Tanshinone (Salviae miltiorrhizae extract) preparations attenuate aminoglycoside-induced free radical formation in vitro and ototoxicity in vivo

Potential of Natural Products in the Treatment of Glioma: Focus on Molecular Mechanisms

Despite the waning of traditional treatments for glioma due to possible long-term issues, the healing possibilities of substances derived from nature have been reignited in the scientific community. These natural substances, commonly found in fruits and vegetables, are considered potential alternatives to pharmaceuticals, as they have been shown in prior research to impact pathways surrounding cancer progression, metastases, invasion, and resistance. This review will explore the supposed molecular mechanisms of different natural components, such as berberine, curcumin, coffee, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, tanshinone, silymarin, coumarin, and lycopene, concerning glioma treatment. While the benefits of a balanced diet containing these compounds are widely recognized, there is considerable scope for investigating the efficacy of these natural products in treating glioma.

Natural Antioxidants: An Effective Strategy for the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease at the Early Stage

The critical role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been recognized by researchers recently, and natural antioxidants have been demonstrated to have anti-AD activity in animal models, such as Ginkgo biloba extract, soy isoflavones, lycopene, and so on. This paper summarized these natural antioxidants and points out that natural antioxidants always have multiple advantages which are help to deal with AD, such as clearing free radicals, regulating signal transduction, protecting mitochondrial function, and synaptic plasticity. Based on the available data, we have created a relatively complete pathway map of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and AD-related targets and concluded that oxidative stress caused by ROS is the core of AD pathogenesis. In the prospect, we introduced the concept of a combined therapeutic strategy, termed "Antioxidant-Promoting Synaptic Remodeling," highlighting the integration of antioxidant interventions with synaptic remodeling approaches as a novel avenue for therapeutic exploration.

Unveiling the Role of Oxidative Stress in Cochlear Hair Cell Death: Prospective Phytochemical Therapeutics against Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss represents a multifaceted and pervasive challenge that deeply impacts various aspects of an individual's life, spanning psychological, emotional, social, and economic realms. Understanding the molecular underpinnings that orchestrate hearing loss remains paramount in the quest for effective therapeutic strategies. This review aims to expound upon the physiological, biochemical, and molecular aspects of hearing loss, with a specific focus on its correlation with diabetes. Within this context, phytochemicals have surfaced as prospective contenders in the pursuit of potential adjuvant therapies. These compounds exhibit noteworthy antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which hold the potential to counteract the detrimental effects induced by oxidative stress and inflammation-prominent contributors to hearing impairment. Furthermore, this review offers an up-to-date exploration of the diverse molecular pathways modulated by these compounds. However, the dynamic landscape of their efficacy warrants recognition as an ongoing investigative topic, inherently contingent upon specific experimental models. Ultimately, to ascertain the genuine potential of phytochemicals as agents in hearing loss treatment, a comprehensive grasp of the molecular mechanisms at play, coupled with rigorous clinical investigations, stands as an imperative quest.

Age-related hearing loss and its potential drug candidates: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is one of the main illnesses afflicting the aged population and has a significant negative impact on society, economy, and health. However, there is presently no appropriate therapeutic treatment of ARHL due to the absence of comprehensive trials.

OBJECTIVES

The goal of this review is to systematically evaluate and analyze recent statistics on the pathologic classifications, risk factors, treatment strategies, and drug candidates of ARHL, including that from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), to provide potential new approaches for preventing and treating ARHL.

METHODS

Literature related to ARHL was conducted in databases such as PubMed, WOS, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wanfang from the establishment of the database to Jan, 2023. The pathology, causal factor, pathophysiological mechanism, treatment strategy, and the drug candidate of ARHL were extracted and pooled for synthesis.

RESULTS

Many hypotheses about the etiology of ARHL are based on genetic and environmental elements. Most of the current research on the pathology of ARHL focuses on oxidative damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammation, cochlear blood flow, ion homeostasis, etc. In TCM, herbs belonging to the kidney, lung, and liver meridians exhibit good hearing protection. Seven herbs belonging to the kidney meridian, 9 belonging to the lung meridian, and 4 belonging to the liver meridian were ultimately retrieved in this review, such as Polygonum multiflorum Thunb., Panax ginseng C.A. Mey, and Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi. Their active compounds, 2,3,4',5-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-D-glucoside, ginsenoside Rb1, and puerarin, may act as the molecular substance for their anti-ARHL efficacy, and show anti-oxidative, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, or mitochondrial protective effects.

CONCLUSION

Anti-oxidants, modulators of mitochondrial function, anti-inflammation agents, vasodilators, K+ channel openers, Ca2+ channel blockers, JNK inhibitors, and nerve growth factors/neurotrophic factors all contribute to hearing protection, and herbs are an important source of potential anti-ARHL drugs.

Combined Application of Aminoglycosides and Ascorbic Acid in the Elimination of Proteus mirabilis Rods Responsible for Causing Catheter-Associated Urinary Tract Infections (CAUTIs)-A Molecular Approach

Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). In this study, we verified the effectiveness of amikacin or gentamicin and ascorbic acid (AA) co-therapy in eliminating uropathogenic cells, as well as searched for the molecular basis of AA activity by applying chromatographic and fluorescent techniques. Under simulated physiological conditions, a combined activity of the antibiotic and AA supported the growth (threefold) of the P. mirabilis C12 strain, but reduced catheter colonization (≤30%) in comparison to the drug monotherapy. Slight modifications in the phospholipid and fatty acid profiles, as well as limited (≤62%) 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence, corresponding to the hydroxyl radical level, allowed for the exclusion of the hypothesis that the anti-biofilm effect of AA was related to membrane perturbations of the C12 strain. However, the reduced (≤20%) fluorescence intensity of propidium iodide, as a result of a decrease in membrane permeability, may be evidence of P. mirabilis cell defense against AA activity. Quantitative analyses of ascorbic acid over time with a simultaneous measurement of the pH values proved that AA can be an effective urine acidifier, provided that it is devoid of the presence of urease-positive cells. Therefore, it could be useful in a prevention of recurrent CAUTIs, rather than in their treatment.

Tanshinone IIA alleviates NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-(H37Ra-) infected macrophages by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tanshinone IIA (Tan), extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a perennial herbal plant widely used as a folk remedy in Asian countries. Several studies have proved that Tanshinone IIA possesses many biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, free-radical scavenging abilities, antioxidant properties, liver protection, and anti-cancer properties.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of the present study was to examine the anti-inflammatory effects of Tan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The in vitro infection model of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages with the H37Ra strain was established. Murine macrophage Raw 264.7 and human monocyte THP-1 were used for the experiments. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Western blot and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity assays were used to detect the effects of Tan on cell pyroptosis and the level of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Western blot, Co-immunoprecipitation and Immunofluorescence assays were used to observe the effect of Tan on the expression level of TXNIP. Immunofluorescence assays were applied to explore the effect of Tan on mtROS. Western blot and agarose gel electrophoresis were adopted to observe the effect of Tan on endoplasmic reticulum stress. The siRNA technique was applied to knockdown the expression levels of PERK/peIF2α, IRE1α and ATF6, and Western blot assay was employed to explore the NLRP3 inflammasome activation and possible molecular regulation mechanism of Tan.

