• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2018

Millettia erythrocalyx, a species of plant in the Fabaceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, such as the Indies, China, and Thailand. The antiviral activity of flavonoids from M. erythrocalyx has been reported; however, the antioxidative and anticancer activities of M. erythrocalyx remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extract of M. erythrocalyx (EEME) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. EEME exhibited significant antioxidative effects, with a concentration at 50% inhibition ($IC_{50}$) value of $2.74{\mu}g/ml$, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay; moreover, it inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Cell cycle analyses showed that EEME induced HepG2 cell accumulation in the subG1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. EEME also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells, with increases in apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. Treatment with EEME resulted in increased expression of First apoptosis signal (Fas), a death receptor, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), a proapoptotic protein, and the activation of caspase-3, 8, and 9, resulting in the cleavage of poly (Adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEME may exert an anticancer effect in HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.679-685
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• 1998

We have studied, by a nonisotopic in situ DNA end-labeling (ISEL) technique, frequency of apoptosis in the external granular layer (EGL) of the cerebellum after whole-body irradiation of newborn mice and intestinal crypt cell of adult mice by gamma-rays from $^{60}Co$. The extent of changes following 2 Gy(10.9 Gy/min) was studied at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, or 24h after exposure. The maximal frequency was found 4-8h after exposure. The mice that received 0.18, 0.36, 0.54, 1.08, 1.98, or 3.96 Gy were examined 6h after irradiation. Measurements performed after irradiation showed a dose-related increase in apoptotic cells in each of the mice studied. The dose-response curves were analyzed by a linear-quadratic model; frequency(%) of apoptotic cell in the newborn mice cerebellum was ($13.49{\pm}1.175$)D+$(-1.52{\pm}0.334)D^2$+0.048($r^2=0.981$, D = dose in Gy) and frequency(number per crypt) of apoptotic cell in the intestinal crypt of adult mice was ($3.857{\pm}0.420$)D+$(-0.535{\pm}0.120)D^2$+0.155($r^2=0.952$, D = dose in Gy). It provides the basis required for a better understanding of results which will be obtained in any further studies for biological responses of radiation using newborn and adult mice.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.171-179
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• 2015

The present study was aimed at investigating the adverse effects of dietary zearalenone (ZEA) (1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg diet) on serum hormones, morphologic and apoptotic measurements of genital organs in post-weaning gilts. A total of twenty gilts ($Landrace{\times}Yorkshire{\times}Duroc$) weaned at 21 d with an average body weight of $10.36{\pm}1.21kg$ were used in the study. Gilts were fed a basal diet with an addition of 0, 1.1, 2.0, or 3.2 mg/kg purified ZEA for 18 d ad libitum. Results showed that 3.2 mg/kg ZEA challenged gilts decreased (p<0.05) the serum levels of luteinizing hormone, however, serum levels of prolactin in gilts fed the diet containing 2.0 mg/kg ZEA or more were increased (p<0.05) compared to those in the control. Linear effects on all tested serum hormones except progesterone were observed as dietary ZEA levels increased (p<0.05). Gilts fed ZEA-contaminated diet showed increase (p<0.05) in genital organs size, hyperplasia of submucosal smooth muscles in the corpus uteri in a dose-dependent manner. However, the decreased numbers of follicles in the cortex and apoptotic cells in the ovarian were observed in gilts treated with ZEA in a dose-dependent manner. Degeneration and structural abnormalities of genital organs tissues were also observed in the gilts fed diet containing 1.1 mg/kg ZEA or more. Results suggested that dietary ZEA at 1.1 to 3.2 mg/kg can induce endocrine disturbance and damage genital organs in post-weaning gilts.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.589-599
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• 2001

