• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.356-361
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• 2012

Caffeine is a xanthine alkaloid derivative found in many foods and beverages. Dietary caffeine may interact with commonly-consumed over-the-counter (OTC) drugs in body. In this study, cytotoxic effects on the intestinal cells by combined treatment of caffeine with several OTC drugs, including ibuprofen, aspirin, and acetaminophen. Cytotoxic effect of caffeine was more potent in normal intestinal INT 407 cells than in colon cancer HCT 116 cells. Relative toxicity of caffeine and the OTC drugs was significantly enhanced in INT 407 cells when treated together. Intracellular thiol levels of the cells treated with the OTC drugs increased in the presence of caffeine. When HCT 116 cells were incubated with each OTC drug after or before caffeine treatment, the relative cytotoxicity of the OTC drugs increased. The present study may provide basic information about possible health effects through the interactions between caffeine and OTC drugs in the intestinal cells.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.392-402
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• 2017

Background: Previously, we reported that Korean Red Ginseng inhibited liver fibrosis in mice and reduced the expressions of fibrogenic genes in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). The present study was undertaken to identify the major ginsenoside responsible for reducing the numbers of HSCs and the underlying mechanism involved. Methods: Using LX-2 cells (a human immortalized HSC line) and primary activated HSCs, MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide) assays were conducted to examine the cytotoxic effects of ginsenosides. $H_2O_2$ productions, glutathione contents, lactate dehydrogenase activities, mitochondrial membrane permeabilities, apoptotic cell subpopulations, caspase-3/-7 activities, transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining, and immunoblot analysis were performed to elucidate the molecular mechanism responsible for ginsenoside-mediated cytotoxicity. Involvement of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-related signaling pathway was examined using a chemical inhibitor and small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Results and conclusion: Of the 11 ginsenosides tested, 20S-protopanaxadiol (PPD) showed the most potent cytotoxic activity in both LX-2 cells and primary activated HSCs. Oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis induced by 20S-PPD was blocked by N-acetyl-$\text\tiny L$-cysteine pretreatment. In addition, 20S-PPD concentration-dependently increased the phosphorylation of AMPK, and compound C prevented 20S-PPD-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, 20S-PPD increased the phosphorylation of liver kinase B1 (LKB1), an upstream kinase of AMPK. Likewise, transfection of LX-2 cells with LKB1 siRNA reduced the cytotoxic effect of 20S-PPD. Thus, 20S-PPD appears to induce HSC apoptosis by activating LKB1-AMPK and to be a therapeutic candidate for the prevention or treatment of liver fibrosis.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.117-121
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• 2012

Biological activities of the hot water and ethanol extracts from Opuntia humifusa cladodes were investigated. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hadrazyl (DPPH) electron donating ability of hot water and ethanol extracts was 79.07 and 82.54%, respectively. Hot water extract generally showed better cytotoxic activity than ethanol extract against each cell line. HeLa and AGS cell lines treated with hot water extract had more than 50% cytotoxic activities. Based on the antimicrobial activities against four microbial strains, both extracts inhibited growth of Staphylococcus aureus KCCM 11593, whereas affected cell growth of three other microorganisms, Escherichia coli (KCCM 11234), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC 11862), in proportion to the concentration of extracts. The inflammatory activities against hot water extract (34.31%) showed higher than that of ethanol extract (25.59%). The effect of extracts on 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differentiation showed that differentiation of treated group with 80 and 100 ${\mu}g/mL$ of hot and ethanol extracts were increased more than treated group with isobutyl methyl xanthine (IBMX) + dexamethasone. These results indicate that the O. humifusa cladodes extracts can be used as a functional material due to their effective biological activities.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.22-25
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• 2000

Formation of glutathione (GSH) conjugates with 2- or 6-(1-hydroxymethyl)- and 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-DMNQ derivatives (DMNQ, 5,8-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquone was carried out in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4), in the presence of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), in rat liver S-9 fraction and by perfusion, and the rates of conjugates formation were compared and correlated to cytotoxicity. The GSH conjugates of 6-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-DMNQ derivatives were formed faster than 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-DMNQ derivatives under all of the media, implying that steric hindrance was the cause of lowering the rate of conjugate formation of 2-substituted derivatives. For both isomers, addition of GST did not improve the reaction rate, compared with that in buffer, while the reaction in the S-9 fraction and the perfusate was accelerated to a great extent. The catalytic effect of the S-9 fraction and the perfusate contain an effective system relaxing the steric hindrance of 2-(1-hydroxyalkyl)-DMNQ derivatives. Furthermore, a good correlation between the formation of the GSH conjugates and the cytotoxic activity of both naphthazarin isomers suggests that the steric hindrance is a cause of lowering the cytotoxicity of 2-isomers.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.166-177
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• 2018

