• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.55 no.3
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• pp.400-404
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• 2011

Safflower is called as the 'beneficial flower' because 'it helps human health', and it was introduced as red flower in Tonguibogam due to the red color of floral leaf. From old times, it has been used for the material of cloth and rouge. Recently, polyphenol compound, the main ingredient of safflower, known as anti-aging and anti-oxidizing material in the healthy food industry becomes the emerging hot topic. This study aims to confirm by DDT (Disk Diffusion Test) assay, MTT assay, and NF-${\kappa}$B Luciferase activity inhibition assay in vitro that polyphenol compound, which is the main ingredient of safflower, has the anti-microbial efficacy to inhibit the growth of acne germs that make troubles for the teenagers or middle aged. Also it aims to evaluate its clinical efficacy on the acne skin, utilizing the facial cleansing cosmetic form of soap sample. This study can contribute to take a major step forward to the development of cosmetic soap for acne in the cosmeceutical industry.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7155-7159
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• 2015

Background: Oral cancer is a health problem in Thailand. Cratoxylum formosum subsp. pruniflorum Gogel (Teawdang), normally consumed in northeast Thailand, has proven cytotoxic to cervical cancer cell lines including HeLa, SiHa and C-33A. Recently, Asian oral cancer cell lines, ORL-48 and ORL-136, were established. Therefore, we aimed to study cytotoxicity of Teawdang in these. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of Teawdang were also determined. Materials and Methods: Teawdang was purchased from Khon Kaen market during June-October 2013. Hexane (CHE), ethyl acetate (CEE) and methanol (CME) extracts of its edible part were analyzed for TPC by the folin-ciocalteau method and for TFC by an aluminium colorimetric method. Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity in normal Vero cells and oral cancer cells were investigated. Cell viability was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Results: CME and CEE had higher TPC and TFC and antioxidant activity than CHE. Both CME and CEE, at $200{\mu}g$ dry wt/mL, were cytotoxic to the studied oral cancer cell lines. However, CME was cytotoxic to Vero cells whereas CEE was not. Compared to Vero cells, CEE significantly inhibited ORL-48 and ORL-136 growth (p=0.03 and p=0.02, respectively). Conclusions: CEE exhibited cytotoxic effects on the studied oral cancer cell lines but not normal Vero cells. The bioactive compounds in CEE should be further purified and elucidated for their mechanisms of action for development as anticancer agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.255-260
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• 2012

Patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who have activating epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations derive clinical benefit from treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors ((EGFR-TKIs)-namely gefitinib and erlotinib. However, these patients eventually develop resistance to EGFR-TKIs. Despite the fact that this acquired resistance may be the result of a secondary mutation in the EGFR gene, such as T790M or amplification of the MET proto-oncogene, there are other mechanisms which need to be explored. MicroRNAs (miRs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that play pivotal roles in tumorigenesis, tumor progression and chemo-resistance. In this study, we firstly successfully established a gefitinib resistant cell line-HCC827/GR, by exposing normal HCC827 cells (an NSCLC cell line with a 746E-750A in-frame deletion of EGFR gene) to increasing concentrations of gefitinib. Then, we found that miR-214 was significantly up-regulated in HCC827/GR. We also showed that miR-214 and PTEN were inversely expressed in HCC827/GR. Knockdown of miR-214 altered the expression of PTEN and p-AKT and re-sensitized HCC827/GR to gefitinib. Taken together, miR-214 may regulate the acquired resistance to gefitinib in HCC827 via PTEN/AKT signaling pathway. Suppression of miR-214 may thus reverse the acquired resistance to EGFR-TKIs therapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.19
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• pp.8041-8046
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• 2014

