• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.sup3
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• pp.219-224
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• 2016

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary malignancy of the liver making up more than 80 percent of cases. It is known to be the sixth most prevalent cancer and the third most frequent cause of cancer related death worldwide. Epigenetic regulation constitutes an important mechanism by which dietary components can selectively activate or inactivate target gene expression. The miR-34 family members including mir-34a, mir-34b and mir-34c are tumor suppressor micro RNAs, which are expressed in the majority of normal tissues. Several studies have indicated silencing of miR-34 expression via DNA methylation in multiple types of cancers. Bioactive nutrients like curcumin (Cur) have excellent anticarcinogenic activity and minimal toxic manifestations in biological systems. This compound has recently been determined to induce epigenetic changes. However, Cur is lipophilic and has a poor systemic bioavailability and poor absorption. Its bioavailability is increased through employing dendrosome nanoparticles. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of dendrosomal nanocurcumin (DNC) on expression of mir-34 family members in two HCC cell lines, HepG2 and Huh7. We performed the MTT assay to evaluate DNC and dendrosome effects on cell viability. The ability of DNC to alter expression of the mir-34 family and DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A and 3B) was evaluated using semi-quantitative and quantitative PCR. We observed the entrance of DNC into HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Gene expression assays indicated that DNC treatment upregulated mir34a, mir34b and mir34c expression (P<0.05) as well as downregulated DNMT1, DNMT3A and DNMT3B expression (P<0.05) in both HepG2 and Huh7 cell lines. DNC also reduced viability of Huh7 and HepG2 cells through restoration of miR-34s expression. We showed that DNC could awaken the epigenetically silenced miR-34 family by downregulation of DNMTs. Our findings suggest that DNC has potential in epigenetic therapy of HCC.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.8
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• pp.3651-3657
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• 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a relatively higher incidence in many countries of Asia. Globally, HCC has a high fatality rate and short survival. Epirubicin, a doxorubicin analogue, may be administered alone or in combination with other agents to treat primary liver cancer and metastatic diseases. However, the toxic effects of epirubicin to normal tissues and cells have been one of the major obstacles to successful cancer chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the effects of epirubicin in combination with kappa-selenocarrageenan on mice with H22 implanted tumors and HepG-2 cell proliferation, immune organ index, morphology, cell cycle and related protein expressions in vivo and in vitro with sequential drug exposure. The inhibitory rate of tumor growth in vivo was calculated. Drug sensitivity was measured by MTT assay, and the King's principle was used to evaluate the interaction of drug combination. Morphological changes were observed by fluorescent microscopy. Cell cycle changes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 were detected by Western blotting. In vivo results demonstrated that the inhibitory rate of EPI combined with KSC was higher than that of KSC or EPI alone, and the Q value indicated an additive effect. In addition, KSC could significantly raise the thymus and spleen indices of mice with H22 implanted tumors. In the drug sensitivity assay in vitro, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously was more effective than exposure sequentially in HepG-2 cells, while exposure to KSC prior to EPI was more effective than exposure to EPI prior to KSC. Q values showed an additive effect in the simultaneous group and antagonistic effects in the sequential groups. Morphological analysis showed similar results to the drug sensitivity assay. Cell cycle analysis revealed that exposure to KSC or EPI alone arrested the cells in S phase in HepG-2 cells, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously caused accumulation in the S phase, an effect caused by either KSC or EPI. Expression of cyclin A, Cdc25A and Cdk2 protein was down-regulated following exposure to KSC and EPI alone or in combination, exposure to KSC and EPI simultaneously resulting in the lowest values. Taken together, our findings suggest that KSC in combination with EPI might have potential as a new therapeutic regimen against HCC.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.771-775
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• 2005

The growth inhibitory effects on human cancer cell lines provide useful information regarding critical cellular targets. Reports on cytotoxicity of Gloiopeltis furcata (GF) to human cancer cell lines are conflicting. This study was performed to investigate the effects of cytotoxicity and quinone reductase activity of Gloiopeltis furcata on the human cancer cells. The four partition layers of methanol extracts (GFM) which are hexane (GFMH), methanol (GFMM), butanol (GFMB) and aquous (GFMA) were screened for their cytotoxic effects on HepG2, HeLa, MCF-7, HT-29, and normal liver cell lines. The GFMM showed the strongest growth inhibition effect on all cell lines we used. the GFMM showed the highest induction activity of quinone reductase on HepG2 cells among the other partition layers.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.549-554
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• 2011

