Targeted inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH axis by triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance in non-small cell lung cancer.

Paclitaxel resistance is associated with a poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients, and currently, there is no promising drug for paclitaxel resistance. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the chemoresistance in human NSCLC-derived cell lines. We constructed paclitaxel-resistant NSCLC cell lines (A549/PR and H460/PR) by long-term exposure to paclitaxel. We found that triptolide, a diterpenoid epoxide isolated from the Chinese medicinal herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, effectively enhanced the sensitivity of paclitaxel-resistant cells to paclitaxel by reducing ABCB1 expression in vivo and in vitro. Through high-throughput sequencing, we identified the SHH-initiated Hedgehog signaling pathway playing an important role in this process. We demonstrated that triptolide directly bound to HNF1A, one of the transcription factors of SHH, and inhibited HNF1A/SHH expression, ensuing in attenuation of Hedgehog signaling. In NSCLC tumor tissue microarrays and cancer network databases, we found a positive correlation between HNF1A and SHH expression. Our results illuminate a novel molecular mechanism through which triptolide targets and inhibits HNF1A, thereby impeding the activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway and reducing the expression of ABCB1. This study suggests the potential clinical application of triptolide and provides promising prospects in targeting the HNF1A/SHH pathway as a therapeutic strategy for NSCLC patients with paclitaxel resistance. Schematic diagram showing that triptolide overcomes paclitaxel resistance by mediating inhibition of the HNF1A/SHH/ABCB1 axis.

Cryptotanshinone inhibits oral squamous cell carcinoma through the autophagic pathway.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors with a low quality of life. Because traditional surgical treatment often causes large wounds and then affects the quality of life of patients, it is urgent to find new and efficient drugs with good safety for clinical treatment. This study aimed to identify potential anticancer drugs starting from the traditional Chinese medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza extract. Cryptotanshinone, a compound isolated from the Chinese herb Salvia miltiorrhiza, was found to significantly induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation in OSCC. By electron microscopy, autophagosomes were found. Confocal fluorescence microscopy data showed that cryptotanshinone significantly induced autophagy in OSCC cells. Mechanistically, the western blot assay indicated that cryptotanshinone induced cell autophagy through the activation of the LC3 pathway, whereas the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine attenuated these effects. Furthermore, we demonstrated that cryptotanshinone had a significant antitumor effect in a tumor xenograft model, and no damage to vital organs was observed. Our findings provide evidence that cryptotanshinone may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of OSCC.

TP-CSO: A Triptolide Prodrug for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment.

Triptolide (TP) is a potential drug candidate for the treatment of cancer, but its use was hampered by its systemic toxicity and poor water solubility. Hence, a TP-CSO prodrug was synthesized by conjugating TP to chitosan oligosaccharide (CSO), and characterized by 1H NMR, FTIR, DSC and XRD analyses. The TP-CSO containing about 4 wt% of TP exhibited excellent water solubility (15 mg/mL) compared to TP (0.017 mg/mL). Compared with TP, the pharmacokinetics of the conjugate after oral administration showed a three-fold increase in the half-life in the blood circulation and a 3.2-fold increase in AUC (0-∞). The orally administered TP-CSO could more effectively inhibit tumor progression but with much lower systemic toxicity compared with TP, indicating significant potential for further clinical trials. In conclusion, CSO-based conjugate systems may be useful as a platform for the oral delivery of other sparingly soluble drugs.

Triptolide delivery: Nanotechnology-based carrier systems to enhance efficacy and limit toxicity.

Triptolide (TP) possesses a wide range of biological and pharmacological activities involved in the treatment of various diseases. However, widespread usages of TP raise the urgent issues of the severe toxicity, which hugely limits its further clinical application. The novel functional nanostructured delivery system, which is of great significance in enhancing the efficacy, reducing side effects and improving bioavailability, could improve the enrichment, penetration and controlled release of drugs in the lesion location. Over the past decades, considerable efforts have been dedicated to designing and developing a variety of TP delivery systems with the intention of alleviating the adverse toxicity effects and enhancing the bioavailability. In this review, we briefly summarized and discussed the recent functionalized nano-TP delivery systems for the momentous purpose of guiding further development of novel TP delivery systems and providing perspectives for future clinical applications.

