• Journal of Digestive Cancer Research
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.61-65
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• 2023

Globally, esophageal cancer is the seventh most common cancer, and the male-to-female ratio in esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is significantly imbalanced at 4:1 to 8:1. Obesity, reflux, and smoking are known risk factors for this sex difference; however, fully explaining this remains challenging. Studies have investigated the link between exogenous sex hormones and esophageal cancer occurrence. A meta-analysis revealed a lower risk of EAC in female who had undergone hormone replacement therapy. Androgen-deprivation therapy in patients with prostate cancer was associated with a decreased risk of EAC. Tissue-based studies have reported varied results regarding the relationship between estrogen receptor expression and survival in female patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Circulating hormone studies have suggested that higher testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels decreased EAC risk in men, and free testosterone was inversely correlated in female with ESCC. However, a high androgen-estrogen ratio in male patients with EAC was linked to increased odds of EAC. Sex hormones influence carcinogenesis, affecting cell proliferation, differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and cell death. The studies were limited by the small sample size and varying hormone measurement methods; thus, future studies with definitive conclusions on the association between esophageal cancer and sex hormones are warranted.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.262-266
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• 1995

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is one of the most potent inducers of various cytokines nad other proinflammatory mediators in macrophages. Although pathophysiological consequences of LPS-induced responses are well established, the mechanisms through which LPS-generated singals are transduced remain unclear. In the present study, we attempted to determine early intracellular events after LPS binding which transduced the signal for the induction of arachidonic acid metabolism in rat alveolar macrophages. While H-7, a protein kinase C(PKC) inhibitor, did not affect LPS-stimulated prostaglandin synthesis, staurosporine enhanced archidonic acid etabolism in macropahages treated with LPS. Phorbol-12-myristate-13 acetate snesitive to LPS compare with control group. PMA and H-7 did not alter the effect of flucose. Pertussis toxin did not show nay effect, thus pertussis toxin snesitive G-protein pathway appears not to play a role in this experimental system. Genistein and tyrphostin 25, protein tyrosine kinase 9PTK) inhibitors, markedly inhibited prostaglandin synthesis in macrophages nal transduction events leading to icnreased macrophage arachidonic acid metabolism.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.83-88
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• 2014

The adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key sensor of cellular energy. Once activated, it switches on catabolic pathways generating adenosine triphosphate (ATP), while switching off biosynthetic pathways consuming ATP. Pharmacological activation of AMPK by metformin holds a therapeutic potential to reverse metabolic abnormalities such as type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. In addition, altered metabolism of tumor cells is widely recognized and AMPK is a potential target for cancer prevention and/or treatment. Panax ginseng is known to be useful for treatment and/or prevention of cancer and metabolic diseases including diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. In this review, we discuss the ginseng extracts and ginsenosides that activate AMPK, we clarify the various mechanisms by which they achieve this, and we discuss the evidence that shows that ginseng or ginsenosides might be useful in the treatment and/or prevention of metabolic diseases and cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.335-339
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• 2001

Cancer chemoprevention refers to the use of natural or synthetic substances to prevent initiational and promotional events that occur during the process of carcinogenesis. Thesium Chinese Turczaninow aqua-acupuncture solution (TCTAS) and Astragli Radix aqua-acupuncture solution (ARAS) were tested as the cancer chemopreventive agents using biochemical markers of carcinogenesis. The effects on the inhibition of phorbol 12- myristate 13-acetate(TPA)-induced free radical formation in HL-60 cells and the inhibition of polyamine metabolism were measured. There is significant inhibition of TAP-induced free radical formation in human leukemic cells with cells with ARAS. Proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii was inhibited by TCTAS and ARAS. TCTAS and ARAS positive in these assays may inhibit the carcinogenesis process and is considered promising cancer-preventing agents.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.375-385
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• 2010

Conventional cancer chemotherapy is seriously limited by tumor cells exhibiting multidrug resistance (MDR), which is caused by changes in the levels or activity of membrane transporters that mediate energy-dependent drug efflux and of proteins that affect drug metabolism and/or drug action. Cancer scientists and oncologists have worked together for some time to understand anticancer drug resistance and develop pharmacological strategies to overcome such resistance. Much focus has been on the reversal of the MDR phenotype by inhibition of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) drug transporters. ABC transporters are a family of transporter proteins that mediate drug resistance and low drug bioavailability by pumping various drugs out of cells at the expense of ATP hydrolysis. Many inhibitors of MDR transporters have been identified, and though some are currently undergoing clinical trials, none are in clinical use. Herein, we briefly review the status of MDR in human cancer, explore the pathways of MDR in chemotherapy, and outline recent advances in the design and development of MDR modulators.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.1071-1076
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• 2001

