ABSTRACT
Isoscopoletin is a compound derived from various plants traditionally used for the treatment of skin diseases. However, there have been no reported therapeutic effects of isoscopoletin on atopic dermatitis (AD). AD is a chronic inflammatory skin disease, and commonly used treatments have side effects; thus, there is a need to identify potential natural candidate substances. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether isoscopoletin regulates the inflammatory mediators associated with AD in TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells and PMA/ionomycin treated RBL-2H3 cells. We determined the influence of isoscopoletin on cell viability through an MTT assay and investigated the production of inflammatory mediators using ELISA and RT-qPCR. Moreover, we analyzed the transcription factors that regulate inflammatory mediators using Western blots and ICC. The results showed that isoscopoletin did not affect cell viability below 40 µM in either HaCaT or RBL-2H3 cells. Isoscopoletin suppressed the production of TARC/CCL17, MDC/CCL22, MCP-1/CCL2, IL-8/CXCL8, and IL-1ß in TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells and IL-4 in PMA/ionomycin-treated RBL-2H3 cells. Furthermore, in TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells, the phosphorylation of signaling pathways, including MAPK, NF-κB, STAT, and AKT/PKB, increased but was decreased by isoscopoletin. In PMA/ionomycin-treated RBL-2H3 cells, the activation of signaling pathways including PKC, MAPK, and AP-1 increased but was decreased by isoscopoletin. In summary, isoscopoletin reduced the production of inflammatory mediators by regulating upstream transcription factors in TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated HaCaT cells and PMA/ionomycin-treated RBL-2H3 cells. Therefore, we suggest that isoscopoletin has the potential for a therapeutic effect, particularly in skin inflammatory diseases such as AD, by targeting keratinocytes and basophils.
Subject(s)
Basophils , Cell Survival , Cytokines , Keratinocytes , Humans , Keratinocytes/drug effects , Keratinocytes/metabolism , Cytokines/metabolism , Basophils/drug effects , Basophils/metabolism , Cell Survival/drug effects , HaCaT Cells , Cell Line , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Interferon-gamma/pharmacology , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy , Dermatitis, Atopic/metabolismABSTRACT
Affinity-based ultrafiltration-mass spectrometry coupled with ultraperformance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry was utilised for the structural identification of direct tyrosinase ligands from a crude Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum extract. False positives were recognised by introducing time-dependent inhibition in the control for comparison. The P. rotundum extract contained nine main metabolites in the UPLC-QTOF-MS chromatogram. However, four metabolites were reduced after incubation with tyrosinase, indicating that these metabolites were bound to tyrosinase. The IC50 values of verproside (1) were 31.2 µM and 197.3 µM for mTyr and hTyr, respectively. Verproside showed 5.6-fold higher efficacy than that of its positive control (kojic acid in hTyr). The most potent tyrosinase inhibitor, verproside, features a 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid moiety on the iridoid glycoside and inhibits tyrosinase in a time-dependent and competitive manner. Among these three compounds, verproside is bound to the active site pocket with a docking energy of -6.9 kcal/mol and four hydrogen bonding interactions with HIS61 and HIS85.
Subject(s)
Iridoid Glucosides , Monophenol Monooxygenase , Humans , Chromatography, Liquid , GlycosidesABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and refractory interstitial lung disease. Although there are two approved drugs for IPF, they were not able to completely cure the disease. Therefore, the development of new drugs is required for the effective treatment of IPF. In this study, we investigated the effect of theophylline, which has long been used for the treatment of asthma, on pulmonary fibrosis. The administration of theophylline attenuated the fibrotic changes of lung tissues and improved mechanical pulmonary functions in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Theophylline treatment suppressed IL-17 production through inhibiting cytokines controlling Th17 differentiation; TGF-ß, IL-6, IL-1ß, and IL-23. The inhibition of IL-6 and IL-1ß by theophylline is mediated by suppressing BLM-induced ROS production and NF-κB activation in epithelial cells. We further demonstrated that theophylline inhibited TGF-ß-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in epithelial cells through suppressing the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and AKT. The inhibitory effects of theophylline on the phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and AKT were recapitulated in BLM-treated lung tissues. Taken together, these results demonstrated that theophylline prevents pulmonary fibrosis by inhibiting Th17 differentiation and TGF-ß signaling.
