Research progress of celastrol on the prevention and treatment of metabolic associated fatty liver disease / 生理学报

Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a liver disease with hepatocyte steatosis caused by metabolic disorders, which is closely related to obesity, diabetes, metabolic dysfunction, and other factors. Its pathological process changes from simple steatosis, liver inflammation to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), and then leads to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. At present, no specific therapeutics are available for treatment of MAFLD targeting its etiology. Celastrol is the main active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. In recent years, it has been found that celastrol shows important medicinal value in regulating lipid metabolism, reducing fat and weight, and protecting liver, and then ameliorates MAFLD. This article reviews the related research progress of celastrol in the prevention and treatment of MAFLD, so as to provide a reference for the comprehensive development and utilization of celastrol.

Effect of Celastrol Based on IRAK4/ERK/p38 Signaling Pathway on Proliferation and Apoptosis of Multiple Myeloma Cells / 中国实验血液学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of celastrol on the proliferation and apoptosis of human multiple myeloma (MM) cell lines, reveal the relationship between IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway and celastrol regulating the proliferation and apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, and explore whether celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect. @*METHODS@#CCK-8 method was used to detect the viability of MM cell lines H929 and ARP-1 treated by different concentrations of celastrol, bortezomib, and their combination, and the synergistic effect was determined by Kim's formula. The apoptosis rate of H929 cells and necrosis rate of ARP-1 were detected by Annexin V/PI method. The expression of key proteins and apoptosis proteins in IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway were detected by Western blot. @*RESULTS@#Celastrol could significantly inhibit the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells (r=0.9018, r=0.9244) and induce apoptosis in a time-dependent manner. Compared with the control group, celastrol could significantly up-regulate the expression of PARP and cleaved caspase-3 while down-regulate the expression of p-IRAK4, p-ERK, and p-p38 in H929 and ARP-1 cells. Celastrol and bortezomib alone inhibited the proliferation of H929 and ARP-1 cells. Compared with celastrol and bortezomib alone, their combination had lower cell survival rate and higher apoptosis rate (P<0.05). @*CONCLUSION@#Celastrol can inhibit the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells, which may be related to inhibiting the phosphorylation of IRAK4 and blocking the activation of IRAK4/ERK/p38 signaling pathway. Celastrol combined with bortezomib has synergistic effect, which can more effectively inhibit the proliferation and induce apoptosis of H929 and ARP-1 cells.

Effect of lupeol on invasion and metastasis of human hepatoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells and its mechanism / 中国中药杂志

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation(EMT) exists in embryonic development and is closely related to cell migration and invasion. The increased EMT level in tumors showed that E-cadherin was replaced by N-cadherin, and the expression of interstitial markers such as α-SMA and vimentin was up-regulated. It has been reported that lupeol can reduce the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and N-cadherin to inhibit the metastasis of osteoma cells. However lupeol has been less studied in liver cancer. Therefore, this paper investigated the effect of lupanol on invasion and metastasis of human hepatoma cell line HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 and its possible mechanism. MTT assay and Annexin V/PI double staining were used to investigate the effect of lupeol on activity and apoptosis of HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells. Moreover, the effect of lupeol on the invasion of HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells were evaluated by Transwell assay. The expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-SMA, vimentin and MMP-9 were measured by Western blot. The model of subcutaneous transplantation of nude mice and the lung metastasis model of H22 hepatocellular carcinoma cells were established to evaluate the efficacy of lupeol in vivo on tumor growth and lung metastasis by HE staining combined with immunohistochemical assay. The results showed that lupeol inhibited the activity and invasion of HepG2 cells and SK-HEP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner and induced apoptosis. Western blot showed that the expression of E-cadherin, a landmark protein for EMT, was induced by lupeol, and the expressions of N-cadherin, α-SMA, vimentin and MMP-9 were decreased. In vivo experiments showed that lupeol inhibited tumor growth in mice bearing xenograft. In addition, immunohistochemical experiments confirmed that lupeol could up-regulate the expression of E-cadherin in tumor tissues of nude mice, reduce the expression of N-cadherin, and inhibit the metastasis of liver cancer H22 cells in the lungs of mice. The above results indicated that the mechanism of lupeol inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of HCC cells may be related to the regulation of EMT process.

Antidiarrheal activity of extracts from Maytenus gonoclada and inhibition of Dengue virus by lupeol

ABSTRACT Diarrhea is an infectious disease caused by bacterial, virus, or protozoan, and dengue is caused by virus, included among the neglected diseases in several underdeveloped and developing countries, with an urgent demand for new drugs. Considering the antidiarrheal potential of species of Maytenus genus, a phytochemical investigation followed by antibacterial activity test with extracts of branches and heartwood and bark of roots from Maytenus gonoclada were conducted. Moreover, due the frequency of isolation of lupeol from Maytenus genus the antiviral activity against Dengue virus and cytotoxicity of lupeol and its complex with β-cyclodextrins were also tested. The results indicated the bioactivity of ethyl acetate extract from branches and ethanol extract from heartwood of roots of M. gonoclada against diarrheagenic bacteria. The lupeol showed potent activity against Dengue virus and low cytotoxicity in LLC-MK2 cells, but its complex with β-cyclodextrin was inactive. Considering the importance of novel and selective antiviral drug candidates the results seem to be promising.

Terpene Esters from Natural Products: Synthesis and Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activity

ABSTRACT Natural steroids and triterpenes such as b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, ursolic and betulinic acids were transformed into its hexanoic and oleic esters, to evaluate the influence of chemical modification towards the cytotoxic activities against tumor cells. The derivatives were evaluated against five tumor cell lines [OVCAR-8 (ovarian carcinoma); SF-295 (glioblastoma); HCT-116 (colon adenocarcinoma); HL-60 (leukemia); and PC-3 (prostate carcinoma)] and the results showed only betulinic acid hexyl ester exhibits cytotoxic potential activity.

Estudo da regulação das DNA Estudo da regulação das DNA topoisomerases durante o desenvolvimento de resistência ao etoposídeo e do papel antitumoral de novos compostos em leucemias agudas / DNA topoisomerases's regulation study during resistance development toetoposide and antitumor role of new compounds in acute leukemias

Entre as neoplasias hematológicas, as leucemias agudas configuram o maior número de mortes a cada ano. A quimioterapia para estas neoplasias envolve inibidores de topoisomerase, como as antraciclinas, associados a outros fármacos. Entretanto, alguns pacientes não respondem ao tratamento devido ao desenvolvimento do fenótipo de resistência a múltiplas drogas (MDR), considerada a principal causa de refratariedade e falha no tratamento. Devido à alta taxa de proliferação celular, os tumores super expressam as DNA topoisomerases I e IIα humana (hTopo I e IIα), tornando essas enzimas bons alvos para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos. Neste contexto, a procura por novos compostos capazes de aumentar a taxa de sobrevida global em pacientes com leucemias agudas e que sejam eficazes em células com fenótipo MDR se faz necessária. Os objetivos deste trabalho foram: a)desenvolver linhagens celulares de leucemias agudas resistentes ao etoposido (VP-16); b)caracterizar o fenótipo de resistência, mediado por alterações nas enzimas hTopo I e IIα; c)avaliar o mecanismo de ação dos novos compostos LQBs (LQB-118, -192, -223, -266, -268 e -326) e ácido pomólico (PA), como potenciais inibidores de hTopo I e/ou IIα; e d)investigar a atividade antitumoral dos compostos mais promissores nas linhagens de leucemias agudas resistentes em comparação às parentais. Foi demonstrado que dentre os compostos LQBs avaliados apenas LQB-118 e LQB-223 foram efetivos e específicos em inibir hTopoIIα. PA demonstrou ser um composto dual inibindo hTopo I e IIα. Os três compostos ativos não intercalam no DNA e atuam como inibidores catalíticos, não apresentando afinidade de interação ao sítio de ligação entre o DNA e camptotecina ou VP-16. Os estudos de modelagem molecular também sugeriram que LQB-118 e LQB-223 apresentam alta afinidade de ligação à região ATPase de hTopoIIα...

