Development of 18 microsatellite markers for Atractylodes japonica.

PREMISE: Atractylodes japonica (Asteraceae) is endemic to East Asia, where its rhizomes are used in traditional medicine. To investigate the genetic diversity of this species, we developed polymorphic microsatellite markers. METHODS AND RESULTS: We obtained a total of 175,825 simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci using the Illumina HiSeq 2500 system. Eighteen polymorphic SSR primer pairs were selected to determine heterozygosity levels and allele numbers in 80 individuals from four A. japonica populations. The levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.000 to 1.000 and from 0.133 to 0.892, respectively. Cross-amplification in the related species A. macrocephala and A. lancea was successful in 15 and 14 of the 18 markers, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These microsatellite markers will be useful for future studies involving A. japonica population genetics and breeding.

Effects of Panax ginseng on the nerve growth factor expression in testosterone induced benign prostatic hyperplasia.

The prostatic hyperplasia in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) leads to obstructive micturition symptoms. Previous studies showed that pontine micturition center (PMC), ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG), and medial preopticnucleus (MPA) regions in the brain have been known to regulate the urinary bladder function. The present study shows the influences of Panax ginseng on nerve growth factor (NGF) expressions in PMC, vlPAG, and MPA regions in the brain. Wistar rats were used for the present study. The rats split into four groups; 4 groups (n = 6) in control group, BPH-induced group, BPH-induced and P. ginseng-treated group, and BPH-induced and finasteride-treated group. BPH in rats was induced by testosterone and the animals were evaluated for NGF expression in PMC, vlPAG, and MPA regions in the brain. The NGF expression was identified using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The NGF expression by IHC showed spots with dark brown color. In our results, NGF expressions in PMC, vlPAG, and MPA regions in the brainstem of the BPH-induced group showed increase than the control animal. These increased NGF expressions in three regions were decreased using treatment with P. ginseng (200 mg/kg). These results suggest that P. ginseng has therapeutic effects on the symptoms of BPH and is associated with the regulation of NGF expression in the brain. In conclusion, the administration of P. ginseng helps nerve growth factor activation.

Natural Korean Medicine Dang-Gui: Biosynthesis, Effective Extraction and Formulations of Major Active Pyranocoumarins, Their Molecular Action Mechanism in Cancer, and Other Biological Activities.

Angelica gigas Nakai (AGN) is a crucial oriental medicinal herb that grows especially in Korea and the Far-East countries. It contains chemically active compounds like pyranocoumarins, polyacetylenes and essential oils, which might be useful for treatment of several chronic diseases. It has been used for centuries as a traditional medicine in Southeast Asia, but in Western countries is used as a functional food and a major ingredient of several herbal products. The genus Angelica is also known as 'female ginseng' due to its critical therapeutic role in female afflictions, such as gynecological problems. However, it is well-documented that the AGN pyranocoumarins may play vital beneficial roles against cancer, neurodisorders, inflammation, osteoporosis, amnesia, allergies, depression, fungi, diabetes, ischemia, dermatitis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and androgen. Though numerous studies revealed the role of AGN pyranocoumarins as therapeutic agents, none of the reviews have published their molecular mechanism of action. To the best of our knowledge, this would be the first review that aims to appraise the biosynthesis of AGN's major active pyranocoumarins, discuss effective extraction and formulation methods, and detail the molecular action mechanism of decursin (D), decursinol angelate (DA) and decursinol (DOH) in chronic diseases, which would further help extension of research in this area.

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen Stapf sprout extract has anti-metastatic activity in colon cancer cells in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Rom.Caill.) Stapf has been used in China as an herbal medicine. Many studies of this plant have reported anti-proliferative and apoptotic activities on human cancer cell lines. Therefore, this study of the anti-metastatic effect of Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen Stapf sprout extract (CLSE) in colorectal cancer cells may provide a scientific basis for exploring anti-cancer effects of edible crops. METHODS: To evaluate the effect of CLSE on cell proliferation and signaling, we performed a Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay in HCT116 cells and used western blot analysis. Furthermore, scratch-wound healing, transwell migration, matrigel invasion, and adhesion assays were conducted to elucidate the anti-metastatic effects of CLSE under hypoxic conditions in colon cancer cells. RESULTS: First, CLSE decreased deferoxamine (DFO)-induced migration of colon cancer cells by 87%, and blocked colon cancer cell migration by 80% compared with hypoxia control cells. Second, CLSE treatment resulted in a 54% reduction in hypoxia-induced invasiveness of colon cancer cells, and 50% inhibition of adhesive potency through inactivation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and protein kinase b (AKT) pathways. Third, conditioned medium collected from CLSE-treated HCT116 cells suppressed tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by 91%. CONCLUSIONS: CLSE inhibited migration, invasion, and adhesion of colon cancer cells and tube formation by HUVECs via repression of the ERK1/2 and AKT pathways under hypoxic conditions. Therefore, CLSE may be used to treat patients with colon cancer.

