• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.329-334
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• 2007

The potential antioxidant and anticancer activities of Hexane, EtOAc (Ethyl acetate), BuOH (n-Buthanol) and water fractions from methanolic (MeOH) extract of Picrasma quassioides (D. Don) Benn. were evaluated in vitro. Tested fractions showed strong antioxidant activity, especially EtOAc fraction had the highest activity ($IC_{50}\;=\;114.01\;{\mu}g/mL$), containing high total phenolics and total flavonoids contents, showed $67.59\;Tan\;{\mu}g/mg$ and $64.95\;Que\;{\mu}g/mg$ respectively. Anticancer activity of these fractions was tested by MTT assay on HT-29 (the human colon carcinoma cells) cell line. BuOH fraction not only showed very high anticancer activity, but also had no cytotoxic effect on 293 (the human normal kidney cells) cell line. Considering these results, we used BuOH fraction of MeOH crude extract from P. quassioides (D.Don) Benn. to do assessment of apoptosis by flow cytometry and the mRNA expression levels of widely established apoptotic-related genes on HT-29 cell line. All the experiments showed that BuOH fraction can induce apoptosis on HT-29 cell line strongly. Taken together, methanolic extract of P. quassioides has potential for antioxidant and anticancer activities products.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2020

The present study was carried out to investigate the possibility that bispidinone derivative makes anticancer drug availability to human cervical carcinoma cell. The B8 has the lowest IC50 value among B8, B9 and B10 which are bispidinone analogue with bromide. According to cytotoxic test through WST-8 assay, B8 shows the most magnificent cytotoxicity effectiveness with 76 μM of IC50 value. In human cervical carcinoma cell treated with B8, it noticeably controlled cellular multiplication by increase of concentration and time. Furthermore, morphological changes like cellular shrink, disruption and nuclear condensation, feature of apoptosis, are observed. Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining assay test proved that B8 can cause apoptosis. Moreover, after treatment with 76 μM of B8, flow cytometry analysis shows that increase of active oxygen species are induced and membrane potential in mitochondria is decreased. Manifestation of Bcl-2 family and caspase cascades protein provides evidence that B8 induces apoptosis through mitochondria and caspase-related pathway. Taken together, we suggested that B8 reduced membrane potential in mitochondria and induce apoptosis through the pathway depended on mitochondria and caspase.

• Preventive Nutrition and Food Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.278-284
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• 2006

The beneficial effects of digested onion extracts have been assessed by antimutagenic and anticancer activities by Ames test and SRB test. The total phenolic acids and flavonoids in onion extracts were determined. Red and yellow onions contain more phenolic acids and flavonoids than those in the white onion. Digested, extracts showed antimutagenic activity and anticancer activity, and it appears that the antimutagenic activity of digested extracts of onion against mutagens and anticancer activities were related to their phenols and flavonoids contents. Moreover, the extracts inhibited the proliferation of four human tumorigenic cell lines such as HT-29 (colon), MCF-7 (breast), DU-145 (prostate) and HepG2 (liver), in a dose-dependent manner. Phenolic acids and flavonoids caused oxidative damage to the cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis. Generally, red onion extracts showed effective antimutagenic and anticancer activity, and the digested red onion extracts elicited stronger antimutagenic activity than those of the onion extracts without digestion.

• Herbal Formula Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.67-83
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, the anticancer activity of water extracts of three herbal medicine formulas, Bigihwan (BGH), Daechilgitang (DCGT) and Mokwhyangbinranghwan (MHBRH) listed in Donguibogam, was evaluated in HepG2 cells, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. Methods : We investigated whether the cell viability of HepG2 cells was inhibited by the treatment of water extracts of three prescriptions, and whether their viability inhibitory effect was related to the induction of apoptosis. In addition, the role of autophagy on the induction of apoptosis by the treatment of these extracts was investigated. Results : The anticancer activity of the three water extracts on HepG2 cells was due to induction of apoptosis, not necrosis. Among them, BGH activated the caspase-dependent intrinsic apoptosis pathway associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. However, autophagy was induced more than 2-fold in DCGT-treated HepG2 cells, and the anticancer activity of DCGT was enhanced 1.5-fold in the presence of an autophagy inhibitor, but was attenuated in BGH and MHBRH-treated cells. Conclusion : The results of this study indicate that DCGT-induced autophagy was involved in the inhibition of apoptosis, whereas autophagy by BGH and MHBRH was related to induction of apoptosis.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.133-143
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• 2018

