Cellular uptake and anticancer activity of salvianolic acid B phospholipid complex loaded nanoparticles in head and neck cancer and precancer cells.

Salvianolic acid B (SalB) was demonstrated to be a promising chemopreventive agent for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in the previous studies by our and other research institution, but the properties like low efficacy, poor systemic delivery, and low bioavailability has hampered its clinical applications. To continue our research program focused on the use of natural compounds on cancer chemoprevention, we propose a first example of phospholipid complex loaded nanoparticles (PLC-NPs) encapsulating SalB as a potential carrier for intervention of HNSCC (HN13, HN30) cells and precancer Leuk1 cells in this study. Qualitative and quantitive studies of cellular uptake showed that intracellular accumulation of SalB was significantly higher when HN13, HN30 and Leuk1 cells were incubated with SalB-PLC-NPs complex (nano-SalB) as against free-SalB. Cell viability assay revealed that the cell growth of HN13 and HN30 cells was significantly inhibited of 56.1% and 29.3%, respectively, for nano-SalB compared to an equivalent amount of free-SalB (P<0.001). Moreover, cell cycle and apoptosis assay showed that a clear trend of cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis was also observed within the HNSCC cells treated with nano-SalB. Collectively, this study demonstrated that nano-SalB was significantly more potent had an anticancer effect against HNSCC cells, which serves as the first step toward establishing SalB nano-formulations as promising cancer chemopreventive agents. The current study could pave a new way for the development of drugs that target HNSCC in the future.

Metabolic transformation of DMBA-induced carcinogenesis and inhibitory effect of salvianolic acid b and breviscapine treatment.

Oral cancer typically develops from hyperplasia through dysplasia to carcinoma with a multistep process of carcinogenesis involving genetic alterations resulting in aberrant cellular appearance, deregulated cell growth, and carcinoma. The metabolic transformation during the process of oral carcinogenesis and its implications for cancer therapy have not been extensively investigated. Here, we report a metabonomic study on a classical model of 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamsters to delineate characteristic metabolic transformation during the carcinogenesis using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOF MS). Salvianolic acid B (Sal-B), isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge, and Breviscapine, a flavonoid isolated from Herba Erigerontis, were used to treat the hamsters exposed to DMBA to investigate the molecular mechanism of the inhibitory effect of the two agents on oral carcinogenesis. The dynamic changes of serum metabolic profiles indicated that both Sal-B and Breviscapine were able to attenuate DMBA-induced metabolic perturbation, which is consistent with the histopathological findings that Sal-B and Breviscapine significantly decreased the squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) incidence in the two treatment groups. Significant alterations of key metabolic pathways, including elevated glutaminolysis and glycolysis, and decreased cholesterol and myo-inositol metabolism, were observed in the DMBA-induced model group, which were attenuated or normalized by Sal-B or Breviscapine treatment. Elevated inflammation and tumor angiogenesis at gene and metabolite expression levels were also observed in DMBA-induced oral dysplasia and SCC but were attenuated or normalized by Sal-B and Breviscapine along with significantly decreased incidences of SCC formation.

[Clinical and microbiological study of compound of light yellow Sophora root collutory on treatment of oral lichen planus].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of compound light yellow Sophora root collutory on oral erosive lichen planus and analyze the salivary microbial contents and proportion. METHODS: 30 patients with oral erosive lichen planus were chosen and treated with compound light yellow Sophora root collutory. Pain index and clinical symptoms were observed, the changes of quantity and proportion of salivary bacteria were investigated before and after taking drugs. SAS6.12 software package was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: The extravasate and congest of the erosive mucous membrane were relieved. The pain caused by erosion were significantly relieved after taking the drugs. The quantity of oral Staphylococcus was significantly decreased after taking the drugs. CONCLUSIONS: Oral Staphylococcus can be inhibited by light yellow Sophora root collutory. The use of compound light yellow Sophora root collutory is one of the safe and effective local therapies on oral lichen planus.