In-vitro antioxidative, antiinflammatory properties of Aurea helianthus leaf extract a Korean traditional medicinal plant.

The leaf of Aurea helianthus (A. helianthus Jinhuakui) is popularly used in China traditional medicine, however, scientific evidence on its antioxidant properties rarely studied. In this study, biological activities of A. helianthus leave's 80% ethanol extract (AHL) were investigated. The measured total polyphenol and flavonoid content of AHL was 184.24 ±â€¯5.01 mg GAE/g and 102.53 ±â€¯0.98 mg NAR/g. AHL showed the highest α, α-diphenyl-ß-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activities of 98.30 ±â€¯0.18% at 1000 µg/mL. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities significantly increased in a AHL concentration-dependent manner. AHL treatment significantly suppressed the generation of pro-inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. AHL demonstrated strong anti-inflammatory activity that reduced NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. To test the potential protective effect of AHL, the antioxidant capacity, on the cell growth, viability of a human hepatoma cell (HepG2) and Raw 264.7 cell were investigated. AHL also enhanced cytotoxicity on the proliferation of HepG2 cells and was capable of inhibiting 56% against LPS at 400 µg/mL. The results of this study the potential of AHL as an excellent antioxidant substance for inhibiting inflammatory mediators. Therefore, AHL may be used as a therapeutic approach to various inflammatory diseases.

LC-MS/MS Validation Analysis of Trastuzumab Using dSIL Approach for Evaluating Pharmacokinetics.

Quantitative targeted proteomics based approaches deploy state-of-the-art Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry LC-MS technologies and are evolving as a complementary technique to standard ligand-binding based assays. Advancements in MS technology, which have augmented the specificity, selectivity and sensitivity limits of detection and freedom from antibody generation, have made it amicable towards various clinical applications. In our current work, a surrogate peptide based quantitative proteomics assessment is performed by selecting specific signature peptides from the complementary determining region CDR region of trastuzumab (Herclon®, Roche products in India). We developed a double Stable Isotope Label (dSIL) approach by using two different surrogate peptides to evaluate the proteolytic digestion efficiency and accurate quantification of the target analyte peptide of Herclon® in human serum. Method validation experiments were meticulously performed as per bioanalytical method validation guidelines. The dSIL approach, using an LC-MS/MS based quantification assay demonstrated good linearity over a range of 5-500 µg/mL of Herclon®, and validation experimental data is in compliance with bioanalytical regulatory guidelines.

Removal of SDS from biological protein digests for proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry.

BACKGROUND: Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs - MIL-101) are the most exciting, high profiled developments in nanotechnology in the last ten years, and it attracted considerable attention owing to their uniform nanoporosity, large surface area, outer-surface modification and in-pore functionality for tailoring the chemical properties of the material for anchoring specific guest moieties. MOF's have been particularly highlighted for their excellent gas storage and separation properties. Recently biomolecules-based MOF's were used as nanoencapsulators for antitumor and antiretroviral controlled drug delivery studies. However, usage of MOF material for removal of ionic detergent-SDS from biological samples has not been reported to date. Here, first time we demonstrate its novel applications in biological sample preparation for mass spectrometry analysis. METHODS: SDS removal using MIL-101 was assessed for proteomic analysis by mass spectrometry. We analysed removal of SDS from 0.5 % SDS solution alone, BSA mixture and HMEC cells lysate protein mixture. The removal of SDS by MIL-101 was confirmed by MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS techniques. RESULTS: In an initial demonstration, SDS has removed effectively from 0.5 % SDS solution by MIL-101via its binding attraction with SDS. Further, the experiment also confirmed that MIL-101 strongly removed the SDS from BSA and cell lysate mixtures. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that SDS removal by the MIL-101 method is a practical, simple and broad applicable in proteomic sample processing for MALDI-TOF-MS and LC-MS analysis.

UPLC-MS/MS-Based Profiling of Eicosanoids in RAW264.7 Cells Treated with Lipopolysaccharide.

