• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-cancer effects of different fractions of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: We isolated hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions from crude ethanol extract of AM. The cell death was examined by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining, annexin V-PI double staining and cell cycle analysis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was examined by western blot. Results: Among various fractions of AM, the ethyl acetate fraction of AM (EAM) showed the strongest cytotoxic effect in NSCLC cells. EAM reduced the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in NSCLC cells. In addition, EAM induced the chromatin condensation, and increased the population of sub-G1 phase and annexin V-positive cells in a time-dependent manner, indicating that EAM induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Consistently, EAM enhanced the expression of cleaved caspase-8 and -9, and induced the accumulation of cleaved- poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Among MAPK proteins, only ERK was dephosphorylated by EAM, suggesting that ERK might be related with EAM-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results clearly demonstrate that EAM exhibited anti-cancer effects in NSCLC cells by induction of apoptosis. We provide a valuable evidence which suggests that AM could be a desirable therapeutic option for treatment of NSCLC.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.152-161
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• 2020

D-pinitol is an analog of 3-methoxy-D-chiro-inositol found in beans and plants. D-pinitol has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Additionally, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in breast and prostate cancers. However, to date, no study has investigated the anticancer effects of D-pinitol in oral cancer. Therefore, in this study, whether the anticancer effects of D-pinitol induce apoptosis, inhibit the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and arrest cell cycle was investigated in squamous epithelial cells. D-pinitol decreased the survival and cell proliferation rates of CAL-27 and Ca9-22 oral squamous carcinoma cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Evidence of apoptosis, including nuclear condensation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and caspase-3 fragmentation, was also observed. D-pinitol inhibited the migration and invasion of both cell lines. In terms of EMT-related proteins, E-cadherin was increased, whereas N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug were decreased. D-pinitol also decreased the expression of cyclin D1, a protein involved in the cell cycle, but increased the expression of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Hence, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in CAL-27 and Ca9-22 cells, demonstrating an anticancer effect by decreasing the EMT.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.93-100
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• 2018

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Oxidative stress plays a key role in neuronal cell damage, which is associated with neurodegenerative disease. The aim of present study was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of perilla oil (PO) and its active component, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), against hydrogen peroxide $(H_2O_2)$-induced oxidative stress in SH-SY5Y neuronal cells. MATERIALS/METHODS: The SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells exposed to $250{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$ for 24 h were treated with different concentrations of PO (25, 125, 250 and $500{\mu}g/mL$) and its major fatty acid, ALA (1, 2.5, 5 and $25{\mu}g/mL$). We examined the effects of PO and ALA on $H_2O_2$-induced cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and nuclear condensation. Moreover, we determined whether PO and ALA regulated the apoptosis-related protein expressions, such as cleaved-poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), cleaved caspase-9 and -3, BCL-2 and BAX. RESULTS: Treatment of $H_2O_2$ resulted in decreased cell viability, increased LDH release, and increase in the nuclei condensation as indicated by Hoechst 33342 staining. However, PO and ALA treatment significantly attenuated the neuronal cell death, indicating that PO and ALA potently blocked the $H_2O_2$-induced neuronal apoptosis. Furthermore, cleaved-PARP, cleaved caspase-9 and -3 activations were significantly decreased in the presence of PO and ALA, and the $H_2O_2$-induced up-regulated BAX/BCL-2 ratio was blocked after treatment with PO and ALA. CONCLUSIONS: PO and its main fatty acid, ALA, exerted the protective activity from neuronal oxidative stress induced by $H_2O_2$. They regulated apoptotic pathway in neuronal cell death by alleviation of BAX/BCL-2 ratio, and down-regulation of cleaved-PARP and cleaved caspase-9 and -3. Although further studies are required to verify the protective mechanisms of PO and ALA from neuronal damage, PO and ALA are the promising agent against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic neuronal cell death.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.340-348
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• 2002

Equisetum arvense L. and Lactuca dentata Makino. var. Flaviflora Makino. of samples relatively showed anticancer effects on MCF-7 mammary gland adenocarcinoma cell. The most active plant among the samples was Capsicum annuum L. var angulosum Mill. We studied that MCF-7 cells were changing chromosomal morphology and apoptosis on these samples. Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Mill. of samples relatively showed good anticancer effects. The cells became vague after 2 days and then destroyed. The supernatant of the cells including medium was measured by UV absorbance. The results showed that Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Mill also exerted high level. We also used electrophoresis in order to observe apoptic characterization of DNA fragmentation. The cells treated with Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Mill showed the apoptotic characterization. The chromosome of the cells were observed on those samples. The cells treated with Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Mill among them were shown the fastest changes. The cells were aggregated and destroyed by treatment with some edible plants. Especially, the case of Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Mill, it led MCF-7 cell to apoptosis faster than others. And we can observe chromosomal changes and dispersion by PI staining. These results showed that each sample exerted anticancer effects on MCF-7 cells. Especially Capsicum annuum L. var. angulosum Miff exerted significant anticancer effects.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.60 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2016

