Acetone extract of Angelica sinensis inhibits proliferation of human cancer cells via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis

Cheminformatics-based analysis identified (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxy benzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one as an inhibitor of Marburg replication by interacting with NP

The highly pathogenic Marburg virus (MARV) is a member of the Filoviridae family, a non-segmented negative-strand RNA virus. This article represents the computer-aided drug design (CADD) approach for identifying drug-like compounds that prevent the MARV virus disease by inhibiting nucleoprotein, which is responsible for their replication. This study used a wide range of in silico drug design techniques to identify potential drugs. Out of 368 natural compounds, 202 compounds passed ADMET, and molecular docking identified the top two molecules (CID: 1804018 and 5280520) with a high binding affinity of -6.77 and -6.672 kcal/mol, respectively. Both compounds showed interactions with the common amino acid residues SER_216, ARG_215, TYR_135, CYS_195, and ILE_108, which indicates that lead compounds and control ligands interact in the common active site/catalytic site of the protein. The negative binding free energies of CID: 1804018 and 5280520 were -66.01 and -31.29 kcal/mol, respectively. Two lead compounds were re-evaluated using MD modeling techniques, which confirmed CID: 1804018 as the most stable when complexed with the target protein. PC3 of the (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one (CID: 1804018) was 8.74 %, whereas PC3 of the 2'-Hydroxydaidzein (CID: 5280520) was 11.25 %. In this study, (Z)-2-(2,5-dimethoxybenzylidene)-6-(2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-2-oxoethoxy) benzofuran-3(2H)-one (CID: 1804018) unveiled the significant stability of the proteins' binding site in ADMET, Molecular docking, MM-GBSA and MD simulation analysis studies, which also showed a high negative binding free energy value, confirming as the best drug candidate which is found in Angelica archangelica which may potentially inhibit the replication of MARV nucleoprotein.

A comprehensive review of the classical prescription Yiguan Jian: Phytochemistry, quality control, clinical applications, pharmacology, and safety profile

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yiguan Jian (YGJ) is a classical prescription, which employs 6 kinds of medicinal herbs including Rehmanniae Radix, Lycii Fructus, Angelicae sinensis Radix, Glehniae Radix, Ophiopogonis Radix, and Toosendan Fructus. YGJ decoction is originally prescribed in Qing Dynasty (1636 CE ∼ 1912 CE) in China, and is commonly used to treat liver diseases. There remain abundant literature investigating YGJ decoction from multiple aspects, but few reviews summarized the research and gave a precise definition, which impedes further applications and commercialization of YGJ decoction.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The aim of this review is to provide comprehensive descriptions of YGJ decoction, tackling with issues in the research and development of YGJ decoction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature and clinical reports were obtained from the databases including Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, China Science Periodical Database, China Science and Technology Journal Database, and SinoMed since 2000. The phytochemical characteristics, quality control, pharmaceutical forms, clinical position, pharmacological effects, and toxic events of YGJ decoction were included for analysis.

RESULT

This review firstly summarized the progress of the chemical existences of YGJ decoction and discussed the advanced methods in monitoring quality of YGJ decoction and its herbal ingredients, particularly in the form of granules. Whilst this review aims to identify the pharmacological actions and clinical impacts of YGJ decoction, the medicinal materials that could provide these benefits were observed in the remaining herbs to exert the anti-fibrotic effects, anti-inflammatory activities, anti-cancer, and anti-diabetic effects, and to universally treat liver and gastric diseases. This review provided supplementary descriptions on the safety issues, especially in Glehniae Radix and Toosendan Fructus, to define the alterations between hepatoprotective activities and unclear toxics in YGJ decoction application.

CONCLUSIONS

Our comprehensively organized review discussed the chemical characteristics and the research in altering or identifying these essences. The effects of YGJ decoction on the non-clinical and clinical tests exert the good management of sophisticated diseases. In this review, current issues are discussed to inform and inspire subsequent research of YGJ decoction and other classical prescriptions.

Molecular docking simulation and in vitro studies on estrogenic activities of flavonoids from leaves of Carya cathayensis Sarg

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the estrogenic properties of total flavonoids (TFs) and five flavonoid monomers (cardamonin (Car), pinostrobin chalcone (PC), wogonin (Wo), chrysin (Chr) and Pinocembrin (PI)) from leaves of Carya cathayensis Sarg (LCC). TFs from LCC were isolated and determined using HPLC. The 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and flow cytometry were performed to assess the effects of flavonoids on cell proliferation and cell cycle, respectively. The molecular docking technique was applied to investigate binding conformations of the monomers from LCC to the estrogen receptor ERα and ERβ. Gene and protein expression patterns were assessed using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) and western blot, respectively. The results showed that TFs, Car, PC, Wo and Chr promoted proliferation of MCF-7 cells and cell transition from the G1 to S phase, and inhabitation of MCF-7 cell proliferation was observed after the treatment of PI. Molecular docking studies confirmed ERs as molecular targets for the monomers. TFs, Car, PC, Wo and Chr from LCC promoted gene expression of ERα, ERβ, progesterone receptor (PR) and pS2. Our collective results demonstrated that TFs and monomers from LCC may exert ER agonist activity through competitively bind to ER, inducing ER upregulation and active ER to estrogen response element (ERE)- independent gene regulation. As an abundant natural product, LCC may provide a novel medicinal source for treatment of diseases caused by estrogen deficiency.

Anticancer, antioxidant, and acute toxicity studies of a Saudi polyherbal formulation, PHF5

A popular polyherbal formulation prepared from five plants (PHF5) may have anticancer effects. However, there is a lack of adequate scientific evidence. We assessed the anticancer, antioxidant, and acute toxicity effects of PHF5. Cancer cells were treated with 0 to 300 μg/mL PHF5 extract. Established assays were used to assess cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and radical scavenging activities. In the acute toxicity study, mice were administered a single oral dose (2,000 mg/kg) of PHF5, and biochemical and histopathological parameters were assessed. The IC50 values of PHF5 on LoVo, HepG2, MCF-7, and MDA-MB 231 cells were 71.8, 64.8, 45.3, and 47.3 μg/mL, respectively. Fluorescence staining demonstrated that PHF5 induced MCF-7 cell apoptosis. After 48 h, the percentage of late apoptotic cells increased significantly compared with the control cells (74.16 ± 0.64 vs 3.7 ± 2.05, P < 0.05). No mortality or behavioral alterations were observed in mice treated with a single dose (2,000 mg/kg) of PHF5, indicating that the LD50 value exceeded 2,000 mg/kg. However, histopathological changes were observed in the liver tissues. PHF5 has potential as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human carcinoma. Further safety data will be necessary before clinical use.

Wound Healing and the Use of Medicinal Plants

Cutaneous wound healing is the process by which skin repairs itself. It is generally accepted that cutaneous wound healing can be divided into 4 phases: haemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodelling. In humans, keratinocytes re-form a functional epidermis (reepithelialization) as rapidly as possible, closing the wound and reestablishing tissue homeostasis. Dermal fibroblasts migrate into the wound bed and proliferate, creating “granulation tissue” rich in extracellular matrix proteins and supporting the growth of new blood vessels. Ultimately, this is remodelled over an extended period, returning the injured tissue to a state similar to that before injury. Dysregulation in any phase of the wound healing cascade delays healing and may result in various skin pathologies, including nonhealing, or chronic ulceration. Indigenous and traditional medicines make extensive use of natural products and derivatives of natural products and provide more than half of all medicines consumed today throughout the world. Recognising the important role traditional medicine continues to play, we have undertaken an extensive survey of literature reporting the use of medical plants and plant-based products for cutaneous wounds. We describe the active ingredients, bioactivities, clinical uses, formulations, methods of preparation, and clinical value of 36 medical plant species. Several species stand out, including Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, and Paeonia suffruticosa, which are popular wound healing products used by several cultures and ethnic groups. The popularity and evidence of continued use clearly indicates that there are still lessons to be learned from traditional practices. Hidden in the myriad of natural products and derivatives from natural products are undescribed reagents, unexplored combinations, and adjunct compounds that could have a place in the contemporary therapeutic inventory.

