• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.304-308
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• 2016

Background: Joboksansam, Korean bird wild ginseng, is an artificially cultivated wild ginseng germinated from bird feces. Although numerous pharmacologic activities of wild ginsengs have been reported, the beneficial effect of joboksansam in cancer has not been elucidated. In this study, we investigated the in vivo and in vitro anticancer activities of joboksansam powder. Methods: To evaluate the in vivo anticancer activity of joboksansam, we established a xenograft mouse model bearing RMA cell-derived cancer. Direct cytotoxicity induced by joboksansam powder was also investigated in vitro using (3-4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The inhibitory activity of this powder on the activation of cell survival signaling involving Akt and Src was examined with immunoblot analysis. Results: Joboksansam powder displayed strong inhibitory activity against the increased tumor size, increased weight of total body and cancer tissues, and mortality of tumor-bearing mice. Joboksansam powder also suppressed the activation of survival regulatory enzymes Akt and Src, as assessed by phosphorylation levels in the immunoblot analysis of tumor tissues. Interestingly, the viability of RMA cells in vitro was directly decreased by joboksansam treatment. Conclusion: Overall, our results strongly suggest that joboksansam powder has the potential to protect against cancer generation by direct cytotoxic effects on cancer cells resulting from suppression of cell survival signaling.

• Food Science and Preservation
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• v.21 no.6
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• pp.878-884
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• 2014

Increased antimutagenic and in vitro anticancer effects were observed by the fermentation process during Kochujang manufacturing. In order to confirm the increased functionality, wheat grain, first fermented wheat grains (FFWG), second fermented wheat grains (SFWG), final fermented wheat grains (FiFWG), red pepper powder (RPP), and commercial Kochujang (CK) were prepared. Kochujang manufactured with final fermented wheat grains and red pepper powder were further fermented for 15 days and 30 days. The antimutagenic effects were determined by counting the number of revertants in Salmonella Typhimurium TA100 against N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG, 1.0mg/mL). The final fermented wheat grains (52% inhibition) showed higher antimutagenic effects than the wheat grain (34%), and the commercial Kochujang showed the highest antimutagenic effects (55%). We tested the inhibitory effect on the growth of HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells and AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells by using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The results showed that increased fermentation process continually increased the growth inhibitory effect on both cancer cells. The further fermentation for 15 days of the Kochujang product also increased inhibitory growth of the AGS cancer cells. In conclusion, the methanol extract from fermented wheat grains and commercial Kochujang showed sequentially increased antimutagenic and in vitro anticancer activity, and thus the final commercial Kochujang revealed the highest effect.

• BMB Reports
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2013

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and telomerase are considered attractive targets for anticancer therapy. The in vitro anticancer activity of the gold(I) compound auranofin was investigated using MDA-MB 231 human breast cancer cells, in which STAT3 is constitutively active. In cell culture, auranofin inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner, and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS), markedly blocked the effect of auranofin. Incorporation of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine into DNA and anchorage-independent cell growth on soft agar were decreased by auranofin treatment. STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity were also attenuated in cells exposed to auranofin, but NAC pretreatment restored STAT3 phosphorylation and telomerase activity in these cells. These findings indicate that auranofin exerts in vitro antitumor effects in MDA-MB 231 cells and its activity involves inhibition of STAT3 and telomerase. Thus, auranofin shows potential as a novel anticancer drug that targets STAT3 and telomerase.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.487-493
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• 2014

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: D. candidum is a traditional Chinese food or medicine widely used in Asia. There has been little research into the anticancer effects of D. candidum, particularly the effects in colon cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer effects of D. candidum in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS/METHODS: The in vitro anti-cancer effects on HCT-116 colon cancer cells and in vivo anti-metastatic effects of DCME (Dendrobium canidum methanolic extract) were examined using the experimental methods of MTT assay, DAPI staining, flow cytometry analysis, RT-PCR, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: At a concentration of 1.0 mg/mL, DCME inhibited the growth of HCT-116 cells by 84%, which was higher than at concentrations of 0.5 and 0.25 mg/mL. Chromatin condensation and formation of apoptotic bodies were observed in cancer cells cultured with DCME as well. In addition, DCME induced significant apoptosis in cancer cells by upregulation of Bax, caspase 9, and caspase 3, and downregulation of Bcl-2. Expression of genes commonly associated with inflammation, NF-${\kappa}B$, iNOS, and COX-2, was significantly downregulated by DCME. DCME also exerted an anti-metastasis effect on cancer cells as demonstrated by decreased expression of MMP genes and increased expression of TIMPs, which was confirmed by the inhibition of induced tumor metastasis in colon 26-M3.1 cells in BALB/c mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrated that D. candidum had a potent in vitro anti-cancer effect, induced apoptosis, exhibited anti-inflammatory activities, and exerted in vivo anti-metastatic effects.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.87-91
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• 2009

