Extraction of polysaccharides from herbal Scutellaria barbata D. Don (Ban-Zhi-Lian) and their antioxidant activity

Extraction of Pithecellobium clypearia Benth polysaccharides by dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted extraction: Structural characterization, antioxidant, hypoglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic activities

In this research, the extraction process of polysaccharides from Pithecellobium clypearia Benth (PCBPs) was optimized using dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted extraction (DUAE). The biological activities of PCBPs were investigated by in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic assay. High-performance anion-exchange chromatography, high-performance gel permeation chromatography, SEM, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and FT-IR spectra were used to analyze the monosaccharide composition, molecular weight, microscopic morphology, and characteristic structure of PCBPs. The results showed that the maximum extraction rate of PCBPs was 9.90 ± 0.16% when the ultrasonic time was 8 min, the liquid-to-material ratio was 32 mL/g, and the ultrasonic power was 510 W. The PCBPs also possessed excellent in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. In addition, the average molecular weight of PCBPs was 15.07 kDa. PCBPs consisted of rhamnose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, xylose, mannose, and glucuronic acid, with the molar ratios of 11.07%, 18.54%, 48.17%, 10.44%, 4.62%, 4.96%, and 2.20%, respectively. Moreover, the results of SEM showed that PCBPs mainly showed a fine spherical mesh structure. The above studies provided a valuable theoretical basis for the subsequent in-depth study of PCBPs.

Can Chinese herbal medicine offer feasible solutions for newly diagnosed esophageal cancer patients with malnutrition? a multi-institutional real-world study

Background

Esophageal cancer (EC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan and globally. Patients with EC are highly prone to malnutrition, which adversely affects their prognosis. While Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is commonly used alongside conventional anti-cancer treatments, its long-term impact on EC patients with malnutrition remains unclear.

Methods

This study utilized a multi-center cohort from the Chang Gung Research Database, focusing on the long-term outcomes of CHM in EC patients with malnutrition between 1 January 2001, and 31 December 2018. Patients were monitored for up to 5 years or until death. Overall survival (OS) rates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Overlap weighting and landmark analysis were employed to address confounding and immortal time biases. Additionally, the study analyzed prescription data using a CHM network to identify key CHMs for EC with malnutrition, and potential molecular pathways were investigated using the Reactome database.

Results

EC patients with malnutrition who used CHM had a higher 5-year OS compared with nonusers (22.5% vs. 9% without overlap weighting; 24.3% vs. 13.3% with overlap weighting; log-rank test: p = 0.006 and 0.016, respectively). The median OS of CHM users was significantly longer than that of nonusers (19.8 vs. 12.9 months, respectively). Hazard ratio (HR) analysis showed a 31% reduction in all-cause mortality risk for CHM users compared with nonusers (HR: 0.69, 95% confidence interval: 0.50-0.94, p = 0.019). We also examined 665 prescriptions involving 306 CHM, with Hedyotis diffusa Willd. exhibiting the highest frequency of use. A CHM network was created to determine the primary CHMs and their combinations. The identified CHMs were associated with the regulation of immune and metabolic pathways, particularly in areas related to immune modulation, anti-cancer cachexia, promotion of digestion, and anti-tumor activity.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest a correlation between CHM use and improved clinical outcomes in EC patients with malnutrition. The analysis identified core CHMs and combinations of formulations that play a crucial role in immunomodulation and metabolic regulation. These findings lay the groundwork for more extensive research on the use of CHM for the management of malnutrition in patients with EC.

Salvigenin Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma Glycolysis and Chemoresistance Through Inactivating the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β Pathway

Salvigenin is a Trimethoxylated Flavone enriched in Scutellariae Barbatae Herba and Scutellariae Radix and is demonstrated to have anti-tumor properties in colon cancer. Notwithstanding, the function and mechanism of Salvigenin in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are less well studied. Different doses of Salvigenin were taken to treat HCC cells. Cell viability, colony formation ability, cell migration, invasion, apoptosis, glucose uptake, and lactate production levels were detected. As shown by the data, Salvigenin concentration dependently dampened HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, weakened glycolysis by abating glucose uptake and lactate generation, and suppressed the profiles of glycolytic enzymes. Moreover, Salvigenin strengthened HCC cells' sensitivity to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and attenuated HCC 5-FU-resistant cells' resistance to 5-FU. Through network pharmacological analysis, we found Salvigenin potentially regulates PI3K/AKT pathway. As shown by the data, Salvigenin repressed the phosphorylated levels of PI3K, AKT, and GSK-3β. The PI3K activator 740Y-P induced PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway activation and promotive effects in HCC cells. However, Salvigenin substantially weakened 740Y-P-mediated effects. In-vivo assay revealed that Salvigenin hampered the growth and promoted apoptosis of HCC cells in nude mice. Collectively, Salvigenin impedes the aerobic glycolysis and 5-FU chemoresistance of HCC cells by dampening the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway.

Slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping of Lycium barbarum fresh fruit to improve the dissolution of polysaccharides and in situ real-time monitoring

In this study, the slit dual-frequency ultrasound-assisted pulping of fresh Lycium barbarum fruit was optimized to improve the dissolution of polysaccharides. The microscopic mechanism of polysaccharide dissolution was explored through establishing polysaccharides dissolution kinetics model and visualizing the multi-physical fields during ultrasonic process, and an in situ real-time monitoring model was established by the relationship between the chemical value and spectral information collected by near-infrared spectroscopy. The results showed that, under optimal conditions, treatment with ultrasound (28-33 kHz, 250 W, 30 min) not only significantly promoted the dissolution rate of polysaccharides in Lycium barbarum pulp (LBPPs, increased by 43.64 %, p < 0.01), reduced its molecular weight, but also improved the arabinose molar ratio, the uniformity of polysaccharide particles, and the antioxidant activity of LBPPs. Correlation analysis indicated that ultrasonic treatment is closely related to LBPPs content, particle size and scavenging capacity against superoxide anion radicals (ptotal sugar content < 0.01, pparticle size < 0.05 and psuperoxide anion scavenging < 0.05). Moreover, the in situ real-time monitoring model for the pulping process could quantitatively predict LBPPs dissolution rate and its superoxide anion radical scavenging capacity with good calibration and prediction performance (Rc = 0.9841, RMSECV = 0.0873, Rp = 0.9772, RMSEP = 0.0530; Rc = 0.9874, RMSECV = 0.1246, Rp = 0.9868, RMSEP = 0.0665). These results indicated that slit dual-frequency ultrasound has great potential in improving the quality of Lycium barbarum pulp, which may provide theoretical support for the industrial development of intelligent systems for polysaccharides preparation.