RESULTS

This study demonstrated that Tan decreased Mtb-induced cell pyroptosis by measuring GSDMD-N and LDH release provoked by NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Additionally, Tan inhibited endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), mitochondrial damage, and TXNIP protein expression, all of which acted as upstream signals of NLRP3 inflammasome activation in Mtb-infected macrophages. Significantly, NLRP3 inflammasome activation was suppressed by knocking down ERS pathway proteins, which further clarified that Tan partly targeted ERS to exert anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory actions.

CONCLUSION

This research confirms Tan's anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory mechanisms in Mtb-infected macrophages by downregulating NLRP3 inflammasome activation-mediated pyroptosis provoked by ERS. Tan may function as an adjuvant drug to treat TB by adjusting host immune responses.

The protective mechanism of resveratrol against hepatic injury induced by iron overload in mice

Excessive iron deposition can produce toxicity. Liver, as the main storage site of iron, is more vulnerable to excessive iron than other organs. Many studies have found that Resveratrol (RES) can effectively eliminate oxygen free radicals and resist lipid peroxide damage. However, studies investigating the mechanism of how RES prevents liver injury induced by iron overload are few. This study aims to observe the protective effect of RES on liver injury induced by iron overload in mice. Mice, except for the control group, received an intraperitoneal injection of iron dextran (50 mg/kg) every morning. The L-RES and H-RES groups received intragastric administration of low- and high-concentration RES solutions (20 or 50 mg/kg). The deferoxamine (DFO) group was intraperitoneally injected with DFO (50 mg/kg), while the control and iron overload groups were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of normal saline every afternoon. Two weeks after continuous administration, iron-overloaded mice treated with high and low doses of RES significantly improved liver injury (GOT and GPT) and decreased LDH activity and MDA content and increased SOD and GSH activities (P < 0.01). Morphological tests showed that RES treatment can reduce liver iron deposition and improve liver pathological changes in iron-overloaded mice. Furthermore, RES treatment caused a significant decrease in Ft expression (P < 0.01). In conclusion, RES can alleviate liver injury in iron-overloaded mice. The mechanism may be related to improve the antioxidant capacity and reduce excess iron in the liver.

Preventing contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) with herbal medicines: A review

OBJECTIVES

Currently, the use of iodinated contrast media in diagnostic imaging has been increased in clinical medicine. Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is an important adverse effect of contrast media injection. According to the significant role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of CIN, different herbal antioxidants have been used for the prevention of nephropathy in different studies. In this review, we discussed the preventive effects of herbal medicine and natural products against CIN.

METHODS

We searched the electronic databases or search engines including PubMed, Scopus, ISI, Google Scholar with search terms such as "Contrast-induced nephropathy" and "Herbal medicine," "Contrast acute kidney injury" AND "natural products" and similar headings such as plant and extract.

RESULTS

Known medicinal plants and active ingredients such as green tea, ginger, garlic, silymarin, curcumin, resveratrol, and thymoquinone have been examined for prophylactic effects or treatment of contrast media nephropathy.

CONCLUSION

Herbal medicines have promising effects in the laboratory-based studies for the prevention and/or treatment of CIN. However, more practical and completed clinical trials are needed to investigate the clinical benefits of natural products against CIN.

Compound salvia pellet might be more effective and safer for chronic stable angina pectoris compared with nitrates: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Chronic stable angina (CSA) resulted in a considerable burden for both individuals and the society. In this study we aimed to critically evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Compound salvia pellet compared with nitrates in the treatment of Chronic Stable Angina (CSA) pectoris, and to provide more credible evidence for clinical practice.

METHODS

A comprehensive and exhaustive search strategy was formulated to identify potential RCTs of compound salvia pellet for CSA in international and Chinese databases from their inception to July 4th, 2018. We also searched the bibliographies of relevant studies. Two reviewers independently assessed the quality of included trials by using Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

RESULTS

The literature search yielded 1849 citations and 51 RCTs (n = 4732) were included for meta-analysis after titles, abstracts and full text selection according to eligibility criteria. The pooled results suggested that compound salvia pellet was much more effective than nitrates in the improvement of angina symptoms (therapy = 4 weeks, RR = 1.23, 95%CI = [1.17, 1.30], P < .001, I = 0%; therapy = 4 weeks, RR = 1.13, 95%CI = [1.08, 1.17], P < .001, I = 45.6%), and ECG test (therapy = 4 weeks, RR = 1.24, 95%CI [1.14, 1.35], P < .001, I = 51.5%; and therapy > 4 weeks, RR = 1.30, 95%CI[1.20, 1.42], P < .001, I = 36.4%) in CSA. Compared with nitrates, the percentage of patients with adverse events significantly decreased when prescribed with compound salvia pellet (3.2% vs 17.0%).

CONCLUSION

Compound salvia pellet might be more effective on the improvement of angina symptoms, ECG test and with few adverse events compared with nitrates. While there are some limitations in this study, which may weaken the results, we believe the findings could provide useful information for stakeholders concerned with outcomes in patients with CSA. More rigorous RCTs with high quality are needed to confirm these findings.

Traditional oriental medicine for sensorineural hearing loss: Can ethnopharmacology contribute to potential drug discovery?

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Traditional Oriental Medicine (TOM), the development of hearing pathologies is related to an inadequate nourishment of the ears by the kidney and other organs involved in regulation of bodily fluids and nutrients. Several herbal species have historically been prescribed for promoting the production of bodily fluids or as antiaging agents to treat deficiencies in hearing.

AIM OF REVIEW

The prevalence of hearing loss has been increasing in the last decade and is projected to grow considerably in the coming years. Recently, several herbal-derived products prescribed in TOM have demonstrated a therapeutic potential for acquired sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. Therefore, the aims of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the current known efficacy of the herbs used in TOM for preventing different forms of acquired sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus, and associate the traditional principle with the demonstrated pharmacological mechanisms to establish a solid foundation for directing future research.

METHODS

The present review collected the literature related to herbs used in TOM or related compounds on hearing from Chinese, Korean, and Japanese herbal classics; library catalogs; and scientific databases (PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar; and Science Direct).

