Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) root tuber extracts induces apoptosis in human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) root extracts evoke S phase arrest while inhibiting the migration and invasion of human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells

BACKGROUND

Ethyl acetate extracts from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (Sanyeqing) (EFT), a member of the Vitaceae plant family, have been shown to exhibit efficacy against a variety of cancers. In this light, our current study seeks to examine the mechanism of efficacy between EFT extracts and human pancreatic cancer PANC-1 cells.

METHODS

The chemical components of EFT were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The cytotoxicity of EFT on PANC-1 cells was measured using an MTT assay. In order to investigate EFT induction of cell cycle arrest, changes in cell-cycle distribution were monitored by flow cytometry. Wound healing and transwell assays were employed to investigate whether migration and invasion of PANC-1 cells were inhibited by EFT. Relative protein expression was detected using Western blot.

RESULTS

GC-MS analysis of the chemical composition of EFT revealed that the majority of constituents were organic acids and their corresponding esters. EFT exhibits measurable cytotoxicity and inhibition of PANC-1 invasion. Growth inhibition was primarily attributed to downregulation of CDK2 which induces cell cycle arrest in the S-phase. Inhibition of metastasis is achieved through downregulation of mesenchymal-associated genes/activators, including ZEB1, N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Fibronectin. Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin was significantly increased by EFT treatment. Furthermore, downregulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were observed.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of PANC-1 with EFT demonstrated measurable cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, EFT evoked S phase arrest while inhibiting the migration and invasion of PANC-1 cells. Additionally, EFT inhibited the epithelial to mesenchymal transition and MMPs expression in PANC-1 cells. This study serves to confirm the strong therapeutic potential of EFT while identifying the mechanisms of action.

β-Sitosterol targets ASS1 for Nrf2 ubiquitin-dependent degradation, inducing ROS-mediated apoptosis via the PTEN/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in ovarian cancer

The exploration of drugs derived from natural sources holds significant promise in addressing current limitations in ovarian cancer (OC) treatments. While previous studies have highlighted the remarkable anti-cancer properties of the natural compound β-sitosterol (SIT) across various tumors, its specific role in OC treatment remains unexplored. This study aims to investigate the anti-tumor activity of SIT in OC using in vitro and in vivo models, delineate potential mechanisms, and establish a preclinical theoretical foundation for future clinical trials, thus fostering further research. Utilizing network pharmacology, we pinpoint SIT as a promising candidate for OC treatment and predict its potential targets and pathways. Through a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments, we unveil a novel mechanism through which SIT mitigates the malignant biological behaviors of OC cells by modulating redox status. Specifically, SIT selectively targets argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), a protein markedly overexpressed in OC tissues and cells. Inhibiting ASS1, SIT enhances the interaction between Nrf2 and Keap1, instigating the ubiquitin-dependent degradation of Nrf2, subsequently diminishing the transcriptional activation of downstream antioxidant genes HO-1 and NQO1. The interruption of the antioxidant program by SIT results in the substantial accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in OC cells. This, in turn, upregulates PTEN, exerting negative regulation on the phosphorylation activation of AKT. The suppression of AKT signaling disrupted downstream pathways associated with cell cycle, cell survival, apoptosis, migration, and invasion, ultimately culminating in the death of OC cells. Our research uncovers new targets and mechanisms of SIT against OC, contributing to the existing knowledge on the anti-tumor effects of natural products in the context of OC. Additionally, this research unveils a novel role of ASS1 in regulating the Nrf2-mediated antioxidant program and governing redox homeostasis in OC, providing a deeper understanding of this complex disease.

Functional characterization of a cold related flavanone 3-hydroxylase from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum: an in vitro, in silico and in vivo study

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, a traditional Chinese medicine, frequently suffers from cold damage in the winter, leading to lower yields. There is a pressing need to improve cold resistance; however, the mechanisms underlying T. hemsleyanum responses to cold stress are still not clearly understood. Here, we explored the function of the flavanone 3-hydroxylase gene (ThF3H) in T. hemsleyanum under cold treatment. The open reading frame of ThF3H is 1092 bp and encodes 363 amino acid residues. In vitro, the ThF3H enzyme was expressed in E. coli and successfully catalyzed naringenin and eriodictyol into dihydrokaempferol and dihydroquercetin, respectively. ThF3H exhibited a higher affinity for naringenin than for eriodictyol, which was in accordance with an in silico molecular docking analysis. The optimal pH and temperature for ThF3H activity were 7.0 and 30 °C, respectively. In vivo, overexpression of the ThF3H gene enhanced the cold tolerance of transgenic Arabidopsis lines, which was likely due to the increase in flavonoids. Collectively, the function of a cold-related ThF3H in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway may be helpful for improving the cold tolerance of T. hemsleyanum through molecular breeding techniques.

