• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.540-544
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• 2011

The molecular mechanisms of apoptotic induction by benzyldihydroxyoctenone (BDH), a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp., have been previously published in prostate cancer LNCaP cells. Apoptotic induction of BDH-treated LNCaP cells was associated with downregulation of Bcl-xL that caused, in turn, cytochrome c release from mitochondria, and activation of procaspases and specific proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The purpose of the present study was to investigate the patterns of apoptotic induction by BDH in non-prostate, ovarian cancer PA-1 (androgen-independent and -insensitive) cells and prostate cancer cells with different androgen responsiveness, such as C4-2 (androgen-independent and -sensitive), 22Rv1 (androgen-dependent and -low sensitive), and LNCaP (androgen-dependent and -high sensitive) cells. We found that BDH-treated LNCaP cell proliferation was significantly inhibited in a time-dependent manner and induced apoptosis via downregulation of the androgen receptor (AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), as well as antiapoptotic Bcl-xL protein. However, the levels of BDH-mediated apoptotic induction and growth inhibition in 22Rv1 cells were apparently lower than those of LNCaP cells. In contrast, the induction of apoptosis and antiproliferative effect in BDH-treated non-prostate cancer PA-1 and hormone refractory C4-2 cells were not detectable and marginal, respectively. Therefore, BDH-mediated differential apoptotic induction and growth inhibition in a cell type seem to be obviously dependent on its androgen responsiveness; primarily on androgen-dependency, and then on androgensensitivity.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2008

The present study investigated the antiproliferative effects of Crnum asiaticum var. japonicum against HL-60 human leukemia cells. The 80% MeOH extract or several solvent fractions from the C. asiaticum inhibited the growth of HL-60 cells, whereas the growth of HEL-299 cells, human embryonic lung fibroblast, was scarcely inhibited. When the HL-60 cells were treated with the $CHCl_3$ fraction, the BuOH fraction, the EtOAc fraction and the $H_2O$ fraction, DNA ladder, chromatin condensation and increase of sub-G1 hypodiploid cells were observed. Furthermore, the $CHCl_3$ fraction and the BuOH fraction reduced Bc1-2 mRNA level, whereas Bax mRNA level was increased. These results suggest that the inhibitory effect of C. asiaticum on the growth of the HL-60 cell might be mediated through the induction of apoptosis via the down-regulation of Bc1-2. Taken together, components of C. asiaticum might have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of human leukemia.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Pharmacology
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• 2003.11a
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• pp.90-90
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• 2003

The acetylation of histone is one of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression and is tightly controlled by two core enzymes, histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC). There are several reports that imbalance of HAT and HDAC activity is associated with abnormal behavior of the cells in morphology, cell cycle, differentiation, and carcinogenesis. Recently, an increasing number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been identified that inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation and/or apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we have investigated the effects of novel HDAC inhibitors, IN2001 on ER positive and ER negative human breast cancer cell lines. The growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cells by HDAC inhibitors were determined using SRB assay, DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry. We found that IN 2001 as well as Trichostatin A inhibited cell growth dose-dependently in both ER positive and ER negative human breast cancer cell lines. The growth inhibition with HDAC inhibitors was associated with profound morphological change. The result of cell cycle analysis after 24 h exposure of IN2001 showed G2-M cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cell and apoptosis in T47D and MDA-MB-231 cell. In summary, IN2001 has antiproliferative effect on human breast cancer cells regardless of the expression of estrogen receptor. These findings heights the possibility of developing HDAC inhibitors as potential anticancer therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2012

Honokiol, a naturally occurring neolignan mainly found in Magnolia species, has been shown to have the anti-angiogenic, anti-invasive and cancer chemopreventive activities, but the molecular mechanism of actions has not been fully elucidated yet. In the present study, we investigated the effect of honokiol on the growth inhibitory activity in cultured SNU-638 human gastric cancer cells. We found that honokiol exerted potent antiproliferative activity against SNU-638 cells. Honokiol also arrested the cell cycle progression at the G0/G1 phase and induced the apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. The cell cycle arrest was well correlated with the downregulation of Rb, cyclin D1, cyclin A, cyclin E, and CDK4 expression, and the induction of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27. The increase of sub-G1 peak by honokiol was closely related to the induction of apoptosis, which was evidenced by the induction of DNA fragmentation, the cleavage of poly(ADPribose) polymerase, and the sequential activation of caspase cascade. These findings suggest the cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis might be one possible mechanism of actions for the anti-proliferative activity of honokiol in human gastric cancer cell.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-54
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• 2000

