• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.187-191
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• 2001

Effects of kochujang (Korean red pepper soybean paste) extracts on tumor formation, natural killer (NK) cell activity in spleen and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity in liver were investigated in the sarcoma-180 cell transplanted mice. Inhibitory effects of these samples on lung metastasis of colon 26-M3.1 cells were also evaluated in the Balb/c mice. The injection of methanol extracts from traditional kochujang I (TK I, 0-day fermented), II (TKII, 6-month fermented), commercial kochujang (CK, 1-month fermented) and red pepper powder (RPP) significantly reduced tumor formation in Balb/c mice (p<0.05), TKII decreased tumor growth by 46% compared with control, resulting in the smallest tumor weight. The transplantation of sarcoma-180 cells increased the spleen/body weight ratio of Balb/c mice, while TKI and TKll significantly decreased this index (p<0.05). The effect of TKll and CK, fermented kochujang, on the NK cell activity of splenocytes was higher than that of sarcoma-180 cells transplanted control group. TK II recovered the activity of hepatic GST that was decreased by the transplantation of sarcoma- 180 cells in to the mice. All kochujang-treated mice had significantly fewer lung metastatic colonies than control mice. TKII was the most effective in inhibiting lung metastasis of colon 26-M3.1 cells. These results indicated that optimally ripened (6-month) TK had more suppressive effects on tumor formation and lung metastasis than RPP and kochujang without fermentation and commercially prepared kochujang in mice.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2010

The tumor microenvironment, particularly sufficient nutrition and oxygen supply, is important for tumor cell survival. Nutrition deprivation causes cancer cell death. Since apoptosis is a major mechanism of neuronal loss, we explored neuronal apoptosis in various microenvironment conditions employing neuroblastoma (NB) cells. To investigate the effects of tumor malignancy and differentiation on apoptosis, the cells were exposed to poor microenvironments characterized as serum-free, low-glucose, and hypoxia. Incubation of the cells in serum-free and low-glucose environments significantly increased apoptosis in less malignant and more differentiated N-type IMR32 cells, whereas more malignant and less differentiated I-type BE(2)C cells were not affected by those treatments. In contrast, hypoxia (1 % $O_2$) did not affect apoptosis despite cell malignancy. It is suggested that DLK1 constitutes an important stem cell pathway for regulating self-renewal, clonogenicity, and tumorigenicity. This raises questions about the role of DLK1 in the cellular resistance of cancer cells under poor microenvironments, which cancer cells normally encounter. In the present study, DLK1 overexpression resulted in marked protection from apoptosis induced by nutrient deprivation. This in vitro model demonstrated that increasing severity of nutrition deprivation and knock-down of DLK1 caused greater apoptotic death, which could be a useful strategy for targeted therapies in fighting NB as well as for evaluating how nutrient deprived cells respond to therapeutic manipulation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.11-15
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• 2007

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of diets containing genistein and soy extract on the growth of MDA-MB-231 cells implanted into female Balb/c mice. Four-week-old female athymic nude mice (Balb/c) were acclimated to an AIN-93G control diet for 1 week and then injected MDA-MB-231 cells ($1{\times}10^6$/site) and were continued on the on AIN-93G control diet. Five weeks after injecting the MDA-MB-231 cells ($1{\times}10^6$/site), two experimental groups were assigned to diets containing genistein (750 ${\mu}g/g$ AIN-93G diet) or 0.6% soy extract (containing genistein at 750 ${\mu}g/g$ AIN-93G diet) until they were sacrificed. Tumor growth was significantly reduced in the groups treated with genistein and soy extract compared to the control group. The results of the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) assay also revealed that genistein and soy extract treatment reduced the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 cells in vivo. In the present study, dietary isoflavone was provided just before solid tumor formation, and thus the timing of dietary isoflavone administration may be critical to the suppression of tumor growth.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.177-182
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• 2010

The Chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) has been used in folk medicine to treat cancers. However, limited information exists on the underlying anticancer effects of the major component of I. obliquus in vivo. We hypothesize that the pure compounds ($3{\beta}$-hydroxy-lanosta-8,24-dien-21-al, inotodiol and lanosterol, respectively) separated from I. obliquus would inhibit tumor growth in Balbc/c mice bearing Sarcoma-180 cells (S-180) in vivo and growth of human carcinoma cells in vitro. To test this hypothesis, the growth inhibition of each subfraction isolated from I. obliquus on human carcinoma cell lines (lung carcinoma A-549 cells, stomach adenocarcinoma AGS cells, breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells, and cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells) was tested in vitro. Then, after S-180 implantation, the mice were fed a normal chow supplemented with 0, 0.1 or 0.2 mg of subfraction 1, 2 or 3 per mouse per day. All of the subfractions isolated from I. obliquus showed significant cytotoxic activity against the selected cancer cell lines in vitro. Subfraction 1 was more active than subfraction 2 and subfraction 3 against the A549, AGS and MCF-7 cancer cell lines in vitro. In in vivo results, subfraction 1 isolated from I. obliquus at concentrations of 0.1 and 0.2 mg/mouse per day significantly decreased tumor volume by 23.96% and 33.71%, respectively, as compared with the control. Subfractions 2 and 3 also significantly inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing S-180 as compared with the control mouse tumor. Subfraction 1 isolated from I. obliquus showed greater inhibition of tumor growth than subfractions 2 and 3, which agrees well with the in vitro results. The results suggest that I. obliquus and its compounds in these subfractions isolated from I. obliquus could be used as natural anticancer ingredients in the food and/or pharmaceutical industry.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.139-147
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• 2016

BACKGROUND/OBJECFTIVES: The present study was conducted to examine the inhibitory effect of loquat leaves on MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and invasion. MATERIALS/METHODS: Female athymic nude mice were given a subcutaneous (s.c.) inoculation of MDA-MB-231 cells and randomly grouped to receive a s.c. injection of either 500 mg/kg ethanol, water extract or vehicle five times a week. Tumor growth, mitotic rate and necrosis were examined. MDA-MB-231 cells were cultured with DMSO or with various concentrations of loquat water or ethanol extract. Proliferation, adhesion, migration, invasion and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity were examined. RESULTS: Tumor growth of xenograft nude mouse was significantly reduced by loquat extracts. The results of mitotic examination revealed that loquat extracts reduced tumor cell division. Both ethanol and water extracts significantly inhibited MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation. The protein expression of ErbB3 was significantly down-regulated by loquat leaf extracts. Loquat leaf extracts increased apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 cells following 24 hour incubation and the ethanol extract was more potent in inducing apoptosis than the water extract. Furthermore, loquat extracts inhibited adhesion, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells. MMP activity was significantly inhibited by loquat extracts. CONCLUSION: Our results show that extracts of loquat inhibit the growth of tumor in MDA-MB-231 xenograft nude mice and the invasion of human breast cancer cells, indicating the inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and invasion.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.482-487
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• 2000

The antitumor activity of Bifidobacterium breve K-110, and K-I11, and B. infantis K-525 was investigated. These Bifidobacterial cells and their cell wail preparations (WPG) significantly increased the survival rate of mice who had been intraperitoneally implanted with sarcoma 180 cells. Solid tumor growth was inhibited even when the sarcoma 180 cells were implanted into the groins of the mice. However, the Bifidobacterial cells did not show in vitro cytotoxicity against tumor cell lines. Cell kinetic studies revealed that these WPGs induced neutrophils, which were followed by macrophages, at the site of peritoneal injection. The WPGs directly activated these cells to inhibit the growth of tumor cells in vitro assays. Our results suggest that Bifidobacterial WPGs induce and activate nonspecific phagocytes in situ to reject growing tumor cells in the mouse peritoneal cavity.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.347-356
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• 2006

