• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.134-140
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• 2022

Kelp belongs to the brown algae family and has been reported to exert anti-cancer effects on some cancer types, however studies have not been reported on the anti-cancer effects of kelp extracts on melanoma. In this study, the anti-cancer effects of kelp extract in B16-F0 cells were investigated, and the underlying molecular mechanisms were assessed. Kelp extract was found to inhibit the proliferation of B16-F0 cells, induce cytotoxicity, inhibit cell colony formation, and induce DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. The molecular mechanism was found to involve kelp extract increasing the expression of cytochrome-c and activated caspase-9 in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. In addition, kelp extract upregulated the expression of Fas-associated protein with death domain and activated caspase-8 in the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. Activation of caspase-9 and caspase-8 by kelp extract induced activation of caspase-3 and cleaved poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase, consequently inducing apoptosis. These data suggest that kelp extract represents a potential therapeutic agent for melanoma.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.183-190
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• 2002

The mechanism by which catechin-mediated cytotoxicity against tumor cells remains to be elusive. To elucidate the mechanical mights of anti-tumor effects, (-)epigallocatechin-gallate (EGCG) of catechin was applied to human prostate cancer DU 145 cells. Cell viability was measured by crystal violet staining. Cell lysates were wed to measure the catalytic activity of caspases by using fluorogenic peptide: Ac-DEVD-AMC for caspase-3 protease, Z-IETD-AFC for caspase-8 protease, Ac-LEHD-AFC for caspase-9 protease as substrates. The equal amounts of protein from cell lysate was separated on SDS-PAGE and analyzed by western blotting with anti-Fas antibody, anti-FasL antibody, anti-BCL2 antibody and anti-Bax antibody. (-)EGCG induced the death of DUl45 cells, which was revealed as apoptosis shown by DNA fragmentation. (-)EGCG induced the activation of caspase family cysteine proteases including caspase-3, -8 and -9 proteases in DU145 cells. Also, (-)EGCG increased the expression of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) protein in DU145 colls. The expression level of BCL2 was decreased in (-)EGCG treated DU145 cells, whereas Bax protein was increased in a time-dependent manner. We suggest that (-)EGCG-induced apoptosis of DU145 cells is mediated by signaling pathway involving caspase family cysteine protease, mitochondrial BCL2-family protein and Fas/FasL.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.965-972
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• 2005

To investigate the effects of Trichosanthes semen extract on the growth and apoptosis of human uterine cervical carcinoma cells. Effects of Trichosanthes semen extract on the growth of ME-180 cells were assayed by MTT assay. Apoptosis induced by Trichosanthes semen extract was detected by fluorescent microscopy, DNA fragmentation analysis and flow cytometry. Caspase-3 and caspase-8 activities were assayed. Trichosanthes semen extract induced ME-180 cells to die in a dose- and time-dependent manner. ME-180 cells treated with Trichosanthes semen extract exhibited typical characteristics of apoptosis. The population of Sub-G1 cells increased significantly, and the cells represented the reduced size, condensed chromatin and apoptotic bodies. They showed the decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and increased activities of caspase-3 and caspase-8. The results suggest that Trichosanthes semen extract induced ME-180 cell apoptosis and the activation of caspase and mitochondrial pathway were involved in the process of Trichosanthes semen extract-induced apoptosis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.677-683
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• 2005

The aim of this study was to investigate the apoptotic effect and its mechanism on Radix Aconiti (RA) extract in HL-60 human leukemia cell line. RA extract induced apoptosis as confirmed by discontinuous fragmentation of DNA. To clarify the mechanisms on RA extract-induced apoptosis, we examined the caspase-3, -8 enzyme activity and protein levels including Fas, FasL in HL-60 cells. Treatment with RA extracts resulted in the increase of caspase-3 enzyme activity in a time and dose-dependent manners, which was accompanied by the cleavage of poly-(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This activation of caspase-3 enzyme resulted from cleavage of procaspase-8, which was followed by increases of FasL, Fas protein expression in RA extracts-treated HL-60 cells. In conclusion, RA extract induced apoptosis of HL-60 human leukemia cell line. This results suggest that the apoptotic mechanisms of RA extract on HL-60 cells involved in FasL, Fas activation, procaspase-8 cleavage, activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP. Collectively, these results suggest that RA may be a valuable agent as a anti-cancer drug.

• Korean Journal of Exercise Nutrition
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.109-113
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• 2009

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of a combined treatment consisting of an isoflavone diet and aerobic exercise on the Caspase 9 levels, and Bcl-2 levels during menopause, using 30 S.D ovariectomized rats as a model, over 12 weeks. The ovariectomized rats were divided into 4 experiment groups, with 8 rats in each group, as follows: (1) General diet group (GD, n=8), (2) Isoflavone diet group (ID, n=8), (3) General diet + Exercise group (GEX, n=8), (4) Isoflavone diet + Exercise group (IEX, n=8). The findings of this study were as follows: 1. Combined treatment consisting of an isoflavone diet and regular exercise resulted in a significant reduction in the expression of caspase-9 proteins (p<0.05), and a significant increase in the expression of Bcl-2 proteins (P<0.001). In addition, apoptotic cells were more decreased (p<0.001) in GEX and IEX group. This also suggests that cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women might be prevented or inhibited to exert positive apoptotic inhibitory effects by increasing Bcl-2 protein expression within aortic tissues during vascular movement and decrease caspase-9 protein.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.245-252
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• 2020

