• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.482-486
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• 2016

Inonotus obliquus is a medicinal mushroom with a variety of biological activities. It has reported to have strong anti-cancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. EBV+ gastric carcinoma is one of the most common EBV-associated cancers that were caused by latent EBV infection. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer effects of ethanol extract of I. obliquus using in vivo xenograft animal models implanted with EBV+ human gastric carcinoma (SNU719). We also explored the molecular mechanisms responsible for its anti-cancer activity. The result indicated that the extract of I. obliquus had an anti-cancer effect in in vivo xenograft mice with EBV+ gastric carcinoma (SNU719). Extract of I. obliquus also showed a great effect on inducing the expression of p53, p21 and Bax in tumor tissue derived from EBV+ human gastric carcinoma, and these were correlated with increased expressions of the cleaved forms of caspase-9 and Parp. Also, I. obliquus attenuated the expression of viral proteins, BZLF-1 and LMP-2 in tumor tissue from EBV+ human gastric carcinoma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2012

Background: ${\alpha}$-Lipoic acid (${\alpha}$-LA) has been studied as an anticancer agent as well as a therapeutic agent for diabetes and obesity. We performed this study to evaluate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of ${\alpha}$-LA in a lung cancer cell line, A549. Materials and Methods: ${\alpha}$-LA-induced apoptosis of A549 cells was detected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and a DNA fragmentation assay. Expression of apoptosis-related genes was analyzed by western blot and reverse transcription.polymerase chain reaction analyses. Results: ${\alpha}$-LA induced apoptosis and DNA fragmentation in A549 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. ${\alpha}$-LA increased caspase activity and the degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. It induced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes, such as glucose-regulated protein 78, C/EBP-homologous protein, and the short form of X-box binding protein-1, and decreased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was induced by ${\alpha}$-LA, and the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine decreased the ${\alpha}$-LA-induced increase in expression of apoptosis and ER stress-related proteins. Conclusion: ${\alpha}$-LA induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis in A549 cells via ROS. ${\alpha}$-LA may therefore be clinically useful for treating lung cancer.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2014

Several studies have shown that curcumin, which is derived from the rhizomes of turmeric, possesses antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antitumor properties of curcumin have also now been demonstrated more recently in different cancers. This study was undertaken to investigate the modulation of cell cycle-related proteins and the mechanisms underlying apoptosis induction by curcumin in the SCC25 human tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell line. Curcumin treatment of the SCC25 cells resulted in a time- and dose-dependent reduction in cell viability and cell growth, and onset of apoptotic cell death. The curcumin-treated SCC25 cells showed several types of apoptotic manifestations, such as nuclear condensation, DNA fragmentation, reduced MMP and proteasome activity, and a decreased DNA content. In addition, the treated SCC25 cells showed a release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, translocation of AIF and DFF40/CAD into the nuclei, a significant shift in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and the activation of caspase-9, caspase-7, caspase-6, caspase-3, PARP, lamin A/C, and DFF45/ICAD. Furthermore, curcumin exposure resulted in a downregulation of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and upregulation of $p27^{KIP1}$. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that curcumin strongly inhibits cell proliferation by modulating the expression of G1 cell cycle-related proteins and inducing apoptosis via proteasomal, mitochondrial, and caspase cascades in SCC25 cells.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.9-33
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• 2005

