• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.539-542
• /
• 2001

$^1H$-NMR spectroscopy was used to detect apoptosis in HL-60 cells in vitro. The relationship between cell apoptosis and NMR data was validated by the flow cytometry assay. To evaluate the NMR apoptosis results, the ratio of methylene and methyl groups caused by lipids was used. In addition, an identical analysis was applied to HepG2 cells. Detection of apoptotic cell death by NMR spectroscopy was oserved.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.56-61
• /
• 2014

This study attempted to confirm the antioxidative potential of luteolin against tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) induced oxidative damage and to investigate its molecular mechanism related to glutathione (GSH)-dependent enzymes in HepG2 cells. Treatment with luteolin resulted in attenuation of t-BHP induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress-mediated cell death. In addition, accelerated expression of GSH-dependent antioxidative enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR), and heme oxygenase (HO)-1, as well as strengthened GSH content was induced by treatment with luteolin, which was in accordance with increased nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor for phase 2 enzymes, in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that the cytoprotective potential of luteolin against oxidative damage can be attributed to fortified GSH-mediated antioxidative pathway and HO-1 expression through regulation of Nrf2 in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.11
• /
• pp.1340-1348
• /
• 2017

Sanguinarine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid derived from the roots of Sanguinaria canadensis L., which is used for the purpose of treating various diseases. Although studies of anticancer activities have been performed using various cancer cell lines, the phenomenon of inducing apoptosis in cancer cells by using sanguinarine requires more research. Therefore, this study investigated the anti-cancer activities and related mechanisms of sanguinarine used with Hep3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in terms of the regulation of apoptosis. Sanguinarine inhibited the proliferation of Hep3B cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptosis. Sanguinarine also increased the activity of caspase-3, which is a typical effector caspase, and the activities of caspase-8 and caspase-9, which are key when initiating extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways, respectively. In addition, sanguinarine increased the expression of death receptor-related genes and pro-apoptotic BAX, which belongs to the Bcl-2 family, while suppressing the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Sanguinarine promoted the truncation of Bid and enhanced the release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm due to a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, the reduction of a survival rate that was induced by sanguinarine and the induction of apoptosis disappeared with the inhibition of artificial caspase activity. Therefore, the results of the study indicated that sanguinarine-induced apoptosis in Hep3B cells involves both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways; such apoptosis is a caspase-dependent phenomenon.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.487-492
• /
• 2005

The baculovirus/insect cell expression system is of great value in the study of structure-function relationships in mammalian glucose-transport proteins by site-directed mutagenesis and for the large-scale production of these proteins for mechanistic and biochemical studies. Spodoptera frugiperda Clone 21 (Sf2l) cells grow well on TC-100 medium that contains $0.1\%$ D-glucose as the major carbon source, strongly suggesting the presence of endogenous glucose transporters. However, very little is known about the properties of the endogenous sugar transporter(s) in Sf2l cells, although a saturable transport system for hexose uptake has been previously revealed in the Sf cells. In order to further examine the substrate and inhibitor recognition properties of the Sf2l cell transporter, the ability of hexoses to inhibit 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2dGlc) transport was investigated by measuring inhibition constants $(K_i)$. The $K_i's$ for reversible inhibitors were determined from plots of uptake versus inhibitor concentration. Transport was effectively inhibited by D-mannose and D-glucose. Of the hexoses tested, L-glucose had the least effect on 2dGlc transport in the Sf2l cells, indicating that the transport is stereoselective. Unlike the human HepG2 type glucose transport system, D-mannose had a somewhat greater affinity for the Sf2l cell transporter than D-glucose, implying that the hydroxyl group at the C-2 position is not necessary for strong binding. However, epimerization at the C-4 position of D-glucose (D-galactose) resulted in a dramatic decrease in affinity of the hexose for the Sf2l cell transporter. Such a lowering of affinity might be the result of the involvement of the C-4 hydroxyl in hydrogen bonding. It is therefore suggested that Sf2l cells were found to contain an endogenous sugar transport activity that in several aspects resembles the human HepG2 type glucose transporter, although the insect and human transporters do differ in their affinity for cytochalasin B.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.53-60
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Beakdugu-tang (BDGT) consists of three medicinal herbs, and this prescription has long been used in treatment of various digestant problem in Korea. In this study, we designed to clarify mechanisms by which Korean traditional digestive medicine, BDGT, may exert anti-hepatic steatosis effects via improved insulin resistance cell model in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and monocyte (THP-1). Materials and methods: The preparation of BDGT and constituents were extracted with 70% ethanol. HepG2 and THP-1 were treated with different concentrations of BDGT and constituents in the presence and absence of stimulants such as free fatty acids (FFAs) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), respectively. Results: The BDGT and its constituents inhibited the FFAs-stimulated lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells. Ethanol extracts of Amomum cardamomum (ACE) improved the ox-LDL induced insulin resistance in THP-1 cells. Also, treatment of monocytic cells with ACE increased anti-hepatic steatosis related gene levels including ABCA, ABCG and SR-B1. Conclusion: The results suggest that the ethanol extract of BDGT and its constituents potently inhibit the FFAs- and ox-LDL induced liver steatosis via improved insulin resistance.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.33 no.3
• /
• pp.480-486
• /
• 2004

