• Journal of Life Science
• /
• 제15권6호
• /
• pp.948-954
• /
• 2005

In this study, we investigated antimicrobial and cytotoxicity effects to each fraction extracted from Solanum lyratum (SL), which were extracted methanol (SLM) and then the extract was fractionated into five different types : hexane (SLMH), ethyl ether (SLMEE), ethylacetate (SLMEA), butanol (SLMB) and aqueous (SLMA). The antimicrobial activity was analyzed by the paper disc method. Among the various solvent fractions, SLMEA showed the strongest antimicrobial activies. The cytotoxicity of SL fractions on HeLa, MCF-7, HT-29 and HepG2 cells was evaluated by MTT assay. Among various partition layers, SLMEE showed the strongest cytotoxic effects to all cancer cell lines. We also observed that quinone reductase (QR) was induced by all fraction layers of SL to HepG2 cells. Since the QR-induced effects of SLMEE on HepG2 cells at $160{\mu}g/ml$ concentration showed 2.1 when compared with a control value of 1.0, inducer of QR for cancer protection may be contained in this fraction.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• 제23권2호
• /
• pp.151-156
• /
• 2010

Alginates are polysaccharides isolated from brown algae with gel-forming properties composed of 1,4-linked beta-D-mannuronic acid (M), alpha-L-guluronic acid (G), and alternating (MG) blocks. In this study, we have examined the toxic effects of high M-alginate to activate HepG2 human liver cells. Alginate enhanced the NO production and iNOS protein expression in HepG2 cells. In addition, alginates stimulated the HepG2 to induce IL-1 release and expression of TGF-beta1, which could influence the liver inflammation and chirrhosis. These findings suggest that high M-alginate form brown algae may have toxic effects on liver cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제45권12호
• /
• pp.1708-1716
• /
• 2016

The Akt/mammalian target of the rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is activated in the majority of human cancers. Activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway confers resistance to many types of cancer therapy. In this study, we evaluated the apoptotic effect of ethanol extract of Artemisia annua L. through down-regulation of Akt signal pathways and the mitochondrial pathway in hepato-carcinoma cells (HepG2). A. annua extract is known as a medicinal herb that is effective against cancer. We evaluated anti-proliferative activity by MTT-based viability assay and apoptotic effect by Annexin-V/PI staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and caspase-3/7 activity as determined by flow cytometry. A. annua treatment led to loss of MMP, resulting in cytochrome c-inducible activation of caspase-3/7. Treatment with A. annua extract reduced activities of Akt/mTOR/anti-apoptotic proteins (such as Bcl-2 and $Bcl-X_L$), leading to increased activation of tumor suppressor p53 and pro-apoptotic proteins (such as Bax and Bak). We applied LY294002 (inhibitor of Akt) and rapamycin (inhibitor of mTOR) to determine the relationship between signal transduction of proteins associated with apoptosis. LY294002 and rapamycin significantly reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis. These results indicate that Bcl-2 and caspase-3 are key regulators in A. annua extract-induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells and are controlled through the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• 제30권2호
• /
• pp.372-376
• /
• 2001

The effect of garlic extract and vitamin C mixture on the various cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo have been examined. Proliferation of human colon cancer (HT-29), human rectal cancer (HRT-18) and human hepatoma (HepG2) cells was inhibited by garlic extract and vitamin C, respectively. Based on the cytotoxic activity, mixture of garlic extract and vitamin C was demonstrated to possess a synergistic growth inhibition on HT-29, HRT-18 and HepG2 cancer cells. Mixture of garlic extract and vitamin C significantly arrested G2/M phase cells in the HepG2 cell cycle. Oral administration of mixture of garlic extract and vitamin C to sarcoma-180 tumor-bearing mice prolonged survival time compared to that of control group. These results suggested that addition of vitamin C enhances anticancer activity of garlic extract in vitro, and mixture of garlic extract and vitamin C has antitumor effect in vivo.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• 제30권7호
• /
• pp.1622-1624
• /
• 2009

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• 제30권4호
• /
• pp.845-857
• /
• 2009

Background and Objectives : Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum agglutinin, VCA) and bee venom (BV) have been reported to induce apoptosis in various cancer cell lines in vitro and to show antitumor activity against a variety of tumors in animal models. However, the comparative effect of VCA and BV on the anti-cancer effect and mechanisms of action has not been determined. In this study, the effect in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep G2 cells, was examined. Methods : Cytotoxic effects of VCA and BV on Hep G2 cells were determined by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in litro. The apoptotic cell death was then confirmed by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation analysis. The mechanisms of action were examined by the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. The involvement of kinase was examined in VCA or BV-induced apoptosis by using kinase inhibitors. Results : VCA and BV killed Hep G2 cells in a time and dose-dependent manner. Treatment of Hep G2 cells with VCA activated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) known as a marker of apoptosis, and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways including MAPK/ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK. BV also activated PARP-1, MAPK/ERK. and p38 MAPK but not JNK. The expression level of anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-X, was decreased by VCA treatment but not by BV. Finally, the phosphorylation level of ERM proteins involved in the cytoskeleton homeostasis was decreased by both stimuli. VCA-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by in the presence of JNK and p38 inhibitor, but BV only by p38 inhibitor. Conclusions : VCA-induced apoptosis is dependent on the activation of p38 and JNK. while BV-induced apoptosis is mediated by p38 activation in Hep G2 cells.

