• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.101-115
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• 2001

Objective : To characterize the antitumorigenic potential of Apamin, one of the major components of bee venom, its effects on cell proliferation and the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathway were characterized using the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2. Methods & Results : Cell counting analysis for cell death demonstrated that consistent with a previous results, SK-MEL-2 cells treated with $0.5-2.0{\mu}g/ml$ of Apamin showed no recognizable cytotoxic effect whereas detectable induction of cell death was identified at concentrations over $5.0{\mu}g/ml$. [3H]thymidine incorporation assay for cell proliferation demonstrated that DNA replication of SK-MEL-2 cells is inhibited by Apamin in a dose- and time-dependent manner. To explore whether Apamin-induced growth suppression is associated with the MAPK signaling pathway, phosphorylation of Erk, a function mediator of MAPK growth-stimulating signal, was examined Western blot assay using a phospho-specific Erkl/2 antibody. A significant increase of Erkl/2 phosphorylation level was observed in Apamin-treated cells compared with untreated control cells. Qantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Apamin inhibit expression of MAPK downstream genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and cyclin D1 but not expression of MAPK pathway component genes including Ha-Ras, c-Raf-1, MEK1, and Erk. Conclusion : It is strongly suggested that the antitumorigenic activity of Apamin might result in part from its inhibitory effect on the MAPK signaling pathway in human melanoma cells SK-MEL-2.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.390-394
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• 1998

The tuber of Liriope platyphylla was extracted with 80% aqueous MeOH and solvent-fractionated with EtOAc, n-BuOH and $H_2O$. Evaluation of growth inhibitory activity of each fractions on various carcinoma cells, A549, SK-OV-3, SK-Mel-2, XF-498 and HCT-15, indicated the n-BuOH fraction to be the highest in the activity. From the fraction, two saponin compounds were isolated through Amberlite XAD-II and silica gel column chromatographies, repeatedly, and their chemical structures were elucidated as spicatoside A and B by interpretation of spectral data, NMR and IR, and adaptation of acid hydrolysis. Spicatoside A showed growth inhibitory activity on carcinoma cells, and the $IC_{50}$ values against A549, SK-OV-3, SK-Mel-2, XF-498 and HCT-15 cells were determined to be 17.3, 21.7, 14.9, 18.8 and $15.6\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2003

The purpose of this study was to determine the role of substituted groups in phenolic compounds to develop an anticancer agent having strong cytotoxicity against cancer cells but weak against normal cells. The phenolic compounds used in this study were gallic acid and ferulic acid with hydroxyl and carboxyl groups, syringic acid with hydroxyl, carboxyl and methoxy groups, and pyre-gallol with hydroxyl groups. Cytotoxicities of these compounds were evaluated by MTT assay for cell viability and XTT assay for cell adhesion activity in normal human skin fibroblast (Detroit 551) and human skin melanoma (SK-MEL-3) cells. Syringic acid, gallic acid and ferulic acid decreased the cell viability and cell adhesion activity in SK-MEL-3 cells but not in Detroit 551 cells while pyrogallol decreased in both cells. The susceptibility of cell viability based on the $IC_{50}$ values of MTT assay in Detroit 551 cells was in the following order: pyrogallol > gallic acid > ferulic acid > syringic acid, while it was in SK-MEL-3 cells: Syringic acid > progallol > ferulic acid > gallic acid. These results suggest that carboxyl and methoxy groups of these compounds play an important role in selectivity of cytotoxicity in normal and cancer cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.285-289
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• 2005

Two new sulfated saponins designated as certonardosides P$_{2}$ and I$_{3}$ (1 and 2) were isolated from the brine shrimp active fraction of the MeOH extract of the starfish Certonardoa semiregularis. The structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were tested for cytotoxicity against five human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, and HCT15), and compound 1 displayed significant cytotoxicity against the SK-MEL-2 skin cancer cell.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.1176-1181
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• 2004

The cytotoxic activities of Cinnamomum cassia (Blume) bark-derived materials toward six human HeLa epithelioid cervix, A549 lung, SK-OV-3 ovarian, SK-MEL-2 melanoma, XF-498 central nerve system, and HCT-15 colon tumor cell lines were evaluated by using sulforhodamine B assay and compared to those of the anticancer agents, cisplatin and mitomycin C. The biologically active constituent of the Cinnamomum bark was characterized as trans­cinnamaldehyde by spectroscopic analysis. The cytotoxic activity of cinnamaldehyde against HeLa, SK-MEL-2, and HCT -15 cell lines was comparable to that of cisplatin and mitomycin C. The compound showed lower activity against A549, SK-OV-3, and XF-498 cell lines than the anticancer agents. Eugenol exhibited moderate activity against SK-OV­3, XF-498, and HCT-15 tumor cells, and trans-cinnamic acid, cinnamyl alcohol, $\alpha-pinene,\;and\;\beta-pinene$ showed little or no activity against model tumor cells. Cinnamaldehyde was not mutagenic against four strains (TA 98, TA 100, TA 1535, and TA 1537) of Salmonella typhimurium (Castel and Chalm). These results indicate at least one pharmacological action of C. cassia.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.249-257
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• 2001

The effect of oxidative stress on the alterations of different antioxidant enzyme activities was investigated in human skin melanoma cell line (SK-MEL-2). Oxidative stress was induced by the exposure to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O$$_2$). SK-MEL-2 cells were treated with antioxidants such as vitamin E and selenomethionine in combination with $H_2O$$_2$. SK-MEL-$_2$ cells were exposed to various concentrations of $H_2O$$_2$ and measured the time course of changes in cell viability and antioxidant enzyme activities for 24 hr. Oxidative stress was induced by the exposure to 2.5mM hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O$$_2$) resulted in declining significantly for 24 hr. GPX and CAT activities peaked at 3 hr and returned to control levels by 24 hr. On the contrary, SOD activity was inactive before 6 hr but recovered at 24 hr. In case vitamin E (Vit E) and selenomethionine (Se-Met) were used at nontoxic concentrations (25$\mu$M Vit E/500$\mu$M Se-Met) to oxidative stress was induced by the exposure to hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O$$_2$) led to a 3- and 5-fold increase on the viability comparing to control and caused an increase in GPX activity respectively.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.143-155
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• 2001

