• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.108-121
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• 2005

Backgrounds: Amygdalin (D-mandelonitrile B-gentiobioside), a cynogenic compound, is found in sweet and bitter almond, Persicae semen, and Armeniacae semen. Aqueous extract of amygdalin was made from Armeniacae semen and used in this study. Objectives: Apoptosis is a very important mechanism in cancer treatment. In the present study, it was investigated whether amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death in human COLO 201 colon cancer cells. Materials and Methods: For this study, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 4,6diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, flow cytometric analysis, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(PR-PCR), western blot analysis, and caspase-3 enzyme assay were performed on COLO 201 cells. Cells treated with amygdalin exhibited several characteristics of apoptosis. Results: Amygdalin treatment enhanced Bax expression and suppressed Bcl-2 expression in COLO 201 cells. Amygdalin also was shown to increase the caspase-3 activity. Conclusions: Amygdalin induces apoptotic cell death via Bax-dependent caspase-3 activation in COLO 201 cells.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.310-319
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• 2005

Objectives: The aim is to identify any anti-tumor effects of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke on colon cancer cells. Materials & Methods: Colo201 human adenocarcinoma cells were obtained from American Type Culture Collection. The boiled extract of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke was added (10 and 20 microliters) to cultures and observed at 0, 6, and 12 hours, and at 12-hour intervals thereafter. Morphological changes in colon cancer cells were observed through an inverted microscope, Destruction of colon cancer cells was measured through Trypan blue exclusion testing. Suppression of the viability of colon cancer cells were measured via MTT assay. Anti-cancer mechanisms in the cell cycle of colon cancer cells were analysed via flow cytometry. Results: After introduction of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke to cultures several changes were seen. Significant atrophy of the nucleus and cytoplasm of colon cancer cells was observed, indicating cell injury. Destruction of colon cancer cells was observed in direct proportion to dosage and duration. Suppression of viability of colon cancer cells for each test group was greater than that of the control group increasingly over time(36h, 48h, 60h, 72h), which was statistical significant (p<0.05). Cell numbers of the mitosis phase of the colon cancer cell cycle reduced. Conclusions: Statistcally significant anti-tumor effects of Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke were observed in this in vitro experiment. Results support a role for Duchesnea indica(Andr.) Focke in treatment of colon cancer. though it will required progressive research to develop a practical treatment.