• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.393-397
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• 2019

Proteasome inhibitors can promote apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells by inhibition of nuclear factorkappaB ($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of persimmon leaf extract (PSE) on proteasome activity in HepG2 human liver cancer cells. PSE treatment inhibited the proteasome activity and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 human liver cancer cells (p<0.05). PSE treatment increased the population of cells in G2/M and sub-G1 phases. The results suggested that PSE is one of the candidate substances that may be developed into a proteasome inhibitor.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.9853-9857
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• 2014

Background: The morbidity and mortality rate of liver cancer continues to rise in China and advanced cases respond poorly to chemotherapy. Ribosomal protein L24 has been reported to be a potential therapeutic target whose depletion or acetylation inhibits polysome assembly and cell growth of cancer. Materials and Methods: Total RNA of cultured amycin-resistant and susceptible HepG2 cells was isolated, and real time quantitative RT-PCR were used to indicate differences between amycin-resistant and susceptible strains of HepG2 cells. Viability assays were used to determine amycin resistance in RPL24 transfected and control vector and null-transfected HepG2 cell lines. Results: The ribosomal protein L24 transcription level was 7.7 times higher in the drug-resistant HepG2 cells as compared to susceptible cells on quantitative RT-PCR analysis. This was associated with enhanced drug resistance as determined by methyl tritiated thymidine (3H-TdR) incorporation. Conclusions: The ribosomal protein L24 gene may have effects on drug resistance mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.333-340
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• 2005

Background: Cancer reseach is done in earnest world-wide, because cancer is one of most threatening diseases to humans. Orostachyos Herba is a widely used herb that has long been in use in Korea as an anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapy. The purpose of this study is to verify any anti-cancer effects on stomach and liver cancer in vitro. Materials & Methods: AGS and KATO III stomach cancer cells and Hep3B and HepG2 liver cancer cells, all obtained from Korean Cell Line Bank, were used. The boiled extract of Orostachyos Herba(20 and 40 microliters) were injected into cultures and observed at 0 hours, and at 24-hour intervals up to 96 hours. The destruction of stomach and liver cancer cells was measured through Trypan blue exclusion testing. The suppression on viability of stomach and liver cancer cells was observed, and anti-cancer mechanisms was examined by analyzing the cell cycle. Results: In morphologic change, AGS, KATO III, HepG2 and Hep3B showed some of the withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular imparment. AGS, KATO III, HepG2 and Hep3B showed more destruction of stomach cancer cells in each test group than in the control group to a statistically significant degree. Analysis of the cell cycle after introduction of Orostachyos Herba showed very little inhibition of divisions of all cell lines. Conclusions: This experiment suggests that Orostachyos Herba has some anti-tumor effects on stomach and liver cancer cells. Progressive research on Orostachyos Herba and it's anti-tumor effects will be needed to determine its practicability as a cancer treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.320-332
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• 2005

Objectives: The aim of the experiment is to identify any anti-tumor effects of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke on stomach, liver, urinary bladder, prostate and kidney cancer cells. Materials & Methods: For cancer cells, AGS stomach, Hep3B and Hep3G2 liver, HT-1197, HT-1376 urinary bladder, PC3 prostate, and A-704 kidney cancer cells, all obtained from Korean Ce 11 Line Bank, were used. The boiled extract of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke (10 and 20 microliters) was injected into cultures, and the cultures were observed at 0, 6 and 12 hours, and from then on at 12 hours intervals up to 72 hours. The destruction of stomach, liver, urinary bladder, prostate and kidney cancer cells were measured through Trypan blue exclusion testing. The suppresion on viability of stomach, liver, urinary bladder, prostate and kidney cancer cells was measured via MTT assay. Anti-cancer mechanisms were assessed by analyzing the cell cycle. Results: In morphologic change, AGS, Hep3B, HepG2 showed the withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular impairment. The destruction of AGS, HT-1197, HT-1376, A-704, PC-3, Hep3B and HepG2 cancer cells in each test group was greater than that in the control group to a statistically significant degree. The suppression on viability of AGS, HT-1197 and Hep3G in each test group was greater than that in the control group to a statistically significant degree. Analysis of the cell cycle after injection of D... Focke showed inhibition of cell division in all test groups(AGS, Hep3B, HepG2, HT-1197, HT-1376, PC3, A-704). Conclusions: The results of this experiment suggest that Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke has statistically significant anti-tumor effects on stomach, urinary bladder, kidney, prostate and liver cancer, of which stomach and liver cancer are prominently significant. This in vitro experiment supports a role for Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke as a potential cancer treatment, but progressive research on Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke and its anti-tumor effects is needed to develop a practical application for it in cancer treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.565-570
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• 2019

