Influence of Nutritional Status on the Absorption of Polyphyllin I, an Anticancer Candidate from Paris polyphylla in Rats

Development, characterisation, and in vitro anti-tumor effect of self-microemulsifying drug delivery system containing polyphyllin I

Polyphyllin I (PPI), an effective active ingredient in Paris polyphylla, has a diverse set of pharmacological properties. However, due to its poor solubility and oral absorption, its application and development are limited. In the study, we were committed to improving the solubility of PPI by developing a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system of PPI (PPI-SMEDDS), screening the best preparation process, and evaluating the quality and the in vivo pharmacokinetics of PPI, and PPI-SMEDDS following oral administration to rats were also studied. In addition, the pharmacological activities against human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 in vitro were assessed. The best formulation had 15.89% ethyl oleate, 47.38% Cremophor RH40, and 36.73% 1,2 propylene glycol. The produced PPI-SMEDDS was clear and transparent, with an average particle size of 24.51 nm and a zeta potential of -17.54 ± 0.51 mV. In vitro, the cumulative release rate of PPI-SMEDDS was nearly 80% within 2 h. PPI-SMEDDS had a substantially greater area under the curve than PPI following oral treatment in rats, and the relative bioavailability of PPI in rats was 278.99%. More importantly, the anti-tumor effect of PPI-SMEDDS in vitro was significantly greater than that of PPI. These findings suggested that PPI-SMEDDS has the potential to improve the solubility, oral bioavailability of PPI, and anti-tumor effect, laying the groundwork for future research on the new PPI dosage form.

Tissue distribution, metabolism and absorption of Rhizoma Paridis Saponins in the rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Paris polyphylla var yunnanensis as a traditional Chinese medicine has been used in the treatment of liver disease for thousands of years. Rhizoma Paridis saponins (RPS) were the main active ingredients in Paris polyphylla with an excellent antitumor effect. However, metabolic and distribution of RPS has not been known.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study was to research metabolic and distribution of RPS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the separation and simultaneous determination of RPS in rat plasma and tissues were developed and validated by LC-MS/MS. The permeability and recovery of RPS were tested by Caco-2. S9 assay suggested the metabolic mode of RPS in rats.

RESULTS

After oral administration of RPS, the metabolic compound like diosgenin was detected in different tissues although there was none in RPS. The concentration of PI, PII, PVI, PVII, PH and gracillin in the spleen was the highest among these organs. The content of diosgenin were the highest in lung and brain. Caco-2 test indicated that PI, PII, PVI and PVII were low permeability and low recovery. Efflux ratio indicated that PVI should be a potential P-gp substrate. Potential P-gp substrate may be PVI. S9 assay suggested that RPS possess slow metabolic and moderate metabolic compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

Integrated LC-MS/MS analysis of serum samples, together with Caco-2 and S9 assays provided a theoretical basis for the application of RPS in the future.

Pharmacokinetics profiles of polyphyllin II and polyphyllin VII in rats by liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry

Polyphyllin II (PII) and polyphyllin VII (PVII) are the main active ingredients in Paris Polyphylla with an excellent antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. In this study, a rapid and precise LC-MS/MS method was developed and validated for the separation and simultaneous determination of PII and PVII in rat plasma, tissues, feces and urine using ginsenoside Rg3 as the internal standard. Positive linearity ranged from 1 to 1,000 ng/ml in samples. At the same time, intra- and inter-day precisions were in range of 1.8-12.0%. The accuracy ranged from 95.9 to 100.8%. Mean extraction recoveries of PII and PVII ranged from 86.6 to 96.4%. The analytical method has been successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic studies of PII and PVII in rats after their i.v. administration. After entering systemic circulation, PII and PVII were rapidly distributed in organs, mainly including liver, lung and spleen. Their elimination rate was slow. All of these data provided a theoretical basis for the application of PII and PVII in the treatment of liver- and lung-related diseases.

The dual roles of ginsenosides in improving the anti-tumor efficiency of cyclophosphamide in mammary carcinoma mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Cyclophosphamide (CTX) is a first line chemotherapeutic agent, but often limited for its unstable therapeutic effect and serious side effects. Ginsenosides could facilitate the anti-tumor efficiency of CTX, including benefiting therapeutic effect and decreasing side effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the potential mechanism of ginsenosides on benefiting the anti-tumor efficiency of CTX.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mammary carcinoma mice were applied to investigate the anti-tumor efficiency and potential mechanism of combinational treatment of ginsenosides and CTX. Therapeutic effect was evaluated based on survival rate, tumor burden, tumor growth inhibition rate, and apoptosis and histological changes of tumor tissues. Anti-tumor immunity was studied by measuring serum level of anti-tumor cytokines. Gut mucositis, one of lethal side effects of CTX, was evaluated by diarrhea degree, gut permeability and tight junction proteins expressions. Gut microbial diversity was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and fecal transplant and antibiotics sterilized animals were performed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of gut microbiota on tumor suppression.

