• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.91-98
• /
• 2020

Stichopus japonicas (red sea cucumbers) inhabit the coastal sea surrounding Jeju Island, South Korea, and are thought to have various medicinal properties. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of a red sea cucumber (S. japonicus) collected from Jeju Island. We obtained the red sea cucumber extract (RSCE), and observed that it inhibited the tumor cell growth and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production associated with the induction of apoptosis through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in murine colon carcinoma cells (CT-26). Treatment with RSCE and N-acetylcysteine, which is a ROS scavenger, increased ROS production and apoptosis via the regulation by the MAPK pathway on the ERK and JNK compared with the nontreated group. Therefore, RSCE promotes ROS-mediated suppression of the ERK and JNK activation, and subsequently inhibits cancer progression, suggesting that RSCE may be beneficial in treating colon carcinoma.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.153-160
• /
• 2006

Human colon cancer is the second most fatal disease among a variety of cancers to cause cancer death in U.S.A. and its incidence rate is currently increased in Korea. Recently, many studies have been being progressed on the efficacy of diverse combination treatments. But results of these studies in vitro were not similar those in vivo. This study compared the anticancer reactions between each use of arsenic trioxide and taxol against human colon cancer HT-29 cell line and combined use of two drugs. And these results compared with the results of HT-29 spheroid cells having similar characteristics to the solid tumor in vivo. The spheroid of HT-29 cells was formed by using a multicellular spheroid system and the result was observed through electron microscopy. In vitro cytotoxicity of each use of arsenic trioxide and taxol was evaluated in HT-29 monolayer cells. The $IC_{50}$ value for arsenic trioxide was to be $33{\mu}M$ and taxol was to be 18nM. The result treated with the combination of taxol and arsenic trioxide decreased the cytotoxicity on the HT-29 monolayer cells. The spheroid cells represented higher resistance against drugs than the monolayer cells. I demonstrated DNA fragmentation after incubation with concentrations more than $10{\mu}M$ arsenic trioxide and 100nM taxol for 48h, on the monolayer cells. But the results of HT-29 cell line treated with the combination of taxol and arsenic trioxide was the same as the outcome of control samples that were not treated with any drug. And I don't demonstrated DNA fragmentation on the spheroid cells. These results suggest that apoptosis was not induced in the use of the combination can be thought as that arsenic trioxide might work as an antagonist to inhibit a taxol mechanism to induce apoptosis. And the spheroid cells represented higher resistance against drugs than the monolayer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.489-494
• /
• 2014

Background: Psychiatric patients appear to be at lower risk of cancer. Some antipsychotic drugs might have inhibitory effects on tumor growth, including penfluridol, a strong agent. To test this, we conducted a study to determine whether penfluridol exerts cytotoxic effects on tumor cells and, if so, to explore its anti-tumor mechanisms. Methods: Growth inhibition of mouse cancer cell lines by penfluridol was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Cytotoxic activity was determined by clonogenic cell survival and trypan blue assays. Animal tumor models of these cancer cells were established and to evaluate penfluridol for its anti-tumor efficacy in vivo. Unesterified cholesterol in cancer cells was examined by filipin staining. Serum total cholesterol and tumor total cholesterol were detected using the cholesterol oxidase/p-aminophenazone (CHOD-PAP) method. Results: Penfluridol inhibited the proliferation of B16 melanoma (B16/F10), LL/2 lung carcinoma (LL/2), CT26 colon carcinoma (CT26) and 4T1 breast cancer (4T1) cells in vitro. In vivo penfluridol was particularly effective at inhibiting LL/2 lung tumor growth, and obviously prolonged the survival time of mice bearing LL/2 lung tumors implanted subcutaneously. Accumulated unesterified cholesterol was found in all of the cancer cells treated with penfluridol, and this effect was most evident in LL/2, 4T1 and CT26 cells. No significant difference in serum cholesterol levels was found between the normal saline-treated mice and the penfluridol-treated mice. However, a dose-dependent decrease of total cholesterol in tumor tissues was observed in penfluridol-treated mice, which was most evident in B16/F10-, LL/2-, and 4T1-tumor-bearing mice. Conclusion: Our results suggested that penfluridol is not only cytotoxic to cancer cells in vitro but can also inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis by penfluridol may be involved in its anti-tumor mechanisms.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.16 no.11
• /
• pp.4781-4786
• /
• 2015

Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) is used primarily as an adaptogen herb and also for its immune stimulant properties in Western herbal medicine. Another closely related species used in East Asian medicine systems i.e. Kampo, TCM (Manchuria, Korea, Japan and Ainu of Hokkaido) and also called Siberian ginseng (Acanthopanax senticosus) also displays immune-stimulant and anti-cancer properties. These may affect tumour growth and also provide an anti-fatigue effect for cancer patients, in particular for those suffering from lung cancer. There is some evidence that a carbohydrate in Siberian ginseng may possess not only immune stimulatory but also anti-tumour effects and also display other various anti-cancer properties. Our study aimed to determine the inhibitory and also proliferative effects of a methanol plant extract of Siberan ginseng (E. senticosus) on various cancer and normal cell lines including: A-549 (small cell lung cancer), XWLC-05 (Yunnan lung cancer cell line), CNE (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line), HCT-116 (human colon cancer) and Beas-2b (human lung epithelial). These cell lines were treated with an extract from E. senticosus that was evaporated and reconstituted in DMSO. Treatment of A-549 (small cell lung cancer) cells with E. senticosus methanolic extract showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory trend from $12.5-50{\mu}g/mL$, and then a plateau, whereas at 12.5 and $25{\mu}g/mL$, there is a slight growth suppression in QBC-939 cells, but then a steady suppression from 50, 100 and $200{\mu}g/mL$. Further, in XWLC-05 (Yunnan lung cancer cell line), E. senticosus methanolic extract displayed an inhibitory effect which plateaued with increasing dosage. Next, in CNE (human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cell line) there was a dose dependent proliferative response, whereas in Beas-2 (human lung epithelial cell line), an inhibitory effect. Finally in colon cancer cell line (HCT-116) we observed an initially weak inhibitory effect and then plateau.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.267-272
• /
• 2009

The trace element nutrient selenium discharges its well-known nutritional anti-tumor activity. Converging data from epidemiological, ecological and clinical studies have shown that selenium can decrease the risk for some types of human cancers, especially those of the prostate, lung, and colon. Mechanistic studies have indicated that selenium has many desirable attributes of chemoprevention targeting cancer cells through DNA single strand breaks, the induction of reactive oxygen species. However, there is no reports about the relationship between methylseleninic acid (MSeA), one of methylselenol metabolites and cell cycle arrest in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Our data showed that MSeA arrested G1/S pahse of cell cycle arrest and inhibited DNA synthesis in LNCaP cells and those cellular events by MSeA were due to the induction ofp27 protein which is a well-known cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Taken together, cell cycle arrest occurred by MSeA may contribute to the growth-inhibition of prostate cancer cells.

• Food Science and Preservation
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.754-758
• /
• 2009

To develop soybean cake as a functional food material, the anti-oxidative and cytotoxic activities against human colon cancer cells of crude saponins isolated from 70% (v/v) ethanol extracts of cake were investigated. The Diaion HP-20 adsorption method was used for isolation of crude saponins, which were then eluted with 100% ethanol. The non-saponin fraction was removed by elution with $H_2O$ and 20% (v/v) ethanol. The results of thin layer chromatography (TLC) analysis confirmed that crude saponins were present in the 100% ethanol extract of soybean cake. The hydrogen-donating properties of saponins were more than 60% at a concentration of $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$. malondialdehyde(MDA) production was $1,200\;{\mu}mol\;MDA/g$ in mouse liver homogenate treated with crude saponins at the concentration of $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$. This value was lower than that of the control, which was $3,700\;{\mu}mol\;MDA/g$. Saponins inhibited the growth of colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Saponins also resulted in a decrease in the proportion of cells in the G1 phase of the cell cycle, whereas the cell proportion in G2/M phase was increased with $1,000\;{\mu}g/mL$ saponins. Thus, we conclude that saponins may induce G2/M cell cycle arrest.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.61 no.2
• /
• pp.119-124
• /
• 2018

In vitro anticancer and antioxidant effects of acetone extract from leaves of Eucommia ulmoides Oliver were investigated. The extraction yield and total phenolic content of the acetone extract were $1.13{\pm}0.033%$ (w/w) and $36.7{\pm}1.96mg$ gallic acid equivalents/g-extract, respectively. $GI_{50}$ values of the acetone extract for human non-small cell lung cancer cells (A549), human colon cancer cells (SNU-C4), human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), and human embryonic lung epithelial cell (L132) were 53.4, 53.8, 88.3, and $153.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The acetone extract effectively inhibited the proliferation of human non-small cell lung cancer (A549) and colon cancer (SNU-C4) cells in a concentration-dependent manner, but was less cytotoxic with human normal cells (L132). $EC_{50}$ values of the acetone extract for free radical scavenging, reducing power, and lipid peroxidation inhibition were about 2,000, 275.8, and $257.9{\mu}g/mL$, respectively. The acetone extract showed a potent reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity in a concentration-dependent manner.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
• /
• v.57 no.1
• /
• pp.41-45
• /
• 2014