Subject(s)
Bleomycin , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis , Animals , Mice , Bleomycin/toxicity , Theophylline/pharmacology , Interleukin-6/pharmacology , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt , Lung , Cell Differentiation , Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced , Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy , Mice, Inbred C57BLABSTRACT
Since the ethanol extract of Alisma orientale Juzepzuk (EEAO) suppresses lung inflammation by suppressing Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and activating Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-related Factor 2 (Nrf2), we set out to identify chemicals constituting EEAO that suppress lung inflammation. Here, we provide evidence that among the five most abundant chemical constituents identified by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), alismol is one of the candidate constituents that suppresses lung inflammation in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model and protects mice from ALI-like symptoms. Alismol did not induce cytotoxicity or reactive oxygen species (ROS). When administered to the lung of LPS-induced ALI mice (n = 5/group), alismol decreased the level of neutrophils and of the pro-inflammatory molecules, including Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α), Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), suggesting an anti-inflammatory activity of alismol. Consistent with these findings, alismol ameliorated the key features of the inflamed lung of ALI, such as high cellularity due to infiltrated inflammatory cells, the development of hyaline membrane structure, and capillary destruction. Unlike EEAO, alismol did not suppress NF-κB activity but rather activated Nrf2. Consequently, alismol induced the expression of prototypic genes regulated by Nrf2, including Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H: quinine oxidoreductase-1 (NQO-1), and glutamyl cysteine ligase catalytic units (GCLC). Alismol activating Nrf2 appears to be associated with a decrease in the ubiquitination of Nrf2, a key suppressive mechanism for Nrf2 activity. Together, our results suggest that alismol is a chemical constituent of EEAO that contributes at least in part to suppressing some of the key features of ALI by activating Nrf2.
Subject(s)
Acute Lung Injury , Alisma , Pneumonia , Animals , Mice , Acute Lung Injury/metabolism , Heme Oxygenase-1/genetics , Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/genetics , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Pneumonia/metabolismABSTRACT
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic inflammatory lung disease which causes breathing problems. YPL-001, consisting of six iridoids, has potent inhibitory efficacy against COPD. Although YPL-001 has completed clinical trial phase 2a as a natural drug for COPD treatment, the most effective iridoid in YPL-001 and its mechanism for reducing airway inflammation remain unclear. To find an iridoid most effectively reducing airway inflammation, we examined the inhibitory effects of the six iridoids in YPL-001 on TNF or PMA-stimulated inflammation (IL-6, IL-8, or MUC5AC) in NCI-H292 cells. Here, we show that verproside among the six iridoids most strongly suppresses inflammation. Both TNF/NF-κB-induced MUC5AC expression and PMA/PKCδ/EGR-1-induced IL-6/-8 expression are successfully reduced by verproside. Verproside also shows anti-inflammatory effects on a broad range of airway stimulants in NCI-H292 cells. The inhibitory effect of verproside on the phosphorylation of PKC enzymes is specific to PKCδ. Finally, in vivo assay using the COPD-mouse model shows that verproside effectively reduces lung inflammation by suppressing PKCδ activation and mucus overproduction. Altogether, we propose YPL-001 and verproside as candidate drugs for treating inflammatory lung diseases that act by inhibiting PKCδ activation and its downstream pathways.
