Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb Root Extract: Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Medicinal Herb in LPS-Induced Inflammation.

Inflammation regulation is essential for maintaining healthy functions and normal homeostasis of the body. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) is a gram-negative anaerobic bacterium and a major pathogen that causes oral inflammation and other systemic inflammations. This study aims to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb root extracts (APL-ME) in Porphyromonas gingivalis LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells and find anti-inflammatory effect compounds of APL-ME. The anti-inflammatory effects of APL-ME were evaluated anti-oxidant activity, cell viability, nitrite concentration, pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1[Formula: see text], interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text], and anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-10 (IL-10)). Also, Inflammation related genes and proteins, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), expression were decreased by APL-ME and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling proteins expression was regulated by APL-ME. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC/MS)-MS analysis results indicated that several components were detected in APL-ME. Our study indicated that APL-ME suppressed nitrite concentrations, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1[Formula: see text], IL-6 and TNF-[Formula: see text] in P. gingivalis LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells. However, IL-10 expression was increased by ALP-ME. In addition, protein expressions of COX-2 and iNOS were inhibited APL-ME extracts dose-dependently. According to these results, APL-ME has anti-inflammatory effects in P. gingivalis LPS induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Antidepressant and Anti-Neuroinflammatory Effects of Bangpungtongsung-San.

Bangpungtongsung-san (BTS) is a traditional Korean medicine consisting of 18 herbs, some which have antidepressant effects. Here, we used an animal model of reserpine-induced depression and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia to assess the antidepressant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of BTS. Aside from a control group, C57BL/6 mice were administered reserpine (0.5 mg/kg) daily for 10 days via intraperitoneal injection. BTS (100, 300, or 500 mg/kg), vehicle (PBS), or fluoxetine (FXT, 20 mg/kg) was administered orally 1 h before reserpine treatment. Following treatment, a forced swimming test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and open field test (OFT) were performed, and immobility time and total travel distance were measured. Administration of BTS not only reduced immobility time in the FST and TST but also significantly increased the total travel distance in the OFT. Furthermore, reserpine-treated mice showed significantly elevated serum levels of corticosterone, a stress hormone; however, treatment with BTS significantly reduced corticosterone levels, similar to FXT treatment. Serotonin in reserpine-treated mice was significantly reduced compared to that in control mice, while BTS mice exhibited increased serotonin levels. BTS mice showed increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a higher ratio of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) to CREB (p-CREB/CREB) in the hippocampus. Additionally, reserpine-treated mice exhibited significantly elevated mRNA levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but BTS mice showed reduced mRNA levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in the hippocampus. To further demonstrate the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of BTS in vitro, we examined its anti-neuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglia. BTS significantly reduced the levels of NO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in a dose-dependent manner via a decrease in the expression of nuclear factor (NF)-κB p65. Furthermore, the neuroprotective factor heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was upregulated via the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/CREB pathway. Taken together, our data suggest that BTS has considerable potential as an anti-neuroinflammation and antidepressant agent, as it has clear effects on depressive behaviors and associated factors caused by reserpine-induced depression.

Cordyceps militaris Exerts Anticancer Effect on Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Inhibiting Hedgehog Signaling via Suppression of TCTN3.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Cordyceps militaris extract on the proliferation and apoptosis of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells and determine the underlying mechanisms. We performed a CCK-8 assay to detect cell proliferation, detection of morphological changes through transmission electron microscopy (TEM), annexin V-FITC/PI double staining to analyze apoptosis, and immunoblotting to measure the protein expression of apoptosis and hedgehog signaling-related proteins, with C militaris treated NSCLC cells. In this study, we first found that C militaris reduced the viability and induced morphological disruption in NSCLC cells. The gene expression profiles indicated a reprogramming pattern of genes and transcription factors associated with the action of TCTN3 on NSCLC cells. We also confirmed that the C militaris-induced inhibition of TCTN3 expression affected the hedgehog signaling pathway. Immunoblotting indicated that C militaris-mediated TCTN3 downregulation induced apoptosis in NSCLC cells, involved in the serial activation of caspases. Moreover, we demonstrated that the C militaris negatively modulated GLI1 transcriptional activity by suppressing SMO/PTCH1 signaling, which affects the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. When hedgehog binds to the PTCH1, SMO dissociates from PTCH1 inhibition at cilia. As a result, the active GLI1 translocates to the nucleus. C militaris clearly suppressed GLI1 nuclear translocation, leading to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL down-regulation. These results suggested that C militaris induced NSCLC cell apoptosis, possibly through the downregulation of SMO/PTCH1 signaling and GLI1 activation via inhibition of TCTN3. Taken together, our findings provide new insights into the treatment of NSCLC using C militaris.

