3-O-(2,3-Dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-decanoylingenol from Euphorbia kansui Suppresses IgE-Mediated Mast Cell Activation

Triterpenoids, steroids and other constituents from Euphorbia kansui and their anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties

Six undescribed triterpenoids (euphokanols A-F), two undescribed C21-steroidal glycosides (euphokanosides A and B), together with fifty-four known compounds were isolated from the roots of Euphorbia kansui. Their structures were demonstrated by extensive spectroscopic data (1D, 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS), and the absolute configuration of euphokanol A was elucidated based on electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculation. Among them, euphokanol A was a tetracyclic triterpenoid with a 5,10-epoxy moiety and concurrent rearrangement of Me-19(10 → 9) and Me-30 (14 → 8), while euphokanols B and C were rare 19(10 → 9) abeo-tirucallane-type triterpenoids with Δ5(10) double bonds and 7,8-epoxy moieties. In addition, ten C21-steroidal glycosides were isolated from Euphorbia plants for the first time. Moreover, cynotophylloside B, caudatin, 5α,8α-epidioxy-22E-ergosta-6,22-diene-3β-ol, 6β,7β-epoxy-3β,4β,5β-trihydroxyl-20-deoxyingenol, 13-hydroxyingenol-3-(2,3- dimethylbutanoate)-13-dodecanoate, ingenol, 3-O-benzoyl-13-O-dodecanoateingenol, 3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol, 20-O-acetylingenol and 20- deoxyingenol exhibited significant inhibition on NO production with IC50 values of 9.10, 17.38, 1.71, 0.55, 0.57, 12.22, 0.56, 0.30, 11.21 and 2.98 μM, respectively. Furthermore, wilfoside KIN, cynsaccatol L, kanesulone A, and 3β,7β,15β-triacetyloxy-5α-benzoyloxy-2α,8α-dihydroxyjatropha-6(17),11E-diene-9, 14-dione showed cytotoxicity against HepG2 cell line, with IC50 values of 12.55, 12.61, 18.24 and 18.26 μM, respectively. 13-Hydroxyingenol-3-(2,3-dimethylbutanoate)-13- dodecanoate exhibited anti-proliferation activity on MCF-7 cell line with an IC50 value of 17.12 μM. Specifically, euphol selectively inhibited the growth of human glioma stem cells (GSC-3# and GSC-12#), with IC50 values of 8.89 and 13.00 μM, respectively.

Traditonal Uses, Pharmacological, and Phytochemical Studies of Euphorbia: a Review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants of the genus Euphorbia have long been used as traditional medicine in China, Europe, America, Turkey, India, Africa, Iran, and Pakistan for their great medicinal value and health benefits. Their stems, leaves, roots, latex are widely used to treat respiratory infections, body and skin irritations, digestive disorders, inflammatory infections, body pain, snake or scorpion bites, pregnancy, sensory disturbances, microbial and anti-cancer diseases.

OBJECTIVE

This review aimed to provide updated information on the genus Euphorbia, including traditional medicinal uses, valuation and exploitation of medicinal plants, phytochemistry, botanical characterization, pharmacological and toxicological research focused on the medicinal properties of several Euphorbias in particular their antibacterial, anti-tumor, and cell manifestations, in addition to the effect of each isolated bioactive molecule from these species and their pharmacological use including preclinical evaluation of new drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This work was conducted using scientific databases such as: PubMed, Google scholar, Scopus, Science Direct, etc. In addition, ChemDraw software has been used for the drawing of chemical molecules. The correct names of the plants were confirmed from plantlist.org. The results of this review research were interpreted, analyzed and documented based on the bibliographical information obtained.

RESULTS

Among all the species of the Euphorbiaceae family, 15 species have been demonstrated to exhibit anticancer activity, 21 species have antibacterial activity and 10 species have cytotoxic activity. The majority of the chemical constituents of this plant include triterpenoid glycosides, diterpenoids, flavonoids, and the 4α-methyl steroids. Among them, the main bioactive constituents are present in the diterpenoid fraction. The study of more than 33 steroid plants identified more than 104 compounds. Pharmacological research proved that the crude extracts and some pure compounds obtained from Euphorbia had activities for the treatment of different diseases. The objective of the present study was focused on cytotoxic, antibacterial and antitumor diseases. The study of the phytochemistry of the Euphorbia families led to the conclusion that all the plants studied had active compounds, of which 27 plants characterized by their cytotoxic effects, 7 had antibacterial effects and 10 plants had anti-tumor activities. Therefore, the safety of Euphorbia herbal medicine should be considered a top priority in the early stages of development and clinical trials.