RESULTS

This review shows that approximately 25 herbal species and 40 active compounds prescribed in TOM for hearing loss and tinnitus have shown in vitro or in vivo beneficial effects for acquired sensorineural hearing loss produced by noise, aging, ototoxic drugs or diabetes. The inner ear is highly vulnerable to ischemia and oxidative damage, where several TOM agents have revealed a direct effect on the auditory system by normalizing the blood supply to the cochlea and increasing the antioxidant defense in sensory hair cells. These strategies have shown a positive impact on maintaining the inner ear potential, sustaining the production of endolymph, reducing the accumulation of toxic and inflammatory substances, preventing sensory cell death and preserving sensory transmission. There are still several herbal species with demonstrated therapeutic efficacy whose mechanisms have not been deeply studied and others that have been traditionally used in hearing loss but have not been tested experimentally. In clinical studies, Ginkgo biloba, Panax ginseng, and Astragalus propinquus have demonstrated to improve hearing thresholds in patients with sensorineural hearing loss and alleviated the symptoms of tinnitus. However, some of these clinical studies have been limited by small sample sizes, lack of an adequate control group or contradictory results.

CONCLUSIONS

Current therapeutic strategies have proven that the goal of the traditional oriental medicine principle of increasing bodily fluids is a relevant approach for reducing the development of hearing loss by improving microcirculation in the blood-labyrinth barrier and increasing cochlear blood flow. The potential benefits of TOM agents expand to a multi-target approach on different auditory structures of the inner ear related to increased cochlear blood flow, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and neuroprotective activities. However, more research is required, given the evidence is very limited in terms of the mechanism of action at the preclinical in vivo level and the scarce number of clinical studies published.

Tanshinone IIA Attenuates Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathic Pain in Experimental Rats via Inhibiting Inflammation

Diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP) is a common and intractable complication of diabetes. Conventional therapies are always not ideal; development of novel drugs is still needed to achieve better pain relief. Recent evidences have demonstrated that inflammation is involved in the onset and maintenance of DPNP. The anti-inflammatory property of Tanshinone IIA (TIIA) makes it a promising candidate to block or alter the pain perception. This study was conducted to investigate whether TIIA could attenuate DPNP in streptozotocin- (STZ-) induced rats model and its potential mechanisms. TIIA was administered to STZ-induced diabetic rats at the dose of 40 mg/kg once a day for 3 weeks. The effects of TIIA on thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia were investigated using behavioral tests. The mRNA level and expression of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, interleukin- (IL-) 6, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, and interleukin- (IL-) 10 in the fourth to sixth segments of the dorsal root ganglion (L4–6 DRG) were detected by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and Western blot. TIIA treatment significantly attenuated mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in diabetic rats. In addition, the expression of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α was inhibited, and the level of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was increased by TIIA. This study demonstrated that TIIA has significant antiallodynic and antihyperalgesic effects in a rat model of STZ-induced DPNP, and the effect may be associated with its anti-inflammation property.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits gastric carcinoma AGS cells by decreasing the protein expression of VEGFR and blocking Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway

The RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway is one of the most frequently dysregulated kinase cascades in human cancer, that facilitate the proliferation and survival of cancers driven by growth factor receptors. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) was extracted from Danshen (Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix). Tan-IIA inhibition of the proliferation of gastric cancer are well documented, but the molecular mechanisms of Tan-IIA inhibition of gastric cancer have not been well elucidated. We evaluated the protein expression of vascular epidermal growth factor receptor (VEGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), Ras, Raf, MEK, ERK, PARP, caspase-3 and β-actin in AGS cells by western blotting. The results showed that AGS cells treated with Tan-IIA upregulated the protein expression of PARP and caspase-3 but decreased VEGFR, HER2, Ras, Raf, MEK and ERK time- and dose-dependently. These findings demonstrated that Tan-IIA inhibited human gastric cancer AGS cells; one of the molecular mechanisms may be through decreasing the protein expression of VEGFR and HER2, then blocking the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway to induce the activation of PARP and caspase-3 to induce apoptosis.

Cryptotanshinone induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/NFκB pathways in cholangiocarcinoma cells

BACKGROUND

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is the most common biliary tract malignancy in the world with high resistance to current chemotherapies and extremely poor prognosis. The main objective of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of cryptotanshinone (CTS), a natural compound isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on CCA both in vitro and in vivo and to explore the underlying mechanisms of CTS-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest.

METHODS

The anti-tumor activity of CTS on HCCC-9810 and RBE cells was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and colony forming assays. Cell cycle changes were detected by flow cytometric analysis. Apoptosis was detected by annexin V/propidium iodide double staining and Hoechst 33342 staining assays. The efficacy of CTS in vivo was evaluated using a HCCC-9810 xenograft model in athymic nude mice. The expression of key proteins involved in cell apoptosis and signaling pathway in vitro was analyzed by Western blot analysis.

RESULTS

CTS induced potent growth inhibition, S-phase arrest, apoptosis, and colony-forming inhibition in HCCC-9810 and RBE cells in a dose-dependent manner. Intraperitoneal injection of CTS (0, 10, or 25 mg/kg) for 4 weeks significantly inhibited the growth of HCCC-9810 xenografts in athymic nude mice. CTS treatment induced S-phase arrest with a decrease of cyclin A1 and an increase of cyclin D1 protein level. Bcl-2 expression was downregulated remarkably, while Bax expression was increased after apoptosis occurred. Additionally, the activation of JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/NFκB was significantly inhibited in CTS-treated CCA cells.

CONCLUSION

CTS induced CCA cell apoptosis by suppressing both the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/NFκB signaling pathways and altering the expression of Bcl-2/Bax family, which was regulated by these two signaling pathways. CTS may serve as a potential therapeutic agent for CCA.

Tanshinone IIA attenuates renal damage in STZ-induced diabetic rats via inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation

Oxidative stress and inflammation have been demonstrated to be involved in the onset and promotion of diabetic nephropathy (DN).Tanshinone IIA (Tan) possesses both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, the aim of the present study was to explore whether Tan could attenuate renal damage in the rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes and its potential mechanisms. Tan was gavaged to STZ-induced diabetic rats at the dose of 10mg/kg once a day for 12 weeks. Tan treatment significantly attenuated albuminuria and renal histopathology in diabetic rats. Besides, Tan treatment also effectively inhibited oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Our study provided evidence that the protective effect of Tan on diabetes-induced renal injury is associated with inhibition of oxidative stress and inflammation. Tan may be a potential candidate for the treatment of DN.

