Purification and structure determination of gelatinase and collagenase inhibitors from Viola patrinii fermentation extracts.

Investigation of collagenase and gelatinase inhibitory natural components afforded two isoflavonoids. Two isoflavonoids, tectorigenin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside (1) and luteolin-7-O-ß-D-glucuronopyranoside (2), were isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of Viola patrinii fermentation extracts (VPFE). Of these, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited collagenase inhibitory activity (IC(50)) at a concentration of less than 1.5 µM, and compound 2 showed gelatinases A and B inhibitory activity (IC(50)) at 0.3 µM and 0.8 µM, respectively.

Dichloromethane fraction of Cimicifuga heracleifolia decreases the level of melanin synthesis by activating the ERK or AKT signaling pathway in B16F10 cells.

Cimicifuga rhizoma has long been used in traditional Korean medicine. In particular, a Cimicifuga heracleifolia extract (CHE) was reported to inhibit the formation of glutamate and the glutamate dehydrogenase activity in cultured rat islet. Glutamate activates melanogenesis by activating tyrosinase. Accordingly, it was hypothesized that a CHE might inhibit the melanogenesis-related signal pathways including the inhibition of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF)-tyrosinase signaling and/or the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-Akt signaling. The results showed that CHE inhibits the cellular melanin contents, tyrosinase activity and expression of melanogenesis-related proteins including MITF, tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein (TRP)s in alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone-stimulated B16 cells. Moreover, CHE phosphorylates MEK, ERK1/2 and Akt, which are melanogenesis inhibitory proteins. The data suggest that CHE inhibits melanogenesis signaling by both inhibiting the tyrosinase directly and activating the MEK-ERK or Akt signal pathways-mediated suppression of MITF and its downstream signal pathway, including tyrosinase and TRPs. Therefore, C. heracleifolia would be a useful therapeutic agent for treating hyperpigmentation and an effective component in whitening and/or lightening cosmetics.

Novel lbeta-methylcarbapenems having cyclic sulfonamide moieties: synthesis and evaluation of in vitro antibacterial activity.

The synthesis of a new series of 1beta-methylcarbapenems having cyclic sulfonamide moieties is described. Their in vitro antibacterial activities against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were tested and the effect of substituent on the pyrrolidine ring was investigated. A particular compound (IIIi) having 2-methyl-[1,2,6]thiadiazinan-1,1-dioxide moiety showed the most potent antibacterial activity.

Synthesis and anti-HIV activity of sulfonated amino ribofuranans.

New sulfonated amino ribofuranans were synthesized to elucidate the relationship between structure and specific biological activities such as anti-HIV and blood anticoagulant activities. The synthesis was performed by sulfonation of copolymers having various proportion of (1 --> 5)-alpha-D-ribofuranosidic unit. The sulfonation with piperidine N-sulfonic acid produced the sulfonated amino ribofuranans in high yield. The anti-HIV activity of sulfonated 3-amino-3-deoxy-(1 --> 5)-alpha-D-ribofuranan showed more potent by increasing the degree of sulfonation and the average molecular weights. This activity was almost equal to the activities of sulfonated ribofuranans and ribopyranans reported before in spite of low molecular weight. The blood anticoagulant activities was observed at 36-48 mg/units, more potent than standard dextran sulfonate, 22.7 mg/units. In addition, the blood anticoagulant activities of sulfamide-copolysaccharide consisting various proportion of (1 --> 5)-alpha-D-ribofuranan units were potentiated by increasing sulfonated amino-ribofuranan units from 13 to 21 mg/units.

Synthesis of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzofurans and their application to beta-amyloid aggregation inhibitor.

The facile synthesis of a series of 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzofurans (4a-e) is described. The one-pot reaction of 4-substituted phenols with the chloride 1 in the presence of zinc chloride afforded 3-methylthio-2-(4-acetoxyphenyl)benzofurans (2a-e). The compounds 4a-e were obtained from the hydrolysis of 2a-e followed by the desulfurization of the resulting 3-methylthio-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)benzofurans (3a-e). 5-Methyl-3-p-toluoyl-2-[4-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)phenyl]benzofuran (7), a beta-amyloid aggregation inhibitor, was synthesized by three steps starting from 4a.

Synthesis of 5-chloro-3-[4-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzofuran as a beta-amyloid aggregation inhibitor.

