Enhancement of health beneficial bioactivities of bitter melon (Momordica charantia L.) by puffing.

Effects of puffing and extraction method on physical and biological efficacy of bitter melon was investigated. Puffing increased the Maillard reaction products, extraction yield, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents. Antioxidant activity was the highest at 980 kPa, but there was no significant difference between two extraction methods.

Exploring a Novel Role of Glycerol Kinase 1 in Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells.

Clinically, prostate cancer is infamous for its histological and molecular heterogeneity, which causes great challenges to pinpoint therapy and pharmaceutical development. To overcome these difficulties, researchers are focusing on modulating tumor microenvironment and immune responses in addition to genetic alteration and epigenetic regulation. Here, we aimed to identify potential biomarkers or modulators of prostate cancer by investigating genes specifically altered in prostate cancer cells treated with established anti-cancer agents.

Inhibitory Effect of Biotransformed-Fucoidan on the Differentiation of Osteoclasts Induced by Receptor for Activation of Nuclear Factor-κB Ligand.

Bone homeostasis is regulated by constant remodeling through osteogenesis by osteoblasts and osteolysis by osteoclasts and osteoporosis can be provoked when this balance is broken. Present pharmaceutical treatments for osteoporosis have harmful side effects and thus, our goal was to develop therapeutics from intrisincally safe natural products. Fucoidan is a polysaccharide extracted from many species of brown seaweed, with valuable pharmaceutical activities.

Inhibition of Autophagy Promotes Hemistepsin A-Induced Apoptosis via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated AMPK-Dependent Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Chemotherapy is an essential strategy for cancer treatment. On the other hand, consistent exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs induces chemo-resistance in cancer cells through a variety of mechanisms. Therefore, it is important to develop a new drug inhibiting chemo-resistance.

Anti-Cancer Effects of RAW 264.7 Cells on Prostate Cancer PC-3 Cells.

Macrophages have the potential to re-programing tumor cells in the tumor microenvironments. Thus we investigated anti-cancer effects of M1-polarized macrophages by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the physiological properties of human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. To identify communications with immune cells and tumor cells, we performed in-direct way by using conditioned-media (CM) and analyzed tumor properties via quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blot and flow cytometry.

Active Compound of Semen ( Seeds) Suppressed KRAS-Driven Colorectal Cancer and Restored Muscle Cell Function during Cancer Progression.

Kirsten rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (KRAS)-driven colorectal cancer (CRC) is notorious to target with drugs and has shown ineffective treatment response. The seeds of also known as morning glory, have been used as traditional medicine in East Asia. We focused on whether seeds have a suppressive effect on mutated KRAS-driven CRC as well as reserving muscle cell functions during CRC progression.

Enzyme-Aided Extraction of Fucoidan by AMG Augments the Functionality of EPCs through Regulation of the AKT/Rheb Signaling Pathway.

The purpose of the present study is to improve the endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) activation, proliferation, and angiogenesis using enzyme-aided extraction of fucoidan by amyloglucosidase (EAEF-AMG). Enzyme-aided extraction of fucoidan by AMG (EAEF-AMG) significantly increased EPC proliferation by reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing apoptosis. Notably, EAEF-AMG treated EPCs repressed the colocalization of TSC2/LAMP1 and promoted perinuclear localization of mTOR/LAMP1 and mTOR/Rheb.

Ethanol Extract Alleviates Interleukin-6-Induced Barrier Dysfunction and Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Reducing Inflammation.

Ulcerative colitis is one inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and is caused by diverse factors, including the extent and duration of intestinal inflammation. We investigated the effect of ethanol extract (KIOM-2015E) on the expression of tight junction proteins and the levels of inflammation in the cell model induced with interleukin-6- (IL-6-) and mouse model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced with acute colitis. KIOM-2015E (100 mg/kg) was orally administered once per day to BALB/C mice with colitis induced by administration of 5% DSS in drinking water.

Salinomycin ameliorates oxidative hepatic damage through AMP-activated protein kinase, facilitating autophagy.

Salinomycin, a monocarboxylic ionophore in Streptomyces albus, has been studied as an anti-cancer agent. However, we wondered whether salinomycin has another effect such as an anti-oxidant and hepatic protectant, because some chemical drugs treating human diseases were sometimes related with their toxic effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effects of salinomycin against oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in vivo and in vitro as well as the cellular mechanisms of action.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin in Anthriscus sylvestris alleviates fat accumulation in the liver via AMP-activated protein kinase, impeding SREBP-1c signal.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a naturally occurring flavolignan in Anthriscus sylvestris known as cow parsley or wild chervil, and has been reported to have inhibitory effects against several pathological processes including cancer, inflammation and infection. Here, we report the effects of DPT in the fatty liver induced by high fat diet in vivo as well as its regulatory mechanism related with the transcription factor for lipogenic genes such as sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) in vitro. C57BL/6 mice were fed high fat diet for 10 weeks and also orally administrated with DPT for additional 4 weeks.

Mitochondrial ROS activates ERK/autophagy pathway as a protected mechanism against deoxypodophyllotoxin-induced apoptosis.

Deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) is a naturally occurring flavolignan isolated from . Recently, it has been reported that DPT inhibits tubulin polymerization and induces G2/M cell cycle arrest followed by apoptosis through multiple cellular processes. Despite these findings, details regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the DPT-mediated cell death have been poorly understood.

A Study of the Anti-Cancer Effects of the Hexane Fraction of the Methanol Extract of Forsythiae Fructus.

Background: Forsythiae Fructus (FF) is a well-known medicinal herb derived from the dried fruits of (Thunb.) Vahl. (Oleaceae).

