Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae) leaf methanol extract inhibits osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption activity via proteasome-mediated degradation of c-Fos protein and suppression of NFATc1 expression

Stauntonia hexaphylla Extract Ameliorates Androgenic Alopecia by Inhibiting Androgen Signaling in Testosterone-induced Alopecia Mice

Background

Stauntonia hexaphylla has been a traditional folk remedy for alleviating fever and providing anti-inflammatory properties. Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is the most common form mediated by the presence of the dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Objectives

In this study, we evaluated the effects of an extract of S. hexaphylla on AGA models and its mechanisms of action.

Methods

We studied S. hexaphylla extract to evaluate 5α-reductase and androgen receptor (AR) levels, apoptosis, and cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. In addition, paracrine factors for androgenic alopecia, such as transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and dickkopf-a (DKK-1), were examined. Apoptosis was investigated, and the evaluation of proliferation was examined with cytokeratin 14 (CK-14) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA).

Results

In human follicular dermal papilla cells, the 5α-reductase and AR were decreased following S. hexaphylla treatment, which reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Histologically, the dermal thickness and follicle number were higher in the S. hexaphylla groups compared with the AGA group. In addition, the DHT concentration, 5α-reductase, and AR were decreased, thereby downregulating TGF-β1 and DKK-1 expression and upregulating cyclin D in S. hexaphylla groups. The numbers of keratinocyte-positive and PCNA-positive cells were increased compared to those in the AGA group.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated that the S. hexaphylla extract ameliorated AGA by inhibiting 5α-reductase and androgen signaling, reducing AGA paracrine factors that induce keratinocyte (KC) proliferation, and inhibition apoptosis and catagen prematuration.

Stauntonia hexaphylla leaf extract (YRA-1909) suppresses inflammation by modulating Akt/NF-κB signaling in lipopolysaccharide-activated peritoneal macrophages and rodent models of inflammation

Background

Inflammation is emerging as a key contributor to many vascular diseases and furthermore plays a major role in autoimmune diseases, arthritis, allergic reactions, and cancer. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a component constituting the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, is commonly used for an inflammatory stimuli to mimic inflammatory diseases. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) is a transcription factor and regulates gene expression particularly related to the inflammatory process. Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae) is widely used as a traditional herbal medicine for rheumatism and osteoporosis and as an analgesic, sedative, and diuretic in Korea, Japan, and China.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of YRA-1909, the leaf aqueous extract of Stauntonia hexaphylla using LPS-activated rat peritoneal macrophages and rodent inflammation models.

Results

YRA-1909 inhibited the LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokine production in rat peritoneal macrophages without causing cytotoxicity and reduced inducible NO synthase and prostaglandin E₂ levels without affecting the cyclooxygenase-2 expression. YRA-1909 also prevented the LPS-stimulated Akt and NF-κB phosphorylation and reduced the carrageenan-induced hind paw edema, xylene-induced ear edema, acetic acid-induced vascular permeation, and cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation in a dose-dependent manner in mice and rats.

Conclusions

S. hexaphylla leaf extract YRA-1909 had anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo that involves modulation of Akt/NF-κB signaling. Thus, YRA-1909 is safe and effective for the treatment of inflammation.

Anti-Osteoporosis Effects of the Eleutherococcus senticosus, Achyranthes japonica, and Atractylodes japonica Mixed Extract Fermented with Nuruk