• BMB Reports
• /
• 제34권4호
• /
• pp.385-389
• /
• 2001

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) appears to be an important modular of the insulin growth factor (IGF) bioactivity in metabolic disease and chronic hypoxia. Treatment of desferrioxamine (Dfo), cobalt, or nickel in HepG2 cells stimulated the expression of IGFBP1 mRNA as hypoxia. However, the presence of ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) in the 1% $O_2$ decreased the upregulation of the IGFBP-1 mRNA expression. In addition, actinomycin D and cycloheximide abolished the increase in the expression of IGFBP-1 mRNA that was induced by Dfo and transition metals (cobalt and nickel). To obtain further information about the putative oxygen sensor, we postulate that putative heme proteins, responsible for the oxygen-sensing process in HepG2 cells, should be sensitive to hypoada. The mechanism of these upregulations of the IGFBP-1 mRNA expression by Dfo and transition metals was investigated by treatment with 2 mM of 4,6-dioxoheptanoic acid (DHA), an inhibitor of heme biosynthesis. The results showed that 1% $O_2$-, Dfo-, cobalt-, or nickel induced IGFBP-1 mRNA expressions in HepG2 cells were all markedly inhibited when the heme synthesis was blocked by DHA. We suggest that the IGFBP-1 mRNA expression in the HepG2 cell is regulated by 1% $O_2$, Dfo, cobalt, or nickel, implicating the involvement of the putative heme-containing oxygensensing molecule.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• 제29권4호
• /
• pp.171-179
• /
• 2008

Objective: Bufonis Venenum is the traditional Korean medicine Chan Su, which is obtained from the skin and parotid venom gland of the toads. It has been used for myocardial diseases, inflammation diseases, pain relief, cancer and others. The main components of BV are cinobufotoxin, cinobufalin, bufalin and others. Of these, bufalin, the major active ingredient of BV, has been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-tumor effects. There was no report of anti-tumor screening of BV on hepatic cancer and which signaling pathway can be involved. In order to examine the effect of BV on hepatic cancer and the related signaling pathway with BV-induced apoptosis, human Hep G2 cells were used. Methods: Analysis of apoptosis was confirmed by MTT assay. BV decreased cell viability in a dose and duration dependent manner. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of MAPK (p38, ERK, JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 were examined by Western blot analysis. Results: The phosphorylation levels of p38 started to increase at 5 min after addition of 5 ${\mu}g$/ml of BV and sustained to increase until 48 hours. The phosphorylation levels of other MAPK (ERK and JNK), caspase 8 and caspase 9 increased in a time-dependent manner. These imply that BV may activate different signaling pathways, MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9. These results propose that BV may induce apoptosis on Hep G2 cells through the activation of MAPK, caspase 8 and caspase 9.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• 제39권1호
• /
• pp.68-73
• /
• 2008

The present study represents the screening of the protective effects of herbal methanolic extracts from Baekdu mountain against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells. Tacrine is an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, and used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. However, administration of tacrine for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease results in a reversible hepatotoxicity in 30-50% of patients, consequently limiting clinical use. Therefore, studies for natural products with protective effect on the tacrine-induced hepatotoxicity would be valuable as providing potential therapeutic use. 109 plant sources were collected in Baekdu mountain, and extracted with methanol. These extracts had been screened the protective effects against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells at the 100 and 300 ${\mu}g/ml$. Of these, ten methanolic extracts, roots of Ampelosis japonica, aerial parts of Berberis amurensis, aerial parts of Sedum aizoon, aerial parts of Lespedeza tomentosa, aerial parts of Lespedeza juncea, aerial parts of Hypenricum ascyron, stem barks of Syringa reticulata, fruits of Gleditsia japonica, aerial parts of Chamaenerion angustifolium, branches of Ginkgo biloba, showed significant protective effects against tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in HepG2 cells.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• 제44권3호
• /
• pp.362-366
• /
• 2012

This study was performed to promote the effective utilization of edible marine resources and to develop functional food material from edible marine resource extracts for inhibiting lipid accumulation in liver. Edible marine resource extracts (ME) were prepared by hot water (MWE) and 80% ethanolic (MEE), and both the MWE and MEE extracts were assessed as to their cell cytotoxicity, and Oil Red O staining. Results demonstrated that ME showed no cytotoxic effects. However, treatment with MEE in the concentration of 1000, 500, and 250 ${\mu}g/mL$ significantly inhibited the lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells compared to MWE. Especially, among the 80% ethanolic extracts, Pagrus major, Larimichthys polyactis, Clupea pallasii, Octopus minor, Enteroctopus dofleini, Styela clava, dried sea mustard, and Enteromorpha intestinalis showed greater lipid accumulation inhibitory activity than the others.