• Molecules and Cells
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.416-425
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• 2015

NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a basic leucine zipper transcription factor, has recently received a great deal of attention as an important molecule that enhances antioxidative defenses and induces resistance to chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing and Nrf2- upregulating effects of quercetin on malignant mesothelioma (MM) MSTO-211H and H2452 cells. Quercetin treatment inhibited cell growth and led to upregulation of Nrf2 at both the mRNA and protein levels without altering the ubiquitination and extending the half-life of the Nrf2 protein. Following treatment with quercetin, analyses of the nuclear level of Nrf2, Nrf2 antioxidant response element-binding assay, Nrf2 promoter-luc assay, and RT-PCR toward the Nrf2-regulated gene, heme oxygenase-1, demonstrated that the induced Nrf2 is transcriptionally active. Knockdown of Nrf2 expression with siRNA enhanced cytotoxicity due to the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by an increase in the level of proapoptotic Bax, a decrease in the level of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 with enhanced cleavage of caspase-3 and PARP proteins, the appearance of a sub-$G_0/G_1$ peak in the flow cytometric assay, and increased percentage of apoptotic propensities in the annexin V binding assay. Effective reversal of apoptosis was observed following pretreatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD. Moreover, Nrf2 knockdown exhibited increased sensitivity to the anticancer drug, cisplatin, presumably by potentiating the oxidative stress induced by cisplatin. Collectively, our data demonstrate the importance of Nrf2 in cytoprotection, survival, and drug resistance with implications for the potential significance of targeting Nrf2 as a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to chemotherapeutics in MM.

• 대한한방부인과학회지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.199-213
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• 2006

Purpose : This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of Sparganii Rhizoma on the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells and the expression of gene related the mechanism of cell apoptosis. Methods : This study was evaluated the number of death cells treated with indicated concentration of Sparganii Rhizoma and investigated cell death rate by MTS assay. Furthermore, fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis and DNA fragmentation assay were used to dissect between necrosis and apoptosis. and then we observed the differential gene expression by western blot analysis. Results :1) The inhibitory effect on the growth of uterine leiomyoma cell treated with Sparganii Rhizoma was increased in a dose dependent manner. 2) As the result of FACS analysis, subG1 phase incrase was observed 23.49% inuterine leiomyoma cell treated with Sparganii Rhizoma at $500\;{\mu}g/ml$ compared to control.. 3) The gene expression of p53, p21 related cell apoptosis was increased according to increasing concentration but p27 was none exchanged. 4) The expression of cyclin A, D and E was decreased in a concentration proportional and then the dephosphorylation of pRb was increased. 5) The character of apoptosis, DNA fragmentation was significantly observed according to increasing concentration. 6) The expression of pro-caspase3 were decreased dependent on treatment concentration and activated PARP took place. Conclusion : The inhibitory effect of Sparganii Rhizoma on the proliferation of human uterine leiomyoma cells was observed with apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. These data suggest that Sparganii Rhizoma might be candidate of medical therapy for uterine leiomyoma.

• 대한한의학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.46-58
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• 2005

Objective : This study on Sipimikwanjung-tang was undertaken to evaluate its antioxidant capacities and antiperoxidation activities in rat liver tissues. Sipimikwanjung-tang which has been one of the prescriptions in sasang constitutional medicine is usually applied for the therapy of various liver diseases. It is elucidated that Sipimikwanjung-tang has antioxidants on liver tissue of rat and the cytotoxic effects on human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Methods: Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in antioxidant effects of Hep G2 cells is evaluated by MTT assay, DAPI staining, DNA fragmentation assays and FACS can analysis. Results: Sipimikwanjung-tang induced apoptosis in Hep G2 cells, and induced G1 and G2M arrest of the cell cycle as well as a significant increase in PARP and caspase-3 activity. It induced an increase in $H_2O_2$ generation and the subsequent $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation and also induced cell apoptosis through the caspase-3-dependent pathways in the low concentration of Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts. However, the high dose of Sipimikwanjung-tang extract in Hep G2 cells inhibited $TGF-{\beta}l-induced$ apoptosis via increase in cellular $H_2O_2$, formation and $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation in human hepatoblastoma Hep G2 cells. Conclusion: From this study, the possibility that Sipimikwanjung-tang extracts apply to antioxidant and apoptotic treatment of disease is revealed.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.191-196
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• 2002