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the effects of Hyangsayukgunja-tang extract on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions of mice. Methods: To evaluate the effects of Hyangsayukgunja-tang extract and Misoprostol, the morphology of gastric mucosa, and the distribution of mucose cells, PNA(Peanut Agglutinin), ICAM(intercellular adhesion molecule), and apoptotic cells were observed. Hyangsayukgunja-tang extract and Misoprostol were intragastric injected to the test groups at hour 72 before and just before indomethacin treatment(HYT-J, HYT-72, M-J, M-72), while the INDO group was injected only with indomethacin and the control group was subcutaneously injected only with saline. Results: The gastric mucosal lesions incresed in the fundus and body of INDO group, but softened in HYT group and M group, the effects were more excellent in the HYT-72, M-72 groups than the HYT-J, M-J groups and in the HYT group than M group. The disappearance of surface and neck mucose cells were shown in INDO group, but softened in HYT group and M group. The mucosal configuration of HYT-72 group was the same as control group. The numerical increase of PNA positive reaction in cytoplasm of perietal cells were appeared in INDO group. The PNA positive reaction in HYT group and Miso-group were shown in surface mucous cells and microvilli of apical surface in chief cells as control group, and were the same as control group in all mucosa of HYT-72 group. The distribution of ICAM positive cells, increased in INDO group, but decreased in M-72 group, and were the same as control group in HYT-72 group. The apoptotic cells, increased noticeably in gastric mucosa of INDO group, decreased in HYT group and M group, and decreased noticeably in HYT-72 group. Conclusions: Hyangsayukgunja-tang extract had excellent effects on indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.180-184
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• 2009

The apoptotic effect of bacteria-derived $\beta$-glucan was investigated in human colon cancer cells SNU-C4 using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) expressions of Bcl-2, Bax, and Caspase-3 genes, and assay of caspase-3 enzyme activity. $\beta$-Glucan of 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g$/mL decreased cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with typical apoptotic characteristics, such as morphological changes of chromatin condensation and apoptotic body formation from TUNEL assay. In addition, $\beta$-glucan ($100{\mu}g$/mL) decreased the expression of Bc1-2 by 0.6 times, whereas the expression of Bax and Caspase-3 were increased by 3.1 and 2.3 times, respectively, compared to untreated control group. Furthermore, the caspase-3 activity in the $\beta$-glucan-treated group was significantly increased compared to those in control group (P < 0.05). Bacterial derived $\beta$-glucan could be used as an effective compound inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.386-393
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• 1998

The study was performed to investigate the histological findings and the appearances of positive cells by immunohistochemical methods using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) antibody and apoptotic kit in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) -induced rat liver cancer model. Forty four male rats (Sprague Dawley), initially 5 to 6 weeks of age and 120 to 150gm in body weight were continuously were given with water containing 0.01% DEN for 13 weeks and 3~6 rats per week were randomly sacrified at intervals of a week from 8 weeks to 17 weeks. The interlobular connective tissues in the rat livers were proliferated at early 8 weeks. The vaccuolated or fatty degenerated liver cells were focally distributed and then widely distributed with the passage of weeks and the liver cells with large vacuoles tended to be crowded in focal areas, and the liver cells in some lobules were transformed into small or eosinophilic polyhedral large cells. The hepatocellular carcinoma and the cholangiocarcinoma were simultaneously developed in same liver and tended to be markedly developed after 12 weeks but the development of carcinoma in some livers at same week were less or more advanced as 3~5 week intervals. The regions with more number of positive cells by PCNA antibody or apoptotic kits in livers were ranked as following order ; small hepatocellular carcinoma regions, cholangiocarcinoma regions, trabecular or acinar type carcinoma regions, and large liver cell regions. The numbers of the positive cells by PCNA antibody were more numerous than those by apoptotic kit. So these findings suggested that the volumes and weights of the livers were increasing by more many proliferating of carcinoma cells on the above ordered regions.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.67-73
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• 2009

Temporary clamping of the portal triad is a common strategy to minimize bleeding during liver transplantation. Increasing evidences suggests that oxygen derived free radicals and reintroduction of oxygen in ischemic tissue lead to ischemic and reperfusion injury (I/R) and lead to apoptosis and necrosis. Adult Wistar rat subjected to 60 min of partial liver ischemia followed by three hour reperfusion. Eighteen Wister rats were divided into sham-operated control group (I) (n = 6), ischemia and reperfusion group (II) (n = 6), folic acid treated group (1 mg/kg body weight/daily by oral route for 7 days before induced ischemia reperfusion maneuver) (III) (n = 6). Apoptotic and necrotic hepatocytes, mitochondrial antioxidant enzymes were measured. Liver injury was assessed by alanine transaminases (ALT), aspartate transaminases (AST), liver histopathology and electron microscopy. An ischemic and reperfusion hepatocellular injury was indicated by increased serum-ALT, AST, histopathology and electron microscopy studies. Apoptotic and necrotic cells were increased which was revealed by flow cytometry in I/R group. Pre- treatment with folic acid significantly decreased serum -ALT, AST levels, apoptotic and necrotic cells after 1 h ischemia followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Histopathology and TEM studies showed markedly diminished hepatocellular injury in folic acid pretreated rats during the hepatic I/R, which reached a level comparable to saline-treated rat of sham operated group. On the basis of our findings it may be concluded that folic acid afforded significant protection from necrosis and apoptosis in I/R injury.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.147-152
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• 2004