Comprehensive changes in volatile/nonvolatile compounds and flavor and physicochemical characteristics in Angelica gigas Nakai roots by thermal processing

This study investigated the changes of physicochemical and flavor characteristics of Angelica gigas Nakai roots during roasting. Glutamic acid and arginine were higher in constituent amino acids. In the taste value, glutamic acid was highest in constituent and free amino acids. Total phenol contents were highest in 0 min and lowest in 3 min. Hundred twenty-six volatile compounds were detected by GC/MS during roasting. α-pinene, eudesmol, nonane, and limonene were detected as major volatile compounds. For antioxidant ability, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl did not change during roasting, and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid showed the highest value in 3 min. Browning intensity showed a slight decrease over time. In Electronic nose, fragrance increased by roasting, and strength, NH₃ , and H₂ S decreased significantly. In Electronic tongue, sweetness, bitterness, and umami taste increased by roasting, and this was related to amino acid composition. The results provide basic data on the physicochemical and flavor characteristics of A. gigas Nakai according to the roasting process. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Angelica gigas Nakai has been known as a medicinal herb in Asian countries and usually consumed in powder, tea, and snacks. In order to produce the powder, tea, or snacks with A. gigas Nakai, thermal treatment is an essential and critical process. Despite that existing studies reported many physiological benefits and functional properties of A. gigas Nakai, studies have rarely discovered how the nutritional properties and volatile compounds of A. gigas Nakai alter when it undergoes thermal treatment. Therefore, this study will be utilized as basic data to optimize the thermal processing conditions (e.g., roasting time) for the production of food products with A. gigas Nakai such as tea and snacks. This study further provides objective chemical measures of sensory profiles of A. gigas Nakai using electronic tongue and electronic nose during the thermal processing.

Beneficial effect of Burdock complex on asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori-infected subjects: A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders. This study intended to examine the anti-H. pylori activity of BC on AGS cell model as well as in asymptomatic H. pylori-infected subjects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AGS cell incubated with H. pylori and treated with BC to evaluate the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), cell viability (MTT) anti-adhesion activity, and inflammatory markers. In case of clinical trial, H. pylori-positive subjects (urea breath test [UBT] >10%, n = 36) were enrolled and requested to intake BC (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17) for 8 weeks. Antioxidant capacity, total phenol, UBT, inflammatory markers were analyzed at the initial, 4th, 8th, and 10th weeks. Moreover, the endoscopic examination was carried out on baseline and 10th week.

RESULTS

In vitro studies showed that BC treatment significantly inhibited (P < .05) the inflammatory markers and adhesion of H. pylori to AGS cell. However, H. pylori-infected subject ingested with BC for 8 weeks significantly decreased (P < .05) the UBT value, inflammatory markers with improved antioxidant activity, and phenolic levels as compared to placebo. Also, consumption of BC considerably healed the ulcer wound.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the BC could attenuate H. pylori infection by inhibiting H. pylori adhesion and subsequent inflammatory response on the gastric epithelial cell (AGS) as well as clinically ameliorated UBT, antioxidant capacity, and alleviated inflammation to display its anti-H. pylori activity.

Huaier extract synergizes with tamoxifen to induce autophagy and apoptosis in ER-positive breast cancer cells

Tamoxifen (TAM) is the most widely used endocrine therapy for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer patients, but side effects and the gradual development of insensitivity limit its application. We investigated whether Huaier extract, a traditional Chinese medicine, in combination with TAM would improve treatment efficacy in ER-positive breast cancers. MTT, colony formation, and invasion and migration assays revealed that the combined treatment had stronger anticancer effects than either treatment alone. Huaier extract enhanced TAM-induced autophagy, apoptosis, and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest, as measured by acidic vesicular organelle (AVO) staining, TUNEL, flow cytometry, and western blot. Additionally, combined treatment inhibited tumorigenesis and metastasis by suppressing the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Huaier extract also enhanced the inhibitory effects of TAM on tumor growth in vivo in a xenograft mouse model. These results show that Huaier extract synergizes with TAM to induce autophagy and apoptosis in ER-positive breast cancer cells by suppressing the AKT/mTOR pathway.

Cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death induced by Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts in A431 skin cancer cells

Vitis vinifera. L is one of the most widely consumed fruits in the world and are rich in antioxidant abundant polyphenols. The present study was carried out to assess the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts in an in vitro model using human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cell lines. Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts were incubated with A431 cells to evaluate the antiproliferative, apoptotic effects and the morphological apoptotic changes induced by the extracts. Mitochondrial membrane potential was also measured after incubating the cells with extracts. At the inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀), grape seed extract (111.11 µg/mL) and grape peel extract (319.14 µg/mL) were incubated for 24 h with A431 cells. Vitis vinifera peel and seed extracts were able to impart cytotoxic effects, induced apoptosis and apoptotic morphological changes in A431 cells significantly (p < 0.01) and this effect is associated with the interference with mitochondrial membrane potential. This reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential probably initiated the apoptotic cascade in the extracts treated cells. Vitis vinifera peel and seed phytochemicals can selectively target cancer cells and the phytochemicals that are occluded can serve as potential anticancer agents providing better efficacy in killing cancer cells.

SH003‑induced G1 phase cell cycle arrest induces apoptosis in HeLa cervical cancer cells

Cervical cancer is a prevalent disease that may lead to mortality in women. In spite of the development of common therapeutic agents to treat cancer, there are several limitations of their use owing to side effects and drug resistance, which may induce cancer recurrence. The anticancer effects of the new herbal mixture SH003 (comprising Astragalus membranaceus, Angelica gigas and Trichosanthes kirilowii Maximowicz) have been examined in various types of cancer. Thus, the present study hypothesized that SH003 may be an effective treatment for cervical cancer. SH003 treatment inhibited the growth of HeLa cells, whereas it did not affect the growth of rat intestinal epithelial cells. In addition, SH003 treatment increased the expression of apoptosis‑related proteins and promoted apoptotic cell death in HeLa cells. SH003 treatment also led to G1 phase arrest in HeLa cells. Furthermore, SH003 treatment induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS); however, ROS production did not appear to be related to SH003‑mediated apoptosis. Results from the present study indicated that the SH003‑induced inhibition of HeLa cell growth may be mediated through G1 phase arrest and extrinsic apoptosis, suggested that SH003 may be a potential treatment for cervical cancer.

Antiangiogenic activity of phthalides-enriched Angelica Sinensis extract by suppressing WSB-1/pVHL/HIF-1α/VEGF signaling in bladder cancer

The hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) plays a critical role in tumor angiogenesis. It has been reported that the acetone extract of Angelica sinensis (AE-AS) rich in phthalides is able to inhibit cancer cell proliferation. However, whether AE-AS reduces cancer angiogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that AE-AS significantly inhibited the angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo evidenced by attenuation of the tube formation in hypoxic human umbilical vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs), and the vasculature generation in Matrigel plug, the chicken chorioallantoic membrane, and tumors. Treatment with AE-AS markedly decreased the protein accumulation and transcriptional activity of HIF-1α, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression/secretion, and VEGFR2 phosphorylation in hypoxic human bladder cancer (T24) cells and tumor tissues accompanied by a reduction of tumor growth. Notably, AE-AS-induced HIF-1α protein degradation may, at least partly, attribute to inhibition of WSB-1-dependent pVHL degradation. Moreover, VEGFR2-activated PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway in hypoxic T24 cells was greatly inhibited by AE-AS. Collectively, AE-AS may be a potential anticancer agent by attenuating cancer angiogenesis via suppression of WSB-1/pVHL/HIF-1α/VEGF/VEGFR2 cascade.

