• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2020

The study aimed to characterize chemical composition and anticancer property of the n-hexane fraction derived from Asiasari Radix et Rhizoma. The anticancer activity was evaluated on a panel of cancer cell lines including HN22, HSC2, HSC3, and HSC4 cells (human oral cancer), HCC827 and HCC827GR cells (human lung cancer), and KYSE30 and KYSE450 (human esophageal cancer) by MTS assay. As a result, The least polar subfraction from n-hexane-soluble layer displayed notable cytotoxicity on the tumor cell lines with IC50 ranging from 1.20 to 17.0 ㎍/ml. The chemical composition of constituents in the active subfraction was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The essential oils comprised of sesquiterpenes including β-gurjunene (7.45%), γ-amorphene (6.61%), guaia-6,9-diene (6.40%), δ-guaiene (5.21%) and a phenylpropanoid, safrole (0.49%) were mainly identified in addition to long-chain hydrocarbons including n-heptadecane (24.60%), 7-hexadecene (4.44%) and a diterpenoid, ent-kaur-16-ene (6.57%).

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.12-26
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) on PMA-differentiated human monocytic leukemia THP-1 cells. Methods: Cells were treated with various concentrations of RVS decoction (0-300㎍/ml) for 24, 48, and 72h. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS/PMS assay. The expressions of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and proteins were measured using RT-PCR and western blotting, respectively. Results: RVS suppressed expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA. It also down-regulated iNOS and COX-2 mRNA and protein expression. RVS inhibited NF-𝜅B p65 activity and the phosphorylation of Akt and MAPK (ERK and p38 MAPK). Instead, the phosphorylation of JNK is increased at a very low concentration but decreased at higher concentrations. Conclusion: RVS is regarded to inhibit the expression of MMP and TIMP as well as iNOS and COX-2 gene expression via directly inhibiting the activation of NF-𝜅B and phosphorylation of MAPK pathway in THP-1 cells. This suggests RVS have potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2020

Vibrio vulnificus, an opportunistic pathogen, causes septicaemia when raw shellfish and fish are eaten by patients with hepatic diseases or reduced immunity. In this study, we evaluated inhibitory effects of some natural products on V. vulnificus growth using 96-well microplate assay. We found that Phyllanthus emblica L., Rosa chinensis Jacq., Rosa rugose Thub., and Chukrasia tabularis A. Juss. significantly inhibited V. vulnificus growth in Luria-Bertani (LB) broth. Among these four extracts, the inhibition diameter of Chukrasia tabularis was 16.00 ± 0.58 mm in disc diffusion assay on V. vulnificus growth. In addition, these four natural products protected HeLa cells from V. vulnificus-induced cytotoxicity. A cocktail containing these four products showed an inhibitory effect on V. vulnificus growth in seawater and shellfish by reducing its growth by 75.7% and 97%, respectively. These results suggest that these four natural products are safe and effective natural antimicrobial candidates to prevent V. vulnificus infection.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.169-179
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• 2017

Background: Ginsenosides are the main pharmacological components of Panax ginseng root, which are thought to be primarily responsible for the suppressing effect on oxidative stress. Methods: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and oxygen radical absorption capacity were applied to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the ginsenosides. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK-293) cells were incubated with ginsenosides extracted by pulsed electric field (PEF) and solvent cold soak extraction (SCSE) for 24 h and then the injury was induced by $40{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$. The cell viability and surface morphology of HEK-293 cells were studied using MTS assay and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate fluorescent probe assay was used to measure the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species. The intracellular antioxidant activities of ginsenosides were evaluated by cellular antioxidant activity assay in HepG2 cells. Results: The PEF extracts displayed the higher 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity and stronger oxygen radical absorption capacity (with an oxygen radical absorption capacity value of $14.48{\pm}4.04{\mu}M\;TE\;per\;{\mu}g/mL$). The HEK-293 cell model also suggested that the protective effect of PEF extracts was dose-dependently greater than SCSE extracts. Dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay further proved that PEF extracts are more active (8% higher than SCSE extracts) in reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation. In addition, scanning electron microscopy images showed that the HEK-293 cells, which were treated with PEF extracts, maintained more intact surface morphology. Cellular antioxidant activity values indicated that ginsenosides extracted by PEF had stronger cellular antioxidant activity than SCSE ginsenosides extracts. Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the antioxidative effect of ginsenosides extracted by PEF in vitro. Furthermore, rather than SCSE, PEF may be more useful as an alternative extraction technique for the extraction of ginsenosides with enhanced antioxidant activity.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.10
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• pp.1104-1110
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• 2019

