• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.8 s.88
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• pp.1121-1128
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• 2007

The fruits of Zanthoxylum piperitum are known as having various physiology vitality, and the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp is also known as having strong antibiotic activities against various bacteria. Therefore, this study was carried out to estimate the effect of physiology vitality when the abstraction ingredient of Z. piperitum was added in soy sauce(Chopi-kanjang) and soybean paste(Chopi-doenjang). For the antibiotic activity against the pathogens of sitotoxism such as Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, Vibrio parahemolyticus, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, the extracts of the Chopi-kanjang was added 1%, 2%, 4% pericarp of Z. piperitum in the manufacturing process of soy source. According to the results, the growth of E. coli 0157:H7 and V. parahemolyticus were respectively inhibited as 70% and 50% by the Chopi-kanjang added 2% of the ingredient. For the antibiotic effects of the aforementioned Chopi-kanjang against Sal. typhimurium and Sta. aureus, the growth of those pathogens was also inhibited between 40% and 60% according to the manufacturing period of Chopi-kanjang. It was confirmed that the antibiotic activity using the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and Chopi-doenjang was lower than those of Chopi-kanjang. In order to estimate the anticancer activity using by caspase-3 activity, the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and Chopi-kanjang was treated to leukemia cells. According to the results, the activities of caspase-3 using the mixture added 1%, 2% and 4% of the abstraction ingredient were respectively increased as much as 4, 12, 15 times comparing with the control which was treated with the soy source only. It could be that the mixture of the abstraction ingredient of the pericarp of Z. piperitum and soy source induced apoptosis, and the mixture of the abstraction ingredient and soybean paste had no effect on the activity of caspase-3. In order to find out the death of the aforementioned cells caused by necrosis or apoptosis, DNA fragmentation in the cell was examined. U-937 cells showed apoptotic DNA fragmentation in the incubation with Chopi-kanjang extract.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2015

In this study, we tried to separate the photosensitizer that induces apoptosis of leukemia cells (U937) from perilla leaves. Perilla leaves (Perilla frutescens Britt var. japonica Hara) are a popular vegetable in Korea, being rich in vitamins (A and E), GABA, and minerals. Dried perilla leaves were extracted with methanol to separate the photosensitizer by various chromatographic techniques. The structure of the isolated compound (PL9443) was identified by 1D-NMR, 2D-NMR, and FAB-mass spectroscopy. Absorbance of the UV-Vis spectrum was highest at 410 nm and was confirmed by the 330, 410, and 668 nm. PL9443 compound was determined to be pheophorbide, an ethyl ester having a molecular weight of 620. It was identified as a derivative compound of pheophorbide structure when magnesium comes away from a porphyrin ring. Observation of morphological changes in U937 cells following cell death induced by treated PL9443 compound revealed representative phenomena of apoptosis only in light irradiation conditions (apoptotic body, vesicle formation). Results from examining the cytotoxicity of PL9443 substance against U937 cells showed that inhibition rates of the cell growth were 99.9% with the concentration of 0.32 nM PL9443. Also, the caspase-3/7 activity was 99% against U937 cells with the concentration of 0.08 nM of PL9443 substance. The result of the electrophoresis was that a DNA ladder was formed by the PL9443. The PL9443 compound is a promising lead compound as a photosensitizer for photodynamic therapy of cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.8
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• pp.951-957
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• 2017

To understand the cytotoxic activity of Machilus thunbergii, which has been used as a traditional oriental medicine, the mechanism underlying the cytotoxic effect of its extract on human acute Jurkat T cells was investigated. The methanol extract of roots (3 kg) of M. thunbergii was evaporated, dissolved in, and then extracted by water. The water-extracted active substance was designated MTWE. When Jurkat T cells were treated with MTWE at concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/ml$, the apoptotic phenomenon of cells accompanying several subsequent biochemical reactions, such as mitochondrial cytochrome c release, activation of caspase-3, and ICAD degradation, was detected in the Jurkat T cells. Moverover. the expression of Bcl-xL, which is a suppressor for mitochondrial cytochrome c release pathway, was reduced in the Jurkat T cells. As DUSP6, a growth suppressor of cancer cells, ranged from 0, 25, 50, $100{\mu}g/ml$ of MTWE, the expression level was elevated in the Jurkat T cells. The apoptotic morphological change of the nuclei was observed by DAPI staining. Although the potential involvement of the other factors and DUSP6 is currently being investigated in more detail, these findings support the notion that MTWE is able to achieve the apoptosis of Jurkat T cells, and it seems that MTWE is useful as a method of evaluating a chemotherapeutic agent or tonic materials for human acute leukemia.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.181-188
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• 2009

