Animals ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Grape Seed Extract ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the role of β-catenin and caspase-3 in amentoflavone-induced apoptosis of human colorectal cancer SW480 cells.

METHODSMTT assay was used to detect the viability of SW480 cells exposed to amentoflavone, and flow cytometry was employed to assess the cell apoptosis. Western blotting was performed to determine the protein expressions of β-catenin and caspase-3 in the exposed cells.

RESULTSAmentoflavone dose-dependently inhibited the viability of SW480 cells, and a high concentration of amentoflavone (150 µmol/L) obviously induced apoptosis of the cells. Amentoflavone exposure caused significantly increased expression of caspase-3 and suppressed β-catenin expression in the cells.

CONCLUSIONAmentoflavone-induced apoptosis in SW480 human colorectal cancer cells is associated with altered expressions of β-catenin and caspase-3.

Apoptosis ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Caspase 3 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; pathology ; Humans ; beta Catenin ; metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the protective effects of procyanidin on periprosthetic osteolysis caused by tricalcium phosphate (TCP) wear particles in the mouse calvaria and its mechanism. METHODS: Forty-eight male ICR mice were randomly divided into sham group, TCP group, and procyanidin (0.2 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg)-treated group (n=12). A periprosthetic osteolysis model in the mouse calvaria was established by implanting 30 mg of TCP wear particles onto the surface of bilateral parietal bones following removal of the periosteum. On the 2 day post-operation, procyanidin (1 mg/kg, 5 mg/kg) was locally injected to the calvaria under the periosteum every other day. After 2 weeks, all the mice were sacrificed to collect the blood samples and the calvaria. Periprosthetic osteolysis and osteoclastogenesis in the mouse calvaria were observed by tartrate resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining and HE staining. mRNA levels of TRAP, capthesin K, c-Fos and NFATc1 in the periprosthestic bone tissue were examined by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Serum contents of total anti-oxidation capacity (T-AOC) and MDA, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determined by chemical colorimetry. Protein expressions of autophagic biomarkers such as Beclin-1 and LC-3 in periprosthetic bone tissue of the calvaria were examined by Western blot. RESULTS: Compared with sham group, periprosthetic osteolysis, osteoclastogenesis, mRNA levels of TRAP, capthesin K, c-Fos and NFATc1, and serum MDA content were increased significantly in the TCP group (P＜0.05), whereas serum T-AOC level and SOD activity were decreased. The protein expressions of Beclin-1 and LC-3, and the conversion of LC3-II from LC3-I were both up-regulated markedly in the mouse calvaria of TCP group (P＜0.05). Compared with TCP group, osteolysis, osteoclastogenesis, mRNA levels of TRAP, capthesin K, c-Fos and NFATc1 and serum MDA content were decreased obviously in the procyanidine group (P＜0.05), serum T-AOC level and SOD activity were increased, the expressions of Beclin-1 and LC-3, and the conversion of LC3-II from LC3-I were down-regulated obviously in the mouse calvaria of procyanidin group (P＜0.05). CONCLUSION Procyanidin has a protective effect of periprosthetic osteolysis caused by TCP wear particles in the mouse calvaia, its mechanism may be mediated by inhibition of oxidative stress and autophagy.
Animals ; Autophagy ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Calcium Phosphates ; adverse effects ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Osteolysis ; Oxidative Stress ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology ; Prostheses and Implants ; adverse effects ; Random Allocation ; Skull