The Flower Extract of Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) Increases Cyclin D1 Expression and Activates Cell Proliferation.

Abelmoschus manihot (Linn.) is a medicinal herbal plant that is commonly used to treat chronic kidney disease and hepatitis. However, its effect on cell proliferation has not been clearly revealed. In this report, we sought to determine the effect of the flower extract of A. manihot (FA) on cell proliferation. Based on our findings, FA increased the proliferation of human diploid fibroblast (HDF) and HEK293 cells. Through cell cycle analysis, FA was found to increase the number of HDF cells in the S phase and G2/M phase. FA also increased the expression of cyclin D1 and enhanced the migration of HDF cells. By administering FA to HDF cells with ≥30 passages, a decrease in the number of senescence-associated ß galactosidase-positive cells was observed, thereby indicating that FA can ameliorate cellular senescence. Collectively, our findings indicate that FA increases cyclin D1 expression and regulates cell proliferation.

Nectandrin B-mediated activation of the AMPK pathway prevents cellular senescence in human diploid fibroblasts by reducing intracellular ROS levels.

Nectandrin B (NecB) is a bioactive lignan compound isolated from Myristica fragrans (nutmeg), which functions as an activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Because we recently found that treatment with NecB increased the cell viability of old human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs), the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. NecB treatment in old HDFs reduced the activity staining of senescence-associated ß-galactosidase and the levels of senescence markers, such as the Ser15 phosphorylated p53, caveolin-1, p21waf1, p16ink4a, p27kip1, and cyclin D1. NecB treatment increased that in S phase, indicating a enhancement of cell cycle entry. Interestingly, NecB treatment ameliorated age-dependent activation of AMPK in old HDFs. Moreover, NecB reversed the age-dependent expression and/or activity changes of certain sirtuins (SIRT1-5), and cell survival/death-related proteins. The transcriptional activity of Yin-Yang 1 and the expression of downstream proteins were elevated in NecB-treated old HDFs. In addition, NecB treatment exerted a radical scavenging effect in vitro, reduced cellular ROS levels, and increased antioxidant enzymes in old HDFs. Moreover, NecB-mediated activation of the AMPK pathway reduced intracellular ROS levels. These results suggest that NecB-induced protection against cellular senescence is mediated by ROS-scavenging through activation of AMPK. NecB might be useful in ameliorating age-related diseases and extending human lifespan.

Antineuroinflammatory and Neuroprotective Effects of Gyejibokryeong-Hwan in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated BV2 Microglia.

Microglia, the central nervous system's innate immune cells, mediate neuroinflammation and are implicated in a variety of neuropathologies. The present study investigated the antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective effects of Gyejibokryeong-hwan (GBH), a traditional Korean medicine, in lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated murine BV2 microglia. BV2 cells were pretreated with GBH, fluoxetine (FXT), or amitriptyline (AMT) for 1 h and then stimulated with LPS (100 ng/mL). The expression levels of nitric oxide (NO), cytokines, and chemokines were determined by the Griess method, ELISA, or real-time PCR. Western blotting was used to measure various transcription factors and mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt activity. GBH significantly reduced the levels of NO, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase- (COX-) 2, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interleukin- (IL-) 1ß, IL-6, macrophage inhibitory protein- (MIP-) 1α, macrophage chemoattractant protein- (MCP-) 1, and IFN-γ inducible protein- (IP-) 10, regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed sequence (RANTES) in a dose-dependent manner. Expression of nuclear factor- (NF-) κB p65 was significantly decreased and phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk), c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and PI3K/Akt by GBH, but not p38 MAPK, was decreased. Furthermore, production of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased and Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) was upregulated via the nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) pathway, collectively indicating the neuroprotective effects of GBH. We concluded that GBH may suppress neuroinflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB activation and upregulating the neuroprotective factor, HO-1. These results suggest that GBH has potential as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agents against microglia-mediated neuroinflammatory disorders.

