Chelidonium majus is not hepatotoxic in Wistar rats, in a 4 weeks feeding experiment

Visible-Light-Promoted α-Benzylation of N-Phenyl α-Amino Acids to α-Amino Phenylpropanoids

A new method for the synthesis of α-amino phenylpropanoids under blue light-emitting diode irradiation has been developed through α-C-H benzylation of readily available N-phenyl glycine ester with benzyl oxalates as a coupling partner under mild conditions. A range of N-phenyl glycine esters were successfully converted to α-amino phenylpropanoid products in moderate to good yields. The utility of this methodology is underlined by its application to the late-state modification of natural products.

Integrating Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking to Analyse the Potential Mechanism of action of Macleaya cordata (Willd.) R. Br. in the Treatment of Bovine Hoof Disease

Based on network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking techniques, the main components of M. cordata for the treatment of bovine relevant active compounds in M. cordata were searched for through previous research bases and literature databases, and then screened to identify candidate compounds based on physicochemical properties, pharmacokinetic parameters, bioavailability, and drug-like criteria. Target genes associated with hoof disease were obtained from the GeneCards database. Compound−target, compound−target−pathway−disease visualization networks, and protein−protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed by Cytoscape. Gene ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were performed in R language. Molecular docking analysis was done using AutoDockTools. The visual network analysis showed that four active compounds, sanguinarine, chelerythrine, allocryptopine and protopine, were associated with the 10 target genes/proteins (SRC, MAPK3, MTOR, ESR1, PIK3CA, BCL2L1, JAK2, GSK3B, MAPK1, and AR) obtained from the screen. The enrichment analysis indicated that the cAMP, PI3K-Akt, and ErbB signaling pathways may be key signaling pathways in network pharmacology. The molecular docking results showed that sanguinarine, chelerythrine, allocryptopine, and protopine bound well to MAPK3 and JAK2. A comprehensive bioinformatics-based network topology strategy and molecular docking study has elucidated the multi-component synergistic mechanism of action of M. cordata in the treatment of bovine hoof disease, offering the possibility of developing M. cordata as a new source of drugs for hoof disease treatment.

Telomere shortening in breast cancer cells (MCF7) under treatment with low doses of the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid chelidonine

Telomeres, the specialized dynamic structures at chromosome ends, regularly shrink with every replication. Thus, they function as an internal molecular clock counting down the number of cell divisions. However, most cancer cells escape this limitation by activating telomerase, which can maintain telomere length. Previous studies showed that the benzylisoquinoline alkaloid chelidonine stimulates multiple modes of cell death and strongly down-regulates telomerase. It is still unknown if down-regulation of telomerase by chelidonine boosts substantial telomere shortening. The breast cancer cell line MCF7 was sequentially treated with very low concentrations of chelidonine over several cell passages. Telomere length and telomerase activity were measured by a monochrome multiplex quantitative PCR and a q-TRAP assay, respectively. Changes in population size and doubling time correlated well with telomerase inhibition and telomere shortening. MCF7 cell growth was arrested completely after three sequential treatments with 0.1 μM chelidonine, each ending after 48 h, while telomere length was reduced to almost 10% of the untreated control. However, treatment with 0.01 μM chelidonine did not have any apparent consequence. In addition to dose and time dependent telomerase inhibition, chelidonine changed the splicing pattern of hTERT towards non-enzyme coding isoforms of the transcript. In conclusion, telomere length and telomere stability are strongly affected by chelidonine in addition to microtubule formation.

The Development of a Database for Herbal and Dietary Supplement Induced Liver Toxicity

The growing use of herbal dietary supplements (HDS) in the United States provides compelling evidence for risk of herbal-induced liver injury (HILI). Information on HDS products was retrieved from MedlinePlus of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the herbal monograph of the European Medicines Agency. The hepatotoxic potential of HDS was ascertained by considering published case reports. Other relevant data were collected from governmental documents, public databases, web sources, and the literature. We collected information for 296 unique HDS products. Evidence of hepatotoxicity was reported for 67, that is 1 in 5, of these HDS products. The database revealed an apparent gender preponderance with women representing 61% of HILI cases. Culprit hepatotoxic HDS were mostly used for weight control, followed by pain and inflammation, mental stress, and mood disorders. Commonly discussed mechanistic events associated with HILI are reactive metabolites and oxidative stress, mitochondrial injury, as well as inhibition of transporters. HDS⁻drug interactions, causing both synergistic and antagonizing effects of drugs, were also reported for certain HDS. The database contains information for nearly 300 commonly used HDS products to provide a single-entry point for better comprehension of their impact on public health.