Cryptotanshinone specifically suppresses NLRP3 inflammasome activation and protects against inflammasome-mediated diseases.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of a wide range of inflammatory diseases, but medications targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome are not available for clinical use. Here, we demonstrate that cryptotanshinone (CTS), a major component derived from the traditional medicinal herb Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is a specific inhibitor for the NLRP3 inflammasome. Cryptotanshinone inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages, but has no effects on AIM2 or NLRC4 inflammasome activation. Mechanistically, cryptotanshinone blocks Ca2+ signaling and the induction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), which are important upstream signals of NLRP3 inflammasome activation. In vivo, cryptotanshinone attenuates caspase-1 activation and IL-1ß secretion in mouse models of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases such as endotoxemia syndrome and methionine- and choline-deficient-diet-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Our findings suggest that cryptotanshinone may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated diseases.

Coelogin ameliorates metabolic dyshomeostasis by regulating adipogenesis and enhancing energy expenditure in adipose tissue.

Obesity and associated metabolic disorders are heading up with an alarming rate in developing nations. One of highly sought solution for metabolic disorders is to identify natural molecule with an ability to reduce obesity and increase insulin sensitivity. Coelogin (CLN) is a phenanthrene derivative isolated from the ethanolic extract of Coelogyne cristata. In our constant efforts to identify novel anti-dyslipidemic and anti-adipogenic compounds using CFPMA (common feature pharmacophore model using known anti-adipogenic compounds) model, predicted possible anti-adipogenic activity of CLN. In vitro results showed significant inhibition of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 and C3H10T1/2 cell by CLN. It arrests the cell cycle in G1 phase of interphase and inhibits mitotic clonal expansion to regulate adipogenesis. CLN elicits insulin sensitizing effect in mature adipocytes. During extracellular flux assessment studies, it increases oxidative respiration and energy expenditure in adipocytes. In vivo, CLN reversed HFD-induced dyslipidemia as well as insulin resistance in C57BL/6 mice. It promoted the expression of genes involved in improved mitochondrial function and fatty acid oxidation in eWAT. CLN restored energy expenditure and increased the capacity of energy utilization in HFD fed mice. Taken together, the study indicated beneficial effects of CLN in combating obesity-associated metabolic complications.

Cryptotanshinone alleviates chemotherapy-induced colitis in mice with colon cancer via regulating fecal-bacteria-related lipid metabolism.

Patients with colorectal cancer treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and irinotecan (CPT-11) exhibit a risk for chemotherapy-induced colitis (CIC) that may lead to fatal consequences. Cryptotanshinone (CTS) is a natural compound extracted from the root of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge that shows potent antitumor activities. We previously reported CTS relieved 5-FU/ CPT-11 induced colitis in tumor-free mice. In this study, we studied the effect of CTS on 5-FU/ CPT-11 induced colitis in mice with colitis associated colon cancer (CAC). The effects of CTS on CIC were evaluated by disease activity index (DAI) and histological assessment via hematoxylin-and-eosin staining. Serum lipids and lipid-metabolic enzymes were detected by commercial kits. Fecal microbial diversity was detected by 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. To find the role of fecal bacteria in CAC mice with 5-FU/ CPT-11 induced colitis, pseudo-germ-free mice were established by intragastric administration of mixed antibiotics. Except for decreasing tumor number (3 ± 1 vs 6 ± 1, p < 0.05), CTS significantly alleviated DAI (1.9 ± 0.6 vs 2.6 ± 0.5, p < 0.05) and regulated serum lipids in CAC mice with 5-FU/ CPT-11induced colitis. Compared with model group, CTS significantly increased serum triglycerides (TG) (1.13 ± 0.26 mM vs 0.79 ± 0.03 mM, p < 0.05), high density lipoprotein (HDL) (3.88 ± 0.1 mM vs 3.28 ± 0.05 mM, p < 0.001) and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) (288.12 ± 65.92 ng/mL vs 150.72 ± 42.13 ng/mL, p < 0.05) level but decreased serum adiponectin level (1177.47 ± 179.2 pg/mL vs 1523.43 ± 91.8 pg/mL, p < 0.05). Among fecal bacteria significantly correlated with lipid metabolism, CTS significantly decreased the abundance of g__norank_f__Muribaculaceae (21.15 % ± 5.7 % vs 41.84 ± 12.0 %, p < 0.01) but increased that of g_Lactobacillus (11.13 % ± 6.6 % vs 5.7 % ± 4.6 %, p < 0.05), g__Alistipes (3.66 % ± 0.7 % vs 1.47 % ± 1,0%, p < 0.01) and g__Odoribacter (1.31 % ± 0.7 % vs 0.30 % ± 0.2 %, p < 0.01). In addition, the development of CIC and abnormal lipid metabolism were significantly prevented in pseudo-germ-free mice. Therefore, we concluded CTS alleviated 5FU/CPT-11 induced colitis in CAC mice via regulating fecal flora associated lipid metabolism.