Acetaminophen, which causes acute liver min in humans and animals, has made useful inducer of hepatoxicity for studying hepatopreventive drugs. Injinhotang is known as one of the hepatopreventive drugs. However, its mechanism of recovery of hepatoxicity treated with acetaminophen is poorly understood. this study was performed to observe the antioxidative effect of injinhotang extract and its several combination groups. The results were obtained as follows:1. In the study on free radical scavenging effect in vitro(the suppressing effect on peroxidation of linoleic acid on concentration, the scavenging effect of DPPH radical, inhibitory effect of superoxide in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and the inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation reaction by hydroxy radical in H2O2-Fe2+system, injinhotang have more effect than its components groups relatively. 2. In the study on antioxidants system in vivo(the level of serum LPO, the level of hepatic LPO, catalase, GSH, GST), only injnhotang has a significant effect. 3. In the study on hepatotoxicity(GOT, GPT, $\gamma$-GTP, ALP, LDH, b ilirubin), only injinhotang has a significant effect. These results suggest that injinhotang has the protective effect on acetaminophen-induced hepatoxicity. The mechanisms of these are supposed to be involved in antioxidant and three drugs' cooperative synergy effect.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.70-77
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• 2020

Mentha arvensis is used traditional medicine to treat various disorders. In the present study, M. arvensis were extracted by the solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method and analyzed by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of a M. arvensis extract on scopolamine-induced cognitive and memory impairment. Mice were orally pretreated with a M. arvensis extract or normal saline, and then behavior tests were conducted 30 min after scopolamine injection. The antioxidant capacities were analyzed by free radical scavenging (DPPH and ABTS). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity were also measured using Ellman's method ex vivo test. In behavior tests, percent of spontaneous alteration, escape latency and swimming time in target quadrant were improved by the administration of the M. arvensis extract, which suggests that the M. arvensis extract improves memory function in the scopolamine-treated mice model. In addition, M. arvensis extract showed inhibition of the free radical and AChE activity. The results of the present study suggest that the M. arvensis extract ameliorates scopolamine-induced cognitive and memory deficits through the inhibition of free radicals and AChE activity. Therefore, M. arvensis may be a promising neuroprotective agent for management of learning and memory improvements in human dementia patients.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.86-95
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• 2003

Potential mechanisms by which vitamin E improves oxidative stability of myoglobin are documented. The basis by which this lipid-soluble antioxidant, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol, protects water-soluble oxymyoglobin is beginning to be understood. Recent evidence suggests that ${\alpha}$-tocopherol delays the release of prooxidative products of lipid oxidation from biomembranes, which in turn delays oxymyoglobin oxidation and the concomitant loss of desirable beef color. ${\alpha}$, ${\beta}$-Unsaturated aldehydes are one class of lipid oxidation products that enhance oxymyoglobin oxidation in vitro and appear to act by covalently binding to the protein. If ${\alpha}$-tocopherol delays the formation of these reactive aldehydes, then this could inhibit the prooxidative effect of these oxidation products toward oxymyoglobin. Additionally, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol may exert part of its color-stabilizing effect in beef by enhancing the metmyoglobin reduction.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.200-206
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• 2005

Effect of quercetin on NO production and regulation mode of quercetin on oxidative stress, $NF{\kappa}B$ activation, and iNOS expression, possible mechanisms of NO suppression in LPS-stimulated macrophages were investigated. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with quercetin significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated nitric oxide (NO) production dose-dependently ($IC_{50}$, $9.2\;{\mu}M$). Expression of iNOS and specific DNA binding activities of nuclear factor kB ($NF{\kappa}B$) were significantly suppressed by quercetin pretreatment. Quercetin reduced thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) accumulation, enhancing GSH level and antioxidant activities of enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. These results demonstrate quercetin may ameliorate inflammatory diseases by suppressing NO production through inhibition of iNOS expression, $NF{\kappa}B$ transactivation, and oxidative stress, which may be mediated partially by antioxidative effect of quercetin. Thus, quercetin appears to be used as a potential therapeutic agent for treating LPS-induced inflammatory processes.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.1119-1122
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• 2016

