• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.268-276
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-cancer effects of different fractions of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Methods: We isolated hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol fractions from crude ethanol extract of AM. The cell death was examined by MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay. Apoptosis was detected by DAPI staining, annexin V-PI double staining and cell cycle analysis. The expression of apoptosis-related proteins and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was examined by western blot. Results: Among various fractions of AM, the ethyl acetate fraction of AM (EAM) showed the strongest cytotoxic effect in NSCLC cells. EAM reduced the cell proliferation in a time- and dose-dependent manner in NSCLC cells. In addition, EAM induced the chromatin condensation, and increased the population of sub-G1 phase and annexin V-positive cells in a time-dependent manner, indicating that EAM induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells. Consistently, EAM enhanced the expression of cleaved caspase-8 and -9, and induced the accumulation of cleaved- poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Among MAPK proteins, only ERK was dephosphorylated by EAM, suggesting that ERK might be related with EAM-induced apoptosis. Conclusion: Our results clearly demonstrate that EAM exhibited anti-cancer effects in NSCLC cells by induction of apoptosis. We provide a valuable evidence which suggests that AM could be a desirable therapeutic option for treatment of NSCLC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.6211-6216
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• 2012

Objective: To investigate the effects of gambogic acid (GA) on the growth of human malignant glioma cells. Methods: U251MG and U87MG human glioma cell lines were treated with GA and growth and proliferation were investigated by MTT and colony formation assays. Cell apoptosis was analyzed by annexin V FITC/PI flow cytometry, mitochondrial membrane potential assays and DAPI nuclear staining. Monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining and GFP-LC3 localisation were used to detect autophagy. Western blotting was used to investigate the molecular changes that occurred in the course of GA treatment. Results: GA treatment significantly suppressed cell proliferation and colony formation, induced apoptosis in U251 and U87MG glioblastoma cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. GA treatment also lead to the accumulation of monodansylcadaverine (MDC) in autophagic vacuoles, upregulated expressions of Atg5, Beclin 1 and LC3-II, and the increase of punctate fluorescent signals in glioblastoma cells pre-transfected with GFP-tagged LC3 plasmid. After the combination treatment of autophagy inhitors and GA, GA mediated growth inhibition and apoptotic cell death was further potentiated. Conclusion: Our results suggested that autophagic responses play roles as a self-protective mechanism in GA-treated glioblastoma cells, and autophagy inhibition could be a novel adjunctive strategy for enhancing chemotherapeutic effect of GA as an anti-malignant glioma agent.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.109-120
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract on the experimental nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) induced by palmitate. Materials and Methods: To generate a cellular model of NAFLD, we used HepG2 cells, a human hepatoma cell line, treated with 0.5 mM palmitate. By this cellular model, effects of KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract were evaluated. Intracellular lipid accumulation, free radical formation, and apoptosis were detected by Nile red staining, 2',7'-dichloroflourescin diacetate(H2DCF-DA), and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole(DAPI)/propidium iodide(PI) staining, respectively. Some proteins related with NAFLD were determined by western blot. Results: Typical pathological features of NAFLD occurred in the cellular model. Palmitate increased the levels of intracellular lipid vacuoles, decreased cell viability, and increased apoptosis. Palmitate increased free radical formation and lipid peroxidation, too. However, KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract reduced palmitate-induced pathologic features, i.e. steatosis, free radical formation, and apoptosis. In addition, KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract suppressed palmitate-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK) signaling, and SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, significantly reversed the palmitate-induced pathologic changes as KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract. It means that the signaling pathway other than JNK can be involved in the KHchunggan-tang mediated cellular protection of palmitate-treated Hep G2 cells. Conclusions: These results suggest that KHchunggan-tang aqueous extract has hepatoprotective effects on NAFLD with combined properties in cellular steatosis, ROS production, and cytoprotection, and thus may have valuable clinical applications for treatment of this chronic liver disease.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.119-128
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• 2016