Modified Ginseng Extract Induces Apoptosis in HepG2 Cancer Cells by Blocking the CXCL8-Mediated Akt/Nuclear Factor-[Formula: see text]B Signaling Pathway.

The cytokine C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) is produced in the tumor microenvironment and has an important role in cancer pathogenesis. CXCL8 activates the nuclear factor (NF)-[Formula: see text]B signaling. However, the role of NF-[Formula: see text]B inactivation in apoptosis induced by negative regulation of CXCL8 remains unclear. Here, we assessed the effects of MRGX on the transcriptional activity of NF-[Formula: see text]B and the expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text]-stimulated target genes in liver cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that modified regular ginseng extract (MRGX)-mediated inhibition of NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling induced apoptosis. Importantly, MRGX exerted strong activity, inhibiting TNF-[Formula: see text]-induced expression of Akt and NF-[Formula: see text]B in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, MRGX inhibited the TNF-[Formula: see text]-induced expression of genes encoding CXCL8, CXCL1, inducible nitric oxide synthase and intercellular adhesion molecule 1. MRGX also dowregulated Akt activation, and there was a significant decrease in Akt activation in HepG2 cells treated with CXCL8 siRNA. Conversely, CXCL8 overexpression increased Akt activation in MRGX-treated HepG2 cells. When Akt was silenced, MRGX treatment of HepG2 cells overexpressing CXCL8 decreased nuclear translocation of NF-[Formula: see text]B, whereas Akt overexpression increased nuclear translocation of NF-[Formula: see text]B in MRGX-treated HepG2 cells. Moreover, MRGX negatively regulated the TNF-[Formula: see text]-mediated I[Formula: see text]B/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway to promote Bax activation, resulting in caspase-3 activation and apoptosis. Taken together, these results indicated that MRGX inhibited CXCL8-mediated Akt/NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling, which upregulated Bax activation and consequently induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Antidepressant-Like Effects of Gyejibokryeong-hwan in a Mouse Model of Reserpine-Induced Depression.

Treatment with the antihypertensive agent reserpine depletes monoamine levels, resulting in depression. In the present study, we evaluated the antidepressant effects of Gyejibokryeong-hwan (GBH), a traditional Korean medicine, in a mouse model of reserpine-induced depression. Mice were treated with reserpine (0.5 mg·kg-1, i.p.) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, i.p., normal) once daily for 10 days. GBH (50, 100, 300, and 500 mg·kg-1), PBS (normal, control), fluoxetine (FXT, 20 mg·kg-1), or amitriptyline (AMT, 30 mg·kg-1) was administered orally 1 h prior to reserpine treatment. Mouse behavior was examined in the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and open-field test (OFT) following completion of the treatment protocol. Administration of GBH reduced immobility time in the FST and TST and significantly increased the total distance traveled in the OFT. Plasma serotonin levels were significantly lower in control mice than in normal mice, although these decreases were significantly attenuated to a similar extent by treatment with GBH, FXT, or AMT. Reserpine-induced increases in plasma corticosterone were also attenuated by GBH treatment. Moreover, GBH attenuated reserpine-induced increases in interleukin- (IL-) 1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α mRNA expression in the hippocampus. In addition, GBH mice exhibited increased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and a higher ratio of phosphorylated cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) to CREB (p-CREB/CREB) in the hippocampus. Our results indicated that GBH can ameliorate depressive-like behaviors, affect the concentration of mood-related hormones, and help to regulate immune/endocrine dysfunction in mice with reserpine-induced depression, likely via activation of the BDNF-CREB pathway. Taken together, these findings indicate that GBH may be effective in treating patients with depression.

