• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.794-802
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• 2021

In this study we investigated the role and mechanism of cardamonin on IL-1β induced injury in OA. CHON-001 cells were treated with cardamonin and IL-1β and transfected with silencing nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (siNrf2). Cell viability was detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and flow cytometer assay was utilized for cell apoptosis assessment. IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α and Nrf2 mRNA expression was tested by qRT-PCR. Western blot was employed to evaluate MMP-3, MMP-13, Collagen II, Nrf2, NQO-1, NLRP3, Caspase 1 and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase-1 recruitment domain (ASC) protein levels. In CHON-001 cells, IL-1β suppressed cell viability and Collagen II level while promoting cell apoptosis and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α), MMPs (MMP-3, MMP-13), NQO-1, and NLRP3 inflammasome (NLRP3, Caspase 1 and ASC), with no significant influence on Nrf2. Cardamonin reversed the effect of IL-1β on cell viability, cell apoptosis, pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMPs, Collagen II, and NLRP3 inflammasome levels. In addition, cardamonin advanced Nrf2 and NQO-1 expression of CHON-001 cells. SiNrf2 reversed the function of cardamonin on IL-1β-induced cell apoptosis and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Nrf2, NQO-1, and NLRP3 inflammasome in chondrocytes. Taken together Cardamonin inhibited IL-1β induced injury by inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome via activating Nrf2/NQO1 signaling pathway in chondrocyte.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.77-82
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• 2014

Objectives : The effects of ethanol extract of Plantago asiatica L. were investgated on adipocyte differentiation, lipopogenesis, lipolysis and apoptosis using differnentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods : Plantago asiatica L. was extracted with ethanol (CCE). We carried on MTT assay for cell proliferation, Oil Red O staining for determination of cell differentiation and intracelluar adipogenesis. TUNEL staining assay for cell apoptosis, and Western blot analysis for measurement of pAMPK and pACC, $C/EBP{\alpha}$, $PPAR{\gamma}$ protein expressions were performed. Results : The addition of CCE up to 0.2 mg/ml into cell culture media showed no cytotoxicity. Treatment of 0.2 mg/ml CCE significantly inhibited differentiation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Lipid accumulation of the CCE treated cells was decreased compared with that of control. Induction of cell apoptosis was increased in CCE treated cells compared with that of control. AMPK and ACC levels of the cells with 0.2 mg/ml CCE were led to phosphorylation and also expressions of $C/EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, as adipogenic transcription factors, were suppressed compared with those of control. Conclusions : Taken together, these results provide evidence that CCE has a regulatory role in lipid metabolism that is related to differentiation into adipocytes, adipogenesis and apoptosis.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.61-67
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• 2023

Objective : Mori Fructus has been used to relieve thirst, and treat dizziness, tinnitus, and insomnia caused by poor constitution. This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of the ethanol extract of Mori Fructus (MF) in ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced apoptotic cell death in human keratinocyte cells. Methods : MF was prepared by extracting 100 g of Mori Fructus in 1 L of 100% ethanol for 48 h. 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to measure cell viability. Apoptosis was determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins was observed by Western blot. Tyrosinase activity was measured with a colorimetric commercial kit. Results : MF promoted cell vitality and inhibited apoptosis of UVB-induced HaCaT cells. MF pretreatment reduced TUNEL-positive cells and increased the expression of caspase-3 and -9. MF also displayed antioxidant effect with high radical scavenging ability. At 2 ㎎/㎖ concentration, the 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical inhibition rates were 55.3 ± 4.6% and 48.5 ± 1.3%, respectively. Furthermore, MF showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on tyrosinase. Conclusion : These results suggest that MF functions as a protective regulator in UVB-induced HaCaT cells by regulating apoptosis and partially exerting antioxidant effects. In addition, the tyrosinase inhibitory effect of MF shows the potential for MF to be used for skin pigmentation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.48-61
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• 1997

In this study, antineoplastic activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line(Hep G2) was tested in Gleditsiae Spina. Gleditsiae Spina was extracted with water, and the cytotoxic activity was tested using a calorimetric tetrazolium assay(MTT assay), the apoptosis was tested using a DNA electrophoresis and flow cytometry. The nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophage was tested using a Griess method. Gleditsiae Spina extracts against the proliferation of Hep G2 cells not showed cytotoxicity at the concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/ml$, and Gleditsiae Spina extracts not showed the cytotoxicity of mitomycin C and the cytotoxicity of cisplatin on Hep G2 cells. Gleditsiae Spina extracts aginist the proliperation of BALB/c 3T3 cells not showed cytotoxicity, the proliperation of mouse thymocytes and splenocytes not showed cytotoxicity at the concentration of less than $100{\mu}g/ml$. Gleditsiae Spina extracts not showed nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophage in vitro. Gleditsiae Spina was administered orally for 7 days at 300mg/kg increased nitric oxide production from mouse peritoneal macrophage.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.74-86
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• 2005