Deoxypodophyllotoxin induces cytoprotective autophagy against apoptosis via inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in osteosarcoma U2OS cells.

Background: A natural compound deoxypodophyllotoxin (DPT) possesses potent anti-proliferative and anti-tumor properties on several cancer types. It triggers cell cycle arrest followed by apoptosis through various cellular processes. However, it is limited to the action mechanism of DPT-mediated cell death modes via apoptosis and autophagy.

Moutan Cortex Protects Hepatocytes against Oxidative Injury through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathway.

Moutan Cortex, the root bark of Paeonia suffruticosa ANDREWS in Ranunculaceae, has widely demonstrated analgesic, anti-spasmodic, and anti-inflammatory effects in various cancer and immune cell lines. Oxidative stress is associated with development of several diseases, including liver disease. We prepared the water extract of Moutan Cortex (MCE) to investigate the cytoprotective activities and its mechanism.

Inhibition of Autophagy Promotes Salinomycin-Induced Apoptosis via Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated PI3K/AKT/mTOR and ERK/p38 MAPK-Dependent Signaling in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Recently, the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis has become an important factor in chemotherapy for cancer treatment. Inhibition of autophagy may be an effective strategy to improve the treatment of chemo-resistant cancer by consistent exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs. However, no reports have clearly elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

Salinomycin induces endoplasmic reticulum stress‑mediated autophagy and apoptosis through generation of reactive oxygen species in human glioma U87MG cells.

Salinomycin is a polyether ionophore antibiotic that has recently been shown to induce cell apoptosis in human cancer cells displaying multiple mechanisms of drug resistance. In the present study, we explored the impact of salinomycin on the apoptosis and autophagy as well as the correlation between those effects and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress molecular mechanisms in human glioma U87MG cells. Apoptosis, autophagy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed using flow cytometry.

Salinomycin Induces Reactive Oxygen Species and Apoptosis in Aggressive Breast Cancer Cells as Mediated with Regulation of Autophagy.

Background/aim: Chemotherapy is a critical option for cancer treatment. However, consistent exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs promotes chemoresistance in cancer cells through diverse mechanisms. Accordingly, we investigated whether salinomycin, a monocarboxylic ionophore, could induce apoptosis in aggressive breast cancer cells or not, as well as its underlying mechanism.

Lasalocid induces cytotoxic apoptosis and cytoprotective autophagy through reactive oxygen species in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Lasalocid is an antibiotic from the group of carboxylic ionophores, produced by Streptomyces lasaliensis. But there was limited information of lasalocid on human prostate cancer cells. In the present studies, to better understand its effect in human prostate cancer cells, apoptosis and autophagy associated with possible signal pathways in vitro was examined.

Liqustri lucidi Fructus inhibits hepatic injury and functions as an antioxidant by activation of AMP-activated protein kinase in vivo and in vitro.

Medicinal herbs are used to treat or prevent various diseases, and function to regulate protective mechanisms as nutraceuticals. Fructus Ligustri lucidi is the fruit of Ligustrum lucidum and has been used for its tonic effects on the liver. This study was designed to examine the effects of Fructus Ligustri lucidi water extract (FLL) against severe oxidative stress and mitochondrial impairment in vivo and in vitro and to elucidate its cellular mechanisms of action.

Toyocamycin induces apoptosis via the crosstalk between reactive oxygen species and p38/ERK MAPKs signaling pathway in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Background: Toyocamycin, an antibiotic agent isolated from Streptomyces species, has been shown to have anticancer and chemopreventive effects on various cancer cells. Until now, Toyocamycin-induced apoptosis has not been reported to be involved in the regulation between mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Methods: Cell viability assay, western blot, cell-cycle arrest, annexin V/propidium iodide assay, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial membrane potential and intracellular Ca flux were assayed.

Monensin Induces PC-3 Prostate Cancer Cell Apoptosis via ROS Production and Ca2+ Homeostasis Disruption.

Background: Monensin is a carboxyl polyether ionophore that potently inhibits the growth of various cancer cells. Recently, the anticancer effects of monensin have been recognized based on its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. However, anticancer effect of monensin and its mechanism of action have yet to be investigated, especially against human prostate cancer cells.

SREBP-2/PNPLA8 axis improves non-alcoholic fatty liver disease through activation of autophagy.

Dysregulated autophagy is associated with steatosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), however the mechanisms connecting them remain poorly understand. Here, we show that co-administration of lovastatin and ezetimibe (L/E) significantly reverses hepatic triglyceride accumulation concomitant with an increase in SREBP-2 driven autophagy in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). We further show that the statin mediated increase in SREBP-2 directly activates expression of patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing enzyme 8 (PNPLA8) gene, and PNPLA8 associates with autophagosomes and is associated with a decrease in cellular triglyceride.

Silibinin induces mitochondrial NOX4-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress response and its subsequent apoptosis.

Background: Silibinin, a biologically active compound of milk thistle, has chemopreventive effects on cancer cell lines. Recently it was reported that silibinin inhibited tumor growth through activation of the apoptotic signaling pathway. Although various evidences showed multiple signaling pathways of silibinin in apoptosis, there were no reports to address the clear mechanism of ROS-mediated pathway in prostate cancer PC-3 cells.

Salinomycin simultaneously induces apoptosis and autophagy through generation of reactive oxygen species in osteosarcoma U2OS cells.

Salinomycin, a polyether antibiotic, acts as a highly selective potassium ionophore. It was reported to anticancer activity on various cancer cell lines. In this study, salinomycin was examined on apoptosis and autophagy through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in osteosarcoma U2OS cells.