Anti-HBV effect of liposome-encapsulated matrine in vitro and in vivo

Target Discovery of Matrine against PRRSV in Marc-145 Cells via Activity-Based Protein Profiling

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) seriously endangers the sustainable development of the pig industry. Our previous studies have shown that matrine can resist porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. This study aimed to explore the anti-PRRSV targets of matrine in Marc-145 cells. Biotin-labeled matrine 1 and 2 were used as probes. MTT assay was used to determine the maximum non-cytotoxic concentration (MNTC) of each probe in Marc-145 cells. The anti-PRRSV activity of each probe was evaluated via MTT, qPCR and Western blot, and its anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated via qPCR and Western blot. The targets of matrine in Marc-145 cells were searched using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP), and compared with the targets predicted via network pharmacology for screening the potential targets of matrine against PRRSV. The protein-protein interaction networks (PPI) of potential targets were constructed using a network database and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis was performed. ACAT1, ALB, HMOX1, HSPA8, HSP90AB1, PARP1 and STAT1 were identified as potential targets of matrine, and their functions were related to antiviral capacity and immunity. Matrine may play an anti-PRRSV role by directly acting on ACAT1, ALB, HMOX1, HSPA8, HSP90AB1, PARP1 and STAT1.

Novel protein kinase C phosphorylated kinase inhibitor-matrine suppresses replication of hepatitis B virus via modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase signal

HBV (hepatitis B virus) infection still threatens human health. Therefore, it is essential to find new effective anti-HBV compounds. Here, we identified matrine as a novel inhibitor of PKC (protein kinase C) phosphorylated kinase by screening a natural compound library. After HepG2.215 cells were treated with matrine, we carried out a phosphorylated proteomics sequence study and analyzed the prediction of related kinase expression level. In the case of HBV infection, it was found that PKC kinase mediates the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway known as son of sevenless (SOS) activation. It was also found that PKC kinase inhibits the expression of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL8) by inhibiting the activity of activating transcription factor 2/ cAMP response element binding protein (ATF2/CREB), and this effect is independent of its activated MAPK signaling pathway. Finally, Western blot was used to detect the expression of MAPK, ATF2, CREB3 phosphorylation and nonphosphorylation in matrine-treated cells and PKC-treated cells. PKC phosphorylated kinase inhibitor-matrine suppresses the replication of HBV via modulating the MAPK/ATF2 signal. Matrine is a good clinical drug to enhance the autoimmunity in the adjuvant treatment of chronic HBV infection.

JNK signaling as a target for anticancer therapy

The JNKs are members of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) which regulate many physiological processes including inflammatory responses, macrophages, cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death. It is increasingly clear that the continuous activation of JNKs has a role in cancer development and progression. Therefore, JNKs represent attractive oncogenic targets for cancer therapy using small molecule kinase inhibitors. Studies showed that the two major JNK proteins JNK1 and JNK2 have opposite functions in different types of cancers, which need more specification in the design of JNK inhibitors. Some of ATP- competitive and ATP non-competitive inhibitors have been developed and widely used in vitro, but this type of inhibitors lack selectivity and inhibits phosphorylation of all JNK substrates and may lead to cellular toxicity. In this review, we summarized and discussed the strategies of JNK binding inhibitors and the role of JNK signaling in the pathogenesis of different solid and hematological malignancies.

Sophoridine suppresses macrophage-mediated immunosuppression through TLR4/IRF3 pathway and subsequently upregulates CD8+ T cytotoxic function against gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the most common and deadly neoplasms with limited effective treatments. The emergence of the immunotherapy has brought great expectations for cancer patients. Sophoridine is extracted from the seeds of sophora alopecuroides and has various pharmacological actions including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, anti- arrhythmia and anti-virus. However, the effect of Sophoridine on gastric cancer microenvironment immunity and its underling mechanism remains poorly known. This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Sophoridine on the polarization status of gastric tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and its underlying mechanism. We isolated primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) and primary CD8⁺ T cells to perform coculture assay. Sophoridine educated TAMs polarize to M1-TAMs and suppressed M2-TAMs polarization through TLR4/IRF3 axis. Sophoridine-treated TAMs exhibited stronger pro-inflammatory function through upregulation the expression of INOS, IFN-β and IL-12α, and downregulation the expression of Arg-1, CD206 and IL-10. Sophoridine -primed TAMs increased the proliferation and cytotoxic function of CD8⁺ T by upregulating the expression of Granzyme-B, TNF-α and Perforin, and downregulated the expression of CD8⁺ T cells function exhaustion markers PD-1, Tim-3 and Lag-3. Furthermore, Sophoridine inhibited the migration ability of macrophage by decrease the CCR2 expression. Thus, Sophoridine acted on macrophages and CD8⁺ T cells to reshape gastric cancer immune microenvironment. Our studies provided preclinical basis for clinical application of Sophoridine.

