Cytotoxicity on Human Cancer Cells and Antitumorigenesis of Chungkookjang, a Fermented Soybean Product, in DMBA-Treated Rats

It is reported that a fermented soybean food, Doenjang, has strong antimutagenic and cytotoxic effect on cancer cells. This study investigated the effect of Chungkookjang, another traditional popular Korean soybean fermented food, on growth of cancer cells: HL-60, SNU-638 and MCF-7, and also its in vivo antitumorigenic effect in DMBA-induced mammary tumor rat model. For the in vitro study, Chungkookjang and steamed soybeans were extracted with ethanol and sequentially fractioned with 5 kinds of solvents differing in grades of polarity such as hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate, butanol and water. Almost all Chungkookjang extracts significantly inhibited the growth of HL-60 (human leukemic cancer cell), SNU-638 (human gastric cancer cell) and MCF-7 (human breast cancer cell) when compared to steamed soybean extracts. Butanol fraction of Chungkookjang extract especially showed a remarkable inhibitory effect in all the three kinds of cancer cells. To induce a mammary gland tumor, DMBA (50 mg/BW) was administered to 50 day-old female rats and followed by Chungkookjang or steamed soybean supplemented diets. Freezedried Chungkookjang powder (20% of diet in wet weight) was added to AIN-93G based diet for the Chungkookjang group of rats. Likewise, steamed soybean powder containing equal protein content to that of Chungkookjang powder was supplemented to soybean group of rats. At 13 weeks later, the mammary tumor incidence, average tumor number and tumor weight a rat were lower in Chungkookjang group compared to the control or soybean group. In conclusion, Chungkookjang showed a strong inhibitory effect on cancer cell growth in vitro, as well as a more preventive effect against chemically induced mammary tumorigenesis in vivo, while steamed soybeans did not. Therefore, these results suggest that Chungkookjang acquire its anticancer activity through the fermentation process.

Effect of DHEA Administration on PUFA/SFA Ratio and Lipid Peroxide in Rat Liver Microsome

It is known that dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) shows a dual effect, prooxidant or antioxidant, depending on the dosage or physiological status of animals. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of DHEA administration at low dose on lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and fatty acid composition in liver. Sprague Dawley male rats were fed either corn oil diet containing 15% corn oil or fish oil diet containing 2% corn oil + 13% sardine oil, with or without 0.2% DHEA for 9 weeks. Atherogenic index and hepatic triglyceride and cholesterol levels were significantly reduced by DHEA administration in rats fed with fish oil diet. Hepatic lipid peroxide product (TBARS) and protein carbonyl levels were significantly higher in rats fed with fish oil diet than in rats fed with corn oil diet. However, DHEA administration significantly reduced the hepatic thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) and conjugated diene levels in rats fed with fish oil diet. Contents of C16 : 0, C16 : 1, C20 : 5 and C22 : 6 in hepatic microsome were higher in rats fed with fish oil diet than in rats fed with corn oil diet, and contents of C18 : 2 and C20 : 4 were lower than in rats fed with corn oil diet. DHEA administration significantly increased C16 : 0 and C18 : 3 contents and reduced C18 : 2 content in rats fed with corn oil diet, while it increased C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 and reduced C20 : 5 and C22 : 6 in rats fed with fish oil diet. On overall, DHEA administration increased saturated fatty acid (SFA) and reduced polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in hepatic microsome, thereby PUFA/SFA ratio was significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced without the change of n-3/n-6 ratio. Taken together, low dose of DHEA administration lowered PUFA/SFA ratio in hepatic microsomal membranes and also showed antioxidative effect especially in fish oil-induced highly oxidative stress condition through blocking increases of C20 : 5 and C22 : 6 contents.

Antioxidative Effect of Plant Food Mixtures in Rat Fed on High Fat-High Cholesterol Diet

The previous extensive in vitro studies on the antioxidative activities of a number of Korean grains, vegetables, seaweeds and mushrooms, and the various combinations of these food source exhibited a wide range of antioxidative activities, and four food mixtures composed of 5 kinds of foods (5A, 5B, 5C and 5D) were designed from 16 selective foods showing high antioxidant effect, in vitro, to find the good combinations for the meal planning. Mixture 5B or 5C contained very high levels of total flavonoid and polyphenol, and ethanol extract from 5A, 5B or 5C showed very strong inhibitory effects against in vitro Fe2+-induced lipid peroxidation and ethanol extract from 5B or 5C showed remarkable DPPH radical scavenging effect and lipid peroxide-protein conjugation inhibition effect. And in vivo study was also carried out with two mixtures (5B, 5C). Powders (P5B, P5C) or ethanol extracts (E5B, E5C) of these mixtures were supplemented to Sprague-Dawley rats fed on high fat (15%)-high cholesterol (1%) semipurified diet for 5 weeks. The total antioxidant power in serum was significantly higher in P5B, P5C, E5B and E5C groups than in high fat control group, and ascorbate-Fe2+-induced TBARS was significantly lowered by E5B supplementation in rat liver. In liver tissue, Cu, Zn-SOD activity was significantly higher in P5B and E5B groups than in high fat control group, while catalase or GSH-peroxidase (GPx) activity was not changed by any supplementations. In kidney, Cu, Zn- SOD activity was significantly higher in P5B group than in high fat control group, while GPx activity was not changed by any supplementations. Taken together, mixture 5B and 5C showed very strong antioxidative effects both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the ingredient Korean foods of 5B and 5C could be recommended to take a lot together for prevention from age-related chronic diseases.