Characterization of nucleobases and nucleosides in the fruit ofAlpinia oxyphyllacollected from different cultivation regions

BACE1 inhibitors from the fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla have efficacy to treat T2DM-related cognitive disorder

The fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla (Alpiniae Oxyphyllae Fructus, AOF) are one of the "Four Famous South Medicines" in China. In this study, beta-site amyloid protein precursor cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) was applied to explore the active components in AOF responsible for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related cognitive disorder. As a result, 24 compounds including three unreported ones (1, 3, 4) were isolated from AOF. Compound 1 is an unusual carbon‑carbon linked diarylheptanoid dimer, and compound 4 is the first case of 3,4-seco-eudesmane sesquiterpenoid with a 5/6-bicyclic skeleton. Four diarylheptanoids (3, 5-7), one flavonoid (9) and two sesquiterpenoids (14 and 20) showed BACE1 inhibitory activity, of which the most active 6 was revealed to be a non-competitive and anti-competitive mixed inhibitor. Docking simulation suggested that OH-4' of 6 played important roles in maintaining activity by forming hydrogen bonds with Ser36 and Ile126 residues. Compounds 3, 5, 9 and 20 displayed neuroprotective effects against amyloid β (Aβ)-induced damage in BV2 cells. Mechanism study revealed that compounds 5 and 20 downregulated the expression of BACE1 and upregulated the expression of Lamp2 to exert effects. Thus, the characteristic diarylheptanoids and sesquiterpenoids in AOF had the efficacy to alleviate T2DM-related cognitive disorder by inhibiting BACE1 activity and reversing Aβ-induced neuronal damage.

Determination of Oxyphylla A Enantiomers in the Fruits of Alpinia oxyphylla by a Chiral High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry Method and Comparison of Their In Vivo Biological Activities

(R)-Oxyphylla A, a natural product isolated from Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel as a food and medicinal plant, has been reported previously as a novel chiral compound that possesses a potential therapeutic value for Parkinson's disease (PD). A chiral high-performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry method was developed to separate oxyphylla A enantiomers and to identify the presence of natural (S)-oxyphylla A for the first time. Twelve samples of dried A. oxyphylla fruits were analyzed in which a large variation in the abundance of enantiomers was observed. Moreover, (S)-oxyphylla A was less abundant in all tested samples, whereas fruits harvested from Hainan and Guangdong tended to have relatively higher total concentrations of enantiomers. Additionally, enantiomers exhibited comparable neuroprotective effects in the zebrafish model of PD without observed toxicity phenotype. The optimized enantioseparation method will be crucial for the quality control of A. oxyphylla and research on bioactivities facilitates the development of oxyphylla A as a potential therapeutic for neurodegenerative diseases.

Protective effects of organic extracts of Alpinia oxyphylla against hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicity in PC12 cells

Alpinia oxyphylla, a traditional herb, is widely used for its neuroprotective, antioxidant and memory-improving effects. However, the neuroprotective mechanisms of action of its active ingredients are unclear. In this study, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of various organic extracts of Alpinia oxyphylla on PC12 cells exposed to hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative injury in vitro. Alpinia oxyphylla was extracted three times with 95% ethanol (representing extracts 1–3). The third 95% ethanol extract was dried and resuspended in water, and then extracted successively with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol (representing extracts 4–6). The cell counting kit-8 assay and microscopy were used to evaluate cell viability and observe the morphology of PC12 cells. The protective effect of the three ethanol extracts (at tested concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL) against cytotoxicity to PC12 cells increased in a concentration-dependent manner. The ethyl acetate, petroleum ether and n-butanol extracts (each tested at 100, 150 and 200 μg/mL) had neuroprotective effects as well. The optimum effective concentration ranged from 50–200 μg/mL, and the protective effect of the ethyl acetate extract was comparatively robust. These results demonstrate that organic extracts of Alpinia oxyphylla protect PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide. Our findings should help identify the bioactive neuroprotective components in Alpinia oxyphylla.

