• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.251-263
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• 2022

Sea cucumbers are worm-like, leathery bodied, benthic, marine organisms with a branched gonad. There are over 900 species, and these organisms are capable of changing their mechanical state, regenerating their small appendages, and digestive tract. Additionally, sea cucumbers possess both commercial and therapeutical value. Furthermore, it is thought that the metabolites these organisms possess may give rise to their therapeutical value. The use of sea cucumbers in therapy can be traced back to the Ming dynasty, where they were eaten for their tonic properties against constipation, hypertension, and rheumatism. A plethora of studies have been conducted, whereby different metabolites were extracted from sea cucumbers and tested for different therapeutic properties. Herein, we review and discuss the anti-cancer, anti-microbial, anti-coagulant, anti-diabetic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties of the sea cucumber by assessing literature on PubMed and Google Scholar. Furthermore, the genome and epigenome of these remarkable species is discussed. With the immense data supporting the therapeutic properties of sea cucumbers, further studies are warranted, in order to develop novel and innovative therapeutic compounds for the benefit of human health from these fascinating marine organisms.

• BMB Reports
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.117-125
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• 2017

Most of the cancers are still incurable human diseases. According to recent findings, especially targeting cancer stem cells (CSCs) is the most promising therapeutic strategy. CSCs take charge of a cancer hierarchy, harboring stem cell-like properties involving self-renewal and aberrant differentiation potential. Most of all, the presence of CSCs is closely associated with tumorigenesis and therapeutic resistance. Despite the numerous efforts to target CSCs, current anti-cancer therapies are still impeded by CSC-derived cancer malignancies; increased metastases, tumor recurrence, and even acquired resistance against the anti-CSC therapies developed in experimental models. One of the most forceful underlying reasons is a "cancer heterogeneity" due to "CSC plasticity". A comprehensive understanding of CSC-derived heterogeneity will provide novel insights into the establishment of efficient targeting strategies to eliminate CSCs. Here, we introduce findings on mechanisms of CSC reprogramming and CSC plasticity, which give rise to phenotypically varied CSCs. Also, we suggest concepts to improve CSC-targeted therapy in order to overcome therapeutic resistance caused by CSC plasticity and heterogeneity.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제39권3호
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• pp.337-342
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• 2010

본 연구는 식용식물로의 가치뿐만 아니라 약용으로 가치가 인정되는 뽕잎에 미생물 생균제를 이용한 뽕잎발효차 개발을 통하여 기능성 소재 개발 및 새로운 제품 개발의 방안을 제시하고자 뽕잎차 및 뽕잎발효차 추출물의 S-180 고형암, 항알레르기 활성을 비교분석 하였다. in vivo 상에서 S-180 고형암 억제 효과는 뽕잎차에서 16.67%, 뽕잎발효차에서 17.78%로 나타났다. 뽕잎차 및 뽕잎발효차 추출물의 항알레르기 효과를 검증한 결과 두 군 모두 에탄올 추출물보다 열수 추출물이 히스타민 분비 억제에 더 효과적이었고, HMC-1의 염증성 cytokine을 측정한 결과 추출물 군에서는 에탄올 추출물이 열수 추출물보다 염증성 cytokine의 억제율이 더 높았고 뽕잎발효차군이 뽕잎차군에 비해 더 효과적이었다. 뽕잎발효차 추출물의 기능성이 더 우수한 것은 발효를 통해 생리활성 물질이 생성된 것이 원인으로 사료되며 이 점에 있어 구체적인 연구가 필요하다고 판단된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.205-213
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• 2017

Quercetin, a plant-derived flavonoid found in fruits, vegetables and tea, has been known to possess bioactive properties such as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer. In this study, anti-cancer effect of quercetin and its underlying mechanisms in triple-negative breast cancer cells was investigated. MTT assay showed that quercetin reduced breast cancer cell viability in a time and dose dependent manner. For this, quercetin not only increased cell apoptosis but also inhibited cell cycle progression. Moreover, quercetin increased FasL mRNA expression and p51, p21 and GADD45 signaling activities. We also observed that quercetin induced protein level, transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation of Foxo3a. Knockdown of Foxo3a caused significant reduction in the effect of quercetin on cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In addition, treatment of JNK inhibitor (SP 600125) abolished quercetin-stimulated Foxo3a activity, suggesting JNK as a possible upstream signaling in regulation of Foxo3a activity. Knockdown of Foxo3a and inhibition of JNK activity reduced the signaling activities of p53, p21 and GADD45, triggered by quercetin. Taken together, our study suggests that quercetin induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via modification of Foxo3a signaling in triple-negative breast cancer cells.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.46-55
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• 2005

Objectives: This experimental study was carried out to evaluate the immune modulating and anti-tumor activity of Ampelopsis Radix extracts (ARE). Materials and Methods: To elucidate the effects of ARE on the macrophage and NK cell activity, we analyzed NO production, NK cytotoxicity and gene expressions of cytokine related with macrophage and NK cell activity. Results: ARE activated and promoted macrophages to product NO in part. And, ARE has significant properties to activate macrophages and NK cells by promoting related cytokines like IL-1, IL-12, IFN-$\gamma$, iNOS and TNF-$\alpha$ gene expressions. We also observed that ARE promoted protein expression of IFN-$\gamma$, and TNF-$\alpha$ in mice splenocytes. Conclusions: ARE is an effective herbal drug for immune modulating and anti-cancer by promoting activity of macrophages and NK cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제13권9호
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• pp.4815-4822
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• 2012