Subject(s)
Interleukin-6 , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive , Animals , Humans , Mice , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Inflammation/drug therapy , Inflammation/metabolism , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Iridoids/pharmacology , Iridoids/therapeutic use , Iridoids/metabolism , Lung/metabolism , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/drug therapy , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/metabolism , Protein Kinase C-delta/metabolismABSTRACT
The bioactive components of Canavalia lineata (Thunb.) DC pods were investigated using bioactivity-guided isolation, and the chemical structures of flavonoids 1-3, isoflavonoid derivatives 4-11, and phenolic compounds 12 and 13 were identified by comparing NMR, MS, and CD spectral data with previously reported spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-13 were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Among these compounds, the isoflavonoid derivative cajanin (7) exhibited the most potent anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 of NO = 19.38 ± 0.05 µM; IC50 of IL-6 = 7.78 ± 0.04 µM; IC50 of TNF-α = 26.82 ± 0.11 µM), exerting its anti-inflammatory effects by suppressing the activation and nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-κB by phosphorylating IκB and p65. These results suggested that cajanin (7) may be a potential candidate for improving the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
Subject(s)
Canavalia , Lipopolysaccharides , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use , Inflammation/drug therapy , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Macrophages , Mice , NF-kappa B/pharmacology , Nitric Oxide/pharmacology , RAW 264.7 CellsABSTRACT
Methyl p-coumarate (methyl p-hydroxycinnamate) (MH) is a natural compound found in a variety of plants. In the present study, we evaluated the ameliorative effects of MH on airway inflammation in an experimental model of allergic asthma (AA). In this in vitro study, MH was found to exert anti-inflammatory activity on PMA-stimulated A549 airway epithelial cells by suppressing the secretion of IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and ICAM-1. In addition, MH exerted an inhibitory effect not only on NF-κB (p-NF-κB and p-IκB) and AP-1 (p-c-Fos and p-c-Jun) activation but also on A549 cell and EOL-1 cell (eosinophil cell lines) adhesion. In LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, MH had an inhibitory effect on TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and MCP-1. The results from in vivo study revealed that the increases in eosinophils/Th2 cytokines/MCP-1 in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and IgE in the serum of OVA-induced mice with AA were effectively inhibited by MH administration. MH also exerted a reductive effect on the immune cell influx, mucus secretion, and iNOS/COX-2 expression in the lungs of mice with AA. The effects of MH were accompanied by the inactivation of NF-κB. Collectively, the findings of the present study indicated that MH attenuates airway inflammation in mice with AA, suggesting its potential as an adjuvant in asthma therapy.
Subject(s)
Asthma , NF-kappa B , Animals , Mice , Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid , Cytokines/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Epithelial Cells/metabolism , Inflammation/drug therapy , Inflammation/metabolism , Interleukin-6 , Mice, Inbred BALB C , NF-kappa B/metabolism , OvalbuminABSTRACT
Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is aberrantly activated in many human cancers. We tried to find STAT3 inhibitors from natural sources and found that Xanthium fruit extracts decreased phosphorylation of STAT3-Y705. 8-Epi-xanthatin (EXT) was isolated from the extracts. When DU145 cancer cells were treated with EXT, p-STAT3-Y705 was decreased with an IC50 of 3.2 µM. EXT decreased the expression of STAT3 target genes, such as cyclin A, cyclin D1, and BCL-2, and induced PARP cleavage, indicating apoptotic cell death. Downregulation of EXT-induced p-STAT3-Y705 was rescued by pretreating DU145 cells with antioxidants, such as N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), indicating that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were involved in the EXT-induced inhibition of STAT3 activation. Furthermore, we proved the association of EXT with STAT3 protein by using a drug affinity responsive target stability (DARTS) assay and a cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA). EXT inhibited proliferation of DU145 cells with a GI50 of 6 µM and reduced tumor growth in mice xenografted with DU145 cells. Immunoblotting showed that phosphorylation of STAT3-Y705 was lower in EXT-treated tumor tissue than in control tissues. Collectively, we found that EXT binds to, and inhibits, STAT3 activation and could be a lead compound for anticancer therapy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use , Fruit/chemistry , Furans/therapeutic use , Prostatic Neoplasms/drug therapy , Prostatic Neoplasms/genetics , STAT3 Transcription Factor/metabolism , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Apoptosis , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation , Female , Furans/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Nude , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Signal TransductionABSTRACT
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a refractory interstitial lung disease for which there is no effective treatment. Although the pathogenesis of IPF is not fully understood, TGF-ß and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) have been shown to be involved in the fibrotic changes of lung tissues. Kurarinone is a prenylated flavonoid isolated from Sophora Flavescens with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the effect of kurarinone on pulmonary fibrosis. Kurarinone suppressed the TGF-ß-induced EMT of lung epithelial cells. To assess the therapeutic effects of kurarinone in bleomycin (BLM)-induced pulmonary fibrosis, mice were treated with kurarinone daily for 2 weeks starting 7 days after BLM instillation. Oral administration of kurarinone attenuated the fibrotic changes of lung tissues, including accumulation of collagen and improved mechanical pulmonary functions. Mechanistically, kurarinone suppressed phosphorylation of Smad2/3 and AKT induced by TGF-ß1 in lung epithelial cells, as well as in lung tissues treated with BLM. Taken together, these results suggest that kurarinone has a therapeutic effect on pulmonary fibrosis via suppressing TGF-ß signaling pathways and may be a novel drug candidate for pulmonary fibrosis.
