• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.248-251
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• 2014

Dryopteris crassirhizoma is one of the naturally occurring substance wood ferns and is known for having anti-inflammatory, antiviral and anthelmintic activities. However, there is less report about its anticancer effect in human cancer cell lines. In the present study, the effect of methanol extract of dryopteris crassirhizoma (MEDC) on apoptosis in human oral cancer cell lines (MC3 and HN22 cells) was investigated. MEDC inhibited cell viability and induced apoptosis. MEDC significantly increased Bak and truncated Bid proteins in MC3 cells and elevated only truncated Bid compared to the control while other Bcl-2 family proteins were not altered. MEDC has anticancer activity by inducing apoptotic cell death through the regulation of either Bak or Bid. These findings suggest that its extract possibly may be used for treating oral cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.3073-3076
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• 2012

Terpinen-4-ol is a terpene found in the rhizome of Plai (Zingiber montanum (Koenig) Link ex Dietr.). In this study apoptogenic activity and mechanisms of cell death induced by terpinen-4-ol were investigated in the human leukemic MOLT-4 cell line. Terpinen-4-ol exhibited cytotoxicity in MOLT-4 cells, with characteristic morphological features of apoptosis by Wright's staining. The mode of cell death was confirmed to be apoptosis by flow cytometric analysis after staining with annexin V-FITC and propidium iodide. A sub-G1 peak in DNA histograms of cell cycle assays was observed. Terpinen-4-ol induced-MOLT-4 cell apoptosis mediated through an intrinsic pathway involving the loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) and release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. In addition, terpinen-4-ol also induced apoptosis via an extrinsic pathway by caspase-8 activation resulting in the cleavage of cytosolic Bid. Truncated-Bid (tBid) translocated to mitochondria and activated the mitochondrial pathway in conjunction with down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein expression. Caspase-3 activity also increased. In conclusion, terpinen-4-ol can induce human leukemic MOLT-4 cell apoptosis via both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.22 no.11
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• pp.1591-1595
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• 2012

We previously isolated a novel compound, HY251, with the molecular structure of 3-propyl-2-vinyl-1,2,3,3a,3b,6,7,7a,8,8a-decahydrocyclopenta[a]indene-3,3a,7a,8a-tetraol from the roots of Aralia continentalis. The current study was designed to evaluate the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the apoptotic induction by HY251 in human ovarian cancer PA-1 cells. TUNEL assay and Western blot analyses revealed an appreciable apoptotic induction in PA-1 cells treated with $60{\mu}M$ of HY251 for 24 h. This apoptotic induction was associated with caspase-8-dependent Bid cleavage, which in turn resulted in the formation of pro-apoptotic truncated Bid (tBid), and activation of caspase-9 and -3, as well as the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Moreover, we found that this death event was also associated with the significant up-regulation and activation of the p53 tumor-suppressor protein through phosphorylation at Ser15. Therefore, we suggest that HY251 may be a potent cancer chemotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3289-3294
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• 2016

Naringin, a bioflavonoid found in Citrus seeds, inhibits proliferation of cancer cells. The objectives of this study were to investigate the mode and mechanism(s) of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell death induced by naringin. The cytotoxicity of naringin towards HepG2 cells proved dose-dependent, measured by MTT assay. Naringin-treated HepG2 cells underwent apoptosis also in a concentration related manner, determined by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and propidium iodide (PI) employing flow cytometry. Mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) measured using 3,3'-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide ($DiOC_6$) and flow cytometer was reduced concentration-dependently, which indicated influence on the mitochondrial signaling pathway. Caspase-3, -8 and -9 activities were enhanced as evidenced by colorimetric detection of para-nitroaniline tagged with a substrate for each caspase. Thus, the extrinsic and intrinsic pathways were linked in human naringin-treated HepG2 cell apoptosis. The expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak proteins were increased whereas that of the anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL protein was decreased, confirming the involvement of the mitochondrial pathway by immunoblotting. There was an increased expression of truncated Bid (tBid), which indicated caspase-8 proteolysis activity in Bid cleavage as its substrate in the extrinsic pathway. In conclusion, naringin induces human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell apoptosis via mitochondria-mediated activation of caspase-9 and caspase-8-mediated proteolysis of Bid. Naringin anticancer activity warrants further investigation for application in medical treatment.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.7
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• pp.769-776
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• 2014

Anisomycin, also known as flagecidin, is an antibiotic produced by Streptomyces griseolus that inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the ribosomal 28S subunit. The tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is a protein that induces apoptotic cell death. TRAIL primarily causes apoptosis in tumor cells by binding to death receptors. Many human cancer cell lines are refractory to TRAIL-induced cell death. In this study, we investigated whether anisomycin could enhance TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in TRAIL-resistant human hepatocarcinoma Hep3B cells. Treatment with anisomycin and TRAIL alone did not reduce cell viability in Hep3B cells. However, in the presence of TRAIL, the anisomycin concentration dependently reduced the cell viability. Our results indicate that anisomycin sensitizes Hep3B cells to TRAIL-mediated apoptosis and that this occurs, at least partly, via caspase activation. Interestingly, Bid knockdown by small interfering RNA significantly reduced the induction of apoptosis in combination with anisomycin and TRAIL, indicating that anisomycin effectively acts to lower the threshold at which TRAIL-mediated truncated Bid triggers the mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis program in Hep3B cells. Therefore, the use of TRAIL in combination with anisomycin might provide an effective therapeutic strategy for the safe treatment of some TRAIL-resistant cancer cells.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.41-44
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• 2013

