Background: This study has mainly focused on finding pharmacological effects of ginsenosides that can reduce the unwanted side effects of the cytotoxic anticancer drugs and are highly effective on prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, hormone-dependent breast cancer, triple-negative breast cancer, and brain cancer (neuroblastoma). Methods: Minor and rare ginsenosides (GS) of Rh2 which have a high absorption ability and excellent pharmacological actions were treated with the 6 different types of cancer cell lines and their anticancer activities were investigated by analyzing gene expressions associated with various cancers through qPCR and other relevant methods. Results: In cancer cells exposed to Rh2, cell viability and cell migration were reduced, and apoptosis was induced. Each cancer cell was divided into three groups according to the cell proliferation response by Rh2; 1) A group in which the cell viability decreases inversely to an increase in Rh2 treatment concentration; 2) A group in which the cell viability rapidly decreases in Rh2 treatment above a certain level of concentration; 3) A group in which the cell viability was not suppressed below 20-30% even with 100 μL of Rh2, the highest concentration used in this study. Conclusions: It was shown that Rh2 has a significant effect on inhibiting the proliferation of prostate cancer cells and hormone-dependent breast cancer cells.

Roridin E, a constituent of Podostroma cornu-damae, has excellent medicinal properties and exhibits powerful anticancer effects. However, being a poisonous mushroom, P. cornu-damae is difficult to find in its natural environment. Therefore, only a limited amount of roridin E is isolated from P. cornu-damae. We isolated roridin E from mycelial culture medium of P. cornu-damae and examined its effects on five breast cancer cell lines. The purity of the isolated roridin E was 96%. It exhibited anticancer effects on all five breast cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of at least 0.0006 mg/L. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the investigation of effects of roridin E isolated from the mycelium of P. cornu-damae mushrooms on five breast cancer cell lines. However, safety issues should be investigated and addressed in future studies before roridin E is used in clinical settings.

In this study, the quality characteristics of kimchi, such as its salinity, pH, and acidity, were measured and compared, and the HT-29 human colon cancer cells were used to show the anticancer effects of kimchi. The kimchi samples used herein included standard kimchi (SK), turnip kimchi (TK), and turnip-powder-added kimchi (TPK). The measured pH and acidity of TK and TPK showed no significant differences with those of SK. Compared to SK and TK, TPK had higher DPPH scavenging activity and higher total flavonoid content, confirming its antioxidant activity. The cancer cell growth inhibition rates of TK and TPK were significantly higher than that of SK. In HT-29 cells treated with TPK, the mRNA expression of Bcl-xL, an anti-apoptosis-related gene, was lower, and the mRNA expressions of the apoptosis-related genes Bax, Bad, and caspase-9 were higher. TPK showed significantly higher levels of mRNA expressions for the cell-cycle-related genes p53 and p21 than the other samples, in addition to suppression effects on cancer cell proliferation. Compared to SK, TK and TPK suppressed the growth of colon cancer cells and showed higher anticancer effects. Therefore, it is shown that kimchi with added turnip powder had high anticancer effects.

Ulva compressa Linnaeus (UCL) is a green algae seaweed that performs photosynthesis and is used as a food material in some Asian regions including Korea. It is known to be the dominant species in copper ion-contaminated seas, and many studies on copper ion resistant mechanisms have been reported. UCL is known to have an excellent antioxidant effect, but limited information is available regarding its other physiological activities. In this study, we investigated the anticancer activity of 30% prethanol extracts of Ulva compressa Linnaeus (30% PeUCL) and the underlying mechanisms of its activity on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. The 30% PeUCL extracts suppressed FaDu cell viability without affecting normal cells (L929), as determined by MTT and viability assays. Furthermore, the 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis, as determined by DAPI staining. The 30% PeUCL extracts inhibited colony formation effectively as well as wound-healing of FaDu cells, even at noncytotoxic concentrations. In addition, 30% PeUCL extracts induced apoptosis significantly through proteolytic cleavage of caspase-3, -7, and -9, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, and by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax in FaDu cells, as determined by Western blot analysis. Collectively, these results suggest that the inhibitory effect of 30% PeUCL extracts on the growth of oral cancer cells, colony formation and wound-healing may be mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, 30% PeUCL extracts can be administered as a natural chemotherapeutic drug for the treatment of human oral cancers.

