Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and currently there are many approaches developing towards cancer treatment. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy are often painful and have adverse effects. The mechanism of apoptosis is a complex process and it involves different pathways in its mechanism of action. Apoptosis can be caused by signals within the cell such as stress, or by extrinsic signals such as ligands binding to cell surface death receptors. The programmed cell death plays a important role in the several physiological and pathological processes. It plays important role in homeostasis. Flavonoids have gained importance as anticancer agents promoting cytotoxicity and apoptosis in cancer cells. Flavonoids are present in many medicinal plants which are a kind of ubiquitous natural products and essential active ingredients. They have strong biological activities with high efficiency and low toxicity, possessing good preventive and cure effects on different tumor forms. Flavonoids such as Scutellarein, Pectolinarigenin and Naringin have reported to possess significant anti-cancer effects on different cancer cell lines till date. In this review, we provide a summary about the anti-cancer effect of the three flavonoids and its mechanisms of action that can be used in future for understanding their potent anti-tumor properties.

The development of drugs from natural plant sources is at growing interest due to the limitations of chemical drugs in terms of side effects and cost-effective factors of natural medicines. Among the various components contained in natural plant materials, flavonoids are of increasing interest because of their extended biological benefits. Flavonoids are classified into various types according to their structure and possess different activities depending on the structure. In this study, the flavonoids contained in Artemisia, native to Korea were examined and reviewed. HPLC chromatograms of three Artemisia species (Artemisia annua L., Artemisia iwayomogi and Artemisia argyi H.) were examined from published sources and their component analysis by MS data were summarized. The various flavonoids of Artemisia were classified into 12 types according to the main structure, and 10 flavonoids based on various activities were examined. The 10 flavonoids were identified as quercetin, kaempferol, rhamnetin, diosmetin, luteolin, methoxyflavone, catechin, apigenin, malvidin and genkwanin with extensive reported studies till date. The ten flavonoids examined have been reported to be effective in preventing and treating various diseases and exhibit activities such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic and anti-Alzheimer. The collective results from the reported studies suggest that the three types of Korean native Artemisia, contains various flavonoids with beneficial activities and may have therapeutic effects against diseases.

Inflammation is an important protective response mechanism that occurs against microbial invasion or injury. However, excessive inflammation may lead to cause of morbidity and mortality in diseases. The activated macrophages plays a vital role in inflammatory response by stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). This activation further damages the host by inducing certain pro-inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin- 6 (IL-6), TNF-α, inducible nitrous oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Flavonoids are bioactive compounds with potential effects as anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-viral and anti-bacterial activities. Polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) are unique to citrus plants which are of specific interest owing to their biological effects that includes lipoprotein metabolism and anti-inflammatory activity. Sinensetin is one of the PMFs having five methoxy groups on the basic benzo-γ-pyrone skeleton with a carbonyl group at the C4 position. Sinensetin have been known for exerting various pharmacological activities including anti-angiogenesis, anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, there are no studies focused on the anti-inflammatory effects of sinensetin on skeletal muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated the antiinflammatory effect of flavonoids isolated from Sinensetin on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators mediated by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) by inhibition of signal transduction in LPS - induced L6 skeletal muscle cells.

Based on documentary research, this study intends to provide information relevant to the effect of flavonoids over women’s health. In general, flavonoids act on cell regulation to cancer proliferation and possess antioxidant, anti-inflammation and anti-metastatic effects. This study focuses on the therapeutic effect of flavonoids in women. Using recent researches published from 2000 to 2017 relevant to women’s health and flavonoids, data acquired from searches such as RISS and Google were analyzed, compared and arranged. Flavonoids are classified with various phenolic compounds, and it activates upon various conditions in women’s body. According to several outcomes that involve the relation of flavonoids in women’s health; it brings out significant implications in bone density, muscle, nerve, breast cancer, uterus cervical cancer and obesity. Hoping this literature review supports women patients and helps in the wellness of women, we sincerely look forward to disseminate this instructive and proper information to exploit flavonoids for enhancing health promotion.

