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Kyung-Tae Lee

Kyung Hee University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

About the Lab

Professor Kyung-Tae Lee's research lab specializes in the isolation, structural elucidation, and biological evaluation of bioactive natural products, particularly saponins and isoflavonoids, from medicinal plants. The lab focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, and anticancer properties of these compounds, with an emphasis on signaling pathways such as NF-κB and redox regulation. Key research directions include the development of novel therapeutic agents for inflammatory diseases and cancer through natural product-based drug discovery.

natural productssaponinsanti-inflammatoryanticancerisoflavonoids

Research Overview

Papers
491
Total Citations
16,838
Papers (5y)
42
Primary Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
42total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
671total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|357 citations·2003
Cinnamaldehyde induces apoptosis by ROS-mediated mitochondrial permeability transition in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells
Hyeon Ka, Hee-Juhn Park, Hyun‐Ju Jung, Jong-Won Choi, Kyu-Seok Cho, Joohun Ha, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Cancer Letters
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|260 citations·2004
Eugenol isolated from the essential oil of Eugenia caryophyllata induces a reactive oxygen species-mediated apoptosis in HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells
Chae-Bin Yoo, Ki-Tae Han, Kyu-Seok Cho, Joohun Ha, Hee-Juhn Park, Jung‐Hwan Nam, Uk-Hyun Kil, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Cancer Letters
Food ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
3
Article|259 citations·2008
Isoliquiritigenin isolated from the roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis inhibits LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 expression via the attenuation of NF-κB in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Jiyeon Kim, Seung Jae Park, Kyung‐Jin Yun, Young‐Wuk Cho, Hee-Juhn Park, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1European Journal of Pharmacology
PharmacologyPharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
4
Article|254 citations·2007
Inhibition of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production by asiatic acid via NF-κB inactivation in RAW 264.7 macrophages: Possible involvement of the IKK and MAPK pathways
Kyung‐Jin Yun, Jiyeon Kim, Jongbin Kim, Kyungwon Lee, Kyung-Won Lee, Seo Young Jeong, Hee-Juhn Park, Hyun‐Ju Jung, Young‐Wuk Cho, Kijoo Yun, Kyung‐Tae Lee, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1International Immunopharmacology
Complementary and alternative medicineMedicine
5
Article|233 citations·2008
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Sinapic Acid through the Suppression of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase, Cyclooxygase-2, and Proinflammatory Cytokines Expressions via Nuclear Factor-κB Inactivation
Kyung‐Jin Yun, Duck-Jae Koh, Shi-Hye Kim, Seung Jae Park, Jong Hoon Ryu, Deog-Gon Kim, Jin-Yong Lee, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry

To investigate the anti-inflammatory potential of sinapic acid as well as the underlying mechanism involved, we studied the inhibitory effect of sinapic acid on the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in vitro and then evaluated its in vivo anti-inflammatory effect. Sinapic acid inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-1beta production in a dose-dependent manner. Consistent with these fin

PharmacologyMedicine
6
Article|156 citations·2005
In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects of the methanol extract of Inonotus obliquus
Young‐Mi Park, Jong‐Heon Won, Yang Hee Kim, Jongwon Choi, Hee-Juhn Park, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Ethnopharmacology
PharmacologyMedicine
7
Article|139 citations·2010
Anti-inflammatory effects of methanol extract of Patrinia scabiosaefolia in mice with ulcerative colitis
Eu-Jin Cho, Ji‐Sun Shin, Young-Su Noh, Young‐Wuk Cho, Seung‐Jae Hong, Jae-Hoon Park, Jae Yeol Lee, Jinyong Lee, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Journal of Ethnopharmacology
GeneticsBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
8
Article|136 citations·2017
Xanthotoxin suppresses LPS-induced expression of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-6 via AP-1, NF-κB, and JAK-STAT inactivation in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Seung-Bin Lee, Woo Seok Lee, Ji‐Sun Shin, Dae Sik Jang, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1International Immunopharmacology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|118 citations·2006
Anti‐inflammatory effect of buddlejasaponin IV through the inhibition of iNOS and COX‐2 expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages via the NF‐κB inactivation
Jong‐Heon Won, Ho‐Taek Im, Yang Hee Kim, Kyung‐Jin Yun, Hee‐Juhn Park, Jongwon Choi, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1British Journal of PharmacologyOA