Invasion and metastasis are the major causes of cancer-related death. Pharmacological or therapeutic interventions such as chemoprevention of the progression stages of neoplastic development could result in substantial reduction in the incidence of cancer mortality. (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a promising chemopreventive agent, has attracted extensive interest for cancer therapy utilizing its antioxidant, anti-proliferative and inhibitory effects on angiogenesis and tumor cell invasion. In this study, we assessed the influence of EGCG on the proliferative potential of HeLa cells by cell viability assay and authenticated the results by nuclear morphological examination, DNA laddering assay and cell cycle analysis. Further we analyzed the anti-invasive properties of EGCG by wound migration assay and gene expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 in HeLa cells. Our results indicated that EGCG induced growth inhibition of HeLa cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. It was observed that cell death mediated by EGCG was through apoptosis. Interestingly, EGCG effectively inhibited invasion and migration of HeLa cells and modulated the expression of related genes (MMP-9 and TIMP-1). These results indicate that EGCG may effectively suppress promotion and progression stages of cervical cancer development.

• 농업생명과학연구
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• 제45권5호
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• pp.91-96
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• 2011

We investigated the inhibitory effects of solvent extracts from Ailanthus altissima in A549 human lung cancer cell. A. altissima has been recognized as a traditional healthy food due to its various biological activities against hypertension, strokes, fever, pain, neuralgia, inflammation, and cancer effects. Recently, it has been reported that the extracts of various wild vegetables show strong anti-cancer properties by induction of apoptosis. However, the mechanisms of their cytotoxicity in human lung cancer cells have been poorly understood. The present study was investigated the effects of solvent extracts from A. altissima on cell growth and apoptosis on A549 human lung cancer cells. A treatment of A. altissima inhibited the growth of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. Especially, the chloroform fraction showed the highest anti-cancer effect among five kinds of fractions. And also, induction of apoptosis by chloroform fraction were associated with down-regulation of Bcl-2, and up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression. From these results, A. altissima may have a therapeutic potential in human lung cancer cells and as a functional food.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권18호
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• pp.8113-8117
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• 2016

Glehnia littoralis (GL) is widely used as an oriental medicine for cough, fever, stroke and other disease conditions. However, the anti-cancer properties of GL on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells have not been investigated. In order to elucidate anti-cancer properties and underlying cell death mechanisms, MCF-7cells ($5{\times}10^4/well$) were treated with Glehnia littoralis root extract at 0-400 ug/ml. A hot water extract of GL root inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Analysis of the cell cycle after treatment of MCF-7 cells with increasing concentrations of GL root extract for 24 hours showed significant cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis both revealed that GL root extract significantly increased the expression of p21 and p27 with an accompanying decrease in both CDK4 and cyclin D1. Our reuslts indicated that GL root extract arrested the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in G1 phase through inhibition of CDK4 and cyclin D1 via increased induction of p21 and p27. In summary, the current study showed that GL could serve as a potential source of chemotherapeutic or chemopreventative agents against human breast cancer.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제25권5호
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• pp.607-614
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• 2015

암은 전 세계 사망률과 질병률의 가장 큰 원인이다. Cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine)은 동양의 전통의학에서 널리 사용되고 있는 동충하초의 주요 기능성 구성요소이자 아데노신 유사체로 알려져 있다. 지난 10년간 cordycepin은 in vitro 및 in vivo 모델에서 면역활성 기능뿐 만 아니라 항염증, 항산화 및 항암 등 다양한 약리학적 특성을 가진다고 보고되어왔다. 최근 들어 많은 연구들은 cordycepin을 화학예방요법 작용제 측면에서 흥미로운 특성을 보고하였고, 실험적인 증거들에 의해 세포사멸 촉진, 세포주기 정지 유도, 세포 내 신호 전달 경로 조절, 암세포의 침윤 및 전이 억제를 통해 암의 증식을 지연시킨다고 보고되어 왔다. Cordycpin은 많은 암 세포에서 retinoblastoma protein (RB)의 인산화를 막고 cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) inhibitors를 활성화시켜 G2/M기의 진행을 막는 효력이 있음이 밝혀졌다. 또한, 세포 사멸을 유도하기 위해 세포 내/외부에 존재하는 경로를 활성화시켜 활성 산소종을 생성하고 하위에 존재하는 kinase cascade 반응을 개시한다. 아울러 cordycepin은 또 다른 세포 사멸인 autophagy와 같은 대체 경로를 활성화 시킬 수도 있으며, nuclear factor-kappa B 및 activated protein-1 신호 경로를 포함한 다양한 기전을 통하여 암세포 분리, 이주, 침윤 및 전이 또한 억제 할 수 있다. 본 총설에서는 cordycepin의 항암 작용 기전을 요약하고, 다양한 암 발생의 치료제로서 가능성을 논의하고자 한다.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.7-15
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• 2019

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) or Purslane is an annual grassy plant that is distributed in many parts of the world, especially the tropical and subtropical areas. PO has some pharmacological properties such as analgesic, antibacterial, skeletal muscle-relaxant, wound-healing, anti- inflammatory and a radical scavenger. This review article is focused on the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and anti-tumor activities of the PO. Anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulatory, anti-oxidant and Anti-tumor effects of PO were searched using various databases until the end of August 2018. The online literature was searched using PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. Our review showed that PO exerts its effects through anti-inflammatory properties and balancing the adaptive and innate immune system depending on situations. PO acts as immune-modulator and anti-oxidant agent in both inflammatory states by the dominance of Th2 response such as asthma, cancer and atopic dermatitis and evoked Th1 disorders including hepatitis and multiple sclerosis.