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Lan X, Chen Y, Duan JJ, Xu J. Study on Oxymatrine-Based Research from 2001 to 2022: A Bibliometric Analysis. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:9633-9643. [PMID: 38434884 PMCID: PMC10905712 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c07880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 01/20/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
Oxymatrine is a quinolizidine alkaloid mainly derived from Kushen; it possesses various therapeutic effects, such as organ- and tissue-protective, anticancer, and antiviral effects. The research directions for oxymatrine remain broad. In order to explore the overall status of oxymatrine-based research, we carried out a bibliometric analysis to summarize the oxymatrine-based, English-written studies published in the past 22 years. In total, 267 studies were included, most of which were original. The number of annual studies slowly increased with some fluctuations. Other than China, 11 different countries conducted studies on oxymatrine; the variety in the country of origin of these publications is presented as a recently increasing trend. Many affiliates and researchers have participated in oxymatrine-based research. Various treatment mechanisms involving different oxymatrine pathways have led to research in a wide range of fields, being published in numerous journals. Two particularly popular research fields related to oxymatrine involved anticancer and anti-inflammation. From this research, we concluded that with increasing and continuous in-depth studies, more therapeutic effects and mechanisms will be elucidated, and oxymatrine may present as a viable option for the treatment of additional diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Lan
- Beijing
University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yao Chen
- Xiyuan
Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100091, China
| | - Jia-jia Duan
- Beijing
University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jia Xu
- Beijing
University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
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Ma X, Jiang Y, Wen J, Zhao Y, Zeng J, Guo Y. A comprehensive review of natural products to fight liver fibrosis: Alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins and other compounds. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 888:173578. [PMID: 32976828 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of drugs to treat liver fibrosis has long been a challenge over the past decades due to its complicated pathogenesis. As a primary approach for drug development, natural products account for 30% of clinical drugs used for disease treatment. Therefore, natural products are increasingly important for their medicinal value in liver fibrosis therapy. In this part of the review, special focus is placed on the effect and mechanism of natural compounds, including alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, coumarins and others. A total of 36 kinds of natural compounds demonstrate significant antifibrotic effects in various liver fibrosis models in vivo and in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in vitro. Revealing the mechanism will provide further basis for clinical conversion, as well as accelerate drug discovery. The mechanism was further summarized with the finding of network regulation by several natural products, such as oxymatrine, paeoniflorin, ginsenoside Rg1 and taurine. Moreover, there are still improvements needed in investigating clinical efficacy, determining mechanisms, and combining applications, as well as semisynthesis and modification. Therefore, natural products area promising resource for agents that protect against liver fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yinxiao Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jianxia Wen
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China; Department of Pharmacy, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Yanling Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100039, China.
| | - Jinhao Zeng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China.
| | - Yaoguang Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610072, China.
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Song LY, Ma YT, Fang WJ, He Y, Wu JL, Zuo SR, Deng ZZ, Wang SF, Liu SK. Inhibitory effects of oxymatrine on hepatic stellate cells activation through TGF-β/miR-195/Smad signaling pathway. Altern Ther Health Med 2019; 19:138. [PMID: 31221141 PMCID: PMC6585021 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-019-2560-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxymatrine (OM), a quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from a herb Sophorae Flavescentis Radix, has been used to treat liver fibrotic diseases. However, the mechanism of its anti-fibrosis effects is still unclear. TGF-β/Smad signaling and miR-195 have been proved to paly an important role in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation and liver fibrosis. In this study, we investigated whether OM could inhibit HSCs activation through TGF-β1/miR-195/Smads signaling or not. METHODS First, the effects of OM on HSC-T6 in different concentrations and time points were tested by MTT assay. We choose three appropriate concentrations of OM as treatment concentrations in following experiment. By Quantitative Real-time PCR and Western Blot, then we investigated the effect of OM on miR-195, Smad7 and α-SMA's expressions to prove the correlation between OM and the TGF-β1/miR-195/Smads signaling. Last, miR-195 mimic and INF-γ were used to investigate the relation between miR-195 and OM in HSC activation. RESULTS Our results showed that the proliferation of HSC was significantly inhibited when OM concentration was higher than 200 μg/mL after 24 h, 100 μg/mL after 48 h and 10 μg/mL after 72 h. The IC50 of OM after 24, 48 and 72 h were 539, 454, 387 μg/mL respectively. OM could down-regulate miR-195 and α-SMA (P < 0.01), while up-regulate Smad7 (P < 0.05). In HSC-T6 cells transfected with miR-195 mimic and pretreated with OM, miR-195 and α-SMA were up-regulated (P < 0.05), and Smad7 was down-regulated (P < 0.05) . CONCLUSIONS Given these results, OM could inhibit TGF-β1 induced activation of HSC-T6 proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner to some extent. We proved that OM inhibited HSC activation through down-regulating the expression of miR-195 and up-regulating Smad7.
