• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.171-180
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• 2024

Background: Epimers of ginsenoside Rg3 (Rg3) have a low bioavailability and are prone to deglycosylation, which produces epimers of ginsenoside Rh2 (S-Rh2 and R-Rh2) and protopanaxadiol (S-PPD and R-PPD). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and potency of these molecules as anti-cancer agents. Methods: Crystal violet staining was used to study the anti-proliferatory action of the molecules on a human epithelial breast cancer cell line, MDA-MB-231, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and compare their potency. Cell death and cell cycle were studied using flow cytometry and mode of cell death was studied using live cell imaging. Anti-angiogenic effects of the drug were studied using loop formation assay. Molecular docking showed the interaction of these molecules with vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) and aquaporin (AQP) water channels. VEGF bioassay was used to study the interaction of Rh2 with VEGFR2, in vitro. Results: HUVEC was the more sensitive cell line to the anti-proliferative effects of S-Rh2, S-PPD and R-PPD. The molecules induced necroptosis/necrosis in MDA-MB-231 and apoptosis in HUVEC. S-Rh2 was the most potent inhibitor of loop formation. In silico molecular docking predicted a good binding score between Rh2 or PPD and the ATP-binding pocket of VEGFR2. VEGF bioassay showed that Rh2 was an allosteric modulator of VEGFR2. In addition, SRh2 and PPD had good binding scores with AQP1 and AQP5, both of which play roles in cell migration and proliferation. Conclusion: The combination of these molecules might be responsible for the anti-cancer effects observed by Rg3.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.3
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• pp.307-314
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• 2008

Purpose : Capsaicin, the major pungent ingredient in red pepper, has long been used in spices and food additives. It has been recently shown to induce apoptosis in several cell lines through a not well known mechanism. The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effect of capsaicin on gastric cancer cells, and to provide valuable information concerning the application of capsaicin for therapeutic purposes. Methods : Cultured SNU-668 cells were treated with capsaicin. We analyzed cell survival by trypan blue and crystal violet analysis, cell cytotoxicity by MTT assay, apoptosis by nuclear condensation and DNA fragmentation, bcl-2 and bax mRNA expression by RT-PCR, and the expression of apoptosis related proteins by Western immunoblot analysis. In order to assess whether the growth inhibitory effect of anticancer drugs is enhanced by capsaicin, we investigated the effects of cell cytotoxicity and the expression of apoptosis related proteins of etoposide and adriamycin treated with capsaicin in cells. Results : Capsaicin inhibited growth of SNU-668 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect of capsaicin on cell growth was mainly due to the induction of apoptosis as evidenced by DNA fragmentation, nuclear condensation and the expression of apoptosis related proteins. Furthermore, capsaicin prominently reduced the ratio of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 to pro-apoptotic Bax and consequently increased caspase-3 activity. The cells treated with capsaicin were more sensitive to death induced by etoposide and adriamycin than the cells without capsaicin. Conclusion : These results demonstrate that capsaicin efficiently induced apoptosis in SNU-668 cells through a caspase-3-dependent mechanism and sensitizes cancer cells to anticancer drugs toward apoptotic cell death, which may contribute to its anticancer effect and chemosensitizer function against gastric cancer.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.448-453
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• 2009

This study was performed to elucidate anticancer activities of various parts, such as peel, flesh, placenta, seed, stalk and stem leaf of oriental melon. Chemopreventive and anticancer effects of oriental melon extract were evaluated by detoxifying enzyme, quinone reductase (QR) inductive activity, cytotoxicity and growth inhibitory effect against hepatoma cell. Stalk and stem leaf extracts of oriental melon showed the increment of QR inductive activity with dose-dependent manner and induced quinone reductase 3.9, 1.5-fold at $200{\mu}g/mL$ respectively compared to control. The growth inhibitory effect of oriental melon extract against mouse hepatoma cell (Hepa1c1c7) was investigated by crystal violet (CV) assay. Stalk and stem leaf of oriental melon showed potent growth inhibitory effect. Based on these result, the growth inhibitory effects of stalk, stem leaf at various concentration were examined in detail by MTT assay using human hepatoma cancer cell (HepG2). All of two parts showed growth inhibitory effects and expecially stalk exhibited inhibitory effect of 60.3% at maximum concentration. The above results suggest that stalk of oriental melon has a possibility as a source of natural cancer chemopreventive materials.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.293-301
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• 2004

