• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.460-467
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• 2020

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in the word. Although radiation and chemotherapy are generally effective, there are various side effects that greatly limit the effectiveness of these treatments. Therefore, traditional herbs may have potential as important resources for the discovery of liver cancer therapeutics. In this study, we selected three Korean herbal medicine formulas from the Donguibogam, namely Bigihwan (BGH), Daechilgithang (DCGT), and Mokwhyangbinranghwan (MHBRH), and evaluated their anti-cancer effects on HCC cells. According to our results of three ethanol extracts, BGH was more effective at suppressing HCC growth than DCGT or MHBRH. Furthermore, flow cytometry analysis showed that inhibition of HCC proliferation by the three extracts was associated with the induction of apoptosis and autophagy. In particular, BGH significantly increased mitochondrial impairment and showed the possibility of inducing mitophagy in comparison with the other two extracts. BGH prominently upregulated the levels of microtubule-associated protein light chain-3 which was accompanied by a decrease in the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 without altering the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax. In addition, the levels of PTEN-induced kinase 1 were also markedly increased in BGH-treated HCC cells. Moreover, autophagy blocking improved cell viability and reduced apoptosis after the three treatments, indicating that autophagy by these extracts enhances HCC cells against cytotoxicity. In conclusion, our findings show that BGH demonstrates the highest anti-cancer activity among the three formulas and inhibits the proliferation of HCC cells through autophagy induction.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.10
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• pp.867-876
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• 2020

This study investigated the repair of UVB-induced cell damage by magnolol. We performed a drug-repurposing screen, and, in the STAT3 reporter gene assay, magnolol was identified as a suppressor of STAT3 that improves the cell viability of HDF cells. HDF cells treated with IL-6, UVB, and IFNγ showed the highest expression of Jak2 and phosphorylated STAT3 (p-STAT3), and magnolol was able to decrease the expression of Jak2 and p-STAT3 in UVB-induced cells. Moreover, UVB-damaged cell growth increased significantly in correlation with both reactivation and with magnolol in a dose-dependent manner. Compared with AG490 (a Jak2 inhibitor) treatment of UVB-treated HDF cells, cell proliferation increased significantly. We confirmed that AG490 and magnolol reduced TNF-α concentrations, and Western blotting (protein level) showed decreases in Jak2 and p-STAT3 expression in only the magnolol-treated cells. The expression of Jak2, p-STAT3, and SOCS3 also increased only after treatment with magnolol. Cells were treated with magnolol and ML385 (an NRF2 inhibitor), and these secondary metabolites reduced cell proliferation and NRF2 expression. The amount of MMP9 was also increased by cotreatment with magnolol and ML385. Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of magnolol for repairing cells after UVB-induced damage by regulating the expression of NRF2, SOCS3, Jak2, and STAT3.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10659-10663
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• 2015