Matrine attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress and mitochondrion dysfunction in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by regulating SERCA pathway

Background

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which can promote lipid metabolism disorders and steatohepatitis, contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Calcium (Ca²⁺) homeostasis is considered to play a key role in ER stress. Matrine (Mat) has been applied for the treatment of hepatitis B, but its effect on NAFLD is still unknown, and there is no unified view of Mat on the regulation of ER stress in the previous literature.

Methods

The pharmacological effects were studied in high-fat-diet or methionine–choline-deficient diet induced C57BL/6J mice models and in palmitic acid (PA) induced L02 human liver cell model. Calcium fluorescence experiments, computational virtual docking analysis and biochemical assays were used in identifying the locus of Mat.

Results

The results showed that Mat-treated mice were more resistant to steatosis in the liver than vehicle-treated mice and that Mat significantly reduced hepatic inflammation, lipid peroxides. The beneficial effect of Mat was associated with suppressing ER stress and restoring mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, Mat decreased the PA-induced lipid accumulation, ER stress and cytosolic calcium level ([Ca²⁺]_c) in hepatocyte cell lines in low and middle dose. However, the high dose Mat did not show satisfactory results in cell model. Calcium fluorescence experiments showed that Mat was able to regulate [Ca²⁺]_c. By computational virtual docking analysis and biochemical assays, Mat was shown to influence [Ca²⁺]_c via direct inhibition of SERCA.

Conclusions

The results showed that the bi-directional regulation of Mat to endoplasmic reticulum at different doses was based on the inhibition of SERCA. In addition, the results also provide a theoretical basis for Mat as a potential therapeutic strategy in NAFLD/NASH.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12967-018-1685-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Antiviral effects of Ma Huang Tang against H1N1 influenza virus infection in vitro and in an ICR pneumonia mouse model

Ma Huang Tang (MHT), a classical Chinese herbal decoction which has been used in clinic for thousands of years, was very effective in treating the upper respiratory tract infection. But its activity against influenza virus A, the anti-inflammatory effect and the underlying mechanisms have been poorly investigated in previous researches. In this study, the antiviral efficacy of MHT directly inhibiting influenza virus A was investigated in vitro in MDCK cells. In an ICR pneumonia mouse model infected with influenza virus A PR/8/34, MHT (8, 4 and 2 g/kg) were oral administrated for 7 days after viral challenge, to evaluate the effect of MHT on ameliorating viral pneumonia and decipher the underlying mechanisms. The in vitro results showed that MHT possessed antiviral activity with low toxicity. The in vivo assays showed that MHT (8 and 4 g/kg) significantly attenuated lung histopathological changes, decreased lung index, interleukin (IL)-4,5, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), CD3⁺, CD8⁺ T cell levels, increased IL-2, gamma interferon (IFN-γ), CD4⁺ T cell levels and CD4⁺/CD8⁺ ratio, inhibited toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and tumor necrosis factor receptor associated factor 6 (TRAF6) protein levels. All these results demonstrate that MHT can strikingly ameliorate influenza virus A pneumonia in mice, which is associated with the regulating effect of MHT in the imbalance of body's immune function and the MyD88-dependent signaling pathway of TLR4.

Matrine Is Identified as a Novel Macropinocytosis Inducer by a Network Target Approach

Comprehensively understanding pharmacological functions of natural products is a key issue to be addressed for the discovery of new drugs. Unlike some single-target drugs, natural products always exert diverse therapeutic effects through acting on a "network" that consists of multiple targets, making it necessary to develop a systematic approach, e.g., network pharmacology, to reveal pharmacological functions of natural products and infer their mechanisms of action. In this work, to identify the "network target" of a natural product, we perform a functional analysis of matrine, a marketed drug in China extracted from a medical herb Ku-Shen (Radix Sophorae Flavescentis). Here, the network target of matrine was firstly predicted by drugCIPHER, a genome-wide target prediction method. Based on the network target of matrine, we performed a functional gene set enrichment analysis to computationally identify the potential pharmacological functions of matrine, most of which are supported by the literature evidence, including neurotoxicity and neuropharmacological activities of matrine. Furthermore, computational results demonstrated that matrine has the potential for the induction of macropinocytosis and the regulation of ATP metabolism. Our experimental data revealed that the large vesicles induced by matrine are consistent with the typical characteristics of macropinosome. Our verification results also suggested that matrine could decrease cellular ATP level. These findings demonstrated the availability and effectiveness of the network target strategy for identifying the comprehensive pharmacological functions of natural products.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of new 1,2,3-triazolo-2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro- 4'-azido nucleoside derivatives as potent anti-HBV agents

