• Toxicological Research
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• 제16권2호
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• pp.125-131
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• 2000

The ethanol extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS), the Korean Lacquer tree, was subsequentely isolated and fractioned into two portions using distilled water (SED) and 99% ethanol (SEE) as elution buffers through silica gel column (4x28 em, 22 $\AA$. 28~200 mesh). To know the antioxidative effect of the RVS extracts, primary hepatocytes were exposed to hydroxyl radical generated by 20 mU/$m\ell$ glucose oxidase with SED or SEE for 4 hr. The addition of 100$\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ SED in culture medium showed good protection from glucose oxidase (GO)-mediated cytotoxicity of hepatocytes, showing approximately equivalent to control. When the hepatocytes were incubated with 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$m\ell$ SED or SEE only for 4 hr. the activities of cell-associated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were elevated up to 1.22 fold and 1.4 fold, respectively, compared to control. Further increase, 1.88fold in SOD activity or 1.64fold in catalase activity, was also observed when the hepatocytes were incubated with 100 units/$m\ell$ of commercial SOD or catalase for 4 hr. Moreover. the glucose oxidase-mediated cytotoxicity in cultured hepatocytes was generally reduced upon addition of lysate obtained from SED or SEE-stimulated hepatocytes in a dose-dependent manner. From these results, we suggest that, in cultured hepatocytes, RVS ethanol extract can efficiently reduce cytotoxicity induced by glucose oxidase and may increase the activity of cell-associated SOD and/or catalase, thereby preventing and/or scavenging superoxides and hydroxyl radicals in this experiment.

• BMB Reports
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• 제34권3호
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• pp.250-258
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• 2001

For a long time Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) has traditionally been used as a herbal plant. It is known to contain various biological activities. Previously, a crude ethanol extract from RVS was reported to have antioxidant effects, and antiproliferative activities, on human cancer cell lines. In this report, we prepared a highly purified ethanol extract from RVS, which did not contain the urushiol derivatives, named REEE-1 ($\underline{R}$hus $\underline{e}$thanol $\underline{e}$luted $\underline{e}$xtract-1), to investigate the mechanisms of the scavenging activity of hydroxyl radicals using mouse thymocytes. The results from the deoxyribose, DNA nicking, and glucose/glucose oxidase enzyme assays showed that REEE-1 contained a strong scavenging activity of oxygen free radicals, especially of hydroxyl radicals. However, interestingly, REEE-1 also showed cytotoxicity against the thymocytes, although the effect was variable, depending on the concentrations and times of treatment. The REEE-1-mediated cytotoxicity against thymocytes, which has been used as one of the well-characterized models for apoptosis studies, was verified to be apoptotic. This was proven by the following: the appearance of DNA laddering, increases in DNA fragmentation, low fluorescence intensity in the nuclei after propidium iodide staining, and positive Annexin V staining of the cells. These results suggested that REEE-1 had both antioxidative activity and cytotoxicity against the thymocytes, although the effect of the cytotoxicity was variable, depending on the dose and time of the treatment.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권5호
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• pp.463-477
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Many studies have suggested that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) and its extract are anticancer agents. However, RVS had limited use because it contains urushiol, an allergenic toxin. By improving an existing allergen-removal extraction method, we developed a new allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract (RVSE) with higher flavonoid content. In this study, we examined whether RVSE inhibits the ability of AGS gastric cancer cells to migrate and invade. MATERIALS/METHODS: The flavonoids content of RVSE was analyzed by HPLC. The effects of RVSE on migration and invasion in AGS cells were analyzed by each assay kit. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) protein expression was analyzed by protein antibody array. The Phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 were assayed by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: RVSE treatment with 0-100 ㎍/mL dose-dependently reduced the ability of AGS cells to migrate and invade. Notably, treatment with RVSE strongly inhibited the expression of MMP-9 and uPA and the phosphorylation of STAT3. In contrast, RVSE treatment dramatically increased the expression of PAI-1. These results indicate that the inhibition of MMP-9 and uPA expression and STAT3 phosphorylation and the stimulation of PAI-1 expression contributed to the decreased migration and invasion of AGS cells treated with RVSE. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that RVSE may be used as a natural herbal agent to reduce gastric cancer metastasis.

• BMB Reports
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• 제36권4호
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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.