While both the pro- and anti-inflammatory effects of several eicosanoids have been widely studied, the degree of inflammation in cells that results from various eicosanoids has yet to be comprehensively studied. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment on eicosanoid content in RAW264.7 cells. An Ultra performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS)-based profiling method was used to analyze the eicosanoid contents of RAW264.7 cells treated with different LPS concentrations. The profiling data were subjected to statistical analyses, such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis. LPS treatment increased nitric oxide production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6, in a concentration-dependent manner. In total, 79 eicosanoids were identified in the cells. RAW264.7 cells treated with different LPS concentrations were well differentiated in the PCA score plot. A heatmap was used to identify the eicosanoids that were up- or down-regulated according to the degree of inflammation and LPS concentration. Thirty-nine eicosanoids were upregulated and seven were down-regulated by LPS treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Our novel UPLC-MS/MS technique can profile eicosanoids, and can evaluate the correlations between inflammation and eicosanoid metabolism.

Isolation and identification of phytochemicals and biological activities of Hericium ernaceus and their contents in Hericium strains using HPLC/UV analysis.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hericium ernaceus has been traditionally used for the treatment of dyspepsia, gastric ulcer and enervation in traditional Chinese medicine for a long time. AIM OF THE STUDY: To examine the effect of Hericium strains on their ability to inhibit LPS and interferon-γ induced NO production in cell culture and the bioassay correlation of hericenone C, D, F, isolated from H. ernaceus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hericenone C, D, F were isolated from H. ernaceus by open column chromatography and identified on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS. The amounts of hericenone C, D, and F in Hericium strains were determined by HPLC/UV analysis. In order to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of Hericium strains extracts, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with 200µg/mL of Hericium strains extracts for 48h. Cell growth was assessed by MTT assay. RESULTS: Phytochemical constituents were isolated from H. ernaceus by open column chromatography. Their structures were elucidated as hericenones C, D, and F on the basis of spectroscopic analyses including (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR and MS. The amounts of hericenones C, D, and F in Hericium strains were determined by HPLC/UV analysis. Hericenones C, D, and F contents were highest in Norugungdenglee-2 (8.289±0.593mg/g), KFRI-1453 (4.657±0.462mg/g), and KFRI-1093 (5.408±0.420mg/g) strains, respectively. All Hericium strains extracts tested inhibited the lipopolysaccharide- and interferon-γ-induced inflammatory activity of RAW264.7 cells. The strain KFRI-1093 about 39.6% reduced NO generation with compared to control. CONCLUSION: We believe that the anti-inflammatory effect of KFRI-1093 was due to hericenone F content. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use, natural drugs and health supplements. And also, the developed simple, accurate and rapid LC method can be used determinate the content of hericenones from other Hericium strains.

Activation of the GP130-STAT3 axis and its potential implications in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

The status of the GP130-STAT3 signaling pathway in humans with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its relevance to disease pathogenesis are unknown. The expression of the gp130-STAT3 axis and gp130 cytokine receptors were studied in subjects with varying phenotypes of NAFLD including nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and compared with lean and weight-matched controls without NAFLD. Gp130 and its downstream signaling element (Tyk2 and STAT3) expression were inhibited in obese controls whereas they were increased in NAFLD. IL-6 levels were increased in NASH and correlated with gp130 expression (P < 0.01). Palmitate inhibited gp130-STAT3 expression and signaling. IL-6 and palmitate inhibited hepatic insulin signaling via STAT3-dependent and independent mechanisms, respectively. STAT3 overexpression reversed palmitate-induced lipotoxicity by increasing autophagy (ATG7) and decreasing endoplasmic reticulum stress. These data demonstrate that the STAT3 pathway is activated in NAFLD and can worsen insulin resistance while protecting against other lipotoxic mechanisms of disease pathogenesis.

Accumulation of flavonoids and related gene expressions in different organs of Astragalus membranaceus Bge.

Astragalus membranaceus is one of the important medicinal plant in China and Korea. It is used to increase metabolism and digestion, enhance the immune system, and promote the healing of wounds and injuries. In the present study, we used quantitative real-time PCR to investigate the expression of genes related to the biosynthesis of flavonoids, in addition to high-performance liquid chromatography to assess calycosin and calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside accumulation, in the different plant organs of A. membranaceus. The transcript levels of all genes (AmPAL, AmC4H, Am4CL, AmCHS, AmCHR, AmCHI, AmIFS, AmI3'H, and AmUCGT) involved in calycosin and calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside biosynthesis were the highest in the flower. Calycosin content was ordered as follows: leaf (145.56 µg/g dry weight [DW]) > stem (18.3 µg/g DW) > root (1.64 µg/g DW) > flower (0.09 µg/g DW), whereas calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside content was ordered as follows: root (4.88 µg/g DW) > stem (3.86 µg/g DW) > leaf (2.0 µg/g DW) > flower (not detected). All genes exhibited the highest transcription levels in the flower, whereas calycosin and its glycoside content were the highest in the leaf and root, respectively. Our results indicate that the enhancement of calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside in the roots may originate from high calycosin accumulation in the stem and leaf. Thus, the mechanisms regulating calycosin and calycosin-7-O-ß-D-glucoside content differ in the different organs of A. membranaceus. The results are expected to provide baseline information from which the mechanism of flavonoid biosynthesis in the different organs of A. membranaceus may be elucidated.