Vigeo is a mixture of fermented extracts of Eleutherococcus senticosus Maxim (ESM), Achyranthes japonica (Miq.) Nakai (AJN), and Atractylodes japonica Koidzumi (AJK) manufactured using the traditional Korean nuruk fermentation method. Although the bioactive effects of ESM, AJN, and AJK have already been reported, the pharmacological effects of Vigeo have not been proven. Therefore, in this study, we investigated whether Vigeo had inhivitory effects on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory bone loss in vivo and receptor activator of nuclear factor-B ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclastogenesis and the related mechanism in vitro. Vigeo administration conferred effective protection against bone loss induced by excessive inflammatory response and activity of osteoclasts in LPS-induced inflammatory osteoporosis mouse model. In addition, Vigeo significantly suppressed the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive osteoclasts induced by RANKL and inhibited F-actin formation and bone resorbing activity without any cytotoxicity. Moreover, Vigeo significantly inhibited RANKL-induced phosphorylation of p38, ERK, JNK, IκB, and AKT and degradation of IkB. Additionally, Vigeo strongly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of c-FOS and NFATc1 and subsequently attenuated the expression of osteoclast specific marker genes induced by RANKL. We demonstrated for the first time the anti-osteoporosis effect of Vigeo, suggesting that it could be a potential therapeutic candidate for the treatment of osteoclast-mediated inflammatory bone diseases.

Antipostmenopausal effects of Stauntonia hexaphylla and Vaccinium bracteatum fruit combination in estrogen-deficient rats

Background

Climacterium is a series of physical and mental symptoms occurring in women and men due to decreased levels of sex hormones. Women lose the ability to become pregnant due to decreased ovarian estrogen production; the initial symptom being hot flushes. In addition, urogenital atrophy, sexual dysfunction, mood changes, and osteoporosis occur. Extracts of Stauntonia hexaphylla (SH) and Vaccinium bracteatum (VB) fruits, with a wide range of biological activities, are widely used in traditional herbal medicine.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mitigation of menopausal symptoms, such as hot flushes and postmenopausal osteoporosis after combinatorial treatment with SH and VB (SHVB) of ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

Design

We measured the bone regenerative effect of SHVB on receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) ligand-induced osteoclast differentiation in vitro and on ovariectomy-induced osteoporosis in vivo. We investigated the effect of SHVB in a rat model of menopausal hot flushes, in which the tail skin temperature increases following ovariectomy-induced rapid decline in estrogen levels.

Results

SHVB inhibited osteoclast formation and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase activity in primary mouse bone marrow-derived cells. In an estrogen deficiency-induced rat model, measurement of serum bone turnover factors showed that treatment with SHVB lowered the increased bone turnover. Additionally, SHVB decreased OVX-induced bone loss of the total femur. SHVB inhibited osteoclast differentiation, prevented bone mass reduction, and improved trabecular bone structure and biochemical markers in OVX-induced osteoporosis. In addition, administration of SHVB significantly ameliorated the changes in skin temperature in OVX rats.

Conclusion

SHVB improved the symptoms of menopause. These results provide the foundation for developing SHVB as a natural substance to replace hormones in the future.

Enhancement of an In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Oleanolic Acid through Glycosylation Occurring Naturally in Stauntonia hexaphylla

Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Korea and China for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties. As part of a bioprospecting program aimed at the discovery of new bioactive compounds from Korean medicinal plants, a phytochemical study of S. hexaphylla leaves was carried out leading to isolation of two oleanane-type triterpene saponins, 3-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl] oleanolic acid-28-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (1) and 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid-28-O-[β-d-glucopyranosyl (1→6)-β-d-glucopyranosyl] ester (2). Their structures were established unambiguously by spectroscopic methods such as one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and infrared spectroscopies, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and chemical reactions. Their anti-inflammatory activities were examined for the first time with an animal model for the macrophage-mediated inflammatory response as well as a cell-based assay using an established macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) in vitro. Together, it was concluded that the saponin constituents, when they were orally administered, exerted much more potent activities in vivo than their sapogenin core even though both the saponins and the sapogenin molecule inhibited the RAW 264.7 cell activation comparably well in vitro. These results imply that saponins from S. hexaphylla leaves have a definite advantage in the development of oral medications for the control of inflammatory responses.