Recently, there has been an increase in the elderly population of the world. Consequently, bone metabolic diseases such as osteoporosis are emerging as a social problem. Osteoclasts play a role in bone resorption, and osteoporosis is induced when bone resorption occurs excessively. Because currently used bone resorption inhibitors may cause side effects when used for a long period of time, it is necessary to develop a new material that effectively inhibits osteoclast differentiation. This study aimed to confirm the inhibitory effect of ethanol extract of Locusta migratoria on RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and its mechanism. The toxicity and proliferation effects of LME on RAW264.7 osteoclasts were measured by an MTS assay. There was no cytotoxicity or proliferation when the osteoclasts were treated with up to $2,000{\mu}g/ml$ of LME. In order to confirm the effect of LME on the differentiation of osteoclasts, osteoclasts were treated with RANKL alone or with LME for 3 days. As a result of a TRAP (tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase) assay, the increasing osteoclast differentiation by RANKL decreased in a concentration-dependent manner with the treatment of LME. In addition, LME suppressed the expression of differentiation-related marker genes (TRAP, RANK, NFATc1, and CK) and proteins (NFATc1 and c-Src) that had been increased by RANKL. Also, LME influenced the $NF-{\kappa}B$, ERK and JNK signaling pathways, resulting in the inhibition of osteoclast differentiation. These results suggest that LME may be used as a novel functional material for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis by playing a role in inhibiting bone absorption.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.996-1001
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• 2007

To investigate whether sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide could affect cancer cell viabilities, human colorectal HCTl16 cells were treated with 10 ${\mu}M$ of each NSAID. Among treated NSAms, sulindac sulfide dramatically decreased the cell viabilities detected by MTS and the cytotoxic effect showed dose-dependent manner. To understand the molecular mechanism of cell death in response to sulindac sulfide treatment, we performed oligo DNA microarray analysis. We found that 23 genes were up-regulated more than 2 folds, whereas 33 genes were down-regulated more than 2 folds by treatment of 10 ${\mu}M$ sulindac sulfide. Among the up-regulated genes, we selected 3 genes (NAG-1, DDIT3, PCK2) and performed RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR to cofirm microarray data. The results of RT-PCR and real-time PCR were highly accorded with those of microarray experiment. As NAG-1 is well-known gene as tumor suppressor, we detected changes of NAG-1 expression by 10 ${\mu}M$ of sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide. The results of RT-PCR and quantitacve real-time PCR indicated that sulindac sulfide was the strongest inducer of NAG-1 among treated NSAIDS. This result implies that induction of NAG-1 by sulindac sulfide plays important role in cell death of colorectal cancer. Overall, we speculate that these results may be helpful in understanding the molecular mechanism of the cancer chemoprevention by sulindac sulfide in human colorectal cancer.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.34-39
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• 2021

This study investigated the anti-cancer effects of Salicornia herbacea L. fractions in human ovarian cancer cells (OVCAR-3). S. herbacea powder was extracted with 95% EtOH and sequentially fractionated with hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate, butanol, and H2O. Further, the growth inhibitory effects of the six fractions were determined using the MTS assay. The DCM fraction dramatically decreased cell viability. Similarly, the cell cycle was arrested at the subG1 phase in DCM-treated cells. To confirm apoptosis, the cells were stained with annexin V/FITC-PI solution. Total, early, and late apoptotic cells were significantly increased in the DCM fraction. The mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was reduced, whereas the pro-apoptotic factors Bax and Bak were increased in DCM fraction-treated cells. These results indicated that the DCM fraction in S. herbacea exhibited strong apoptotic effects through the p53-dependent signaling pathway.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.153-169
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• 2011

