Analysis of Triterpenoid Saponins Reveals Insights into Structural Features Associated with Potent Protein Drug Enhancement Effects.

Plant-based saponins are amphipathic glycosides composed of a hydrophobic aglycone backbone covalently bound to one or more hydrophilic sugar moieties. Recently, the endosomal escape activity of triterpenoid saponins has been investigated as a potentially powerful tool for improved cytosolic penetration of protein drugs internalized by endocytic uptake, thereby greatly enhancing their pharmacological effects. However, only a few saponins have been studied, and the paucity in understanding the structure-activity relationship of saponins imposes significant limitations on their applications. To address this knowledge gap, 12 triterpenoid saponins with diverse structural side chains were screened for their utility as endosomolytic agents. These compounds were used in combination with a toxin (MAP30-HBP) comprising a type I ribosome-inactivating protein fused to a cell-penetrating peptide. Suitability of saponins as endosomolytic agents was assessed on the basis of cytotoxicity, endosomal escape promotion, and synergistic effects on toxins. Five saponins showed strong endosomal escape activity, enhancing MAP30-HBP cytotoxicity by more than 106 to 109 folds. These saponins also enhanced the apoptotic effect of MAP30-HBP in a pH-dependent manner. Additionally, growth inhibition of MAP30-HBP-treated SMMC-7721 cells was greater than that of similarly treated HeLa cells, suggesting that saponin-mediated endosomolytic effect is likely to be cell-specific. Furthermore, the structural features and hydrophobicity of the sugar side chains were analyzed to draw correlations with endosomal escape activity and derive predictive rules, thus providing new insights into structure-activity relationships of saponins. This study revealed new saponins that can potentially be exploited as efficient cytosolic delivery reagents for improved therapeutic drug effects.

hiPSCs and organoids: prediction of arrhythmogenic risks for optimized traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Accurate assessment of the risks associated with traditional Chinese medicine(TCM), such as the potential to induce serious cardiovascular adverse reactions including cardiac arrhythmias, is crucial. This article introduced the pharmacological evaluation strategies for cardiac safety and the progress in cardiac organ research, with a focus on discussing the application prospects of human induced pluripotent stem cells(hiPSCs) and organoids in assessing the risks of TCM-induced cardiac arrhythmias. Compared with traditional animal models, hiPSCs and organoid models provide better reference and predictive capabilities, allowing for more accurate simulation of human cardiac responses. Researchers have successfully generated various cardiac tissue models that mimic the structure and function of the heart to evaluate the effects of TCM on the heart. The hiPSCs model, by reprogramming adult cells into pluripotent stem cells and differentiating them into cardiac cells, enables the generation of personalized cardiac tissue, which better reflects individual differences and drug responses. This provides guidance for the assessment of TCM cardiac toxicity risks. By combining organoid model with cardiac safety pharmacology strategies such as electrocardiogram monitoring and ion channel function assessment, the impact of TCM on the heart can be comprehensively evaluated. In addition, the application of the Comprehensive in Vitro Proarrhythmia Assay(CiPA) approach improves the accuracy of evaluation. Applying the CiPA approach to TCM research reveals potential risks and provides a scientific basis for the clinical application and industrial development of TCM. In conclusion, organoid model and cardiac safety pharmacology evaluation strategies provide important tools for assessing the cardiac toxicity risks of TCM. The combination of hiPSCs model, comprehensive assessment methods, and the CiPA strategy enables an accurate assessment of the risks of TCM-induced cardiac arrhythmias, thus providing a scientific basis for the safe use and international recognition of TCM in clinical practice. This contributes to ensuring the safety and efficacy of TCM and promoting its clinical application and global acceptance.

Enhanced anti-tumor activity of trichosanthin after combination with a human-derived cell-penetrating peptide, and a possible mechanism of activity.

Trichosanthin (TCS), a type I ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP-I) and renowned Chinese traditional medicine, displays a broad spectrum of biological and pharmacological properties. Particularly, its anti-tumor activity has received a great deal of attention. However, the cellular mechanism for TCS uptake varies with different tumor cell lines, leading to discrepancies in its reported ability to penetrate cells. In this study, HBD, a human derived cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), was used to improve the delivery of TCS into several types of tumor cells, including HeLa cells. Recombinant TCS (rTCS) with or without the fused HBD peptide was expressed in Escherichia coli cells and successfully purified by Ni-NTA affinity chromatography. The cellular uptake efficiency of FITC-labelled-rTCS-HBD was observed in HeLa cells and compared with the uptake efficiency of non-HBD conjugated rTCS under the same conditions using laser confocal microscopy. Moreover, the IC50 value of rTCS-HBD in the tested tumor cells was much lower than that of rTCS, indicating that HBD could efficiently deliver the rTCS into tumor cells. When compared with rTCS, rTCS-HBD induced higher rates of apoptosis in HeLa cells as analyzed by flow cytometry. Furthermore, the apoptotic events observed in HeLa cells incubated with HBD-fused rTCS included activation of Caspase-9, decrease in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, and cleavage of PARP. These results strongly suggest the participation of mitochondria in apoptosis. This report illustrates one possible method for achieving the efficient transport of TCS into cells using a CPP as a vector, and increases the likelihood that TCS can be used in the clinic.