• Toxicological Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.217-225
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• 2003

Changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured in rats administered with lead acetate to investigate the in vivo cytotoxic effects of lead and examine the usefulness of these in vivo cytotoxicity changes as indicators of lead exposure and diagnosis of lead poisoning. Rats were given once intraperitonealy with lead acetate (1.6, 8, 40 and 200 mg/kg b.w) and the changes of plasma DNA contents and serum biochemical values were measured at the time of 2, 4, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the administration of lead acetate. Plasma DNA contents began to increase at 2 hours after the administration of lead acetate in the treatment groups of 8, 40 and 200 mg/kg b.w dose-dependently and significantly compared with control group. These DNA increases of each dosage group were continued until 24, 48 and 72 hours and the maximum levels of DNA (4.02, 10.67 and 14.10 times of control) were arrived at 8, 8 and 4 hours after the each treatment, respectively. Among 10 serum biochemical indicators, the activities of creatine kinase were increased to maximum level (6.55 times of control) at 2 hours after the administration and remained to be significantly higher than that of control by 8 hours in the treatment group of 200 mg, however, after 48 hours, the levels in the treatment groups of 40 mg above were lower than that of control. The values of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase were higher than that of control from 2 to 24 hours in the treatment group of 200 mg. Maximum levels of these enzymes were 3.34, 3.00 and 3.19 times of control, respectively. Both of alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride values in the treatment groups were decreased compared with control. In the case of alka-line phosphatse, the values were significanly decreased from 24 hours and more severely decreased until 72 hours in the treatment groups of 40 mg above (p<0.01). The minimum value was 0.36 times of control in the 200 mg group. The values of triglyceride were significantly decreased in the tratment groups of 40 mg above (p<0.01), but the values were not different significantly among the treatment groups. This study demonstrates that plasma DNA content and serum biochemical values such as aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase and triglyceride are valuable as biomarkers for exposure assessment and diagnosis of lead poisoning.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.849-860
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• 2015

The anti-cancer activities of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (GC), Ulmus davidiana var. japonica Nakai (UGP) and arsenium sublimatum (SS) extracts, which have been used Oriental medicine therapy for various diseases, were investigated. The treatment of GC, UGP and SS alone, and combined treatment with GC, UGP and SS did not affect the cell viability in the mouse normal cell lines (RAW 264.7 macrophages and C2C12 myoblasts). However, co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS markedly induces apoptosis in human gastric cancer AGS cells, but not in other various cancer cell lines (human lung cancer A549, colon cancer HCT116, liver cancer Hep3B and bladder T24 cells) as evidenced by formation of apoptotic bodies, chromatin condensation, and accumulation of annexin-V positive cells. Co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS effectively induced the expression levels of Fas and Fas ligand, and inhibited the levels IAP family proteins such as XIAP, cIAP-1 and survivin, and anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL proteins compared with treatment with either agent alone. Combined treatment also significantly induced the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which was associated with the activation of caspases (-3, -8, and -9) and degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. However, the cytotoxic effects induced by co-treatment with GC, UGP and SS were significantly attenuated by pan-caspases inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, indicating an important role for caspases. These results indicated that the caspases were key regulators of apoptosis in response to co-treatment of GC, UGP and SS in human gastric cancer AGS cells and further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.115-123
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• 2020

In this paper, we propose to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory properties of root bark extract of Cudrania (C.) tricuspidata on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in macrophages of apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout (ApoE^-/-) mice, murine model of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammatory disease. C. tricuspidata is a small tree of the Moraceae family and its extract has anti-inflammatory activities. However, its role in the progress of atherosclerosis is not yet clear. To determine anti-inflammatory effects of C. tricuspidata in atherogenesis, we applied LPS in peritoneal macrophages of ApoE^-/- mice and measured cell viability by CCK-8 and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines by qRT-PCR following treatment with root bark extract of C. tricuspidata. Research data was expressed as differences between the cells treated with LPS and root bark extract and the cells treated with LPS alone (control) by a two-tailed non-parametric Mann-Whitney U-test using GraphPad Instat program. No cytotoxic effect was observed when the cells were treated with the extract at concentrations ≤ 100 ㎍/mL. The expression of inflammatory cytokines, including MCP-1, IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6 were inhibited by the extract. These results indicated that the extract has an anti-inflammatory effect and therefore a possible role in the treatment of atherosclerosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.9
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• pp.4597-4606
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• 2012