[Antifugal susceptibility testing and antifugal traditional Chinese medicines screening of oral Candida isolated from head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the sensitivity and resistance of pathogenic oral Candida spp. isolated from head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy to antifungal agents. To screen antifugal agents from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs by NCCLS M27-A2 method. METHODS: Using YBC Test Kit to identify 20 clinical oral Candida isolated from head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. The in vitro susceptibilities of 20 oral Candida spp. to 5-flucytosine (5-FC), itraconazole (ITR), fluconazole (FLU), the extracts of 6 Chinese traditional and herbal drugs (caltrop, honeysuckle flower, dandelion, green tea, pine bark, red trefoil) and utility componets of 7 Chinese traditional and herbal drugs (sophorcarpidine, aloperine, archin, glycyrrhizic acid, glycosides of white peony root, glycosides of baikal skullcap root, hydrochloric berberine) were determined by NCCLS M27-A2 method. RESULTS: The proportion of no-C. albicans in all Candida spp. were 25%. All strains were sensitive to 5-flucytosine, 25% stains were resistant to fluconazole and 40% stains were resistant to itraconazole. In all agents from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs, glycosides of white peony root and hydrochloric berberine (C20H18CINO4) exhibited antifungal activity, especially to C. glabrates. CONCLUSION: The proportion of no-C. albicans in all oral Candida spp. isolated from head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy was pretty high. NCCLS M27-A2 micro-dilution method is a reliable and reproducible method and can be used to screen antifugal agents from Chinese traditional and herbal drugs.

[The effect of icariin and astragalosid I on the proliferation and differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of icariin and astragalosid I on the proliferative and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of dog bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs). METHODS: The dog's BMSCs were isolated and cultured in vitro. The 3th generation BMSCs were treated with icariin or astragalosid I at the concentration of 50 ng/ml and compared with BMSCs of BMP-2 group and control group. The growth curves of BMSCs were drawn by 3-(4,5-dimiethylthiazole-2-yl)-2, 5-hiphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay every day from the 1st to the 8th day to estimate the proliferative ability of BMSCs. The curves of OD value of ALP excreted by BMSCs on the 1st, 3th, 6th, 10th and the 14th day were recorded to estimate the ALP activity of BMSCs. RESULTS: After the pertreatment with icariin and astragalosid I, the BMSCs acquired higher MTF values and higher ALP's OD values as compared with control group and the difference between experiment group and control group was statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Icariin and Astragealosid I can accelerate the proliferation and ALP excretion of BMSCs. At the same time, the osteogenesis ability of these cells is greatly improved.

In vitro studies of baicalin alone or in combination with Salvia miltiorrhiza extract as a potential anti-cancer agent.

Traditional Chinese herbal medicines (TCM) that for centuries have been used in disease prevention and treatment are finding use as alternatives to Western cancer therapies. From a panel of TCM, we chose four compounds representing two functional classes of botanicals, the purified plant flavins scutellarin (a circulatory stimulant) and baicalin (antipyretic), and two extracts purified from Salvia miltiorrhiza (SM-470, circulatory stimulant) and Camellia sinensis (Cam-300, antipyretic), and examined their anti-proliferation effects on the human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and T-47D. All four compounds inhibited MCF-7 and T-47D cell proliferation, baicalin being the most potent inhibitor. Moreover, the combination of compounds from different classes offers enhanced potential therapeutic benefits; the combination of SM-470 with scutellarin, Cam-300 or baicalin, augmented the inhibition of cell proliferation. A synergistic inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell proliferation was also observed when SM-470 and baicalin were applied together. In contrast, inhibition of T-47D cell proliferation using the same combination was dependent on baicalin only. The anti-proliferative effects of these compounds can be extended to other cancer types; the human head and neck cancer epithelial cell lines CAL-27 and FaDu were also sensitive to the four drugs. Overall, SM-470, Cam-300, scutellarin and baicalin inhibited the proliferation of human breast cancer cells and CAL-27 and FaDu cells with different potency. Baicalin and SM-470 in combination produced additive effects, suggesting these compounds may function by different mechanisms. T-47D, MCF-7, and FaDu cells may be useful in exploring the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of baicalin and SM-470.

[Intercepting effects of seven Chinese herb drugs on experimental oral carcinogenesis].

PURPOSE: To screen effective chemopreventive Chinese herb drugs on experimental oral carcinogenesis. METHODS: 410 golden hamsters were randomly divided into positive control group,negative control group and 7 experimental groups(Radix et Rhizoma Thalictri, Radix Sophorae Tonkinesis, Pseudobulbus Cremastrae appendiculate, Rhizoma Acori Tatarinowii, Radix Angelicae seu Heraclei, Rhizoma Curcumae, Fructus Trichosanthis). 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene(DMBA) was used to induce oral carcinogenesis in hamster cheek pouch, 7 liquid Chinese herb drugs were respectively injected into the stomach of the hamsters before and during oral carcinogenesis. Specimens were observed by histopathologic method, and the results were analysized statistically. RESULTS: Compared with positive control group, the prevalence of displasia was significantly reduced in group Radix Sophorae Tonkinesis and Radix Angelicae Dahuricae, but significant decrease could not be found in other experiment groups. CONCLUSION: Radix Sophorae Tonkinesis and Radix Angelicae Dahuricae could effectively intercept DMBA-induced oral carcinogenesis in hamster.