OBJECTIVETo study the effects of severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) on absorption kinetic parameters of rhubarb free anthraquinones.

METHODSEleven healthy Beagle dogs were randomly divided into the normal group (n = 6) and the SAP group (n = 5). The SAP animal model was prepared by surgery through portal vein blood channel building to collect blood from normal dogs and dogs with SAP. The free anthraquinones (20 mg/kg) was given by gastrogavage. The concentrations of five anthraquinones (aloe emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion) in the blood plasma of the portal vein and the femoral artery were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The kinetic parameters were calculated using MATLAB2007B Software. The half life (t(1/2Ka)), the absorption peak time (Tmax), the peak concentration (Cmax), the area under the curve [AUC(0-infinity)], and the mean residence time (MRT) were calculated using the statistical moment method. The transport velocity of corresponding medicines from the gastrointestinal tract to the blood (ka) was calculated.

RESULTSThere was no difference in the chemical composition absorption type of the portal vein and the femoral artery between the two groups. Aloe emodin could be detected in the portal vein of each animal at each time point, and they were in the quantitative range. Rhein could be detected in the portal vein of each animal at each time point, and they were lower than the quantitative limit at few time points. Emodin and chrysophanol could be detected in the portal vein of partial animals at each time point, and most of them were higher than the quantitative limit. Physcion could be detected only in the portal vein of less animals at few time points. Rhein could be detected in the femoral artery at most time points, but the rhein plasma concentration at most time points were lower than the quantitative limit. Lower concentration of aloe emodin, emodin, and chrysophanol could be detected in the femoral artery at only few time points. Physcion was not detected in the femoral artery. The rhein plasma concentration of the femoral artery and the chrysophanol Cmax of the portal vein at 45 min were higher in the SAP group than in the normal group with statistical difference (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in the rest indices. The AUC of rhein in the two groups were 59.32% and 66.07% of the total free anthraquinones respectively.

CONCLUSIONSSAP could not obviously affect the absorption kinetics parameters of rhubarb free anthraquinones. The intestinal tract and the liver might possibly play important roles in metabolizing or transforming rhubarb free anthraquinones.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Dogs ; Pancreatitis ; metabolism ; Rheum ; chemistry

OBJECTIVETo study the absorption kinetic characteristics of mollugin and purpurin in each intestinal segment of rats.

METHODThe in situ single-way perfusion rat model was established to study absorption characteristics of mollugin and purpurin in each intestinal segment of rats. The volume of recirculation fluid was regulated by phenol red.

RESULTDifferent quality concentrations (12.33, 24.66, 49.32 mg x L(-1)) of mollugin and (8.455, 16.91, 33.82 mg x L(-1)) purpurin showed a concentration gradient of absorption dose in each intestinal segment, with the osmotic coefficient increasing to more than 0.2 x 10(-4) cm x s(-1). In the same concentration, mollugin and purpurin showed an identical trend of P(eff) in each intestinal segment in the order of colon > duodenum > ileum > jejunum, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONMollugin and purpurin are highly permeable in rat intestinal segments, with absorption in each segment, while the specific absorption existed in the colon segment.

Animals ; Anthraquinones ; metabolism ; Female ; Intestinal Absorption ; Male ; Pyrans ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVETo identify the endophyte strain E8 with high activity from Curcuma wenyujin and study its secondary metabolites.

METHODThe strain E8 was identified by morphological observation and ITS sequence analysis. Manifold chromatographic methods were used to separate and purify the chemical constituents of fermentation broth from strain E8, and their structures were identified by physiochemical properties and spectral data.

RESULTThe strain E8 belongs to P. oxalicum. Four compounds were isolated from the fermentation broth of this strain and elucidated as chrysophanol, emodin, secalonic acid A and beta-sitosterol.

CONCLUSIONThe endophyte P. oxalicum was isolated from medicinal plant Curcuma wenyujin for the first time. Four compounds were first isolated from endophytic fungus in C. wenyujin. Thus, microbial fermentation is a new access for these compounds production.

Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Curcuma ; microbiology ; Emodin ; analysis ; Fermentation ; Penicillium ; genetics ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Sitosterols ; analysis ; Xanthones ; analysis

Anthraquinone dyes, which contain anthraquinone chromophore groups, are the second largest class of dyes after azo dyes and are used extensively in textile industries. The majority of these dyes are resistant to degradation because of their complex and stable structures; consequently, a large number of anthraquinone dyes find their way into the environment causing serious pollution. At present, the microbiological approach to treating printing and dyeing wastewater is considered to be an economical and feasible method, and reports regarding the bacterial degradation of anthraquinone dyes are increasing. This paper reviews the classification and structures of anthraquinone dyes, summarizes the types of degradative bacteria, and explores the possible mechanisms and influencing factors of bacterial anthraquinone dye degradation. Present research progress and existing problems are further discussed. Finally, future research directions and key points are presented.
Adsorption ; Anthraquinones ; chemistry ; classification ; metabolism ; Bacteria ; metabolism ; Biodegradation, Environmental ; Coloring Agents ; chemistry ; classification ; metabolism ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Temperature

otrA resembles elongation factor G (EF-G) and is considered to be an oxytetracycline (OTC)-resistance determinant in Streptomyces rimosus. In order to determine whether otrA also conferred resistance to OTC and other aminoglycosides to Streptomyces coelicolor, the otrA gene from S. rimosus M527 was cloned under the control of the strong ermE^* promoter. The resulting plasmid, pIB139-otrA, was introduced into S. coelicolor M145 by intergeneric conjugation, yielding the recombinant strain S. coelicolor M145-OA. As expected S. coelicolor M145-OA exhibited higher resistance levels specifically to OTC and aminoglycosides gentamycin, hygromycin, streptomycin, and spectinomycin. However, unexpectedly, S. coelicolor M145-OA on solid medium showed an accelerated aerial mycelia formation, a precocious sporulation, and an enhanced actinorhodin (Act) production. Upon growth in 5-L fermentor, the amount of intra- and extracellular Act production was 6-fold and 2-fold higher, respectively, than that of the original strain. Consistently, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis revealed that the transcriptional level of pathway-specific regulatory gene actII-orf4 was significantly enhanced in S. coelicolor M145-OA compared with in S. coelicolor M145.
Aminoglycosides/pharmacology* ; Anthraquinones/metabolism* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology* ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics* ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics* ; Streptomyces coelicolor/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigate the anti-proliferation and anti-migration dual effects of aloe-emodin on KB cells and its mechanisms.

METHODSKB cells were treated with 2.5, 5, 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L aloe-emodin. Crystal violet assay was used to determine the long-term growth inhibition of aloe-emodin on human oral cancer KB cells. Scratch wound-healing motility assay was used to measure the antimigration effect The protein kinase C alpha and c-myc expression changes in protein levels were detected by Western blotting.

RESULTSA durable cell growth inhibitory effect of aloe-emodin on KB cells was found. Treatment of aloe-emodin resulted in the inhibition of cell migration. The protein kinase C alpha and c-myc in protein levels were decreased upon treatment with aloe-emodin compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONSThe anti-proliferation and anti-migration effects of aloe-emodin on KB cells are associated with the suppression of protein kinase C pathway.

Anthraquinones ; pharmacology ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Genes, myc ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of acute pancreatitis (AP) on the pharmacokinetics of herbal ointment micron Liuhe Pill, MLHP) components in anesthetized rats.

METHODSRats were randomly divided into a AP model group (n=6) and a normal group as a control (n=6). The rat model of AP was induced by intraperitoneal injection of L-arginine in rats (15 mg/kg, twice, interval 1 h). Chinese herbal ointment MLHP was used externally on the belly after the 2nd injection for 48 h in both groups. Emodin, rhein, aloe emodin, physcion, chrysophanol from MLHP were detected and quantified in rat serum and pancreas (at 48 h) by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

RESULTSAmong the five components, only emodin, aloe emodin and physcion from MLHP were detected in all rat serum and most of the rats' pancreas. Rhein and chrysophanol were not detected in both serum and pancreas. T1/2α of emodin and physcion in MLHP were obviously shorter in the AP model group than those in the normal group (P<0.05), while there was no difference for T1/2α of aloe emodin. The peak concentration and area under curve of all three components were much higher in the AP group than those in the normal group with MLHP in external application for 48 h (P<0.05). Furthermore, the mean residence time (MRT) and maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) of emodin and aloe emodin were obviously longer in the AP model group than those in the normal control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference for Ka of all components between the two groups. Emodin could be detected in all rats' pancreas at 48 h in both groups, while its mean pancreatic concentration was higher in the AP model group than in the normal group (0.61±0.54 ng/mL, 0.42±0.37 ng/mL, respectively,P<0.05). Aloe emodin could be detected in all rats' pancreas at 48 h in both groups and their mean pancreatic concentration were similar (0.31±0.24 ng/mL, 0.33±0.17 ng/mL, respectively,P>0.05). Physcion could be detected in pancreas of most rats in the AP model while only two rats in the normal group.

