• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.185-195
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• 2016

Background: To investigate the effect of pectinase-treated Panax ginseng (GINST) in cellular and male subfertility animal models. Methods: Hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$)-induced mouse spermatocyte GC-2spd cells were used as an in vitro model. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. For the in vivo study, GINST (200 mg/kg) mixed with a regular pellet diet was administered orally for 4 mo, and the changes in the mRNA and protein expression level of antioxidative and spermatogenic genes in young and aged control rats were compared using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results: GINST treatment ($50{\mu}g/mL$, $100{\mu}g/mL$, and $200{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the $H_2O_2$-induced ($200{\mu}M$) cytotoxicity in GC-2spd cells. Furthermore, GINST ($50{\mu}g/mL$ and $100{\mu}g/mL$) significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorated the $H_2O_2$-induced decrease in the expression level of antioxidant enzymes (peroxiredoxin 3 and 4, glutathione S-transferase m5, and glutathione peroxidase 4), spermatogenesis-related protein such as inhibin-${\alpha}$, and specific sex hormone receptors (androgen receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor) in GC-2spd cells. Similarly, the altered expression level of the above mentioned genes and of spermatogenesis-related nectin-2 and cAMP response element-binding protein in aged rat testes was ameliorated with GINST (200 mg/kg) treatment. Taken together, GINST attenuated $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in GC-2 cells and modulated the expression of antioxidant-related genes and of spermatogenic-related proteins and sex hormone receptors in aged rats. Conclusion: GINST may be a potential natural agent for the protection against or treatment of oxidative stress-induced male subfertility and aging-induced male subfertility.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.42-49
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• 2018

Background: Ginsenoside F1 has been described to possess skin-whitening effects on humans. We aimed to synthesize a new ginsenoside derivative from F1 and investigate its cytotoxicity and melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells using recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme. Glycosylation has the advantage of synthesizing rare chemical compounds from common compounds with great ease. Methods: UDP-glycosyltransferase (BSGT1) gene from Bacillus subtilis was selected for cloning. The recombinant glycosyltransferase enzyme was purified, characterized, and utilized to enzymatically transform F1 into its derivative. The new product was characterized by NMR techniques and evaluated by MTT, melanin count, and tyrosinase inhibition assay. Results: The new derivative was identified as (20S)-$3{\beta},6{\alpha},12{\beta}$,20-tetrahydroxydammar-24-ene-20-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranosyl-3-O-${\beta}$-D-glucopyranoside(ginsenoside Ia), which possesses an additional glucose linked into the C-3 position of substrate F1. Ia had been previously reported; however, no in vitro biological activity was further examined. This study focused on the mass production of arduous ginsenoside Ia from accessible F1 and its inhibitory effect of melanogenesis in B16BL6 cells. Ia showed greater inhibition of melanin and tyrosinase at $100{\mu}mol/L$ than F1 and arbutin. These results suggested that Ia decreased cellular melanin synthesis in B16BL6 cells through downregulation of tyrosinase activity. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to report on the mass production of rare ginsenoside Ia from F1 using recombinant UDP-glycosyltransferase isolated from B. subtillis and its superior melanogenesis inhibitory activity in B16BL6 cells as compared to its precursor. In brief, ginsenoside Ia can be applied for further study in cosmetics.

• Journal of Korean Medicine for Obesity Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was performed to identify the anti-inflammatory effect of Pulsatilla koreana (PK) methanol extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced inflammatory. Methods: There were five groups. They were control group, LPS-exposed PK methanol extract group ($0{\mu}g/ml$, $10{\mu}g/ml$, $30{\mu}g/ml$, $100{\mu}g/ml$). To measure out cytotoxicity of PK, we performed the MTT assay. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of PK, we examined the inflammatory mediators, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin $[IL]-1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ [$TNF-{\alpha}$], IL-10). Results: 1. The extract of PK (${\sim}100{\mu}g/ml$) itself did not have any cytotoxic effect in RAW 264.7 cells. 2. The concentration of plasma NO and PGE2 in PK methanol extract group showed a lower values than those of control group. 3. The concentration of plasma $IL-1{\beta}$, plasma IL-6, and plasma $TNF-{\alpha}$ in PK methanol extract group showed a lower values than those of control group. 4. The concentration of Plasma IL-10 in PK methanol extract groups showed higher than control group; however, these values showed no significantly different. Conclusions: According to this study, the extract of PK could be used as a protective agent against inflammation.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2007

