Taxillus yadoriki (Siebold) Dancer is a parasitic plant that grows on camellia trees and is common on Jeju Island. The branches of T. yadoriki have long been used to treat various diseases, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, viral infections, and arthritis. Although recent studies reported that T. yadoriki has anticancer effects in various human cancer cell lines, including lung cancer, the exact molecular mechanisms supporting its anticancer effects are not well understood. This study aims to assess the anticancer effect of the methanol extract of T. yadoriki branches (METY) on mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) cell lines (MC3 cells and YD15 cells) and explore its mechanism of action. Inhibitory activity of MEC cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay. The mechanism of the anticancer effect on METY-treated MC3 cells and YD15 cells was evaluated with Hoechst 33342 stain and Western blot. After treating MC3 cells and YD15 cells with METY for 48 hours, the cytotoxicity of MC3 and YD15 cells increased, and nuclear fragmentation increased in both METY-treated MEC cells. Caspase-3 and cleaved PARP activation demonstrated apoptosis of METY-treated MEC cells. Cell proliferation inhibition with METY was alleviated in METY-treated MEC cells pretreated with zVAD-FMK, supporting the cell proliferation inhibition effect by apoptosis. METY-induced apoptosis in MEC cells occurs through MAP kinase pathways such as p38 and pAkt. MEC cell. METY-induced apoptosis of MEC cells occurs via the p38 and pAkt MAPK pathways. Therefore, METY may be a promising anticancer candidate for the MEC therapeutic strategy.

We evaluated the protective effects of cricket methanol extract (CME) on ultra-violet B (UVB)-induced photoaging in human skin fibroblasts. The fibroblast cells were treated with 10, 50, and 100 μg/mL of CME for 24 h, and then exposed to UVB (30 mJ/cm2). CME showed a dose-dependent cytoprotective effect without any observable cytotoxicity. CME reduced UVB-induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by 34.4, 34.9, 40.6% at concentrations of 10, 50, 100 μg/mL respectively. CME inhibited the release of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 1 and 3. Furthermore, CME also reduced UVB-induced collagen degradation in the fibroblast cells. Taken together, our data suggests that CME has a significant protective effect on UVB-induced photoaging of the skin. This benefit occurs through multiple mechanisms. The results also suggest a potential role for CME as an ingredient in anti-photoaging cosmetic products in the future.

Evodiae Fructus is the dried unripe fruit of Evodia rutaecarpa, and has traditionally been used for treating stomachache and diarrhea. Evodiamine and rutaecarpine, the major biologically active compounds of Evodiae Fructus, are reported to have anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects, as well as inhibit proliferation and metastasis of various cancer cells. The current study investigates the anti-oxidative and anti-cancer effects of the Evodiae Fructus extract, considering varying concentrations of methanol extraction (40, 80, and 95%). High contents of total phenolic compounds were determined in the order of extracts 80, 95, and 40%. Evaluating contents of the 95, 80, and 40% extracts revealed 36.77, 7.29, and 1.86 μg/mg evodiamine, respectively, and 53.02, 17.16, and 3.79 μg/mg rutaecarpine, respectively, with the highest content of both compounds obtained in the 95% extract. DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed to be inversely proportional to the contents of total phenolic compounds, with decreasing SC50 values obtained in the order 80, 95, and 40% extract. The 95 and 80% extracts exerted toxicity to AGS gastric cancer cells, but the 40% extract was non-toxic. Evodiamine is a known anti-cancer agent, and could be responsible for the observed toxicity. Cleavage of PARP, and Caspase-3, -7, -8 and -9 was observed in the 95% extract-treated AGS cells, indicating that cell toxicity exerted by the 95% extract could be attributed to apoptosis.