Background: There are increasing neuro-degenerative disorders with aging. Paeoniae Radix(PR) possesses various pharmacological effects such as sedative, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-stress and neuro-protective actions. Also antiaging and anti-cancer effects of PR were reported. Our purpose was to investigate whether PR is useful on the treatment of Parkinson's disease, one of the neuro-degenerative disorders. Objective: We investigated whether Paeonia Radix possesses a protective effect against 1-methyl-4 phenylpyridine(MPP+)-induced cytotoxicity in neuronal cells. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide(MTT) assay, flow cytometry, DNA fragmentation assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR), and Western blotting were performed on SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells. Results: Cells treated with MPP+ exhibited several apoptotic features, while cells pre-treated with Paeonia Radix prior to MPP+ exposure showed s decrease in the occurrence of apoptotic features. Conclusions: These results suggest that Paeonia Radix may exert a protective effect against MPP+-induced apoptosis in SK-N-MC neuroblastoma cells.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.64-72
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) on the apoptosis induced by withdrawal of neurotrophic support. Methods : PCl2 pheochromocytoma cells have been used extensively as a model for studying the cellular and molecular effects of neuronal cells. The viability of cells was measured by MTT assay. We used DNA fragmentation and caspase 3-like protease activation assay. Results : The water extract of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) significantly showed protective effects on serum and glucose deprivation-induced apoptotic death. Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) also prevents DNA fragmentation and caspase 3-like protease activation, representing typical neuronal apoptotic phenomena in PCl2 pheochromocytoma cells and induces tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins around 44 kDa, which was identified as ERK1 with electrophoretic gel mobility shift by Western blot. In addition, MAPK kinase(MEK) inhibitor PD98059 and Ras inactivator, ${\alpha}-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic$ acid attenuated the neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) in serum-deprived PCl2 cells. Conclusions : These results indicate that Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays a key role in neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) in serum-deprived PCl2 cells. Taken together, we suggest the possibility that Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) might provide a neurotrophic-like activity in PCl2 cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.298-303
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• 2019

This study investigated the cytotoxic effects and mechanism of action of asiatic acid in pancreatic cancer cell lines. First, we confirmed the cell viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells after asiatic acid administration for 48 and 72 h. The viability of MIA PaCa-2 and PANC-1 cells decreased in a dose-dependent manner following asiatic acid administration. To investigate the underlying mechanism, we performed a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, annexin V assay, and western blotting. Asiatic acid induced apoptosis and autophagy through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in MIA PaCa-2 cells. Finally, the expression of miR-17 and miR-21, known as oncogenes in pancreatic cancer, was decreased by asiatic acid. These results indicate that asiatic acid has potential as a new therapeutic agent against pancreatic cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.3779-3783
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• 2015

Dietary prevention has been known to reduce breast cancer risk. Sesamin is one of the major components in sesame seeds and has been widely studied and proven to have anti-proliferation and anti-angiogenic effects on cancer cells. In this study, the influence of sesamin was tested in the human breast cancer MCF-7 cell line for cell viability (MTT assay) and cell cycling (flow cytometry). Results showed that sesamin dose-dependently (1, 10 and $50{\mu}M$) reduced the cell viability and increased LDH release and apoptosis (TUNEL assay). In addition, there was a significant increase of sub-G1 phase arrest in the cell cycle after sesamin treatment. Furthermore, sesamin increased the expression of apoptotic markers of Bax, caspase-3, and cell cycle control proteins, p53 and checkpoint kinase 2. Taken together, these results suggested that sesamin might be used as a dietary supplement f or prevention of breast cancer by modulating apoptotic signal pathways and inhibiting tumor cell growth.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.487-491
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• 2012

The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of rutaecarpine on DNA strand breaks and apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) in murine Hepa-1c1c7 cells. Oxidative DNA damage was estimated by nuclear condensation assessment, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and Comet assay. Rutaecarpine inhibited cell death induced by $500{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$, as assessed by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining. Treatment with rutaecarpine reduced the number of DNA strand breaks induced by $H_2O_2$, as assessed by DAPI staining and Comet assay, and increased quinone reductase, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, and pAkt protein levels, as assessed by western blotting.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.143-147
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• 2013

Ginsenoside Rp1 is one of ginseng saponins with chemotherapeutic activity. In this study, we investigated the effects of Rp1 on spleen cells. Spleen is a major immune organ consisted of crucial immune cells, such as T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer cells, and some antigen-presenting cells. Although the anti-tumor potential of Rp1 was studied, the effects of Rp1 on immune cells have not investigated yet. A viability assay using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), flow cytometric analysis, Western blot analysis were used to detect cellular changes on Rp1-treated spleen cells. MTT assay showed that Rp1 decreased the viability of spleen cells. To further investigate the effects of Rp1 on activated spleen cells, we treated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as a representative inflammatory agent and Rp1 on spleen cells in a combination. The surface expression levels of activation markers for lymphocytes, CD25 and CD69 were measured. Apoptotic analysis revealed the cytotoxic effects of Rp1 on both na$\ddot{i}$ve and activated cells, and the expression pattern of some apoptosis-related proteins was correlated to apoptotic events of cells. Taken together, ginsenoside Rp1 increases the cellular death of spleen cells and also inhibits the LPS-induced activation of spleen cells.