CONCLUSIONS

Many previous studies have validated many traditional uses of Euphorbia species. The latex of some Euphorbia species seems to be toxic however studies dealing with safety and quality of these species are still incomplete. Extensive studies are needed on the Euphorbia plants before it can be fully used in clinics as a potent drug candidate, as researchers are focusing mainly on diterpenoids and triterpenoids, while there are many other types of compounds that may possess new biological activities.

The Role of Ingenane Diterpenes in Cancer Therapy: From Bioactive Secondary Compounds to Small Molecules

Diterpenes are a class of critical taxonomic markers of the Euphorbiaceae family, representing small compounds (eg, molecules) with a wide range of biological activities and multi-target therapeutic potential. Diterpenes can exert different activities, including antitumor and multi-drug resistance-reversing activities, and antiviral, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects, mainly due to their great structural diversity. In particular, one polycyclic skeleton has been highlighted: ingenane. Besides this natural diterpene, promising polycyclic skeletons may be submitted to chemical modification—by in silico approaches, chemical reactions, or biotransformation—putatively providing more active analogs (eg, ingenol derivatives), which are currently under pre-clinical investigation. This review outlines the current mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic implications of ingenol diterpenes as small cancer molecules.

Kansuinine A Ameliorates Atherosclerosis and Human Aortic Endothelial Cell Apoptosis by Inhibiting Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Suppressing IKKβ/IκBα/NF-κB Signaling

Reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced vascular endothelial cell apoptosis is strongly associated with atherosclerosis progression. Herein, we aimed to examine whether Kansuinine A (KA), extracted from Euphorbia kansui L., prevents atherosclerosis development in a mouse model and inhibits cell apoptosis through oxidative stress reduction. Atherosclerosis development was analyzed in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE^-/-) mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) using Oil Red O staining and H&E staining. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were treated with KA, followed by hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), to investigate the KA-mediated inhibition of ROS-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. Oil Red O staining and H&E staining showed that atherosclerotic lesion size was significantly smaller in the aortic arch of ApoE^-/- mice in the HFD+KA group than that in the aortic arch of those in the HFD group. Further, KA (0.1-1.0 μM) blocked the H₂O₂-induced death of HAECs and ROS generation. The H₂O₂-mediated upregulation of phosphorylated IKKβ, phosphorylated IκBα, and phosphorylated NF-κB was suppressed by KA. KA also reduced the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and cleaved caspase-3 expression, preventing H₂O₂-induced vascular endothelial cell apoptosis. Our results indicate that KA may protect against ROS-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and has considerable clinical potential in the prevention of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.

Rapid characterization of chemical constituents of Gansuibanxia decoction by UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS analysis

Gansuibanxia decoction (GSBXD) is one of the most famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It is a herbal formula used for treating hydrops, such as cancerous ascites, pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, etc. However, the chemical constituents of GSBXD were still unclear. In this study, an UHPLC-FT-ICR-MS method was established and applied to the separation and characterization of the chemical constituents of GSBXD. A total of 62 components were chemically defined or tentatively identified, including diterpenoids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, monoterpene glycosides and alkaloids. The results is meaningful for a better understanding of the material basis of GSBXD and can be the basis for its further in vitro and in vivo studies.

The toxicity and efficacy evaluation of different fractions of Kansui fry-baked with vinegar on Walker-256 tumor-bearing malignant ascites effusion rats and normal rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Kansui, the root of Euphorbia kansui S.L.Liou ex S.B.Ho (E.kansui), is a classical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with certain toxicity. According to the theory of TCM, kansui fry-baked wtith vinegar (VEK) possesses low toxicity and mild diuretic and purgative efficacy. In clinical practice, it is commonly used for the treatmtablent of ascites and oliguria. The present study aimed to evaluate the toxicity and efficacy of different fractions of VEK and reveal the underlying material basis by employing an animal model of malignant ascites effusion (MAE) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODSTA

The MAE rats as the model were constructed in SPF male wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of Walker-256 tumor cells. The MAE rats were used and randomly divided into the control group (normal rats), control groups with different fractions (VEKA, VEKB, VEKC and VEKD), model group (MAE rats), positive control group (model group with furosemide), model groups with different fractions (VEKA, VEKB, VEKC and VEKD). Histopathological observation was used to confirm Walker-256 tumor-bearing organ injuries in rats. For the efficacy evaluation, the ascites and urine volumes, the urinary electrolyte concentrations (Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^-) and pH, the ascites levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and VEGF), PRA, the serum levels of Ang II, ALD and ADH, as well as AQP8 protein expression in the gastrointestinal tract were detected. Furthermore, different levels of indicators were measured in the toxicity evaluation of different fractions both on normal and model rats, including serum liver enzymes (AST and ALT), serum oxidative damage parameters (GSH, MDA, LDH and SOD), expressions of inflammatory parameters (NF-κB, ICAM-1 and E-cadherin) and apoptosis signals (caspase-3, -8, -9, Bcl-2 and Bax) in the liver and gastrointestinal tract.

RESULTS

Walker-256 tumor-bearing malignant ascites effusion rats showed obvious hepatic and gastrointestinal injuries by histopathological observation. In the efficacy evaluation, model rats treated with VEKB and VEKC showed significant urine increase (VEKB, P < 0.01; VEKC, P < 0.01) and ascites reduction (VEKB, P < 0.01; VEKC, P < 0.01). These two fractions also balanced the concentrations of Na⁺, K⁺ and Cl^- in urine (VEKB, all P < 0.05; VEKC, all P < 0.05), remarkably decreased urinary pH (VEKB, P < 0.01; VEKC, P < 0.01), and reduced the ascites levels of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ and VEGF (VEKB, all P < 0.01; VEKC, all P < 0.01) in the model rats. Moreover, levels of PRA, the serum Ang II, ALD and ADH of model rats were decreased after treated by VEKB and VEKC (VEKB, all P < 0.05; VEKC, all P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the expression of gastrointestinal AQP8 of the model rats was also enhanced after treated by VEKB and VEKC (VEKB, P < 0.01; VEKC, P < 0.01). In the toxicity evaluation, although VEKB and VEKC caused toxic indexes moved to the worse aspects in normal rats, nearly all of these indicators notably improved in the model rats. Additionally, VEKA showed no effect on the indicators, either in the efficacy evaluation or in the toxicity evaluation. And VEKD could significantly improve some indicators (urine volume, concentration of K⁺ in urine, serum MDA, AI and caspase-9) in MAE rats.

CONCLUSIONS

VEKB and VEKC were demonstrated a significant efficacy in treating malignant ascites effusion, which could reduce hepatic and gastrointestinal damage on the model rats but cause the same damage to the normal. These data embody the traditional Chinese medicine application principle: You Gu Wu Yun. And these results will provide reference for the safer and better clinical utilization of kansui.

Anti-proliferation activity of terpenoids isolated from Euphorbia kansui in human cancer cells and their structure-activity relationship

Euphorbia kansui is a commonly used traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of edema, pleural effusion, and asthma, etc. According to the previous researches, terpenoids in E. kansui possess various biological activities, e.g., anti-virus, anti-allergy, antitumor effects. In this work, twenty five terpenoids were isolated from E. kansui, including thirteen ingenane- and eight jatrophane-type diterpenoids (with two new compounds, kansuinin P and Q) and four triterpenoids. Eighteen of them were analyzed by MTS assay for in vitro anticancer activity in five human cancer cell lines. Structure-activity relationship for 12 ingenane-type diterpenoids in colorectal cancer Colo205 cells were preliminary studied. Significant anti-proliferation activities were observed in human melanoma cells breast cancer MDA-MB-435 cells and Colo205 cells. More than half of the isolated ingenane-type diterpenoids showed inhibitory activities in MDA-MB-435 cells. Eight ingenane- and one jatrophane-type diterpenoids possessed much lower IC₅₀ values in MDA-MB-435 cells than positive control staurosporine. Preliminary structure-activity relationship analysis showed that substituent on position 20 was important for the activity of ingenane-type diterpenoids in Colo205 cells and substituent on position 3 contributed more significant biological activity of the compounds than that on position 5 in both MDA-MB-435 and Colo205 cells.

Euphorbia kansui Attenuates Insulin Resistance in Obese Human Subjects and High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Background

Obesity is a main cause of insulin resistance (IR), metabolic syndrome, and fatty liver diseases. This study evaluated Euphorbia kansui radix (Euphorbia) as a potential treatment option for obesity and obesity-induced IR in obese human and high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese mice.