Uncontrolled cell growth and increased cell proliferation are major features of cancer that are dependent on the stable structure and dynamics of the cytoskeleton. Since stable cytoskeleton structure and dynamics are partly regulated by myosin light chain kinase (MLCK), many current studies focused on MLCK inhibition as a chemotherapeutic target. As a potent and selective MLCK inhibitor, ML-7 [1-(5-iodonaphthalene-1-sulfonyl)-1 H-hexahydro-1,4-diazapine hydrochloride] is a promising candidate for an anticancer agent, which would induce apoptosis as well as prevents invasion and metastasis in certain types of cancer cells. This study assessed cytotoxic effects of ML-7 against HL-60 cells and therapeutic efficacy of ML-7 as a potential antileukemia agent. Trypan-blue exclusion assays showed dose- and time- dependent decreases in ML-7 treated HL-60 cells (p<0.05). Comet assays revealed a significant increase in DNA damage in HL-60 cells after treatment with $40{\mu}M$ ML-7 for 2h. Sub-G1 fractions, analyzed by flow cytometry increased in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting that ML-7 can induce apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells. ML-7 was selectively cytotoxic towards HL-60 cells; not affecting normal human lymphocytes. That selective effect makes it a promising potential anti-leukemia agent. In addition, anticancer efficacy of ML-7 in combination with flavonoids (genistein or quercetin) or anticancer drugs (cisplatin or Ara-C) against HL-60 cells was assessed. Combination of ML-7 with flavonoids increased the anti-cancer effect of ML-7 to a greater extent than combination with the anticancer drugs. This implies that ML-7 in combination with flavonoids could increase the efficacy of anticancer treatment, while avoiding side effects cansed by conventional anticancer drug-containing combination chemotherapy.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.22-31
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• 2020

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between sleep status and weight loss among adult women with obesity administered with Gamitaeeumjowee-tang. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 137 patients who were were administered with Gamitaeeumjowee-tang for 3 months for the purpose of weight loss. We divided subjects according to sleep duration and sleep quality. We conducted an independent t-test to compare the differences of weight loss between two groups. Also, a regression analysis was applied to determine which factors affected weight loss. Results: There was no significant difference in weight loss between patients who sleep more than 7 hours regularly and patients who sleep less than 7 hours. There was no significant difference between good sleepers and poor sleepers. Initial body mass index and the number of visits to the clinic were the significant factors in weight loss in 2-4 weeks. Initial weight loss was the significant factor in weight loss in 10-12 weeks. There was no significant correlation of sleep duration and sleep quality in weight loss in 2-4 weeks and 10-12 weeks. Conclusions: This study suggests that weight loss may not be affected by sleep status during Gamitaeeumjowee-tang intervention. ostachys japonicus, THP-1, acute myeloid leukemia, apoptosis, autophagy.

• Molecular & Cellular Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2009

Naphthalene is bicyclic aromatic compound that is widely used in various domestic and commercial applications including lavatory scent disks, soil fumigants and moth balls. Exposure to naphthalene results in the development of bronchiolar damage, cataracts and hemolytic anemia in humans and laboratory animals. However, little information is available regarding the mechanism of naphthalene toxicity. We investigated gene expression profiles and potential signature genes in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells after 3 h and 48 h incubation with the IC$_{20}$ and IC$_{50}$ of naphthalene by using 44 k agilent whole human genome oligomicroarray and operon human whole 35 k oligomicroarray, respectively. We identified 616 up-regulated genes and 2,088 down-regulated genes changed by more than 2-fold by naphthalene in HepG2 cells. And in HL-60, we identified 138 up-regulated genes and 182 down-regulated genes changed by more than 2-fold. This study identified several interesting targets and functions in relation to naphthalene-induced toxicity through a gene ontology analysis method. Apoptosis and cell cycle related genes are more commonly expressed than other functional genes in both cell lines. In summary, the use of in vitro models with global expression profiling emerges as a relevant approach toward the identification of biomarkers associated with toxicity after exposure to a variety of environmental toxicants.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3437-3441
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• 2012

