Sterols are one of the active classes of compounds in Inonotus obliquus for their effective therapy of many diseases. In field environment, this fungus accumulates large amount of sterols. In cultured mycelia, however, this class of compounds is less accumulated. For analyzing the factors responsible for differing sterol composition, the field-grown and cultured mycelia were extracted with 80% ethanol at room temperature and total sterols were prepared using silicon gel column chromatography followed by identification using either GC-MS or spectroscopic methods. For culturing Inonotus obliquus, the seed culture was grown either in basic medium consisting of glucose (2%), yeast extract (0.5%), KH2PO4 (0.01%), MgSO4.7H20 (0.05%) and distilled water at pH 6.5, or the basic medium supplemented with serial concentrations of AgNO3. The results indicated that field-grown mycelia contained lanosterol and inotodiol (comprised 45. 47% and 25. 36% of the total sterols, respectively) and other 10 sterols (comprising the remaining 30.17%) including ergosterol biosynthetic intermediates such as 24-methylene dihydrolanosterol, 4,4-dimethylfecosterol, 4-methyl fecosterol, fecosterol and episterol. Column chromatography also led to the isolation of lanosterol, Inotodiol, trametenolic acid, foscoparianol B and a new triterpenoid foscoparianol D in field-grown mycelia. In comparison, the cultured mycelia only contained three sterols with ergosterol as the predominant one (82.20%). Lanosterol only accounted for 3.68%. Supplementing Ag+ into the culture at 0.28 micromol x L(-1) greatly enhanced content of lanosterol (accounting for 56.81%) and decreased the content of ergosterol (18.5%) together with the presence of intermediates for ergosterol biosynthesis. These results suggested that the sterol composition in mycelia of the fungus can be diversified by supplementing substances inhibiting enzymatic process towards the synthesis of ergosterol. Harsh growth conditions in field environment (i.e. temperature variation, UV irradiation etc.) can delay the synthesis of ergosterol and hereby diversify the sterol composition in the mycelia of Inonotus obliquus.
Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Culture Media ; pharmacology ; Culture Techniques ; Ergosterol ; biosynthesis ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; biosynthesis ; Mycelium ; chemistry ; Silver Nitrate ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo find new active constituents from Rhizome of Cimicifuga foetida.

METHODVarious column chromatographic techniques were employed for isolation and purification. The structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral and chemical evidences.

RESULTFour triterpenoid compounds were isolated and identified as 7,8-didehydro-27-deoxyactein(1), 24-O-acetylshengmanol-3-O-beta-D-xyl (23R, 24R)[2], cimigenol(3), cimigenol-3-O-beta-D-xyl(4).

CONCLUSIONCompound 1 is a new compound, 2-4 were obtained from this medicinal material for the first time. The antiosteoporosis activity screening in vitro(by the method of SRB) indicates that Compounds 1, 2 and 4 can promote the proliferation for rat Osteoblastoma cell line (UMR106) at the concentration of 10(-9) kg.L-1.

Animals ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Division ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cimicifuga ; chemistry ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Osteoblastoma ; pathology ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rhizome ; chemistry ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

A contributory role of oxidative stress and protection by antioxidant nutrients have been suspected in cataract formation. Ganoderic acid A (GAA), an effective lanostane triterpene, is widely reported as an antioxidant. The aim of this study is to investigate the potential effects of GAA on cataract formation. After lens epithelial cells (LECs) were exposed to UVB radiation for different periods, cell viability, apoptosis-related protein levels, malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were monitored. We found that cell viability, the Bcl-2/Bax ratio and SOD activity were increased, while Cleaved caspase-3 levels and MDA activity were decreased compared with those in UVB-impaired LECs after GAA treated. Furthermore, GAA activated PI3K/AKT in UVB-impaired LECs and effectively delayed the occurrence of lens opacity in vitro. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that GAA exhibited protective functions in SRA01/04 cells and rat lenses against UVB-evoked impairment through elevating cell viability and antioxidant activity, inhibiting cell apoptosis, activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and delaying lens opacity.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Cataract/prevention & control* ; Cell Line ; Cell Survival ; Epithelial Cells/radiation effects* ; Heptanoic Acids/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Lanosterol/pharmacology* ; Lens, Crystalline/radiation effects* ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism* ; Rats ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism* ; Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects*

