• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

Cornus walteri Wanger has been used in folk medicine in Korea. Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation has been known as a major cause of photo damage in skin. In the present study, research on how to cure damaged cells by UVB was conducted using an extract of Cornus walteri Wanger leaves (CWE), which was treated with an enzyme. CWE was applied to human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) affected by UVB. UVB-irradiated HS68 cells showed increased caspase-3 activity, phosphorylation of p53, ${\gamma}H2AX$, cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) formation, and DNA fragmentation compared with non-irradiated cells. However, all these effects were inhibited by treatment with CWE for 12 h after UVB irradiation. Furthermore, CWE has proved not to cause primary skin irritation through the human patch test. Collectively, these results suggest that CWE could be a new potential candidate as photoprotective agent against UVB-induced cellular damage in HDFs.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.51-58
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• 2006

The promoting effect of hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$) against the cytotoxicity of 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ($MPP^+$) in differentiated PC12 cells was assessed by measuring the effect on the mitochondrial membrane permeability. Treatment of PC12 cells with $MPP^+$ resulted in the nuclear damage, decrease in the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, cytosolic accumulation of cytochrome c, activation of caspase-3, increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and depletion of GSH. Addition of $H_2O_2$ enhanced the $MPP^+-induced$ nuclear damage and cell death. Catalase, Carboxy-PTIO, Mn-TBAP, N-acetylcysteine, cyclosporin A and trifluoperazine inhibited the cytotoxic effect of $MPP^+$ in the presence of $H_2O_2$. Addition of $H_2O_2$ promoted the change in the mitochondrial membrane permeability, ROS formation and decrease in GSH contents due to $MPP^+$ in PC12 cells. The results show that the $H_2O_2$ treatment promotes the cytotoxicity of $MPP^+$ against PC12 cells. $H_2O_2$ may enhance the $MPP^+$-induced viability loss in PC12 cells by promoting the mitochondrial membrane permeability change, release of cytochrome c and subsequent activation of caspase-3, which is associated with the increased formation of ROS and depletion of GSH. The findings suggest that $H_2O_2$ as a promoting agent for the formation of mitochondrial permeability transition may enhance the neuronal cell injury caused by neurotoxins.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.8 s.88
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• pp.1121-1128
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• 2007

The fruits of Zanthoxylum piperitum are known as having various physiology vitality, and the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp is also known as having strong antibiotic activities against various bacteria. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate the effect of physiology vitality when the abstraction ingredient of Z. piperitum was added in soy sauce(Chopi-kanjang) and soybean paste(Chopi-doenjang). For the antibiotic activity against the pathogens of sitotoxism such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahemolyticus, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, the extracts of the Chopi-kanjang was added 1%, 2%, 4% pericarp of Z. piperitum in the manufacturing process of soy source. According to the results, the growth of E. coli 0157:H7 and V. parahemolyticus were respectively inhibited as 70% and 50% by the Chopi-kanjang added 2% of the ingredient. For the antibiotic effects of the aforementioned Chopi-kanjang against Sal. typhimurium and Sta. aureus, the growth of those pathogens was also inhibited between 40% and 60% according to the manufacturing period of Chopi-kanjang. It was confirmed that the antibiotic activity using the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and Chopi-doenjang was lower than those of Chopi-kanjang. In order to estimate the anticancer activity using by caspase-3 activity, the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and Chopi-kanjang was treated to leukemia cells. According to the results, the activities of caspase-3 using the mixture added 1%, 2% and 4% of the abstraction ingredient were respectively increased as much as 4, 12, 15 times comparing with the control which was treated with the soy source only. It could be that the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and soy source induced apoptosis, and the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and soybean paste had no effect on the activity of caspase-3. In order to find out the death of the aforementioned cells caused by necrosis or apoptosis, DNA fragmentation in the cell was examined. U-937 cells showed apoptotic DNA fragmentation in the incubation with Chopi-kanjang extract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1431-1437
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• 2016

