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

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.36 no.4
• /
• pp.9-22
• /
• 2021

Objective : The purpose of this dissertation is to make a list of the phaeophyta growing naturally in the Korean coastal waters, and to carry out a survey on the current distribution status to investigate the phaeophyta which can be used as medicinal herbs. Methods : References and research papers about herbology published at home and abroad were examined. Results : The results of this study were as follows : A total of 63 genera and 145 species of phaeophyta was found in the Korean coastal waters among which 11 genera and 15 species(approximately 11%) were medicinal plants. Out of the 145 species of phaeophyta 27 species belonged to Sargassum, and out of the 15 species of medicinal plants 4 species belonged to Sargassum. Among the medicinal parts 11 species belonged to algae. Sixteen species had cold property, and 16 species had salty flavors. Thirteen species had the efficacy of liver meridian, and 15 species had the potency of YEONKYUN, which helps to remove hard clots generated in human body. No toxic drugs were detected. Conclusion : There were totaled to 63 genera and 145 species in Phaeophyta in Korea and among them medicinal plants are 11 genera, 15 species, some 11% in total. Thirteen species had the efficacy of liver meridian, and 15 species had the potency of YEONKYUN, which helps to remove hard clots generated in human body. No toxic drugs were detected.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.56 no.6
• /
• pp.589-601
• /
• 2023

Purpose: Baicalein, a natural flavone found in herbs, exhibits diverse biological activities. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is an irreversible condition often associated with a poor prognosis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of baicalein on the development of NASH in mice. Methods: Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into four groups. Three groups were fed a methionine-choline-deficient (MCD) diet to induce NASH and were simultaneously treated with baicalein (at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle only (sodium carboxymethylcellulose) through oral gavage for 4 weeks. The control group was fed a methionine-choline-sufficient (MCS) diet without the administration of baicalein. Results: The baicalein treatment significantly reduced serum levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, suggestive of reduced liver damage. Histological analysis revealed a marked decrease in nonalcoholic fatty liver activity scores induced by the MCD diet in the mice. Similarly, baicalein treatment at both doses significantly attenuated the degree of hepatic fibrosis, as examined by Sirius red staining, and hepatocellular death, as examined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Baicalein treatment attenuated MCD-diet-induced lipid peroxidation, as evidenced by lower levels of hepatic malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal, demonstrating a reduction in oxidative stress resulting from lipid peroxidation. Moreover, baicalein treatment suppressed hepatic protein levels of 12-lipoxygenase (12-Lox) induced by the MCD diet. In contrast, baicalein enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Additionally, baicalein treatment significantly reduced hepatic non-heme iron concentrations and hepatic ferritin protein levels in mice fed an MCD diet. Conclusion: To summarize, baicalein treatment suppresses hepatic lipid peroxidation, 12-Lox expression, and iron accumulation, all of which are associated with the attenuation of NASH progression.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.32 no.4
• /
• pp.519-529
• /
• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the effects of Injinchunggan-tang on cell growth and apoptosis in human hepatic stellate cell line LX2. Materials and Methods : Hepatic stellate cells were treated with various concentrations of Injinchunggan-tang extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. The extraction was done with distilled water. After the treatment, cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, caspase activity, caspase inhibitor and the mRNA of the Bcl-2, and Bax with ${\beta}$-actin were measured by using MTT assay, apoptosis assay and RT-PCR. Results : Proliferation, and mRNA expression of the hepatic stellate cells were inhibited by Injinchunggan-tang treatment in a dose-dependent manner. This indicates the prescription has inhibitory effect on fibrogenesis of the liver by regulating the fibrogenesis-associated genes in transcription. Cell viability was inhibited in time- and dose-dependent manners. Conclusions : These results suggest that Injinchunggan-tang would be beneficial in the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as for the patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.39-43
• /
• 2013

Carthamus tinctorius L. and Eucommia umoides Oliver are often used in traditional herbal medicines for reducing damage to the liver, kidney, bone and muscle. In the present study, we investigated cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity in the human osteoblast-like MG-63 cell line with methanol extracts of Carthami Semen (CS) and Eucommiae Cortex (EC) alone or in a mixture (CS+EC). Osteoblast cell viability was evaluated using the MTS assay and alkaline phosphatase activity assays. The cell viability and alkaline phosphatase activity significantly increased in MG-63 osteoblast cells treated with the CS+EC mixture. These findings suggest the CS+EC mixture may have beneficial effects on bone health through the proliferation of osteoblast cells.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• v.27 no.6
• /
• pp.697-701
• /
• 2009