Methods

In the human study, we analyzed the body weight change of 14 patients who took a single dose of 6 g of Euphorbia powder. In the animal study, male mice were divided into three groups: normal chow, HFD, and Euphorbia (high-fat diet and 100 mg/Kg Euphorbia once per week). Body weight, epididymal fat pad weight, fasting blood glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR, and oral glucose tolerance test were measured. Also, macrophage infiltration and expression of CD68, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, interferon- (IFN-) γ, and interleukin- (IL-) 6 genes in the liver and adipose tissue were analyzed.

Results

The human study showed that Euphorbia has a potential effect on body weight loss. In the in vivo study, body weight, epididymal fat weight, glucose level, IR, expression of CD68, TNF-α, IFN-r, and IL-6 genes, and macrophages in liver and adipose tissue were significantly reduced by Euphorbia.

Conclusions

These results suggest that Euphorbia attenuates obesity and insulin resistance via anti-inflammatory effects.

Reactivation of HIV-1 from Latency by an Ingenol Derivative from Euphorbia Kansui

Cells harboring latent HIV-1 pose a major obstacle to eradication of the virus. The ‘shock and kill’ strategy has been broadly explored to purge the latent reservoir; however, none of the current latency-reversing agents (LRAs) can safely and effectively activate the latent virus in patients. In this study, we report an ingenol derivative called EK-16A, isolated from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Euphorbia kansui, which displays great potential in reactivating latent HIV-1. A comparison of the doses used to measure the potency indicated EK-16A to be 200-fold more potent than prostratin in reactivating HIV-1 from latently infected cell lines. EK-16A also outperformed prostratin in ex vivo studies on cells from HIV-1-infected individuals, while maintaining minimal cytotoxicity effects on cell viability and T cell activation. Furthermore, EK-16A exhibited synergy with other LRAs in reactivating latent HIV-1. Mechanistic studies indicated EK-16A to be a PKCγ activator, which promoted both HIV-1 transcription initiation by NF-κB and elongation by P-TEFb signal pathways. Further investigations aimed to add this compound to the therapeutic arsenal for HIV-1 eradication are in the pipeline.

An Ingenol Derived from Euphorbia kansui Induces Hepatocyte Cytotoxicity by Triggering G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest and Regulating the Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway in Vitro

Natural product lingenol, a purified diterpenoid compound derived from the root of Euphorbia kansui, exerts serious hepatotoxicity; however, the molecular mechanisms remain to be defined. In the present study, cell counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), inverted phase contrast microscope and flow cytometry were used to demonstrate that lingenol significantly inhibited L-O2 cells proliferation, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Moreover, the results investigated that lingenol markedly disrupted mitochondrial functions by high content screening (HCS). In addition, the up-regulation of cytochrome c, AIF and Apaf-1 and activation of caspases were found in L-O2 cells detected by Western blotting and ELISA assay, which was required for lingenol activation of cytochrome c-mediated caspase cascades and AIF-mediated DNA damage. Mechanistic investigations revealed that lingenol significantly down-regulated the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and enhanced the reactive oxygen species (ROS) in L-O2 cells. These data collectively indicated that lingenol modulation of ROS and Bcl-2/Bax ratio led to cell cycle arrest and mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in L-O2 cells in vitro. All of these results will be helpful to reveal the hepatotoxicity mechanism of Euphorbia kansui and to effectively guide safer and better clinical application of this herb.

Ingenane-type diterpene compounds from Euphorbia kansui modulate IFN-γ production through NF-κB activation

BACKGROUND

Euphorbia kansui, a traditional medical herb, has been shown to have anti-tumour and anti-viral activities. Previously, we have reported that E. kansui increases interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production in natural killer (NK) cells. However, it is not clear how E. kansui regulates IFN-γ secretion by NK cells.

RESULTS

In this study, E. kansui was separated into six individual compounds from the same chloroform fraction so that the activity of each compound could be compared. E. kansui compounds induced IFN-γ secretion through the phosphorylation of protein kinase D and IκB kinase pathways. Furthermore, E. kansui compounds activated the translocation of p65, a sub-unit of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), to the nucleus and induced NF-κB at the transcriptional level.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that E. kansui enhances IFN-γ secretion through the NF-κB pathway in NK cells. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cornuside inhibits mast cell-mediated allergic response by down-regulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

AIMS

The present study is to investigate the effect of cornuside on mast cell-mediated allergic response, as well as its possible mechanisms of action.