Sorghum bicolor L. is one of the important minor cereals in Asia, Africa, and the central United States, and it is considered a rich source of polyphenols, flavonoids, and dietary fiber. However, there is a lack of data on the anti-cancer activity of Sorghum in prostate cancer cells and immune activity in macrophages. This study aims to investigate the potential effects of an ethanol extract of S. bicolor L. (SE) on inducing apoptosis in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells and immunomodulatory activity in RAW 264.7 cells. SE significantly inhibited the viability of RC-58T/h/SA#4 primary prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. The morphology of RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells treated with SE was shrunken and involved the formation of an apoptotic body and nuclear condensation. In addition, SE markedly activated caspase-8, -9, and -3; increased the protein levels of Bax, p53, cleaved PARP, and cytosolic cytochrome c; and decreased Bcl-2 protein expression. Furthermore, the inhibition of caspases in RC-58T/h/SA#4 cells with z-VAD-fmk attenuated SE-induced cell growth inhibition. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was also elevated by SE treatment, as revealed by immune response parameters. These results suggest that SE inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in primary human prostate cancer cells in a caspase-dependent manner, and it modulates the immune functions in macrophages. Therefore, Sorghum bicolor L. may be used as a functional food to prevent prostate cancer and enhance immune activity.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.343-348
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• 2008

In this study, antioxidant activity of methanol extract of Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch (GUE) against $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs and cell death in PC12 cells was determined. The effect of GUE on $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytcs was evaluated by the comet assay, where GUE ($1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$) was a dose dependent inhibitor of DNA damage induced by $H_2O_2$. The protective effect of GUE against $H_2O_2$-induced damage on PC12 cells was investigated by MTT reduction assay and lactate dehydrogenase release assay. A marked reduction in cell survival induced by $H_2O_2$ was significantly prevented by $1-50\;{\mu}g/mL$ of GUE. The enzyme activity of caspase-3 was elevated in $H_2O_2$-treated PC12 cells, while preincubation with GUE for 30 min inhibited $H_2O_2$-induced caspase-3 activation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, GUE ameliorates $H_2O_2$-induced DNA damage in human leucocytes and has neuroprotective effect by preventing cell death in PC12 cell, suggesting that GU may be a potential candidate for novel therapeutic agents for neuronal diseases associated with oxidative stress.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.77-83
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• 2012

Objectives : This work was designed to investigate the effect of The root of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJN) water extract on serum deprivation reperfusion-induced apoptosis in PC-12 cells and transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO)-induced ischemic brains of rats. Methods : Apoptosis in PC12 cells was induced by serum deprivation and reperfusion. The cells were treated with AJN water extract at doses of 0.5 and 1.0 mg/ml for 24 hr after inducing the apoptosis. Cell viability was determined by WST-1 assay. The expression of caspase-3 protein was determined by Western blot. Ischemic brains were prepared from tMCAO-induced ischemic rats after oral administration with AJN at dose of 50 and 100 mg/kg, and then brain infarction was measured by TTC staining. Results : AJN significantly increased the cell viability in apoptocic-induced PC-12 cells, and also decreased the expression of caspase-3 protein. Furthermore, the administration of AJN significantly inhibited tMCAO-induced brain infarction in rats. Conclusions : Our results suggest that AJN extract has a neuroprotective property via suppressing the apoptosis in PC12 cells and the infarction of ischemic brains.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.329-335
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• 2006

This study was aimed to investigate the nitric oxide (NO)-induced cytotoxic mechanism in PC12 cells. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, decreased the viability of PC12 cells in dose-and time-dependent manners. SNP enhanced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and gave rise to apoptotic morphological changes including cell shrinkage, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation. Expression of Bax was not affected, whereas Bcl-2 was downregulated in SNP-treated PC12 cells. SNP augmented the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and enhanced caspase -8, -9, and -3 activities. SNP upregulated both Fas and Fas-L, which are known to be components of death receptor assembly. These results suggest that NO induces apoptosis of PC12 cells through both mitochondria-and death receptor-mediated pathways mediated by ROS and Bcl-2 family.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.11
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• pp.5753-5757
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• 2012

