• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.172-178
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• 2009

Nanoparticles are small-scale substances (<100 nm) with unique properties, complex exposure and health risk implications. Aluminum oxide ($Al_2O_3$) nanoparticles (NP) have been widely used as abrasives, wear-resistant coatings on propeller shafts of ships, to increase the specific impulse per weight of composite propellants used in solid rocket fuel and as drug delivery systems to increase solubility. However, recent studies have shown that nano-sized aluminum (10 nm in diameter) can generate adverse effects, such as pulmonary response. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of $Al_2O_3$ NP were investigated using the dye exclusion assay, the comet assay, and the mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase (tk$^{+/-}$) gene mutation assay (MLA). IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP in BEAS-2B cells were determined the concentration of 273.44 $\mu$g/mL and 390.63 $\mu$g/mL with and without S-9. However IC$_{20}$ values of $Al_2O_3$ NP were found nontoxic in L5178Y cells both of with and without S-9 fraction. In the comet assay, L5178Y cells and BEAS-2B cells were treated with $Al_2O_3$ NP which significantly increased 2-fold tail moment with and without S-9. Also, the mutant frequencies in the $Al_2O_3$ NP treated L5178Y cells were increased compared to the vehicle controls with S-9. The results of this study indicate that $Al_2O_3$ NP can cause primary DNA damage and cytotoxicity but not mutagenicity in cultured mammalian cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1605-1610
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• 2012

Gelam and Nenas monofloral honeys were investigated in this study for their chemopreventive effects against HT 29 colon cancer cells. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolim) assays showed more effective inhibition of colon cancer cells proliferation by Gelam honey with $IC_{50}$ values of 39.0 mg/ml and 85.5 mg/ml respectively after 24 hours of treatment. Alkali comet assays revealed both honeys increased DNA damage significantly in a dose dependent manner. In addition, annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry demonstrated that at $IC_{50}$ concentrations and above, both Gelam and Nenas honeys induced apoptosis significantlyat values higher than for necrosis (p<0.05). Measurement of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) confirmed that Gelam and Nenas honeys reduced its production in $H_2O_2$ inflammation-induced colon cancer cells. In conclusion, our study indicated and confirmed that both Gelam and Nenas honeys are capable of suppressing the growth of HT 29 colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing inflammation.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-32
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• 2012

This study was carried out to evaluate biological activities concerning extracts according to extraction methods from unripened fruit of Rubus coreanus Miq. The extraction methods were HWE (hot water extraction for 4 hr at $100^{\circ}C$), SFE (extraction for 3 hr at $40^{\circ}C$ under 300 bar, 100% of $CO_2$ fluid), USE (ultrasonification extraction for 4 hr at $50^{\circ}C$ with water), USE+HWE (hot water extraction for 2 hr at $100^{\circ}C$ after ultrasonification process for 2 hr), VE (vacuum extraction for 4 hr at $90^{\circ}C$ under 0.9 bar with water). VE extract showed the highest contents of total polyphenol ($178.78{\pm}3.79\;mg/g$) and total flavonoid ($40.93{\pm}0.68\;mg/g$). $IC_{50}$ values of DPPH radical scavenging activity, linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition activity and LDL (low density lipoprotein) oxidation inhibition activity of HWE extract showed the lowest $35.39{\pm}0.25{\mu}g/mL$, $12.61{\pm}0.31{\mu}g/mL$ and $1.31{\pm}0.02{\mu}g/mL$ among other all extracts, respectively. $IC_{50}$ values of ${\alpha}$-glucosidase inhibitory activities of VE and HWE extracts showed lower $14.34{\pm}0.20{\mu}g/mL$ and $15.83{\pm}0.20{\mu}g/mL$ than those of other extracts, respectively. Specifically, HWE and VE extracts have relatively better biological activities than other extracts; these could be potentially used as a bioactive source for health functional foods.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5189-5193
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• 2016

Objective: Dorema glabrum Fisch. & C.A. Mey is a perennial plant that has several curative properties. Anti-proliferative activity of seeds of this plant has been demonstrated in a mouse fibrosarcoma cell line. The aim of the present study was to evaluate cytotoxicity of D. glabrum root extracts in a human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell line and explore mechanisms of apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest and altered gene expression in cancer cells. Materials and Methods: The MTT assay was used to evaluate IC50 values, EB/AO staining to analyze the mode of cell death, and flow cytometry to assess the cell cycle. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) amplification was performed with apoptosis and cell cycle-related gene primers, for cyclin D1, c-myc, survivin, VEGF, Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase-3 to determine alteration of gene expression. Results: Our results showed that n-hexane and chloroform extracts had greatest toxic effects on gastric cancer cells with IC50 values of $6.4{\mu}g/ml$ and $4.6{\mu}g/ml$, respectively, after 72 h. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the population of treated cells in the G1 phase was increased in comparison to controls. Cellular morphological changes indicated induction of apoptosis. In addition, mRNA expression levels of Bax and caspase-3 were increased, and of bcl-2 survivin, VEGF, c-myc and cyclin D1 were decreased. Conclusion: Our study results suggest that D. glabrum has cytotoxic effects on AGS cells, characterized by enhanced apoptosis, reduced cell viability and arrest of cell cycling.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3281-3287
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• 2016