Subject(s)
Flavonoids/therapeutic use , Pulmonary Fibrosis/drug therapy , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism , Animals , Bleomycin , Cell Line , Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Humans , Male , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Pulmonary Fibrosis/chemically induced , Pulmonary Fibrosis/metabolism , Pulmonary Fibrosis/pathologyABSTRACT
Although the lignan compound fargesin is a major ingredient in Shin-Yi, the roles of fargesin in carcinogenesis and cancer cell growth have not been elucidated. In this study, we observed that fargesin inhibited cell proliferation and transformation by suppression of epidermal growth factor (EGF)-stimulated G1/S-phase cell cycle transition in premalignant JB6 Cl41 and HaCaT cells. Unexpectedly, we found that signaling pathway analyses showed different regulation patterns in which fargesin inhibited phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signaling without an alteration of or increase in mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) in JB6 Cl41 and HaCaT cells, while both signaling pathways were abrogated by fargesin treatment in colon cancer cells. We further found that fargesin-induced colony growth inhibition of colon cancer cells was mediated by suppression of the cyclin dependent kinase 2 (CDK2)/cyclin E signaling axis by upregulation of p21WAF1/Cip1, resulting in G1-phase cell cycle accumulation in a dose-dependent manner. Simultaneously, the suppression of CDK2/cyclin E and induction of p21WAF1/Cip1 were correlated with Rb phosphorylation and c-Myc suppression. Taken together, we conclude that fargesin-mediated c-Myc suppression inhibits EGF-induced cell transformation and colon cancer cell colony growth by the suppression of retinoblastoma (Rb)-E2F and CDK/cyclin signaling pathways, which are mainly regulated by MAPK and PKB signaling pathways.
Subject(s)
Benzodioxoles/pharmacology , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/pathology , Colonic Neoplasms/metabolism , Colonic Neoplasms/pathology , Cyclin E/metabolism , Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 2/metabolism , Epidermal Growth Factor/adverse effects , Lignans/pharmacology , Signal Transduction , Cell Death/drug effects , Cell Differentiation/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Shape/drug effects , Cell Transformation, Neoplastic/drug effects , G1 Phase/drug effects , Humans , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc/metabolism , Resting Phase, Cell Cycle/drug effects , Signal Transduction/drug effectsABSTRACT
Longifolioside A is an iridoid glucoside compound isolated from Pseudolysimachion rotundum var. subintegrum, which has been used in traditional herbal medicines to treat respiratory inflammatory diseases. Logifolioside A is a potent antioxidant; however, its underlying pharmacological mechanisms of action in inflammatory diseases are unknown. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effects of longifolioside A in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signal transduction systems using human THP-1 macrophages and HEK293 cells stably expressing human TLR4 protein (293/HA-hTLR4). Longifolioside A significantly reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, -8, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages. Furthermore, longifolioside A inhibited the expression of inflammatory mediator genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 that produce nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), respectively. Longifolioside A suppressed the phosphorylation of PKCδ, IRAK4, IKKα/ß, IκBα, and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (ERK 1/2 and JNK, but not p38), thereby inactivating the nuclear localization of NF-κB and AP-1, and thus decreasing the expression of inflammatory response genes. Notably, longifolioside A disrupted the interaction between human TLR4 and the TIR domain-containing adaptor protein (TIRAP), an early step during TLR4 activation, thereby reducing IL-8 secretion in 293/HA-hTLR4 cells. This inhibitory effect was comparable to that of TAK-242 (a TLR4 inhibitor, or resatorvid). Our results indicate that longifolioside A prevents inflammatory response by suppressing TLR4 activation required for NF-κB and AP-1 activation.