An efficient synthesis of 5-chloro-3-[4-(3-diethylaminopropoxy)benzoyl]-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzofuran (8), a potent beta-amyloid aggregation inhibitor, is described. 5-Chloro-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzofuran (3) was obtained by the one-pot synthesis of 4-chlorophenol with omega-(methylsulfinyl)-p-methoxyacetophenone (1) under Pummerer reaction conditions, and it was followed by the desulfurization of the resultant 5-chloro-3-methylthio-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)benzofuran (2e). Acylation of benzofuran 3 with 4-(3-bromopropoxy)benzoyl chloride (6) gave the ketone 7, which was converted into compound 8 by the treatment of diethylamine.

Cordyceps militaris alleviates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in ob/ob mice.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is becoming an important public health problem as metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes have become epidemic. In this study we investigated the protective effect of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) against NAFLD in an obese mouse model. MATERIALS/METHODS: Four-week-old male ob/ob mice were fed an AIN-93G diet or a diet containing 1% C. militaris water extract for 10 weeks after 1 week of adaptation. Serum glucose, insulin, free fatty acid (FFA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and proinflammatory cytokines were measured. Hepatic levels of lipids, glutathione (GSH), and lipid peroxide were determined. RESULTS: Consumption of C. militaris significantly decreased serum glucose, as well as homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), in ob/ob mice. In addition to lowering serum FFA levels, C. militaris also significantly decreased hepatic total lipids and triglyceride contents. Serum ALT activities and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were reduced by C. militaris. Consumption of C. militaris increased hepatic GSH and reduced lipid peroxide levels. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that C. militaris can exert protective effects against development of NAFLD, partly by reducing inflammatory cytokines and improving hepatic antioxidant status in ob/ob mice.

Anti-inflammatory effects of 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone via NF-κB inactivation in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage.

The anti-inflammatory mechanism of 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone (5HHMF), a polyhydroxyflavone isolated from the marine algae Hizikia fusiforme, was investigated in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. Western blot and reverse transcriptase PCR analyses indicated that adding 5HHMF to cultured cells significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 and downregulated inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, 5HHMF inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß, and decreased the transcriptional levels. In particular, 5HHMF significantly inhibited the LPS-induced nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) translocation from the cytosol to the nucleus, which was associated with the abrogation of inhibitory IκBα degradation and subsequent decreases in nuclear p65 levels. In conclusion, these results suggested that the anti-inflammatory activities of 5HHMF may be attributed to the inhibition of iNOS, COX-2 and cytokine expression by attenuating NF-κB activation via IκBα degradation in macrophages.

Effect of cordycepin on the expression of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-17A in C57BL/6 mice.

Culture supernatants of splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 0.3, 1.0, and 3.0 microg/ml cordycepin plus 3.0 microg/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to investigate the effects of cordycepin (3'-deoxyadenosine) on the production of inflammatory cytokines. Co-administration of 3.0 microg/ml cordycepin with LPS in cultured murine spleen cells significantly diminished the expression of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in a time-dependent manner. Expression of the inflammatory cytokine IL-17A was substantially down-regulated in a time- dependent manner at all cordycepin concentrations. These findings suggest that cordycepin down-regulates the immediate hypersensitivity reaction stimulated by LPS.

Cordycepin-enriched Cordyceps militaris induces immunomodulation and tumor growth delay in mouse-derived breast cancer.

Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) and its main functional component, cordycepin, has been shown to possess a number of pharmacological activities including immunological stimulation and antitumor effects. However, the pharmacological mechanisms of C. militaris on tumor immunity underlying its antitumor effect have yet to be elucidated. In the present study, we evaluated the antitumor and immunomodulatory effects of C. militaris on FM3A tumor-bearing C3H/He mice, comparing wild-type C. militaris and cordycepin-enriched C. militaris (JLM 0636). The concentration of cordycepin produced by crossbred JLM 0636 was 7.42 mg/g dry weight, which was 7-fold higher than that of wild-type C. militaris. Dietary administration of C. militaris revealed retardation of tumor growth as well as elongation of survival rates of tumor-bearing mice. This effect was more pronounced in JLM 0636. There was a cordycepin-dependent decrease in IL-2 and TGF-ß secretion and an increase in IL-4 secretion without changes in the proliferative responses of concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes, which suggested that C. militaris feeding might induce changes in the subpopulations of tumor-derived T lymphocytes. CD4+CD25+ cell population was significantly reduced in the total splenocytes from JLM 0636-administered mice, while CD4+ T cell population remained unchanged. FoxP3+-expressing Treg cells among CD4+CD25+ population showed a similar pattern. On the contrary, CD8+ T cells as well as the IFN-γ expressing CD8+ T cells from tumor-bearing mice were significantly upregulated by the administration of JLM 0636. These results demonstrated the suppressive role of JLM 0636 on the function of Treg cells contributing to tumor specific IFN-γ-expressing CD8+ T cell responses in tumor-bearing mice, which explained the underlying mechanism of the antitumor immunity of cordycepin. Therefore, cordycepin-enriched C. militaris is a promising candidate for an adjuvant in cancer immunotherapy.