Fenofibrate exerts protective effects against gentamicin-induced toxicity in cochlear hair cells by activating antioxidant enzymes

Fenofibrate, an activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs), has been shown to protect the kidneys and brain cells from oxidative stress; however, its role in preventing hearing loss has not been reported to date, at least to the best of our knowledge. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effects of fenofibrate against gentamicin (GM)-induced ototoxicity. We found that the auditory brainstem response threshold which was increased by GM was significantly reduced by pre-treatment with fenofibrate in rats. In cochlear explants, the disruption of hair cell layers by GM was also markedly attenuated by pre-treatment with fenofibrate. In addition, fenofibrate almost completely abolished GM-induced reactive oxygen species generation, which seemed to be mediated at least in part by the restoration of the expression of PPAR-α-dependent antioxidant enzymes, including catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD)-1. Of note, fenofibrate markedly increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) which was also induced to a certain degree by GM alone. The induced expression of HO-1 by fenofibrate appeared to be essential for mediating the protective effects of fenofibrate, as the inhibition of HO-1 activity significantly diminished the protective effects of fenofibrate against the GM-mediated death of sensory hair cells in cochlea explant culture, as well as in zebrafish neuromasts. These results suggest that fenofibrate protects sensory hair cells from GM-induced toxicity by upregulating PPAR-α-dependent antioxidant enzymes, including HO-1. Our results provide insight into the preventive therapy for hearing loss caused by aminoglycoside antibiotics.

Tanshinones and mental diseases: from chemistry to medicine

The prevalence of mental diseases, especially neurodegenerative disorders, is ever-increasing, while treatment options for such disorders are limited and insufficient. In this scarcity of available medication, it is a feasible strategy to search for potential drugs among natural compounds, such as those found in plants. One such plant source is the root of Chinese sage, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Labiatae), which contains several compounds reported to possess neuroprotective activities. The most important of these compounds are tanshinones, which have been reported to possess ameliorative activity against a myriad of mental diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury, and glioma, along with promoting neuronal differentiation and manifesting antinociceptive and anticonvulsant outcomes. This review offers a critical evaluation of the utility of tanshinones to treat mental illnesses, and sheds light on the underlying mechanisms through which these naturally occurring compounds confer neuroprotection.

Tanshinone IIA suppress the proliferation of HNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma an in vitro study

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at present is considered to be one of the fatal diseases detected commonly in the people belonging to Southeast Asia and southern China. According to the WHO reports among the detected cases of NPC worldwide, 80% are from China. The present study investigates the effect of tanshinone IIA on the migration and invasion potential of HNE-1NPC cells and studied the detailed mechanism involved. Effect of the tanshinone IIA on viability of the HNE-1NPC cells was analyzed by MTS assay. Cell matrigel invasion and wound-healing motility assays, respectively were used for the analysis of invasion and migration potential of HNE-1 cells. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the viability of HNE-1cells in a dose dependent manner. Migration and invasion potential of the tanshinone IIA treated cells was reduced significantly (P < 0.05) compared to the control cells after 48 h. Analysis of the proteins involved in migration and invasion revealed a significant decrease in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 on treatment with tanshinone IIA. It also inhibited the p65 and p50 expression in the nuclear fractions of HNE-1 cells after 48 h. Thus, tanshinone IIA inhibits migration and invasion potential of the HNE-1NPC cells through reduction in the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Therefore, tanshinone IIA can be used for the treatment of NPC.

The clinical effect of herbal magnetic corsets on lumbar disc herniation

Objective: To determine the clinical effects of the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with herbal magnetic corsets.

Design: A randomized control trial.

Setting: The outpatient and inpatient departments of the Rehabilitation Center of the West China Hospital.

Patients: Sixty patients with clinically diagnosed lumbar disc herniation were included in the study.

Interventions: Both groups received lumbar traction, medium frequency electrotherapy and massage, whereas the experimental group wore herbal magnetic corsets in addition.

Main outcome measures: Pain and lumbar function were assessed before treatment and at one week, two weeks and four weeks after intervention.

Results: Both groups reported improvements in pain and lumbar function after treatment (P 0.05 or P 0.001). However, the experimental group reported gradually increasing relief over time leading to a better curative effect than observed in the control group (P 0.05 for visual analogue scale or P 0.001 for lumbar function).

Conclusion: Herbal magnetic corsets can facilitate the reduction of pain caused by lumbar disc herniation and can improve lumbar function. This is a safe and effective non-operative therapeutic option for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

Tanshinone IIA decreases the protein expression of EGFR, and IGFR blocking the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in gastric carcinoma AGS cells both in vitro and in vivo

Tan-IIA exerts powerful inhibitory effects in gastric cancer AGS cells. The PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is one of the most frequently dysregulated kinase cascades in human cancer. In the present study, we investigated the protein expression levels of PI3K, AKT and mTOR in AGS cells treated with Tan-IIA both in vitro and in vivo. The AGS cells were treated with Tan-IIA for different durations in vitro. In the in vivo study, AGS cell xerograft SCID mice were treated with Tan-IIA for 8 weeks. Subsequently, the protein expression of EGFR, IGFR, PI3K, AKT and mTOR was measured by western blotting. The results showed that Tan-IIA was able to decrease the protein expression levels of EGFR, IGFR, PI3K, AKT and mTOR significantly and dose-dependently in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, these findings indicate Tan-IIA could inhibit AGS cells through decreasing the protein expression of EGFR, IGFR and blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway both in vitro and in vivo.

Tanshinone IIA enhances chemosensitivity of colon cancer cells by suppressing nuclear factor-κB

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect and molecular mechanism of tanshinone IIA (TSA) on colon cancer cells. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting kit-8 assay and the results demonstrated that TSA treatment significantly decreased the cell viability of HCT1116 and COLO205 cells in a dose-dependent manner. TSA treatment also sensitized HCT1116 and COLO205 cells to fluorouracil therapy in a concentration-dependent manner. Western blotting was performed in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of TSA action and determine the level of phosporylated p65 and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-regulated genes, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), c-Myc, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2). The results revealed that TSA treatment greatly decreased the level of phosphorylated p65 in the nucleus, which indicated the inhibition of NF-κB activation by TSA treatment. TSA also decreased the expression levels of VEGF, c-Myc, COX-2 and Bcl-2. Furthermore, the inhibition of NF-κB activation with the specific inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, increased the induction of cell death and chemosensitization effect of TSA in colon cancer cells. In conclusion, these results suggest that TSA induces cell death and chemosensitizes colon cancer cells through the suppression of NF-κB signaling.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits acute promyelocytic leukemia cell proliferation and induces their apoptosis in vivo

Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA) is a traditional Chinese agent and has been widely used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Our previous study has shown that TanIIA can induce the differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells by increasing C/EBPβ expression and induce APL cell apoptosis in vitro. In this study, we evaluated the activity of TanIIA against APL in vivo. We found that treatment with TanIIA prevented APL-mediated reduction in body weights. Treatment with TanIIA inhibited the proliferation of APL cells and triggered APL cell apoptosis and differentiation in vivo. Treatment with TanIIA significantly prolonged the survival of APL-bearing mice. Our data indicate that TanIIA has potent anti-APL activity with little adverse effect.