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Lu M, Zhang Q, Chen K, Xu W, Xiang X, Xia S. The regulatory effect of oxymatrine on the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in lipopolysaccharide-induced MS1 cells. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2017; 36:153-159. [PMID: 29157809 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2017.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2016] [Revised: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oxymatrine (OM), a major quinolizidine alkaloid extracted from the roots of Sophora flavescens, has been proved to regulate a variety of signaling pathways to produce a wide range of pharmacological effects. OBJECTIVES The regulatory effects of OM on the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway under the stimulation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in MS1 cells were explored to illuminate the potential anti-inflammatory mechanism of OM for pancreatitis treatment. METHODS The signaling molecules related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway in MS1 cells were detected by Western blotting under different conditions, including OM pretreatment and LPS stimulation. The mRNA expression levels of TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p65 and IκBα were detected by real-time PCR. The NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation in MS1 cells was measured by immunofluorescence, and the pro-inflammatory cytokine of IL-1β was detected by ELISA. RESULTS Increased levels of TLR4, MyD88 and NF-κB p65, induced by LPS stimulation, were significantly inhibited by OM pretreatment in MS1 cells. The decreased protein, but not mRNA, level of IκBα induced by LPS stimulation was increased by OM pretreatment. Meanwhile, LPS induced NF-κB p65 protein translocation to the nucleus as well as LPS increased expression of IL-1β were also inhibited by OM pretreatment. CONCLUSION Inhibitory effects of OM on molecules related to the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway in pancreatic microvascular endothelial cells can alleviate inflammatory responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meili Lu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China; Postgraduate Training Base in Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University of People's Armed Police Forces, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, China
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China
| | - Xiaohui Xiang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China.
| | - Shihai Xia
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, 220 Chenglin Road, Hedong District, Tianjin, 300162, China; Postgraduate Training Base in Affiliated Hospital of Logistics University of People's Armed Police Forces, Jinzhou Medical University, Jinzhou, 121000, China.
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Abstract
Novel affinity agents with high specificity are needed to make progress in disease diagnosis and therapy. Over the last several years, peptides have been considered to have fundamental benefits over other affinity agents, such as antibodies, due to their fast blood clearance, low immunogenicity, rapid tissue penetration, and reproducible chemical synthesis. These features make peptides ideal affinity agents for applications in disease diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of afflictions. Virus-derived peptide techniques provide a rapid, robust, and high-throughput way to identify organism-targeting peptides with high affinity and selectivity. Here, we will review viral peptide display techniques, how these techniques have been utilized to select new organism-targeting peptides, and their numerous biomedical applications with an emphasis on targeted imaging, diagnosis, and therapeutic techniques. In the future, these virus-derived peptides may be used as common diagnosis and therapeutics tools in local clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingying Yang
- Institute of Applied Bioresource Research, College of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Yuhangtang Road 866, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Kegan Sunderland
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Science Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
| | - Chuanbin Mao
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Stephenson Life Science Research Center, University of Oklahoma, 101 Stephenson Parkway, Norman, Oklahoma 73019, United States
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310027, China
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Sun YH, Zhang XY, Xie WQ, Liu GJ, He XX, Huang YL, Zhang GX, Wang J, Kuang ZY, Zhang R. Identification of UQCRB as an oxymatrine recognizing protein using a T7 phage display screen. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 193:133-139. [PMID: 27497639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2015] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/03/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sophora flavescens Aiton (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis, Kushen) is used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB), and has the ability to clear heat and dampness from the body. Oxymatrine is one of the major bioactive compounds extracted from Sophora flavescens Aiton and constitutes more than 90% of the oxymatrine injection commonly used for CHB treatment in clinics in China. AIM OF THE STUDY We aim to analyze the protein binding target of oxymatrine in treating CHB by screening a T7 phage display cDNA library of human CHB and examine the biochemistry of protein-ligand binding between oxymatrine and its ligands. MATERIALS AND METHODS A T7 phage cDNA library of human CHB was biopanned by affinity selection using oxymatrine as bait. The interaction of oxymatrine with its candidate binding protein was investigated by affinity assay, molecular docking, Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC) and Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR). RESULTS A library of potential oxymatrine binding peptides was generated. Ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase binding protein (UQCRB) was one of the candidate binding proteins of oxymatrine. UQCRB-displaying T7 phage binding numbers in the oxymatrine group were significantly higher than that in the control group, biotin group, and matrine group (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Three-dimensional structure modeling of the UQCRB with oxymatrine showed that their binding interfaces matched and oxymatrine inserted into a deeper pocket of UQCRB, which mainly involved amino acid residues Tyr21, Arg33, Tyr83, Glu84, Asp86, Pro88, and Glu91. The binding affinity constant (Kb) from SPR was 4.2mM. The Kb from ITC experiment was 3.9mM and stoichiometry was fixed as 1, which fit very well with the result of SPR. The binding of oxymatrine to UQCRB was driven by strong enthalpy forces such as hydrogen bonds and polar interactions as the heat released was about 157kcal/mol and ΔG was less than zero. CONCLUSIONS In this study, using the T7 phage display system, we have identified UQCRB as a direct binding protein of oxymatrine. Furthermore, the specificity and molecular interaction of oxymatrine with UQCRB were also determined. The binding of UQCRB to oxymatrine suggests that UQCRB is a potential target of oxymatrine in treating CHB. These results provide new understanding into the mechanism of oxymatrine and insights into the strategy on the treatment of CHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hui Sun
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Xiao-Yuan Zhang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Wei-Qun Xie
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Guang-Jian Liu
- Division of Birth Cohort Study, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou 510010, PR China.
| | - Xi-Xin He
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Ya-Li Huang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Guang-Xian Zhang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Jian Wang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Zao-Yuan Kuang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
| | - Ren Zhang
- College of Fundamental Medical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, PR China.
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Zhao HW, Zhang ZF, Chai X, Li GQ, Cui HR, Wang HB, Meng YK, Liu HM, Wang JB, Li RS, Bai ZF, Xiao XH. Oxymatrine attenuates CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis via modulation of TLR4-dependent inflammatory and TGF-β1 signaling pathways. Int Immunopharmacol 2016; 36:249-255. [PMID: 27179304 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2016.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 04/22/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Oxymatrine (OMT) is able to effectively protect against hepatic fibrosis because of its anti-inflammatory property, while the underlying mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, forty rats were randomly divided into five groups: control group, model group (carbon tetrachloride, CCl4) and three OMT treatment groups (30, 60, 120mg/kg). After CCl4 alone, the fibrosis score was 20.2±0.8, and the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), hydroxyproline content, and collagen I expression was elevated, but OMT blunted these parameters. Treatment with OMT prevented CCl4-induced increases in expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic cytokines interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, meanwhile OMT promoted the expression of anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic factors such as interleukin (IL)-10 and bone morphogenetic protein and activin membrane-bound inhibitor (Bambi). Moreover, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), which activates Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) and modulate hepatic fibrogenesis through hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) or Kupffer cells, were significantly decreased by OMT treatment. These results were further supported by in vitro data. First, OMT suppressed the expression of TLR4 and its downstream pro-inflammatory cytokines, lowered the level of HMGB1, TGF-β1 in macrophages. Then, OMT promoted Bambi expression and thereby inhibited activation of HSCs mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1. In conclusion, this study showed that OMT could effectively attenuate the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis, and this effect may be due to modulation of TLR4-dependent inflammatory and TGF-β1 signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Wei Zhao
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi 330004, China
| | - Zhen-Fang Zhang
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Chengde Medical College, Hebei 067000, China
| | - Xuan Chai
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Guang-Quan Li
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610000, China
| | - He-Rong Cui
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Chengde Medical College, Hebei 067000, China
| | - Hong-Bo Wang
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Ya-Kun Meng
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi 330004, China
| | - Hui-Min Liu
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China; Chengde Medical College, Hebei 067000, China
| | - Jia-Bo Wang
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Rui-Sheng Li
- Animral Laboratory Center, 302 Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100039, China
| | - Zhao-Fang Bai
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China.