Greater Celandine's Ups and Downs-21 Centuries of Medicinal Uses of Chelidonium majus From the Viewpoint of Today's Pharmacology

As antique as Dioscorides era are the first records on using Chelidonium as a remedy to several sicknesses. Inspired by the "signatura rerum" principle and an apparent ancient folk tradition, various indications were given, such as anti-jaundice and cholagogue, pain-relieving, and quite often mentioned-ophthalmological problems. Central and Eastern European folk medicine has always been using this herb extensively. In this region, the plant is known under many unique vernacular names, especially in Slavonic languages, associated or not with old Greek relation to "chelidon"-the swallow. Typically for Papaveroidae subfamily, yellow-colored latex is produced in abundance and leaks intensely upon injury. Major pharmacologically relevant components, most of which were first isolated over a century ago, are isoquinoline alkaloids-berberine, chelerythrine, chelidonine, coptisine, sanguinarine. Modern pharmacology took interest in this herb but it has not ended up in gaining an officially approved and evidence-based herbal medicine status. On the contrary, the number of relevant studies and publications tended to drop. Recently, some controversial reports and sometimes insufficiently proven studies appeared, suggesting anticancer properties. Anticancer potential was in line with anecdotical knowledge spread in East European countries, however, in the absence of directly-acting cytostatic compounds, some other mechanisms might be involved. Other properties that could boost the interest in this herb are antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Being a common synanthropic weed or ruderal plant, C. majus spreads in all temperate Eurasia and acclimates well to North America. Little is known about the natural variation of bioactive metabolites, including several aforementioned isoquinoline alkaloids. In this review, we put together older and recent literature data on phytochemistry, pharmacology, and clinical studies on C. majus aiming at a critical evaluation of state-of-the-art from the viewpoint of historical and folk indications. The controversies around this herb, the safety and drug quality issues and a prospective role in phytotherapy are discussed as well.

Chelidonine and Homochelidonine Induce Cell Death through Cell Cycle Checkpoints and MAP Kinase Pathways

This study focuses on the comparative in vitro cytotoxicity of chelidonine and homochelidonine on human cancer and non-cancer cells. Both alkaloids produced a decrease in cellular growth in a dose-dependent manner exhibiting greater potency in cancer cells. The growth inhibitory effect was evidenced in both ovarian carcinoma A2780 and lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells by inducing G2 and mitotic phase cell cycle arrest. Results indicated that the extent of apoptosis induced by chelidonine and homochelidonine was correlated to sensitivity to the antiproliferative activity of the evaluated compounds. Western blotting suggested that the cellular toxicological mechanism of chelidonine is related to the differential upregulation of phospho-Chk2, p21Cip1/Waf1, phospho-ERK1/2 and phospho-p38 in various cell types, leading to alternations in the suppression of proliferation and either induction or prevention of apoptosis. Chelidonine showed the more potent effects and also affected the cell cycle checkpoints and MAPK signaling pathways within cells.

Phytochemical analysis and effects on ingestive behaviour of a Caralluma fimbriata extract

Caralluma fimbriata Wall. is currently used as a "natural slimming" food supplement, likely due to its content in pregnane glycosides. In the present study, a commercially available Caralluma fimbriata extract (Slimaluma^®; CFE, 100 mg/kg) has been evaluated for its ability to affect the ingestive behaviour in female rats, also with reference to the modulation of the brain neuropeptides NPY and ORX.The interference of CFE with α-amylase and lipase enzymes has been investigated in vitro, as possible peripheral mechanism of action. Also, the chemical composition of CFE has been assessed by NMR and spectrophotometric analysis. Results from in vivo study showed that CFE induced effects neither on blood parameters, nor on liver and gut histomorphology. Interestingly, a reduction in body weight gain with an increase in water intake and hypothalamic levels of NPY and ORX peptides were found. Phytochemical analysis, showed CFE contained about 12% of pregnane glycosides and 1.3% of polyphenols. Present results suggest possible effects of C. fimbriata on ingestive behaviour, likely mediated by central and peripheral mechanisms.