Efficacy of Sodium Tanshinone IIA Sulfonate in Patients with Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Results from a Multicentre, Controlled, Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Sodium tanshinone IIA sulfonate (STS) has been widely used by Chinese medicine practitioners for chronic cardiovascular diseases. However, its direct clinical efficacy in patients with acute coronary syndrome following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has not been reported yet. The present trial aimed to investigate potential cardioprotection of STS in patients undergoing PCI for non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTE-ACS). METHODS: In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 372 patients with NSTE-ACS were randomly assigned to receive STS (n = 192) or saline (n = 180) for 2 days before and 3 days after PCI along with standard therapy. The primary endpoint was the composite incidence of major adverse cardiac events (MACEs), including death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization of the target vessel, and stent thrombosis, within 30 days after PCI. RESULTS: The 30-day MACEs occurred in 18.8% of the patients in the STS group and in 27.2% of the patients in the control group (P = 0.038); this difference was mostly driven by reduction of myocardial infarction incidence (17.2% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.027). Post-procedural elevation of troponin-I was also significantly lower in the STS group (26.56% vs. 47.78%, P < 0.001). Multivariable analysis identified STS as a predictor of decreased risk of MACE occurrence (odds ratio: 0.60, 95% confidence interval: 0.36 to 0.99; P = 0.045). CONCLUSION: Addition of STS to the standard treatments recommended by the current practice guidelines in patients with NSTE-ACS undergoing PCI could reduce myocardial injury and the occurrence of short-term cardiovascular events, primarily driven by non-fatal myocardial infarction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR-TRC-14005182.

Cryptotanshinone ameliorates the pathogenicity of Streptococcus suis by targeting suilysin and inflammation.

AIMS: Streptococcus suis is a highly zoonotic pathogen that is a serious threat to human health and the development of the pig industry worldwide. The virulence factors produced during S. suis infection play an important role, and the pore-forming activity of suilysin is considered an important virulence-related factor, especially in meningitis. Treatment of S. suis infection with traditional antibiotics is becoming increasingly challenging due to bacterial resistance. The purpose of this study is to verify the role of cryptotanshinone in the process of S. suis infection and provide a new drug precursor for the treatment of S. suis infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, we used circular dichroism spectroscopy to demonstrate that cryptotanshinone alters the secondary structure of suilysin. The results of the antibacterial activity and haemolysis assays showed cryptotanshinone could inhibit the pore-forming activity of suilysin without affecting bacterial growth or its expression. We also showed that cryptotanshinone reduces bacterial damage and penetration in vitro, reduce the S. suis-induced inflammatory response and provide protection against bacterial infections in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSIONS: Cryptotanshinone is a potential compound precursor for treating S. suis infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Cryptotanshinone may be a promising leading compound for S. suis infection and related diseases.

15,16-dihydrotanshinone I inhibits EOMA cells proliferation by interfering in posttranscriptional processing of hypoxia-inducible factor 1.

Infantile hemangioma (IH), which threatens the physical and mental health of patients, is the most common benign tumor in infants. Previously, we found that 15,16-dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS) was significantly more effective at inhibiting hemangioma proliferation in vitro and in vivo than the first-line treatment propranolol. To investigate the underlying mechanism of DHTS, we used EOMA cells as a model to study the effect of DHTS. We compared the transcriptomes of control and DHTS-treated EOMA cells. In total, 2462 differentially expressed genes were detected between the groups. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed downregulated activity of the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1α) signaling pathway in EOMA cells following treatment with DHTS. Thus, we investigated HIF-1α expression at protein and mRNA levels. Our results revealed that DHTS downregulated HIF-1α expression by interfering in its posttranscriptional processing, and the RNA-binding protein HuR participated in this mechanism. Our findings provide a basis for clinical transformation of DHTS and insight into pathogenic mechanisms involved in IH.