Subject(s)
Inflammation Mediators/metabolism , Macrophages/drug effects , Protein Kinase C-delta/antagonists & inhibitors , Toll-Like Receptor 4/antagonists & inhibitors , Cytokines/metabolism , Enzyme Activation/drug effects , HEK293 Cells , Humans , Interleukin-8/metabolism , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Macrophages/enzymology , Macrophages/metabolism , Membrane Glycoproteins/antagonists & inhibitors , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Protein Kinase C-delta/metabolism , Receptors, Interleukin-1/antagonists & inhibitors , Signal Transduction/drug effects , THP-1 Cells , Transcription Factor AP-1/metabolismABSTRACT
Prunus cerasoides (PC) products contain relatively high levels of flavones and isoflavones and may be potential sources of phytoestrogens for postmenopausal symptom relief. We assessed the PC extract (PCE) and its representative constituents in vitro with assays for estrogen receptor alpha binding, estrogen response element transcriptional activity, cell proliferation, and gene expression changes for pS2 in MCF-7 cells. PCE and its compounds showed strong estrogen receptor binding affinities and estrogen response element induction. A previously undescribed compound (designated as compound 18), now identified as being gentisic acid, 5-O-ß-D-(6'-O-trans-4-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside, also showed potent estrogenic properties and induced proliferation of MCF-7 cells. PCE was evaluated for its in vivo uterotrophic effects in immature female rats as well as for its lipid lowering effects in estrogen-deprived animals. For ovariectomized rats and aged female mice, PCE-treated groups had lower plasma triglyceride levels compared with control and, for the same comparison, had reduced serum levels of liver stress/damage markers. Our results point to strong estrogenic activities and beneficial metabolic effects for PCE, with properties that put PC and its extracts as promising sources of phytoestrogens for symptom relief in menopausal and postmenopausal cases.
Subject(s)
Estrogens/therapeutic use , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Prunus/chemistry , Animals , Disease Models, Animal , Estrogens/pharmacology , Female , Humans , MCF-7 Cells/metabolism , Mice , RodentiaABSTRACT
Context: Methyl lucidone (ML) from the dried fruit of Lindera erythrocarpa Makino (Lauraceae) exhibits cytotoxic effects in various cancer cell lines. However, its effects on ovarian cancer cells remain unknown.Objective: This study evaluates the mechanism of ML-induced apoptosis, cell cycle distribution in ovarian cells.Materials and methods: The cytotoxic effect of ML (2.5-80 µM) on OVCAR-8 and SKOV-3 cells was evaluated by MTS assay for 24 and 48 h. Apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were analysed by flow cytometry. PCR, western blot analyses were performed to examine the related signalling pathways.Results: ML induced significant cellular morphological changes and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells, leading to an antiproliferative effect (IC50 = 33.3-54.7 µM for OVCAR-8 and 48.8-60.7 µM for SKOV-3 cells). Treatment with ML induced cleavage of caspase-3/9 and PARP and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Moreover, ML downregulated the expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and induced cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase. Additionally, ML suppressed the expression of cyclin-A/B and promoted that of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors p21 and p27. The expression of death receptors was not altered. Interestingly, ML also inhibited the activity of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB.Discussion and conclusions: ML caused G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells by activating intrinsic apoptotic pathways and suppressing the PI3K/Akt survival pathway. ML may be a potential anticancer agent to suppress ovarian cancer proliferation; thus, to improve the survival rate of cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , Cyclopentanes/pharmacology , Ovarian Neoplasms/drug therapy , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cyclopentanes/administration & dosage , Cyclopentanes/isolation & purification , Female , Fruit , G2 Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects , Humans , Inhibitory Concentration 50 , Lindera/chemistry , M Phase Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Ovarian Neoplasms/pathology , Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/metabolism , Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolismABSTRACT
Osthenol (6), a prenylated coumarin isolated from the dried roots of Angelica pubescens, potently and selectively inhibited recombinant human monoamine oxidase-A (hMAO-A) with an IC50 value of 0.74⯵M and showed a high selectivity index (SIâ¯>â¯81.1) for hMAO-A versus hMAO-B. Compound 6 was a reversible competitive hMAO-A inhibitor (Kiâ¯=â¯0.26⯵M) with a potency greater than toloxatone (IC50â¯=â¯0.93⯵M), a marketed drug. Isopsoralen (3) and bakuchicin (1), furanocoumarin derivatives isolated from Psoralea corylifolia L., showed slightly higher IC50 values (0.88 and 1.78⯵M, respectively) for hMAO-A than 6, but had low SI values (3.1 for both). Other coumarins tested did not effectively inhibit hMAO-A or hMAO-B. A structural comparison suggested that the 8-(3,3-dimethylallyl) group of 6 increased its inhibitory activity against hMAO-A compared with the 6-methoxy group of scopoletin (4). Molecular docking simulations revealed that the binding affinity of 6 for hMAO-A (-8.5â¯kcal/mol) was greater than that for hMAO-B (-5.6â¯kcal/mol) and that of 4 for hMAO-A (-7.3â¯kcal/mol). Docking simulations also implied that 6 interacted with hMAO-A at Phe208 and with hMAO-B at Ile199 by carbon hydrogen bondings. Our findings suggest that osthenol, derived from natural products, is a selective and potent reversible inhibitor of MAO-A, and can be regarded a potential lead compound for the design of novel reversible MAO-A inhibitors.
