Codium fragile (Suringar) Hariot is an edible green seaweed that belong to the Codiaceae family and has been used in Oriental medicine for the treatment of enterobiasis, dropsy, and dysuria. Methanol extract of codium fragile has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, although the anti-cancer effect on oral cancer has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death by methanol extracts of Codium fragile (MeCF) on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that MeCF inhibits cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, and markedly induced apoptosis, as determined by the MTT assay, Live/Dead assay, and DAPI stain. In addition, MeCF induced the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase -3, -7, -9 and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase(PARP), and upregulated or downregulated the expression of mitochondrial-apoptosis factor, Bax(pro-apoptotic factor), and Bcl-2(anti-apoptotic factor), . Futhermore, MeCF induced a cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase through suppressing the expression of the cell cycle cascade proteins, p21, CDK4, CyclinD1, and phospho-Rb. Taken together, these results indicated that MeCF inhibits cell growth, and this inhibition is mediated by caspase- and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathways through cell cycle arrest at the G1/S phase in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, methanol extracts of Codium fragile can be provided as a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

We investigated the influence of germination and high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) treatment conditions on the conversion of functional compounds and antioxidant activity in adzuki bean. The adzuki bean germinated at 25°C for three- or six-days, and was later subjected to HHP at 0.1, 50, 100, or 150 MPa for 24 h. The highest polyphenol content (5.36 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g) and flavonoid content (0.91 mg catechin equivalents (CE)/g) were observed after germination for six days and HHP treatment at 100 MPa for 24 h, respectively. The total phenolic acid contents increased with increasing applied pressure from 88.86 to 208.26 μg/g (100MPa, 24h). Phenolic acids are divided into two categories; those that exhibit increased content upon HHP treatment, and those that exhibit decreased content. The increasing phenolic acids were gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, (+)-catechin, ρ-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, heperidin, salicylic acid, protocatechuic acid, cinnamic acid, naringenin. The total anthocyanin content decreased with increasing applied pressure from 22.42 mg/100 g to 6.28 mg/100 g (150 MPa, 24 h). The highest ABTS radical scavenging activity (8.02 mg eq AA/g) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (1.22 eq Trolox/g) were observed after germination for six days and HHP treatment at 100MPa for 24h, respectively. These results suggested that the combination of HHP and germination can lead to improved functionality in adzuki bean.