Autophagy is recently receiving the spotlight as the development strategy for promising anticancer drugs. In particular, the majority of anticancer drugs originating from natural products are known to induce autophagy. Saururus chinensis has been used for treating various inflammatory diseases. Recent research has revealed that the extract of Saururus chinensis possess cytotoxicity for various types of human cancer cells. However, the exact action mechanism of Saururus chinensis extract for oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not been studied yet. Therefore, the authors of this research aim to study the effect of methanol extract of S. chinensis (MESC) on OSCC cells. To observe the cell proliferation inhibitory effect of MESC on HSC3 cells, the authors conducted the trypan blue exclusion assay. Also, the action mechanism of MESC was studied by conducting the cell cycle analysis, acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining and flow cytometry analysis, monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining, propidium iodide staining, and Western blotting on MESC-treated HSC3 cells. When HSC3 cells were treated in MESC, the cell proliferation was suppressed in time-dependent and dose-dependent manners. Also, the number of sub-G1 arrested cells increased in a dose-dependent manner. MDC punctate and AVO puncta significantly increased respectively. Western blot analysis demonstrated the expression of autophagy-related proteins increased, but apoptotic proteins were not observed. Also, the pAkt protein was reduced, while the p-p38 protein and pERK protein increased. According to our results, MESC induced autophagy and accompanied changes in the cell cycle in HSC3 cells. Also, the alteration in Akt, ERK, and p38 pathways were confirmed. This result suggested the possibility of MESC as the new promising adjuvant for treating OSCC patients.

Natural products are vastly utilized as a source of chemotherapeutic agents for human cancers. Kochia scopraia is traditionally used for the cure of urological and dermatological diseases. Recently, methanol extract of Kochia scoparia (MEKS) has been shown to have anti-cancer activity to various human cancers. However, there is no report demonstrating the anti-cancer activity of MEKS in human mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) cells. In this study, the authors studied the effects of MEKS on the cell proliferation and underlying mechanism in YD15 human MEC cells. MEKS decreased YD15 cell proliferation proven by trypan blue exclusion assay and induced apoptosis, evidenced by cell cycle analysis and western blotting. Autophagy induction by MEKS was verified by western blotting. In addition, MEKS regulated the expression of phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated p38 and Nrf2 protein. This results can imply that MEKS might be a potential candidate for the treatment of human MEC cells.

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease, which destroys the connective tissue and the alveolar bone. Recently, it has been suggested that the effect of natural substances could be induced into an anti-inflammatory environment. However, the effect of Safflower seed extract (SAF-M) associated with periodontitis has not been investigated yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the anti-inflammatory effects of SAF-M. Cytotoxicity was assessed through MTS analysis using hGF and hPDL cells. Periodontitis was induced by injecting LPS into gingival tissue on the maxillary molars of rats (45 μg LPS/one time, 3 times a week for 3 weeks). SAF-M was administered daily at 30 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. Alveolar bone resorption was evaluated through the micro-CT. hGF and hPDL cells showed differential cytotoxicity in response to SAF-M at 5 mg/ml and 1 mg/ml concentrations. Micro-CT showed reduction of the alveolar bone resorption in the SAF-M treatment group. These results suggested that SAF-M is a potential therapeutic agent for periodontitis.

This study was conducted to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Cheonggukjang extract in in-vitro and in-vivo models. T98G-human glioblastoma cells were pretreated with various concentrations (1~10 mg/mL) of Cheonggukjang extract for 24 h and then exposed to H2O2 (1 mM) for 3 h. The neuroprotective effects of Cheonggukjang extract were measured using a CCK-8 kit assay, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The early stage focal ischemia rodent model was used as the in-vivo neurotoxicity model. Various concentrations (10~200 mg) of Cheonggukjang extract were administered to the animal models for 1 week. Peripheral blood was analyzed for glutathione peroxidase (GPx) expression by ELISA, and infarct volume reduction was analyzed by TTC staining. Cheonggukjang extract significantly (p<0.05) increased cell viability in T98G cells against H2O2 as well as against the induced neurotoxicity. Indeed, treatment with the Cheonggukjang extract induced a decrease in ROS and LDH expression and increased TAC significantly (p<0.05). However, Cheonggukjang extract did not induce a decrease in infarct volume or an increase in GPx expression in the in-vivo model. Despite the limitation in neuroprotection, Cheonggukjang extract may be useful for treating ROS injury.

