Active Constituents from Liriope platyphylla Root against Cancer Growth In Vitro

Mitigating Effects of Liriope platyphylla on Nicotine-Induced Behavioral Sensitization and Quality Control of Compounds

In this study we investigated the mitigating effects of Liriope platyphylla Wang et Tang extract on behavioral sensitization and the quantification of its major compounds. The extract of L. platyphylla reduces the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) protein, which is increased by nicotine, back to normal levels, and increases the expression of dopamine transporter (DAT) protein, which is reduced by nicotine, back to normal levels in PC12 cells. In this study, rats received nicotine (0.4 mg/kg, subcutaneously) only for seven days and then received extract of L. platyphylla (200 or 400 mg/kg, oral) 1 h prior to nicotine administration for an additional seven days. The extract of L. platyphylla reduced locomotor activity compared to the nicotine control group in rats. The extract of L. platyphylla significantly attenuated the repeated nicotine-induced DAT protein expression in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but there was no effect on increased TH protein expression in the dorsal striatum. These findings suggest that L. platyphylla extract has a mitigating effect on nicotine-induced behavioral sensitization by modulating DAT protein expression in the NAc. For quality control of L. plathyphylla, spicatoside A and D, which are saponin compounds, were quantified in the L. platyphylla extract. The amounts of spicatoside A and D in L. platyphylla extract obtained from ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry were 0.148 and 0.272 mg/g, respectively. The identification of these compounds in L. platyphylla, which can be used for quality control, provides important information for the development of drugs to treat nicotine dependence.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Liriope platyphylla (Asparagaceae: Nolinoideae) isolated in Korea

Liriope platyphylla is used as an important medicinal plant for fatigue, cough, and inflammation in South Korea. Here, we report the complete chloroplast genome of L. platyphylla. The total genome size of the chloroplast is 157,076 bp with a large single-copy region (LSC: 85,374 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC: 18,748 bp), and inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb: 26,477 bp). The GC content of the L. platyphylla chloroplast was 37.6%. The cp genome encoded a set of 129 genes, including 83 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic tree analysis indicated that L. platyphylla is closely related to L. spicata.

Metabolic Analysis of Four Cultivars of Liriope platyphylla

Liriope platyphylla (Liliaceae), a medical plant distributed mainly in China, Taiwan, and Korea, has been used traditionally for the treatment of cough, sputum, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases. The present study involved the metabolic profiling of this plant and reports spicatoside A accumulation in four different varieties of L. platyphylla (Cheongyangjaerae, Seongsoo, Cheongsim, and Liriope Tuber No. 1) using HPLC and gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC⁻TOFMS). A total of 47 metabolites were detected in the different cultivars using GC⁻TOFMS-based metabolic profiling. The resulting data were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) for determining the whole experimental variation, and the different cultivars were separated by score plots. Furthermore, hierarchical clustering, Pearson's correlation, and partial least-squares discriminant analyses (PLS-DA) were subsequently performed to determine significant differences in the various metabolites of the cultivars. The HPLC data revealed that the presence of spicatoside A was detected in all four cultivars, with the amount of spicatoside A varying among them. Among the cultivars, Liriope Tuber No. 1 contained the highest amount of spicatoside A (1.83 ± 0.13 mg/g dry weight), followed by Cheongyangjaerae (1.25 ± 0.01 mg/g dry weight), Cheongsim (1.09 ± 0.04 mg/g dry weight), and Seongsoo (1.01 ± 0.02 mg/g dry weight). The identification of spicatoside A was confirmed by comparing the retention time of the sample with the retention time of the standard. Moreover, the Cheongsim cultivar contained higher levels of phenolic compounds-including vanillic acid, quinic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, and benzoic acid-than those of the other two cultivars. On the other hand, the levels of amino acids were higher in the Seongsoo cultivar. Therefore, this study may help breeders produce new varieties with improved nutraceutical and nutritional qualities.