METHODS

To test the anti-allergic effects of cornuside in vivo, local extravasation was induced by local injection of anti-dinitrophenyl immunoglobulin E (IgE) followed by intravenous antigenic challenge in passive cutaneous anaphylaxis model rats. Mast cell viability was determined using MTT assay. Histamine content from rat peritoneal mast cells was measured by the radioenzymatic method. To investigate the mechanisms by which cornuside affects the reduction of histamine release, the levels of calcium uptake were measured. To examine whether cornuside affects the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, Western blotting and ELISA were carried out.

RESULTS

Oral administration of cornuside inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Presence of cornuside attenuated IgE-induced histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells. The inhibitory effect of cornuside on histamine release was mediated by the modulation of intracellular calcium. In addition, cornuside decreased phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and calcium ionophore A23187-stimulated production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 in human mast cells. The inhibitory effect of cornuside on pro-inflammatory cytokines was dependent on nuclear factor-κB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study provides evidence that cornuside inhibits mast cell-derived inflammatory allergic reactions by blocking histamine release and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Furthermore, in vivo and in vitro anti-allergic effects of cornuside suggest a possible therapeutic application of this agent in inflammatory allergic diseases.

Ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight mass spectrometry analysis of the impact of processing on toxic components of Kansui Radix

BACKGROUND

Kansui Radix (Gansui in Chinese), the dried tuber of Euphorbia kansui, is a Chinese medicinal herb commonly used for the treatment of oedema and ascites with dyspnea. Because of its toxic nature, the herb is usually processed with vinegar to reduce the toxicity. A report has shown that the contents of toxic terpenoids in Gansui decreased after processing with vinegar. However, comprehensive comparison of the chemical profiles between vinegar-processed and raw Gansui has not yet been conducted.

METHODS

An ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography in conjunction with ultra-high resolution quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC UHD Q-TOF MS/MS) method was developed for the analysis of chemical profiles of vinegar-processed and raw Gansui in this study.

RESULTS

Results showed that processing with vinegar caused conspicuous chemical changes. Among the altered components, 11 toxic terpenoids, 3-O-benzoyl-13-O- dodecanoylingenol/20-O-benzoyl-13-O-dodecanoylingenol, kansuinine D, kansuinine A, 3-O-benzoyl-13-O-dodecanoylingenol/20-O-benzoyl-13-O-dodecanoylingenol, 3-O- benzoylingenol/20-O-benzoylingenol, 20-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)ingenol/20-O-(2'E,4'E- decadienoyl)ingenol/3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)ingenol/3-O-(2'E,4'E-decadienoyl)ingenol, 3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-deoxyingenol,3-O-(2'E,4'Z-,ecadienoyl)-5-O-acetylingenol,3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol,3-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoylingenol, were tentatively identified. The contents of most of these terpenoids were obviously decreased after processing with reductions of 6.66-95.25%.

CONCLUSION

Our findings could help us understand the chemical basis for the toxicity reduction of Gansui afforded by processing with vinegar. Further investigations are warranted to establish the relationship between processing-induced chemical changes and the reduction of toxicity of Gansui.

A Natural Triterpene Derivative from Euphorbia kansui Inhibits Cell Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis against Rat Intestinal Epithelioid Cell Line in Vitro

Kansenone is a triterpene from the root of the traditional Chinese medicine, Euphorbia kansui. However, kansenone exerts serious toxicity, but the exact mechanism was not clear. In this work, the effects of kansenone on cell proliferation, cell cycle, cell damage, and cell apoptosis were investigated. The suppression of cell proliferation was assessed via the colorimetric MTT assay, and cell morphology was visualized via inverted microscopy after IEC-6 cells were incubated with different concentrations of kansenone. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were detected for evaluating cell damage. RNase/propidium iodide (PI) labeling for evaluation of cell cycle distribution was performed by flow cytometry analysis. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)/PI and Hoechst 33342/Annexin V-FITC/PI staining assay for cell apoptosis detection were performed using confocal laser scanning microscopy and high content screening. Moreover, apoptosis induction was further confirmed by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and JC-1 mitochondrial membrane potential, western blot and RT-PCR analysis. The results demonstrated that kansenone exerted high cytotoxicity, induced cell arrest at G0/G1 phase, and caused mitochondria damage. In addition, kansenone could up-regulate the apoptotic proteins Bax, AIF, Apaf-1, cytochrome c, caspase-3, caspase-9, caspase-8, FasR, FasL, NF-κB, and TNFR1 mRNA expression levels, and down-regulate the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins, revealing that kansenone induces apoptosis through both the death receptor and mitochondrial pathways.

