HL60, K562 and P388D$_{1}$. The fact that the cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 3 against series of tumor cell lines was much stronger than that of compounds 2 and 4 suggested that the saturated carbon chain at the termial and the hydroxyl group at the C-3 are important for the activities. The requirement for the activity was further confirmed by synthesizing and assaying the acetate derivatives of compounds 1 and 2.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.524-529
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• 1997

Seventy three hydrolysable tannins and related compounds were isolated from seven Euphorbia plants. Among them, 28 compounds including nine gallotannins, eleven ellagitannins and eight related compounds were selected according to the structural similarity. Cytotoxicity of them on the human tumor cell lines including A-549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF-498 and HCT-15 were evaluated by the SRB method in vitro. 3,4,6-Tri-O-galloyl-D-glucose was shown to exhibit most potent cytotoxic effect($4.4{\mu}g/ml).

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.290-297
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• 2018

We aimed to understand the molecular changes in host cells that accompany infection by the seasonal influenza A H1N1 virus because the initial response rapidly changes owing to the fact that the virus has a robust initial propagation phase. Human epithelial alveolar A549 cells were infected and total RNA was extracted at 30 min, 1 h, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h post infection (h.p.i.). The differentially expressed host genes were clustered into two distinct sets of genes as the infection progressed over time. The patterns of expression were significantly different at the early stages of infection. One of the responses showed roles similar to those associated with the enrichment gene sets to known 'gp120 pathway in HIV.' This gene set contains genes known to play roles in preventing the progress of apoptosis, which infected cells undergo as a response to viral infection. The other gene set showed enrichment of 'Drug Metabolism Enzymes (DMEs).' The identification of two distinct gene sets indicates that the virus regulates the cell's mechanisms to create a favorable environment for its stable replication and protection of gene metabolites within 8 h.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.11
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• pp.4519-4525
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• 2014

Oleanolic acid (OA) is a nutritional component widely distributed in various vegetables. Although it has been well recognized for decades that OA exerts certain anti-tumor activity by inducing mitochondria-dependent apoptosis, it is still unclear that what molecular signaling is responsible for this effect. In this study, we employed cancer cell lines, A549, BXPC-3, PANC-1 and U2OS to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying OA anti-tumor activity. We found that activation of MAPK pathways, including p-38 MAPK, JNK and ERK, was triggered by OA in both a dose and time-dependent fashion in all the tested cancer cells. Activation was accompanied by cleavage of caspases and PARP as well as cytochrome C release. SB203580 (p38 MAPK inhibitor), but not SP600125 (JNK inhibitor) and U0126 (ERK inhibitor), rescued the pro-apoptotic effect of OA on A549 and BXPC-3 cells. OA induced p38 MAPK activation promoted mitochondrial translocation of Bax and Bim, and inhibited Bcl-2 function by enhancing their phosphorylation. OA can induce reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent ASK1 activation, and this event was indispensable for p38 MAPK-dependent apoptosis in cancer cells. In vivo, p38 MAPK knockdown A549 tumors proved resistant to the growth-inhibitory effect of OA. Collectively, we elucidated that activation of ROS/ASK1/p38 MAPK pathways is responsible for the apoptosis stimulated by OA in cancer cells. Our finding can contribute to a better understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor activity of nutritional components.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2001

Objectives : To investigate the effects of particulate matter (PM), a marker of environmental pollution derived from combustion sources, on lung epithelial cells (A549) and macrophage (RAW 264.7). Methods : The production of reactive radicals from lung cells, the lipid peroxidation of cell membrane, and the cytotoxicity of PM were measured using an in vitro model. The results were compared with a control group. Results : The presence of PM significantly increased the production of reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species with time and in a dose dependent pattern and also increased the malondialdehyde concentration in lung epithelial cells. The cytotoxicity of PM was increased with increasing concentration of PM. Conclusions : It has been suggested that urban particulate matter causes an inflammatory reaction in lung tissue through the production of hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxides and numerous cytokines. The causal chemical determinant responsible for these biologic effects are not well understood, but the bioavailable metal in PM seems to determine the tonicity of inhaled PM.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.558-563
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• 2009

The inhibitory effects of land race radish (LRR) and wild race radish (WRR) extracts on cancer cell lines were investigated. A and their glucosinolate and sulforaphane contents were analyzed. The anticancer activitiesy of the LRR and WRR extracts on the breast cancer cell line MCF-7 were determined by a CCK (cell counting kit) assay, in which WWR showed higher inhibition rates than LRR. The sulforaphane content of WRR was higher than that of LRR. In the lung cancer cell line, A-549, WRR showed higher inhibition rates and a higher total glucosinolate content than LRR. The glucosinolate contents of the radishes were analyzed by the Pd-quicktest method, showing that WRR contained more glucosinolate than LRR in both the trunk and root. In conclusion, these results indicate that wild race radish could be used for the quality improvement of radishes.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.103-112
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• 2010

Pemetrexed has demonstrated clinical activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) as well as other solid tumors. It transports into the cells via reduced folate carrier (RFC) and is polyglutamated by folypolyglutamate synthetase (FPGS). Pemetrexed directly inhibits several folate-dependent enzymes such as thymidylate synthase (TS), dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and glycinamide ribonucleotide formyltransferase (GARFT). We investigated the effects of genetic variations and the expression of RFC, FPGS, TS and DHFR enzymes on drug sensitivity to pemetrexed in NSCLC cells. Polymorphisms in RFC, FPGS, and DHFR were genotyped in four NSCLC cells - A549, PC14, HCC-1588, and H226. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot was performed to evaluate mRNA transcripts and protein of these genes. The cytotoxicity of pemetrexed was measured by SRB assay. In PC14 and H226 cells, increased mRNA expressions of RFC and FPGS were associated with higher cytotoxicity to pemetrexed. 2R/2R genotype of TS and its increased mRNA expression were associated with drug resistance to pemetrexed in A549 cells, whereas 3R/3R genotype in TS with decreased mRNA expression was associated with higher sensitivity in H226 cells. After pemetrexed treatment, an inverse change of DHFR mRNA and protein expression was found. The strongest linkage disequilibrium (LD) was discovered between-1726C>T and -1188A>C SNP of DHFR gene. Our findings suggest the cytotoxic effect of pemetrexed may be associated with genetic polymorphisms and the expression level of genes involved in pemetrexed metabolisms in NSCLC cells.