| | - Xiao-He Xiao
- Department of Integrative Medical Center, 302 Military Hospital, Beijing 100039, China.
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Lu ML, Xiang XH, Xia SH. Potential Signaling Pathways Involved in the Clinical Application of Oxymatrine. Phytother Res 2016; 30:1104-12. [PMID: 27165263 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Oxymatrine, an alkaloid component extracted from the roots of Sophora species, has been shown to have antiinflammatory, antifibrosis, and antitumor effects and the ability to protect against myocardial damage, etc. The potential signaling pathways involved in the clinical application of oxymatrine might include the TGF-β/Smad, toll-like receptor 4/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells, toll-like receptor9/TRAF6, Janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt, delta-opioid receptor-arrestinl-Bcl-2, CD40, epidermal growth factor receptor, nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathways, and dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase/asymmetric dimethylarginine metabolism pathway. In this review, we summarize the recent investigations of the signaling pathways related to oxymatrine to provide clues and references for further studies on its clinical application. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Li Lu
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, 300162, China
| | - Xiao-Hui Xiang
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, 300162, China
| | - Shi-Hai Xia
- Department of Hepatopancreatobiliary and Splenic Medicine, Affiliated Hospital, Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin, 300162, China
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Abstract
Gallbladder carcinoma is the most common malignancy of the biliary tract and is associated with a very poor outcome. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of oxymatrine (OM) on gallbladder cancer cells and the possible mechanism of its effects. The effects of OM on the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cells (GBC-SD and SGC-996) were investigated using cell counting kit-8 and colony formation assays. Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining was performed to investigate whether OM could induce apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells. The mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and expression of apoptosis-associated proteins were evaluated to identify a mechanism for the effects of OM. In addition, the RNA expression of relevant genes was measured by qRT-PCR using the SYBR Green method. Finally, a subcutaneous implantation model was used to verify the effects of OM on tumor growth in vivo. We found that OM inhibited the proliferation of gallbladder cancer cells. In addition, Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining showed that OM induced apoptosis after 48 h and the ΔΨm decreased in a dose-dependent manner after OM treatment. Moreover, the activation of caspase-3 and Bax and downregulation of Bcl-2 and nuclear factor κB were observed in OM-treated cells. Finally, OM potently inhibited in-vivo tumor growth following subcutaneous inoculation of SGC-996 cells in nude mice. In conclusion, OM treatment reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in gallbladder cancer cells, which suggests that this drug may serve as a novel candidate for adjuvant treatment in patients with gallbladder cancer.