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an essential nutrient of most living tissues. We established a strain of Gulo-/- mice with known deficiency, in which vitamin C intake can be controlled by diet, like humans, and investigated the differen- tially expressed proteins following treatments with Helicobacter pylori and diethylnitrosamine (DENA) in the liver of Gulo-/- mice using a proteomic approach. Expression of p53, 14-3-3ε and 14-3-3δ in Gulo-/- mice liver tissue was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. 2-DE maps constructed from Gulo-/- mice liver and differentially expressed proteins in liver tissue were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/MS). In Gulo- /- mice after H. Pylori infection, followed by treatment with DENA, no differences in p53, 14-3-3ε and 14-3-3δ were observed by immunohistochemistry. Proteome analyses us- ing MALDI-TOF/MS resulted in successful identification of 12 proteins (nine proteins were up-regulated and three were down-regulated). Specifically, peroxiredoxin-6 and Alpha-1-antitrypsin 1-4 were up-regulated in liver after H. Pylori infection followed by treatment with DENA. These results indicated that oral supplementation with vitamin C led to rescue of Gulo-/- mice from vitamin deficiency, and protected the liver from H.pylori infection and/or DENA ef- fect, and vitamin C also protected the liver against oxidative stress.

Fraxinus rhynchophylla (Oleaceae), a deciduous tree, is known to have properties that include anti-inflammatory, convergence, febricide, antiblenophthalmia, antidiarrhea, antileukorrhea, and so forth. In addition, it has been used for traditional herbal medicine in East Asian countries, including Korea. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of Fraxinus rhynchophylla ethanol extract (FRE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced murine macrophage Raw 264.7 cells with FRE pretreatment. We performed DPPH-assay, Western blot, and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR). FRE showed 85% free radical scavenging activity at concentrations of 80 µg/ml. Results of this study also showed that FRE down-regulates Cox-2 and iNOS expression in mRNA and protein level. In conclusion, crude ethanol extract of Fraxinus rhynchophylla exhibited antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and it may potentially provide a valuable source of natural herbal agent to inhibit inflammation.

Regulation of fruit ripening may help extend fruit shelf life and prevent losses due to spoilage. Here, we investigated whether sound treatment could delay tomato fruit ripening. We treated harvested tomato fruits with low-frequency sound waves (1 kHz) for 6 h, and then monitored various characteristics of the fruits over 14-day period at 23±1°C. Seven days after the treatment, 85% of the treated fruits were green, versus fewer than 50% of the non-treated fruits. Most of the tomato fruits had switched to the red ripening stage by 14 days after treatment. Ethylene production and respiration rate were lower in the treated than non-treated tomatoes. Furthermore, changes in surface color and flesh firmness were delayed in the treated fruits. To investigate how sound wave treatment affects fruit ripening, we analyzed the expression of ethylene-related genes by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. We found that the expression level of several ethylene biosynthetic and ethylene signaling pathway-related genes was influenced by sound wave treatment. These results demonstrate that sound wave treatment delays tomato fruit ripening by altering the expression of important genes in the ethylene biosynthesis and ethylene signaling pathways.

Regulation of fruit ripening may help extend fruit shelf life and prevent losses due to spoilage. Here, we investigated whether sound treatment could delay tomato fruit ripening. We treated harvested tomato fruits with low-frequency sound waves (1 kHz) for 6 h, and then monitored various characteristics of the fruits over 14-day period at 23±1°C. Seven days after the treatment, 85% of the treated fruits were green, versus fewer than 50% of the non-treated fruits. Most of the tomato fruits had switched to the red ripening stage by 14 days after treatment. Ethylene production and respiration rate were lower in the treated than non-treated tomatoes. Furthermore, changes in surface color and flesh firmness were delayed in the treated fruits. To investigate how sound wave treatment affects fruit ripening, we analyzed the expression of ethylene-related genes by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. We found that the expression level of several ethylene biosynthetic and ethylene signaling pathway-related genes was influenced by sound wave treatment. These results demonstrate that sound wave treatment delays tomato fruit ripening by altering the expression of important genes in the ethylene biosynthesis and ethylene signaling pathways.

