Water-soluble extract of Saxifraga stolonifera has anti-tumor effects on Lewis lung carcinoma-bearing mice

Evaluation of Saxifraga stolonifera phenolic extracts as a potential antivenom against Deinagkistrodon acutus venom: In vitro and in vivo studies

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In the snake-infested mountainous regions of China, Saxifraga stolonifera [L.] Meeb is widely utilized as an immediate remedy for venomous snake bites. However, the scientific understanding of S. stolonifera's efficacy in snakebite treatment remains limited and requires further investigation.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to assess the inhibitory effects of Saxifraga stolonifera phenolic extracts (SSPE) on Deinagkistrodon acutus venom (DAV) and explore the potential of S. stolonifera as a valuable candidate for antivenom development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We employed our previously optimized extraction conditions to obtain SSPE. In vitro experiments utilizing diverse models were conducted to assess the inhibitory effects of the extracted phenolic compounds on DAV, specifically targeting phospholipase A2 (PLA2), proteolytic, fibrinolytic, and hyaluronidase enzymes. Furthermore, in vivo investigations were conducted to evaluate the inhibitory potential of the extracted compounds against DAV-induced hemorrhagic and edematogenic activity. To elucidate the chemical composition of the phenolic extracts, Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Our in vitro inhibition study showed that S. stolonifera was able to inhibit the activities of PLA2 enzyme, proteolytic enzyme, hyaluronidase and fibrinogenolytic. The median effective dose (ED50) values of SSPE for inhibiting PLA2 enzyme, proteolytic enzyme and hyaluronidase activities were 0.115 mg/mL, 0.026 mg/mL and 0.238 mg/mL, respectively. The DAV-induced hemorrhagic and edematogenic effects of the SSPE were also successfully inhibited in vivo, and the high SSPE concentration was able to completely inhibit the hemorrhage and edema. It is noteworthy that the mice suffered no harm from the high SSPE concentration. The composition analysis showed that the phenolic substances contained in SSPE are gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, rutin, kaempferol-3-O-ɑ-L-rhamnoside, kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, quercetin and kaempferol.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides scientific validation of the inhibitory efficacy of S. stolonifera as an emergency treatment for venomous snake bites, offering a theoretical foundation for future drug development strategies targeting snakebite.

Chemistry and Pharmacology of Bergenin or Its Derivatives: A Promising Molecule

Bergenin is a glycosidic derivative of trihydroxybenzoic acid that was discovered in 1880 by Garreau and Machelart from the rhizomes of the medicinal plant Bergenia crassifolia (currently: Saxifraga crassifolia—Saxifragaceae), though was later isolated from several other plant sources. Since its first report, it has aroused interest because it has several pharmacological activities, mainly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. In addition to this, bergenin has shown potential antimalarial, antileishmanial, trypanocidal, antiviral, antibacterial, antifungal, antinociceptive, antiarthritic, antiulcerogenic, antidiabetic/antiobesity, antiarrhythmic, anticancer, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and cardioprotective activities. Thus, this review aimed to describe the sources of isolation of bergenin and its in vitro and in vivo biological and pharmacological activities. Bergenin is distributed in many plant species (at least 112 species belonging to 34 families). Both its derivatives (natural and semisynthetic) and extracts with phytochemical proof of its highest concentration are well studied, and none of the studies showed cytotoxicity for healthy cells.

Targeted isolation of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from Saxifraga atrata and their antioxidant activities

Saxifraga atrata is an important traditional Tibetan medicine used to treat cough and pneumonia, and has tremendous medicinal potential. In this study, we devised a technique to separate 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors from a methanol extract of Saxifraga atrata. The material was first processed using MCI GEL® CHP20P medium-pressure liquid chromatography, yielding 1.1 g of the target fraction Fr2. Subsequently, online hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay was used to identify prospective 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors, and two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitor fractions (Fr24 and Fr25) were identified from Fr2. Then, medium-pressure preparation was continued using an XIon column to separate two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitor fractions (Fr24 and Fr25). The target compound was concentrated in fractions Fr24 and Fr25 using reverse-phase liquid chromatography during further separation procedures. Finally, the purity, structure, and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitory activity of the isolated 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors were determined. Two 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl inhibitors (adenosine with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 66.87 ± 14.33 μM and (-)-4-O-(E)-Caffeoyl-L-threonic acid with the half maximal inhibitory concentration of 59.06 ± 5.02 μM) were isolated with purities exceeding 95%. The results showed that this technology is effective in the targeted separation of antioxidants from natural products. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Role of SOX Protein Groups F and H in Lung Cancer Progression

Simple Summary

The expression of SOX proteins has been demonstrated in many tissues at various stages of embryogenesis, where they play the role of transcription factors. The SOX18 protein (along with SOX7 and SOX17) belongs to the SOXF group and is mainly involved in the development of the cardiovascular system, where its expression was found in the endothelium. SOX18 expression was also demonstrated in neoplastic lines of gastric, pancreatic and colon adenocarcinomas. The prognostic role of SOX30 expression has only been studied in lung adenocarcinomas, where a low expression of this factor in the stromal tumor was associated with a worse prognosis for patients. Because of the complexity of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) development, the role of the SOX proteins in this malignancy is still not fully understood. Many recently published papers show that SOX family protein members play a crucial role in the progression of NSCLC.

