Blazein of a new steroid isolated from Agaricus blazei Murrill (himematsutake) induces cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptotic chromatin condensation in human lung cancer LU99 and stomach cancer KATO III cells.

Blazein was isolated from mushroom (Agaricus blazei Murrill) and identified by Mass and 1H-NMR as blazein. The effect of blazein on the DNA of human various cancer cells was investigated. DNA fragmentations by blazein to oligonucreosomal-sized fragments, a characteristic of apoptosis, were observed in the human lung LU99 and stomach KATO III cancer cells.

Induction of apoptosis by rhapontin having stilbene moiety, a component of rhubarb (Rheum officinale Baillon) in human stomach cancer KATO III cells.

We have investigated the effects of rhapontin on proliferation and DNA of human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Growth inhibition and induction of apoptosis by rhapontin were observed in the KATO III cells. Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the KATO III cells treated with rhapontin.

Glycyrrhetic acid (a metabolic substance and aglycon of glycyrrhizin) induces apoptosis in human hepatoma, promyelotic leukemia and stomach cancer cells.

We have investigated the effect of glycyrrhetic acid (GR) which is metabolic substance of glycyrrhizin, on DNA of human hepatoma (HLE), promyelotic leukemia (HL-60) and stomach cancer (KATO III) cells. GR displayed apoptotic effects against HLE, HL-60 and KATO III cells. The fragmentation of DNA by GR to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, a characteristic of apoptosis, was dose- and time-dependent in these cell lines.

Glycyrrhizin induces apoptosis in human stomach cancer KATO III and human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

We have investigated the effects of glycyrrhizin (GL) on cell proliferations of human stomach cancer KATO III and promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells, and on DNA of those cell lines. GL displayed growth inhibitory effect against KATO III and HL-60 cells. Morphological change showing apoptotic bodies was observed in the KATO III and HL-60 cells treated with GL.

Isolation of five types of flavonol from seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and induction of apoptosis by some of the flavonols in human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

Five types of flavonol were isolated from seabuckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) and identified by mass, 1H- and 13C-NMR. The proliferations of human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells were inhibited as the concentrations of these flavonols were increased. The order of the extent of growth inhibition by the flavonols at a concentration of 20 microM is as follows: pentamethylquercetin > syringetin > isorhamnetin > quercetin > kaempherol > myricetin.

Induction of apoptosis by maackiain and trifolirhizin (maackiain glycoside) isolated from sanzukon (Sophora Subprostrate Chen et T. Chen) in human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

We have investigated the effects of maackiain and trifolirhizin (maackiain glycoside) isolated from sanzukon (Sophora Subprostrate Chen et T. Chen) on DNA of human promyelotic HL-60 leukemia cells. It was found that extent of induction of apoptosis by maackiain was larger than that by trifolirhizin in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

2-O-methylisohemigossylic acid lactone, a sesquiterpene, isolated from roots of mokumen (Gossampinus malabarica) induces cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptotic chromatin condensation in human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

2-O-methylisohemigossylic acid lactone, a sesquiterpene, was purified from roots of mokumen (Gossampinus malabarica) and identified by Mass, and (1)H- and (13)-NMR. This sesquiterpene displayed strong growth inhibitory effect against human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells. Apoptotic morphological change of the nucleus, including chromatin condensation was induced in the HL-60 cells treated with the sesquiterpene.

Hot-water extracts from adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) suppress not only the proliferation of KATO III cells in culture but also benzo(a)pyrene-induced tumorigenesis in mouse forestomatch.

Treatment of human stomach cancer KATO III cells with hot-water extracts from adzuki beans led to their growth inhibition as well as apoptosis induction. There are morphological changes in the cultured cells treated with the extracts, by which DNA fragmentation characteristic of apoptosis was actualized both concentration- and time-dependently. In contrast, N-acetyl-L-cysteine suppressed such DNA fragmentation, implying that the extracts from adzuki beans might exert antitumorigenicity via active oxygen-induced apoptosis.

Induction of apoptosis by three types of procyanidin isolated from apple (Rosaceae Malus pumila) in human stomach cancer KATO III cells.

We have investigated the effects of three types of procyanidin isolated from apple (Rosaceae Malus pumila) on DNA of human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Induction of apoptosis by these procyanidins was observed in human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Morphological changes showing apoptotic bodies were observed in the KATO III cells treated with procyanidins.

Induction of apoptosis by lupeol isolated from mokumen (Gossampinus malabarica L. Merr) in human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

We have investigated the effect of lupeol (lup-20(29)-ene-3beta-ene-3-ol) isolated from mokumen (Gossampinus malabarica L. Merr) on DNA of human promyelotic HL-60 leukemia cells. Induction of apoptosis by lupeol was observed in human leukemia HL-60 cells.

