Aims: The oriental-based herbs Acalypha indica (AI), Centella asiatica (CA), and Sesbania grandiflora (SG) possess a broad range of undisclosed therapeutic activities which are edible and easily available throughout the year. To convert the herb extracts into a potential drug form, aqueous (A) and methanol (M) extracts of herbs were assessed alone and in combination for their antifungal-demelanising activity and nitric oxide (NO) immunomodulatory responses. A new bioactive synergistic and antagonistic assessments approach was made on these herbs to identify which extract combination qualifies as a natural drug candidate. Methodology and results: Via micro-dilution technique, methanol extract of A. indica (AI-M) showed the strongest antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 50 mg/mL and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 100 mg/mL. Sublethal (50 mg/mL) and subinhibitory (25 mg/mL) doses of AI-M produced the optimal black pigmentation reduction to demelanise A. niger. The combinations AI-M+CA-M, AI-M+SG-M, and CA-M+SG-M showed similar antifungal activities (MIC = 100 mg/mL). At 500 µg/mL, CA-A and the combination CAA+SG-A successfully induced RAW264.7 cells to produce NO at 17.85 µM and 40.84 µM, respectively. The combination of herbs extract showed synergistic interaction towards stimulation of NO production. In contrast, they demonstrated antagonism towards antifungal-demelanising properties. Compound identification of AI-M, SG-M, and SG-A were performed using a UHPLC-QTrap-MS/MS system, which detected phenolic compounds from various groups (cinnamic acids, benzoic acids, and flavonoids). Conclusion, significance and impact of study The combination of herb extracts showed better stimulation of NO production while the single herb extracts demonstrated good antifungal-demelanising activity. These findings help in the selection of herbs combination for potential natural drug discovery. A good combination of herbs demonstrated synergism to execute better bioactivities compared to individual herb extracts.
Plants, Medicinal--drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate possible inactivating effect of recombined decoction in on mumps virus.

METHODSBy adopting tissue cell culturing technology, a group of viruses including the mumps virus, herpes simplex virus (type I, II), rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes zoster virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adeno viruses, respiratory syneytial virus (RSV) were cultured. The cells infected with the viruses were treated with the decoction.

RESULTSThe decoction showed remarkable inhibitory and killing effects on the mumps virus while had no obvious inhibitory and killing effects on host's cells, herpes simplex virus (type I, II), rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes zoster virus, influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, adeno viruses, respiratory syneytial virus (RSV).

CONCLUSIONSThe decoction had obvious inhibitory and killing effects on mumps virus during single layer cells culture.

Cells, Cultured ; Cytomegalovirus ; drug effects ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Mumps virus ; drug effects ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; drug effects ; Respirovirus ; drug effects ; Rubella virus ; drug effects ; Simplexvirus ; drug effects

Aluminum ; toxicity ; Cell Death ; drug effects ; Humans ; Neurons ; drug effects

Animals ; Arsenates ; toxicity ; Female ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Liver ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Rats, Wistar

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; drug effects ; Phloretin ; pharmacology

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is a vitamin A derivative and plays an important role in the regulation of cell aggregation, differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, and inflammatory response. In recent years, some progress has been made in the role of ATRA in renal diseases, especially its protective effect on podocytes. This article reviews the research advances in podocyte injury, characteristics of ATRA, podocyte differentiation and regeneration induced by ATRA, and the protective effect of ATRA against proliferation, deposition of fibers, and apoptosis.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Differentiation ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Cytoprotection ; Humans ; Podocytes ; drug effects ; physiology ; Tretinoin ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of activated AKT on murine myeloid precursor cells (32D cells), and the effects of IFN-γ on 32D cells and its mechanisms.

METHODSPlasmid transduction was used to enhance the expression of AKT on 32D cells. After the transfected cells treated with IFN-γ for 24 hours, proliferation rate was tested by WST-1, apoptosis by flow cytometry, expression of phosphorylated Erk1/2, Stat3 and phosphorylated Stat3 was determined by Western blot.