Proteasome inhibitors can improve the efficiency of cancer treatments by inhibiting nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$($NF-{\kappa}B$) activation in cancer cells. Lentils are a type of beans of which consumption of such beans is increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lentils extract (LE) on the proteasomal activities, $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation, and cell cycle in HepG2 human liver cancer cells. LE treatments inhibited proteasomal activities at concentrations of 10, 50, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ respectively, and repressed $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation at concentrations of 1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ respectively, in HepG2 cells. LE treatments at concentrations of 1, 10, and $100{\mu}g/mL$ respectively, increased sub-G1 cell population in HepG2 cells, which may be the result of apoptosis. The results suggest that LE inhibited $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation partially with its proteasome inhibitory activities, and the increase of sub-G1 cell population was induced partially, by inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in HepG2 cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.3383-3387
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• 2015

Portulaca oleracea (Family: Portulacaceae), is well known for its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, anti-bacterial, and anti-tumor activities. However, cytotoxic effects of seed oil of Portulaca oleracea against human liver cancer (HepG2) and human lung cancer (A-549) cell lines have not been studied previously. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the cytotoxic effects of Portulaca oleracea seed oil on HepG2 and A-549 cell lines. Both cell lines were exposed to various concentrations of Portulaca oleracea seed oil for 24h. After the exposure, percentage cell viability was studied by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) (MTT), neutral red uptake (NRU) assays, and cellular morphology by phase contrast inverted microscopy. The results showed a concentration-dependent significant reduction in the percentage cell viability and an alteration in the cellular morphology of HepG2 and A-549 cells. The percentage cell viability was recorded as 73%, 63%, and 54% by MTT assay and 76%, 61%, and 50% by NRU assay at 250, 500, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$, respectively in HepG2 cells. Percentage cell viability was recorded as 82%, 72%, and 64% by MTT assay and 83%, 68%, and 56% by NRU assay at 250, 500, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$, respectively in A-549 cells. The 100 $100{\mu}g/ml$ and lower concentrations were found to be non cytotoxic to A-549 cells, whereas decrease of 14% and 12% were recorded by MTT and NRU assay, respectively in HepG2 cells. Both HepG2 and A-549 cell lines exposed to 250, 500, and $1000{\mu}g/ml$ of Portulaca oleracea seed oil lost their normal morphology, cell adhesion capacity, become rounded, and appeared smaller in size. The data from this study showed that exposure to seed oil of Portulaca oleracea resulted in significant cytotoxicity and inhibition of growth of the human liver cancer (HepG2) and human lung cancer (A-549) cell lines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4311-4316
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• 2015