Novel push-pull chromophores containing 5’-(4-(bis(9,9-dimethyl-9H-fluoren-2-yl)aniline (bisDMFA) as a donor and phenylazo-methylpyrrolyl-boron difluoride (PhAPy-BF₂) as an acceptor were designed and synthesized by the Knoevenagel condensation reaction for organic solar cells. Various electron withdrawing moieties were effectively introduced using 2,4-dimethyl-1H-pyrrole to afford new asymmetric BF₂-azopyrrole molecules that were characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry measurements.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.345.1-345.1
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• 2002

${\alpha}$-terthienyl the first isolated from natural products shows potent antitumor activity, which encouraged us to study terpyridine and its biological properties. Terpyridine has also been reported as having carcinogenicity, and it's erivatives showed high cytotoxic activities against several human cancer cell lines and topoisomerase I inhibitory ctivity. Mannich free base from condensation reaction was allowed to react with pyridinum salts to give activity. (omitted)

• Journal of Photoscience
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.454-456
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• 2002

It is important to determine the action spectrum of UV-B radiation contained in the sunlight to estimate the risk of skin cancer. We have investigated action spectra for induction of apoptosis and reproductive cell death in L5178Y cells using the Okazaki Large Spectrograph at NIBB. L5178Y cells were exposed to light at different wavelengths in UV-B or UV-A region. Frequencies of apoptosis induction and reproductive cell death were determined by counting cells with chromatin condensation, and by the colony formation assay, respectively. The measured sensitivity spectra for the two end-points were in very good agreement. Sensitivity decreased steeply with increase of wavelength in UV-B region and remains nearly constant in UV-A region. The action spectra were also slightly steeper than that for the minimum erythematic dose (MED), but very similar to the light absorption spectrum of DNA in UV-B region. On the other hand, the spectra for both endpoints were similar to MED spectrum but not DNA spectrum in the UV-A region. Also different time-course and morphological difference of apoptosis were found between UV-B (long time, fragmentation) and UV-A (short time, shrinkage) region. These results suggest that DNA damage induced by UV-B light triggers apoptosis and reproductive cell death, but other damaged targets (membrane, protein and so on) trigger these effects in UV-A region.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.385-402
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• 1996

Cytotoxicity of dental restorative materials using cell culture technique has been extensively studied by various quantitative assays. The aim of this study was to investigate the microstructural change of damaged L292 cells which could not observed with light microscope. Cytotoxic effect of ZOE, Prisma APH (Densply International Inc., U.S.A.), Clearfil FII(Kuraray Co., Japan), Fuji II(GC Co., Japan) and Fuji II LC(GC Co., Japan) on cultured L292 cells were observed. Irreversible cell damage and cytolysis were found in ZOE and Fuji II groups. In Clearfil FII, mild to moderate cell damage was observed. APH group showed variable cytotoxicity. Moderate cell damage was found in Fuji II LC group. Cytotoxic effect were as follows : A condensation of the chromatin occureds along or adjacent to the inner membrane of the nuclear envelops. The nuclear envelope remained resonably intact but the contents were partially or completely lost. The cell nucleus contains clusters of markedly electron-dense interchromatin granules. The rough endoplasmic reticulum were dilated. In some mitochondira, matrix was disoriented and fused cristae were discernible. Mitochondiral swelling and woolly appearance were recognized. Large vacuoles and autolysosmes were found in cytoplasm. Some breaks of the cytoplasmic membrane and even cytolysis could be seen in dying cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2012

This study was designed to elucidate the mechanism of the cytoprotective effect of the Palmul-tang (PMT) on glutamate induced cytotoxicity in rat C6 glial cells. We determined the increase of cell viability by PMT on glutamate-induced death of C6 glial cell. On some experiments, glutamate induced cell death to be an apoptotic phenomena characterized by G1 arrest in cell cycle, chromatin condensation, DNA fragmentation in C6 glial cells. However, pre-treatment of PMT inhibited characteristic apoptotic phenomena. One of the main mediator of glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was known to generation of reactive oxigen species. In this study, PMT attenuated generation of reactive oxigen species by glutamate through down-regulation of NOX1 expression in C6 glial cells. Furthermore, PMT regulated Bcl2 families and caspase proteins, which contribute the cell survival or death. This study suggests that PMT may be candidate for both of therapeutic and protective prescription.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.12
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• pp.1827-1834
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• 2014

Colon cancer is the third highest cause of death in Korea. Known dietary causes of colon cancer include a diet rich in fat and red meat as well as inadequate intake of dietary fiber, fruits, and vegetables. Therefore, recent research has focused on the anticancer effects of natural products. Opuntia humifusa is a type of prickly pear that is known to contain biologically active compounds that can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, and hyperglycemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not O. humifusa extract affects proliferation, cell death, and DNA fragmentation in human carcinoma HT-29 cells. O. humifusa is rich in carbohydrates, minerals (Mg, K, and Ca), and total phenolics. HT-29 cells were treated with extracts of O. humifusa at concentrations of 0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2 mg/mL for 24 or 48 hours. O. humifusa extracts inhibited HT-29 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Hoechst 33342/PI double staining and Comet assay were performed to observe changes in nuclei of cancer cells undergoing cell death. The results of both tests showed that O. humifusa extract induced cell shrinkage, DNA fragmentation, and chromatin condensation dose-dependently in HT-29 cells. The results of this study suggest that O. humifusa extract inhibits the growth of HT-29 via induction of DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation.