• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.609-619
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• 2022

Obesity is a primary factor provoking various chronic disorders, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, and causes the death of 2.8 million individuals each year. Diet, physical activity, medications, and surgery are the main therapies for overweightness and obesity. During weight loss therapy, a decrease in energy stores activates appetite signaling pathways under the regulation of neuropeptides, including anorexigenic [corticotropin-releasing hormone, proopiomelanocortin (POMC), cholecystokinin (CCK), and cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript] and orexigenic [agoutirelated protein (AgRP), neuropeptide Y (NPY), and melanin-concentrating hormone] neuropeptides, which increase food intake and lead to failure in attaining weight loss goals. Ginseng and ginsenosides reverse these signaling pathways by suppressing orexigenic neuropeptides (NPY and AgRP) and provoking anorexigenic neuropeptides (CCK and POMC), which prevent the increase in food intake. Moreover, the results of network pharmacology analysis have revealed that constituents of ginseng radix, including campesterol, beta-elemene, ginsenoside Rb1, biotin, and pantothenic acid, are highly correlated with neuropeptide genes that regulate energy balance and food intake, including ADIPOQ, NAMPT, UBL5, NUCB2, LEP, CCK, GAST, IGF1, RLN1, PENK, PDYN, and POMC. Based on previous studies and network pharmacology analysis data, ginseng and its compounds may be a potent source for obesity treatment by regulating neuropeptides associated with appetite.

• BMB Reports
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• 제33권6호
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• pp.469-475
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to examine the chemopreventive potential of taurine at various levels on the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)·induced hepatocarcinogenesis. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed on diets containing 0, 1, 2, 3% taurine or 5% ${\beta}-alanine$ for taurine depletion. Then they were treated with DEN and 2/3 partial hepatectomy. The number of placental glutathione S-transferase positive ($GST-P^+$) foci, as a preneoplastic marker in the 1 % taurine group was lower than the control diet group. However the difference was insignificant. Although taurine diets reduced the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) level, the number of $GST-P^+$ foci was increased in 3% taurine diet group. The 1 % taurine diet increased the glutathione (GSH) level and GST activity, however they unfortunately did not suppress the foci formation. In the 3% taurine group, the GSH level and GSH peroxidase (GPx) activity were significantly decreased. Excess taurine supplementation of the pharmaceutical dose worked against hepatic chemoprevention, which might result from modulation of GPx activity and GSH utility. On the contrary, taurine might work as an antioxidant against TBARS production as the 1 % taurine diet increased GSH level. The potency of the cancer preventive effect of taurine still remains and further studies should investigate the effect of taurine with less than 1 % levels on the prevention of hepatic cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권4호
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• pp.399-408
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• 2018

In this study, we examined the molecular and functional characterization of choline uptake in the human esophageal cancer cells. In addition, we examined the influence of various drugs on the transport of [$^3H$]choline, and explored the possible correlation between the inhibition of choline uptake and apoptotic cell death. We found that both choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) and CTL2 mRNAs and proteins were highly expressed in esophageal cancer cell lines (KYSE series). CTL1 and CTL2 were located in the plasma membrane and mitochondria, respectively. Choline uptake was saturable and mediated by a single transport system, which is both $Na^+$-independent and pH-dependent. Choline uptake and cell viability were inhibited by various cationic drugs. Furthermore, a correlation analysis of the potencies of 47 drugs for the inhibition of choline uptake and cell viability showed a strong correlation. Choline uptake inhibitors and choline deficiency each inhibited cell viability and increased caspase-3/7 activity. We conclude that extracellular choline is mainly transported via a CTL1. The functional inhibition of CTL1 by cationic drugs could promote apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, CTL2 may be involved in choline uptake in mitochondria, which is the rate-limiting step in S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) synthesis and DNA methylation. Identification of this CTL1- and CTL2-mediated choline transport system provides a potential new target for esophageal cancer therapy.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.149-155
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• 2017

The effects of Korean solar salt on an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colon cancer C57BL/6 mouse model were studied. Korean solar salt samples (SS-S, solar salt from S salt field; SS-Yb, solar salt from Yb salt field), nine-time-baked bamboo salt (BS-9x, made from SS-Yb), purified salt (PS), and SS-G (solar salt from $Gu\acute{e}rande$, France) were orally administered at a concentration of 1% during AOM/DSS colon cancer induction, and compared for their protective effects during colon carcinogenesis in C57BL/6 mice. SS-S and SS-Yb suppressed colon length shortening and tumor counts in mouse colons. Histological evaluation by hematoxylin and eosin staining also revealed suppression of tumorigenesis by SS-S. Conversely, PS and SS-G did not show a similar suppressive efficacy as Korean solar salt. SS-S and SS-Yb promoted colon mRNA expression of an apoptosis-related factor and cell-cycle-related gene and suppressed pro-inflammatory factor. SS-Yb baked into BS-9x further promoted these anti-carcinogenic efficacies. Taken together, the results indicate that Korean solar salt, especially SS-S and SS-Yb, exhibited anti-cancer activity by modulating apoptosis- and inflammation-related gene expression during colon carcinogenesis in mice, and bamboo salt baked from SS-Yb showed enhanced anti-cancer functionality.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.253-257
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• 2014

Arsenic is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring metalloid that may be a significant risk factor for cancer after exposure to contaminated drinking water, cigarettes, foods, industry, occupational environment, and air. Among the various routes of arsenic exposure, drinking water is the largest source of arsenic poisoning worldwide. Arsenic exposure from ingested foods usually comes from food crops grown in arsenic-contaminated soil and/or irrigated with arsenic-contaminated water. According to a recent World Health Organization report, arsenic from contaminated water can be quickly and easily absorbed and depending on its metabolic form, may adversely affect human health. Recently, the US Food and Drug Administration regulations for metals found in cosmetics to protect consumers against contaminations deemed deleterious to health; some cosmetics were found to contain a variety of chemicals including heavy metals, which are sometimes used as preservatives. Moreover, developing countries tend to have a growing number of industrial factories that unfortunately, harm the environment, especially in cities where industrial and vehicle emissions, as well as household activities, cause serious air pollution. Air is also an important source of arsenic exposure in areas with industrial activity. The presence of arsenic in airborne particulate matter is considered a risk for certain diseases. Taken together, various potential pathways of arsenic exposure seem to affect humans adversely, and future efforts to reduce arsenic exposure caused by environmental factors should be made.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제41권5호
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• pp.331-338
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• 2008

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to measure the workload of home visit care activities and their relative values. This study examined also factors that affect the workload of home visit care activities. Methods : The participants of this study were 126 home-helpers of 50 home visit care agencies at the 2nd Long-term Care Insurance Demonstration Project. The workload of home visit care activities was divided into total work and four dimensions ; physical efforts, mental efforts, stress and time. Home visit care activities consisted of four categories with 24 items. We used magnitude estimation method to measure their relative values of the four dimensions. The participants answered the relative values of each activities based on the reference service. We used the activity for supporting their elderly's evacuation as the reference service. Results : Most of the respondents were over 40 years old female. They consumed most their time supporting elderly's going out. They consumed their highest physical, mental efforts, and stress for activities of coping with emergency situation. The Pearson correlation coefficients showed significant relationships between workload and each dimensions. This study showed that all four dimensions are statistically significant predictors of workload of home visit care activities. Also, we found that the home-helper's career affects the workload of home visit care activities. Conclusions : The workload of home visit care activities could be explained by physical efforts, mental efforts, stress and time.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권21호
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• pp.9065-9070
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• 2014

The incidence of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is high in Western and Northern Europe and North America, and low in Asia. Although the incidence of RCC in Japan is lower than the rates in the other industrialized countries, there is no doubt that it is increasing. In this paper, we would like to introduce the summary of findings of JACC study, which evaluate the risk factors for RCC in a Japanese population. JACC study suggests nine risk factors (i.e., smoking, obesity, low physical activity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, kidney diseases, beef, fondness for fatty food and black tea) and one preventive factor (i.e., starchy roots such as taro, sweet potato and potato) in a Japanese population. In Japan, however, drinking black tea may be a surrogate for westernized dietary habits while eating starchy roots may be a surrogate for traditional Japanese dietary habits. Further studies may be needed to evaluate risk factors for RCC because the number of cases is small in our studies.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제8권4호
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• pp.365-371
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• 2003

The potential of seven flavonoid glycosides to induce quinone reductase (QR), an anticarcinogenic marker enzyme, in murine hepatoma cells (hepalc1c7) and its mutant cells (BPRc1) was evaluated. Among test compounds, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-6-c-glucoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (Q-3-G) induced QR in hepalc1c7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, in BPRc1 cells lacking arylhydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), only Q-3-G caused a significant induction of quinone reductase at the concentration range of 0.5 to 8 ug/mL, suggesting that it is a monofunctional inducer. Q-3-G induced not only phase 2 enzymes, including QR and glutathione-S-transferase, but also nitroblue tetrazolium reduction activity in HL-60 cells, a biochemical marker for cell differentiation promoting agents. In conclusion, Q-3-G merits further study to evaluate its cancer chemopreventive potential.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.260-264
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• 1999

Korean traditional fermented soy paste (doenjang) prolonged the life span of Balb/c mice injected with the sarcoma-180 cells. The activities of liver enzymes, such as xanthine oxidase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase (GST), and the contents of lipid peroxide and glutathione were determined from the sarcoma-180 cell injected mice that were treated with methanol extracts from doenjang, miso and soybean. The content of lipid peroxide and the activity of xanthine oxidase in the liver of Balb/c mice which were increased by the transplantation of the sarcoma-180 cells were decreased by treatment with the methanol extract from doenjang. But the activities of aminopyrine N-dementhylase and aniline hydroxylase were not affected by the treatment of methanol extracts from doenjang to the mice injected with the sarcoma-180 cells. The content of glutathione, the activities of glutamylcysteine synthetase, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase decreased by the injection of the sarcoma-180 were recovered considerably by the treatment of the methanol extract from doenjang.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제17권4호
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• pp.403-411
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• 2009

Thiacremonone, the main component isolated from heated garlic (Allium sativum L.), is interested for using as a cancer preventive or therapeutic agent since garlic has been known to be useful plant in the treatment of cancers. Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-${\kappa}B$) is constitutively activated in the prostate cancer and activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ is implicated in drug resistance in cancer cells. Docetaxel, a semisynthetic analog of paclitaxel, is an antineoplastic drug widely used for advanced various cancer. In previous studies, we found that thiacremonone inhibited activation of NF-${\kappa}B$ in cancer cells and marcrophages. In the present study, we investigated whether thiacremonone could increase susceptibility of prostate cancer cells (PC-3 and DU145) to docetaxel via inactivation of NF-${\kappa}B$. We found that the combination treatment of thiacremonone (50 ${\mu}g$/ml) with docetaxel (5 nM) was more effective in the inhibition of prostate cancer cell growth and induction of apoptosis accompanied with the significant inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activity than those by the treatment of thiacremonone or docetaxel alone. It was also found that NF-${\kappa}B$ target gene expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9 was much more significantly enhanced, but the expression of Bcl-2 was also much more significantly inhibited by the combination treatment. These results indicate that thiacremonone inhibits NF-${\kappa}B$, and enhances the susceptibility of prostate cancer cells to docetaxel. Thus, thiacremonone could be useful as an adjuvant anti-cancer agent.