Anti-Cancer Effects of a New Herbal Medicine PSY by Inhibiting the STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Colorectal Cancer Cells and Its Phytochemical Analysis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an inflammation-associated common cancer worldwide. Paejang-san and Mori Cortex Radicis have been traditionally used for treating intestinal inflammatory diseases in Korea and China. In the present study, we developed a new herbal formula as an alternative to CRC treatments, which is composed of two main components of Paejangsan (Patriniae Radix (Paejang in Korean) and Coix Seed (Yiyiin in Korean)), and Mori Cortex Radicis (Sangbekpi in Korean) based on the addition and subtraction theory in traditional medicine, hence the name PSY, and explored the potential therapeutic effects of the new formula PSY in human CRC cells by analyzing viability, cell cycle and apoptosis. We found that PSY ethanol extract (EtOH-Ex), but not water extract, significantly suppressed the viability of human CRC cells, and synergistically decreased the cell proliferation compared to each treatment of Patriniae Radix and Coix Seed extract (PY) or Mori Cortex Radicis extract (S), suggesting the combination of PY and S in a 10-to-3 ratio for the formula PSY. PSY EtOH-Ex in the combination ratio reduced cell viability but induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M and sub-G1 phases as well as apoptosis in CRC cells. In addition, the experimental results of Western blotting, immunofluorescence staining and reporter assays showed that PSY also inhibited STAT3 by reducing its phosphorylation and nuclear localization, which resulted in lowering STAT3-mediated transcriptional activation. In addition, PSY regulated upstream signaling molecules of STAT3 by inactivating JAK2 and Src and increasing SHP1. Moreover, the chemical profiles of PSY from UPLC-ESI-QTOF MS/MS analysis revealed 38 phytochemicals, including seven organic acids, eight iridoids, two lignans, twelve prenylflavonoids, eight fatty acids, and one carbohydrate. Furthermore, 21 potentially bioactive compounds were highly enriched in the PSY EtOH-Ex compared to the water extract. Together, these results indicate that PSY suppresses the proliferation of CRC cells by inhibiting the STAT3 signaling pathway, suggesting PSY as a potential therapeutic agent for treating CRC and 21 EtOH-Ex-enriched phytochemicals as anti-cancer drug candidates which may act by inhibiting STAT3.

Chaenomeles Fructus (CF), the Fruit of Chaenomeles sinensis Alleviates IL-1ß Induced Cartilage Degradation in Rat Articular Chondrocytes.

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes persistent pain, joint dysfunction, and physical disability. It is the most prevalent type of degenerative arthritis, affecting millions of people worldwide. OA is currently treated with a focus on pain relief, inflammation control, and artificial joint surgery. Hence, a therapeutic agent capable of preventing or delaying the progression of OA is needed. OA is strongly associated with the degeneration of the articular cartilage and changes in the ECM, which are primarily associated with a decrease in proteoglycan and collagen. In the progress of articular cartilage degradation, catabolic enzymes, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), are activated by IL-1ß stimulation. Given the tight relationship between IL-1ß and ECM (extra-cellular matrix) degradation, this study examined the effects of Chaenomeles Fructus (CF) on IL-1ß-induced OA in rat chondrocytes. The CF treatment reduced IL-1ß-induced MMP3/13 and ADAMTS-5 production at the mRNA and protein levels. Similarly, CF enhanced col2a and aggrecan accumulation and chondrocyte proliferation. CF inhibited NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B) activation, nuclear translocation induced by IL-1ß, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and ERK phosphorylation. CF demonstrated anti-OA and articular regeneration effects on rat chondrocytes, thus, suggesting that CF is a viable and fundamental therapeutic option for OA.

Ginkgolide C promotes apoptosis and abrogates metastasis of colorectal carcinoma cells by targeting Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway.

