• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.200-207
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• 2015

Various natural products or their derivatives, mostly originating from plants, fungi, and bacteria, have been exploited as therapeutic drugs to treat various human diseases. In addition to previously explored organisms, research on natural compounds has now expanded into unexamined living organisms in order to identify novel bioactive substances. Here, we determined whether or not the larval form of the mealworm beetle Tenebrio molitor, a species of darkling beetle, contains cytotoxic substances that exclusively affect cancer cell viability. Ethanol extract and its solvent partitioned fractions, hexane and ethyl acetate fractions, showed anticancer effects against various human cancer cells derived from the prostate (PC3 and 22Rv1), cervix (HeLa), liver (PLC/PRF5, HepG2, Hep3B, and SK-HEP-1), colon (HCT116), lung (NCI-H460), breast (MDA-MB231), and ovary (SKOV3). Cell death induced by the fractions was a mix of apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. The hexane fraction was administered intraperitoneally to nude mice bearing a hepatocellular carcinoma SK-HEP-1 and showed inhibition of tumor growth in vivo. Therefore, we concluded that worm extracts contain cytotoxic substances, which can be enriched by proper fractionation protocols, and further separation and purification could lead to the identification of novel molecules to treat human cancers.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.594-601
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• 2015

In the present study, the total content of polyphenols and flavonoids, the antioxidant activities, and cytotoxic effects of the ethanol extracts from different parts of Taraxacum coreanum Nakai were investigated for their use as functional foods. The extract yields of the flower, leaf, and root were $32.15{\pm}3.21%$, $31.63{\pm}0.63%$, and $27.48{\pm}2.47%$, respectively. Total polyphenol and flavonoid content of the flower extract were $61.29{\pm}2.11mg/g$ and $46.11{\pm}1.88mg/g$, respectively, which were much higher than those of any other plant parts. The antioxidant activities of the flower, leaf, and root extracts were $89.99{\pm}2.83%$, $85.29{\pm}2.22%$, and $37.88{\pm}2.34%$, respectively, at a concentration of 1.0 mg/mL. Cell cytotoxicity effects of AGS (human gastric carcinoma), HCT116 (human colon carcinoma), and A549 (human pulmonary carcinoma) cells were the highest in the flower extract, with values of $62.85{\pm}4.63%$, $69.89{\pm}3.44%$, and $85.72{\pm}4.17%$, respectively, at a concentration of 400 mg/kg. Both the antioxidant activities and cytotoxic effects of the ethanol extracts from all the parts of the T. coreanum Nakai increased dose-dependently. These results provide preliminary data for the development of T. coreanum Nakai as an edible functional food material.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1532-1537
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• 2010

This study compared the inhibitory effects of methanol extracts from yellow and black soybeans (black soybean, Seomoktae and Seoritae) on mutagenicity using the Ames test and growth of human cancer cells (AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma, HT-29 human colon cancer, Hep 3B hepatocellular carcinoma cells). In the Ames test system using Salmonella typhimurium TA100, aflatoxin $B_1$ ($AFB_1$)-induced mutagenicity was significantly inhibited by treatments with the methanol extracts from either yellow or black soybeans in a dose dependent manner (p<0.05). The methanol extracts from various black soybeans tended to have a greater inhibitory effect compared to those from yellow soybeans. As for N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguamidine (MNNG)-induced mutagenicity, the methanol extracts (5 mg/assay) from black soybean, Seomoktae and Seoritae showed 51%, 61% and 53% inhibitory rates, respectively, indicating that Seomoktae, a type of black soybean, had a stronger antimutagenic activity against mutagens (both $AFB_1$ and MNNG). Methanol extracts from black soybeans showed an inhibitory rate of greater than 50% on the growth of human cancer cells (AGS, HT-29 and Hep 3B) and the inhibition was more effective in the methanol extract from Seomoktae. Our results suggested that the methanol extracts from black soybeans showed stronger inhibitory effects on mutagenicity and growth of cancer cells than those from yellow soybean. It is concluded that intake of black soybean can be recommended for improving health.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.5
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• pp.655-662
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• 2013

The antioxidant and anticancer effects of the edible mushrooms Lentinus edodes (LE, Pyogo mushroom) and Agaricus blazei (AB, Agaricus mushroom), and the medicinal mushrooms Cordyceps militaris (CM, Dong chunghacho), Ganoderma lucidum (GL, Youngji mushroom), Inonotus obliquus (IO, Chaga mushroom), and Phellinus linteus (PL, Sangwhang mushroom) were studied in vitro. The bioactive components were extracted by methanol. The antioxidant effects were evaluated using the DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The antioxidant activities of medicinal mushrooms (35~90%) were higher than edible mushrooms (4~23%). The in vitro anticancer effects of the mushrooms were evaluated using the MTT assay in AGS gastric adenocarcinoma cells, HCT-116 colon carcinoma cells, and HepG2 hepatoma cells. The medicinal mushrooms CM, GL, IO, and PL showed 28~91% inhibition, while the edible mushrooms LE and AB exhibited 5~40% inhibition. The medicinal mushrooms, compared to edible mushrooms, effectively down-regulated the gene expression of the anti-apoptosis related gene Bcl-2 and inflammation-related genes iNOS and COX-2, and up-regulated the pro-apoptosis gene Bax (p<0.05). Total polyphenol and flavonoids contents of the medicinal mushrooms were 9.1~35.7 mg/g, while the edible mushrooms showed 0~13.3 mg/g. This study showed that antioxidant activities and anticancer activities in vitro increased in the order LE, AB, GL, CM, IO and PL. LE and AB showed the lowest effects among the samples, GL and CM had medium effects, and IO and PL exhibited the highest effects in the antioxidant and anticancer effect for three different human cancer cells. Taken together, PL resulted in the highest and LE the lowest effects in this study.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.12
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• pp.1694-1699
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• 2011

