• Korean Journal of Oriental Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-92
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• 2012

Objective : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Sophorae Radix and the effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS). Method : We used human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, AGS cells. We examined cell death by MTT assay and caspase 3 assay with Sophorae Radix. To examine the inhibitory effects of Sophorae Radix, cell cycle (sub G1) analysis was done the AGS cells after three days with Sophorae Radix. The reversibility of Sophorae Radix was examined on one day to five days treatment with 100 ${\mu}g/ml$ Sophorae Radix. Result : Sophorae Radix inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a dose-dependent fashion. Also we showed that Sophorae Radix induced apoptosis in AGS cells by MTT assay, caspase 3 assay and sub-G1 analysis. Sophorae Radix combined with 5-FU markedly inhibited the growth of AGS cells compared to Sophorae Radix or 5-FU alone. After 3 days treatment of AGS cells with Sophorae Radix, the fraction of cells in sub-G1 phase was much higher than that of the control group. Conclusion : Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of Sophorae Radix in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.15-19
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Sophorae Radix (SR) and doxorubicin (DOX) in human gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma cells. We used the human gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (MKN-45 and WIDR cells, respectively). We examined cell death by using the MTT(3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the caspase 3 assay with SR. To examine the inhibitory effects of SR, we performed a cell cycle (sub G1) analysis for the MKN-45 and WIDR cells after three days with SR. The reversibility of SR was examined for one-day to five-day treatments with SR. SR inhibited the growth of MKN-45 and WIDR cells in a dosedependent manner. Also, we showed that SR induced apoptosis in MKN-45 and WIDR cells by using the MTT assay, the caspase 3 assay and the sub-G1 analysis. SR combined with DOX markedly inhibited the growth of MKN-45 and WIDR cells compared to SR or DOX alone. After 3 days of treating MKN-45 and WIDR cells with SR, the fraction of cells in the sub-G1 phase was much higher than that of the control group. Our findings provide insights into unraveling the effects of SR on human gastric and colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and into developing therapeutic agents for use against gastric and colorectal adenocarcinomas.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.63-70
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• 2020

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-cancer effects of 18α-Glycyrrhetinic acid (18α-GA), a hydrolyzed metabolite of glycyrrhizin, in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Methods : We used human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line, AGS cells. We examined cell death by MTT assay and caspase 3 and 9 assay with 18α-GA. To examine the inhibitory effects of 18α-GA, sub-G1 analysis was done the AGS cells after 24 hours with 18α-GA. Also, to investigate the inhibitory mechanisms of 18α-GA, mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation were examined. Results : 1. 18α-GA inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a dose-dependent fashion. 2. Sub-G1 fractions were significantly and dose-dependently increased by 18α-GA. 3. 18α-GA increased the caspase 3 and 9 activities in AGS cells. 4. 18α-GA inhibited proliferation of AGS cells via the modulation of c‑Jun N‑terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways, which results in the induction of apoptosis. 5. 18α-GA enhanced ROS accumulation in AGS cells. Conclusions : Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of 18α-GA in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1326-1331
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• 1999

In vitro anticancer effect of Chinese cabbage kimchi fractions was investigated by using human cancer cells, AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells and HT 29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. The Chinese cabbage kimchi(fermented for 4 days at 15oC) was fractionated into 7 groups, methanol extract, hexane fraction(fr.), methanol soluble fr., dichloromethane fr., ethylacetate fr., butanol fr. and aqueous fr.. Chinese cabbage kimchi fractions inhibited the growth of AGS and HT 29 cancer cells as dose dependent. In particular, the dichloromethane fr. showed the highest inhibitory effect among other fractions. When the dichloromethane fr.(0.2mg/ml) was treated, the number of AGS and HT 29 survival cancer cells reduced to 12$\times$104/ml and 11$\times$104/ml compared to 166$\times$104/ml and 50$\times$104/ml of the controls, respectively. Chinese cabbage kimchi fractions also inhibited the DNA synthesis of the cancer cells. They inhibited the DNA synthesis of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells more efficiently than that of HT 29 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. These results indicate that Chinese cabbage kimchi fractions show in vitro anticancer activity and the dichloromethane fr. among them reveals the highest effect.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.129-136
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• 2016

Objectives: The crude extracts of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SB) have traditionally demonstrated inhibitory effects on numerous human cancers both in vitro and in vivo. Gastric cancer is one of the most common types of cancer on world. The authors investigated the effects of an ethanol extract of Scutellaria barbata D. Don (ESB) on the growth and survival of MKN-45 cells (a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell line). Methods: The MKN-45 cells were treated with different concentrations of ESB, and cell death was examined using an MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. Analyses of sub-G1 peaks, caspase-3 and -9 activities, and mitochondrial membrane depolarizations were conducted to determine the anti-cancer effects of SB on MKN-45 cells. Also, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was investigated. Results: ESB inhibited the growth of MKN-45 cells, caused cell cycle arrest, and increased the sub-G1 population. In addition, ESB markedly increased mitochondrial membrane depolarization and the activities of caspase-3 and -9. ESB exerted anti-proliferative effects on MKN-45 cells by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and by increasing the generation of ROS. Furthermore, combinations of anti-cancer drugs plus ESB suppressed cell growth more than treatments with an agent or ESB, and this was especially true for cisplatin, etoposide, and doxorubicin. Conclusion: ESB has a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect on MKN-45 cells and this is closely associated with the induction of apoptosis. ESB-induced apoptosis is mediated by mitochondria-, caspase- and MAPK dependent pathways. In addition, ESB enhances ROS generation and increases the chemosensitivity of MKN-45 cells. These results suggest that treatment with ESB can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by modulating the caspase-, MAPK- and ROS-dependent pathway.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.139-142
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• 2015