Ginkgolide C (GGC), isolated from Ginkbiloba, has been reported to display various pharmacological actions, although, anti-cancer effect of GGC has been poorly understood till now. This study aimed to investigate whether GGC can exhibit anti-neoplastic effects against colon cancer cells and explore underlying mechanism. The Wnt/ß-catenin signaling can regulate cell proliferation, survival, metastasis, and migration. Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway plays important role in colorectal cancer (CRC) and acts as a potential therapeutic target. Abnormal activation of this signaling cascades has been reported in colon CRC. We found that GGC down-regulated Wnt/ß-catenin signaling cascade. GGC inhibited the expression of Wnt3a, ß-catenin, and ß-catenin down-stream signals (Axin-1, p-GSK3ß, and ß-TrCP). Also, GGC suppressed the expression of Wnt/ß-catenin pathway target genes including c-myc, cyclin D1, and survivin. Additionally, GGC induced apoptosis and suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. GGC down-regulated the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2 proteins. Moreover, silencing of ß-catenin by small interfering RNA (siRNA) enhanced the GGC-induced apoptosis and inhibitory action of GGC on invasion. Overall, our results indicate that GGC can reduce proliferation and promote apoptosis in colon cancer cells through inhibition of the Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathway. Thus, GGC can serve as a potent therapeutic agent for management of colon cancer as a novel wnt signaling inhibitor.

Brassinin enhances the anticancer actions of paclitaxel by targeting multiple signaling pathways in colorectal cancer cells.

Brassinin (BSN), a precursor of phytoalexins, extracted from Chinese cabbage has been reported to act as a promising anti-neoplastic agent. However, the effects of BSN on colon cancer cells and its underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. This study aimed at investigating the anti-neoplastic impact of BSN and its possible synergistic effect with paclitaxel on colon cancer cells. The effect of BSN on Janus-activated kinases (JAKs)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways and its downstream functions was deciphered using diverse assays in colon carcinoma cells. We found that BSN displayed significant cytotoxic effect and suppressed cell proliferation on colon carcinoma cells. Additionally, it was noted that BSN modulated oncogenic gene expression and induced apoptosis through down regulating multiple oncogenic signaling cascades such as JAKs/STAT3 and PI3K/Akt/mTOR simultaneously. Besides, BSN-paclitaxel combination significantly increased cytotoxicity and induced apoptosis synergistically as compared with individual treatment of both the agents. Overall, our findings indicate that BSN may be a novel candidate for anti-colon cancer targeted therapy.

Derma-Hc, a New Developed Herbal Formula, Ameliorates Cutaneous Lichenification in Atopic Dermatitis.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic cutaneous disorder that is characterized by severe eczematous inflammation, swelling, and lichenification. Activation of T helper (Th)-22 cells by allergens leads to epidermal hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis at the chronic phase of AD. Derma-Hc is composed of five natural herbs with anti-AD effects, such as Astragalus membranaceus BUNGE, Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq., Cryptotympana pustulata Fabr., Angelica sinensis Diels, Arctium lappa L. In this study, the ameliorative effect of Derma-Hc on cutaneous lichenification in 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzne (DNCB)-induced AD was investigated. The dorsal skin of mice was sensitized with DNCB to induce AD-like skin lesions. The dermatitis score and frequency of scratching were evaluated. Thickness of epidermis and dermis was measured by staining with H&E. In addition, infiltration of the mast cell was observed by staining with toluidine blue. Then, desmosomal cadherin, DSC1 was examined by immunofluorescence. Pathological mechanisms involved in lichenification were analyzed in AD-like skin lesions and TNF-α + IFN-γ-treated with human keratinocytes including keratinocyte differentiation genes and JAK1-STAT3 signaling pathway with IL-22 by RT-PCR and western blotting. Topical treatment of Derma-Hc improved AD-like symptoms such as dryness, edema and lichenefication and decreased the number of scratches. Histopathological analysis demonstrated that Derma-Hc significantly inhibited epidermal hyperplasia, hyperkeratosis, and mast cells infiltration. In addition, the level of DSC1 was highly expressed in the epidermis by Derma-Hc. Moreover, mRNA expression level of FLG, an epidermal differentiation complex gene, was recovered by Derma-Hc treatment. KLK5 and KLK7 were markedly reduced to normalize keratinocyte differentiation in dorsal skin tissues and human keratinocytes. On the other hand, Derma-Hc restored expression level of SPINK5. In addition, Derma-Hc inhibited IL-22 via the blockade of JAK1-STAT3 signal pathway. Taken together, Derma-Hc, a natural herbal formula, regulated keratinocyte differentiation and inhibited epidermal hyperplasia with hyperkeratosis. Therefore, Derma-Hc could be a promising candidate for treating chronic AD through modulating signaling of IL-22-associated skin lichenification.

