• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.7
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• pp.805-811
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• 2016

The present study was performed to evaluate the anti-oxidant and anti-proliferating activity of the water extract mixture of Cordyceps militaris (CM) and Allium tuberosum (AT). The water extract mixture rate of CM and AT was optimized by means of a sensory evaluation test. The optimized mixture rate were decided at 70% of CM, 30% of AT, and 10% of apple concentrate as an additive. The values of total acidity, pH, sugar contents, and turbidity of the water extract mixture were 0.1%, 4.28, 9.10 °Brix, and 1.48 respectively. The water extract mixture had effective DPPH radical scavenging activity, reducing power effect, and ABTS radical activity. DPPH radical activities of the water extract and the water extract mixture were 43.2% and 51.7% respectively; their reducing power (OD₇₀₀) was 1.14 and 1.43 respectively; and ABTS^.+ radical activities were 47.1% and 62.2% respectively. Also, the water extract mixture showed a higher anti-proliferating effect than the AT extract on human prostate cancer cells. These results provided experimental evidence that the water extract mixture of CM and AT is a better source of anti-oxidant and anti-cancer ingredients than a single extract of CM. In conclusion, the water extract mixture of CM and AT will be beneficial in development of a functional drink.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.225-230
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• 2016

Zingiber officinale Roscoe has been widely used as a folk medicine to treat various diseases, including cancer. This study aims to re-examine the therapeutic potential of co-administration of natural products and cancer chemotherapeutics. Candidate material for this project, ${\alpha}$-zingiberene, was extracted from Zingiber officinale Roscoe, and ${\alpha}$-zingiberene makes up $35.02{\pm}0.30%$ of its total essential oil. ${\alpha}$-Zingiberene showed low $IC_{50}$ values, $60.6{\pm}3.6$, $46.2{\pm}0.6$, $172.0{\pm}6.6$, $80.3{\pm}6.6$ (${\mu}g/mL$) in HeLa, SiHa, MCF-7 and HL-60 cells each. These values are a little bit higher than $IC_{50}$ values of general essential oil in those cells. The treatment of ${\alpha}$-zingiberene produced nucleosomal DNA fragmentation in SiHa cells, and the percentage of sub-diploid cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner in SiHa cells, hallmark features of apoptosis. Mitochondrial cytochrome c activation and an in vitro caspase-3 activity assay demonstrated that the activation of caspases accompanies the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-zingiberene, which mediates cell death. These results suggest that the apoptotic effect of ${\alpha}$-zingiberene on SiHa cells may converge caspase-3 activation through the release of mitochondrial cytochrome c into cytoplasm. It is considered that anti-proliferative effect of ${\alpha}$-zingiberene is a result of apoptotic effects, and ${\alpha}$-zingiberene is worth furthermore study to develop it as cancer chemotherapeutics.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.690-696
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is a traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. In the present study, we investigated the effect of water extract of H. cordafa (WEHC) on the growth of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Exposure of MCF-7 cells to WEHC resulted in growth inhibition and apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner as measured by MTT assay and fluorescent microscope. The anti-proliferative effect of WEHC was associated with a dose-dependent up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 in a p53-independent fashion. We found WEHC decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthease (iNOS) expression without significant changes in the expression of COX-1 , which was correlated with a decrease in prostaglandin $E_2{\;}(PGE_2)$ synthesis. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.721-727
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• 2007

Scorpion (SCP) has been clinically used for the treatment of endogenous wind to relieve convulsion, clearing away toxins, resolving hard masses and removing obstruction in the collaterals to relieve pain. Recent studies showed that scorpion toxins that affect the activating mechanism of sodium channels and indian black scorpion venom induced anti-proliferative and apoptogenic activity against human leukemic cell lines U937 and K562. There is lack of studies regarding the effects of SCP on the immunological activities. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of SCP on the regulatory effects of cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) for the immunological activities in Raw 264.7 cells. After the treatment of SCP MeOH extract dissolved in media for 1 h prior to the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS: 1 ${\mu}$g/ml), cell viability was measured by MTT assay, NO production was monitored by measuring the nitrite content in culture medium. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was determined by immunoblot analysis, and levels of cytokine were analyzed by sandwich immunoassays. As results, SCP inhibited the production of nitrite and nitrate (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), iNOS and p-$I_KB_{\alpha}$ protein, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml), interleukin-1${\beta}$ (0.3 and 1.0 mg/ml) and interleukin-6 (1.0mg/ml) in Raw 264.7 cells activated with LPS. These findings suggest that SCP can produce anti-inflammatory effect, which may play a role in adjunctive therapy in Gram-negative bacterial infections.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.657-665
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• 2022