1. 연구 목적 Fibronectin은 세포외기질의 주요성분인 거대 당단백질로서, 조골세포의 부착과 증식 및 이동능에 중요한 역할을 담당한다고 알려져 있다. 이러한 fibronectin의 조골세포에 대한 영향을 실제 임상에 적용하기 위해서, 전체 fibronectin 단백질을 사용하는 것은 면역학적으로나 경제적으로 많은 단점을 안고 있어서, 유효한 반응단위만을 추출하여 활용하는 것이 바람직한 방법으로 알려져 있다. 이 연구의 목적은 세포부착에 주로 관여하는 fibronectin type III분절 중 10번 도메인이 조골양 세포에 미치는 영향을 전체 fibronectin단백질과 fibronectin type III 7-10 도메인 분절과 비교, 관찰하는 것이다. 2. 연구 방법 사람의 fibronectin을 기초로 한 적절한 primer로서, 유전자 재조합법을 이용하여 fibronectin type III 10 도메인과 fibronectin type III 7-10 도메인 분절을 얻었으며, 전체 fibronectin분자는 상용으로 준비하여 24-well 세포배양 용기에 도포하였다. 배양된 조골양세포(HOS cell)를 $1x10^5$ cells/well의 농도로 각 well에 분주하여 $37^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 배양을 하였다. Cell adhesion assay를 실시하기 위해 10% formaldehyde로 고정시키고 1% Crystal Violet으로 염색하여 광학현미경을 관찰 후 2% SDS를 처리하여 microplate reader기를 이용하여 570nm에서 혼탁정도를 측정하였다. 음성대조군으로는 RPMI 용액을 사용하였다. 동일한 방법을 이용하여 준비된 $35mm^2배양접시에 HOS cell을 $37^{\circ}C$에서 4일간 배양 후, MTS assay를 이용하여 세포 증식도에 미치는 영향을 관찰하였다. 6일째 405nm에서 활성화된 세포에서 분비된 p-nitrophenol을 이용한 alkaline phosphatase activity를 측정하였다. 3. 결과 및 고찰 Fibronectin type III 10 도메인은 HOS cell에 대한 생물학적인 효과면에서, 전체 fibronectin 분자 및 fibronectin type III 7-10 분절과 통계적으로 유사한 세포부착도를 보여주었으며, 세포증식도와 alkaline phosphatse 활성도면에서도 큰 차이가 나타나지 않았다. 이상의 연구결과로 볼 때, fibronectin type III 10 도메인이 조골세포의 증식을 목적으로 사용하는 생체재료의 표면개질 부착물질로 응용할 수 있는 가능성이 있다고 하겠다.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.272-283
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of protective effect of Jinmu-tang (JMT, Zhenwu-tang) extract on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in C6 glial cells. Methods : Cultured C6 glial cells of white mice were pretreated with JMT extract and exposed to $H_2O_2$ for inducing cell death. We measure the cell viability by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and investigate the cell morphology using a light microscope after crystal violet (CV) staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was analyzed using a flow cytometer and a fluorescent microscope after staining with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). DNA fragmentation was analyzed using a flow cytometer after propidium iodide (PI) staining and nuclei morphology was investigated using a fluorescent microscope after 2-[4-amidinophenyl]-6-indo-lecarbamidine dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining. We analyzed expression of Bax, processing of procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by western blot method. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) secretion was analyzed using Quantikine kit. Results : We determined the elevated cell viability by JMT extract on $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cell death. ROS formation, DNA fragmentation, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, and secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ induced by $H_2O_2$ are inhibited by JMT extract pre-treatment. JMT extract inhibits Bax expression, processing of caspase-3 and PARP that are critical biochemical markers of apoptotic cell death. Conclusions : These results suggest that JMT extract has a protective effect on $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cell death in various pathways.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2000

Objectives : The effects of cotreatment of adriamycin and ethanol extract of herb (Palgin-tang hab Hwajuck-hwan a traditional medicine for cancer treatment in oriental medicine) on the induction of apoptotic cell death were investigated in human liver origin cell lines, Chang. Methods : Chang(ATCC) liver cells were cultured in RPMI-1640(Gibco SRL Co, Gaithersburg, MD) badge including 10% fetal bovine serum. Chang liver cells were treated with various concentrations(from 10 to $0.16{\mu}l$) of adriamycin and herb extract(from 500 to $31.25{\mu}l$) After 48h later, the cells were tested for viability by Crystal violet staining assay. Adriamycin and Herb extract induced ladder pattern of DNA fragmentation in Chang cells. Genomic DNA was isolated and separated on 1.5% agarose gels. The DNA was stained with ethidium bromide and visualized under UV light. Results : The death of Chang cells was synergistically induced by the cotreatment of adriamycin and ethanol extract of herb. In addition, the cotreatment-induced cell death of Chang cells was mediated by apoptotic death signal processes. The phosphotransferase activity of JNK1 remained in a basal level in Chang cells which was treated individually with the adriamycin and ethanol extract of herb. However, it was markedly increased in Chang cells which was cotreated with adriamycin and ethanol extract of herb. In addition, the expression of Fas and FasL was markedly induced by the cotreatment of adriamycin and herb extract. For a while, the expression of Sax was a eminently increased by the ethanol extract of herb. However, Scl2 expression was not affected by the individual or cotreatment of adriamycin and herb extract. Conclusions : our results suggest that the cotreatment of adriamycin aM ethanol extract of herb induces synergistic apoptotis of human liver origin Chang cells via the upregulation of JNK, Fas, FasL and Bax.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.178-191
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• 2013

Objectives : In this study, we made an effort to investigate the protective mechanism of Ukgan-san (UGS) extracts on hypoxia-induced C6 glial cell death. Methods : The cell viability was assessed by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MMT) assay and cell morphological changes were analysed with microscope after staining with crystal violet (CV). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was assessed by flow cytometer after staining with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). We also analyzed expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-$1{\alpha}$) and p53, processing of procaspase-3 and procyclic acidic repetitive protein (PARP) by western blot method. Results : We estimated the elevated cell viability by UGS extract on $CoCl_2$-induced C6 glial cells. UGS attenuated $CoCl_2$-induced ROS formation in C6 glial cells and also showed a protective activity compared to antioxidants and exhibited abrogation of LDH-released by $CoCl_2$. UGS suppressed the typical apoptotic cell death markers, caspase-3 and PARP activation. UGS inhibited $CoCl_2$-induced HIF-1${\alpha}$ expression which is known as a major regulator for hypoxia-induced cell death, and suppressed p53 expression. Conclusions : These results suggest that UGS extract contains protective constituents for hypoxia-induced C6 glial cell death.