Acute leukemias represent the largest number of annual deaths from hematologic malignancy. The chemotherapy for these neoplasms involves topoisomerase inhibitors, such as anthracyclines, associated with other drugs. However, some patients do not respond to this treatment scheme because of the development of multiple drug resistance (MDR) phenotype.MDR phenotype is the main cause of refractoriness and treatment failure in acute leukemias. Due to the high rate of cell proliferation, tumors overexpress human DNA topoisomerases I and IIα (hTopo I and IIα), leading these enzymes as good targets for the development of new anticancer drugs. In this context, the searching for novel compounds capable of increase theoverall survival rate in patients with acute leukemias and be effective on cells with MDR phenotype is urgent. The objectives of this research are: a) todevelop acute leukemia cell linesresistant to etoposide (VP-16); b) to characterize the resistance phenotype mediated by changes on hTopo I and IIα; c) to evaluate themechanism of action of new compounds LQBs(LQB-118, -192, -223, -266, -268 and -326) and pomolic acid (PA), as potential inhibitors of hTopo I and/or IIα; and d) to investigate the antitumor activity of the most promising compounds on parental or resistant acute leukemia cell lines. It was demonstrated that among the LQBs evaluated only LQB-118 and LQB-223 were effective and specific to hTopo IIα and that PA inhibited both hTopo I and IIα. They did not intercalate into DNA and acted as catalytic inhibitors with poor affinity to interact with camptothecin or VP-16 biding site. The molecular modeling studies also suggested that LQB-118 and LQB-223 presented a high affinity to bindto ATPase region of hTopo IIα. Acute lymphoid CEM-R and myeloid leukemia U937-R cell lines were developed by exposition to increasing concentrations of VP-16...

Biological Activities and Stability of a Standardized Pentacyclic Triterpene Enriched Centella asiatica Extract

Pentacyclic triterpenes, mainly, asiatic acid, madecassic acid, asiaticoside, and madecassoside are the active constituents of Centella asiatica. A pentacyclic triterpene enriched C. asiatica extract (PRE) was prepared and standardized to contain a total pentacyclic triterpenes not less than 65% w/w. This work was focused on determination of antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of PRE and its stability. The PRE exhibited a satisfactory nitric oxide inhibitory effect, with an IC50 value of 64.6 µg/mL. In addition, the PRE inhibited tyrosinase enzyme activity with an IC50 value of 104.8 µg/mL. In contrast, the PRE possessed only weak antioxidant activity. The PRE was stable over a period of four months when stored as a dried powder but only in a well-closed container protected from light at 4 °C. An aqueous alcoholic solution of the PRE was stable at pH values of 5.8 and 7.0, but was not stable at a pH of 8.2. Preparations of the PRE in an aqueous solution should be performed in acidic or neutral conditions.

Pentacyclic triterpenes combined with ciprofloxacin help to eradicate the biofilm formed in vitro by Escherichia coli.

Background & objectives: Ciprofloxacin is commonly used in clinical practice for the treatment of recurrent urinary tract infections caused by Escherichia coli. However, very often these recurrent infections are due to a failure in a complete eradication of the microorganisms colonizing the urinary tract, especially in catheterized patients. To enhance the bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin against biofilm-forming uropathogenic E. coli (UPECs), we examined its effect in combination with two pentacyclic triterpenes – asiatic and ursolic acids. Methods: The anti-biofilm activity of ciprofloxacin and pentacyclic triterpenes - asiatic acid (AA) and ursolic acid (UA), as well as their synergistic effect were tested on two types of surfaces - polystyrene microtiter plates and silicone catheters. It was investigated using the time-killing and biofilm assays. Results: anti-biofilm activity of ciprofloxacin was not observed on microtiter plates or on the catheters. Ciprofloxacin combined with ursolic acid inhibited the biofilm formation on microtitre plates. This mixture, however, did not express such a strong activity against the synthesis of biofilm on the surface of catheters. Ciprofloxacin combined with asiatic acid had very weak inhibiting effect on the synthesis of biofilm mass on microtitre plates as well as on the catheters. Despite this, both mixtures – ciprofloxacin and asiatic acid, as well as ciprofloxacin and ursolic acid, exhibited strong and significant impact on the eradication of mature biofilm (P < 0.05). Interpretation & conclusions: Although ciprofloxacin is recommended in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by UPECs, but its efficacy is arguable. Subinhibitory concentrations of ciprofloxacin did not inhibit the formation of biofilm. Pentacyclic triterpenes used in combination with ciprofloxacin enhanced its anti-biofilm effectiveness. However, this anti-biofilm activity was found to depend on the type of surface on which biofilm was formed.

