Protective effects of Semiaquilegia adoxoides n-butanol extract against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells.

Context Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage in the lens epithelium leads to cell death and cataract. Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino (Ranunculaceae), a folk medicine of Hmong (an ethnic group of China), has been traditionally used to treat cataract; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is yet to be uncovered. Objective This study aimed to investigate whether the n-butanol extract of S. adoxoides (nSA) is effective against the H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. Materials and methods Human lens epithelial (SRA 01/04) cells were stimulated by H2O2 (250 µM) in the presence or absence of nSA. The antioxidant effects of nSA were determined in terms of cell viability (MTT assay), apoptosis (AnnexinV/PI staining), radical scavenging capability (various enzymatic assays), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Rhodamine 123 staining), expression of apoptotic markers including caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the change of Bcl-2/Bax ratio (western blot) in the HLE cells. Results The results showed that pretreatment of nSA (250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL) markedly reduced H2O2-induced cellular apoptosis and malondialdehyde accumulation, but elevated the activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase. Thus, the total antioxidative capability was enhanced upon the nSA treatment meanwhile the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was prevented. Moreover, nSA at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL also significantly suppressed the activation of caspase-3 and -9, and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in the HLE cells. Discussion and conclusion Our findings suggested that nSA is a potential prophylactic agent in the prevention of cataractogeneis.

Anti-neutrophilic inflammatory secondary metabolites from the traditional Chinese medicine, Tiankuizi.

Through bioassay-guided fractionation, thirteen compounds (1-13) were isolated from the dry root of Semiaquilegia adoxoides, known as Tiankuizi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among these, four benzoic acid derivatives (1, 2, 4, 5), one 4,6-dimethoxy-5-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (10) and one 1,2,3-propanetriol (13) were found for the first time in S. adoxoides. This is the first record of compound 10 from a natural source. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and 3,4-dihyroxybenzoic acid (2) showed selective inhibition against elastase release and superoxide anion generation, with IC50 values of 3.20 and 6.21 microg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 had 7-fold better activity than the positive control against elastase release induced by human neutrophils. Overall, our studies demonstrated Tiankuizi (S. adoxoides) as a potential TCM and isolates 1 and 2 as promising lead compounds for neutrophilic inflammatory diseases.

A nobel cyanogenic glycoside from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Phytochemical investigation of Semiaquilegia adoxoides was initiated in view of its common usage in traditional Chinese medicine and the scarcity of previous phytochemical studies. Fractionation of an ethanol extract from the roots of this plant led to the isolation and identification of a novel cyanogenic glycoside, 2-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-hydroxybenzeneacetonitrile (1). The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of IR, FAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis.

[Medicinal plant resources of Trib. Isopyreae and prospects of exploitation].

There are 17 species of medicinal plants from Trib. Isopyreae Schröd in China. This paper reports their resources, habitats and medicinal properties. On the basis of referring to the native and abroad medical studies on the plants from same Trilbe, their prospects of exploitation were advised.