Protective effects of pumpkin polysaccharide hydrolysates on oxidative stress injury and its potential mechanism - Antioxidant mechanism of pumpkin polysaccharide hydrolysates

Pumpkin polysaccharides (PPe) exhibit multiple bioactive properties, including the ability to reduce blood sugar and lipids. Our prior investigation discovered that hydrolysates (PPe-s) derived from PPe demonstrated stronger antioxidant capabilities than PPe. The objective of the current study was to explore the potential mechanism of PPe-s, utilizing Caenorhabditis elegans and MIN6 cells as models. The results of this investigation revealed that PPe-s exhibited strong scavenging ability towards ABTS⁺ and OH·in vitro. Additionally, PPe-s extended the lifespan of C. elegans under hydrogen peroxide stress (p < 0.05) by upregulating the mRNA expression of daf-16, sod-1, sod-3, and skn-1 (all >1.43-fold, p < 0.05). Furthermore, PPe-s enhanced the proliferation activity of MIN6 cells, induced by alloxan, increased insulin secretion and cAMP levels, and excreted intracellular excessive Ca²⁺ in a concentration-dependent manner. Our study demonstrated that PPe-s upregulated the expression levels of antioxidative-related genes and augmented the antioxidant defense system.

Isolation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity of Melanin from Auricularia auricula (Agaricomycetes)

The cell wall of Auricularia auricula fruit bodies is extremely tough, making it difficult to dissolve the melanin using the traditional preparation method. To investigate the efficient preparation of melanin and its resistance to oxidative stress, this paper first used ultrasound-assisted alkaline cellulase to optimize the optimal wall-breaking parameters through a Box-Behnken design based on a single-factor experiment. After optimization, the yield of melanin from A. auricula reached 3.201 ± 0.018%. Then, different types and different proportions of deep eutectic solvents (DES) were used for further extraction. When choline chloride and urea were selected and the ratio was 1:2, the melanin yield was up to 25.99% ± 2.36%. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed that the melanin was amorphous mass with no crystal structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that the melanin was mainly composed of C (5.38%), O (15.69%) and N (30.29%), as was the typical composition of eumelanin. The melanin had a concentration-dependent relationship with both ABTS+ and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability; at the concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, it significantly prolonged Caenorhabditis elegans survival under hydrogen peroxide and methyl viologen stress and increased the glutathione level and enzyme (total superoxide dismutase and catalase) activities in vivo compared with the negative control (P < 0.05), indicating that the melanin enhances oxidative stress resistance in C. elegans.

The association between mortality and use of Chinese herbal medicine among incident stage IV esophageal cancer patients: A retrospective cohort study with core herbs exploration

Esophageal cancer (EC) remains a leading cause of death worldwide and in Taiwan. The prognosis of advanced-stage EC is notably poor, and the treatment options are limited. Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has been widely used as a complementary treatment for cancer, yet the long-term effect of CHM in stage IV EC remains unclear.

The multi-institutional cohort obtained from the Chang Gung research database (CGRD) was used to study the long-term outcome of CHM use among incident stage IV EC patients from 1 January 2002, to 31 December 2018. All patients were followed up to 5 years or the occurrence of death. The overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival rates were conducted using Kaplan-Meier estimation. Overlap weighing and landmark analysis were used to eliminate confounding and immortal time biases. Furthermore, we demonstrated the core CHMs for stage IV EC by using the Chinese herbal medicine network (CMN) analysis on prescriptions.

Nine hundred eighty-five stage IV EC patients were analyzed, including 74 CHM users and 911 non-CHM users. We found the use of CHM was associated with a higher 5-year overall survival rate than CHM nonusers (the cumulative probability: 19.52% versus 6.04%, log-rank test: p < 0.001, and the p < 0.001 with overlap weighting). In addition, the overall median survival time was about 7 months longer among CHM users. Moreover, the lower 1-, 3-, 5-year disease-specific survival rates were higher among CHM users. Additionally, the risk of all-cause mortality was lower among CHM users when considering accessible demographic covariates (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.59, 95%CI: 0.39, 0.89, p = 0.011). Furthermore, the CMN analysis revealed that CHMs improved health while relieving tumor burden. For example, Hedyotis diffusa Willd. was the core CHM with an anti-cancer effect, while Fritillaria thunbergii Miq and Sevilla maindronide Rochebrune were used together to relieve cancer-related gastrointestinal discomfort.

The use of CHM seems safe and possibly beneficial among stage IV EC patients with a higher 5-year OS. Further clinical trials on CHM were guaranteed to explore the role of CHM in managing stage IV EC patients.