Restoring Effects of Natural Anti-Oxidant Quercetin on Cellular Senescent Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

The oxidative damage initiated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major contributor to the functional decline and disability that characterizes aging. The anti-oxidant flavonoid, quercetin, is a plant polyphenol that may be beneficial for retarding the aging process. We examined the restoring properties of quercetin on human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs). Quercetin directly reduced either intracellular or extracellular ROS levels in aged HDFs. To find the aging-related target genes by quercetin, microarray analysis was performed and two up-regulated genes LPL and KCNE2 were identified. Silencing LPL increased the expression levels of senescence proteins such as p16INK4A and p53 and silencing KCNE2 reversed gene expressions of EGR1 and p-ERK in quercetin-treated aged HDFs. Silencing of LPL and KCNE2 decreased the expression levels of anti-oxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase. Also, the mitochondrial dysfunction in aged HDFs was ameliorated by quercetin treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that quercetin has restoring effect on the cellular senescence by down-regulation of senescence activities and up-regulation of the gene expressions of anti-oxidant enzymes in aged HDFs.

Anti-cancer effect of Scutellaria baicalensis in combination with cisplatin in human ovarian cancer cell.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian cancer is one of the major causes of death among females in worldwide. Cisplatin is a primary anti-cancer drug against ovarian cancer, but the recurrent tumors after treatment frequently show acquired chemoresistance. Extract of Scutellaria baicalensis (SbE) has been reported to have functional compounds including baicalin, which has anti-cancer effects. However, the anti-cancer effects of SbE in ovarian cancer and its underlying mechanisms are elusive. METHODS: We investigated that the effects of SbE and/or cisplatin on cell death in the cisplatin sensitive ovarian cancer cell line A2780 (CSC) and the counterpart cell line that has cisplatin resistance (CRC). Molecular mechanisms of the effects, focusing on apoptosis and autophagy, were examined. RESULTS: Treatment of cisplatin or SbE reduced cell viability significantly in CSC and too much lesser extent in CRC. Cisplatin-induced cell death in CSC was mediated by p53-induced apoptosis acompanied by expresson of damage-regulated autophagy modulator (DRAM). In CRC, decreased DRAM expression (p < 0.01) hindered p21-mediated cell death and contributed to cisplatin resistance. Treatment of SbE also induced cell death in CSC by p53-dependent apoptosis, not in CRC. Autophagy was not induced by neither cisplatin nor SbE. Intriguingly, the combinational treatment of SbE and cisplatin significantly decreased cell viability in CRC. The cell death was mediated by autophagy with increased expression of Atg5 and Atg12 (p < 0.05), rather than p53-dependent pathway with repressed expression of p21 (p < 0.001) through HDAC1 activation. CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment of SbE with cisplatin was effective in CRC, leading to cell death via Beclin1-independent autophagy, suggesting that SbE treatment in combination with cisplatin has a potential as a chemotherapeutic agent in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer.

Modified Panax ginseng extract regulates autophagy by AMPK signaling in A549 human lung cancer cells.

Panax ginseng has been used worldwide as a traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. The antiproliferative activity of ginseng has been increased after enzymatic processing of ginseng saponin, which may result in the accumulation of minor saponins, such as Rh2, Rg3, compound K and protopanaxatriol type (PPT) in modified regular ginseng extract (MRGX). In the present study, the anticancer activity and the associated mechanisms of MRGX were investigated using A549 human lung cancer cells. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying the effects of MRGX, we performed a microarray analysis of gene expression in the A549 cells. Molecular mechanisms that were associated with the anticancer activity of MRGX were studied, with a special focus on the autophagy-related multiple signaling pathways in lung cancer cells. Microarray analyses elucidated autophagy-related genes affected by MRGX. Administration of MRGX at 100 µg/ml induced punctate cytoplasmic expression of LC3, Beclin-1 and ATG5 and increased expression of endogenous LC3-II whereas 50 µg/ml did not inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells. Compared to the control cells, in cells treated with MRGX at 100 µg/ml, the level of p-Akt was increased, while that of mTOR-4EBP1 was decreased. Downregulation of mTOR and 4EBP1 in the MRGX-treated cells was found not to be a p-Ulk (S757)-dependent pathway, but a p-Ulk (S317)-dependent autophagic pathway, using AMPK. These data suggest that MRGX regulates AMPK and induces autophagy in lung cancer cells.

