• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.264-269
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• 2003

5-Aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) is an active ingredient of therapeutic agents used for Crohn s disease and ulcerative colitis. Because it is absorbed rapidly and extensively in the upper intestine, delivery of the agent specifically to the colon is necessary. We selected taurine as a colon-specific promoiety and designed 5-aminosalicyltaurine (5-ASA-Tau) as a new colon-specific prodrug of 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA). It was expected that introduction of taurine would restrict the absorption of the prodrug and show additive effect to the anti-inflammatory action of 5-ASA after hydrolysis. 5-ASA-Tau was prepared in good yield by a simple synthetic route. The apparent partition coefficient of 5-ASA-Tau in 1-octanol/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer or $CHCl_3$/pH 6.8 phosphate buffer was 0.10 or 0.18, respectively, at $37^{\circ}C$. To determine the chemical and biochemical stability in the upper intestinal environment, 5-ASA-Tau was incubated in pH 1.2 and 6.8 buffer solutions, and with the homogenates of tissue and contents of stomach or small intestine of rats at $37^{\circ}C$. 5-ASA was not detected from any of the incubation medium with no change in the concentration of 5-ASA-Tau. On incubation of 5-ASA-Tau with the cecal and colonic contents of rats, the fraction of the dose released as 5-ASA was 45% and 20%, respectively, in 8 h. Considering low partition coefficient and stability in the upper intestine, 5-ASA-Tau might be nonabsorbable and stable in the upper intestine. After oral administration, it would be delivered to the colon in intact form and release 5-ASA and taurine. These results suggested 5-ASA-Tau as a promising colon-specific prodrug of 5-ASA.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.338-346
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• 2016

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is associated with various human diseases, such as cancer, auto-immune disease, and intestinal inflammation. The limited and inadequate effect of standard approaches for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has prompted to develop alternative anti-colitis agents through inhibition of STAT3. Here, we show that gallic acid (GA), a 3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoic acid, markedly reduced phosphorylation of STAT3. Among the derivatives of benzoic acids, GA showed significant inhibition on STAT3 phosphorylation. In addition, GA ameliorated the dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced acute colitis as determined by the measurement of symptomatic and histological indices. The suppression of DSS-induced acute colitis by GA treatment may be related to the regulation of cytokines and growth factors. Furthermore, GA inhibited phosphorylation of STAT3 in the colon tissue of DSS-treated mice. These findings may be useful in comprehending the molecular action of GA on STAT3 phosphorylation and provide novel insights into the potential application of GA in the treatment of STAT3-related inflammatory disease, such as IBD.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.802-810
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• 2005

The tetrahydroisoquinolines included potent cytotoxic agents that showed antitumor activity,antimicrobial activity, and other biological properties. We studied the effect of CDST, 1-Chloromethyl-6,7-dimethoxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-2-sulfonic acid amide, a newly synthesized anti-cancer agent. The cytotoxic activity of CDST in HL-60 cells was increased in a dose-dependent manner. CDST, tetrahydroisoquinolines derivative, was cytotoxic to HL-60 cells, with IC50 of $80{\mu}g/ml$. Treatment of CDST to HL-60 cells showed the fragmentation of DNA in a dose- and time dependent manner, suggesting that thesecells underwent apoptosis. Treatment of HL-60 cells with CDST was induced in a dose- and time-dependent activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. In caspase activity assay, caspase-3 and -8 was activated after 12 h and 6 h posttreatment, respectively. CDST also caused the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into the cytosol. CDST-induced cytochrome c release was mediated by caspase-8-dependent cleavage of Bid and Bax translocation. These results suggest that caspase-8 induced Bid cleavage and Bax translocation, caused mitochondrial cytochrome c release, and induce caspase-3 activationduring CDST-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.561-565
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• 2005

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is often diagnosed in patients with pneumonia who respond poorly to antibiotics. BOOP is often idiopathic, and the etiology of the remaining cases has been attributed to a wide range of agents or medical conditions. When a patient develops the clinical symptoms characteristic of BOOP, the medical team must endeavor to determine the etiology of this disease because it can be treated with glucocorticoid and avoidance of the causative agent. In particular, if BOOP is diagnosed during or after chemotherapy for a malignancy, the possible culprit agent can be the anti cancer drugs but other drugs used for supportive care must be also be considered. We report a case of BOOP that arose after CHOP chemotherapy and a filgrastim injection in a patient with a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.11
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• pp.925-935
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• 2015

DNA methylation is a well-characterized epigenetic modification that plays central roles in mammalian development, genomic imprinting, X-chromosome inactivation and silencing of retrotransposon elements. Aberrant DNA methylation pattern is a characteristic feature of cancers and associated with abnormal expression of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes or repair genes. Ten-eleven-translocation (TET) proteins are recently characterized dioxygenases that catalyze progressive oxidation of 5-methylcytosine to produce 5-hydroxymethylcytosine and further oxidized derivatives. These oxidized methylcytosines not only potentiate DNA demethylation but also behave as independent epigenetic modifications per se. The expression or activity of TET proteins and DNA hydroxymethylation are highly dysregulated in a wide range of cancers including hematologic and non-hematologic malignancies, and accumulating evidence points TET proteins as a novel tumor suppressor in cancers. Here we review DNA demethylation-dependent and -independent functions of TET proteins. We also describe diverse TET loss-of-function mutations that are recurrently found in myeloid and lymphoid malignancies and their potential roles in hematopoietic transformation. We discuss consequences of the deficiency of individual Tet genes and potential compensation between different Tet members in mice. Possible mechanisms underlying facilitated oncogenic transformation of TET-deficient hematopoietic cells are also described. Lastly, we address non-mutational mechanisms that lead to suppression or inactivation of TET proteins in cancers. Strategies to restore normal 5mC oxidation status in cancers by targeting TET proteins may provide new avenues to expedite the development of promising anti-cancer agents.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.113-118
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• 2003