Ficus carica L. (common fig), one of the first plants cultivated by humans, originated in the Mediterranean basin and currently grows worldwide, including southwest Asia and South Korea. It has been used as a traditional medicine for treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases as well as hemorrhoids and skin infections. Its pharmacological properties have recently been studied in detail, but research on the anti-cancer effect of its latex has been only been studied on a limited basis on several cell lines, such prostate cancer, breast cancer, and leukemia. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity of the latex of Ficus carica L.and its underlying mechanism in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. (See Ed. note above) We confirmed through SDS-PAGE analysis and gelatinolytic activity analysis that the latex of Ficus carica contains cysteine protease ficin. Our data showed that the latex inhibited cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the latex treatment markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells as determined by FACS analysis, elevated expression level of cleaved caspase-9, -3 and PARP (poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase), and. increased the expression of Bax (pro-apoptotic factor) while decreasing the expression of Bcl-2 (anti-apoptotic factor). Taken together, these results suggested that latex containing the ficin inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis by caspase and the Bcl-2 family signaling pathway in FaDu human hypopharynx squamous carcinoma cells. These findings point to the potential of latex of Ficus carica to provide a novel chemotherapeutic drug due to its growth inhibition effects and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Anthriscus sylvestris (L.) Hoffm. is a perennial herb found widely distributed in various regions of Korea, Europe, and New Zealand. The root of A. sylvestris have been extensively used in the treatment for antitussive, antipyretic, cough remedy in Oriental medicine, but the physiologically active function of the leaf of A. sylvestris is as yet unknown. In this study, we investigated the anti-cancer activity and the mechanism of cell death of water extracts of leaf of Anthriscus sylvestris (WELAS), on human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that WELAS treatment inhibited cell viability in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the treatment of WELAS markedly induced apoptosis in FaDu cells, as determined by the viability assay, DAPI stain and FACS analysis. WELAS also increased the proteolytic cleavage of procaspase-3, -9 and PARP (poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase). In addition, exposure to WELAS decreased the expression of Bcl-2 (an anti-apoptotic factor), but increased the expression of Bax (a pro-apoptotic factor), suggesting that mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathways are mediated in WELAS-induced apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicate that water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis via the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in FaDu human hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Therefore, we propose that the water extracts of leaf of A. sylvestris is a novel chemotherapeutic drug, having growth inhibitory properties and induction of apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Anthricin (Deoxypodophyllotoxin), a naturally occurring flavolignan, has well known anti-cancer properties in several cancer cells, such as prostate cancer, cervical carcinoma and pancreatic cancer. However, the effects of Anthricin are currently unknown in oral cancer. We examined the anticancer effect and mechanism of action of Anthricin in human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells. Our data showed that Anthricin inhibits cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (IC50 50 nM) in the MTT assay and Live & Dead assay. In addition, Anthricin treated FaDu cells showed marked apoptosis by DAPI stain and FACS. Furthermore, Anthricin activates anti-apoptotic factors such as caspase-3, -9 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), suggesting that caspase-mediated pathways are involved in Anthricin- induced apoptosis. Anthricin treatment also leads to accumulation of the pro-apoptotic factor Bax, followed by inhibition of cell growth. Taken together, these results indicate that Anthricn-induced cell death of human FaDu hypopharyngeal squamous carcinoma cells is mediated by mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. In summary, our findings provide a framework for further exploration on Anthricin as a novel chemotherapeutic drug for human oral cancer.

This study investigated the antidiabetic effect of amaranth grain ethanol extract (AEE) in a diabetic animal model, db/db mouse. The mice were divided into 4 groups: normal control mice (C57BL/6J), diabetic mice (C57BL/6J db/db), diabetic mice fed a lower concentration of AEE (0.3 mg/kg), and diabetic mice fed a higher concentration of AEE (0.5 mg/kg). After 10 weeks of treatment, body weights, blood insulin levels and blood glucose levels of each group were compared. At the end of treatment, the results showed that both AEE supplemented groups had lower body weights than those in the diabetic groups although higher than those in the normal groups. Moreover, in both AEE supplemented groups, serum insulin levels were higher and blood glucose levels were lower than those in the diabetic groups although both values were higher than those in the normal groups. The results of this study suggest that AEE can alleviate many of the common symptoms of diabetes in diabetic mice and, therefore, has potential as a therapeutic supplement for normalization of blood glucose and insulin levels in humans.

This study investigated the physicochemical characteristics and antioxidant activities of buckwheat soksungjang and commercial doenjang. We analyzed moisture, total sugar, color, salinity, amino type nitrogen, amino acids, and antioxidant activities. Buckwheat soksungjang had lower salinity content (7.44±0.10%) than commercial doenjang (8.82-9.81%). The quercetin content of buckwheat soksungjang was 0.78±0.01 mg% while commercial doenjang’s was 0.29-1.16 mg%. The DPPH and content of the total polyphenol of buckwheat soksungjang (DPPH radical scavenging activity 62.21±0.45% and total polyphenol content 447.51±14.61 mg%) and commercial doenjang (DPPH radical scavenging activities: 44.07-68.50%; total polyphenol contents: 328.26-407.51 mg%) were both significant.

Using current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance-voltage (C-V) measurements, the electrical properties of Au and Cu Schottky contacts to n-Ge were comparatively investigated. Lower values of barrier height, ideality factor and series resistance were obtained for the Au contact as compared to the Cu contact. The values of capacitance showed strong dependence on the bias voltage and the frequency. The presence of an inversion layer at the interface might reduce the intercept voltage at the voltage axis, lowering the barrier height for C-V measurements, especially at lower frequencies. In addition, a higher interface state density was observed for the Au contact. The generation of sputter deposition-induced defects might occur more severely for the Au contact; these defects affected both the I-V and C-V characteristics.