Subject(s)
Coumarins/chemistry , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/chemistry , Monoamine Oxidase/chemistry , Acetylcholinesterase/chemistry , Catalytic Domain , Cholinesterase Inhibitors/chemistry , Coumarins/metabolism , Enzyme Assays , Humans , Kinetics , Molecular Docking Simulation , Molecular Structure , Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/metabolism , Protein Binding , Structure-Activity RelationshipABSTRACT
Broussonetia papyrifera has been used as a diuretic, tonic and suppressor of edema. Bioactivity-guided fractionation and metabolite investigation of root bark extracts of this plant resulted in the isolation and identification of six 1,3-diphenylpropanes (1, 2, 8, 10, 17, 20), flavanone (3), two chalcones (4, 5), five flavans (6, 11, 14-16), dihydroflavonol (7) and five flavonols (9, 12, 13, 18, 19), including five new compounds (5, 7, 8, 19, 20) that inhibit NO production in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. The structures of compounds 1-20 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data (1D and 2D NMR, MS, MS/MS, and HRMS). In particular, compounds 3, 5, 7, 12, and 20 exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the NO, iNOS, and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IL-6) production. Therefore, this study suggests that the flavonoid-rich products of B. papyrifera, including the new compounds, could be valuable candidates for the development of pharmaceuticals or functional foods in the prevention and treatment of anti-inflammatory disease.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Broussonetia/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Plant Bark/chemistry , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/isolation & purification , Cell Survival/drug effects , Cyclooxygenase 2/genetics , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Flavonoids/isolation & purification , Gene Expression/drug effects , Interleukin-6/antagonists & inhibitors , Lipopolysaccharides , Medicine, Korean Traditional , Mice , Molecular Structure , Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics , RAW 264.7 Cells , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/antagonists & inhibitorsABSTRACT
Three flavanones and two flavones were isolated from the leaves of Prunus padus var. seoulensis by the activity-guided screening for new monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors. Among the compounds isolated, rhamnocitrin (5) was found to potently and selectively inhibit human MAO-A (hMAO-A, IC50â¯=â¯0.051⯵M) and effectively inhibit hMAO-B (IC50â¯=â¯2.97⯵M). The IC50 value of 5 for hMAO-A was the lowest amongst all natural flavonoids reported to date, and the potency was 20.2 times higher than that of toloxatone (1.03⯵M), a marketed drug. In addition, 5 reversibly and competitively inhibited hMAO-A and hMAO-B with Ki values of 0.030 and 0.91⯵M, respectively. Genkwanin (4) was also observed to strongly inhibit hMAO-A and hMAO-B (IC50â¯=â¯0.14 and 0.35⯵M, respectively), and competitively inhibit hMAO-A and hMAO-B (Kiâ¯=â¯0.097 and 0.12⯵M, respectively). Molecular docking simulation reveals that the binding affinity of 5 with hMAO-A (-18.49â¯kcal/mol) is higher than that observed with hMAO-B (0.19â¯kcal/mol). Compound 5 interacts with hMAO-A at four possible residues (Asn181, Gln215, Thr336, and Tyr444), while hMAO-B forms a single hydrogen bond at Glu84. These findings suggest that compound 5 as well as 4 can be considered as novel potent and reversible hMAO-A and/or hMAO-B inhibitors or useful lead compounds for future development of hMAO inhibitors in neurological disorder therapies.