The water extract from the root bark of Cortex Mori (CM, Morus alba L.: Sangbaikpi), a mulberry tree, has been known in Chinese traditional medicine to have antiphlogistic, diuretic, and expectorant properties. In this study, the cytotoxicity of CM against tumor cells and its mechanism was examined . CM exhibited cytotoxic activity on K-562, B38O human leukemia cells and B16 mouse melanoma cells at concentrations of > 1 mg/ml. A DNA fragmentation, PARP cleavage, and nuclear condensation assay showed that those cells exposed to CM underwent apoptosis. The water extract of Scutellarie Radix (SR) was used as a negative control and showed no cytotoxicity in those cells. The flow cytometric profiles of the CM-treated cells were also indicative of apoptosis. However, they did not appear to exert the G1 arrest, which is observed in other tubulin inhibitor agents such as vincristine, taxol. The protein-binding test using Biacore and a microtubule assembly-disassembly assay provided evidence showing that CM bound to the tubulins resulting in 3 markets inhibition of the assembly, but not the disassembly of microtubules. The possible nonspecific effect of the CM extract could be excluded due to the results using SR, which did not affect the assembly process. Overall, the water extract of CM induces apoptosis of tumor cells by inhibiting microtubule assembly.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권6호
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• pp.1584-1592
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• 2006

Houttuynia cordata Thunb, well known as 'E-Sung-Cho' in Korea, is traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. We previously reported that the water extract of H. cordata inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in human breast carcinoma cells. In the present study, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative effects by the methanol extract of H. cordata (MEHC) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells. It was found that MEHC could inhibit the cell growth in a dose-dependent manner, which was associated with morphological change and apoptotic cell death as determined by formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase cells. Apoptosis of A549 cells by MEHC was also connected with a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs) expression. MEHC treatment induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9, and a concomitant inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), ${\beta}$-catenin and phospholipase (PLC)-${\gamma}$1 protein expression. Taken together, these findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity of H. cordata.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.216-221
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• 2019

The c-Met protein is a receptor tyrosine kinase involved in cell growth, proliferation, survival, and angiogenesis of several human tumors. Overexpression of c-Met has been found in gastric cancers and correlated with a poor prognosis. Indirubin is the active component of Danggui Longhui Wan, which is a traditional Chinese antileukemic recipe. In the present study, we tested the anti-cancer effects of an indirubin derivative, LDD-1937, on human gastric cancer cells SNU-638. When we performed the in vitro kinase assay against the c-Met activity, LDD-1937 inhibited the activity of c-Met. This result was confirmed by immunoblot and immunofluorescence of phosphorylated c-Met. Immunoblot analysis showed that LDD-1937 decreased the expression of the Erk1/2, STAT3, STAT5, and Akt, downstream proteins of c-Met. In addition, LDD-1937 reduced the cell viability and suppressed colony formation and migration of SNU-638 cells. Furthermore, LDD-1937 induced $G_2/M$ phase arrest in the SNU-638 cells by decreasing the expression levels of cyclin B1 and CDC2. Cleaved-PARP, an apoptosis-related protein, was up-regulated in cells treated with LDD-1937. Overall, this study suggests that LDD-1937 may be a novel small-molecule with therapeutic potential for selectively inhibiting c-Met and c-Met downstream pathways in human gastric cancers overexpressing c-Met.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.363-372
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• 2019

Daidzein isolated from soybean (Glycine max) has been widely studied for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the protective effects of 7,8,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone (THIF), a major metabolite of daidzein, on 6-hydroxydopamine (OHDA)-induced neurotoxicity are not well understood. In the current study, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly inhibited neuronal cell death and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release induced by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells, which were used as an in vitro model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Moreover, pretreatment with 7,8,4'-THIF significantly increased the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) activity in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly recovered 6-OHDA-induced cleaved caspase-3, cleaved caspase-9, cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), increased Bax, and decreased Bcl-2 levels. Additionally, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly restored the expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK 1/2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3K)/Akt, and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta ($GSK-3{\beta}$) in 6-OHDA-induced SH-SY5Y cells. Further, 7,8,4'-THIF significantly increased the reduced tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) level induced by 6-OHDA in SH-SY5Y cells. Collectively, these results suggest that 7,8,4'-THIF protects against 6-OHDA-induced neuronal cell death in cellular PD models. Also, these effects are mediated partly by inhibiting activation of the MAPK and PI3K/Akt/$GSK-3{\beta}$ pathways.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.41-49
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• 2021

