• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2001

Background: Many types of cancer become resistant to current chemotherapeutic and radiotherapeutic intervention. To overcome this situation application of gene therapy by the introduction of suicide genes followed by their prodrugs may be promising. A viral enzyme, Herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSV-tk), which converts ganciclovir from an inactive prodrug to a cytotoxic agent by phosphorylation, are being actively investigated for use in gene therapy for cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine whether combining prodrug-activating gene therapy and irradiation might result in enhanced antitumor effects. Methods: The HSV-tk gene was cloned into the retroviral vector, pLXSN and established the clones producing retroviruses carrying the HSV-tk gene. The carcinoma cell line, HCT116 and Huh-7 were transduced with high-titer recombinant retroviruses. These cell lines were treated with ganciclovir before or after irradiation for the defining combinational effect of suicide gene therapy and radiotherapy. Results: The titers of cloned PA3 17 amphotropic retroviruses ranged from 4 to 6 X $10^6CFU/ml4$. After selectional periods, the expression of HSV-tk was confirmed by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The growth of cells expressing HSV-tk was inhibited as increase of GCV dose after 48 hr and the growth inhibitory effect of GCV was much higher after 72 hr. When the cells transduced with HSV-tk gene were exposed to radiation, the growth inhibitory effect of GCV was significantly increased, as compared with non-transduced parental cells. Conclusions: The results suggest that the addition of HSV-tk gene therapy to standard radiation therapy may improve the effectiveness of treatment for solid tumors.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.266-273
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• 2010

Bacterial pustule of soybean (Glycines max) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines is one of the most prevalent bacterial diseases of soybean. This bacterium shows strong pathogenicity to the plants and distributes throughout Korea. However, no good control measures including bactericides and resistant cultivars are available to control the disease in Korea. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop chemical control method against soybean bacterial pustule. The present study was undertaken to find out the growth inhibitory effect bactericides (8 antibiotics, 2 copper compounds, quinoline, 18 agro-chemicals) on bacterial pustule pathogen. Antibiotics test showed that tetracycline and streptomycin sulfate significantly suppressed the growth of bacterial pustule pathogen. Also, application of oxolinic acid was found to be effective for pathogen inhibition. However, vancomycin, polymyxin B sulfate and copper compounds did not show the positive suppressive effect on growth of the pathogen. Among the eighteen agro-chemicals, streptomycin sulfate + oxytetracyclin (18.8 + 1.5%) WP, oxytetracycline (17%) WP and oxolinic acid (20%) WP were found to be effective for the inhibition of the pathogen in vitro. The selected 5 agro-chemicals were also applied on soybean in field and their control effects against the soybean bacterial pustule were tested. The foliar application of streptomycin sulfate + oytetracyclin WP and oxytetracycline WP on the naturally infected soybean (Taekwangkong) showed high control value (above 70%). Therefore, it is concluded that the bactericides used in this study showed strong inhibitory effect to soybean bacterial pustule and they can be recommend to farmers to control the disease.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.985-990
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• 1995

Grapefruit seed extracts(GFSE) have some unknown compounds which exhibit the antibiotic activities aganist microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. We have examined the effects of GFSE on the growth of Enterobacter pyrinus which was isolated from necrotic lesions of pear trees. During the cultivation, the growth of the bacteria was strongly inhibited at the low concentration(0.01%, w/w) of GFSE. Hydrophobic fraction extracted from GFSE by mixed solvents (chloroform : methanol : water, 1 : 2 : 0.8, v/v/v) had components which inhibited the growth of bacteria. There was, however, no inhibitory effect of GFSE on the activities of several enzymes including hexokinase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase. $O-nitrophenyl-{\beta}-D-galactopyranoside(ONPG)$, the artificial substrate of ${\beta}-galactosidase$ was hydrolyzed in the presence of GFSE, indicating that the membrane was pertubated by the GFSE. From the results it was suggested that the antibiotic activity of GFSE is due to the change of membrane permeability of cell. GFSE was fractionated by high performance liquid chromatography equipped with $C_{18}$ reverse phase column. Among active fractions, three peaks were identified as 1-chloro-2-methyl-benzene (o-toluene), N,N-dimethyl-benzenemethaneamine, 1-[2-(2-ethylethoxy)ethoxy]-4- (1,1,3,3-tetramethyl)-bezene, respectively, while the other three remained unidentified.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.195-201
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• 2015