Cannabidiol derivatives (1, 2 and 3), and 5-fluorouracil (4, 5-FU) were tested for their growth inhibitory effects against human oral epitheloid carcinoma cell lines (KB) using two different 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and sulforhodamine B protein (SRB) assay. These compounds showed a potent inhibitory activity in vitro in the micromolar range against KB cell lines. In general, the antitumor activity of these compounds (1, 2, 3 and 4) was in a dose-dependent over the micromolar concentration ranges from $1\;{\mu}M\;to\;100\;{\mu}M$. The comparison of $IC_{50}$ values of these compounds in tumor cell lines shows that their susceptibility to these compounds decreases in the following order: CBD > 5-FU > CBDME > CBDDE by the MTT assay and SRB assay. Cannabidiol derivatives (1, 2 and 3), and 5-FU were tested for their cytotoxic effects on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts using two different MTT assay and SRB assay. These compounds exhibited potent cytotoxic activities in vitro in the micromolar range against NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. In general, the cytotoxic activities of these compounds (1, 2, 3 and 4) were in a dose-dependent over the micromolar concentration range $1\;{\mu}M\;to\;100\;{\mu}M$. The comparison of $CD_{50}$ values of these compounds on NIH 3T3 fibroblasts shows that their susceptibility to these compounds decreases in the following order; CBD > 5-FU > CBDDE > CBDME by MTT assay, CBD > 5-FU > CBDME > CBDDE by SRB assay. These results suggest that cannabidiol (1, CBD) retains the most growth-inhibitory activity against KB cell lines.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4357-4361
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• 2015

Thunbergia Laurifolia Linn. (TL) is one of the most familiar plants in Thai traditional medicine that is used to treat various conditions, including cancer. However, the antitumor activity of TL or its constituents has never been reported at the molecular level to support the folklore claim. The present study was designed to investigate the antitumor effect of an aqueous extract of TL in human breast cancer cells and the possible mechanism(s) of action. An aqueous crude extract was prepared from dried leaves of TL. Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric assays were used to determine the total phenolic content. Antiproliferative and cell cycle effects were evaluated in human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells by MTT reduction assay, cell growth inhibition, clonogenic cell survival, and flow cytometric analysis. Free radical generation by the extracts was detected using electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. The exposure of human breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells to a TL aqueous extract resulted in decreases in cell growth, clonogenic cell survival, and cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner with an $IC_{50}$ value of $843{\mu}g/ml$. Treatments with extract for 24h at $250{\mu}g/ml$ or higher induced cell cycle arrest as indicated by a significant increase of cell population in the G1 phase and a significant decrease in the S phase of the cell cycle. The capability of the aqueous extract to generate radical intermediates was observed at both high pH and near-neutral pH conditions. The findings suggest the antitumor bioactivities of TL against selected breast cancer cells may be due to induction of a G1 cell cycle arrest. Cytotoxicity and cell cycle perturbation that are associated with a high concentration of the extract could be in part explained by the total phenolic contents in the extract and the capacity to generate radical intermediates to modulate cellular proliferative signals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.4303-4310
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• 2015

Rumex vesicarius is an edible herb distributed in Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The whole plant has significant value in folk medicine and it has been used to alleviate several diseases. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the major primary malignant tumor of the liver, is one of the most life-threatening human cancers. The goal of the current study was to explore the potent role of Rumex vesicarius extract against HCC induced in rats. Thirty adult male albino rats were divided into 3 groups: (I): Healthy animals received orally 0.9 % normal saline and served as negative control group, (II): HCC group in which rats were orally administered N-nitrosodiethylamine NDEA, (III): HCC group treated orally with R. vesicarius extract in a dose of 400 mg/kg b.wt daily for two months. ALT and AST, ALP and ${\gamma}$-GT activities were estimated. CEA, AFP, AFU, GPC-3, Gp-73 and VEGF levels were quantified. Histopathological examination of liver tissue sections was also carried out. The results of the current study showed that the treatment of the HCC group with R. vesicarius extract reversed the significant increase in liver enzymes activity, CEA, AFP, AFU, glypican 3, golgi 73 and VEGF levels in serum as compared to HCC-untreated counterparts. In addition, the favorable impact of R. vesicarius treatment was evidenced by the marked improvement in the histopathological features of the liver of the treated group. In conclusion, the present experimental setting provided evidence for the significance of R. vesicarius as anticancer candidate with a promising anticancer potential against HCC. The powerful hepatoprotective properties, the potent antiangiogenic activity and the effective antiproliferative capacity are responsible for the anticancer effect of this plant.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.180-180
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• 2003

