• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.87-98
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• 2015

We investigated the apoptotic effects of grape skin extracts (GSE) and related gene expressions in human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells cultured in the presence of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg/mL of GSE for 72 hours. MTT assay, trypan blue and nuclei staining showed lower cellular mitochondrial activities and increased cell deaths with a higher concentration of GSE (p<0.05). Increased cell number with fragmentated DNA of sub-G1 phase was calculated as a measure of apoptotic cell death by FACS analysis (p<0.05). In particular, apoptotic cell death caused markedly increased in the 1 and 1.5 mg/mL of GSE groups, as revealed by flow cytometry (Annexin V-FITC). RT-PCR analysis was performed on apoptotic and preapoptotic genes. Expression of the apoptosis suppressor gene bcl-2 significantly decreased, proapoptotic gene bax was significantly increased and procaspase-3 showing the presence of caspase-3 significantly decreased (p<0.05). Furthermore, bcl-2/bax ratio which is considered to be an important indicator of apoptosis, significantly decreased in a concentration-dependent manner (p<0.05). These results indicated that GSE induces apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.169-175
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• 2016

Background: Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) is one of the most distressing side effects for patients undergoing chemotherapy. This study evaluated the protective effect of Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) on CIA in a well-established in vitro human hair follicle organ culture model as it occurs in vivo. Methods: We examined whether KRG can prevent premature hair follicle dystrophy in a human hair follicle organ culture model during treatment with a key cyclophosphamide metabolite, 4-hydroperoxycyclophosphamide (4-HC). Results: 4-HC inhibited human hair growth, induced premature catagen development, and inhibited proliferation and stimulated apoptosis of hair matrix keratinocytes. In addition, 4-HC increased p53 and Bax protein expression and decreased Bcl2 protein expression. Pretreatment with KRG protected against 4-HC-induced hair growth inhibition and premature catagen development. KRG also suppressed 4-HC-induced inhibition of matrix keratinocyte proliferation and stimulation of matrix keratinocyte apoptosis. Moreover, KRG restored 4-HC-induced p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression. Conclusion: Overall, our results indicate that KRG may protect against 4-HC-induced premature catagen development through modulation of p53 and Bax/Bcl2 expression.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.358-364
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• 2006

To investigate the possible mechanism of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts as a candidate of anti-cancer drug, I examined the effects of Drynariae Rhizoma extracts on the apoptosis of U937 cell line. MTT assay, flow cytometric analysis, SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, Western blot analysis, and RT-PCR were performed. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment reduced the cell viablilty of U937 cells in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with induction of apoptotic cell death. Drynariae Rhizoma extracts treatment also reduced the levels of Bcl-xL anti-apoptotic protein expression and increased the levels of caspase-3, p53, pro-apoptotic protein, in U937 cells. RT-PCR data revealed that the level of bcl-2, bcl-xL mRNA expressions decreased in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that Drynariae Rhizoma extracts may have induction of apoptotic cell death via regulation of several growth regulatory gene products. The abbreviations used are: FBS, fetal bovine serum; PBS, phosphate buffered saline; PI, propidium iodide; OD, optical density; DiOC6, 3,3-dihexyloxa carbcyanine iodide; MTT, 3 [4-5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2-diphenyltetrazolium bromide.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.403-409
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• 2008

In Oriental medicine daeseungki-tang is one of the prescription that is used clinically for constipation of paralytics. The objective of the study was to observe the effect of daeseungki-tang on apoptotic neuronal cell death. In the present study, middle cerebral artery occlusion(MCAO) rats were treated with daeseungi-tang for 5 days and the edema percentage of cerebral hemisphere of MCAO rats were investigated primary. Secondary, appearances of Bax, Bcl-2,-factors that is related to apoptotic neuronal cell death - and HSP72 in the brain of MCAO rats were investigated via immunohistochemistry. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased edema percentage of the cerebral hemisphere of MCAO rats. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased Bax positive cells, but did not change the apperances of Bcl-2 positive cells in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex and the caudoputamen of MCAO rats. Daeseungki-tang significantly decreased HSP72 positive cells in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex, but not in the caudoputamen of MCAO rats. Based on the present results, it can be suggested that treatment with daeseungki-tang may decrease edema of the cerebral hemisphere and restrain apoptotic neuronal cell death in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.144-147
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• 2011

