• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.147-153
• /
• 2007

In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of the fin of Thunnus Thynnus (TT). TT was extracted with methanol (TTM), and then further fractionated into four subfractions by using solvent partition method, affording hexane (TTMH), methanol (TTMM), butanol (TTMB) and aquous (TTMA) soluble fractions. We determined the cytotoxicity of these four fractions in four kind of cancer cell lines, such as HepG2, MCF-7, B16-F10 and HT29 by MTT assay. The TTMM showed the strongest cytotoxic effect at the concentration of 150 ${\mu}g/mL$, displaying 95% on the HepG2 cell lines and 82% on MCF-7 cell line. The morphological changes such as membrane shirinking and blebbing of cells were also observed by TTMM treatment in HT29 cell. In addition, we observed that quinone reductase (QR) activity was elevated by only TTMM and TTMH treatments in HepG2 cell. QR activity was increased to around 2.0 and 1.8 times in TTMM and TTMH treated HepG2 cell at 100 ${\mu}g/mL$, respectively, compared to that in control. Although further studies are needed, the present work could suggest that the fin of TT has a potential to be usable as a chemopreventive agent against cancer.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.113-117
• /
• 2005

Organosulfur compounds have been shown to exert an anti-cancer activity. In an attempt to develop novel chemopreventive and anti-cancer agents for liver cancer, we synthesized allylthiopyridazine derivatives. We have previously shown that allylthiopyridazine derivatives exert inhibitory effects on proliferation, invasion and migration of SK-Hep-1 hepatocarcinoma cells in vitro. The in vivo anti-tumor effect of 3-methvl-6-allylthiopy-ridazine, named as K6, was also reported. In this study, we further investigated the preclinical anti-cancer efficacy of K6 for hepatocarcinoma using nude mice xenografted with Hep-G2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. K6(20-100 mg/kg, orally administered everyday for 30 days) markedly decreased the tumor volume of Hep-G2 cell-transplanted nude mice as evidenced by ultrasonographic and plethysmogranhic analyses. The inhibitory effect on tumor volume was lower than that exerted by doxorubicin (2 mg/kg), intravenously injected) which was used as a positive control. This study shows that K6 efficiently suppresses xenograft tumor growth, revealing K6 as apotential anti-cancer agent for suppressing in vivo progression of liver cancer. Given that hepatocarcinoma is among the most prevalent and lethal malignancies and there is no effective treatment to date, our study may contribute to the potential drug development for liver cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.81-91
• /
• 2004

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the inhibitory effect of Chungganhaeju-Tang on alcohol induced human hepatic cell apoptosis by synthesis of glutathione. Methods : The amount of glutathione in HepG2 cell was measured with colorimetric glutathione assay kit and glutathione-conjugated CDNB(1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene) at $37^{\circ}C$ and then measured by spectrometry to assess the activity of glutathione S-transferase. Results : The synthesis of glutathione and the activity of glutathione S-transferase in HepG2 cell were promoted by Chungganhaeju-Tang and increased in dose/time-dependent manner. Chungganhaeju-Tang inhibited apoptosis induced by ethanol and acetaldehyde dependent to treatment dosage. In Buthione sulfoximine, a glutathione synthesis inhibitor, treated case, the synthesis of glutathione was inhibited and in Chungganhaeju-Tang treated case, the synthesis of glutathione is promoted with or without Buthione sulfoximine. The present findings suggest that Chungganhaeju-Tang inhibits alcohol induced apoptosis by synthesis of glutathione in HepG2 cell. Conclusions : The result indicates that Chungganhaeju-Tang protects human hepatic cell by glutathione synthesis and made the liver recover from alcohol induced damage.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.34 no.1
• /
• pp.43-46
• /
• 2001

$\alpha$-Phenyl-N-t-butylnitrone (PBN) is one of the most widely used spin-trapping compounds for investigating the existence of free radicals in biological systems. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the antioxidant nature of PBN on degenerative diseases, presumably related to oxidative stress. In the present study, the protective effect of PBN on the HepG2 cell line under oxidative stress was investigated. When the HepG2 cells were exposed to oxidant, such as hydrogen peroxide, menadione, or ethanol, the protective role of PBN was manifested as a reduction in trypan blue uptake and a decrease in the endogenous production of oxidants, as measured by the oxidation of 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescin. The modulation of activity of major antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase, was not significantly different either in the presence or in the absence of PBN. This indicates that PBN acts as a direct scavenger of reactive oxygen species.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
• /
• v.15 no.6
• /
• pp.993-996
• /
• 2006

Cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) isolated from black rice was investigated for hepatoprotective effects in HepG2 cells under oxidative stress. When an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was induced by gramoxone, cell viability was drastically decreased by 42%. However, in the presence of C3G, no hepatocytic damage was observed in HepG2 cells treated with gramoxone. C3G was found to manifest a stronger scavenging effect (91%) on superoxide anion radical ($O_2\;^{.-}$) than any of the other natural and synthetic antioxidants. Results suggest that C3G from black rice possesses hepatoprotective effects in vitro, which may be, at least in part, due to $O_2\;^{.-}$ scavenging.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.2753-2758
• /
• 2012