Ethnopharmacological uses, phytochemistry, biological activities, and therapeutic applications of Alpinia oxyphylla Miquel: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL USAGES

Fructus Alpiniae oxyphyllae (A. oxyphylla) is an important medicinal plant that is used not only as an edible fruit, but also as an important traditional medicine for benefiting cognitive performance and alleviating a wide spectrum of diseases. Such as; warming kidney, securing essence and arresting polyuria, as well as warming the spleen and stopping diarrhea and saliva.

AIMS

The purpose of this review is to provide updated, comprehensive and categorized information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological research of A. oxyphylla in order to explore their therapeutic potential and establish a solid foundation for directing future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All the available information on A. oxyphylla was collected via electronic search (using Pubmed, SciFinder, Scirus, Google Scholar and Web of Science) and additionally a number of unpublished resources, (e.g. books, Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations, government reports).

RESULTS

Phytochemical research on A. oxyphylla has led to the isolation of components such as essential oils, terpenes, diarylheptanoids, flavones, nucleobases and nucleosides, steroids and others. Crude extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents isolated from A. oxyphylla showed a wide spectrum of in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities like neuroprotective, anti-diarrheal, anti-diuretic, anti-neoplastic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, viscera protective and anti-diabetic activities. Neuroprotective, anti-cancer, anti-diarrheal and anti-diuretic effects are major areas of research conducted on A. oxyphylla.

CONCLUSIONS

Modern pharmacological studies have supported many traditional uses of A. oxyphylla, including nervous system, urinary system and gastrointestinal system disease. There was convincing evidence in experimental animal models in support of its neuroprotection, secure essence, reduce urination, and anti-carcinogenic effects. However, all the reported pharmacological activities were carried out at pre-clinical level and the authors urge further investigation in clinical trials about these therapeutic fields of A. oxyphylla.

Dose-Dependent Antifibrotic Effect of Chrysin on Regression of Liver Fibrosis: The Role in Extracellular Matrix Remodeling

Liver fibrosis represents an overaccumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). This study was designed to investigate the effect of chrysin on established ECM overproduction in carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) mouse liver fibrosis. Experimental fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mL/kg CCl₄ twice a week, for 7 weeks. Mice were orally treated with 3 doses of chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone). For the assessment of the spontaneous reversion of fibrosis, CCl₄-treated mice were investigated after 2 weeks of recovery time. Silymarin was used as a standard of liver protection. In fibrotic livers, the results showed the upregulation of collagen I (Col I) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and modulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which led to an altered ECM enriched in Col, confirmed as well by electron microscopy investigations. Treatment with chrysin significantly reduced ultrastructural changes, downregulated Col I, and restored TIMP-1/MMP balance, whereas in the group observed for the spontaneous regression of fibrosis, they remained in the same pattern with fibrotic livers. In this study, we have shown chrysin efficacy to attenuate dose-dependent CCl₄-stimulated liver ECM accumulation by regulation of MMP/TIMP imbalance and inhibition of Col production. We have shown the dose-dependent chrysin efficiency in attenuation of CCl4-induced liver ECM accumulation by regulation of MMP/TIMP imbalance and inhibition of Col production. Our findings suggest that chrysin oral administration may introduce a new strategy for treating liver fibrosis in humans.

Protective Effects of Chrysin Against Drugs and Toxic Agents

Issues:

Polyphenolic compounds, especially flavonoids, are known as the most common chemical class of phytochemicals, which possess a multiple range of health-promoting effects. Flavonoids are ubiquitous in nature. They are also present in food, providing an essential link between diet and prevention of several diseases.

Approach:

Chrysin (CH), a natural flavonoid, was commonly found in propolis and honey and traditionally used in herbal medicine. A growing body of scientific evidence has shown that CH possesses protective effects against toxic agents in various animal tissues, including brain, heart, liver, kidney, and lung.

Key Findings:

This study found that CH may be effective in disease management induced by toxic agents. However, due to the lack of information on human, further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of CH as an antidote agent in human.

Conclusion:

The present article aimed to critically review the available literature data regarding the protective effects of CH against toxic agent–induced toxicities as well as its possible mechanisms.

