A study on separation and extraction of four main alkaloids in Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. with strip dispersion hybrid liquid membrane

Multifaceted Anticancer Potential of Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg Leaf Alkaloids: Impact on Multiple Cellular Targets

Gnidia glauca (Fresen.) Gilg has demonstrated significant anticancer potential through multiple mechanisms, including apoptosis induction, as shown by the TUNEL assay against MCF-7 cells, modulation of tubulin polymerization, preservation of mitochondrial function indicated by the JC-1 assay, and inhibition of DNA polymerase α and β activities. Rationale for the present study is to investigate the potential anticancer properties of G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract. Fresh and healthy G. glauca leaves were cleaned, shade-dried, and the powder was defatted, extracted with 10% acetic acid in ethanol, and subjected for alkaloid extraction. The partially purified G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract was evaluated for its effects on tubulin polymerization, DNA polymerase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and apoptosis studies using human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells by flow cytometry. The extract was found to affect microtubule assembly in a concentration-dependent manner (15.125-250 μg/mL), indicating presence of alkaloids that function as spindle poison agents. Leaf alkaloid extract of G. glauca was also found to affect the mitochondrial membrane potential with IC50 value 144.51 μg/mL, and inhibited DNA polymerase α and β activities dose dependently, thus potentially interfering with DNA replication and repair processes. Leaf alkaloid extract also showed the potential to induce DNA damage of 53.6%, albeit somewhat less than the standard drug camptothecin (64.94%) as confirmed by the TUNEL assay. Additionally, the GgLAE (IC50 144.51 μg/mL) showed significant inhibition of MCF-7 cells proliferation after 24 h, revealing phase arrests in sub G0/G1, S, and G2/M. These findings suggest that G. glauca leaf alkaloid extract contains alkaloids that possess anticancer properties with multiple targets, making the plant a natural source for a promising phytochemical drug candidates for further evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Further investigations are warranted to determine the efficacy, safety, identification and characterization of the alkaloids, and evaluate and determine their potential applications in cancer therapy.

Isolation and purification of alkaloids from the fruits of Macleaya cordata by ionic-liquid-modified high-speed counter-current chromatography

Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. is a medicinal plant. The most important bioactive compounds of M. cordata are alkaloids that have many biological activities including antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor. In this study, an ionic-liquid-modified high-speed counter-current chromatography method was established to obtain alkaloids from the fruits of M. cordata. The conditions of ionic-liquid-modified high-speed counter-current chromatography, including solvent systems, the content of ionic liquid (1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [C₄ mim][BF₄ ]), and the posttreatment of the ionic liquid, were investigated. Five alkaloids protopine, allocryptopine, sanguinarine, 8-O-demethylchelerythrine, and chelerythrine were separated from the extract of the fruits using a high speed counter-current chromatography with two-phase solvent system composed of dichloromethane/methanol/0.3 mol/L hydrochloric acid aqueous solution/[C₄ mim][BF₄ ] (4:2:2:0.015, v/v). Their purities were 96.33, 95.56, 97.94, 96.22, and 97.90%, respectively. The results indicated that a small amount of ionic liquids as modifier of the two-phase solvent system could shorten the separation time and improve the separation efficiency of the alkaloids from the fruits. The ionic-liquid-modified high-speed counter-current chromatography would provide a feasible way for highly effective separation of alkaloids from natural products.

Synthesis and characterization of core-shell magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective extraction of allocryptopine from the wastewater of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br