In this work, we present a study regarding the etching characteristics on titanium nitride (TiN) thin films using an inductively coupled plasma system. The TiN thin film was etched using a $N_2/BCl_3$/Ar plasma. The studied etching parameters were the gas mixing ratio, the radio frequency (RF) power, the direct current (DC)-bias voltages, and the process pressures. The baseline conditions were as follows: RF power = 500 W, DC-bias voltage = -150 V, substrate temperature = $40^{\circ}C$, and process pressure = 15 mTorr. The maximum etch rate and the selectivity of the TiN to the $SiO_2$ thin film were 62.38 nm/min and 5.7, respectively. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy results showed no accumulation of etching byproducts from the etched surface of the TiN thin film. Based on the experimental results, the etched TiN thin film was obtained by the chemical etching found in the reactive ion etching mechanism.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.283-294
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• 2018

Objectives : Mahaengeuigam-Tang (MHEGT) has been used as a traditional medicine for the treatment of rheumatic aerthritis, rheumatisim, eczema and asthma. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular mechanisms of MHEGT for cartilage protection in monosodium iodoacetate(MIA)-induced osteoarthritis, particularly focusing on apoptosis. Method : Thirty young male Sprague-Dawley rats were used for the study. Rats were intra-articularly injected with 2 mg MIA in a total volume of 50 ㎕ saline. In MHEGT group, MHEGT extract was orally administered once daily to MIA-induced osteoarthritis rats, and rats of control group were given with saline only. At 4 weeks after MIA injection, all animals were sacrificed, and the histological changes and articular thickness were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Moreover, the immunohistochemical analyses of BAX and Bcl-2 were carried out. Results : The histomorphological examinations revealed that MHEGT reduced MIA-induced cartilage damage. And, MHEGT ameliorated the severity of cartilage surface damages after MIA injection. Furthermore, MHEGT suppressed the MIA-induced increases of pro-apoptotic BAX protein and increased the protein expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Conclusion : These findings indicate that MHEGT protects against MIA-induced cartilage damage by inhibition of the apoptotic pathway, demonstrating significant protection of cartilage against osteoarthritis. These results suggest that MHEGT may potentially have clinical applications in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.92-100
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• 2022

Ginkgo biloba Leaf Extract (GBE) is an extract from leaves of the Ginkgo biloba tree, widely used as a health supplement. GBE can inhibit the proliferation of several types of tumor cell. Although it is known to have anti-cancer effects in breast cancer and skin cancer, research related to gastric cancer is still insufficient. Based on results showing anti-cancer effects on solid cancer, we aimed to determine whether GBE has similar effects on gastric cancer. In this study, the anti-cancer effect of GBE in gastric adenocarcinoma was investigated by confirming the cell proliferation inhibitory effect of AGS cells. We also evaluated whether GBE regulates expression of the tumor suppressor protein p53 and Rb. GBE has apoptotic effects on AGS cells that were confirmed by changes in anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2, Bcl-xl and pro-apoptosis protein Bax levels. Wound healing and cell migration were also decreased by treatment with GBE. Furthermore, we verified the effects of GBE on mitogenic signaling by investigating AKT target gene expression levels and revealed downregulated Sod2 and Bcl6 expression. We also confirmed that expression of inflammation-related genes decreased in a time-dependent manner. These results indicate that GBE has an anti-cancer effect on human gastric cancer cell lines. Further research on the mechanism of the anti-cancer effect will serve as basic data for possible anti-cancer drug development.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.69-78
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• 2013