Inhibition of Cardiac Hypertrophy Effects in D-Galactose-Induced Senescent Hearts by Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus Treatment

Aging is a complex physiological phenomenon accelerated by ROS accumulation, with multisystem decline and increasing vulnerability to degenerative diseases and death. Cardiac hypertrophy is a key pathophysiological component that accompanies the aging process. Alpinate Oxyphyllae Fructus (Alpinia oxyphylla MIQ, AOF) is a traditional Chinese medicine, which provides cardioprotective activity against aging, hypertension, and cerebrovascular disorders. In this study, we found the protective effect of AOF against cardiac hypertrophy in D-galactose-induced aging rat model. The results showed that treating rats with D-galactose resulted in pathological hypertrophy as evident from the morphology change, increased left ventricular weight/whole heart weight, and expression of hypertrophy-related markers (MYH7 and BNP). Both concentric and eccentric cardiac hypertrophy signaling proteins were upregulated in aging rat model. However, these pathological changes were significantly improved in AOF treated group (AM and AH) in a dose-dependent manner. AOF negatively modulated D-galactose-induced cardiac hypertrophy signaling mechanism to attenuate ventricular hypertrophy. These enhanced cardioprotective activities following oral administration of AOF reflect the potential use of AOF for antiaging treatments.

Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruit extract activates IGFR-PI3K/Akt signaling to induce Schwann cell proliferation and sciatic nerve regeneration

BACKGROUND

It is known that the medicinal herb Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. is widely used as a remedy for diarrhea as well as the symptoms accompanying hypertension and cerebrovascular disorders. Moreover, it has also been reported that Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. has beneficial effects on anti-senescence and neuro-protection. This study focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which the Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruits promote neuron regeneration.

METHODS

A piece of silicone rubber was guided across a 15 mm gap in the sciatic nerve of a rat. This nerve gap was then filled with various doses of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruits to assess their regenerative effect on damaged nerves. Further, we investigated the role of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruits in RSC96 Schwann cell proliferation.

RESULTS

Our current results showed that treatment with the extract of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruits triggers the phosphorylated insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor- phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/serine-threonine kinase pathway, and up-regulated the proliferating cell nuclear antigen in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analysis on RSC96 Schwann cells showed that, after exposure to Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruit extract, the transition from the first gap phase to the synthesis phase occurs in 12-18 h. The expression of the cell cycle regulatory proteins cyclin D1, cyclin E and cyclin A increased in a dose-dependent manner. Transfection with a small interfering RNA blocked the expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and induced down-regulation both on the mRNA and protein levels, which resulted in a reduction of the expression of the survival factor B-cell lymphoma 2.

CONCLUSION

We provide positive results that demonstrate that Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. fruits facilitate the survival and proliferation of RSC96 cells via insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling.

Toxic Constituents Index: A Toxicity-Calibrated Quantitative Evaluation Approach for the Precise Toxicity Prediction of the Hypertoxic Phytomedicine-Aconite

Complex chemical composition is an important reason for restricting herbal quality evaluation. Despite the multi-components determination method significantly promoted the progress of herbal quality evaluation, however, which mainly concerned the total amount of multiple components and ignored the activity variation between each one, and did not accurately reflect the biological activity of botanical medicines. In this manuscript, we proposed a toxicity calibrated contents determination method for hyper toxic aconite, called toxic constituents index (TCI). Initially, we determined the minimum lethal dose value of mesaconitine (MA), aconitine (AC), and hypaconitine (HA), and established the equation TCI = 100 × (0.3387 ×X_MA + 0.4778 ×X_AC + 0.1835 ×X_HA). Then, 10 batches of aconite were selected and their evaluation results of toxic potency (TP), diester diterpenoid alkaloids (DDAs), and TCI were compared. Linear regression analysis result suggested that the relevance between TCI and TP was the highest and the correlation coefficient R was 0.954. Prediction error values study also indicated that the evaluation results of TCI was highly consistent with that of TP. Moreover, TCI and DDAs were both applied to evaluate 14 batches of aconite samples oriented different origins; from the different evaluation results, we found when the proportion of HA was reached 25% in DDAs, the pharmacopeia method could generate false positive results. All these results testified the accuracy and universality of TCI method. We believe that this study method is rather accurate, simple, and easy operation and it will be of great utility in studies of other foods and herbs.

