• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2006

The anti-angiogenic activity of ethanol extract of Bojungbangam-tang, a new herbal prescription composed of nine crude drugs, was evaluated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). HPLC profile revealed that five major compunds such as apioliquiritin, narirutin, hesperidin, liquiritin and glycyrrhizin. Ethanol extract of Bojungbangam-tang (EBJT) did not showed any significant cytotoxicity against HUVECs up to 200 ug/ml. EBJT significantly inhibited basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced HUVECs proliferation to 69% at 200 ${\mu}g/ml$. Migration using window scraping method and tube formation in bFGF stimulated HUVECs were also significantly suppressed by EBJT in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, these results suggest that Bojungbangam-tang can be a potent prescription for angiogenesis related disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.404-413
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• 2019

Udenafil, which is a $PDE_5$ inhibitor, is used to treat erectile dysfunction. However, it is unclear whether udenafil induces hair growth via the stimulation of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs). In this study, we investigated whether udenafil stimulates ASCs and whether increased growth factor secretion from ASCs to facilitate hair growth. We found that subcutaneous injection of udenafiltreated ASCs accelerated telogen-to-anagen transition in vivo. We also observed that udenafil induced proliferation, migration and tube formation of ASCs. It also increased the secretion of growth factors from ASCs, such as interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL12B, and the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and $NF{\kappa}B$. Furthermore, concomitant upregulation of IL-4 and IL12B mRNA levels was attenuated by ERK inhibitor or $NF{\kappa}B$ knockdown. Application of IL-4 or IL12B enhanced anagen induction in mice and increased hair follicle length in organ culture. The results indicated that udenafil stimulates ASC motility and increases paracrine growth factor, including cytokine signaling. Udenafil-stimulated secretion of cytokine from ASCs may promote hair growth via the ERK and $NF{\kappa}B$ pathways. Therefore, udenafil can be used as an ASC-preconditioning agent for hair growth.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.30-38
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• 2021

Cudraxanthone D (CD) is a natural xanthone compound derived from the root barks of Cudrania tricuspidata. However, the biological functions of CD in human metabolism have been rarely reported until now. Autophagy is the self-degradation process related to cancer cell metastasis. Here, we elucidated the effects of CD on human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cells' metastatic ability. We confirmed that CD effectively decreased the proliferation and viability of SCC25 human OSCC cells in time- and dose-dependent manners. Also, the metastasis phenotype of the SCC25 cell (migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition [EMT]) was inhibited by CD. To further investigate the mechanism by which CD inhibited the metastatic capacity, we detected the relationship between EMT and autophagy in the SCC25 cells. The results revealed that CD inhibited the metastasis of the SCC25 cells by attenuating autophagy. Thus, our findings produced a potential novel agent for the treatment of human OSCC metastasis.

• International Journal of Oral Biology
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.152-161
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• 2020

D-pinitol is an analog of 3-methoxy-D-chiro-inositol found in beans and plants. D-pinitol has anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer effects. Additionally, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and inhibits metastasis in breast and prostate cancers. However, to date, no study has investigated the anticancer effects of D-pinitol in oral cancer. Therefore, in this study, whether the anticancer effects of D-pinitol induce apoptosis, inhibit the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and arrest cell cycle was investigated in squamous epithelial cells. D-pinitol decreased the survival and cell proliferation rates of CAL-27 and Ca9-22 oral squamous carcinoma cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Evidence of apoptosis, including nuclear condensation, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and caspase-3 fragmentation, was also observed. D-pinitol inhibited the migration and invasion of both cell lines. In terms of EMT-related proteins, E-cadherin was increased, whereas N-cadherin, Snail, and Slug were decreased. D-pinitol also decreased the expression of cyclin D1, a protein involved in the cell cycle, but increased the expression of p21, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor. Hence, D-pinitol induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in CAL-27 and Ca9-22 cells, demonstrating an anticancer effect by decreasing the EMT.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.6
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• pp.329-334
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• 2021

Collagen type I is the most abundant form of collagen in human tissues, and is composed of two identical α-1 type I chains and an α-2 type I chain organized in a triple helical structure. A previous study has shown that human collagen α-2 type I (hCOL1A2) promotes collagen synthesis, wound healing, and elastin production in normal human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). However, the biological effects of human collagen α-1 type I (hCOL1A1) on various skin properties have not been investigated. Here, we isolate and identify the hCOL1A1-collagen effective domain (CED) which promotes collagen type I synthesis. Recombinant hCOL1A1-CED effectively induces cell proliferation and collagen biosynthesis in HDFs, as well as increased cell migration and elastin production. Based on these results, hCOL1A1-CED may be explored further for its potential use as a preventative agent against skin aging.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.123-129
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• 2022