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of biflavonoid 4'-O-methylochnaflavone (MF) on palmitic acid-induced endothelial dysfunction in rat cavernous endothelial cells (RCECs). METHODS: The isolated RCECs were commercially available and randomly divided into four groups: normal+BSA group (NC group), palmitic acid (PA) group, MF group, and icariside Ⅱ (ICA Ⅱ) group. The protein expression levels of protein kinase B (PKB/AKT) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in each group were evaluated via Western blotting. The differences in the intracellular nitric oxide of RCECs treated by MF or ICA Ⅱ were detected by DAF-FM DA that served as a nitric oxide fluorescent probe. Effects of MF and ICA Ⅱ on cell proliferation of PA-stimulated RCECs were determined via CCK-8 assay. RESULTS: The content of nitric oxide in RCECs was significantly increased after the treatment of MF and ICA Ⅱ in comparison with the NC group (P < 0.05). Moreover, compared with ICA Ⅱ group, MF demonstrated a more obvious effect in promoting nitric oxide production (P < 0.05). Compared with the NC group, the expression levels of eNOS and AKT in the PA group were significantly decreased, indicating that a model for simulating the high-fat environment in vitro was successfully constructed (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the intervention of MF and ICA Ⅱ could effectively increase the expression of eNOS and AKT, suggesting that MF and ICA Ⅱ could promote the recovery of endothelial dysfunction caused by high levels of free fatty acids (P < 0.05). The results of CCK-8 assays showed that PA could significantly reduce the proli-feration ability of RCECs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the decreased cell viability induced by PA was significantly elevated by treatment with ICA Ⅱ and MF (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION In RCECs, MF and ICA Ⅱ could effectively increase the content of nitric oxide. The down-regulation of the expression of proteins associated with the AKT/eNOS pathway after PA treatment revealed that this pathway was involved in the development of endothelial dysfunction, which could be effectively reversed by MF and ICA Ⅱ. In addition, the cell proliferation ability was significantly decreased following PA treatment, but MF and ICA Ⅱ could restore the above changes. Overall, biflavonoid MF has an obvious repairing effect on PA-stimulated endothelial dysfunction.
Animals ; Biflavonoids/pharmacology* ; Cells, Cultured ; Endothelial Cells/metabolism* ; Nitric Oxide/pharmacology* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/pharmacology* ; Palmitic Acid/pharmacology* ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Rats ; Signal Transduction ; Sincalide/pharmacology*

Animals ; Apoptosis ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Grape Seed Extract ; pharmacology ; Kidney ; drug effects ; Male ; Oxidative Stress ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Fluoride ; adverse effects

The study was aimed to investigate the potential effect of procyanidins (PC) as a antithrombotic agent and its mechanism. 48 male SD rats were randomized into 6 groups, which include 8 rats each. Group A was normal control, group B was model control (no treatment), group C was group treated with aspirin [10mg/(kg x d)], groups D, E and F were treated with low, medial and high dose [100, 200 and 400 mg/(kg x d)] of PC respectively. In accordance with Kurz's protocols, rat's model of thrombosis of common carotid artery was contructed with FeCl(3), but for goup A 0.9% of normal saline was used for 20 minutes. The thromboxane B2 (TXB(2)), 6-Keto-PGF1alpha and GMP-140 contents in plasma were measured. The results showed that compared with the normal control group, the contents of TXB(2) and GMP-140 in plasma markedly increased in all of PC groups and aspirin group, and the contents of 6-Keto-PGF1alpha in plasma decreased. Compared with the model group, the contents of TXB(2) and GMP-140 in plasma markedly decreased in all of PC groups and aspirin group, and the contents of 6-Keto-PGF1alpha in plasma increased. Compared with the aspirin group, the contents of TXB(2) and GMP-140 in plasma reduced in all of PC groups and the contents of 6-Keto-PGF1alpha in plasma increased which was obvious in PC 400 mg/(kg x d) group. It is concluded that PC shows obvious anti-thrombosis effect, its mechanism closely correlates with inhibition of platelet activation and aggregation as well as protecting vasoendothelial cells. Antithrombosis of PC shows significant dose-dependence. The effect of the PC 400 mg/(kg x d) surpass the aspirin, but there is no significant difference between the PC 200 mg/(kg x d) and aspirin. This study provides experimental basis for clinical prevention and treatment of thrombosis.
Animals ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Carotid Artery Thrombosis ; blood ; prevention & control ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Catechin ; pharmacology ; Fibrinolytic Agents ; pharmacology ; Male ; Platelet Activation ; drug effects ; Platelet Aggregation ; drug effects ; Proanthocyanidins ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

AIMTo study the protective effect of procyanidins from the seedpod of the lotus (LSPC) on myocardial ischemia and reperfusion in rats.

METHODSMyocardial injury model was made by ligating the coronary artery for 30 min followed by reperfusion for 45 min in anesthetized rat and 30 min of ischemia followed by 30 min of reperfusion in the isolated rat heart. All animals were given the medicine or normal saline before the experiment. ET, Ang I, Ang II in the serum, the MDA content, SOD activity, NO level, the recovery rate of coronary flow (CF) and heart rate (HR) after reperfusion and CK, XO from the myocardial cells were observed.

RESULTSLSPC was shown to inhibit the release of ET, Ang II (P < 0.05) , and the increase of MDA content (P < 0.05). It was also found to increase the SOD activity (P < 0.05) and NO level (P < 0.01). LSPC was found to increase the recovery rate of the coronary flow (CF) and heart rate (HR) after reperfusion (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01), decrease the release of CK from the myocardial cells (P < 0.01), depress the XO activity of myocardial tissue (P < 0.05), as well as improve the myocyte ultrastructural pathological injury.