In-depth analysis of how TRAIL signals through death receptors to induce apoptosis in cancer cells using high throughput technologies has added new layers of knowledge. However, the wealth of information has also highlighted the fact that TRAIL induced apoptosis may be impaired as evidenced by experimental findings obtained from TRAIL resistant cancer cell lines. Overwhelmingly, increasing understanding of TRAIL mediated apoptosis has helped in identifying synthetic and natural compounds which can restore TRAIL induced apoptosis via functionalization of either extrinsic or intrinsic pathways. Increasingly it is being realized that biologically active phytochemicals modulate TRAIL induced apoptosis, as evidenced by cell-based studies. In this review we have attempted to provide an overview of how different phytonutrients have shown efficacy in restoring apoptosis in TRAIL resistant cancer cells. We partition this review into how the TRAIL mediated signaling landscape has broadened over the years and how TRAIL induced signaling machinery crosstalks with autophagic protein networks. Subsequently, we provide a generalized view of considerable biological activity of coumarins against a wide range of cancer cell lines and how coumarins (psoralidin and esculetin) isolated from natural sources have improved TRAIL induced apoptosis in resistant cancer cells. We summarize recent updates on piperlongumine, phenethyl isothiocyanate and luteolin induced activation of TRAIL mediated apoptosis. The data obtained from pre-clinical studies will be helpful in translation of information from benchtop to the bedside.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 2017

Acanthopanax divaricatus (Siebold & Zucc.) Seem. var. albeofructus (ADA), a traditional medical herb, has been used to treat arthritis and muscular injury, to strengthen muscle and bone, and to get vital energy. However, information regarding its toxicity is limited. ADA was administered by oral gavage to groups of rats at doses of 0 (control), 1,000, 1,500, 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg five times per week for 13 weeks. Mortality, clinical signs, body weights, food consumption, hematology, serum chemistry, urinalysis, organ weights, necropsy, histopathological finding, vaginal cytology, and sperm morphology were compared between control and ADA-treated groups. Salivation was intermittently observed in both sexes receiving 2,500 and 3,000 mg/kg directly after dosing. Absolute liver weights increased in females receiving 2,000, 2,500, and 3,000 mg/kg ADA (P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01, respectively) and so did the relative liver weights (P < 0.001). Salivation and increased liver weight were ADA-related changes but not considered to be adverse effects. Salivation was intermittent and transient, and the liver weight increase was minor and not accompanied by other changes such as hepatic morphological or functional alterations. The no-observed-adverse-effect-level was determined to be at least 3,000 mg/kg in both sexes of rats.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.58-63
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• 2005

To assess clastogenic effects of the wild ginseng culture extract (WGCE) in vivo micronucleus test was performed using 7 weeks old ICR mice. At 24 hours after 2nd treatment with wild ginseng culture extract at the doses of 0, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 mg/kg/day by peritoneal route mice were sacrified and marrow cells were prepared for smear slides. As a result of counting the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocyte (MNPCE) of 2,000 polychromatic erythrocyte(PCE), all treatment groups did not show statistically significant increase than negative control group. And there was no clinical sign connected with injection of wild ginseng culture extract. It was concluded that wild ginseng culture extract did not induce micronucleus in the marrow cells of ICR mice.

• Journal of Marine Bioscience and Biotechnology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.20-28
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• 2020

Symbiodinium is a dinoflagellate genus that coexists with coral reefs and is known to provide ultraviolet (UV) protection in nature through the synthesis of mycosporin-like amino acids (MAA). In order to develop a natural and ecofriendly sunblock for use in summer resorts, the possibility of using a Symbiodinium microbiome extract or an MAA was investigated. Two sunblocks, one containing 7% Symbiodinium extract and the other containing MAA were prepared to be tested on hairless mice and human skin. In this clinical study, the sun protection factor (SPF) and Protection factor of UV A (PFA) values of the sunblock containing either Symbiodinium extract or MAA were determined. The SPF values of the sunblock containing Symbiodinium extract and MAA were 10.43 and 10.83, respectively, and the PFA values were 3.42 and 3.39, respectively. Based on their PFA values of ≥2, the UV A protection can be graded as PA+ (low) for both the sunblocks. In addition, the UV-blocking extract of Symbiodinium has a low phototoxicity and cytotoxicity, reducing the possibility of a heavy feeling to the skin or a foreign-body sensation caused by residue build-up. The low toxicity feature of the major sunblock component will also prevent side effects, such as allergic reactions. Although Symbiodinium extract or MAA alone do not provide effectiveprotection against UV irradiation, their protection capacity can be complemented by the addition of inorganic UV-protecting compounds.