Many forest pests present a problem during wood quarantine. The effectiveness of phosphine (PH3), which is an altered form of MB, was examined in Monochamus saltuaris and M. alternatus. After 24 h, the larvae and the adults of both insects were susceptible to PH3 at 3 mg/L at 20°C. However, the larvae of both pests were rather than dead, seem to have been quiescent condition. PH3 showed increasing insecticidal activity in a time-dependent manner in the larva stage of both pests. We investigated the fumigants at all stages of M. saltuaris and M. alternatus, as well as the synergistic effects of PH3 in controlled atmospheres of 50% and 80% oxygen. The atmospheric oxidation of PH3 fumigation slightly increased the toxicity of the fumigant to larva stages in 125 L container at 4 mg/L. These results indicate that highly concentrated atmospheric oxidation of PH3 could be useful as a fumigant agent against M. saltuaris and M. alternatus.

This study compared the development, reproduction, and DNA damage in insecticide (acequinocyl, bifenazate, and etoxazole)-resistant (AR, BR, and ER) and -susceptible (S) strains of Tetranychus urticae by electron beam irradiation. When eggs were irradiated with 150 Gy, the egg hatching was completely inhibited in all strains. When nymphs were irradiated, their emergence rate was decreased with increasing doses of electron beam irradiation. When adults were irradiated, the longevity and the number of eggs was not affected at all target dose in all strains. However, hatchability of F1 generation was perfectly inhibited at 400 Gy in all strains. The DNA damage caused by electron beam irradiation was evaluated by an alkaline comet assay. These results suggest that electron beam irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction in S, AR, BR, and ER strains of T. urticae.

In this study, we investigated the effects of X-ray irradiation to control six important insect pests of floriculture crops: Liriomyza trifolii, Spodoptera litura, Myzus persicae, Tetranychus urticae, Bemisia tabaci, and Frankliniella intonsa. We irradiated on six insect pests that were placed in different positions (top, middle, and bottom) of export flower boxes after filling the boxes with roses and chrysanthemums, respectively. When irradiated with X-ray of 150 Gy, the eggs of T. urticae, B. tabaci, F. intonsa, L. trifolii, and S. litura were prevented from hatching at every position in the boxes. The pupation and emergence of L. trifolii larvae and S. litura larvae and B. tabaci nymphs and F. intonsa nymphs were inhibited at every position in the boxes. However, the emergence of T. urticae and M. persicae nymphs was not inhibited, even at the top position in the boxes. When pupae were irradiated, the emergence of L. trifolii was inhibited at every position in the boxes, while S. litura was not inhibited completely, even at the top position in the boxes. When adult T. urticae, S. litura, and L. trifolii were irradiated, the hatching rate of the F1 generation was not completely inhibited at every position. The insect pests that were not inhibited completely at the dose of 150 Gy showed much higher inhibitory effects at the dose of 250 Gy. Therefore, the dose of X-ray irradiation required to inhibit may vary according to the types of flowers and insect pests and according to their positions within the boxes.

Three insect pest, Myzus persicae, Tetranychus urticae, and Liriomyza trifolii were irradiated with electron beam (50-250 Gy) or X-ray (10-150 Gy). Longevity, egg hatching, emergence and fecundity of the test insects were measured. When irradiated to the M. persicae, emergence of nymphs did not show any differences, but fecundity was inhibited at 100 Gy (electron beam) or 30 Gy (X-ray). When irradiated to the T. urticae, egg hatching was completely inhibited at 150 Gy (electron beam) or 50 Gy (X-ray) and egg hatching of F1 generation was decreased at 150 Gy of electron beam or 50 Gy of X-ray. When irradiated to the L. trifolii, egg hatching was completely inhibited at 30 Gy of X-ray, however, electron beam irradiation was not inhibited even at 200 Gy. Egg hatching from irradiated adults was completely inhibited at 150 Gy of electron beam and X-ray. These results indicate that electron beam and X-ray irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction, however, the dose of irradiation required to inhibit may vary according to the types of insect pests.