Protective effect of asiatic acid from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats / 中国中药杂志

To study the protective effect and the mechanism of asiatic acid (AA) from Potentilla chinensis on alcohol hepatic injury in rats. Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups: the normal control group, the AA control group (8 mg · kg(-1) AA), the model group (5.0-9.0 g · kg(-1) alcohol) and high, medium and low-dose AA-treated groups (alcohol + 8, 4, 2 mg · kg(-1) AA). Each group was orally administered with the corresponding drugs once a day for 24 weeks. Approximately 1. 5 hours after the final administration, all rats were killed, and their blood samples and hepatic tissues were collected. The AST and ALT in rat serum and the contents of MPO, TNF-α, IL-1β, SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MDA in hepatic tissues were detected. The expressions of NF-κB, TLR4, CD14, MyD88, TRIF and protein expression in hepatic tissues were measured by western blot. The pathological changes in liver tissues were observed by histological examination. The results showed that compared with the model group, the AA-treated groups showed significant decreases in serum ALT, AST and MDA and increases in the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, GSH-Rd and MPO. Moreover, AA markedly inhibited the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, TLR4, CD14, MyD88 and NF-κB. The histological examination showed alleviated hepatic issue ijury to varying degrees. In short, asiatic acid (AA) from P. chinensis could protect alcohol-induced hepatic injury in rats. Its mechanism may be related to the inhibition of NF-κB inactivation and the reduction of inflammatory response.

Asiatic acid mitigates hyperglycemia and reduces islet fibrosis in Goto-Kakizaki rat, a spontaneous type 2 diabetic animal model / 中国天然药物

The Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rat is a spontaneous type 2 diabetic animal model, which is characterized by a progressive loss of beta islet cells with fibrosis. In the present study, the hypoglycemic effect of asiatic acid (AA) in GK rats was examined. GK rats receiving AA at a daily dose of 25 mg·kg(-1) for four weeks showed a significant reduction in blood glucose levels. Age-matched normal Wistar rats were given 0.5% sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC-Na) solution for the same periods and used as control. Compared to the normal Wistar rats, GK rats treated with AA showed improvement in insulin resistance partially through decreasing glucose level (P < 0.01) and insulin level (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the results of immunohistochemistry indicate that AA treatment reduced islet fibrosis in GK rats. Fibronectin, a key protein related to islet fibrosis, was over-expressed in GK rats, which was reversed significantly by AA treatment (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that AA has a beneficial effect on lowering blood glucose levels in GK rats and improves fibrosis of islets in diabetes, which may play a role in the prevention of islets dysfunction.

Desenvolvimento de método analítico de cromatografia líquida de alta eficiencia (CLAE) para quantificação de lupeol em nanocápsulas poliméricas / Development of analytical method for measurement of lupeol in polymeric nanocapsules by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)

A simple, precise and accurate high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed for the determination of lupeol in polymeric nanocapsules. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Varian C8 column (250 mm x 4.6 mm x 5 mm) maintained at 35°C, with a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and methanol (95:5 v/v) acidified with 0.1% acetic acid, flowing at 1.2 mL/min, with an injected sample volume of 20 µL, UV detection at 210 nm and a run time of 6.2 min. The proposed method was linear over the concentration range 10-250 µg/mL, with R2= 0.9996. Analyses of accuracy and precision showedlow values of relative standard deviation (<4.2%). The methodology was specific, linear, accurate, precise and robust and proved to be adequate for the quantitative analysis of lupeol in polymeric nanocapsules...