β-Sitosterol as a Promising Anticancer Agent for Chemoprevention and Chemotherapy: Mechanisms of Action and Future Prospects

Cancer is one of the primary causes of death worldwide, and its incidence continues to increase yearly. Despite significant advances in research, the search for effective and nontoxic preventive and therapeutic agents remains greatly important. Cancer is a multimodal disease, where various mechanisms play significant roles in its occurrence and progression. This highlights the need for multitargeted approaches that are not only safe and inexpensive but also provide effective alternatives for current therapeutic regimens. β-Sitosterol (SIT), the most abundant phytosterol found in various plant foods, represents such an option. Preclinical evidence over the past few decades has overwhelmingly shown that SIT exhibits multiple anticancer activities against varied cancers, such as liver, cervical, colon, stomach, breast, lung, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, in addition to leukemia, multiple myeloma, melanoma, and fibrosarcoma. In this article, we present the latest advances and perspectives on SIT-systematically summarizing its antitumor mechanisms of action into 7 main sections and combining current challenges and prospects-for its use as a promising agent for cancer prevention and treatment. In particular, SIT plays a role in cancer prevention and treatment mainly by enhancing apoptosis, inducing cell cycle arrest, bidirectionally regulating oxidative stress, improving metabolic reprogramming, inhibiting invasion and metastasis, modulating immunity and inflammation, and combating drug resistance. Although SIT holds such great promise, the poor aqueous solubility and bioavailability coupled with low targeting efficacy limit its therapeutic efficacy and clinical application. Further research on novel drug delivery systems may improve these deficiencies. Overall, through complex and pleiotropic mechanisms, SIT has good potential for tumor chemoprevention and chemotherapy. However, no clinical trials have yet proven this potential. This review provides theoretical basis and rationality for the further design and conduct of clinical trials to confirm the anticancer activity of SIT.

Yiwei decoction promotes apoptosis of gastric cancer cells through spleen-derived exosomes

Yiwei decoction (YWD) is a formula of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that is clinically effective for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer recurrence and metastasis. According to the theory of TCM, YWD tonifies the body and strengthens the body's resistance to gastric cancer recurrence and metastasis potentially via the immune regulation of the spleen. The aims of the present study were to investigate whether YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in rats inhibit the proliferation of tumor cells, to elucidate the anticancer effects of YWD, and to provide evidence supporting the use of YWD as a new clinical treatment for gastric cancer. Spleen-derived exosomes were obtained by ultracentrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blot analysis. The location of the exosomes in tumor cells was then determined by immunofluorescence staining. After tumor cells were treated with different concentrations of exosomes, the effect of exosomes on cell proliferation was determined by cell counting kit 8 (CCK8) and colony formation assays. Tumor cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Particle analysis and western blot analysis identified the material extracted from spleen tissue supernatant as exosomes. Immunofluorescence staining showed that spleen-derived exosomes were taken up by HGC-27 cells, and the CCK8 assay confirmed that the relative tumor inhibition rate of YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in the 30 μg/mL reached 70.78% compared to control exosomes in the 30 μg/mL (p < 0.05). Compared to control exosomes in the 30 μg/mL, the colony formation assay indicated that YWD-treated spleen-derived exosomes in the 30 μg/mL colonies have decreased by 99.03% (p < 0.01). Moreover, flow cytometry analysis showed that treatment with YWD-treated exosomes in the 30 μg/mL increased the apoptosis rate to 43.27%, which was significantly higher than that of the control group in the 30 μg/mL (25.91%) (p < 0.05). In conclusion, spleen-derived exosomes from YWD-treated animals inhibit the proliferation of HGC-27 cells via inducing apoptosis, suggesting that spleen-derived exosomes are involved in mediating the antitumor effect of YWD. These results demonstrated a novel exosome-mediated anticancer effect of YWD as a TCM formula, thereby supporting the use of YWD-treated exosomes as a new approach for the clinical treatment of gastric cancer.

Screening out Biomarkers of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum for Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Based on Spectrum-Effect Relationship Coupled with UPLC-Q-TOF-MS

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg. (T. hemsleyanum) is an economically and medicinally valuable species within the genus Tetrastigma. However, the material basis of its pharmacological action and the biomarkers associated with its anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects are still unclear. Additionally, the T. hemsleyanum industry cannot grow because there is a lack of a scientific, universal, and measurable quality control system. This study aimed to explore the chemical basis quality markers related to the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects of T. hemsleyanum to establish an effective quality evaluation method. UPLC-Q-TOF-MSE fingerprint profiles of T. hemsleyanum from different origins were established. Pharmacodynamic studies used HepG2 and HuH-7 cells and LPS-induced RAW264.7 to evaluate the anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects of the active ingredients. The spectrum-effect relationships between UPLC fingerprints and anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using PCA and PLSR statistical methods. Moreover, docking analysis was performed to identify specific active biomarkers with molecular targets associated with cancer and inflammation. Chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, catechin, kaempferol 3-rutinoside, apigenin-8-C-glucoside, and linolenic acid were associated with anticancer activity, while chlorogenic acid, quercetin, quinic acid, kaempferol 3-rutinoside, rutinum, apigenin-8-C-glucoside, and linolenic acid were associated with anti-inflammatory activity. The spectrum-effect relationship of T. hemsleyanum was successfully established, and the biomarkers for anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects were preliminary confirmed. These findings provide a theoretical basis for the elucidation of the substance basis of T. hemsleyanum and lay the foundation for its rapid identification, quality control, industrial research, and utilization.