Protective effects of tanshinone ⅡA on endothelial progenitor cells injured by tumor necrosis factor-α

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine commonly used in Asian and Western countries for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disorders, such as atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction and associated inflammatory processes have a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been demonstrated to be involved in certain aspects of the endothelial repair process. The present study aimed to investigate the putative protective effects of Tan IIA on EPCs injured by tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). The potential effects of Tan IIA on TNF-α-stimulated EPC proliferation, migration, adhesion, in vitro tube formation ability and paracrine activity were investigated in the current study. The results indicated that TNF-α impaired EPC proliferation, migration, adhesion capacity and vasculogenesis ability in vitro as well as promoted EPC secretion of inflammatory cytokines, including monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L). However, Tan IIA was able to reverse these effects. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that Tan IIA may have the potential to protect EPCs against damage induced by TNF-α. Therefore, these results may provide evidence for the pharmacological basis of Tan IIA and its potential use in the prevention and treatment of early atherosclerosis associated with EPC and endothelial damage.

Tanshinone IIA Prevents Rat Basilar Artery Smooth Muscle Cells Proliferation by Inactivation of PDK1 During the Development of Hypertension

Basilar vascular smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) hyperplasia is a prominent feature of cerebrovascular remodeling and stroke during the development of hypertension. Tanshinone IIA (Tan) has been reported to exhibit a protective effect against the pathological features of hypertension. Previous studies have shown that phosphoinostitide-3 kinase (PI3K)/3'-phosphoinostitide dependent kinase (PDK1)/AKT pathway is involved in the regulation of proliferation of various cell types. Therefore, there may be a crosstalk between Tan antihypertension processes and PI3K/PDK1/AKT proliferative effect in BASMCs. To test this hypothesis, we used a 2-kidney, 2-clip hypertension model to examine the effect of Tan on PI3K/PDK1/AKT pathway by cellular, molecular, and biochemical approaches. Our results revealed that the abundance of PDK1 in plasma was paralleled with an increase in blood pressure and the cross-sectional area of basilar artery in hypertensive rats. Tan decreased blood pressure and hypertension-induced PDK1 phosphorylation but produced no effect on the phosphorylation of PI3K. Moreover, Tan attenuated endothelin 1 induced the activation of PDK1/AKT pathway in rat BASMCs. Tan could inhibit cell cycle transition by regulating the expression of cyclin D1 and p27, in turn, prevent proliferation of BASMCs. Our study provides a novel mechanism by which Tan prevents cerebrovascular cell proliferation during hypertension, and thus Tan may be a potential therapeutic agent for cerebrovascular remodeling and stroke.

Mechanism of alpha-lipoic acid in attenuating kanamycin-induced ototoxicity

In view of the theory that alpha-lipoic acid effectively prevents cochlear cells from injury caused by various factors such as cisplatin and noise, this study examined whether alpha-lipoic acid can prevent kanamycin-induced ototoxicity. To this end, healthy BALB/c mice were injected subcutaneously with alpha-lipoic acid and kanamycin for 14 days. Auditory brainstem response test showed that increased auditory brainstem response threshold shifts caused by kanamycin were significantly inhibited. Immunohistochemical staining and western blot analysis showed that the expression of phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase in mouse cochlea was significantly decreased. The experimental findings suggest that phosphorylated p38 and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase mediated kanamycin-induced ototoxic injury in BALB/c mice. Alpha-lipoic acid effectively attenuated kanamycin ototoxicity by inhibiting the kanamycin-induced high expression of phosphorylated p38 and phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase.

Protective effect of hexane and ethanol extract of piper longum L. On gentamicin-induced hair cell loss in neonatal cultures

OBJECTIVES

Gentamicin (GM) is a commonly used aminoglycoside antibiotic that generates free oxygen radicals within the inner ear, which can cause vestibulo-cochlear toxicity and permanent damage to the sensory hair cells and neurons. Piper longum L. (PL) is a well-known spice and traditional medicine in Asia and Pacific islands, which has been reported to exhibit a wide spectrum of activity, including antioxidant activity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of hexane:ethanol (2:8) PL extract (subfraction of PL [SPL] extract) on GM-induced hair cell loss in basal, middle and apical regions in a neonatal cochlea cultures.

METHODS

The protective effects of SPL extract were measured by phalloidin staining of cultures from postnatal day 2-3 mice with GM-induced hair cell loss. The anti-apoptosis activity of SPL extract was measured using double labeling by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) and myosin-7a staining. The radical-scavenging activity of SPL extract was assessed using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay.

RESULTS

SPL extract at a concentration of 1 µg/mL significantly inhibited GM-induced hair cell loss at basal and middle region of cochlea, while 5 µg/mL was effective against apical region hair cell loss. The protective effect of SPL extract was concentration dependent and hair cells retained their stereocilia in explants treated with SPL extract prior to treatment with 0.3 mM GM. SPL extract decreased GM-induced apoptosis of hair cells as assessed by TUNEL staining. The outer hair and inner hair counts were not decreased in SPL extract treated groups in compare to GM treated explants. Additionally, SPL extract showed concentration dependent radical scavenging activity in a DPPH assay.

CONCLUSION

An anti-apoptosis effect and potent radical scavenger activity of SPL extract protects from GM-induced hair cell loss at basal, middle and apical regions in neonatal cochlea cultures.

The protective effect of Salvia miltiorrhiza on gentamicin-induced ototoxicity

OBJECTIVE

The clinical use of aminoglycoside antibiotics is limited in most countries because of auditory toxicity side effects. However, their use is common in developing countries because they are inexpensive and convenient. Salvia miltiorrhiza extracts are used clinically in China for their antioxidant properties. We investigated the effect of a clinically approved injectable S. miltiorrhiza solution on inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) generation induced by the aminoglycoside antibiotic gentamicin and an ototoxicity protective mechanism.

METHODS

Sixty adult guinea pigs were used in this study and divided into four groups. Auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing was performed before and after treatments and animals were sacrificed for morphological and immunostaining assays after determining threshold shifts in ABR. The cochleae were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to observe ultrastructural changes. In addition, hair cell loss, iNOS and caspase-3 expression, and apoptosis were measured.