Um método de cromatografia líquida de alta performance simples, exato e preciso foi desenvolvido para a determinação do lupeol em nanocápsulas poliméricas. A separação cromatográfica foi realizada numa coluna Varian C8 (250 mm x 4,6 mm x 5 mm), mantida a 35°C, fase móvel constituída por acetonitrila e metanol acidificado com ácido acético a 0,1% (95:5 v/v), e taxa de fluxo de 1,2 mL/min, com um volume injeção de amostra de 20 µl e detecção UV a 210 nm, com o tempo de eluição de 6,2 min. O método proposto é linear para a faixa de concentração de 10 a 250 µg/mL com coeficiente de correlação de 0,9996. As análises de exatidão e precisão demonstraram baixos valores de desvio padrão relativo (< 4,2%). A metodologia foi específica, linear, precisa, exata e robusta, se mostrando capaz de ser aplicada para quantificação de lupeol em nanocápsulas poliméricas...

Simultaneous determination of madecassoside, asiaticoside and their aglycones in Centella asiatica (L.) urban extracts by RP-HPLC / 浙江大学学报·医学版

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a HPLC method for simultaneous determination of four major constituents (madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecassic acid and asiatic acid) in Centella asiatica (L.) urban extracts.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The analysis was performed on an Agilent 1100 HPLC system with a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C8 column (4.6 mm×150 mm, 5μm). The four major constituents were separated with gradient mobile phase that consists of 1mmol/L potassium dihydrogen phosphate and acetonitrile at the detection wavelength of 205 nm.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The four major constituents all had good linear response in the determination ranges (R(2)≥0.9998). The average recoveries (n=9) were 97.4%, 93.7%, 97.5% and 99.8% with RSDs of 3.4%, 1.4%, 4.7% and 4.4%, respectively.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The developed method is sensitive and has good reproducibility, which can be used as a reference for quality control of Centella asiatica (L.) urban extracts.</p>

Compositional studies and Biological activities of Perovskia abrotanoides Kar. oils

BACKGROUND: Current study has been designed to evaluate the chemical composition of essential and fixed oils from stem and leaves of Perovskia abrotanoides and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of these oils. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis of essential oil identified 19 compounds with (E)-9-dodecenal being the major component in stem and hexadecanoic acid in leaves. In contrast, GC-MS analysis of fixed oil showed 40 constituents with α-amyrin the major component in stem and α-copaene in leaves. The antioxidant activity showed the highest value of 76.7% in essential oil from leaves in comparison with fixed oil from stem (45.9%) through inhibition of peroxidation in linoleic acid system. The antimicrobial assay tested on different microorganisms (e.g. E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus, Nitrospira, S. epidermis, A. niger, A. flavus and C. albicans) showed the higher inhibition zone at essential oil from leaves (15.2 mm on B. cereus) as compared to fixed oil from stem (8.34 mm onS. aureus) and leaves (11.2 mm on S. aureus). CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed the fact that essential oil analyzed from Perovskia abrotanoides stem and leaves could be a promising source of natural products with potential antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as compared to fixed oil.

Efecto in vitro de los terpenos lupeol y casearina G sobre células sanguíneas y tumorales / In vitro effect of lupeol and casearin G on peripheral blood mononuclear and tumor cells

