• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.235-245
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• 2021

Lindera glauca Blume has been used in Korean traditional medicine to treat the symptoms of paralysis, abdominal pain, speech disorders, extravasations, contusions, and pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis. We investigated the effect of L. glauca Blume extracts on the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells in vitro using HCT116 human colorectal cancer cell lines. We also investigated its mechanism of action. For this purpose, we used the MTT assay, western blotting, DNA fragmentation analysis, and flow cytometry. HCT116 cells were cultured in several concentrations of ethanol extracts of L. glauca Blume root (0, 50, 100 ㎍/mL). In this study, colon cancer cell growth was inhibited by L. glauca Blume root extract in a dose-dependent manner. It was associated with induction of apoptosis as assessed by nuclear fragmentation and cell cycle analysis. Apoptosis was assessed using western blotting for TNF-α, IL-6, NF-κB, Caspase-3, PARP, Bax, Bcl-2, and SIRT1. The extract also dose-dependently upregulated the expression Bax, the pro-apoptotic gene and downregulated the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2. Furthermore, the extract enhanced Caspase-3 activity in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings provide evidence that L. glauca Blume extract may mediate its anti-proliferative effect via the modulation of apoptosis.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.499-503
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• 2012

The present study was based on the unexpected discovery that norcantharidin exerted anti-angiogenesis activity when effects on growth of human colon cancer were studied. The aim was to further verify this finding and explore possible mechanisms using a tumor xenograft model in nude mice. We confirmed that norcantharidin (5 or 15 mg/kg) could inhibit angiogenesis of human colon cancer in vivo. In vitro, crossing river assay, cell adhesion assay and tube formation assay indicated that NCTD could reduce the migration, adhesion and vascular network tube formation ability of HUVECs. At the same time, the expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR-2 proteins which play important roles in angiogenesis were reduced as examined by western blotting analysis. Taken together, the results firstly showed NCTD could inhibit angiogenesis of human colon cancer in vivo, probably associated with effects on migration, adhesion and vascular network tube formation of HUVECs and expression levels of VEGF and VEGFR-2 proteins.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.22
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• pp.10015-10020
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• 2014

Background: Fentanyl is used as an analgesic to treat pain in a variety of patients with cancer and recently it has become considered to also act as an antitumor agent. The study present was designed to investigate the effects of fentanyl on colorectal cancer cell growth and plausible mechanisms. Materials and Methods: The human colorectal carcinoma cell line HCT116 was subcutaneously injected into nude mice. The viability of HCT116 was tested by MTT assay, and apoptosis by flow cytometry and caspase-3 activity. The expression of Sirt1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ were evaluated by Western blotting and the levels of Sirt1 and NF-${\kappa}B$ by fluorescence method. SiRNA was used to silence and Ad-Sirt1 to overexpress Sirt1. Results: Our data showed that fentanyl could inhibit tumor growth, with increased expression of Sirt1 and down-regulation of Ac-p65 in tumors. Compared with control cells without treatment, HCT116 cells that were incubated with fentanyl had a higher apoptotic rate. Moreover, fentanyl could increase expression and activity of Sirt1 and inhibitor expression and activity of NF-${\kappa}B$, which might be mechanisms of fentanyl action. Conclusions: Fentanyl increased colorectal carcinoma cell apoptosis by inhibition of NF-${\kappa}B$ activation in a Sirt1-dependent manner.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1219-1225
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• 2011

Phytochemicals, non-nutrient chemicals derived from plants, have been shown to have anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, and chemopreventive effects. In the current study, we investigated whether five different phytochemicals (resveratrol, genistein, epicatechin gallate, diallyl disulfide, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester) alter cell growth and gene expression in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. Using a cell viability assay, we found that each of the phytochemicals tested inhibited HCT116 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, using human oligo DNA microarray analysis, we found that only six genes were commonly up-regulated and seven genes were commonly down-regulated in response to each phytochemical treatment. For the commonly up-regulated genes, the microarray analysis was confirmed by reverse transcription.PCR using gene-specific primers. In addition, NAG-1 protein was up-regulated by all treated phytochemcials. The results of this study may help to enhance our understanding of the general molecular mechanisms of chemoprevention that are mediated by phytochemicals in human colorectal cancer.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.1490-1503
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• 2016