Pyrimethamine Modulates Interplay between Apoptosis and Autophagy in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells.

Pyrimethamine (Pyri) is being used in combination with other medications to treat serious parasitic infections of the body, brain, or eye and to also reduce toxoplasmosis infection in the patients with HIV infection. Additionally, Pyri can display significant anti-cancer potential in different tumor models, but the possible mode of its actions remains unclear. Hence, in this study, the possible anti-tumoral impact of Pyri on human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was deciphered. Pyri inhibited cell growth in various types of tumor cells and exhibited a marked inhibitory action on CML cells. In addition to apoptosis, Pyri also triggered sustained autophagy. Targeted inhibition of autophagy sensitized the tumor cells to Pyri-induced apoptotic cell death. Moreover, the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) and its downstream target gene Bcl-2 was attenuated by Pyri. Accordingly, small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated STAT5 knockdown augmented Pyri-induced autophagy and apoptosis and promoted the suppressive action of Pyri on cell viability. Moreover, ectopic overexpression of Bcl-2 protected the cells from Pyri-mediated autophagy and apoptosis. Overall, the data indicated that the attenuation of STAT5-Bcl-2 cascade by Pyri can regulate its growth inhibitory properties by simultaneously targeting both apoptosis and autophagy cell death mechanism(s).

Erratum: Song, K.; et al. Molecular Network-Guided Alkaloid Profiling of Aerial Parts of Papaver nudicaule L. Using LC-HRMS. Molecules 2020, 25, 2636.

The authors wish to make the following change to their paper [...].

Cellular Target Proteome in Breast Cancer Cells of an Oplopane Sesquiterpenoid Isolated from Tussilago farfara.

Tussilago farfara is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat coughs, bronchitis, and asthma. Its bioactive compounds include sesquiterpenoids with anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative, neuroprotective, and other effects. Biochemical studies have highlighted the mechanisms of action, but the investigations of related molecular pathways have not specified direct molecular targets. Therefore, this study profiled cellular target proteins of a sesquiterpenoid isolated from T. farfara using quantitative chemical proteomics in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Compound 8, 7ß-(3'-ethyl-cis-crotonoyloxy)-1α-(2'-methyl butyryloxy)-3,14-dehydro-Z-notonipetranone, exhibited potent antiproliferative activity based on its α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl moiety, and its potential cellular target proteins were identified using a compound 8-based clickable probe. Among >200 identified proteins, 17 showed enrichment ratios of >3 in both cell lines, while recombinant 14-3-3 protein zeta and peroxiredoxin-1 were verified using isothermic calorimetry and their alkylation sites. Considering the interaction between the α,ß-unsaturated carbonyl moiety of compound 8 and cysteine residues of the proteins, peptides containing Cys25 and Cys94 of 14-3-3 protein zeta and Cys83 of peroxiredoxin-1 were significantly reduced by this sesquiterpene ester. Although the results did not elucidate the effects of compound 8 in breast cancer cells, identification of potential target proteins contributes to enhanced understanding of its antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects.

Molecular Network-Guided Alkaloid Profiling of Aerial Parts of Papaver nudicaule L. Using LC-HRMS.

Papaver nudicaule L. (Iceland poppy) is widely used for ornamental purposes. A previous study demonstrated the alleviation of lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation mediated by P. nudicaule extract through nuclear factor-kappa B and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inactivation. As isoquinoline alkaloids are chemical markers and bioactive constituents of Papaver species, the present study investigated the alkaloid profile of aerial parts of five P. nudicaule cultivars with different flower colors and a P. rhoeas cropped for two years. A combination of liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry and molecular networking was used to cluster isoquinoline alkaloids in the species and highlight the possible metabolites. Aside from the 12 compounds, including rotundine, muramine, and allocryptopine, identified from Global Natural Products Social library and reported information, 46 structurally related metabolites were quantitatively investigated. Forty-two and 16 compounds were proposed for chemical profiles of P. nudicaule and P. rhoeas, respectively. Some species-specific metabolites showed similar fragmentation patterns. The alkaloid abundance of P. nudicaule differed depending on the flower color, and the possible chemical markers were proposed. These results show that molecular networking-guided dereplication allows investigation of unidentified metabolites. The derived chemical profile may facilitate evaluation of P. nudicaule quality for pharmacological applications.

Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy) alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation through inactivating NF-κB and STAT3.

BACKGROUND: Papaver nudicaule belongs to the Papaveraceae family, which is planted as an annual herbaceous species generally for ornamental purpose. Papaver rhoeas in the same family has been reported to have various pharmacological activities such as antioxidant and analgesic effects. In contrast, little is known about the pharmacological activity of Papaver nudicaule. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of Papaver nudicaule extracts and the action mechanisms were investigated in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. METHODS: To investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of five cultivars of Papaver nudicaule with different flower color, samples were collected from their aerial parts at two growth stages (60 and 90 days) and their ethanol extracts were evaluated in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells by measuring nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) levels. Interleukin 1-beta (IL-1ß), Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) production were also analyzed by RT-PCR and multiplex assays. Nuclear Factor-kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathways were examined using western blotting and luciferase reporter assays to reveal the action mechanism of Papaver nudicaule extracts in their anti-inflammatory activity. RESULTS: All of the Papaver nudicaule extracts were effective in reducing the LPS-induced NO, which is an important inflammatory mediator, and the extract of Papaver nudicaule with white flower collected at 90 days (NW90) was selected for further experiments because of the best effect on reducing the LPS-induced NO as well as no toxicity. NW90 lowered the LPS-induced PGE2 level and decreased the LPS-induced Nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2) and Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2). In addition, NW90 reduced the LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines, IL-1ß and IL-6. Furthermore, NW90 inhibited the LPS-induced activation of NF-κB and STAT3. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that NW90 may restrain inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3, suggesting the potential therapeutic properties of Papaver nudicaule against inflammatory disease.

Fermented dried Citrus unshiu peel extracts exert anti-inflammatory activities in LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophages and improve skin moisturizing efficacy in immortalized human HaCaT keratinocytes.

Context: Citrus unshiu Markovich (Rutaceae) peel is known to contain high concentrations of flavonoids and exerts pharmacological effects on antioxidant, anti-inflammation, allergies, diabetes and viral infections. Objective: Very little is known about potential activity of fermented dried Citrus unshiu peel extracts (FCU) using Bacillus subtilis, as well as its mechanism of action. We investigated the effects of FCU on the anti-inflammatory activities in murine macrophages and moisturizing effects in human keratinocytes. Materials and methods: We isolated the Bacillus subtilis from Cheonggukjang and FCU using these Bacillus subtilis to prepare samples. The cells were pre-treated with various extracts for 2 h and then induced with LPS for 22 h. We determined the NO assay, TNF-α, IL-6 and PGE2 in RAW 264.7 ells. The expression of SPT and Filaggrin by FCU treatment was measured in HaCaT cells. Result: We found that two types of FCU highly suppressed LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) without exerting cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 cells (21.9 and 15.4% reduction). FCU inhibited the expression of LPS-induced iNOS and COX-2 proteins and their mRNAs in a concentration-dependent manner. TNF-α (59 and 30.9% reduction), IL-6 (39.1 and 65.6% reduction), and PGE2 secretion (78.6 and 82.5% reduction) were suppressed by FCU in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Furthermore, FCU can induce the production of hyaluronic acid (38 and 38.9% induction) and expression of Filaggrin and SPT in HaCaT keratinocyte cells. Discussion and conclusion: FCU potentially inhibits inflammation, improves skin moisturizing efficacy, and it may be a therapeutic candidate for the treatment of inflammation and dry skin.

Identification and metabolite profiling of alkaloids in aerial parts of Papaver rhoeas by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry.

