• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.1
• /
• pp.10-15
• /
• 2024

Previous studies have highlighted the pivotal role of the β-adrenergic receptor (β-AR) signaling pathway in stimulating cancer metastasis induced by chronic stress. According to the theory of traditional Korean medicine, chronic stress can induce Qi stagnation. Based on the traditional role of premature citrus unshiu peel in moving Qi, we hypothesized that an ethanol extract of premature citrus unshiu peel (EPCU) can attenuate chronic stress-induced cancer progression. In this study, we investigated the potential role of EPCU on modulating the adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic properties of liver cancer cells. Our findings revealed that adrenergic agonists, including norepinephrine (NE), epinephrine (E), and isoproterenol (ISO), augmented the migratory capacity of Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, which was completely abrogated by EPCU treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Consistently, EPCU inhibited the E-induced invasive property of Hep3B cells in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that EPCU efficiently attenuates adrenergic agonists-induced metastatic abilities of liver cancer cells. As a molecular mechanism, EPF suppressed the phosphorylation of major components of β-AR signaling pathway, including Src, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and ERK, induced by E treatment. Taken together, our results demonstrate that EPCU impedes the adrenergic agonists-driven metastatic potential of cancer cells by inhibiting β-AR signaling pathway. This study provides basic evidence supporting the probable use of premature citrus unshiu peel to prevent metastasis in liver cancer patients under chronic stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.41 no.12
• /
• pp.1677-1685
• /
• 2012

The autolysate and hydrolysate of a common squid liver, Todarodes pacificus, were prepared. Autolysis (liver ratio, pH, temperature) and Protamex-treated hydrolysis (pH, temperature, ratio of protease to liver) conditions were optimized by response surface methodology using central composite design for under 1 hr of hydrolysis time. The desirability profile indicated that maximum DH could be achieved at a squid liver of 93.5%, pH 6.4, and $47^{\circ}C$ in autolysis, while that of Protamex-treated hydrolysis did at a Protamex-to-squid liver level of 0.33%, pH 6.0, and $55^{\circ}C$. Three amino acids, proline, cysteine, and methionine, were not detected in the total amino acid composition of the Protamex-treated hydrolysate, while they were detected in the free amino acid composition. Cadmium was $8.32{\pm}0.03$ mg/100 g-powder for raw, $3.56{\pm}0.02$ mg/100 g-powder for the autolysate, and $13.26{\pm}0.04$ mg/100 g powder for the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. The major molecular weight ranged from 1.0 to 1.5 kDa for the autolysate and from 210 to 470 Da for the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. Food functionalities of the autolysate, such as surface hydrolphobicity, emulsion activity index, emulsion stability, water, and fat adsorption, were similar to the Protamex-treated hydrolysate. Both the autolysate and Protamex-hydrolysate showed high inhibitory activities on the angiotensin-I converting enzyme. Cell toxicity against the HepG2 cell line was not detected in the autolysate or the Protamex-treated hydrolysate by 200 ${\mu}g/mL$.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
• /
• v.26 no.4
• /
• pp.609-614
• /
• 2013

This study was carried out in order to investigate the functional properties of methanol extracts from two parts (root and fruit) of Xanthium strumarium by means of measuring the contents of total polyphenols and flavonoid as well as determining $ABTS{\cdot}^+$, DPPH radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (OH${\cdot}$) and anticancer activity. The examination of physiologically active substances in the two parts revealed that the Xanthium strumarium fruit had high total polyphenol, flavonoid contents, $ABTS{\cdot}^+$ DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity. The Xanthium strumarium fruit has higher activities of anticancer activities on prostate cell lines compared to other cancer cell lines.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.688-696
• /
• 2019

This study investigated changes in triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis and tyrosinase activity induced by ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L.) extract, which cannot be stored for long periods of time due to its high moisture content when it was fermented to improve its storage stability. The accumulation of triglyceride and cholesterol in HepG2 cells inhibited the accumulation with a relatively large magnitude in n-butanol and aqueous fractions that generally have high polarity, however, changes in inhibition potency due to the fermentation were not significant. As for the effect to inhibit tyrosinase activity, when L-tyrosine was used as a substrate, the inhibitory activity was the highest for the aqueous fraction at $60.58{\pm}4.03%$ and $63.35{\pm}4.35%$, before and after fermentation, respectively, which amounted to 72% of that of the positive control group (arbutin, $100{\mu}g/ml$). In addition, when L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) was used as a substrate, the inhibitory activity was also found the highest for the aqueous fraction at $56.85{\pm}1.57%$ and $59.38{\pm}1.74%$, before and after fermentation, respectively, which amounted to at least 88% of that in the positive control (kojic acid, $100{\mu}g/ml$). Overall, the activity of the fermented ice plant extract was similar or a little higher compared to that of the one without fermentation, indicating that fermentation can be a good approach to improve the storage stability of the ice plant.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
• /
• v.41 no.2
• /
• pp.169-179
• /
• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the main pharmacological components of Panax ginseng root, which are thought to be primarily responsible for the suppressing effect on oxidative stress. Methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorption capacity were applied to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the ginsenosides. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells were incubated with ginsenosides extracted by pulsed electric field (PEF) and solvent cold soak extraction (SCSE) for 24 h and then the injury was induced by $40{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$. The cell viability and surface morphology of HEK-293 cells were studied using MTS assay and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate fluorescent probe assay was used to measure the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The intracellular antioxidant activities of ginsenosides were evaluated by cellular antioxidant activity assay in HepG2 cells. Results: The PEF extracts displayed the higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and stronger oxygen radical absorption capacity (with an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of $14.48{\pm}4.04{\mu}M\;TE\;per\;{\mu}g/mL$). The HEK-293 cell model also suggested that the protective effect of PEF extracts was dose-dependently greater than SCSE extracts. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay further proved that PEF extracts are more active (8% higher than SCSE extracts) in reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images showed that the HEK-293 cells, which were treated with PEF extracts, maintained more intact surface morphology. Cellular antioxidant activity values indicated that ginsenosides extracted by PEF had stronger cellular antioxidant activity than SCSE ginsenosides extracts. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the antioxidative effect of ginsenosides extracted by PEF in vitro. Furthermore, rather than SCSE, PEF may be more useful as an alternative extraction technique for the extraction of ginsenosides with enhanced antioxidant activity.