CONCLUSIONAP could significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of absorbed components of Chinese herbal MLHP ointment in rats.

Acute Disease ; Animals ; Anthraquinones ; analysis ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Emodin ; analysis ; Male ; Ointments ; Pancreatitis ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Glycosylation, one of the most common and important reactions in biological systems, results in diverse functions and is often found in biologically active small-molecule natural products produced by microorganisms. Furthermore, sugar moieties are generally critical for their activities. Alternating the sugar structures thus provides the potentials for enhancing the biological activities of natural products, which evokes researchers to study the sugar biosynthetic machinery and its application in the modification of sugar moieties with an aim of generating unnaturally glycosylated natural product drugs with better activities. This review will briefly outline current studies on sugar biosynthesis and glycosyltransferase, with a few selected experiments designed to alter natural-product sugar structures.
Anthraquinones ; metabolism ; Biological Products ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Carbohydrates ; biosynthesis ; chemistry ; Erythromycin ; biosynthesis ; Glycosylation ; Glycosyltransferases ; biosynthesis ; Isomerism ; Molecular Structure ; Saccharopolyspora ; metabolism ; Streptomyces ; metabolism ; Synthetic Biology

This study aimed to explore the efficacy and mechanism of combined rhein and emodin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis(UC) from the aspects of network pharmacology, animal inflammation improvement and molecular mechanism. Network pharmacology predicted that combined rhein and emodin acted on 52 potential targets, mainly participating in signaling pathways such as cancer, PI3 K/AKT, microRNAs in cancer and apoptosis. PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway has been reported to be closely related to UC, and the optimal candidate pathway for combined therapy. The UC mice model was established by dextran sodium sulfate, and then the modeled mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, rhein group, emodin group, rhein+emodin group and sulfasalazine group. After administration, compared with the conditions in model group, body weight, disease activity index(DAI) score, colon length, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and myeloperoxidase(MPO) of mice in rhein+emodin group were improved(P<0.01); colonic mucosal injury was significantly reduced; the expression of p-PI3 K/PI3 K and p-AKT/AKT proteins were down-regulated(P<0.01). All the above indices were better than those in the rhein/emodin group alone. The Jin's Q-values of the effect of combined rhein and emodin on colon length, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MPO, p-PI3 K/PI3 K and p-AKT/AKT were all greater than 1.15, which indicated that there was obvious synergistic effect between rhein and emodin. In all, rhein and emodin have synergistic effect in the treatment of UC, and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of PI3 K/AKT signaling pathway and the down-regulation of proinflammatory factors. They are the new components in the treatment of UC, which is worthy of attention.
Animals ; Anthraquinones ; Colitis, Ulcerative/metabolism* ; Colon ; Disease Models, Animal ; Emodin/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-6/metabolism* ; Mice ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rheum ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism*

AIM: To determine the IPP origin of the naphthoquinones (NQs) in Rubia cordifolia, and to evaluate the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment, MEP, and MVA pathway inhibitor treatment on the accumulation of anthraquinones (AQs) and NQs in cell suspension cultures of R. cordifolia. METHODS: Cell suspension cultures of R. cordifolia were established. Specific inhibitors (lovastatin and clomazone) and MeJA were supplied to the media, respectively. Treated cells were sampled every three days. Content determination of purpurin (AQs) and mollugin (NQs) were carried out using RP-HPLC. The yield of the two compounds was compared with the DMSO-supplied group and the possible mechanism was discussed. RESULTS: Lovastatin treatment increased the yield of purpurin and mollugin significantly. Clomazone treatment resulted in a remarkable decrease of both compounds. In the MeJA-treated cells, the purpurin yield increased, meanwhile, the mollugin yield decreased compared with control. CONCLUSION The IPP origin of mollugin in R. cordifolia cell suspension cultures was likely from the MEP pathway. To explain the different effects of MeJA on AQs and NQs accumulation, studies on the regulation and expression of the genes, especially after prenylation of 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid should be conducted.
Acetates ; pharmacology ; Anthraquinones ; metabolism ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Cells, Cultured ; Cyclopentanes ; pharmacology ; Isoxazoles ; pharmacology ; Lovastatin ; pharmacology ; Oxazolidinones ; pharmacology ; Oxylipins ; pharmacology ; Pyrans ; metabolism ; Rubia ; drug effects ; metabolism