Papaver plants can produce diverse bioactive alkaloids. Papaver rhoeas Linnaeus (common poppy or corn poppy) is an annual flowering medicinal plant used for treating cough, sleep disorder, and as a sedative, pain reliever, and food. It contains various powerful alkaloids like rhoeadine, benzylisoquinoline, and proaporphine. To investigate and identify alkaloids in the aerial parts of P. rhoeas, samples were collected at different growth stages and analyzed using liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry. A liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry method was developed for the identification and metabolite profiling of alkaloids for P. rhoeas by comparing with Papaver somniferum. Eighteen alkaloids involved in benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis were used to optimize the liquid chromatography gradient and mass spectrometry conditions. Fifty-five alkaloids, including protoberberine, benzylisoquinoline, aporphine, benzophenanthridine, and rhoeadine-type alkaloids, were identified authentically or tentatively by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry in samples taken during various growth stages. Rhoeadine alkaloids were observed only in P. rhoeas samples, and codeine and morphine were tentatively identified in P. somniferum. The liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry method can be a powerful tool for the identification of diverse metabolites in the genus Papaver. These results may help understand the biosynthesis of alkaloids in P. rhoeas and evaluate the quality of this plant for possible medicinal applications.

Transcriptome Profiling of Two Ornamental and Medicinal Papaver Herbs.

The Papaver spp. (Papaver rhoeas (Corn poppy) and Papaver nudicaule (Iceland poppy)) genera are ornamental and medicinal plants that are used for the isolation of alkaloid drugs. In this study, we generated 700 Mb of transcriptome sequences with the PacBio platform. They were assembled into 120,926 contigs, and 1185 (82.2%) of the benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs (BUSCO) core genes were completely present in our assembled transcriptome. Furthermore, using 128 Gb of Illumina sequences, the transcript expression was assessed at three stages of Papaver plant development (30, 60, and 90 days), from which we identified 137 differentially expressed transcripts. Furthermore, three co-occurrence heat maps are generated from 51 different plant genomes along with the Papaver transcriptome, i.e., secondary metabolite biosynthesis, isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis (BIA) pathway, and cytochrome. Sixty-nine transcripts in the BIA pathway along with 22 different alkaloids (quantified with LC-QTOF-MS/MS) were mapped into the BIA KEGG map (map00950). Finally, we identified 39 full-length cytochrome transcripts and compared them with other genomes. Collectively, this transcriptome data, along with the expression and quantitative metabolite profiles, provides an initial recording of secondary metabolites and their expression related to Papaver plant development. Moreover, these profiles could help to further detail the functional characterization of the various secondary metabolite biosynthesis and Papaver plant development associated problems.

Network analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome reveals novel regulation of potato pigmentation.

To gain insights into the regulatory networks related to anthocyanin biosynthesis and identify key regulatory genes, we performed an integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome in sprouts germinated from three colored potato cultivars: light-red Hongyoung, dark-purple Jayoung, and white Atlantic. We investigated transcriptional and metabolic changes using statistical analyses and gene-metabolite correlation networks. Transcript and metabolite profiles were generated through high-throughput RNA-sequencing data analysis and ultraperformance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. The identification and quantification of changes in anthocyanin were performed using molecular formula-based mass accuracy and specific features of their MS(2) spectra. Correlation tests of anthocyanin contents and transcriptional changes showed 823 strong correlations (correlation coefficient, R (2)>0.9) between 22 compounds and 119 transcripts categorized into flavonoid metabolism, hormones, transcriptional regulation, and signaling. The connection network of anthocyanins and genes showed a regulatory system involved in the pigmentation of light-red Hongyoung and dark-purple Jayoung potatoes, suggesting that this systemic approach is powerful for investigations into novel genes that are potential targets for the breeding of new valuable potato cultivars.

Morusin Induces TRAIL Sensitization by Regulating EGFR and DR5 in Human Glioblastoma Cells.