Liver toxicity mechanisms of herbs commonly used in Latin America

Mexico owns approximately 4500 medicinal plants species, a great diversity that position it at the second place after China. According to the Mexican health department, 90% of common population consumes them to treat various diseases. Additionally, herbal remedies in Latin America (LA) are considered a common practice, but the frequency of use and the liver damage related to its consumption is still unknown. Despite the high prevalence and indiscriminate herbal consumption, the exact mechanism of hepatotoxicity and adverse effects is not fully clarified and is still questioned. Some herb products associated with herb induced liver injury (HILI) are characterized by presenting a different chemical composition that may vary from batch to batch, also the biological activity of many medicinal plants and other natural products are directly related to their most active component and its concentration. There are two main biological components that are associated with liver damage, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which are frequent constituents of commonly used herbs. The interaction with the different cytochrome P-450 isoforms, inflammatory, and oxidative activities seem to be the main damage pathway involved in the liver. It is important to know the herbal adverse effects and mechanisms involved; therefore, this article is focused on the beneficial and deleterious effects as well as the possible toxicity mechanisms and interactions of the herbs that are frequently used in LA, since the herb-host interaction may not always be the expected or desired depending on the clinical context in which it is administered.

A novel C–C radical–radical coupling reaction promoted by visible light: facile synthesis of 6-substituted N-methyl 5,6-dihydrobenzophenanthridine alkaloids

A photoredox mediated radical–radical coupling ofN-methyl 5,6-dihydrobenzophenanthridine alkaloids with α-electron withdrawing group substituted bromoalkane has been developed.

Herbal hepatotoxicity: current status, examples, and challenges

INTRODUCTION

Herbal medicines have commonly been considered safe by the general public due to their natural origin and long history of traditional uses. In contrast to this belief, many plants produce toxic substances as secondary metabolites that are sometimes not easily distinguishable from the pharmacological active compounds. Some herbal medicines have been associated with adverse effects and toxic effects, including hepatotoxicity, which have been reversed upon discontinuation of the herbal medicine by the patient.

AREAS COVERED

This review reflects on selected herbal medicines that are associated with hepatotoxic effects including a description of the phytochemicals that have been linked to liver injury where available. Although case studies are discussed where patients presented with hepatotoxicity due to use of herbal medicines, results from both in vitro and in vivo studies that have been undertaken to confirm liver injury are also included.

EXPERT OPINION

Increasing evidence of herbal hepatotoxicity has become available through case reports; however, several factors contribute to challenges associated with causality assessment and pre-emptive testing as well as diagnosis of herb-induced liver injury.

Pharmacokinetic and anti-inflammatory effects of sanguinarine solid lipid nanoparticles

The sanguinarine (SG) was studied for its pharmacokinetic and anti-inflammatory activities with prepared solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs). The sanguinarine solid lipid nanoparticles (SG-SLNs) were prepared by film-ultrasonic dispersion method and the entrapment efficiency of SG was higher at 75.6 %. The drug release profile of SG was examined in pH 7.4 PBS and 85 % of the SG loaded in SLNs was gradually released during 24 h. We used mice endotoxin shock model which was induced by lipopolysaccharide (1 mg/kg) to examine the anti-inflammatory function of SG-SLNs. Healthy Kunming mice were administered orally with saline, SG (10 mg/kg), and SG-SLNs (10 mg/kg), respectively, at 12 and 1 h before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection. Mice were sacrificed at 1 and 6 h, respectively, and blood was collect through the venous sinus to access inflammatory mediators. Pharmacokinetic studies proved that the AUC(0→24) and C(max) of SG-SLNs were significantly increased compared that of SG. SG-SLNs revealed significant anti-inflammatory effects through inhibition of LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha level, interleukin 6 level, and nitric oxide production in serum. Therefore, it can be concluded that SG-SLNs led to a better oral bioavailability.

