Antiproliferative and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Deprungsith Formulation and Its Bioactive Compounds Against Mild Psoriasis and Potential of Metabolic Herb-Drug Interactions.

Psoriasis is an incurable, chronic and auto-immune skin disorder with a global prevalence rate of approximately 2-3%. The study investigated the antipsoriasis activities of Deprungsith formulation and its bioactive components and their potential for inhibitory activities on human cytochrome P450 (CYP450). HaCaT and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from healthy volunteers (n = 9) and psoriasis patients (n = 10) were exposed to Deprungsith formulation (Thai traditional medicine for psoriasis consisting of 16 plants), ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC), ligustilide and cyclosporin for 24 and 48 h. The antiproliferative, cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest activities were evaluated using MTT assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression levels were measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The CYP450 inhibitory effect was investigated using a bioluminescent-based CYP450 assay. Deprungsith formulation and the bioactive compounds inhibited HaCaT cells and PBMCs with weak to moderate potencies. EPMC and ligustilide combination produced an additive effect. Most substances arrested cell transition at sub-G1 and S phases, leading to early and late apoptosis induction. With prolonged exposure (48 h), all test substances decreased PBMCs necrosis. The mRNA expression of all pro-inflammatory cytokines was downregulated. Deprungsith formulation, EPMC, ligustilide and ferulic acid inhibited CYP1A2, CYP2C9, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4 activities with weak to moderate potencies. Deprungsith formulation and bioactive components induced cell apoptosis by inhibiting cell transition at specific cell cycle phases, which was correlated with the mRNA downregulation of interleukin (IL-6, IL-12p19, IL-23) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α). There is a low risk of potential adverse drug reactions and toxicity due to CYP450 interaction when Deprungsith formulation is concurrently administered with modern medicines.

Apoptotic and Anti-metastatic Effects of Atractylodes lancea (Thunb.) DC. in a Hamster Model of Cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a highly aggressive tumor with a greater risk of distant metastasis. The promising anti-CCA activity and safety profile of Atractylodes lancea (AL) have previously been reported in a series of in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies. The present study investigated the effect of AL extract on apoptosis and metastasis signaling pathways in the Opisthorchis viverrini/dimethylnitrosamine (OV/DMN)-induced CCA hamster model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hamster liver tissues were obtained from the four groups (n = 5 per group), i.e., (i) 5-FU treated CCA (40 µg/mL); (ii) CCA; (iii) AL-treated CCA (5,000 mg/kg), and (iv) normal hamsters. Total RNA was isolated, and the expression levels of apoptosis-related and metastasis-related genes were determined by qRT-PCR analysis. RESULTS: The expression levels of p16, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Apaf-1, p53 and Eef1a1 were downregulated, while that of the remaining genes were upregulated in CCA hamsters compared with normal hamsters. AL treatment increased the expression of p16, caspase-9, caspase-3, Apaf-1, p53 and E-cadherin and decreased the expression of cyclin D1, cdk4, Bax, Akt/PKB, Bcl-2, Mfge-8, Lass4, S100A6, TGF-ß, Smad-2, Smad-3, Smad-4, MMP-9, and N-cadherin. The expression of Eef1a1 was unchanged. CONCLUSION: The anti-CCA activity of AL in OV/DMN-induced CCA hamsters could be due to the induction of cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase and activation of the apoptosis pathway, resulting in cancer cell death. The activation of the apoptosis pathway mainly involved the intrinsic pathway (activation of caspase-3 and caspase-9 through p53 and Mfge-8 modulation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic genes Akt and Bcl-2). In addition, AL could also inhibit the canonical TGF-ß signaling pathway, MMP-9 and N-cadherin to suppress tumor metastasis.

In vitro cytotoxic and toxicological activities of ethanolic extract of Kaempferia galanga Linn. and its active component, ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate, against cholangiocarcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cytotoxic, apoptotic, mutagenic and immunomodulatory activities of Kaempferia galanga Linn. (KG) extract and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) in vitro. METHODS: The present study investigated the cytotoxic [using the 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide test], apoptotic (using a mitochondrial membrane potential assay), mutagenic (using a micronucleus test) and immunomodulatory (using flow cytometry) activities of the ethanolic extract of KG and its bioactive component, EPMC, against two cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) cell lines, CL-6 and HuCCT1, and one normal human cell line, OUMS-36T-1F. RESULTS: Both KG extract and EPMC exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against both CCA cells. The cytotoxic activity was supported by their concentration-dependent induction of apoptosis. CL-6 was most sensitive (3-4 fold) and selective to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), compared with KG extract and EPMC [median half inhibiting concentration (IC50) and selectivity index (SI) were 23.01 µg/mL and 17.32; 78.41 µg/mL and 4.44; 100.76 µg/mL and 2.20, respectively for 5-FU vs. KG extract vs. EPMC]. HuCCT1 was relatively more sensitive and selective to 5-FU and EPMC than KG extract [median IC50 and SI were 66.03 µg/mL and 6.04; 60.90 µg/mL and 3.65; 156.60 µg/mL and 2.23, respectively for 5-FU vs. EPMC vs. KG extract]. EPMC produced relatively potent cytotoxic activity against polymorphonuclear cells (IC50 = 92.20 µg/mL). KG extract and EPMC exhibited concentration-dependent mutagenic activity, as well as inhibition of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6. CONCLUSION: Considering cytotoxic, apoptotic, immunomodulatory and mutagenic activities, further development of KG as a drug candidate is likely to focus on the oral pharmaceutical formulation of a standardized KG extract rather than isolated compounds.

Alpha-mangostin inhibits both dengue virus production and cytokine/chemokine expression.

Since severe dengue virus (DENV) infection in humans associates with both high viral load and massive cytokine production - referred to as "cytokine storm", an ideal drug for treatment of DENV infection should efficiently inhibit both virus production and cytokine expression. In searching for such an ideal drug, we discovered that α-mangostin (α-MG), a major bioactive compound purified from the pericarp of the mangosteen fruit (Garcinia mangostana Linn), which has been used in traditional medicine for several conditions including trauma, diarrhea, wound infection, pain, fever, and convulsion, inhibits both DENV production in cultured hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 and Huh-7 cells, and cytokine/chemokine expression in HepG2 cells. α-MG could also efficiently inhibit all four serotypes of DENV. Treatment of DENV-infected cells with α-MG (20µM) significantly reduced the infection rates of four DENV serotypes by 47-55%. α-MG completely inhibited production of DENV-1 and DENV-3, and markedly reduced production of DENV-2 and DENV-4 by 100 folds. Furthermore, it could markedly reduce cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) and chemokine (RANTES, MIP-1ß, and IP-10) transcription. These actions of α-MG are more potent than those of antiviral agent (ribavirin) and anti-inflammatory drug (dexamethasone). Thus, α-MG is potential to be further developed as therapeutic agent for DENV infection.