Overexpression of Zip-2 mRNA in the leukocytes of asthmatic infants.

The increase in prevalence of asthma is strongly dependent on environmental factors, including foods. Significant decreases in the intake of dietary zinc may be an important contributing factor to the increasing incidence of asthma. As zinc can not passively diffuse across cell membranes, specific zinc transporters are required for zinc influx and efflux.

Emodin induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cell LNCaP.

Aim: To elucidate effects and mechanisms of emodin in prostate cancer cells.

Methods: Viability of emodin-treated LNCaP cells and PC-3 cells was measured by MTT assay. Following emodin treatments, DNA fragmentation was assayed by agarose gel electrophoresis.