Thymoquinone attenuates diethylnitrosamine induction of hepatic carcinogenesis through antioxidant signaling

Hepatocellular carcinoma accounts for about 80–90% of all liver cancer and is the fourth most common cause of cancer mortality. Although there are many strategies for the treatment of liver cancer, chemoprevention seems to be the best strategy for lowering the incidence of this disease. Therefore, this study has been initiated to investigate whether thymoquinone (TQ), Nigella sativa derived-compound with strong antioxidant properties, supplementation could prevent initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis-induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA), a potent initiator and hepatocarcinogen, in rats. Male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups. Rats of Group 1 received a single intraperitoneal (I.P.) injection of normal saline. Animals in Group 2 were given TQ (4 mg/kg/day) in drinking water for 7 consecutive days. Rats of Group 3 were injected with a single dose of DENA (200 mg/kg, I.P.). Animals in Group 4 were received TQ and DENA. DENA significantly increased alanine transaminase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total nitrate/nitrite (NOx) and decreased reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), glutathione-s-transferase (GST) and catalase (CAT) activity in liver tissues. Moreover, DENA decreased gene expression of GSHPx, GST and CAT and caused severe histopathological lesions in liver tissue. Interestingly, TQ supplementation completely reversed the biochemical and histopathological changes induced by DENA to the control values. In conclusion, data from this study suggest that: (1) decreased mRNA expression of GSHPx, CAT and GST during DENA-induced initiation of hepatic carcinogenesis, (2) TQ supplementation prevents the development of DENA-induced initiation of liver cancer by decreasing oxidative stress and preserving both the activity and mRNA expression of antioxidant enzymes.

Novel protective role of curcumin and taurine combination against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis

Hepatocarcinogenesis is a prerequisite to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the most common cancers among humans. Therefore, it is important to search for agents that protect against hepatocarcinogenesis. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of a combination of taurine and curcumin against experimental hepatocarcinogenesis induced by diethyl nitrosamine (DENA) in a rat model. A total of 100 rats were divided into eight groups. Eight weeks following DENA injection and treatment with curcumin and taurine, the rats were sacrificed to obtain blood and hepatic tissue samples for the evaluation of various markers and histopathological observations. Serum levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), α-fetoprotein (AFP) and α-L-fucosidase (AFU) were determined. Rats injected with DENA for eight weeks showed a high percentage of malignant changes in hepatic tissues, as well as a significant increases in the serum levels of AFP and AFU and significant reductions in the serum levels of IL-2 and IFN-γ. Treatment with curcumin and taurine markedly reduced the extent of malignant changes in the rat liver tissues, with their liver tissues showing patterns similar to that of the normal control rats. In addition, this combination resulted in normal serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, AFP and AFU. The results of the present study suggested that a combination of curcumin and taurine may be a novel prophylactic agent against hepatocarcinogenesis in high-risk groups exposed to chemical hepatocarcinogens.

The herbal compound Songyou Yin (SYY) inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma growth and improves survival in models of chronic fibrosis via paracrine inhibition of activated hepatic stellate cells

Chronic fibrosis is a major risk factor for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The pathological progression of hepatic fibrosis has been linked to cellular processes that promote tumor growth and metastasis. Several recent studies have highlighted the cross-talk between tumor cells and activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) in HCC. The herbal compound Songyou Yin (SYY) is known to attenuate hepatoma cell invasion and metastasis via down-regulation of cytokine secretion by aHSCs. However the underlying mechanism of SYY treatment in reversal of hepatic fibrosis and metastasis of liver cancers is not known. In the current study, a nude mouse model with liver fibrosis bearing orthotopic xenograft was established and we found that SYY could reduce associated fibrosis, inhibit tumor growth and improve survival. In the subcutaneous tumor model with fibrosis, we found that SYY could inhibit liver cancer. In vitro, hepatoma cells incubated with conditioned media (CM) from SYY treated aHSCs showed reduced proliferation, decrease in colony formation and invasive potential. SYY treated group showed altered gene expression, with 1205 genes up-regulated and 1323 genes down-regulated. Gene cluster analysis indicated that phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) was one of the key genes altered in the expression profiles. PI3K related markers were all significantly down-regulated. ELISA also indicated decreased secretion of cytokines which were regulated by PI3K/AKT signaling after SYY treatment in the hepatic stellate cell line, LX2. These data clearly demonstrate that SYY therapy inhibits HCC invasive and metastatic potential and improves survival in nude mice models with chronic fibrosis background via inhibition of cytokine secretion by activated hepatic stellate cells.

Angelica sinensis in China-A review of botanical profile, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry and chemical analysis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels, known as Dang Gui (in Chinese), is a traditional medicinal and edible plant that has long been used for tonifying, replenishing, and invigorating blood as well as relieving pain, lubricating the intestines, and treating female irregular menstruation and amenorrhea. A. sinensis has also been used as a health product and become increasingly popular in China, Japan, and Korea.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper aims to provide a systemic review of traditional uses of A. sinensis and its recent advances in the fields of phytochemistry, analytical methods and toxicology. In addition, possible trends, therapeutic potentials, and perspectives for future research of this plant are also briefly discussed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive review of the literature was conducted, and electronic databases including China National Knowledge Infrastructure, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Reaxys were used to assemble the data. Ethnopharmacological literature and digitalised sources of academic libraries were also systematically searched. In addition, information was obtained from local books and The Plant List (TPL, www.theplantlist.org).

RESULT

This study reviews the progress in chemical analysis of A. sinensis and its preparations. Previously and newly established methods, including spectroscopy, thin-layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC), and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR), are summarized. Moreover, identified bioactive components such as polysaccharides, ligustilide and ferulic acid were reviewed, along with analytical methods for quantitative and qualitative determination of target analytes, and fingerprinting authentication, quality evaluation of A. sinensis, and toxicology and pharmacodynamic studies. Scientific reports on crude extracts and pure compounds and formulations revealed a wide range of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory activity, antifibrotic action, antispasmodic activity, antioxidant activities, and neuroprotective action, as well as cardio- and cerebrovascular effects.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the published scientific literature are numerous reports regarding analytical methods that use various chromatographic and spectrophotometric technologies to monitor various types of components with different physicochemical properties simultaneously. This review discusses the reasonable selection of marker compounds based on high concentrations, analytical methods, and commercial availabilities with the goal of developing quick, accurate, and applicable analytical approaches for quality evaluation and establishing harmonised criteria for the analysis of A. sinensis and its finished products. Compounds isolated from A. sinensis are abundant sources of chemical diversity, from which we can discover active molecules. Thus, more studies on the pharmacological mechanisms of the predominant active compounds of A. sinensis are needed. In addition, given that A. sinensis is one of the most popular traditional herbal medicines, its main therapeutic aspects, toxicity, and adverse effects warrant further investigation in the future.