• Mass Spectrometry Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.21-24
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• 2012

$5{\alpha}$-Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is the primary active metabolite of testosterone, catalyzed by $5{\alpha}$-reductase ($5{\alpha}R$) in the skin, prostate, and liver. In this study, the $5{\alpha}R$ activity in rat liver S9 fraction in the presence of a NADPH-generating system was evaluated and compared by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based in vitro assays. Testosterone and a $5{\alpha}R$ inhibitor, finasteride, were added to the S9 fractions and incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 h. Both testosterone and DHT were quantitatively measured and compared with two different GC-MS-based steroid profiling techniques. DHT was not detected by conventional GC-MS analysis in the absence of finasteride when the concentration of testosterone in the S9 fraction was less than $0.2{\mu}M$, whereas the isotope-dilution GC-MS (GC-IDMS) system was able to evaluate the $5{\alpha}R$ activity. Because the S9 fraction contains more reactive enzymes and is easier to collect from tissues compared with a microsomal solution, the combination of the S9 fraction and GC-IDMS technique may be a promising assay for evaluating the $5{\alpha}R$ activity in large-scale clinical studies.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.119-126
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• 2017

Objectives: Semecarpus anacardium Linn. is a plant well-known for its antimicrobial, antidiabetic and anti-arthritic properties in the Ayurvedic and Siddha system of medicine. This has prompted the screening of this plant for antibacterial activity. The main aims of this study were to isolate compounds from the plant's seeds and to evaluate their antibacterial effects on clinical bacterial test strains. Methods: The n-butanolic concentrate of the seed extract was subjected to thin layer chromatography (TLC) and repeated silica gel column chromatography followed by elution with various solvents. The compound was identified based on observed spectral (IR, $^1H$ NMR, $^{13}C$ NMR and high-resolution mass spectrometry) data. The well diffusion method was employed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of the isolated acyclic isoprenoid compound (final concentration: $5-15{\mu}g/mL$) on four test bacterial strains, namely, Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC 96), Bacillus cereus (MTCC 430), Escherichia coli (MTCC 1689) and Acinetobacter baumannii (MTCC 9829). Results: Extensive spectroscopic studies showed the structure of the isolated compound to be an acyclic isoprenoid ($C_{21}H_{32}O$). Moreover, the isoprenoid showed a remarkable inhibition of bacterial growth at a concentration of $15{\mu}g/mL$ compared to the two other doses tested (5 and $10{\mu}g/mL$) and to tetracycline, a commercially available antibiotic that was used as a reference drug. Conclusion: The isolation of an antimicrobial compound from Semecarpus anacardium seeds validates the use of this plant in the treatment of infections. The isolated compound found to be active in this study could be useful for the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.366-370
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• 2006

Arachnoid cysts are intra-arachnoid collections of cerebrospinal fluid. They may cause neurological deficit through expansion that can compress normal neural tissue and obstruct cerebrospinal fluid flow. Intracranial arachnoid cysts were found in 4 patients aged 10 months to 20 months(mean age 15 months). The presenting symptoms included circling(dog 2,3), seizure(dog 1), progressive weakness(dog 1,2,3), increasing scoliosis(dog 3), worsening spasticity(dog 3), and salivation(dog 3). One patient showed no symptoms from the intracranial arachnoid cyst. There were no significant findings in complete blood count and serum chemistry. Computed tomography(CT) with/without magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) scans were performed in these cases. Hypodense intracranial arachnoid cyst was observed on CT images in dog 4. Sagittal T1-weighted(T1W) and T2-weighted(T2W) images and transverse T1W and T2W images revealed a intracranial arachnoid cysts with syringohydromyelia(dog 3) and hydrocephalus(dog 3,4) in the brain. Clinical signs of three cases were improved by medication.