The acetylation of histone is one of the mechanisms involved in the regulation of gene expression and is tightly controlled by two core enzymes, histone acetyltransferase (HAT) and deacetylase (HDAC). There are several reports that imbalance of HAT and HDAC activity is associated with abnormal behavior of the cells in morphology, cell cycle, differentiation, and carcinogenesis. Recently, an increasing number of structurally diverse HDAC inhibitors have been identified that inhibit proliferation and induce differentiation and/or apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo and in vitro. In this study, we have investigated the effects of novel HDAC inhibitors, IN2001 on ER positive and ER negative human breast cancer cell lines. The growth inhibition, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of cells by HDAC inhibitors were determined using SRB assay, DNA fragmentation, and flow cytometry. We found that IN 2001 as well as Trichostatin A inhibited cell growth dose-dependently in both ER Positive and ER negative human breast cancer cell lines. The growth inhibition with HDAC inhibitors was associated with profound morphological change. The result of cell cycle analysis after 24 h exposure of IN2001 showed G2-M cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 cell and apoptosis in T47B and MDA-MB-231 cell. In summary, IN2001 has antiproliferative effect on human breast cancer cells regardless of the expression of estrogen receptor. These findings heights the possibility of developing HDAC inhibitors as potential anticancer therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1055-1060
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• 2003

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a well-known mitogen in various cell types. However, we found that LPA inhibits melanocyte proliferation. Thus, we further investigated the possible signaling pathways involved in melanocyte growth inhibition. We first examined the regulation of the three major subfamilies of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and of the Akt pathway by LPA. The activations of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were observed in concert with the inhibition of melanocyte proliferation by LPA, whereas p38 MAP kinase and Akt were not influenced by LPA. However, the specific inhibition of the ERK or JNK pathways by PD98059 or D-JNKI1, respectively, did not restore the antiproliferative effect. We next examined changes in the expression of cell cycle related proteins. LPA decreased cyclin $D_1 and cyclin D_2$ levels but increased $p21^{WAF1/CIP1}$ (p21) and $p27^{KIP1}$ (p27) levels, which are known inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase. Flow cytometric analysis showed the inhibition of DNA synthesis by a reduction in the S phase and an increase in the $G_0/G_1$ phase of the cell cycle. Our results suggest that LPA induces cell cycle arrest by regulating the expressions of cell cycle related proteins.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1399-1404
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• 2006

The roots of Aralia continentalis (AC) have been used traditionally in Korean as a folk medicine for anti-inflammation and as an anti-rheumatic. In this study, we report that the ethyl acetate-soluble traction (ACE) of the methanolic extract of AC root inhibited the cell growth of various human cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis of HL-60, human promyelocytic leukemia cells. Its $IC_{50}$ values on growth inhibition were estimated to be $56.3{\mu}g/ml$ on HL-60, $87.2{\mu}g/ml$ on HepG2, $93.2{\mu}g/ml$ on HeLa, $135.5{\mu}g/ml$ on DU-145, and $135.8{\mu}g/ml$ on HT-29 cells. Interestingly, ACE showed no antiproliferative effect on normal lymphocyte cells used as control. Furthermore, nuclear DAPI staining revealed the typical nuclear features of apoptosis in the HL-60 cells exposed to $80{\mu}g/ml$ ACE, and a flow cytometric analysis of the HL-60 cells using propidium iodide showed that the apoptotic cell population increased gradually from 5% at 0 h to 16% at 12 h and 20% at 24 h after treated with $50{\mu}g/ml$ of ACE. TUNEL assay also revealed the apoptotic induction of the HL-60 cells treated with ACE. To obtain further information on the ACE-induced apoptosis, the expression level of certain apoptosis-associated proteins was examined using a Western blot analysis. Treatment of the HL-60 cells with ACE resulted in the activation of caspase-3, and subsequent proteolytic cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The above results confirmed that the apoptosis in the HL-60 cells was induced by ACE, and that caspase-3-mediated PARP cleavage was involved in the process.