• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.20-25
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• 1993

DA-125, a new anthracycline derivative, shows significant anticancer activities. We conducted a study to examine the local irritating effect of DA-125 using mice and rabbits. In the skin test in mice, intradermal injection of 0.4 mg of DA-125, compared to a dosage of 0.2 mg of adriamycin, had weak irritating potentials to induce skin ulceration and erythematous induration. A dosage of 0.6 mg of DA-125 produced similar degree of lesions in perivascular irritation model to that of 0.2 mg of adriamycin, but the healing time was shorter in the case of mice treated with DA-125. In ocular irritation study in rabbit, the highest M.O.I.(mean ocular irritation index) of 0.5% DA-125 solution was 0.67, therefore DA-125 could be considered as a practically non-irritating anticancer agent. These results suggest that substitution of DA-125 for Adriamycin would reduces the possibility of outbreaks of local irritation and the severity of the lesions.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.29.1-29.20
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• 2020

The development of refractory tumor cells limits therapeutic efficacy in cancer by activating mechanisms that promote cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. Benzimidazole anthelmintics have broad-spectrum action to remove parasites both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to being antiparasitic agents, benzimidazole anthelmintics are known to exert anticancer activities, such as the disruption of microtubule polymerization, the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle (G2/M) arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and blockage of glucose transport. These antitumorigenic effects even extend to cancer cells resistant to approved therapies and when in combination with conventional therapeutics, enhance anticancer efficacy and hold promise as adjuvants. Above all, these anthelmintics may offer a broad, safe spectrum to treat cancer, as demonstrated by their long history of use as antiparasitic agents. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics, including albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials. This review provides valuable information on how to improve the quality of life in patients with cancers by increasing the treatment options and decreasing side effects from conventional therapy.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.26.1-26.5
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• 2012

Adverse side-effects and lack of scientific validation of some chemotherapeutic agents prevent the use of many traditional medicines claimed to have anti-cancer effects. Ethanolic extract of Conium maculatum has long been used in traditional and alternative systems of medicine including homeopathy for the treatment of glandular enlargements, cancerous tumours or hard lumps of testicles, prostate, ovaries, breasts and/ or uterus, particularly in the breast. However, if and how it acts still remains scientifically unknown. This study aims to test if Conium extract (CE), used as mother tincture of Conium in homeopathy, has demonstrable anti-cancer potentials without having much cytotoxicity in normal cells. Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting MTT assay on both normal (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and HeLa cells. We also evaluated DNA fragmentation and DNA damage by DAPI and diphenylamine assay. The LDH activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. ROS accumulation also was evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis. Administration of drug clearly demonstrated its anti-cancer potentials as evidenced by the DNA damage analysis. The ROS activity also increased in case of the CE treated cells. LDH data revealed that the mode of cell death was mainly apoptotic and not necrotic. CE appears to induce apoptosis of cancer cells through ROS mediated pathway, and has negligible cytotoxicity against normal cells.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2013

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to $0.35{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $0.25{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.21 no.7
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• pp.19.1-19.11
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• 2018

Background: Traditionally, East-Asians (Korea, Japan, and China) utilize seaweeds as a food source and ingredient in traditional medicine. Korea is one of the biggest seaweed producer and consumer in the global trade. Especially, side dishes made from seaweeds are very popular in the traditional Korean cuisines. Seaweeds are popular as fresh vegetable salads and soup or eaten as snacks. Main body: Seaweeds are rich in essential nutrients, minerals, and vitamins as well as a promising source of novel bioactive compounds. The compounds (polysaccharides, polyphenols, and sterols) present in the edible Korean seaweeds possess important bioactive properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammation, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and anticoagulant properties. Thus, the long-term consumption of seaweed has a potential to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, and inflammation-related complications. However, seaweed consumption is limited to the small population around the globe. Thus, it is important to increase the awareness of the health benefits of seaweeds consumption among the general population. Short conclusion: In the present study, we discussed some popular green and red edible Korean seaweeds and their health-promoting properties. This study might be useful to increase the public awareness of the consumption of seaweed as a food source.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.165-170
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• 2020

Carica papaya is a medicinal and fruit plant owing biological activities including antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial and anticancer. The present study aims to investigate the acetyl (AChE) and butyryl (BChE) cholinesterase inhibitory potentials of C. papaya extracts as well as their chemical compositions. The chemical composition of the active extract was identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Ellman enzyme inhibition assay showed that the alkaloid-enriched leaf extract of C. papaya possessed significant anti-BChE activity with an enzyme inhibition of 75.9%. GC-MS analysis showed that the alkaloid extract composed mainly the carpaine (64.9%) - a major papaya alkaloid, and some minor constituents such as aliphatic hydrocarbons, terpenes and phenolics. Molecular docking of carpaine revealed that this molecule formed hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions with choline binding site and acyl pocket. This study provides some preliminary findings on the potential use of C. papaya leaf as an herbal supplement for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.401-414
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• 2013