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Huang W, Li L, Tian X, Yan J, Yang X, Wang X, Liao G, Qiu G. Astragalus and Paeoniae Radix Rubra extract (APE) inhibits hepatic stellate cell activation by modulating transforming growth factor-β/Smad pathway. Mol Med Rep 2014; 11:2569-77. [PMID: 25435153 PMCID: PMC4337737 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2014.3026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2014] [Accepted: 11/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that Astragalus and Paeoniae Radix Rubra extract (APE) is capable of protecting against liver fibrosis in rats. The hypothesis of the present study was that APE exerts its anti‑fibrotic effect by mediating the transforming growth factor β (TGF‑β)/Smad signaling pathway. In order to investigate this hypothesis, a series of assays were designed to detect the effects of APE on cell proliferation, cell invasion and the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). In addition, the effects of APE on the TGF‑β/Smad signaling pathway were explored, with the aim of elucidating the underlying mechanisms. HSCs were initially isolated from normal rat liver. A number of assays were then employed in order to evaluate the effects of APE on the function of these cells. Cell proliferation was investigated using an MTT assay and cell invasion was observed with the use of transwell invasion chambers. Collagen synthesis was measured with a 3H‑proline incorporation assay and expression of α‑smooth muscle actin was used to determine the extent of HSC activation. Protein expression induced by TGF‑β1 in HSCs was investigated by western blot and immunofluorescence analyses. Plasminogen activator inhibitor type1 (PAI‑1) and urokinase‑type plasminogen activator (uPA) transcriptional activity was measured using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results demonstrated that APE (5‑80 µg/ml) significantly inhibited fetal bovine serum‑induced cell proliferation in a dose‑dependent manner. Cell invasion and activation of HSCs induced by TGF‑β1 were disrupted by treatment with APE in a dose‑dependent manner. TGF‑β1 was observed to increase the phosphorylation of Smad2/3, while APE administered at higher doses produced inhibitory effects on Smad2/3 phosphorylation. In addition, administration of APE abrogated the TGF‑β1‑induced reduction in Smad‑7 expression in a dose‑dependent manner. The results further indicated that APE treatment not only reduced PAI‑1 expression, but also increased uPA expression in a dose‑dependent manner. In conclusion, APE exerted inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, invasion and activation of HSCs, and the mechanisms underlying these effects may involve the TGF‑β1/Smad pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijuan Huang
- Department of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xiaopeng Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat‑sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Jinjin Yan
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xinzheng Yang
- Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Xinlong Wang
- Department of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Guozhen Liao
- Department of Scientific Research, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
| | - Genquan Qiu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, P.R. China
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Zheng XY, Yang YF, Li W, Zhao X, Sun Y, Sun H, Wang YH, Pu XP. Two xanthones from Swertia punicea with hepatoprotective activities in vitro and in vivo. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2014; 153:854-863. [PMID: 24690777 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2014.03.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2014] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Swertia punicea Hemsl. (Gentianaceae) is more commonly known as "Ganyan-cao" and used mainly as a traditional Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of acute bilious hepatitis, cholecystitis, fever, intoxification and jaundice. MATERIALS AND METHODS The active hepatoprotective constituents of Swertia punicea were purified using various column chromatography techniques. The structures of two isolated compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation such as NMR analysis. The hepatoprotective activities of isolated compounds were evaluated by using hepatotoxicity in vitro and dimethylnitrosamine-induced rat hepatic fibrosis in vivo, respectively. RESULTS Two xanthones, 1, 7-dihydroxy-3, 4, 8-trimethoxyxanthone (1) and bellidifolin (2) were isolated from the stems of Swertia punicea. The compounds 1 and 2 exhibited notable hepatoprotective activities against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced HepG2 cell damage, and effectively alleviated the levels of aspartate transaminase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malonic dialdehyde (MDA) induced by CCl₄ in a concentration-dependent manner. Co-treatment with compound 2 significantly increased the cell viability compared with N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP) treatment. Compound 2 also alleviated APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by increasing glutathione (GSH) content and decreasing hydroxyl free radical (·OH) levels and reactive oxygen specises (ROS) production. In addition, the protective effect of compound 1 significantly alleviated DMN-induced liver inflammation and fibrosis. Oral administration of compound 1 recovered the reduction of albumin (ALB) and reversed the elevation of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), AST and total bilirubin (TBIL) in dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced fibrotic rats. Severe oxidative stress induced in fibrotic rats was evidenced by a 1.5-fold elevation in MDA and a fall in the SOD activity, and treatment with compound 1 protected against these adverse effects. Recovery of rat liver tissue against DMN-induced hepatocellular necrosis, inflammatory changes and hepatic fibrosis by compound 1 is also confirmed by H&E and Masson stained histopathological evaluation of liver tissue. CONCLUSION Two xanthones from Swertia punicea exhibited hepatoprotective activities in vitro (compounds 1 and 2) and in vivo (compound 1), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi-Yuan Zheng
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, PR China
| | - Ying-Fan Yang
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, PR China
| | - Wan Li
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China; Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Xueyuan Road 38, PR China
| | - Xin Zhao
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Yi Sun
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China
| | - Hua Sun
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Xian Nong Tan Street 1, PR China
| | - Yue-Hua Wang
- Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Xian Nong Tan Street 1, PR China
| | - Xiao-Ping Pu
- National Key Research Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Peking University, Beijing 100191, PR China.