Eleven polyhydroxyursane triterpenoids (PHUTs) were tested to determine their cytoprotective, immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. To compare the bioactivities of $19{\alpha}$-hydroxyursane-type triterpenoids {23-hydroxytormentic acid (6), its methyl ester (7), tormentic acid (8), niga-ichigoside $F_1$ (9),euscaphic acid (10) and kaji-ichigoside $F_1$ (11)} of the Rosaceae crude drugs (Rubi Fructus and Rosa rugosae Radix) with PHUTs possessing no $19{\alpha}-hydroxyl$ of Centella asiatica (Umbelliferae), the four PHUTs, asiaticoside (1), madecassoside (2), asiatic acid (3), and madecassic acid (4) were isolated from C. asiatica and 23-hydroxyursolic acid (5) from Cussonia bancoensis. Cytoprotective effects were assessed by measuring cell viabilities against cisplatin-induced cytotoxocity in $LLC-PK_1$, cells (proximal tubule, pig kidney) to determine whether these agents have protective effects against nephrotoxicity caused by cisplatin. The inhibitory effect of 11 PHUTS on nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin $E_2\;(PGE_2)$ were evaluated by measuring nitrite accumulation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW 264.7 cells, and their anti-inflammatory effects were tested in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema model. Six MHUTs (compounds 1, 2, 4, 6, 10, and 11) exhibited higher cell viabilities during cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity testing even at a concentration of $200\;{\mu}g/ml$ than cisplatin only-treated group, suggesting that ese compounds have the potentcytoprotective efffcts. Compounds 1 and 3 of the C. asiatica and niga-ichigoside $F_1$ exhibited no inhibitory effect on NO and/or $PGE_2$ production whereas other PHUTs produced mild to significant NO and/or $PGE_2$ production.The four compounds (2, 5, 9, and 10) potently inhibited mouse ear edema induced by TPA whereas two compounds (1 and 3) had no activity in this test. These results suggest that many PHUTs are potentchemopreventives. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) was also discussed in each assay with regard to the significant role of OHs at the position of 2, 3, 6, 19, and 23 and to the glycoside linkage at the 28-carboxyl.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.54-65
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• 2010

Objective : The water extract of Chungsimyeonja-eum (CSYJE) has traditionally been used in treatments of heart diseases and brain diseases in Oriental medicine. However, little is known about the mechanism by which CSYJE protects neuronal cells from injury damages. Therefore, in this study we attempted to elucidate the mechanism of the cytoprotective effect of the CSYJE extract on glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death. Methods : Cultured cells were pretreated with CSYJE and exposed to glutamate, cell damage was assessed by using MTT assay and propidium iodide (PI), probe 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) staining. Western blotting was performed using anti-procaspase-3 and anti-PARP, respectively. Result : We determined the elevated cell viability by CSYJE extract on glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death. Glutamate induced DNA fragmentation on C6 glial cells but pre-treatment with CSYJE inhibited DNA fragmentation. One of the main mediators of glutamate-induced cytotoxicity was known to generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Pre-treatment with CSYJE inhibited this ROS generation from glutamate-stimulated C6 glial cells. Also, we identified that the ROS-induced DCF-DA green fluorescence was reduced by CSYJE pre-treatment. The critical markers of apoptotic cell death are the cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins, so we checked the expression level and cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins. Glutamate-treated C6 glial cells showed the cleavages of procaspase-3 protease and PARP proteins and followed the reduction of expression of these proteins. Conclusion : These findings indicate that CSYJE may prevent cell death from glutamate-induced C6 glial cell death by inhibiting the ROS generation and procaspase-3 and PARP expression.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.1 s.21
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• pp.1-9
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• 1987

Sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) observed by means of bromodeoxyuridine substitution and fluorescence plus Giemsa (FPG) technique were proposed as a sensitive and quantitative assay for mutagenicity and cytotoxicity in short-term cultures of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human lymphocytes. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate the relation between anticancer agents and cytotoxic effects. Chromosomal analysis was performed on metaphase cells that had divided one, two, or three or more times after treatment for SCEs, mitotic indices (MI) and cell cycle kinetics by FPG technique. The results indicate that anticancer agents led to a dose dependent increase in SCE frequency except methotrexate. But, highly inhibited mitotic indices and delayed cell cycle kinetics were observed except for cyclophosphamide. The author suggest that the difference of SCE frequency is due to the differences in the cytotoxic action of anticancer agents, but although the induction of SCEs has a correlation with cell cycle delay, in some cases the induction of SCEs is not always related to cell cycle delay because of different cytotoxic action of anticancer agents.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3519-3528
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• 2012

Inhibitory effects of Maclura amboinenesis Bl, one plant used traditionally for the treatment of cancers, on metastatic potential of highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells were investigated in vitro. Cell proliferation was assessed using the MTT colorimetric assay. Details of metastatic capabilities including invasion, migration and adhesion of B16F10 melanoma cells were examined by Boyden Chamber invasion and migration, scratch motility and cell attachment assays, respectively. The results demonstrated that n-hexane and chloroform extracts exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects (p<0.01), whereas the methanol and aqueous extracts had less pronounced effects after 24 h exposure. Bioactivity-guided chromatographic fractionation of both active n-hexane and chloroform extracts led to the isolation of two main prenylated xanthones and characterization as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I, respectively, their structures being identified by comparison with the spectral data. Interestingly, both exhibited potent effective effects. At non-toxic effective doses, n-hexane and chloroform extracts (10 and $30{\mu}g/ml$) as well as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I (3 and $10{\mu}M$) significantly inhibited B16F10 cell invasion, to a greater extent than $10{\mu}m$ doxorubicin, while reducing migration of cancer cells without cellular cytotoxicity. Moreover, exposure of B16F10 melanoma cells to high concentrations of chloroform ($30{\mu}g/ml$) and geratoxanthone-I ($20{\mu}M$) for 24 h resulted in delayed adhesion and retarded colonization. As insights into mechanisms of action, typical morphological changes of apoptotic cells e.g. membrane blebbing, chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation, apoptotic bodies and loss of adhesion as well as cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase with increase of sub-G1 cell proportions, detected by Hoechst 33342 staining and flow cytometry were observed, suggesting DNA damage and subsequent apoptotic cell death. Taken together, our findings indicate for the first time that active n-hexane and chloroform extracts as well as macluraxanthone and gerontoxanthone-I isolated from Maclura amboinensis Bl. roots affect multistep of cancer metastasis processes including proliferation, adhesion, invasion and migration, possibly through induction of apoptosis of highly metastatic B16F10 melanoma cells. Based on these data, M. amboinensis Bl. represents a potential candidate novel chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic agent. Additionally, they also support its ethno-medicinal usage for cancer prevention and/or chemotherapy.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8947-8950
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• 2014