Despite many therapeutic advances in the understanding of the processes in carcinogenesis, overall mortality statistics are unlikely to change until there is reorientation of the concepts for the use of natural products as new anticarcinogenic agents. In this study, we investigated the anticarcinogenic activity, antioxidant and DPPH scavenging activity of Sargassum fulvellum (SF). SF was extracted with methanol, which was further fractionated into five different types: hexane (SFMH), ethylether (SFMEE), ethyl acetate (SFMEA), butanol (SFMB) and aqueous (SFMA) partition layers. We determined the cytotoxic effect of these layers on human cancer cells by MTT assay. Among various partition layers of SF, at starting concentration of 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, SFMEE showed very high cytotoxicity which were 92, 90 and 84% and kept high throughout 5 concentration levels sparsed by 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL against all three human cancer cell lines: HepG2, HT-29 and HeLa. SFMEA showed a low cytotoxicity at the beginning concentration level, but as the concentration became denser, growth inhibition effect of cancer cell lines started to increase and at 500 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, it hit the highest, which were 91, 96 and 98% against the same three cell lines as above. We observed QR induced effect in all fraction layers of SF. SFMEE showed similar tendensy of QR induced effect as did against cytotoxicity. The QR induced effect of SFMEE on HepG2 cells at 25 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL concentration indicated 3 times higher than the control value of 1.0 and SFMH tended to be concentration-dependent on HepG2 cells. At 100 $\mu\textrm{g}$/mL, the QR induced effects resulted a ratio, which was 2.5 times higher than the control value. In search for antioxidation effects of SF extract and partition layer, the reducing activity on the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging potential was sequentially screened. The SFM has similar antioxidant activity as to BHT and vitamin C groups.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.34 no.4 s.135
• /
• pp.324-326
• /
• 2003

The methanol (MeOH) extract and ist fractions of Taraxacum mongolicum (Compositae) were examined for their scavenging effects on 1,1-diphenyl-2- phenylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals, and hepatoprotective effects on tacrine-induced cytotoxicity in human hepatoma cell line, Hep G2 cells. Both methylene chloride $(CH_2Cl_2)$ and butanol (n-BuOH) soluble fractions of the MeOH extract showed the free radicals scavenging and hepatoprotective effects. From these results, it is suggested that hepatoprotective effect of these fractions partly relies on their free radical scavenging activity.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.37 no.2
• /
• pp.148-153
• /
• 2008

We investigated the growth inhibitory effect of Salicornia herbacea L. (SH) on human cancer cell lines in vitro. SH was extracted with methanol (SHM), followed by further fractionation into four subfractions according to polarity: hexane (SHMH), methanol (SHMM), butanol (SHMB), and aqueous (SHMA) soluble fractions. We determined the growth inhibitory effect of these fractions against human cancer cell lines using MTT assay. Among the four subfractions of SHM, the SHMM showed the strongest cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. We also observed quinone reductase (QR)-inducing effect of methanol layer (SHMM) on HepG2 cells and it was determined to be 3.00 at $100\;{\mu}g/mL$ level compared to the control value of 1.0. The SHMM showed the highest induction activity of quinone reductase on HepG2 cells among the partition layers. The present work suggests that SH merits further study to confirm its chemopreventive potential.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.15 no.5 s.72
• /
• pp.685-691
• /
• 2005

Growth and DNA synthesis inhibitory effects of doenjang methanol extract and its solvent fractions on AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells, Hep 3B human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, HT-29 human colon cancer cells and MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were studied. The treatment of doenjang methanol extract ($ 200{\mu}g/ml $) with the AGS, Hep 3B, HT-29 and MG-63 cancer cells after 6 days of incubation inhibited the growth of cancer cells by $32\%$, $51\%$, $84\%$ and $33\%$, respectively. To separate active compounds of doenjang, doenjang methanol extract was fractionated with dichloromethane, ethylacetate, and buthanol. Among the solvent fractions, the dichloromethane and ethylacetate fractions showed the highest growth inhibitory effects on various cancer cells. For example, the dichloromethane and ethylacetate fractions ($200a{\mu}g/ml$) sig-nificantly inhibited the growth of various cancer cells by $89\∼96\%$ and$62\∼86\%$, respectively. DNA synthesis of AGS and Hep 3B cancer cells was significantly inhibited by adding dichloromethane fraction ($200{\mu}g/ml$) up to $94\%$ and $80\%$, respectively. Similarly, the ethylacetate fraction ($ 200\mug/ml $) showed a $ 95\% $ inhibition rate of DNA synthesis in AGS cells. These results suggest that the dichloromethane and ethylacetate fractions have specific active compounds, which will explain this anticancer effect of doenjang.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.161-167
• /
• 2009

Objectives : Maekmoondong-tang (MMDT), a Korean herbal medicine, has been used to treat severe dry cough in patients with bronchitis and pharyngitis. MMDT has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunomodulatory, secretory-modulating, and metabolic regulatory actions. However, there are no evidence in regard to the effects of MMDT on carcinogenesis and metastasis. Here, we investigated the effects of 70% ethanol extract of MMDT on cell viability, apoptosis, and motility in human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cells. Methods : Cell viability was measured using the CCK-8 assay, and the apoptosis induction was evaluated by caspase-3 activity. To detect apoptotic features, the cells treated with MMDT were stained with 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). Cell motility was examined by Boyden chamber assay and Real-time Cell Index of Migration assay. Gelatin zymography also performed to measure matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2/9 activity. Results : We found that MMDT significantly inhibited cell proliferation and increased caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Apoptotic features such as chromatin condensation and apoptotic bodies were observed in MMDT-treated cells by DAPI staining. MMDT also suppressed PMA-induced cell motility and activities of MMP-2/9. Conclusions : Our results exhibited that MMDT possess the anti-carcinogenetic and anti-metastatic activities via caspase-3 activation and down-regulation of cell motility and invasion in HepG2 cells. Therefore, these findings suggest that MMDT could be potentially applied to the prevention and treatment of cancer.