This study was undertaken to determine free radical scavenging capacity and oxidative DNA damage protecting activity of methanol extract of red tea stem. The extract was subjected to assess their antioxidant potential using various in vitro systems such as DPPH•, ABTS•+ , super oxide and nitric oxide free radicals and it exhibited IC50 values of 68.88 ± 1.1, 12.08 ± 0.65, 404.38 ± 1.6, 93.6 ± 2.7, µg/mL respectively. Red tea extract also showed ferric reducing ability (FRAP) with 2606.85 mmol Fe (II)/g of extract. Furthermore, Methanol extract of red tea stem showed significant DNA damage protecting activity in concentration dependent manner against H2O2+UV induced photolysis on pUC19 plasmid DNA. Results of this study showed that the methanol extract of Red Tea stem has strong antioxidant potential along oxidative DNA damage protecting capacity that would be the significant sources of natural antioxidants, which might be helpful in preventing the progress of various oxidative stress generated diseases. Further study is necessary for isolation and characterization of the active antioxidants, which may serve as a potential source of natural antioxidant.

본 연구에서는 항암제와 면역 조절제로 널리 사용되는 차가버섯을 피부 미백제로 이용할 수 있는지 가능성을 알아보기 위해 멜라닌생성 저해 효과와 자외선 차단 작용과 관련된 여러 실험을 수행하였다. 메탄올을 이용해 차가버섯의 자실체에서 추출한 물질의 총 폴리페놀 함량과 플라보노이드 함량은 각각31.85mg/g과 28.33mg/g으로 측정되었다. B16/F10melanoma와 NIH3T3 세포주에 추출물의 농도를10~500g/mL으로 처리한 세포생존율 시험에서 시험 세포주의 52% 이상이 생존하여 세포독성은 없는것으로 확인되었다. DPPH 라디칼 소거 활성과 금속이온 제거능 등의 항산화 시험에서 추출물의 항산화활성은 양성대조군인 tocopherol이나 BHT에 비해낮았으나 추출물의 농도가 높아짐에 따라 항산화 활성은 비례적으로 증가하였다. 멜라닌 합성의 초기단계에 관여하는 티로시나아제와 L-DOPA에 차가버섯메탄올 추출물과 양성대조군인 kojic acid와 arbutin을 각각 직접 처리하고 저해 효과를 측정한 결과 추출물은 양성 대조군인 kojic acid 및 arbutin에 비해 저해 효과가 매우 낮았다. B16/F10 Melanoma 세포에추출물과 arbutin을 처리하고 세포내 티로시나아제의저해 활성을 조사한 결과, 100g/mL의 농도에서 추출물은 68.59%, arbutin은 58.36%의 활성이 저해되어메탄올 추출물이 arbutin에 비해 티로시나아제 저해활성이 약 10% 높았다. 또한, B16/F10 melanoma 세포에 차가버섯 추출물과 arbutin을 처리하여 생성된멜라닌의 양을 측정한 결과, 추출물과 arbutin을 처리한 모든 군에서 생성된 멜라닌의 양은 유사하였으며,처리 농도가 증가함에 따라 농도 의존적으로 생성된멜라닌의 양은 감소하였다. 따라서 차가버섯 메탄올추출물은 세포 밖에서 직접 티로시나아제를 저해하는작용은 양성 대조군에 비해 매우 낮았으나 melanoma세포내에서 티로시나아제와 멜라닌의 생성을 양성대조군과 대등하게 저해하여 피부에 미백효과를 나타낼 수 있을 것으로 사료된다. 또한 차가버섯 메탄올 추출물을 200-400nm 파장에서 분광광도계를 이용하여 흡수스펙트럼을 측정한 결과, 280-350nm의자외선 영역에서 흡광도가 높아 자외선을 효율적으로 차단하는 것으로 나타났다.