Abstract

The SOX family proteins are proved to play a crucial role in the development of the lymphatic ducts and the cardiovascular system. Moreover, an increased expression level of the SOX18 protein has been found in many malignances, such as melanoma, stomach, pancreatic breast and lung cancers. Another SOX family protein, the SOX30 transcription factor, is responsible for the development of male germ cells. Additionally, recent studies have shown its proapoptotic character in non-small cell lung cancer cells. Our preliminary studies showed a disparity in the amount of mRNA of the SOX18 gene relative to the amount of protein. This is why our attention has been focused on microRNA (miRNA) molecules, which could regulate the SOX18 gene transcript level. Recent data point to the fact that, in practically all types of cancer, hundreds of genes exhibit an abnormal methylation, covering around 5–10% of the thousands of CpG islands present in the promoter sequences, which in normal cells should not be methylated from the moment the embryo finishes its development. It has been demonstrated that in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases there is a large heterogeneity of the methylation process. The role of the SOX18 and SOX30 expression in non-small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) is not yet fully understood. However, if we take into account previous reports, these proteins may be important factors in the development and progression of these malignancies.

SOX30 specially prevents Wnt-signaling to suppress metastasis and improve prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients

BACKGROUND

Different histological subtypes of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) show different molecular characteristics and responses to therapeutic strategy. Identification of specific gene, clarification of its special roles and molecular mechanisms are crucial for developing new therapeutic approach for particular subtype patients.

METHODS

Surgical specimens of 540 NSCLC patients were recruited. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect SOX30 expression, and correlations with clinical parameters were analyzed. Functional experiments and gene ontology analysis were performed to investigate roles of SOX30. Network analysis, TOP/FOP-Flash assays, luciferase reporter assays and ChIP-PCR assays were performed to determine the mechanism. Survival analyses were calculated by Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression. Recovery experiment was investigated the importance of the target of SOX30.

RESULTS

SOX30 expression is closely associated with histological types of NSCLC, and metastasis of adenocarcinoma (ADC) patients but not of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients. SOX30 strongly inhibits cancer cell migration and invasion in ADC cell lines, whrereas not affects cell migration and invasion in SCC cell lines. The genes associated with SOX30 preferentially enrich in metastasis process and Wnt-signaling in only ADC patients. Consistently, SOX30 is negatively associated with the expression of Wnt-signaling and metastasis-related gene CTNNB1 (β-catenin) in ADC, but not in SCC. At the molecular level, SOX30 represses Wnt-signaling by directly transcriptional inhibition of CTNNB1 in ADC, and also not in SCC. In the clinical, SOX30 is a favorable and independent prognostic factor in ADC patients, whereas is an unfavorable and independent prognostic factor in SCC patients. Moreover, SOX30 expression is a double face early-stage prognostic biomarker in ADC and SCC patients. In addition, forcible restoration of CTNNB1 indeed can inhibit the anti-metastatic role of SOX30 in ADC patients.

CONCLUSIONS

In early-stage ADC patients, elevated SOX30 expression inhibits tumor-metastasis by directly binding to CTNNB1 promoter resulting in a favorable prognosis of these patients. However, in early-stage SCC patients, SOX30 has no inhibitory role on tumor-metastasis due to not binding to CTNNB1 promoter leading to an unfavorable prognosis of the patients. This study highlights a special role and prognostic value of SOX30 in ADC, providing a novel therapeutic target for particular subtype NSCLC patients.

A novel mechanism of tumor-induced thymic atrophy in mice bearing H22 hepatocellular carcinoma

Background

Thymic atrophy was discovered in tumor-bearing mice in recent years.

Methods

Flow cytometry was carried out including Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining, PI staining, Terminal dUTP nick-end labeling, CD3-FITC/CD19-PE and CD8-FITC/CD4-PE double staining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction were also investigated.

Results

According to our experiments, we demonstrated that no signs of apoptosis in thymocytes were found in H22-bearing mice, while the proportions of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells in thymuses were remarkably increased, the opposite tendency was found in peripheral bloods, and only CD3⁺CD8⁺ T cells were discovered in H22 solid tumors. We further discovered that the level of thymosin alpha 1 (Tα1) and the expression of Wnt4 in thymus of H22-bearing mice were significantly improved than control, which indicated the active proliferation and differentiation of thymocytes. Our study revealed that CD8⁺ T cells could not effectively eliminate H22 cells independently when CD4⁺ T cells were suppressed by tumors, while the body would only enhance the differentiation and maturation of T cells in thymuses and release them to solid tumor to reinforce antitumor immunocompetence, leading to a vicious cycle which finally led to thymic atrophy.

Conclusion

Our data propose a novel mechanism of tumor-induced thymic atrophy regulated by abnormal immunoreaction and may provide new ideas for the immunotherapy of tumors.

Flavonoid and Galloyl Glycosides Isolated from Saxifraga spinulosa and Their Antioxidative and Inhibitory Activities against Species That Cause Piroplasmosis

Eight new flavonoid-based 3'-O-β-d-glucopyranosides (1-8) and three new galloyl glucosides (9, 11, 12), were isolated from the aerial parts of Saxifraga spinulosa, along with 25 known compounds. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. Most of the isolated compounds exhibited potent DPPH radical-scavenging activities. Further, their inhibitory activities were evaluated against Babesia bovis, Babesia bigemina, Babesia caballi, and Theileria equi, protozoan parasites that cause piroplasmosis in livestock. The results indicated that several of these compounds showed growth-inhibitory effects on such organisms that cause piroplasmosis.