Background: Sarcopenia is a new and emerging risk factor aggravating the quality of life of elderly population. Because Korean Red Ginseng (RG) is known to have a great effect on relieving fatigue and enhancing physical performance, it is invaluable to examine its potential as an anti-sarcopenic drug. Methods: Anti-sarcopenic effect of non-saponin fraction of Korean Red Ginseng (RGNS) was evaluated in C2C12 myoblasts treated with C2-ceramide to induce senescence phenotypes, and 22-month-old mice fed with chow diet containing 2% RGNS (w/w) for 4 further months. Results: The RGNS treatment significantly alleviated cellular senescence indicated by intracellular lipid accumulation, increased amount of lysosomal β-galactosidase, and reduced proliferative capacity in C2C12 myoblasts. This effect was not observed with saponin fraction. In an aged mouse, the 4-month-RGNS diet significantly improved aging-associated loss of muscle mass and strength, assessed by the weights of hindlimb skeletal muscles such as tibialis anterior (TA), extensor digitorum longus (EDL), gastrocnemius (GN) and soleus (SOL), and the cross-sectional area (CSA) of SOL muscle, and the behaviors in grip strength and hanging wire tests, respectively. During the same period, an aging-associated shift of fast-to slow-twitch muscle in SOL muscle was also retarded by the RGNS treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggested that the long-term diet of RGNS significantly prevented aging-associated muscle atrophy and reduced physical performance, and thus RGNS has a strong potential to be developed as a drug that prevents or improves sarcopenia.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.692-698
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• 2014

In this study, we investigated cancer cell growth inhibitory effects of kimchi extracts obtained from cabbage kimchi. Kimchi extracts (S46h, S47h, S48h) were obtained from the samples fermented at $15^{\circ}C$ for 46 h, 47 h, and 48 h during the first 10 days, which were subsequently stored at $-1.4^{\circ}C$ in kimchi refrigerator (hereinafter DV kimchi extracts). The samples showed a higher anti-proliferative effect against AGS (human, gastric adenocarcinoma) cell lines compared to control kimchi extract (S0h) obtained from sample stored at $-1.4^{\circ}C$ without fermentation. The DV kimchi contained higher levels of ${\gamma}$-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and ornithine compared to the control kimchi extract. Among the DV kimchi extracts, the S46h sample showed a higher anti-proliferative effect against the cancer cell growth and contained higher amount of GABA than the other kimchi samples. These results suggest that the consumption of DV kimchi can be more beneficial, as it is rich in GABA and ornithine. Therefore, it could be helpful in retarding the proliferation of cancer cells compared to the control kimchi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1595-1599
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• 2012

Cell cycle activation and progression in vascular proliferative disease represent potent therapeutic targets. Luteolin, which occurs as glycosylated forms in celery, green pepper, perilla leaf, and camomile tea, has demonstrated antimutagenic, antitumorigenic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of luteolin on the proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells induced by 5% fetal bovine serum. Luteolin at concentrations of 5, 20, and $50{\mu}M$ significantly inhibited this proliferation by 29.6, 50.8, and 83.1%, respectively. The incorporation of $[^3H]$-thymidine into DNA was also inhibited by 25.8, 57.6, and 81.0%, respectively. Flow cytometry analysis of DNA content revealed that FBS-inducible cell cycle progression was blocked by luteolin. Luteolin showed no cytotoxicity in VSMCs in this experimental condition according to WST-1 assays. Luteolin may represent a potential anti-proliferative agent for treatment of angioplasty restenosis and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.40 no.4 s.273
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• pp.264-272
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• 2007

