• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2015

Objectives : In Korea, Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used in traditional medicine for various diseases such as back pain, syndromes of the blood system in women, gastrointestinal disease, and cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of its anti-cancer activity have not been clearly elucidated yet. Methods : This study investigated the possible mechanisms by which RVS extract (RVE) exerts its anti-proliferative action in cultured human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells. Results : Treatment with RVE in MCF-7 cells resulted in inhibition of cell viability through G1 arrest of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, as determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry analysis. The induction of G1 arrest by RVE treatment was associated with the inhibition of cyclin D1, cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) 2, retinoblastoma protein (pRB), and mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) expression. Moreover, RVE treatment concentration dependently increased the levels of tumor suppressor p53, which was associated with the marked induction of Cdk inhibitors such as p21 (Waf1/Cip1) and p27 (Kip1). However, the inhibition of p53 function by the wild-type p53-specific inhibitor, pifithrin-α, abolished the above-mentioned effects of RVE, showing that p53 was responsible for the cytotoxicity of RVE Conclusions : These data indicate that a molecular pathway involving p53-dependent G1 cell cycle arrest plays a pivotal role in the cellular response to RVE, and demonstrate the potential applications of RVE as an anti-cancer drug for breast cancer treatment.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2015

Objectives : This study was performed to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) extracted with sterile distilled water on cholangiocarcinoma cell lines. Materials and Methods : Two cholangiocarcinoma cell lines, SNU-1079 and SNU-1196, were used in this study. Cells were treated with different concentrations of RVS for 24, 48, and 72 hours. Cell count, viability, apoptosis, and mRNA expression of Bax, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, survivin, caspase-3, and cyclin D1 and P21 were determined with an automatic cell counter (ADAM-MC), MTT assay, apoptosis assay (Annexin-V/PI staining), and RT-PCR. Results : All cells treated with RVS showed decreased cell counts in a dose-dependent manner. RVS inhibited proliferation of SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner, but SNU-1079 proliferation was inhibited in the long-time culture group in a dose-dependent manner. The proportion of early and late-stage apoptotic cells was increased by RVS in a dose-dependent manner in SNU-1196. In contrast, it was increased significantly in SNU-1079 treated with high-dose RVS. After treatment with RVS, the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was decreased while Bax was increased in SNU-1079. Cyclin D1 mRNA levels were decreased in SNU-1196 in a dose-dependent manner. P21 expression was increased in all cells after the treatment with RVS. Conclusions : RVS appears to have potential as a therapeutic agent for cholangiocarcinoma.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.151-159
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• 2008

Rhus verniciflua Stokes(RVS), one of traditional medicinal plants in Asia, was found to have pharmacological activities such as antioxidative and antiapoptotic effects, raising the possibility for the development of a novel class of anti-cancer drugs. Thus, potential genotoxic effects of RVS in three short-term mutagenicity assays were investigated, which included the Ames assay, in vitro Chromosomal aberration test, and the in vivo Micronucleus assay. In Ames test, the addition of RVS water extracts at doses from 313 up to 5000 mg/plate induced an increase more than 2-fold over vehicle control in the number of revertant colonies in TA98 and TA1537 strains for detecting the frame-shift mutagens. The similar increase in reversion frequency was observed after the addition of RVS ethanol extracts. To assess clastogenic effect, in vitro chromosomal aberration test and in vivo micronucleus assay were performed using Chinese hamster lung cells and male ICR mice, respectively. Both water and ethanol extracts from RVS induced significant increases in the number of metaphases with structural aberrations mostly at concentrations showing the cell survival less than 60% as assessed by in vitro CA test. Also, there was a weak but statistically significant increase in number of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes(MNPCEs) in mice treated with water extract at 2000 mg/kg while ethanol extracts of RVS at doses of up to 2000 mg/kg did not induce any statistically significant changes in the incidence of MNPCEs. Therefore, our results lead to conclusion that RVS acts as a genotoxic material based on the available in vitro and in vivo results.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.187-195
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• 2010

