Kalopanax septemlobus: its phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicity (1966-2022).

Kalopanax septemlobus is a traditional herbal medicine for multiple medicinal sites (root, stem bark, bark, leaves) in East Asia, and its bark has a significant curative effect on rheumatoid arthritis. In the past 13 years (2009-2022), the research literature accounted for 50% of the total, and it is becoming a research highlight of the relevant international scholars (ACS, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Springer, and Web of Science). This paper is the first comprehensive review of its chemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity for more than half a century (1966-2022), in which the chemical studies include triterpenoids & saponins (86 compounds), and phenylpropanoids (26 compounds), involving 46 new structures and one biomarker-triterpenoid saponin (Kalopanaxsaponin A); According to the number of literature, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms are systematically divided into five aspects, such as: anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-diabetic, etc., covering its toxicological progress. To provide literature support for the exploration of new drugs against related diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which are becoming younger nowadays.

Inhibition of TGF-ß Signaling in Gliomas by the Flavonoid Diosmetin Isolated from Dracocephalum peregrinum L.

Background: Dracocephalum peregrinum L., a traditional Kazakh medicine, has good expectorant, anti-cough, and to some degree, anti-asthmatic effects. Diosmetin (3',5,7-trihydroxy-4'-methoxyflavone), a natural flavonoid found in traditional Chinese herbs, is the main flavonoid in D. peregrinum L. and has been used in various medicinal products because of its anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, estrogenic, and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of diosmetin on the proliferation, invasion, and migration of glioma cells, as well as the possible underlying mechanisms. Methods: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), scratch wound, and Transwell assays were used to demonstrate the effects of diosmetin in glioma. Protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß), E-cadherin, and phosphorylated and unphosphorylated smad2 and smad3 were determined by Western blots. U251 glioma cell development and progression were measured in vivo in a mouse model. Results: Diosmetin inhibited U251 cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, the TGF-ß signaling pathway, and Bcl-2 expression. In contrast, there was a significant increase in E-cadherin, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 expression. Furthermore, it effectively reduced the tumorigenicity of glioma cells and promoted apoptosis in vivo. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that diosmetin suppresses the growth of glioma cells in vitro and in vivo, possibly by activating E-cadherin expression and inhibiting the TGF-ß signaling pathway.

Angelica polysaccharides inhibit the growth and promote the apoptosis of U251 glioma cells in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: Angelica sinensis (Oliv) Diels (Apiaceae) is a traditional medicine that has been used for more than 2000 years in China. It exhibits various therapeutic effects including neuroprotective, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Angelica polysaccharides (APs), bioactive constituents of Angelica have been shown to be responsible for these effects; however, the utility of APs for the treatment of glioma and their mechanism of action remain to be elucidated. PURPOSE: In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of APs on a glioma cell line and their molecular mechanism of action. STUDY DESIGN: U251 cells were utilized to confirm the effects of APs on glioma. METHODS: The human glioblastoma cell line U251 was utilized for both in vitro and in vivo models, in which we tested the effects of APs. Flow cytometry, gene expression analysis, western blotting, and MTT assays were used to elucidate the effects of APs on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that APs significantly inhibited the growth and proliferation of U251 cells and induced their apoptosis. Furthermore, APs effectively reduced the expression of several cell cycle regulators: cyclins D1, B, and E. The apoptosis suppressor protein Bcl-2 was also downregulated, and the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and cleaved-caspase-3 increased. Additionally, APs inhibited the transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß signaling pathway and stimulated the expression of E-cadherin, thus prohibiting cell growth. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the results indicate that APs attenuate the tumorigenicity of glioma cells and promote their apoptosis by suppressing the TGF-ß signaling pathway. The present study therefore provides evidence of the inhibitory effects of APs against glioma progression, and proposes their potential application as alternative therapeutic agents for glioma.