The effects of X-ray irradiation on development and reproduction of Spodoptera litura were examined. Eggs, larvae, pupae, and adults were irradiated at target doses of 10 - 250 Gy. When eggs were irradiated with 30 Gy, egg hatching was completely inhibited. When irradiated to the larvae, pupation was inhibited at 100 Gy and larval period was delayed. When irradiated to the pupae, emergence was inhibited at over 100 Gy. When irradiated to the adults, longevity and fecundity did not show any differences. However, egg hatching was significantly decreased at 70 Gy and above. Also, X-ray irradiation was not induced the rapid death of S. litura. Reciprocal crosses between irradiated and unirradiated moths demonstrated that males were more radiotolerant than females. The levels of DNA damage in S. litura adults were evaluated using the alkaline comet assay. Our results indicate that X-ray irradiation increased levels of DNA damage. The recovery of DNA damage in S. litura adults increased as time passed. But DNA damage hasn't recovered fully. These results indicate that X-ray irradiation induced abnormal development and reproduction by DNA damage in S. litura.

감자 품종별 일반성분, 유리당, 유기산, 유리아미노산을 분석하였고 물결합력 및 oil 흡수력, 색도를 측정한 결과 감자 품종에 따라 영양성분 함량 및 이화학적 특성의 차이를 보였다. 조단백질 함량은 서홍이 높았고 조회분은 추강이 높았다. 감자의 유리당 함량은 sucrose, glucose, fructose 순으로 함유되어 있었으며 주 유기산으로는 oxalic acid, citricacid, malic acid, succinic acid, fumaric acid이었다. 감자 23품종의 필수, 비필수 아미노산 함량은 각각 60.33-550.91 μmol/100 g, 30.44-1,0998.58 μmol/100 g 범위였다. 감자 품종 중 대지가 물 결합력이, 자심이 oil흡수력이 높았고 특히 칩 가공용인 대서와 가원과 비슷하거나 낮은 oil흡수력 을 보인 추백, 조풍, 하령, 신남작도 지방함량을 줄일 수 있는 가공제품에 적합할 것으로 판단된다.

The potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller), is considered one of the main causes of potato losses during harvesting and storage. The pest occur throughout the year and its larvae damage the leaves, twigs and tubers. In this study, we have investigated the effects of ethyl formate (EF) and phosphine (PH3) against P. operculella. Fumigation to all stage of P. operculella was carried in a desiccator system at 5℃ and 20℃ for 24 h. As a result, LC99 of PH3 to all stage of P. operculella was showed 1.953 mg L-1 (eggs), 0.100 mg L-1 (larvae), 4.884 mg L-1 (pupae) and 0.240 mg L-1 (adults) at 20℃, respectively. LC99 of EF to all stage of P. operculella was observed 19.808 mg L-1 (eggs), 6.783 mg L-1 (larvae), 141.476 mg L-1 (pupae) and 3.223 mg L-1 (adults), at 20℃ respectively. Larvae and adults showed the highest susceptibility to PH3 and EF at 20℃. LC99 of PH3 to all stage of P. operculella was showed > 1.5 mg L-1 (eggs), 0.187 mg L-1 (larvae), > 1.5 mg L-1 (pupae) and 0.386 mg L-1 (adults) at 5℃ , respectively. LC99 of EF to all stage of P. operculella was showed 27.479 mg L-1 (eggs), 9.580 mg L-1 (larvae), 55.759 mg L-1 (pupae) and 3.084 mg L-1 (adults) at 5℃, respectively. These results indicated that the fumigant efficiency of PH3 and EF is more effective with treated in room temperatures against termites.