본 연구는 우리나라 해안에서 널리 서식 중인 해양 자원 중 하나인 전복(Haliotis discus hannai) 의 차세대염기서열분석 데이터 기반으로 선별한 신규 펩타이드의 항암 활성을 평가한 연구이 다. 펩타이드의 항암 활성은 교모세포종 세포주인 SNU-489에서 농도 의존적으로 처리 시간에 비례하여 증가하였으며, 200 μM로 48시간 처리하였을 때 암 세포 사멸율이 67%로 가장 높게 나타났다. 반면 정상 세포인 HaCaT에서 가장 높은 세포 사멸율은 18%로 농도 의존적이었으나 처리 시간과는 무관하였다. 또한 신규 펩타이드의 항암 메커니즘 과정을 밝히기 위해 세포자 멸괴사(Necroptosis) 관련 유전자의 발현 변화를 qRT-PCR 방법을 통해 검증하였다. RIPK3는 신 규 펩타이드 처리군에서 200 μM 처리 시 9배 이상 발현 증가, MLKL는 100 μM 처리군에서 대조군 대비 2배 이상 유의미하게 발현이 증가되었다. 이러한 결과로 미루어 볼 때, 전복 유래 신규 펩타이드는 암 세포 특이적으로 세포 독성을 가지며, 세포자멸괴사 메커니즘을 통해 암 세포 사멸을 일으키는 것으로 추측되므로 신규 펩타이드가 추후 교모세포종 치료제의 후보 물질로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

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 epithelialto- 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.

Ganjang and doenjang are known as major fermented soy-based foods in Koreans. Current investigations have proved that fermented soybean foods impart anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-cancer activities of commercialized soy food, Ganjang, as a function of aging period. The test groups were classified into four time periods-short (under 5 years, S group), mid (under 10 years, M group), long (under 15 years, L group), and eternal (over 15 years, E group). The anti-cancer effects of Ganjang were determined by cell cytotoxicity assay of three types of cancer cell lines and splenocyte proliferation assay. Besides these assays, we also analyzed NK cell activity for cancer immunotherapy. The results show that the anti-cancer effect increased in the S and M period aging groups for all three cancer cell lines. Interestingly, similar to the anti-cancer result, splenocyte proliferation and NK activity showed the highest effect in the S and M groups. In contrast, Japanese ganjang-treated (JG1, JG2) groups and E group showed significantly reduced splenocyte proliferation. Collectively, these results suggest that the short and middle periods of traditional fermented Ganjang might have potential anti-cancer activities.

버섯은 우리나라를 비롯한 전 세계적으로 널리 이용되고 있는 식품 중의 하나로 최근 다양한 생리 활성 효과 등 다양한 분야에서 활발하게 연구가 진행되고 있다. 본 연구는 여러 다양한 버섯 중에서 우리나라에서 식용으로 널리 이용되고 있는 새송이 버섯과 팽이버섯 추출물의 항산화 활성 및 세포독성 효과를 살펴보고자 하였다. 실험결과, 새송이버섯과 팽이버섯추출물의 총 페놀 함량은 각각 19.60±0.10 mg/g 과 22.28±1.10 mg/g으로 나타났으며, 플라보노이드 함량은 각각 15.21±1.31, 20.51±4.52였다. 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 mg/mL 농도에서의 DPPH radical 소거능은 새송이버섯과 팽이버섯 각각 2.5 mg/mL의 농도에서 7.98±0.58, 8.71±0.45였고, 10 mg/mL 농도에서 각각 35.35±0.52, 39.39±0.26으로 고농도에서 높은 DPPH 라디컬 소거능을 보여주었다. 환원력은 10 mg/mL의 농도에서 각각 1.417±0.011, 1.171±0.006으로 시료의 농도가 증가할수록 흡광도 값도 증가하여, 높은 환원력을 보여주었다. 새송이버섯 추출물과 팽이버섯 추출물의 인간 정상 신장세포 HEK293으로 본 정상세포에 대한 세포독성을 측정한 결과에서는 새송이버섯, 팽이버섯 추출물 모두 80%의 생존력을 나타내어 독성이 없는 것으로 보여진다. 한편, 위암세포, 유방암세포 및 간암세포에서 암세포 성장억제율이 높게 나타나 항암 효과의 가능성을 보여주었다.

