• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.103-107
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• 2009

Three traditional Chinese medicines, Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb, Grifola umbellata (pers.) Pilat, and Gambogia, are combined to form a compound extract, AGC. In this study, the in vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of AGC on human gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells were demonstrated, and the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects are investigated. Our results indicate that AGC inhibited MGC-803 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner as measured by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, with an $IC_{50}$ of about $6.045{\pm}0.69{\mu}g/mL$. In vivo, AGC inhibited growth of human gastric carcinoma in xenograft tumors in nude mice, and the inhibitory rate reached 55.2% at 300 mg/kg. The pro-apoptotic activity of AGC was attributed to its ability to decrease the expression of Bcl-2 and Pro-caspase3 and increase the expression of Bax. These results demonstrate that AGC can effectively induce programmed cell death and may be a promising anti-tumor drug in human gastric carcinoma.

• Animal cells and systems
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.366-375
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• 2012

Gallotannin (GT) is derived from plant poly phenol and is associated with biological actions in a wide range of cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of GTon apoptosis and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and attempted to shed light on the mechanism of action in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. We found that GT dramatically induced apoptosis as demonstrated by expression of p53 and active caspase-3 via western blot analysis and fragmented DNA as detected by DNA fragmentation and DAPI staining. We also observed that GT significantly causes COX-2 expression in a dose-dependent manner determined by western blot analysis. Phosphorylation of Akt and p38 was considerably increased by GT in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. Inhibition of Akt and p38kinase with LY294002 or SB203580 suppressed GT-induced apoptosis and COX-2 expression. Furthermore, we have shown that prevention of COX-2 with NS398 or indomethacin does not any effects on apoptosis induced by GT. Taken together, our present results suggest that GT regulates apoptosis and COX-2 expression through Akt and p38kinase pathway in A549, human lung carcinoma cells.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.47-54
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• 2017

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.13
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• pp.5433-5436
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• 2014

Conventional chemotherapy against hepatocellular carcinoma typically causes various side effects. Our previous study showed that cecropin of Musca domestica can induce apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma BEL-7402 cells in vitro. However, whether cecropin inhibits BEL-7402 cell in vivo and the question of possible side effects remained undentified. The present study confirmed tumor-inhibitory effects of cecropin in vivo, and furthermore strongly suggested that cecropin cytotoxicity in BEL-7402 cells in vivo may be mainly derived from its pro-apoptotic action. Specifically, we found that cecropin exerted no obvious side effects in tumor-bearing mice as it had no significant hematoxicity as well as visceral toxicity. Therefore, cecropin may be a potential candidate for further investigation as an antitumor agent against hepatocellular carcinoma.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.97-110
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• 2006

Purpose : To address the ability of Myrrha (MY) to induce cell death, we investigated the effect of MY on apoptosis. In human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells, apoptosis occurred following MY exposure in a dose-dependent manner. Methods : We have tested several kinds of anti-oxidants to investigate the MY-induced apoptotic mechanism. Among the anti-oxidants, N-acetyl cysteine(NAC) or reduced glutathione (GSH) protects MY-induced apoptosis. NAC is an aminothiol and synthetic precursor of intracellular cysteine and GSH. To confirm the role of GSH in MY-induced apoptosis, methionine and cystathionine-glutathione extrusion inhibitors were treated in the presence of MY. Results : NAC, GSH, methionine or cystathionine led to protective effect against MY-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. The GSH and GSH-associated reagents regulate MY-induced cytochrome c release and the resultant caspase-3 activation. Furthermore, the two specific inhibitors of carrier-mediated GSH extrusion, methionine and cystathionine demonstrate GSH extrusion occurs via a specific mechanism. While decreasing GSH extrusion and protecting against MY-induced apoptosis, methionine and cystathionine failed to exert anti-apoptotic activity in cells previously deprived of GSH. Conclusion : the target of the protection is indeed GSH extrusion. This shows that the protective effect is achieved by forcing GSH to stay within the cells during apoptogenic treatment. All this evidence indicates the extrusion of GSH precedes andis responsible for the apoptosis, probably by altering the intracellular redox state, thus giving a rationale for the development of redox-dependent apoptosis in MY-treated human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.1019-1030
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• 2003