FK506 is a widespread immunosuppressive drug after liver transplantion in patients with advanced-stage hepatocellular carcinoma. Dexamethasone is frequently used as co-treatment in cytotoxic cancer therapy, e.g. to prevent nausea, to protect normal tissue or for other reasons. Our aim was to investigate antitumor effects of FK506 in Hep3B cells, one of differentiated human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and inhibitory effects of dexamethsone on FK506- induced antitumor effects. Cell injury was evaluated by biochemical assays as cell viability, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Hep3B cells. Intracellular calcium concentration ([$Ca^{2+}$]i) and the level of activation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the Bax protein in cultured Hep3B cells was measured. Exposure of 0.1 ${\mu}M$ FK506 to Hep3B cells led to cell death accompanied by a decrease in cell viability and an increase in LDH, ROS and [$Ca^{2+}$]i. FK506 induced an increase in activity of Bax and JNK protein but inhibited the activity of Bcl-2 protein. Treatment of dexamethsone, per se, had no effects on cell viability, LDH and ROS. However, co-treatment of FK506 and dexamethasone diminished the FK506-induced LDH release, ROS generation and JNK activation. These results demonstrate that FK506 has antitumor effect in Hep3B cells but the combination of FK506 and dexamethasone antagonizes the FK506-induced antitumor effects.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.202-213
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• 2004

Object : Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Mylabris phalerata (반모) in some kinds of cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Some kinds of cancer cells lines were treated. We used nine kinds of cancer cell lines, such as stomach cancer cells (Kato), lung cancer cells (Calu-1, NCI-H 1395), urinary bladder cancer cells (HS789T), bone cancer cells (Saos-2), brain cancer cells (SK-N-MC), liver cancer cells (Hep-G2), skin cancer cells (Mo-1) and prostate cancer cells (PC-3) with the water decoction of Mylabris phalerata. The histological changes of all cell lines in the media (RPMI-1640) containing the decoction of Mylabris phalerata were observed and we examined cell death assay by trypan blue exclusion testing was examined. Finally, the change of mitochondrial membrane potential was measurd and the inhibitory effect of Mylabris phalerata on cell increase was examined by analyzing the cell cycle. Results: In histologic change all cancer cell lines showed withdrawn and floating appearance that is typical in cellular impairment. Most of the cell lines showed over 50% death rate after 24 hours in trypan blue exclusion tests. Especially the stomach, urinary bladder. brain and liver cell lines showed over 30% death rate after 12 hours. All cell lines treated with Mylabris phalerata were less stained than the control group and the mitochondrial membrane potential in the Mylabris phalerata treated cell lines was markedly lower than that in the control group. The measurement of DNA quantity in all cell lines showed the disappearance of the peak and the thickened left axis, which suggests that all cellular DNA degraded. Conclusion: Mylabris phalerata had cytotoxicity on various kinds of cancer cell lines and the mechanism of that was the impairment of mitochondria by the breakdown of the mitochondrial cell membrane. We propose that this is in part attributable to the destruction of DNA in cancer cells.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2014

Objective : This study set out to combine the treatment efficacy of Taraxacum with Dongchimi fermentation and investigate Taraxacum's effects on protection of liver cell and controlling nitric oxide(NO) through experiments, thus checking whether it had values as a physiological active matter. The experimental materials include Taraxacum Dongchimi (TD) and Taraxacum fermented by Dongchimi (TDF). As for methodology, experiments were carried out to compare TD and TDF in components, protection effects for liver cells, anticancer effects on liver cells, and protection effects for brain cells in the aspects of liver function and immunity enhancement. Method : The experimental materials include Taraxacum Dongchimi (TD) and Taraxacum fermented by Dongchimi (TDF). As for methodology, experiments were carried out to compare TD and TDF in components, protection effects for liver cells, anti-cancer effects on liver cells, and protection effects for brain cells in the aspects of liver function and immunity enhancement. Results : As shown in the chromatogram results, each valid component content increased in Taraxacum fermented by Dongchimi (TDF) for each time section. Of them, the valid component content at 36.80 minutes was approximately 2.7 times higher in TDF at 21.8% than in Taraxacum Dongchimi (TD) at 8.28%. TDF generated more excellent protection effects against the toxicity that caused oxidative damage to the liver cell(HepG2) with t-BHP than TD. The survival rate was low in TD of $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and $300{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ and increased to 23.3% in TDF of $100{\mu}g/m{\ell}$. The survival rate was the highest at $300{\mu}M$ with a significant difference of 68.1%(P<0.05). Both TD and TDF showed effects of controlling nitric oxide production according to concentration with TDF recording a higher rate of controlling nitric oxide production than TD. There were significant differences(P<0.05) in the effects of controlling nitric oxide production at 200 ug/ml, 400 ug/ml in both groups. Especially the result TDF of $400{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ was thus similar to those of butein, the positive control group. Conclusion : The result of this studies is that Taraxacum fermented by Dongchimi (TDF) increased the valid component content compared with the simple mixture(TD). The findings clearly show that it is a material with the effects of improving immunity and liver cell protection. If fermentation methods are further developed to use it as a functional material, it will be subject to more opportunities of being used in other functional foods and make a contribution to integrated medicinal food development.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.682-689
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• 2014

