Enhancing Effect of Trachelogenin from Trachelospermi caulis Extract on Intestinal Barrier Function

Vasorelaxant Effect of Trachelospermi caulis Extract on Rat Mesenteric Resistance Arteries

Background: Trachelospermi caulis (T. caulis) has been used as a traditional herbal medicine in Asian countries. Although it is well known that T. caulis has beneficial effects, no sufficient research data are available on the cardiovascular effect of T. caulis. We investigated whether T. caulis extract has vascular effects in rat resistance arteries in this study. Methods: To examine whether T. caulis extract affects vascular reactivity, we measured isometric tension of rat mesenteric resistance arteries using a multi-wire myograph system. T. caulis extract was administered after arteries were pre-contracted with high K⁺ (70 mM) or phenylephrine (5 µM). Vanillin, a single active component of T. caulis, was used to treat mesenteric arteries. Results: T. caulis extract caused vascular relaxation in a concentration-dependent manner, which was endothelium-independent. To further identify the mechanism, we incubated the arteries in Ca²⁺-free solution containing high K⁺, followed by a cumulative administration of CaCl₂ (0.01–2.0 mM) with or without T. caulis extract (250 µg/mL). The treatment of T. caulis extract decreased contractile responses induced by the addition of Ca²⁺, which suggested that the extracellular Ca²⁺ influx was inhibited by the T. caulis extract. Moreover, an active compound of T. caulis extract, vanillin, also induced vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries. Conclusion: T. caulis extract and its active compound, vanillin, concentration-dependently induced vascular relaxation in mesenteric resistance arteries. These results suggest that the administration of T. caulis extract could help decrease blood pressure.

Multi-target tracheloside and doxorubicin combined treatment of lung adenocarcinoma

Chemotherapy is one of the main methods for malignant lung cancer treatment. However, the side effects of chemotherapy drugs are serious and it is prone to drug resistance. Therefore, multi-drug combination chemotherapy is popular in lung cancer treatment. This study found that tracheloside (TCS) was a novel inhibitor of TMEM16A which was specific high expressed in lung cancer tissues. TCS concentration dependently inhibited TMEM16A with an IC₅₀ of 3.09 ± 0.21 μM. It inhibited lung cancer cells proliferation, migration, and induced cells apoptosis targeting TMEM16A. In addition, molecular docking combined with site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the binding sites of TCS to TMEM16A were S387, E623, E624. Subsequently, multi-target combined drug administration was conducted based on the different drug targets of TCS and doxorubicin (DOX). Both in vitro and in vivo experiments indicated that the combined administration of low concentration of TCS and DOX achieved satisfactory anticancer effect, and it offset the side effects caused by high concentration of DOX. Therefore, TCS is a safe and efficient anticancer lead compound which can enhance the effect of DOX.

Phytochemicals and inflammatory bowel disease: a review

Gastrointestinal tract is the second largest organ in the body that mainly functions in nutrients and minerals intake through the intestinal barrier. Intestinal permeability maintains the circulation of minerals and nutrients from digested foods. Life and all the metabolic processes depend either directly or indirectly on proper functioning of GI tract. Compromised intestinal permeability and related disorders are common among all the patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which is a collective term of inflammatory diseases including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Many synthetic drugs are currently in use to treat IBD such as 5-aminosalicylic acid corticosteroids. However, they all have some drawbacks as long-term use result in many complications. These problems encourage us to look out for alternative medicine. Numerous in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the plant-derived secondary metabolites including phenolic compounds, glucosinolates, alkaloids, terpenoids, oligosaccharides, and quinones could reduce permeability, ameliorate-related dysfunctions with promising results. In addition, many of them could modulate enzymatic activity, suppress the inflammatory transcriptional factors, ease oxidative stress, and reduce pro-inflammatory cytokines secretion. In this review, we summarized the phytochemicals, which were proven potent in treating increased intestinal permeability and related complication along with their mechanism of action.

Skullcap (Scutellaria Baicalensis) Hexane Fraction Inhibits the Permeation of Ovalbumin and Regulates Th1/2 Immune Responses

Skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis) is well known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. In our previous study, we found that skullcap could inhibit allergen permeation and regulate Th1/2 immune balance. To reveal the key fractions and components of skullcap, we fractionated skullcap extract into five fractions: hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water fraction. Among these fractions, the hexane fraction significantly suppressed the production of Th2-mediated cytokines (Interleukin (IL)-4, 5, 10 and 13) and increased Th1-mediated cytokines (Interferon (IFN)-γ and IL-12). Furthermore, the hexane fraction inhibited the permeation of ovalbumin (OVA), used as an allergen, across the intestinal epithelial cell monolayer. To confirm the active compounds in the hexane fraction, fatty acids were analyzed. Linoleic acid (LA, C18:2 (>59.7%)) was identified as the most important fatty acid in the skullcap hexane fraction. LA significantly suppressed IL-4 production and increased IFN-γ secretion, as well as inhibiting OVA permeation. Thus, LA significantly diminished the permeation of allergen by enhancing intestinal barrier function and regulated allergic responses to maintain Th1/Th2 immune balance.

Phytochemistry, Pharmacology and Traditional Uses of Plants from the Genus Trachelospermum L

This paper is intended to review advances in the botanical, phytochemical, traditional uses and pharmacological studies of the genus Trachelospermum. Until now, 138 chemical constituents have been isolated and characterized from these plants, particularly from T. asiaticum and T. jasminoides. Among these compounds, lignans, triterpenoids, and flavonoids are the major bioactive constituents. Studies have shown that plants from the genus Trachelospermum exhibit an extensive range of pharmacological properties both in vivo and in vitro, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antitumor, antiviral and antibacterial activities. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) culture, drugs that include T. jasminoides stems have been used to cure rheumatism, gonarthritis, backache and pharyngitis, although there are few reports concerning the clinical use and toxicity of these plants. Further attention should be paid to gathering information about their toxicology data, quality-control measures, and the clinical value of the active compounds from genus Trachelospermum.