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is an uncommon adenocarcinoma which arises from the epithelial cells of the bile ducts. The aim of the study was to investigate the cytotoxicity, toxicity, and anticancer activity of a crude ethanolic extract of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) against CCA. Cytotoxic activity against a CCA cell line (CL-6) was assessed by calcein-AM and Hoechst 33342 assays and anti-oxidant activity was evaluated using the DPPH assay. Investigation of apoptotic activity was performed by DNA fragmentation assay and induction of genes that may be involved in the resistance of CCA to anticancer drugs (MDR1, MRP1, MRP2, and MRP3) was examined by real-time PCR. To investigate anti-CCA activity in vivo, a total of 80 OV and nitrosamine (OV/DMN)-induced CCA hamsters were fed with the ginger extract at doses of 1000, 3000, and 5000 mg/kg body weight daily or every alternate day for 30 days. Control groups consisting of 10 hamsters for each group were fed with 5-fluorouracil (positive control) or distilled water (untreated control). Median $IC_{50}$ (concentration that inhibits cell growth by 50%) values for cytotoxicity and anti-oxidant activities of the crude ethanolic extract of ginger were 10.95, 53.15, and $27.86{\mu}g/ml$, respectively. More than ten DNA fragments were visualized and up to 7-9 fold up-regulation of MDR1 and MRP3 genes was observed following exposure to the ethanolic extract of ginger. Acute and subacute toxicity tests indicated absence of any significant toxicity at the maximum dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight given by intragastric gavage. The survival time and survival rate of the CCA-bearing hamsters were significantly prolonged compared to the control group (median of 54 vs 17 weeks). Results from these in vitro and in vivo studies thus indicate promising anticancer activity of the crude ethanolic extract of ginger against CCA with the absence of any significant toxicity. Moreover, MDR1 and MRP3 may be involved in conferring resistance of CCA to the ginger extract.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.606-613
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze the possibility of a residual product of coffee (RC). RC oil extracted with n-hexane at $60({\pm}10)^{\circ}C$ for 24 hours. In this study, the cytotoxicity of RC oil was observed against B16F10 melanoma cells and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells by water solubletetrazolium salt-1 assay, and The RC oil measured by methods of DPPH radical scavenging and antimicrobial activities in Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans. As a result, the RC oil treatment-related cytotoxic effects appeared on B16F10 melanoma cells from 0.125 to $2{\mu}{\ell}/m{\ell}$ and RAW 264.7 macrophage cells from 0.125 to $0.5{\mu}{\ell}/m{\ell}$ concentrations in this study. RC oil is radical scavenging activity concentrations on dependent. The antimicrobial activity of RC oil ($150{\mu}l/{\ell}$) was determined by clear zone method. Straphylococcus epidermidis, Straphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Candida albicans showed clear zone by each $11.3{\pm}0.4$, $12.{\pm}0.7$, $12.0{\pm}0.0$, $0.0{\pm}0.0mm$. It is suggested that RC oil have effects on the cytotoxicity, antioxidant and antimicrobial that could be applicable to cosmetics as a new material.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.405-412
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• 2020

Background: Root rot is a serious destructive disease of Panax notoginseng, a famous cultivated araliaceous herb called Sanqi or Tianqi in Southwest China. Methods: The chemical substances of Sanqi rot roots were explored by chromatographic techniques. MS, 1D/2D-NMR, and single crystal X-ray diffraction were applied to determine the structures. Murine macrophage RAW264.7 and five human cancer cell lines were used separately for evaluating the antiinflammatory and cytotoxic activities. Results and Conclusion: Thirty dammarane-type triterpenes and saponins were isolated from the rot roots of P. notoginseng. Among them, seven triterpenes, namely, 20(S)-dammar-25-ene-24(S)-hydroperoxyl-3β,6α,12β,20-tetrol (1), 20(S)-dammar-3-oxo-23-ene-25-hydroperoxyl-6α,12β,20-triol (2), 20(S)-dammar-12-oxo-23-ene-25-hydroperoxyl-3β,6α,20-triol (3), 20(S)-dammar-3-oxo-23-ene-25-hydroperoxyl-12β,20-diol (4), 20(S),24(R)-epoxy-3,4-seco-dammar-25-hydroxy-12-one-3-oic acid (5), 20(S),24(R)-epoxy-3,4-seco-dammar-25-hydroxy-12-one-3-oic acid methyl ester (6), and 6α-hydroxy-22,23,24,25,26,27-hexanordammar-3,12,20-trione (7), are new compounds. In addition, 12 known ones (12-16 and 19-25) were reported in Sanqi for the first time. The new Compound 1 showed comparable antiinflammatory activity on inhibition of NO production to the positive control, whereas the known compounds 9, 12, 13, and 16 displayed moderate cytotoxicities against five human cancer cell lines. The results will provide scientific basis for understanding the chemical constituents of Sanqi rot roots and new candidates for searching antiinflammatory and antitumor agents.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.69-78
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• 2017