Recent advances and future directions in anti-tumor activity of cryptotanshinone: A mechanistic review.

In respect to the enhanced incidence rate of cancer worldwide, studies have focused on cancer therapy using novel strategies. Chemotherapy is a common strategy in cancer therapy, but its adverse effects and chemoresistance have limited its efficacy. So, attempts have been directed towards minimally invasive cancer therapy using plant derived-natural compounds. Cryptotanshinone (CT) is a component of salvia miltiorrihiza Bunge, well-known as Danshen and has a variety of therapeutic and biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and neuroprotective. Recently, studies have focused on anti-tumor activity of CT against different cancers. Notably, this herbal compound is efficient in cancer therapy by targeting various molecular signaling pathways. In the present review, we mechanistically describe the anti-tumor activity of CT with an emphasis on molecular signaling pathways. Then, we evaluate the potential of CT in cancer immunotherapy and enhancing the efficacy of chemotherapy by sensitizing cancer cells into anti-tumor activity of chemotherapeutic agents, and elevating accumulation of anti-tumor drugs in cancer cells. Finally, we mention strategies to enhance the anti-tumor activity of CT, for instance, using nanoparticles to provide targeted drug delivery.

Triptolide prevents bone loss via suppressing osteoclastogenesis through inhibiting PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway.

Bone loss (osteopenia) is a common complication in human solid tumour. In addition, after surgical treatment of gynaecological tumour, osteoporosis often occurs due to the withdrawal of oestrogen. The major characteristic of osteoporosis is the low bone mass with micro-architectural deteriorated bone tissue. And the main cause is the overactivation of osteoclastogenesis, which is one of the most important therapeutic targets. Inflammation could induce the interaction of RANKL/RANK, which is the promoter of osteoclastogenesis. Triptolide is derived from the traditional Chinese herb lei gong teng, presented multiple biological effects, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation and immunosuppression. We hypothesized that triptolide could inhibits osteoclastogenesis by suppressing inflammation activation. In this study, we confirmed that triptolide could suppress RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMCs) and RAW264.7 cells and inhibited the osteoclast bone resorption functions. PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway is one of the most important downstream pathways of RANKL-induced osteogenesis. The experiments in vitro indicated that triptolide suppresses the activation of PI3K-AKT-NFATc1 pathway and the target point located at the upstream of AKT because both NFATc1 overexpression and AKT phosphorylation could ameliorate the triptolide suppression effects. The expression of MDM2 was elevated, which demonstrated the MDM-p53-induced cell death might contribute to the osteoclastogenesis suppression. Ovariectomy-induced bone loss and inflammation activation were also found to be ameliorated in the experiments in vivo. In summary, the new effect of anti-cancer drug triptolide was demonstrated to be anti-osteoclastogenesis, and we demonstrated triptolide might be a promising therapy for bone loss caused by tumour.

Dihydrotanshinone I inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration by transcriptional repression of PIK3CA gene.

Dihydrotanshinone I (DHTS), extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza, was found to be the most effective compound of tanshen extracts against cancer cells in our previous studies. However, the therapeutic benefits and underlying mechanisms of DHTS on ovarian cancer remain uncertain. In this study, we demonstrated the cytocidal effects of DHTS on chemosensitive ovarian cancer cells with or without platinum-based chemotherapy. DHTS was able to inhibit proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer cells in vitro and in vivo through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Combinatorial treatment of DHTS and cisplatin exhibited enhanced DNA damage in ovarian cancer cells. Overall, these findings suggest that DHTS induces ovarian cancer cells death via induction of DNA damage and inhibits ovarian cancer cell proliferation and migration.

Molecularly Engineering Triptolide with Aptamers for High Specificity and Cytotoxicity for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks three important receptors, ER, PR, and HER2. It is more aggressive and more likely to relapse after treatment, thus has been identified as one of the most malignant breast cancer types. The development of efficient targeted TNBC therapy is an important research topic in TNBC treatment. We report the development of a new aptamer-drug conjugate (ApDC), AS1411-triptolide conjugate (ATC), as targeted therapy for the treatment of TNBC with high efficacy. The conjugate possesses excellent specificity and high cytotoxicity against the MDA-MB-231 cell line. The advantages of our newly invented ATC are further highlighted by its excellent in vivo anti-TNBC efficacy and negligible side effects toward healthy organs.