In Vitro Cytotoxicity and Spectral Analysis-Based Phytochemical Profiling of Methanol Extract of Barleria hochstetteri, and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Its Apoptosis-Inducing Effect on Breast and Lung Cancer Cell Lines

The objectives of this research were to carry out GC–MS and LC–MS-based phytochemical profiling of Barleria hochstetteri, as well as flow cytometry-based mechanistic investigations of the cytotoxic effect of its extracts against breast and lung cancer cell lines. This preclinical in vitro study was carried out in Saudi Arabia and India, from 11 August to 15 January 2022. Barleria hochstetteri was sequentially extracted using the Soxhlet extraction technique. Utilizing LC–MS and GC–MS methods, the phytochemical profiling was performed. Additionally, the total phenolic compounds and flavonoids were quantified in the plant extract using spectrophotometric techniques. In this study, we first examined the cytotoxicity of the plant extract on non-malignant L929 cells and on the carcinogenic MCF-7 and A549 cell lines. Then, we studied the underlying molecular pathways by means of Anti-Bcl-2, caspase-3, and DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) assays, using flow cytometry. The results revealed phenolic compounds and flavonoids to be the two major components in the methanolic extract of B. hochstetteri, with concentrations of 3210 µg GAE/g dwt and 1863 µg QE/g dwt, respectively. Results from GC–MS and LC–MS analyses revealed the presence of bioactive phytochemicals with known cytotoxicity. From the MTT assay on cell viability, the IC50 of the methanol extract for the MCF-7 and A549 cell lines were 219.67 and 144.30 µg/mL, respectively. With IC50 values of 324.24 and 266.66 µg/mL, respectively, the aqueous and methanol extracts were less toxic when tested against the non-cancerous L929 cell line. The extract caused early and late apoptosis in the tested breast and lung cancer cells by activating caspase-3 and inhibiting Bcl-2 protein, and it also caused cell death via DNA damage, based on flow cytometric and molecular marker analyses. These findings indicate that the methanol extract of B. hochstetteri was cytotoxic on breast cancer and lung cancer cell lines. To uncover cancer-fighting chemicals, there is a need for further research on B. hochstetteri, as it is a promising source of anti-cancer chemotherapeutic drugs.

Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 6 Identified as the Target Protein in the Antitumor Activity of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

Background

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (T. hemsleyanum) is widely used as an adjuvant drug for tumor therapy but its antitumor therapeutic targets and molecular mechanisms have remained unclear. The prediction and analysis of natural products has previously used only network pharmacology methods to identify potential target proteins from public databases. In this study, we use comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and experimental verification to determine the antitumor mechanism of T. hemsleyanum.

Methods

Network pharmacology analysis was used to predict the potential in vivo target proteins of T. hemsleyanum. The expression matrix and clinical data to perform an analysis of hub genes were collected from the TCGA and GTEx databases, specifically the analysis of expression, prognosis, tumor immune cell infiltration analysis, immune checkpoint genes, microsatellite instability, tumor mutational burden, tumor neoantigen, and immune microenvironment, which identify the roles and biological functions of the hub genes in pan-cancer. Finally, gene set enrichment analysis was used to verify the biological processes and signaling pathways involved in the pan-cancer expression profile.

Results

We found 124 potential in vivo target proteins of T. hemsleyanum through network pharmacological analysis, and five hub genes (AKR1C1, MET, PTK2, PIK3R1, and CDK6) were then screened by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis and molecular complex detection analysis (MCODE). Experimental intervention with an aqueous extract of T. hemsleyanum verified that these hub genes are the target proteins involved in the regulation of T. hemsleyanum in cells. A pan-cancer analysis then confirmed that CDK6 and MET are potential targets upon which T. hemsleyanum may exert antitumor action, especially in ACC, CESC, LGG, and PAAD. The CDK6 protein targeted by T. hemsleyanum is also involved in the immune and mutation process of pan-cancer, especially in the regulation of immune cell infiltration, immune checkpoint gene expression, microsatellite instability, tumor mutation burdens, and tumor neoantigens. Together, these analyses show that T. hemsleyanum affects tumor immune regulation and genomic stability. Finally, a gene set enrichment analysis confirmed that T. hemsleyanum regulates the cell cycle checkpoint.

Conclusions

We found that T. hemsleyanum can behave as an antitumor agent by acting as a potential cell cycle checkpoint inhibitor in CDK6-driven tumors, such as ACC, CESC, LGG, and PAAD, and that it acts as a tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor that inhibits the expression of the proto-oncogene MET. Combined with an analysis of immune and mutation correlations in pan-cancer, we determined that T. hemsleyanum may function biologically as an immune regulator and interfere with the stability of the tumor genome, which is worthy of further study.