Extraction Optimization, Structural Characterization, and Anti-Hepatoma Activity of Acidic Polysaccharides From Scutellaria barbata D. Don

The Chinese medicinal herb Scutellaria barbata D. Don has antitumour effects and is used to treat liver cancer in the clinic. S. barbata polysaccharide (SBP), one of the main active components extracted from S. barbata D. Don, exhibits antitumour activity. However, there is still a lack of research on the extraction optimization, structural characterization, and anti-hepatoma activity of acidic polysaccharides from S. barbata D. Don. In this study, the optimal extraction conditions for SBP were determined by response surface methodology (RSM): the material-liquid ratio was 1:25, the extraction time was 2 h, and the extraction temperature was 90°C. Under these conditions, the average extraction efficiency was 3.85 ± 0.13%. Two water-soluble polysaccharides were isolated from S. barbata D. Don, namely, SBP-1A and SBP-2A, these homogeneous acidic polysaccharide components with average molecular weights of 1.15 × 10⁵ Da and 1.4 × 10⁵ Da, respectively, were obtained at high purity. The results showed that the monosaccharide constituents of the two components were fucose, galactosamine hydrochloride, rhamnose, arabinose, glucosamine hydrochloride, galactose, glucose, xylose, and mannose; the molar ratio of these constituents in SBP-1A was 0.6:0.3:0.6:30.6:3.3:38.4:16.1:8:1.4, and that in SBP-2A was 0.6:0.5:0.8:36.3:4.4:42.7:9.2:3.6:0.7. In addition, SBP-1A and SBP-2A contained uronic acid and β-glucan, and the residue on the polysaccharide was mainly pyranose. The in vitro results showed that the anti-hepatoma activity of SBP-2A was better than that of SBP-1A and SBP. In addition, SBP-2A significantly enhanced HepG2 cell death, as cell viability was decreased, and SBP-2A induced HepG2 cell apoptosis and blocked the G1 phase. This phenomenon was coupled with the upregulated expression of P53 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, as well as the downregulated expression of the cell cycle-regulating protein cyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2 in this study. Further analysis showed that 50 mg/kg SBP-2A inhibited the tumour growth in H22 tumour-bearing mice, with an average inhibition rate of 40.33%. Taken together, SBP-2A, isolated and purified from S. barbata showed good antitumour activity in vivo and in vitro, and SBP-2A may be a candidate drug for further evaluation in cancer prevention. This study provides insight for further research on the molecular mechanism of the anti-hepatoma activity of S. barbata polysaccharide.

Polysaccharide from Scutellaria barbata D. Don attenuates inflammatory response and microbial dysbiosis in ulcerative colitis mice

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of polysaccharides from Scutellaria barbata D. Don (PSB) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in C57BL/6 mice. PSB was isolated, and its chemical composition was preliminarily identified. The average molecular weight of PSB was 1.25 × 10⁴ Da and it was mainly comprised of arabinose, galacturonic acid, galactose, glucose, and glucuronic acid in molar ratios of 1.00:2.09:4.52:4.73:4.90. PSB (25 and 50 mg/kg) and sulfasalazine (200 mg/kg) significantly relieved weight loss and symptoms and alleviated colonic pathological injury in mice with UC. In addition, PSB decreased the levels of inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-18 in the colon and suppressed DSS-induced activation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathways. The improvement in the abundance of several bacterial genera, such as the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Ruminococcus, Bacteroides, Parasutterella, and Eisenbergiella might be closely related to the reduction in the intestinal inflammatory response after PSB treatment. These results revealed that PSB could potentially be utilized to treat UC and other diseases associated with an imbalance in the intestinal flora.

Characterization of the chemical constituents and in vivo metabolic profile of Scutellaria barbata D. Don by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry

Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata) is one of the most frequently used anticancer herb medicine in China. Mechanistic understanding of the biological activities of S. barbata is hindered by limited knowledge regarding its components and metabolic profile. In this study, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry,) was used to identify the chemical constituents in S. barbata and their metabolic profiles in rats. By applying cleavage rules and comparison with reference substances, 89 components were identified, which included 45 flavonoids, 28 diterpenoids, 10 phenolics, and 6 others. A total of 110 compounds, including 32 prototype compounds and 78 metabolites, were identified or tentatively characterized in vivo. Methylation, sulfonation, and glucuronidation were the main metabolic pathways, which could be attributed to the fact that several of the compounds in S. barbata have phenolic hydroxyl groups. This is the first systematic study on the chemical constituents and in vivo metabolic profile of S. barbata. The analytical method features a quick and comprehensive dissection of the chemical composition and metabolic profile of S. barbata and provides a basis for exploring its various biological activates. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Ethnobotanical Survey on Bitter Tea in Taiwan

Ethnopharmacological evidence: In Taiwan, herbal tea is considered a traditional medicine and has been consumed for hundreds of years. In contrast to regular tea, herbal teas are prepared using plants other than the regular tea plant, Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze. Bitter tea (kǔ-chá), a series of herbal teas prepared in response to common diseases in Taiwan, is often made from local Taiwanese plants. However, the raw materials and formulations have been kept secret and verbally passed down by store owners across generations without a fixed recipe, and the constituent plant materials have not been disclosed.

Aim of the study: The aim was to determine the herbal composition of bitter tea sold in Taiwan, which can facilitate further studies on pharmacological applications and conserve cultural resources.

Materials and methods: Interviews were conducted through a semi-structured questionnaire. The surveyed respondents were traditional sellers of traditional herbal tea. The relevant literature was collated for a systematic analysis of the composition, characteristics, and traditional and modern applications of the plant materials used in bitter tea. We also conducted an association analysis of the composition of Taiwanese bitter tea with green herb tea (qing-cao-cha tea), another commonly consumed herbal tea in Taiwan, as well as herbal teas in neighboring areas outside Taiwan.

Results: After visiting a total of 59 stores, we identified 32 bitter tea formulations and 73 plant materials. Asteraceae was the most commonly used family, and most stores used whole plants. According to a network analysis of nine plant materials used in high frequency as drug pairs, Tithonia diversifolia and Ajuga nipponensis were found to be the core plant materials used in Taiwanese bitter tea.

Conclusion: Plant materials used in Taiwanese bitter tea were distinct, with multiple therapeutic functions. Further research is required to clarify their efficacy and mechanisms.

Network pharmacology-based strategy to investigate the active ingredients and molecular mechanisms of Scutellaria Barbata D. Don against radiation pneumonitis

INTRODUCTION

Herbal medicines combined with radiotherapy significantly reduced the incidence of radiation pneumonitis (RP), and the Scutellaria barbata D. Don (SBD) is a perennial herb that has been reported to protect against radiation-induced pneumonitis. However, the exact molecular mechanism is not known. The objective of this research was to investigate the against radiation pneumonitis ingredients and their functional mechanisms in SBD.

