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Li H, Cao X, Chen X, Yi X, Xia J, Chen J, Yang L. Bufadienolides induce apoptosis and autophagy by inhibiting the AKT signaling pathway in melanoma A‑375 cells. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:2347-2354. [PMID: 31322190 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of bufadienolides on the A‑375 melanoma cell line, and to delineate the underlying mechanism. A Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay was used to determine the viability of the cells, and flow cytometry was used to evaluate apoptosis. Western blot analysis was used to evaluate the expression levels of proteins involved in the AKT pathway that are associated with apoptosis and autophagy. The results demonstrated that bufadienolides reduced the viability of A‑375 cells in a dose‑ and a time‑dependent manner. Following treatment with bufadienolides, A‑375 cells exhibited clear properties that were characteristic of apoptosis and autophagy. The expression levels of the pro‑apoptotic proteins Bax and p53 were upregulated, whereas those of the anti‑apoptotic proteins, Bcl‑2 and caspase‑3 were downregulated. In addition, the level of a protein known to be associated with autophagy, microtubule‑associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3‑II, was increased, whereas that of p62 protein was reduced. Finally, the AKT signaling pathway was blocked in the bufadienolide‑treated A‑375 cells. In conclusion, these results revealed that bufadienolides effectively induced apoptosis and autophagy in A‑375 cells via the AKT pathway, and therefore may be one of the candidate targets for the future development of targeted drugs to treat melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huannan Li
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoren Cao
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Xiongbing Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Yi
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Jun Xia
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Jilan Chen
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
| | - Lan Yang
- Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan 610075, P.R. China
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Kwon KR, Yu JS, Sun SH, Lee KH. Study of Intravenous Single-Dose Toxicity Test of Bufonis venonum Pharmacopuncture in Sprague-Dawley Rats. J Pharmacopuncture 2016; 19:155-62. [PMID: 27386149 PMCID: PMC4931301 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2016.19.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Bufonis venonum (BV) is toad venom and is the dried, white secretions of the auricular and the skin glands of toads. This study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of intravenous injection of Bufonis venonum pharmacopuncture (BVP) through a single- dose test with sprague-dawley (SD) rats. METHODS Twenty male and 20 female 6-week-old SD rats were injected intravenously in the caudal vein with BVP or normal saline. The animals were divided into four groups with five female and five male rats per group: the control group injected with normal saline, the low-dosage group injected with 0.1 mL/animal of BVP, the medium-dosage group injected with 0.5 mL/ animal of BVP and the high-dosage group injected with 1.0 mL/animal of BVP. We performed clinical observations every day and body weight measurements on days 3, 7 and 14 after the injection. We also conducted hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations immediately after the observation period. RESULTS No mortalities were observed in any experimental group. Paleness occurred in the medium- and the high-dosage groups, and congestion on tails was observed in females in the medium- and the high-dosage groups. No significant changes in weight, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histological observations that could be attributed to the intravenous injection of BVP were observed in any experimental group. CONCLUSION The lethal dose of intravenously-administered BVP in SD rats is over 1.0 mL/animal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Rok Kwon
- Research Center of the Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jun-Sang Yu
- Department of Sasang Constitutional Medicine, Sangji University College of Korean Medicine, Wonju, Gangwon, Korea
| | - Seung-Ho Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sangji University College of Korean Medicine, Wonju, Gangwon, Korea
| | - Kwang-Ho Lee
- Department of Acupuncture & Moxibustion Medicine, Sangji University College of Korean Medicine, Wonju, Gangwon, Korea
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Meng Q, Yau LF, Lu JG, Wu ZZ, Zhang BX, Wang JR, Jiang ZH. Chemical profiling and cytotoxicity assay of bufadienolides in toad venom and toad skin. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2016; 187:74-82. [PMID: 27063985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2016.03.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/30/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Toad venom and toad skin have been widely used for treating various cancers in China. Bufadienolides are regarded as the main anticancer components of toad venom, but the difference on composition and anticancer activities of bufadienolides between toad venom and toad skin remains unclear. METHODS Fractions enriched with free and conjugated bufadienolides were prepared from toad venom and toad skin. Bufadienolides in each fraction were comprehensively profiled by using a versatile UHPLC-TOF-MS method. Relative contents of major bufadienolides were determined by using three bufogenins and one bufotoxin as marker compounds with validated UHPLC-TOF-MS method. Furthermore, cytotoxicity of the fractions was examined by MTT assay. RESULTS Two fractions, i.e., bufogenin and bufotoxin fractions (TV-F and TV-C) were isolated from toad venom, and one bufotoxin fraction (TS-C) was isolated from toad skin. Totally 56 bufadienolides in these three fractions were identified, and 29 were quantified or semi-quantified. Bufotoxins were identified in both toad venom and toad skin, whereas bufogenins exist only in toad venom. Bufalin-3-conjugated bufotoxins are major components in toad venom, whereas cinobufotalin and cinobufagin-3-conjugated bufotoxins are main bufotoxins in toad skin. MTT assay revealed potent cytotoxicity of all the fractions in an order of TV-F>TV-C>TS-C. CONCLUSIONS Our study represents the most comprehensive investigation on the chemical profiles of toad venom and toad skin from both qualitative and quantitative aspects. Eight bufotoxins were identified in toad skin responsible for the cytotoxicity for the first time. Our research provides valuable chemical evidence for the appropriate processing method, quality control and rational exploration of toad skin and toad venom for the development of anticancer medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Lee-Fong Yau
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Jing-Guang Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China
| | - Zhen-Zhen Wu
- Beijing Increase Pharm. Co. Ltd., Beijing, China
| | | | - Jing-Rong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
| | - Zhi-Hong Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau Institute for Applied Research in Medicine and Health, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau, China.
