Safrole-2',3'-oxide induces cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in HepG2 cells and in mice.

Safrole-2',3'-oxide (SAFO) is a reactive electrophilic metabolite of the hepatocarcinogen safrole, the main component of sassafras oil. Safrole occurs naturally in a variety of spices and herbs, including the commonly used Chinese medicine Xi xin (Asari Radix et Rhizoma) and Dong quai (Angelica sinensis). SAFO is the most mutagenic metabolite of safrole tested in the Ames test.

Aristolochic acid suppresses DNA repair and triggers oxidative DNA damage in human kidney proximal tubular cells.

Aristolochic acid (AA), derived from plants of the Aristolochia genus, has been proven to be associated with aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and urothelial cancer in AAN patients. In this study, we used toxicogenomic analysis to clarify the molecular mechanism of AA-induced cytotoxicity in normal human kidney proximal tubular (HK-2) cells, the target cells of AA. AA induced cytotoxic effects in a dose-dependent (10, 30, 90 microM for 24 h) and time-dependent manner (30 microM for 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h).

Microarray analysis reveals the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappa B signaling by aristolochic acid in normal human kidney (HK-2) cells.

Aim: To study the molecular mechanism underlying the effect of aristolochic acid (AA), a major active component of plants from the Aristolochiaceae family using microarray analysis.

Methods: Human kidney (HK-2) cells were treated with AA (0, 10, 30, and 90 micromol/L) for 24 h, and the cell viability was measured by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Complementary DNA microarrays were used to investigate the gene expression pattern of HK-2 cells exposed to AA in triplicate.

Relationship Between San-Huang-Xie-Xin-Tang and its herbal components on the gene expression profiles in HepG2 cells.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been used for thousands of years. Most Chinese herbal formulae consist of several herbal components and have been used to treat various diseases. However, the mechanisms of most formulae and the relationship between formulae and their components remain to be elucidated.

Berberine suppresses inflammatory agents-induced interleukin-1beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha productions via the inhibition of IkappaB degradation in human lung cells.

Pulmonary inflammation is a characteristic of many lung diseases. Increased levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), have been correlated with lung inflammation. In this study, we demonstrated that various inflammatory agents, including lipopolysaccharide, 12-o-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, hydrogen peroxide, okadaic acid and ceramide, were able to induce IL-1beta and TNF-alpha productions in human lung epithelial cells (A-549), fibroblasts (HFL1), and lymphoma cells (U-937).

Acetaldehyde induces matrix metalloproteinase-9 gene expression via nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein 1 signaling pathways in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells: Association with the invasive potential.

Alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Alcohol also increases the prevalence of invasion in HCC patients. However, the molecular mechanism on the metastatic effect of alcohol is unclear so far.