Apoptosis, also known as cell suicide or programmed cell death, removes unwanted and genetically damaged cells from the body. Evasion of apoptosis is one of the major characteristic features of rapidly proliferating tumor cells. Chemopreventive agents inhibit or suppress tumor formation through apoptotic induction in target tissues. The aim of the present study was to investigate the pro-apoptotic potential of lupeol during 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene (DMBA) induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. Topical application of 0.5% DMBA three times a week for 14 weeks in the buccal pouches of golden Syrian hamsters resulted in oral squamous cell carcinoma. The expression pattern of apoptotic markers was analyzed using immunohistochemistry (p53, Bcl-2, Bax) and ELISA reader (caspase 3 and 9). In the present study, 100% tumor formation with defects in apoptotic markerexpression pattern was noticed in hamsters treated with DMBA alone. Oral administration of lupeol at a dose of 50mg/kg bw completely prevented the formation oral tumors as well as decreased the expression p53 and Bcl-2, while increasing the expression of Bax and the activities of caspase 3 and 9. The present study thus indicated that lupeol might inhibit DMBA-induced oral tumor formation through its pro-apoptotic potential in golden Syrian hamsters.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.64-72
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• 2000

Objectives : This study was designed to investigate the neuroprotective effect of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) on the apoptosis induced by withdrawal of neurotrophic support. Methods : PCl2 pheochromocytoma cells have been used extensively as a model for studying the cellular and molecular effects of neuronal cells. The viability of cells was measured by MTT assay. We used DNA fragmentation and caspase 3-like protease activation assay. Results : The water extract of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) significantly showed protective effects on serum and glucose deprivation-induced apoptotic death. Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) also prevents DNA fragmentation and caspase 3-like protease activation, representing typical neuronal apoptotic phenomena in PCl2 pheochromocytoma cells and induces tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins around 44 kDa, which was identified as ERK1 with electrophoretic gel mobility shift by Western blot. In addition, MAPK kinase(MEK) inhibitor PD98059 and Ras inactivator, ${\alpha}-hydroxyfarnesylphosphonic$ acid attenuated the neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) in serum-deprived PCl2 cells. Conclusions : These results indicate that Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway plays a key role in neuroprotective effects of Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) in serum-deprived PCl2 cells. Taken together, we suggest the possibility that Hwansodan(Huanshao-dan) might provide a neurotrophic-like activity in PCl2 cells.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.13-24
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• 2006

Purpose : 이 연구는 MCF-7 인간 유방암 세포주에 대한 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹) 추출물의 증식억제효과, 세포독성효과, 세포사 유발효과를 확인하기 위하여 이루어졌다. Methods : MCF-7 인간 유방암 세포주는 Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium/F12 (DMEM/F12)에 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS)와 항생제를 가하여 만든 배지를 이용하여 배양하였고 MCF-7 세포를 96-well plate에 접종한 후 다양한 농도 (0 ${\sim}$ 2000 g/ml)의 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹)이 든 배지로 처리한 후 72시간 동안 배양하였고 또한 1000g/ml의 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹)이 든 배지로 처리한 후 48, 96, 192 시간동안 배양하여 각각 MTS assay kit로 세포생존율을 측정하였다. 세포독성은 Sulforhodamine B assay 방법을 이용해 측정하였고 세포사 과정에서 MCF-7 세포에서의 caspase 활성화를 측정하기 위해 Western blotting을 수행하여 poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP)의 절단을 확인하였다. Results : 실험결과 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹) 추출물에 의한 세포성장 및 독성효과는 시간 및 농도에 비례하는 것으로 나타났고 세포고사과정에서 작용하는 caspase의 전기질인 PARP 절단량이 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹) 처리 농도에 비례에 증가하였다. Conclusions : 활락효령단(活絡效靈丹)은 다양한 기전에 의해서 유방암 세포에 대한 억제효과를 가질 수 있는 것으로 인식할 수 있다.