Rubia cordifolia Linn, which belongs to the Rubiaceae family, is a well-known herb used in Ayurvedic medicine. In the present study, we investigated the influence of a methanolic extract (RC) on the induction of apoptosis in HEp-2 (human laryngeal carcinoma) cell line, as evidenced by cytotoxicity, morphological changes and modification in the levels of pro-oxidants. Inhibition of cell proliferation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release increased in a time and dose-dependent manner. Further, reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione transferase (GST) and protein levels decreased and lipid peroxidation increased significantly on RC treatment in a dose dependent manner when compared to controls. Based on the results we determined the optimal dose as 30mg/ ml and the apoptotic effect of RC extract (30 mg/ml) on HEp-2 cells was confirmed by fluorescent microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) based on morphological and ultrastructural changes. RC extract suppressed the proliferation of HEp-2 oral cancer cells inducing apoptotic cell death in vitro. These results point to potential of RC extract as an agent for the treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.6 no.4
• /
• pp.187-191
• /
• 2002

Tamoxifen, an antiestrogen, has previously been shown to induce apoptosis in HepG2 human hepatoblastoma cells through activation of the pathways independent of estrogen receptors, i.e., intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ increase and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the mechanism of tamoxifen to link increased intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ to ROS generation is currently unknown. Thus, in this study we investigated the possible involvement of calmodulin, a $Ca^{2+}$ activated protein, and $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in the above tamoxifen-induced events. Treatment with calmodulin antagonists (calmidazolium and trifluoroperazine) or specific inhibitors of $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (KN-93 and KN-62) inhibited the tamoxifen-induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, these agents blocked the tamoxifen-induced ROS generation in a concentration-dependent fashion, which was completely suppressed by intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ chelation. These results demonstrate for the first time that, despite of its well-known direct calmodulin-inhibitory activity, tamoxifen may generate ROS and induce apoptosis through indirect activation of calmodulin and $Ca^{2+}$/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in HepG2 cells.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.40 no.6
• /
• pp.493-499
• /
• 2007

Celastrus orbiculatus (CO) has been used as a traditional herb medicine to treat fever, chill, joint pain, edema, rheumatoid arthritis and bacterial infection in China and Korea. In this study, we investigated anticarcinogenic effects of Celastrus orbiculatus (CO). CO was extracted with methanol (COM), and then further fractionated into four different types: methanol (COMM), hexane (COMH), butanol (COMB) and aqueous (COMA) partition layers. We determined the cytotoxicity of these four partitions in four kind of cancer cell lines, such as HepG2, MCF-7, HT29 and B16F10 Cells by MTT assay. Among various partition layers of CO, the COMM showed the strongest cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines we used. We also observed quinone reductase (QR) induced effects in all partition layers of CO on HepG2 cells. The QR induced effects of COMM on HepG2 cells at 80 ${\mu}$ g/mL concentration indicated 3.28 to a control value of 1.0. The COMM showed the highest induction activity of quinone reductase on HepG2 cells among the other partition layers. Although further studies are needed, the present work suggests that CO may be a chemopreventive agent for the treatment of human cells.

• Proceedings of the Polymer Society of Korea Conference
• /
• 2006.10a
• /
• pp.257-257
• /
• 2006

We chose three synthetic polymers, poly(propylene carbonate) (PPC), poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVFHFP), and $Nafion^{(R)}$ that reveal different chemical and physical characteristics, and investigate their biocompatibilities to five different bacteria (that are most notorious for opportunistic and iatrogenic infections) and a human cell (HEp-2). The bacteria chosen in this study found to adhere onto the PPC and Nafion films but not to adhere on the PVFHFP film. On the other hand, both PVFHFP and Nafion films revealed good compatibility to HEp-2 and allowed the growth of the HEp-2 on the film surface but PPC showed poor compatibility to HEp-2. All results will be discussed with taking into account the surface characteristics of the polymers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.5-9
• /
• 2013

Rhomboids were identified as the first intramembrane serine proteases about 10 years ago. Since then, the study of the rhomboid protease family has blossomed. Rhomboid domain containing 1 (RHBDD1), highly-expressed in human testis, contains a rhomboid domain with unknown function. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that RHBDD1 was associated with proliferation and apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma using recombinant lentivirus-mediated silencing of RHBDD1 in HepG2 cells. Our results showed that down-regulation of RHBDD1 mRNA levels markedly suppressed proliferation and colony formation capacity of HepG2 human hepatoma cancer cells in vitro, and induced cell cycle arrest. We also found that RHBDD1 silencing could obviously trigger HepG2 cell apoptosis. In summary, it was demonstrated that RHBDD1 might be a positive regulator for proliferative and apoptotic characteristics of hepatocellular carcinoma.