To study the secondary metabolites of a marine-derived fungus Ascotricha sp. ZJ-M-5, several chromatographic methods including macroporous resin, silica gel, ODS and Sephadex LH-20 were used to isolate the compounds, and their structures were elucidated on the basis of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods. Ten compounds were obtained and identified as ascotrichic acid B (1), (3R)-6-hydroxymellein (2), beta-carboline (3), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-7, 22-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (4), (22E, 24R)-ergosta-7, 22-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta, 9alpha-tetraol (5), cyclo (Leu-Pro) (6), cyclo (Ile-Leu) (7), cyclo (Pro-Val) (8), cyclo (Pro-Gly) (9), and cyclo (Hpro-Ala) (10). Among them, compound 1 is a new 3, 4-seco-lanostane triterpenoid which has been isolated from the filamentous fungi for the first time, and compounds 2-10 are firstly isolated from Ascotricha genus.
Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Ascomycota ; chemistry ; Carbolines ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Dipeptides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Molecular Structure ; Peptides, Cyclic ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo study the chemical constituents of Chaetomorpha basiretorsa and screen for bioactive leading compounds.

METHODCompounds were isolated by normal phase silica gel and Sephadex LH-20 gel column chromatography, reverse phase MPLC and reverse phase HPLC. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including MS, IR and 1D, 2D NMR. Cytotoxicity of the compounds was screened by using standard MTT method. The purified compounds' inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells was also screened by MTT assay.

RESULTFive compounds were isolated from C. basiretorsa and their structures were identified as euphol (I), loloilide (II), 4-cumylphenol (III), zeaxanthin (IV) and lactucaxanthin (V).

CONCLUSIONAll these compounds were obtained from this genus for the first time. Compound (III), 4-cumylphenol, was a new nature product. All compounds were inactive (IC50 > 10 microg x mL(-1)) in cytotoxicity screening. In inhibition against proliferation of dog vascular smooth muscle cells test, the cell survival ratio to compound I was (0.32 +/- 0.056)% which indicate its potential anti-atherosclerotic bioactivity.

Animals ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chlorophyta ; chemistry ; Dogs ; Humans ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; cytology ; drug effects ; Phenols ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Triterpenes ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Xanthophylls ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Zeaxanthins

To investigate the effects of lanosterol (1), inotodiol (2) and trametenolic acid (3) from Inonotus obliquus against oxidative damage induced by CCl4 in mice, 1, 2 and 3 (20, 10 and 5 mg x kg(-1)) were respectively administered to mice, once a day for 3 days. Then the mice were induced to oxidative damage by CCl4 on the third day 30 min after the administration. The activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and reductive glutathione (GSH) in serum and liver homogenate were determined. And the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration in serum were detected. The results showed that treatment with compound 1, 2 and 3 could significantly increase the activities of SOD, CAT and GSH-PX in serum and liver homogenate. Furthermore, the content of GSH in serum and liver homogenate increased and MDA content decreased markedly. In addition, compound 1, 2 and 3 could significantly inhibit the activities of ALT and AST in serum, and decrease the IL-6 concentration in serum remarkably. So, compound 1, 2 and 3 can protect mice against oxidative stress injury induced by CCl4. Furthermore, compound 1, 2 and 3 can protect cells from damage through inhibition on ALT, AST and the expression of IL-6.
Alanine Transaminase ; blood ; Animals ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; blood ; Carbon Tetrachloride ; Catalase ; blood ; metabolism ; Female ; Glutathione ; blood ; metabolism ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; blood ; metabolism ; Interleukin-6 ; blood ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Liver ; metabolism ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; blood ; metabolism ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Polyporaceae ; chemistry ; Protective Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Random Allocation ; Superoxide Dismutase ; blood ; metabolism ; Triterpenes ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ganoderic acid A (GA-A) on the biological behaviors of human osteosarcoma cells in vitro.

