The pharmacological and pathological studies on several hepatic protective crude drugs from Taiwan (II)

Solanum Incanum Extract Downregulates Aldehyde Dehydrogenase 1-Mediated Stemness and Inhibits Tumor Formation in Ovarian Cancer Cells

Solanum incanum extract (SR-T100), containing the active ingredient solamargine, can induce apoptosis via upregulation of tumor necrosis factor receptor expression and activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and has therapeutic effects in patients with actinic keratosis. Here, we evaluate the novel molecular mechanisms underlying SR-T100-regulated stemness and chemoresistance. The concentration of SR-T100 that inhibited 50% cell viability (IC₅₀) was lower in ovarian cancer cells than in nonmalignant cells. Furthermore, the SR-T100 IC₅₀ in chemoresistant cells was similar to the IC₅₀ in chemosensitive cells. Additionally, SR-T100 increased cisplatin and paclitaxel sensitivity in chemoresistant cells. SR-T100 downregulated the expression of stem cell markers, including aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1), Notch1, and FoxM1, and reduced sphere formation in ovarian cancer cells. Using microarray analyses, immunoblotting, luciferase activity, and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, we showed that SR-T100 suppressed the expression of c/EBPβ and COL11A1, and its promoter activity, in resistant cells, but not sensitive cells. SR-T100, paclitaxel, and cisplatin inhibited the growth of A2780CP70 cells in mouse xenografts, as compared to the vehicle control, and the combination of cisplatin and SR-T100 was more effective than either treatment alone. SR-T100 may represent a potential therapeutic adjunct to chemotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment.

Solanum incanum extract (SR-T100) induces human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma apoptosis through modulating tumor necrosis factor receptor signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

The Solanum species herbs have been used to treat cancer for centuries; however, the underlying mechanisms and effectiveness in vivo remain unclear.

OBJECTIVES

SR-T100, extracted from the Solanum incanum, contains solamargine alkaloid as the main active ingredient. Here, we investigated the apoptosis-inducing effects of SR-T100 for targeting squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

We elucidated the mechanism by which SR-T100 induces apoptosis of human SCCs (A431, SCC4, SCC9, and SCC25) cells. The efficacy and safety issues were addressed regarding topical treatment of SR-T100 on UVB-induced cutaneous SCC of hairless mice and actinic keratoses (AKs) of human.

RESULTS

SR-T100 induces apoptosis in human SCCs cell lines by up-regulating the expressions of tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNFRs) and Fas, and downstream adaptors FADD/TRADD of the TNF-α and Fas ligand signaling cascades. SR-T100 also triggered the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, as up-regulated cytochrome c and Bax, down-regulated Bcl-X(L). Animal experiments showed that all papillomas (35/35) and 27 of 30 UVB-induced microinvasive SCCs in hairless mice disappeared within 10 weeks after once-daily application of topical SR-T100. Furthermore, 13 patients, who suffered with 14 AKs, were treated with once-daily topical SR-T100 gel and 10 AKs cured after 16 weeks, showing negligible discomforts.

CONCLUSION

Our studies indicate that SR-T100 induces apoptosis of SCC cells via death receptors and the mitochondrial death pathway. The high efficacy of SR-T100 in our preclinical trial suggests that SR-T100 is a highly promising herb for AKs and related disorders.

In vitro anti-leukemic and antiviral activities of traditionally used medicinal plants in Taiwan

Medicinal plants have been historically used as treatment for different kinds of human diseases. In this study, hot water (HW) extract of five Taiwanese traditionally used medicinal plants was evaluated for their in vitro anti-leukemic (including anti-K562, L1210, P3HR1, Raji and U937 leukemia cells) and antiviral (including HSV-1 and HSV-2) activities. Results showed that Blumea lacera exhibited broad anti-leukemic activity at magnitudes ranging from moderate to mild and Ixeris chinensis is effective at inhibiting the proliferation of K562 cells. B. lacera and Tithonia diversifolia suppressed the replication of HSV-1 and HSV-2, and had IC50 values below 100 microg/ml. The medicinal plants showed no cytotoxic effect at concentrations that inhibited HSV infection. It was, therefore, concluded that the HW extract of tested medicinal plants exhibited anti-leukemic and antiviral activities at different magnitudes of potency.

Regression of hepatocellular carcinoma spontaneous or herbal medicine related?

