• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2533-2539
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• 2012

Annona muricata L (Annonaceae), commonly known as soursop has a long, rich history in herbal medicine with a lengthy recorded indigenous use. It had also been found to be a promising new anti-tumor agent in numerous in vitro studies. The present investigation concerns chemopreventive effects in a two-stage model of skin papillomagenesis. Chemopreventive effects of an ethanolic extract of A. muricata leaves (AMLE) was evaluated in 6-7 week old ICR mice given a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenza(${\alpha}$)anthracene (DMBA 100ug/100ul acetone) and promotion by repeated application of croton oil (1% in acetone/twice a week) for 10 weeks. Morphological tumor incidence, burden and volume were measured, with histological evaluation of skin tissue. Topical application of AMLE at 30, 100 and 300mg/kg significantly reduced DMBA/croton oil induced mice skin papillomagenesis in (i) peri-initiation protocol (AMLE from 7 days prior to 7 days after DMBA), (ii) promotion protocol (AMLE 30 minutes after croton oil), or (iii) both peri-initiation and promotion protocol (AMLE 7 days prior to 7 day after DMBA and AMLE 30 minutes after croton oil throughout the experimental period), in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05) as compared to carcinogen-treated control. Furthermore, the average latent period was significantly increased in theAMLE-treated group. Interestingly, At 100 and 300 mg/kg, AMLE completely inhibited the tumor development in all stages. Histopathological study revealed that tumor growth from the AMLE-treated groups showed only slight hyperplasia and absence of keratin pearls and rete ridges. The results, thus suggest that the A.muricata leaves extract was able to suppress tumor initiation as well as tumor promotion even at lower dosage.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1405-1409
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• 2006

Polysaccharides from the starfish Asterina pectinifera were assessed in vitro for their chemopreventive potential in human breast cancer. The polysaccharides from A. pectinifera inhibited cell proliferation in the estrogen receptor-positive (MCF-7) and estrogen receptor-negative (MDA-MB-231) human breast carcinoma cell lines. In addition, the polysaccharides were found to be an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 1A1-mediated ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity, and caused a dose-dependent inhibition of aromatase activity in microsomes isolated from a human placenta. There was a significant reduction in the ornithine decarboxylase activity to 30.7% of the control in the polysaccharide-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Therefore, the polysaccharides from A. pectinifera merit further investigation with respect to breast cancer chemoprevention.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.1-16
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• 2000

Many natural products elicit diverse pharmacological effects. Using two classes of potential chemopreventive compounds, the phenolic compounds and the isothiocyanates, we review the potential utility of two signaling events, the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and the ICE/Ced-3 proteases (caspases) stimulated by these agents in mammalian cell lines. Studies with phenolic antioxidants (BHA, tBHQ), and natural products (flavonoids; EGCG, ECG, and isothiocyanates; PEITC, sulforaphane), provided important insights into the signaling pathways induced by these compounds. At low concentrations, these chemicals may activate the MAPK (ERK2, JNK1, p38) leading to gene expression of survival genes (c-Fos, c-Jun) and defensive genes (Phase II detoxifying enzymes; GST, QR) resulting in survival and protective mechanisms (homeostasis response). Increasing the concentrations of these compounds will additionally activate the caspase pathway, leading to apoptosis (potential cytotoxicity). Further increment to suprapharmacological concentrations will lead to nonspecific necrotic cell death. The wider and narrow concentration ranges between the activation of MAPK/gene induction and caspases/cell death exhibited by phenolic compounds and isothiocyanates, respectively, in mammalian cells, may reflect their respective therapeutic windows in vivo. Consequently, the studies of signaling pathways elicited by natural products will advance our understanding of their efficacy and safety, of which many man become important therapeuitc drugs of the future.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.265-273
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• 2015