Immunological functions of heat shock proteins (HSPs) have long been recognized. In this study we aimed to efficiently purify HSP70 from renal cell carcinoma and test it as a tumor antigen for pulsing dendritic cells in vitro. HSP70 was purified from renal cell carcinoma specimens by serial column chromatography on Con A-sepharose, PD-10, ADP-agarose and DEAE-cellulose, and finally subjected to fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). Dendritic cells derived from the adherent fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in the presence of IL-4 and GM-CSF and exposed to tumor HSP70. After 24 hours, dendritic cells were phenotypically characterized by flow cytometry. T cells obtained from the non-adherent fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells were then co-cultured with HSP70-pulsed dendritic cells and after 3 days T cell cytotoxicity towards primary cultured renal cell carcinoma cells was examined by Cell Counting Kit-8 assay. Dendritic cells pulsed in vitro with tumor-derived HSP70 expressed higher levels of CD83, CD80, CD86 and HLA-DR maturation markers than those pulsed with tumor cell lysate and comparable to that of dendritic cells pulsed with tumor cell lysate plus TNF-${\alpha}$. Concomitantly, cytotoxic T-lymphocytes induced by HSP70-pulsed dendritic cells presented the highest cytotoxic activity. There were no significant differences when using homologous or autologous HSP70 as the tumor antigen. HSP70 can be efficiently purified by chromatography and induces in vitro dendritic cell maturation in the absence of TNF-${\alpha}$. Conspecific HSP70 may effectively be used as a tumor antigen to pulse dendritic cells in vitro.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8693-8698
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• 2014

Background: Up-regulation of hsp90 gene expression occurs in numerous cancers such as lung cancer. D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid-poly ethylene glycol-17-dimethylaminoethylamino-17-demethoxy geldanamycin (PLGA-PEG-17DMAG) complexes and free 17-DMAG may inhibit the expression. The purpose of this study was to examine whether nanocapsulating 17DMAG improves the anti cancer effect over free 17DMAG in the A549 lung cancer cell line. Materials and Methods: Cells were grown in RPMI 1640 supplemented with 10% FBS. Capsulation of 17DMAG is conducted through double emulsion, then the amount of loaded drug was calculated. Other properties of this copolymer were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Assessment of drug cytotoxicity on the grown of lung cancer cell line was carried out through MTT assay. After treatment, RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. In order to assess the amount of hsp90 gene expression, real-time PCR was performed. Results: In regard to the amount of the drug load, IC50 was significant decreased in nanocapsulated(NC) 17DMAG in comparison with free 17DMAG. This was confirmed through decrease of HSP90 gene expression by real-time PCR. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that PLGA-PEG-17DMAG complexes can be more effective than free 17DMAG in down-regulating of hsp90 expression by enhancing uptake by cells. Therefore, PLGA-PEG could be a superior carrier for this kind of hydrophobic agent.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2169-2177
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• 2014

Matrine, a main active component extracted from dry roots of Sophora flavecens, has been reported to exert antitumor effects on A549 human non-small lung cancer cells, but its mechanisms of action remain unclear. To determine effects of matrine on proliferation of A549 cells and assess possible mechanisms, MTT assays were employed to detect cytotoxicity, along with o flow cytometric analysis of DNA content of nuclei of cells following staining with propidium iodide to analyze cell cycle distribution. Western blotting was performed to determined expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, VEGF and HDAC1, while a microarray was used to assessed changes of miRNA profiles. In the MTT assay, matrine suppressed growth of human lung cancer cell A549 in a dose- and timedependent manner at doses of 0.25-2.5 mg/ml for 24h, 48h or 72h. Matrine induced cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase and decreased the G2/M phase, while down-regulating the expression of Bcl2 protein, leading to a reduction in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio. In addition, matrine down regulated the expression level of VEGF and HDAC1 of A549 cells. Microarray analysis demonstrated that matrine altered the expression level of miRNAs compared with untreated control A549 cells. In conclusion, matrine could inhibit proliferation of A549 cells, providing useful information for understanding anticancer mechanisms.