METHODSMG63 and HOS cells were treated with 0.1, 0.25, and 0.5 mmol/L GA-A, and the changes in cell proliferation, apoptosis and migration were evaluated using MTT assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay, respectively. The expressions of STAT3, p38, and NF-κB1 in the cells were analyzed by Western blotting.

RESULTSGA-A effectively inhibited the proliferation of human osteosarcoma HOS and MG-63 cells in a dose-dependent manner, and induced obvious cell apoptosis in both cells. Treatment with 0.5 mmol/L GA-A also resulted in significant inhibition of the invasion of both cells. The results of Western blotting showed that GA-A down-regulated the expression level of phosphorylated STAT3 and increased the phosphorylation level of p38 and NF-κB1 expression in both cells.

CONCLUSIONGA-A can induce proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and suppression of invasion in human osteosarcoma HOS and MG-63 cells.

Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Bone Neoplasms ; pathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; drug effects ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Heptanoic Acids ; pharmacology ; Humans ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; NF-kappa B p50 Subunit ; metabolism ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; Phosphorylation ; STAT3 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

This study is to investigate the effect of Euphorbia humifusa effective fraction (EHEF) on the CYP51 enzyme activity, the lanosterol content and the MEP, SUB gene expression of Trichophyton rubrum. Trichophyton rubrum was treated by EHEF for 7 days at 26 degrees C. The activity of CYP51 enzyme of Trichophyton rubrum in the cell membrane was determined by using ELISA kit, and the lanosterol content was investigated by using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the MEP, SUB gene expression of Trichophyton rubrum was detected with the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method. Results showed that EHEF can decrease the membrane CYP51 enzyme activity, and it also can accumulate the fungal lanosterol in a dose-dependent manner, and it also can decrease the gene expression of MEP and SUB. The antifungal mechanism of EHEF may be related to the inhibition on CYP51 enzyme activity, and to the effects on fungal cell membrane ergosterol biosynthesis. It may also play an antifungal effect by inhibiting the MEP, SUB gene expression of fungal proteases.
Antifungal Agents ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Cell Membrane ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; Enzyme Activation ; drug effects ; Euphorbia ; chemistry ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; Lanosterol ; metabolism ; Metalloproteases ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Sterol 14-Demethylase ; metabolism ; Subtilisins ; metabolism ; Trichophyton ; drug effects ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo observe the proliferation inhibition, apoptosis, and cell proliferation cycle of human lung carcinoma cell line A549 treated with Inotodiol extracts from Inonotus obliquus and explore the possibility of Inotodiol extracts from Inonotus obliquus as a new tumor chemopreventive drug.

METHODSHuman lung cancer cell line A549 was treated with different concentrations of Inotodiol, the effects of Inotodiol on cell apoptosis, the expression of Ki-67, Bcl-2, Bax, and p53 and cell cycle were detected by TUNEL assay, immunohistochemistry, and flow cytometry assay respectively.

RESULTSInotodiol extracts had antiproliferation effect on human lung carcinoma cell line A549. The expression of Ki-67 decreased with the increase of Inotodiol concentration and exposure time (P<0.05), in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. The typical characteristics of the apoptosis of A549 cells treated with Inotodiol were observed, and the apoptotic rate of A549 cell at 48 h was the highest by TUNEL assay. Inotodiol arrested A549 cells in the S phase, and apoptotic peak was observed by flow cytometry. Immunocytochemistry indicated that the expression of Bcl-2 protein decreased, while the expression of p53 and Bax proteins increased in A549 cells treated with Inotodiol, compared with the control cells (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONInotodiol can inhibit proliferation and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells, and its molecular mechanism may be associated with the up-regulating expression of p53 and bax proteins and down-regulating expression of Bcl-2 protein, which arrested A549 cells in S phase.

Adenocarcinoma ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; genetics ; Basidiomycota ; chemistry ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic ; drug effects ; Genes, bcl-2 ; drug effects ; Genes, p53 ; drug effects ; Humans ; Ki-67 Antigen ; metabolism ; Lanosterol ; analogs & derivatives ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Lung Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; genetics ; metabolism ; pathology ; Phytotherapy ; bcl-2-Associated X Protein ; genetics