• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 1990.06a
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• pp.102-110
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• 1990

Antitumor polyacetylenlc alcohol, panaxytriol (Ci7 H2603), was isolated and purified from a Powder of the root of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer. Panaxytriol Possesses unusual Property of being soluble in both water and organic solvents. Panaxytriol inhibited the growth of various kinds of human cultured cell lines in dose-dependent fashion in vitro. The in vivo effects of panaxytriol were tested against C57BU6 mice transplanted with Bl6 melanomas. Panaxytriol (8 and 40 mg/kg) administered intramuscularly (im) produced significant tumor growth delays in mice. Although a detailed mechanism of growth inhibition by panaxytriol is unknown, preliminary results appear to implicate a surface membrane site of action. And its action seems to be more dose-dependent than time-dependent. Finally, panaxytriol pharmacokinetics was evaluated in mice given single 8 mgrkg doses intraperitoneally(ip) or im. Serum panaxytriol content was measured using both tumor growth inhibitory assay and a gas chromatographic method. The maximum serum panaxytriol content after ip and im administration was 35.0 and 1.61 ug/ml respectively. These results indicate that the compound may act as cytotoxic substance even in-patients. Keywords Panax ginseng, panaxytriol, tumor growth inhibition

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.244-252
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• 1990

Antitumor polyacetylenic alcohol, panaxytriol (Cl7 H26O3), was isolated and purified from a powder of the root of Pnnnx tin.1.encl C.A. Meyer. Panaxytriol possesses unusual property of being soluble in both water and organic solvents. Panaxytriol inhibited the growth of various kinds of human cultured cell lines in dose-dependent fashion in vitro. The in vivo effects of panaxytriol were tested against C57BL/6 mice transplanted with Bl6 melanomas. Panaxytriol (8 and 40 mg/kg) administered intra-muscularly(im) produced significant tumor growth delays in mice. Although a detailed mechanism of growth inhibition by panaxytriol is unknown, preliminary results appear to implicates a surface membrane site of action. And its action seems to be more dose-dependent than time-dependent. Finally, panaxytriol pharmacokinetics was evaluated in mice given single 8 mg/kg doses intraperitoneally (ip) or im. Serum panaxytriol content was measured using both tumor growth inhibitory assay and a gas chromatographic method. The maximum serum panaxytriol content after ip and im administration was 35.0 and 1.6 $\mu$g/ml respectively. These results indicate that the compound may act as cytotoxic substance even in patients.

• BMB Reports
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.507-516
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• 2005

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been isolated and characterized from tissues and organisms representing virtually every kingdom and phylum. Their amino acid composition, amphipathicity, cationic charge, and size allow them to attach to and insert into membrane bilayers to form pores by 'barrel-stave', 'carpet' or 'toroidal-pore' mechanisms. Although these models are helpful for defining mechanisms of AMP activity, their relevance to resolving how peptides damage and kill microorganisms still needs to be clarified. Moreover, many AMPs employ sophisticated and dynamic mechanisms of action to carry out their likely roles in antimicrobial host defense. Recently, it has been speculated that transmembrane pore formation is not the only mechanism of microbial killing by AMPs. In fact, several observations suggest that translocated AMPs can alter cytoplasmic membrane septum formation, reduce cell-wall, nucleic acid, and protein synthesis, and inhibit enzymatic activity. In this review, we present the structures of several AMPs as well as models of how AMPs induce pore formation. AMPs have received special attention as a possible alternative way to combat antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. It may be possible to design synthetic AMPs with enhanced activity for microbial cells, especially those with antibiotic resistance, as well as synergistic effects with conventional antibiotic agents that lack cytotoxic or hemolytic activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.656-661
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• 2003

The specific immune response of unripened fruits and ripened fruits of Rubus coreanus Miquel was examined in BALB/C mice. The 70% ethyl alcohol extracts (20 or 100 mg/kg) of unripened fruits (RCE-I) and of ripened fruits (RCE-II) were administered p.o. once a day for 7 days. RCE-I and RCE-II decreased the viability of thymocytes, but increased the viability of splenocytes. Also, RCE-I enhanced the population of helper T and cytotoxic T cells in thymocytes and RCE-II enhanced the population of helper T cells. Furthermore, RCE-I and RCE-II decreased the population of B220/sup +/ cells and Thy1/sup +/ cells and helper T cells in splenocytes. In a general way, the immunosuppressive action of RCE-I was more potent than those of RCE-II. These results suggest that RCE-I and RCE-II have a regulative action of immune response via decrease the viability of thymocytes and increase the viability of splenocytes.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.158-170
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study is Korean mistletoe lectin (Viscum album coloratum agglutinin, VCA) and bee venom (BV) to experimental prove comparative study of VCA and BV on the anti-cancer effect and mechanisms of action. Methods: In this study, it was examined in a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, Hep G2 cells. Cytotoxic effects of VCA and BV on Hep G2 cells were determined by 3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in vitro. VCA and BV killed Hep G2 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Results: The apoptotic cell death was then confirmed by propidium iodide staining and DNA fragmentation analysis. The mechanisms of action was examined by the expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. Treatment of Hep G2 cells with VCA activated poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) known as a marker of apoptosis, and mitogen-activated protein kinases signaling pathways including SAPK/JNK, MAPK and p38. BV also activated PARP-1, MAPK, p38 but not JNK. The expression level of anti-apoptotic molecule, Bcl-X, was decreased by VCA treatment but not BV. Finally, the phosphorylation level of ERM proteins involved in the cytoskeleton homeostasis was decreased by both stimuli. Conclusion: We examined the involvement of kinase in VCA or BV - induced apoptosis by using kinase inhibitors. VCA-induced apoptosis was partially inhibited by in the presence.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.230-237
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• 2013