Protective effects of combination of Stauntonia hexaphylla and Cornus officinalis on testosterone-induced benign prostatic hyperplasia through inhibition of 5α- reductase type 2 and induced cell apoptosis

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive pathological condition associated with proliferation of prostatic tissues, prostate enlargement, and lower-urinary tract symptoms. However, the mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of BPH is unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of a combination of Stauntonia hexaphylla and Cornus officinalis (SC extract) on a testosterone propionate (TP)-induced BPH model. The effect of SC extract was examined in a TP-induced human prostate adenocarcinoma cell line. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 6) for in vivo experiments. To induce BPH, all rats, except those in the control group, were administered daily with subcutaneous injections of TP (5 mg/kg) and orally treated with appropriate phosphate buffered saline/drugs (finasteride/saw palmetto/SC extract) for 4 consecutive weeks. SC extract significantly downregulated the androgen receptor (AR), prostate specific antigen (PSA), and 5α-reductase type 2 in TP-induced BPH in vitro. In in vivo experiments, SC extract significantly reduced prostate weight, size, serum testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels. Histologically, SC extract markedly recovered TP-induced abnormalities and reduced prostatic hyperplasia, thereby improving the histo-architecture of TP-induced BPH rats. SC extract also significantly downregulated AR and PSA expression, as assayed using immunoblotting. Immunostaining revealed that SC extract markedly reduced the 5α-reductase type 2 and significantly downregulated the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen. In addition, immunoblotting of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family proteins indicated that SC extract significantly downregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and markedly upregulated pro-apoptotic B cell lymphoma-associated X (Bax) expression. Furthermore, SC treatment significantly decreased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, indicating induced prostate cell apoptosis in TP-induced BPH rats. Thus, our findings demonstrated that SC extract protects against BPH by inhibiting 5α-reductase type 2 and inducing prostate cell apoptosis. Therefore, SC extract might be useful in the clinical treatment of BPH.

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals That Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai Extract Inhibits RANKL-Mediated Osteoclastogenensis Mainly Through Suppressing Nfatc1 Expression

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is known as a monotypic genus endemic to South Korea. Currently, several pharmacological studies have revealed that A. distichum extract exhibits diverse biological functions, including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-hypertensive, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we present the anti-osteoporotic activity of A. distichum extract by inhibiting osteoclast formation. First, we show that the methanolic extract of the leaves of A. distichum, but not extracts of the branches or fruits, significantly inhibits receptor activator of the NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced osteoclast differentiation. Second, our transcriptome analysis revealed that the leaf extract (LE) blocks sets of RANKL-mediated osteoclast-related genes. Third, the LE attenuates the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase. Finally, treatment with the LE effectively prevents postmenopausal bone loss in ovariectomized mice and glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis in zebrafish. Our findings show that the extract of A. distichum efficiently suppressed osteoclastogenesis by regulating osteoclast-related genes, thus offering a novel therapeutic strategy for osteoporosis.

The therapeutic effects of Stauntonia hexaphylla in benign prostate hyperplasia are mediated by the regulation of androgen receptors and 5α-reductase type 2

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae, S. hexaphylla) is traditionally used as a folk remedy for alleviating fever and for its anti- inflammatory and analgesic properties. In Korea and China, S. hexaphylla has been used as a traditional medicine that acts as diuretic and analgesic. S. hexaphylla has also been reported to inhibit osteoporosis and aldose reductase activity.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of an extract of S. hexaphylla on testosterone induced benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) models and to observe its mechanism of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To induce a BPH model in vitro and in vivo, a testosterone-treated LNCaP cell line and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used, respectively. Androgen receptors (ARs) and prostate-specific antigens (PSA), which are typical BPH-related proteins, were evaluated using western blotting. Prostate weights and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) levels were measured in vivo, and histopathology of the prostate examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and 5α-reductase type 2 were also evaluated via immunohistochemistry (IHC). In addition, TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling) staining and LC3 staining of IHC were performed to evaluate apoptosis and autophagy.

