• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1605-1610
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• 2012

Gelam and Nenas monofloral honeys were investigated in this study for their chemopreventive effects against HT 29 colon cancer cells. MTS (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolim) assays showed more effective inhibition of colon cancer cells proliferation by Gelam honey with $IC_{50}$ values of 39.0 mg/ml and 85.5 mg/ml respectively after 24 hours of treatment. Alkali comet assays revealed both honeys increased DNA damage significantly in a dose dependent manner. In addition, annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry demonstrated that at $IC_{50}$ concentrations and above, both Gelam and Nenas honeys induced apoptosis significantlyat values higher than for necrosis (p<0.05). Measurement of prostaglandin $E_2$ ($PGE_2$) confirmed that Gelam and Nenas honeys reduced its production in $H_2O_2$ inflammation-induced colon cancer cells. In conclusion, our study indicated and confirmed that both Gelam and Nenas honeys are capable of suppressing the growth of HT 29 colon cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and suppressing inflammation.

• Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.331-337
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• 2008

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) derived from leakage of fossil fuels and incomplete combustion of organic materials have been considered as harmful contaminants in environments. This study evaluated the effect of benzo[k]fluoranthene (BkF), one of the PAHs, using the multiple biomarkers and applied the integration model with those biomarker responses. After 10 days of the exposure at the measured concentrations of BkF (6, 25, and 45 ${\mu}g\;L^{-1}$), the changes of the four biomarkers, that is, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD), DNA single-strand breaks (Comet), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and vitellogenin (VTG) in the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were observed. The standardized values of four biomarker responses were computed and integrated as star plots, representing Integrated Biomarker Respnse (IBR) values. DNA damage was induced in a dose-dependent manner, and increased significantly compared with that in the control. EROD and VTG levels were significantly elevated at low concentrations of BkF. On the other hand, AChE activities were not altered by BkF. IBR values increased as the exposure concentrations increased. Thus, the metabolic, endocrine and genetic changes of the biomarker responses in the common carp exposed to BkF should be considered in the case of the ecological risk assessment of the BkF in fish and it can be used as a biomonitoring tool in aquatic ecosystems. In addition, star plots can be used as a useful analysis tool in multibiomarker integration approach.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.105-114
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• 1998

The antimutagenic activity of a methanol extract of Ecklonia stolonifera (Laminariaceae) against aflatoxin $B_1\;(AFB_1)$ was demonstrated with the Salmonella typhimurium assay. The numbers of revertants per plate decreased significantly when this extract was added to the assay system using S. Salmonella typhimurium TA100. The methanol extract also exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the micronuclei formation in mouse peripheral blood reticulocytes and the DNA damage in mouse spleen lymphocytes induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MMU) and benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P). The MeOH extract was then sequentially partitioned with $CH_2Cl_2,\;CH_2Cl_2$ insoluble intermediate, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and $H_2O$. All fractions possessed antimutagenic activity but the $H_2O$ fraction was inactive. Among active fractions, the EtOAc and $CH_2Cl_2$ insoluble intermediate fractions showed the highest activity. Column chromatography using $SiO_2$ and Sephadex LH-20 yielded phloroglucinol from the EtOAc fraction. Phloroglucinol also demonstrated significant antimutagenic activity, and inhibitory effects on the micronuclei formation in mouse peripheral blood reticulocytes and DNA damage in mouse spleen lymphocytes induced by MMU and B(a)P.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.494-499
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• 2005

In the present study, we investigate the protective effect of antioxidant strain Lactobacillus gasseri KACC 91155, isolated from Korean infant feces(Obstetrics & Gynecology, Suwon, Korea) on the oxidative stress damage on the Jurkat T cells. To estimate the extent of cellular lipid peroxidation inhibition, MDA(malondialdehyde) production was measured Furthermore, cell viability was detected by the MTT assay, DNA damage was tested by the comet assay. Cell grown in medium with or without L gasseri lysate$(100\~1,000{\mu}g)$ were treated with $H_2O_2,\;Fe^{2+}$ as an oxidative stimulus. From the result obtained, the supplementation of Jurkat T cells with L. gasseri lysate significantly decreased in MDA production (1,250 vs. 835 nmol/mg protein), and DNA damage(31.6 vs. 22.6 tail moment). Also L gasseri increase cell viability against oxidative damage. We concluded that the L. gasseri KACC 91155 showed a protective effect against oxidative stress.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Safety
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.72-79
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• 2000

