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.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15We 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
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
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
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
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
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
-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
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
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
Research Areas
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