Hepatic metastasis of early gastric cancer (EGC) following subtotal gastrectomy with lymphadenectomy is rare. We report the case of a 61-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with EGC that was initially treated using endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) and subsequently underwent laparoscopic subtotal gastrectomy. Histopathological examination of the patient's ESD specimen showed a moderately differentiated tubular adenocarcinoma invading the submucosa without lymphatic invasion. The deep margin of the specimen was positive for adenocarcinoma, and he subsequently underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy. The patient developed liver metastasis 15 months after the operation and then underwent liver resection. Histology of the resected specimen confirmed the diagnosis of two foci of metastatic adenocarcinoma originating from stomach cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of the specimen demonstrated overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The patient was treated with trastuzumab in combination with chemotherapy consisting of capecitabine and cisplatin. Twenty-four months after the operation, the patient remained free of recurrence.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.9
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• pp.1485-1492
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• 2015

Makgeolli is a traditional wine in Korea and has been traditionally believed to exhibit health benefits. However, the inhibitory effect of dealcoholized makgeolli (MK) on cancer has never been investigated scientifically. In this study, MK exhibited an anti-angiogenic effect by inhibiting tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells, without cytotoxicity. Treatment with MK reduced the proliferation of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in a dose-dependent manner and increased the sub-G1 population. Next, we evaluated whether MK could induce apoptosis in AGS cells by using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay or Annexin V method. Treatment with MK at 500 and 1,000 μg/ml increased the number of TUNEL-positive AGS cells. Under the same conditions, MK-treated (500 and 1,000 μg/ml) cells showed significant induction of early or late apoptosis, compared with untreated cells (no induction). In addition, MK also induced phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression in AGS cells. However, p53 expression in AGS cells was not changed by MK treatment. Furthermore, MK at 500 mg/kg·d reduced the tumor size and volume in AGS tumor xenografts. Taken together, MK may be useful for the prevention of cancer cell growth.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.92-98
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• 2013

Bee Venom(below BV) has been used in alternative medicine to treat the diseases, such as pain diseases. BV contains a variety of peptides, including melittin, apamin, adolapin, MCD peptide, enzymes(i.e. PLA2), amines(i.e. histamine and epinephrine), and nonpeptide components. The two main components of BV are melittin and PLA2. The cell cytotoxic effects through the activation of PLA2 by melittin have been suggested to be the critical mechanism for the depress of cancer cell. Melittin and PLA2 have been reported to induce apoptosis and to possess anti-cancer effects and neurite outgrowth in PC12 cells. Analysis of proliferation was confirmed by MTT assay. BV decreased cell number through dose- and duration-dependent manner and these effects are apparent at a concentration of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$. To observe which signaling molecules will be activated by BV, phosphorylation of ERK, p38 MAPK, JNK and ERM were examined by Western blot analysis. To study the long term effect of BV in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines, the image of cells treated with BV for 4 days were obtained. BV was shown to exhibit anti-cancer activity in human gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines at a broad range of concentrations of 3 ${\mu}g/ml$. ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK were found to increase in BV treated cells. However, ERM which known to be involved in the cell death, was gradually decreased to 30minutes after addition 3 ${\mu}g/ml$ of BV. These results provide a possible BV-induced inhibitory signal for cancer proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in ERM activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of ERK, p38 MAPK and JNK are required for the BV-induced inhibition of cancer proliferation.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.79-83
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• 2007

The effects of young radish (YR, yeolmu in Korean) on the induction of apoptosis were examined in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. The young radish kimchi (YRK) were made of YR cultivated in the soil without (Control YR kimchi: C-YRK) and with 1,818 g/m$^{3}$ sulfur (Sulfur YR kimchi: S-YRK), respectively. Methanol extracts from S-YRK exhibited higher inhibitory effect on the growth of AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells in a time dependent-manner compared to C-YRK at the same concentration. 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining showed that S-YRK induced apoptosis accompanied by the increased Bax but decreased Bcl-2 in mRNA expression. Moreover, S-YRK decreased the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expressions. The results suggested that S-YRK cultivated in the presence of sulfur elicited stronger anticancer activity than C-YRK in vitro. Dietary intakes of S-YRK may be beneficial to decrease the risk of cancer.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2015

The aim of the study is to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Scutellaria barbata in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and caspase 3 or 9 activity assay were carried out to examine cell death with Scutellaria barbata. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of Scutellaria barbata, cell cycle (sub-G1) analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential were performed in AGS cells after 24 h incubation with Scutellaria barbata. Scutellaria barbata induced apoptosis in AGS cells by using the MTT assay, the sub-G1 analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential assay. The stronger inhibition effects of AGS cell growth was observed by application of Scutellaria barbata combined with several anti-cancer drugs (paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, ectoposide, doxorubicin and docetaxel) in comparison to the application of Scutellaria barbata or anti-cancer drugs. Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of Scutellaria barbata in human gastric cancer cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.