Platycodi Radix, the root of Platycodon grandiflorum, commonly known as Doraji, is used as a traditional oriental medicine. Extracts from the roots of P. grandiflorum have been reported to have wide ranging health benefits. In the present study, we investigated the effects of an aqueous extract from the roots of P. grandiflorum (AEPG) on the growth of human lung carcinoma A549 cells. Results obtained are as fellow; AEPG treatment resulted in the inhibition of the cell viability of A549 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Upon treatment with AEPG, A549 cells developed many of the hallmark features of apoptosis, including condensation of chromatin. Flow cytometry analysis confirmed that AEPG increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. Western blot and RT-PCR analyses indicated that the expressions of Bcl-2 was down-regulated but Bax was up-regulated in AEPG-treated A549 cells. AEPG-induced apoptotis of A549 cells was associated with rroteolytic cleavage and activation of caspase-3, release of cytochrome c from mitochondria into cytosol and down-regulation of Akt and phospho-Akt proteins in a dose-dependent manner. Induction of apoptosis by AEPG treatment was associated with inhibition and/or degradation of apoptotic target proteins such as poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, β-catenin and phospholipase C-γ 1. AEPG treatment inhibited the levels of cyclooxygenases protein of A549 cells, which was associated with the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 accumulation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Taken together, these findings suggest that P. grandiflorum has strong potential for development as an agent for prevention against human lung cancer.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.81-88
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• 2019

Trifolium pratense leaves (red clover) has been used in Oriental and European folk medicine for the treatment of whooping cough, asthma, and eczema, and is now being used to treat and alleviate the symptoms, such as hot flushes, cardiovascular health effects that occur in postmenopausal women. However, relatively little scientific data is available on the physiological activity of this plant. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of T. pratense leaves using methanol extract of T. pratense leaves (MeTP) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. MeTP inhibited the viability of FaDu cells by inducing apoptosis through the cleavage of procaspase-3, -7, and -9 and poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose-ribose) polymerase (PARP), downregulation of Bcl-2, and upregulation of Bax, as determined by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, Live & dead assay, 4'6-diamidino-2-phenylindole stain, fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and Western blot analysis. In addition, colony formation was slightly inhibited when FaDu cells were treated with a non-cytotoxic concentration (0.125 mg/mL) of MeTP and almost completely inhibited when cells were treated with 0.25 mg/mL MeTP. Collectively, these results indicate that MeTP induced cell apoptosis via caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways, and inhibited colony formation of cancer cells in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. These findings suggest MeTP should be considered for clinical development as a chemotherapeutic option in oral cancer.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.42-66
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• 2008

Aconiti Tuber is a traditional medicinal plant generally used in Oriental medicine therapy. In this study, we investigated the biochemical mechanisms of anti-proliferative effects by the methanol extract of Aconiti tuber (MEBJ) in Caki-1 human renal cell carcinoma cells. It was found that MEBJ could inhibit, in a dose-dependent manner, cell growth which was associated with apoptotic cell death such as formation of apoptotic bodies, DNA fragmentation and increased populations of apoptotic-sub G1 phase. Apoptosis of Caki-1 cells by MEBJ was associated with an up-regulation of pro-apoptotic Bax expression, and a down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 in a dose-dependent manner; however, the levels of IAP family were not affected. MEBJ treatment also induced the proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and -8, and a inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and $PLC{\gamma}1$ protein. Furthermore, MEBJ treatment caused a dose-dependent inhibition of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2). Though further studies will be needed to identify the active compounds that confer the anti-cancer activity of MEBJ, the present findings provide important new insights into the possible molecular mechanisms of the apoptotic activity of MEBJ in cancer cells.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2021

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is likely to metastasize to other organs, and is often resistant to conventional chemotherapies. Thymoquinone (TQ), a phytochemical derived from the seeds of Nigella sativa, has been shown to inhibit migration and metastasis in various cancers. In this study, we assessed the effect of TQ on the migratory activity of human RCC Caki-1 cells. We found that treatment with TQ reduced the proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Caki-1 cells. TQ significantly repressed prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, its EP2 receptor expression as well as the activation of Akt and p38, the wellknown upstream signal proteins of MMP-9. In addition, treatment with butaprost, a PGE2 agonist, also induced MMP-9 activity and migration/invasion in Caki-1 cells. Moreover, pharmacological inhibitors of PI3K/Akt and p38 remarkably attenuated butaprost-induced Caki-1 cell migration and invasion, implying that activation of PI3K/Akt and p38 is a bridge between the PGE2-EP2 axis and MMP-9-dependent migration and invasion. Taken together, these data suggest that TQ is a promising anti-metastatic drug to treat advanced and metastatic RCC.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.329-332
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• 2006

Ethanolic extract of Aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis Miller) was examined for the cellular toxicity on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Treatment with Aloe vera extract resulted in DNA fragmentation but not LDH release, suggesting an apoptosis instead of necrosis. Aloe vera induced cytotoxicity was mediated by decrease in ATP levels, whereas GSH depletion, increase in intracellular $Ca^{2+}$, or activation of caspase-3/7 could not be observed with statistical significance. No activation of caspase-3/7 suggests the possibility of caspase-independent apoptosis. Taken together, our results show that Aloe vera extract induce HepG2 apoptosis by ATP depletion-related impairment of mitochondria, which is caspase-independent.