Polysaccharides From the Aerial Parts of Tetrastigma Hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg Induce Bidirectional Immunity and Ameliorate LPS-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome in Mice

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (Sanyeqing, SYQ) has traditionally been used to treat inflammation, high fever and improve immune function of patients. Polysaccharides have been proved to be one of the important components of SYQ. Previous studies have confirmed the antipyretic and antitumor effects of polysaccharides from SYQ (SYQP), and clarified that SYQP could enhance immunity through TLR4 signalling pathway. However, there were more possibilities for the mechanism by which SYQP exerted immunomodulatory effects and the role of SYQP in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is elusive. The purpose of this study was further to explain the bidirectional modulation of immunity mechanism of SYQP in vitro and its effect in LPS-induced ARDS in vivo. Experimental results showed that SYQP significantly stimulated gene expressions of TLR1, TLR2 and TLR6 and secretion of cytokines in RAW264.7 cells. Individual or combined application of TLR2 antagonist C29 and TLR4 antagonist TAK-242 could reduce SYQP-mediated stimulation of cytokine secretion in RAW264.7 cells and mouse peritoneal macrophages (MPMs) to varying degrees. On the other hand, SYQP markedly inhibited the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines, NO, iNOS and COX-2 in LPS-treatment RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, in vivo results indicated that SYQP significantly reduced LPS-induced damage in ARDS mice through alleviating LPS-induced pulmonary morphological damage, inhibiting myeloperoxidase (MPO) expression levels, ameliorating the inflammatory cells in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and improving hematological status. Meanwhile, SYQP evidently reduced IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ secretion, the overexpression levels of TLR2 and TLR4, as well as the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65. In addition, SYQP reduced the phosphorylation of JAK2 and STAT1 and the overexpression of NLRP3, caspase-1, caspase-3 and caspase-8 in lung tissues of ARDS mice. In summary, our study confirmed that SYQP induced bidirectional immunity and ameliorated LPS-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome in mice through TLR2/TLR4-NF-κB, NLRP3/caspase and JAK/STAT signaling pathways, which provided a theoretical basis for further use of SYQP.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum flavones exert anti-hepatic carcinoma property both in vitro and in vivo

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum has been regarded as an anticancer food in China. However, its corresponding mechanisms remains unclear. Thus, in this study, the antitumor activity of flavones-rich fraction of root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (FRTH) was investigated in vitro and in vivo. The results indicated that FRTH could inhibit the proliferation and migration of HepG2 cells in vitro by PI3K/AKT pathway. FRTH could increase the ROS level and change the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in HepG2 cells. In addition, FRTH treatment (300, 600 mg/kg BW) significantly suppressed tumor growth on HepG2 tumor-bearing nude mice. Besides, immunohistochemistry assays and western blotting revealed that FRTH enhanced the expression level of Bax/Bcl-2, cytochrome C, Caspase-3, caspase-9, Cleaved-caspase-3, and downregulated the expression level of CD31, ki67 and VEGF in HepG2 tumor-bearing mice. Our study suggests Tetrastigma hemsleyanum as a promising candidate medicine for liver cancer treatment.

Digital RNA-seq transcriptome plus tissue anatomy analyses reveal the developmental mechanism of the calabash-shaped root in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg ex Diels is a liana plant with promising medicinal and ornamental values. Its calabash-shaped roots (CRs) are served as a traditional Chinese herb. However, it takes a long growth period to form CRs. In this study, three types of architectural roots, including fibrous roots (FRs), bar-shaped roots (BRs) and CRs, were employed as materials, and the characteristics of histo-anatomy and digital RNA-seq transcriptome profiles were analyzed. Among the three types of roots, the vascular bundles in FRs were intact, while some of the vascular bundles degenerated in BRs, and only few traces of vascular bundles existed in CRs. Meanwhile, no obvious cell inclusions were found in the cytoplasm of FRs, while a few inclusions were found in BRs, and abundant inclusions were detected in CRs, which might be the main source of medicinal components in roots. The transcriptome profiles and qRT-PCR validation indicated that seven upregulated genes, encoding xyloglucan glycosyltransferase, ACC oxidase, CYP711A1, SHORT-ROOT transcript factor, galacturonosyltransferas, WAT1 and WRKY, and two downregulated genes, encoding LRR receptor-like serine/threonine-protein kinase and CYP83B1, were probably involved in the formation and development of CRs. In addition, Gene Ontology terms of intrinsic component of membrane, integral component of membrane, cell periphery, membrane part, plasma membrane, membrane, intrinsic component of plasma membrane, cellular chemical homeostasis and plasma membrane part were probably related to the formation of CRs. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to the development of CRs probably included MAPK signaling pathway-plant, plant hormone signal transduction and circadian rhythm-plant. Our finding suggested a probable mode for the formation of CRs.

Radix Tetrastigma Extracts Enhance the Chemosensitivity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy

OBJECTIVE

Drug resistance in tumors is one of the major factors that leads to chemotherapy failure. This study aims to investigate the effect of Radix Tetrastigma extracts (RTEs) on Taxol-induced autophagy and the chemosensitivity against drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

Taxol-resistant MDA-MB-468 (MDA-MB-468/Taxol) cells were induced and treated with RTEs and/or Taxol. Mice were subcutaneously inoculated with MDA-MB- 468/Taxol cells to establish xenograft models. The associated protein levels were measured by western blotting. Flow cytometry, CCK-8 and EdU assay were performed to detect cell apoptosis, viability, and proliferation, respectively.

RESULTS

In MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells, RTEs & Taxol treatment increased cell apoptosis, reduced cell viability and proliferation, up-regulated anti-autophagy marker LC3I/LC3II ratio, and enhanced mTOR level. With RTEs & Taxol treatment, mTOR silencing downregulated LC3I/LC3II ratio, increased cell viability and proliferation, and reduced cell apoptosis, while mTOR overexpression showed the opposite results. PI3K inhibitor reduced AKT and mTOR levels, and the effects on cell activities were similar to the results of mTOR silencing. After RTEs & Taxol injection, xenograft tumor was smaller, and AKT, mTOR, LC3I/LC3II ratio and apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 were increased.