Plant essential oils are defined as fragrant volatile oils extracted from leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, and roots of a plant. Such oils are composed of multiple components and multiple functions. By accumulation of inductive information, various plant essential oils have been studied for using in therapeutic medicine for various diseases. Despite of the apparent advantages of essential oils as a source of therapeutic medicines, plant essential oils have many limitations, including cytotoxic side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicity and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of such oils. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity to human-derived cell lines of 10 plant essential oils provided by National Institute of Forest Science (i.e., Larix kaempferi; Abies holophylla; Zanthoxylum ailanthoides; Pinus parviflora; Tsuga sieboldti; Chamaecyparis pisifera; Cryptomeria japonica; Pinus densiflora; Illicium anisatum; Pinus thunbergii). Cytotoxicity evaluations were accomplished by using CCK-assays and PCR-based cytotoxicity-related marker gene analyses with A549 cell line, and the Detroit551 cell line which are lung and skin cell line. The genes were analyzed included caspase-3 has a role in cell apoptosis, and the other cyclinA, cyclinB, cyclinD, and cyclinE regulated cell cycling for the cell proliferation. By examining the five cytotoxicity-related marker genes by performing real-time PCR and examined the cytostatic gene regulation associated with the various essential oils. The results of this study showed that the degree of cytotoxicity and the cytostatic gene regulation which could give precious information for using the plant essential oil for the clinical usages.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.145-158
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• 1993

The oral microbiota such as P. gingivalis, P. intermedia and A. actinomycetemcomitans play a primary role in the initiation and progression of the periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effects and inhibitory effects of honokiol and magnolol on the bacterial collagenase activity, cytotoxicity and cytokine production of periodontopathic microorganisms. The antimicrobial activities of honokiol and magnolol was evaluted with minimum inhibition concentration. Honokiol was more active than magnolol, but less than chlorhexidine on antimicrobial activity. The inhibitory effects of magnolol and honokiol on the collagenolytic activity and cytotoxicity were evaluated using a Collagenokit CLN-100 and rapid colorimetric assay (MTT method) for cellular growth and survival of gingival fibroblast and periodontalligament cell and $[^3H]-thymidine$ incorporation for the gingival epithelial cell. The inhibitory effects on the collagenolytic activity was the highest in chlorhexidine, and the lowest in magnolol. Magnolol had the lowest cytotoxic effect and chlorhexidine had the highest. The inhibitory effects on cytokine production was evaluated using $interleukin-1{\beta}$ ELISA kit (Cistron Biotech.), IL-6, $TNF-{\alpha}$ ELISA kit (Genzyme) and inhibitory effects were higher than bacterial LPS and there is no difference among the honokiol, magnolol and chlorhexidine. From these results, the antimicrobial and antienzymatic activities of honokiol and magnolol were seemed to inhibit bacterial growth and enzyme activities with lesser cytotoxic activities. Therefore, it was suggested that honokiol and magnolol are very effective antimicrobial agents on periodontal pathogens.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.995-1000
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• 2004

This study was purposed to investigate the effect of Gamgung-tang(GGT) on immune responses induced by glucocorticoid in mice. GGT solution was treated by intraperitoneal injection for 7 days after glucocorticoid treatment(80㎎/㎏). And then B and T cell proliferation and cytolytic activity of natural killer(NK) cells were measured. There was 25% inhibition in B cell proliferation with treatment of glucocorticoid. However, B cell proliferation was not influenced by GGT treatment. T cell proliferation was also inhibited by 18.4% with treatment of glucocorticoid. On the other hand, T cell proliferation was increased dose-dependent manner in GGT treated group. Furthermore in purified T cell, the proliferation was furtherly increased than non-purified T cell. At concentration of 18㎎/mouse GGT, purified T cell proliferation was increase to above level of normal group. The cytotoxic activity of NK cell was decreased by 35.3% with treatment of glucocorticoid. In GGT treated group, the cytotoxic activity of NK cell was increased to the normal level. In purified NK cell, the cytolytic activity of NK cell was further increased than non-purifed NK cell. These results suggest that GGT may proliferate T cell that is suppressed by glucocorticoid, and activate NK cell activity.