Novel drugs are urgently needed to combat hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection due to drug-resistant virus. In this paper, a series of novel 4-monosubstituted 2'-deoxy-2'-β-fluoro-4'-azido-β-d-arabinofuranosyl 1,2,3-triazole nucleoside analogues (1a-g) were designed, synthesized and screened for in vitro anti-HBV activity. At 5.0 μM in the cellular model, all the synthetic compounds display activities comparable to that of the positive control, lamivudine at 20 μM. Of the compounds tested, the amide-substituted analogue (1a) shows the most promising anti-HBV activity and low cytotoxicity in the cell model. In particular, it retains excellent activity against lamivudine-resistant HBV mutants. In duck HBV (DHBV)-infected duck models, both the serum and liver DHBV DNA levels (67.4% and 53.3%, respectively) were reduced markedly by the treatment with 1a. Analysis of the structure of HBV polymer/1a-triphosphate (1a-TP) complex shows that 1a-TP is stabilized by specific van der Waals interactions with the enzyme residues arising from 4-amino-1,2,3-triazole and the 4'-azido group.

Sophoridine induces apoptosis and S phase arrest via ROS-dependent JNK and ERK activation in human pancreatic cancer cells

Background

Pancreatic cancer is generally acknowledged as the most common primary malignant tumor, and it is known to be resistant to conventional chemotherapy. Novel, selective antitumor agents are pressingly needed.

Methods

CCK-8 and colony formation assay were used to investigate the cell growth. Flow cytometry analysis was used to evaluate the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. The peroxide-sensitive fluorescent probe DCFH-DA was used to measure the intracellular ROS levels. Western blot assay was used to detect the levels of cell cycle and apoptosis related proteins. Xenografts in nude mice were used to evaluate the effect of Sophoridine on pancreatic cancer cell in vivo.

Results

Sophoridine killed cancer cells but had low cytotoxicity to normal cells. Pancreatic cancer cells were particularly sensitive. Sophoridine inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and induced cell cycle arrest at S phase and mitochondrial-related apoptosis. Moreover, Sophoridine induced a sustained activation of the phosphorylation of ERK and JNK. In addition, Sophoridine provoked the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in pancreatic cancer cells. Finally, in vivo, Sophoridine suppressed tumor growth in mouse xenograft models.

Conclusion

These findings suggest Sophoridine is promising to be a novel, potent and selective antitumor drug candidate for pancreatic cancer.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13046-017-0590-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Matrine induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis with recovery of the expression of miR-126 in the A549 non-small cell lung cancer cell line

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality in the United States. Chemotherapy prolongs survival rates among patients with advanced disease, however, this is at the cost of clinically significant adverse effects. Matrine is an active component of traditional Chinese medicine and is a promising alternative drug for the treatment of NSCLC. In the present study, the therapeutic effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of matrine on the A549 NSCLC cell line were investigated. A high concentration of matrine (1.0 mg/ml) significantly (P<0.05) inhibited cell proliferation, by 52.68±3.32%, under which cell shrinkage and disruption were observed. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the proportion of G1/G0 cells was significantly increased, whereas the proportions of S and G2/M cells were significantly decreased (P<0.05) following treatment with matrine for 48 h. These results indicated that cell arrest was induced by matrine. Upregulation of the expression of microRNA (miR)-126, followed by downregulation of the expression of its target gene, vascular endothelial growth factor, were detected following treatment with a low concentration of matrine (0.2 mg/ml) using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. In conclusion, matrine induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and recovered the expression of miR-126 in the A549 NSCLC cell line.

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF DIANTHUS SUPERBUSN L. AGAINST HEPATITIS B VIRUS IN VITRO AND IN VIVO

Background:

Hepatitis is a viral infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). Limitations of drug used in the management of it opens the interest related to alternative medicine. The given study deals with the antiviral activity of Dianthus superbusn L. (DSL) against HBV in vitro & in vivo.