CONCLUSION

RTEs enhanced the chemosensitivity of resistant TNBC cells to Taxol through inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated autophagy.

MICRO

RTEs exerted anti-tumor effects in various cancers, and this study determined its role in TNBC. Taxol-resistant MDA-MB-468 cells were induced and xenograft models were established. We found that RTEs inhibited autophagy of MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells and reduced tumor growth. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway promoted autophagy of MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells. We may provide a new potential strategy for TNBC treatment.

Dietary flavone from the Tetrastigma hemsleyanum vine triggers human lung adenocarcinoma apoptosis via autophagy

Among all types of cancers, lung cancer ranks first in morbidity and mortality, and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 80-85% of all lung cancer cases. Chemotherapy has shown promising results, but the accompanying side-effects cannot be neglected. Herein, we introduce novel flavones (TVF), which were characterized as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside by UPLC-MS/MS, derived from the vine of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TV), a traditional Chinese herb and food. TVF exhibited outstanding anti-cancer abilities at the in vitro and in vivo level, and markedly triggered apoptosis via the Bax/Bcl-2/caspase-9/caspase-3 pathway. The intrinsic mechanism study illustrated that TVF might induce apoptosis by activating autophagy by inhibiting the Akt-mTOR pathway, and the main component of TVF, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, enabled THR308 site binding to block the phosphorylation of Akt, which was further evidenced by molecular docking computation. Our study reveals the excellent anti-cancer ability and inner mechanism of TVF, suggesting TVF as a potential candidate for clinical drug exploitation or dietary supplementation in cancer medication and prevention, providing a promising strategy for cancer chemotherapy.

The research progresses and future prospects of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg: A valuable Chinese herbal medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, known as Sanyeqing in China, was an extensively used folk Chinese herbal medicine. This plant had been validated to be highly effective for treating high fever, pneumonia, hepatitis, gastritis, cervicitis, lymphatic tuberculosis, septicemia, and viral meningitis.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

As a review in T. hemsleyanum, this article aims to provide a critical and comprehensive evaluation for future research as well as the development of new drugs. The possible uses and future research directions of this plant were also discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was conducted on different scientific search engines, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI. Additional information was obtained from classic books about Chinese herbal medicine and scientific databases.

RESULTS

T. hemsleyanum was a perennial herb climbing vine, which was mainly based on field cultivation. About 150 chemical compounds have been isolated from T. hemsleyanum, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharides, triterpenoids, steroids, and organic acids. Studies on the physiological aspects of T. hemsleyanum have been focused on the effects of light and fertilizer on their growth, and few other studies have been conducted. The plant had widespread pharmacological effects on the immune system, as well as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic.

CONCLUSIONS

T. hemsleyanum was a valuable traditional Chinese medical herb with pharmacological activities that mainly affected the immune system. This review summarized its botanical description, cultivation techniques, physiology, ethnopharmacology, chemical components, and pharmacological functions. This information suggested that we should focus on the development of new drugs related to T. hemsleyanum. Meanwhile, it was important to emphasize the traditional use of T. hemsleyanum, avoiding over-harvesting that exerted a great impact on resource scarcity. And developing its new clinical usage and comprehensive utilize would augment the therapeutic potentials of T. hemsleyanum.

Comparison of Anticancer Activity of Dorycnium pentaphyllum Extract on MCF-7 and MCF-12A Cell Line: Correlation with Invasion and Adhesion

Dorycnium pentaphyllum subsp. haussknechtii is an important medicinal plant in several countries, including Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of a crude extract of D. pentaphyllum subsp. haussknechtii against different breast cell lines to determine invasion, adhesion, and lipid peroxidation. The cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 breast cancer and MCF-12A as the immortalized cell line were examined by the XTT assay. Invasion and adhesion studies were performed according to the manufacturer's kit procedure to IC₅₀ values for 48 h. Lipid peroxidation was measured in the MCF-7 cell. A bioinformatics analysis was conducted to unravel the mechanism of action underlying antiproliferative effects, as well. According to XTT results, the tested extract showed a time- and a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect. The most effective concentration was 100.5 µg/mL (48 h), which was selected for biological activities, such as apoptotic activity, invasion, adhesion, and lipid peroxidation assays. The extract caused tumoral cell death, and it did not have a cytotoxic effect on healthy human breast cells. Duplication times and measurement of CI analyses of cells were performed using the real-time cell analysis system xCELLigence. Finally, the bioinformatics analysis indicated the prominent role of quercetin as an extract component exerting a key role in the observed antiproliferative effects. This was supported by the micromolar/submicromolar affinity of quercetin towards proto-oncogene serine/threonine-protein kinase (PIM-1) and hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK), both involved in breast cancer. Altogether, our findings proposed that the extraction of the plant can be an effective strategy to isolate biomolecules with promising cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells.

