Tanshinone IIA suppresses ovarian cancer growth through inhibiting malignant properties and angiogenesis.

BACKGROUND: In Chinese herbal medicine, Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is one of the main compounds extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Tan-IIA has been demonstrated to inhibit the growth of various tumors. However, the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms of the antitumor effect of Tan-IIA have yet to be fully illuminated. METHODS: A2780 and ID-8 were treated with 0, 1.2, 2.4, 4.8, or 9.6 µg/mL Tan-IIA for 24 hours. Cell counting Kit-8 assay and EdU staining were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay and flow cytometry were performed to analyze apoptosis. Western blot was carried out to determine the protein levels. Flow cytometry was used for cell cycle analysis. The levels of mRNA expression were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. The anti-tumor effect of Tan-IIA was observed in a tumor-bearing mouse model. RESULTS: Tan-IIA inhibited the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner by inducing G2/M phase arrest. It also down-regulated B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) and up-regulated Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax) in ovarian cancer cells to induce apoptosis, and suppressed cell migration by inhibiting focal adhesion kinase phosphorylation. Tan-IIA significantly reduced vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) mRNA expression in ovarian cancer cells. In vivo, Tan-IIA significantly inhibited tumor growth by inducing apoptosis and promoting anti-angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study shed light on the molecular and cellular mechanisms for the antitumor effect of Tan-IIA.

Two new compounds from the roots of Pueraria peduncularis and their molluscicidal effects on Pomacea canaliculata.

Two oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins named pedunsaponin D (1) and pedunsaponin E (2) were isolated from the roots of Pueraria peduncularis. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on chemical and physicochemical evidence as follows: pedunsaponin D, 3-O-ß-glucopyranosyl-(1-3)-ß-glucuronopyranosyl-3ß,15α,23α-trihydroxy-11,13(18)-oleanadien-16-one (1); pedunsaponin E, 3-O-ß-glucopyranosyl-(1-2)-ß-glucopy ranosyl(1-2)[ß-glucopyranosyl(1-3)-ß-glucuronopyranosyl]-3ß-hydroxy-16-oxoolean-12-en-30-oic acid (2). The two compounds showed moderate molluscicidal activity.[Formula: see text].

The Polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula Modulates the Immunity and Intestinal Microbiota of Cyclophosphamide-Treated Immunosuppressed Mice.

Based on previous studies about microflora regulation and immunity enhancement activities of polysaccharides from Codonopsis pilosula Nannf. var. modesta (Nannf.) L. T. Shen (CPP), there is little study on intestinal mucosal immunity, which is a possible medium for contacting microflora and immunity. In the present study, the BALB/c mice were divided into five groups (eight mice in each group), including a normal group (Con), a model control group (Model), and model groups that were administered CPP (50, 100, 200 mg/kg/d) orally each day for seven days after intraperitoneal injection of 60 mg/kg BW/d cyclophosphamide (CP) for three days. CPP recovered the spleen index and restored the levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-10, as well as serum IgG. In addition, it elevated ileum secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA), the number of Lactobacillus and acetic acid content in cecum. These results indicated that CPP plays an important role in the protection against immunosuppression, especially mucosa immune damage, and the inhibition of pathogenic bacteria colonization, which could be considered a potential natural source of immunoregulator.