Tylophorine-based compounds are therapeutic in rheumatoid arthritis by targeting the caprin-1 ribonucleoprotein complex and inhibiting expression of associated c-Myc and HIF-1α.

Interruption of the Warburg effect - the observation that un-stimulated macrophages reprogram their core metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation toward aerobic glycolysis to become pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages upon stimulation - is an emerging strategy for the treatment of cancer and anti-inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. We studied this process with view to the discovery of novel therapeutics, and found that tylophorine-based compounds targeted a ribonucleoprotein complex containing caprin-1 and mRNAs of c-Myc and HIF-1α in LPS/IFN-γ stimulated Raw264.7 cells, diminished the protein levels of c-Myc and HIF-1α, and consequently downregulated their targeted genes that are associated with the Warburg effect, as well as the pro-inflammatory iNOS and COX2. The tylophorine-based compound DBQ 33b significantly meliorated the severity and incidence of type II collagen-monoclonal antibody-induced rheumatoid arthritis and diminished gene expressions of c-Myc, HIF-1α, iNOS, COX2, TNFα, and IL-17A in vivo. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of either c-Myc or HIF-1α exhibited similar effects as the tylophorine-based compound DBQ 33b, even though inhibition of c-Myc reversed the induction of iNOS and COX2 in LPS/IFN-γ stimulated Raw264.7 cells to a lesser degree. Therefore, simultaneous inhibition of both c-Myc and HIF-1α is efficacious for anti-inflammation in vitro and in vivo and merits further study.

Late clinical failure associated with cytochrome b codon 268 mutation during treatment of falciparum malaria with atovaquone-proguanil in traveller returning from Congo.

BACKGROUND: The drug combination atovaquone-proguanil, is recommended for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in France. Despite high efficacy, atovaquone-proguanil treatment failures have been reported. Resistance to cycloguanil, the active metabolite of proguanil, is conferred by multiple mutations in the Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) and resistance to atovaquone by single mutation on codon 268 of the cytochrome b gene (pfcytb). CASE PRESENTATION: A 47-year-old female, native from Congo and resident in France, was admitted in hospital for uncomplicated falciparum malaria with parasitaemia of 0.5%, after travelling in Congo (Brazzaville and Pointe Noire). She was treated with atovaquone-proguanil (250 mg/100 mg) 4 tablets daily for 3 consecutive days. On day 5 after admission she was released home. However, many weeks after this episode, without having left France, she again experienced fever and intense weakness. On day 39 after the beginning of treatment, she consulted for fever, arthralgia, myalgia, photophobia, and blurred vision. She was hospitalized for uncomplicated falciparum malaria with a parasitaemia of 0.375% and treated effectively by piperaquine-artenimol (320 mg/40 mg) 3 tablets daily for 3 consecutive days. Resistance to atovaquone-proguanil was suspected. The Y268C mutation was detected in all of the isolates tested (D39, D42, D47). The genotyping of the pfdhfr gene showed a triple mutation (N51I, C59R, S108N) involved in cycloguanil resistance. CONCLUSION: This is the first observation of a late clinical failure of atovaquone-proguanil treatment of P. falciparum uncomplicated malaria associated with pfcytb 268 mutation in a traveller returning from Congo. These data confirm that the Y268C mutation is associated with delayed recrudescence 4 weeks or more after initial treatment. Although atovaquone-proguanil treatment failures remain rare, an increased surveillance is required. It is essential to declare and publish all well-documented cases of treatment failures because it is the only way to evaluate the level of resistance to atovaquone.

Triptolide improves spinal cord injury by promoting autophagy and inhibiting apoptosis.

We investigated the effect of triptolide (TP) on spinal cord injury (SCI), and its underlying mechanism. Following the establishment of the SCI model using YFP H-line transgenic mice, TP was intraperitoneally injected at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg once daily for 7 days. Behavioral tests, Nissl staining, and hematoxylin-eosin staining were employed to assess motor function recovery and neuronal cell death. Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were used to assess autophagy-associated proteins (LC3B, p62, Beclin-1) and the apoptosis-associated proteins (Bcl-2, caspase-3, Bax). The TP-treated group showed improved motor functions, and reduced neuronal cell death. Also, significant upregulation of Bcl-2 and LC3B expressions, with the downregulation of p62, Bax and caspase-3 expressions were found in the TP-treated group. Additionally, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1 and ERK2) was decreased in the TP-treated group. TP mediates its protective effect in SCI by promoting the autophagic pathway while inhibiting the MAPK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of TP in SCI.