Fuzheng Qingjie Granules Inhibit Growth of Hepatoma Cells via Inducing Mitochondria-Mediated Apoptosis and Enhancing Immune Function

Fuzheng Qingjie (FZQJ) granules, a compound Chinese medicine, have been used as an adjuvant therapy for alimentary tract cancers. However, the underlying anticancer mechanisms are still not well understood. In the present study, HepG2 cells were treated with FZQJ-containing serum. Cell proliferation was evaluated using MTT assay. Apoptosis was analyzed using a flow cytometer. Cell ultrastructure was observed under a transmission electron microscope. The mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ) was examined with JC-1 dye. In H22 tumor-bearing mice, CD4⁺ T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, CD3⁺ T cells, and natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood were evaluated cytometrically. Interleukin (IL)-2 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α levels were measured using radioimmunoassay.The mRNA levels of Bax and Bcl-2 were examined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The protein levels of Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome C, caspase 3 and 9, PARP, and CD69 were examined by Western blotting. The apoptotic cells in tissues were observed using TUNEL method. Alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE) were detected by an automatic biochemical analyzer. The results showed that FZQJ-containing serum remarkably inhibited proliferation of HepG2 cells in dose- and time-dependent manners, induced HepG2 cell apoptosis and caused a decrease of Δψ. Analysis of tumor tissue showed that FZQJ-induced apoptosis was accompanied by downregulation of Bcl-2 and upregulation of Bax, release of cytochrome c, activation of caspase 3 and 9, and cleavage of PARP. In addition, FZQJ increased the percentages of CD4⁺ T and NK cells, the ratio of CD4⁺/CD8⁺ T cells as well as the levels of serum TNF-α. FZQJ also increased CD69 expression in tumor tissue. No hepatorenal toxicity was observed in H22 tumor-bearing mice. These results indicated that FZQJ could inhibit the growth of hepatoma cells via regulating immune function and inducing mitochondria mediated apoptosis.

Modulatory Role of Shorea robusta Bark on Glucose-metabolizing Enzymes in Diethylnitrosamine Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Rats

Introduction:

The modulations of glucose-metabolizing enzyme activities play a vital rolein the depletion of energy metabolism and leads to inhibition of cancer growth.

Objective:

To find the effect of shorearobusta bark extract on glucose-metbolizing enzymes in diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induced hepatocellular carcinoma rats.

Materials and Methods:

Biochemical evaluation of glucose metabolizing enzyme were done in before and after shorearobusta bark extract (500mg/kg) treatment in DEN induced rats.

Results:

A significant increasein the activities of the key glycolytic enzymes viz., hexokinase and phosphoglucoisomerase, with a significant decrease in the gluconeogenic enzymes glucose-6-phosphatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatasewere observed in HCC bearing rats, when compared with the control. Administration of shorearobusta extract caused a significant decrease in theactivities of glycolytic enzymes and an increase in the gluconeogenic enzymes activities to near normal values.

Conclusion:

The current findings suggest that the S. robusta extract has a definite modulating role on the key enzymes ofglucose-metabolism in HCC. The modulatory effect may be due to the phytoactive constituents present in the extract of S. robusta.

SUMMARY

Administration of shorea robusta bark extract caused a significant decrease in the activities of glycolytic enzymes and an increase in the gluconeogenic enzymes activities to near normal values. The S. robusta extract has modulatory activity on the carbohydrate metabolism in DEN-induced HCC bearing rats through a mechanism that which does not provoke any acute biochemical disturbances in the metabolic pathways of glycolysis and gluconeogenesis. The modulatory effect of S. robusta extract may be attributed to the presence of active compounds such as polyphenols and flavonoids.

Abbreviations used: HCC: Hepatocellular Carcinoma, SRBE: Shorearobusta bark extract; HEX: Hexokinase; PGI: Phosphoglucoisomerase; DEN: Diethylnitrosamine.

Biosynthesized Vitis vinifera seed gold nanoparticles induce apoptotic cell death in A431 skin cancer cells

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Vitis vinifera seed gold nanoparticles on A431 cell lines.

Novel Investigations of Flavonoids as Chemopreventive Agents for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

We would like to highlight the application of natural products to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We will focus on the natural products known as flavonoids, which target this disease at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis. In spite of the use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in treating HCC, patients with HCC still face poor prognosis because of the nature of multidrug resistance and toxicity derived from chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Flavonoids can be found in many vegetables, fruits, and herbal medicines that exert their different anticancer effects via different intracellular signaling pathways and serve as antioxidants. In this review, we will discuss seven common flavonoids that exert different biological effects against HCC via different pathways.

Effect of Huaier on the proliferation and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cells through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Huaier on the proliferation and apoptosis of the MKN45 and SGC7901 gastric cancer cell lines. The MTT assay was used to measure the effects of Huaier on the growth of the cells, while cell cycle distribution and apoptosis levels were analyzed using flow cytometry. Western blotting was used to assess the levels of proteins associated with the apoptotic pathway. It was found that cell survival decreased with the increase in the concentration of Huaier, and the apoptosis rates were increased in a dose-dependent manner both in MKN45 and SGC7901 cells. The number of cells in the G2/M phase in the Huaier-treated groups was increased in a dose-dependent manner compared with that in the control group. Huaier inhibited phosphorylated- (p-)AKT1, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase isoform 1, p-phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate 3-phosphatase and dual-specificity protein phosphatase and B-cell lymphoma 2 expression and upregulated cleaved-caspase-9 expression in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, Huaier can strongly inhibit gastric cancer cell proliferation by inhibiting cyclin B1 expression, promoting G2/M-phase arrest and modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, and can induce gastric cancer cell apoptosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in dose-dependent manner.

Methanolic extracts from brown seaweeds Dictyota cilliolata and Dictyota menstrualis induce apoptosis in human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells

Carcinoma of the uterine cervix is the second most common female tumor worldwide, surpassed only by breast cancer. Natural products from seaweeds evidencing apoptotic activity have attracted a great deal of attention as new leads for alternative and complementary preventive or therapeutic anticancer agents. Here, methanol extracts from 13 species of tropical seaweeds (Rhodophytas, Phaeophyta and Chlorophyta) collected from the Northeast of Brazil were assessed as apoptosis-inducing agents on human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa). All extracts showed different levels of cytotoxicity against HeLa cells; the most potent were obtained from the brown alga Dictyota cilliolata (MEDC) and Dictyota menstrualis (MEDM). In addition, MEDC and MEDM also inhibits SiHa (cervix carcinoma) cell proliferation. Studies with these two extracts using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy showed that HeLa cells exposed to MEDM and MEDC exhibit morphological and biochemical changes that characterize apoptosis as shown by loss of cell viability, chromatin condensation, phosphatidylserine externalization, and sub-G1 cell cycle phase accumulation, also MEDC induces cell cycle arrest in cell cycle phase S. Moreover, the activation of caspases 3 and 9 by these extracts suggests a mitochondria-dependent apoptosis route. However, other routes cannot be ruled out. Together, these results point out the methanol extracts of the brown algae D. mentrualis and D. cilliolata as potential sources of molecules with antitumor activity.

Comprehensive review on betulin as a potent anticancer agent

Numerous plant-derived substances, and their derivatives, are effective antitumour and chemopreventive agents. Yet, there are also a plethora of tumour types that do not respond, or become resistant, to these natural substances. This requires the discovery of new active compounds. Betulin (BE) is a pentacyclic triterpene and secondary metabolite of plants abundantly found in the outer bark of the birch tree Betulaceae sp. BE displays a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties, among which the anticancer and chemopreventive activity attract most of the attention. In this vein, BE and its natural and synthetic derivatives act specifically on cancer cells with low cytotoxicity towards normal cells. Although the antineoplastic mechanism of action of BE is not well understood yet, several interesting aspects of BE's interactions are coming to light. This review will summarize the anticancer and chemopreventive potential of BE in vitro and in vivo by carefully dissecting and comparing the doses and tumour lines used in previous studies, as well as focusing on mechanisms underlying its activity at cellular and molecular level, and discuss future prospects.