In the present study, red ginseng extracts were fermented by Paecilomyces tenuipes and the protopanaxdiol-type ginsenosides in the extracts were bio-transformed to F2, Rg3, Rg5, Rk1, Rh2, and CK determined by a high-pressure liquid chromatography analysis. It indicates that P. tenuipes is a microorganism to biotransform protopanaxdiol-type ginsenosides to their less glucosidic metabolites. Other biotransformed metabolites during fermentation were also analyzed using a GC-MS and identified as 2-methyl-benzaldehyde, 4-vinyl-2-methylphenol, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid. Antiulcerogenic activity of the fermented red ginseng extract (FRGE) on gastric mucosal damage induced by 0.15 M HCl in ethanol in rats was evaluated. FRGE was shown to have a potent protective effect on gastritis with 60.5% of inhibition rate at the dose of 40 mg/kg when compared to 54.5% of the inhibition rate at the same dose for stillen, the currently used medicine for treating gastritis. Linoleic acid showed a strong inhibition on gastritis with 79.3% of inhibition rate at the dose of 40.0 mg/kg. FRGE exhibited a distinct anticancer activity including growth inhibition of the two human colon cancer cells HT29 and HCT116. HT29 cells were less susceptible to FRGE in comparison with HCT116 cells. Taken together, fungal fermentation of the red ginseng extract induced hydrolysis of some ginsenosides and FRGE exhibited potent antiulcerogenic and anticancer activities. These results refer to use FRGE as a new source for treating human diseases.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.658-666
• /
• 2021

Podophyllotoxin (PT), a lignan compound from the roots and rhizomes of Podophyllum peltatum, has diverse pharmacological activities including anticancer effect in several types of cancer. The molecular mechanism of the anticancer effects of PT on colorectal cancer cells has not been reported yet. In this study, we sought to evaluate the anticancer effect of PT on human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells and identify the detailed molecular mechanism. PT inhibited the growth of cells and colony formation in a concentration-dependent manner and induced apoptosis as determined by the annexin V/7-aminoactinomycin D double staining assay. PT-induced apoptosis was accompanied by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and an increase in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The effects of PT on the induction of ROS and apoptosis were prevented by pretreatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), indicating that an increase in ROS generation mediates the apoptosis of HCT116 cells induced by PT. Furthermore, Western blot analysis showed that PT upregulated the level of phospho (p)-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). The treatment of SB203580, a p38 inhibitor, strongly prevented the apoptosis induced by PT, suggesting that PT-induced apoptosis involved the p38 MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, PT induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and multi-caspase activation. The results suggested that PT induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and apoptosis through the p38 MAPK signaling pathway by upregulating ROS in HCT116 cells.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
• /
• v.25 no.B
• /
• pp.241-251
• /
• 2005

Exopolysaccharide (CBP) from submerged culture broth of Ganoderma lucidum mycelium and the water soluble (BWS) and water insoluble (BWI) fractions of CBP were prepared by gel filtration. Antitumor activity and effects on proliferation and differenciation of human cancer cells and mouse NIH 3T3 cells were studied. Cytotoxicity test of CBP, BWS and BWI fractions on human cancer cell lines was performed by using sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. A549 (lung carcinoma), Colo320 DM and HSR (colon carcinoma), and NIH 3T3 cells were used. BWI fraction showed the strongest cytotoxicity (maximum 20% survival) to all human cells tested. However it did not induced apoptosis. Interestingly BWI fraction did not exert cytotoxic effect on NIH 3T3 cells at low concentration of cells ($5{\times}10^4$) but strong toxic effect at high concentration of cells($5{\times}10^5$) which showed transformed morphology. These results suggest that BWI may have cancer cell specific anticancer activity. However, BWI fraction did not effect the amount of pRb and c-myc protein, which implied that BWI fraction did not act at the early stage of signal transduction pathway. CBP fraction induced differenciation of human leukemic cell line, HL-60 cells suggesting the carcinogenesis prevention of normal cell and possible induction of normalization for cancer cell.