• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.38 no.10
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• pp.807-816
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• 2005

The objective of the study was to observe the effect of n-3 PUFA on cell proliferation and apoptosis by determining mRNA and protein of COX-2 and eicosanoid product and the mRNA and protein of Bu and Bcl-2 related to apoptosis in colon carcinogenesis of 1,2- dimethylhydrazine (DMH)-treated rats. Ninety male Sprague Dawley rats weighing about 170g were divided into 3 groups, control and n-3 PUFA supplemented groups (FO group: 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA; 2FO group: 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA) and fed experimental diet for 14 weeks. All rats were intramuscularly injected with DMH 15 mg/kg twice a week for 6 weeks to deliver total dose of 180 mg/kg body weight. Compared with the control group, 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA significantly reduced the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoids ($TXB_{2}$ and $PGE_{2}$) and decreased cell proliferation in colonic mucosa. However, high levels of n-3 PUFA supplementation significantly increased the levels of mRNA and protein expression of COX-2, TXB2 and PGE2. and increased cell proliferation which was similar level to that of control group. Compared with the control group, n-3 PUFA, regardless of the amount, significantly increased apoptotic index in colonic mucosa. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses showed that the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bax were significantly increased by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but decreased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The analyses also showed the levels of mRNA and protein expression of Bcl-2 were significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA, but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. The ratio of Bcl-2/Bax in mRNA and protein was significantly reduced by 6.2 mmoles n-3 PUFA but increased by 12.4 mmoles n-3 PUFA. Overall, these results indicate that n-3 PUFA could be effective in preventing colon carcinogenesis by reducing cell proliferation with lower level of COX-2 and 2-series eicosanoid, and increasing apoptosis by inducing pro-apoptotic gene, Bax and inhibiting anti-apoptotic gene, Bcl-2 in the colonic mucosa of DMH-treated rats. However, high level of n-3 PUFA supplementation could stimulate colon carcinogenesis by increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. (Korean J Nutrition 38(10): 807$\sim$816,2005)

• Toxicological Research
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• v.13 no.1_2
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• pp.39-48
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• 1997

Cyclophosphamide(25, 50 or 100 mg/kg), orally administered to male Sprague-Dawley rats, caused a time- and dose-dependent thymic atrophy. In the light microscopic examination of the atrophic thymus, thymocytes with condensed or fragmented nucleus were multifocally observed in the cortical region, started to increase 8 hr after CPA treatment and reached to the maximal level at 16 hr, although such cells were not seen after 48 hr when the severe depletion of thymocytes were marked. In agarose gel electrophoresis to analyze the DNA changes, DNA extracted from atrophic thymus showed a oligonucleosomal laddering at the corresponding time to morphological changes. In an additional supportive experiment, thymocytes showing morphological changes, nuclear condensation or apoptotic body, exhibited a positive reaction to immunoperoxidase staining using in situ apoptosis detection kit. Separately, agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from bone .marrow cells was performed to investigate the involvement of bone marrow cells in the process of thymocyte apoptosis. Although DNA laddering was slightly increased 2 and 4 hr after treatment, no clear correlation was inferred. Taken togather, it is concluded that thymocytes showing morphological changes in thymic atrophy induced by cyclophosphamide administration represent an apoptosis having biochemical nature of programmed cell death.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.7-17
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• 2014

Objectives: Condurango is widely used in various systems of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) against oesophageal and stomach ailments including certain types of cancer. However, until now no systematic study has been conducted to verify its efficacy and dose with proper experimental support. Therefore, we examined if ethanolic extract of Condurango could ameliorate benzo[a]pyrene (BaP)-induced lung cancer in rats, in vivo to validate its use as traditional medicine. Methods: Fifteen male and 15 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were treated with 0.28 mg/kg of Sweet Bee Venom (SBV) (high-dosage group) and the same numbers of male and female SD rats were treated with 0.2 mL/kg of normal saline (control group) for 13 weeks. We selected five male and five female SD rats from the high-dosage group and the same numbers of male and female SD rats from the control group, and we observed these rats for four weeks. We conducted body-weight measurements, ophthalmic examinations, urinalyses and hematology, biochemistry, histology tests. Results: A histological study revealed gradual progress in lung tissue-repair activity in Condurango-fed cancer-bearing rats, showing gradual tissue recovery after three months of drug administration. Condurango has the capacity to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may contribute to a reduction in anti-oxidative activity and to an induction of oxidative stress-mediated cancer cell-death. Condurango-activated pro-apoptotic genes (Bax, caspase-3, caspase-9, p53, cytochrome-c, apaf-1, ICAD and PARP) and down-regulated antiapoptotic-Bcl-2 expression were noted both at mRNA and protein levels. Studies on caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage by western blot analysis revealed that Condurango induced apoptosis through a caspase-3-dependent pathway. Conclusion: The anticancer efficacy of an ethanolic extract of Condurango for treating BaP-induced lung cancer in rats lends support for its use in various traditional systems of medicine.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.97-97
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• 2003

