• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.799-804
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• 2009

Kamikaekyuk-tang(KMKKT), a formula of ten Oriental herbs, was orientally designed to promote vital energy, to remove blood stasis, and to decrease inflammation for treating cancers. KMKKT and its component had potent antiandrogen and androgen receptor activities in prostate cancer and also inhibited angiogenesis induced by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells and suppressed the tumor growth in LLC-bearing mice, and liver metastasis of colon 26-L5 cancer cells, suggesting a potent cancer preventive agent. Nevertheless, there is no safety study of KMKKT before clinical trial so far. Thus, in the current study, we investigated the toxicity about ethanol-extracted KMKKT. Male and female Spraque Dawley (SD) rats were given orally by KMKKT at 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg for 4 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs and measured change of body weight, food consumption and water consumption were observed. In addition, we performed ophthalmologic, urinary, hematological, blood serum biochemical and histopathological examination. Any general toxicity was not found in KMKKT treated group. Also, there were no significant differences in the parameters such as body weight, food consumption and water consumption, a lot of urine and blood factor levels except WBC, MCHC and Ca level compared with control group. Although WBC and MCHC were elevated in female rats and Ca level was decreased in male rats, these were within normal ranges. Finally, we determined that maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was 1000 mg/kg and no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) was 500 mg/kg. Taken together, these results demonstrated that KMKKT is very safe to SD rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1947-1959
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, being the second most common type of cancer worldwide in both men and women. It accounts yearly for approximately 9% of all new cases of cancers. Furthermore, the current chemotherapeutic regimens seem unsatisfactory, so that exploration of novel therapeutic modalities is needed. The present study was undertaken to investigate the inhibitory effects of a crude alkaloid extract (CAERS) of a medicinal herb, Rhazya stricta, on proliferation of CRC HCT116 cells and to elucidate mechanisms of action. To achieve these aims, we utilized MTT, comet, DNA laddering and gene reporter assays, along with Western blot and RT-PCR analyses. Results: We found that CAERS inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death in HCT116 cells. Hallmarks of morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis were clearly evident. CAERS down-regulated DNA-binding and transcriptional activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 proteins, while up-regulating expression of the Nrf-2 protein. It also down-regulated expression levels of the ERK MAPK, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, CDK-4, survivin and VEGF and up-regulated levels of Bax, caspase-3/7 and -9, p53, p21, Nrf-2. Markedly, it promoted mRNA expression levels of cytoprotective genes including the hemeoxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1 and UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Conclusions: These findings indicate that CAERS exerts antiproliferative action on CRC cells through induction of apoptotic mechanisms, and suggest CAERS could be a promising agent for studying and developing novel chemotherapeutic agents aimed at novel molecular targets for the treatment of CRC.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2009

This study was performed to investigate the cell growth inhibitory effect of tissue cultured root of wild Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (tcwPG). The human stomach carcinoma cell line, MKN 74, was incubated with 70% EtOH extract of tcwPG or Panax ginseng C.A. Mayer (PG) for 24 hrs. tcwPG inhibited cell growth at a concentration of $250{\mu}g/ml$. However, Panax ginseng extract did not inhibit cell growth at the same concentration. We also tested the ethyl acetate and $H_2O$ fractions of tcwPG. The inhibitory effect of the ethyl acetate fraction on cell proliferation in MKN 74 cells was more potent than that of the crude extract, and the inhibitory effect of the $H_2O$ fraction was less than that of the ethyl acetate fraction. When we separated tcwPG into polar and non-polar saponin fractions and then measured cell growth inhibition, the non-polar saponin in tcwPG exhibited cytotoxicity. To compare the effects of tcwPG on various cancer cell lines, we measured cytotoxicity in MKN 74 (stomach cancer cell line), SW 620 (colon cancer cell line) and PC 3 (prostate cancer cell line). All three cell lines showed cell growth inhibition, and the cell growth inhibitory effects were not quite different in the various cell lines. The non-polar saponins of tcwPG arrested PC 3 cells at G1-phase as did Panax ginseng.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.647-650
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• 2012

Promising anticancer compounds of the type 1,6-disubstituted 4,5,6,7-tetrahydropyrazolo[3,4-c]pyridin-7-ones were identified. The target compounds were readily synthesized in a large scale via a sequence of reactions starting from the commercially available primary amines. Their in vitro anti-proliferative activity has been evaluated on prostate (DU-145), colon (HT-29 and HCT-116) and melanoma (A375P) human cancer cell lines. The relationships between the structure and the anticancer activity, covering all tested cancer cell lines, revealed that the compound 5c with 2,4-dimethylphenyl substituent at $R^2$ was the most potent with the $IC_{50}$ values in the range as low as 0.16 to $0.40{\mu}M$.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.628-630
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• 2004

