An assessment is made of the anti-proliferative activity of cicada slough-derived materials against 10 human cancer cell lines, including PC-3 and DU145 prostate cancer cell lines, using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Results were compared with those of the commercially available anticancer agent with broad spectrum cisplatin. The ethanol extract of Cryptotympana spp. slough was proved to have anti-proliferative activity against A549 lung, AGS stomach, PC-3 and DU145 prostate, Hela cervix, HT-29 colon, MCF-7 breast, and SK-Hep-1 liver cancer cell lines except for Hep-2 larynx and SK-OV-3 ovary cancer cell lines. The biologically active constituent was characterized as the nonprotein α-amino acid theanine [2-amino-4-(ethylcarbamoyl)butyric acid] by spectroscopic analysis, including EI-MS and NMR. Theanine was isolated from the cicada slough as a new cytotoxic principle. Fifty percent inhibition concentration (IC50) values of the constituent against PC-3 was 6.52 μg/mL, respectively. The activity of theanine (IC50,6.52μg/mL) did not differ significantly from that of the anticancer agent cisplatin (IC50,7.39μg/mL) toward PC-3. In conclusion, further studies on the cicada slough-derived materials containing theanine as potential anticancer products or a lead molecule for the prevention or eradication from human prostate cancer.

Lung cancer caused by diverse changes in cells resulted by exposure to carcinogens found in tobacco smoke, the environment, or sequential accumulation of genetic changes to the normal epithelial cells of the lung. An assessment was made of the anti-proliferative activity of constituents from silkworm feces against 11 human cancer cell lines, including A549 and H727 lung cancer cell lines, using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. The ethanol extract of silkworm feces was proved to have anti-proliferative activity against all 11 species of human cancer cell lines. The biologically active constituent was characterized as vomifoliol (blumenol A) (1) and stigmasterol (2) by spectroscopic analysis ,including MS and NMR. In conclusion, global efforts to reduce the level of antitcancer agents justify further studies on the silkworm feces-derived materials containing vomifoliol and stigmasterol as potential anticancer products or lead compounds for the prevention or eradication from human lung cancer.

항산화 기능은 암이나 심혈관질환 발생을 억제하는 것으로 보고되고 있어서 다양한 식물들에 대해서 항산화 효 과가 연구되고 있다. 그러나, 채소류에 대해서는 항산화 효과에 대한 광범위한 조사는 이루어지지 않아 단지 몇몇 천연 항산화제만이 식품 산업에서 이용되고 있다. 따라서, 본 연구에서는 식품 산업에서 다양한 천연 항산화제를 이용 할 수 있도록, 여러 가지 채소류에 대해 항산화 활성을 조사하여 채소류 중 항산화 효과에 대한 과학적 자료를 제공하기 위해 수행되었다. 24 품목의 채소류를 대상으로 총 275개의 시료를 구입하여 항산화 효과를 측정하였다. 총 페놀 함량(TPCs)은 gallic acid를 대조 표준용액으로 Folin- Ciocalteu 시약을 사용하여 비색법으로 측정하였으며 DPPH 라디컬 소거능은 IC50(DPPH 라디칼을 50% 저해하는데 필요한 추출물의 농도) 농도로 측정하였다. 조사 결과 여러 가지 채소류에 대한 총 페놀 함량은 0.32~49.26 μg/kg 였으며 DPPH 라디컬 소거 활성은 0.0~2.43 mg/mL로 조사 되었다. 본 연구에서 조사된 채소류 중 항산화 효과가 가장 좋은 채소는 2가지 항산화 측정 방법에서 모두 마늘 이였다.