Sasa veitchii extract induces anticancer effects via inhibition of cyclin D1 expression in MCF-7 cells.

Sasa veitchii and other Sasa species are traditional medicinal herbs belonging to a group of Japanese bamboos collectively called Kumazasa, and these species possess the potential for a wide variety of uses. The present study aimed to elucidate the anticancer mechanisms exerted by S. veitchii extract (SE) against a human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7 cells. Freeze-dried Sunchlon® was used as the SE, and cell proliferation activity was measured using the [3H]-thymidine incorporation assay. Induction of apoptosis was assessed via Annexin V and caspase-3 fluorescent staining, the induction of necrosis was measured via propidium iodide staining, and cell cycle-related protein expression was determined using western blotting. The IC50 value of the SE was 7.7 µg/mL in MCF-7 cells. Although the primary active ingredient in Sunchlon® is sodium copper chlorophyllin (0.25%), the present results indicated that ingredients other than SCC exert anti-cancer activities (the IC50 value of SCC was 715 µg/mL), and late apoptosis or necrosis was induced in an SE dose-dependent manner. The expression levels of cyclin D1 and Cdk6 were decreased after SE treatment, and there was no change in the Cdk1/2 expression levels. Additionally, the expression of the necrosis-related cell death indicators RIP1 and RIP3 was increased in response to high-dose SE treatments, and this was indicative of cells preparing for programmed cell death. SE induces cell death in MCF-7 cells via the inhibition of cyclin D1 expression at low concentrations, and this extract induces programmed necrosis (necroptosis) by potentiating RIP1/RIP3 expression.

Sasa veitchii extract protects against carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic fibrosis in mice.

BACKGROUND: The current study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective effects of Sasa veitchii extract (SE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were intraperitoneally injected with CCl4 dissolved in olive oil (1 g/kg) twice per week for 8 weeks. SE (0.1 mL) was administered orally once per day throughout the study, and body weight was measured weekly. Seventy-two hours after the final CCl4 injection, mice were euthanized and plasma samples were collected. The liver and kidneys were collected and weighed. RESULTS: CCl4 administration increased liver weight, decreased body weight, elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase and increased liver oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and glutathione). These increases were attenuated by SE treatment. Overexpression of tumor necrosis factor-α was also reversed following SE treatment. Furthermore, CCl4-induced increases in α-smooth muscle actin, a marker for hepatic fibrosis, were attenuated in mice treated with SE. Moreover, SE inhibited CCl4-induced nuclear translocation of hepatic nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) p65 and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that SE prevented CCl4-induced hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways.

Sasa veitchii extracts suppress acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of a Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) on acetaminophen (APAP)-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: Seven-week-old male ddY mice were orally administered SE or saline (0.2 mL) once a day for a week. Twenty-four hours after the last pretreatment, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 550 mg/kg APAP or saline under fasting conditions. The mice from each group were euthanized and bled for plasma analysis 2, 6, 24, and 72 h after the injection. RESULTS: We found that pretreatment with SE significantly decreased hepatic injury markers (i.e., alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde and glutathione level), inflammatory cytokines, histological damage, c-jun N-terminal kinase activation, and receptor-interacting protein-1 activation. Further, SE pretreatment decreased Cyp2e1 expression and increased total antioxidant capacity in the liver. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that prophylactic SE treatment protects mice from APAP-induced hepatotoxicity through modulation of Cyp2e1 expression and antioxidant capacity.

Sasa veitchii extract reduces obesity-induced insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obese mice fed a high-fat diet.

The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effect of Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) on features of obesity induced by a high-fat diet (HFD), such as hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, and inflammatory response. Four-week-old male ddY mice were freely fed HFD or control normal diet for 12 weeks; half was given SE in addition twice per day in weeks 8-12. Glucose and insulin intolerance were estimated, and body weight measured, weekly throughout the study. Following the experiment, the mice were fasted for 16 h, euthanized, and plasma was collected. Liver and epididymal adipose tissue was collected and weighed. Treatment with SE significantly decreased body weight, adipose tissue weight, plasma glucose, insulin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor α compared with HFD groups, and markedly reduced the impairment of glucose and insulin tolerance in obese mice. Furthermore, hepatic steatosis and hepatic insulin receptor substrate were improved by treatment with SE. Our findings demonstrate that SE may reduce obesity-induced glucose and insulin tolerance, not only by suppressing inflammatory responses but also by improving insulin signaling.