In this study, we investigated the biological activities such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidant and antiinflammatory activities as well as single oral dose toxicity of fermented Rhus verniciflua extract (FRVE). In order to examine anti-tumor activity of FRVE, the sarcoma 180 cells were treated with FRVE at various concentrations (0.03, 0.3, 3 and 30 mg/mL) in microtetrazolium (MTT) assay. In MTT assay, all the cells treated with FRVE at various concentrations have shown a significant difference compared with control (p < 0.05). In xanthine oxidase inhibition assay to examine the antioxidant activity, the xanthine oxidase inhibition rate of FRVE at 1.5 mg/mL and 15 mg/mL was $85{\pm}15.01%$ and $99{\pm}16.02%$, respectively. Nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells showed that FRVE showed a significant anti-inflammation effect at 3 mg/mL (p < 0.05). In single oral dose toxicity study, no differences were observed between control and treated groups in clinical signs, body weight gains, feed and water consumptions. The results indicated that lethal dose 50 ($LD_{50}$) of FRVE was found to be higher than 5,000 mg/kg in this experiment. From the above results, we may suggest that FRVE might have useful as a material for functional food and/or animal pharmaceutics.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.597-602
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• 2010

In this study, pigs [n=117; (Landrace ${\times}$ Yorkshire) ${\times}$ Duroc; $64{\pm}0.5$ Kg initial body weight] were used to investigate the effect of feeding different levels of lacquer (Rhus verniciflua Stokes) meal on performance, carcass traits and quality of meat kept under refrigeration at $3{\pm}1^{\circ}C$. The pigs were randomly allotted to 3 treatments on the basis of body weight and sex and each treatment was replicated 3 times (13 pigs in each replicate). Lacquer meal in sawdust form obtained from the stem bark and heartwood of sun-dried lacquer trees was added to the grower and finisher diets at 0, 20 and 40 g/kg diet. The experimental diets were fed for 8 wk. Inclusion of lacquer meal had no influence (p>0.05) on growth performance of pigs. Improvement in carcass traits and decreased back fat thickness were noticed in pigs fed diets added with 20 and 40 g/kg lacquer meal. Longissimus muscle obtained from pigs fed lacquer meal had higher moisture and lower fat content, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and water holding capacity. Meat from lacquer fed pigs was also darker and redder. The data indicates that lacquer meal can be incorporated up to 40 g/kg in the diet of fattening pigs without affecting growth performance. Also, lacquer meal increases carcass lean content and improves the oxidative stability of the meat.

• BMB Reports
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.337-343
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• 2003

Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine. Several earlier studies indicated that an ethanol extract of RVS has both anti-oxidant and anti-tumor properties, although the mechanism for the activity remains to be elucidated. In this report, we prepared a highly purified ethanol extract from RVS, named REEE-1 ($\underline{R}$hus $\underline{e}$thanol $\underline{e}$luted $\underline{e}$xtract-1), and investigated the mechanism involved in its growth-inhibitory effect on the human B and T lymphoma cell lines, BJAB and Jurkat, respectively. Results from tritium uptake proliferation assays showed that the proliferative capacities of both BJAB and Jurkat cells were strongly suppressed in the presence of REEE-1. This was further confirmed through trypan blue exclusion experiments that revealed a dose-dependent decrease in viable cell numbers after REEE-1 treatment. REEE-1-mediated suppression of cell growth was verified to be apoptotic, based on the increase in DNA fragmentation, low fluorescence intensity in nuclei after propidium iodide staining, and the appearance of DNA laddering. In particular, REEE-1 exerted its anti-oxidant activity through the inhibition of hydroxyl radical-mediated degradation by iron ion chelation rather than direct scavenging of hydroxyl radicals. Furthermore, REEE-1 was revealed to be a potential scavenger of superoxide anions. Collectively, our findings suggest that REEE-1 is a natural anti-oxidant that could be used as a cancer chemo-preventive and therapeutic agent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.6
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• pp.112-117
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• 2009