Background: Cancer has emerged as a major health problem globally as a consequence to the increased longevity of the population, changing the environment and life style. Chemoprevention is a new and promising strategy for reducing cancer burden. Recently, some natural products have been identified for their chemopreventive activity to reduce the cancer incidence. Ginseng is known for its potential to treat various ailments in human beings. The present study was designed to explore the anticancer and antioxidative potential of Panax ginseng against chemical-induced skin carcinogenesis in mammals. Methods: Skin tumors were induced in Swiss albino mice by a single topical application of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene ($100{\mu}g/100{\mu}L$ acetone) and, 2 wks later, promoted by repeated applications of croton oil (thrice in a wk in 1% acetone) till the end of the experiment (i.e., 16 wk). Hydroalcoholic ginseng root extract at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight/d was orally administered at the periinitiation, postinitiation, and peri-post-initiation stages. Results: Ginseng root extract treatment caused a significant reduction in tumor incidence, cumulative number of tumors, tumor yield, and tumor burden, as compared to the 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-croton oil-treated control group. Further, biochemical assays revealed a significant enhancement in the levels of reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C, and total proteins but a significant reduction in lipid peroxidation levels in both the liver and skin with ginseng root extract treatment, as compared to carcinogen-treated control group. Conclusion: These results suggest that P. ginseng has the potential to become a pivotal chemopreventive agent that can reduce cancer in mammals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6403-6407
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• 2012

Detoxifying enzymes are present in most epithelial cells of the human gastrointestinal tract where they protect against xenobiotics which may cause cancer. Induction of examples such as glutathione S-transferase (GST) and its thiol conjugate, glutathione (GSH) as well as NAD(P)H: quinoneoxidoreductase (NQO1) facilitate the excretion of carcinogens and thus preventing colon carcinogenesis. Pterostilbene, an analogue of resveratrol, has demonstrated numerous pharmacological activities linked with chemoprevention. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of pterostilbene as a chemopreventive agent using the HT-29 colon cancer cell line to study the modulation of GST and NQO1 activities as well as the GSH level. Initially, our group, established the optimum dose of 24 hours pterostilbene treatment using MTT assays. Then, effects of pterostilbene ($0-50{\mu}M$) on GST and NQO1 activity and GSH levels were determined using GST, NQO1 and Ellman assays, respectively. MTT assay of pterostilbene ($0-100{\mu}M$) showed no cytotoxicity toward the HT-29 cell line. Treatment increased GST activity in the cell line significantly (p<0.05) at 12.5 and $25.0{\mu}M$. In addition, treatment at $50{\mu}M$ increased the GSH level significantly (p<0.05). Pterostilbene also enhanced NQO1 activity significantly (p<0.05) at $12.5{\mu}M$ and $50{\mu}M$. Hence, pterostilbene is a potential chemopreventive agent capable of modulation of detoxifiying enzyme levels in HT-29 cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.165-171
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• 1999

Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an important role in carcinogenesis and other several human diseases, antioxidants present in consumable fruits, vegetables, and beverages have received considerable attention as cancer chemopreventive agents. Thus, in order to identify antioxidants in plant extracts, potential activity was assessed by determining with inhibition of a xanthine/xanthine oxidase assay system. Approximately 170 plant extracts of Korean herbal medicines were primarily evaluated for the potential of antioxidant activity. As a result, 13 plant extracts were found to be active $(IC_{50}$<$100\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Especially, Juncus effusus, Selaginella tamariscina, Pueraria thunbergiana and Sedum albroseum showed strong inhibitory activity in this process. Further studies for the identification of active principles from these active lead plant extracts might be warranted.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.15
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• pp.6491-6499
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• 2015

Background: Red-fleshed sweet orange juice (ROJ) comes from a new variety of citrus cultivated in Brazil that contains high levels of ${\beta}$-carotene and lycopene, and similar amounts of hesperidin (HSP) and nutrients, equivalently to blond orange juice (BOJ). Such bioactive compounds are associated with chemopreventive actions in several cancer cell lines. The purpose of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity, cell cycle, apoptosis, and cytokine secretion after BOJ, ROJ, and HSP treatment of a novel T acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line, Loucy. Materials and Methods: Loucy cells were incubated for 24-h with BOJ, ROJ, and HSP, and the viability was measured using trypan blue. Cell cycling and apoptosis were assessed by propidium iodide (PI) and annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry, respectively. Secretion of cytokines $IL-1{\alpha}$, $IL1-{\beta}$, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A, $IFN{\gamma}$, $TNF{\alpha}$, $TGF{\beta}$, $MIP{\alpha}$, and $MIP{\beta}$ was determined by ELISA array. Results: BOJ and ROJ treatments promoted Loucy cell cytotoxicity. Additionally, BOJ induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase, and decreased the cell accumulation in the G2/M. ROJ decreased only the G0/G1 fraction, while HSP did not change the cell cycle. BOJ led to apoptosis in a different fashion of ROJ, while the first treatment induced apoptosis by increase of late apoptosis and primary necrotic fractions, the second increased early and late apoptosis, and primary necrotic fraction compared to positive controls. HSP had no effect on apoptosis. IL-6 and IL-10 were abrogated by all treatments. Conclusions: Taking together, these results suggest potential chemopreventive effects of BOJ and ROJ on Loucy cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6047-6053
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• 2015

