• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10659-10663
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• 2015

Background: Rapamycin is an effective anti-angiogenic drug. However, the mode of its action remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the antitumor mechanism of rapamycin, hypothetically via apoptotic promotion, using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 cells were plated at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in 6-well plates. After 24h, cells were treated with a series of concentrations of rapamycin while only adding DMEM medium with PEG for the control regiment and grown at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air for 72h. Trypan blue was used to determine the cell viability and proliferation. Untreated and rapamycin-treated MCF-7 cells were also examined for morphological changes with an inverted-phase contrast microscope. Alteration in cell morphology was ascertained, along with a stage in the cell cycle and proliferation. In addition, cytotoxicity testing was performed using normal mouse breast mammary pads. Results: Our results clearly showed that rapamycin exhibited inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell lines. The $IC_{50}$ value of rapamycin on the MCF-7 cells was determined as $0.4{\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.05). Direct observation by inverted microscopy demonstrated that the MCF-7 cells treated with rapamycin showed characteristic features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, vascularization and autophagy. Cells underwent early apoptosis up to 24% after 72h. Analysis of the cell cycle showed an increase in the G0G1 phase cell population and a corresponding decrease in the S and G2M phase populations, from 81.5% to 91.3% and 17.3% to 7.9%, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that rapamycin may potentially act as an anti-cancer agent via the inhibition of growth with some morphological changes of the MCF-7 cancer cells, arrest cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase and induction of apoptosis in late stage of apoptosis. Further studies are needed to further characterize the mode of action of rapamycin as an anti-cancer agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5317-5323
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• 2013

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer and one of the leading causes of death among women in the world. Plants and herbs may play an important role in complementary or alternative treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-proliferative potential of Urtica dioica. The anti oxidant activity of an aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf was measured by MTT assay and the FRAP method while its anti-proliferative activity on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and fibroblasts isolated from foreskin tissue was evaluated using MTT assay. Mechanisms leading to apoptosis were also investigated at the molecular level by measuring the amount of anti and pro-apoptotic proteins and at the cellular level by studying DNA fragmentation and annexin V staining by flow cytometry. The aqueous extract of Urtica dioica showed antioxidant effects with a correlation coefficient of $r^2$=0.997. Dose-dependent and anti-proliferative effects of the extract were observed only on MCF-7 cells after 72 hrs with an $IC_{50}$ value of 2 mg/ml. This anti proliferative activity was associated with an increase of apoptosis as demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, the appearance of apoptotic cells in flow cytometry analysis and an increase of the amount of calpain 1, calpastatin, caspase 3, caspase 9, Bax and Bcl-2, all proteins involved in the apoptotic pathway. This is the first time such in vitro antiproliferative effect of aqueous extract of Urtica dioica leaf has been described for a breast cancer cell line. Our findings warrant further research on Urtica dioica as a potential chemotherapeutic agent for breast cancer.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.233-240
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• 2016

Purpose: Diabetic complications are a major concern to manage progression of diabetes. Production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) due to high blood glucose is one of the mechanisms leading to diabetic complications. Multiple pharmacologic AGE inhibitory agents are currently under development, but clinical applications are still limited due to safety issues. Thus, it is necessary to identify a safe anti-glycation agent. It is known that burdock roots have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activities. The objective of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory role of burdock roots on the formation of high glucose-induced glycation of bovine serum albumin (BSA). Methods: In this study, glycation of BSA by glucose, galactose, or fructose at $37^{\circ}C$ for 3 weeks was assessed based on levels of ${\alpha}$-dicarbonyl compounds (early-stage glycation products), fructosamine (intermediate products of glycation), and fluorescent AGEs (late-stage glycation products). In order to compare the inhibitory actions of burdock root extract in AGE formation, aminoguanidine (AG), a pharmacological AGE inhibitor, was used as a positive control. Results: BSA glycation by glucose, fructose, and galatose was dose- and time-dependently produced. Burdock root extract at a concentration of 4 mg/mL almost completely inhibited glucose-induced BSA glycation. The results demonstrate that burdock root extract inhibited AGE formation with an $IC_{50}$ value of 1.534 mg/mL, and inhibitory activity was found to be more effective than the standard anti-glycation agent aminoguanidine. This study identified a novel function of burdock root as a potential anti-glycation agent. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that burdock root could be beneficial for preventing diabetic complications.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.115-124
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• 1990