Diagnostic and prognostic relevance of CP2c and YY1 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Recent studies have demonstrated an oncogenic role of the transcription factor (TF) CP2c in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on a strong correlation between CP2c expression, tumor grade, and aggressiveness. We recently found that CP2c directly interacts with another TF, YY1, which is also overexpressed in multiple cancers, including HCC. To evaluate if these proteins are co-regulated in carcinogenesis, we analyzed the expression of CP2c and YY1 in HCC (n = 136) tissues and examined the correlation between their expression and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC. Receiver operating characteristic analysis exhibited the validity of CP2c and nuclear YY1 expression as a diagnostic factor in HCC tissues. High expression of CP2c was significantly correlated with patient age, and higher histological grade, American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, and small and large vessel invasion in HCC tissues, whereas high expression of nuclear YY1 was significantly associated with higher AJCC stage and small vessel invasion. In univariate and multivariate analyses, high expression of CP2c was significantly correlated with disease free survival (DFS), indicating that CP2c expression is an independent prognostic factor for DFS in HCC patients. Patients with high expression of both CP2c and nuclear YY1 usually had a shorter median survival time and worse DFS prognosis than other patients, suggesting that combined detection of CP2c and nuclear YY1 is a useful prognostic marker in HCC patients.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb Promotes Activation of HIF-1A-FOXO3 and MEF2A Pathways to Induce Apoptosis in Human HepG2 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb ( H cordata), a medicinal plant, has anticancer activity, as it inhibits cell growth and induces cell apoptosis in cancer. However, the potential anti-cancer activity and mechanism of H cordata for human liver cancer cells is not well understood. Recently, we identified hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1A, Forkhead box (FOX)O3, and MEF2A as proapoptotic factors induced by H cordata, suggesting that HIF-1A, FOXO3, and MEF2A contribute to the apoptosis of HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. FOXO3 transcription factors regulate target genes involved in apoptosis. H cordata significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of HIF-1A and FOXO3 and stimulated MEF2A expression in addition to increased apoptosis in HepG2 cells within 24 hours. Therefore, we determined the potential role of FOXO3 on apoptosis and on H cordata-induced MEF2A in HepG2 cells. HIF-1A silencing by siRNA attenuated MEF2A and H cordata-mediated FOXO3 upregulation in HepG2 cells. Furthermore, H cordata-mediated MEF2A expression enhanced caspase-3 and caspase-7, which were abolished on silencing FOXO3 with siRNA. In addition, H cordata inhibited growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma xenografts in nude mice. Taken together, our results demonstrate that H cordata enhances HIF-1A/FOXO3 signaling, leading to MEF2A upregulation in HepG2 cells, and in parallel, it disturbs the expression of Bcl-2 family proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL), which results in apoptosis. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that H cordata promotes the activation of HIF-1A-FOXO3 and MEF2A pathways to induce apoptosis in human HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells and is, therefore, a promising candidate for antitumor drug development.

Allergen-Removed Rhus verniciflua Extract Induces Ovarian Cancer Cell Death via JNK Activation.

Nuclear factor-[Formula: see text]B (NF-[Formula: see text]B)/Rel transcription factors are best known for their central roles in promoting cell survival in cancer. NF-[Formula: see text]B antagonizes tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[Formula: see text]-induced apoptosis through a process involving attenuation of the c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). However, the role of JNK activation in apoptosis induced by negative regulation of NF-[Formula: see text]B is not completely understood. We found that allergen-removed Rhus verniciflua Stokes (aRVS) extract-mediated NF-[Formula: see text]B inhibition induces apoptosis in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells via the serial activation of caspases and SKOV-3 cells are most specifically suppressed by aRVS. Here, we show that in addition to activating caspases, aRVS extract negatively modulates the TNF-[Formula: see text]-mediated I[Formula: see text]B/NF-[Formula: see text]B pathway to promote JNK activation, which results in apoptosis. When the cytokine TNF-[Formula: see text] binds to the TNF receptor, I[Formula: see text]B dissociates from NF-[Formula: see text]B. As a result, the active NF-[Formula: see text]B translocates to the nucleus. aRVS extract (0.5[Formula: see text]mg/ml) clearly prevented NF-[Formula: see text]B from mobilizing to the nucleus, resulting in the upregulation of JNK phosphorylation. This subsequently increased Bax activation, leading to marked aRVS-induced apoptosis, whereas the JNK inhibitor SP600125 in aRVS extract treated SKOV-3 cells strongly inhibited Bax. Bax subfamily proteins induced apoptosis through caspase-3. Thus, these results indicate that aRVS extract contains components that inhibit NF-[Formula: see text]B signaling to upregulate JNK activation in ovarian cancer cells and support the potential of aRVS as a therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.

Growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of allergen-free Rhus verniciflua Stokes extract on A549 human lung cancer cells.

Evidence suggests that Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) or its extract has the potential to be used for the treatment of inflammatory and neoplastic diseases. However, direct use of RVS or its extract as a herbal medicine has been limited due to the presence of urushiol, an allergenic toxin. In the present study, we prepared an extract of the allergen­removed RVS (aRVS) based on a traditional method and investigated its inhibitory effect on the growth of various types of human cancer cells, including lung (A549), breast (MCF-7) and prostate (DU-145) cancer cell lines. Notably, among the cell lines tested, treatment with the aRVS extract strongly inhibited proliferation of the A549 cells at a 0.5 mg/ml concentration for 24 h that was not cytotoxic to normal human dermal fibroblasts. Furthermore, aRVS extract treatment largely reduced the survival and induced apoptosis of the A549 cells. At the mechanistic levels, treatment with the aRVS extract led to the downregulation of Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 proteins, the activation of caspase-9/-3 proteins, an increase in cytosolic cytochrome c levels, the upregulation of Bax protein, an increase in phosphorylated p53 protein but a decrease in phosphorylated S6 protein in the A549 cells. Importantly, treatment with z-VAD­fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor attenuated aRVS extract-induced apoptosis in the A549 cells. These results demonstrate firstly that aRVS extract has growth inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects on A549 human lung cancer cells through modulation of the expression levels and/or activities of caspases, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, Bax, p53 and S6.

Modified Panax ginseng Extract Inhibits uPAR-Mediated α[Formula: see text]ß1-Integrin Signaling by Modulating Caveolin-1 to Induce Early Apoptosis in Lung Cancer Cells.

Urokinase receptor (uPAR) is enhanced in many human cancer cells and is frequently an indicator of poor prognosis. Activation of [Formula: see text]1-integrin requires caveolin-1 and is regulated by uPAR. However, the underlying molecular mechanism responsible for the interaction between uPAR and [Formula: see text]1-integrin remains obscure. We found that modified regular Panax ginseng extract (MRGX) had a negative modulating effect on the uPAR/[Formula: see text]1-integrin interaction, disrupted the uPAR/integrin interaction by modulating caveoline-1, and caused early apoptosis in cancer cells. Additionally, we found that siRNA-mediated caveoline-1 downregulation inhibited uPAR-mediated [Formula: see text]1-integrin signaling, whereas caveoline-1 up-regulation stimulated the signaling, which suppressed p53 expression, thereby indicating negative crosstalk exists between the integrin [Formula: see text]1 and the p53 pathways. Thus, these findings identify a novel mechanism whereby the inhibition of [Formula: see text]1 integrin and the activation of p53 modulate the expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins that are crucially involved in inducing apoptosis in A549 lung cancer cells. Furthermore, MRGX causes changes in the expressions of members of the Bcl-2 family (Bax and Bcl-2) in a pro-apoptotic manner. In addition, MGRX-mediated inhibition of [Formula: see text]1 integrin attenuates ERK phosphorylation (p-ERK), which up-regulates caspase-8 and Bax. Therefore, ERK may affect mitochondria through a negative regulation of caspase-8 and Bax. Taken together, these findings reveal that MRGX is involved in uPAR-[Formula: see text]1-integrin signaling by modulating caveolin-1 signaling to induce early apoptosis in A549 lung-cancer cells and strongly indicate that MRGX might be useful as a herbal medicine and may lead to the development of new herbal medicine that would suppress the growth of lung-cancer cells.

Effect of rutin from tartary buckwheat sprout on serum glucose-lowering in animal model of type 2 diabetes.

This study investigates the anti-diabetic effects of rutin from tartary buckwheat sprout in type 2 diabetes mouse model. The rutin content in tartary buckwheat sprout (TBS) is five times higher than that found in common buckwheat sprout (CBS) as evident from high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. Administration of either rutin or TBS ethanolic extract to diabetes mice decreased the serum glucose level significantly. Rutin down-regulated the expression levels of protein-tyrosine phosphatase 1B; it is negative regulator of insulin pathway, both transcriptionally and translationally in myocyte C2C12 in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, rutin can play a critical role in down-regulation of serum glucose level in type 2 diabetes.