Radix Tetrastigma Inhibits the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-9/Caspase-3 Pathway

Lung cancer with high mortality is regarded as a challenging global problem with unsatisfied curative effects. Clinically, the chemotherapy drugs are often faced with side-effects and tumor resistance. Radix Tetrastigma (RT) is a traditional Chinese herb and now regarded as a kind of functional food. In this study, A549-bearing nude mice control was adopted to evaluate the anti-tumor capacity of RT. Results demonstrated that RT showed excellent anti-tumor ability with no side-effect on mice compared to chemotherapy drug (5-Fu).Further studies proved that RT down-regulated the proliferation-related proteins (PCNA, Ki67) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, RT up-regulated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, which caused the over-expression of Caspase-9, leading to the activation of downstream protein caspase-3, eventually resulting in apoptosis of A549 in solid tumor. These results together suggest that RT inhibits the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via Bax/Bcl2/Caspase-9/Caspase-3 pathway. Furthermore, the anti-A549 abilities of the main flavonoid components from RT were compared, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside would play a role in RT's outstanding anti-NSCLC ability.

Total flavonoids of Radix Tetrastigma suppress inflammation-related hepatocellular carcinoma cell metastasis

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the total flavonoids of Radix Tetrastigma (RTF) on inflammation-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. Extracted RTF was diluted to different concentrations for subsequent experiments. HCC cells were cotreated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and RTF to investigate the effects of RTF on LPS-stimulated HCC cells. A CCK-8 kit was used to measure cell proliferation. Apoptosis was detected with a flow cytometer. Cell migration and invasion were quantified by wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The expression of TLR4 and COX-2 and activation of the NF-κB pathway were determined by Western blotting. Treatment with LPS significantly enhanced cell proliferation and decreased the apoptosis rate, while cell migration and invasion were notably upregulated. RTF suppressed the proliferation and invasion induced by LPS stimulation and promoted HCC cell apoptosis. The protein levels of Bax and cleaved caspase-3 were decreased and that of Bcl-2 was increased by LPS in HCC cells, which could be rescued by RTF. RTF significantly inhibited the LPS-induced expression of the proinflammatory mediators IL-6 and IL-8 in HCC cells. Mechanistically, with RTF treatment, the upregulated expression of TLR4 and COX-2 induced by LPS was obviously downregulated. Furthermore, the phosphorylation of NF-κB/p65 was significantly decreased in LPS-stimulated cells after supplementation with RTF. Our study suggests that RTF exerts a significant inhibitory effect on the LPS-induced enhancement of the malignant behaviors of HCC cells via inactivation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling. RTF may be a promising chemotherapeutic agent to limit HCC development and inflammation-mediated metastasis.

Characterization of polysaccharides from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg Roots and their effects on antioxidant activity and H2O2-induced oxidative damage in RAW 264.7 cells

This work presents an investigation on the composition and structure of polysaccharides from the roots of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (THP) and its associated antioxidant activity. It further explores the protective effect of THP on RAW264.7 cells against cytotoxicity induced by H₂O₂. Ion chromatography (IC) revealed that THP contained glucose, arabinose, mannose, glucuronic acid, galactose and galacturonic acid, in different molar ratios. Furthermore, gel permeation chromatography-refractive index-multiangle laser light scattering (GPC-RI-MALS) was employed to deduce the relative molecular mass (M_w) of the polysaccharide, which was 177.1 ± 1.8 kDa. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and Congo red binding assay highlighted that the THP had a steady α-triple helix conformation. Similarly, assays of antioxidant activity disclosed that THP had reasonable concentration-dependent hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical scavenging activities, peroxidation inhibition ability and ferrous ion chelating potency, in addition to a significant 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity. Moreover, THP could protect RAW264.7 cells against H₂O₂-induced cytotoxicity by decreasing intracellular ROS levels, reducing catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, increasing lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and increment in malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Data retrieved from the in vitro models explicitly established the antioxidant capability of polysaccharides from T. hemsleyanum root extracts.

A comprehensive review on traditional uses, chemical compositions, pharmacology properties and toxicology of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (T.hemsleyanum), a rare herbal plant distributed in subtropical areas of mainland China, has become a focus of scientific attention in recent years because of its high traditional value, including uses for treatment of children with fever, pneumonia, asthma, rheumatism, hepatitis, menstrual disorders, scrofula, and pharynx pain.

AIM

This systematic review aims to provide an insightful understanding of traditional uses, chemical composition, pharmacological effect and clinical application of T. hemsleyanum, and lay a foundation for the further study and for the utilization of T. hemsleyanum resource.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A domestic and overseas literature search in known databases was conducted for published articles using the relevant keywords.

RESULTS

One hundred and forty-two chemical constituents identified from T. hemsleyanum have been reported, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, polysaccharide, organic acids, fatty acids, terpenoids, steroids, amino acid and others. Among these components, flavonoids and polysaccharides were the representative active ingredients of T. hemsleyanum, which have been widely investigated. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that these components exhibited various pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antivirus, antitumor, antipyretic, anti-hepatic injury, immunomodulatory, antibacterial etc. Moreover, different toxicological studies indicated that the clinical dosage of T. hemsleyanum was safe and reliable.