OSCC is currently the most common malignancy of the head and neck, affecting tens of thousands of patients per year worldwide. Natural flavonoids from plants are potential sources for novel anti-cancer drugs. Icariin is the active ingredient of flavonol glycoside, which is derived from the medical plant Herba Epimedii. A metabolite of icariin, icariside II exhibits a variety of pharmacological actions, including anti-rheumatic, anti-depressant, cardiovascular protective, and immunomodulatory functions. However, the exact mechanism causing the apoptosis-inducing effect of icariside II in OSCC is still not fully understood. In the present study, we assessed the anti-cancer effect of icariside II in OSCC cell lines by measuring its effect on cell viability, cell proliferation, and mitochondria membrane potential (MMP). Icariside II treatment of OSCC cells resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell viability. Hoechst staining indicated apoptosis in icariside II-treated HSC cells. Icariside II inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis in HSC cells, with significant increases in all present parameters in HSC-4 cells. The results clearly suggested that icariside II induced apoptosis via activation of intrinsic pathways and caspase cascades in HSC-4 cell lines. The collective findings of the study suggested that Icariside II is a potential treatment for OSCC; in addition, the data could provide a basis for the development of a novel anti-cancer strategy.

An oxidative fumigant is potent to kill insect pests infesting stored grains. Its oxidative activity generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which has been considered to be a main insecticidal factor. Furthermore, the oxidative fumigant has cytotoxic effect to insect cell lines, but the cytotoxicity is abrogated by antioxidant treatment. This study aimed to extend the usefulness of the oxidative fumigant in terms of medical purpose against cancer cells. Five cancer cell lines HCT 116 (human colorectal), Lovo (human colorectal), SW480 (human colorectal), MDA-MB-231 (human breast), and MCF-7 (human breast) were tested to determine their susceptibility to the oxidative fumigant with reference to two insect cell lines (Sf9 and Hi-Five). All cancer cell lines were highly susceptible to the oxidative fumigant, compared to the insect cell lines. Interestingly, basal ROS levels of the cancer cell lines were much higher than the insect cell lines. Furthermore, the oxidative fumigant significantly increased the ROS levels in the cancer cells. Treatment of vitamin E as an antioxidant mitigated the cytotoxicity of the oxidative fumigant. Thus, the high susceptibility of cancer cells to the oxidative fumigant may be induced by their high inducible ROS production. This study also investigated the antiviral activity of the oxidative fumigant against insect and plant viruses. The oxidative fumigant significantly inactivated a baculovirus (dsDNA virus) by inhibiting polyhedral production in Sf9 cells. It also inactivated tobacco mosaic virus (ssRNA virus) by suppressing phytopathogenicity. These results support a broad effect of the oxidative fumigant, which can be applied to agricultural and medical purposes.

버섯은 우리나라에서 식용으로 널리 이용되고 있는 식품으로 많은 연구들에서 다양한 생리활성 효과에 대한 연구가 활발하게 이루어지고 있다. 본 연구는 다양한 버섯 중에서 최근 많이 이용되고 있는 느타리버섯 추출물을 이용하여 항산화 활성 및 세포 독성 효과를 확인하고자 하였다. 연구결과, 느타리버섯의 총 폴리페놀 함량과 플라보노이드 함량은 각각 30.2±0.7 mg%와 20.4±0.6 mg%로 나타났다. 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5 mg/mL 농도에서의 DPPH radical 소거능은 0.625의 농도에서 4.5±0.1%, 1.25의 농도에서 11.0±0.4%, 2.5 mg/mL 농도에서 23.2±0.1%, 5.0 mg/mL 농도에서 44.1±0.6%의 결과를 보였다. 환원력은 5 mg/mL의 농도에서 1.648±0.047로 가장 높은 환원력을 보여주어 시료의 농도가 증가할수록 흡광도 값도 증가하여 높은 환원력을 나타내었다. 느타리버섯 물 추출물의 인간 정상 신장세포 HEK293을 이용한 정상세포에 대한 세포 독성을 측정한 결과에서는 느타리버섯 물 추출물 80.5%의 생존력을 나타내어 독성이 없는 것으로 보였다. 한편, 이들 버섯 추출물의 암세포 성장 억제에 미치는 영향을 검색한 간암세포 생육 저해능의 결과는 최고 5 mg/mL의 농도에서 70.0± 5.3%의 세포 생존력을 나타내어, 암세포 성장에는 영향을 미치지 못하는 것으로 사료된다.