Background: AD-2 (20(R)-dammarane-3b, 12b, 20, 25-tetrol; 25-OH-PPD) is a ginsenoside and isolated from Panax ginseng, showing anticancer activity against extensive human cancer cell lines. In this study, effects and mechanisms of 1C ((20R)-3b-O-(L-alanyl)-dammarane-12b, 20, 25-triol), a modified version of AD-2, were evaluated for its development as a novel anticancer drug. Methods: MTT assay was performed to evaluate cell cytotoxic activity. Cell cycle and levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using flow cytometry analysis. Western blotting was employed to analyze signaling pathways. Results: 1C concentration-dependently reduces prostate cancer cell viability without affecting normal human gastric epithelial cell line-1 viability. In LNCaP prostate cancer cells, 1C triggered apoptosis via Bcl-2 family-mediated mitochondria pathway, downregulated expression of mouse double minute 2, upregulated expression of p53 and stimulated ROS production. ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine, can attenuate 1C-induced apoptosis. 1C also inhibited the proliferation of LNCaP cells through inhibition on $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. Conclusion: 1C shows obvious anticancer activity based on inducing cell apoptosis by Bcl-2 family-mediated mitochondria pathway and ROS production, inhibiting $Wnt/{\beta}-catenin$ signaling pathway. These findings demonstrate that 1C may provide leads as a potential agent for cancer therapy.

• Oncology Letters
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.711-717
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• 2019

In attempting to identify effective anticancer drugs from natural products that are harmless to humans, we found that the gomisin J from Schisandra chinensis fruit has anticancer activity. Schisandra chinensis fruits are used in traditional herbal medicine and gomisin J is one of their chemical constituents. In the present study, we examined the anticancer activity of gomisin J in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines and in MCF10A normal cell line, in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Our data revealed that gomisin J exerted a much stronger cytotoxic effect on MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells than on MCF10A normal cells. Gomisin J suppressed the proliferation and decreased the viability of MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at relatively low (<10 ㎍/ml) and high (>30 ㎍/ml) concentrations, respectively. Our data also revealed that gomisin J induced necroptosis, a programmed form of necrosis, as well as apoptosis. Notably, gomisin J predominantly induced necroptosis in MCF7 cells that are known to have high resistance to many pro-apoptotic anticancer drugs, while MDA-MB-231 exhibited a much lower level of necroptosis but instead a higher level of apoptosis. This data indicated the possibility that it may be used as a more effective anticancer drug, especially in apoptosis-resistant malignant cancer cells. In an extended study, gomisin J exhibited a strong cytotoxic effect on all tested various types of 13 cancer cell lines, indicating its potential to be used against a wide range of different types of cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.3023-3028
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• 2013

Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT ) is a promising modality for the treatment of various tumors. In order to assist in optimizing treatment, we applied 5-ALA/PDT in combination with low-dose cisplatin to evaluate cytotoxicity in Hela cells. Methods: Antiproliferative effects of 5-ALA/PDT and cisplatin, alone and in combination, were assessed using MTT assay. To examine levels of apoptosis, Hela cells treated with 5-ALA/PDT, and combination treatment were assessed with Annexin-V/PI by flow cytometry. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying alterations in cell proliferation and apoptosis, Western blot analysis was conducted to determine the expression of p53, p21, Bax and Bcl-2 proteins. Results: MTT assays indicated that combination treatment obviously decreased the viability of Hela cells compared to individual drug treatment. In addition, it was confirmed that exposure of Hela cells to 5-ALA/PDT in combination with low-dose cisplatin resulted in more apoptosis in vitro. Synergistic anticancer activity was related to upregulation p53 expression and alteration in expression of p21, Bcl-2 and Bax. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that administration of 5-ALA/PDT in combination with the low-dose cisplatin may be an effective and feasible therapy for cervical cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.10
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• pp.1343-1349
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• 2021