Chemopreventive activities of polysaccharides from soybeans fermented with either Phellinus igniarius or Agrocybe cylindracea were investigated by measuring the induction of quinone reductase (QR), glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, and glutathione (GSH) levels in the cell culture along with inhibition of polyamine biosynthesis. The polysaccharides from soybeans fermented with P. igniarius strongly (p<0.005) induced QR activity at all concentrations tested. The extract not only induced GST activity in a dose-dependent manner in the concentration range of 0.1-1.0 mg, but significantly induced GSH revels in cultured Hepa 1c1c7 cells with a maximal 1.4-fold increase at 0.1 mg. The polysaccharides from soybeans fermented with A. cylindracea were effective in inhibiting polyamine metabolism. These results suggest that polysaccharides from soybeans fermented with P. igniarius or A. cylindracea have cancer chemopreventive activities in in vitro models and, therefore, could be considered as potential agents for cancer chemoprevention.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2011

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is one of the main obstacles in the chemotherapy of cancer. MDR is associated with the over expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp), resulting in increased efflux of chemotherapy from cancer cells. Inhibiting P-gp as a method to reverse MDR in cancer patients has been studied extensively, but the results have generally been disappointing. First-generation agents were limited by unacceptable toxicity, whereas second-generation agents had better tolerability but were confounded by unpredictable pharmacokinetic interactions and interactions with other transporter proteins. Third-generation inhibitors have high potency and specificity for P-gp. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic studies to date have shown no appreciable impact on drug metabolism and no clinically significant drug interactions with common chemotherapy agents. Third-generation P-gp inhibitors have shown promise in clinical trials. The continued development of these agents may establish the true therapeutic potential of P-gp-mediated MDR reversal.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.153-160
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• 2012

Panax ginseng has long been used as a traditional herbal medicine. More recently, it has received attention for its anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects in humans and in animal models of type 2 diabetes. In the present study, we tested the hypoglycemic effects of ginseng berry extract in beta-cell-deficient mice and investigated the mechanisms involved. Red (ripe) and green (unripe) berry extracts were prepared and administered orally (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) to streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice daily for 10 wk. The body weight was measured daily, and the nonfasting blood glucose levels were measured after 5 and 10 wk after administration. Glucose tolerance tests were performed, and the serum insulin levels were measured. The proliferation of beta-cells was measured in vitro. The administration of red or green ginseng berry extract significantly reduced the blood glucose levels and improved the glucose tolerance in beta-cell deficient mice, with the higher doses resulting in better effects. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was significantly increased in berry extract-treated mice compared with streptozotocin-induced diabetic control mice. Treatment with ginseng berry extract increased beta-cell proliferation in vitro. Both red berry and green berry extracts improved glycemic control in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice and increased insulin secretion, possibly due to increased beta-cell proliferation. These results suggest that ginseng berry extracts might have beneficial effects on beta-cell regeneration.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.192-197
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• 2010

Recent studies have indicated that $\beta$-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance are important factors in the development of type 2 diabetes. The present study investigated the effect of extracts from different parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng root on insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in muscle cells and proliferation of $\beta$-cells. Extracts of the fine roots of Taegeuk ginseng significantly enhanced glucose uptake compared with the control. White ginseng lateral root extracts enhanced insulin-induced glucose uptake. Proliferation of $\beta$-cells was significantly increased by Taegeuk ginseng main and lateral root extracts and by red ginseng lateral and fine root extracts. In conclusion, different root parts of white, Taegeuk, and red ginseng differentially affect glucose uptake and pancreatic $\beta$-cell proliferation.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.83-88
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• 2001

Most reactive oxygen species (ROS) are free radicals and implicated in the development of a number of disease processes including artherosclerosis, neurodegenerative disorders, aging and cancer. ROS are byproducts of a number of in vivo metabolic processes and are formed deliberately as part of nor-mal inflammatory response. On the other hand, ROS are generated either as by products of oxygen reduction during xenobiotic metabolism or are liberated as the result of the futile redox cycling of the chemical agents including several chemical carcinogens. A better understanding of the mechanisms of free radical toxicity may yield valuable clue to risks associated with chemical exposures that leading to the development of chronic diseases including cancer. The molecular biology of ROS-mediated alterations in gene expression, signal transduction and carcinognesis is one of the important subjects in free radical toxicology. Epidemiological studies suggest that high intake of vegetables and fruits are associated with the low incidence of human cancer. Many phytopolyphenols such as tea polyphenols, curcumin, resveratrol, apigenin, genistein and other flavonoids have been shown to be cancer chemopreventive agents. Most of these compounds are strong antioxidant and ROS scavengers in vitro and effective inducers of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutatse, catalase and glutathione peroxidase in vivo. Several cellular transducers namely receptor tyrosine kinase, protein kinase C, MAPK, PI3K, c-jun, c-fos, c-myc, NFkB, IkB kinase, iNOS, COX-2, Bcl-2, Bax, etc have been shown to be actively modulated by phyto-polyphenols. Recent development in free radical toxicology have provided strong basis for understanding the action mechanisms of cancer chemoprevention.