This study was carried out to discriminate the effects of the ramie leaf according to the drying methods (hot air drying and freeze drying) on antioxidative activity in vitro and antiproliferation in human cancer cells. There were no significant differences in total polyphenol content of ramie leaf ethanol extracts depending on the drying methods, but total flavonoid content was significantly higher in hot air dried ramie leaf (HR) than in freeze dried ramie leaf (FR). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of HR and FR ethanol extracts were found to be 77.74%, and 77.29% in 1000 ppm, respectively. Antioxidative index of HR and FR ethanol extracts measured by Rancimat were lower than those in BHT, BHA, and ascorbic acid, but were higher than that in control. The antiproliferation effect of 80% ethanol extracts of HR and FR on liver cancer cell line (H460), stomach cancer cell line (AGS), and lung cancer cell line (A549) were increased with a dose-dependent manner. The cancer cell growth inhibition activities of HR and FR ethanol extracts at the concentration of $800{\mu}g/mL$ showed greater than 80% on Hep G2 and A549 cell line, and greater than 75% on AGS cell line. These results suggest that HR and FR ethanol extracts possess potential antioxidative effect and antiproliferation in human cancer cells, and those activities of ramie leaf ethanol extracts depending on the drying methods were similar.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.7003-7006
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• 2015

Background: Nanoparticles of gold and silver are offering revolutionary changes in the field of cancer therapy. N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) metal complexes possess diverse biological activities and are being investigated as potential chemotherapeutic agents. The purpose of this study was to examine the cytotoxicity and possible mechanisms of action of two types of newly synthesized nanofiber composites containing BIAN N-heterocyclic gold carbene complexes in two types of human cancer cells, namely breast cancer (MCF7) and liver cancer (HepG2) cells and also in normal human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293). Materials and Methods: Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTT cell viability assay and oxidative stress by checking the total glutathione level. Results: Both compounds affected the cell survival of the tested cell lines at very low concentrations (IC50 values in the micro molar range) as compared to a well-known anti-cancer drug, 5 fluorouracil. A 60-80% depletion in total glutathione level was detected in treated cells. Conclusions: Reduction in total glutathione level is one of the biochemical pathways for the induction of oxidative stress which in turn could be a possible mechanism of action by which these compounds induce cytotoxicity in cancer cell lines. The in vitro toxicity towards cancer cells found here means that these molecules could be potential anticancer candidates.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.11
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• pp.4929-4934
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• 2016

Cancer, a worldwide epidemic disease with diverse origins, involves abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade other parts of the body. Globally, it is the main cause of mortality and morbidity. To overcome the drawbacks of the commercially available chemotherapies, natural products-loaded nano-composites are recommended to improve cancer targetability and decrease the harmful impact on normal cells. This study aimed at exploring the anti-cancer impacts of Moringa oleifera seed oil in its free- (MO) and nano-formulations (MOn) through studying whether it mechanistically promotes mitochondrial apoptosis-mediating cell death. Mitochondrial-based cytotoxicity and flow cytometric-based apoptosis analyses were performed on cancer HepG2, MCF7, HCT 116, and Caco-2 cell lines against normal kidney BHK-21 cell line. The present study resulted that MOn triggered colorectal cancer Caco-2 and HCT 116 cytotoxicity via mitochondrial dysfunction more powerful than its free counterpart (MO). On the other side, MOn and MO remarkably induces HCT 116 mitochondrial apoptosis, while sparing normal BHK-21 cells with minimal cytotoxic effect. The present results concluded that nano-micelle of Moringa oleifera seed oil (MOn) can provide a novel therapeutic approach for colorectal and breast cancers via mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, while sparing normal and even liver cancer cells a bit healthy or with minimal harmful effect. Intriguingly, MOn induced breast cancer not hepatocellular carcinoma cell death.

• THE JOURNAL OF KOREAN ORIENTAL ONCOLOGY
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.61-75
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• 2001

The purpose of this study is to prove the angiogenesis effects of WhaYoungJiTongTang (hereinafter referred to as the 'WYJTT'). For the study, by utilizing liver cancer cell line; SK-HEP-1, lung cancer cell line: A549, stomach cancer cell line: AGS and bovine capillary endothelial cell: BCE, the effects of the WYJTT on toxicity and proliferation ability of cells and the effects on anti-angiogenesis of bovine capillary endothelial cell and of mice's aorta were studied. 1. Cell viability assay In comparison with the control group, when $100{\mu}g/ml$ of WYJTT was injected, the viability was reduced in SK-Hep-1, $400{\mu}g/ml$ in A549 and $200{\mu}g/ml$ in AGS. 2. Cell proliferation assay In comparison with the control group, when $600{\mu}g/ml$ of WYITT was injected, DNA synthesis was reduced to 35.1% in the SK-Hep-1, 56.0% in A549, and 25.8% in BCE (bovine capillary endothelial cell); and when $400{\mu}g/ml$ was injected, DNA synthesis was reduced to 12.1 in AGS. 3. Tube formation assay In the event that BCE is injected with WYJTT in each of its content gradient, the anti-angiogenesis was effective in amounts of $400{\mu}g/ml$ with 6 hours of the treatment. 4. Aortic ring assay In comparison with the control group, the angiogenesis was restricted to the remarkable degree in amount of $200{\mu}g/ml$: 10% in $400{\mu}g/ml$; and fully inhibited in each of $800{\mu}g/ml$ and $1600{\mu}g/ml$. As a result of the experiments mentioned above, WYJTT showed its anti-angiogenesis effects against cancer cell line.