In photodynamic therapy (PDT), oxygen plays important role. Because of singlet oxygen which is produced by activated photosensitizer after laser irradiation of specific wavelength. The aim of this study is to find how oxygen concentration affects anticancer effect in PDT. Groups were divided into PDT with oxygen applied group and only PDT applied group. PDT with oxygen applied group supplied oxygen for 15 minute before laser irradiation. In vitro, CT-26 cell was incubated with various concentration of photofrin $(50.0{\sim}0.05{\mu}g/ml)$ and was irradiated with 632nm diode laser 6hr after application of photofrin. The cell viability of two groups was assessed by MTT assay. In vivo, CT-26 cell line was transplanted into the subcutaneous tissue of BALB/c mouse. The anticancer effect of two groups was measured by tumor volume change. In vitro study, the cell viability was significantly decreased at $1.56{\sim}3.13{\mu}g/ml$ in PDT with oxygen applied group. In vivo study, the PDT with oxygen applied group significantly higher reduction rate of tumor volume 7 days after PDT compared to PDT only group. The high oxygen concentration might enhance the anticancer effect of the photodynamic therapy.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.173-182
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• 2023

Cancer is a global public health issue that becomes the second primary cause of death globally. Considering the side effects of radio- or chemo-therapy, natural phytochemicals are promising alternatives for therapeutic interventions to alleviate the side effects and complications. Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) is the main phytochemical extracted from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer with anticancer activity. GRh2 could induce apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells and inhibit proliferation, metastasis, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. In addition, GRh2 could be used as an adjuvant to chemotherapeutics to enhance the anticancer effect and reverse the adverse effects. Here we summarized the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of GRh2 and proposed future directions to promote the development and application of GRh2.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.104-110
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• 1999

We investigated effects of methanol extract of Aloe vera on anticancer drugs(cisplatin, mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil)-induced growth inhibition in p388, L1210, HCT-15, SK-HepG-1 as cancer cell lines and mouse splenocytes as a normal cell by MTT assay, respectively. We also examined the effects of aloe extract and mitomycin C on the mitogen(Con, A, LPS)-induced splenocyte proliferation. Aloe extract(0.25 mg/m , 1.25 mg/m , 2.5 mg/m , 5.0 mg/m ) showed dose-dependently selective cytotoxicity against the cancer cell lines. In contrast, Aloe extract increased the growth and proliferation of the normal mouse splenocytes. The combination of aloe extract with anticancer drugs showed an additive effect for the cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. However, that combination reduced clealy the anticancer drugs-induced toxicity against the normal mouse splenocytes.

• Journal of Haehwa Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2012

Objective : This is a comprehensive review summary of anticancer effect through autophagy using herb. Method : Data were retrieved from pubmed and authorized texts concerning anticancer effect through autophagy using herb.g its ant Results : A total of 5 potentially relevant studies were identified with including 4 in vitro papers. All papers were related to single herb extract or its compound providini-cancer effect through autophagy mechanisms of up-regulated pro-autophagy proteins and down-regulated anti-autophagy proteins. Conclusion : We can search five potentially relevant studies with anticancer treatment through enhancing autophagy mechanism. Autophagy will be a good pathway mechanism to explore novel experimental therapeutics in herb.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1891-1898
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• 2016

Imperata cylindrica, a tall tufted grass which has multiple pharmacological applications is one of the key ingredients in various traditional medicinal formula used in India. Previous reports have shown that I. cylindrica plant extract inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in various cancer cell lines. To our knowledge, no studies have been published on the effect of I. cylindrica leaf extract on human oral cancers. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate the anticancer properties of the leaf extract of I. cylindrica using an oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line SCC-9 as an in vitro model system. A methanol extract from dried leaves of I. cylindrica (ICL) was prepared by standard procedures. Effects of the ICL extract on the morphology of SCC-9 cells was visualized by microscopy. Cytotoxicity was determined by MTT assay. Effects of the ICL extract on colony forming ability of SCC-9 cells was evaluated using clonogenic assay. Cell cycle analysis was performed by flow cytometry and induction of apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation assay. The ICL extract treatment caused cytotoxicity and induced cell death in vitro in SCC-9 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This treatment also significantly reduced the clonogenic potential and inhibited cell proliferation by arresting the cell cycle in the G2/M phase. Furthermore, DNA fragmentation assays showed that the observed cell death was caused by apoptosis. This is the first report showing the anticancer activity of the methanol extracts from the leaves of I. cylindrica in human oral cancer cell line. Our data indicates that ICL extract could be considered as one of the lead compounds for the formulation of anticancer therapeutic agents to treat/manage human oral cancers. The natural abundance of I. cylindrica and its wide geographic distribution could render it one of the primary resource materials for preparation of anticancer therapeutic agents.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.95-103
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• 1992

Present anticancer drugs in the clinical side have not showed a conclusive effect of the chemotherapy for cancer patients. In order to find much more efficient antitumor agents fromnatural resources, various screening methods vivo and in vitro have been developed by manyresearchers. The intention of this paper is to provide an outline of some background on the tumorsystem in drug development of natural products, to review some screening programs for theevaluation of antitumor activity and to introduce the practical procedures of some antitumorscreening methods in vivo and in vitro. At the end of this paper, the current literatures related toantitumor natural products from higher plants at our laboratory are described.Key words'anticancer drugs, screening methods.