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Eun-kyoung Seo

Ewha Womans University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

About the Lab

Professor Eun-kyoung Seo's research lab specializes in natural product chemistry and pharmacology, focusing on the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants. The lab investigates natural compounds with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, particularly those derived from plants such as *Vatica diospyroides*, *Cratoxylum sumatranum*, *Zingiber cassumunar*, and *Curcuma phaeocaulis*. A key research direction involves understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of these compounds, especially in diseases like neuropathic pain and cancer, using biochemical and cell-based assays. The lab also explores the application of advanced techniques such as atomic layer deposition in materials science, demonstrating a multidisciplinary approach bridging natural products and nanotechnology.

natural productsanti-cancer compoundsneuroprotectionanti-inflammatorybioactive compounds

Research Overview

Papers
214
Total Citations
4,072
Papers (5y)
39
Primary Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
39total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
195total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|90 citations·2004
Atomic Layer Deposition of Titanium Oxide on Self-Assembled-Monolayer-Coated Gold
Eun Kyoung Seo, Jung W. Lee, Hyung Mi Sung‐Suh, Myung Mo Sung
SJR Q1Chemistry of Materials

We demonstrate an atomic layer deposition of TiO 2 thin films on self-assembled monolayers of ω-functionalized alkanethiolates. The TiO 2 thin films were grown on OH-terminated alkanethiolate monolayer-coated gold by atomic layer deposition at 100 °C. The atomic layer deposition of the TiO 2 thin films is self-controlled and extremely linear relative to the number of cycles. Selective deposition of the TiO 2 thin film using atomic layer deposition was accomplished with patterned self-assembled m

Electrical and Electronic EngineeringEngineering
2
Article|79 citations·2000
New bioactive aromatic compounds from Vismia guianensis
Eun Kyoung Seo, Mansukh C. Wani, Monroe E. Wall, Hernán A. Navarro, Rabindranath Mukherjee, Norman R. Farnsworth, A. Douglas Kinghorn
SJR Q1Phytochemistry
Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
3
Article|74 citations·1999
Resveratrol Tetramers from Vatica diospyroides
Eun Kyoung Seo, Heebyung Chai, Howard L. Constant, Thawatchai Santisuk, Vichai Reutrakul, Chris Beecher, Norman R. Farnsworth, Geoffrey A. Cordell, John M. Pezzuto, A. Douglas Kinghorn
SJR Q2The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Vatdiospyroidol ( 1 ), a novel cytotoxic resveratrol tetramer, was isolated from the stems of Vatica diospyroides Sym. (Dipterocarpaceae) by bioassay-guided fractionation monitored with a human oral epidermoid carcinoma (KB) cell line. Another novel resveratrol tetramer, vaticaphenol A ( 2 ), was obtained as a noncytotoxic constituent, along with the known compounds, bergenin, betulin, betulinic acid, mangiferonic acid, and ( E )-resveratrol 3- O -β- d -glucopyranoside. The structures of compoun

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
4
Article|66 citations·2014
Psoralidin, a coumestan analogue, as a novel potent estrogen receptor signaling molecule isolated from Psoralea corylifolia
Xiyuan Liu, Joo‐Won Nam, Yun Seon Song, Ambily Nath Indu Viswanath, Ae Nim Pae, Yun-Seo Kil, Hee-Doo Kim, Jong Hoon Park, Eun Kyoung Seo, Minsun Chang
SJR Q2Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters
GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|60 citations·2021
Suppression of TRPV1/TRPM8/P2Y Nociceptors by Withametelin via Downregulating MAPK Signaling in Mouse Model of Vincristine-Induced Neuropathic Pain
Adnan Khan, Bushra Shal, Ashraf Ullah Khan, Rahim Ullah, Muhammad Waleed Baig, Ihsan Ul Haq, Eun Kyoung Seo, Salman Khan
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Vincristine (VCR) is a widely used chemotherapy drug that induced peripheral painful neuropathy. Yet, it still lacks an ideal therapeutic strategy. The transient receptor potential (TRP) channels, purinergic receptor (P2Y), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neuropathic pain. Withametelin (WMT), a potential Phytosteroid isolated from datura innoxa, exhibits remarkable neuroprotective properties. The present investigation was designed

PhysiologyMedicine
6
Article|56 citations·2002
Cytotoxic Prenylated Xanthones and the Unusual Compounds Anthraquinobenzophenones from Cratoxylum sumatranum
Eun Kyoung Seo, Nam-Cheol Kim, Mansukh C. Wani, Monroe E. Wall, Hernán A. Navarro, Jason P. Burgess, Kazuko Kawanishi, Leonardus B.S. Kardono, Soedarsono Riswan, William C. Rose, Craig R. Fairchild, Norman R. Farnsworth
SJR Q1Journal of Natural Products

Six new xanthones, cratoxyarborenones A-F (1-6), were isolated from the leaves, twigs, and/or stem bark of Cratoxylum sumatranum along with the known compound, vismione B (9), as active constituents by bioassay-directed fractionation using the KB human cancer cell line cytotoxicity assay. In addition, two novel anthraquinobenzophenones, cratoxyarborequinones A (7) and B (8), and two known compounds, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzophenone 4-O-geranyl ether and delta-tocotrienol, were obtained as inactive c

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
7
Review|56 citations·2021
Phytochemicals and Bioactivities of Zingiber cassumunar Roxb
Ah‐Reum Han, Hyun‐Young Kim, Donglan Piao, Chan‐Hun Jung, Eun Kyoung Seo
SJR Q1MoleculesOA

Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. (Zingiberaceae), is an important medicinal plant known as “Plai (Phlai)” in Thailand, “Bangle” in Indonesia, and “Bulei” in China. Traditionally, this plant has been used to treat inflammation, pain, and respiratory problems. The rhizomes are the primary part of the plant that has been used for medicinal purposes due to their constituents with therapeutic properties, including phenylbutenoids, curcuminoids, and essential oils. Since the 1970s, many studies have been con

PharmacologyPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
8
Article|52 citations·2001
Cytotoxic constituents ofPsoralea corylifolia
Woongchon Mar, Kang-Hun Je, Eun Kyoung Seo
SJR Q1Archives of Pharmacal Research
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|43 citations·2014
Suppression of Inflammatory Cytokine Production by ar‐Turmerone Isolated from Curcuma phaeocaulis
Sera Oh, Ah‐Reum Han, Hye Ryeon Park, Eun Jung Jang, Hyo Kyeong Kim, Mi Gyeong Jeong, Hyuna Song, Gun Hwa Park, Eun Kyoung Seo, Eun Sook Hwang
SJR Q3Chemistry & Biodiversity

Rhizomes of Curcuma phaeocaulis Valeton (Zingiberaceae) have traditionally been used for controlling inflammatory conditions. Numerous studies have aimed to isolate and characterize the bioactive constituents of C. phaeocaulis. It has been reported that its anti-inflammatory properties are a result of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition; however, its effect on the T-cell function remains to be elucidated. In this study, four known sesquiterpenoids, viz., ar-turmerone (TM), germacrone (GM), (+)-(4S,5S)-g

Molecular MedicineBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|41 citations·2021
Alleviation of Memory Deficit by Bergenin via the Regulation of Reelin and Nrf-2/NF-κB Pathway in Transgenic Mouse Model
Bushra Shal, Adnan Khan, Ashraf Ullah Khan, Rahim Ullah, Gowhar Ali, Salman Ul Islam, Ihsan Ul Haq, Hussain Ali, Eun Kyoung Seo, Salman Khan
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

-induced oxidative stress in HT-22 and PC-12 cells. Further studies were performed in 5xFAD Tg mouse model by administering Bergenin (1, 30 and 60 mg/kg; orally), whereas Bergenin (60 mg/kg) significantly attenuated the memory deficit observed in the Y-maze and Morris water maze (MWM) test. Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy displayed restoration of lipids, proteins and their derivatives compared to the 5xFAD Tg mice group. The differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) suggested an ab

PharmacologyPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
11
Article|39 citations·2014
2,4-Bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol Inhibits Heat Shock Transcription Factor 1 and Sensitizes Lung Cancer Cells to Conventional Anticancer Modalities
Taesook Yoon, Ga-Young Kang, Ah‐Reum Han, Eun Kyoung Seo, Yun‐Sil Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Natural Products

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of heat shock protein (HSP) genes in response to stress. HSPs are expressed at high levels in a wide range of tumors. It has been reported that HSF1 and HSPs are associated closely in tumorigenesis. In the present study, a screen was performed using a luciferase reporter under the control of a heat shock element to find inhibitors of HSF1 activity, and 2,4-bis(4-hydroxybenzyl)phenol (1), isolated from the rhizomes of

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|33 citations·1999
Cytotoxic constituents from the roots of Tovomita brevistaminea
Eun Kyoung Seo, Monroe E. Wall, Mansukh C. Wani, Hernan Navarro, Rabindranath Mukherjee, Norman R. Farnsworth, A. Douglas Kinghorn
SJR Q1Phytochemistry
PharmacologyMedicine
13
Article|33 citations·2015
Tuberostemonine N, an active compound isolated from Stemona tuberosa, suppresses cigarette smoke-induced sub-acute lung inflammation in mice
Kyung-Hwa Jung, Yun-Seo Kil, Jaehoon Jung, Soo‐Jin Park, Dasom Shin, Kyeseok Lee, Eun Kyoung Seo, Hyunsu Bae
SJR Q1Phytomedicine
Organic ChemistryChemistry
14
Article|31 citations·2009
Effect of naturally occurring hydroxychavicol acetate on the cytokine production in T helper cells
Hyun Jung Min, Joo‐Won Nam, Eun Sun Yu, Jeong‐Ho Hong, Eun Kyoung Seo, Eun Sook Hwang
SJR Q1International Immunopharmacology
DermatologyMedicine
15
Article|30 citations·2011
Diarylheptanoids from the Seeds of Alpinia katsumadai as Heat Shock Factor 1 Inducers
Joo‐Won Nam, Ga-Young Kang, Ah‐Reum Han, Dongho Lee, Yun‐Sil Lee, Eun Kyoung Seo
SJR Q1Journal of Natural Products

Seven new diarylheptanoids, (-)-(R)-4″-hydroxyyashabushiketol (1), (3S,5S)-alpinikatin (2), katsumain C (3), 7-epi-katsumain C (4), ent-alpinnanin B (5), ent-alpinnanin A (6), and ent-calyxin H (8), were isolated from the EtOAc extract of the seeds of Alpinia katsumadai together with three known compounds, alpinnanin B (7), epicalyxin H (9), and calyxin H (10). Each isomer mixture of 3 and 4, 5-7, and 8-10 was separated successfully by preparative HPLC using a chiral column. The three isomer mix

PharmacologyPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyPharmacologyPlant ScienceOrganic ChemistryPhysiologyComplementary and alternative medicine

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