• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.23 no.9
• /
• pp.1109-1117
• /
• 2013

Induction of G1 Arrest by Methanol Extract of Lycopus lucidus in Human Lung Adenocarcinoma A549 Cells Lycopus lucidus, a herbaceous perennial, is used as a traditional remedy in East Asia, including China and Korea. It has been reported that L. lucidus has anti-allergic effects, inhibitory effects on cholesterol acyltransferase in high glucose-induced vascular inflammation, and anti-proliferative effects in human breast cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer effects of L. lucidus have not yet been fully determined. In this study, we evaluated the anti-cancer effect and the mechanism of action of L. lucidus in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells using methanol extracts of L. lucidus (MELL). MELL treatment showed cytotoxic activity in a dose-dependent manner and induced G1 arrest in A549 cells. The induction of G1 arrest by MELL was associated with the up-regulation of phospho-CHK2 and the down-regulation of Cdc25A phosphatase. In addition, MELL treatment induced decreased expression of G1/S transition-related proteins, including CDK2, CDK4, CDK6, cyclin D1 and cyclin E. MELL also regulated the mRNA expression of CDK2 and cyclin E. On the other hand, the expression of p53 and the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 was not induced by MELL. Collectively, these results suggest that MELL may exert an anti-cancer effect by cell cycle arrest at G1 phase through the ATM/CHK2/Cdc25A/CDK2 pathway in A549 cells.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.95-103
• /
• 2010

Fomesafen is a selective herbicide, and used to control annual and perennial broad-leaf grass on soybean and fruit fields in USA and China, but not introduced in Korea yet. So, MRL (Maximum Residue Level), and analytical method of fomesafen were not establishment in Korea. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to establish a determination method for fomesafen residue in crops using HPLC-UVD/MS. Fomesafen residue was extracted with acetone from representative samples of five raw products which comprised hulled rice, soybean, apple, green pepper, and Chinese cabbage. The extract was diluted with saline water, and dichloromethane partition was followed to recover fomesafen from the aqueous phase. Florisil column chromatography was additionally employed for final clean up of the extract. The fomesafen was quantitated by HPLC with UVD, using a Shiseido CAPCELL-PAK UG C18 column. The crops were fortified with fomesafen at 3 levels per crop. Mean recovery ratio were ranged from 87.5% for a 0.4 ppm in hulled rice to 102.5% for a 0.4 ppm in apple. The coefficients of variation were ranged from 0.6% for a 2.0 ppm in hulled rice to 7.7% for a 0.04 ppm in green pepper. Quantitative limit of fomesafen was 0.04 mg/kg in representative 5 crop samples. A LC/MS with selected-ion monitoring was also provided to confirm the suspected residue. Therefore, this analytical method was reproducible and sensitive enough to determine the residue of fomesafen in agricultural commodities.

• Korean Journal of Environment and Ecology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.57-64
• /
• 2011

A field survey was conducted from June 2005 to September 2007 to explore changes of the vegetation and life form in the man-made Wetland along the Sinpyeongcheon for 3 years after its creation. A total of 20 species including 14 families, 18 genera, 15 species and 5 varieties were planted in the Wetland which was completed in 2004. Divided by life form of the planted species, a prevalent 65% of them was composed of perennation while 4 species of woody plants i.e. Fraxinus rhynchophylla, Salix glandulosa, Camellia japonica and Nandina domestica were planted there, too. The 3-year study revealed that hydatophytes (HH) scored the biggest increase in number, followed by slight increase in the number of microphanerophytes (M), megaphanerophytes (MM), chamaephytes (Ch), nanophanerophytes (N), perennial plants (H), etc., featuring generally a similar tendency for the whole period of study. The change in vegetation area increases in the area of Typha angustata, Phragmites japonica, Phragmites communis, etc. but a sharp decrease in the area of communities for other planted species. In terms of change in the area for planted species by their life form, hydatophytes (HH), HH Th (Th(w)) reported gradual increase while microphanerophytes (M), geophyte (G), and nanophanerophytes (N) continued to record a decrease. In conclusion, selection of plants to be planted turns out to play a vital role in molding the destiny of a man-made Wetland. It seems therefore extremely important to investigate the flora, and life and growth forms of the plants planted in the man-made Wetland in an effort to choose the species that can adapt themselves to the environment from the early phase on, contributing by thus to stabilization and diversification of the damp ground in line with the progression of their succession.