Antitumor activities of a peptide fraction isolated from traditional Korean soy sauce (SSP) were investigated in vitro and in vivo using cancer cell lines and F9 teratocarcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice. SSP exerted a dose-dependent antiproliferative effect on P388D1 mouse lymphoma, F9 mouse teratocarcinoma, and DLD-l human colon cancer cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 11, 50, and $50\mug/ml$, respectively. Tumor growth in F9 teratocarcinoma-bearing BALB/c mice, orally administered with 80 and 200 mg/kg/day of SSPs, was inhibited 10.3% and 52.4%, respectively, and survival days increased by 11.9% and 22.1%, respectively, compared to the control group. The results of antitumor activities exerted by SSP in vitro and in vivo suggest the feasibility of using SSP as an antitumor agent.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2019

Resveratrol was first isolated in 1939 by Takaoka from Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes. Following this discovery, sporadic descriptive reports appeared in the literature. However, spurred by our seminal paper published nearly 60 years later, resveratrol became a household word and the subject of extensive investigation. Now, in addition to appearing in over 20,000 research papers, resveratrol has inspired monographs, conferences, symposia, patents, chemical derivatives, etc. In addition, dietary supplements are marketed under various tradenames. Once resveratrol was brought to the limelight, early research tended to focus on pharmacological activities related to the cardiovascular system, inflammation, and cancer but, over the years, the horizon greatly expanded. Around 130 human clinical trials have been (or are being) conducted with varying results. This may be due to factors such as disparate doses (ca. 5 to 5,000 mg/day) and variable experimental settings. Further, molecular targets are numerous and a dominant mechanism is elusive or nonexistent. In this context, the compound is overtly promiscuous. Nonetheless, since the safety profile is pristine, and use as a dietary supplement is prevalent, these features are not viewed as detrimental. Given the ongoing history of resveratrol, it is reasonable to advocate for additional development and further clinical investigation. Topical preparations seem especially promising, as do conditions that can respond to anti-inflammatory action and/or direct exposure, such as colon cancer prevention. Although the ultimate fate of resveratrol remains an open question, thus far, the compound has inspired innovative scientific concepts and enhanced public awareness of preventative health care.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.28
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• pp.25-29
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• 2010

The colored sweet potato, particularly purple sweet potato, has been well known to contain anthocyanins abundantly. This study was conducted to examine the antioxidant properties of purple sweet potato. The chopped purple sweet potato was extracted 2 times with water or acetone for 18 hours at $28^{\circ}C$. The antioxidative potential of each solvent extract was assessed by DPPH free radical scavenging activity assay, FRAP assay, and total phenolic contents. The results showed that both extracts had not only high DPPH free radical scavenging activity but had high level of total phenolic compounds. Furthermore, both solvent extracts were found to have antioxidative effects in human colon cancer cells (HCT 116, HT 29) in DCFDA assay. The notable antioxidant activity of purple sweet potato suggests its significant health benefit and deserves further study to develop into functional food ingredient.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.198-201
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• 2005

Two known isoquinoline alkaloids, (+)-chelidonine (1) and (-)-stylopine (2), were isolated from $CHCl_3$-soluble fraction of whole plants of Chelidonium majus L. var. asiaticum, and their structures were identified by spectroscopic methods and X-ray crystallographic analysis. Two isolates (1 and 2) were examined for their in vitro cytotoxic activities against five human cancer cell lines including DU-145 (prostate), MCF (breast), A549 (lung), HePG2 (liver), and HT-29 (colon) by sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.354-359
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• 1994

The activity of SD-framesylcysteine O-methyltransferase was assayed by incubating the enzyrne with a synthetic in vitro substrate, [N-acetyl-S-trans, trns-famesyl-L-cysteine (AFC)], together with S-adenosyl-L-[emthyl-$_{14}$C)ester(AFCME)], was then analyzed either directly on HPLC or by converting the AFC[$methyl^{14}C$]ME to [$methyl^{14}C$] aclcohol by basehydrolysis. Employing these two analytical methods, it was established that a peptide purifed from rat liver cytosol fraction [Int. J. Biochem., 25, 1157 919930] strongly inhibited the above enzyme activity with $IC_{50}\; of\; 7.1\times 10^{-8}$ M. Also, the S-famesylcysteine O-methyltransferase from several human colon cancer cells was equally inhibited by the peptide.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.253-257
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• 2003

Resveratrol analogs were newly synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity in cultured human lung and colon cancer cells. 3,5,4-Trimethoxy-trans-stilbene and 3,5,2',4'-tetramethoxy-trans-stilbene were found to be more potent rather than resveratrol. 3,4,5-Trimethoxy-4'-bromo-cis-stilbene was the most active among the test compounds.