본 연구에서는 방울토마토 Betatini 품종의 기능성식품으로서의 효용성을 알아보기 위하여 총 폴리페놀 및 플라보노이드 함량, 항산화 활성, 암세포 생육억제 효과를 검증하여 보았다. 방울토마토 Betatini 품종의 폴리페놀 함량은건조물 1g 당 11.02±1.98mg으로 국내산 일반 토마토와유사하였으며 플라보노이드는 건조물 1g 당 4.53±0.59mg이 함유되어 있어 일반 토마토에 비해 4배 가량 높았다.방울토마토 Betatini 품종의 항산화활성을 알아보기 위해DPPH radical scavenging activity(DSA), ABTS radicalscavenging activity(ASA) 및 ferric reducing antioxidantpower(FRAP)를 측정하였다. DSA와 ASA를 측정한 결과IC50은 각각 340.26±4.28μg/mL, 350.77±7.79μg/mL이었으며 FRAP값은 25.47±0.79μmol Fe2+/g으로 밝혀져 항산화활성이 확인되었다. 방울토마토 Betatini 품종의 암세포 생육억제 효과를 검증한 결과 자궁경부암세포(HeLa)와 간암세포(HepG2)에 대해서 높은 생육억제 효과를 확인할 수있었다. 이상의 결과를 통해 방울토마토 Betatini 품종은기능성 식품 또는 식품 소재로서의 가치가 매우 높음을 확인하였다.

Background. Vitamin K (VK) is a fat-soluble vitamin and is known to have anticancer activity in various cancer cell lines. However, there is no report on the anticancer effect of VK2 in mucoepidermoid carcinoma cells. Methods. The effects of VK2 on anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity were recognized by the trypan blue exclusion assay, 4'-6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining and Western blot analysis. Results. The results showed that VK2 decreased cell viability and induced apoptotic programmed cell death in MC3 cells evidenced by the cleavages of caspase3 and PARP. VK2 treatment clearly increased Bak and truncated Bid (t-Bid) compared with the control treatment whereas it did not alter other Bcl-2 family members. Conclusions. Overall, our results suggest that VK2 can be a good apoptotic inducer accompanied by the increase in Bak and Bid protein. VK2 may be a potent target of anticancer drug candidate for the treatment of oral cancer.

본 연구는 도꼬마리의 뿌리와 열매 부위별 항산화 활성의 검증을 통해 유효 생리활성 성분이 많은 부위를 탐색하고자 뿌리와 열매를 메탄올로 추출하여 항산화 활성물질, 라디칼 소거능, in vitro에서 항암 활성을 측정하였다. 항산화 물질인 폴리페놀과 플라보노이드 함량은 뿌리보다는 열매 부위에 6 배 가량 높은 함량이 나타났다. ABTS, DPPH, Hydroxyl radical 소거능을 측정한 결과, 뿌리에서 IC50% 6.02, 1.29, 3.88 ㎎/㎖ 이며, 열매에서는 0.81, 0.16, 0.44 ㎎/㎖로 열매에서 소거능이 높게 나타났다. 항암 활성을 알아보기 위하여 유방암세포 (MCF-7), 위암세포(AGS), 폐암세포(A-549), 인체대장암세포 (HCT-116), 간암세(Hep-G2) 및 전립선암(PC-3)에 처리하여 암세포 성장 억제 정도를 확인한 결과, 도꼬마리 열매와 뿌리 부위에 0.5 ㎎/㎖ 농도에서 각각 26%, 36% 전립선 암세포 성 장 억제 정도를 확인할 수 있었다.

본 연구는 식용버섯, 특히 능이버섯이 면역조절기능제로서의 가치 여부를 평가하기 위하여 수행되었다. 본 연구를 위해 능이버섯 및 잎새버섯, 표고버섯이 사용되었다. 버섯 추출물을 투여한 생쥐의 혈장내 IgG1 및 IgG2a 수준을 측정하였고, 비장 단일 세포군을 이용하여 T 림프구 및 B 림프구의 in vitro활성화 결과 생성된 IFN와 IL-4 수준을 각각 분석하였다. 실험 결과 능이버섯 추출물 500mg/kg BW투여군과 잎새버섯 추출물 500mg/kg BW을 투여한군에서 각각 IFN/IL-4의 비가 다른 군에 비해 높은경향을 보였다. 또한 혈장 내 IgG2a/IgG1의 비가 능이버섯 추출물 투여군의 경우에 다른 군보다 높았다.이는 능이버섯이 항암작용 및 항바이러스 작용과 같은 type-1 반응을 촉진할 가능성이 있으며, 그 효과가이미 입증된 표고버섯이나 잎새버섯과 비교하여 식용버섯으로써 면역조절 기능 강화 측면에서 우수한버섯이라 사료된다.