Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Calcium Channel Blockers ; therapeutic use ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Pneumoconiosis ; drug therapy ; Tablets

As a member of the dibenzyl isoquinoline alkaloid family, cepharathine is an alkaloid from the traditional Chinese medicine cepharathine, which is mainly used for treatment of leukopenia and other diseases. Recent studies of the inhibitory effect of cepharathine against SARS-CoV-2 have attracted widespread attention and aroused heated discussion. As the original discoverer of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of cepharanthine, here we briefly summarize the discovery of cepharanthine and review important progress in relevant studies concerning the discovery and validation of anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity of cepharathine, its antiviral mechanisms and clinical trials of its applications in COVID-19 therapy.
Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Benzylisoquinolines/therapeutic use* ; COVID-19 ; Humans ; SARS-CoV-2

Objective: To analyze the safety, effectiveness, economics, innovation, suitability and accessibility of tetrandrine in the treatment of pneumoconiosis, and provide evidence-based basis for health policy decision-making and clinical practice. Methods: In July 2022, the system searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, Wanfang, SinoMed databases (the retrieval time was from the establishment of the database to June 30, 2022), screened the documents that meet the standards, extracted and evaluated the data, and used the "HTA checklist" developed by the International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) to evaluate the HTA report. AMSTAR-2 Scale was used to evaluate the quality of systematic evaluation/Meta analysis. CHEERS Scale was used to evaluate the quality of pharmacoeconomics research. The included cohort study or case-control study was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The included randomized controlled trial (RCT) studies were evaluated using the Cochrane Risk Bias Assessment Tool (Cochrane RCT) quality evaluation criteria. Comprehensive comparison and analysis based on the characteristics of the data included in the study. Results: A total of 882 related literatures were detected from the initial screening. According to relevant standards, 8 RCT studies were finally selected for analysis. Statistical results showed that basic treatment with tetrandrine could better improve FEV(1) (MD=0.13, 95%CI: 0.06-0.20, P<0.001), FEV(1)/FVC (MD=4.48, 95%CI: 0.61-8.35, P=0.02) and clinical treatment efficiency. Tetrandrine had a low incidence of adverse reactions. The affordability coefficient of tetrandrine tablets was 0.295-0.492. Conclusion: Tetrandrine can improve the clinical symptoms and pulmonary ventilation function of pneumoconiosis patients, most of the adverse reactions are mild, and the clinical application is safe.
Humans ; Pneumoconiosis/drug therapy* ; Benzylisoquinolines/therapeutic use* ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; Case-Control Studies

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical efficacy of tetrandrine combined with acetylcysteine effervescent tablets in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSA total of 96 patients with silicosis were randomly divided into treatment group (49 cases) and control group (47 cases). Both groups were given routine therapy including anti-inflammatory, antitussive, and antiasthmatic drugs, and the patients in treatment group were given tetrandrine combined with acetylcysteine effervescent tablets at the same time. Tetrandrine (100 mg) was orally administrated twice a day, and there was a one-day interval between every 6 days' continuous administration; totally, there were four courses of treatment, with 3 months for each course, and there was a one-month break between each course. Acetylcysteine effervescent tablets (600 mg) were taken twice a day; each course of treatment was 12 days, and there were four courses; for the first two months, there was one course per month, and then one course every other two months for the rest of time. Clinical symptoms, pulmonary ventilation function, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and changes in X-ray findings were observed.

RESULTSAfter treatment, the treatment group had significantly increased rates of improvements in cough, expectoration, chest congestion and pain, and dyspnea compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Compared with the control group (serum SOD level: 70.466±20.261 U/ml) and the treatment group before therapy (serum SOD level: 68.182±21.414 U/ml), the treatment group after therapy had significantly increased serum SOD level (77.389±21.315 U/ml?, forced vital capacity, and forced expiratory volume in one second (P < 0.05). Eight patients in treatment group showed improvement in the chest X-ray findings of silicosis.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of tetrandrine and acetylcysteine effervescent tablets show some effect in the treatment of silicosis. It can be an effective option for treating silicosis as there are no other specific remedies.

Acetylcysteine ; therapeutic use ; Aged ; Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVETo observe the therapeutic efficacy of tetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection in the treatment of silicosis.

METHODSSixty-three patients with silicosis were randomly divided into treatment group (n = 33) and control group (n = 30). Both groups received anti-inflammatory, cough-relieving, and anti-asthmatic treatment. Meanwhile, the treatment group was given tetrandrine tablets (100 mg bid) and matrine injection (150 mg qd). There were 4 courses of tetrandrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with one-month intervals among them. Matrine injection was used for 15 consecutive days in each month. There were 2 courses of matrine treatment (each course = 3 months), with a one-month interval in between. The clinical symptoms, pulmonary function, serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and chest X-ray images were observed before and after treatment.

RESULTSAfter treatment, chest distress, chest pain, shortness of breath, and other respiratory symptoms were relieved significantly (P < 0.05). The treatment group showed significantly higher SOD activity than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05) and significantly higher forced vital capacity and forced expiratory volume in one second than before treatment and the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment, 5 patients (4 stage II cases and 1 stage III case, all in rapidly progressive forms) in the treatment group showed smaller, lighter, and clearer shadows with decreased overall intensity on chest X-ray; 12 patients showed significantly fewer and clearer lung markings on chest X-ray.

CONCLUSIONTetrandrine tablets combined with matrine injection have some therapeutic effect on silicosis.