Multiple mechanisms of cell death induced by chelidonine in MCF-7 breast cancer cell line

In a preliminary study screening anti-proliferative natural alkaloids, a very potent benzophenanthridine, chelidonine showed strong cytotoxicity in cancer cells. While several modes of death have been identified, most of anti-cancer attempts have focused on stimulation of cells to undergo apoptosis. Chelidonine seems to trigger multiple mechanisms in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. It induces both apoptosis and autophagy modes of cell death in a dose dependent manner. Alteration of expression levels of bax/bcl2, and dapk1a by increasing concentration of chelidonine approves switching the death mode from apoptosis induced by very low to autophagy by high concentrations of this compound. On the other hand, submicromolar concentrations of chelidonine strongly suppressed telomerase at both enzyme activity and hTERT transcriptional level. Long exposure of the cells to 50 nanomolar concentration of chelidonine considerably accelerated senescence. Altogether, chelidonine may provide a promising chemistry from nature to treat cancer.

Protective effect of sanguinarine on LPS-induced endotoxic shock in mice and its effect on LPS-induced COX-2 expression and COX-2 associated PGE2 release from peritoneal macrophages

The quaternary ammonium salt, sanguinarine (SG) was reported to possess widespread anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory effects in experimental animals and it has been used to treat many inflammatory diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect and the possible mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory activity of SG. Experimentally-induced mice ES model and LPS-induced peritoneal macrophages were used to examine the anti-inflammatory function of SG. In this study, SG pretreatment significantly increased the survival rate of mice from 25% to 58%, 75% and 91% respectively. The production of PGE2 in BALF, the lung MPO activity and the (W/D) weight ratios were also markedly reduced. In addition, immunohistochemical analysis showed that the expression of COX-2 was significantly suppressed in vivo. We also evaluated the effect of SG in LPS-induced peritoneal macrophages to clarify the possible mechanism. The data indicated that SG greatly inhibited the production of PGE2, and it also decreased COX-2 protein expression, without affecting COX-1 expression, in LPS-stimulated peritoneal macrophages. Taken all together, SG potently protected against LPS-induced ES, and our results suggest that the possible mechanism may be relevant to COX-2 regulation.

Structure-activity relationship of benzophenanthridine alkaloids from Zanthoxylum rhoifolium having antimicrobial activity

Zanthoxylum rhoifolium (Rutaceae) is a plant alkaloid that grows in South America and has been used in Brazilian traditional medicine for the treatment of different health problems. The present study was designed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the steam bark crude methanol extract, fractions, and pure alkaloids of Z. rhoifolium. Its stem bark extracts exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, ranging from 12.5 to 100 µg/mL using bioautography method, and from 125 to 500 µg/mL in the microdilution bioassay. From the dichloromethane basic fraction, three furoquinoline alkaloids (1-3), and nine benzophenanthridine alkaloids (4-12) were isolated and the antimicrobial activity of the benzophenanthridine alkaloids is discussed in terms of structure-activity relationships. The alkaloid with the widest spectrum of activity was chelerythrine (10), followed by avicine (12) and dihydrochelerythrine (4). The minimal inhibitory concentrations of chelerythrine, of 1.50 µg/mL for all bacteria tested, and between 3.12 and 6.25 µg/mL for the yeast tested, show this compound to be a more powerful antimicrobial agent when compared with the other active alkaloids isolated from Z. rhoifolium. To verify the potential importance of the methylenedioxy group (ring A) of these alkaloids, chelerythrine was selected to represent the remainder of the benzophenanthridine alkaloids isolated in this work and was subjected to a demethylation reaction giving derivative 14. Compared to chelerythrine, the derivative (14) was less active against the tested bacteria and fungi. Kinetic measurements of the bacteriolytic activities of chelerythrine against the bacteria Bacillus subtilis (Gram-positive) and Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) were determined by optical density based on real time assay, suggesting that its mechanism of action is not bacteriolytic. The present study did not detect hemolytic effects of chelerythrine on erythrocytes and found a protective effect considering the decrease in TBARS and AOPP (advanced oxidized protein products) levels when compared to the control group.