A novel type of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers (MMIP) as the solid-phase extraction sorbent was prepared, which can extract effectively the allocryptopine from the waster of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. In this study, MMIP was synthesized by using Fe₃ O₄ @SiO₂ , 4-vinyl-pyridine, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, and allocryptopine, and these ingredients worked as magnetic core, functional monomer, cross-linker, and template, respectively. Concluded by the calculation of Gaussian 09 software, different ratio models of 4-vinyl-pyridine and allocryptopine were simulated, and the optimal ratio was 1:5 and the energy was -2205.34 kJ/mol. Transmission electron microscopy, vibration sample magnetometry, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis were used to determine the morphology and structure of MMIP. Furthermore, the results of adsorption experiments indicated that MMIP had high selectivity, excellent recyclability, and good adsorption performance (9.86 mg/g, 298 K). The adsorption process was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R² > 0.98, 298 K) and pseudo-second-order kinetics model (R² > 0.99, 298 K). After six times adsorption-desorption experiments, the adsorption amount of MMIP only reduced to 8.5%. In the experiments of selective adsorption, MMIP has better adsorption properties for allocryptopine (ALL, C₂₁ H₂₃ NO₅ ) than those having the same functional group. The limit of detection (LOD) was 0.4 μg/mL. The relative standard deviation ranged from 0.09% to 0.72%. The recovery of allocryptopine in samples ranged from 93.60% to 106.19%. In addition, the synthesized complex had a certain adsorption effect on allocryptopine separating from the wastewater of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br.

Ethoxysanguinarine, a Novel Direct Activator of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase, Induces Autophagy and Exhibits Therapeutic Potential in Breast Cancer Cells

Ethoxysanguinarine (Eth) is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid extracted from Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br. It possesses antibacterial and antiviral activities and offers therapeutic benefits for the treatment of respiratory syndrome virus-induced cytopathic effects. However, the effect of Eth on human tumors and its pharmacological effects remain to be elucidated, together with its cellular target. Here, we examined the effects of Eth on breast cancer (BC) cells. We found that at low doses, Eth strongly inhibited the viability of BC cell lines and induced autophagy. Mechanistic studies showed that Eth induced autophagy by upregulating the activity of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The AMPK inhibitor compound C significantly attenuated Eth-induced autophagy and inhibited proliferation. Meanwhile, the AMPK activator metformin significantly enhanced Eth-induced autophagy and inhibited proliferation. Computational docking and affinity assays showed that Eth directly interacted with the allosteric drug and metabolite site of AMPK to stabilize its activation. AMPK was less activated in tumor samples compared to normal breast tissues and was inversely associated with the prognosis of the patients. Moreover, Eth exhibited potent anti-BC activity in nude mice and favorable pharmacokinetics in rats. These characteristics render Eth as a promising candidate drug for further development and for designing new effective AMPK activators.

Alkaloid purification using rosin-based polymer-bonded silica stationary phase in HPLC

Alkaloids are important natural products that exhibit a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities. To efficiently separate and purify them, a rosin-based polymer-bonded silica stationary phase in high-performance liquid chromatography was synthesized via the surface radical polymerization of ethylene glycol maleic rosinate acrylate and methacrylic acid onto functionalized silica. The stationary phases, columns, optimization of chromatographic conditions for alkaloids, and thermodynamic behavior of the analytes on the column were fully studied. Under the optimized conditions, the prepared column efficiently purified natural camptothecine, caffeine, and evodiamine with the corresponding purities of 92, 96, and 97%. With this work, we have developed an efficient approach to isolate alkaloids and promoted the research on rosin-based materials in biomedicine and analytical chemistry.

Ethoxysanguinarine inhibits viability and induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting CIP2A

Cancerous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (CIP2A) an endogenous inhibitor of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), which can promote proliferation and transformation of several cancer types, has been shown to be a target for tumor therapy. The present study investigated the effects and underlying mechanisms of action of a novel natural compound, ethoxysanguinarine (Eth), on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. MTT assay and flow cytometric assay found that Eth inhibited the viability and induced the apoptosis of the CRC cells. The inhibition of viability and activation of apoptosis was mediated through the Eth-induced decrease in CIP2A expression. Knockdown of CIP2A by RNA interference sensitized, whereas overexpression of CIP2A antagonized, Eth-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis. Furthermore, western blot analysis suggested that Eth inhibited phosphorylation of CIP2A downstream molecule protein kinase B via the activation of PP2A. CRC xenograft tests also confirmed the antitumor effect of Eth in vivo. These results advance our understanding of Eth-induced viability inhibition and apoptosis, implying the requirement for further investigation of Eth as a CIP2A inhibitor for cancer therapies.