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common causes of death from cancer in Taiwan. Treatments for this disease include surgical resection, transcatheter arterial embolization, chemoembolization and systemic chemotherapy. Without treatment, the prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma is poor, and mortality continues to be significant even in patients with small tumors detected during follow-up. For patients in Taiwan with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, traditional herbal medicine is frequently used. However, neither the overall prevalence of this therapy nor its efficacy has been studied systematically. Spontaneous regression of cancer, although rare, may occur, but the mechanism leading to regression is still far from understood. Here, we report a case of hepatocellular carcinoma with complete regression after taking herbal medicine. We cannot be certain how significant the herbal preparation was in the regression of the hepatocellular carcinoma, but the regression of the tumor provides us a reason and hope for further research.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Bupleurum kaoi Liu (Chao et Chuang) extract and its fractions fractionated using supercritical CO2 on CCl4-induced liver damage

Fractionation with supercritical CO(2) is employed to divide ethanolic extract (E) of B. kaoi into four fractions (R, F1, F2 and F3). To assess the selectivity of the fractionation, extracts of the four fractions were characterized in terms of the hepatoprotective capacity and activity of antioxidant enzymes to against CCl(4)-induced damage. The in vitro study revealed that pretreatment with B. kaoi extract or its fractions, except F3, significantly protected primary hepatocytes against damage by CCl(4) (P<0.05). The R and F1 fractions had the highest saikosaponins content (175 and 200 mg/g dry weight, respectively) and most effectively protected the liver from damage by CCl(4). This study demonstrated that the oral pretreatment of B. kaoi (100 and 500 mg/kg), except F3, three days before a single dose of CCl(4) (CCl(4)/olive oil=1:1, 3 ml/kg, sc) was administered significantly lowered the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers (AST and ALT) (P<0.05). A pathological examination showed that lesions, including ballooning degeneration, necrosis, hepatitis and portal triaditis were partially healed by treatment with B. kaoi extract and fractions. Oxidative stress induced by CCl(4) led to lipid peroxidation (MDA) and changes in the levels of the antioxidant enzymes in the liver. However, all the fractions, except F3, markedly suppressed lipid peroxidation and reversed the activities of the antioxidant enzymes to the normal levels.

Inhibitory effects of luteolin isolated from Ixeris sonchifolia Hance on the proliferation of HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells

We investigated the anti-proliferative effects of luteolin and apigenin, isolated from Ixeris sonchifolia Hance, on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells. In MTT assay luteolin showed more efficient anti-proliferative effects on cells than apigenin did. According to propidium iodide staining and flow cytometry studies, we postulated that these effects might be a result of cell cyde arrest. Hence we examined the changes of protein expressions related to cell cycle arrest. Western blotting data demonstrated that the down-regulated expression of CDK4 was correlated to the increase of p53 and CDK inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1) protein. These data suggest that luteolin may have potential as an anti-cancer agent.

The anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective effects of fractions from Cudrania cochinchinensis var. gerontogea

Various fractions of the ethanol extract from the root wood of Cudrania cochinchinensis var. gerontogea (Moraceae) were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects on carrageenan-induced edema and hepatoprotective activities on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced and D-galactosamine-(D-GalN) induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. The fractions (n-hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O) displayed significant inhibitory activity against carrageenan-induced edema, and the active anti-inflammatory components were further localized in the n-BuOH fraction, which exhibited the greatest anti-inflammatory effect, an effect 5% greater than indomethacin (which was used as a standard reference substance). Each fraction exerted a significant hepatoprotective effect by reducing enzymatic alteration (sGOT and sGPT) and by improving hepatic lesions, including liver centrilobular inflammation, cell necrosis, fatty change, ballooning degeneration in CCl4-induced acute hepatitis; and necrosis of the portal area in D-GalN-induced acute liver injury. The n-BuOH and EtOAc fractions had the greatest hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver injury; in contrast, the CHCl3 fraction was most potent against D-GalN intoxication, which is comparable to silymarin, as a recognized hepatoprotective drug.

Hepatoprotective effect of the fractions of Ban-zhi-lian on experimental liver injuries in rats

The hepatoprotective effect of various fractions (n-hexane, CHCl3, EtOAc, n-BuOH, and H2O) of Ban-zhi-lian derived from Scutellaria rivularis Benth was studied against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), D-galactosamine (D-GalN) and acetaminophen (APAP)-induced acute hepatotoxicity in rats. Liver damage was assessed by quantifying serum activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (sGOT) and glutamate pyruvate transaminase (sGPT), as well as by histopathological examination. The results indicated that the CHCl3 fraction and EtOAc fractions exhibited the greatest hepatoprotective effects on CCl4-induced liver injuries, the CHCl3 fraction and n-hexane fraction are most potent against D-GalN-induced intoxication, and the CHCl3 fraction represented the most liver-protective effect on APAP-induced hepatotoxicity. The pathological changes of hepatic lesions caused by these three hepatotoxicants were improved by treatment with the fractions mentioned above, which were compared to Glycyrrhizin (GLZ) and Silymarin as standard reference medicines.