Embryonic stem (ES) cells, derived from preimplantation embryos, are able to differentiate into various types of cells consisting the whole body, or pluripotency. In addition to the plasticity, ES cells are expected to be different from terminally differentiated cells in very many ways, such as patterns of gene expressions, ability and response of the cells in confronting environmental stimulations, metabolism, and growth rate. As a model system to differentiate these two types of cells, human ES (hES, MB03) cells and terminally differentiated cells (HeLa), we examined the ability of these two types of cells in confronting a severe oxidative insult, that is $H_2 O_2$. Ratio of dying cells as determined by the relative amount of dye neutral red entrapped within the cells after the exposures. Cell death rates were not significantly different when either MB03 or HeLa were exposed up to 0.4 mM $H_2 O_2$. However, relative amount of dye entrapped within the cells sharply decreased down to 0.12% in HeLa cells when the cells were exposed to 0.8 mM $H_2 O_2$, while it was approximately 54% in MB03. Pretreatment of cells with BSO (GSH chelator) and measurement of GSH content results suggest that cellular GSH is the major defensive mechanism of hES cells. Induction of apoptosis in hES cell was confirmed by DNA laddering, induction of Bax, and chromatin condensation. In summary, hES cells 1) are extremely resistant to oxidative stress, 2) utilize GSH as a major defensive mechanism. and 3) experience apoptosis upon exposure to oxidative stress.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.253-259
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• 2003

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a class of positional, geometric conjugated dienoic isomers of linoleic acid (LA). CLA activates the immune system, protects against tumorigenesis, and reduces the incidence of atherosclerosis. Trans-10, cis-12 CLA has specific effects on lipid metabolism, it has been shown to reduce body fat gain and regulates some adipocyte secreted proteins in vivo and in vitro. Here we report that a CLA mixture affects cytokine secretion from rat primary adipocytes. Rat primary adipocytes were treated with 1 mM, 100 $\mu$M, 1 $\mu$M or 100 nM CLA mixture doses; and leptin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF a ), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and glycerol levels in the medium were measured. Leptin secretion was lower, TNF $\alpha$ secretion higher and IL-6 secretion did not change in response to the CLA mixture. Leptin and TNF $\alpha$ secretions did not change with CLA mixture treatment in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the CLA mixture did not appear to enhance lipolysis in rat primary adipocytes. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that the decrease in leptin and increase in TNF $\alpha$ secretion in adipocytes treated with CLA mixture may be due to the apoptotic effect and to a reduction in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR ${\gamma}$ ) ligands.

• BMB Reports
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.379-384
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• 1999

Taxol, a natural product with significant anti-tumor activity, stabilizes microtubules and arrests cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. It has been reported that taxol has additional effects on the cell such as an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase. This phosphorylated kinase translocates into the nucleus and phosphorylates its substrate c-jun, c-fos, ATF2, and ATF3. The MAP kinase family is comprised of key regulatory proteins that control the cellular response to both proliferation and stress signals. First examination was cytotoxicity and apoptosis-induced concentration with paclitaxel in HeLa cell. A half-maximal inhibition of cell proliferation ($IC_{50}$) occurred at 13 nM paclitaxel. When DNA fragmentation was analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, a nucleosomal ladder became evident 24 h after a taxol (50 nM) addition to the cells. In addition, an apoptotic body was detected by electron microscopy. Taxol-treated cells were arrested at the S phase at 10 nM. Treatment of 50 nM taxol activated the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK1), and a fraction of the activated MAP kinases entered the nucleus. It was also discovered that nucleus substrates c-jun was phosphorylated and activated in the cell. The activated ERK1 could subsequently translocate into the nucleus and phosphorylate its substrate c-jun as well. This study suggests that taxol-induced apoptosis might be related with signal transduction via MAP kinases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.202-211
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• 2002

