• ALGAE
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.355-366
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• 2014

Fucoxanthin is known to be an effective cell proliferation inhibitor with anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities. However, there is a lack of data regarding the biological effects of cis isomers of fucoxanthin. To assess the potential therapeutic properties of 9'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin (FcA), and 13-cis and 13'-cis-(6'R) fucoxanthin complex (FcB) isolated from Sarggassum siliquastrum, we investigated their inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells. FcA and FcB reduced MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein and mRNA levels, as well as the migration of these cells, in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, FcA and FcB increased levels of MMPs inhibition factors such as tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1. FcA and FcB significantly inhibited the transcriptional activity of nuclear factor ${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) and by inhibiting c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. Our results demonstrate that suppression of the NF-${\kappa}B$, JNK, and p38 signaling pathways may inhibit PMA-induced MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity. Therefore, FcA and FcB may be useful in noninvasive therapeutic strategies against fibrosarcoma metastasis.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.41-55
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• 2004

Objective : To investigate the possible molecular mechanism (s) of melittin as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, we examined the effects of the compound on the growth of human lung carcinoma cell line A549. Methods : Growth inhibitory study, flow cytometry analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Western blot analysis, RT-PCR and in vitro caspases activity assay were performed. Results : Melittin treatment declined the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Melittin treatment down-regulated the levels of Bcl-XS/L mRNA and protein expression of A549 cells, an anti-apoptotic gene, however, the those of Bax, a pro-apoptotic gene, were up-regulated. Melittin induced the proteolytic cleavage and activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 protease in a dose-dependent manner without alteration of inhibitor of apoptosis proteins family and Akt expression. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR data revealed that the levels of tumor suppressor p53 and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 were also remained unchanged. Conclusions : Taken together, these findings suggest that melittin-induced inhibition of human lung cancer cell growth is associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several major growth regulatory gene products, and melittin may have therapeutic potential in human lung cancer.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2011

Target herbal ingredient (THI) is an extract made from two herbs, Scutellariae Radix and Platycodi Radix. It has been developed as a treatment for metabolic diseases such as hyperlipidemia, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. One component of these two herbs has been reported to have anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity activities. However, there have been no reports about the effects of the mixed extract of these two herbs on metabolic diseases. In this study, we investigated the metabolic effects of THI using a diet-induced obesity (DIO) mouse model. High-fat diet (HFD) mice were orally administered daily with 250 mg/kg of THI. After 10 weeks of treatment, the THI-administered HFD mice showed reduction of body weights and epididymal white adipose tissue weights as well as improved glucose tolerance. In addition, the level of total cholesterol in the serum was markedly reduced. To elucidate the molecular mechanism of the metabolic effects of THI in vitro, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with THI, after which the mRNA levels of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/$EBP{\alpha}$ and $PPAR{\gamma}$, were measured. The results show that the expression of these two transcription factors was down regulated by THI in a dose-dependent manner. We also examined the combinatorial effects of THI and swimming exercise on metabolic status. THI administration simultaneously accompanied by swimming exercise had a synergistic effect on serum cholesterol levels. These findings suggest that THI could be developed as a supplement for improving metabolic status.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2010

