Anti-angiogenic effect of the total flavonoids in Scutellaria barbata D. Don.

BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis is closely related to the growth, invasion and metastasis of tumors, also considered as the key target of anticancer therapy. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata), a traditional Chinese medicine, is being used to treat various diseases, including cancer. However, the antitumor molecular mechanism of S. barbata was still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects of the total flavones in S. barbata (TF-SB) on angiogenesis. METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with various concentrations of TF-SB. Cell viability was examined using the MTT assay. The scratch assay was used to detect the migration of HUVECs after treatment with TF-SB. The ability of HUVECs to form network structures in vitro was demonstrated using the tube formation assay. The chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay was performed to detect the in vivo anti-angiogenic effect. The expression of VEGF was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent. RESULTS: Results showed that TF-SB inhibited the proliferation and migration of HUVECs in a dose- dependent manner. Simultaneously, TF-SB significantly suppressed HUVEC angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, VEGF was downregulated in both HUVECs and MHCC97-H cells after TF-SB treatment. CONCLUSION: TF-SB could suppress the process of angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. TF-SB potentially suppresses angiogenesis in HUVECs by regulating VEGF. These findings suggested that TF-SB may serve as a potent anti-angiogenic agent.

Protective effects of Scutellaria barbata against rat liver tumorigenesis.

Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat cancers, inflammation, and urinary diseases. This study aimed to determine any protective effects of S. barbata crude extract (CE-SB) against rat liver tumorigenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA). Liver malfunction indices in serum were measured by biochemical examination. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to examine liver pathology. Contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured in liver homogenates to evaluate oxidative stress. The levels of liver malfunction indices in the CE-SB groups, especially in the CE-SB high dose group, were lower than that of the model group (P<0.05). The results from histological examination indicated that the number of liver nodules in the CE-SB groups decreased compared with the model group (P<0.05). Content of MDA determined in liver was significantly decreased, and level of SOD elevated by CE-SB. CE-SB can inhibit experimental liver tumorigenesis and relieve hepatic injury in rats.

Total flavonoids of Scutellaria barbata inhibit invasion of hepatocarcinoma via MMP/TIMP in vitro.

Metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related deaths. Targeting the process of metastasis has been proposed as a strategy to fight cancer. Scutellaria barbata D. Don (S. barbata), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used for treatment of many diseases, including cancer. This study aimed to determine the anti-metastatic effect of total flavonoids of S. barbata (TF-SB) using the human hepatocarcinoma MHCC97H cell line with high metastatic potential. Our results show that TF-SB could significantly inhibit the proliferation and invasion of MHCC97H cells in a dose-dependent manner. MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression were obviously decreased after TF-SB treatment at both the mRNA and protein level. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression were simultaneously increased. The present study indicates that TF-SB could reduce the metastatic capability of MHCC97H cell, probably through decrease of the MMP expression, and simultaneous increase of the TIMP expression.

Matrine induces apoptosis in gastric carcinoma cells via alteration of Fas/FasL and activation of caspase-3.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Matrine, an alkaloid purified from the chinese herb Sophora flavescens Ait, is well known to possess activities including anti-inflammation, anti-fibrotic and anticancer. In this study, the mechanism of matrine inducing the apoptosis of gastric carcinoma cells was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Proliferation of SGC-7901 cells was examined by MTT assay. Cellular morphology was observed under transmission electron microscope. Flow cytometry (FCM) was used to observe the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells by staining with annexinV-FITC/PI. The expression levels of Fas/FasL in SGC-7901 cells were monitored by FCM analysis using an indirect immunofluorescence method. Activity of caspase-3 enzyme was measured by spectrofluorometry. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that matrine inhibited SGC-7901 cells proliferation in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. Apoptosis induction was demonstrated by morphological changes under electron microscope and FCM analysis. Fluorescence intensity levels of Fas and FasL were found to be equally up-regulated after matrine treatment, which were both correlated with apoptosis rate. The activity of caspase-3 enzyme increased in matrine groups, positively correlated with apoptosis rate. CONCLUSIONS: Matrine could inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells in vitro. The apoptosis induction appears to proceed by up-regulating Fas/FasL expression and activating caspase-3 enzyme.

[Effect of matrine injections on invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells in vitro].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of matrine injections on invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma SGC-7901 cells in vitro. METHODS: MTT assay was used to examine the effect of matrine injections on proliferation of SGC-7901 cells after 24, 48, 72, 96 hours treatment; Transwell chamber assay was performed to determine the effect of matrine injection on invasion and migratory capacity of the cells; Effect on adhesion potential of SGC-7901 cells was tested by cell matrigel adhesion assay. RESULTS: Matrine injec-tions could inhibit the proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, with obvious dose-dependent and time-dependent effects. Matrine injections sig-nificantly inhibited adhesion, invasion and migration capacity of SGC-7901 cells in vitro. The inhibitory rate of them after treatment with 1.5 mg/ml matrine injections for 24 h were (45.32 +/- 3.10)%, (32.66 +/- 2.82)%, (38.35 +/- 3.41)% respectively. After treat-ment of matrine injections (1.5 mg/ml)for 24 h, the expression level of CD44(V6) in SGC-7901 cells was decreased compared with the untreated group. CONCLUSION: Matrine injections can inhibit the migration, invasion and adhesion capacity of SGC-7901 cells in vitro. The inhibition effect may be related to down-regulating the expression of CD44(V6) protein.