• Journal of Mushroom
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.304-310
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• 2014

The use of mushrooms has immense potential in many diverse applications. Until now, more than 3,000 species are consumed around the world, and more than 100 have shown promising clinical activity against cancer and other chronic diseases. Sparassis latifolia (formerly S. crispa) is an edible mushroom that harbors ${\beta}$-glucan reported to possess immunostimulatory and anticancer properties. However there have been no reports on the anticancer activity of hydrophobic fractions of S. latifolia. In this study, the anticancer activities of S. latifolia extract and hydrophobic fractions were investigated using AGS (stomach cancer), A529 (lung cancer), and HepG2 (liver cancer) cell lines. In cytotoxicity results of A529 cells, fractions of A2, A3, A4, A6, A7, A8, A9, and A10 in all 12 fractions show low $IC_{50}$ values. For HepG2 cells, A7 fraction results in the lowest $IC_{50}$ value while A7, A8, and A11 fractions show low $IC_{50}$ values in AGS cells. S. latifolia extract lead to low cell viability in cancer cells, compared to positive control of paclitaxel. A compound with molecular weight of 181 were detected using HPLC-MS but not identified yet. As a result, the hydrophobic fractions of S. latifolia EtOH extract would be a possible candidate as natural anticancer agents in the future.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.891-900
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• 2004

UDP-N-Acetylglucosamine(GlcNAc):$\beta$1,4-D-mannoside$\beta$-l ,4N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-III (GnT-III) and UDP-N-GlcNAc:$\alpha$-6-D-mannosid$\beta$-1,6N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V(GnT - V) activities were determined in human hepatoma cell lines and metastatic colon cancer cells, and their activities were compared with those of normal liver cells and fetal hepatocytes. GnT-III activities were higher than those of GnT-V in hepatic carcinoma cells. When the two enzyme activities were assayed in highly metastatic colon cancer cells, GnT - V activities were much higher than those of GnT-III. When GlcN, GlcN-biant-PA and UDP-GlcNAc were used as substrates, the enzymes displayed different kinetic properties between hepatic and colon cancer cells, depending on their metastatic potentials. Normal cells of two origins had characteristically very low levels of GnT-III and -V activities, whereas hepatoma and colon cancer cells contained high levels of activities. These data were supported by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses, showing that the expression of GnT-III and -V mRNAs were increased in proportion to the enzymatic activities. The increased GnT-III, md -V activities were also correlated with increased glycosylation of the cellular glycoproteins in hepatoma and colon cancer cells, as examined by lectin blotting analysis by using wheat germ glutinin (WGA), erythroagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (E-PHA), leukoagglutinating phytohemagglutinin (L-PHA), and concanavalin A (Con A). Treatment with retinoic acid, a differentiation agent, resulted in decreases of both GnT-III and -V activities of HepG2 and HepG3 cells. In colon carcinoma cells, however, treatment with retinoic acid resulted in a reduction of GnT-V activity, but not with GnT-III activity. Although the mechanism underlying the induction of these mzymes is unclear, oligosaccharides in many glycoproteins have been observed of cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.5397-5402
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• 2013

The rates of morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have not lessened because of difficulty in treating tumor metastasis. Mongolian Saussurea involucrata (SIE) possesses various anticancer activities, including apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. However, detailed effects and molecular mechanisms of SIE on metastasis are unclear. Thus, the present study was undertaken to investigate antimetastatic effects on HCC cells as well as possible mechanisms. Effects of SIE on the growth, adhesion, migration, aggregation and invasion of the SK-Hep1 human HCC cell line were investigated. SIE inhibited cell growth of metastatic cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. Incubation of SK-Hep1 cells with $200-400{\mu}g/mL$ of SIE significantly inhibited cell adhesion to gelatin-coated substrate. In the migration (wound healing) and aggregation assays, SIE treated cells showed lower levels than untreated cells. Invasion assays revealed that SIE treatment inhibited cell invasion capacity of HCC cells substantially. Quantitative real time PCR showed inhibitory effects of SIE on MMP-2/-9 and MT1-MMP mRNA levels, and stimulatory effects on TIMP-1, an inhibitor of MMPs. The present study not only demonstrated that invasion and motility of cancer cells were inhibited by SIE, but also indicated that such effects were likely associated with the decrease in MMP-2/-9 expression of SK-Hep1 cells. From these results, it was suggested that SIE could be used as potential anti-tumor agent.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.6
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• pp.767-774
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• 2011