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the world. Although 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) is the representative chemotherapy drug for colorectal cancer, it has therapeutic limits due to its chemoresistant characteristics. Colorectal cancer cells can develop into cancer stem cells (CSCs) with self-renewal potential, thereby causing malignant tumors. The human gastrointestinal tract contains a complex gut microbiota that is essential for the host's homeostasis. Recently, many studies have reported correlations between gut flora and the onset, progression, and treatment of CRC. The present study confirms that the most representative symbiotic bacteria in humans, Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) supernatant (SN), selectively inhibit the characteristics of 5-FU-resistant colorectal cancer cells (HT-29 and HCT-116). LP SN inhibited the expression of the specific markers CD44, 133, 166, and ALDH1 of CSCs. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU inhibited the survival of CRCs and led to cell death by inducing caspase-3 activity. The combination therapy of LP SN and 5-FU induced an anticancer mechanism by inactivating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling of chemoresistant CRC cells, and reducing the formation and size of colonospheres. In conclusion, our results show that LP SN can enhance the therapeutic effect of 5-FU for colon cancer, and reduce colorectal cancer stem-like cells by reversing the development of resistance to anticancer drugs. This implies that probiotic substances may be useful therapeutic alternatives as biotherapeutics for chemoresistant CRC.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.141-147
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• 2018

Background: Astilbe chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. is a plant belonging to Saxifragaceae family and contains various active ingredients including astilbin and bergenin. It has been used as a traditional Korean medicine to improve fever, pain, and cough. Recently, a number of Korean medical resources have been studied for cancer and inflammation treatment, but A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. has not yet been investigated. Consequently, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of ethanol extracts from A. chinensis (Maxim.) Franch. Et Savat. (ARE) on oxidative stress and colorectal cancer using RAW264.7 and the human colorectal cancer cell line HCT-116. Methods and Results: In total, $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE reduced cell viability by $38.96{\pm}1.32%$, and increased caspase-3 activity by $133.08{\pm}3.41%$ in HCT-116 cells. Moreover, TUNEL signaling and the early apoptosis ratio ($34.56{\pm}1.67%$) increased by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment. $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress and cell death were diminished by $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ ARE treatment through decreasing ROS (reactive oxygen species). Conclusions: The inhibitory effects of ARE against human colorectal cancer cells is mediated by apoptosis and caspase-3 activation, and $H_2O_2$-induced ROS generation and cell death are decreased by ARE treatment in RAW264.7 cells. However, further study is required to explore how ARE treatment is involved in the signaling pathway to decrease ROS.

• Korean Journal of Medicinal Crop Science
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2018

Background: Inula japonica Thunb. is a plant belonging to the family compositae. Inulae flos (flower of I. britannica var. chinensis Regal.) is the dried flower of I. japonica Thunb. and contains various flavonoids (patulitrin, nepitrin and kaempferol), which have been utilized in traditional oriental medicine to treat nausea, phlegm, and coughs. However, ethanol extract of I. britannica (IJE) has not been previously studied for its use in cancer treatment, and its effects on oxidative stress, or inflammation. Thus, the present study investigated the anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-colorectal cancer effects of IJE using RAW264.7 and HCT-116 cells, which are human colorectal cancer cell line. Methods and Results: IJE contained flavonoids ($80.95{\pm}5.3mg/g$) and polyphenols ($310.53{\pm}10.6mg/g$). Moreover, it reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Additionally, the $500{\mu}g/m{\ell}$ IJE treatment increased caspase-3 activity and apoptotic cell death in HCT-116 cells. Conclusions: These results demonstrate that the anti-cancer effect of IJE against human colorectal cancer cells involves caspase-3 activation and apoptotic cell death. IJE also inhibited LPS-induced NO production, and $H_2O_2$-induced oxidative stress in RAW264.7 cells. However, further studies are required to explore how IJE treatment regulates signal transduction in NO and ROS production.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.17 no.7 s.87
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• pp.996-1001
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• 2007

