• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.120-128
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• 2008

The death ligand tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL)/ Apo1L is a cytokine that activates apoptosis through cell surface death receptors. TRAIL has sparked growing interest in oncology due to its reported ability to selectively trigger cancer cell death. Euphorbiae humifusae Wind has been used in traditional Oriental medicine as a folk remedy used for the treatment of cancer. However, the mechanism responsible for the anticancer effects of E. humifusae not clearly understood. Here, we show that treatment with subtoxic doses of water extract of E. humifusae (WEEH) in combination with TRAIL induces apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. Combined treatment with WEEH and TRAIL induced chromatin condensation and sub-G1 phase DNA content. These indicators of apoptosis were correlated with the induction of caspase activity that resulted in the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Combined treatment also triggered the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, co-treatment with WEEH and TRAIL down-regulated the protein levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins such as Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, XIAP and cIAP-1. Although more study will be needed to examine the detailed mechanisms, this combined treatment may offer an attractive strategy for safely treating gastric adenocarcinomas and the results provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anticancer activity of E. humifusae.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.335-342
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• 2017

Spiraea prunifolia Sieb. et Zucc. var. simpliciflora Nakai (SSN) has been used for the anti-inflammation in traditional folk medicine. To compare water and methanol extracts of SSN, we analyzed major components using LC IT TOF MS. The major components of hot water extract were identified as caffeic acid and p-coumaric acid, but methanol extract was not well established. However, methanol extract was detected with less polarity compounds compared to hot water extract. Next, we investigated the inhibitory effects of SSN water extract on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory response or $H_2O_2-induced$ oxidative stress in Raw 264.7 macrophage cells. SSN strongly suppressed the production of nitric oxide in LPS-induced inflammatory response without cytotoxcity. The SSN possessed free radical scavenging activities such as DPPH ($IC_{50}=320.2{\mu}g/m{\ell}$), ABTS ($IC_{50}=124.0{\mu}g/m{\ell}$), and superoxide anion radical ($IC_{50}=122.6{\mu}g/m{\ell}$). The total phenol and flavonoid content of SSN was 56.7 mg/g, and 15.1 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, SSN decreased the $H_2O_2-induced$ cytotoxicity by enhancing the cell viability, and SSN significantly reduced the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Therefore, SSN may be recommended as an effective strategy to prevent and/or treat various inflammation and ROS-induced diseases.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.53-58
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• 1989

For several years, we investigated the pharmacological action of several substances isolated from Buxus microphylla var koreana Nakai, which had been used as folk remedies of malaria and venereal disease. Cyclobuxine $D(C_{25}H_{42}ON_2)$, a steroidal alkaloid, exerted an antiinflammatory action, hypotensive and bradycardic effects in rats. In the present study, we isolated alkaloid from the acetone-insoluble fraction of the strong bases of this plants. This alkaloid $(C_{25}H_{38}ON_2)$ was identified as a steroidal alkaloid contained a cyclopropane ring by physical and chemical methods. It is a derivative of cyclobuxine D and named cyclobuxine E. We examined the effect of cyclobuxine E on the contractile response induced by acetylcholine and two distinct types of potassium-activated calcium channels in an intestinal smooth muscle of the rat. Cyclobuxine E inhibited significantly the Ach-induced contraction. The isolated longitudinal muscle from the rat duodenum was immersed calcium-depleted potassium depolarizing solution. Ten minutes after, 1.8 mM $CaCl_2$ was added to muscle bath and elicited a biphasic increase in muscle tension. Cyclobuxine E produced an appreciable inhibition of both components of the mechanical response. In addition, Cyclobuxine E introduced at a point when the tonic response had reached its maximum level, caused the muscle to exhibit a rapid loss of tension. Based on these experimental results, we proposed the possibility that the inhibitory action of cyclobuxine E on the isolated rat duodenum may be due to inhibiting the transmembrane fluxes of calcium ion in potassium-activated calcium channels.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.528-534
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• 2010