Cordyceps militaris has been used in traditional Chinese medicine owing to its anticancer and immunomodulatory activities. Germanium compounds have also been shown to be associated with many pharmacological functions, such as antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, antimutagenic, and immunomodulating effects. In this study, we examined the biological properties of hot water extract from mycelial liquid culture of germanium-enriched C. militaris (CMGe). CMGe displayed a concentration-dependent antiproliferation activity against four human cancer cell lines. The antiproliferative activity of CMGe was 2-4-fold lower than that of hot water extract from mycelial liquid culture in C. militaris (CM). However, CM had a concentration-dependent cytotoxicity to human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Contrastingly, CMGe did not cause any cellular damage to MSCs. MSCs cultured with CMGe displayed an increased proliferative activity with no cytotoxic effect. The oral administration of CMGe inhibited increased tumor volume and weight compared with the control group. CMGe has the potential to be used as an industrial product in medicinal foods as well as in pharmaceutical products.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.445-452
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• 2004

We investigated the cytotoxic effects of seven furanoterpenoids 〔sarcotin A, epi-sarcotin A, ircinin-1, epi-sarcotrine B, sarcotin I, (8E, l3Z, 20Z)-strobilinin/(7E,l3Z, 20Z)-felixinin and (7E,12E,18R,20Z)-variabilin〕 isolated from the sponge Sarcotragus sp. (the order Dictyoceratida) on the growth of A549 human lung carcinoma cells. MTT data revealed that sarcotin A and (7E,12E,18R,20Z)-variabilin exhibited higher potencies on the anti-proliferative activities than the other compounds in A549 cells. The growth inhibition by treatment with compounds (especially epi-sarcotin A, ircinin-1 and epi-sarcotrine B) were associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death through the concentration-dependent increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in a p53-dependent or independent pathway Additionally, epi-sarcotin A and ircinin-1 strongly inhibited the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 expression without alteration of COX-1. Taken together, the results suggest that the furanoterpenoids from the marine sponge have strong potentials as candidates for anti-cancer drugs.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.905-909
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• 2002

This study was peformed to determine the anticarcinogenic activity of the Solanum tuberosum Peel (SP) on several microorganisms and human cancer cell lines. Among the various solvent fractions of SP, the ethylether Partition layer (SPMEE) showed the strongest antimicrobial activity, ethylacetate partition layer (SPMEA) and butanol partition layer (SPMB) resulted in good antimicrobial activity. We also determined the effect of SP extract and fractions on cytotoxicity, and chemopreventive effect on human cancer cells. The experiment was conducted to determine cytotoxicity of SP partition layers on HepG2, HeLa and MCF-7 cells by MTT assay. Among the various partition layers of SP, SPMEE and SPW were showed the strongest cytotoxic effects on all cancer cell lines. The quinone reductase induced activities of HepG2 cell, the butanol partition layer (SPMB) at a does of 40 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL was 8.49 times more effective compared to the control value of 1.0. This value was significantly higher than that of previous results using the other materials. Therefore, based on these studies, SP may be developed into a potentially useful antimicrobial and anticarcinogenic agents.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1282-1288
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• 2016

Artemisia, a plant widely used as traditional herbal medicine in many countries, has drawn attention of the researchers. And its extracts or compounds are known to have an efficacy of antioxidant, anti-diabete, anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and neuroprotection. Sumaeyaksuk is a variant of the Artemisia argyi and major constituents are eupatilin and jaceosidin. This study was performed to investigate the effects of the sumaeyaksuk aqueous extract on inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. To examine the potential hepatoprotective properties of sumaeyaksuk extract, cell viability, as well as nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF), interleukin-8 (IL-8) levels, alanine transaminase (ALT), and aspartate transaminase (AST) activities, were measured. Cytotoxic activity of extracts on HepG2 cells was measured by MTT assay. Sumaeyaksuk extract did not induce cytotoxicity at concentrations of $0{\sim}400{\mu}g/mL$. NO and ROS levels significantly decreased with increasing concentration of the extract. The secretion levels of M-CSF and IL-8 were suppressed by sumaeyaksuk extract in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, ALT (75.4%) and AST (61.6%) levels significantly decreased in sumaeyaksuk extract-treated cells at $400{\mu}g/mL$. These results suggested that the sumaeyaksuk extract attenuates the LPS-induced hepatotoxicity resulting from regulation of inflammatory factors and could potentially be used as a hepatitis therapeutic agent.