The characteristics of 23 MV photon beam have been presented with respect to clinical parameters of central axis depth dose, tissue-maxi mum ratios, scatter-maximum ratios, surface dose and scatter correction factors. The nominal accelerating potential was found to be $18.5\pm0.5$ MV on the central axis. The half-value layer (HVL) of this photon beam was measured with narrow beam geometry from central axis, and it has been showed the thickness of $24.5\;g/cm^2$. The tissue-maximum ratio values have been determined from measured percentage depth dose data. In our experimental dosimetry, the surface dose of maximum showed only $9.6\%$ of maximum dose at $10\times10\;cm^2$, 100 cm SSD, without blocking tray in. The TMR'S of $0\times0$ field size have been determined to get average $2.3\%$ uncertainties from three different methodis; are zero effective attenuation coefficient, non-ilnear least square fit of TMR's data and effective linear attenuation coefficient from the HVL of 23 MV photon beams of dual energy linear accelerator.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.223-231
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• 2014

In this study, we prepared cordycepin-enriched (CE)-WIB801C, a n-butanol extract of Cordyceps militaris-hypha, and investigated the effect of CE-WIB801C on collagen-induced human platelet aggregation. CE-WIB801C dose-dependently inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation, and its $IC_{50}$ value was $175{\mu}g/ml$. CE-WIB801C increased cAMP level more than cGMP level, but inhibited collagen-elevated $[CA^{2+}]_i$ mobilization and thromboxane $A_2$ ($TXA_2$) production. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) inhibitor Rp-8-Br-cAMPS increased the CE-WIB801C-downregulated $[CA^{2+}]_i$ level in a dose dependent manner, and strongly inhibited CE-WIB801C-induced inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptor ($IP_3R$) phosphorylation. These results suggest that the inhibition of $[CA^{2+}]_i$ mobilization by CE-WIB801C is resulted from the cAMP/A-kinase-dependent phosphorylation of $IP_3R$. CE-WIB801C suppressed $TXA_2$ production, but did not inhibit the activities of cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and $TXA_2$ synthase (TXAS). These results suggest that the inhibition of $TXA_2$ production by WIB801C is not resulted from the direct inhibition of COX-1 and TXAS. In this study, we demonstrate that CE-WIB801C with cAMP-dependent $CA^{2+}$-antagonistic antiplatelet effects may have preventive or therapeutic potential for platelet aggregation-mediated diseases, such as thrombosis, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and ischemic cerebrovascular disease.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.303-311
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• 2017

This study was performed to evaluate the quality characteristics and the antioxidant activities of yanggeng added with the aged black chestnut inner shells (ACI). The levels of ACI addition to Yanggeng were 0%, 1%, 3%, or 5%. The moisture content and the reducing sugar contents of Yanggeng increased with the amount of ACI. The pH of Yanggeng with ACI decreased with the amount of ACI, but the acidity increased. Depending on the amount of ACI added, the lightness (L) and yellowness (b) values of Yanggeng with ACI decreased in the Hunter color system, and the redness (a) value increased. Textural properties by TPA showed that hardness, springiness and chewiness decreased as increase in the amount of ACI added. Total phenol content in the Yanggeng added with ACI increased with the amount of ACI added. Increasing amount of ACI addition enhanced antioxidant activities of Yanggeng, as evidenced by DPPH radical scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity assays. In the preference test, Yanggeng added with 3% ACI showed the highest overall preference and texture. Based on these results, when 3% ACI was added to Yanggeng the quality characteristics, antioxidant property and sensory properties were excellent.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.213-217
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• 2006