Material and Methods:

In vitro study liver cell line HepG2.2.15 was used by transinfected it with HBV. Cytotoxicity stduy was performed by using different concentrations of DSL such as 50, 100, 200, 500 & 1000 μg/ml. Anti HBV activity of DSL was estimated by assesing the concentration of HBsAg and HbeAg in cell culture medium by using ELISA. Whereas in vivo study was performed on ducklings and antiviral activity of DSL (100, 200, 400 mg/kg) was confirmed by estimating the serum concentration of HBV DNA and histopathology study of hepatocytes in HBV infected ducklings.

Result:

Result of the study suggested that >500 μg/ml concentration of hydroalcoholic extract of DSL was found tobe cytotoxic. It was also observed that DSL significantly (p<0.05) reduces the concentration of antigenes in cell culture media as per the concentration and days of treatment dependent. Moreover in vivo study confirms the anti viral activity of DSL (200 & 400 mg/kg) as it significantly (p<0.05) decreases the serum concenetration of HBV DNA in HBV infected dukling compared to control group. Histopathology study was also reveals the hepatprotective effect of DSL in HBV infected ducklings.

Conclusion:

The given study concludes the antiviral activity DSL against HBV by in vitro and in vivo models.

Matrine-induced autophagy counteracts cell apoptosis via the ERK signaling pathway in osteosarcoma cells

The aim of the present study was to observe whether autophagy was induced by matrine, and to investigate the role of autophagy in the antitumor effects of matrine on human osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and its underlying mechanism. MG-63 cells were cultured in vitro in matrine at a concentration of 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 and 1.2 g/l for 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. A MTT assay was used to evaluate the proliferation inhibition of MG-63 cells by matrine, and Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidum iodide (PI) staining flow cytometry was used to analyze the apoptotic rate. Alterations in cell morphology was assessed by PI and Hoechst 33258 cell staining. Matrine-induced autophagy in MG-63 cells was confirmed by green fluorescent protein-microtubule-associated protein 1-light chain 3 (LC3) b transfection and fluorescence microscopy, and cell viability was investigated by MTT assay following inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine (CQ) pretreatment. The expression level of apoptosis-associated proteins B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and Bcl-2-like protein 4 (Bax), autophagy-associated LC3II protein, and the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was detected by western blotting. Cell proliferation was clearly inhibited by matrine in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and Hoechst 33258/PI staining verified that matrine induced apoptosis in a time-dependent manner when cells were exposed to 1.1 g/l matrine; fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that green fluorescence puncta were enhanced with prolonged time of matrine incubation. Western blotting confirmed that the expression of pro-apoptosis-associated proteins Bax and LC3II, and phosphorylated-ERK were upregulated, and anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 was downregulated in a time-dependent manner following treatment with matrine. The cell viability of the matrine + CQ group was increased compared with the matrine group alone, which revealed that matrine treatment alone induced protective autophagy in MG-63 cells. In addiiton, expression of LC3II/LC3I decreased and the expression of BAX/Bcl-2 increased in the matrine + U0126 group compared with the matrine alone group. The present study demonstrated, to the best of our knowledge, for the first time that matrine induced protective autophagy via ERK activation in MG-63 cells, and matrine combined treatment with CQ or U0126 led to an increase in apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells.

TCM matrine inducescell arrest and apoptosis with recovery expression of the hepato-specific miR122a in human hepatocellular carcinomaHep G2cell line

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounts for 80% to 90% of liver cancers and it is one of the most prevalent carcinomas throughout the world. Traditional chemotherapy is often developed chemoresistance HCC patients.Matrine is an active component oftraditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is a promising alternative HCC drug. In this study, the therapeutic effects and the underlying molecular mechanisms of matrine on the human HCC cell lineHep G2 were investigated. High dosage of matrine (1.0 mg/mL) could significantly (P < 0.05) inhibit cell proliferation by 48.39 ± 3.32%, under which cell shrinkage and disruption were observed. Flow cytometry assay showed that the proportion of G1/G0 cells significantly increased, while that of S and G2/M cells significantly decreased after treatment of matrinefor 48 h. These results indicated that cell arrest by matrine appeared. Up-regulation of the hepato-specific miR122a followed by down expression of its targetcyclin G1 (CG1) gene by low concentration of matrine (0.2 mg/mL) was detected using was observed using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot assays. In conclusion, matrineinducescell arrest and apoptosis with recovery expression of the hepato-specific miR122a in human hepatocellular carcinoma Hep G2 cell line.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of sophocarpinic acid derivatives as anti-HCV agents