Cockroaches live in places where various pathogens exist and thus are more likely to use antimicrobial compounds to defend against pathogen intrusions. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the Periplaneta americana transcriptome and detected periplanetasin-5 using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. In this study, we investigated whether periplanetasin-5 has anticancer activity against the human leukemia cell line K562. Cell growth and survival of K562 cells treated with periplanetasin-5 were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. By using flow cytometric analysis, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and DNA fragmentation, we found that periplanetasin-5 induced apoptotic and necrotic cell death in leukemia cells. In addition, these events were associated with increased levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins Fas and cytochrome c and reduced levels of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Periplanetasin-5 induces the cleavage of pro-caspase-9, pro-caspase-8, pro-caspase-3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The above data suggest that periplanetasin-5 induces apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways. Moreover, caspase-related apoptosis was further confirmed by using the caspase inhibitor carbobenzoxy-valyl-alanyl-aspartyl-[O-methyl]-fluoromethylketone (Z-VAD-FMK), which reversed the periplanetasin-5-induced reduction in cell viability. In conclusion, periplanetasin-5 caused apoptosis in leukemia cells, suggesting its potential utility as an anticancer therapeutic agent.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.50-57
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• 2018

Millettia erythrocalyx, a species of plant in the Fabaceae family, is widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world, such as the Indies, China, and Thailand. The antiviral activity of flavonoids from M. erythrocalyx has been reported; however, the antioxidative and anticancer activities of M. erythrocalyx remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the antioxidative and anticancer effects of ethanol extract of M. erythrocalyx (EEME) and the molecular mechanism of its anticancer activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells. EEME exhibited significant antioxidative effects, with a concentration at 50% inhibition ($IC_{50}$) value of $2.74{\mu}g/ml$, as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay; moreover, it inhibited cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner in HepG2 cells. Cell cycle analyses showed that EEME induced HepG2 cell accumulation in the subG1 phase in a dose-dependent manner. EEME also induced apoptosis of HepG2 cells, with increases in apoptotic cells and apoptotic bodies, as detected by Annexin V and 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, respectively. Treatment with EEME resulted in increased expression of First apoptosis signal (Fas), a death receptor, and Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), a proapoptotic protein, and the activation of caspase-3, 8, and 9, resulting in the cleavage of poly (Adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Collectively, these results suggest that EEME may exert an anticancer effect in HepG2 cells by inducing apoptosis via both the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.195-199
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• 2007

Inositol hexaphosphate ($IP_6$) is a major constituent of most cereals, legumes, nuts, oil seeds and soybean. Previous studies reported the anticancer effect of $IP_6$ and suggested that co-treatment of $IP_6$ with inositol may enhance anticancer effect of $IP_6$. Although the anticancer effect of $IP_6$ has been intensively studied, the combinational effect of $IP_6$ and inositol and involved mechanisms are not well understood so far. In the present study, we investigated the effect of $IP_6$ and myo-inositol (MI) on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis using PC3 prostate cancer cell lines. When cell, were co-treated with $IP_6$ and MI, the extent of cell growth inhibition was significantly increased than that by $IP_6$ alone. To identify the effect of $IP_6$ and MI on apoptosis, the activity of caspase-3 was measured. The caspase-3 activity was significantly increased when cells were treated with either $IP_6$ alone or both $IP_6$ and MI, with no significant enhancement by co-treatment. To investigate the effect of $IP_6$ and MI of cell cycle arrest, we measured p21 mRNA expression in PC3 cells and observed significant increase in p21 mRNA by $IP_6$. But synergistic regulation by co-treatment with $IP_6$ and MI was not observed. In addition, there was no significant effect by co-treatment compared to $IP_6$ treatment on the regulation of cell cycle progression although $IP_6$ significantly changed cell cycle distribution in the presence of MI or not. Therefore, these findings support that $IP_6$ has anticancer function by induction of apoptosis and regulation of cell cycle. However, synergistic effect by MI on cell cycle regulation and apoptosis was not observed in PC3 prostate cancer cells.