Angelica polymorpha Maxim root extract (APRE) is a popular herbal medicine used for treating stomachache, abdominal pain, stomach ulcers, and rheumatism; however the effect of APRE on cancer cells has not yet been explored. Here, we examined APRE cytotoxicity seen on target neuroblastoma cells (NB) using cell viability assays, DAPI visualization of fragmented DNA, and Western blotting analysis of candidate signaling pathways involved in proliferation and apoptosis. We demonstrated that APRE reduced cell viability in NB to a greater extent than in fibroblast cells. In addition, we found that APRE could inhibit the three classes of MAPK proteins and could also down-regulate the PI3K/AKT/GSK-$3{\beta}$ activity all being relevant for proliferation and survival. APRE could also up-regulate Bax expression and down-regulate Bcl-2 and Mcl-1. With APRE treatment, depolarization of mitochondria membrane potential and activation of caspase-3 was demonstrated in the SH-SY5Y cells. We could not found increased activity of death receptor and caspase-8 as markers of the extrinsic apoptosis pathway for the APRE treated cells. In presence of a caspase-3 siRNA and a pan-caspase inhibitor, APRE could not reduce the viability of NB cells to a significant degree. So we predicted that with APRE, the intrinsic pathway was solely responsible for inducing apoptosis as we also showed that the non-caspase autophagy pathway or ER stress-ROS mediated pathways were not involved. These findings demonstrate that an intrinsic mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway mediates the apoptotic effects of APRE on SH-SY5Y cells, and that APRE shows promise as a novel agent for neuroblastoma therapy.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.26-37
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• 2010

Purpose: This experiment is designed to find out anti-oxidant effects of Samultang-Gami which was composed of Rehmanniae Radix(RR), Angelicae Gigantis Radix, Cnidii Rhizoma(CR), Paeoniae Radix(PR), Cortex Moutan Radicis, Hedyotis Diffusa(HD) and Caesalpinia Sappan on MEF cells. Methods: In vitro antioxidant effects were measured by MTT assay, DPPH assay, cell cycle analysis, AnnexinV-FITC/PI assay and DAPI staining using MEF cells treated with various concentrations of 70% ethanol extract of Samultang-Gami. Results: 1. In the scavenging for DPPH radical, the each treated groups of PR, CR and HD showed positive effects. RR and CR increased the viability of oxidative damaged MEF cells in a dose-dependent manner. 2. 70% ethanol extract of Samultang-Gami was shown best antioxidative effect in the concentration of $0.5mg/m{\ell}$. 3. The treatment of Samultang-Gami in oxidative damaged MEF cells didn't have any effect on cell cycle restoration. but it could lower late apoptosis rate a little and be observed the protection of nucleus. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Samultang-Gami, RR and CR have antioxidant effects on MEF cells.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.125-139
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• 2009

Purpose: This experiment was designed to find out increasing effects of S. barbata. co-treatment with anti-cancer drugs at cancer cell's growth inhibition effect. Methods: Divergent observational study of the S. barbata. co-treatment with Cisplatin treatment on HeLa cell. Cell viability using MTT assay, Cell Culture and Cytotoxicity Studies, Cell Cycle Analysis, Annexin V-FITC/PI assay, Cell morphological assessment, PARP cleavage using Western blotting analysis when HeLa cell were co-treated with Cisplatin and Scutellaria Barbata extracts. Results: When HeLa cell were co-treated with Cisplatin and Scutellaria Barbata extracts, we found out viability of HeLa cell, changing in the distribution of cell cycle, Annexin V-FITC staining, DAPI staining, PARP clavage protein assay by Western-blot. So Scutellaria Barbata extracts have increased apoptosis Conclusion: When co-treated Scutellaria Barbata extracts with anti-cancer drugs, the anti-cancer effects were increased. We still not sure which constituent apoptosis at cancer cells and activates anti-cancer effects suppressing, but we believe that it'll be revealed here after with following experiments.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.827-833
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• 2021

Dendropanax morbiferus leaves (DPL) has been used as a medicine since ancient times in various diseases such as inflammation, diabetes, and cancer. In particular, it has been found to have anticancer effects on several types of cancer cells, but the anticancer effect on breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 has not yet been revealed. Therefore, in this study, DPL caused proliferation inhibition in breast cancer cells SK-BR-3 and the anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis was confirmed, through an in vitro experiment. In order to examine the effect of DPL on cell viability, MTT assay was performed to confirm a significant decrease in the concentration of cell viability. DAPI staining was performed to examine the effect of DPL on cellular morphological changes and increase of apoptotic bodies. To supplement this, an increase in the apoptosis rate was also confirmed through flow cytometry after staining with annexin V/PI. Western blot was performed to confirm apoptosis-related proteins. DPL increased the expression of Cleaved-PARP, Bax whereas decreased the expression of Bcl-2. Changes in the expression levels of MAPK pathway proteins p-ERK1/2, p-JNK, and p-p38 were also confirmed, and a significant increase in p-p38 was observed. These results indicated that DPL induced apoptosis, through p-p38 MAPK signal pathway in SK-BR-3 breast cancer cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1042-1048
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• 2008