Recent Progress of Research on Herbal Products Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine: the Herbs belonging to The Divine Husbandman's Herbal Foundation Canon ( Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng)

This article will review selected herbal products from Chinese Materia Medica that are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. The herbs come from the upper, middle, and lower class medicines as listed in The Divine Husbandman's Herbal Foundation Canon (神農本草經 Shén Nóng Běn Cǎo Jīng). The review will focus on the active constituents of the herbs and their bioactivities, with emphasis on the most recent progress in research for the period of 2003 to 2011.

Processing of kansui roots stir-baked with vinegar reduces kansui-induced hepatocyte cytotoxicity by decreasing the contents of toxic terpenoids and regulating the cell apoptosis pathway

Euphorbia kansui is a Traditional Chinese Medicine widely used for the treatment of oedema, ascites and asthma. However, its serious hepatotoxicity hinders its safe clinical application. The process of stir-baking with vinegar is regularly used to reduce the toxicity of kansui. Up till now, the exact mechanism of the reduction in hepatotoxicity of kansui stir-baked with vinegar has been poorly defined. In this study, decreased  contents of five diterpene and one triterpene in kansui (GS-1) after stir-baking with vinegar (GS-2) was investigated by UPLC-QTOF/MS. Flow cytometry and Hoechst staining were used to show that the stir-baking with vinegar process reduces kansui-induced cell apoptosis. Furthermore, the result also indicated that kansui stir-baked with vinegar protects LO2 cells from apoptosis by increasing the cell mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), decreasing the release of cytochrome c and inhibiting the activities of caspase-9 and caspase-3 as evidenced by means of high content screening (HCS), ELISA and western blotting. These results suggested that the stir-baking vinegar could reduce the hepatotoxicity of kansui by effectively decreasing the contents of toxic terpenoids and inhibiting the intrinsic pathway of hepatocyte cell apoptosis. In conclusion, the study provided significant data for promoting safer and better clinical use of this herb.

Systems biochemical responses of rats to Kansui and vinegar-processed Kansui exposure by integrated metabonomics

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried root of Kansui (Euphorbia kansui L.) is an effective and commonly used traditional Chinese medicine. Even so, Kansui cannot be satisfactorily applied clinically because of toxic side effects. In China, the most common Kansui-processing method uses vinegar to reduce its toxicity. The present study was designed to investigate the toxic effects caused by Kansui and evaluate detoxification of Kansui by vinegar processing of Kansui.

MATERIALS AND METHOD

Thirty male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly assigned to five groups of six rats. Two experimental groups were oral gavaged with 7.875 and 15.75 g Kansui/kg body weight, two treated with 7.875 and 15.75 g VP-Kansui/kg body weight for 14 d, and the control group concurrently subjected to oral gavage with only distilled water. On day 14, plasma, liver and kidney tissues were collected from all rats for biochemistry assessments, histopathological examination, and NMR analyses.

RESULTS

The metabonome of rats treated with Kansui and vinegar-processed (VP-) Kansui was found to differ from that of controls. In liver extracts, the variational metabolites included elevated concentrations of isoleucine, leucine, valine, glutamate, and phenylalanine, with decreased taurine, glucose, and glycogen. However, changes in lysine, methionine, choline, phosphorylcholine, and tyrosine were only observed in Kansui-treated rats. In kidney extracts, prominent changes included elevations in isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine, creatine/creatinine, and phenylalanine as well as decreased glutamine. Only Kansui treatment induced variations in alanine, lysine, acetate, choline, and phosphorylcholine.

CONCLUSION

Perturbations in endogenous metabolites induced by Kansui correlated with disturbances in glycolysis and amino acid and lipid metabolism, while biochemical pathway disorders caused by VP-Kansui only involved glycolysis and amino acid metabolism. All results were confirmed by histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues and clinical biochemistry analyses.

