• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.147-147
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• 2001

A previous study showed that sulfur amino acid deprivation (SAAD) potentiated cytotoxicity induced by arsenic (As) and that activation of ERKl/2, p38 kinase and JNK1 was responsible for the potentiation of As toxicity. In the present study, we found for the first time that deprenyl a selective monoamine oxidase B inhibitor prevented potentiation of As toxicity by SAAD in a dose-dependent manner.(omitted)

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.223-226
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• 1989

A cytotoxic sesquiterpene against L1210 cell has been isolated from the root of Curcuma domestica. Its structure was identified as ${\beta}-sesquiphellandrene$. The cytotoxicity-potentiating substance was (+)-ar-turmerone. (+)-ar-Turmerone potentiated the cytotoxicity of ${\beta}-sesquiphellandrene$(5 fold in $ED_{50}$ value) and an unknown sesquiterpene which was isolated from the root as well, and that of aurapten(6.3 fold) isolated from the unripe fruit of Poncirus trifoliata. Moreover, it potentiated the cytotoxic activities of MeCCNU 10 fold and cyclophosphamide 10 fold. Except the fact that all the effective cytotoxic substances possess relatively good lipophilicity, no relationship between structures of the cytotoxic substances and the cytotoxicity-enhancing effect of (+)-ar-turmerone could be observed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.159-163
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• 1995

Previously, we have reported that methylene blue (MB) induces cytotoxicity in human brain tumor cells through the generation of free radicals. In this study the effect of deferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, on MB-induced cytotoxicity was investigated using SK-N-MC human neuroblastoma and U-373 MG human astrocytoma cells as model cellular systems. The cytotoxic effect of MB was potentiated by DFO. The potentiation effect of DFO was significantly blocked by either stoichiometric amounts of ferric ion, various antioxidants, hydroxyl radical scavengers or intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release blockers. These results suggest that hydroxyl radical and intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ may act as important mediators of the enhanced cytotoxicity by MB and DFO. These results further suggest that the combined treatment with MB and DFO may be useful for the therapeutical applications of human brain tumors.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.185-188
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• 2004

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) on toxification/detoxification metabolic pathway in primary cultured rat hepatocytes. We measured the activities of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (CYP450s) and UDP-glucuronyltransferase, sulfotransferase and glutathione-S-transferase in CSC-treated rat hepatocytes. CSC significantly increased the activities of hepatic CYP4501A1 and CYP4501A2 to 7.5 fold and 1.6 fold respectively, compared with control level. However, CSC did not affect the activities of conjugation enzymes. We a1so examined if treatment of CSC could change thc cytotoxicity of acetaminophen (AA) through modulation of metabolizing enzymes. In rat hepatocytes, pretreatment with CSC potentiated the cytotoxicity of AA. This result indicates that potentiation of AA toxicity by CSC pretreatment may be related to induction of CYP4501A1 and CYP4501A2.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.91-100
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• 1990

The benzylacycoluridines (BAU and BBAU) are potent and specific inhibitors of uridine phosphorylase (UrdPase). In contrast to the report that benzylacyclouridines potentiated 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine (FdUrd) cytotoxicity against human solid tumor cells (Cancer Res., 44:1852, 1984), continuous exposure of mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, to FdURd, 5-fluorouridine (FUrd), 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd), or 5-fluorouracil (FUra) showed no potentiation of cytotoxicity by benzylacyclouridines. In fact, under the conditions employed, benzylacycoluridines protected the cells from the cytotoxicity of FdUrd, FUrd, or 5'-dFUrd, but not FUra in a dose dependent manner. Intraperitoneal coadministration of BAU or BBAU and a 5-fluorinated pyrimidine (i.e., FdUrd, FUrd, or FUra), to mice bearing L5178Y cells also did not significantly increase the life span compared to those treated with the antimetabolites alone. Anabolism of these nucleosides through the sequential action of UrdPase and orotate phosphoribosyltransferase (OPRTase), inhibition of nucleoside transport by benzylacyclouridines, or both could be responsible for the ineffectiveness of UrdPase inhibitors to potentiate the antineoplastic activity of fluoropvrimidines in L5178Y cells.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.219-226
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• 1993

For the analysis of structure relationship of ar-turmerone analogues, the compounds containing the various substituents on the phenyl ring and 1(or 2)-naphthyl group in the place of phenyl of ar-turmerone were prepared and tested their cytotoxicity against HL-60, K-562, and L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. The substituents at para position are methoxy, phenoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, fluoro, and chloro. At meta position methoxy, methyl, trifluoromethyl, or chloro groups at ortho position mathoxy or chloro group were introduced. Against HL-60 and K-562 cells, $ED_{50}$ values of the analogues are ranged from 0.8 to $30.0\;\mu{g/ml}$. Againste L1210 cell, these are located more than $20.0\;\mu{g/ml}$. However, 5-carbone-thoxy-2-methyl-6(1-naphthyl)-2-octen-4-one (5n)possesses $ED_{50}$ valuses 0.8, 2.1, $6.5\;\mu{g/ml}$ against HL-60, L1210 cells, respectively. The electronic nature of the substituents on phenyl ring of ar-tumerone dose not affect the biological activity. Therefore the flat structure of aromatic potion of ar-tumerone analogues is the more important factor for their activity rather than its electronic nature. The potentiation of the cytotoxicity with the enlargement of aromatic ring region also supports the importance of the plane structure of this area. The restriction of the single bond rotation between C-6 and aromatic ring through the introduction of substituents at the ortho position of phenyl ring and the increment of size of alkyl group at C-6 position enhances the activity. Therefore the effective conformation should by the one having the orthogonal arrangement between the aromatic ring and the side chain.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.661-671
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• 2020