Objective : Citrus unshiu peel (Citri Unshius Pericarpium) has been prescribed to suppress coughing and phlegm in Korean medicine. In this study, the effect of ethanol extract of Citrus unshiu peel (CEE) on apoptosis was investigated using cadmium chloride (CdCl2) treated HepG2 cells. Methods : CEE was prepared by extracting 300 g of Citri Unshius Pericarpium in 3 L of ethanol for 72 h. Apoptosis was determined by the TUNEL assay. The mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was monitored using the membrane-permeable fluorescent dye Rh123. The expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis. Results : CEE protected HepG2 cells from apoptosis as determined by the TUNEL assay. A decrease in MMP was observed in cells exposed to cadmium, indicating that mitochondria are involved in the induction of apoptosis. However, CEE recovered the reduction in MMP caused by cadmium. In addition, decreased expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), procaspase, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) by cadmium was increased by CEE. The anti-apoptotic effect of CEE was found to be associated with inhibition of JNK and p38 phosphorylation when examining the expression of phosphorylated MAPK by Western blot. Conclusion : This study showed that CEE exerted anti-apoptotic effects in cadmium-induced HepG2 cells by inhibiting the reduction of MMP and changes in the expression level of apoptotic proteins. These results suggest the potential for CEE to be used for heavy metal-induced liver damage.

• 대한한의학방제학회지
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.29-39
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• 2023

Objective : Gardeniae Fructus (GF) is the ripe fruit of Gardenia jasminoides Ellisa with a bitter taste and cold properties. Ingredient compounds including geniposide are known to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. The purpose of this study was to investigate the neuroprotective effect of GF on tBHP-induced PC12 cells. Methods : Cell viability was measured by the MTT assay, and apoptosis was determined by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The expression level of each protein was monitored by Western blot analysis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed using DCFH-DA. Results : In PC12 cells, tBHP induced cell death through apoptosis with caspase activation and PARP inactivation. Cells treated with tBHP showed an increase in intracellular ROS and depletion of GSH. Pretreatment with GF prevented tBHP-induced apoptosis, reduced ROS, and increased GSH. GF also maintained increased Nrf2 expression in the presence of tBHP. Phosphorylation of JNK and p38 MAPK was increased by tBHP, whereas phosphorylation of ERK was decreased. GF restored changes in ERK and p38 phosphorylation, but not JNK phosphorylation. Conclusion : These results indicate that GF has neuroprotective effects through anti-apoptotic and antioxidant effects mediated by regulation of Nrf2 expression and phosphorylation of ERK and p38. It also demonstrates the potential use of GF as a source of antioxidant and neuroprotective substances.

• 대한본초학회지
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• 제38권5호
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• pp.49-60
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• 2023

Objectives : In this study, it was investigated the anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antioxidant effects of Jayangdaebo-tang (JDT) consisting of twelve herbs before and after fermentation. Methods : JDT extract was fermented using the Lactoplantibacillus plantanum (JDT-L), Bacillus subtilis (JDT-B), and L. plantanum plus B. subtilis (JDT-L+B). The effects of each extract were measured in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, MCF-7 breast cancer and A549 lung cancer cells, and H₂O₂-stimulated HepG2 cells. Results : The extracts of JDT-L, JDT-B and JDT-L+B at 1 ㎎/㎖ decreased significantly the levels of nitric oxide (NO) in LPS-treated RAW264.7 cells and also inhibited the expression of iNOS and COX-2, and the phosphorylation of ERK and NF-κB. The JDT-L+B extract decreased significantly the expression of apoptotic proteins, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and PARP in MCF-7 and A549 cancer cells. The JDT-L, JDT-B and JDT-L+B extracts increased significantly the cell viability in H₂O₂-stimulated HepG2 cells and the JDT-L+B extract decreased significantly the expression of SOD, catalase, HO-1, and NRF-2. Among fermented JDT extracts, JDT-L+B was the best effective on response of macrophage inflammation, cancer cell apoptosis, and liver cell damage. Conclusions : Our results were suggested that the fermentation can be used as a useful way to enhance the biological activity of JDT.