Prostate cancer is the most predominant cancer in men and related death rate increases every year. Till date, there is no effective therapy for androgen independent prostate cancer. To investigate the mechanism for cell growth inhibition or apoptosis in human androgen independent prostate cancer PC-3 cells after gamma irradiation. The aim of this study was to examine the potential of gamma irradiation to induce apoptosis in PC-3 cells and to assess the mechanism of gamma irradiation-induced apoptosis. Five different assays were employed in this study: cell proliferation assay, morphological assessments of apoptotic cells, DNA fragmentation analysis, quantification of apoptosis by annexin V (AV) and propidium iodide (PI) staning, and western blot analysis. Cell viability was inversely related to radiation dose. DAPI-positive cells were detected 48 hr after 40 Gy radiation exposure. And nuclear morphological changes of cells were observed by gamma irradiation. DNA ladder patterns in the cells exposed to gamma-radiation were appeared at 24 hr. Also, gamma irradiation induces apoptosis of PC-3 cells via Caspase3, Bax and PARP-dependent fashion.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2011

Red ginseng is one of the most popular traditional medicines in Korea. In this study, we developed a new technique in which ethanol extract of $\underline{r}$ed $\underline{g}$inseng (HRG) was exposed to the $Co^{60}$ gamma radiation ranging from 1~5 kGy. The irradiated HRG (IHRG) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine any compositional changes of ginsenosides due to irradiation. No appreciable difference was observed in the HPLC pattern of ginsenosides of HRG. Using MTT assay, the cytotoxicity effect was significantly increased by IHRG compared to HRG. The $LD_{50}$ concentration was $30{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-1 (1 kGy), and $15{\mu}g/mL$ for IHRG-5 (5 kGy). The evidences of apoptosis, such as nuclei cleavage and Annexin V staining, were observed in the human prostate cancer PC-3 cells treated with the IHRG. Additionally, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was apparently elevated by IHRG. We also studied the inhibitory effect of IHRG on the growth rate of tumor xenografts in BALB/c male mice. The tumor growth rates were inhibited by 56.9 and 76.1% in mice treated with 10 mg/kg of IHRG-1 and IHRG-5, respectively, compared with control group (21.1%). These results suggest that some biologically active and soluble components in HRG can be more effectively enhancement of anti-tumor effects using irradiation.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.272-283
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• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanism of protective effect of Jinmu-tang (JMT, Zhenwu-tang) extract on $H_2O_2$-induced cell death in C6 glial cells. Methods : Cultured C6 glial cells of white mice were pretreated with JMT extract and exposed to $H_2O_2$ for inducing cell death. We measure the cell viability by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and investigate the cell morphology using a light microscope after crystal violet (CV) staining. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation was analyzed using a flow cytometer and a fluorescent microscope after staining with 2'7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA). DNA fragmentation was analyzed using a flow cytometer after propidium iodide (PI) staining and nuclei morphology was investigated using a fluorescent microscope after 2-[4-amidinophenyl]-6-indo-lecarbamidine dihydrochloride (DAPI) staining. We analyzed expression of Bax, processing of procaspase-3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and activation of nuclear factor-${\kappa}B$ (NF-${\kappa}B$) by western blot method. Tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) secretion was analyzed using Quantikine kit. Results : We determined the elevated cell viability by JMT extract on $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cell death. ROS formation, DNA fragmentation, $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation, NF-${\kappa}B$ activation, and secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ induced by $H_2O_2$ are inhibited by JMT extract pre-treatment. JMT extract inhibits Bax expression, processing of caspase-3 and PARP that are critical biochemical markers of apoptotic cell death. Conclusions : These results suggest that JMT extract has a protective effect on $H_2O_2$-induced C6 glial cell death in various pathways.