Background: Rapamycin is an effective anti-angiogenic drug. However, the mode of its action remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to elucidate the antitumor mechanism of rapamycin, hypothetically via apoptotic promotion, using MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: MCF-7 cells were plated at a density of $1{\times}10^5$ cells/well in 6-well plates. After 24h, cells were treated with a series of concentrations of rapamycin while only adding DMEM medium with PEG for the control regiment and grown at $37^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ and 95% air for 72h. Trypan blue was used to determine the cell viability and proliferation. Untreated and rapamycin-treated MCF-7 cells were also examined for morphological changes with an inverted-phase contrast microscope. Alteration in cell morphology was ascertained, along with a stage in the cell cycle and proliferation. In addition, cytotoxicity testing was performed using normal mouse breast mammary pads. Results: Our results clearly showed that rapamycin exhibited inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell lines. The $IC_{50}$ value of rapamycin on the MCF-7 cells was determined as $0.4{\mu}g/ml$ (p<0.05). Direct observation by inverted microscopy demonstrated that the MCF-7 cells treated with rapamycin showed characteristic features of apoptosis including cell shrinkage, vascularization and autophagy. Cells underwent early apoptosis up to 24% after 72h. Analysis of the cell cycle showed an increase in the G0G1 phase cell population and a corresponding decrease in the S and G2M phase populations, from 81.5% to 91.3% and 17.3% to 7.9%, respectively. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that rapamycin may potentially act as an anti-cancer agent via the inhibition of growth with some morphological changes of the MCF-7 cancer cells, arrest cell cycle progression at G0/G1 phase and induction of apoptosis in late stage of apoptosis. Further studies are needed to further characterize the mode of action of rapamycin as an anti-cancer agent.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.143-154
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was to find efficacy of integrin alpha2 (${\alpha}_2$) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) as tumor marker of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and clarify the selective cell death effect of anti-integrin ${\alpha}_2$ and anti-EGFR on SCC cells, additionally testify conjugated gold nanoparticles (GNP) with air plasma for selective cell death of oral SCC. Methods: Expression of integrin ${\alpha}_2$, EGFR on human SCC cells (SCC25) were examined by western blot. SCC25 cells were treated with anti-integrin ${\alpha}_2$, anti-EGFR and analysed by Hemacolor staining, immunoflorescence staining, FACS flow cytometry. Conjugated GNP with integrin ${\alpha}_2$, EGFR antibody were treated by air plasma on SCC cells. Results: Integrin ${\alpha}_2$ and EGFR were over-expressed on SCC25 cells than normal lung WI-38 cells. The cell viability rate of SCC25 cells treated with anti-integrin ${\alpha}_2$, anti-EGFR was lower than WI-38 cells. The concentration changes of nucleus, releasing cytochrome c and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) from mitochondria to cytosol were observed. The changes of proteins related with apoptosis were observed. Increase of bax, bcl-xL, activation of caspase-3, -7, -9, and fragmentation of PARP, DFF45 and decrease of lamin A/C in SCC25 cells were observed. In FACS, increase of sub-$G_1$ and S phase was observed. Cell cycle related proteins, Such as cyclin D1, cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) 4, cyclin A, cyclin E, CDK 2, p27 were decreased. After SCC25 cells treated with conjugatged GNP-Integrin ${\alpha}_2$, GNP-EGFR, additionally air plasma, the cell death rate was significantly increased. Conclusion: Integrin ${\alpha}_2$, EGFR were over-expressed in oral SCC cells. Anti-integrin ${\alpha}_2$, anti-EGFR in SCC25 cells induced apoptosis selectively. When GNP-anti integrin ${\alpha}_2$, GNP-anti EGFR were treated with air plasma on SCC25 cells, cancer cells were died more selectively. GNP-anti integrin ${\alpha}_2$, GNP-anti EGFR with air plasma could be treatment choice of oral SCC.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.111-122
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• 2008

Objective : Herb medicines are potential sources of useful edible and medicinal plants. They are used as a drug because of their various biological activities such as immunomodulatory, antiviral, and antitumor functions. Nelumbo nucifera have been applied in Chinese herbal prescriptions to improve tissue inflammation. However, it has not been elucidated on the effect of the flower of Nelumbo nucifera in cells. Method : In the present study, to examine the effect of that on glioma cells, U87, the essential oil was extracted from the flower of Nelumbo nucifera (NN essential oil). U87 cells were exposed to different concentrations of 2-40 ug/ml of NN essential oil in ethanol. Cell viability was measured by MTT assay at 24 h. To find out the intracellular target signal molecule(s) for this antiproliferative activity of NN essential oil, phosphorylation of Akt, ERM, MAPK or p38 proteins were examined by Western blot analysis. To study long term effect of NN essential oil in U87 cells, the image of cells treated with NN essential oil for 4 days were obtained. Results and Conclusion : NN essential oil was shown to exhibit antitumor activity in glioma cells, at a broad range of concentrations of 10-40 ug/ml. The phosphorylation of Akt and Endoplasmic Reticulum Matrix (ERM) proteins which known to be involved in the cell death, were gradually decreased to 2 hours after addition 20 ug/ml of NN essential oil. However, the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein (MAPK) and p38 was found to increase in NN essential oil treated cells. NN essential oil treated cells showed decreased glioma cell number. These results provide a possible NN essential oil-induced inhibitory signal for tumor cell proliferation that is initiated by the decrease in Akt activity. Moreover, it is likely that the activation of p38 is required for the NN essential oil-induced inhibition of tumor proliferation.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2005

Prostaglandin $E_1$($PGE_1$) is known to have various physiological action such as vasodilatation, decrease of blood pressure, angiogenesis, inhibition of platelet aggregation and so forth. $PGE_1$ has been developed in many different formulations in order to overcome its chemical instability and deactivation in the lungs when administered parenterally. Lipo-AS013 is a potent drug with higher chemical stability and greater vascular wall targeting than others. The study was done on $3{\times}10cm$ model flap of dorsal skin of Sprague-Dawley rats and the flap perfusion survival were observed and documented. The flap treated with Lipo-AS013 beforehand was given intravenously Sodium fluorescein 10 minutes later, and then Percent Dye Fluorescence Index(% DFI) was calculated. The results were compared to a control group and the group administered locally epinephrine.. In the control group, the % DFI and flap survival rate increased from $54.1{\pm}6.7$ to $65.0{\pm}2.6$(p<0.01) while in Lipo-AS013 group from $55.3{\pm}2.2$ to $67.4{\pm}1.9$(p<0.01), respectively. In the epinephrine group, the % DFI(p<0.05) and flap survival rate(p<0.001) decreased. In the both epinephrine and Lipo-AS013 group Percent DFI and flap survival rate are comparable with the control group.The result indicates that the potent Lipo-AS013 enhances the blood flow and flap survival. This highly potent Lipo-AS013 may have targeting ability and accumulate $PGE_1$ onto the vascular walls. A quantitative analysis of fluorescence on the skin surface is a reliable tool to measure the blood perfusion into an ischemic flap and its viability. Further comparative study with conventional $PGE_1$ and Lipo-$PGE_1$ is needed in order to clarify the action and efficiency of Lipo-AS013.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.1204-1212
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• 2005

