Protective effect of Acer mono Max. sap on water immersion restraint stress-induced gastric ulceration.

Acer mono Max. sap (AmMs) is called 'Gol-Li-Su' or 'Go-Lo-Soe' in Korean, which means 'water beneficial to the bones'. It is reported that the sap contains several types of minerals and sugars.

Ethanol extract of Lycoris radiata induces cell death in B16F10 melanoma via p38-mediated AP-1 activation.

Some active alkaloids isolated from Lycoris, a bulbous perennial herb, was shown to possess various anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro apoptotic effect of ethanol extract from Lycoris radiata (LRE) and further probed the underlying molecular mechanisms of LRE effects. The survival rate of B16F10 melanoma cells exposed to LRE was decreased in a dose-dependent manner, cell growth was retarded by arresting cell cycle at G1 phase and apoptotic appearance such as caspase-3 activation as well as DNA fragmentation was observed by LRE treatment.

Elevation of intracellular cyclic AMP inhibits NF-kappaB-mediated thymosin beta4 expression in melanoma cells.

Thymosin beta4 (Tbeta4) is a major actin-sequestering protein that has been implicated in the growth, survival, motility, and metastasis of certain tumors and is considered an indicator for malignant progression. Therefore, identifying compounds that can downregulate Tbeta4 expression is very important for the development of anti-cancer chemotherapies. In this study, we investigated the effects of elevated cAMP on Tbeta4 expression and the metastatic potential of murine B16 melanoma cells.

Long exposure of non-cytotoxic concentrations of methylselenol suppresses the invasive potential of B16F10 melanoma.

To assess the inhibitory effects of methylselenol on the invasion of murine B16F10 melanoma cells, we carried out in vivo and in vitro experiments using Se-methylselenocysteine (Se-MSC) and selenomethionine (SeMet), respectively. In an animal experiment, the supplementation of drinking water with Se-MSC (4 ppm Se) led to a significant increase in Se levels in the lung, liver and serum in mice. Mice given a mash diet or water supplemented with Se-MSC (2, 4 and 6 ppm Se in the mash diet, and 2 and 4 ppm Se in the drinking water) displayed an almost completely diminished pulmonary metastasis of B16F10 melanoma cells and an enhanced survival, compared to the control mice which were given a basal diet.

A fraction of methylene chloride from Geum japonicum Thunberg inhibits tumor metastatic and angiogenic potential.

The plant Geum japonicum Thunberg (GjT) has been used as a diuretic in traditional medicine. Herein, we report that the GjT extract blocks both the spread of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) on matrigel and the migration of B16 cells. We used various assays to test for cell attachment, spreading, wound healing and angiogenesis.

Aqueous extract of the Helianthus annuus seed alleviates asthmatic symptoms in vivo.

Molecular inflammation is a pivotal process in various degenerative immune diseases, including asthma and atopic dermatitis. In this study, we examined the effects of Helianthus annuus seed (HAS) aqueous extract on an in vivo anti-asthmatic model. Ovalbumin-induced mice were orally administered the aqueous extract of Helianthus annuus seeds, and their lungs were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Anti-tumor activity of Gastrodia elata Blume is closely associated with a GTP-Ras-dependent pathway.

Gastrodia elata Blume (GEB) is an important medicinal plant in Korea. In order to confirm the anti-tumor activities of GEB extracts, we carried out various in vitro anti-tumor assays, including a wound assay and an invasion assay using an ethyl ether extract of GEB. The results showed that the GEB extract exhibits potent anti-tumor activity in vitro in a dose-dependent manner.