We evaluated the potential of major components of Phellodendri cortex to inhibit the activities of CYP2D6 and p-glycoprotein. The abilities of berberine, palmatine, limonin, and rutaecarpine to inhibit CYP2D6-mediated dextromethorphan O-demethylation and calcein AM accumulation were tested using human liver microsomes and L-MDR1 cell, respectively. Berberine strongly inhibited CYP2D6 isoform activity, whereas limonin and reuaecarpine did not. The $IC_{50}$ value of berberine was reduced after preincubation with microsomes in the presence of NADPH generating system, suggesting that berberine is a mechanism based inhibitor. In addition, all chemicals tested, didn't show inhibitory effect on p-glycoprotein activity. These results suggest that berberine has potential to inhibit CYP2D6 activity in vitro. Therefore, in vivo studies investigating the interactions between berberine and CYP2D6 substrates are necessary to determine whether inhibition of CYP2D6 activity by berberine is clinically relevant.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.176-186
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• 2013

In this study, we have investigated the effects of total saponin from Korean red ginseng (TSKRG) on thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. TSKRG dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-induced platelet aggregation with $IC_{50}$ value of about 81.1 ${\mu}g/mL$. In addition, TSKRG dose-dependently decreased thrombin-elevated the level of cytosolic-free $Ca^{2+}$ ($[Ca^{2+}]_i$), one of aggregation-inducing molecules. Of two $Ca^{2+}$-antagonistic cyclic nucleotides as aggregation-inhibiting molecules, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), TSKRG significantly dose-dependently elevated intracellular level of cAMP, but not cGMP. In addition, TSKRG dose-dependently inhibited thrombin-elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) release from platelets. These results suggest that the suppression of $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ elevation, and of ATP release by TSKRG are associated with upregulation of cAMP. TSKRG elevated the phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP)-$Ser^{157}$, a cAMP-dependent protein kinase (A-kinase) substrate, but not the phosphorylation of VASP-$Ser^{239}$, a cGMP-dependent protein kinase substrate, in thrombin-activated platelets. We demonstrate that TSKRG involves in increase of cAMP level and subsequent elevation of VASP-$Ser^{157}$ phosphorylation through A-kinase activation to inhibit $[Ca^{2+}]_i$ mobilization and ATP release in thrombin-induced platelet aggregation. These results strongly indicate that TSKRG is a beneficial herbal substance elevating cAMP level in thrombin-platelet interaction, which may result in preventing of platelet aggregation-mediated thrombotic diseases.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.1000-1006
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• 2011

The discovery of carbohydrate-based bioactive compounds has recently received considerable interest in the drug development. This paper stresses on the application of 1-methoxy-O-glucoside as the central scaffold, whereas salicylic pharmacophores were introduced with diverse spatial orientations probing into the structural preference of an enzymatic target, i.e. protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B). By employing regioselective protection and deprotection strategy, 2,6-, 3,4-, 4,6- and 2,3-di-O-propynyl 1-methoxy-O-glucosides were previously synthesized and then coupled with azido salicylate via click chemistry in forming the desired bidentate salicylic glucosides with high yields. The inhibitory assay of the obtained triazolyl derivatives leads to the identification of the 2,3-disubstituted salicylic 1-methoxy-O-glucoside as the structurally privileged PTP1B inhibitor among this bidentate compound series with micromole-ranged $IC_{50}$ value and reasonable selectivity over other homologous PTPs tested. In addition, docking simulation was conducted to propose a plausible binding mode of this authorized inhibitor with PTP1B. This research might furnish new insight toward the construction of structurally different bioactive compounds based on the monosaccharide scaffold.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.36 no.3 s.142
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• pp.164-170
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• 2005

In the present study, we investigated the mineral and metabolite composition and antioxidant activities in the flower, stem and root of Aster ciliosus Kitamura in order to detect biologically active substances and develop novel functional resources. The mineral and metabolite compositions differ significantly among the organ of Aster ciliosus Kitamura. The flower is composed of K as 827 mg/100g. while the stem and root are composed of Na as 654.64mg/100g and 771.70mg/100g, respectively. Contents of unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acid, were higher than those of saturated fatty acid, such as palmitic acid in flower. The contests of phenolic compounds were measured at 285 nm using different solvents: 2.53 and 2.03 optical density (OD) in chloroform and 1.864 and 1.715 in ethanol extracts for the stem and root, respectively. Antioxidant activity was measured in 75% ethanol extracts: 41.3, 42.0 and $45.2\;{\mu}g/ml$ in stem, root and flower at $IC_{50}$ value, respectively. These results suggest that extracts from Aster ciliosus Kitamura can be potentially used as novel resources for antioxidant and biological active substances.