This study was performed to investigate the effect of desalinated underground seawater (named as 'magma seawater', MSW) of Jeju Island in Korea on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity. MSW was collected from underground of Han-Dong in Jeju Island, and freely given to high fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6 mice for 10 weeks. Although there were no significant differences in the body weight changes and plasma lipid levels, hepatic triglyceride levels were significantly lower in the MSW group than in the normal tap water (TW)-drunken control group. Furthermore, the activity of fatty acid synthase (FAS) was significantly decreased and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) activity was increased in MSW group compared to TW group. Similarly, real-time PCR analysis revealed that mRNA expressions of lipogenic genes were lowered in MSW groups compared to the control group. In a morphometric observation on the liver tissue, accumulation of fats was remarkably reduced in MSW group. Meanwhile, in vitro assay, tree radical scavenging activity measured by using diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was increased in MSW group. The 2'-7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining followed with fluorescent microscopy showed a low intensity of fluorescence in MSW-treated HepG2 cells, compared to TW-treated HepG2 cells, which indicated that the production of reactive oxygen species by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP) in HepG2 cells was decreased by MSW treatment. The antioxidant effect of MSW on t-BHP-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells was supported by the increased activities of intracellular antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and glutathione reductase. From these results, we speculate that MSW has an inhibitory effect on lipogenesis in liver and might play a protective role against cell damage by t-BHP-induced oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Acer tegmentosum Maxim (ATM) is known as traditional medicine for treatment of hepatic disorders such as hepatitis, related-inflammatory disease, and hepatic cancer. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of ATM extracted with $80^{\circ}C$ water or 95% ethanol. Antioxidant activities of ATM extracts were measured based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, total polyphenolic compound contents, and ferric reducing antioxidant power. The anti-inflammatory effects of ATM extract were assayed on release of nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor $(TNF)-{\alpha}$, and interferon $(IFN)-{\gamma}$ from lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages. In these experiments, 95% ethanol extract of ATM showed stronger antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects than water extract. Therefore, we determined the effects of ATM ethanol extract on an animal model of sepsis. Seven days oral gavage of ATM ethanol extract followed by LPS stimulation reduced the protein levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and $IFN-{\gamma}$ in serum as well as mRNA levels of $TNF-{\alpha}$ and interleukin-6 in intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, ATM ethanol extract reduced DNA damage in mouse lymphocytes. These results indicate that ATM extract has strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in vitro and in vivo effects and may be developed as a potential food material for prevention of inflammatory diseases.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.12
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• pp.1701-1707
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• 2012

3,3'-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a major in vivo derivative of the putative anticancer agent indole-3-carbinol, which is present in cruciferous vegetables and has been reported to have anti-carcinogenic properties. An abnorrmally elevated level of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of carcinogenesis. To investigate the mechanism by which DIM exhibits anti-carcinogenic effects, we investigated the effects of DIM on COX-2 expression in MCF-10A human mammary epithelial cells treated with the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA). DIM inhibited TPA-induced COX-2 expression and suppressed the synthesis of prostaglandin $E_2$, one of the major products of COX-2. Nuclear factor-kappa B ($NF-{\kappa}B$) is a transcription factor known to play a role in regulation of COX-2 expression. Treatment of MCF-10A cells with TPA increased nuclear translocation of phospho-p65, with the maximal levels being reached at 1 hour, while DIM inhibited the TPA-induced nuclear translocation of phospho-p65. Overall, we demonstrated that DIM suppresses phorbol ester-induced $PGE_2$ production and COX-2 expression in MCF-10A cells. The reduction in COX-2 levels by DIM maybe mediated through inhibition of $NF-{\kappa}B$ signaling.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.26-32
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• 2012

Purified salt and several different types of sea salts showed comutagenicity in the presence of MNNG (N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine). However, the salts exhibited anti-cancer effects in HCT-116 human colon carcinoma cells and AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. Sea salt showed less comutagenicity effects than purified salt. French sea salt (Salines de Guerande) and Korean sea salt I, which contained higher levels of minerals, showed less comutagenicity. In MTT assay, when HCT-116 and AGS cancer cells were treated with the salts, French sea salt (36% and 34%) and Korean sea salt I (35% and 33%) showed higher anticancer activities than Spanish sea salt (33% and 31%), Italian sea salt (29% and 27%), Korean sea salt II (22% and 22%), or purified salt (18% and 15%) at a salt concentration of 1%. French sea salt and Korean sea salt I also showed better anticancer activities than the other salt samples at a low concentration of 0.5% (p<0.05). Apoptosis related genes of Bax and Bcl-2 were regulated by the treatment of the salt in the colon cancer cells. French sea salt and Korean sea salt I especially increased Bax mRNA expression, but decreased Bcl-2 expression, indicating that they can induce apoptosis of the cancer cells. From the experimental results, sea salt showed better health functional effects than the purified salt, and French sea salt and Korean sea salt I which contained high levels of Ca, K, and Mg showed better effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.42 no.8
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• pp.1167-1174
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• 2013