METHODS

Based on the network pharmacology approaches, we collected active ingredients and target genes in SBD against RP through Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP) Database, and the "Herb-Ingredients-Target Genes-Disease" Network was constructed by using of Cytoscape. STRING analysis was performed to reveal the protein-protein interactions, and then we applied enrichment analysis on these target proteins, gene function, and pathways.

RESULTS

A total of 18 ingredients in SBD regulate 65 RP related target proteins, which show that quercetin, luteolin, baicalein, wogonin may be the key active ingredients, while IL6, AKT1, VEGFA, MMP9, CCL2, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) (cyclooxygenase-2 [COX-2]), CXCL8, IL1B, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK1), and IL10 were identified as critical targets. Besides, the results of Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis indicated that predicted targets of SBD are mostly associated with the pathological process of oxidative stress and inflammation. AGE- Receptor of Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) signaling pathway in diabetic complications, IL-17 signaling pathway, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway might serve as the principal pathways for RP treatment.

CONCLUSION

In our study, the pharmacological and molecular mechanism of SBD against RP was predicted from a holistic perspective, and the results provided theoretical guidance for researchers to explore the mechanism in further research.

Enzymatic extraction of pectic oligosaccharides from finger citron (Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle) pomace with antioxidant potential

Finger citron pomace is a cheap and renewable by-product of the citrus processing industry, representing up to 60% of the fruit biomass. In this study, a pectinase-based and ultrasonic-assisted method was firstly used to extract pectic oligosaccharides (POS) from finger citron pomace. Using the orthogonal experiment design (OED), the maximum conversion rate of up to 64.5% from pomace to POS was obtained under the extraction conditions of 0.25 mg mL^-1 pectinase and 50 mg mL^-1 pectin at 45 °C and pH 4.5 for 2 h. The extracted POS was then fractionated and purified to homogeneous oligosaccharides (FCPOS-1) with a molecular weight of 2.15 kDa, and the analyses of monosaccharide composition, FTIR, NMR and ESI-MS indicated that FCPOS-1 consisted of GalA and a small amount of mannose, galactose and arabinose. Multiple antioxidant activity assays in vitro revealed that FCPOS-1 possessed remarkable antioxidant properties, especially scavenging activity against DPPH radicals up to 94.07%. FCPOS-1 has the potential to be an effective natural antioxidant for applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Multi-Frequency Ultrasonic Extraction of Anthocyanins from Blueberry Pomace and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Activity

Background

A large amount of blueberry pomace is discarded and wasted.

Objective

To make full use of blueberry pomace and extract anthocyanins.

Method

Multi-frequency ultrasound was used to extract anthocyanins from blueberry pomace. The effects of different extraction conditions on the anthocyanin yields were studied. The antioxidant activity of anthocyanins was evaluated, and the main anthocyanin components were identified by HPLC-electrospray ionization (ESI)-MS/MS.

Results

The optimal anthocyanin extraction conditions were as follows: dual-frequency ultrasound of 40 + 80 kHz, ultrasonic power of 350 W, extraction temperature of 50°C, and extraction time of 40 min. Compared with single frequency (25 kHz) and tri-frequency ultrasound (25 + 40 + 80 kHz), the anthocyanin yield with dual-frequency ultrasound increased by 15.26% and 5.45% respectively. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities (DPPH, hydroxyl radical scavenging ability, and reducing power) of anthocyanins extracted with dual-frequency ultrasound were all higher than those without ultrasound. Seven kinds of anthocyanins were identified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

Conclusions

Dual-frequency ultrasound had a higher extraction yield than single frequency ultrasound, tri-frequency ultrasound, and no ultrasound.

Highlights

Dual-frequency ultrasonic technology provides an effective approach for improving the extraction yield of anthocyanins from blueberry pomace.

Scutellaria barbata: A Review on Chemical Constituents, Pharmacological Activities and Clinical Applications

Scutellaria barbata has a long history of medical use in Traditional Chinese Medicine for removing heat and toxic material, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, and inducing diuresis to reduce edema. Recent pharmacology investigations have provided evidence for its anti-cancer, bacteriostasis, anti-virus, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation and immunity enhancement properties. The efficacy of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis has unique advantages in the treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. A total of 84 compounds have been isolated from S. barbata and are characterized mainly as flavonoids, diterpenoids, followed by polysaccharide, volatile oil and steroids. Peer-reviewed articles published over the last few years were gathered by consulting the databases PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, and Chinese Herbal Classics. This review mainly focuses on the pharmacologically active constituents isolated from S. barbata，which have been subjected to in vitro and/or in vivo studies. Although, the chemical components, pharmacological activities, toxicology, clinical applications and mechanisms of action of S. barbata have been investigated, many constituents remain unknown. Further investigations are required to investigate the medicinal properties of S. barbata.

Purification, characterization, antioxidant, and antitumor activity of polysaccharides isolated from silkworm cordyceps

Two new water-soluble polysaccharide fractions (SCP II-1 and SCP II-2) were obtained from silkworm cordycepsusing DEAE Sepharose FF and Superose 6 columns chromatography. The characterization of their basic structure was studied by high performance liquid chromatography, high performance ion chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and atomic force microscope (AFM). The results showed that the molecular weight of SCP II-1 and SCP II-2 were 35.2 kDa and 23.4 kDa, and they were mainly composed of ribose, mannose, glucose, and galactose in molar ratio of 1.0:27.38:8.52:17.99 and 1.0:21.21:1.95:14.28, respectively. The AFM topography confirmed the highly branched chain conformation of SCP II-1, while SCP II-2 had more polymerized chain morphology. These two fractions possessed excellent antioxidant and antitumor activities, especially SCP II-1 showed better inhibition than SCP II-2. Those data suggested that purified polysaccharides from silkworm cordyceps have potential application in functional food and pharmaceutical industry. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Silkworm cordyceps is cultivated on the 5th instar larvae inoculated with Cordyceps sp. and the functions of cordyceps have been reported recently. The separation and purification of silkworm cordyceps polysaccharide is helpful to better exert important biological functions. The study on the structure-function relations of polysaccharides will be useful to the application of polysaccharides in functional food and pharmaceutical industry.

