Purpose: This study investigates the alterations in A549 human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells exposed to Citrus junos extract (CJE). We further examine the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of CJE on NSCLC cells. Methods: Inhibition of proliferation was examined by applying the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay on CJE-treated A549 NSCLC cells. The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assay was performed to measure the degree of toxicity of CJE on NSCLC cells. The effect on migratory proliferation was confirmed using the scratch wound healing assay. The antiproliferative effect of the CJE on human lung cancer cells was verified through morphological observation, fluorescence microscopy, and caspase-3 colorimetry. Results: Exposure of NSCLC cells to CJE resulted in a dose- and time-dependent decrease in cell activity and increased toxicity to the cells. In addition, microscopic observation revealed a reduced ability of the cancer cells to migrate and proliferate after exposure to the CJE, with simultaneous morphological apoptotic changes. Fluorescence staining and microscopic examination revealed that this death was a process of self-programmed cell death of NSCLC cells. Compared to unexposed NSCLC cells, the expression of caspase-3 was significantly increased in cells exposed to CJE. Conclusion Exposure of A549 human NSCLC cells to CJE inhibits the proliferation, increases the cytotoxicity, and decreases the ability of cells to migrate and grow. Moreover, the expression of caspase-3 increases after CJE treatment, suggesting that the apoptosis of NSCLC cells is induced by a chain reaction initiated by caspase-3. These results indicate that Citrus junos is a potential therapeutic agent for human non-small-cell lung cancer.

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the eating behavior (EB) and nutritional status of university students in Gwangju, and to compare their nutrition quotients (NQs) and problems according to their EB types. Methods: The subjects were 219 (127 female and 92 male) undergraduate students from Gwangju. The Student’s t-test was used to compare the EB levels according to gender, and Pearson’s χ2 test was used to compare the distribution of EB types by gender. A gender-adjusted analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was conducted to examine the difference in NQs by EB types. Results: First, there were significant differences in the EB scores and the distribution of EB types according to gender. Female students showed higher levels of emotional (Emo) and external (Ext) EBs than the male students, and Emo, Ext, and combined (Com) EB types were more evident among female rather than male students. Second, there was a difference in NQs according to the EB types. The Emo EB type subjects had a lower NQ than those of the restrained (Res) EB type and showed significant differences in diversity and dietary behavior. Specifically, the Emo EB type subjects displayed significantly lower efforts to maintain a healthy diet and subjective health status than the Com EB type and their levels of checking nutrition labels, hand washing, and water intake were significantly lower than that of the Res EB type. The Ext EB type showed significantly lower moderation of Ramyeon and sweetened drink intake than the Res and Com EB types. Conclusion The level of EBs and the distribution of EB types varied according to gender, and the NQs were different according to EB types. The results of this study are expected to contribute to the establishment of customized strategies for improvement by identifying major nutritional problems by gender and the EB types of university students.