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-fibrogenic effect and the effect on cell growth and apoptosis in YJCGT, YJCGT YSO and YJCGT YSCO on thioacetamide-induced rat liver tissue and the immortalized human hepatic cell line LX2. Materials and Methods : LX2 cells were treated with various concentrations (0, 50, 150, 300 ug/ml) of YJCGT, Y+YSO, and Y+YSCO extract for 24, 48 and 72 hours. After the treatment, cell viability was measured by using MTT assay. Caspase inhibitor assay, and cell viability were determined by a colorimetric assay with PMS/MTS solution. Rat liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal thioacetamide injection 150 mg/kg 3 times a week for 5 weeks. After the treatment, body weight, liver & spleen weights, liver function test, the complete blood cell count and the change of portal pressure were studied. After YJCGT, Y+YSO, and Y+YSCO treatment, percentages of collagen in thioacetamide-induced rat liver tissue were measured. Results : The viability of the LX2 cell decreased in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Exposure of LX2 cells to YJCGT, YJCGT+YSO and YJCGT+YSCO induced caspase-3 activation, but co-treatment of YJCGT, YJCGT+YSO and YJCGT+YSCO with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK, and the caspase-3 inhibitor Z-DEVE-FMK, blocked apoptosis. There was no difference in rat body weight between the thioacetamide only group and the YJCGT, YJCGT+YSO and YJCGT+YSCO groups. In the YJCGT, YJCGT YSO and YJCGT YSCO groups, the serum level of GPT significantly went down compared with the thioacetamide only group. In the YJCGT, Y+YSO, Y+YSCO groups, white blood cell elevated by thioacetamide injection decreased but RBC, Hgb, and Hct increased. In the Y+YSO group, the portal pressure elevated by thioacetamide injection significantly decreased. In the histological finding, thioacetamide injections caused severe fibrosis, but YJCGT, Y+YSO, and Y+YSCO treatment significantly reduced the amounts of hepatic collagens. Conclusions : YJCGT, Y+YSO, and Y+YSCO inhibit the growth of LX2 cells by inducing apoptosis through caspase activity. YJCGT, Y+YSO, and Y+YSCO have beneficial effects on the treatment of cirrhotic patients as well as patients with chronic hepatitis.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.264-272
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• 2016

This study was carried out to evaluate the preventive effect of the Corni Fructus (SSU) 50 % EtOH extract (SSU-E50) against bisphenol A (BPA) toxicity in Leydig cells and improving testosterone deficiency syndrome in orchidectomized Sprague-Dawly (SD) rats. Antioxidant properties were measured by radical scavenging activity of SSU-E50 in ABTS assay and DPPH assay. Also, real-time polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR) was performed to quantify the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzyme. SD rats were divided into eight group: normal, sham operation (Sham), orchidectomized (ORX), ORX treated with testosterone 1 mg/kg (Tes. 1), ORX treated with SSU water extract 100 mg/kg (SSU-A 100) and 300 mg/kg (SSU-A 300), ORX treated with SSU 50 % EtOH extract 100 mg/kg (SSU-E 100) and 300 mg/kg (SSU-E 300). On a comparative basis, the SSU showed better activity quenching ABTS with an IC50 value of 0.29 mg/ml and DPPH with an IC50 value of 0.33 mg/ml. Cell viability was evaluated by MTS assay as described not cytotoxic at the highest concentration of $500{\mu}g/ml$. Cytotoxicity of BPA showed in $200{\mu}M$, but definitely survived by treatment with SSU in Leydig cells. In addition, SSU increased the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzyme in BPA induced Leydig cells. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) level was slightly increased and malondialdehyde (MDA) level was decreased with SSU-A 100 in in-vivo. These results suggest that Corni Fructus extracts have the greatest property as a natural anti-oxidative and improves testosterone deficiency syndrome source.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.77-85
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• 2017

Objectives : This study aimed to investigate the unknown mechanisms behind the anti- inflammatory activity of Hyeonto-dan(HT) 70% ethanol extract on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Methods : Cells were treated with Hyeonto-dan 1 h prior to addition of 200 ng/mL of LPS. Cell viability was measured by the MTS assay. Nitric oxide levels were determined by the Griess assay. $PGE_2$ were measured using EIA kit. Pro-inflammatory cytokine production was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The expression of COX-2, iNOS, and MAPKs was investigated by Western blot, qRT-PCR. $NF-{\kappa}B$/p65 localization and interaction of the TLR-4 receptor with LPS was examined by immunofluorescence assays. Results : Hyeonto-dan had no cytotoxicity at the measured concentration. Hyeonto-dan inhibited NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$, and PGE2 as well as the protein and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2. Moreover, Hyeonto-dan inhibited the interaction between LPS and TLR-4 in murine macrophages. It suppressed phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 1/2), c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK 1/2) and p38. Finally, it inhibited translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ in response to competitive LPS. Conclusions : Based on the results of this study, Hyeonto-dan inhibited the binding of TLR-4 receptor to LPS and inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signaling pathway MAPKs. These inhibitory effects are thought that the amount of $NF-{\kappa}B$ delivered to the nucleus was decreased and the inflammatory reaction was prevented by decreasing the production of LPS-induced $PGE_2$, NO, IL-6 and $TNF-{\alpha}$.