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a major public health burden worldwide. Twenty-two sophocarpinic acid or matrine derivatives were synthesized and their anti-HCV activities were evaluated in vitro. The structure-activity analysis revealed that (i) sophocarpinic acids with a D-seco 3-ring structure scaffold were more favorable than matrines with a 4-ring scaffold; (ii) the introduction of an electron-withdrawing group on the phenyl ring in 12-N-benzenesulfonyl Δ (βγ) sophocarpinic acids was beneficial for the antiviral activity against HCV. Among them, compounds 9h and 9j exhibited the most potent inhibitory activities on HCV replication with selectivity indies of 70.3 and 30.9, respectively. Therefore, both were selected as antiviral candidates for further investigation.

Effect of matrine on primary human hepatocytes in vitro

Matrine is a bioactive component of the traditional Chinese medical herb Sophora flavescens that has been used in China to treat various kinds of diseases including virus hepatitis. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its hepatoprotective effects remains elusive. In the present study, primary human hepatocytes were employed to elucidate the protective effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine. We observed that low concentrations of matrine had no significant impact on albumin secretion, but high concentrations (>140 mg/L) of matrine decreased the albumin secretion in hepatocytes. Western blot data indicated that matrine at 140 mg/L at 72 h induced protein expression of CYP2A6, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4. Furthermore, high concentrations of matrine reduced LDH and AST levels and were cytotoxic to hepatocytes, leading to a decreased cell viability and total protein amount. Moreover, low concentrations of matrine, enhanced the ECOD activity and decreased the level of NO2 (-) induced by cytokines in human hepatocytes. Taken together, the present study sheds novel light on the molecular mechanisms of matrine and potential application of matrine in hepatic diseases.

Matrine attenuates allergic airway inflammation and eosinophil infiltration by suppressing eotaxin and Th2 cytokine production in asthmatic mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Matrine has been isolated from Sophora flavescens, and found to show anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages and anti-cachectic effects in hepatomas. The present study investigated whether matrine suppressed eosinophil infiltration and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in mice, and decreased the inflammatory response of tracheal epithelial cells.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

BALB/c mice were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin to induce allergic asthma in mice. These asthmatic mice were given various doses of matrine by intraperitoneal injection. Additionally, activated human tracheal epithelial cells (BEAS-2B cells) were treated with matrine, and evaluated for levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines.

RESULTS

We found that matrine significantly decreased AHR, and suppressed goblet cell hyperplasia, eosinophil infiltration, and inflammatory response in the lung tissue of asthmatic mice. Matrine also reduced the levels of Th2 cytokines and chemokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and suppressed OVA-IgE production in serum. Furthermore, matrine treatment of activated BEAS-2B cells decreased production of proinflammatory cytokines and eotaxins, as well as suppressed ICAM-1 expression and thus adhesion of eosinophils to inflammatory BEAS-2B cells in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that matrine can improve allergic asthma in mice, and therefore has potential therapeutic potential in humans.

Isolation and identification of an anti-hepatitis B virus compound from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides Lam

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides (Apiaceae) have been used as a folk remedy for the treatment of fever, edema, detoxication, throat pain, psoriasis and hepatitis B virus infections in China. The aim of this study is to isolate and identify an anti-HBV compound from this herb.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A compound (saponin) was isolated from the active ethanol extract using bioassay-guided screening. The structure of the saponin was elucidated by spectroscopic methods and compared with published data. The anti-HBV activity of the saponin was evaluated by detecting the levels of HBV antigens, extracellular HBV DNA, nuclear covalent closed circular DNA (cccDNA) and five HBV promoters in HepG2.2.15 cells. In addition, the levels of serum HBsAg/HBeAg, DHBV DNA, ALT/AST and hepatic pathological changes were analyzed in DHBV-infected ducks.