RESULTS

S. hexaphylla reduced prostates weights and the thickness of prostate epithelial cells. In vivo and in vitro, PSA and ARs were downregulated following S. hexaphylla treatment. The S. hexaphylla extracts also reduced DHT and 5α-reductase type 2 expression. In addition, the expression of PCNA was reduced, and in the TUNEL staining and IHC of LC3, the number of positive cells was increased in the groups treated with S. hexaphylla.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that extracts of S. hexaphylla inhibited both 5α -reductase type 2 and ARs. The results indicate that the use of S. hexaphylla extract in BPH is probably beneficial through 5α-reductase inhibition and α-adrenergic receptor blockade. In addition, apoptosis and autophagy were induced, and PCNA was downregulated after S. hexaphylla treatment. Therefore, it can be concluded that S. hexaphylla has a therapeutic effect on BPH.

Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Aqueous Extract of Lentinula edodes Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis by Suppressing NFATc1 Expression

Bone tissue is continuously remodeled by the coordinated action of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. Nuclear factor-activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) is a well-known transcription factor for osteoclastogenesis and transcriptionally activated by the c-Fos and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in response to receptor activation of NF-κB ligand (RANKL). Since excessive RANKL signaling causes an increase of osteoclast formation and bone resorption, inhibition of RANKL or its signaling pathway is an attractive therapeutic approach to the treatment of pathologic bone loss. In this study, we show that an ethyl acetate fraction (LEA) from the shiitake mushroom, Lentinula edodes, inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation by blocking the NFATc1 signaling pathway. We found that the water extract and its subsequent ethyl acetate fraction of L. edodes significantly suppressed osteoclast formation. Comparative transcriptome analysis revealed that LEA specifically downregulated a set of RANKL target genes, including Nfatc1. Next, we found that LEA suppresses Nfatc1 expression mainly through the inhibition of the transactivity of p65 and NFATc1. Moreover, treatment of LEA rescued an osteoporotic phenotype in a zebrafish model of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis. Collectively, our findings define an undocumented role of the shiitake mushroom extract in regulating bone development.

The chemical constituents of ethanolic extract from Stauntonia hexaphylla leaves and their anti-inflammatory effects

Stauntonia hexaphylla (Lardizabalaceae) is an important medicinal plant in Korea, Japan, and China. Its leaves are used to treat many diseases because of their analgesic, sedative, and diuretic effects; however, there are few reports on their chemical constituents and biological activities. This study divided an ethanol extract into dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and water fractions. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanol extracts led to the isolation of seven compounds (1-7). To our knowledge, this is the first report of 1-7 from S. hexaphylla. The anti-inflammatory effects were investigated by suppressing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in Western blots. The ethanol extract (20 µg/mL), DCM fraction (20 µg/mL), and compound 1 (10 µM) decreased COX-2 and iNOS expression significantly in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that S. hexaphylla leaves and compound 1 are useful candidates for treating inflammatory and other diseases.

Bioactive triterpene glycosides from the fruit of Stauntonia hexaphylla and insights into the molecular mechanism of its inflammatory effects

Chromatography of the ethanol extract of the medicinal fruit Stauntonia hexaphylla resulted in the purification of 26 compounds (1-26), including two undescribed triterpene saponins 1 and 2 (hexaphylosides A and B). Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic data, including IR, HR QTOF MS, ¹H, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and TOCSY, and HPLC sugar analysis after acid hydrolysis. The anti-inflammatory effects of the high-purity constituents (1-26) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells were investigated by screening nitric oxide production. The NO inhibitory activity of compounds 6 and 10 with the IC₅₀ values of 1.33 and 1.10 µM, respectively. The structure-activity relationships (SAR) of the isolated compounds were also analyzed. Furthermore, compounds 6 and 10 inhibited the protein expression inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 via Western blotting analysis. This showed that compounds 6 and 10 contributed to the anti-inflammatory effects of S. hexaphylla fruit, which could be developed as a natural nutraceutical and functional food ingredient.

