Ji Yeon Kim

Peptides from Anchovy Sauce Induce Apoptosis in a Human Lymphoma Cell (U937) through the Increase of Caspase‐3 and ‐8 Activities

Abstract: Various biological activities of peptides have been found. In this study, the induction of apoptosis in a human lymphoma cell line (U937) by peptide fraction separated from anchovy sauce was studied using biochemical and flow cytometric methods. After U937 was treated with a hydrophobic peptide fraction of the anchovy sauce, a sub‐G1 peak, which represents apoptosis, was found in the cell cycle analysis. The apoptosis in the peptide‐treated U937 cell was also confirmed by apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Furthermore, an increase of caspase‐3 and ‐8 activities was observed. Our results suggest that the peptide fraction separated from the anchovy sauce may have cancer chemopreventive effects through the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells.

Screening for antiproliferative effects of cellular components from lactic acid bacteria against human cancer cell lines

Whole cells, cytoplasms and peptidoglycans of ten different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity on diverse cancer cell lines using the 3H-thymidine incorporation assay. The peptidoglycans and cytoplasm fractions, as well as heat-killed whole cells of LAB, had significant antiproliferative activities against several cancer cell lines. In particular, the cytoplasm fractions exhibited marked direct antiproliferative activities against colon and gastric cancer cell lines, whereas the peptidoglycans retarded growth of colon and bladder cancer cell lines. The cytoplasm fractions of Bifidobacterium longum and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis inhibited proliferation of two cancer cell lines by 50% at 33 and 23 μg ml−1 for SNUC2A (a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line) and 17 and 11 μg ml−1 for SNU-1 (a human gastric cancer cell line), respectively.

Cell Cycle Dysregulation Induced by Cytoplasm of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis in SNUC2A, a Colon Cancer Cell Line

The anticancer effect of cytoplasmic fraction from Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, which had showed strong antiproliferative activity against SNUC2A human colon cancer cell line in the previous study, was investigated. The proliferation of SNUC2A was inhibited by the treatment with cytoplasmic fraction of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis in a dose-dependent and partially reversible manner. After exposure to the cytoplasmic fraction of Lc. lactis for 72 h, strong antiproliferative activity was efficiently induced through S-phase accumulation in SNUC2A cells. Analysis of cell cycle regulatory proteins demonstrated that the cytoplasmic fraction enhanced the levels of p21CIP1 and cyclin A, decreased cyclin E protein, and slightly reduced the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (CDK2).

Chapter 18 – Regulations on Health/Functional Foods in Korea

Publisher Summary nThis chapter reports on the scope of functional foods, the strength of the evidence required for their efficacy, safety considerations and future perspectives in Korea. The term “health/functional food” (HFF) refers to food supplements containing nutrients or other substances (in a concentrated form) that have a nutritional or physiological effect whose purpose is to supplement the normal diet. The Korean Health/Functional Food Act that came into effect in 2004 requires these products to be marketed in measured doses, such as in pills, tablets, capsules and liquids. HFFs are of two types: generic and product-specific. There are 37 ingredients listed in the act for generic HFFs and, if an HFF contains a new active ingredient that is not included in the generic 37 products, it is considered a product-specific HFF. The standardization, safety, and efficacy of a new active ingredient are reviewed by the Korean Food and Drug Administration in order to receive approval as a product-specific HFF. Conforming to international standards and protecting public health requires constant upgrading of the Health/Functional Food Act.