비록 천연유래물질 중의 하나인 통초가 항산화작용, 항염증작용 및 해열작용과 같은 효능이 있다고 알려져있지 만, 종양에서의 암예방효능에 대한 연구는 보고된 바가 없 다. 본 연구에서는 사람 자궁경부암세포주인 HEP-2세포에서 통초메탄올추출물의 증식억제 효능 및 관련 분자표적을 확인하고자 하였다. 통초메탄올추출물은 세포증식을 유의성있게 억제하고, 세포사멸을 유도하는 것으로 나타났다. 또한, Bid의 발현에 영향을 주어 truncation을 유도하고, 이로 인해 cytochrome c가 마이토콘드리아에서 세포질로 이 동하도록 유도하였지만, Bid 이외의 다른 Bcl-2 family 에는 영향을 주지 못했다. 따라서, 이러한 결과를 종합해 볼 때, 통초메탄올추출물은 자궁경부암에서 암예방효능을 가진 잠재성있는 천연추출물이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

Antioxidant activities of Hericium erinaceum was in vestigated in subfractions of methanol extract such as hexane, chloroform, ethylacetate, butanol and water subfractions. Chlorofrom fraction exhibited the highest antioxidant activity and showed the highest level of total phenolic contents. The level of total phenolics may be correlated with the antioxidant activities of the subfractions. Therefore, the phenolic compound in the chloroform subfractions exhibiting high antioxidant acticity was identified by mass spectrometry using LC-MS/MS. In addition, hot water extract of this mushroom were tested for antimutagenic activity by Ames Salmonellaassay.Thisextractshowed inhibitiory effect on the mutagenesis induced in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 and TA98 by the directly actingmutagen 4-nitroquinoline-1-oxide(0.15μg/plate) and sodium azide (0.5μg/plate). The extract also inhibited mutagenesis induced in Salmonella typhimurium strain TA100 and TA98 by the indirectly actingmutagen 2-aminoanthracen(2μg/plate) at 5000μg/plate and 200 μg/plate, respectively.

본 시험은 무궁화과에 속하는 초본 식물인 Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.)를 경상대학교 시험농장 에서 2010년 6월 1일 파종하여 같은 해 11월 18일 수확하여 건조 한 후, 꽃 (HCME-F)과 잎 (HCME-L)에서 추출한 메탄올 추출물을 이용하여, 세포 독성 시험 및 주요 병원균에 대한 항균효과를 규명하였다. 항균효과에 사용된 균주는 가축에서 피부 질환, 유방염 및 소화기질병을 유발하는 그람양성 균인 St. aureus 와 Str. epidermidis, 그람음성균인 S. typhimurium 과 E. coli 균을 공시균주로 사용하였다. 추출물의 안전성을 평가하기 위해 두 추출물 HCME-F과 HCME-L을 0, 25, 50, 100 및 200 ㎍/ml 농도로 첨가한 배지에서 RAW 264.7 세포와 24시간 반응 후 세포 독성을 측정해 본 결과, 세포 독성이 인정되지 않았으며, 항균효과 시험결과 그람양성균인 St. aureus와 Str. epidermidis 균에 대하여 1, 50 및 100 ㎍/ml의 추출물 농도 및 반응시간 경과에 따라 항균 효과가 증가되었으나, 그람음 성균인 S. typhimurium 과 E. coli 에서는 항균효과가 인정되지 않았다. 종합적으로 Kenaf의 꽃과 잎 에서 추출한 메탄올 추출물이 세포에 대한 안전성이 입증되었고, 가축과 사람의 피부 질환 및 유방염의 대표적 그람양성균인 St. aureus와 Str. epidermidis 균에 대한 항균효과를 보여, Kenaf의 꽃과 잎을 이용한 선택적 그람양성균 치료제 및 사료첨가제 개발이 가능할 것으로 판단된다.