20(S)-protopanaxadiol triggers mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells via inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway

20(S)-Protopanaxadiol (PPD), an aglycone saponin ginsenoside isolated from Panax quinquefolium L, has been shown to inhibit the growth and proliferation in several cancer lines. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the apoptosis-induced effects and the mechanism of 20(S)-PPD on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. 20(S)-PPD showed a potent antiproliferative activity against A549 cells by triggering apoptosis. 20(S)-PPD-induced apoptosis was characterized by a dose-dependent loss of the mitochondrial membrane, release of cytochrome c, second mitochondria-derived activator of caspase (Smac) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), activation of caspase-9/-3, and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Caspase-dependence was indicated by the ability of the pan-caspase inhibitor z-VAD-fmk to attenuate 20(S)-PPD-induced apoptosis. After treatment with 20(S)-PPD, the proportion of A549 cells at the G0/G1 phase increased, while cells at the S and G2/M phases decreased. Furthermore, 20(S)-PPD also triggered down-regulation of phosphorylated Akt (Ser473/Thr308) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK 3β). Knockdown of GSK 3β with siRNA promoted the apoptotic effects of 20(S)-PPD. These results revealed an unexpected mechanism of action for this unique ginsenoside: triggering a mitochondrial-mediated, caspase-dependent apoptosis via down-regulation of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in A549 cells. Our findings encourage further studies of 20(S)-PPD as a promising chemopreventive agent against lung cancer.

Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by alfalfa (Medicago sativa) leaf extracts in sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has been used to cure a wide variety of ailments. However, only a few studies have reported its anticancer effects. In this study, extracts were obtained from alfalfa leaves and their cytotoxic effects were assessed on several sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells lines. Using the mouse leukaemia P388 cell line and its doxorubicin-resistant counterpart (P388/DOX), we showed that the inhibition of cell growth induced by alfalfa leaf extracts was mediated through the induction of apoptosis, as evidenced by DNA fragmentation analysis. The execution of programmed cell death was achieved via the activation of caspase-3, leading to PARP cleavage. Fractionation of toluene extract (To-1), the most active extract obtained from crude extract, led to the identification of 3 terpene derivatives and 5 flavonoids. Among them, (-)-medicarpin, (-)-melilotocarpan E, millepurpan, tricin, and chrysoeriol showed cytotoxic effects in P388 as well as P388/DOX cells. These results demonstrate that alfalfa leaf extract may have interesting potential in cancer chemoprevention and therapy.

Comparison of ferulic acid content in Radix Angelicae Sinensis, Danggui-Buxue-Tang and Danggui-Sini-Tang

The aim of the present study was to determine the ferulic acid (FA) content of Radix Angelicae Sinensis (AS), Danggui-Buxue-Tang (DBT) and Danggui-Sini-Tang (DST) using the same ultra performance liquid chromatography system and method. FA was eluted using an Acquity BEH C18 column (100×2.1 mm inner diameter; 1.7 μm). A mobile phase of methanol and 0.5% acetic acid was used and a flow rate of 0.3 ml/min was selected. The calibration curve exhibited a good linear regression (R²=0.9997). The inter- and intra-day precision measurements of FA ranged between 0.27 and 3.03% and the recovery ranged between 98.44 and 101.64% with relative standard deviation (RSD) values ≤4.73%. The method was reliable and simple. The results of the chromatographic analyses indicate that the FA contents of the DBT and DST decoctions were increased compared with that of AS due to the presence of other herbs.

Brain tumor senescence might be mediated by downregulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 via butylidenephthalide leading to decreased cell viability

Developing an effective drug for treating human glioblastoma multiform (GBM) has been investigated persistently. A pure compound butylidenephthalide (BP), isolated from Angelica sinensis, has been shown the activities to arrest the growth and initiate apoptosis of GBM in our previous reports. In this study, we further demonstrated that BP treatment accelerates the cell senescence in a dose-dependent manner in vitro and in vivo. S-phase kinase-associated protein 2 (Skp2), a proto-oncogene, is generally upregulated in cancer. We found that it was downregulated in BP-treated GBM cells. The downregulation of Skp2 is parallel with increasing p16 and p21 expression which causes G0/G1 arrest and tumor cell senescence. We also found that restoring the Skp2 protein level by exogenous overexpression prevents the BP-induced cell senescence. Therefore, the linkage between cell senescence and Skp2 expression is strengthened. Promoter binding analysis further detailed that the BP-mediated SP1 reduction might involve in the Skp2 downregulation. In summary, these results emphasize that BP-triggered senescence in GBM cells is highly associated with its control on Skp2 regulation.

Induction of apoptosis of 2,4',6-trihydroxybenzophenone in HT-29 colon carcinoma cell line

2,4′,6-Trihydroxy-4-methoxybenzophenone was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl. fruits. It was found to inhibit cell proliferation in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cell line but caused little damage to WRL-68 normal human liver and MRC-5 normal human fibroblast lung cell lines. The compound was found to sharply affect the viability of HT-29 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. HT-29 cells treated with the compound showed morphological changes under microscopic examination such as cell shrinkage, membrane blebbing, DNA fragmentation, and the occurrence of apoptotic nuclei. The percentage of early apoptotic, late apoptotic, and dead or necrotic cells was determined by flow cytometry using annexin V-FTIC/PI staining. In addition, flow cytometry showed that, when the HT-29 cells were treated with 115 µM of the compound, it resulted in G₀/G₁ phase arrest in a time-dependent manner. Western blot revealed an upregulation of PUMA, Bak, Bcl-2, and Mcl-1 proteins suggesting that the compound induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells by regulating these proteins.

Ethanolic extract of Thuja occidentalis blocks proliferation of A549 cells and induces apoptosis in vitro

OBJECTIVE

To study the possible anticancer and antiproliferative activities of ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja occidentalis (TO) on A549 non-small lung carcinoma cells in vitro.

METHODS

Cell viability was ascertained through 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay after deployment of TO in different doses. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) dose (282 μg/mL) was determined, and two other doses for dose-dependence study, one below the IC50 dose (IC35=188 μg/mL) and one above the IC50 dose (IC65=376 μg/mL) were selected. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay and migration studies were performed to elucidate antiproliferative activity of the drug, if any. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis after annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide (annexin V-FITC-PI) dual staining method was done to ascertain early stage of apoptosis, if any. DNA fragmentation assay was done through Hoechst 33258 and acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining. DNA damage was quantified through comet assay. Bax-Bcl2 regulation and expression studies were performed through indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Caspase 3 activity was measured at gene level through reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Its activation at protein level was analyzed through indirect ELISA and Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

TO demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in viability of A549 cells after 24 h of exposure. Cell proliferation was reduced in a time-dependent manner of drug exposure as revealed from BrdU incorporation and migration studies. Annexin-V-FITC positivity of cells up to 11.72% as compared to the untreated control revealed early state of TO-induced apoptosis. Occurrence of comet tail and increased fluorescence of Hoechst after 24 h of drug exposure revealed significant DNA nick generation and chromatin condensation. Bax up-regulation and Bcl-2 down-regulation suitably altered ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in favor of apoptosis. From RT-PCR, indirect ELISA and Western blot studies, caspase 3 activity was also found to be significantly increased along with cleaved poly ADP-ribose polymerase expression.

CONCLUSION

Ethanolic leaf extract of TO demonstrated apoptotic and antiproliferative potentials against A549 cell line.