CONCLUSIONS

Modern pharmacological studies have well supported and clarified some traditional uses, and T. hemsleyanum has a good prospect for the development of new drugs due to these outstanding properties. However, the present findings did not provide an in-depth evaluation of bioactivity of the extracts, the composition of its active extracts was not clear. Moreover, they were insufficient to satisfactorily explain some mechanisms of action. Data regarding many aspects of T. hemsleyanum, such as links between the traditional uses and bioactivities, pharmacokinetics, quality control standard and the clinical value of active compositions is still limited which need more attention.

The Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg in China: A Review

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg (TDG), the family member of Vitaceae, is a traditional herbal medicine in China. The root of TDG can be immediately used after cleaning the muddy soil, and can be dehydrated for dry use. TDG is able to be collected all year round, which is commonly used in the treatment of hepatitis, infantile high fever, snake bite, etc. Based on phytochemistry, the chemical components of TDG are divided into flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, steroids, polysaccharide, and other compounds, showing many pharmacological effects which include anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and immunomodulatory activity, as well as other activities. Currently, TDG involves some problems of the reduction of wild resources, the backward processing methods, and storage difficulties as well as the imperfection of detection methods. Therefore, this review summarizes the literature of the past 20 years, and the purpose of this review is to summarize the recent researches on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, and clinical application of TDG. The above discussions provide new insights for the future research on TDG.

Antipyretic and antitumor effects of a purified polysaccharide from aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg (Sanyeqing) is traditionally used as a folk medicine for the treatments of inflammation, high fever, hepatitis and cancer, and can improve the immune function of the patient. It belongs to the family of Vitaceae, and is mainly distributed in southeast China (Yunnan province) and can be found in India (Andaman Islands), Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia in the valleys with 1100-1300 m above the sea level.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to characterize the chemical properties of a purified polysaccharide extracted from the aerial part of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (SYQP) and investigate its antipyretic and antitumor effects in mice models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Water-soluble crude polysaccharides from the aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum were extracted and fractionated by DEAE and gel permeation chromatography. Homogeneity, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and FTIR analysis were performed to characterize the SYQP. Antipyretic effect of SYQP was examined using Brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia test. Antitumor effect was investigated using H22 tumor bearing mice. The serum cytokines were determined to evaluated the biological activities of SYQP.

RESULTS

SYQP was composed of galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), and rhamnose (Rha) with a molar ratio of 11.3:7.1:2.5:1.0:0.9:0.5 and it had an average molecular weight of 66.2 kDa. The oral administration of SYQP at 200 and 400 mg/kg could markedly suppress the hyperthermia of mice induced by Brewer's yeast and decrease the production of cytokines especially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the serum of mice. SYQP inhibited the growth of H22 tumor in mice with inhibitory rate of 39.9% at the administration dose of 200 mg/kg and increased the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). Experimental results showed that the preventive administration of SYQP before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduced the high cytokine levels such as IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, indicating that SYQP might act as a competitor with LPS to interact with toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), which further regulated the secretion of cytokines.

CONCLUSION

The anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of SYQP might be related to its regulation of host immune function by controlling the secretion of cytokines.

Inhibition potential of phenolic constituents from the aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum against soluble epoxide hydrolase and nitric oxide synthase

The aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (APTH) have been used as a functional tea in China. The purpose of the current study was to identify the bioactive constituents with inhibitory activity against soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), which are jointly considered potential therapeutic targets for vascular system diseases. In the present study, 39 compounds (1-39) were isolated from the APTH. Among them, compounds 8, 10, 12, 16, 17, 19, and 32 displayed potential activities, with IC50 values ranging from 4.5 to 9.5 µM, respectively, and all in non-competitive inhibition mode. Compounds 5, 10, 12, 19, and 32 displayed potent iNOS inhibitory effects, with IC50 values ranging from 15.6 to 47.3 µM. The results obtained in this work contribute to a better understanding of the pharmacological activities of T. hemsleyanum and its potential application as a functional food.

The influence of the extraction method on bioactivity of the root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum is traditionally used as a folk medicine and functional food in China. Its extracts have been confirmed to have many bioactivities. However, the effect of extracting temperature on its bioactivity has not been reported. In this research, the total flavonoids content (TFC), total polyphenol content (TPC), antiproliferative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts and water extracts (extracted at 55, 70, 85, and 100°C) were observed. The results indicated that ethanol extracts showed better antioxidant activity with DPPH EC50 of 504.1 ± 3.8 μg/ml and ABTS EC50 of 851.4 ± 3.9 μg/ml. A better antiproliferative activity on HepG2, PC12, Caco-2, and Hela cells was observed on ethanol extracts. The results of anti-inflammatory activities also indicated that all of the extracts can reduce the NO production of LPS-stimulated macrophage with dose-independent manner. In summary, the results showed that the antiproliferative, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of water extracts decreased with the increasing temperature to some extent.

Radix Tetrastigma flavonoid ameliorates inflammation and prolongs the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans through JNK, p38 and Nrf2 pathways

The main flavonoid components of Radix Tetrastigma (RTF) were extracted and identified by UPLC-TOF/MS. In vitro, RTF prevented inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells by suppressing morphological (both cell and nucleus) changes, and decreasing nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) contents. Exposure to LPS also leads to oxidant damage, and RTF alleviated damage to mitochondria, decreased O₂^- accumulation, and restored the glutathione level. RTF intervention decreased the expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 phosphorylation, accompanied by downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1). In vivo, aging of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) by paraquat (PQ) was observed through lifespan, lipofuscin, and enzyme analysis. RTF protected against damage in N2 worms but not in daf-16 mutants. Gene expression was further assessed, and p38/PMK-1 and Nrf2/SKN-1 expression in worms was suppressed by PQ, which was reversed by RTF treatment. Together, these results suggested that RTF could help ameliorate inflammation-induced damage through JNK, p38 and Nrf2 pathways.