Objective: Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has anticancer effect confirmed by preclinical studies and historical records. We thus tried to evaluate retrospectively the effect of RVS as a complementary medicine for patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) showing refractory to conventional chemotherapy. Patients and Methods: From June 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007, patients with advanced NSCLC who received both the standardized RVS extract and a standard course of second or more line therapy such as pemetrexed ($Alimta^{(R)}$), erlotinib ($Tarceva^{(R)}$), and gefitinib ($Iressa^{(R)}$) were checked. A total of 13 patients were eligible for the final analysis after fulfilling inclusion/exclusion criteria. Time to progression (TTP) of these patients treated with the standardized RVS extract was checked in the aftercare period. Results: Patients received RVS treatment for a median period of 296 (range 84-698) days. The median TTP was 220.5 (range 36-489) days, and three patients (23.1%) had TTP values of 15 more months. No significant side effects from RVS treatment have been observed. Conclusion: The standardized RVS extract might have synergetic effects by assisting apoptosis in advanced NSCLC with concurrent standard therapy agents, since it prolonged TTP without significant adverse effects. This study suggests that the standardized RVS extract is beneficial to patients with chemotherapy-refractory NSCLC. Further clinical trials and preclinical studies are necessary to determine the efficacy and safety of the standardized RVS extract in NSCLC.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.157-162
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• 2009

Objectives: The purpose of this study is reporting the possibility of the treatment of metastatic brain tumors with allergen removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes (aRVS) after gamma knife radiosurgery. Methods: A patient with lung cancer felt a headache about one year after conventional therapies, and metastatic brain tumors were diagnosed. He received gamma knife radiosurgery twice but refused to get more conventional therapies afterwards. So he has been treating with aRVS since then. Results: During 143 weeks of administration of aRVS, the size of brain masses has decreased continuously without extracranial metastasis and the patient has maintained a good performance status. Conclusions: This report suggests that aRVS may play a therapeutic role in the treatment of metastatic brain tumors. Further studies will be needed to determine the effect of aRVS on metastatic brain tumors.

• Journal of Korean Traditional Oncology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

Nearly 800,000 new colorectal cancer cases are believed to be occur each year, which account for approximately 10% of all incident cancers, and mortality from colorectal cancer is estimated at nearly 450,000 per year. We report one patient with rectal cancer of stage III. The patient had a rectal cancer(StageIII T3N2M0) and underwent low anterior resection in 2004 followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Lymph node metastases were found in 2005 and the patient was treated by palliative chemotherapy, which could not supress the lymph node metastases increase. The patient visited Kyunghee University East-West Neo Medical Center(KHNMC) in 2006 and was treated using allergen-removed Rhus Verniciflua Stokes(aRVS). Radiotherapy was done simultaneously in 2006. There was no evidence of recurrence since then. The patient showed no side effects. This case report brings forth the importance of a thorough study in rectal cancer in the traditional Korean medical point of view, along with the long-term effect of aRVS.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.82 no.2
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• pp.122-127
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• 1993

This study was conducted to investigate characteristics related to lacquer yield and to evaluate possibility of indirect selection of Rhus verniciflua Stokes. Twenty-four lacquer trees were randomly selected for measuring growth, urushiol content and bark thickness. Urushiol content showed a significant positive correlation with outer bark thickness and secretory canal density at 1% level, and with inner bark thickness at 5% level. Bark thickness and secretory canal density could be used as indicators for high urushiol content within bark and thus for high lacquer yield. Mass selection for high lacquer yield was made based on urushiol content within bark. Sixteen individuals with the highest urushiol content value were selected for breeding. As expected, the selected trees had thicker bark, higher density of secretory canal, better developed secretory canals compare to the non-selected lacquer trees.