Apoptosis induction of human prostate carcinoma cells by cordycepin through reactive oxygen species­mediated mitochondrial death pathway.

Cordycepin is the main functional component of Cordyceps militaris, which has been widely used in oriental traditional medicine. This compound has been shown to possess many pharmacological properties, such as enhancing the body's immune function, and anti-inflammatory, anti-aging and anticancer effects. In the present study, we investigated the apoptotic effects of cordycepin in human prostate carcinoma cells. We found that treatment with cordycepin significantly inhibited cell growth by inducing apoptosis in PC-3 cells. Apoptosis induction of PC-3 cells by cordycepin showed correlation with proteolytic activation of caspase-3 and -9, but not caspase-8, and concomitant degradation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). In addition, cordycepin treatment resulted in an increase of the Bax/Bcl-2 (or Bcl-xL) ratio, downregulation of inhibitor of apoptosis protein (IAP) family members, Bax conformational changes, and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytosol. The cordycepin-induced apoptosis was also associated with the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, the quenching of ROS generation with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine conferred significant protection against cordycepin-elicited ROS generation, disruption of the MMP, modulation of Bcl-2 and IAP family proteins, caspase-3 and -9 activation and apoptosis. This indicates that the cellular ROS generation plays a pivotal role in the initiation of cordycepin-triggered apoptotic death. Collectively, our findings suggest that cordycepin is a potent inducer of apoptosis of prostate cancer cells via a mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic pathway and that this agent may be of value in the development of a potential therapeutic candidate for both the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Identification of 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3´,4´-hexamethoxyflavone from Hizikia fusiforme involved in the induction of the apoptosis mediators in human AGS carcinoma cells.

An 80% ethanol extract of Hizikia fusiforme was obtained and followed by successive fractionation using the organic solvents n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol to identify the antioxidative substance. The aqueous part of the nbutanol fractionation step, showing high antioxidative activity, was subjected to reverse-phase liquid chromatography. As a result, a substance purified from a BB-2 fraction showed high antioxidative activity. The m/z 419 [M+H] molecular ion peak in the fraction was observed by the analysis of the ESI-LC/MS spectrum. By the analysis of 1H NMR (500 MHz, DMSO-d6) and 13C NMR (125 MHz, DMSO-d6) spectra, a unique compound of the fraction was biochemically identified as a 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3´,4´- hexamethoxyflavone (5HHMF). We also investigated the effect of 5HHMF on human gastric AGS carcinoma cells. Western blot analysis suggested that the flavone substantially increased the levels of the death receptor-associated apoptosis mediators Fas, Fas L, FADD, TRADD, and DR4 in a concentration-dependent manner. The levels of Fas, Fas L, TRADD, and DR4 in the cells treated with 5HHMF (5 microgram/ml) were approximately 26.4-, 12.8-, 6.7-, and 9.8- times higher than those of non-treated cells, respectively. Of note, the level of FADD protein in the cells exposed to 5HHMF (1 microgram/ml) increased approximately 9.6-times. In addition, the cleavage of caspase-3, -8, and -9 in cultured AGS cells treated with 5HHMF was significantly confirmed. Therefore, our results suggest that 5HHMF from H. fusiforme is involved in the induction of death receptor-associated apoptosis mediators in human gastric AGS carcinoma cells.

Effect of cordycepin purified from Cordyceps militaris on Th1 and Th2 cytokines in mouse splenocytes.

Cordycepin was purified from a mushroom, Cordyceps militaris, and its effect on Th1 and Th2 cytokines was examined. The level of cytokine induction in mouse splenocytes was estimated after co-inoculation of purified cordycepin and LPS. When 5 microg/ml of purified cordycepin was exposed to mouse splenocytes for 72 h, the level of a Th1 cytokine IL-12 increased by 2.9-fold. The addition of the purified cordycepin to splenocytes also increased the level of Th2 cytokines, IL-4 and IL-10, by 1.9- and 1.8- fold, respectively. Therefore, cordycepin increases the cytokine levels and may contribute to the up-regulation of cellular and humoral immunity.

