Anti-fibrotic effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza and Ligustrazine Injection on LX-2 cells involved with increased N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 expression. Chin J Integr Med. 2017;23:923-928. [PMID: 27933510 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-016-2640-9]

Tetramethylpyrazine inhibits proliferation of colon cancer cells in vitro

BACKGROUND

Colon cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide, and chemotherapy is a widely used strategy in colon cancer clinical therapy. However, chemotherapy resistance is a major cause of disease recurrence and progression in colon cancer, and thus novel drugs for treatment are urgently needed. Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP), a component of the traditional Chinese medicine Chuanxiong Hort, has been proven to exhibit a beneficial effect in tumors.

AIM

To investigate the potential anticancer activity of TMP in colon cancer and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

Colon cancer cells were incubated with different concentrations of TMP. Cell viability was evaluated by crystal violet staining assay and cell counting kit-8 assay, and cell apoptosis and cell cycle were assessed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

TMP significantly inhibited the proliferation of colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometry revealed that TMP induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase. TMP treatment caused early stage apoptosis in SW480 cells, whereas it caused late stage apoptosis in HCT116 cells.

CONCLUSION

Our studies demonstrated that TMP inhibits the proliferation of colon cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner by inducing apoptosis and arresting the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase. Our findings suggest that TMP might serve as a potential novel therapeutic drug in the treatment of human colon cancer.

The Active Constituent From Gynostemma Pentaphyllum Prevents Liver Fibrosis Through Regulation of the TGF-β1/NDRG2/MAPK Axis

Liver fibrosis resulting from chronic liver damage constitutes a major health care burden worldwide; however, no antifibrogenic agents are currently available. Our previous study reported that the small molecule NPLC0393 extracted from the herb Gynostemma pentaphyllum exerts efficient antifibrotic effects both in vivo and in vitro. In this study, a TMT-based quantitative proteomic study using a carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced mouse model of liver fibrosis was performed to identify the potential target of NPLC0393. Combining this study with bioinformatic analysis of differentially expressed proteins between the CCl₄ model and NPLC0393 treatment groups, we focused on the function of N-myc downstream-regulated gene 2 (NDRG2) involved in cell differentiation. In vitro studies showed that NPLC0393 prevented the TGF-β1 stimulation-induced decrease in the NDRG2 level in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). Functional studies indicated that NDRG2 can inhibit the activation of HSCs by preventing the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. Furthermore, knockdown of NDRG2 abolished the ability of NPLC0393 to inhibit HSC activation. In conclusion, these results provide information on the mechanism underlying the antifibrotic effect of NPLC0393 and shed new light on the potential therapeutic function of the TGF-β1/NDRG2/MAPK signaling axis in liver fibrosis.

Effects of Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction on Cell Migration and Ocular Tumor Invasion inDrosophila

Xuefu Zhuyu Decoction (XFZYD), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) decoction mainly for treating blood stasis syndrome, has been widely investigated and applied in clinic and in laboratory. XFZYD contains 11 herbs and has been identified to promoting blood circulation to remove blood stasis for cardiovascular disease. Meanwhile, blood stasis is directly related to malignant tumor according to TCM basic theory. However, the effects of XFZYD on tumor metastasis and the underlying mechanisms are still largely unknown. Here, we employed well-establishedDrosophilacell migration and tumor invasion models to explore whether XFZYD has the anticancer activity on tumor metastasisin vivo. Our work has demonstrated that XFZYD could suppress cell migration and tumor invasion at the moderate concentrations. In addition, XFZYD altered the expression of MMP1,β-integrin, and E-cadherin to impede cell migration. Moreover, XFZYD inhibited ocular tumor invasion presumably by reducing the activity of Notch signaling. Together, these evidences reveal a positive role of XFZYD in suppressing cell migration and tumor metastasis, providing the potential drug targets and key clues for cancer clinical treatment strategies.

Microbial inoculant and garbage enzyme reduced cadmium (Cd) uptake in Salvia miltiorrhiza (Bge.) under Cd stress

The uptake and accumulation of cadmium (Cd) in Salvia miltiorrhiza (Bge.) negatively affects the quality of its harvested roots, and seriously threatens human health. This study investigates the effect of a microbial inoculant (MI) and garbage enzyme (GE) on Cd uptake, the accumulation of bioactive compounds, and the community composition of microbes in the rhizosphere soil of S. miltiorrhiza under Cd stress. S. miltiorrhiza seedlings were transplanted to Cd-contaminated pots and irrigated with an MI, GE, a combination of an MI and GE (MIGE) or water (control). The results indicated that treatments with an MI, GE or MIGE can reduce Cd uptake in S. miltiorrhiza. The MIGE treatment had greater efficiency in reducing Cd uptake than the control (reduction by 37.90%), followed by the GE (25.31%) and MI (5.84%) treatments. Treatments with an MI, GE and MIGE had no significant impact on fresh and dry root biomass. Relative to the control, the MI treatment had the highest efficiency in increasing the accumulation of total tanshinones (an increase of 40.45%), followed by the GE treatment (40.08%), with the MIGE treatment (9.90%) treatment not having a more favorable effect than the separate application of an MI or GE. The salvianolic acid content for all groups was higher than the standard prescribed by Chinese pharmacopoeia, notwithstanding a slightly lower level in the treated groups relative to the control. In addition, metagenomic analysis indicated changes in the relative abundance of soil microbes associated with the bioremediation of heavy metals. The relative abundances of Brevundimonas, Microbacterium, Cupriavidus and Aspergillus were significantly greater in the treated groups than in the Control. These results suggest that using MI and GE, either separately or together, may not only improve the quality of S. miltiorrhiza but may also facilitate the microbial remediation of soil contaminated with Cd.

Anti-tumor and chemosensitization effects of Cryptotanshinone extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. on ovarian cancer cells in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cryptotanshinone, a natural compound isolated from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge. (Danshen), is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine to treat high blood pressure in some countries. It has been shown that Cryptotanshinone induces cancer cells apoptosis and impairs cell migration and invasion. However, the antiproliferation and chemosensitization effects of Cryptotanshinone on ovarian cancer and the underlying mechanism are not fully elucidated.

AIM OF STUDY

In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory effect of Cryptotanshinone on ovarian cancer cells and explored the underlying molecular mechanism. Additionally, the chemosensitization potential of Cryptotanshinone was evaluated in combination with cisplatin.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

MTT assay was used for cell viability assessment of ovarian cancer A2780 cells treated with Cryptotanshinone and/ or cisplatin. Flow cytometry was used for apoptosis analysis. Wound healing and transwell assays were used for migratory and invasive potential assessment of Cryptotanshinone-treated ovarian cancer cells. Western blot was used to investigate proteins involved in the mechanisms for metastasis and apoptosis. γH2AX immunocytochemistry was used to detect DNA damage in A2780 cells exposed to Cryptotanshinone and/or cisplatin.

RESULTS

Cryptotanshinone significantly induced ovarian cancer A2780 cells apoptosis by activating caspase cascade. Additionally, wound healing and transwell assays revealed that Cryptotanshinone could suppress migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells and dramatically inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression. Furthermore, Cryptotanshinone could sensitize A2780 cells to cisplatin treatment in a dose-dependent manner.

CONCLUSION

Our data confirmed the anti-tumor effect of Cryptotanshinone on ovarian cancer cells and provided new findings that Cryptotanshinone could sensitize ovarian cancer cells to chemotherapy.