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing in many countries. Plant products can be used to protect against cancer due to natural anticancer and chemopreventive constituents. Strobilanthes crispus is one of plants with potential chemopreventive ability. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of Strobilanthes crispus juice on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: MTT assays, flow cytometry, comet assays and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine the effects of juice on DNA damage and cancer cell numbers. Results: This juice induced apoptosis after exposure of the HepG2 cell line for 72 h. High percentages of apoptotic cell death and DNA damage were seen at the juice concentrations above 0.1%. It was found that the juice was not toxic for normal cells. In addition, juice exposure increased the expression level of c-myc gene and reduced the expression level of c-fos and c-erbB2 genes in HepG2 cells. The cytotoxic effects of juice on abnormal cells were in dose dependent. Conclusions: It was concluded that the Strobilanthes crispus juice may have chemopreventive effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2001

This study was conducted to assess the chemopreventive effects of sodium selenite in the rat medium-term multi-organ bioassay using a DMBDD model (DEN+MNU+BBN+DMH+DHPN). Seventy five,6-week-old, male SD rats were divided into 3 groups. The animals in group 1 received DEN(diethylnitrosamine,100 mg/kg bw, single i.p., in saline), MNU (N-methyl-nitrosourea,20 mg/kg bw, i.p.,4 times for 2 weeks), BBN (N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine, 0.2% in drinking water for 2 weeks), DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine, 40 mg/kg bw, s.c., in saline.4 times (or 2 weeds), and DHPN (N-bis(2-hydroxy-pro-pal)nitrosamine,0.1% in drinking water for 2 weeks), then were placed on sodium selenite (4 ppm in drinking water) for 22 weeks from weeks 4 to 26. The animals in group 2 were given DMBDD alone. The animals in group 3 were given sodium selenite alone. Animals were sacrificed at week 12 for ACF quantitative analysis and at week 26 for tumor induction. The body weights in the group 1 were significantly decreased compared with those of group 2. The tumor multiplicities of large intestine in the group 1 were significantly decreased compared with those of group 2 (P<0.05). These results indicate that sodium selenite may have a potential as chemopreventive agents of colon carcinogenesis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Pathology
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.29-34
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• 2001

This study was conducted to assess the chemopreventive effects of chitosan in a rat colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM). Ninety, 5-week-old, male F344 rats were divided into three groups. The animals in group 1 received subcutaneous injections of 15mg/kg AOM three times for two weeks, then were placed on powdered basal diet containing 2% chitosan for 37 weeks from weeks 3 to 40. The animals in group 2 were given AOM alone. The animals in group 3 were given 2% chitosan without prior carcinogen treatment. All animals were sacrificed at week 12 for quantitative analysis of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and at week 40 fur analysis of tumor induction. Total numbers of ACF and AC per colon of group 1 were not significantly different from those of group 2. Tumor incidences and multiplicities of small intestine in the group 1 were significantly decreased compared with those of the group 2 (P<0.05). According to pathological diagnoses, adenocarcinoma incidence and multiplicity in the small and large intestine in the group 1 were significantly decreased compared with those of the group 2 (p<0.05). No toxic effects were observed in animals given chitosan in terms of body weights, and liver or kidney histology. These results indicate that chitosan may have a potential as chemopreventive agents of colon carcinogenesis during the postinitiation stage.