To investigate whether sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide could affect cancer cell viabilities, human colorectal HCTl16 cells were treated with 10 ${\mu}M$ of each NSAID. Among treated NSAms, sulindac sulfide dramatically decreased the cell viabilities detected by MTS and the cytotoxic effect showed dose-dependent manner. To understand the molecular mechanism of cell death in response to sulindac sulfide treatment, we performed oligo DNA microarray analysis. We found that 23 genes were up-regulated more than 2 folds, whereas 33 genes were down-regulated more than 2 folds by treatment of 10 ${\mu}M$ sulindac sulfide. Among the up-regulated genes, we selected 3 genes (NAG-1, DDIT3, PCK2) and performed RT-PCR and quantitative real-time PCR to cofirm microarray data. The results of RT-PCR and real-time PCR were highly accorded with those of microarray experiment. As NAG-1 is well-known gene as tumor suppressor, we detected changes of NAG-1 expression by 10 ${\mu}M$ of sulindac, sulindac sulfone, and sulindac sulfide. The results of RT-PCR and quantitacve real-time PCR indicated that sulindac sulfide was the strongest inducer of NAG-1 among treated NSAIDS. This result implies that induction of NAG-1 by sulindac sulfide plays important role in cell death of colorectal cancer. Overall, we speculate that these results may be helpful in understanding the molecular mechanism of the cancer chemoprevention by sulindac sulfide in human colorectal cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4019-4023
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• 2016

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) or bowel cancer is one of the most important cancer diseases, needing serious attention. The cell surface receptor gene human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may have an important role in provoking CRC. In this pharmaceutical era, it is always attempted to identify plant-based drugs for cancer, which will have less side effects for human body, unlike the chemically synthesized marketed drugs having serious side effects. So, in this study the authors tried to assess the activity of two important plant compounds, ferulic acid (FA) and p-coumaric acid (pCA), on CRC. Materials and Methods: FA and pCA were tested for their cytotoxic effects on the human CRC cell line HCT 15 and also checked for the level of gene expression of EGFR by real time PCR analysis. Positive results were confirmed by in silico molecular docking studies using Discovery Studio (DS) 4.0. The drug parallel features of the same compounds were also assessed in silico. Results: Cytotoxicity experiments revealed that both the compounds were efficient in killing CRC cells on a controlled concentration basis. In addition, EGFR expression was down-regulated in the presence of the compounds. Docking studies unveiled that both the compounds were able to inhibit EGFR at its active site. Pharmacokinetic analysis of these compounds opened up their drug like behaviour. Conclusions: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of plant compounds for targeting diseases like CRC.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.207-212
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• 2013

In this paper, we investigated whether resveratrol could induce the expression of cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61), which is a member of the CCN families. We showed that resveratrol up-regulated CYR61 protein expression in three different human colorectal cancer cell lines. In addition, resveratrol induced CYR61 protein expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner in a HCT116 cell line. To investigate the relationship between various biological activities of resveratrol and CYR61 expression, HCT116 cells were incubated with several NSAIDs, antioxidants, or resveratrol. Interestingly, resveratrol only induced CYR61 protein expression. The expression of CYR61 was not related to the presence of p53. A promoter assay revealed that the 786-bp promoter region (-732/+54) contains a regulatory region and that indole-3-carbinol and 6-gingerol could not induce CYR61 expression. In conclusion, our results indicate up-regulation of CYR61 is extremely resveratrol specific. The results can help to shed light on the unique biological function of resveratrol.