• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.308-312
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• 2008

The flower buds of Tussilago farfara (TF) have been traditionally used in oriental medicine for the treatment of bronchitis and asthma. In our study, the primary objective was to determine the mechanisms that are inherent to TF-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis, using the methanolic extract of TF (TFM) in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We found that TFM-induced induced cytotoxicity in HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was verified via an MTT reduction assay, an lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, and a colony formation assay. Interestingly, we also detected apoptotic bodies on Hoechst staining, and attempted to determine whether TFM-induced apoptosis involved the caspase pathway using a caspase-3/7 activity assay. Overall, the results indicate that TFM contain chemotherapeutic agents and potential candidates use for against human colon cancer cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.830-836
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• 2004

The unique biochemical pathways in melanocytes responsible for melanogenesis provide us with a rational mechanism-based means for developing both pharmacological regulators of pigmentation and cytotoxic chemotherapeutic drugs for melanoma, Myricetin is a polyphenolic antioxidant and a component from Biotae Semen, Biotae orientalis Folium. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of myricetin on the melanogenesis in human melanoma (HM₃KO) cells. The cells were treated for 5 days with myricetin at several concentrations (10 - 100 μg/ml). Treatment with myricetin dose-dependently suppressed cell growth in HM₃KO cells, But melanin formation was markedly increased by myricetin as a dose dependent manner. Myricetin did not affect to tyrosinase activity, which is a key enzyme for melanogenesis, but significantly increased the level of tyrosinase protein expression, These results suggest that myricetin stimulate melanin synthesis of human melanoma cells through the modification of tyrosinase protein expression.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.145-149
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• 2015

Objectives: We carried out an observational study of the effects of Nei Guan (P6) and Gong Sun (SP4) acupuncture for the treatment of CINV, preparing for further randomized controlled trial study. This is a case series to explore the changes in the incidence of CINV by acupuncture. Methods: Patients reported a Rhodex index indicating the severity of nausea and vomiting and loss of appetite, before acupuncture, after acupuncture and 1-week follow-up examination. Twelve patients with CINV participated in this study. We included patients receiving chemotherapeutic agents that might induce moderate or severe nausea and vomiting. We conducted 5 treatment sessions with P6 and SP4 acupuncture over the course of 5 days. Results: The median Rhodex score were decreased in 5 patients over time, while we observed loss of appetite of 6 patients were improved over time. During the study, the mean of Rhodex of total patients revealed a decrease of Day 1, Day 7, Day 14; 0.74, 0.68, 0.38, respectively, while the mean of loss of appetite showed a decrease of Day 1, Day 7, Day 14; 5.25, 4.08, 4.00, respectively. Conclusions: The study gives a preliminary data that manual acupuncture of P6 and SP4 may reduce the severity of CINV and loss of appetite, and justifies further study.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 2020

Infections by herpes simplex viruses have an immense impact on humans, ranging from self-limiting, benign illness to serious, life-threatening diseases. While nucleoside analog drugs are available, resistance has been increasing and currently no vaccine exists. Ginsenosides derived from Panax ginseng have been documented to inhibit several viruses and bolster immune defenses. This study evaluated 12 of the most relevant ginsenosides from P. ginseng for toxicities and inhibition of herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 in Vero cells. The effects of test compounds and virus infection were determined using a PrestoBlue cell viability assay. Time course studies were also conducted to better understand at what points the virus life cycle was affected. Non-toxic concentrations of the ginsenosides were determined and ranged from 12.5 μM to greater than 100 μM. Ginsenoside 20(S)-Rg3 demonstrated the greatest inhibitory effect and was active against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 with an IC₅₀ of approximately 35 μM. The most dramatic inhibition-over 100% compared to controls-occurred when the virus was exposed to 20(S)-Rg3 for 4 h prior to being added to cells. 20(S)-Rg3 holds promise as a potential chemotherapeutic agent against herpes simplex viruses and, when used together with valacyclovir, may prevent increased resistance to drugs.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.1403-1410
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• 2014

Epigenetic regulators like histone deacetylases (1 and 2), and viral onco-proteins (E6/E7) are known to be overexpressed in cervical cancer cells. The present study was designed to investigate the effect of curcumin on HDACs (1 and 2) and HPV E6/E7 in the cervical cancer cell line SiHa and a drug resistant clone $SiHa^R$ (derived from SiHa). It was further intended to investigate whether curcumin could sensitize the cells towards cisplatin induced cell killing by modulation of multi drug resistant proteins like MRP1 and Pgp1. Curcumin inhibited HDACs, HPV expression and differentially increased acetylation and up-regulation of p53 in SiHa and $SiHa^R$, leading to cell cycle arrest at G1-S phase. Up-regulation of pRb, p21, p27 and corresponding inhibition of cyclin D1 and CDK4 were observed. Cisplatin resistance in $SiHa^R$ due to over-expression of MRP1 and Pgp1 was overcome by curcumin. Curcumin also sensitized both the cervical cancer cells towards cisplatin induced cell killing. Inhibition of HDACs and HPVs led to cell cycle arrest at G1/S phase by alteration of cell cycle regulatory proteins. Suppression of MRP1 and Pgp1 by curcumin resulted in sensitization of cervical cancer cells, lowering the chemotherapeutic dose of the drug cisplatin.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.18
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• pp.8119-8126
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• 2016