Molecular cloning and characterization of tyrosine aminotransferase and hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase, and rosmarinic acid accumulation in Scutellaria baicalensis.

Rosmarinic acid (a-O-caffeoyl-3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid, RA) is a caffeoyl ester widely distributed in plants. cDNA clones encoding tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT1 and 2) and hydroxyphenylpyruvate reductase (HPPR) have been isolated from Scutellaria baicalensis. The open reading frames (ORFs) of SbTAT1 and 2 were 1230 and 1272 bp long and encoded 409 and 423 amino acid residues, respectively. HPPR corresponded to a 942-bp ORF and 313 amino acid residues of translated protein. To study the molecular mechanisms of TAT and HPPR and investigate RA accumulation in S. baicalensis, we examined the transcript levels of TAT isoforms and HPPR with quantitative real-time PCR and analyzed the RA content in different organs by using high-performance liquid chromatography. The transcript levels of SbTATI SbTAT2, and SbHPPR in the flowers were higher than those in other organs. RA was also highly accumulated in the flowers and with a trace amount in the roots. No RA was detected in the leaves and stems of S. baicalensis. The amount of accumulated RA in the flowers was 28.7 times higher than that in the roots. Our results will be helpful in elucidating the mechanisms of RA biosynthesis in S. baicalensis.

Identification of phenylpropanoid biosynthetic genes and phenylpropanoid accumulation by transcriptome analysis of Lycium chinense.

BACKGROUND: Lycium chinense is well known in traditional Chinese herbal medicine for its medicinal value and composition, which have been widely studied for decades. However, further research on Lycium chinense is limited due to the lack of transcriptome and genomic information. RESULTS: The transcriptome of L. chinense was constructed by using an Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing platform. All 56,526 unigenes with an average length of 611 nt and an N50 equaling 848 nt were generated from 58,192,350 total raw reads after filtering and assembly. Unigenes were assembled by BLAST similarity searches and annotated with Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthology identifiers. Using these transcriptome data, the majority of genes that are associated with phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in L. chinense were identified. In addition, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis-related gene expression and compound content in different organs were analyzed. We found that most phenylpropanoid genes were highly expressed in the red fruits, leaves, and flowers. An important phenylpropanoid, chlorogenic acid, was also found to be extremely abundant in leaves. CONCLUSIONS: Using Illumina sequencing technology, we have identified the function of novel homologous genes that regulate metabolic pathways in Lycium chinense.

Endothelium-dependent vasodilatory and hypotensive effects of Crotalaria sessiliflora L. in rats.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the vasoactive effect of Crotalaria sessiliflora L. extract (CSE) on rats and its mechanism when combining in vivo and in vitro approaches. CSE (0.5-5 mg/ml) induced concentration-dependent relaxation on endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PE, 10(-5) M). This effect disappeared with the removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the aortic strips with either N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-5) M) or methylene blue (10(-5) M) significantly reduced the relaxation induced by CSE. The endothelium-dependent relaxation caused by CSE was associated with production of cGMP. CSE (5 mg/ml) increased the production of cGMP in endothelium-intact aortic rings and this effect was significantly attenuated by L-NNA (10(-5) M) and methylene blue (10(-5) M). Relaxation in response to CSE in strips precontracted with PGF2alpha (3x10(-5) M) was eliminated by removing extracellular Ca2+ and significantly reduced by pretreatment with ruthenium red (10(-5) M). In in vivo tests, injection of 40 mg/kg of CSE induced an increase in plasma NO production, and this effect was blocked by L-NNA. Furthermore, CSE produced dose-dependent and transient decrease in blood pressure in normotensive rats and this effect was blocked by atropine as well as L-NNA. These findings suggest that CSE induces endothelium-dependent relaxation via NO/cGMP signaling by promoting extracellular Ca2+ influx and the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores of endothelium, probably due to endothelial muscarinic receptor activation.