Bioactive compounds extracted from leaves and twigs of Goniothalamus griffithii include pinocembrin (PCN) and goniothalamin (GTN). The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic activities of PCN and GTN and their influence on molecular signaling for cell death in several human cancer cell lines compared to normal murine fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. GTN exhibited the most potent cytotoxicity against MCF-7 > HeLa > HepG2 > NIH3T3 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 7.33, 14.8, 37.1 and $65.4{\mu}M$, respectively, whereas PCN was cytotoxic only to HepG2 cells with $IC_{50}$ values of ${\sim}80{\mu}M$. Apoptotic cell death was confirmed by staining the cells with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide (PI) employing flow cytometry. Apoptosis was shown by externalization of phosphatidylserine in goniothalamin-treated MCF-7 cells in a dose response manner. Positive PI-stained cells with the typical morphology of apoptotic cells were increased dose-dependently. Furthermore, reduction of mitochondrial transmembrane potential was found in goniothalamin-treated MCF-7, HepG2 and HeLa cells. GTN treatment in MCF-7 increased caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities while GTN-induced HeLa cells showed an increase of both caspase-3 and -9 activities. But an increased caspase-8 activity was demonstrated in GTN- and PCN-treated MCF-7 and HepG2 cells, respectively. Taken together, GTN- and PCN-induced human cancer cell apoptosis was through different molecular mechanisms or signaling pathways, which might be due to different machineries in different types of cancer cells, as evidenced by the compound-modulated caspase activities in both intrinsic and/or extrinsic pathways.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.269-277
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• 2006

This study prepared functional oyster hydrolysates using two-step enzymatic hydrolysis and investigated their functional properties. To prepare two-step enzymatic hydrolysates (TSEH), oysters were hydrolyzed using 1% Protamex (PR) at $40^{\circ}C$ and pH 6.0 for 1 hr before sequential treatment with one of the following enzymes for 1 hr: Alcalase (AL), Flavourzyme (FL), Neutrase (NE), pepsin (PE), and trypsin (TR). The PRAL, PRNE and PRTR hydrolysates had significantly greater angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity than did PR and the other TSEHs. Only the antioxidant activity of the PRNE hydrolysate was significantly different (p<0.05), while none of the TSEHs had antimicrobial activity. The oyster hydrolysate prepared by sequential treatment with Protamex and Neutrase (PRNE) had the best ACE inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.40 and 0.94 mg/mL, respectively. The PRNE hydrolysate was processed through an ultrafiltration (UF) series with molecular weight cut-off (MWCO) membranes of 3, 5, 10, and 30 kDa, and the ACE inhibitory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the permeates were determined. The permeate through the 3-kDa MWCO membrane had greater ACE inhibitory activity and antioxidant activity than did the other PRNE permeates, with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.11 and 0.40 mg/mL, respectively.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2003

To discover the sources with antioxidative activity in traditional medicines, 100 extracts of Korean medicinal plants were screened for their scavenging effect on peroxynitrite $(ONOO^{-})$ and total reactive oxygen species (ROS). The potency of total ROS scavenging activity was shown in the extracts of 25 plants, and 4 of their species, Macleaya cordata R. Br., Salvia plebeia R. Br., Cassia tora L. and Angelica gigas Nakai, had a greater effect with $IC_{50}$ values of $1.7{\pm}0.36$, $4.3{\pm}1.08$, $4.9{\pm}0.17$ and $5.8{\pm}1.01\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively, than that of trolox, positive control $(7.61{\pm}0.12\;{\mu}g/ml)$. Another 35 extracts exhibited inhibitory effect of below 50 percent at $100\;{\mu}g/ml$ of sample concentrations on total ROS, while the rest observed total ROS generators rather than scavengers. The peroxynitrite scavenging activities were observed in the greater part of the plants tested. Five of them, Schisandra chinensis Baill, Campsis grandiflora (Thunb.) K. Schum., Cedrela sinensis A. Juss., Pleuropterus multiflorus Turcz. and Veronica linariaefolia Pall represented scavenging activities on peroxynitrite twice as strong with $IC_{50}$ Values of $0.48{\pm}0.10$, $0.59{\pm}0.15$, $0.60{\pm}0.10$, $0.64{\pm}0.10$ and $0.91{\pm}0.23\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively, as that of penicillamine $(1.72{\pm}0.05\;{\mu}g/ml)$, positive control. Consequently, 25 species of the entire plants tested, exhibited scavenging activities on total ROS and $ONOO^{-}$, Salvia plebeia R. Br., Macleaya cordata R. Br., Cassia tora L. and Angelica gigas Nakai exerted potent scavenging activities on both radicals.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.90-94
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• 2011