Effect of storage time on antioxidant activity and inhibition on α-Amylase and α-Glucosidase of white tea

White tea is considered as a special kind of tea not only for its simplest process, but also for its endurable storage. However, little studies have been done about the changes of white tea with increasing aging time, including its composition and health‐imparting effects. In the present work, white tea aged 1 year (WT‐1), 3 years (WT‐3), and 5 years (WT‐5) were collected. Their major chemical compounds, antioxidant activities, and inhibitory effects on α‐Amylase and α‐Glucosidase were evaluated. Results showed that white tea of different storage time showed good antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assay, which decreases with the prolongation of storage time. The inhibitory effects on α‐Amylase and α‐Glucosidase which are key enzymes related to type II diabetes in vitro, are also observed in the similar trend. Meanwhile, prolongation of storage time decreased the content of polyphenols, the main bioactive compounds in tea, which may lead to decrease in the activities investigated.

Scutellaria barbata polysaccharides inhibit tumor growth and affect the serum proteomic profiling of hepatoma H22‑bearing mice

The present study aimed to evaluate the antitumor effect of Scutellaria barbata polysaccharides (SBPS) in a hepatoma mouse model and examine the serum proteins involved in the tumorigenesis and SBPS treatment. A hepatoma model was established by the subcutaneous inoculation of murine hepatocellular carcinoma into Kunming mice. The treatment (once a day) lasted until the tumor weight in the model group was ~1 g (~7-10 days after inoculation). The sera proteins from each group were then collected and subjected to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Differentially expressed proteins were screened out and representatives were identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. SBPS treatment at different doses significantly inhibited hepatoma growth (all P<0.01 vs. model group). The comparative serum proteomics showed that pseudouridine synthase 1 and chain A of the signal recognition particle Alu RNA-binding heterodimer (Srp9/14) were increased in the serum of the H22 hepatoma-bearing mice, and both were reduced by SBPS treatment. Mitochondrial ribosomal protein L24 was absent from the serum of H22 hepatoma-bearing mice, and was restored by SBPS treatment to approximately the normal level. Taken together, SBPS inhibited the growth of hepatic carcinoma in mice and affected serum proteomic profiling.

Systematic Investigation of Scutellariae Barbatae Herba for Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on Network Pharmacology

As the fifth most common type of malignant cancers globally, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. As a long-time medicinal herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Scutellariae Barbatae Herba (SBH) has also been used for treating various cancers including HCC, but its underlying mechanisms have not been completely clarified. Presently, an innovative network-pharmacology platform was introduced to systematically elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of SBH against HCC, adopting active ingredients prescreening, target fishing, and network analysis. The results revealed that SBH appeared to work on HCC probably through regulating 4 molecular functions, 20 biological processes, and hitting on 21 candidate targets involved in 40 pathways. By in-depth analysis of the first-ranked signaling pathway and hit genes, only TTR was highly and specially expressed in the liver tissue. TTR might play a crucial role in neutrophil degranulation pathway during SBH against HCC. Hence, TTR might become a therapeutic target of HCC. The study investigated the anti-hepatoma mechanisms of SBH from a holistic perspective, which provided a theoretical foundation for further experimental research and rational clinical application of SBH.

Effect of sulfation and partial hydrolysis of polysaccharides from Polygonatum sibiricum on immune-enhancement

The aqueous polysaccharide from Polygonatum sibiricum was extracted and fractionated using anion-exchange chromatography to obtain F₁ fraction. The F₁ was chemically sulfated and partially acid-hydrolyzed for the production of its over-sulfated (OS_1,2,3) and hydrolyzed (HP_1,2,3) derivatives, in which the sulfate content of OS_1,2,3 was 7.5-17.1%, and the M_w of HP_1,2,3 ranged from 18.2 × 10³ to 57.3 × 10³ g/mol. Considerable RAW264.7 cell activation was observed by HP_1,2,3 with NO production of 34.9, 44.3 and 42.7 μM, respectively, as well as the mRNA expression of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12). NK cell cytotoxicity against HT-29 cell was facilitated by OS_1,2,3 treatment with the increased gene expressions of INF-γ, Granzyme-B, perforin, NKG2D, and FasL. RAW264.7 cells appeared to be activated via MR and TLR4 mediated signaling pathway, but CR3 and TRL2 might play a main role in stimulating NK cells. Overall, the present study suggests the potential application of polysaccharides from P. sibiricum in functional foods and pharmacological industries.

Optimal Processing Conditions of Boswellia carteri Birdw. Using Response Surface Methodology

Background

Boswellia carteri Bridw. is being widely used for its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as for wound healing, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties, and boswellic acids (BAs) are considered to be the main active constituents.

Objectives

To investigate optimal conditions of stir-baking process for the resin of B. carteri with vinegar of using response surface methodology (RSM).

Materials and Methods

The concentration of acetic acid, heating temperature, and heating time were set as influential factors, and the yields of chemical compounds were the response values which were optimally designed by a Box-Behnken design. The amounts of 11-keto-β-boswellic acid (KBA) and α-boswellic acid (αBA) in B. carteri resin were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography analysis.

Results

Maximum amounts of KBA and αBA in B. carteri resin were obtained using 6% acetic acid for 10 min at 90°C in preliminary test. Two factor interactions, such as acetic acid concentration-heating temperature and heating temperature-heating time, were significantly observed by multiple regression analysis. Optimal processing conditions from RSM were 5.83% for acetic acid concentration, 9.56 min for heating time, and 89.87°C for heating temperature. Under the modified conditions, the experimental value of the response was 11.25 mg/g, which was similar to the predicted value.