Proteomics analysis demonstrating rosmarinic acid suppresses cell growth by blocking the glycolytic pathway in human HepG2 cells

Rosmarinic acid (RA), isolated from herbal balm mint plants, has demonstrated potent anti-tumor properties against liver cancer. However, the precise underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms of RA in HepG2 cells. RA anti-tumor activity was assessed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, and Hoechst 33258 staining. Apoptosis and the cell cycle distribution were evaluated by flow cytometry. A proteomics approach was used to identify differentially expressed proteins following RA treatment in HepG2 cells, and quantitative reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to validate the results. Bioinformatics analysis was also implemented to further understand the identified proteins, and western blotting was used to analyze the associated proteins. Our results suggested that RA treatment significantly inhibits the viability of HepG2 cells. The MTT and LDH assays indicated dose-dependent decreases in cell proliferation following RA treatment. Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry analysis showed that RA exhibits an apoptosis-inducing effect and induces cell cycle arrest in G1. The proteomics analysis successfully identified 16 differentially expressed proteins. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the identified proteins participated in several biological processes and exhibited various molecular functions, mainly related to inactivation of the glycolytic pathway. Further western blotting analysis showed that RA could downregulate the expression of glucose transporter-1 and hexokinase-2, leading to the suppression of glucose consumption and generation of lactate and ATP. Taken together, our study found that RA exhibits significant cytotoxic effects by inhibiting cell proliferation and inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, possibly by blocking the glycolytic pathway in human HepG2 cells.

Alkaloids from Tetrastigma hemsleyanum and Their Anti-Inflammatory Effects on LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Cells

Alkaloids 1–10 were isolated from the aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (APTH) and obtained from species of the genus Tetrastigma for the first time. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were identified by NMR, UV, and MS analyses. Their anti-inflammatory activities were investigated by measuring nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages. Among all the isolates, compounds 6, 7 and 10 showed potent inhibitory activity against LPS-stimulated NO production in RAW264.7 cells (IC₅₀: 31.9, 25.2 and 6.3 μM, respectively). Furthermore, APTH and S-(−)-trolline (10) inhibited induction of inflammatory cytokines or mediators such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) via suppression of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) translocation into the nucleus. In addition, 10 suppressed extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner. These results conclusively demonstrated that compound 10 displays anti-inflammatory activity via suppression of NF-κB activation and the ERK-MAPK signaling pathway in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells.

Isoquercitrin, ingredients in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, inhibits hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor-induced tumor cell migration and invasion

Aberrant activation of hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) and its receptor, Met, is involved in the development and progression of many human cancers. In the screening assay of extracts from the root tuber of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg, isoquercitrin inhibited HGF/SF-Met signaling as indicated by its inhibitory activity on HGF/SF-induced cell scattering. Further analysis revealed that isoquercitrin specifically inhibited HGF/SF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of Met. We also found that isoquercitrin decreased HGF-induced migration and invasion by parental or HGF/SF-transfected bladder carcinoma cell line NBT-II cells. Furthermore, isoquercitrin inhibited HGF/SF-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition in vitro and the invasion/metastasis of HGF/SF-transfected NBT-II cells in vivo. Our data suggest the possible use of isoquercitrin in human cancers associated with dysregulated HGF/SF-Met signaling.

Bauhinia variegata candida Fraction Induces Tumor Cell Death by Activation of Caspase-3, RIP, and TNF-R1 and Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion In Vitro

Metastasis remains the most common cause of death in cancer patients. Inhibition of metalloproteinases (MMPs) is an interesting approach to cancer therapy because of their role in the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM), cell-cell, and cell-ECM interactions, modulating key events in cell migration and invasion. Herein, we show the cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects of the third fraction (FR3) from Bauhinia variegata candida (Bvc) stem on human cervical tumor cells (HeLa) and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). FR3 inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity, indicated by zymogram. This fraction was cytotoxic to HeLa cells and noncytotoxic to PBMCs and decreased HeLa cell migration and invasion. FR3 is believed to stimulate extrinsic apoptosis together with necroptosis, assessed by western blotting. FR3 inhibited MMP-2 activity in the HeLa supernatant, differently from the control. The atomic mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) characterization suggested the presence of glucopyranosides, D-pinitol, fatty acids, and phenolic acid. These findings provide insight suggesting that FR3 contains components with potential tumor-selective cytotoxic action in addition to the action on the migration of tumor cells, which may be due to inhibition of MMPs.

The phenolic profiles of Radix Tetrastigma after solid phase extraction (SPE) and their antitumor effects and antioxidant activities in H22 tumor-bearing mice

Photographic illustrations of phenolic profiles, antitumor effects and antioxidant activities of Radix Tetrastigma after solid phase extraction (SPE) in H22 tumor-bearing mice.