Background: Punica granatum (PG) has been demonstrated to possess antitumor effects on various types of cancer cells. In this study, we determined antiproliferative properties of a seed extract of PG (PSE) from Iran in different human cancer cells. Materials and Methods: A methanolic extract of pomegranate seeds was prepared. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were assessed by colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was determined with reference to DPPH radical scavenging activity. The cytotoxicity of different doses of PSE (0, 5, 20, 100, 250, 500, $1000{\mu}g/ml$) was evaluated by MTT assays with A549 (lung non small cell carcinoma), MCF-7 (breast adenocarcinoma), SKOV3 (ovarian cancer cells), and PC-3 (prostate adenocarcinoma) cells. Results: Significant (P<0.01) or very significant (P<0.0001) differences were observed in comparison to negative controls at all tested doses ($5-1000{\mu}g/ml$). In all studied cancer cells, PSE reduced the cell viability to values below 23%, even at the lowest doses. In all cases, IC50 was determined at doses below $5{\mu}g/ml$. In this regard, SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells were the most responsive to antiproliferative effects of PSE with a maximum mean growth inhibition of 86.8% vs. 82.8%, 81.4% and 80.0% in MCF-7, PC-3 and A549 cells, respectively. Conclusions: Low doses of PSE exert potent antiproliferative effects on different human cancer cells SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells as most and A549 cells ar least responsive regarding cytotoxic effects. However, the mechanisms of action need to be addressed.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.313-327
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to predict the effects of macroscopic and integrative therapies by finding active ingredients, potential targets of Astragalus membranaceus (Am) and Cornus officinalis (Co) for diabetic nephropathy. We have constructed network pharmacology-based systematic and network methodology by system biology, chemical structure, chemogenomics. We found several active ingredients of Astragalus membranaceus (Am) and Cornus officinalis (Co) that were speculated to bind to specific receptors which had been known to have a role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. Four components of Am and eleven components of Co could bind to iNOS; two ingredients of Am and six ingredients of Co could docking to cGB-PDE; one component of Am and nine components of Co could bind to ACE; three ingredients of Co with neprilysin; three components of Co with ET-1 receptor; four ingredients of Am and fourteen ingredients of Co with mineralocorticoid receptor; one component of Am and seven components of Co with interstitial collagenase; one ingredient of Am and ten ingredients of Co with membrane primary amine oxidase; one component of Am and four components of Co with JAK2; two ingredients of Am and one ingredient of Co with MAPK 12; one component of Am and five components of Co could docking to TGF-beta receptor type-1. From this work we could speculate that the possible mechanisms of Am and Co for diabetic nephropathy are anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antihypertensive effects.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2019

Digitaria exilis L. is an under-utilized crop with high nutritional and medicinal values. It thrives in and is well-adapted to arid areas with low soil nutrients. Using biochemical markers, this study investigates the mechanisms by which D. exilis responds to osmotic stress. Three accessions Dinat Iburua (DIN), Jakah Iburua (JAK) and Jiw Iburua (JIW) were collected from National Cereal Research Institute, Niger State. Two accessions, NG/11/JD/061 and NG/11/JD/062 were also collected from National Centre for Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Ibadan. Murashige and Skoog medium of approximately 1.2 L was supplemented with polyethylene glycol 6000 to create osmotic pressures of -9.29, -13.93, -20.13, -26.32, -32.51, and 0 MPa (control). Sterilized seeds were inoculated in the medium and placed in the growth room for 4 weeks. Proline accumulation was significantly high in all JAK plants under osmotic stress. Proline and ascorbate peroxidase (p<0.05) activities were directly correlated, thus reinforcing the survivability of JAK during stress. Catalase (CAT) activity was also significantly induced in JAK under osmotic stress, which synergistically improved its tolerability. As a result, >50% of OH-, H₂O₂, and NO radicals were scavenged. However, other accessions including DIN, NG061, NG062, and JIW showed variations in their responses to different levels of osmotic stress, although not significant. Therefore, JAK possesses a well-equipped free radical quenching system that is protected by the accumulation of the osmolyte proline; therefore, accession JAK is considered osmotolerant. CAT and superoxide dismutase activities were osmostabilized against oxidative stress by proline.