Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity of Extracts and Small Phenolic Compounds from Chaga [Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat]

Yuki Nakajima,Hiroshi Nishida,Seiichi Matsugo,Tetsuya Konishi 한국식품영양과학회 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.3

Previously, we studied the antioxidant potential of Chaga mushroom [Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat] extracts and isolated several small (poly)phenolic compounds as the major antioxidant components in the 80% methanol (MeOH) extract. In the present study, these isolated phenolic ingredients together with several other types of Chaga extracts were examined for cytotoxic effects against normal (IMR90) and cancer (A549, PA-1, U937, and HL-60) cell lines. Results revealed decoctions from both the fruiting body (FB) and sclerotium (ST) parts of Chaga, especially the ST part, showed considerable cytotoxicity toward tumor cells, but the cytotoxicity appeared to be stronger against normal cells than cancer cells. The 80% MeOH ST extract also showed the same trend. On the other hand, the 80% MeOH extract of FB showed significant cytotoxicity towards tumor cell lines without affecting normal cells, for example, the 50% lethal dose was 49.4±2.9μg/mL for PA-1 cells versus 123.6±13.8μg/mL for normal cells. The phenolic components isolated from the 80% MeOH extracts had markedly greater cancer cell toxicity than the extracts themselves. In particular, two out of seven compounds showed strong cytotoxicity towards several tumor cell lines without giving rise to significant cell toxicity toward normal cells. For example, the 50% lethal dose for 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone was 12.2μmol/L in PA-1 cells but was 272.8μmol/L in IMR90 cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis further revealed these phenolic ingredients have high potentiality for apoptosis induction in PA-1 cells.

Cancer Cell Cytotoxicity of Extracts and Small Phenolic Compounds from Chaga [Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat]

Nakajima, Yuki,Nishida, Hiroshi,Matsugo, Seiichi,Konishi, Tetsuya The Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition 2009 Journal of medicinal food Vol.12 No.3

Previously, we studied the antioxidant potential of Chaga mushroom [Inonotus obliquus (persoon) Pilat] extracts and isolated several small (poly)phenolic compounds as the major antioxidant components in the 80% methanol (MeOH) extract. In the present study, these isolated phenolic ingredients together with several other types of Chaga extracts were examined for cytotoxic effects against normal (IMR90) and cancer (A549, PA-1, U937, and HL-60) cell lines. Results revealed decoctions from both the fruiting body (FB) and sclerotium (ST) parts of Chaga, especially the ST part, showed considerable cytotoxicity toward tumor cells, but the cytotoxicity appeared to be stronger against normal cells than cancer cells. The 80% MeOH ST extract also showed the same trend. On the other hand, the 80% MeOH extract of FB showed significant cytotoxicity towards tumor cell lines without affecting normal cells, for example, the 50% lethal dose was $49.4\;{\pm}\;2.9\;{\mu}g/mL$ for PA-1 cells versus $123.6\;{\pm}\;13.8\;{\mu}g/mL$ for normal cells. The phenolic components isolated from the 80% MeOH extracts had markedly greater cancer cell toxicity than the extracts themselves. In particular, two out of seven compounds showed strong cytotoxicity towards several tumor cell lines without giving rise to significant cell toxicity toward normal cells. For example, the 50% lethal dose for 3,4-dihydroxybenzalacetone was $12.2\;{\mu}mmol/L$ in PA-1 cells but was $272.8\;{\mu}mmol/L$ in IMR90 cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis further revealed these phenolic ingredients have high potentiality for apoptosis induction in PA-1 cells.

A Senior High School Chemistry Laboratory Class Observed by University Students

Kamitani, Sachiyo,Arai, Yuka,Konishi, Yuki,Nakanishi, Shinsuke,Oshima, Takuya,Yamaguchi, Junko,Ishii, Arisa,Minagawa, Keiji,Yasuzawa, Mikito Korean Society for Engineering Education 2010 공학교육연구 Vol.13 No.5

Upon request from the Tokushima Prefectural Senior High School of Science and Technology, two faculty staff members and eight students of The University of Tokushima visited the high school and set up a chemistry laboratory class for 59 students. Since the participating senior high school students were freshmen, four simple, safe and visual experiments were selected: 1) Water purification, 2) Surface modification, 3) Briggs-Rauscher reaction, and 4) Polymer synthesis and characterization. All experiments received a favorable reception as a follow-up questionnaire verified. Since the high school students enjoyed the experiments it is hoped that the results will strengthen the students' interest in chemistry. It was good opportunity for the observers; they recognized the difficulty of teaching students.