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in angiogenesis, including stimulating the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). It has been known that diabetes is associated with accelerated cellular proliferation via VEGF, as compared to that under a normal glucose concentration. We investigated the effects of selective blockade of a VEGF receptor by using anti-Flt-1 peptide on the formation and hyperplasia of the neointima in balloon injured-carotid arteries of OLETF rats and also on the in vitro VSMCS' migration under high glucose conditions. Material and Method: The balloon-injury method was employed to induce neointima formation by VEGF. For f4 days beginning 2 days before the ballon injury, placebo or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (VEGFR-1) specific peptide (anti-Flt-1 peptide), was injected at a dose of 0.5mg/kg daily into the OLETF rats. At 14 days after balloon injury, the neointimal proliferation and vascular luminal stenosis were measured, and cellular proliferation was assessed by counting the proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) stained cells. To analyze the effect of VEGF and anti-Flt-1 peptide on the migration of VSMCs under a high glucose condition, transwell assay with a matrigel filter was performed. And finally, to determine the underlying mechanism of the effect of anti-Flt-1 peptide on the VEGF-induced VSMC migration in vitro, the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) was observed by performing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Result: Both the neointimal area and luminal stenosis associated with neointimal proliferation were significantly decreased in the anti-Flt-1 peptide injected rats, ($0.15{\pm}0.04 mm^2$ and $ 36.03{\pm}3.78%$ compared to $0.24{\pm}0.03mm^2\;and\;61.85{\pm}5.11%$, respectively, in the placebo-injected rats (p<0.01, respectively). The ratio of PCNA(+) cells to the entire neointimal cells was also significantly decreased from $52.82{\pm}4.20%\;to\;38.11{\pm}6.89%$, by the injected anti-Flt-1 peptide (p<0.05). On the VSMC migration assay, anti-Flt-1 peptide significantly reduced the VEGF-induced VMSC migration by about 40% (p<0.01). Consistent with the effect of anti-Flt-1 peptide on VSMC migration, it also obviously attenuated the induction of the MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNA expressions via VEGF in the VSMCS. Conclusion: Anti-Flt-1 peptide inhibits the formation and hyperplasia of the neointima in a balloon-injured carotid artery model of OLETF rats. Anti-Flt-1 peptide also inhibits the VSMCs' migration and the expressions of MMP-3 and MMP-9 mRNA induced by VEGF under a high glucose condition. Therefore, these results suggest that specific blockade of VEGFR-1 by anti-Flt-1 peptide may have therapeutic potential against the arterial stenosis of diabetes mellitus patients or that occurring under a high glucose condition.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5863-5868
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• 2015

Nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) is considered a key tobacco smoke carcinogen inducing lung tumors. Physalis peruviana L (harankash) is considered one plant with marked health benefits. This study aimed to evaluate Physalis peruviana L effect on the toxic effect of NNK induced lung cancer in the rats by using pulmonary histopathological, immunohistochemical and DNA flow cytometric analyses. Sixty adult male rats were divided into four groups, each consisting of fifteen animals. The first group received saline, the second received two successive toxic doses of NNK only while the third received two successive toxic doses of NNK with a single daily dose of Physalis peruviana L. The fourth group received a single daily dose of Physalis peruviana L only. Toxic doses of NNK induced hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma in the lung and positive immunoreactivity for Ki-67 and p53 staining with disturbance of the lung DNA content. Administration of Physalis peruviana L with NNK led to a mild pulmonary hyperplasia and weak expression of Ki-67 and p53 with an improvement in the lung DNA content. Physalis peruviana L may protect against NNK induced lung carcinogenesis due to its antioxidant and anti-proliferative effects.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.166-177
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• 2006

Purpose : This investigation was undertaken to evaluate the antiproliferation, atoptosis of Sam-nueng(Sparganii Rhizoma) extract using MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Methods : MCF-7 cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12(DMEM/F12) supplemented with 10 % fetal bovine serum(FBS; Gibco) and antibiotics. At varying times after extract treatment, cells were harvested with scraper and processed for analysis of protein expression, proliferation, cytotoxicity and apoptosis. Results : Our results show that the extract of Sam-nueng(Sparganii Rhizoma) strongly inhibits the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Sulforhodamine B showed that the addition of Sam-nueng(Sparganii Rhizoma) extract reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Poly[ADP(ribose)] polymerase(PARP) which serves as a marker of cells undergoing apoptosis, a major substrate for caspase-3 was extensively cleaved in the Sam-nueng(Sparganii Rhizoma)-treated cells. Conclusion : So, we can conclude that Sam-nueng(Sparganii Rhizoma) can have an inhibitive effect on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells by variable mechanisms.