Regulation of fruit ripening may help extend fruit shelf life and prevent losses due to spoilage. Here, we investigated whether sound treatment could delay tomato fruit ripening. We treated harvested tomato fruits with low-frequency sound waves (1 kHz) for 6 h, and then monitored various characteristics of the fruits over 14-day period at 23±1°C. Seven days after the treatment, 85% of the treated fruits were green, versus fewer than 50% of the non-treated fruits. Most of the tomato fruits had switched to the red ripening stage by 14 days after treatment. Ethylene production and respiration rate were lower in the treated than non-treated tomatoes. Furthermore, changes in surface color and flesh firmness were delayed in the treated fruits. To investigate how sound wave treatment affects fruit ripening, we analyzed the expression of ethylene-related genes by quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis. We found that the expression level of several ethylene biosynthetic and ethylene signaling pathway-related genes was influenced by sound wave treatment. These results demonstrate that sound wave treatment delays tomato fruit ripening by altering the expression of important genes in the ethylene biosynthesis and ethylene signaling pathways.

We investigated whether sound waves could improve salt tolerance in rice seedling. The rice seedlings were sound treated with 800 Hz for 1hr, and then treated with 0, 75, 150, and 225mM NaCl for 3 days to observe changes in physiological and morphological aspects. Sound treatment seedlings resulted in enhanced salt stress tolerance, mainly demonstrated by the sound treated seedlings exhibiting of increased root relative water contents (RWC), root length and weight, photochemical efficiency (ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence, Fv/Fm), and germination rate under salt stress condition. This demonstrates that a specific sound wave might be used, not only to alter gene expression in plant, but also to improve salt stress tolerance. In order to test the sound’s effect on plant and its contribution in drought tolerance, plants were subjected to various sound frequencies for an hrs. After 24-hrs sound treatment, plants were exposed to drought for next five days. During the experiment it was observed that sound initiated physiological changes showing tolerance in plant. Sound frequency with ≥ 0.8 kHz enhanced relative water content, stomatal conductance and quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm ratio) in drought stress environment. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in sound treated plantwasdeclinedcomparedtocontrol. ThermaCAM (Infra-red camera) a software which was used to analyze the plant images temperature showed that sound treated plant and leaf had less temperature (heat) compared to control. The physiological mechanism of sound frequencies induce tolerance in rice plants are discussed.

Sound and communication through it have significantly contributed to study the ecology, evolution, behavior in animal. Plants may also use sound, but until now, we have been unable to effectively research what the ecological, evolutionary and molecular implications might be in plant. So, we wonder what genes are regulated under sound wave conditions. In particular, our research was centered to increase functional materials including vitamins and anthocyanin in plants. First, we investigated up- and down-regulated genes under sound wave treatments (250, 500, 800, 1000 and 1500Hz) by RNA-seq in Arabidopsis thaliana. In these results, we selected genes of over 8-fold increase and below 8-fold decrease and especially, focus on vitamin and anthocyanin-related genes in RNA-seq level. Second, we confirmed that these up- and down-regulated genes under sound wave treatments by qRT-PCR. Finally, we selected 13 interesting genes. To confirm these results, now, we are performing promoter assay by using promoter-GUS in plant and by using promoter-luciferase in protoplast. After then, we will find to interacting partners of these genes in sound wave signal. Our final goal is understand signaling network under sound wave treatment condition in plant. We hope that if we do find results that suggest that sound wave have a beneficial effect on crop yield and quality, acoustic biology can then have some viable application in agriculture. This could bring new discoveries into development of farming methods.