RESULTS

The chemical analysis indicated that the saponin isolated from Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides is asiaticoside. The pharmacodynamics experimental studies showed that asiaticoside effectively suppressed the levels of HBsAg/HBeAg, extracellular HBV DNA and intracellular cccDNA in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, experiments demonstrated that asiaticoside markedly reduced viral DNA transcription and replication by inhibiting the activities of core, s1, s2, and X gene promoters. In addition, asiaticoside markedly reduced DHBV replication without any obvious signs of toxicity. The levels of serum DHBV DNA, HBsAg/HBeAg were increased 3 days after drug withdrawal, but the levels rebounded slightly in the asiaticoside treatment groups compared with the 3TC treatment group. Moreover, analysis of the serum ALT/AST levels and the liver pathological changes indicated that asiaticoside could alleviate liver damage.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results show that asiaticoside could efficiently inhibit HBV replication both in vitro and in vivo, and asiaticoside may be a major bioactive ingredient in Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides.

Anti-HBV effect of individual traditional Chinese herbal medicine in vitro and in vivo: an analytic review

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) has been widely used in the treatment of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in China. The systematic analysis of clinical research of TCHM against CHB revealed its potential but not confirmed its therapeutic effect. To understand the detailed antiviral effect of TCHM against HBV infection, we systematically analysed the anti-HBV effect of individual Chinese herbs on the basis of the research on individual TCHM in vitro and in vivo, which were published from 1995 to 2012. Among 171 herbal components isolated from 76 Chinese herbs, we found 13 compounds and 9 extracts isolated from 18 Chinese herbs showing strong inhibitory effect on HBV DNA, HBeAg or HBsAg release with low cytotoxicity in HepG2.2.15 cells, and agents from 12 Chinese herbs showing the highest inhibition rates of plasma DHBV DNA of more than 50% in DHBV-infected ducks. In addition, the two compounds chrysophanol 8-O-beta-D-glucoside isolated from Rheum palmatum and wogonin isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis were found to display strong anti-HBV activity. Interestingly, compounds isolated from 5 of these effective anti-HBV Chinese herbs were found to show strong antibacterial or antifungal activity also. This review summarizes and analyses the studies on the anti-HBV effect of individual TCHM in cell and animal models, providing potential perspective in the understanding of TCHM in the treatment of hepatitis B and the development of new anti-HBV drugs from TCHM.

Protective role of autophagy in matrine‑induced gastric cancer cell death

Matrine has potent antitumor activity against a broad variety of cancer cells and our previous study showed that both autophagy and apoptosis were activated during matrine-induced gastric cancer cell death. The aim of the present study was to determine the significance of autophagy in antineoplastic effects of matrine and the molecular mechanism by which matrine induces autophagy in gastric cancer cells. Western blot analysis showed that exposure of gastric cancer cells to matrine resulted in the extent of autophagy increasing in a dose- and time-dependent manner by detecting micro-tubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3). This induction was due to activation of autophagic flux, as supported using the lysosome inhibitor, bafilomycin A1, which produced an accumulation of LC3-II. Propidium iodide staining demonstrated that matrine induced cell death in a dose-dependent manner and the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or bafilomycin A1 enhanced lethality of matrine against gastric cancer cells. Moreover, after pretreatment with 3-MA, some of the gastric cancer cells treated with matrine exhibited prototypical characteristics of apoptosis by transmission electron microscopy. The ability of 3-MA to increase matrine-induced apoptosis was further confirmed by Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Also, the combination of matrine and 3-MA was more potent than matrine alone in inhibiting the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells assessed by sulphorhodamine B assay. Furthermore, administration of the pan-caspase inhibitor zVAD-fmk or autophagy inducer rapamycin decreased the matrine-induced cell death. In addition, matrine treatment did not inhibit the phosphorylation of Akt and its downstream effectors mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) as well as p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K), although the levels of the total Akt and mTOR were decreased. These results suggest that autophagy was activated as a protective mechanism against matrine-induced apoptosis and inhibition of autophagy may be an attractive strategy for enhancing the antitumor potential of matrine in gastric cancer.

Anti-hepatitis B virus activities of α-DDB-FNC, a novel nucleoside-biphenyldicarboxylate compound in cells and ducks, and its anti-immunological liver injury effect in mice

Infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) continues to be a major global cause of acute and chronic liver disease with high mortality. Herein, we examined both the anti-HBV and hepatoprotective activity of α-DDB-FNC. In human HBV-transfected liver cell line HepG2.2.15, α-DDB-FNC effectively suppressed the secretion of HBV antigens in a time and dose-dependent manner with 25.11% inhibition on HBeAg and 43.68% on HBsAg at 2.5 μM on day 9. Consistent with the HBV antigen reduction, α-DDB-FNC (2.5 μM) also reduced HBV DNA level by 77.74% extracellularly and 78.94% intracellularly on day 9. In the duck hepatitis B virus (DHBV) infected ducks, after α-DDB-FNC was given once daily for 10 days, the serum and liver DHBV DNA levels were reduced markedly with 96.81% and 97.21% at 10 mgkg(-1) on day 10, respectively. In Con A-induced immunological liver-injury mice, α-DDB-FNC significantly inhibited the elevation of serum ALT, AST, TBiL and liver MDA, NO levels. Furthermore, significant improvement of the liver was observed after α-DDB-FNC treatment both in ducks and mice, as evaluated by the histopathological analysis. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that α-DDB-FNC possesses both antiviral activity against HBV and hepatoprotective effect to Con A-induced liver-injury mice.

Effects of matrine and oxymatrine on catalytic activity of cytochrome p450s in rats

Matrine and oxymatrine are the major bioactive compounds extracted from the root of Sophora flavescens Ait, which have been widely used in traditional Chinese medicines. The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of matrine or oxymatrine on hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP450) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Matrine (15, 75 and 150 mg/kg) or oxymatrine (36, 180 and 360 mg/kg) was administered to rats for 14 days and the activities of CYP450 were measured by the quantification of the metabolites from multiple CYP450 probe substrates, using validated liquid chromatography coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry detection (LC-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography methods. The mRNA and protein expression levels of CYPs were determined by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting analysis respectively. Interactions between matrine or oxymatrine and human constitutive androstane (CAR), pregnane X receptor were evaluated by means of the reporter gene assay in CV-1 cells. Our study showed that matrine and oxymatrine significantly induced the activity and gene expression of CYP2B1 in a dose-dependent manner; matrine (150 mg/kg) slightly induced the mRNA and protein expression of CYP2E1 and mildly inhibited the mRNA and protein expression of CYP3A1 in rats. Matrine or oxymatrine could activate human CAR and induce the CYP2B reporter construct in CV-1 cells. These results reveal that matrine and oxymatrine can induce the activity and expression of CYP2B1/2 in rats, and the underlying mechanism may be related to the activation of CAR.

Matrine modulates HSC70 levels and rescues ΔF508-CFTR

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a cAMP-dependent Cl(-) channel located in the plasma membrane, and its malfunction results in cystic fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal genetic disease in Caucasians. Most CF patients carry the deletion of Phe508 (ΔF508 mutation); this mutation prevents the delivery of the CFTR to its correct cellular location, the apical (lumen-facing) membrane of epithelial cells. Molecular chaperones play a central role in determining the fate of ΔF508-CFTR. In this report, we show that the Matrine, a quinolizidine alkaloid, downregulates the expression of the molecular chaperone HSC70 and increases the protein levels of ΔF508-CFTR in human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549 cell line), stably transfected with a ΔF508-CFTR-expressing construct. Moreover, Matrine induced ΔF508-CFTR release from endoplasmic reticulum to cell cytosol and its localization on the cell membrane. Interestingly, downregulation of HSC70 resulted in increased levels of ΔF508-CFTR complexes with the co-chaperone BAG3 that in addition appeared to co-localize with the mutated protein on the cell surface. These results shed new light on ΔF508-CFTR interactions with proteins of the chaperones/co-chaperones system and could be useful in strategies for future medical treatments for CF.

Molecular Mechanism of Matrine-Induced Apoptosis in Leukemia K562 Cells

Matrine, a low toxic alkaloid purified from the Chinese herb Kushen, has been reported to induce apoptosis in leukemia K562 cells. In this study, the mechanism underling this apoptotic event was investigated. Treatment of K562 cells with matrine resulted in inhibition of cell survival more significantly than treatment of non-cancer fibroblast NIH3T3 cells. When K562 cells were incubated with matrine in higher than 0.2 mg/ml doses for 48 hours, the apoptotic cells were increased and both poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and caspase-3 were cleaved in a dose dependent manner. General caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) or caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk) almost completely suppressed matrine-induced apoptosis. In addition, matrine increased proapoptotic protein bax and caused the release of cytochrome C. Taken together, the results suggest that matrine induces a cytochrome C-mediated, caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Impact of the herbal medicine Sophora flavescens on the oral pharmacokinetics of indinavir in rats: the involvement of CYP3A and P-glycoprotein