Macrophage cell death contributes to the formation of plaque, leading to the development of atherosclerosis. The accumulation of triglyceride (TG) is also associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. A previous study reported that TG induces the cell death of macrophages. This study examined whether the cytoplasmic release of cathepsin B from lysosome is associated with the TG-induced cell death of macrophage. The release of cathepsin B was increased in the TG-treated THP-1 macrophages, but the TG treatment did not affect cathepsin B expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of cathepsin B by its inhibitor, CA-074 Me, partially inhibited the TG-induced cell death of macrophage. TG-triggered macrophage cell death is mediated by the activation of caspase-1, -2, and apoptotic caspases. Therefore, this study investigated whether cathepsin B is implicated in the activation of these caspases. The inhibition of cathepsin B blocked the activation of caspase-7, -8, and -1 but did not affect the activity of caspase-3, -9, and -2. Overall, these results suggest that TG-induced cytoplasmic cathepsin B causes THP-1 macrophage cell death by activating caspase-1, leading to subsequent activation of the extrinsic apoptotic pathway.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1109-1119
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• 2011

In the present study, the pro-apoptotic effects of methanol extract of Prunus mume fruits (MEPM) in human leukemia U937 cells were investigated. It was found that exposure to MEPM resulted in growth inhibition in a concentration-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis. The induction of apoptotic cell death in U937 cells by MEPM was correlated with a down-regulation of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family, such as X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) and survivin, anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, up-regulation of FasL and cleavage of Bid. MEPM treatment also induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, and degradation of caspase-3 substrate proteins, such as poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and ${\beta}$-catenin. In addition, apoptotic cell death induced by MEPM was significantly inhibited by z-DEVD-fmk, a caspase-3 specific inhibitor, which demonstrates the important role of caspase-3 in the apoptotic process by MEPM in U937 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. mume extracts may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human leukemia cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.39 no.8
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• pp.1119-1125
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• 2010

To evaluate resveratrol as a prostate cancer preventive material, we investigated its anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary human prostate cancer cells. Resveratrol significantly decreased the number of viable RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Resveratrol showed cytotoxicity against RC-58T/h/SA#4, LNCaP, PC-3 human prostate cancer cells with $IC_{50}$ values of 245, 320 and $340\;{\mu}M$, respectively. However the cytotoxic potential of resveratrol against normal RWPE-1 cells was lower ($IC_{50}=982\;{\mu}M$). Resveratrol induced cell death as evidenced by the increased formation of apoptotic bodies, nuclear condensation, sub-G1 phase, and DNA fragmentation. Resveratrol activated initiator caspases 8, and 9 as well as effector caspase 3 in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the general caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk significantly inhibited resveratrol-induced apoptosis compared to cells without treatment. These results clearly indicate that resveratrol-induced apoptosis was dependent on caspase activation. Further, resveratrol modulated the down regulation of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic), and Bid. However, the level of Bax (pro-apoptotic) remained unchanged. These results suggest that resveratrol induced apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells via a mitochondrial-mediated caspase-dependent pathway, suggesting therapeutic potential against prostate cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.2637-2641
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• 2013

6,8-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1-methyl-azafluorenone (DMMA), a purified compound from Polyalthia cerasoides roots, is cytotoxic to various cancer cell lines. The aims of this study were to demonstrate the type of cancer cell death and the mechanism(s) involved. DMMA inhibited cell growth and induced apoptotic death in human leukemic cells (HL-60, U937, MOLT-4), human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells and human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells in a dose dependent manner, with $IC_{50}$ values ranging between 20-55 ${\mu}M$. DMMA also decreased cell viability of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The morphology of cancer cells induced by the compound after staining with propidium iodide and examined under a fluorescence microscope was condensed nuclei and apoptotic bodies. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) was decreased after 24h exposure in all five types of cancer cells. DMMA-induced caspase-3, -8, and -9 activity was strongly induced in human leukemic HL-60 and MOLT-4 cells, while in U937-, MDA-MB231- and HepG2-treated cells there was partial induction of caspase. In conclusion, DMMA-induced activation of caspase-8 and -9 resulted in execution of apoptotic cell death in human leukemic HL-60 and MOLT-4 cell lines via extrinsic and intrinsic pathways.

• Proceedings of the PSK Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.107.1-107.1
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• 2003

20-O-(${\beta}$-D-Glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol (IH901), an intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng saponins formed from ginsenosides Rb1, Rb2 and Rc, is suggested to be a potential chemopreventive agent. Here we show that IH901 induces apoptosis in human hepatoblastoma HepG2 cells. IH901 led to an early activation of procaspase-3 (6 h posttreatment), and the activation of caspase-8 became evident only later (18 h posttreatment). Caspase activation was a necessary requirement for apoptosis because caspase inhibitors significantly inhibited cell death by IH901. (omitted)