Buddlejasaponin IV isolated from Pleurospermum kamtschatidum is an anti-inflammatory compound that inhibits NO, PGE(2) and TNF-alpha production. Here, we studied the mode of action of this compound. Buddlejasaponin IV (2.5-10 microM) reduced lipopolysaccaride (LPS (1 microg ml(-1)))-induced levels of iNOS and COX-2 at the protein levels, and iNOS, COX-2, TNF-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 mRNA expression in RAW 264.7 macrophages in a concentration-dependent manner, as determined by Weste

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|116 citations·2012
Fucosterol isolated from Undaria pinnatifida inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced production of nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines via the inactivation of nuclear factor-κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase in RAW264.7 macrophages
Min‐Sang Yoo, Ji‐Sun Shin, Hye‐Eun Choi, Young‐Wuk Cho, Myun‐Ho Bang, Nam‐In Baek, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Food Chemistry
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Article|103 citations·2004
Anti-inflammatory effect of caffeic acid methyl ester and its mode of action through the inhibition of prostaglandin E2, nitric oxide and tumor necrosis factor-α production
Kyung-Min Shin, In‐Tae Kim, Young-Mi Park, Joohun Ha, Jongwon Choi, Hee-Juhn Park, Yong Sup Lee, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1Biochemical Pharmacology
Insect ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
12
Article|103 citations·2000
Essential Moiety for Antimutagenic and Cytotoxic Activity of Hederagenin Monodesmosides and Bisdesmosides Isolated from the Stem Bark of Kalopanax pictus
Kyung‐Tae Lee, Il-Cheol Sohn, Hee-Juhn Park, Dongwook Kim, Geun-Ok Jung, Kun-Young Park
SJR Q2Planta Medica

For the elucidation of the antimutagenic and cytotoxic principles from the stem bark of Kalopanax pictus, seven isolated components of this crude drug were tested in the Ames test and the MTT test. Hederagenin and its monodesmosides, kalopanaxsaponin A and I in addition to its bisdesmosides, kalopanaxsaponin B and H, showed potent antimutagenic activities against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). However, they had no inhibitory effects on mutagenicity induced by the direct mutagen, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitros

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Article|99 citations·2009
Zedoarondiol isolated from the rhizoma of Curcuma heyneana is involved in the inhibition of iNOS, COX-2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines via the downregulation of NF-κB pathway in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages
Woong Cho, Joo‐Won Nam, HyunJun Kang, Tri Windono, Eun‐Kyoung Seo, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1International Immunopharmacology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
14
Article|96 citations·2011
Tormentic acid, a triterpenoid saponin, isolated from Rosa rugosa, inhibited LPS-induced iNOS, COX-2, and TNF-α expression through inactivation of the nuclear factor-κb pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages
Hyo‐Jin An, In‐Tae Kim, Hee-Juhn Park, Hyung‐Min Kim, Jung‐Hye Choi, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q1International Immunopharmacology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Article|95 citations·2009
Compound K, a metabolite of ginseng saponin, induces apoptosis via caspase-8-dependent pathway in HL-60 human leukemia cells
Sung‐Hee Cho, Kyung‐Sook Chung, Jung‐Hye Choi, Dong‐Hyun Kim, Kyung‐Tae Lee
SJR Q2BMC CancerOA

BACKGROUND: Compound K [20-O-beta-(D-glucopyranosyl)-20(S)-protopanaxadiol], a metabolite of the protopanaxadiol-type saponins of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, has been reported to possess anti-tumor properties to inhibit angiogenesis and to induce tumor apoptosis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Compound K on apoptosis and explored the underlying mechanisms involved in HL-60 human leukemia cells. METHODS: We examined the effect of Compound K on the viabilities of various cancer

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyPharmacologyPlant ScienceCancer ResearchOrganic ChemistryComplementary and alternative medicine

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