RESULTS

The result showed that hearing loss, iNOS overexpression accompanied with disorganization in the cochlea, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase- mediated dUTP- biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-stained positive cells in animals treated with gentamicin. However, pretreatment with S. miltiorrhiza (3g/kg/day for 10 days) decreased gentamicin-induced hearing loss, attenuated iNOS and caspase-3 expression, and decreased the number of apoptotic cells. Furthermore, it also reduced the ultrastructural damage due to ototoxicity as observed by SEM and TEM.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate that S. miltiorrhiza protects against gentamicin-induced ototoxicity and could apply to the protection of ototoxicity.

Activation tagging in Salvia miltiorrhiza can cause increased leaf size and accumulation of tanshinone I and IIA in its roots

BACKGROUND

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen), an important herb in traditional Chinese medicine, is commonly used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. One of the major bioactive constituents of Danshen, diterpenoid tanshinone, has been proved with pharmacological properties and have the potential to be a new drug candidate against various diseases. In our previous study, we have established an activation tagging mutagenesis (ATM) population of callus lines of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge by Agrobacterium- mediated transformation.

RESULTS

In the present study, we have identified ATM transgenic Salvia plant (SH41) with different leaf morphology and more tanshinones in its roots. The transgenic background of SH41 was identified by PCR (using hpt II primers) and Southern blots. PCR analysis showed a single band of hpt II gene and Southern blot analysis showed single insertion in SH41. External appearance of ATM transgenic SH41 was observed with broader leaves comparing to non-transformed plants. More healthy trichomes as well as bigger and wobbly guard cells and stomata were observed in SH41 by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative analysis of active compounds in SH41 roots revealed a significant increase in tanshinone I (3.7 fold) and tanshinone IIA (2 fold) contents as compared to the wild plant.

CONCLUSIONS

We have generated an activation tagged transgenic Salvia plant (SH41) with different leaf morphology and high diterpenes content in its roots. The increased amount of tanshinones in SH41 will definitely offer a route for maximizing the benefits of this plant in traditional Chinese herbal medicines. The present report may also facilitate the application of ATM for genetic manipulation of other medicinal crops and subsequent improved metabolite contents.

Tanshinone IIA inhibits human prostate cancer cells growth by induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress in vitro and in vivo

BACKGROUND

Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is one of the major lipophilic components isolated from the root of Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix. We explored the mechanisms of cell death induced by Tan-IIA treatment in prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

Cells were treated with Tan-IIA and growth inhibition was assessed. Cell cycle profiles after Tan-IIA treatment were determined by flow cytometry. Expression levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins and apoptosis-related proteins were determined after Tan-IIA treatment. Expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-regulated genes were determined to investigate their role in Tan-IIA-induced cell death. GADD153 expression was knocked down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection. Rate of cell death and proliferation was obtained by 3-(4,5-dimethyl thizol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay. Antitumor activity of Tan-IIA was performed in LNCaP xenograft model.

RESULTS

Our results showed that Tan-IIA caused prostate cancer cell death in a dose-dependent manner, and cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase was noted, in LNCaP cells. The G0/G1 phase arrest correlated with increase levels of CDK inhibitors (p16, p21 and p27) and decrease of the checkpoint proteins. Tan-IIA also induced ER stress in prostate cancer cells: activation and nuclear translocation of GADD153/CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP) were identified, and increased expression of the downstream molecules GRP78/BiP, inositol-requiring protein-1α and GADD153/CHOP were evidenced. Blockage of GADD153/CHOP expression by siRNA reduced Tan-IIA-induced cell death in LNCaP cells. Tan-IIA also suppressed LNCaP xenograft tumor growth, causing 86.4% reduction in tumor volume after 13 days of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that Tan-IIA causes G0/G1 cell cycle arrest in LNCaP cells and its cytotoxicity is mediated at least partly by ER stress induction. These data provide evidence supporting Tan-IIA as a potential anticancer agent by inducing ER stress in prostate cancer.

Activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase mediates tanshinone IIA-induced apoptosis in KBM-5 chronic myeloid leukemia cells

Aim of this study was to identify the molecular mechanisms of tanshinone IIA-induced apoptosis in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Cytotoxicity of tanshinone IIA was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Our data demonstrate that tanshinone IIA induced apoptosis by increasing the sub-G1 DNA contents and DNA fragmentation in KBM-5 CML cell line. In addition, tanshinone IIA significantly reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mediated cytochrome c release from mitochondria and activated caspase-3 and 9, indicating mitochondria-dependent apoptosis by tanshinone IIA. Tanshinone IIA attenuated expression of several apoptosis-related proteins such as c-inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) 2, Mcl-1(L) and Bcl-2. Interestingly, although tanshinone IIA notably enhanced the phosphorylation of both c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) and p38, JNK inhibitor, but not p38 inhibitor, reversed tanshinone IIA-induced apoptosis. Our findings suggest that tanshinone IIA induces mitochondria-dependent apoptosis via activation of JNK in KBM 5 cells as a potent anti-cancer agent for CML therapy.

Protective effect of tanshinone IIA against radiation-induced ototoxicity in HEI-OC1 cells

Radiotherapy is a highly efficient treatment method for nasopharyngeal carcinoma that is often accompanied by significant ototoxic side-effects. The inner ear hair cells are particularly prone to serious injury following radiotherapy. Tanshinone IIA is a transcription factor inhibitor that is extracted from the traditional herbal medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. The present study investigated the effects of tanshinone IIA treatment on radiation-induced toxicity in the HEI-OC1 hair cell line. Using an MTT assay and flow cytometry, the radiation-induced weakening of the cells was observed to be alleviated when the cells were pre-treated with tanshinone IIA. Radiation exposure promoted p65/nuclear factor (NF)-κB nuclear translocation and activated the p53/p21 pathway, two processes which play a significant role in radiation-induced cell apoptosis. However, pre-treatment of the cells with tanshinone IIA inhibited p65/NF-κB nuclear translocation and p53/p21 pathway activation. These results demonstrate that tanshinone IIA is capable of protecting cochlear cells from radiation-induced injury through the suppression of p65/NF-κB nuclear translocation and the p53/p21 signaling pathway.

Tanshinone IIA, a constituent of Danshen, inhibits the release of glutamate in rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Danshen is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine and has received considerable attention due to their beneficial effects on the health, including prevention of cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Tanshinone IIA, a major active constituent of Danshen, has been reported to have a neuroprotective profile.

AIM OF THE STUDY

An excessive release of glutamate is considered to be related to neuropathology of several neurological diseases. In this study, we investigated whether tanshinone IIA could affect endogenous glutamate release and explored the possible mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The experimental model was the isolated nerve terminals (synaptosomes) purified from the rat cerebral cortex. The release of glutamate was evoked by the K(+) channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) and measured by one-line enzyme-coupled fluorometric assay. We also used a membrane potential-sensitive dye to assay nerve terminal excitability and depolarization, and a Ca(2+) indicator, Fura-2-acetoxymethyl ester, to monitor cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)]C).