Aged ; Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Benzylisoquinolines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Injections ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Quinolizines ; administration & dosage ; therapeutic use ; Silicosis ; drug therapy ; Tablets ; Treatment Outcome

Recently, a wide range of food-derived phytochemical compounds and their synthetic derivatives have been proposed for cancer treatment. Unfortunately, data available in related literature focus on the anti-cancer properties of compounds derived from edible plants, while very little is known about those derived from non-edible plants. And thus, the underlying mechanisms of their anti-cancer effects are yet to be elucidated. This review collates the available data on the anti-cancer activities of six phytochemical-derived compounds from edible and non-edible plants, i.e. rottlerin, berbamine, sparstolonin B, sulforaphane, plumbagin and 6-shogaol. These compounds are used as bioactive markers for cytotoxicity against tumors. As such, understanding their mode of action will provide the rationale for the combination strategies of these compounds with other drugs in the battle against cancer.
Acetophenones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Benzopyrans ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Benzylisoquinolines ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Catechols ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heterocyclic Compounds, 4 or More Rings ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Isothiocyanates ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Naphthoquinones ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo investigate the therapeutic effect of Qingyi Decoction (QYD) and tetrandrine (Tet), used singly or combind, in treating miniature pigs with severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) and its mechanism.

METHODSThirty-two Guizhou miniature pigs were made into SAP model by pancreatic duct retrograde injection of 5% sodium taurocholate. They were randomly divided into 4 groups: the control group, the QYD group, the Tet group and the combined treated group. The serum amylase activity and interleukin-1 and 6 (IL-1, IL-6) contents in serum from vena cava and portal vein were tested by biochemistry and radioimmunoassay (RIA). Serum emodin and plasma Tet levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) 24, 48 and 72 hrs after treatment. And the pathological changes of pancreas, lung and liver were observed under microscope.

RESULTSThe mortality of SAP pigs was reduced significantly and the inflammatory injury of the organs was ameliorated obviously in all treated groups, and the increased amylase activity and IL-1, IL-6 levels was attenuated. The therapeutic effect was much more obvious, and the plasma Tet level at different time points were much higher in the combined treated group than those in the other two groups treated by single drug (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth QYD and Tet could treat effectively SAP through multiple pathways, combination of them reveals an elevation of serum drug concentration and shows a synergistic effect.

Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Drug Synergism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacokinetics ; therapeutic use ; Emodin ; blood ; Female ; Interleukin-1 ; blood ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Male ; Pancreatitis, Acute Necrotizing ; blood ; drug therapy ; Phytotherapy ; Random Allocation ; Swine, Miniature

OBJECTIVETo explore the effects of tetrandrine on inhibition of capsular contracture in rabbits.

METHODS12 female New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into two groups with 6 animals in each group. Four smooth silicone implants (15 ml each) were implanted beneath the panniculus carnosus muscle of each rabbit. 20 mg tetrandrine was given in side of the implant cavity in the experimental group intraoperatively. All animals were sacrificed 3 months after operation. Capsular tensility, wet weight, collagen content and capsular histological examinations were carried out. In addition, The expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) were examined by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTSCapsular tensility and capsular wet weight and capsular collagen content in the control group were significantly higher than that in the tetrandrine group (P < 0.01). alpha-SMA positive cell numbers in control group was obviously higher than that in the tetrandrine E group (P < 0.01). Capsular thickness were no statistical difference between 2 groups (P > 0.05). The capsular microstructure of control group was similar in two groups. The inner layer of capsule was smooth. The middle layer was lamellated fibrous tissue. The outer layer was loose connective tissue. Collagen fibres in control group was dense, the middle layer was thicker than that of the tetrandrine group. Typical myofibroblasts were found in both of 2 types of capsules. Myofibroblasts with swollen mitochondria and dilated rough and chromatin margination endoplasmic reticulum were found in the tetrandrine group.

CONCLUSIONSThis study verified the efficiency of tetrandrine in inhibiting the capsular contracture.

Animals ; Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Breast Implants ; adverse effects ; Contracture ; etiology ; prevention & control ; Female ; Postoperative Complications ; prevention & control ; Rabbits ; Silicone Gels ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo study the healing effect of pneumoconiosis with tetrandrine and massive whole-lung lavage.

METHODSChoose 34 confirmed pneumoconiosis patients as drug treatment group and complex treatment group, and 17 tested workers as control group. Collected the content of TGF-beta1 and P III P which in these three investigated groups.

RESULTSDrug treatment group and complex treatment group of patients improved the clinical symptoms and lung function Compared with Pretreatment, the FVC, FEV1.0, FEV1.0/FVC, MVV was obviously higher than those before treatment (P < 0.05). Complex treatment group than in the drug treatment group increased more significantly (P < 0.05). The level of TGF-beta1 and P III P was reduced after complex treatment (P < 0.05). Moreover,the level of TGF-beta1 and P III P in these patients are lower than in those patients treated with tetrandrine combined with whole lung lavage (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONTetrandrine combined with whole-lung lavage could significantly retard the development of pneumoconiosis by lessening the TGF-beta1 and P III P in serum.

Adult ; Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Collagen Type III ; blood ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; blood ; therapy ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; blood ; Treatment Outcome

Aged ; Benzylisoquinolines ; therapeutic use ; Bronchoalveolar Lavage ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Oxidative Stress ; Phytotherapy ; Pneumoconiosis ; metabolism ; therapy ; Quality of Life ; Treatment Outcome