Subject(s)
Kaempferols/chemistry , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/chemistry , Prunus/chemistry , Catalytic Domain , Flavones/chemistry , Flavones/isolation & purification , Flavones/metabolism , Humans , Kaempferols/isolation & purification , Kaempferols/metabolism , Molecular Docking Simulation , Monoamine Oxidase/chemistry , Monoamine Oxidase/metabolism , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/isolation & purification , Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors/metabolism , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Protein BindingABSTRACT
Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a tryptophan catabolising enzyme, is known as a tumour cell survival factor that causes immune escape in several types of cancer. Flavonoids of Sophora flavescens have a variety of biological benefits for humans; however, cancer immunotherapy effect has not been fully investigated. The flavonoids (1-6) isolated from S. flavescens showed IDO1 inhibitory activities (IC50 4.3-31.4 µM). The representative flavonoids (4-6) of S. flavescens were determined to be non-competitive inhibitors of IDO1 by kinetic analyses. Their binding affinity to IDO1 was confirmed using thermal stability and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays. The molecular docking analysis and mutagenesis assay revealed the structural details of the interactions between the flavonoids (1-6) and IDO1. These results suggest that the flavonoids (1-6) of S. flavescens, especially kushenol E (6), as IDO1 inhibitors might be useful in the development of immunotherapeutic agents against cancers.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Enzyme Inhibitors/pharmacology , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Sophora/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/isolation & purification , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Enzyme Inhibitors/chemistry , Enzyme Inhibitors/isolation & purification , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/isolation & purification , HeLa Cells , Humans , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/genetics , Indoleamine-Pyrrole 2,3,-Dioxygenase/metabolism , Models, Molecular , Molecular Structure , Mutagenesis, Site-Directed , Structure-Activity Relationship , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Calotropis gigantea (CG) is a tall and waxy flower that is used as a traditional remedy for fever, indigestion, rheumatism, leprosy, and leukoderma. However, the precise mechanisms of its anticancer effects have not yet been examined in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In this study, we investigated whether CG extract exerted an apoptotic effect in A549 and NCI-H1299 NSCLC cells. METHODS: The ethanol extract of CG was prepared, and its apoptotic effects on A549 and NCI-H1299 NSCLC cells were assessed by using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxy methoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium (MTS) assay, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide (PI) staining, cell cycle analysis, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, JC-1 staining, and ROS detection assay. RESULTS: The CG extract induced apoptosis through the stimulation of intrinsic and extrinsic signaling pathways in A549 and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells. Cell cycle arrest was induced by the CG extract in both cell lines. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can induce cell death, were also generated in the CG-treated A549 and NCI-H1299 cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirmed that CG caused apoptosis through the activation of extrinsic and intrinsic pathways, cell cycle arrest, and ROS generation in A549 and NCI-H1299 lung cancer cells. Thus, CG can be suggested as a potential agent for lung cancer therapy.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Calotropis/chemistry , Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology , Lung Neoplasms/metabolism , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Apoptosis/drug effects , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/metabolism , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/physiopathology , Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Improvement of bone formation is necessary for successful treatment of the bone defects associated with osteoporosis. In this study, we sought to elucidate the osteogenic activity of peanut sprouts and their bioactive components. We found that peanut sprout water extract (PSWE) enhanced bone morphogenetic protein-2-mediated osteoblast differentiation in a dose-dependent manner by stimulating expression of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) via activation of AKT/MAP kinases. We identified a major component of PSWE, soyasaponin Bb, as the bioactive compound responsible for improvement of anabolic activity. Soyasaponin Bb from PSWE enhanced expression of the osteogenic transcription factor Runx2 and alkaline phosphatase. The soyasaponin Bb content depended on sprouting time of peanut, and the anabolic action of PSWE was dependent on soyasaponin Bb content. Thus, PSWE and soyasaponin Bb have the potential to protect against bone disorders, including osteoporosis.
Subject(s)
Arachis/chemistry , Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/metabolism , Osteoblasts/metabolism , Osteogenesis/physiology , Osteoporosis/diet therapy , Saponins/metabolism , Seedlings/chemistry , Cell Differentiation , Cell Proliferation , Osteoporosis/pathology , Transcription FactorsABSTRACT
Epimagnolin A is a lignan obtained from the flower buds of Magnolia fargesii, which is traditionally used in Asian medicine for treating headache and nasal congestion. A herbal compound fargesin obtained from M. fargesii, has exerted anti-inflammatory effects in human monocytic THP-1 cells in the previous study. The anti-inflammatory effects of epimagnolin A, however, have been not elucidated yet. In this study, it was demonstrated that epimagnolin A reduced phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-induced IL-6 promoter activity and IL-6 production in human monocytic THP-1 cells. Furthermore, it was investigated the modulating effects of epimagnolin A on mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and activator protein 1 (AP-1) activities. Phosphorylation of p38 and nuclear translocation of p50 and c-Jun were down-regulated by epimagnolin A in the PMA-stimulated THP-1 cell. The results revealed that epimagnolin A attenuated the binding affinity of NF-κB and AP-1 transcription factors to IL-6 promoter and IL-6 production through p38/NF-kB and AP-1 signaling pathways in the PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells. These results suggest that epimagnolin A can be a useful drug for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.