The Methanol Extract of Angelica sinensis Induces Cell Apoptosis and Suppresses Tumor Growth in Human Malignant Brain Tumors

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a highly vascularized and invasive neoplasm. The methanol extract of Angelica sinensis (AS-M) is commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat several diseases, such as gastric mucosal damage, hepatic injury, menopausal symptoms, and chronic glomerulonephritis. AS-M also displays potency in suppressing the growth of malignant brain tumor cells. The growth suppression of malignant brain tumor cells by AS-M results from cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. AS-M upregulates expression of cyclin kinase inhibitors, including p16, to decrease the phosphorylation of Rb proteins, resulting in arrest at the G₀-G₁ phase. The expression of the p53 protein is increased by AS-M and correlates with activation of apoptosis-associated proteins. Therefore, the apoptosis of cancer cells induced by AS-M may be triggered through the p53 pathway. In in vivo studies, AS-M not only suppresses the growth of human malignant brain tumors but also significantly prolongs patient survival. In addition, AS-M has potent anticancer effects involving cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and antiangiogenesis. The in vitro and in vivo anticancer effects of AS-M indicate that this extract warrants further investigation and potential development as a new antibrain tumor agent, providing new hope for the chemotherapy of malignant brain cancer.

Effects of Huaier aqueous extract on proliferation and apoptosis in the melanoma cell line A875

In recent years, an aqueous extract of the fungus Trametes robiniophila Murriell 1907 (Huaier) has been commonly used in China for complementary cancer therapy. However, the mechanisms of its anticancer effects are largely unknown. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of Huaier extract on the inhibition of proliferation and promotion of apoptosis in a melanoma cell line, A875, and to explore the possible mechanisms of its anticancer effects. Cell proliferation was measured using a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and PCNA-Western blot. The cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis levels were analyzed by flow cytometry, and Western blot was used to test the apoptotic pathways. We found that Huaier extract strongly inhibited cell proliferation of the A875 melanoma cells and induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. P53 expression was increased and cell apoptosis executed by caspase-3. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of Bcl2-associated X protein (BAX) indicated that Huaier extract induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. As expected, the inhibitor Huaier decreased melanoma cell line A875 proliferation, and induced apoptosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that Huaier extract is an effective complementary agent for cancer treatment of melanoma.

The anti-inflammatory effect of Z-Ligustilide in experimental ovariectomized osteopenic rats

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of Z-Ligustilide (LIG) in experimental ovariectomized (OVX) osteopenic rats. The anti-inflammatory potential of LIG in the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), maleic dialdehyde (MDA), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by ELISA. LIG significantly inhibited OVX-induced up-regulation of NF-κB activation and the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, ICAM-1 and COX-2. Moreover, LIG suppressed MDA and infiltration of PMN. The results of the present study clearly demonstrate that there may be an inflammatory component in the etiology of osteoporosis. It revealed a significant anti-inflammatory effect of Z-Ligustilide in experimental OVX osteopenic rats.

Lentivirus-mediated E2F-1 gene silencing enhances sensitivity of gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells to compound ginseng and astragalus

AIM: To observe the effect of recombinant lentivirus-mediated E2F-1 gene silencing on sensitivity of gastric carcinoma MGC-803 cells to compound ginseng and astragalus.

METHODS: MGC-803 cells were plated and divided into four groups: a normal control group (medicine medium), a blank control group, a negative LV-RNAi control group (medicine medium + infection with empty lentiviral vector particles 2.0 × 10⁹ TU/mL) and an E2F-1-RNAi-LV group (medicine medium + infection with recombinant E2F-1 lentiviral particles 2.0 × 10⁹ TU/mL). The mRNA and protein expression levels of E2F1 were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. Cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay. Cell colony formation was detected by Giemsa staining. Cell apoptosis was observed by flow cytometry, and cell migration was detected by cell scratch assay.

RESULTS: Infection with the recombinant lentiviral vector significantly decreased the protein and mRNA expression levels of E2F-1 compared to the two control groups (0.384 ± 0.036 vs 0.883 ± 0.051 and 0.923 ± 0.049, 0.220 ± 0.056 vs 0.729 ± 0.021 and 0.712 ± 0.037, P < 0.05). Compound ginseng and astragalus inhibited MGC-803 cell growth, induced cell apoptosis, and reduced cell colony formation and migration. Compared to the two control groups, the rates of reduced cell colony formation and cell apoptosis were significantly increased and the areas of cell colony formation and migration were significantly decreased in the E2F-1 gene silencing group (0.789 ± 0.013 vs 0.484 ± 0.060 and 0.454 ± 0.006, 0.383 ± 0.027 vs 0.114 ± 0.038 and 0.089 ± 0.051, 0.024 ± 0.003 vs 0.036 ± 0.004 and 0.052 ± 0.002, 0.553 ± 0.038 vs 0.897 ± 0.020 and 0.928 ± 0.051, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: Recombinant lentivirus-mediated E2F-1 gene silencing effectively enhances the sensitivity of MGC-803 cells to compound ginseng and astragalus.

Herbal compound "Songyou Yin" attenuates hepatoma cell invasiveness and metastasis through downregulation of cytokines secreted by activated hepatic stellate cells

Background

Activated hepatic stellate cells (aHSCs) play an important role in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we determined if cytokines secreted in response to the herbal compound “Songyou Yin” (SYY) treatment of aHSCs could influence invasiveness and metastatic capabilities of hepatoma cells.

Methods

Primary rat hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) were isolated, activated, divided into SYY treated and untreated (nSYY) groups, and conditioned media (CM-SYY and CM-nSYY, respectively) were collected. The hepatoma cell line, McA-RH7777 was cultured for 4 weeks with SYY, CM-SYY, and CM-nSYY, designated McA-SYY, McA-SYYCM and McA-nSYYCM. The invasiveness and metastatic capabilities were evaluated using Matrigel invasion assay in vitro and pulmonary metastasis in vivo. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin protein levels in McA-SYYCM and McA-nSYYCM were evaluated by Western blot. Cytokine levels in conditioned media were tested using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

Matrigel invasion assay indicated that the number of McA-SYYCM cells passing through the basement membrane was less than in McA-nSYYCM cells (P < 0.01). Similar results were also observed in vivo for lung metastasis. McA-SYYCM cells showed less pulmonary metastasis capabilities than McA-nSYYCM cells (P < 0.001). The reduced expression of MMP-2 and reversed epithelial to mesenchymal transition with E-cadherin upregulation, and N-cadherin and vimentin downregulation were also found in McA-SYYCM compared to McA-nSYYCM. Metastasis-promoting cytokines hepatocyte growth factor, interleukin-6, transforming growth factor-β1, and vascular endothelial growth factor were markedly decreased in CM-SYY compared to CM-nSYY.

Conclusions

SYY attenuates hepatoma cell invasiveness and metastasis capabilities through downregulating cytokines secreted by activated hepatic stellate cells.

Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of traditional Chinese herb pairs, Angelica sinensis and Sophora flavescens

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of Angelica sinensis extract (AE), Sophora flavescens extract (SE), and herb pair A. sinensis and S. flavescens extract (HPE). Endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) was induced in rats by a footpad injection of lipopolysaccharide. The anti-inflammatory potential of AE, SE, and HPE in the regulation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), maleic dialdehyde (MDA), polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), adhesion molecule (ICAM-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) was determined by ELISA and immunohistochemistry. HPE showed strong antibacterial activity at all tested concentrations (1.25, 2.5, and 5 μg/ml) to Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Shigella Castellani and Chalmers. HPE significantly inhibited EIU-induced upregulation of NF-κB activation and the production of IL-1β, TNF-α, iNOS, ICAM-1, and COX-2. Moreover, HPE suppressed MDA and infiltration of PMN. The study supports the hypothesis that the antipimple and anti-eczema activities of Dangguikushen compound recipe are attributed to herb pairs, A. sinensis and S. flavescens, used in combination.