Many attention has been focused on developing new chemotherapeutic agents for a treatment of cancer from natural products. From Carpesium divaricatum S. et Z. (Compositae), various monoterpenoid compounds were isolated and exhibited mild antitumor activity against human tumor cell lines. These facts prompted us to explore the structure-activity relationship of these compounds. The synthesis of monoterpenoid compound was accomplished by Fries rearrangement, Grignard reaction, elimination, allylic oxidation, esterification and epoxidation as key steps. The results of in vitro cytotoxicity (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, XF498, HCT15) of the synthesised compounds are as follows: First of all, epoxide moiety is prerequisite for cytotoxic activity in diester compound. Any kind of compounds with olefin or diol moiety instead of epoxide ring exhibited poor or mild cytotoxic activity respectively. Of o-acetoxy and isobutoxy epoxy esters, p-sub-stituted phenylacetate compounds exhibited high cytotoxic activities against SK-MEL-2 and HCT15.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.129-145
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• 2001

Objectives : To characterize the antitumorigenic potential of three representative bee venom components, Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2, their effects on cell proliferation and apotosis of the human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-2 were analyzed using molecular biological approaches. Methodes & Results : To determine the doses of the drugs that do not induce cytotoxic damage to this cell line, cell viability was examined by MTT assay. While SK-MEL-2 cells treated with 0.5 - 2.0㎍/㎖ of each drug showed no recognizable cytotoxic effect, marked reductions of cell viability were detected at concentrations over 5.0㎍/㎖. [3H]thymidine incorporation assay for cell proliferation demonstrated that DNA replication of SK-MEL-2 cells is inhibited by Apamin and Phospholipase A2 in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with this result, the cells were accumulated at the G1 phase of the cell cycle after treatment with Apamin and Phospholipase A2, whereas no detectable change in cell proliferation was identified by Melittin treatment. In addition, tryphan blue exclusion and flow cytometric analyses showed that all of these drugs can trigger apoptotic cell death of SK-MEL-2, suggesting that Melittin, Apamin, and Phospholipase A2 have antitumorigenic potential through the suppression of cell growth and/or induction of apoptosis. Qantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that Apamin and Phospholipase A2 inhibit expression of growth-promoting genes such as c-Jun, c-Fos, and Cyciin D1. Furthermore, Phospholipase A2 induced tumor suppressors p53 and p21/Wafl. In addition, all three drugs were found to activate expression of a representative apoptosis-inducing gene Bax while expression of apoptosis-suppressing Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL genes was not changed. Taken together, this study strongly suggests that Metittin, Apamin, and Phosphalipase A2 may have antitumorigenic activities, which are associated with its growth-inhibiting and/or apoptosis-inducing potentials.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.82-97
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• 2007

Objective : Cortex of Ulmi pumilae(CUP) has been used to treat several diseases including boil, swelling, and scabies etc. Recently, CUP was known to have wrinkle care and whitening actions. But, It's exact mechanisms are unclear. Methods : The present study was designed to investigate effects of CUP on Human HaCaT keratinocyte and malignant melanoma cells such as SK-MEL-2 and B16F10 in terms of cell viabilities, proliferations, DPPH free radical scavenging activities, oxygen free radical productions and inhibitory action on elastase activities. Results : CUP accelerated proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes in the lower concentration. CUP also prevented cell death of HaCaT induced by Hydrogen peroxide, which products oxygen free radicals. On the contrary, CUP did not affect proliferations of SK-MEL-2 or B16F10. Futhermore, CUP showed inhibitory action against SK-MEL-2 proliferation at the concentration of $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ In addition, CUP was shown to have DPPH free radical scavenging activities and also have inhibitory effects on elastase activities too. On the fluorescent examinations, the present author knows that CUP elevated production levels of oxygen free radicals in malignant melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2. Conclusions : These results suggest that CUP has possibilities of usage for functional cosmetics which have wrinkle care and whitening activities and related mechanisms are involved in inhibition of elastase action and acceleration of oxidative stress in melanoma cell.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.14-28
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• 2007

Objective : Hwagi-Jokyeong-Tang (化氣調經湯, HJT) was described in DongeuiBogam(東醫寶鑑). This remedy has been used to treat patients with Naryeok, which is similar as tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis in western medicine. Methods : In this study, the present author investigated the effects of HJT on on Human HaCaT keratinocyte and malignant melanoma cells such as SK-MEL-2 and B16F10 in terms of cell viabilities, proliferations, DPPH free radical scavenging activities, oxygen free radical productions and inhibitory action on elastase activities. Results : HJT acceleated proliferation of HaCaT keratinocytes dose-dependantly. HJT also prevented cell death of HaCaT induced by Hydrogen peroxide, which products oxygen free radicals. On the contrary, HJT did not affect proliferations of SK-MEL-2 or B16F10. In addition, HJT was shown to have DPPH free radical scavenging activities and also have inhibitory effects on elastase activities too. On the fluorescent examinations, the present author know that HJT did not affect production levels of oxygen free radicals in malignant melanoma cell, SK-MEL-2. Conclusions : These results suggest that HJT has possibilities of usage for functional cosmetics which have skin regeneration or prevention from skin tissue injury.