It is reported that a fermented soybean food, Doenjang, has srong antimutagenic and cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. This study investigated the effect of Chungkookjang, another traditional popular Korean soybean fermented food, on growth of cancer cells: HL-60, SNU-638 and MCF-7, and also its in vivo antitumorigenic effect in DMBA-induced mammary tumor rat model. For the in vitro study, Chungkookjang and steamed soybeans were extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractioned with 5 kinds of solvents differing in grades of polarity such as hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. Almost all Chungkookjang extracts significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 (human leukemic cancer cell), SNU-638 (human gastric cancer cell) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell) when compared to steamed soybean extracts. Butanol fraction of Chungkookjang extract especially showed a remarkable inhibitory effect in all the three kinds of cancer cells. To induce a mammary gland tumor, DMBA (50 mg/BW) was administered to 50 day-old female rats and followed by Chungkookjang or steamed soybean supplemented diets. Freezedried Chungkookjang powder (20% of diet in wet weight) was added to AIN-93G based diet for the Chungkookjang group of rats. Likewise, steamed soybean powder containing equal protein content to that of Chungkookjang powder was supplemented to soybean group of rats. At 13 weeks later, the mammary tumor incidence, average tumor number and tumor weight a rat were lower in Chungkookjang group compared to the control or soybean group. In conclusion, Chungkookjang showed a strong inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth in vitro, as well as a more preventive effect against chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis in vivo, while steamed soybeans did not. Therefore, these results suggest that Chungkookjang acquire its anticancer activity through the fermentation process.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.143-150
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• 1996

The membrane fatty acid composition of tumor cell can be modified either in cell by altering the lipid composition of the medium of during growth in animals by changing the dietaty fat composition. These modifications are associated with changes in membrane physical properties and certain cellular functions, including carrier-mediated transport and enzyme contained within the membrane. Such effects influence the transport of nutrients and chemotherapeutic agents in cancer cells .Fatty acid modification also can enhance the sensitivity of the neoplastic cell to chemotherapy. The alteration in plasma membrane composition will be affected through dietary supplementations and the potential value to cancer patients could be a better understanding of the effects of diet on responsiveness of neoplasms to chemotherapy, i.e. cancer patients' chances for a "cure" can be improved by diet changes prior to treatment.

• Food Quality and Culture
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.18-21
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to prepare bioactive ginseng yogurts containing compound K, which is transformed from ginsenosides, and to investigate the compound's cytotoxicity against tumor cells. Milk containing ginseng was fermented by Bifidobacteria KK-I and KK-2, and their activities for transforming ginsenosides to compound K were measured. Among the tested concentrations of ginseng in the milk, compound K was effectively produced in the 3% and 6% ginseng yogurts fermented for 48 hrs. These fermented ginseng yogurts were extracted with BuOH, and their cytotoxicities against tumor cells were examined. The BuOH extract of the yogurt made from the 3% ginseng milk showed cytotoxic activity against P388 and HeLa tumor cells. However, the nonfermented ginseng milk did not exhibit cytotoxicity against these cells. Therefore, we deem that the ginseng yogurt, which contained compound K, could be developed as a potential fermented drink product.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.375-382
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• 2013

The present study is designed to explore an anti-tumor activity on crude extracts of Oplopanax elatus. Water extractions of Oplopanax elatus were performed at $100^{\circ}C$(OeE-100). OeE-100 doses up to $62.5{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ had no cytotoxicity on the tumor cell lines in vitro. In experimental lung metastasis of colon26-M3.1 carcinoma or B16-BL6 melanoma, the prophylactic intravenous ($4{\sim}100{\mu}g/mouse$) or oral (2 mg/mouse) administration of OeE-100 significantly inhibited tumor metastasis as compared with tumor controls. Peritoneal macrophages stimulated with OeE-100 produced various cytokines such as TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6 and IL-12. In an analysis of NK-cell activities, i.v. administration of OeE-100 ($10{\sim}100{\mu}g/mouse$) significantly augmented the cytotoxicity to YAC-1 tumor cells. Vaccination of mice with boiling-treated tumor cells (BT-vaccine) in combination with OeE-100 ($100{\mu}g/mouse$) showed higher inhibitions in tumor metastasis when compared with the mice of BT-vaccine treatment. In addition, the splenocytes from OeE-100 admixed BT-vaccine immunized mice secreted a higher concentration of Th1 type cytokine such as IFN-${\gamma}$. These results suggested that the OeE-100 stimulated immune system and was a good candidate adjuvant of anti-tumor immune responses.