The phytochemicals of many plants suggest their potential use as dietary supplements in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy. In the present study, antitumor activity of Cudrania tricuspidata, a plant native to East Asia, was investigated. Cell growth inhibition of the extract on HT-29 colorectal adenocarcinoma using MTT colorimetric assay was determined. Apoptosis on HT-29 cells was performed by DNA fragmentation analysis. PGE2 release was measured by enzyme immunoassay, because PGE2 is a key protumorigenic prostanoid in many human cancers. For the ROS scavenging activity, ROS level was detected by laser scanning confocal microscope. It was found that methanol extract of leaves inhibits cell viability by inducing apoptosis as evidenced by DNA fragmentation. Stem bark decreases synthesis of PGE2, inflammatory mediator. Fruits exhibited pronounced ROS scavenging activity. Taken together, these results suggest that Cudrania tricuspidata exerts growth inhibition and anti-oxidation on HT-29 cells through apoptosis, ROS scavenging respectively that it may have anti-cancer properties.

탈지 겨자박으로 부터 유리페놀산, 에스터형 및 불용성페놀산을 추출하여 식용대두유 기질에서 항산화 효과를 0.02%(w/w)의 BHA, BHT의 항산화 효과를 비교하였는바 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 각 기질과 대조구를 에서 25일간 저장하면서 매5일간 과산화물가, TBA가를 측정하여 항산화 효과를 추정하였다. 1. BHA, BHT와 유리페놀산, 에스터형 및 불용성페놀산 추출물을 첨가한 시험구와 대조구의 25일 저장 후 과산화물가는 각각 31.9, 13.2, 16.6, 11.2, 35, 91이었다. 한편 같은 조건하에서 각 항산화성 물질의 TBA가는 0.24, 0.16, 0.19, 0.17, 0.35이었다. 이로 미루어 볼 때 페놀산 추출물들은 식용대두유 기질에서 우수한 항산화 효과를 나타내었다. 2. 겨자의 총 페놀함량은 유리페놀산 및 불용성페놀산의 추출물이 각각 13.2mg/10ml. 340.5mg/10ml, 2.1mg/10ml였다. 3. 분리 동정된 페놀산은 catechol, methylcatechol, salicylic acid, cinnamic acid, pyrogallol, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, sinapic acid였다.

In order to improved use of Persicaria tinctoria seeds and to get basic information, general composition, fatty acid, mineral, amind acid analysis and physiological activity of methanol extract of Persicaria tinctoria seeds were investigated. Total calories of Persicaria tinctoria seeds were 348.00 kcal/100 g, general composition, carbohydrate, crude protein, crude fat and crude ash consisted of 7.85%, 67.90%, 10.10%, 4.00% and 10.15%, respectively. The amount of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was showed 0.9048 g/100 g and 2,714 g/100 g, respectively. Minerals contained 100g of Persicaria tinctoria seeds were followed by K (549.5 ㎎), Mg (264.4 ㎎), Ca (216.2 ㎎), Fe (12.1 ㎎), Zn (3.0 ㎎). Total 15 kinds of amino acids were detected, these amino acids displayed higher value in the alanine (1,432.6 ㎎/100 g) and glutamic acid (1,088.8 ㎎/100 g). Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were 11.08 ㎎/L and 3.56 ㎎/L, respectively. DPPH radical scavenging and ABTS radical scavenging activity in the methanol extract of 1,000 ㎎/L was showed 86.74% and 61.74%, respectively.

Dendrobium loddigesii (DL) is a valuable and versatile herbal medicine with the anecdotal claims of anti-oxidant and anti-inflammation. In the present study, we investigated the whitening effects of DL under various conditions with B16F10 melanoma cells. The DL extract inhibited melanin contents and tyrosinase activity in a dose-dependent manner, compared with untreated group. Treatment of the DL extract effectively suppressed the α-MSH-stimulated melanin formation, tyrosinase activity and dendrite outgrowth. Moreover, the α-MSH-induced mRNA expressions of tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) and protein expression of tyrosinase were significantly attenuated by DL treatment. These results indicate that DL may be a great cosmeceutical ingredient for its whitening effects.