1. Background The previous studies on anticancer medicine derived from korean traditional medicine have focused on the life elongation of cancer cell bearing animals. However, it is thought that more molecular biological studies are needed to reveal their mechanism. 2. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular biological function of Sagunjatang plus Cremastrae Appenediculatae Tuber on cytostaticity, apoptosis and apoptosis related genes revelation against human stomach cancer cells(AGS). 3. Methods After administrating Sagunjatang and Sagunjatang plus Cremastrae Appenediculatae Tuber to human stomach cancer cell. MTT assay was performed to compare and examine the efficacy of each medicine on the cytostaticity of stomach cancer cells in proportion to time and doses, and apoptosis assay was performed to examine their effect on apoptosis by using DAPI dye and counting the number of cells which developed in an apoptotic body. In addition, the quantitative RT-PCR was used to examine their effect on the revelation of Bcl-2, Bax and P53, which are genes related to apoptosis. 4. Result and Conclusion Sagunjatang plus Cremastrae Appenediculatae Tuber demonstrated increased cytostaticity. decreased apoptosis and unremarkable revelation of apoptosis related genes. But in the cytostaticity and apoptosis, Sagunjatang plus Cremastrae Appenediculatae Tuber showed a tendency to control stomach cancer cells. Therefore, we can expect the clinical application to the related diseases. Besides, it needs another experiment on various cancer cells, such as, lung cancer cell and hysterocarcinoma cell.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.296-302
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• 2002

Bohyulmyunyuk-dan is an Oriental herbal formulation to enhance the general body conditions as well as immune response against both endogenous and exogenous harmful challenges. This study was designed to investigate the effect of Bohyulmyunyuk-dan on the cisplatin-induced toxicity of primary rat astrocytes and C6 glioma cells. After trestment of astrocytes and C6 glioma cells with cisplatin, MTT assay was carried out to measure cytotoxicity of brain cells. To explore the mechanism of cytotoxicity, astrocytes were treated with Bohyulmyunyuk-dan and followed by the addition of cisplatin. Then, the protective effects of Bohyulmyunyuk-dan were investigated in apoptosis signaling pathway. The results were obtained as follows ; Bohyulmyunyuk-dan protected the death of astrocytes by cisplatin, which decreased the viability of astrocytes and C6 glioma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan protected the apoptotic death of astrocytes from cisplatin induced cell apoptosis. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan inhitited the activation of caspase-3 and -9 protease in astrocytes by cisplatin. Bohyulmyunyuk-dan inhibited the deavage of PARP in astrocytes by cisplatin. According to above results, Bohyulmyunyuk-dan may prevent brain cells from cytotoxicity induced cell apoptosis induced by chemotherapeatic agents induding displatin.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.393-399
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• 2008

We investigated the potential of fucoidan for its ability to provide protection from gamma rayinduced damage. In our results, the fucoidan significantly improved the counts of endogenous colony forming unit to $9.5 {\pm} 1.5$, from $5.5 {\pm} 2.5$ compared with un-treated irradiated control group at 10 day after 7 Gy whole body irradiation. After 2 Gy irradiation, fucoidan treatment attenuated the percent of tail DNA of splenocytes, parameters of DNA damage, from $30.17 {\pm} 1.7%$ to $13.67 {\pm} 2.81%$ 2.81% by comet assay and also accelerated the proliferation of splenocytes, compared with un-treated irradiated control group by 3Hthymidine incorporation assay. Furthermore, fucoidan decreased the number of apoptotic fragments per intestinal crypt by 31.8% at 1 days after 2 Gy irradiation. These results indicated that the fucoidan significantly improved the hematopoietic recovery, prevented the DNA damage in immune cells and enhanced their proliferation, which had been suppressed by ionizing radiation. in addition, fucoidan rescued intestinal cells from radiation-induced apoptosis. Thus, this study raises the possibility of using fucoidan as adjuvant therapeutic agent after radiotherapy.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.363-374
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• 2017

Dried fruits of Schizandra chinensis Baillon, Fructus Schisandrae, have been widely used for many years to prevent and treat various diseases in Asian countries including Korea and Russia. It has recently been reported that extracts of Fructus Schisandrae are effective for controlling muscle and skeletal diseases. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of ethanol extract of Fructus Schisandrae (EEFS) on apoptosis and inflammatory response in gastrocnemius muscle of dexamethasone-induced catabolic muscle atrophy mice as part of natural substance discovery and functional analysis for improving muscle function. According to the results of this study, EEFS supplementation attenuated body weight gains and suppressed calf thickness loss in dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophic mice. Gastrocnemius muscle immunohistochemistry showed that expression of caspase-3 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, which are representative apoptotic markers, was markedly increased in dexamethasone control mice; however, their expression was effectively reduced in the EEFS-fed mice. EEFS supplementation also prevented dexamethasone-induced increases in immunoreactivity of muscle fibers for myostatin, an important negative regulator of skeletal muscle mass. In addition, EEFS significantly normalized the increased numbers of nitrotyrosine, 4-hydroxynonenal and inducible nitric oxide synthase-positive muscle fibers compared to that found in dexamethasone control mice. These results suggest that EEFS protects dexamethasone-induced muscular atrophy by decreasing apoptosis and inflammatory responses, and EEFS is more likely to be developed as a muscle strengthening agent.