Defatted green tea seed was extracted with 100% ethanol for 4 hr and then fractionated with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and butanol. The ethanol and butanol extracts showed greater increases in antiproliferation potential against liver cancer cells than petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, $H_2O$, and hot water extracts did. Thus, this study was carried out to investigate the anti-proliferative actions of defatted green tea seed ethanol extract (DGTSE) in HepG2 cancer cells. The DGTSE contained catechins including EGC ($1039.1{\pm}15.2\;g/g$), tannic acid ($683.5{\pm}17.61\;{\mu}g/g$), EC ($62.4{\pm}5.00\;{\mu}g/g$), ECG ($24.4{\pm}7.81\;{\mu}g/g$), EGCG ($20.9{\pm}0.96\;{\mu}g/g$) and gallic acid ($2.4{\pm}0.68\;{\mu}g/g$), but caffeic acid was not detected when analyzed by HPLC. The anti-proliferation effect of DGTSE toward HepG2 cells was 83.13% when treated at $10\;{\mu}g$/mL, of DGTSE, offering an $IC_{50}$ of $6.58\;{\mu}g$/mL. DGTSE decreased CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 protein expressions in a dose-dependent manner. Quinone reductase and antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase activities were increased about 2.6 and 1.94-fold at a concentration of $20\;{\mu}g$/mL compared to a control group, respectively. Enhancement of phase II enzyme activity by DGTSE was shown to be mediated via interaction with ARE sequences in genes encoding the phase enzymes. DGTSE significantly (p<0.05) suppressed prostaglandin $E_2$ level, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$ (TNF-${\alpha}$) protein expressions, and NF${\kappa}$B translocation, but did not affected nitric oxide production. From the above results, it is concluded that DGTSE may ameliorate tumor and inflammatory reactions through the elevation of phase II enzyme activities and suppression of NF${\kappa}$B translocation and TNF-${\alpha}$ protein expressions, which support the cancer cell anti-proliferative effects of DGTSE in HepG2 cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.47 no.8
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• pp.433-438
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• 2014

Plant sterols have shown potent anti-proliferative effects and apoptosis induction against breast and prostate cancers. However, the effect of sterols against hepatic cancer has not been investigated. In the present study, we assessed whether the stigmasterol isolated from Navicula incerta possesses apoptosis inductive effect in hepatocarcimona (HepG2) cells. According to the results, Stigmasterol has up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic gene expressions (Bax, p53) while down-regulating the anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-2). Probably via mitochondrial apoptosis signaling pathway. With the induction of apoptosis caspase-8, 9 were activated. The DNA damage and increase in apoptotic cell numbers were observed through Hoechst staining, annexin V staining and cell cycle analysis. According to these results, we can suggest that the stigmasterol shows potent apoptosis inductive effects and has the potential to be tested as an anti-cancer therapeutic against liver cancer.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.104-111
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• 2006

Gene therapy with nonviral vectors using the suicide gene/prodrug activating system of herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase (HSV1-TK)/ganciclovir (GCV) is inefficient in killing malignant tumor cells due to two major factors: (a) an unsatisfactory bystander effect; (b) short-lived expression of the protein. To study the capacity of the protein transduction domain (PTD) of HIV-1 TAT protein to enhance HSV1-TK/GCV cancer gene therapy, we constructed three fusion proteins TAT-TK, TK-TAT and TK. TAT-TK retained as much enzyme activity as TK, whereas that of TK-TAT was much lower. TAT-TK can enter HepG2 cells and much of it is translocated to the nucleus. The transduced HepG2 cells are killed by exogenously added GCV and have bystander effects on untransduced HepG2 cells. Most importantly, the introduced recombinant protein is stable and remains functional for several days at least, probably because nuclear localization protects it from the cytoplasmic degradation machinery and provides access to the nuclear transcription machinery. Our results indicate that TAT fusion proteins traffic intercellularly and have enhanced stability and prodrug cell killing activity. We conclude that TAT has potential for enhancing enzyme prodrug treatment of liver cancers.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.23
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• pp.10439-10444
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• 2015

Many chemotherapeutic agents have been successfully used to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, the development of chemoresistance in liver cancer cells usually results in a relapse and worsening of prognosis. It has been demonstrated that DNA methylation and histone modification play crucial roles in chemotherapy resistance. Currently, extensive research has shown that there is another potential mechanism of gene expression control, which is mediated through the function of short noncoding RNAs, especially for microRNAs (miRNAs), but little is known about their roles in cancer cell drug resistance. In present study, by taking advantage of miRNA effects on the resistance of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells line to cisplatin, it has been demonstrated that miR-340 were significantly downregulated whereas Nrf2 was upregulated in HepG2/CDDP (cisplatin) cells, compared with parental HepG2 cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays of Nrf2-3'-untranslated region-based reporter constructor indicated that Nrf2 was the direct target gene of miR-340, miR-340 mimics suppressing Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway and enhancing the sensitivity of HepG2/CDDP cells to cisplatin. Interestingly, transfection with miR-340 mimics combined with miR-340 inhibitors reactivated the Nrf2 related pathway and restored the resistance of HepG2/CDDP cells to CDDP. Collectively, the results first suggested that lower expression of miR-340 is involved in the development of CDDP resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, at least partly due to regulating Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.189-193
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• 2004