Conclusions

The results suggest that the optimal conditions for the stir-baking process of B. carteri resin were determined by RSM, which was reliable and applicable to practical processing of herbal medicine.

SUMMARY

The resin of Boswellia carteri was macerated in aqueous acetic acid and heated using an oven for stir baking processThe interaction between heating temperature and heating time was the most significantOptimal conditions for processing B. carteri resin were determined as 5.83% acetic acid, 9.56 min for heating time, and 89.87°C for heating temperature. Abbreviations used: BAs: Boswellic acids; KBA: 11 keto β boswellic acid; αBA: α boswellic acid; BBD: Box-Behnken design; RSM: Response surface method; HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography; LOD: Limits of determination; LOQ: Limits of quantification; RSD: Relative standard deviation; ANOVA: Analysis of variance.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) polysaccharides based on response surface methodology and antioxidant activity

This study determined the optimal conditions for ultrasound-assisted extraction of a water-soluble polysaccharide, Raw Okra Polysaccharide, from the fruit of okra using response surface methodology. The optimal extraction temperature, extraction time and ultrasonic power were 59°C, 30min and 522W, respectively, giving a yield of 10.35±0.11%. ROP was further isolated, lyophilized and purified using a DEAE-Sepharose Fast Flow column and Sepharose CL-6B column, revealing three elution peaks subsequently designated ROP -1, -2, and -3, respectively. Of these, ROP-2 showed the highest yield, and was therefore selected for physicochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant activity. Gas chromatography, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high-performance liquid chromatography were used to characterize the primary structural features and molecular weight, revealing that ROP-2 is composed of glucose, mannose, galactose, arabinose, xylose, fructose, and rhamnose (molar percentages: 28.8, 12.5, 13.1, 15.9, 9.2, 13.7, and 6.8%, respectively) and has an average molecular weight of 1.92×105Da. A superoxide radical scavenging assay and DPPH radical scavenging assay further revealed the significant in vitro antioxidant activity of ROP-2. These findings present an effective technique for extraction of the natural antioxidant ROP-2, warranting further analysis of its potential application in the food industry.

Scutellaria barbata attenuates diabetic retinopathy by preventing retinal inflammation and the decreased expression of tight junction protein

AIM

To observe the attenuation of ethanol extract of Herba Scutellaria barbata (SE) against diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its engaged mechanism.

METHODS

C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with streptozotocin (STZ, 55 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days to induce diabetes. The diabetic mice were orally given with SE (100, 200 mg/kg) for 1mo at 1mo after STZ injection. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakdown was detected by using Evans blue permeation assay. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to detect mRNA and protein expression. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect serum contents of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-1β.

RESULTS

SE (100, 200 mg/kg) reversed the breakdown of BRB in STZ-induced diabetic mice. The decreased expression of retinal claudin-1 and claudin-19, which are both tight junction (TJ) proteins, was reversed by SE. SE decreased the increased serum contents and retinal mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-1β. SE also decreased the increased retinal expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). SE reduced the increased phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) p65 and its subsequent nuclear translocation in retinas from STZ-induced diabetic mice. Results of Western blot and retinal immunofluorescence staining of ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1 (Iba1) demonstrated that SE abrogated the activation of microglia cells in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

CONCLUSION

SE attenuates the development of DR by inhibiting retinal inflammation and restoring the decreased expression of TJ proteins including claudin-1 and claudin-19.

Functional components in Scutellaria barbata D. Don with anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 cells

The objectives of this study were to determine the variety and amount of various functional components in Scutellaria barbata D. Don as well as study their anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 cells. Both ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts were shown to contain the functional components including phenolics, flavonoids, chlorophylls, and carotenoids, with the former mainly composed of phenolics and flavonoids, and the latter of carotenoids and chlorophylls. Both extracts could significantly inhibit (p < 0.05) the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, interlukin-6, and interlukin-1β, as well as the expressions of phosphor extracellular signal-regulated kinase and phosphor-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), but failed to retard tumor necrosis factor-α expression. Both ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts had a dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity on RAW 264.7 cells. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory efficiency can be varied for both ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts, which can be attributed to the presence of different varieties and amounts of functional components, as mentioned above. This finding suggested that S. Barbata extract may be used as an anti-inflammatory agent for possible future biomedical application.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don extract inhibits the tumor growth through down-regulating of Treg cells and manipulating Th1/Th17 immune response in hepatoma H22-bearing mice

BACKGROUND

Previous studies showed Scutellaria barbata D. Don extract (SBE) is a potent inhibitor in hepatoma and could improve immune function of hepatoma H22-bearing mice. However, the immunomodulatory function of SBE on the tumor growth of hepatoma remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of SBE on hepatoma H22-bearing mice and explore the underlying immunomodulatory function.

METHODS

The hepatoma H22-bearing mice were treated by SBE for 30 days. The effect of SBE on the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro, the growth of transplanted tumor, the cytotoxicity of natural killer (NK) cells in spleen, the amount of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg cells and Th17 cells in tumor tissue, and the levels of IL-10, TGF-β, IL-17A, IL-2, and IFN-γ in serum of the hepatoma H22-bearing mice was observered. IL-17A was injected to the SBE treated mice from day 9 post H22 inoculation to examine its effect on tumor growth.

RESULTS

SBE treatment inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro with a dose-dependent manner and significantly suppressed the tumor growth of hepatoma H22-bearing mice. Meanwhile, it increased NK cells' cytotoxicity in spleen, down-regulated the amount of CD4⁺CD25⁺Foxp3⁺ Treg cells and Th17 cells in tumor tissue, and decreased IL-10, TGF-β, and IL-17A levels (P < 0.01) whereas increased IL-2 and IFN-γ levels (P < 0.01) in the serum of hepatoma H22-bearing mice. Moreover, administration of recombinant mouse IL-17A reversed the anti-tumor effects of SBE.