Background: The rainforest is an important source of natural compounds with therapeutic properties. Although there are many anti-inflammatory and antineoplastic drugs available to the clinician, there is an ongoing need for new therapeutic drugs with fewer serious adverse effects. Aim: To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic effects of lupeol and casearin G on tumor cells, on phagocytic activity and nitric oxide (NO) production by blood mononuclear cells. Material and Methods: The cytotoxic effect of these compounds on cell lines MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) and PC-3 (human prostate cancer) was measured by a colorimetric assay (MTS/PMS) and the sulphorhodamine B assay. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were obtained from eight healthy volunteers. The effect of these compounds on nitric oxide (NO) production was measured using the Griess reaction. Their effect on phagocytic activity of PBMC was also evaluated. Results: Lupeol (≥ 2 mM) resulted in a reduction of both the phagocytic index and the percentage of phagocytic monocytes and macrophages. Treatment of monocytes/macrophages with lupeol (72 µM) and casearin G (4 µM) reduced the production of NO. Neither lupeol (< 969 µM) nor casearin G (< 55 µM) had cytotoxic effects on PBMC. Casearin G showed both cytotoxic (IC50, LC50) and cytostatic (GI50) effects against tumor cells, PC-3 (IC50 = 12.5 µM; GI50 = 13.3 µM; LC50 = 51.9 µM) and MCF-7 (IC50 = 112.8 µM; GI50 = 11.8 µM; LC50 = 49.4 µM), as well as a hemolytic effect (≥ 182 µM). Conclusions: These observations indicate that lupeol and casearin G might be useful compounds in the preparation of anti-inflammatory drugs, whereas casearin G might be useful in the elaboration of antitumor drugs.

LC-MS quantification and pharmacokinetics of the multi-constituents of Huangqin Tang in rat plasma after different single oral doses / 药学学报

The current study aims to investigate the pharmacokinetic properties of Huangqin Tang on different oral doses. An LC-MS method for simultaneous determination of flavonoids and terpenoids in rat plasma was developed and validated. Plasma samples were treated with hydrochloric acid (containing 1% ascorbic acid), precipitated with acetonitrile, separated on a Zorbax SB-C18 column, detected by single quadruple mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization interface, and quantified using selected ion monitoring mode. All pharmacokinetic parameters were processed by non-compartmental analysis using WinNonlin software. The results of specificity, linearity, intra-day and inter-day precisions, accuracy, and stability for LC-MS assay were suitable for the quantification of paeoniflorin, baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A, glycyrrhizic acid and glycyrrhetinic acid in rat plasma. The concentration-time profiles of baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A and glycyrrhizic acid showed double-peak phenomenon after Huangqin Tang was orally administered at 40 g x kg(-1) dose; all eight constituents in rat plasma showed good dose-exposure relationship within the dosage of 10-40 g x kg(-1); although plasma concentrations were different, the flavonoids with the same backbone showed the similar fate in the body with the corresponding dosage. In conclusion, the LC-MS assay was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of multi-constituents of Huangqin Tang with different doses. Additionally, these constituents demonstrated good pharmacokinetic properties in the body.

The protective effect of asiatic acid against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury of PC12 cells / 药学学报

To study the protective effect and preliminary mechanisms of asiatic acid against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) injury of PC12 cells, Na2S2O4 combined with low glucose induced damage of PC12 cells was served as OGD/R injury model in vitro. MTT method was used to evaluate cell survival. Ultraviolet spectrophotometry was performed to determine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, lactic acid (LD) content, intracellular superoxide dismutase (SOD), malonyldialdehyde (MDA), and cellular Caspase-3 activity. Flow cytometry was applied to assay cell apoptosis. Na2S2O4 combined with low glucose induced significant cell survival rate decreasing compared with normal cells. Cell survival rate increasing, LDH leakage alleviating, LD producing inhibiting, SOD activity promotion, MDA content reducing, cell apoptotic rate decreasing and Caspase-3 activity inhibiting were observed when cells were preincubated with different concentration of asiatic acid (10, 1 and 0.1 micromol x L(-1)). Evident protective effect of asiatic acid against OGD/R injured PC12 cells was verified in our experiment, and the possible mechanisms were related to eliminating free radicals and inhibiting cell apoptosis.

