Apoptosis of Human Stomach SGC-7901 Cells Induced
by Extracts of Solanum Lyratum (Bai Ying)
Wan FS, et al. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular
Biology, Medical College of Nanchang University, Nanchang 330006, China.
wanfs01@163.com
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of extracts of Solanum lyratum (ESL) on
the apoptosis of Human stomach cancer SGC-7901 cells. METHODS: Dried whole herbs
of Solanum lyratum were extracted by boiling distilled water. SGC-7901 cells
were randomly divided into control group, ESL-treated groups (12.5 g/L, 25 g/L,
50 g/L) and the positive control (25 mg/L DDP) group. The growth inhibitory rate
was evaluated by MTT assay. Morphological changes of apoptosis were observed
with fluorescence microscope. Cell apoptosis rate was determined by flow
cytometry. Expressions of bcl-xl, Caspase-9 and bid mRNA were detected by semi-quantitive
RT-PCR. The activity of Caspase-3 was detected by Fluorospectrophotometry.
RESULTS: Compared with control group, the cell proliferation inhibitory rate and
apoptosis rate of human stomach cancer SGC-7901 cells increased obviously (P <
0.05). There were obvious changes of morphology of the SGC-7901 cells as the
nuclear shrinkage, chromatin condensation and margination; The expression of bcl-xl
mRNA decreased obviously (P < 0.05), the expression of Caspase-9 and bid mRNA
increased obviously respectively (P < 0.05), and displayed effect in a
dose-dependent manner in the SGC-7901 cells of the ESL-treated groups. The
activity of Caspase-3 in the SGC-7901 cells of the ESL-treated groups were
higher than that of the control group significantly (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: ESL
can induce apoptosis and inhibit proliferation of the human stomach cancer
SGC-7901 cells by regulating expression of bcl-xl, Caspase-9 and bid genes and
strengthening the activity of Caspase-3.
Zhong Yao Cai.
2009 Feb;32(2):245-9.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
Synergistic Antioxidant Activities of Eight
Traditional Chinese Herb Pairs
Yang WJ, et al. College of Food Sciences, Shandong
Agricultural University, Shandong, PR China.
Many Chinese therapeutic herbs that are traditionally used in combination
demonstrate significantly better pharmacological effects when used in the
combination than when used alone. However, the pharmacological mechanism for
this synergism is still not well understood. In the present study, the
antioxidant activities of six herbs ((Paeonia lactiflora (PL), Atractylodes
macrocephala (AMA), Angelica sinensis (AS), Astragalus membranaceus (AME),
Glycyrrhiza uralensis (GU) and Rheum officinale (RO)), which were historically
combined into eight traditional Chinese herb pairs (TCHPs) (AME-AS, AME-AMA,
AME-RO, AME-GU, AME-PL, PL-AS, PL-AMA and PL-GU), were investigated in vitro by
assessing the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazine (DPPH)-radical scavenging
abilities of the herbs. The results of this study showed that all eight TCHPs
had a significantly larger scavenging capacity than would be expected from the
theoretical sum of those of the respective constituent herbs (p<0.05).
Furthermore, the AME-GU, AME-PL and AME-AMA pairs not only showed a significant
synergistic effect in the DPPH scavenging assay, but they also demonstrated
similar results in hydroxyl radical and superoxide radical anion scavenging
assays. Interestingly, the AME-AMA combination had a significantly higher
superoxide anion (0.2 g/ml) and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability than the AME
or AMA. The changes in the total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also
investigated. Our study showed a significant correlation between the rate of
enhancement in antioxidant capacity and the rate of increase in flavonoid
content. Thus, the flavonoids are likely responsible for the synergistic effects
present in TCHPs.
Biol Pharm Bull. 2009 Jun;32(6):1021-6.
Source: PubMed
[TOP]
In Vitro Anti-Fibrotic Activities of Herbal Compounds
and Herbs
Hu Q, et al. Department of Renal
Medicine, King's College London, London, UK.
BACKGROUND: We recently developed high-throughput assays of
inflammation-independent anti-fibrotic activities based on TGF-beta1-induced
total collagen accumulation and nodule formation in normal rat kidney
fibroblasts. METHODS: These assays were applied to examine the anti-fibrotic
activities of 21 compounds isolated from plants used in Chinese medicine and
methanol extracts of 12 Chinese herbs. Lactate dehydrogenase release assay and
cell detachment index were used to monitor cytotoxicity. Changes in fibrogenic
molecular markers were observed by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase
chain reaction and high-content imaging analysis of immunofluorescence. RESULTS:
Three flavonoids (quercetin, baicalein and baicalin) and two non-flavonoids (salvianolic
acid B and emodin) demonstrated anti-fibrotic activities in both total collagen
accumulation and nodule formation assays. The remaining 16 compounds had little
anti-fibrotic effect or were cytotoxic. The anti-fibrotic compounds suppressed
collagen I expression at both mRNA and protein levels and also variably
suppressed alpha-smooth muscle actin expression and bromodeoxyuridine
incorporation. Methanol extracts of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Salvia
miltiorrhiza Bunge and Rheum palmatum L., which are rich sources of baicalein,
baicalin, salvianolic acid B and emodin, respectively, also showed in vitro
anti-fibrotic activities. CONCLUSIONS: Five herbal compounds and three herbal
extracts have in vitro anti-fibrotic activities. These data warrant further
studies on these anti-fibrotic entities and suggest it a promising strategy to
discover new anti-fibrotic drugs by screening more plant materials.
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2009 May 27.
Source: PubMed [TOP] |
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