RESULTS

Tanshinone IIA inhibited the release of glutamate evoked by 4-AP in a concentration-dependent manner. Inhibition of glutamate release by tanshinone IIA was prevented by the chelating the extracellular Ca(2+) ions, and by the vesicular transporter inhibitor bafilomycin A1. However, the glutamate transporter inhibitor DL-threo-beta-benzyl-oxyaspartate did not have any effect on the action of tanshinone IIA. Tanshinone IIA decreased the depolarization-induced increase in [Ca(2+)]C, whereas it did not alter the resting synaptosomal membrane potential or 4-AP-mediated depolarization. Furthermore, the effect of tanshinone IIA on evoked glutamate release was prevented by the Cav2.2 (N-type) and Cav2.1 (P/Q-type) channel blocker ω-conotoxin MVIIC, but not by the ryanodine receptor blocker dantrolene or the mitochondrial Na(+)/Ca(2+) exchanger blocker CGP37157. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK) inhibition also prevented the inhibitory effect of tanshinone IIA on evoked glutamate release.

CONCLUSION

These results show that tanshinone IIA inhibits glutamate release from cortical synaptosomes in rats through the suppression of presynaptic voltage-dependent Ca(2+) entry and MEK signaling cascade.

Mechanism of protective effects of Danshen against iron overload-induced injury in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) has been widely prescribed in traditional folk medicine for treatment of hepatic and cardiovascular diseases in China and other Asian countries for several hundred years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty male mice were randomly divided into five groups: control, iron overload, low-dose Danshen (L-Danshen, 3g/kg/day), high-dose Danshen (H-Danshen, 6g/kg/day) and deferoxamine (DFO) groups (n=12 per group). Iron dextran was injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) at 50mg/kg body weight/day to establish the iron overload model. While control mice received saline, mice of the treated groups simultaneously received (i.p.) injections of L-Danshen, H-Danshen or DFO daily for 2 weeks. At the end of the experiment, changes in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide desmutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured, and histological changes were observed by Prussian blue or hematoxylin and eosin staining of the liver. Apoptosis was detected by terminal-deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated nick end labeling.

RESULTS

Treatment of iron overloaded mice with either low or high doses of Danshen not only significantly attenuated the hepatic dysfunction (ALT/AST levels), decreased the content of MDA and increased the activities of GSH-Px and SOD, it also suppressed apoptosis in hepatocytes. Histopathological examination showed that treatment with Danshen reduced iron deposition and ameliorated pathological changes in the liver of iron overloaded mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Danshen demonstrated significant protective effects in the liver of iron overloaded mice, which were at least partly due to the decrease of iron deposition and inhibition of lipid peroxidation and hepatocyte apoptosis.

Myocardial protection by Salvia miltiorrhiza Injection in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats through attenuation of expression of thrombospondin-1 and transforming growth factor-β1

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the myocardially protective effects of Salvia miltiorrhiza injection in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats and the possible mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into three groups (n = 10 per group): diabetes, no treatment (Sm-); diabetes, S. miltiorrhiza injection (Sm+); control (no diabetes; saline treatment). After model induction and 4 weeks' treatment, heart function of five rats from each group was tested by Langendorff isolated in vivo heart perfusion. In the remaining rats, pathological changes of the myocardium were observed by haematoxylin and eosin staining, and protein levels of thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) were assessed by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Left ventricular systolic end pressure and left ventricular developed pressure were significantly improved in the Sm+ group compared with the Sm- group. Pathological changes were ameliorated through significantly reduced TSP-1 and TGF-β1 protein levels.

CONCLUSIONS

S. miltiorrhiza injection may improve the heart function of diabetic rats and protect against cardiomyopathy by downregulating TSP-1 and TGF-β1 in myocardial tissue.

Immunomodulatory Effects of Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza) in BALB/c Mice

Danshen, the root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, a Traditional Chinese Medicine, especially for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, has unique immunomodulatory effects. Danshen is capable of anti-inflammation and antiallergy, which are immunosuppressive activities, whereas it is also able to promote immunity against cancer, viruses, and bacteria. Most previous reports were performed with use of a purified compound or compounds of Danshen. Since there are more than twenty active compounds in Danshen, it is very difficult to predict that one compound will act the same way when it is combined with other compounds. In order to overcome this limitation, we used the crude form of Danshen to study its immunomodulatory effects in a mouse model. The mice were fed daily diet supplements of Danshen for three months and then tested for their immunity, including leukocyte subsets in peripheral blood, humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and host defenses against a Listeria monocytogenes (LM) infection. Different doses of Danshen caused different immunomodulatory effects. Danshen at 0.5% decreased serum IgE production in BALB/c mice; 1% Danshen promoted cell-mediated immunity; Danshen at 0.5 and 1% inhibited the production of oxygen free radicals in liver and spleen and NO production in liver; 2% Danshen enhanced the host resistance against LM with increased numbers of peripheral monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells and decreased production of IL-1 β and NO.

Tanshinone IIA reduces apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in the human endothelium-derived EA.hy926 cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge (also known as herb Danshen in Chinese) is a widely used Chinese herbal medicine. Tanshinone IIA (TSN IIA) is considered to be the most important bioactive ingredient in Danshen and exhibits an anti-atherosclerotic activity.

AIM OF STUDY

To evaluate the protective effect of TSN IIA on the human endothelial EA.hy926 cells injured by hydrogen peroxide in vitro and its possible mechanism.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The EA.hy926 cells were incubated for 24h with different concentrations of TSN IIA (5, 10 and 20 μg/μL ) or DMEM. Subsequently, cells were treated with 300 μmol/L H(2)O(2) for another 4h. Then, the percentage of cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4, 5-di-methylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The apoptosis of EA.hy926 cells was detected by flow cytometry with AnnexinV-FITC/PI double staining and laser scanning spectral confocal technique. The generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation was analyzed by flow cytometry. The mRNA expressions of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were tested by real time-reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR). The protein expression of Bcl-2 and Bax was determined by Western blotting. MDA levels, NO production, LDH leakage, and SOD as well as caspase-3 activities were also measured using standard methods.

RESULTS

Loss of cell viability and excessive cell apoptosis were observed in EA.hy926 cells after 4h of challenge with H(2)O(2) (300 μmol/L). However, cell apoptosis was attenuated in different concentrations of TSN IIA (5, 10 and 20 μg/μL) pretreated cells. Furthermore, TSN IIA markedly inhibited the elevation of ROS evoked by H(2)O(2). Real time RT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that TSN IIA significantly decreased the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins (Bax and caspase-3) while significantly increased the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and resulted in obvious reduction of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio in EA.hy926 cells induced by H(2)O(2).