The quality characteristics and physiological effects of chunggukjang fermented naturally (NF-c), with Bacillus subtilis-SKm (BS-c), with Bacillus subtilis HJ18-4 (BH-c), and with Bacillus subtilis KCCM 42923 (BK-c) were investigated. The characteristics of fermentation were determined by protease, ${\alpha}$-amylase and ${\gamma}$-GTP activities, and additionally the amounts of amino-type and ammonia-type nitrogens. BS-c showed the highest protease, ${\alpha}$-amylase, and ${\gamma}$-GTP activities, and also amino-type nitrogen content among the four types of chunggukjang. The ammonia-type nitrogen content in BS-c was similar to that of BK-c and NF-c. BH-c showed the lowest enzyme activities and amino-type and ammonia-type nitrogen content. BS-c, BH-c, BK-c, and NF-c showed a similar overall acceptability during sensory evaluation. BS-c also showed the strongest DPPH free radical scavenging and anti-proliferative activities in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells. These results suggested that B. subtilis-SKm was suitable to be used as a starter to enhance the quality and effects of chunggukjang.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.73-81
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• 2014

Salsola collina, also known as Russian thistle, is widely distributed in and around waste facilities, roadsides, and drought and semi-drought areas, and is used as a traditional folk remedy in Chinese medicine for the treatment of hypertension. In this study, we have evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities of the ethanol extract of S. collina Pall. (EESC), and the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer effects on human colon carcinoma HT29 cells. EESC exhibited anti-oxidative activity through DPPH radical scavenging capacity and showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner in HT29 cells. After EESC treatment, HT29 cells altered their morphology, becoming smaller and irregular in shape. EESC also induced cell accumulation in the G2/M phase in a dose-dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease of cell population in the G1 phase. The G2/M arrest by EESC was associated with the increased expression of cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitor p21 and Wee1 kinase, which phosphorylates, or inactivates, Cdc2. EESC treatment induced the phosphorylation of Cdc2 and Cdc25C, and inhibited cyclin A and Cdc25C protein expression. In addition, S arrest was induced by the highest concentration of EESC treatment, associated with a decrease of cyclin A and Cdk2 expression. These findings suggest that EESC may possess remarkable anti-oxidative activity and exert an anti-cancer effect in HT29 cells by cell cycle regulation.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.38 no.8
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• pp.996-1002
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• 2009

This study was carried out to improve quality and increase anticancer effect of baechu kimchi by changing various kinds of salt. The baechu cabbages were brined with purified salt (P), natural sea salt (NS), natural sea salt without bittern (NS-B) or baked (Guwun) salt (G) and mixed with other ingredients. Thereafter, the kimchis were fermented for 7 days at $15^{\circ}C$. The changes in pH and acidity of the P and G kimchis were slower than those of NS and NS-B kimchis. NS-B and G kimchis promoted the growth of Leuconostoc sp.; however, it inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus sp. when compared with P and NS brined kimchis. The sensory evaluation results indicated that NS-B and G kimchis were better than P and NS kimchi in taste, color and overall acceptability. Rheological property of texture (cutting strength) of NS-B and G brined kimchis was also much better. Anticancer effects of the kimchi juices and methanol extracts were investigated on AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells by MTT assay. NS-B and G kimchis significantly retarded the growth of both cancer cells compared to P and NS kimchis. From these results, kind of salt is very important when kimchi is prepared. It proved that removing bittern from natural sea salt is good ancient tradition when brining the cabbage. Using the baked salt is also a better method to improve the quality and anticancer effect of kimchi.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.264-270
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• 2009

We investigated the effect of black soybean and doenjang with black soybean on production of cytokines including interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) compared with yellow soybean and doenjang with yellow soybean. We also determined inhibitory effect of two types of soybeans and doenjang on tumor metastasis produced by colon 26-M3.1 carcinoma cells. The cytokine productions of mouse splenocytes increased by the exposure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 1 ${\mu}g$/ml) compared to without treatment of LPS. The LPS-induced IL-2 production was highest in the black soybean methanol extract, while the methanol extract from black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo showed the higher levels of IL-2 without LPS (p<0.05). In case of LPS-induced IL-6 production, the methanol extracts from control, yellow soybean, black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 and 7 mo showed higher levels of IL-6 compared to those of black soybean, and yellow soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo (p<0.05). The methanol extract of black soybean doenjang fermented for 2 mo showed significantly higher levels of TNF-${\alpha}$ in both with and without LPS (p<0.05). In experiment of tumor metastasis, the treatment (1 mg/mouse) of methanol extract from black soybean doenjang fermented for 7 mo inhibited tumor metastasis by 50% and had the highest inhibitory effect among other samples (p<0.05). From these results, doenjang manufactured with black soybean modulated the production of cytokine and showed anticancer effect, suggesting that this effect was increased with increased periods of fermentation.