Dihydro-stilbene gigantol relieves CCl4-induced hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation in mice via inhibiting C5b-9 formation in the liver.

In general, anti-inflammatory treatment is considered for multiple liver diseases despite the etiology. But current drugs for alleviating liver inflammation have defects, making it necessary to develop more potent and safer drugs for liver injury. In this study, we screened a series of (dihydro-)stilbene or (dihydro-)phenanthrene derivatives extracted from Pholidota chinensis for their potential biological activities. Among 31 compounds, the dihydro-stilbene gigantol exerted most potent protective effects on human hepatocytes against lithocholic acid toxicity, and exhibited solid antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effect in vitro. In mice with CCl4-induced acute liver injury, pre-administration of gigantol (10, 20, 40 mg· kg-1· d-1, po, for 7 days) dose-dependently decreased serum transaminase levels and improved pathological changes in liver tissues. The elevated lipid peroxidation and inflammatory responses in the livers were also significantly alleviated by gigantol. The pharmacokinetic studies showed that gigantol was highly concentrated in the mouse livers, which consisted with its efficacy in preventing liver injury. Using a label-free quantitative proteomic analysis we revealed that gigantol mainly regulated the immune system process in liver tissues of CCl4-treated mice, and the complement and coagulation cascades was the predominant pathway; gigantol markedly inhibited the expression of complement component C9, which was a key component for the formation of terminal complement complex (TCC) C5b-9. These results were validated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or real time-PCR. Confocal microscopy analysis showed that gigantol significantly inhibited the vascular deposition of TCC in the liver. In conclusion, we demonstrate for the first time that oral administration of gigantol potently relieves liver oxidative stress and inflammation, possibly via a novel mechanism of inhibiting the C5b-9 formation in the liver.

Cryptotanshinone protects dextran sulfate sodium-induced experimental ulcerative colitis in mice by inhibiting intestinal inflammation.

The incidence of ulcerative colitis (UC) is increasing in recent years. The protective effect of cryptotanshinone, a natural compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, on UC was investigated both in vivo and in vitro models. UC model was established by dextran sulfate sodium administration in drinking water and cryptotanshinone was orally administrated. RAW264.7 cells were stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with or without cryptotanshinone pretreatment. The body weights and disease activity index (DAI) were recorded. The pathological alterations were evaluated by H&E staining. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in colon tissues and cell culture medium were determined with enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) kits. The protein expression was detected by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results showed that cryptotanshinone significantly increased the body weight and colon length, reduced the score of DAI, and improved pathological changes. Furthermore, the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, receptor-interacting protein kinase 3, NF-κB p65 and the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6 in colon tissues and LPS-stimulated cells were significantly inhibited by cryptotanshinone. Besides, cryptotanshinone significantly inhibited LPS-triggered toll-like receptor 4 luciferase reporter activity with an IC50 at 7.2 µM. In conclusion, cryptotanshinone ameliorated experimental UC possibly by inhibiting intestinal inflammation.

Cryptotanshinone reverses the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation process and attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a fibrotic interstitial pneumonia that causes pulmonary tissue damage and functional impairment. To investigate the effects of cryptotanshinone on pulmonary fibrosis, the expression of NIH/3T3, HPF, and rat primary pulmonary fibroblasts was measured and found to be inhibited by CPT in a time- and concentration-dependent manner, and the upregulation of α-SMA expression in NIH/3T3 and HPF cells, which had been stimulated by TGFß-1, was decreased after CPT administration. We observed that CPT could reverse the increase in α-SMA expression and vimentin and the decrease in E-cad expression in A549 cells, which had been induced by 5 ng/mL TGFß-1, indicating that CPT has inhibitory effects in the EMT process. A BLM-induced pulmonary fibrosis model was established in C57BL/6 mice. The lung coefficient and hydroxyproline content increased significantly in the BLM-induced group and were decreased in the CPT-treated group. The expression levels of collagen-I and α-SMA and the phosphorylation level of Stat3 were significantly increased, and CPT treatment decreased these levels. Furthermore, the results from the flow cytometry analysis indicated that, in lung tissues, the frequencies of MDSCs, macrophages, DCs and T cells were considerably increased in the BLM-induced group, while CPT treatment reduced these immunocyte populations.