The resistance of cancer cells to anti-cancer drugs is the leading cause of chemotherapy failure. The clinical use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been gradually extended to cancer treatment through combination with anti-cancer drugs. In the current study, we investigated whether NSAIDs including celecoxib (CCB), 2,5-dimethyl celecoxib (DMC), and ibuprofen (IBU) could enhance the cytotoxic effects of imatinib and TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) on human cancer cells. We found that the NSAIDs potentiated TRAIL and imatinib cytotoxicity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines SNU-354, SNU-423, SNU-449, and SNU-475/TR and against leukemic K562 cells with high level of CD44 (CD44^highK562), respectively. More specifically, CCB induced endoplasmic reticulum stress via up-regulation of ATF4/CHOP which is associated with the induction of autophagy against HCC and CD44^high K562 cells. NSAID-induced autophagic activity accelerated TRAIL cytotoxicity of HCC cells through up- and down-regulation of DR5 and c-FLIP, respectively. The NSAIDs also potentiated imatinib-induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis through down-regulation of markers in CD44^highK562 cells that express a stemness phenotype. Our results suggest that the ability of NSAIDs to induce autophagy could enhance the cytotoxicity of TRAIL and imatinib, leading to a reverse resistance to these drugs in the cancer cells. In conclusion, NSAIDs in combination with low-dose TRAIL or imatinib may constitute a novel clinical strategy that maximizes therapeutic efficacy of each drug and effectively reduces the toxic side effects.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.219-225
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• 2002

The organization of eukayotic chromatin into specific conformation that are associated with transcription, replication, reapir and other nuclear processes are achieved via a series of DNA-protein interaction. These interactions are mediated by a range of DNA-binding domains such as SAP domain et at. By searching S. pombe genomic DNA database, we have found a gene named SAPuvs (SAP UV Sensitive) whose amino acid sequence is in part similar to SAP domain of Arabidopsis poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and Ku7O. Knock-out cell of S. pombe SAPuvs gene was constructed using Ura4 as a selection marker. Survival analysis of knock-out cell indicated that treatment with UV significantly reduces the survival compared to wild type cell. Potentiation of MMS-induced cytotoxicity by 3AB post-treatment was observed in wild type cells, but not in knock-out cells. These data suggested that the protein encoded by SAPuvs gene is associated with chromatin reorganization during DNA repair.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2021

Sophora flavescens Ait. (Fabaceae) is a medicinal plant widely founded in Northeast Asia, and its dried root (Kushen) has been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The therapeutic effects of Kushen in micturition disorder was not investigated comprehensively yet. In the present study, we examined and compared the efficacy of three batches of Kushen extract using different ethanol content through an in vitro cell-based assay. Among them, we chose the batch with the highest efficacy and augmented the volume of extract for industrial purpose. The bulk extract was examined in its efficacy in the in vitro cell-based assay, and the therapeutic effects through an in vivo behavioral assay of OAB rats. The main components of the extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was investigated by MTT assay. The overall efficacy of the extract was as much as, or more than, kurarinone, a potent BK_Ca channel activator. Thus, the extract was a potent relaxant of urinary smooth muscle by upregulating the activity of BK_Ca channel. The Kushen extract could be explored as an alternative medicine against overactive bladder patients indicating severe dysfunction of BK_Ca channel.

• The Korean Journal of Mycology
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.58-69
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• 1990

ABSTRACT: In order to find physiologically active components from higher fungi, hot-water soluble components were extracted from the basidiocarps of Ganoderma lucidum. The extract was purified and separated by DEAE cellulose ion exchange chromatography and Sepharose CL-4B gel filtration method. The separated fractions were designated CR, IN, IA, GL and GH. Fraction GL showed the highest antitumor activity among the fractions and its molecular weight was found to be 47 KD. The tumor inhibition ratio of Fr. GL was 81 % at the dose of peritoneal administration of 20 mg/kg/day for 10 days in mice. Chemical analysis of this fraction showed 82% polysaccharide, 8% protein and 0.9% hexosamine. The polysaccharide moiety consisted of 63% glucose, 27% galactose, 7% mannose and 3% fucose. Fraction IN was found to increase the amount of superoxide anion in activated macrophages to 1.6-fold and the number of plaques in hemolytic plaque assay to 6-fold, respectively. These results indicate that the antitumor activity was exerted through immunopotentiation, but not through direct cytotoxicity against the tumor.