RESULTS

Ginsenosides facilitated the therapeutic effect of CTX in mice, which manifested as prolonged survival rate, decreased tumor burden, as well as enhanced tumor growth inhibition rate and apoptosis. The favoring effect was related to elevation of anti-tumor immunity which manifested as the increased anti-tumor cytokines (INF-γ, IL-17, IL-2 and IL-6). Further studies indicated the elevation was ascribed to ginsenosides promoted reproduction of gut probiotics including Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus. Moreover, co-administration of ginsenosides in mice alleviated CTX-induced gut mucositis, including lower gut permeability, less diarrhea, less epithelium damage and higher tight junction proteins. Further researches suggested the alleviation was related to ginsenosides activated Nrf2 and inhibited NFκB pathways.

CONCLUSION

Ginsenosides show dual roles to facilitate the anti-tumor efficiency of CTX, namely promote the anti-tumor immunity through maintaining gut microflora and ameliorate gut mucositis by modulating Nrf2 and NFκB pathways.

Isatidis Folium alleviates acetaminophen-induced liver injury in mice by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system

Isatidis Folium (IF) has been clinically combined with acetaminophen (APAP), but the rationality of combinational therapy is still ambiguous. In the present study, the protective effect and related mechanism of IF on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity were evaluated. Hepatic histopathology and blood biochemistry investigations clearly demonstrated that IF could restore APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. Liver distribution study indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of IF on APAP is attributed to the reduction of N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI) in liver, which is a known hepatotoxic metabolite of APAP. Further study suggested the reduction is not via decreasing the generation of NAPQI through inhibiting the enzyme activities of CYP 1A2, 2E1, and 3A4 but via accelerating the transformation of NAPQI to NAPQI-GSH by promoting GSH and decreasing GSSG contents in liver. Furthermore, IF significantly enhanced the hepatic activities of GSH-associated enzymes in APAP-treated mice. In summary, IF could alleviate APAP-induced hepatotoxicity by reducing the content of NAPQI via enhancing the level of GSH and the followed generation of NAPQI-GSH which might be ascribed to the upregulation of GSH-associated enzymes.

Effect of sulfur-fumigation process on ginseng: Metabolism and absorption evidences

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sulfur-fumigation has been developed to prevent insects and molds during post-harvest handling of Panax ginseng C.A. Mey (ginseng) in the near decades. Our previous study indicated sulfur-fumigation could transform ginsenosides, the active components of ginseng, into sulfur-containing derivatives (SFCDs), the artifacts with unknown toxicity. However, whether the biotransformation could be occurred and absorption characteristics between ginsenosides and SFCDs are still needed to further investigate.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effect of sulfur-fumigation process on ginseng through comparing the metabolic profile and absorption characteristics between ginsenoside Rg1, Re and their SFCDs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Intestinal microflora and liver S9 fraction were utilized to compare the metabolic profile, and single-pass intestinal perfusion and Caco-2 cell models were applied to compare the absorption characteristics, between Rg1, Re and their SFCDs.

RESULTS

Rg1 and Re were metabolized to 7 none sulfur-containing metabolites, while their SFCDs were metabolized to 18 sulfur-containing metabolites. The intestinal absorption and transport of Rg1 and Re were much greater than their SFCDs. Besides, the uptakes of Rg1 and Re were transport-dependent, but their SFCDs were non-transport-dependent.

CONCLUSION

Ginsenosides and their SFCDs could not be bio-transformed with each other and their absorption characteristics were quite different, which suggested that sulfur-fumigation is not a feasible post-harvest process of ginseng.

Polyphyllin I induces apoptosis and autophagy via modulating JNK and mTOR pathways in human acute myeloid leukemia cells

Polyphyllin I (PPI), a bioactive component extracted from Paris polyphylla, was reported to have potent anticancer activities in previous studies. However, there were few reports on the effects and underlying mechanism of PPI in human acute myeloid leukemia cells. The present study demonstrated that PPI had an inhibitory effect through inducing apoptosis and autophagy in THP-1 and NB4 cells. PPI induced apoptosis via activating JNK pathway, as evidenced by the decreased Bcl-2 levels and increased Bax, cleaved-caspase-3 and phosphorylated-JNK expressions. In addition, PPI promoted autophagy as evidenced with increased expressions of LC3-II and Beclin-1 in western blot and autophagic vacuoles in MDC staining, which was associated with the inhibition of AKT-mTOR pathway. Furthermore, JNK inhibitor SP600125 and autophagy inhibitor 3-MA were employed to evaluate the role of apoptosis and autophagy in PPI-induced cell death. We found that autophagy and apoptosis were both causes of cell death induced by PPI. These data suggested that PPI could be a potent therapeutic agent for the treatment of human acute myeloid leukemia.