Pharmacological properties and related constituents of stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. (Fabaceae)

OBJECTIVE@#To screen methanol and dichloromethane extracts of stem bark of Pterocarpus erinaceus for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, in vitro antioxidant activities and phytochemical analysis.@*METHODS@#Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by using carrageenan induced-edema of mice paw and croton oil-induced edema of mice ear; analgesic effect was evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing. Phytochemical screening of extracts was performed by thin layer chromatography. The chromatographic fractionation led to the isolation of main active components as friedelin, lupeol and epicathechin. The structures were established by TLC and nuclear magnetic resonance studies.@*RESULTS@#Both methanol and dichloromethane extracts, friedelin, lupeol and epicatechin showed a significant anti-inflammatory effect using croton oil induced-ear edema. Furthermore, the action of dichloromethane extract was more important. At the doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg, the methanol extract was able to reduce the carrageenan induced-hind paw edema, while at the doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg, it showed an important analgesic effect against writhing induced by acetic acid injection of 38.8%, 68.0% and 74.3%, respectively. Antioxidative properties of methanol extract and its dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions were assessed by using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method. The methanol extract showed the stronger radical scavenging activity than dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions, with an antiradical power of 5, 3.5 and 2 respectively. The main components isolated from these extracts as friedelin, lupeol and epicathechin were responsible of these activities.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The results suggest that the stem bark extracts of Pterocarpus erinaceus possessed important anti-inflammatory, analgesic activities and strong antioxidant properties, therefore, they could be used as potential natural ingredients in the pharmaceutical industry.

Triterpene compounds from Cirsium setosum / 中国中药杂志

To investigate chemical constituents contained in cytotoxic petroleum ether extractive fractions from ethanol extracts of Cirsium setosum. The constituents were separated and purified by a combination of various chromatographic methods including silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and preparative HPLC. Structures of the isolates were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D, 2D NMR and MS methods. The compound structures were also determined by reference to literature. Twelve compounds were separated from the petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract and elucidated as lupenyl acetate (1), lupeol (2), lupenone (3), beta-amyrin (4), psi-taraxasterol (5), psi-taraxasteryl acetate (6), taraxasteryl acetate (7), marsformoxide B (8), alpha-amyrenone (9), beta-amyrenone (10), taraxasterone (11) and psi-taraxasterone (12). Of them, compounds 3, 5, 7-12 were separated from this genus for the first time.

Prospective randomized clinical trial comparing phytotherapy with potassium citrate in management of minimal burden [

To compare efficacy and tolerability of phytotherapy [PT] vs. potassium citrate [KC] in patients with minimal nephrolithiasis. To compare and assess changes in value of certain serum [Ca[2]+, PO[4][3-], uric acid [UA]] and urinary [24-hr Ca [2+], PO[4][3-], UA, citrate, oxalate, and urine pH] parameters in patients being treated with PT or KC. After clearance by the local institutional ethics committee, 60 patients of nephrolithiasis who had consented for the study, were enrolled [as per entry criteria] and randomized into citrate therapy [group-I] or PT [group-II]. PT was administered as a nutritional supplement, using a lupeol-based extract [Tablet Calcury[TM], two tablets twice a day]. They were monitored for the changes in the serum and urinary biochemical, radiological, and clinical parameters [efficacy and tolerability] as per protocol. Group-I patients demonstrated favorable changes in certain biochemical parameters [decreased serum calcium, urinary UA/oxalate, increased urinary citrate and pH] along with significant symptomatic improvement [decrease in visual analogue pain score with increased stone clearance/reduction in stone size]. Four [13.3%] patients of group-I had mild upper gastrointestinal discomfort which was controlled with antacids. Group-II patients had favorable changes in biochemical parameters [decreased serum UA and increased urinary citrate] along with significant symptomatic improvement [reduction/clearance in the stone size], but without any noticeable side effects. Medical therapies with both KC and PT [with lupeol extract using Calcury[TM]] were effective in reducing the stone size and symptoms of nephrolithiasis. It appeared that KC was biochemically efficacious in producing some favorable biochemical changes with some side effects, whereas PT was probably clinically efficacious in hastening stone expulsion [<8 mm] without any observed adverse events. Although both the medical therapies were not effective in all aspects, we believe that PT using lupeol-based extract [Calcury[TM]] may be used as an alternative form of medical therapy in select patients with minimal nephrolithiasis. Long-term randomized placebo-controlled trials are needed to better define the precise role of lupeol-based PT vs. citrate therapy in minimal nephrolithiasis