Simultaneous Determination of Chlorogenic Acid Isomers and Metabolites in Rat Plasma Using LC-MS/MS and Its Application to A Pharmacokinetic Study Following Oral Administration of Stauntonia Hexaphylla Leaf Extract (YRA-1909) to Rats

Stauntonia hexaphylla leaf extract (YRA-1909), which is widely used for the antirheumatic properties, has been under phase 2 clinical trials in patients with rheumatoid arthritis since April 2017. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric method while using liquid–liquid extraction with ethyl acetate was validated for the simultaneous determination of the major active components of YRA-1909, including chlorogenic acid (CGA), neochlorogenic acid (NCGA), cryptochlorogenic acid (CCGA), and their metabolites (i.e., caffeic acid (CA), caffeic acid 3-O-glucuronide (CA-3-G), caffeic acid 4-O-glucuronide (CA-4-G), and ferulic acid (FA)) in rat plasma and applied to a pharmacokinetic study of YRA-1909 in rats. Seven analytes were separated on Halo C18 while using gradient elution of formic acid and methanol, and then quantified in selected reaction monitoring mode whle using negative electrospray ionization. Following oral administration of YRA-1909 at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg to male Sprague-Dawley rats, CGA, NCGA, and CCGA were rapidly absorbed and metabolized to CA, CA-3-G, and CA-4-G. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC_last) of CGA, NCGA, CCGA, and three metabolites linearly increased as the YRA-1909 dose increased. Other pharmacokinetic parameters were comparable among three doses studied. AUC_last values for CA, CA-3-G, and CA-4-G exceeded those for CGA, NCGA, and CCGA.

A flavonoids compound inhibits osteoclast differentiation by attenuating RANKL induced NFATc-1/c-Fos induction

Function studies of pectolinarigenin demonstrated that, as a natural product, it possesses the regulatory effects on transcription factors (TFs) such as: signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Herein, we aimed to identify the regulatroy effects of pectolinarigenin on the osteoclastogenesis TFs such as: NFATc1 and c-Fos, and further identify the relevant up-stream signals activity. We initially found pectolinarigenin inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) induced osteoclast formation during the bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs) cultures, suggesting that this natural product could act on osteoclast precursors by inhibiting the down signaling cascades of RANKL signaling. Moreover, mechanistical investigation showed pectolinarigenin inhibits RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis by attenuating the nuclear factor of activated T cells cytoplasmic 1 (NFATc-1) and c-Fos following the Akt and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling costimulatory. These findings identify that pectolinarigenin may act as an anti-resorption agent by blocking osteoclast activation.

Dendrobium moniliforme Exerts Inhibitory Effects on Both Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa-B Ligand-Mediated Osteoclast Differentiation in Vitro and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Bone Erosion in Vivo

Dendrobium moniliforme (DM) is a well-known plant-derived extract that is widely used in Oriental medicine. DM and its chemical constituents have been reported to have a variety of pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor activities; however, no reports discuss the beneficial effects of DM on bone diseases such as osteoporosis. Thus, we investigated the relationship between DM and osteoclasts, cells that function in bone resorption. We found that DM significantly reduced receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL)-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive osteoclast formation; DM directly induced the down-regulation of c-Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1) without affecting other RANKL-dependent transduction pathways. In the later stages of osteoclast maturation, DM negatively regulated the organization of filamentous actin (F-actin), resulting in impaired bone-resorbing activity by the mature osteoclasts. In addition, micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) analysis of the murine model revealed that DM had a beneficial effect on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated bone erosion. Histological analysis showed that DM attenuated the degradation of trabecular bone matrix and formation of TRAP-positive osteoclasts in bone tissues. These results suggest that DM is a potential candidate for the treatment of metabolic bone disorders such as osteoporosis.