• The Journal of Pediatrics of Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.221-246
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• 2004

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Kamikwiryongtang (KKT) on the immune response and growth in a young mouse (3 weeks mice). Methods The viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo and in vitro system, the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T-lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes, the production of ${\gamma}$ -interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes was investigated. KKT (500mg/kg) was administerd p.o. once a day for 7 days. Results: KKT increased the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes in vivo, but did not affect the viability of thymocytes and enhanced the viability of splenocytes in vitro system. In addition, KKT did not affect the population of helper T (Th) cells and cytotoxic T (Tc) cells in thymocytes and increased the population of T -lymphocytes and the population of Th cells in splenocytes. Also, KKT increased the production of ${\gamma}$-interferon, interleukin-2 and interleukin-4 in splenocytes. Furthermore, KKT increased the production of nitric oxide in vivo, but did not affect the production of nitric oxide in vitro system. KKT enhanced the phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in vivo, but decreased the phagocytic activity in vitro system: KKT increased the body weight of a young mouse. Conclusions: KKT stimulates the specific immune response via increase of, the viability of thymocytes and splenocytes and the non-specific immune response via increase of phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and stimulates the growth of a young mouse.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.295-299
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• 2008

The antioxidant activities, anti-inflammatory activity and cytotoxic effects of methanol extract from Euphorbia humifusa were evaluated in this study. Total phenolic compound contents were $68.35{\pm}0.16$ mg/g and total flavonoid compound contents were estimated as $38.74{\pm}1.26$ mg/g. EC50 values for DPPH radical scavenging activity of methanol extract was $56.26{\pm}0.66{\mu}g/mL$ and those of positive controls as ascorbic acid, ${\alpha}$-tocopherol and BHA were $8.38{\pm}0.14{\mu}g/mL$, $16.45{\pm}0.89{\mu}g/mL$ and $21.18{\pm}1.01{\mu}g/mL$ respectively. NO scavenging activity increased in depending on concentration of extract. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with extract caused inhibition of LPS-induced nitric oxide production. The cell viability showed that the methanol extract had cytotoxicity in the growth of breast cancer cell ($66.54{\pm}1.91%$ at $400{\mu}g/mL$ conc., $43.98{\pm}3.35%$ at $800{\mu}g/mL$ conc.). Based on the results, It was suggested that the methanol extract of Euphorbia humifusa has a potential candidate for functional cosmetic and medicine.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.43-56
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• 1996

The sprig of Sojekbojungwhan(消積保中丸) has been used for curing as a traditional medicine without any experimental evidence to support the rational basis for their clinical use. This experiment was carried out to evaluate the possible therapeutic or antitumoral effects of Sojekbojungwhan extract against cancer, and to study some mechanisms responsible for its effect. The cytotoxic and antitumor effects were evaluated on human cell lines(A549, hep3B, Caki-1, Sarcoma 180) after esposure to Sojekbojungwhan extract using in ILS, colony forming efficiency and SRB assay which were regarded as a valuable method for cytotoxic and antitumor effects of unknown compound on tumor cell lines. The results obtained in this studies were as follows. 1. As a result of exposure to Sojekbojungwhan extract, the proliferation of A549, hep3B, Caki-1, good correlations were shown from the results of SRB assay and those of clogenetic assay. 2. The oral administration of Sojekbojungwhan extact showed significant effects of increase of MST(mean survival time) and ILS(increased life span) depending on the increasing concentration. 3. Against squamous cell carcinoma induced by MCA, Sojekbojungwhan decreased not only the frequency of tumor production but also the number and weight of tumors per tumor bearing mice(TBM). Sojekbojungwhan also significantly suppressed the development of 3LL cell-implanted tumors by frequency and their size, and some developed tumors were regressed by the continuous treatment of Sojekbojungwhan extract into TBM. 4. Sojekbojungwhan extract also increased NK cell activities. According to the above results, it could be suggested that Sojekbojungwhan extract has some antitumor effects.