Bladder cancer is a common cancer in smoking men and may correlate with mechanosensitive potassium channels because the urinary bladder is a stretch sensing organ. Two-pore K+ channels (K2P), such as TASK3 and TREK1, have recently been shown to play a critical role in both cell apoptosis and tumorigenesis. Of the channels, TREK1 can be activated by many physiological stimuli, including polyunsaturated fatty acids, and intracellular pH, hypoxia, and neurotransmitters. Here we attempted to determine whether TREK1 is functionally expressed in bladder cancer 253J cells. K2P channels, including TREK1, TREK2, TASK1, TASK3, and TWIK1, were quantified in cultured human bladder cancer 253J cells using real time quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis. Among them, TREK1-like channel was recorded at a single channel level using the patch-clamp technique. The TREKl-like channel, with single-channel conductance of ~90 pS at −80 mV, was recorded in symmetrical 150 mM KCl using an excised inside-out patch configuration. The current- voltage relationships were linear and were insensitive to tetraethylammonium. The channel was activated by membrane stretch, free fatty acids, and intracellular acidosis. These results with electrophysiological properties resemble to those of K2P channel, for instance, TREK1. Therefore, we conclude that TREK1 channel is functionally present in bladder cancer 253J cells.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are about 21-25 nucleotides in length and regulate mRNA translation by base pairing to partially complementary sites, predominantly in the 3’-untranslated region (3’-UTR) of the target mRNA. In this study, the expression profile of miRNAs was compared and analyzed for the establishment of miRNA-related odontoblast differentiation using MDPC-23 cells derived from mouse dental papilla cells. To determine the expression profile of miRNAs during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, we employed miRNA microarray analysis, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and Alizaline red-S staining. In the miRNA microarray analysis, 11 miRNAs were found to be up- or down-regulated more than 3-fold between day 0 (control) and day 5 of MDPC-23 cell differentiation among the 1,769 miRNAs examined. In qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of two of these molecules, miR-194 and miR-126, were increased and decreased in the control MDPC-23 cells compared with the MDPC-23 cells at day 5 of differentiation, respectively. Importantly, the overexpression of miR-194 significantly accelerated mineralization compared with the control cultures during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells. These results suggest that the miR-194 augments MDPC-23 cell differentiation, and potently accelerates the mineralization process. Moreover, these in vitro results show that different miRNAs are deregulated during the differentiation of MDPC-23 cells, suggesting the involvement of these genes in the differentiation and mineralization of odontoblasts.

Cytokines are known to function as regulatory molecules that can be produced by virtually every nucleated cell type in the body, including lymphocytes, monocytes/macrophages, epithelial cells, fibroblasts, and many others. Cytokines include lymphocyte-derived factors (lymphokines), monocyte-derived factors (monokines), hematopoietic factors (colony-stimulating factors), connective tissue/ growth factors, and chemotactic chemokines. Cytokines released in response to infection can affect tumor development in different ways. When exposed to infectious agents, cytokines are secreted by sentinel cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. These cytokines include interleukin 1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-α, as well as others, such as IL-6, IL-12, and IL-18. When released in sufficient quantities, these molecules can cause inflammation. Chronic inflammation is highly associated with tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. In this article, we review the roles and mechanisms of cytokines in tumor development.

Anthocyanins are naturally occuring phytochemicals and the main components of the coloring of plants, flowers and fruits. They are known to elicit antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and cancer preventive activity. In this study, we investigated anthocyanins in black / yellow soybean seedcoats using different methods of detection - thin layer chromatography (TLC), capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) and HPLC analysis. The anthocyanins in soybean seedcoats were extracted by five independent methods of extraction and the aglycons (anthocyanidins) of the corresponding anthocyanins were prepared by acid mediated hydrolysis. The anthocyanin / anthocyanidin in black soybean seedcoat showed characteristic TLC mobility, CZE electrophoretic retention and HPLC migration time while little of anthocyanins were detected from yellow soybean seedcoat. The extracted anthocyanins showed pH dependent retention time in CZE and spectral change in UV-Vis spectrum. HPLC analysis of the hydrolyzed extract of black soybean seedcoat identified the presence of four anthocyanidins. The major anthocyanin in black soybean seedcoat was cyanin (cyanidin-3-O-glucoside), with the relative order of anthocyanidin in cyanidin > delphinidin > petunidin > pelargonidin.