We recently extracted lignans such as matairesinol and 2-hydroxyarctigenin from safflower seeds and found that they exhibit a potent cytotoxic effect on human promyleocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. In this study, we investigated whether mechanisms of the matairesinol-induced cell death are associated with the programmed cell death, apoptosis. Matairesinol dose-dependently reduced viability of HL-60 cells with an IC/sun 50/ value of 60 $\mu$M. Staining of cells with Hoechst 33342 revealed distinct morphological features of apoptosis, such as the nuclei broken into chromatin containing fragments of various sizes in the cells exposed to 100 $\mu$M matairesinol for 24 hr. Agarose gel electrophoresis of DNA from the cells treated with matairesinol showed internucleosomal DNA degradation into oligonucleosomal sizes. DNA ladder like patterns were easily detected after treatment with matairesinol concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 $\mu$M after 24 hr. In cells treated with 100 $\mu$M matairesinol for differing time periods, the DNA ladder was detectable from 6 hr onward. A time course histogram of the DNA content analyzed by flow cytometry revealed a rapid increase in subdiploid cells and a concomitant decrease in diploid cells exposed to 100 $\mu$M matairesinol. These results indicate that matairesinol-induced HL-60 cell death was due to the DNA damage and apoptosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.94 no.6
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• pp.397-401
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• 2005

Homoharringtonine isolated from the plumyew tree (Cephalotaxus koreana) is currently considered as one of the most promising chemotherapeutic agents for anti-cancer. Variation of homoharringonine contents from eight natural populations of Korean native plumyew trees was determined by HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography), and compared with the variation among populations, the variation of the different parts(needle, root, stem and seed), and the variation according to their ages and growth features. Homoharringonine contents among populations were significantly different with Mt. South Dukyu ($1,048{\mu}g/g$) having the highest and Mt. Obong having the lowest. The analyses of plant pans showed that the homoharringtonine contents were highest in plant needles ($874{\mu}g/g$), and followed by roots, stems and seeds. Homoharringtonine contents of the plumyew trees decreased about 30% in increment with their ages and growth.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.689-695
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• 1996

Harringtonine and homoharringtonine known as anti-cancer agents were isolated from Korean native plumyew(Cephalotaxus koreana) using column chromatography(CHCl3:MeOH=19:1, Rf=0.28). The structure of the mixture of two compounds was characterized by 1H-NMR. Comparison of our spectra of harringtonine and homoharringtonine with previously reported ones indicated that the two are identical. The contents of harringtonine and homoharringtonine in the needles, stems, and roots of Korean native plumyew were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). The contents of both compounds varied with the site of location and the part of plant. The content of harringtonine was higher in needles and roots than in stems, whereas the content of homoharringtonlne was lower than harringtonine. Homoharringtonine contents in needles at Mt. Palgong, Mt. Dukyu, Mt. Baekyang, Mt. Jiri, and Namhae were higher than in stems and roots. But homoharringtonine contents in needles al Mt. Jokye and Jindo were lower than in stems and roots.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.119-124
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• 2014

Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. is known as an insecticide and traditional remedy for liver related diseases. Therefore, this study investigated the chemopreventive effects of extracts and several solvent fractions (n-hexane, dichloromethane, n-butanol, water) of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. First, their cytotoxicity and NQO1 activity were measured using an MTT assay, plus a quinone reductase [NAD(P)H dehydrogenase (quinone); NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase, EC 1.6.99.2]-inducing activity assay was performed using cultured murine hepatoma cells (Hepa1c1c7) and its mutant cells(BpRc1). The reduction of electrophilic quinones by NQO1 is an important detoxification pathway and major mechanism of chemoprevention. When compared with the other solvent soluble fractions with different polarities, the dichloromethane fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. showed a higher NQO1-inducing activity that was also dose-dependent. Moreover, the dichloromethane fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. induced ARE-luciferase activities in HepG2-C8 cells that were generated by transfecting the ARE-luciferase gene construct, suggesting the Nrf2-ARE-mediated induction of anti-oxidative enzymes. In conclusion, the dichloromethane-soluble fraction of Physalis alkekengi var. francheti Hort. showed a relatively strong induction of detoxifying enzymes, thereby meriting further study to identify the active components and evaluate their potential as cancer preventive agents.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.161-166
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• 2022

HIF-2α is a transcription factor activated mainly in hypoxic condition known to play crucial roles in a wide variety of pathophysiological events including cancer, metabolic syndrome, arthritis etc. In this context, a number of N'-aryl isonicotinolyhydrazides, in which known pharmacophores are included, have been selected from commercial chemical library and tested for the inhibitory activities targeting HIF-2α in cultured HTB94 cell. HRE-luciferase and HIF-2α were introduced into the cell by transfection and adenoviri infection, respectively and the reporter gene assay discovered the potency of 2-hydroxy-1-naphthyl structure. Accordingly, the scaffold has been adjusted based on this structure and subjected to anti-HIF-2α activity test, identifying 2 compounds as HIF-2α inhibitors. The activities were confirmed by false positive test. This study has been performed via the convergence of biology and chemistry and the results may be useful for discovering novel inhibitors and HIF-2α biology studies, and contribute to the development of therapeutic agents.