A wide variety of cancer chemotherapeutic agents have been shown to induce programmed cell death (PCD, APOPTOSIS) in various tumor cell lines in vitro. cis-Malonato [(4R,5R)-4,5-bis(aminomethyl)-2-isoprpopyl-1,3-dioxolane] platinum(II) (heptaplatin), which is a new drug approved by KFDA in 1999, in a novel platinum-based antitumor agent with clinical potential against stomach cancer and the 3rd generation of the cisplatin. This study was performed to know how heptaplatin and cisplatin and sunpla (mixture of heptaplatin and mannitol) affect on SK-MEL-28 cell line, and how they induce the apoptosis. At EM analysis, the morphology of the cell was changed by treatment of the cisplatin, heptaplatin and sunpla. Apoptotic body formed around plasma membrane, and chromatin condensation represented in nucleus. This phenomenon is one of the characteristic of the apoptosis. The DNA of SK-MEL-28 cell line truncated by cisplatin and sunpla treatment was identified on 2% agarose gel electrophoresis. TUNEL assay was performed to know whether SK-MEL-28 cell die as apoptosis or necrosis by cisplatin, heptaplatin and sunpla. At this result, fluorescence intensity increased according to increase of time and concentration. Therefore, it was identified that cislatin, heptaplatin and sunpla induced apoptosis. Fas expressed on SK-MEL-28 cell membrane by cisplatin, heptaplatin and sunpla was identified by using flow cytometer and the expression of bcl-2(anti-apoptotic gene) decreased according to increase of concentration of the cisplatin, heptaplatin and sunpla. Cisplatin, heptaplatin and sunpla induced apoptosis against SK-MEL-28 cell line, and the apoptotic mechanism was identified as Fas-mediated apoptosis and decreased bcl-2 expression.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.68-75
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• 2007

After reports on regression of cancer in humans and animals infected with microbial pathogens date back more than 100 years, much effort has been spent over the years in developing a wild type or attenuated bacterial and purified bacterial proteins for the treatment of cancer. Pseudomonas aeruginosa exotoxin A (ETA) is known to inhibit cell growth and trigger significant cell death in various cancer cells. Although ETA induces apoptosis of cancer cells, its exact mechanism of action is not known yet. Four different assays were performed in this study: morphological assessment of apoptotic cells, cell cytotoxity, annexin-V binding assay, and cell cycle analysis. The proliferation and survival of the K-562 cells treated with ETA were decreased in a dose dependent manner. In addition, the apoptotic body of K-562 cells was induced by ETA treatment in a dose dependent manner. The ETA-induced apoptosis was confirmed by annexin-V binding assay. Flow cytometric analysis was examined to ascertain whether ETA could arrest the cell cycle at the sub-G1 phase. Our results suggest that P. aeruginosa ETA inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in human leukemia K-562 cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.942-949
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• 2010

Morus alba L., a kind of Oriental medicinal herbs, has been traditionally used to treat pulmonary asthma and congestion. According to recent studies, extracts of M. alba L. have showed anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-tumor and hypoglycemic effects. However, the molecular mechanisms on how it acts as a death-inducer in cancer cells have not been fully understood. In this study, we investigated the cell death effects of methylene chloride extracts of M. alba L. (MEMA) in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. It was shown that MEMA induced the apoptotic cell death proved by increased sub-G1 phase cell population, apoptotic body formation and chromatin condensation. MEMA treatment induced the expression of death receptor-related proteins such as death receptor (DR) 4, DR5, Fas and FasL, which further triggered the activation of caspase-8 and the cleavage of Bid in a concentration-dependent manner. However, MEMA reduced anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression which contributed to the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and the activations of caspase-9 and caspase-3. Meanwhile, the morphological study indicated a characteristic finding of autophagy, such as the formation of autophagosomes in MEMA-treated cells. Furthermore, markers of autophagy, namely, the increased MDC-positive cells, conversion of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-I to LC3-II and increased beclin-1 accumulation, were observed. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that MEMA triggered both autophagy and apoptosis in A549 cancer cells. They might suggest that M. alba L. could be a prospective clinical application to treat human lung cancers.