Although tongcao has been reported to have anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic effects, there is no report of the chemopreventive effect of tongcao in cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the anti-proliferative activity of methanol extract of tongcao (MET) and its molecular target in HEp-2 human cervical cancer cells using MTS assay, western blot analysis, and DAPI staining. MET significantly decreases cell viability and induces apoptotic cell death. It affects Bid protein to be truncated resulting in the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol whereas it did not affect other Bcl-2 family members. Thus, we clearly suggest that tongcao can be a potential naturally occurring plants having chemopreventive activity in cervical cancer.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.926-932
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• 2013

Glutamine and serum are essential for cell survival and proliferation in vitro, yet the signaling pathways that sense glutamine and serum levels in endothelial cells remain uninvestigated. In this study, we examined the effects of glutamine deprivation and serum starvation on the fate of endothelial cells using a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) model. Our data indicated that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation trigger a progressive reduction in cell viability through apoptosis induction in HUVECs as determined by DAPI staining and flow cytometry analysis. Although the apoptotic effects were more predominant in the glutamine deprivation condition, both apoptotic actions were associated with an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, down-regulation of the inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family proteins, activation of caspase activities, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases. Moreover, down-regulation of the expression of Bid or up-regulation of truncated Bid (tBid) were observed in cells grown under the same conditions, indicating that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation induce the apoptosis of HUVECs through a signaling cascade involving death-receptor-mediated extrinsic pathways, as well as mitochondria-mediated intrinsic caspase pathways. However, apoptosis was not induced in cells grown in glutamine- and serum-free media when compared with cells exposed to glutamine deprivation or serum starvation alone. Taken together, our data indicate that glutamine deprivation and serum starvation suppress cell viability without apoptosis induction in HUVECs.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.431-438
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• 2016

The tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is considered a promising anticancer agent due to its unique ability to induce cancer cell death having only negligible effects on normal cells. However, many cancer cells tend to be resistant to TRAIL. In this study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanisms of sodium butyrate (SB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, in sensitizing TRAIL-induced apoptosis in 5637 human bladder cancer cells. Our results indicated that co-treatment with SB and TRAIL significantly increased the apoptosis induction, compared with treatment with either agent alone. Co-treatment with SB and TRAIL effectively increased the cell-surface expression of death receptor (DR) 5, but not DR4, which was associated with the inhibition of cellular Fas-associated death domain (FADD)-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (c-FLIP). Furthermore, the activation of caspases (caspase-3, -8 and -9) and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) were markedly increased in 5637 cells co-treated with SB and TRAIL; however, the synergistic effect was perfectly attenuated by caspase inhibitors. We also found that combined treatment with SB and TRAIL effectively induced the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, cytosolic cytochrome c and cleave Bid to truncated Bid (tBid), along with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-xL expression. These results collectively suggest that a combined regimen of SB plus TRAIL may offer an effective therapeutic strategy for safely and selectively treating TRAIL-resistant bladder cancer cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.431-438
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• 2007

In the present study, twenty eight marine algae species were evaluated for their antiproliferative effect on HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Among these, the methanolic extract of Symphyocladia latiuscula (SL Ex) showed the highest inhibitory activity on HT-29 cell growth. In this study, we examined the mechanism by which SL Ex inhibited the HT-29 cell growth. Cells were cultured with various concentrations of $(0{\sim}20{\mu}g/mL)$ SL Ex. The SL Ex substantially decreased the viable cell numbers and induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells in a dose-dependent manner Western blot analyses of total cell lysates revealed that SL Ex increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, -9, -7, and -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in HT-29 cells. In addition, SL Ex increased truncated Bid levels but moderately decreased Bax levels at only $20{\mu}g/mL$. Furthermore, SL Ex did not affect Bcl-2 protein levels but increased the levels of Fas in HT-29 cells. The present results indicate that SL Ex inhibits cell growth via inducing apoptosis in human colon cancer cells. The mechanism of apoptosis induction by SL Ex involves caspase-8 activation leading to changes in mitochondrial events and subsequent activation of the caspase-7/caspase-3 cascade. Our finding may lead to the development of new therapeutic strategies for the treatment of colon cancer.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.8-15
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• 2008

Saussurea lappa (SL) has been used to reduce abdominal pain and tenesmus in traditional oriental medicine. SL and major compounds of SL, sesquiterpene lactones, have been suggested to possess various biological effects, including anti-tumor, anti-ulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral and cardiotonic activities. Recently, it has been reported that ethanol extracts from roots of SL have antiproliferative effects on gastric cancer cells. To explore the possibility that SL has chemopreventive effects on prostate cancer, we examined whether the hexane extract of SL (HESL) inhibits the growth of LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. Cells were incubated with various concentrations ($0{\sim}4$ mg/L) of HESL in DMEM/F12 containing 5% charcoal stripped fetal bovine serum. HESL substantially decreased viable cell numbers and induced apoptosis of LNCaP cells in dose-dependent manners. HESL increased the levels of cleaved caspase-8, -9, -7 and -3, and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. HESL increased the levels of the pro-apoptotic Bak and truncated-Bid proteins whereas it had no effect on the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, or Mcl-1. The present results indicate that HESL inhibits the growth of human prostate cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, which involves the activation of the caspase cascades.