Anti-proliferative effects of ginsenosides extracted from mountain ginseng on lung cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of three major ginsenosides from mountain ginseng as anticancer substance and explore the underlying mechanism involved in lung cancer. METHODS: The inhibitory proliferation of lung cancer by major five ginsenosides (Rb1, Rb2, Rg1, Rc, and Re) was examined using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Calculated 50% inhibition (IC50) values of five ginsenosides were determined and compared each other. Apoptosis by the treatment of single ginsenoside was performed by fluorescence-assisted cytometric spectroscopy. The alterations of apoptosis-related proteins were evaluated by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: The abundance of ginsenosides in butanol extract of mountain ginseng (BX-MG) was revealed in the order of Rb1, Rg1, Re, Rc and Rb2. Among them, Rb1 was the most effective to lung cancer cell, followed by Rb2 and Rg1 on the basis of relative IC50 values of IMR90 versus A549 cell. The alterations of apoptotic proteins were confirmed in lung cancer A549 cells according to the administration of Rb1, Rb2 and Rg1. The expression levels of caspase-3 and caspase-8 were increased upon the treatment of three ginsenosides, however, the levels of caspase-9 and anti-apoptotic protein Bax were not changed. CONCLUSION: Major ginsenosides such as Rb1, Rb2 and Rg1 comprising BX-MG induced apoptosis in lung cancer cells via extrinsic apoptotic pathway rather than intrinsic mitochondrial pathway.

An enzymatically fortified ginseng extract inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of KATO3 human gastric cancer cells via modulation of Bax, mTOR, PKB and IκBα.

Accumulative evidence suggests ginseng extract and/or its major components, ginsenosides and compound K, a metabolized ginseng saponin, have anti-cancer effects. In the present study, the effects of a ginseng butanolic extract (GBX) and an enzymatically fortified ginseng extract (FGX), with enriched ginsenosides and compound K, on the growth of KATO3 human gastric cancer cells were investigated using a cell viability assay. While treatment with GBX at 31.25-125 mg/ml for 24 h did not affect the proliferation of KATO3 cells, FGX under the same conditions inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, Annexin V/PI-staining and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the population of apoptotic KATO3 cells was increased following treatment with FGX, which was greater than in the GBX-treated cells, suggesting that FGX had a stronger apoptotic effect than GBX. To investigate the underlying mechanism of the cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of the ginseng extracts, apoptosis-associated proteins were assessed using western blot analysis. The data revealed higher expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2-associated X protein (Bax), lower expression of nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor α (IκBα) and reduced phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and protein kinase B (PKB) in the FGX-treated KATO3 cells than in the GBX-treated cells. Collectively, these results demonstrated for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, that FGX had stronger anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects on KATO3 cells than GBX. The anti-proliferative and/or pro-apoptotic effects of FGX appeared to be mediated via the upregulation of Bax, IκBα proteolysis (activation of nuclear factor-κB) and the blocking of mTOR and PKB signals.

Ginsenoside Rg3 up-regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in human dermal papilla cells and mouse hair follicles.

Crude Panax ginseng has been documented to possess hair growth activity and is widely used to treat alopecia, but the effects of ginsenoside Rg3 on hair growth have not to our knowledge been determined. The aim of the current study was to identify the molecules through which Rg3 stimulates hair growth. The thymidine incorporation for measuring cell proliferation was determined. We used DNA microarray analysis to measure gene expression levels in dermal papilla (DP) cells upon treatment with Rg3. The mRNA and protein expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human DP cells were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We also used immunohistochemistry assays to detect in vivo changes in VEGF and 3-stemness marker expressions in mouse hair follicles. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction showed dose-dependent increases in VEGF mRNA levels on treatment with Rg3. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that expression of VEGF was significantly up-regulated by Rg3 in a dose-dependent manner in human DP cells and in mouse hair follicles. In addition, the CD8 and CD34 were also up-regulated by Rg3 in the mouse hair follicles. It may be concluded that Rg3 might increase hair growth through stimulation of hair follicle stem cells and it has the potential to be used in hair growth products.