Garlic (Allium sativum) has been well-known as a folk remedy for a variety of ailments since ancient times, and it is well documented that enhanced garlic consumption leads to a decrease in incidences of cancer. Tight junctions (TJs) are critical structures for the maintenance of cellular polarity, acting as paracellular permeability barriers and playing an essential role in regulating the diffusion of fluid, electrolytes and macromolecules through the paracellular pathway. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated as possible mediators of invasiveness and metastasis in some cancers. In this study, we investigated the potential effects of water extract of aged black garlic (ABG) on the correlation between tightening of TJs and anti-invasive activity in human gastric carcinoma AGS cells. The inhibitory effects of ABG on cell motility and invasiveness were found to be associated with increased tightness of TJs, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance. Additionally, the activities of MMP-2 and -9 in AGS cells were inhibited by treatment with ABG, and this was also correlated with a decrease in the expression of their mRNA and proteins. Furthermore, RT-PCR and immunoblotting results indicated that ABG repressed the levels of the claudin proteins, major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. In conclusion, these results suggest that ABG treatment may inhibit tumor metastasis and invasion, and therefore may act as a dietary source to decrease the risk of developing cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.11
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• pp.1253-1258
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• 2016

Although major advances have been achieved in our understanding and treatment of diseases in many areas of medicine, relatively few improvements have been made in the area of gastrointestinal (GI) motor function. The dried root of Codonopsis pilosula (Franch.) Nannf. (CP) has been used as a traditional folk medicine for improving poor GI function in East Asia, including China and Korea. In the present study, neither aqueous (CP-W) nor ethanolic (CP-E) extracts of CP showed significant toxicity, even at an oral dose of 5 g/kg to mice. The effects of CP-W and CP-E on GI motor function were investigated by measuring in vivo the gastric emptying rate (GER) and intestinal transit rate (ITR) in mice. In normal mice, the ITR was significantly increased by CP-W in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the GER was not significantly affected by any CP extracts. The ITR was significantly retarded in the mice with experimental GI motility dysfunction (i.e., peritoneal irritation by acetic acid) compared with that in normal mice. However, the retardation was significantly recovered by the pre-treatment of CP-W in a dose-dependent manner. The above results suggest that CP-W might be a potential prokinetic agent preventing or alleviating GI motility dysfunctions in human patients.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2003

Saururus chinensis Baill (Saururaceae) is a perennial plant that has been used for therapy of edema, jaundice and gonorrhea in Korean folk medicine. This study was carried out to investigate the inhibitory effects of Saururus chinensis Baill(SCB) on hepatoprotective effects in accutely Carbone Tetrachloride ($CCl_4$) treated rats. Saururus chinensis Baill (100 mg/kg) was administered into rats intraperitoneally for 2 weeks, after the injection of CCl4 (3.3 ml/kg). We dxamined the biochemical parameters by measuring the levels of Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Total cholesterol, Triglyceride (TG), HDL-cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol in serum and Malonedialdehyde (MDA) in liver tissue of rats. cholesterol was siginificantly elevated in $CCl_4$-treated abnormal group (CTA). The higher level of HDL-cholesterol was found is Saururus chinensis Baill and CCl4 administered group (SCT), which showed the lower levels of Total-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol. TG content in the SCT was decreased compared to CTA by 0.93 times. MDA content in the SCT was inhibited compared to CTA by 33.00%. These findings indicate that Saururus chinensis. Baill may have a protective effect against CCl4-treated hepatotoxicity in rats.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.399-405
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• 2010

Rosa rugosa has been used as a folk medicine with various pharmacological properties for a long time in Asia. Recently, it has been reported that the extract of fractions from different parts of Rosa rugosa have various pharmacological effects on diverse diseases including diabetes, inflammatory diseases and tumor. We investigated effects of fructus extracts of Rosa rugosa(RRF) and semen extracts of this herb(RRS) on macrophage to evaluate the possibilities as a biological response modifier. We showed increased effects on tumoricidal activity, phagocytic activity, TNF-$\alpha$ and NO production in RRF-treated groups without direct tumor cell cytotoxicity. RRS-treated groups increased direct tumor cell cytotoxicity at high dose without tumoricial activity except increasing of TNF-$\alpha$ release. These results provide further possibilities for the beneficial immunomodulating effects of RRF on immune system with relatively larger safety margin rather than RRS.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.61-72
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• 2009