CONCLUSION

SBE could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells in vitro. Meanwhile, SBE also could inhibit the growth of H22 implanted tumor in hepatoma H22-bearing mice, and this function might be associated with immunomodulatory activity through down-regulating of Treg cells and manipulating Th1/Th17 immune response.

Antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-aging activities of intracellular zinc polysaccharides from Grifola frondosa SH-05

In present work, the strain of Grifola frondosa SH-05 was used as a vector of zinc biotransformation to produce the IZPS. The bioactivities including antioxidant and antibacterial activities in vitro and anti-aging properties in vivo of IZPS were investigated comparing with the IPS. The results which were in consistent with the results of histopathology assay demonstrated that the IZPS had superior antioxidant and anti-aging activities by scavenging the hydroxyl and DPPH radicals, increasing enzyme activities, decreasing the MDA contents and ameliorating the anile condition of mice. Besides, the IZPS also showed potential antibacterial activities. The IZPS with higher bioactivities was composed of were Rha, Ino and Glu with a molar ratio of 4.7:3.6:1. These conclusions indicated that the IZPS might be a potential source of natural antioxidant, antibacterial agent and anti-aging agent.

Optimization of Mycelia Selenium Polysaccharide Extraction from Agrocybe cylindracea SL-02 and Assessment of their Antioxidant and Anti-Ageing Activities

The aim of the present study was to optimize the purification of mycelia selenium polysaccharides (MSPS) from Agrocybe cylindracea SL-02 and characterize their in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-ageing activities. The Box-Behnken experimental design (BBD) was evaluated, which showed that the optimum conditions included an extraction temperature of 94.99°C, a pH of 9 and a precipitation temperature of 12°C, and the predicted yield was 11.036 ± 0.31%. The in vitro antioxidant assay demonstrated that MSPS had potential effects on scavenging and enhanced the reducing power of reactive oxygen species. The in vivo anti-ageing evaluation showed that MSPS significantly reduced the malonaldehyde (MDA) contents and total cholesterol (CHOL) levels, and remarkably improved the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in mice in response to D-galactose-induced ageing. Furthermore, the characteristic analysis of MSPS indicated a selenium content of 1.76 ± 0.10 mg/g at a concentration of 6 μg/mL in liquid media and a monosaccharide composition of rhamnose, arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose at a molar ratio of 29:3:1:18.8:2.7. These results suggest that MSPS might be suitable for functional foods and natural drugs on preventing the ageing progress induced by toxic chemicals.

Current therapeutic role and medicinal potential of Scutellaria barbata in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western research

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scutellaria barbata is a common herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) most often used to treat cancer. S. barbata has been found to exhibit efficacy both in vitro and in vivo on a variety of cancer types. Similarly encouraging results have been shown in patients with metastatic breast cancer from Phase Ia and Ib clinical trials. This study aims to elucidate the current use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners and in current Western research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with fifteen TCM practitioners in Beijing and Nanjing, China to understand their clinical use of S. barbata. Practitioners were also asked to comment on the future development of TCM using Western research methods and the potential for integration of the two types of medicine in clinical therapy. Statistical analyses were conducted to compare use of S. barbata by disease and in conjunction with other herbs.

RESULTS

Current Western research related to S. barbata is focused on cancer treatment, which corresponds to the most common use of S. barbata by TCM practitioners. Other common uses that practitioners reported included infection and inflammation, for which Beijing practitioners reported use of S. barbata more often than Nanjing practitioners (p<0.05). Hedyotis diffusa was found to be the most commonly cited herb to pair with S. barbata for cancer treatment (p<0.05). When compared to Western clinical trials of BZL101, an S. barbata extract, TCM practitioners reported using smaller doses of S. barbata in shorter durations, in combination with numerous other herbs with the goal to potentiate therapeutic efficacy and mitigate side effects. In addition, TCM practitioners repeatedly emphasized symptom differentiating as the key to achieving maximum therapeutic potential of S. barbata, a factor typically overlooked in Western research.

CONCLUSION

Similarities and differences in diagnosis and treatment regimens between TCM practitioners and Western research have the potential to shed light on possible new avenues of research. Additional research may prove beneficial on possible synergistic effects of herbs commonly used with S. barbata, such as Hedyotis diffusa and Lobelia chinensis.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don polysaccharides inhibit the growth of Calu-3 xenograft tumors via suppression of the HER2 pathway and angiogenesis

Scutellaria barbata D. Don, a perennial herb belonging to the family Lamiaceae, is widely distributed throughout China and the Republic of Korea, and has been traditionally used in folk medicine as an antitumor and anti-inflammatory agent. Polysaccharides isolated from Scutellaria barbata D. Don (PSB), have been reported to possess antitumor effects. However, the detailed antitumor mechanisms behind the effects of PSB remain unclear. In the present study, a non-small cell lung cancer cell line harboring the HER2 gene mutation Calu-3, the Calu-3 cell line, was used to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the antitumor effects of PSB. The results revealed that PSB potently inhibited cell proliferation and human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2 phosphorylation in vitro, and also downregulated the expression of the downstream signaling molecules, including phosphorylated (phospho-)Akt and phospho-extracellular signal-related kinase. In vivo, PSB demonstrated efficacy at well-tolerated doses, including significant antitumor activity in a Calu-3 subcutaneous xenograft model. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis revealed a PSB dose-dependent reduction of microvessel density, demonstrated by cluster of differentiation 31 staining. The present findings suggest that inhibition of tumor angiogenesis via suppression of the HER2 pathway may be one of the mechanisms by which PSB can be effective in the treatment of cancers.