The aim of the study is to investigate the anti-cancer effects of Scutellaria barbata in AGS human gastric adenocarcinoma cells. MTT (3-[4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and caspase 3 or 9 activity assay were carried out to examine cell death with Scutellaria barbata. To elucidate the inhibitory effects of Scutellaria barbata, cell cycle (sub-G1) analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential were performed in AGS cells after 24 h incubation with Scutellaria barbata. Scutellaria barbata induced apoptosis in AGS cells by using the MTT assay, the sub-G1 analysis and mitochondrial membrane potential assay. The stronger inhibition effects of AGS cell growth was observed by application of Scutellaria barbata combined with several anti-cancer drugs (paclitaxel, 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, ectoposide, doxorubicin and docetaxel) in comparison to the application of Scutellaria barbata or anti-cancer drugs. Our findings provide insight into unraveling the effects of Scutellaria barbata in human gastric cancer cells and developing therapeutic agents against gastric cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.1333-1340
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• 2012

Epithelial ovarian cancer represents the most lethal gynecological cancer, and the high mortality rate makes this malignancy a major health concern. Poor prognosis results from an inability to detect ovarian cancers at an early, curable stage, as well as from the lack of an effective therapy. Thus, effective and novel strategies for prevention and treatment with non-toxic agents merit serious consideration. Resveratrol, obtained from grapes, berries, peanuts and red wine, has been shown to have a potent growth-inhibitory effect against various human cancer cells as well as in in vivo preclinical cancer models. The objective here was to evaluate potential antitumor effects of resveratrol in both in vitro and in vivo NuTu-19 ovarian cancer models. In vitro an invasion assay was performed. After 48 h, the numbers of viable cells that invaded the extracellular matrix layer were reduced by 94% with resveratrol in comparison to control. For the in vivo anti-tumor assessment, 10 rats were injected with NuTu-19 cells into the ovarian bursa. Thereafter, half were provided with a diet mixed with a dose of 100 mg resveratrol/kg body weight/day for 28 days. Following sacrifice, anticancer effects were assessed by histological evaluation of ovarian as well as surrounding tissues, and immunohistochemical detection of cell proliferation and apoptosis, but there were no observable differences between the control and resveratrol-treated groups for any of the biological endpoints. While resveratrol is effective in suppressing the in vitro cellular invasion of NuTu-19 ovarian cancer cells, these effects do not appear to impact on in vivo NuTu-19 ovarian cancers in rats.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.2287-2290
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• 2014

Background: In the past few years, a considerable number of preclinical studies have been proposed metformin as a potential anticancer agent, but some of these studies suffer from a number of methodological limitations such as assessment of cytotoxicity in the presence of supraphysiological glucose concentrations or applying suprapharmacological levels of the drug. These objections have limited the translation of published preclinical data to the clinical setting. The present study aimed to investigate direct anticancer effects of metformin on different molecular subtypes of breast cancer with pharmacological concentrations and under normoglycemic conditions in vitro. Materials and Methods: Breast cancer cell lines from luminal A, luminal B, ErbB2 and triple-negative molecular subtypes were treated with a pharmacological concentration of metformin (2mM) at a glucose concentration of 5.5mM. Time-dependant cell viability was assessed by dye exclusion assay. MTTbased cytotoxicity assays were also performed with metformin alone or in combination with paclitaxel. Results: Metformin did not show any growth inhibitory effects or time-dependant cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines in the presence of normal glucose concentrations at the therapeutic plasma level. No augmentation of the antineoplastic properties of paclitaxel was apparent under the tested conditions. Conclusions: Metformin is probably unable to exert cytotoxic or cytostatic effects on breast cancer subtypes at pharmacological concentrations and normal plasma glucose levels. These results highlight the importance of establishing a higher steady-state plasma concentration of metformin in the clinical setting for assessment of anticancer effects in normoglycemic patients.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.139-157
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• 2006

In the present study, I have investigated the bee venom (BV) and melittin (a major component of BV) -mediated anti-proliferative effects, and defined its mechanisms of action in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). BV and melittin $(0.4{\sim}0.8\;{\mu}g/ml)$ effectively inhibited 50 ng/ml platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB)-induced VSMCs proliferations. The regulation of apoptosis has attracted much attention as a possible means of eliminating excessively proliferating VSMCs. In the present study, the treatment of BV and melittin strongly induced apoptosis of VSMCs. I examined the effects on $NF-{\kappa}B$ activation to investigate a possible mechanism for anti-proliferative effects of BV and melittin, the PDGF-BB-induced $I{\kappa}B{\alpha}$ phosphorylation and its degradation were potently inhibited by melittin, and DNA binding activity and nuclear translocation of $NF-{\kappa}B$ p50 subunit in response to the action of PDGF-BB were potently attenuated by melittin. In further investigations, melittin markedly inhibited the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of Akt but not ERK1/2, upstream signals of $NF-{\kappa}B$. Treatment of melittin also potently induced pro-apoptotic protein p53, Bax, and caspase-3 expression, but decreased anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression. These results suggest that the anti-proliferative effects of BV and melittin in VSMCs through induction of apoptosis via suppressions of $NF-{\kappa}B$ and Akt activation, and enhancement of apoptotic signal pathway. Based on these results, BV acupuncture can be a candidate as a therapeutic method for restenosis and atherosclerosis.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.30 no.4 s.48
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• pp.503-507
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• 2004

The essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa was investigated for biological activities in anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation and antibacterial method, respectively. The Growth inhibitory effect of C. obtusa oil on the bacteria was evaluated with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), $IC_{50}\;(50\%$ inhibitory concentration), and paper disc method. Two kinds of gram positive strains and two kinds of gram negative strains were used in this study. Gram positive strains were B. subtilis and S. aureus. and Gram negative strains were E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Gram positive strains showed much more intensive effect than gram negative strains. Anti-oxidative effect was investigated with DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhidrazyl) in methanol based and $IC_{50}\;was\;0.78\%.$ Our results suggest that the essential oil from Chamaecyparis obtusa has effects on anti-bacterial, anti- oxidative and anti-inflammation in in vitro and in uiuo. Then this material could be expect synergic effect with other candidated extracts and oils.

• The Korea Journal of Herbology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.95-101
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• 2006

Objectives : This study aimed to establish cosmeceutical activities of Perilla frutescens var. acuta. Methods : Folium Perillae, which had been extracted, concentrated, and freeze drying with water and ethanol, have been used for the experiment. The effects on electronic donating ability, SOD-like activity, xanthine oxidase inhibition, whitening effect have been investigated in the cosmeceutical activity measurement of function experiment. Results : Both water and ethanol extracts of Perilla frutescens var. acuta showed relatively high electron donating ability of more than 70% at over 500ppm. Also, SOD like activity increased in a dose dependent matter of more than 80% at 5,000ppm, while tyrosinase showed insufficient inhibitory rate. Xanthine oxidase showed a meaningful inhibitory effect of 72.4% in water extract and 55.3% at 1,000ppm in ethanol extract. The addition of $Fe^{2+}ion\;and\;Cu^{2+}ion$ showed relatively high oxidizing inhibitory effect of 57% and 41%, respectively, at 500ppm in water extract and, when $Fe^{2+}$ ion was added in ethanol extract, the effect of 64% at 1,000ppm was achieved. Also, higher oxidizing inhibitory effect was shown against $Fe^{2+}$ rather than $Cu^{2+}$ in both water and ethanol extracts. For human cancer cells, relatively high growth inhibition ability was shown against melanoma G361 in both water and ethanol extracts. Conclusion : From the above results, it was confirmed that Perilla frutescens var. acuta could be used in functional cosmetics.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.478-486
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• 1995

Periodontal therapy for treatment of periodontitis involves the elimination of bacterial plaque and elimination of the anatomic defects by regenerative procedure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate on the biological effect of magnolia and Ginkgo biloba extract to the antimicrobial, antiinflammatory and cellular activity. Antimicrobial assay was performed with the diffusion method of the extract by measuring of growth inhibitory zone of B. cereus from blood agar plate. Effect of the extract to cellular activity of gingival fibroblast were examined using MTT method and measured the result with optical density on 570nm by ELISA reader. Inhibitory effects of $PGE_2$ production from gingival fibroblast was performed with the addition of $IL-l{\beta}$ and the extract to the well and examined to the product of $PGE_2$ from cell by ELISA reader. In vivo anti-inflammatory effect was performed with injection examined with clinically and histologically for their extent of mecrosis and inflammation. Antimicrobial activity of Magnolia extract showed significantly higher activity than that of control. However, GBE did not showed significant activity to compare with control, and mixture of Magnolia and GBE extract showed significantly higher activity than that of control. The effect of cellular activity to gingival fibroblast showed no significant differences of between control and Magnolia extract. However, GBE showed significantly higher rate of cellular activity to compare with control and even to PDGF-BB, and also showed same degree of cellular activity even though mixed with Magnolia extract. The inhibitory effect of $PGE_2$ production showed significantly reduction of $PGE_2$ production to compare with control, but its inhibitory effect was not much strong to compare with Indomethacin. In vivo, antiinflammatory effect of Magnolia extract to P. gingivalis injection of Hamster buccal check showed significantly reduction of inflammatory cell infiltration and tissue necrosis, but GBE showed no effect on the inhibition of inflammatory process. These results suggested that Magnolia and GBE extract possessed different kind of biological activity and also can be compensated on their activity with each other for elimination of bacterial plaque and anatonical defect.