Ferulic Acid, an Angelica sinensis-Derived Polyphenol, Slows the Progression of Membranous Nephropathy in a Mouse Model

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a leading cause of adult nephrotic syndrome but lacks adequate treatment. Different extracts of Angelica sinensis (AS) and one of its active compounds, ferulic acid (FA), were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects in a MN mouse model. The MN model was grouped into three subgroups: no treatment (N-T), treatment at induction of MN (Pre-T), and treatment after full-blown MN (Post-T). The results showed that the methanol (ME) layer of AS extract exhibited a therapeutic effect on MN-induced proteinuria. The ME layer-enriched compound, FA, improved the hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, and proteinuria in both Pre-T and Post-T groups. Ferulic acid also reduced the formation of oxidative protein products and increased the synthesis of antioxidant enzymes in groups Pre-T and Post-T. Regarding angiogenesis factors, the antiangiogenic factors in renal glomeruli were increased in group N-T, but, after FA treatment, only one of the antiangiogenic factors, thrombospondin-1, showed a significant decrease. Furthermore, the expression of Th2 predominant showed significant decrease in both Pre-T and Post-T groups when compared to that of N-T group. In summary, FA retarded the progression of MN, and the mechanisms involved the regulation of oxidative stresses, angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors, and attenuation of Th2 response.

Curcumin inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells by activating the mitochondria apoptotic pathway

Curcumin, a natural plant extract from Curcuma longa, is known for its anti-carcinogenic and chemopreventive effects on a variety of experimental cancer models. In this study, we evaluated the effects of curcumin and elucidated its mechanism in human colorectal carcinoma cells. Cell viability assay showed that curcumin significantly inhibited the growth of LoVo cells. Curcumin treatment induced the apoptosis accompanied by ultra-structural changes and release of lactate dehydrogenase in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment with 0-30 µg/mL curcumin decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential and activated the caspase-3 and caspase-9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Nuclear and annexin V/PI staining showed that curcumin induced the apoptosis of LoVo cells. FACS analysis revealed that curcumin could induce the cell cycle arrest of LoVo cells at the S phase. Furthermore, western blotting analysis indicated that curcumin induced the release of cytochrome c, a significant increase of Bax and p53 and a marked reduction of Bcl-2 and survivin in LoVo cells. Taken together, our results suggested that curcumin inhibited the growth of LoVo cells by inducing apoptosis through a mitochondria-mediated pathway.

Growth inhibition of human gynecologic and colon cancer cells by Phyllanthus watsonii through apoptosis induction

Phyllanthus watsonii Airy Shaw is an endemic plant found in Peninsular Malaysia. Although there are numerous reports on the anti cancer properties of other Phyllanthus species, published information on the cytotoxicity of P. watsonii are very limited. The present study was carried out with bioassay-guided fractionation approach to evaluate the cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction capability of the P. watsonii extracts and fractions on human gynecologic (SKOV-3 and Ca Ski) and colon (HT-29) cancer cells. P. watsonii extracts exhibited strong cytotoxicity on all the cancer cells studied with IC(50) values of ≤ 20.0 µg/mL. Hexane extract of P. watsonii was further subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation and yielded 10 fractions (PW-1→PW-10). PW-4→PW-8 portrayed stronger cytotoxic activity and was further subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation and resulted with 8 sub-fractions (PPWH-1→PPWH-8). PPWH-7 possessed greatest cytotoxicity (IC(50) values ranged from 0.66-0.83 µg/mL) and was selective on the cancer cells studied. LC-MS/MS analysis of PPWH-7 revealed the presence of ellagic acid, geranic acid, glochidone, betulin, phyllanthin and sterol glucoside. Marked morphological changes, ladder-like appearance of DNA and increment in caspase-3 activity indicating apoptosis were clearly observed in both human gynecologic and colon cancer cells treated with P. watsonii especially with PPWH-7. The study also indicated that P. watsonii extracts arrested cell cycle at different growth phases in SKOV-3, Ca Ski and HT-29 cells. Cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of the endemic P. watsonii was investigated for the first time by bioassay-guided approach. These results demonstrated that P. watsonii selectively inhibits the growth of SKOV-3, Ca Ski and HT-29 cells through apoptosis induction and cell cycle modulation. Hence, P. watsonii has the potential to be further exploited for the discovery and development of new anti cancer drugs.

A Study of the Wound Healing Mechanism of a Traditional Chinese Medicine, Angelica sinensis, Using a Proteomic Approach

Angelica sinensis (AS) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that has been formulated clinically to treat various form of skin trauma and to help wound healing. However, the mechanism by which it works remains a mystery. In this study we have established a new platform to evaluate the pharmacological effects of total AS herbal extracts as well as its major active component, ferulic acid (FA), using proteomic and biochemical analysis. Cytotoxic and proliferation-promoting concentrations of AS ethanol extracts (AS extract) and FA were tested, and then the cell extracts were subject to 2D PAGE analysis. We found 51 differentially expressed protein spots, and these were identified by mass spectrometry. Furthermore, biomolecular assays, involving collagen secretion, migration, and ROS measurements, gave results that are consistent with the proteomic analysis. In this work, we have demonstrated a whole range of pharmacological effects associated with Angelica sinensis that might be beneficial when developing a wound healing pharmaceutical formulation for the herbal medicine.

Growth suppression effects of recombinant adenovirus expressing human lactoferrin on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo

Human lactoferrin (hLF) is a multifunctional glycoprotein that can inhibit cancer growth. The molecular mechanism of hLF-induced tumor growth inhibition is incompletely understood. Moreover, the adenovirus vector-mediated hLF (Ad-hLF) gene therapy on cervical cancer has not been yet characterized. In this study, the replication-deficient Ad-hLF was used to explore tumor growth suppression effects on cervical cancer in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the recombinant adenovirus encoding hLF delivery resulted in a more differential tumor growth inhibition, and this growth arrest was caused by cell cycle inhibition at G2/M phase. In addition, Fas, a death-inducing receptor, and Bax, a member of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family, were increased in the sample of cervical cancer tissue treated by Ad-hLF. Further, it was also observed that caspase-3 was activated and the expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 was decreased. These results indicated that the growth inhibitory effects of Ad-hLF on cervical cancer were caused by elevated expression of Fas and decreased the ratio of anti- to pro-apoptotic molecule Bcl-2/Bax.

Effect of extracts from Phyllanthus watsonii Airy Shaw on cell apoptosis in cultured human breast cancer MCF-7 cells

Species of Phyllanthus have traditionally been used for hundreds of years for treating many ailments including diabetes, anemia, bronchitis and hepatitis. The present study aims to investigate the cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of methanol (PWM), hexane (PWH) and ethyl acetate (PWE) extracts from the leaves of the endemic plant Phyllanthus watsonii Airy Shaw (Phyllanthaceae) on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. We observed that the PWM, PWH and PWE extracts were cytotoxic and selectively inhibited the growth and proliferation of MCF-7 cells compared to untreated control in a dose dependent manner with an IC(50) of 12.7 ± 4.65, 7.9 ± 0.60 and 7.7 ± 0.29 μg/ml, respectively. However, the extracts were not toxic at these concentrations to normal human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells. Cell death induced by PWM, PWH and PWE extracts were mainly due to apoptosis which was characterized by apoptotic morphological changes and a nuclear DNA fragmentation. Caspase-3 activation following P. watsonii extracts treatment was also evident for apoptotic cell death which was preceded by an S phase cell cycle perturbation. The results suggested that the cytotoxic activity of P. watsonii extracts was related to an early event of cell cycle perturbation and a later event of apoptosis. Hence, P. watsonii displays potential to be further exploited in the discovery and development of new anticancer agents.