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a primary liver cancer with high global incidence and mortality rates. Current candidate drugs to treat HCC remain lacking and those in use possess undesirable side effects. In this investigation, the antiproliferative effects of dentatin (DTN), a natural coumarin, were evaluated on HepG2 cells and DTN's probable preliminary molecular mechanisms in apoptosis induction were further investigated. DTN significantly (p<0.05) suppressed proliferation of HepG2 cells with an $IC_{50}$ value of $12.0{\mu}g/mL$, without affecting human normal liver cells, WRL-68 ($IC_{50}$ > $50{\mu}g/mL$) causing $G_0/G_1$ cell cycle arrest via apoptosis induction. Caspase colorimetric assays showed markedly increased levels of caspase-3 and caspase-9 activities throughout the treatment period. Western blotting of treated HepG2 cells revealed inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ that triggers the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic signaling pathway by up-regulating cytoplasmic cytochrome c and Bax, and down-regulating Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. The current findings suggest DTN has the potential to be developed further as an anticancer compound targeting human HCC.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.158-170
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum agglutinin, VCA) and bee venom (BV) to experimental prove comparative study of VCA and BV on the anti-cancer effect and mechanisms of action. Methods: In this study, it was examined in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep G2 cells. 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 vitro. VCA and BV killed Hep G2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Results: The apoptotic cell death was then confirmed by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation analysis. The mechanisms of action was examined by the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. 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 SAPK/JNK, MAPK and p38. BV also activated PARP-1, MAPK, p38 but not JNK. The expression level of anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-X, was decreased by VCA treatment but not BV. Finally, the phosphorylation level of ERM proteins involved in the cytoskeleton homeostasis was decreased by both stimuli. Conclusion: We examined the involvement of kinase in VCA or BV - induced apoptosis by using kinase inhibitors. VCA-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by in the presence.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.1833-1837
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• 2015

An aristolactam-type alkaloid, isolated from Orophea enterocarpa, is enterocarpam-III (10-amino-2,3,4,6-tetramethoxyphenanthrene-1-carboxylic acid lactam). It is cytotoxic to various human and murine cancer cell lines; however, the molecular mechanisms remain unclear. The aims of this study were to investigate cytotoxic effects on and mechanism (s) of human cancer cell death in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and human invasive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells compared to normal murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay to determine $IC_{10}$, $IC_{20}$ and $IC_{50}$ levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production with 2',7'-dichlorohydrofluorescein diacetate and the caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities using specific chromogenic (p-nitroaniline) tetrapeptide substrates, viz., DEVD-NA, IETD-NA and LEHD-NA and employing a microplate reader. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) was measured by staining with 3, 3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide ($DiOC_6$) and using flow cytometry. The compound was cytotoxic to HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cells with the $IC_{50}$ levels of $26.0{\pm}4.45$ and $51.3{\pm}2.05{\mu}M$, respectively. For murine normal fibroblast NIH3T3 cells, the $IC_{50}$ concentration was $81.3{\pm}10.1{\mu}M$. ROS production was reduced in a dose-response manner in HepG2 cells. The caspase-9 and -3 activities increased in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas caspase-8 activity did not alter, indicating the intrinsic pathway activation. Enterocarpam-III decreased the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) dose-dependently in HepG2 cells, suggesting that the compound induced HepG2 cell apoptosis via the mitochondrial pathway. In conclusion, enterocarpam-III inhibited HepG2 and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and induced human HepG2 cells to undergo apoptosis via the intrinsic (mitochondrial) pathway and induction of caspase-9 activity.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.113-117
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• 2005

Organosulfur compounds have been shown to exert an anti-cancer activity. In an attempt to develop novel chemopreventive and anti-cancer agents for liver cancer, we synthesized allylthiopyridazine derivatives. We have previously shown that allylthiopyridazine derivatives exert inhibitory effects on proliferation, invasion and migration of SK-Hep-1 hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro. The in vivo anti-tumor effect of 3-methvl-6-allylthiopy-ridazine, named as K6, was also reported. In this study, we further investigated the preclinical anti-cancer efficacy of K6 for hepatocarcinoma using nude mice xenografted with Hep-G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. K6(20-100 mg/kg, orally administered everyday for 30 days) markedly decreased the tumor volume of Hep-G2 cell-transplanted nude mice as evidenced by ultrasonographic and plethysmogranhic analyses. The inhibitory effect on tumor volume was lower than that exerted by doxorubicin (2 mg/kg), intravenously injected) which was used as a positive control. This study shows that K6 efficiently suppresses xenograft tumor growth, revealing K6 as apotential anti-cancer agent for suppressing in vivo progression of liver cancer. Given that hepatocarcinoma is among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies and there is no effective treatment to date, our study may contribute to the potential drug development for liver cancer.