Glioblastoma is one of the most malignant primary tumors, and the prognosis for glioblastoma patients remains poor. Tumor-necrosis-factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) is considered a promising anticancer agent due to its remarkable ability to selectively kill tumor cells. However, since many cancers are resistant to TRAIL, strategies to overcome resistance are required for the successful use of TRAIL in the clinic. In the present study, the potential of morusin as a TRAIL sensitizer in human glioblastoma cells was evaluated. Treatment with TRAIL or morusin alone showed weak cytotoxicity in human glioblastoma cells. However, combination treatment of TRAIL with morusin synergistically decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis compared with single treatment. Morusin induced expression of death receptor 5 (DR5), but not DR4 or decoy receptors (DcR1 and DcR2). Furthermore, morusin significantly decreased anti-apoptotic molecules survivin and XIAP. In addition, morusin reduced expression of EGFR and PDFGR as well as phosphorylation of STAT3, possibly mediating down-regulation of survivin and XIAP. Together these results suggest that morusin enhances TRAIL sensitivity in human glioblastoma cells through regulating expression of DR5 and EGFR. Therefore, the combination treatment of TRAIL and morusin may be a new therapeutic strategy for malignant glioma patients.

Metabolite profiling to discriminate different species and genus from thistles in Korea using liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

This study was designed to classify and identify closely related thistle species in the genus Cirsium, as well as Carduus and Cephalonoplos species, which are also thistles. The comprehensive and untargeted metabolite profiles of nine Korean thistles were determined using ultra high performance liquid chromatography combined with hybrid quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The difference in metabolite profiles among species was explored using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis. The significantly different metabolites (Bonferroni-corrected P-value < 0.001) were used to construct a partial least squares discriminant analysis model to predict the species of thistle. Nine species were successfully classified using a partial least squares discriminant analysis model and confirmed using a cross-validation method. Species with similar features were grouped based on unique patterns in variable clusters. The present study suggests that liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomic profiling with chemometric analysis is an efficient and powerful tool for discriminating between different species of medicinal herbs.

Glycosylated platycosides: identification by enzymatic hydrolysis and structural determination by LC-MS/MS.

In this study, enzymatic hydrolysis and chemometric methods were utilized to discriminate glycosylated platycosides in the extract of Platycodi Radix by LC-MS. Laminarinase, whose enzymatic activity was evaluated using gentiobiose and laminaritriose, was a suitable enzyme to identify the glycosylated platycosides. The laminarinase produced deapi-platycodin D and platycodin D from the isolated deapi-platycoside E and platycoside E through the loss of two glucose units by enzymatic reaction, respectively. After hydrolyzing a crude extract by laminarinase, the reconstructed total ion chromatogram generated by a chemometric technique sorted peaks of deglycosylated platycosides easily. Structural information of the glycosylated isomers was revealed through fragment ions generated by the sodiated C0ß ion corresponding to reduced disaccharides in the positive MS(4) spectra. Characteristic fragment ions of Glc-(1→6)-Glc moieties were observed through ring cleavages of (0,2)A0ß, (0,3)A0ß, and (0,4)A0ß, whereas Glc-(1→3)-Glc moieties produced only (0,3)A0ß ions. Lithium-adducted platycosides allowed more detailed structural analysis of glycosidic bond cleavage corresponding to Y1ß and B1ß in addition to ring cleavage.

Inhibiting AGS Cancer Cell Proliferation through the Combined Application of Aucklandiae Radix and Hyperthermia: Investigating the Roles of Heat Shock Proteins and Reactive Oxygen Species.

Cancer is a major global health concern. To address this, the combination of traditional medicine and newly appreciated therapeutic modalities has been gaining considerable attention. This study explores the combined effects of Aucklandiae Radix (AR) and 43 °C hyperthermia (HT) on human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cell proliferation and apoptosis. We investigated the synergistic effects of AR and HT on cell viability, apoptosis, cell cycle progression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent mechanisms. Our findings suggest that the combined treatment led to a notable decrease in AGS cell viability and increased apoptosis. Furthermore, cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase contributed to the inhibition of cancer cell proliferation. Notably, the roles of heat shock proteins (HSPs) were highlighted, particularly in the context of ROS regulation and the induction of apoptosis. Overexpression of HSPs was observed in cells subjected to HT, whereas their levels were markedly reduced following AR treatment. The suppression of HSPs and the subsequent increase in ROS levels appeared to contribute to the activation of apoptosis, suggesting a potential role for HSPs in the combined therapy's anti-cancer mechanisms. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential of integrating AR and HT in cancer and HSPs.