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to examine whether Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture may affect to the neuropathic pain in a rat model. Methods : To produce the model of neuropathic pain, under isoflurane 2.5 % anesthesia, underwent tight ligation by 6.0 silk thread and transection of the tibial and sural nerves, leaving the common peroneal nerve intact. After neuropathic surgery, the author examined if the exhibited the behavioral sign of allodynia. The allodynia was assessed by stimulating the plantar with Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer. Three days after the neuropathic surgery, Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture was injected at Sinsu($BL_{23}$) once every week for 6 weeks. After that, the author examined the withdrawal response of neuropathic rats' leg by Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer. And also the author examined Bax, Bcl-2, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in the spinal cord of neuropathic rats and the change of WBC, RBC, HGB, HCT count in the blood of neuropathic rats. Results : 1. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased the withdrawal response of mechanical allodynia that assessed with Dynamic Plantar Aesthesiometer in EC2-$BL_{23}$ group as compared with control group. 2. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in EC1-$BL_{23}$, EC2-$BL_{23}$ group. But The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture injected at Sinsu($BL_{23}$) didn't change Bax, Bcl-2 expression level in the all group. 3. The Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased WBC count in EC1-$BL_{23}$, EC2-$BL_{23}$ group. Conclusions : We have noticed that Eucommiae Cortex pharmacopuncture decreased mechanical allodynia in the model of neuropathic pain compared with the control group. Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in spinal cord of that group was also decreased compared with the control group. This study can be used as a basic resource on a study and a treatment of neuropathic pain.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.255-263
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• 2019

Glycyrrhizae radix is one of the most frequently prescribed ingredients in Oriental medicine, and Glycyrrhizae radix extract has been shown to exert anti-cancer effects. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms of programed cell death (apoptosis) by Glycyrrhizae radix are poorly defined. In the present study, it was examined the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis by water extracts of Glycyrrhizae radix (GRW) in human bladder T24 cancer cells. It was found that GRW could inhibit the cell growth of T24 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, which was associated with the induction of apoptotic cell death, as evidenced by the formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of annexin-V positive cells. The induction of apoptotic cell death by GRW was connected with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax protein expression and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic proteins (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL), and inhibition of apoptosis family proteins (XIAP, cIAP-1 and cIAP-2). In addition, apoptosis-inducing concentrations of GRW induced the activation of caspase-9, an initiator caspase of the mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway, and caspase-3, accompanied by proteolytic degradation of PARP. GRW also induced apoptosis via a death receptor-mediated extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation, resulting in the down-regulation of total Bid and suggesting the existence of cross-talk between the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways. Taken together, the present results suggest that GRW may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.800-808
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• 2004

Resveratrol, a phytoalexin found at high levels in grapes and in grape products such as red wine, has been reported to possess a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities including antioxident, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects. According to recent studies, this compound is an effective inhibitor of cell growth in general, triggers partial arrest of the cell cycle and induce apoptosis. In this study, the anti-proliferative effects of resveratrol in A549 human lung carcinoma cells were investigated. It is shown that resveratrol induced the growth inhibition in a time-dependent manner and morphological changes of A549 cells, which were associated with induction of S phase arrest of the cell cycle and apoptotic cell death. The Bcl-$X_L$levels were markedly down-regulated in resveratrol treated cells, however, Bax and Bcl-2 were remained unchanged. Resveratrol treatment induced the proteolytic degradation of Sp-l and proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein, and inhibited the expression of $\beta$-catenin protein. Resveratrol treatment also induced a marked up-regulation of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 and inhibited the kinase activities of Cdk2 and Cdk4. In addition, resveratrol treatment inhibited the levels of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 mRNA and protein, and the release of prostagladin E2 without alteration of COX-1 expression. Taken together, these findings suggest that resveratrol may be a potential chemotherapeutic agent for the control of human lung carcinorma cells.