Anti-tumor effect of polysaccharides from Scutellaria barbata D. Don on the 95-D xenograft model via inhibition of the C-met pathway

Polysaccharides isolated from Scutellaria barbata (PSB) have been reported to have anti-tumor effects. To investigate the underlying mechanism, a highly invasive, metastatic and phospho-c-Met overexpression lung carcinoma cell, 95-D cell line was used. The results showed that in vitro, PSB not only could inhibit the proliferation of 95-D cell line (IC(50) = 35.2 μg/mL), but also down-regulated the expression of phospho-c-Met and its downstream signaling molecules including phospho-Erk and phospho-Akt. In vivo, PSB inhibited tumor growth in the 95-D subcutaneous xenograft model in a dose-dependent manner; after once-daily intraperitoneal injection for 3 weeks, tumor growth inhibition T/C ratio for 100 and 200 mg/kg treatments was 42.72% and 13.6%, respectively. In the end of the in vivo study, tumor tissues were harvested for further evaluation of the phosphorylation level of c-Met, AKT, and ERK. Ex vivo results demonstrated that the phosphorylation of c-Met and its downstream signaling molecules were also significantly inhibited by PSB. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed dose-dependent inhibition of tumor cell proliferation (Ki67) and reduction of microvessel density (CD31). In summary, the results indicated that PSB exerted anti-tumor growth activity on human lung cancer 95-D in vitro and in vivo by directly regulating the c-Met signaling pathway and the anti-tumor effects were mainly based on its anti-proliferation and anti-angiogenesis action.

Ultrasound assisted extraction of polysaccharides from hazelnut skin

In this study ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) of polysaccharides from hazelnut skin has been studied. Optimum sonication time has been evaluated depending on responses such as amount of carbohydrate and dried sample and thermogravimetric analysis. Chemical and structural properties of extracted material have been determined by Fourier transform spectroscopy attenuated-total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) spectroscopy. Pretreated hazelnut skin powders were extracted in distilled water. Mixture was sonicated by ultrasonic processor probe for 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. The results of UAE showed that maximum ethanol insoluble extracts in 60 min and the highest dry matter content could be obtained in 120 min extraction. Although total carbohydrate content of ethanol insoluble dry extract decreased with time, total carbohydrate in ethanol soluble fraction increased. Polysaccharides extracted from hazelnut skin were assumed to be pectic polysaccharide according to the literature survey of FTIR analysis result. Application time of UAE has an important effect on extraction of polysaccharide from hazelnut skin. This affect could be summarized by enhancing extraction yield up to critical level. Decrease of the yield in ethanol insoluble part could be explained by polymer decomposition. Most suitable model was hyperbolic model by having the lowest root mean square error and the highest R2 values.

Extraction, characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from black soybean

Optimization of extraction conditions, preliminary characterization and in vitro antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from black soybean (BSPS) were investigated. The results of Box-Behnken design showed that the optimal extraction conditions for BSPS were as follows: ratio of water to material of 20 ml/g, extraction time of 6.4h and extraction temperature of 92 °C, with a corresponding yield of 2.56%. The crude BSPS were further fractionated on DEAE-52 and Sepharose CL-4B chromatography to afford three purified fractions (BSPS-1, BSPS-2 and BSPS-3). Chemical analysis showed that the three purified fractions were mainly composed of carbohydrate and uronic acid. In addition, BSPS-1 was composed of arabinose, rhamnose, galactose, glucose and mannose in the molar ratio of 1.79:1.00:2.59:26.54:1.01. BSPS-2 was composed of arabinose, rhamnose, xylose, galactose and mannose in the molar ratio of 8.10:4.80:9.15:13.38:1.00. BSPS-3 was composed of arabinose, rhamnose, galactose and mannose in the molar ratio of 16.80:3.60:33.66:1.00. The results of Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy further confirmed the characteristic polysaccharide structures of the three purified fractions. Moreover, antioxidant assays showed crude BSPS and its purified fractions had potential superoxide anion and DPPH radical scavenging activities, and their antioxidant activity decreased in the order of crude BSPS > BSPS-3 > BSPS-2 > BSPS-1.

Optimization of ultrasound extraction of Alisma orientalis polysaccharides by response surface methodology and their antioxidant activities

Rhizoma alismatis (the rhizome of Alisma orientalis) polysaccharides (RAP) have been reported to have a variety of important biological activities. However, effective extraction of RAP has been an unsolved issue. In this study, we used an ultrasound method for high yield extraction of RAP and optimized the conditions using the response surface methodology (RSM). Following multiple regression analyses of the experimental results, we applied the 3-D response surface and the contour plots to determine the optimal conditions, which were found to be ultrasound treatment at 76.1°C for 75.2 min, and water to material ratio at 30.1 ml/g. Under such conditions, the yield was 6.90% which was much higher than traditional hot water extraction yield (3.41%). The fractionated RAPs following stepwise ethanol precipitation showed strong antioxidant activities. The results indicated that ultrasound extraction was a very effective method for the extraction of RAP and the polysaccharides could be explored as a potential antioxidant agent for use in medicine or functional food.

In vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of scutebarbatine A on human lung carcinoma A549 cell lines

During our systematic study on the anticancer activities of Scutellaria barbata, scutebarbatine A (SBT-A), one of the major alkaloids in S. barbata, was found to have antitumor effects on A549 cells. Thus, we designed the present study to investigate in detail the antitumor effects of SBT-A. The cytotoxic effect of SBT-A on A549 in vitro were determined by an MTT assay and evaluated by IC50 values. Furthermore, results of Hoechst 33258 and Annexin V/PI staining assays demonstrated that SBT-A had significant antitumor effects on A549 cells via apoptosis, in a concentration-dependent manner. What's more, the mechanism was explored by western blotting, and our study revealed that SBT-A can up-regulate the expressions of cytochrome c, caspase-3 and 9, and down-regulate the levels of Bcl-2 in A549 cells. Finally, the antitumor effects of SBT-A were evaluated in vivo by using transplanted tumor nude mice, and the results confirmed that SBT-A has a notable antitumor effect on A549 cancer via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis. Collectively, our results demonstrated that SBT-A showed significant antitumor effects on A549 cells in vivo and in vitro via mitochondria-mediated apoptosis by up-regulating expressions of caspase-3 and 9, and down-regulating Bcl-2.