Background: Oncogenic Bmi-1 (B-lymphoma Moloney murine leukemia virus insertion region-1) belongs to the Polycomb-group (PcG) family of proteins and plays an important role in the regulation of proliferation, senescence, cell cycle and apoptosis, chromosome stability, activation of gene transcription. Methods: To clarify the roles of Bmi-1 in tumourigenesis and progression of gastric carcinomas, it was examined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and real-time RT-PCR in gastric carcinomas, dysplasia, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastritis with a comparison of its expression with clinicopathological parameters of carcinomas. Results: There was gradually increased Bmi-1 protein expression from gastritis, IM, dyplasia to carcinoma (p<0.001). Bmi-1 expression was positively linked to tumor size, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and worse prognosis of carcinomas (p<0.001), but not to age or sex of carcinoma patients (p>0.05). There was higher Bmi-1 protein expression in intestinal-type carcinomas than diffuse-type ones (p<0.001). At mRNA level, Bmi-1 protein expression was increased from gastritis, IM, dysplasia and carcinoma (p<0.001). Bmi-1 overexpression was observed in gastric carcinoma with larger diameter, deeper invasion, lymph node metastasis, and intestinal-type carcinoma (p<0.05). Conclusion: These findings indicate that up-regulated Bmi-1 expression is positively linked to pathogenesis, growth, invasion, metastasis and differentiation of gastric carcinomas. It was considered as a promising marker to indicate the aggressive behaviors and prognosis of gastric carcinomas.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2006

Telomerase activation is detected in most cancerous cells; hence, telomerase is a highly selective target for cancer therapy, which plays an important role in the apoptotic process. We have previously reported that the ginseng saponin metabolite, Compound K (20-O-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol, IH901), inhibits cell proliferation by inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at the $G_1$ phase. The present study investigated the regulation of telomerase activity in Compound K treated U937 cells. Compound K treatment caused a reduction in telomerase activity and down-regulated the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) gene, resulting in the decreased expressions of its protein, and of the c-Myc and Spl proteins (transcription factors of hTERT). These results indicate that the anticancer activity of Compound K could be mediated by inhibition of the telomerase activity.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.1315-1320
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• 2006

The root and rhizomes of Nardostachys chinensis belonging to the family Valerianaceae has been used for medicinal therapy in Korean traditional medicine. The parts have been especially used to elicit stomachic and sedative effects. Our previous studies reported that the water extract of N. chinensis has induced granulocytic differentiation inhuman promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) cells. The Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) are serine/threonine kinases involved in the regulation of various cellular responses, such as cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the signaling pathways on the HL-60 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis. Activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) increased time-dependently in differentiation of HL-60 cells induced by N. chinersis. Activation of p38 increased slightly at 24 h after N. chinensis treatment, but activation of c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was unaffected. Inhibitor of ERK (PD98059) significantly reduced NBT reduction activity induced by N. chinensis in HL-60 cells. In contrast, p38 inhibitor (SB203580) did not inhibit the cell differentiation. These results indicated that activaiton of ERK may De involved in HL-60 cell differentiation induced by N. chinensis.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.187-192
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• 2006

Herbal medicines have been utilized to treat a variety of diseases, including cancer. Several species of the family rubiaceae have been reported to have antitumor activity. In this study, we report the cytotoxicity and antitumor activity exhibited dy the methanol extracts prepared from Rubia radix (RRME), Uncaria gambir (UGME) and Oldenlandia diffusa (ODME) (family: Rubiaceae) against human promyleloid leukemia cell line, HL-60. The cytotoxicity of RRME (2~20 ${\mu}g/ml$), UGME (20~200 ${\mu}g/ml$) and ODME (20~200 ${\mu}g/ml$) were assessed dy the MTT reduction assay. IC50 values for RRME, UGME and ODME were 11.0, 99.5 and 106.1 ${\mu}g/ml$, respectively. When the HL-60 cells were treated with RRME (10 ${\mu}g/ml$), UGME (120 ${\mu}g/ml$) and ODME (140 ${\mu}g/ml$) for 24 h, several apoptotic characteristics such as DNA fragmentation and morphologic changes were observed. Furthermore, flow cytometric analysis was peformed to determine the percent of apoptotic cells. The poupulation of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells was increased 37.49% in RRME treatment, 12.49% in UGME treatment and 7.21% in ODME treatment compared with untreated control cells (2.64%). To further confirm apoptotic cell death, we assayed caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities in RRME, UGME and ODME-treated cells. After treatment of RRME, UGME and ODME for 12 h, caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities significantly increased.compared to untreated control cells. These results show that RRME, UGME and ODME induced apoptotic cell death in HL-60 cells and may have a possibility of potential antitumor activities.