Secondary Metabolites of the Endophytic Fungus Lachnum abnorme from Ardisia cornudentata

Fractionation of an EtOAc-soluble fraction of the solid fermentate of an endophytic fungus, Lachnum abnorme Mont. BCRC 09F0006, derived from the endemic plant, Ardisia cornudentata Mez. (Myrsinaceae), resulted in the isolation of three new chromones, lachnochromonins D–F (1–3), one novel compound, lachabnormic acid (4), along with nine known compounds (5–13). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. Alternariol-3,9-dimethyl ether (6) was given the correct data as well as 2D spectral analyses for the first time. This is the first report of the isolation of one unprecedented compound 4 from Lachnum genus, while all known compounds were also found for the first time from Lachnum. The effects of some isolates (3, 4, 7–9, 10, and 13) on the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 murine macrophages were also evaluated. Several compounds exhibited weak inhibitory activity on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated NO production in RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Pharmacological Activities and Applications of Spicatoside A

Liriopogons (Liriope and Opiopogon) species are used as a main medicinal ingredient in several Asian countries. The Liriopes Radix (tuber, root of Liriope platyphylla) has to be a promising candidate due to their source of phytochemicals. Steroidal saponins and their glycosides, phenolic compounds, secondary metabolites are considered of active constituents in Liriopes Radix. Spicatoside A, a steroidal saponin, could be more efficacious drug candidate in future. In this review, we summarized the available knowledge on phytochemical and pharmacological activities for spicatoside A. It significantly suppressed the level of NF-κB, NO, iNOS, Cox-2, IL-1β, IL-6 and MAPKs in LPS-stimulated inflammation. The production of MUC5AC mucin was increased. MMP-13 expression was down-regulated in IL-1β-treated cells and reduced glycosaminoglycan release from IL-1α-treated cells. The neurite outgrowth activity, PI3K, Akt, ERK1/2, TrkA and CREB phosphorylation and neurotropic factors such as NGF and BDNF were upregulated with increased latency time. It also showed cell growth inhibitory activity on various carcinoma cells. From this, spicatoside A exerts anti-inflammation, anti-asthma, anti-osteoclastogenesis, neurite outgrowth, memory consolidation and anticancer activities. Further studies are needed on spicatoside A in order to understand mechanisms of action to treat various human diseases.

Clinical Experiences of Korean Medicine Treatment against Urinary Bladder Cancer in General Practice

Urinary bladder cancer (UBC) is one of the most common cancers, with 1 out of every 26 men and 1 out of every 80 women worldwide developing the disease during their lifetime. Moreover, it is a disease that predominantly affects the elderly and is becoming a major health problem as the elderly population continues to rapidly increase. In spite of the rapid development of medical science, the 5-year survival rate has remained around 75% since the 1990s, and the FDA has approved no new drugs for UBC over the last 10 years. In addition, most patients experience frequent recurrence and poor quality of life after diagnosis. Therefore, in order to solve unmet needs by alternative methods, we present our clinical cases of UBC where we observed outstanding results including regression and recurrence prevention exclusively through Traditional Korean Medicine such as (1) herbal therapy, (2) acupuncture, (3) pharmacopuncture and needle-embedding therapy, (4) moxibustion, and (5) cupping therapy. From our experience, it appears that multimodal strategies for synergistic efficiency are more effective than single Korean Medicine treatment. We hope this will encourage investigation of the efficacy of Korean Medicine treatment in clinical trials for UBC patients.

Phytochemicals and Estrogen-Receptor Agonists from the Aerial Parts of Liriope platyphylla

One new benzofuran, (2R)-(2',4'-dihydroxybenzyl)-6,7-methylenedioxy-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran (1), one new phenylisocoumarin, 3-(2'-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-isocoumarin (2), and one new benzofuroisocoumarin, platyphyllarin C (3), were isolated from the ethanolic extract of Liriope platyphylla aerial parts, along with seventeen known compounds. The structures of the isolates were established by spectroscopic analysis and comparison with the literature data. The results indicated that structures 1-3 are uncommon in Nature. Benzofuroisocoumarin 4, flavonoids 9, 10, and 13-15, and homoisoflavonoids 19 and 20 exhibited significant binding activity to estrogen-receptor α and/or β as demonstrated by the SEAP reporter assay system in an MCF-7 cell-line.