Hot water soluble sesquiterpenes [anhydroperoxy-costunolide and 3-oxoeudesma-1,4(15),11(13)triene-12,6alpha-olide] isolated from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) induce cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptotic chromatin condensation in leukemia cells.

Hot water soluble (HWS)-sesquiterpenes [anhydroperoxycostunolide and 3-oxo-eudesma-1,4(15),11(13)triene-12,6alpha-olide] were purified from Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. These HWS-sesquiterpenes displayed strong growth inhibitory effect against human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

Sesquiterpenes (costunolide and zaluzanin D) isolated from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) induce cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptotic chromatin condensation in leukemia HL-60 cells.

Sesquiterpenes (costunolide and zaluzanin D) were purified from laurel (Laurus nobilis L.) and identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. These sesquiterpenes displayed strong growth inhibitory effect against human promyelotic leukemia HL-60 cells.

Cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside isolated from skin of black Glycine max and other anthocyanins isolated from skin of red grape induce apoptosis in human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells.

Cyanidin 3-O-beta-D-glucoside (CG) was purified from black bean seed coat and other anthocyanins were prepared from red grape skin. These anthocyanins were identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. The effects of four anthocyanins on cell viability in human leukemia Molt 4B cells were investigated.

PPAR-gamma, TNF-alpha messenger RNA levels and lipase activity in the pregnant and lactating rat.

Dramatic alternations in maternal metabolism occur during gestation and lactation, especially glucose and fat metabolism. For example, in rats, the amount of body fat mass increases during gestation, then decreases just prior to delivery, and remains low after parturition. To investigate the factors involved in such changes in maternal fat mass, messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels of adipocytokines, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-gamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), were examined in the intraabdominal adipose tissue of non-pregnant rats, pregnant rats and postpartum rats.

Spermine induces cataract and 43-kDa protein that binds spermine possibly participates in the cataract formation.

Among polyamines (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine), spermine specifically induces cataract in an organ cultured lens. Spermine uptake nearly paralleled the cataract formation. When polyamines were added to lens soluble proteins, spermine specifically induced turbidity.

Protodioscin isolated from fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) induces cell death and morphological change indicative of apoptosis in leukemic cell line H-60, but not in gastric cancer cell line KATO III.

Protodioscin (PD) was purified from fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum L.) and identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR. The effects of PD on cell viability in human leukemia HL-60 and human stomach cancer KATO III cells were investigated.

Diol- and triol-types of phytol induce apoptosis in lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells.

The exposure of human lymphoid leukemia Molt 4B cells to diol- and triol-types of phytol which were synthesized and identified by Mass, and 1H- and 13C-NMR, led to both growth inhibition and induction of programmed cell death (apoptosis). Morphological changes showing apoptotic bodies were observed in the Molt 4B cells treated with diol- and triol-types of phytol. The fragmentations of DNA by the diol- and triol-types of phytol to oligonucleosomal-sized fragments, that is a characteristic of apoptosis, were observed to be both concentration- and time-dependent.

Effect of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms on biogenic monoamine levels in the rat brain.

The extract of the stem bark of Acanthopanax senticosus Harms (ASH) is known to have healing and protective effects on stress-induced disturbance of mental status. We have analysed whether a single or chronic (2 week) administration of ASH can affect concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), dopamine (DA) and their metabolites in the normal rat brain. A single p.

Specific induction of apoptosis by 1,8-cineole in two human leukemia cell lines, but not a in human stomach cancer cell line.

We have investigated the effects of 1,8-cineole [the main component of essential oil prepared from bay-leaves Laurus nobilis L.)] on DNA of human leukemia cell lines, Molt 4B, HL-60 and stomach cancer KATO III cells. Specific induction of apoptosis by 1,8-cineole was observed in human leukemia Molt 4B and HL-60 cells, but not in human stomach cancer KATO III cells.

Selective induction of apoptosis by ar-turmerone isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa L) in two human leukemia cell lines, but not in human stomach cancer cell line.

We have investigated the effects of ar-turmerone isolated from turmeric (Curcuma longa L) on DNA of human leukemia cell lines, Molt 4B, HL-60 and stomach cancer KATO III cells. It was found that selective induction of apoptosis by ar-turmerone was observed in human leukemia Molt 4B and HL-60 cells, but not in human stomach cancer KATO III cells. Morphological changes showing apoptotic bodies were observed in the human HL-60 and Molt 4B cells treated with ar-turmerone.