RESULTS(1) IFN-γ at low concentration (100 U/ml) enhanced the growth and proliferation of 32D cells, while at high concentration (1000 U/ml) suppressed them. (2) Compared with control groups, low concentration IFN-γ increased (1124 ± 13) Stat3 phosphorylation in 32D-cell, while it high concentration IFN-γ decreased (601 ± 13). 32D cells transfected with activated Akt grew rapidly (0.287 ± 0.010) and had a low apoptotic rate [(9.57 ± 0.17)% (P < 0.05)]. (3) The expression of p-Erk1/2 in transfected 32D-cell was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). (4) Apoptosis rate of IFN-γ treated group was significantly decreased in transfected 32D cells (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSIFN-γ has dual effects on 32D cells, namely, at low concentration enhanced the growth and proliferation of 32D cells, while at high concentration suppressed them. Its mechanisims is possibly through Stat3 pathway. Activated Akt can significantly promote the growth and proliferation of 32D cell and significantly inhibit apoptosis and IFN-γ can regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis through AKT. AKT activation can inhibit the Erk signal pathway, which may be affected by inhibition the modificaton of Raf1.

Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Phosphorylation ; drug effects ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the effects of Bisnaphthalimide (C8) on the proliferation and apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells.

METHODSThe effects of C8 on the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells were evaluated by MTT. Cell cycle and apoptotic cell percentage were studied by flow cytometry. The protein of Bcl-2 was detected by Western blot. The intra-cellular protein of Bcl-2 was detected by flow cytometry. The proteins of caspase9 and caspase3 were detected by ELISA.

RESULTSC8 inhibited the growth of SMMC-7721 cells. The IC50 of C8 on SMMC-7721 cells was 15 micromol/L. C8 initiated apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells. After SMMC-7721 cells were exposed to C8 in concentrations of 10, 15, 20 micromol/L, the apoptosis rates were 16.8%, 29.4% and 35.8%, respectively, significantly higher than those of the controls (P less than 0.01). Flow cytometry and Western blot analysis showed that Bcl-2 protein level was inhibited after treatment with C8. The ELISA analysis showed that caspase9 and caspase3 were activated in the SMMC-7721 cells after the C8 treatment.

CONCLUSIONC8 could induce apoptosis of human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells. C8 might be a potential efficient anticancer drug.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Naphthalimides ; pharmacology

Animals ; Cocaine ; pharmacology ; Habenula ; drug effects ; physiology ; Neurons ; drug effects ; physiology ; Pain Threshold ; drug effects ; Rats

Objective To explore the effects of Scutellaria baicalensis on activity and biofilm formation of Klebsiella pneumonia (Kp).Methods The broth and agar dilution Methods were carried out to determine minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of Scutellaria baicalensis for TW518. VITEK-32 system was used to assay TW518 susceptibility to antibiotics. Kp biofilms were formed in vitro and stained with BacLight Live/Dead stain. The class integron geneⅠ1 mRNA expression was analyzed with RT-PCR.Results The minimum inhibitory concentration of Scutellaria baicalensis on TW518 identified as a Kp colony was 32 mg/ml, and minimum bactericidal concentration was 64 mg/ml. Scutellaria baicalensis and broad-spectrum penicillin, cephalosporin, quinolones, or beta-lactamase had synergistic bactericidal effects. Biofilm formation activity of Kp treated with Scutellaria baicalensis was significantly lower than that of the control group. And class integron geneⅠ1 mRNA expression of TW518 was significantly inhibited by Scutellaria baicalensis.Conclusions Scutellaria baicalensis has sterilization effect on Kp, and Scutellaria baicalensis could effectively inhibit Kp biofilm formation with prolonged treatment. Scutellaria baicalensis might inhibit Kp biofilm formation through down-regulating integron geneⅠ1 expression.
Biofilms ; drug effects ; Integrons ; drug effects ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; drug effects ; physiology ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Scutellaria baicalensis