Schwann cells play a critical role for myelination in peripheral nerve system. It also plays an important role in nerve protection and regeneration. In peripheral nerve damage, regeneration is induced by the migration and proliferation of Schwann cells which were promoted by suppressing the oxidative stress. In this study, Human placental extract was prepared by homogenization and estimated its efficacy in RSC96 cells. Placental extract exhibited a protective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in RSC96 cells, confirmed by MTT assay. Furthermore, placental extract decreased intracellular ROS against oxidative stress, confirmed by DCFH-DA assay. Autophagy was visualized with Cyto-ID staining to confirm the autophagy activity of placental extracts. The activity of autophagy was confirmed by immunoblot analysis of autophagy flux-associated proteins such as LC3 conversion and SQSTM1 degradation. Thus, we confirmed the antioxidant effect of placental extract to protect RSC96 cells from oxidative stress, and observed that it activated autophagy and restored autophagy flux.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.1-15
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• 2023

Wound care has become increasingly important over the years. Various synthetic products for wound care treatment have been reported to cause toxic side effects and therefore natural products are in significant demand as they have minimal side effects. The presence of bioactive compounds in medicinal mushrooms contributes to various biological activities which assist in the early inflammatory phase, keratinocyte proliferation, and its migration enhancement which are pertinent to wound rehabilitation. Lignosus rhinocerus (tiger milk mushroom) can reduce the inflammation phase in wound healing by fighting off bacterial infection and modulating pro-inflammatory cytokines expression in the early stage to avoid prolonged inflammation and tissue damage. The antibacterial, immunomodulating, and anti-inflammatory activities exhibited by most macrofungi play a key role in enhancing wound healing. Several antibacterial and antifungal compounds sourced from traditional botanicals/-products may prevent further complications and reoccurrence of injury to a wounded site. Scientific studies are actively underway to ascertain the potential use of macrofungi as a wound healing agent.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.21-28
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• 2022

Sparassis crispa is an edible mushroom that has been widely utilized in Japan and Korea. It has various biological activities, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, and anti-cancer effects. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity and underlying molecular mechanism of chloroform fraction of methanol extract of S. crispa (CESP) against cervical cancer stem cells (CSCs), which contribute to tumor initiation, recurrence, and resistance to therapy of human cervical cancer. CESP effectively inhibited the proliferation, tumorsphere formation, and migration of HeLa-derived cervical CSCs by promoting apoptosis. In addition, CESP significantly downregulated the expression of key cancer stemness markers, including integrin α6, CD133, CD44, ALDH1A1, Nanog, Oct-4, and Sox-2, in HeLa-derived cervical CSCs. Furthermore, CESP remarkably suppressed in vivo tumor growth of HeLa-derived cervical CSCs in a chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Therefore, our findings suggest that CESP has potential as a natural medicine for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer by targeting CSCs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.336-343
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• 2023

Lung cancer is one of the cancers with high mortality and incidence rates worldwide. Although, various anticancer research efforts are underway to completely treat cancer, the challenge against it remains in the inability to eliminate cancer stem cells (CSCs), leading to difficulties in curing the cancer and resulting in recurrence. As a result, there is a growing interest in the discovery of new biomarkers and therapeutic molecules that can simultaneously target both cancer cells and CSCs. From this point of view, we focused on fibronectin leucine rich transmembrane protein 3 (FLRT3), one of the genes known to be present in human lung cells and the discovery from our previous cancer proteomic analysis study. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of FLRT3 as a specific therapeutic biomarker for lung cancer and Lung Cancer-derived-Stem Cells (LCSC). Also, to estimate the biological function of FLRT3 in cancer and LCSC, short hairpin RNA (shRNA) was generated and showed the ability of the decreased-cell migration and cell proliferation of lung cancer through ERK signaling pathway when FLRT3 was knock-downed. In conclusion, our study is the first to report that FLRT3 has the potential as therapeutic biomarker for the treatment of lung cancer and LCSC.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.29.1-29.20
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• 2020

The development of refractory tumor cells limits therapeutic efficacy in cancer by activating mechanisms that promote cellular proliferation, migration, invasion, metastasis, and survival. Benzimidazole anthelmintics have broad-spectrum action to remove parasites both in human and veterinary medicine. In addition to being antiparasitic agents, benzimidazole anthelmintics are known to exert anticancer activities, such as the disruption of microtubule polymerization, the induction of apoptosis, cell cycle (G2/M) arrest, anti-angiogenesis, and blockage of glucose transport. These antitumorigenic effects even extend to cancer cells resistant to approved therapies and when in combination with conventional therapeutics, enhance anticancer efficacy and hold promise as adjuvants. Above all, these anthelmintics may offer a broad, safe spectrum to treat cancer, as demonstrated by their long history of use as antiparasitic agents. The present review summarizes central literature regarding the anticancer effects of benzimidazole anthelmintics, including albendazole, parbendazole, fenbendazole, mebendazole, oxibendazole, oxfendazole, ricobendazole, and flubendazole in cancer cell lines, animal tumor models, and clinical trials. This review provides valuable information on how to improve the quality of life in patients with cancers by increasing the treatment options and decreasing side effects from conventional therapy.