Sasa veitchii extract suppresses carbon tetrachloride-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity in mice.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of a Sasa veitchii leaf extract (SE) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepato- and nephrotoxicity. METHODS: Seven-week-old male ddy mice were orally administered SE or saline for seven days. Twenty-four hours after the last SE or saline administration, the mice were intraperitoneally injected with 3 g/kg CCl4 or olive oil. The mice from each group were euthanized and bled for plasma analysis 24 h after the CCl4/olive oil injection. RESULTS: We found that pretreatment with SE completely abolished the CCl4-induced mortality in the mice after 24 h. The mice pretreated with SE exhibited significantly decreased levels of functional markers, and reduced histological damage in both the liver and the kidney. Furthermore, we found that the SE pretreatment decreased lipid peroxidation and calcium levels in the liver. Although SE could not induce the free radical-scavenging metallothioneins, the plasma biological antioxidant power was significantly increased in the mice pretreated with SE. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that prophylactic treatment with SE protects mice from CCl4-induced lethal toxicity by decreasing oxidative stress in the liver and kidney, presumably by increasing biological antioxidant power.

[Discussion of alleviating digestive medication toxicity in S-1 administered patients--retrospective and comparative study of the health records of continuously-administered patients and withdrawal patients].

79 patients(almost gastric cancer), who took drug S-1for the period from November 2000 to February 2006 in Asahi Rosai Hospital, were placed in two groups--a continuous group and a withdrawal group--to investigate and discuss the background factors contributing to the alleviation of digestive medication toxicity. The average number of days elapsed until drug withdrawal was 20 days, approximately 60% of the causes for withdrawal being attributable to digestive symptoms. A comparison between a subgroup of post-gastrectomy patients and a subgroup of non-gastrectomy patients showed that single S-1 drug administration could be continued for a longer period in the former than in the latter (p<0.05). A comparative study on drug regimens among all the patients demonstrated that a two-week regimen allowed the drug to be continuously administered for a longer period than a three- or four-week regimen(p<0.05). It was suggested that adverse effects might be alleviated by suppressing acid secretion in the stomach in the post-gastrectomy group. For the patients in that group, drug withdrawal is almost impossible. Considering that the average number of days elapsed until drug withdrawal is approximately 20 days, there seems to be a pressing need to establish the two-week regimen for continuous S-1 administration, which is not contained in the attachment hereto.

[Transition of Rosai hospitals and their pharmaceutical departments].

The Rosai hospitals were established in Kyushu, Tokyo and Tochigi after the war in 1949 for the purpose of treating work-related accidents. They were originally run by the Occupational Health Association, and were subsequently taken over by the Labour Welfare Organization, which was established in 1957. Thereafter, the organization opened 39 hospitals including the newest, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, which opened in 1991. Since 2004, the hospitals have been managed under the direction of the Japan Labour Health and Welfare Organization. Due to dramatic improvement in the working environment over the chaotic postwar and high-growth periods, the percentage of patients who visit a Rosai Hospital due to a work-related incident has decreased remarkably from around 50% to the current 4%. Therefore, in order for Rosai hospitals to continue to be operated as hospitals, they have been transformed into medical institutions that provide workers with medical services that facilitate activities to consistently maintain the health of workers. These activities include the prevention and treatment of work-related injuries and illnesses, and support for patients returning to work after an injury or illness. In addition, pharmacists at Rosai hospitals originally performed prescription-related tasks upon employment by the individual hospitals, but after the establishment of the United Working Group of Pharmaceutical Departments of Japan Rosai Hospitals in 1972, they focus on carrying out academic research, exchanging knowledge with one another and improving the social status of pharmacists. During the days when an increasing number of hospitals were opened, the number of pharmacists at Rosai hospitals increased to nearly 500, in parallel with their increased workloads. These numbers later decreased to roughly 370 due to the amendment of laws related to medical care and a transition to external prescriptions. Recently, the number of pharmacists has an increased again as a result of an increased focus on medical safety and the idea that "for the answer to anything about medicine, you should ask a pharmacist" has begun to spread. Furthermore, the pharmacists at Rosai hospitals have closely monitored overseas pharmaceuticals every year since 1994 as part of their project to support workers overseas, and due to this activity, they are highly appreciated by overseas workers. As a result, this activity is planned to be continued in the future.