Ginsenoside Rg3 (G-Rg3) contained only in red ginseng has been found to show various pharmacological effects such as an anticancer, antiangiogenetic, antimetastastic, liver protective, neuroprotective immunomodulating, vasorelaxative, antidiabetic, insulin secretion promoting and antioxidant activities. It is well known that G-Rg3 could be divided into 20(R)-Rg3 and 20(S)-Rg3 according to the hydroxyl group attached to C-20 of aglycone, whose structural characteristics show different pharmacological activities. It has been reported that G-Rg3 is metabolized to G-Rh2 and protopanaxadiol by the conditions of the gastric acid or intestinal bacteria, thereby these metabolites could be absorbed, suggesting its absolute bioavailability (2.63%) to be very low. Therefore, we reviewed the chemical, physical and biological transformation methods for the production on a large scale of G-Rg3 with various pharmacological effects. We also examined the influence of acid and heat treatment-induced potentials on for the preparation method of higher G-Rg3 content in ginseng and ginseng products. Futhermore, the microbial and enzymatic bio-conversion technologies could be more efficient in terms of high selectivity, efficiency and productivity. The present review discusses the available technologies for G-Rg3 production on a large scale using chemical and biological transformation.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.196-203
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• 2008

Phytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity of the aqueous or methanol extracts from the young sprouts of the six Compositae medicinal plants were determined. Aqueous leachates at 40g dry tissue $L^{-1}$ (g $L^{-1}$) Cirsium japonicum and Aster yomena showed the highest inhibitory effect on alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Total phenolic content showed the highest amount in methanol extracts from Ixeris dentata, and followed by A. yomena, and Cephalonoplos segetum. Methanol extracts of C. segetum and I. dentata at 25${\mu}g$ m$L^{-1}$ exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity by 87.2, and 52.8%, respectively. By means of HPLC analysis, MeOH extracts of C. segetum had the highest amount of antioxidant chlorogenic acid. Based on MTT assay, the methanol extracts from Y. sonchifolia ($IC_{50}$ = 65.7${\mu}g$ $mL^{-1}$) showed the highest cytotoxicity against Calu-6. These results suggest that plant extracts had a dose-dependent biological potentials including phytotoxicity, antioxidant activity, and anticancer activity, and that their activities exhibited differently depending on plant species.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.3675-3686
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• 2016

Moringa oleifera Lam, family Moringaceae, is a perennial plant which is called various names, but is locally known in Malaysia as ''murungai'' or ''kelor''. Glucomoringin, a glucosinolate with from M. oleifera is a major secondary metabolite compound. The seeds and leaves of the plant are reported to have the highest amount of glucosinolates. M. oleifera is well known for its many uses health and benefits. It is claimed to have nutritional, medicinal and chemopreventive potentials. Chemopreventive effects of M. oleifera are expected due to the existence of glucosinolate which it is reported to have the ability to induce apoptosis in anticancer studies. Furthermore, chemopreventive value of M. oleifera has been demonstrated in studies utilizing its leaf extract to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines. This review highlights the advantages of M. oleifera targeting chemoprevention where glucosinolates could help to slow the process of carcinogenesis through several molecular targets. It is also includes inhibition of carcinogen activation and induction of carcinogen detoxification, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of tumor angiogenesis. Finally, for synergistic effects of M. oleifera with other drugs and safety, essential for chemoprevention, it is important that it safe to be consumed by human body and works well. Although there is promising evidence about M. oleifera in chemoprevention, extensive research need to be done due to the expected rise of cancer in coming years and to gain more information about the mechanisms involved in M. oleifera influence, which could be a good source to inhibit several major mechanisms involved in cancer development.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.26-33
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• 2018

Fucoxanthin has been reported as bioactive compounds exhibiting strong antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Owing to its a wide range of applications and potentials, commercial production of fucoxanthin from algae has been attracted many attentions. Although, most of seaweeds and diatoms contain fucoxanthin as major carotenoid contents, low productivity of fucoxanthin still hinder the industrial application. Here, we newly isolated and identified indigenous marine diatom Odontella sp. BS-003 as a resource of fucoxanthin production. The characterization, optimization and production of the fucoxanthin, along with other bioactive compound omega-3 fatty acid from odontella sp. BS-003 were analyzed in this study, and the results represented optimal culture condition (two-fold silicate containing F/2 medium) significantly enhanced the algal biomass productivity. The maximum biomass (1.83 g/L), fucoxanthin (3.88 mg/g), along with omega-3 fatty acid (10 %, w/w) were obtained from the 10 L of photobioreactor. Based on the results, it is speculated that the microalga Odontella sp. BS-003 can be a promising natural resource for the production of bioactive compounds.