Lung cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the world. It occurs more increasingly due to the serious air pollution, heavy smoking, expoure to ionized radiation, pollution with heavy metal, and owing to well advanced diagnostic skill, etc. Also lung cancer has the limitation of medical care because metastasis is already shown up in more than half cases when it is first detected through medical examination. Although it is treated with chemoradiation, the rate of deaths from lung cancer is high as well, because blood has a lot of toxicity which give side effects. So it has a low rate of cure. So, the ways of various treatment is being researched to raise the rate of care and decrease the side effects recently, and one of the results is inducing apoptosis which makes use of molecularbiologic diagnosis of lung cancer's cell and using oriental medicine drugs. The purpose of this study is whether apoptosis would happen on the human lung carcinoma cell by treated with Junglyeokdaejosape-tang, Junglyeok-tang Junglyeokdaejosape-tang and Junglyeok-tang has been prescribed for cough, chest pain, and many other similar cases. Cough and chest pain is shown in early lung cancer. That is why we used these prescriptions. Apoptosis happend on the human lung carcinoma A549 cells treated with Jeongiyeokdaejosapye-tang, Jeonglyeok-tang. The concentration-dependent inhibition of cell viability was observed and apoptosis was confirmed by DNA fragmentation. Bcl-2 and COX-2 mRNA expression decreased, but Bax mRNA expression increased, so it was identified with the case of indomethacin known to enhance apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Also expression of the p21, p53, cyclin E, cyclin D1, cytochrome c, caspase-3, and caspase-9 protein increased and the activity of caspase-3 increased, as well. Last, fragmentation of the PARP was shown. The previous and present results indicated that apoptosis of A549 cells by above-mentioned drugs is associated with the blockage of G1/S progression.

• Ecology and Resilient Infrastructure
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.191-199
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• 2019

Road development is considered an important factor in invasion and dispersion of ailen plants by damaging the natural ecosystems and connecting the detached landscapes into long tubular structures. In this study, vegetation survey was carried out according to the topographical characteristics of cut slope, fill slope, and flat land at the construction site in order to understand the effect of road developemt on the change of the floristic composition of ailen plants. Road developement projects caused a lot of changes in annual and biennial alien plants because of continuous disturbances. Changes in species composition of alien plants decreased in the cut slope. On the other hand, the ailen palnts of the fill slope increased. The increase or decrease alien plants on flat land were identified depending on where it occurred, and no major trend was found. The cause of these change was driven by unintentionally introduced alien plants. In particular, the cut slope with a high occurence of unintentional ailen plants should not be used as a source of high-risk alien plants such as ecosystem disturbances. Since the transplanted species were intentionally planted by the landscape plan, it was possible to identify colonies from early stages and spread to the nearby flat land. Therefore, in order to minimize the impact of road slope vegetation on the surrounding ecosystem during and after road construction, it is suggested to plant high viability plants in the landscape design during the environmental impact assessment consultation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.538-543
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• 2017

Astringent persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb. cv. Cheongdo-Bansi) peel with the astringency removed, which is a by-product of dried persimmon (gotgam), was investigated for its antioxidant and neuroprotective properties. A mixture of peel and 40% (v/v) aqueous ethanol was subjected to ultrasonication and then thermal and nonthermal treatments, to produce thermally-treated and nonthermally-treated persimmon peel extracts (TPE and NTPE, respectively). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents and the antioxidant capacity of TPE was approximately 1.3-1.8 times higher than those of NTPE. TPE resulted in the increased viability of neuronal PC-12 cells compared with NTPE. Furthermore, intracellular oxidative stress in PC-12 cells was more decreased by treatment with TPE than NTPE. Cholinesterases, such as acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase, were more inhibited by treatment with TPE than NTPE. These results suggest that TPE is useful as a functional material to decrease oxidative stress in neuronal cells and to inhibit cholinesterases.