We previously identified cancer-upregulated gene 2 (CUG2) as a commonly up-regulated gene in various human cancer tissues, especially in ovary, liver, and lung (Lee et al., 2007a). CUG2 was determined to be a nuclear protein that exhibited high proto-oncogenic activities when overexpressed in NIH3T3 mouse fibroblast cells. To identify other cellular functions of CUG2, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and identified CENP-T, a component of CENP-A nucleosome complex in the centromere, as an interacting partner of CUG2. Moreover, CENP-A, the principle centromeric determinant, was also found in complex with CENP-T/CUG2. Immunofluorescent staining revealed the co-localization of CUG2 with human centromeric markers. Inhibition of CUG2 expression drastically affected cell viability by inducing aberrant cell division. We propose that CUG2 is a new component of the human centromeric complex that is required for proper chromosome segregation during mitosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.111-115
• /
• 2000

Three cases of human infection by Trichinella spiralis were first confirmed by detecting encysted larvae in the biopsied muscle in December 1997, in Korea. The patients were one 35-and two 39-year-old males residing in Kochang-gun, Kyongsangnam-do. They had a common past history of eating raw liver, spleen, blood and muscle of a badger, Meles meles melanogenvs, and complained of high fever, facial and periorbital edema, and myalgia. Hematologic and biochemical examinations revealed leukocytosis and eosinophilia, and highly elevated levels of GOT, GPT, LDH and CPK. In the gastrocnemius muscle of a patient, roundly coiled nematode larvae were detected. The larvae measured 0.775-1.050 (av 0.908) mm in length, and 0.026-0.042 (av. 0.035) mm in maximum width. The specific IgG antibody levels in three patients' sera were significantly higher when compared with those of normal controls. The patients were treated with flubendazole and albendazole for 15-30 days, and discharged at 13-34 days post-admission. From the above findings, it was confirmed that T. spiralis is present in Korea, and the badger plays a role of as the natural host.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
• /
• 1997.04a
• /
• pp.81-81
• /
• 1997

We previously demonstrated an enhancer-like positive regulatory element within a 259-bp sequence (-2352 to-2094 bp) of the human CYP1A2 gene in HepG2 cells. Three protein binding sites were identified by DNase I footprint analyses within the 259-bp sequence: protected region A PRA ( -2283 to-2243 bp), PRB (-2218 to-2187 bp), and PRC (-2124 to-2098 bp) (I. Chung and E. Bresnick, Mol. Pharmacol. 47, 677-685, 1995). In the present study, the functional significance of those protected regions was examined. Transfection experiments with deletion and substitution mutants defined the PRB and PRC as containing positive and negative regulatory elements, respectively. Human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells were cotransfected with a hepatocyte nuclear factor-1 (HNF-1) expression vector and CYP1A2 promoter-or thymidine kinase promoter-luciferase remoter gene constructs. HNF-1, which contributes to the liver specificity of genes, enhanced reporter gene activity in a PRC sequence-dependent manner. These results suggested that PRC could exist bound to a repressor which was displaceable by other transcription factors such as HNF-1. Results obtained by transfection of HepG2 hepatoma cells with various PRB substitution mutant-luciferase gene fusion constructs indicated that the entire sequence of PRB was necessary for promoter activity. Consequently, the regulation of CYP1A3 expression is very complex, requiring a number of both positive and negative regulatory factors.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.3
• /
• pp.1423-1428
• /
• 2014

Iso-suillin, a natural product isolated from Suillus luteus, has been shown to inhibit the growth of some cancer cell lines. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of this compound are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate how iso-suillin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in a human hepatoma cell line (SMMC-7721). We demonstrated the effects of iso-suillin on cell proliferation and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells, with no apparent toxicity in normal human lymphocytes, using colony formation assays and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) analysis. Western blotting was used to examine the expression of $G_1$ phase-regulated and apoptosis-associated protein levels in iso-suillin treated SMMC-7721 cells. The results indicated that iso-suillin significantly decreased viability, induced $G_1$ phase arrest and triggered apoptosis in SMMC-7721cells. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of iso-suillin as a candidate for liver cancer treatment.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.28 no.6
• /
• pp.1321-1325
• /
• 1999

The inhibitory effect of Ramaria botrytis on the mutagenicity in Salmonella assay and cytotoxicity on cancer cell were studied. Ramaria botrytis methanol extracts showed antimutagenic effects of 60~90% on B(a)P and AFB1 in S. typhimurium TA98 and TA100. These extracts showed 73~85% antimutagenicity on TA100 against MNNG. The methanol extracts with strong antimutagenic activities were further fractionated by ethylacetate and water, the ethylacetate fraction were found to be stronger antimutagen icity against MNNG than water fraction. Ramaria botrytis methanol extracts and ethylacetate fraction revealed the highest cytoxicity against HT 29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells in which cell growth was inhibited by 57~88% and 69~94% at 0.25~1.0mg/ml, respectively. These methanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited 53~79% and 66~87% inhibition against HepG2 human hepatocarcinoma cells, respectively. But water fraction showed only 10~24% inhibition. However, these extract and fractions did not show cytotoxic effect against human chang liver cells. From these results, it is considered that Ramaria botrytis has stronger antimutagenic and anticancer effects in vitro.