Over the past several years, research efforts have been directed both at economically producing valuable substances from the wood biomass and at producing lignolytic enzymes at a lower cost. In the present study, we found that Phellinus igniarius, the basidiomycetes, secreted lignin peroxidase as a main lignolytic enzyme, which was detected maximum activity at 16th day of culture and showed 37 kDa of molecular mass in identification by activity assay and purification by anion-exchange chromatography. The Phellinus igniarius-derived lignin peroxidase hydrolyzed steam-exploded wood (Quercus mongolica) powder into small molecules showing cytotoxicity against cancer cel1s (HepG2 hepatoma, SK-N-SH neuroblastoma, B16 melanoma, MBT-2 bladder cancer). In addition, the enzyme hydrlysates of lignins (ELg) that were extracted from the steam-exploded oak showed more potent cytotoxic effects on the cancer cells than the enzyme hydrolysates of wood biomass (EWp), indicating that the cytotoxic effect of EWp may be due to the enzyme-degraded products of lignin among the lignocellulosics. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of ELg on Chang, normal liver cells, was much less potent than that of ELg on HepG2 and B16 cancer cells, indicating that the cytotoxic effect of ELg may be specific for cancer cells. The present results suggest that Phellinus igniarius may be a useful resource for the large-scale production of lignin peroxidase and that the lignin peroxidase may be applied for the generation of valuable biodegradation products from wood lignocellulosics for medical use.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.11
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• pp.518-527
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• 2021

This study verifies the polyphenol and flavonoid contents of a dried extract, as well as its antioxidant effect and growth inhibitory effect on cancer cells to investigate the potential of yellow cherry tomatoes as a physiologically active food material. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents were determined as 10.96 ± 1.57 and 4.12 ± 0.41 mg/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity was confirmed by measuring DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging ability, and RC50-the concentration that reduces free radicals by 50%-were determined as 490.83 ± 17.35 ㎍/mL and 355.90 ± 0.79 ㎍/mL, respectively. The dried extract showed no cytotoxicity with respect to normal hepatocytes (Chang) and no growth inhibitory activity with respect to A549 lung cancer cells, whereas dried extract showed growth inhibitory activities of 15.2% and 18.4% with respect to human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells, respectively, when treated with a concentration at 100㎍/mL. The results of this study confirm the potential of yellow cherry tomatoes as a physiologically active food material by verifying their antioxidant activity and their growth inhibitory activity with respect to cervical and liver cancer cells.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.384-394
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• 2009

This study was performed to determine the antioxidative and anticancer effects of extracts from Adenophora remotiflora leaves. The antioxidative effects of the extracts were measured using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-radical scavenging activity and hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid oxidative inhibition assays. The results indicated that the extracts had stronger effects than the synthetic antioxidant BHT at the same concentration. The $SC_{50}$ values (50% radical scavenging effect on $1{\times}10^{-4}$ M DPPH) of the methanol fraction, water extract, and BHT were 47.5 ${\mu}g$/mL, 74.6 ${\mu}g$/mL and 102.2 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. In addition the $IC_{50}$ values (hemoglobin-induced linoleic acid oxidation inhibition) of the methanol fraction, water extract, and BHT were 120.8 ${\mu}g$/mL, 135.6 ${\mu}g$/mL, and 150.2 ${\mu}g$/mL, respectively. This research also assessed decreases in the survival of BNLcl2 cells (normal liver cells) by solvent fractions of the A. remotiflora leaf extracts at various concentrations (1, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500, 1,000, 2,000 ${\mu}g$/mL). The water extract did not decrease survival at any of the concentrations when compared to the control group. The hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions decreased survival as compared to the control group by inducing cell toxicity at a concentration of 1,000 ${\mu}g$/mL and above. Therefore, an anticancer activity experiment was conducted using concentrations below 500 ${\mu}g$/mL. At 500 ${\mu}g$/mL, the methanol fraction decreased A549 cell (human lung carcinoma cells) survival by 46% as compared to the control group, presenting the greatest effect against cell survival. All extracts showed greater anticancer activity in Hep G2 cells (human liver carcinoma cells) as compared to the A549 cells. For the Hep G2 cells, the methanol extract decreased survival by 28% as compared to the control group at the concentration of 500 ${\mu}g$/mL, thus restraining lung cancer cell growth.