CONCLUSIONThe anti-ischemia effect of LSPC was related to the mechanism of scavenging the oxygen free radicals directly, cutting off the source of free radicals, reducing tissue peroxidation, stabilizing the cells membrane, depressing the production of EDCF and increasing the NO level as well.

Animals ; Biflavonoids ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cardiotonic Agents ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Coronary Circulation ; drug effects ; Loteae ; chemistry ; Male ; Myocardial Ischemia ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Myocardial Reperfusion Injury ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; enzymology ; ultrastructure ; Proanthocyanidins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

The present study investigated the chemical constituents of the roots of Stellera chamaejasme (Thymelaeaceae). One new biflavone glucoside (1), along with other thirteen known compounds (2-14), was isolated by repeated column chromatographic methods and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analyses. The cytotoxic activities of selected compounds were evaluated against four human cancer cell lines (A549, BEL-7402, HCT-116, and MDA-MB-231) by the SRB assay method. Compound 9 showed remarkable cytotoxicity against BEL-7402 with IC50 value being 0.65 μg·mL(-1); compounds 7, 8, and 12 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against A549 with IC50 values being 2.38, 1.57, and 2.35 μg·mL(-1), respectively.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Biflavonoids ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Glucosides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Molecular Structure ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Thymelaeaceae ; chemistry

Objective: This study aimed to explore the protective effect of procyanidin B2 (PCB2) on acute liver injury induced by aflatoxin B (AFB ) in rats. Methods: Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into control, AFB , AFB + PCB2, and PCB2 groups. The latter two groups were administrated PCB2 intragastrically (30 mg/kg body weight) for 7 d, whereas the control and AFB groups were given the same dose of double distilled water intragastrically. On the sixth day of treatment, the AFB and AFB + PCB2 groups were intraperitoneally injected with AFB (2 mg/kg). The control and PCB2 groups were intraperitoneally administered the same dose of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). On the eighth day, all rats were euthanized: serum and liver tissue were isolated for further examination. Hepatic histological features were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections. Weight, organ coefficient (liver, spleen, and kidney), liver function (serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, total bilirubin, and direct bilirubin), oxidative index (catalase, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine), inflammation factor [hepatic interleukin-6 (IL-6) mRNA expression and serum IL-6], and bcl-2/bax ratio were measured. Results: AFB significantly caused hepatic histopathological damage, abnormal liver function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and bcl-2/bax ratio reduction compared with DMSO-treated controls. Our results indicate that PCB2 treatment can partially reverse the adverse liver conditions induced by AFB . Conclusion Our findings indicate that PCB2 exhibits a protective effect on acute liver injury induced by AFB .
Aflatoxin B1 ; toxicity ; Animals ; Biflavonoids ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Catechin ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury ; drug therapy ; etiology ; Male ; Poisons ; toxicity ; Proanthocyanidins ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Protective Agents ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

The research of anti-hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) drug has attracted more and more attention. Natural products are the important source of active compounds for cancer treatment. A biflavonoid HIS-4 was isolated from Resina draconis in our previous study. MTT assay, hoechst staining, and flow cytometry analysis were used to investigate the effects of HIS-4 on the proliferation and apoptosis of human hepatoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Moreover, the effects of HIS-4 on the migration and invasion ability of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were evaluated by wound healing assay and Transwell assay. In addition, MTT assay, flow cytometry analyses, Hoechst staining, wound healing assay, Transwell assay, and tube formation assay were used to explore the anti-angiogenic activity of HIS-4 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs). Mechanistically, the HIS-4 regulatory of signal pathways in H9 epG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells were analyzed by Western blot. This results showed that HIS-4 suppressed the proliferation of human hepatoma HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Moreover HIS-4 induced their apoptosis of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. HIS-4 inhibited the migration and invasion of HepG2 and SK-HEP-1 cells. Additionally, HIS-4 exhibited angiogenesis effects. Mechanistically, up-regulation of MAPK signaling pathway and down-regulation of mTOR signaling pathway may be responsible for anti-hepatoma activity of HIS-4. Therefore, HIS-4 may be a promising candidate drug for HCC treatment.
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; Biflavonoids ; pharmacology ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Movement ; Cell Proliferation ; Dracaena ; chemistry ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Phytochemicals ; pharmacology