CONCLUSION

These observations provide preliminary evidence that TSN IIA protects EA.hy926 cells against H(2)O(2) damage, which is mainly associated with the ROS generation, followed by the imbalance of the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and caspase-3 activation leading to apoptosis.

Sulfotanshinone sodium injection for unstable angina pectoris: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials

Objective. To assess the effect of sulfotanshinone sodium injection for unstable angina. Methods. We searched for published and unpublished studies up to June 2011. We included randomized controlled trials that confoundedly addressed the effect of sulfotanshinone sodium injection in the treatment of unstable angina. Results. Twenty-five studies involving 2,377 people were included. There was no evidence that sulfotanshinone sodium alone had better or worse effects to routine western medicine treatments in improving clinical symptoms (RR 1.00, 95% CI 0.90 to 1.11) and ECG (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.87 to 1.09). However, there was evidence that sulfotanshinone sodium combined with western medications was a better treatment option than western medications alone in improving clinical symptoms (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.3), ECG (RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.35), C-reaction protein (mean difference 2.10, 95% CI 1.63 to 2.58), and IL-6 (mean difference −3.85, 95% CI −4.10 to −3.60). There was no difference between sulfotanshinone sodium plus western medications and western medications alone affecting mortality (RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.02 to 12.13). Conclusion. Compared with western medications alone, sulfotanshinone sodium combined with western medications may provide more benefits for patients with unstable angina. Further large-scale high-quality trials are warranted.

Cryptotanshinone suppresses androgen receptor-mediated growth in androgen dependent and castration resistant prostate cancer cells

Androgen receptor (AR) is the major therapeutic target for the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa). Anti-androgens to reduce or prevent androgens binding to AR are widely used to suppress AR-mediated PCa growth; however, the androgen depletion therapy is only effective for a short period of time. Here we found a natural product/Chinese herbal medicine cryptotanshinone (CTS), with a structure similar to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), can effectively inhibit the DHT-induced AR transactivation and prostate cancer cell growth. Our results indicated that 0.5 μM CTS effectively suppresses the growth of AR-positive PCa cells, but has little effect on AR negative PC-3 cells and non-malignant prostate epithelial cells. Furthermore, our data indicated that CTS could modulate AR transactivation and suppress the DHT-mediated AR target genes (PSA, TMPRSS2, and TMEPA1) expression in both androgen responsive PCa LNCaP cells and castration resistant CWR22rv1 cells. Importantly, CTS selectively inhibits AR without repressing the activities of other nuclear receptors, including ERα, GR, and PR. The mechanistic studies indicate that CTS functions as an AR inhibitor to suppress androgen/AR-mediated cell growth and PSA expression by blocking AR dimerization and the AR-coregulator complex formation. Furthermore, we showed that CTS effectively inhibits CWR22Rv1 cell growth and expressions of AR target genes in the xenograft animal model. The previously un-described mechanisms of CTS may explain how CTS inhibits the growth of PCa cells and help us to establish new therapeutic concepts for the treatment of PCa.

Tanshinone IIA arrests cell cycle and induces apoptosis in 786-O human renal cell carcinoma cells

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Danshen, has been reported to have anticancer effects in several tumor models, while its effects on renal cell carcinoma have not been studied. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of Tan IIA on growth inhibition and apoptosis in the renal cancer cell line 786-O and its mechanism of action. Results of the MTT assay indicated that the treatment of 786-O cells with Tan IIA resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that Tan IIA treatment caused apoptosis following cell cycle perturbation. Furthermore, we examined the expression of cell cycle and apoptosis-related proteins using immunoblotting, which indicated an upregulation of p53, p21, bax and caspase-3 in Tan IIA-treated cells compared with Tan IIA-untreated cells. These results suggest that the activation of p53 and the upregulation of its target genes, including p21 and bax, may be involved in the mitochondrial apoptosis induced by Tan IIA in 786-O cells.

Cryptotanshinone from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix inhibits sodium-nitroprusside-induced apoptosis in neuro-2a cells

The root of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Salviae miltiorrhizae radix), a herbal medicine has widely been used for the treatment of pain, miscarriage and oedema. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effect of cryptotanshinone (CRT) from Salviae miltiorrhizae radix on sodium-nitroprusside (SNP)-induced apoptosis in neuro-2a (N2a) cells, and further investigated its action mechanism in signalling pathways. The effects of CRT against SNP-induced toxicity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) changes, and oxidants/antioxidant defences and apoptotic signalling pathways were investigated in N2a cells. Cryptotanshinone significantly inhibited SNP-induced cell toxicity and the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), and improved MMP in N2a cells. Cryptotanshinone significantly suppressed SNP-induced peroxidation of lipid and protein, and the expression of Gclc mRNA. In the signalling pathway, CRT effectively blocked SNP-induced activation of NF-κB and ERK1/2 and JNK MAPK pathways through the elevation of Akt and cyclic AMP response element binding protein. Furthermore, CRT remarkably reduced the increase of mitochondrial Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, the release of cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytosol, and the activations of cytosolic procaspase-3 and nuclear inactive poly ADP (adenosine diphosphate)-ribose polymerase by SNP-induced apoptosis. These results indicate that CRT has neuroprotective effects against SNP-induced apoptosis in neuronal cells via the regulation of mitochondrial apoptotic cascades and antiapoptotic cellular signalling pathways.

Tanshinone IIA potentiates the efficacy of 5-FU in Colo205 colon cancer cells in vivo through downregulation of P-gp and LC3-II

Traditional Chinese herbal medicines are widely accepted as an option for the treatment of colorectal cancers. Danshen (Salviae miltiorrhizae Radix) is widely prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine for cardiovascular diseases. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is extracted from Danshen. Our previous studies have shown that Tan-IIA induces apoptosis in Colo205 human colon cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of Tan-IIA and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) in a Colo205 cell xenograft model. For in vivo studies, SCID mice were engrafted with Colo205 cells and from day 10 onwards were randomly divided into 3 groups and treated with 5-FU plus Tan-IIA, 5-FU plus corn oil, and the vehicle alone. At the end of a 4-week dosing schedule, the SCID mice were sacrificed and xenograft tumors were dissected for protein western blot analysis. Our results showed that the Colo205 xenograft model co-treated with Tan-IIA plus 5-FU caused a reduction in the xenograft tumor volumes and decreased P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-II expression compared to 5-FU alone. Based on these observations, it may be possible to develop Tan-IIA plus 5-FU as therapeutic agents for human colon cancer.