• 약학회지
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• 제58권3호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2014

The aim of this was to evaluate the effects of Rhus Verniciflua Stoke (RVS) extract powder on the endurance capacity for the forced swimming mice. Thirty mice were divided into 3 groups including negative control, 250 (RVS-250) and 500 (RVS-500) mg/kg RVS extract powder groups for 4-times swimming exercises. The swimming times to exhaustion in RVS-250 and RVS-500 mice were prolonged 1.6- and 2.0-fold at 4 weeks compared with negative control mice, respectively. Blood biochemical parameters for AST, ALT, T-CHO and TG were not significantly different between RVS fed or negative control mice. However, blood concentration of creatinine was significantly increased in RVS-250 mice, but not in RVS-500 mice. During the longer swimming exercise in RVS group, blood glucose and lactate levels were significantly decreased, but free fatty acid not changed. And also LDH levels were significantly decreased in RVS groups compared to negative control mice. Hepatic lipid peroxidation was not affected by RVS, but SOD and catalase activity were significantly increased in RVS groups. Interestingly, the levels of testosterone and free testosterone were significantly increased in RVS groups before swimming exercise, but they were not significantly changed among groups after swimming exercise. The present results suggest that RVS extract powders may enhance swimming exercise performance by recovering the exercise-fatigue via reduction of blood LDH activity and by burning blood glucose as an energy source. These results imply that RVS-produced testosterone may act as an energy buster to enhance physical activity.

• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.63-69
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• 2010

We report a case of an 85-year old man with an adenocarcinoma of the rectosigmoid colon (clinical stage II). Though tumor was resectable, the patient was considered to be inoperable because of old age and comorbidities such as asthma, diabetes and old myocardial infarction. He wanted to receive alternative care, so he was exclusively treated with standardized Allegern-removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes (aRVS) extract and other herbal medicine such as BOJUNGIKGI-TANG GAMIBANG. During 18 months, he has shown good performance status without transfusion. This report suggests that herbal treatment including standardized aRVS for rectosigmoid colon cancer could be an alternative treatment option when it is unabled to be treated by surgical resection.

• 한국약용작물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국약용작물학회 2011년도 춘계학술발표회
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• pp.108-109
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• 2011

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제36권1호
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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.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.171-176
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• 1998

The biological effects of the water extracts of Rhus Verniciflua Stokes (RVS) were evaluated by protection against hydroxyl radicals. Antioxidative activities were measured using both 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and thiocyanate method. Also we used the Glucose oxidase (GO) 20 mU/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ hydroxyl radical generating system in mouse forebrain cell culture. Water was used for ex-traction from RVS as a solvent which has high polarity especially. In DPPH method, the antioxidative activities of the crude water extract were stronger than any other extracts of low polar-solvents. In the antioxidative effects of mouse forebrain culture using 20 mU/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ GO, cell viabilities were evaluated 65.6%, 68.8% at 1 $\mu\textrm{g}$. 5 $\mu\textrm{g}$ addition of crude water extracts (30 mg/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$) respectively. 10 $\mu\textrm{g}$ addition of crude water extracts had more than 86.1% cell viabilities, P<0.0l significantly, compared with the group treated with GO alone. In comparison with the antioxidative activities of several commercial antioxidants (ascorbic acid, $\alpha$-tocopherol, catalase, serum), 273 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$ addition of crude water extracts (300 $\mu\textrm{g}$/$\textrm{m}{\ell}$) showed equivalent antioxidative effect to 25 uM ascorbic acid.

• 대한암한의학회지
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.39-43
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• 2012

Objective : This study reports one case of a patient diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma of the lung cancer with bone metastasis. Methods : A 56-year old male patient was diagnosed as squamous cell lung cancer in 1997 and received chemotherapy. The chemotherapy stopped after one cycle because of toxicity and the lung abscess. After four months from the diagnosis, rib metastasis was found and received the radiation therapy for two weeks. After the treatment, adverse effects such as nausea and anorexia appeared. The patient visited K. Korean Medicine Hospital and started the treatment with the allergen removed Rhus verniciflua stokes (aRVS) since December, 1997. Results and Conclusion : During treatment, the patient's quality of life had improved, and he had survived for 14 years after the administration of aRVS. This case suggests that aRVS can be an alternative treatment for the advanced NSCLC patients with bone metastasis.