Sophora flavescens is a Chinese medicinal herb used for the treatment of gastrointestinal hemorrhage, skin diseases, pyretic stranguria and viral hepatitis. In this study the herb-drug interactions between S. flavescens and indinavir, a protease inhibitor for HIV treatment, were evaluated in rats. Concomitant oral administration of Sophora extract (0.158 g/kg or 0.63 g/kg, p.o.) and indinavir (40 mg/kg, p.o.) in rats twice a day for 7 days resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of plasma indinavir concentrations, with 55%-83% decrease in AUC(0-∞) and 38%-78% reduction in C(max). The CL (Clearance)/F (fraction of dose available in the systemic circulation) increased up to 7.4-fold in Sophora-treated rats. Oxymatrine treatment (45 mg/kg, p.o.) also decreased indinavir concentrations, while the ethyl acetate fraction of Sophora extract had no effect. Urinary indinavir (24-h) was reduced, while the fraction of indinavir in faeces was increased after Sophora treatment. Compared to the controls, multiple dosing of Sophora extract elevated both mRNA and protein levels of P-gp in the small intestine and liver. In addition, Sophora treatment increased intestinal and hepatic mRNA expression of CYP3A1, but had less effect on CYP3A2 expression. Although protein levels of CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 were not altered by Sophora treatment, hepatic CYP3A activity increased in the Sophora-treated rats. All available data demonstrated that Sophora flavescens reduced plasma indinavir concentration after multiple concomitant doses, possibly through hepatic CYP3A activity and induction of intestinal and hepatic P-gp. The animal study would be useful for predicting potential interactions between natural products and oral pharmaceutics and understanding the mechanisms prior to human studies. Results in the current study suggest that patients using indinavir might be cautioned in the use of S. flavescens extract or Sophora-derived products.

Effect of oxymatrine on the replication cycle of hepatitis B virus in vitro

AIM: To determine the antiviral mechanism or target of oxymatrine against hepatitis B virus (HBV).

METHODS: HepG2.2.15 cells were incubated with culture medium containing 500 μg/mL of oxymatrine for 2 and 5 d. The surface antigen of HBV (HBsAg) and e antigen of HBV (HBeAg) in supernatant were determined by ELISA. HBV DNA in supernatant, and intracellular covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA), relaxed circular DNA (rcDNA) and pregenomic RNA (pgRNA) were quantified by specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or reverse transcription (RT)-PCR.

RESULTS: Treatment with oxymatrine for 2 d and 5 d reduced the production of HBV by the cell line, as indicated by the decline of HBsAg (22.67%, t = 5.439, P = 0.0322 and 22.39%, t = 5.376, P = 0.0329, respectively), HBeAg (55.34%, t = 9.859, P = 0.0101 and 43.97%, t = 14.080, P = 0.0050) and HBV DNA (40.75%, t = 4.570, P = 0.0447 and 75.32%, t = 14.460, P = 0.0047) in the supernatant. Intracellular cccDNA was also markedly reduced by 63.98% (t = 6.152, P = 0.0254) and 80.83% (t = 10.270, P = 0.0093), and intracellular rcDNA by 34.35% (t = 4.776, P = 0.0413) and 39.24% (t = 10.050, P = 0.0097). In contrast, intracellular pgRNA increased by 6.90-fold (t = 8.941, P = 0.0123) and 3.18-fold (t = 7.432, P = 0.0176) after 500 μg/mL of oxymatrine treatment for 2 d and 5 d, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Oxymatrine may inhibit the replication of HBV by interfering with the process of packaging pgRNA into the nucleocapsid, or inhibiting the activity of the viral DNA polymerase.

Inhibition of the replication of hepatitis B virus in vitro by oxymatrine

This study investigated the inhibitory capacity of oxymatrine on in vitro hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication. HepG2.2.15 cells were treated with oxymatrine 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 or 1000 mg/l, or with human interferon-alpha2b (IFN-alpha2b 1000 U/l) as a positive control. Levels of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and HBV-DNA in cell supernatants were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and fluorescent quantitative-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, flow cytometric analysis and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxyuridine triphosphate nick-end labelling were used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of oxymatrine. The inhibitory effects of oxymatrine gradually increased as the concentration increased from 200 to 1000 mg/l for HBsAg and HBeAg, and from 200 to 400 mg/l for HBV-DNA. There was no inhibitory effect of oxymatrine at concentrations < 200 mg/l. No significant difference was seen between human IFN-alpha2b (positive control) and oxymatrine >or= 200 mg/l. It is concluded that oxymatrine can inhibit in vitro HBV replication and antigen expression at concentrations >or= 200 mg/l.