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. Due to the toxic side effects of the commonly used chemotherapeutic drug cyclophosphamide (CTX), the use of herbal medicines with fewer side effects but having potential use as inducing anti-cancer outcomes in situ has become increasingly popular. The present study sought to investigate the effects of a methanolic extract of Bauhinia tomentosa against Dalton's ascites lymphoma (DAL) induced ascites as well as solid tumors in BALB/c mice. Specifically, B. tomentosa extract was administered intraperitonealy (IP) at 10 mg/kg. BW body weight starting just after tumor cell implantation and thereafter for 10 consecutive days. In the ascites tumor model hosts, administration of extract resulted in a 52% increase in the life span. In solid tumor models, co-administration of extract and CTX significantly reduced tumor volume (relative to in untreated hosts) by 73% compared to just by 52% when the extract alone was provided. Co-administration of the extract also mitigated CTX-induced toxicity, including decreases in WBC count, and in bone marrow cellularity and ${\alpha}$-esterase activity. Extract treatment also attenuated any increases in serum levels of $TNF{\alpha}$, iNOS, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, GM-CSF, and VEGF seen in tumor-bearing hosts. This study confirmed that, the potent antitumor activity of B.tomentosa extract may be associated with immune modulatory effects by regulating anti-oxidants and cytokine levels.

• BMB Reports
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• v.48 no.11
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• pp.609-617
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• 2015

NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), an obligatory two-electron reductase, is a ubiquitous cytosolic enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of quinone substrates. The NQO1- mediated two-electron reduction of quinones can be either chemoprotection/detoxification or a chemotherapeutic response, depending on the target quinones. When toxic quinones are reduced by NQO1, they are conjugated with glutathione or glucuronic acid and excreted from the cells. Based on this protective effect of NQO1, the use of dietary compounds to induce the expression of NQO1 has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer prevention. On the other hand, NQO1-mediated two-electron reduction converts certain quinone compounds (such as mitomycin C, E09, RH1 and β-lapachone) to cytotoxic agents, leading to cell death. It has been known that NQO1 is expressed at high levels in numerous human cancers, including breast, colon, cervix, lung, and pancreas, as compared with normal tissues. This implies that tumors can be preferentially damaged relative to normal tissue by cytotoxic quinone drugs. Importantly, NQO1 has been shown to stabilize many proteins, including p53 and p33ING1b, by inhibiting their proteasomal degradation. This review will summarize the biological roles of NQO1 in cancer, with emphasis on recent findings and the potential of NQO1 as a therapeutic target for the cancer therapy.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.441-445
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• 2001

Resveratrol, a trihydroxystilbene found in grapes and several plants, has been shown to be active in inhibiting multistage carcinogenic process. Using resveratrol as the prototype, we synthesized several analogs and evaluated their growth inhibitory effect using cultured human cancer cells. In the present report we show that one of the resveratrol analogs, 3, 5,2',4'-tetramethoxy-trans-stilbene, potentiated the inhibition of cancer cell growth. Prompted by the strong growth Inhibitory activity of the compound ($IC_{50}$; $0.8{\mu}$ g/ml) compared to resveratrol ($IC_{50}$; $18{\mu}$ug/ml) in cultured human colon cancer cells (Col2), we performed an action mechanism study using the compound. The compound induced the accumulation of cellular DNA contents in the sub-CO phase DNA contents of the cell cycle by in a time-dependent manner. The morphological changes were also consistent with an apoptotic process. This result indicated that the compound induced apoptosis of cancer cells, and may be a candidate for use in the development of potential cancer chemotherapeutic or cancer chemopreventive agents.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.438-442
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• 1975

The syntheses of anomeric mixtures of 1-(4-thio-${\alpha},{\beta}$-D-ribofuranosyl)-5-fluoro-and 5-chlorouracils from their corresponding bis(trimethylsilyl) derivatives of 5-halogenouracils and 2,3,5-tri-O-acetyl-4-thio-${\alpha},{\beta}$-D-ribofuranosyl chloride are described. Preliminary biochemical studies showed that in leukemia 1210 cells and Streptococcus faecium, the ${\beta}$-anomeric 5-chloro-4'-thionucleoside is not greatly different from the corresponding 4'-oxygen analog. However, the 5-fluoro-4'-thionucleoside showed a growth inhibitory effect more than that of the oxygen counterpart. The potential chemotherapeutic use of the analog is to warrant further study.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2014

Autophagy is a homeostatic degradation process that is involved in tumor development and normal development. Autophagy is induced in cancer cells in response to chemotherapeutic agents, and inhibition of autophagy results in enhanced cancer cell death or survival. Chloroquine (CQ), an anti-malarial drug, is a lysosomotropic agent and is currently used as a potential anticancer agent as well as an autophagy inhibitor. Here, we evaluate the characteristics of these dual activities of CQ using human colorectal cancer cell line HCT15. The results show that CQ inhibited cell viability in dose- and time-dependent manner in the range between 20 to 80 uM, while CQ did not show any antiproliferative activity at 5 and 10 uM. Cotreatment of CQ with antitumor agent NVP-BEZ235, a dual inhibitor of PI3K/mTOR, rescued the cell viability at low concentrations meaning that CQ acted as an autophagy inhibitor, but CQ induced the lethal effect at high concentrations. Acridine orange staining revealed that CQ at high doses induced lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP). High doses of CQ produced cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cotreatment of antioxidants, such as NAC and trolox, with high doses of CQ rescued the cell viability. These results suggest that CQ may exert its dual activities, as autophagy inhibitor or LMP inducer, in concentration-dependent manner.