Anticoronavirus activity of rhizome of Dryopteris crassirhizoma via multistage targeting of virus entry and viral proteases, Mpro and PLpro.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The rhizome of Dryopteris crassirhizoma Nakai (Dryopteridaceae, RDC), a traditional East Asian herbal medicine, possesses a broad spectrum of medicinal properties, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigates the 30% ethanolic extract of RDC's antiviral potential against human coronavirus OC43 (HCoV-OC43), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and its variants infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 30% ethanolic extract of RDC or its components, filixic acid ABA (PubChem CID: 15081408) and dryocrassin ABBA (PubChem CID: 3082025) were treated with Human Coronavirus infection (HCoV-OC43, SARS-CoV-2 and its variants). The base peak chromatogram of RDC was evaluated using UPLC-Q/TOF Mass to identify the RDC, and the quantitative analysis of RDC compounds was performed using LC-MS/MS. A cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction assay, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining of viral protein expression, and qRT-PCR were performed to quantify the viral RNA copy numbers and determine the antiviral activity. The time-of-addition assay, the virus attachment, penetration, and virucidal assays, and SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and PLpro activity assay were used to elucidate the mode of action. RESULTS: RDC exhibited dose-dependent inhibition of HCoV-OC43-induced cytopathic effects, reducing viral RNA copy numbers and viral protein levels. Time-of-addition assays indicated that RDC targets the early stages of the HCoV-OC43 life cycle, inhibiting virion attachment and penetration with virucidal activity. Notably, filixic acid ABA and dryocrassin ABBA, constituents of RDC, reduced HCoV-OC43 viral RNA loads. Furthermore, RDC effectively blocked viral entry in pseudotyped lentivirus assays, involving spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 Delta plus and South Africa variants, as well as control lentiviral particles expressing vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein G. Additionally, RDC demonstrated inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its variants by targeting viral proteases, namely main protease (Mpro) and papain-like protease (PLpro). CONCLUSIONS: These findings underscore RDC's multistage approach to targeting viral infections by impeding virus entry and inhibiting viral protease activity. Therefore, RDC holds promise as a potent, broad-spectrum anticoronaviral therapeutic agent.

Ethyl acetate fraction of Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus and its triterpenoids suppress proliferation and survival of colorectal cancer cells by inhibiting NF-κB and COX2.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a significant global health concern, and targeting inflammation has emerged as a promising approach for its prevention and treatment. Medicinal plants and phytochemicals have garnered attention for their potential efficacy against inflammation with minimal toxicity. Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus Makino (O. fragrans) has a history of traditional use in Korea and China in treating various inflammation-related conditions, but its potential use for CRC has not been uncovered. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aims to explore the potential anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic properties of O. fragrans, focusing on its impact on CRC treatment. By investigating O. fragrans, we aim to uncover its anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects in human CRC cells, potentially paving the way for effective and well-tolerated therapeutic strategies for CRC patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol (EtOH) extracts of O. fragrans leaf and flower, along with specific fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol, and the aqueous residue) were evaluated for their anti-proliferative effects in human CRC cells using MTT assays, and compared to normal colon cells. Mechanistic insights and chemical profiling were obtained through flow cytometry, colorimetric assays, western blotting, and molecular docking, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system. RESULTS: Both flower and leaf EtOH extracts of O. fragrans exhibited significant anti-proliferative effects in human CRC cells, with the leaf extract demonstrating higher potency. The EtOAc fraction from the leaf extract displayed the strongest anti-CRC cell proliferative effects while no cytotoxic effects in normal colon cells. Chemical profiling of these fractions identified triterpenoids as significant components in the EtOAc fractions. The leaf EtOAc fraction caused cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, accompanied by elevating intracellular reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction in CRC cells. Additionally, it inhibited NF-κB and ERK1/2 signaling, leading to reduced COX2 expression. Notably, two triterpenoids isolated from the leaf EtOAc fraction, maslinic acid and corosolic acid, displayed potent anti-cancer activity in CRC cells without affecting normal colon cells. Corosolic acid exhibited a strong binding affinity to COX2 and reduced its expression, supporting its role in the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that O. fragrans, particularly its triterpenoid-rich EtOAc fraction, holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for CRC prevention and therapy. These results provide valuable insights into the potential application of O. fragrans and its bioactive compounds in combating CRC.