Biologically active diterpenes containing a gem-dimethylcyclopropane subunit: an intriguing source of PKC modulators

This review describes diterpenes containing thegem-dimethylcyclopropane subunit isolated from natural sources with a special emphasis on their intriguing biological activities as a source of PKC modulators.

Ingenane-type diterpenes with a modulatory effect on IFN-γ production from the roots of Euphorbia kansui

A new ingenane-type diterpene, (3S,5R)5-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoyl-20-O-deoxyingenol (1), and six known compounds,3-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoyl-20-O-deoxyingenol (2), 20-O-decanoylingenol (3), 20-O-acetylingenol-3-O-(2'E,4'Z) decadienoate (4), kansuiphorin A (5), 3-O-(2,3-dimethylbutanoyl)-13-O-dodecanoylingenol (6), and kansuinin F (7) were isolated and evaluated for their effect on IFN-γ production in NK92 cells. Interestingly, subjection to compounds 4 and 6 (10 nM) displayed the most significant response in IFN-γ production, comparable to that produced by the same dose of phorbol 12-myistate 13-acetate (PMA). High doses of compounds 3 (100 nM), 1 (1. 25 μM) and 5 (5.0 μM) have also been shown to activate the IFN-γ production.

Bio-guided isolation of the cytotoxic terpenoids from the roots of Euphorbia kansui against human normal cell lines L-O2 and GES-1

The dried roots of Euphorbia kansui (kansui) have been used for centuries in China as a herbal medicine for edema, ascites, and asthma. The 95% ethanol extract showed a significant inhibition of cell proliferation against human normal cell lines L-O2 and GES-1. Bioassay-guided separation of the 95% ethanol extract from the roots of E. kansui led to the isolation of 12 diverse terpenoids whose structures were identified by ¹H, ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and ESI-MS as kansuinine A (1), kansuinine B (2), kansuinine C (3), kansuiphorin C (4), 3-O-(2′E,4′Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol (5), 3-O-(2′E,4′Edecadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol (6), 3-O-(2′E,4′Z-decadienoyl)-20-deoxyingenol (7), 3-O-benzoyl-20-deoxyingenol (8), 5-O-benzoyl-20-deoxyingenol (9), kansenone (10), epi-kansenone (11), euphol (12). All these 12 terpernoids were evaluated in vitro for cytotoxicity on L-O2 and GES-1 cell lines. Most ingenane-type diterpenoids and 8-ene-7-one triterpenoids (5–11) exhibited a relatively lower IC₅₀ value; therefore, these compounds had stronger cytotoxicity against human normal cell lines L-O2 and GES-1 with dose-dependent relationships. These results will be significantly helpful to reveal the mechanism of toxicity of kansui and to effectively guide safer clinical application of this herb.

1H NMR-based metabonomics study of the urinary biochemical changes in Kansui treated rat

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The dried root of Kansui (Euphorbia kansui L.) is a commonly used and effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

AIM OF THE STUDY

We combined the urinary metabolites alteration and traditional assays of Kansui-induced rats to discuss the mechanism of toxicity of Kansui.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The Sprague-Dawley rats were dosed with 7.875g Kansui/kg weight and 15.75g Kansui/kg weight. Urine samples were collected at day -1 (before treatment), and days 7, 14 and 21 for NMR analysis. Plasma and liver and kidney tissues were collected at day 14 for biochemical assays and histopathological examination, respectively.

RESULTS

The metabonome of rats treated with Kansui differed markedly from that of the controls. This was confirmed by the histopathology of liver and kidney tissue and clinical biochemistry analysis. The toxicity of Kansui accumulated with dosing time, and persisted even when treatment was stopped. The corresponding biochemical pathways alterations included inhibited TCA cycle, increased anaerobic glycolysis, and perturbed amino acids metabolism.

CONCLUSION

The biochemical pathways disorder conjunction with histopathology changes provides new clues to evaluate the toxicity of Kansui from a systematic and holistic view.