Determination of Heavy Metals in Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. Collected from Different Cultivation Regions

20 batches of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. were collected from Yunnan, Guangdong, Guangxi, and Hainan province in China. The contents of heavy metals of As, Hg, Pb, Cd, and Cu were determined and compared. The results indicated that geographical source might be a major factor to influence the contents of heavy metals of arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and copper (Cu) in Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. Compared to the criteria of heavy metals, the contents of As, Hg, Pb, and Cd in almost all the samples were in accordance with The Green Trade Standards. The contents of Cu were higher than the criteria for heavy metals except the samples from Changxing town, Qiongzhong county, Maoyang town, Qiongzhong county, Wupo town, Tunchang county, and Nanlv town, Tunchang county, in Hainan province. The best cultivation regions of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq. were from Changxing town, Qiongzhong county, Maoyang town, Qiongzhong county, Wupo town, Tunchang county, and Nanlv town, Tunchang county, in Hainan province. This research would provide the scientific basis for quality control and standardization of Alpinia oxyphylla Miq.

Different accumulation profiles of multiple components between pericarp and seed of Alpinia oxyphylla capsular fruit as determined by UFLC-MS/MS

Plant secondary metabolites are known to not only play a key role in the adaptation of plants to their environment, but also represent an important source of active pharmaceuticals. Alpinia oxyphylla capsular fruits, made up of seeds and pericarps, are commonly used in traditional East Asian medicines. In clinical utilization of these capsular fruits, inconsistent processing approaches (i.e., hulling pericarps or not) are employed, with the potential of leading to differential pharmacological effects. Therefore, an important question arises whether the content levels of pharmacologically active chemicals between the seeds and pericarps of A. oxyphylla are comparable. Nine secondary metabolites present in A. oxyphylla capsular fruits, including flavonoids (e.g., tectochrysin, izalpinin, chrysin, apigenin-4',7-dimethylether and kaempferide), diarylheptanoids (e.g., yakuchinone A and B and oxyphyllacinol) and sesquiterpenes (e.g., nootkatone), were regarded as representative constituents with putative pharmacological activities. This work aimed to investigate the abundance of the nine constituents in the seeds and pericarps of A. oxyphylla. Thirteen batches of A. oxyphylla capsular fruits were gathered from different production regions. Accordingly, an ultra-fast high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated. We found that: (1) the nine secondary metabolites were differentially concentrated in seeds and fruit capsules; (2) nootkatone is predominantly distributed in the seeds; in contrast, the flavonoids and diarylheptanoids are mainly deposited in the capsules; and (3) the content levels of the nine secondary metabolites occurring in the capsules varied greatly among different production regions, although the nootkatone levels in the seeds were comparable among production regions. These results are helpful to evaluating and elucidating pharmacological activities of A. oxyphylla capsular fruits. Additionally, it may be of interest to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the distinct accumulation profiles of these secondary metabolites between seeds and pericarps.

Quantitative analysis of the major constituents in Chinese medicinal preparation SuoQuan formulae by ultra fast high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

Background

The SuoQuan formulae containing Fructus Alpiniae Oxyphyllae has been used to combat the urinary incontinence symptoms including frequency, urgency and nocturia for hundreds of years in China. However, the chemical information was not well characterized. The quality control marker constituent only focused on one single compound in the current Chinese Pharmacopeia. Hence it is prudent to identify and quantify the main constituents in this herbal product. This study aimed to analyze the main constituents using ultra-fast performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UFLC-MS/MS).

Results

Fourteen phytochemicals originated from five chemical classes constituents were identified by comparing the molecular mass, fragmentation pattern and retention time with those of the reference standards. A newly developed UFLC-MS/MS was validated demonstrating that the new assay was valid, reproducible and reliable. This method was successfully applied to simultaneously quantify the fourteen phytochemicals. Notably, the content of these constituents showed significant differences in three pharmaceutical preparations. The major constituent originated from each of chemical class was isolinderalactone, norisoboldine, nootkatone, yakuchinone A and apigenin-4’,7-dimethylther, respectively. The variation among these compounds was more than 1000 times. Furthermore, the significant content variation between the two different Suoquan pills was also observed.

Conclusion

The proposed method is sensitive and reliable; hence it can be used to analyze a variety of SuoQuan formulae products produced by different pharmaceutical manufacturers.