Chios gum mastic (CGM) is a resin produced from the stem and leaves of Pistiacia lentiscus L var chia, a plant which grows only on Chios Island in Greece. CGM has been used for many centuries as a dietary supplement and folk medicine for stomach and duodenal ulcers in many Mediterranean countries and is known also to induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in some cancer cells. In this study, we further investigated the induction and mechanisms underlying the apoptotic response to CGM treatment in the SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. The viability of SCC25 cells, human normal keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1 cells), and the growth inhibition of SCC25 cells were assessed by MTT assay and clonogenic assay, respectively. Staining with Hoechst and hemacolor dyes and TUNEL assays were employed to detect SCC25 cells undergoing apoptosis. SCC25 cells were treated with CGM, and this was followed by western blotting, immunocytochemistry, confocal microscopy, FACScan flow cytometry, MMP activity and proteasome activity analyses. CGM treatment of SCC25 cells was found to result in a time- and dosedependent decrease in cell viability, a dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth, and apoptotic cell death. Interestingly, CGM showed a remarkable level of cytotoxicity in SCC25 cells but not in normal cells. Tested SCC25 cells also showed several lines of apoptotic manifestation. Taken together, our present findings demonstrate that CGM strongly inhibits cell proliferation by modulating the expression of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and induces apoptosis via the proteasome, mitochondria and caspase cascades in SCC25 cells.

• Journal of Practical Agriculture & Fisheries Research
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.5-13
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• 2022

Sunbigi tree(Vitex rotundifolia L.f.), which grows wild in the southern part of Korea and along the coast of the West Sea, has a lot of useful value in terms of resource utilization. Since ancient times, it has been used as folk medicine or herbal medicine in the private sector. Although the leaves and stems have a strong scent, the fruit also has a strong scent, so there are some studies on extracting essential oil from the fruit of Sunbigi tree and analyzing the ingredients, but there are few studies on the fragrance component by extracting hydrosol. The reason is that the fruits are hard and it is difficult to identify the active ingredients contained in the general extraction method. Therefore, in this study, the results of analyzing the components contained in the fragrance of hydrosol obtained by extracting hard fruits at high temperature by different extraction methods are as follows. 1. The extraction condition with the highest flavonoid content was 30.57 mg/g with ethanol, followed by hot water extract at 18.26 mg/g and water extract at 9.69 mg/g with the lowest. 2. As a result of distillation extraction from the fruit of Sunbigi tree, the fragrance of hydrosol is 3-Methyl-2-butenoic acid, cyclobutyl ester, Eucalyptol, L-alpha-Terpineol, 1H-Cycloprop[e]azulen-7-ol, decahydro-1 ,1,7-trimethyl-4-methylene-, [1ar-(1a.alpha.,4a.alpha.,7.beta.,7a.beta.,7b.alpha.)] were found to be many.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

Opuntia ficus-indicavar. saboten Makino (Cactaceae) is a tropical or subtropical plant that has been widely used as folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes, asthma, burn, edema and gastritis. The purposes of the present study were to identify antioxidant constituents from fruits and stems of the plant cultivated in Cheju island, Korea, and examine their in vitro neuroprotective activities. Using a chromatographic fractionation method, ten chemical constituents were isolated from ethyl acetate extracts. By means of chemical and spectroscopic methods, those were identified as eight flavonoids such as kaempherol (a), quercetin (b), kaempferol 3-methyl ether (c), quercetin 3-methyl ether (d), narcissin (e), dihydrokaernpferol (f), dihydroquercetin (g) and erioclictyol (h), and two terpenoids such as 3-oxo-${\alpha}$-ionol-${\beta}$-d-glucopyranoside (i) and roseoside (j). Among the isolated compounds, comrounds c~e and h~j were those reported for the first titre from the plant. Compounds b, d and g showed DPPH free radical scavenging activities with IC$\sub$50/ values of 28, 19 and 31, ${\mu}$M respectively. Compounds d and g also inhibited iron-dependent lipid peroxidation with IC$\sub$50/ values of 2.4 and 3.5 ${\mu}$M. In a primary rat cortical neuronal cell culture system, compounds b, d and g inhibited xanthine/xanthine oxidase-induced (IC$\sub$50/ values of 18.2, 2.1 and 54.6 ${\mu}$M) and H$_2$O$_2$-induced (IC$\sub$50/ values of 13.6, 1.9 and 25.7 ${\mu}$M) cytotoxicities. In addition, compounds d and g inhibited NMDA-induced excitotoxicity by 21 and 33%, and only compound d inhibited growth factor withdrawal-induced apoptosis by 31% at a tested concentration of 3 ${\mu}$M. The results suggest that the antioxidant constituents with in vitroneuroprotective activities may serve as lead chemicals for the development of neuroprotective agent.