Biochemical characterization of the exopolysaccharide purified from Laetiporus sulphureus mycelia.

The extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) was isolated from mycelial cultures of Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus and purified by DEAE cellulose and Sephadex G-50 column chromatography. The purified EPS (EPS-2-1) was composed of only glucose units and its molecular mass was 6.95 kDa. The chemical structure of EPS-2-1 consisted of a main chain containing (1-->4)-Glcp units with branches at the C-6 position of the chain carrying -Glcp-(1-->4)-linked residues. The effect of purified EPS on immunomodulatory genes and proteins of the Bcl-2 family was observed using cultured U937 human leukemia cells. Of note, the levels of Bax and Bad proteins treated with the EPS (4 mg/ml) were approximately 23- and 18-times higher than those in non-treated cells, respectively. These results may suggest that the EPS purified from the mushroom L. sulphureus is associated with the activation of immunomodulatory mediators, Bax and Bad proteins.

Biochemical analysis of a fibrinolytic enzyme purified from Bacillus subtilis strain A1.

A fibrinolytic enzyme from Bacillus subtilis strain Al was purified by chromatographic methods, including DEAE Sephadex A-50 column chromatography and Sephadex G-50 column gel filtration. The purified enzyme consisted of a monomeric subunit and was estimated to be approximately 28 kDa in size by SDS-PAGE. The specific activity of the fibrinolytic enzyme was 1632-fold higher than that of the crude enzyme extract. The fibrinolytic activity of the purified enzyme was approximately 0.62 and 1.33 U/ml in plasminogen-free and plasminogen-rich fibrin plates, respectively. Protease inhibitors PMSF, DIFP, chymostatin, and TPCK reduced the fibrinolytic activity of the enzyme to 13.7, 35.7, 15.7, and 23.3%, respectively. This result suggests that the enzyme purified from B. subtilis strain Al was a chymotrypsin-like serine protease. In addition, the optimum temperature and pH range of the fibrinolytic enzyme were 50°C and 6.0-10.0, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme was identified as Q-T-G-G-S-I-I-D-P-I-N-G-Y-N, which was highly distinguished from other known fibrinolytic enzymes. Thus, these results suggest a fibrinolytic enzyme as a novel thrombolytic agent from B. subtilis strain Al.

Detection of a unique fibrinolytic enzyme in Aeromonas sp. JH1.

A fibrinolytic enzyme was found in a Gram-negative bacterium, Aeromonas sp. JH1. SDS-PAGE and fibrinzymography showed that it was a 36 kDa, monomeric protein. Of note, the enzyme was highly specific for fibrinogen molecules and the hydrolysis rate of fibrinogen subunits was highest for α, ß, and γ chains in that order. The first 15 amino acids of N-terminal sequence were X-D-A-T-G-P-G-G-N-V-X-T-G-K-Y, which was distinguishable from other fibrinolytic enzymes. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme were approximately 8.0 and 40°C, respectively. Therefore, these results provide a fibrinolytic enzyme with potent thrombolytic activity from the Aeromonas genus.

Purification and biochemical characterization of a 17 kDa fibrinolytic enzyme from Schizophyllum commune.

A fibrinolytic enzyme of the mushroom, Schizophyllum commune was purified with chromatographic methods, including a DEAE-Sephadex A-50 ion-exchange column and gel filtrations with Sephadex G-75 and Sephadex G-50 columns. The analysis of fibrin-zymography and SDS-PAGE showed that the enzyme was a monomeric subunit that was estimated to be approximately 17 kDa in size. The fibrinolytic activity of the enzyme in plasminogen-rich and plasminogen-free fibrin plates was 1.25 and 0.44 U/ml, respectively. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified enzyme was identified as HYNIXNSWSSFID, which was highly distinguished from known fibrinolytic enzymes. The relative activity of the purified enzyme with an addition of 5 mM EDTA, Phosphoramidon, and Bestatin was about 76, 64, and 52%, respectively, indicating that it is a metalloprotease. The optimum temperature for the purified enzyme was approximately 45°C, and over 87% of the enzymatic activity was maintained as a stable state in a pH range from 4.0 to 6.0. Therefore, our results suggest that the potential thrombolytic agent from S. commune is a unique type of fibrinolytic enzyme.

Initial acidic pH is critical for mycelial cultures and functional exopolysaccharide production of an edible mushroom, Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus JM 27.