Chelidonium majus and its effects on uterine contractility in a perfusion model

OBJECTIVE

The herbal agent celandine is thought to have mainly spasmolytic effects, but in the uterus it is regarded as promoting contractions, which can offer promising and innovative options for optimizing artificial reproduction. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of celandine on the uterine muscle, using a perfusion model of swine uteri.

STUDY DESIGN

Sixteen swine uteri were perfused with Krebs-Ringer solution. Celandine (Chelidonium, Paverysat; Johannes Bürger Ysatfabrik Ltd., Bad Harzburg, Germany) was administered at increasing dosages. Intrauterine pressure (IUP) was recorded using an intrauterine double-chip microcatheter (Urobar 8 DS-F, Raumedic, Rehau AG & Co., Rehau, Germany). Differences in pressure (ΔP) and area under the curve (ΔAUC) after drug administration in the uterine body and uterine horn in the various dilution series were noted. A paired Student's t-test was used to evaluate differences between groups, with significance set at P<0.05.

RESULTS

A significant initial increase in uterine activity was visible at each dosage. Inhibition of uterine activity was seen over longer periods of 5 and 10 min, particularly for a medium-dose range of 1-2mg/ml. At a dosage of 2mg/ml in particular, celandine almost always led to significant values.

CONCLUSION

Following intra-arterial administration in a swine uterus perfusion model, celandine initially causes a significant increase in contractility, which is followed over time by a relaxation phase. This suggests interesting hypotheses on whether Chelidonium majus might be used to promote targeted sperm transport.

A sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of five isoquinoline alkaloids from Chelidonium majus L. in rat plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

Chelidonium majus L. is one of the most important medicinal plants of the family Papaveraceae. Its pharmacological effects have been primarily attributed to the presence of a number of alkaloids. In the present study, a sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for simultaneous determination of five isoquinoline alkaloids from Chelidonium majus L. was developed and validated. The analytes (protopine, chelidonine, coptisine, sanguinarine and chelerythrine), together with the internal standard (palmatine), were extracted from acidified rat plasma with ethyl acetate-dichloromethane (4:1, v/v). Chromatographic separation was carried out on a Diamonsil C(18) column with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water (adjusted to pH 2.3 with formic acid) (30:70, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 ml/min. Mass spectrometric detection was performed by selected reaction monitoring mode via electrospray ionization source operating in positive ionization mode. The assay exhibited good linearity (r ≥ 0.9933) for all the analytes. The lower limits of quantification were 0.197-1.27 ng/ml using only 50 µl of plasma sample. The intra- and inter-day precisions were less than 11.9%, and the accuracy was between -6.3% and 9.3%. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of the five alkaloids in rats after intragastric administration of Chelidonium majus L. extract.

Suspected Greater Celandine hepatotoxicity: liver-specific causality evaluation of published case reports from Europe

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In 21 published case reports, the use of the herb Greater Celandine (GC) (Chelidonium majus L.) has been causally related to liver injury, but a variety of confounding variables were evident that might have offset causality. This study reanalyses causality levels in these cases with a liver-specific causality evaluation method.

METHODS

All 21 cases were submitted to the liver-specific, standardized, structured, quantitative and updated scale of the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences. This scale considers, among other items, latency period, course of alanine aminotransferase after treatment discontinuation, risk factors, comedication and alternative causes.

RESULTS

Using this method for assessment, causality for GC was highly probable in two and probable in six cases, with lower causality grading in the remaining 13 cases. In these patients, causality for GC was possible in 10 cases and excluded in three cases. On the basis of the eight cases with highly probable and probable causality gradings, GC hepatotoxicity represents an idiosyncratic reaction of the metabolic type, whereas immunologic or obligatory hepatotoxic features are lacking. In some cases, alternative diagnoses and poor data quality were confounding variables that reduced causality levels.

CONCLUSION

Confounding variables reduced causality levels for GC in reported cases of liver injury, but there is still striking evidence for herb-induced liver injury by GC with high causality gradings. GC hepatotoxicity is caused by an idiosyncratic reaction of the metabolic form, but there is uncertainty with respect to its culprit(s).