Anti-allergic effects of scoparone on mast cell-mediated allergy model

Scoparone is known to have a wide range of pharmacological properties in vitro. However, the roles of scoparone in immediate-type allergic reactions have not yet been investigated. In this study, we demonstrated that scoparone attenuated IgE-mediated allergic response in mast cells. Oral administration of scoparone inhibited passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in rats. Presence of scoparone dose-dependently decreased histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) stimulated by anti-dinitrophenyl IgE. Moreover, scoparone reduced the expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 in RPMC. Pretreatment with scoparone inhibited the calcium uptake and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity. Furthermore, scoparone blocked translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) p65 subunit by suppressing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation in RPMC. Reduced calcium uptake as well as the suppressed activity of p38 MAPK and NF-kappaB might be involved in the inhibitory effect of scoparone on the secretory response. Our findings suggest that scoparone may serve as an effective therapeutic agent for allergic diseases.

Bioassay-guided separation of the proinflammatory constituents from the roots of Euphorbia kansui

In view of the toxic inflammatory reaction induced by Euphorbia kansui roots, a traditional Chinese medicine used for the treatment of edema, ascites, and asthma, the 95% ethanol extract was found to have a significant stimulating effect on inflammatory cells. Bioassay-guided separation of the 95% ethanol extract from the roots of E. kansui led to the isolation of five diterpenoids whose structures were identified by (1)H, (13)C NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS as kansuinine B (1), kansuinine A (2), kansuiphorin C (3), 3-O-benzoyl-20-deoxyingenol (4), and 3-O-(2'E,4'Z-decadienoyl)-20-O-acetylingenol (5). The proinflammatory effect of compounds 1-5 was evaluated in vitro in models of inflammation using exoteric mice splenic lymphocytes (SPL) and rat peritoneal macrophages (PMphi). Compounds 1, 2, and 5 markedly promoted SPL proliferation and NO production by PMphi at concentrations from 0.78 to 12.50 microg/mL. Hence the three compounds are believed to be important proinflammatory components of the roots of E. kansui.

Na-Tosyl-Phe chloromethyl ketone prevents granule movement and mast cell synergistic degranulation elicited by costimulation of antigen and adenosine

Adenosine has been shown to enhance mast cell degranulation when added together with an antigen. Such augmentation of mast cell activation is relevant to exacerbation of allergic asthma symptoms. Na-Tosyl-Phe chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) is a chymotrypsine-like chymase inhibitor, which has anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of TPCK on mast cell synergistic degranulation induced by antigen and adenosine. Here, we report that TPCK almost completely suppressed enhanced degranulation by inhibiting granule movement. Consistent with this, intraperitoneal administration of TPCK resulted in significant amelioration of passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in mice. Furthermore, we demonstrated that TPCK completely inhibited Thr308 phosphorylation of protein kinase B in mast cells stimulated with antigen and adenosine. These results provide a novel action of TPCK for the prevention of mast cell degranulation induced by antigen and adenosine.

Plant-derived natural product research aimed at new drug discovery

Many important bioactive compounds have been discovered from natural sources using bioactivity-directed fractionation and isolation (BDFl) [Balunas MJ, Kinghorn AD (2005) Drug discovery from medicinal plants. Life Sci 78:431-441]. Continuing discovery has also been facilitated by the recent development of new bioassay methods. These bioactive compounds are mostly plant secondary metabolites, and many naturally occurring pure compounds have become medicines, dietary supplements, and other useful commercial products. Active lead compounds can also be further modified to enhance the biological profiles and developed as clinical trial candidates. In this review, the authors will summarize research on many different useful compounds isolated or developed from plants with emphasis placed on those recently discovered by the authors' laboratories as antitumor and anti-HIV clinical trial candidates.

Selinidin suppresses IgE-mediated mast cell activation by inhibiting multiple steps of Fc epsilonRI signaling

IgE-mediated mast cell activation is critical for development of allergic inflammation. We have recently found that selinidin, one of the coumarin derivatives isolated from Angelica keiskei, attenuates mast cell degranulation following engagement of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilonRI) with IgE and antigen. In the present study, we investigated the effects of selinidin on intracellular signaling and mast cell activation employing bone marrow-derived mast cells. Here, we report that selinidin attenuates the release of beta-hexosaminidase, synthesis of leukotriene C4, and production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha without affecting IgE-Fc epsilonRI binding. Furthermore, biochemical analyses of the Fc epsilonRI-mediated signaling pathway demonstrated that selinidin decreases phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma1, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and IkappaB-alpha upon FcepsilonRI stimulation. These results suggest that this compound suppresses IgE-mediated mast cell activation by inhibiting multiple steps of FcepsilonRI-dependent signaling pathways and would be beneficial for the prevention of allergic inflammation.