An in vitro bioassay-guide revealed that the methanol (MeOH) extract of the whole plant of Patrinia saniculaefolia (Valerianaceae) showed cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) dual inhibitory activity by assessing their effects on the production of prostaglandin $D_2$ ($PGD_2$) and leukotriene $C_4$ ($LTC_4$) in mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs). Phytochemical study of the MeOH extract of this plant led to the isolation of twelve compounds; ${\beta}$-farnesene (1), squalene (2), nardostachin (3), patridoid I (4), patridoid II (5), patridoid II-A (6), oleanolic acid (7), oleanonic acid (8), 23-hydroxyursolic acid (9), oleanolic acid 3-O-${\alpha}$-L-arabinopyranoside (10), oleanolic acid 3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside (11), oleanolic acid 3-O-[${\beta}$-D-xylopyranosyl-(1${\rightarrow}$3)-${\beta}$-D-(6-O-butyl)glucuronopyranoside] (12). Among the compounds, 4 and 5 strongly inhibited both the COX-2-dependent $PGD_2$ generation with $IC_{50}$ values of 8.7 and 13.6 ${\mu}M$, respectively, and the generation of $LTC_4$ in the 5-LOX dependent phase with $IC_{50}$ values of 41.7 and 46.9 ${\mu}M$, respectively, which suggest that the anti-inflammatory activity of P. saniculaefolia might occur in part via the inhibition of both $PGD_2$ and $LTC_4$ generation by 4 and 5.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.130-134
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of naturally occurring aldose reductase (AR) inhibitors isolated from Korean native plants. The MeOH extract and stepwise polarity fractions of dandelions were tested on rat lens AR inhibition in vitro. Of these, the EtOAc fractions from the leaves of dandelions (Traxacum coreanum, T. officinale, and T. ohwianum) exhibited an AR inhibitory activity ($IC_{50}$ values, 2.37, 1.73 and 2.68 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively). A chromatography of the EtOAc fraction from the leaves of T. coreanum led to the further isolation of two flavonoids identified as luteolin and luteolin 7-O-glucopyranoside. These compounds exhibited strong AR inhibitory activity, with $IC_{50}$ values of 0.15 and 1.05 ${\mu}M$, respectively. These results suggested that luteolin is a potent AR inhibitor within dandelions and that it could be a useful lead compound in the development of a novel AR inhibitory agent against diabetic complications.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2009

Thirty five methanol extracts from 19 natural local plants, which have been used as traditional anti-cancer medicine, were prepared. They were analyzed the cytotoxic effects on primary fibroblast cells and carcinoma cells. The root extract of Solanum nigrum were highly toxic in both cell lines with $IC_{50}$ values of less than $0.01{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, and 26 of 35 extracts were toxic in all cells with $IC_{50}$ values of $0.1{\sim}2{\mu}g/{\mu}l$. Three extracts including the fruit extracts of Solanum nigrum and Morus alba had no cytotoxic activity in both cell lines. Five of 35 extracts were highly toxic in cancer cells than in primary cells. Because primary cells were more resistant on these extracts, the five extracts were selected for anti-cancer agent candidates. Apoptosis or programmed cell death has an essential role in chemotherapy-induced tumor cell killing. Recently, inducers of apoptosis have been used in cancer therapy. When two of 5 cancer cell-specific cytotoxic extracts (Ulmus parvifolia and Zelkova serrata) were treated in concentration of $0.02{\sim}0.1{\mu}g/{\mu}l$, apoptosis were increased at 3-5 times in cancer cell lines. Finally, the apoptotic effects of these extracts were confirmed by cleavages of both poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase and caspase-3 as apoptotic markers. In this report, we suggested that two of 35 medicinal herb extracts can be useful anti-cancer drug candidates inducing apoptosis in several carcinoma cell lines.