Cancer cells exhibit increased demand for glutamine-derived carbons to support anabolic processes. Indeed, the spectrum of glutamine-dependent tumors and the mechanisms through which glutamine supports cancer metabolism remain areas of active investigation. In the present study, we investigated the effects of glutamine deprivation on the correlation between tightening of tight junctions (TJs) and anti-invasive activity in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells. Glutamine deprivation markedly inhibited cell motility and invasiveness in a time-dependent manner. The anti-invasive activity of glutamine deprivation was associated with an increased tightness of the TJ, which was demonstrated by an increase in transepithelial electrical resistance (TER). The activities of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 were inhibited in a time-dependent fashion by glutamine deprivation, which was correlated with a decrease in expression of their mRNA and proteins and up-regulation of tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) expression. Furthermore, glutamine deprivation repressed the levels of the claudin family members, which are major components of TJs that play a key role in the control and selectivity of paracellular transport. Moreover, the levels of E-cadherin, a type I transmembrane glycoprotein, and snail, an epithelial to mesenchymal transition regulator and zinc finger transcription factor, were markedly modulated by glutamine deprivation. Taken together, these findings suggest that TJs and MMPs are critical targets of glutamine deprivation-induced anti-invasion in human prostate carcinoma LnCap cells.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1665-1671
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• 2013

Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) is one of the important methods for investigating the changes in mRNA expression levels in cells and tissues. Selection of the proper reference genes is very important when calibrating the results of real-time quantitative PCR. Studies on the selection of reference genes in goat tissues are limited, despite the economic importance of their meat and dairy products. We used real-time quantitative PCR to detect the expression levels of eight reference gene candidates (18S, TBP, HMBS, YWHAZ, ACTB, HPRT1, GAPDH and EEF1A2) in ten tissues types sourced from Boer goats. The optimal reference gene combination was selected according to the results determined by geNorm, NormFinder and Bestkeeper software packages. The analyses showed that tissue is an important variability factor in genes expression stability. When all tissues were considered, 18S, TBP and HMBS is the optimal reference combination for calibrating quantitative PCR analysis of gene expression from goat tissues. Dividing data set by tissues, ACTB was the most stable in stomach, small intestine and ovary, 18S in heart and spleen, HMBS in uterus and lung, TBP in liver, HPRT1 in kidney and GAPDH in muscle. Overall, this study provided valuable information about the goat reference genes that can be used in order to perform a proper normalisation when relative quantification by qRT-PCR studies is undertaken.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5835-5842
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• 2015

Background: Melatonin, which is mainly produced by the pineal gland, has a good inhibitory effect on cell growth of multiple cancer types. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of anti-tumor activity for colon cancer have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of melatonin on migration in human colon cancer RKO cells and the potential molecular mechanisms. Materials and Methods: The viability of RKO cells was investigated by MTT assay after treatment with melatonin, SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, MAPK activator) alone or in combination for 48h. The effects of melatonin, and ML-7, a selective inhibitor of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), and SB203580, and PMA on the migration of RKO cells were analyzed by in vitro scratch-wound assay. The relative mRNA levels of MLCK was assessed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Western blotting analysis was performed to examine the expression of MLCK, phosphorylation of myosin light chain (pMLC) and p38 (pp38). Results: The proliferation and migration of human colon cancer RKO cells were inhibited significantly after treatment with melatonin. The expression levels of MLCK and phosphorylation of MLC of RKO cells were reduced, and real-time quantitative RT-PCR showed that melatonin had significant effects on suppressing the expression of MLCK. Furthermore, the phosphorylation level of p38, which showed the same trend, was also reduced when cells were treated by melatonin. In addition, ML-7 (25umol/l) could down-regulate the phosphorylation of p38. Conclusions: Melatonin could inhibit the proliferation and migration of RKO cells, and further experiments confirmed that p38 MAPK plays an important role in regulating melatonin-induced migration inhibition through down-regulating the expression and activity of MLCK.