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Bi QR, Hou JJ, Qi P, Ma CH, Feng RH, Yan BP, Wang JW, Shi XJ, Zheng YY, Wu WY, Guo DA. TXNIP/TRX/NF-κB and MAPK/NF-κB pathways involved in the cardiotoxicity induced by Venenum Bufonis in rats. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22759. [PMID: 26961717 PMCID: PMC4785358 DOI: 10.1038/srep22759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Venenum Bufonis (VB) is a widely used traditional medicine with serious cardiotoxic effects. The inflammatory response has been studied to clarify the mechanism of the cardiotoxicity induced by VB for the first time. In the present study, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats, were administered VB (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) intragastrically, experienced disturbed ECGs (lowered heart rate and elevated ST-segment), increased levels of serum indicators (creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase isoenzyme-MB (CK-MB), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST)) and serum interleukin (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) at 2 h, 4 h, 6 h, 8 h, 24 h, and 48 h, which reflected that an inflammatory response, together with cardiotoxicity, were involved in VB-treated rats. In addition, the elevated serum level of MDA and the down-regulated SOD, CAT, GSH, and GPx levels indicated the appearance of oxidative stress in the VB-treated group. Furthermore, based on the enhanced expression levels of TXNIP, p-NF-κBp65, p-IκBα, p-IKKα, p-IKKβ, p-ERK, p-JNK, and p-P38 and the obvious myocardial degeneration, it is proposed that VB-induced cardiotoxicity may promote an inflammatory response through the TXNIP/TRX/NF-κB and MAPK/NF-κB pathways. The observed inflammatory mechanism induced by VB may provide a theoretical reference for the toxic effects and clinical application of VB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi-Rui Bi
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jin-Jun Hou
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Peng Qi
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chun-Hua Ma
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Rui-Hong Feng
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Bing-Peng Yan
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Jian-Wei Wang
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Xiao-Jian Shi
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China.,College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Zheng
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wan-Ying Wu
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - De-An Guo
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Laboratory for TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Haike Road 501, Shanghai 201203, China
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Lee HJ, Koung FP, Kwon KR, Kang DI, Cohen L, Yang PY, Yoo HS. Comparative Analysis of the Bufonis Venenum by Using TLC, HPLC, and LC-MS for Different Extraction Methods. J Pharmacopuncture 2015; 15:52-65. [PMID: 25780654 PMCID: PMC4331950 DOI: 10.3831/kpi.2012.15.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2012] [Accepted: 10/31/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Toad venom, called Chan-Su, is a traditional Oriental medicine secreted from the auricular and the skin glands of the Bufo bufo gargarizanz Cantor or B. melanosticus Schneider and has been widely used in China, Korea and other parts of Asia for the treatment of pain, heart conditions, and cancer. We examined the concentrations of the main chemical constituents within a commerciallyavailable toad venom product and compared the levels for different extraction methods. Methods: Toad venom was extracted using either cold or hot water, ethanol (EtOH), methanol (MeOH), or ethyl acetate (EtOAc), was fractionated using precipitation or reflux, and was then analyzed using thin layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HTLC), and liquid chroma-tography - mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Individual components were identified by comparisons of the retention times, the ultraviolet spectra, and mass spectras and differences in chemical constituents for different solvents and extraction methods are presented. Results: Components with authentic standards, including serotonin and bufodienolides (cinobufagen, bufalin, cinobufalin, and resibufogenin), were detected. The water extract of toad venom contained the greatest amount of serotonin (75.7 ± 0.1 mg/g), but very small amounts of bufodienolides (3.8 ± 0.0 mg/g). In contrast, the use of MeOH or EtOH extraction solutions resulted in 5-26 times higher concentrations of bufodienolides, with only trace amounts of serotonin. The relative and the absolute concentrations of the component also varied based on the extraction method; i.e., EtOH extracts yielded the greatest total amounts of bufodienolides, and EtOAc precipitation had the lowest amounts of bufodienolides. Conclusions: Toad venom consists of serotonin and several bufodienolides, and the choice of solvent to extract chemical the constituents is important as a way to enrich the purported active components for treating different conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyo-Jae Lee
- East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Fan-Pei Koung
- Integrative Medicine Program, Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Ki-Rok Kwon
- Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Dae-In Kang
- Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul, Korea
| | - Lorenzo Cohen
- Integrative Medicine Program, Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Pei-Ying Yang
- Integrative Medicine Program, Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA
| | - Hwa-Seung Yoo
- East-West Cancer Center, Dunsan Oriental Hospital of Daejeon University, Daejeon, Korea ; Integrative Medicine Program, Department of General Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA ; Korean Pharmacopuncture Institute, Seoul, Korea
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Deng LJ, Hu LP, Peng QL, Yang XL, Bai LL, Yiu A, Li Y, Tian HY, Ye WC, Zhang DM. Hellebrigenin induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells through inhibition of Akt. Chem Biol Interact 2014; 219:184-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2014.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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