Medicinal plants of the genus Macleaya (Macleaya cordata, Macleaya microcarpa): A review of their phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology

In the genus Macleaya, Macleaya cordata and Macleaya microcarpa have been recognized as traditional herbs that are primarily distributed in China, North America, and Europe and have a long history of medicinal usage. These herbs have been long valued and studied for detumescence, detoxification, and insecticidal effect. This review aims to provide comprehensive information on botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and toxicological studies on plants in the genus Macleaya. Plants from the genus of Macleaya provide a source of bioactive compounds, primarily alkaloids, with remarkable diversity and complex architectures, thereby having attracted attention from researchers. To date, 291 constituents have been identified and/or isolated from this group. These purified compounds and/or crude extract possess antitumor, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, and antibacterial activities in addition to certain potential toxicities. Macleaya species hold potential for medicinal applications. However, despite the pharmacological studies on these plants, the mechanisms underlying the biological activities of active ingredients derived from Macleaya have not been thoroughly elucidated to date. Additionally, there is a need for research focusing on in vivo medical effects of Macleaya compounds and, eventually, for clinical trials.

A new cytotoxic benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid from the fruits of Macleaya cordata

A new cytotoxic benzophenanthridine isoquinoline alkaloid, named cordatine (1), together with one known alkaloid 8-methoxydihydrochelerythrine (2), was isolated from the fruits of Macleaya cordata. The structure of the new compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS. Both compounds indicated significant cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and SF-268 cell lines.

Chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from the leaves of Macleaya cordata (Willd) R. Br

The essential oil from the leaves of Macleaya cordata R.Br. obtained by hydrodistillation was analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Sixty-eight compounds consisting of up to 92.53% of the essential oil were identified. Antioxidant activities of the essential oil were evaluated by using DPPH radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid assays. The essential oil showed moderate antioxidant activity. In addition, the essential oil exhibited potential antimicrobial activity against all tested microorganisms, with diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 8.7 ± 0.5 to 17.2 ± 1.2 mm and minimum inhibitory concentration values from 125 to 500 μg/mL. We selected the most sensitive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus as model to observe of the action of essential oils of M. cordata on the membrane structure by scanning electron microscopy. The treated cell membranes were damaged severely. The results presented here indicate that the essential oil of M. cordata may be potential sources of antioxidant and antimicrobial agents in the future.

Structural speculation and identification of alkaloids in Macleaya cordata fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry combined with a screening procedure

RATIONALE

Alkaloids with significant therapeutic effects are the main active constituents of Macleaya cordata, which is a perennial herb plant in the Papaveraceae family. A systematic and novel method for speculating and identifying the structures of alkaloids in M. cordata fruits by high-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC/Q-TOF-MS) with a screening procedure was reported.

METHODS

Investigation of mass spectral fragmentation of alkaloids was carried out based on the tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data analyses of eight reference substances. The skeletons of alkaloids were determined by their ultraviolet spectra (UV) and MS/MS data. The substituent groups of the alkaloids were acquired through a screening procedure developed in our laboratory and MS/MS data. The substituent linkage sites were deduced by MS/MS fragmentation behavior, as well as biosynthetic pathways of related alkaloids.

RESULTS

The structures of 21 alkaloids were speculated in this study, 10 of which were reported for the first time in M. cordata. Furthermore, benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline and N-methyltetrahydroprotoberberine-type alkaloids were discovered, which indirectly proved that the biosynthetic pathways of benzophenanthridine alkaloids reported in Eschscholtzia california existed in M. cordata as well.

CONCLUSIONS

HPLC/Q-TOF-MS combined with a screening procedure was a systematic and reliable method for speculating and elucidating the structures of alkaloids. This study might be useful for the identification of other compounds in herbal medicines.