Amyloid ${\beta}$ peptide (A${\beta}$) still best known as a molecule to cause Alzheimer's disease (AD). AD is characterized by the accumulation and deposition of A${\beta}$ within the brain, leading to neuronal cell loss and perturbation of synaptic function by causing free radical formation, inflammation and apoptosis. We investigated the inflammatory action of A${\beta}$ on two types of brain cells, neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y) and neuroglia cells (C6), and its mechanism. We measured the production of NO-iNOS, TNF-${\alpha}$, and ICAM-1 using RT-PCR and Western blot analysis less than the concentration of cytotoxic effects (> 70% survivability). A${\beta}$ had no effect on the production of NO and TNF-${\alpha}$, but significantly increases of iNOS and ICAM-1. Based on this, we suggest that the inflammatory effect of A${\beta}$ results from the action of ICAM-1 in neuronal cells, rather than the release of inflammatory mediators such as NO and TNF-${\alpha}$ in neuroglia cells. In addition, we confirmed whether p53 was related to the action of A${\beta}$ by using SH-SY5Y ($p53^{-/-}$) dominant cells. Neither the expression of p53 nor the cytotoxicity of SH-SY5Y ($p53^{-/-}$) cells were directly affected by A${\beta}$. However, ICAM-1 was not expressed in SH-SY5Y ($p53^{-/-}$) cells. This means that p53- independent pathway exists in the expression of ICAM-1 by A${\beta}$ while p53 plays a role as an on-and-off switch.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.115-121
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• 1997

To identify inhibitors of melanogenesis, we compared the effects of 5 compounds on mushroom tyrosinase, human melanocytic tyrosinase activity and melanin content. The cytotoxicyty of the components were also tested on cultured human melanoctes. Kojic acid showed marked inhibitory effect both on mushroom and human tyrosinase activity. This action of kijic acid is stronger than that of ascorbic acid. Arbutin inhibited human tyrosinase activity of cultured melanocytes although it had slightly inhibitory effect on mushroom tyrosinase activity. Azelaic acid had no effect on human tyrosinase activity. Melanin production was inhibited significantly by kojic acid and tranexamic acid. MTT assay showed that all of the compounds were non-cytotoxic to melanocytes at the concentrations tested. These results suggest that the effect of kojic acid on cultured meanocytes involve inhibition of tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis without affection the cell number.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2003

1-Methylated $\beta$-carbolines (harmaline and harmalol) and antioxidants (N-acetylcysteine and ascorbate) reduced the loss of cell viability in differentiated PC 12 cells treated with 5 mM glutamate. $\beta$-Carbolines prevented the glutamate-induced decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and caspase-3 activation in PC 12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines reduced the formation of reactive oxygen species and depletion of glutathione due to glutamate in PC12 cells. $\beta$-Carbolines revealed a scavenging action on hydrogen peroxide and reduced the iron and EDTA-mediated degradation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose. The results suggest that I-methylated $\beta$-carbolines attenuate the cytotoxic effect of glutamate on PC12 cells by reducing the alteration of mitochondrial membrane permeability that seems to be mediated by oxidative stress.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.368-371
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• 1997

In an effort to increase of the antitumor activity of 2(S)-$2^{I}$,$5^{I}$-trihydroxy-7, 8-dimethoxyflavanone isolated from Scutellaria indica, we synthesized its analogues, II, III and IV. They showed potent cytotoxicity in vitro against cancer cell lines, L1210, K562 and A549. On the basis of $ED_50$ values against the cancer cell lines, III exhibited about 2-7 times stronger activity than I against various cell lines. We tested the antitumor activity of the analogues against Sarcoma 180 cells in vivo and evaluated the structure-activity relationship. The antitumor activity appeared to be related to the hydrogen bond between carbonyl group at C-4 and hydroxyl group at C-5, in contrast to cytotoxic action.

• BMB Reports
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• v.44 no.7
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• pp.423-434
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• 2011

A female hormone, estrogen, is linked to breast cancer incidence. Estrogens undergo phase I and II metabolism by which they are biotransformed into genotoxic catechol estrogen metabolites and conjugate metabolites are produced for excretion or accumulation. The molecular mechanisms underlying estrogen-mediated mammary carcinogenesis remain unclear. Cell proliferation through activation of estrogen receptor (ER) by its agonist ligands and is clearly considered as one of carcinogenic mechanisms. Recent studies have proposed that reactive oxygen species generated from estrogen or estrogen metabolites are attributed to genotoxic effects and signal transduction through influencing redox sensitive transcription factors resulting in cell transformation, cell cycle, migration, and invasion of the breast cancer. Conjuguation metabolic pathway is thought to protect cells from genotoxic and cytotoxic effects by catechol estrogen metabolites. However, methoxylated catechol estrogens have been shown to induce ER-mediated signaling pathways, implying that conjugation is not a simply detoxification pathway. Dual action of catechol estrogen metabolites in mammary carcinogenesis as the ER-signaling molecules and chemical carcinogen will be discussed in this review.