Clitocybe alexandri extract induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in a lung cancer cell line: Identification of phenolic acids with cytotoxic potential

Mushrooms are a possible rich source of biologically active compounds with the potential for drug discovery. The aim of this work was to gain further insight into the cytotoxicity mechanism of action of Clitocybe alexandri ethanolic extract against a lung cancer cell line (NCI-H460 cells). The effects on cell cycle profile and levels of apoptosis were evaluated by flow cytometry, and the effect on the expression levels of proteins related to cellular apoptosis was also investigated by Western blot. The extract was characterised regarding its phenolic composition by HPLC-DAD, and the identified compounds were studied regarding their growth inhibitory activity, by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The effect of individual or combined compounds on viable cell number was also evaluated using the Trypan blue exclusion assay. It was observed that the C. alexandri extract induced an S-phase cell cycle arrest and increased the percentage of apoptotic cells. In addition, treatment with the GI50 concentration (concentration that was able to cause 50% of cell growth inhibition; 24.8μg/ml) for 48h caused an increase in the levels of wt. p53, cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). The main components identified in this extract were protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic and cinnamic acids. Cinnamic acid was found to be the most potent compound regarding cell growth inhibition. Nevertheless, it was verified that the concomitant use of the individual compounds provided the strongest decrease in viable cell number. Overall, evidence was found for alterations in cell cycle and apoptosis, involving p53 and caspase-3. Furthermore, our data suggests that the phenolic acids identified in the extract are at least partially responsible for the cytotoxicity induced by this mushroom extract.

Activation of apoptosis by ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract of Dianthus superbus in HepG2 cell line

Dianthus superbus L. is commonly used as a traditional Chinese medicine. We recently showed that ethyl acetate fraction (EE-DS) from ethanol extract of D. superbus exhibited the strongest antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. In this study, we examined apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by EE-DS, and the mechanism underlying apoptosis was also investigated. Treatment of HepG2 cells with EE-DS (20-80 μg/ml) for 48 h led to a significant dose-dependent increase in the percentage of cells in sub-G1 phase by analysis of the content of DNA in cells, and a large number of apoptotic bodies containing nuclear fragments were observed in cells treated with 80 μg/ml of EE-DS for 24 h by using Hoechst 33258 staining. These data show that EE-DS can induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Immunoblot analysis showed that EE-DS significantly suppressed the expressions of Bcl-2 and NF-κB. Treatment of cells with EE-DS (80 μg/ml) for 48 h resulted in significant increase of cytochrome c in the cytosol, which indicated cytochrome c release from mitochondria. Activation of caspase-9 and -3 were also determined when the cells treated with EE-DS. The results suggest that apoptosis of HepG2 cells induced by EE-DS could be through the mitochondrial intrinsic pathway. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) data showed that the composition of EE-DS is complicated. Further studies are needed to find the effective constituents of EE-DS.

Local interstitial delivery of z-butylidenephthalide by polymer wafers against malignant human gliomas

We have shown that the natural compound z-butylidenephthalide (Bdph), isolated from the chloroform extract of Angelica sinensis, has antitumor effects. Because of the limitation of the blood-brain barrier, the Bdph dosage required for treatment of glioma is relatively high. To solve this problem, we developed a local-release system with Bdph incorporated into a biodegradable polyanhydride material, p(CPP-SA; Bdph-Wafer), and investigated its antitumor effects. On the basis of in vitro release kinetics, we demonstrated that the Bdph-Wafer released 50% of the available Bdph by the sixth day, and the release reached a plateau phase (90% of Bdph) by the 30th day. To investigate the in situ antitumor effects of the Bdph-Wafer on glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), we used 2 xenograft animal models-F344 rats (for rat GBM) and nude mice (for human GBM)-which were injected with RG2 and DBTRG-05MG cells, respectively, for tumor formation and subsequently treated subcutaneously with Bdph-Wafers. We observed a significant inhibitory effect on tumor growth, with no significant adverse effects on the rodents. Moreover, we demonstrated that the antitumor effect of Bdph on RG2 cells was via the PKC pathway, which upregulated Nurr77 and promoted its translocation from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. Finally, to study the effect of the interstitial administration of Bdph in cranial brain tumor, Bdph-Wafers were surgically placed in FGF-SV40 transgenic mice. Our Bdph-Wafer significantly reduced tumor size in a dose-dependent manner. In summary, our study showed that p(CPP-SA) containing Bdph delivered a sufficient concentration of Bdph to the tumor site and effectively inhibited the tumor growth in the glioma.

Huaier aqueous extract inhibits proliferation of breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis

Aqueous extract of Trametes robiniophila murr (Huaier) has been commonly used in China for cancer complementary therapy in recent years; however, the mechanisms of its anticancer effects are largely unknown. In the present study, we aim to investigate its inhibitory effect on both MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, and explore the possible mechanisms of its anticancer effect. Cell viability and motility were measured by MTT and invasive assays, migration and scratch assays in vitro, respectively. The distribution of cell cycle, PI-Annexin-V staining and Rhodamine 123 assay were analyzed by flow cytometry, and western blot were used to test the apoptotic pathways. We found that Huaier extract could strongly inhibit cell viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner; however, MDA-MB-231 cells showed more susceptibility to the treatment. Furthermore, cell invasiveness and migration were also suppressed with exposure to Huaier extract. We also indicated that Huaier could induce G0/G1 cell-cycle arrest, p53 accumulation and activation selectively in MCF-7 cells. Inspiringly, the PI-Annexin-V staining assay and western blot analysis confirmed cell apoptosis executed by caspase-3. Decreased mitochondrial membrane potential by Rhodamine 123 assay and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and up-regulation of BCL2-associated X protein (BAX) indicated that Huaier induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial pathway. Caspase activation during Huaier-induced apoptosis was confirmed by pan-caspase inhibitor, Z-VAD-fmk. As expected, the inhibitor decreased Huaier-induced apoptosis in both cell lines. Based on our findings, Huaier can induce cell apoptosis in both ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer cell lines and is an effective complementary agent for breast cancer treatment.

Biological reactive intermediates (BRIs) formed from botanical dietary supplements

The use of botanical dietary supplements is increasingly popular, due to their natural origin and the perceived assumption that they are safer than prescription drugs. While most botanical dietary supplements can be considered safe, a few contain compounds, which can be converted to biological reactive intermediates (BRIs) causing toxicity. For example, sassafras oil contains safrole, which can be converted to a reactive carbocation forming genotoxic DNA adducts. Alternatively, some botanical dietary supplements contain stable BRIs such as simple Michael acceptors that react with chemosensor proteins such as Keap1 resulting in induction of protective detoxification enzymes. Examples include curcumin from turmeric, xanthohumol from hops, and Z-ligustilide from dang gui. Quinones (sassafras, kava, black cohosh), quinone methides (sassafras), and epoxides (pennyroyal oil) represent BRIs of intermediate reactivity, which could generate both genotoxic and/or chemopreventive effects. The biological targets of BRIs formed from botanical dietary supplements and their resulting toxic and/or chemopreventive effects are closely linked to the reactivity of BRIs as well as dose and time of exposure.