In recent, occupational diseases in harmful working places become a social issue. It is the well-known fact that a respiration in polluted working places exert a serious effect on health of workers. Accordingly, the cutting off contaminants air originally is the best way to improve working environments. In these cases, ventilation systems should be essentially installed to dilute or exhaust the contaminated indoor air. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of ventilation system of the noxious gas in working indoor places with natural ventilation by using COMET. The numerical simulations were carried out the natural ventilation with two phase(air, dust). For turbulent flow, Reynolds stresses were closed by the standard $\kappa$-$\varepsilon$ model. The results are as follows ; 1) In the natural exhaust in the working place, the flows of the central region have a more rapid velocity vector than the right and left one. 2) Numerical results show that the distribution of contaminants concentration have greater influence on convection than the case of diffusion by government of velocity vectors. 3) To observe the velocity variation with distance, three location of distance are considered. As results, it shows that the velocity are 0.075(m/s) at y=5(m), 10(m) and mean concentration are raised 10.6% at y=5(m), 10(m). 4) We have presented the useful data for the adequate counterplan in the harmful working places by carrying out the various investigation of the natural ventilation.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.6047-6053
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• 2015

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Its prevalence is increasing in many countries. Plant products can be used to protect against cancer due to natural anticancer and chemopreventive constituents. Strobilanthes crispus is one of plants with potential chemopreventive ability. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer effects of Strobilanthes crispus juice on hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Materials and Methods: MTT assays, flow cytometry, comet assays and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used to determine the effects of juice on DNA damage and cancer cell numbers. Results: This juice induced apoptosis after exposure of the HepG2 cell line for 72 h. High percentages of apoptotic cell death and DNA damage were seen at the juice concentrations above 0.1%. It was found that the juice was not toxic for normal cells. In addition, juice exposure increased the expression level of c-myc gene and reduced the expression level of c-fos and c-erbB2 genes in HepG2 cells. The cytotoxic effects of juice on abnormal cells were in dose dependent. Conclusions: It was concluded that the Strobilanthes crispus juice may have chemopreventive effects on hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3409-3416
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• 2012

Aim: It is well known that polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo (a) pyrene have carcinogenic properties and may cause many types of cancers in human populations. Genetic susceptibility might be due to variation in genes encoding for carcinogen metabolizing enzymes, such as cytochrome P-450 (CYP450). Our study aimed to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 (m1 and m2) on genetic damage in 115 coal-tar workers exposed to PAHs at their work place. Methods: Genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1 were determined by the PCR-RFLP method. Comet and buccal micronucleus assays were used to evaluate genetic damage among 115 coal tar workers and 105 control subjects. Results: Both CYP1A1 m1 and CYP1A1 m2 heterozygous and homozygous (wt/mt+mt/mt) variants individually as well as synergistically showed significant association (P<0.05) with genetic damage as measured by tail moment (TM) and buccal micronuclei (BMN) frequencies in control and exposed subjects. Conclusion: In our study we found significant association of CYP1A1 m1 and m2 heterozygous (wt/mt)+homozygous (mt/mt) variants with genetic damage suggesting that these polymorphisms may modulate the effects of PAH exposure in occupational settings.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.344-350
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• 2011

Kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) is a potentially useful perennial legume because of its excellent nutritive value and persistence under environmental extremes. However, information about forage quality of kura clover - grass mixtures adapted to the North-Central USA is limited. Objectives of this research were to determine forage nutritional value of kura clover-grass mixtures under different harvest frequency and cutting height regimes. 'Rhizo' kura clover was grown alone and in binary mixtures with 'Park' Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 'Comet' orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), and 'Badger' smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.) at the Arlington Agricultural Research Station located near Madison, WI. Three harvest frequencies ($3{\times}$, $4{\times}$, or $5{\times}$ annually) and two cutting heights (4- or 10-cm) were imposed on each binary mixture and on kura clover grown alone. Higher nutritive value was observed in the binary mixtures with more frequent harvest and lower cutting height. Averaged over 3 years and all harvest frequency and cutting height treatments, the nutritive value of the Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass mixtures was superior to that of the orchardgrass mixture ($410\;g\;kg^{-1}$ NDF and $194\;g\;kg^{-1}$ CP in the Kentucky bluegrass mixture; $405\;g\;kg^{-1}$ NDF and $188\;g\;kg^{-1}$ CP in the smooth bromegrass mixture; $435\;g\;kg^{-1}$ NDF and $175\;g\;kg^{-1}$ CP in the orchardgrass mixture). All of the mixtures and harvest management systems evaluated in this study produced forage with quality equivalent to "grade one" alfalfa hay and suitable for highproducing livestock, even though the highest quality was observed in the Kentucky bluegrass mixture with $5{\times}$ harvesting at the shorter cutting height.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1947-1959
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, being the second most common type of cancer worldwide in both men and women. It accounts yearly for approximately 9% of all new cases of cancers. Furthermore, the current chemotherapeutic regimens seem unsatisfactory, so that exploration of novel therapeutic modalities is needed. The present study was undertaken to investigate the inhibitory effects of a crude alkaloid extract (CAERS) of a medicinal herb, Rhazya stricta, on proliferation of CRC HCT116 cells and to elucidate mechanisms of action. To achieve these aims, we utilized MTT, comet, DNA laddering and gene reporter assays, along with Western blot and RT-PCR analyses. Results: We found that CAERS inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptotic cell death in HCT116 cells. Hallmarks of morphological and biochemical signs of apoptosis were clearly evident. CAERS down-regulated DNA-binding and transcriptional activities of NF-${\kappa}B$ and AP-1 proteins, while up-regulating expression of the Nrf-2 protein. It also down-regulated expression levels of the ERK MAPK, Bcl-2, cyclin D1, CDK-4, survivin and VEGF and up-regulated levels of Bax, caspase-3/7 and -9, p53, p21, Nrf-2. Markedly, it promoted mRNA expression levels of cytoprotective genes including the hemeoxygenase-1, NAD(P)H quinine oxidoreductase 1 and UDP-glucuronyltransferase. Conclusions: These findings indicate that CAERS exerts antiproliferative action on CRC cells through induction of apoptotic mechanisms, and suggest CAERS could be a promising agent for studying and developing novel chemotherapeutic agents aimed at novel molecular targets for the treatment of CRC.

• CELLMED
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.9.1-9.10
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• 2013

In traditional systems of medicine including homeopathy, the Condurango extract (Con) is often used to cure stomach cancer mainly, without having any scientific validation of its anti-cancer ability. Con has therefore been tested against non-small-cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) A549 and NCI-H522 (H522) known to contain the KRAS mutation, making them resistant to most chemotherapeutic agents. As cancer cells generally defy cytotoxicity developed by chemopreventive agents and escape cell death, any drug showing the capability of preferentially killing cancer cells through apoptosis is worth consideration for judicious application. A549 and H522 cells were exposed to $0.35{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ and $0.25{\mu}g/{\mu}l$ of Con, respectively, for 48 h and analysed based on various protocols associated with apoptosis and DNA damage, such as MTT assay to determine cell viability, LDH assay, DNA fragmentation assay, comet assay, and microscopical examinations of DNA binding fluorescence stains like DAPI, Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange/ethidium bromide to determine the extent of DNA damage made in drug-treated and untreated cells and the results compared. Changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and the generation of reactive oxygen species were also documented through standard techniques. Con killed almost 50% of the cancer cells but spared normal cells significantly. Fluorescence studies revealed increased DNA nick formation and depolarized membrane potentials after drug treatment in both cell types. Caspase-3 expression levels confirmed the apoptosis-inducing potential of Con in both the NSCLC lines. Thus, overall results suggest considerable anticancer potential of Con against NSCLC in vitro, validating its use against lung cancer by practitioners of traditional medicine including homeopathy.