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Yang J, Hou Y, Ji G, Song Z, Liu Y, Dai G, Zhang Y, Chen J. Targeted delivery of the RGD-labeled biodegradable polymersomes loaded with the hydrophilic drug oxymatrine on cultured hepatic stellate cells and liver fibrosis in rats. Eur J Pharm Sci 2013; 52:180-90. [PMID: 24296297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2013.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2013] [Revised: 11/21/2013] [Accepted: 11/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Oxymatrine (OM) is an alkaloid extracted from a Chinese herb that has been found to possess an anti-hepatic fibrosis effect, although its anti-fibrotic potential is limited due to a lack of targeting specificity, a short half-life and adverse effects. Polymersomes (PM) assembled from amphiphilic block copolymers represent promising vesicles for applications that include drug delivery and surface functionalization. The aim of this study was to develop a novel drug carrier based on PM modified with the peptide RGD and evaluate its therapeutic effect on liver fibrosis. A series of PM based on poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (PEG-b-PCL) were prepared and characterized. OM was loaded into PM by a pH-gradient method then the OM-loaded PM was modified with RGD peptide to obtain RGD-PM-OM. The average drug loading of RGD-PM-OM, with a size of 95 nm, was 6.8%. The targeting effects of the system were determined in cultured hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and bile duct-ligated rats (BLD). RGD-PM-OM displayed better suppression of HSCs proliferation and significantly reduced the expression of the genes for α-SMA and collagen lα1 in cultured HSCs. Furthermore, RGD-PM-OM exhibited markedly superior anti-fibrosis activity by reducing the levels of PC-III and IV-C in serum and connective tissue deposition in BLD compared with PM-OM and OM. These results indicate that targeted RGD-PM-OM markedly attenuates the effects of hepatic fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhong Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Ave., Guangzhou 510515, PR China; Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Yanhui Hou
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Gangjian Ji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Ave., Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Zhihua Song
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Ave., Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Yanhua Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Guidong Dai
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Ningxia Medical University, No. 1160 Shengli South Street, Yinchuan 750004, PR China
| | - Yajun Zhang
- College of Life Sciences of Northwest University, No. 229 Taibai North Road, Xian 710069, PR China
| | - Jianhai Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, No. 1838 Guangzhou Ave., Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
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Effects of Ganfukang on expression of connective tissue growth factor and focal adhesion kinase/protein kinase B signal pathway in hepatic fibrosis rats. Chin J Integr Med 2013; 20:438-44. [PMID: 23990393 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-013-1597-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of Ganfukang (GFK) on connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/protein kinase B (PKB or Akt) signal pathway in a hepatic fibrosis rat model and to explore the underlying therapeutic molecular mechanisms of GFK. METHODS Fifty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups as follows: the control group, the model group (repeated subcutaneous injection of CCl4), and the three GFK treatment groups (31.25, 312.5, and 3125 mg/kg, intragastric administration). Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the expression of CTGF, integrin α5, integrin β1, FAK/Akt signal pathway, cyclinD1, and collagen in the different-treated rats. RESULTS GFK attenuated the up-regulation of CTGF, integrin α5, and integrin β1 in hepatic fibrosis rats and suppressed both the phosphorylation of FAK and the phosphorylation of Akt simultaneously (P<0.01). At the same time, the expression of cyclinD1, collagen I, and collagen III was decreased by GFK significantly (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS CTGF and FAK/Akt signal pathway were activated in the CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis rats, which contribute to increased expression of cyclinD1 and collagen genes. The mechanisms of the anti-fibrosis activity of GFK may be due to its effects against CTGF and FAk/Akt signal pathway.
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