A Senior High School Chemistry Laboratory Class Observed by University Students

Sachiyo Kamitani,Yuka Arai,Yuki Konishi,Shinsuke Nakanishi,Takuya Oshima,Junko Yamaguchi,Arisa Ishii,Keiji Minagawa,Mikito Yasuzawa 한국공학교육학회 2010 공학교육연구 Vol.13 No.5

Upon request from the Tokushima Prefectural Senior High School of Science and Technology, two faculty staff members and eight students of The University of Tokushima visited the high school and set up a chemistry laboratory class for 59 students. Since the participating senior high school students were freshmen, four simple, safe and visual experiments were selected: 1) Water purification, 2) Surface modification, 3) Briggs-Rauscher reaction, and 4) Polymer synthesis and characterization. All experiments received a favorable reception as a follow-up questionnaire verified. Since the high school students enjoyed the experiments it is hoped that the results will strengthen the students’ interest in chemistry. It was good opportunity for the observers; they recognized the difficulty of teaching students.

Highly transparent Zn1-xMgxO/ITO multilayer for window of thin film solar cells

강동원,Amartya Chowdhury,Porponth Sichanugrist,Yusuke Abe,Hirofumi Konishi,Yuki Tsuda,Tomohiro Shinagawa,Hidetada Tokioka,Hiroyuki Fuchigami,Makoto Konagai 한국물리학회 2015 Current Applied Physics Vol.15 No.9

Texture-etched Zn1-xMgxO films were fabricated and applied as front transparent electrodes for superstrate type thin film solar cells. The Zn0.65Mg0.35O film (x = 0.35) showed optical transparency better than commercially available Asahi VU and double-textured ZnO (WT-ZnO) substrates. To provide pertinent conductivity, ITO film was coated on the texture-etched Zn0.65Mg0.35O. By employing the Zn0.65Mg0.35O/ITO substrate instead of the SnO2, we demonstrated an enhancement of quantum efficiency for amorphous silicon thin film solar cell devices, resulted in efficiency improvement from 8.92 to 9.56%. We also examined effectiveness of the Zn0.65Mg0.35O/ITO substrate for the microcrystalline silicon solar cells which delivered an efficiency of 9.73% with proper anti-reflection coating. Our experimental results suggest that the Zn0.65Mg0.35O/ITO multilayer front contact can be beneficial for reinforcing performances of silicon-based thin film solar cell devices.

Production of Chemistry Laboratory Class for Senior High School Freshmen

Mikito Yasuzawa,Keiji Minagawa,Sachiyo Kamitani,Yuka Arai,Yuki Konishi,Shinsuke Nakanishi,Takuya Oshima,Junko Yamaguchi,Arisa Ishii 한국공학교육학회 2010 공학교육연구 Vol.13 No.5

Chemistry laboratory class was produced for senior high school freshmen with the cooperation of university staffs, high school teachers and the university students. Although the students who will take the lab class are senior high school freshmen, we decided to prepare four experiments that are simple and have highly visible reactions or transformation. That is, 1) Water purification, 2) Surface modification, 3) Briggs-Rauscher reaction, and 4) Polymer synthesis and characterization. After the safety guideline and experiment instructions by the faculty staffs, two teaching assistants (TAs) supervised each experiment. Since taking a direct part in it will provide stronger impact than only being one who is just watching the experiment, all experiments contained some process that the high school students must handle the reagents, tools or the equipment, by themselves. Although, the operation performed by the students was limited to a series of simple actions, the various unique phenomena presented by the experiments impressed the students. The lab class was fruitful not only for high school students, but also good for university students. The lab class provided good opportunity for them to improve the abilities to teach and guide someone.

Production of Chemistry Laboratory Class for Senior High School Freshmen

Yasuzawa, Mikito,Minagawa, Keiji,Kamitani, Sachiyo,Arai, Yuka,Konishi, Yuki,Nakanishi, Shinsuke,Oshima, Takuya,Yamaguchi, Junko,Ishii, Arisa Korean Society for Engineering Education 2010 공학교육연구 Vol.13 No.5

Chemistry laboratory class was produced for senior high school freshmen with the cooperation of university staffs, high school teachers and the university students. Although the students who will take the lab class are senior high school freshmen, we decided to prepare four experiments that are simple and have highly visible reactions or transformation. That is, 1) Water purification, 2) Surface modification, 3) Briggs-Rauscher reaction, and 4) Polymer synthesis and characterization. After the safety guideline and experiment instructions by the faculty staffs, two teaching assistants (TAs) supervised each experiment. Since taking a direct part in it will provide stronger impact than only being one who is just watching the experiment, all experiments contained some process that the high school students must handle the reagents, tools or the equipment, by themselves. Although, the operation performed by the students was limited to a series of simple actions, the various unique phenomena presented by the experiments impressed the students. The lab class was fruitful not only for high school students, but also good for university students. The lab class provided good opportunity for them to improve the abilities to teach and guide someone.