We conducted a time course experiment on mycelial cultures of Laetiporus sulphureus var. miniatus. The strain showed significant survival in an initial pH range of 2.0 to 7.0 for 24 days, during which time oxalic acid was accumulated. A structural analysis of purified exopolysaccharide suggested that it contained 96.1% glucose, and the mode of linkage was mainly → 4-Glcp-(1 → units, with branches at the C-6 position consisting of a Glcp-(1 → 4) linked side chain. An exopolysaccharide purified from the acidophilic strain was added to cultured U937 cells, resulting in significantly increased transcription levels of p53 and p21 genes.

Cudratricusxanthone A isolated from the root bark of Cudrania tricuspidata inhibits the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells through the suppression of PDGF-receptor beta tyrosine kinase.

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is one of the most potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferative factors, and abnormal VSMC proliferation by PDGF-BB plays an important role in the development and progression of cardiovascular problems, including restenosis after coronary angioplasty and atherosclerosis. Previous phytochemical studies on the stems or root barks of Cudrania tricuspidata (Moraceae) resulted in the isolation of various isoprenylated xanthones and flavonoids, some of which have anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. In the present study, we investigated the antiproliferative effect of cudratricusxanthone A isolated from the root bark of C. tricuspidata and its underlying mechanism in VSMCs. Antiproliferative effects of cudratricusxanthone A on VSMCs were examined by direct cell counting and [3H]-thymidine incorporation assays. Cudratricusxanthone A inhibited [3H]-thymidine incorporations into DNA in VSMCs that occurred in response to treatment with 50 ng/ml PDGF-BB. PDGF-BB-stimulated DNA synthesis was significantly reduced to 86.1, 80.2, 64.2 and 25.1% at concentrations of 0.1, 1, 2 and 3 microM, respectively. Moreover, pre-treatment with cudratricusxanthone A (0.1-3 microM) suppressed this PDGF-BB-stimulated cell number in a concentration-dependent manner. The inhibition percentages were 11.1, 22.7, 51.3 and 81.5% at the concentrations of 0.1, 1, 2 and 3 microM, respectively. We also investigated the mechanism of antiproliferative effects by cudratricusxanthone A in PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs. In Western blot analysis, 50 ng/ml PDGF-BB-stimulated phospholipase C (PLC)gamma1, Ras, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase1/2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylations were inhibited by cudratricusxanthone A (0.1-3 microM). Consisted with these findings, cudratricusxanthone A inhibited PDGF-receptor beta chain (PDGF-Rbeta) phosphorylation induced by PDGF-BB in a concentration-dependent manner. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of cudratricusxanthone A on DNA synthesis and proliferation by PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs are mediated by the suppressions of the PDGF-Rbeta and its downstream signaling pathways. Our observation may explain in part mechanistic basis for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after coronary angioplasty by cudratricusxanthone A.

Endogenously produced ganglioside GM3 endows etoposide and doxorubicin resistance by up-regulating Bcl-2 expression in 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma cells.

The ganglioside patterns have been shown to dramatically change during cell proliferation and differentiation and in certain cell-cycle phases, brain development, and cancer malignancy. To investigate the significance of the ganglioside GM3 in cancer malignancy, we established GM3-reconstituted cells by transfecting the cDNA of GM3 synthase into a GM3-deficient subclone of the 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma cell line (Uemura, S. (2003) Glycobiology, 13, 207-216). The GM3-reconstituted cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by etoposide and doxorubicin. There were no changes in the expression levels of topoisomerase IIalpha or P-glycoprotein, or in the uptake of doxorubicin between the GM3-reconstituted cells and the mock-transfected cells. To understand the mechanism of the etoposide-resistant phenotype acquired in the GM3-reconstituted cells, we investigated their apoptotic signaling. Although no difference was observed in the phosphorylation of p53 at serine-15-residue site by etoposide between the GM3-reconstituted cells and mock-transfected cells, the activation of both caspase-3 and caspase-9 was specifically inhibited in the former. We found that the anti-apoptotic protein B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) was increased in the GM3-reconstituted cells. Moreover, wild-type 3LL Lewis lung carcinoma cells, which have an abundance of GM3, exhibited no DNA fragmentation following etoposide treatment and expressed higher levels of the Bcl-2 protein compared with the J5 subclone. Thus, these results support the conclusion that endogenously produced GM3 is involved in malignant phenotypes, including anticancer drug resistance through up-regulating the Bcl-2 protein in this lung cancer cell line.