Eight new diterpenoids, Isodons A-H (1-8), comprising seco-abietane and abietane-type structures, together with 13 known analogues (9-21), were isolated from Isodon lophanthoides (Buch.-Ham. ex D. Don) Hara. The compounds (+)-3/(-)-3, (+)-4/(-)-4, and (+)-5/(-)-5 were identified as three enantiomeric pairs. The planar structures and absolute configurations of 1-8 were determined through high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), 1D & 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations, and X-ray diffraction crystallography. A cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (Cyp7a1) luciferase reporter assay revealed significant anti-cholestatic activities for compounds 1, (+)-4, 6, 7, 12-14, and 16. Additionally, compound 6 demonstrated anti-cholestatic effects through the farnesoid X receptor (FXR)-associated signaling pathways in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest potential applications for I. Lophanthoides in pharmaceutical development.
Abietanes/pharmacology* ; Molecular Structure ; Animals ; Isodon/chemistry* ; Humans ; Diterpenes/pharmacology* ; Plant Extracts/chemistry*

In this study, the transmittance of tanshinone Ⅱ_A(Tan Ⅱ_A) and cryptotanshinone(CTS) through the blood-prostate barrier and their distributions in the prostate tissue were compared between tanshinone extract(Tan E) treatment group and the corresponding monomer composition group under the equivalent dose conversion in vitro and in vivo. First, the human prostate epithelial cell line RWPE-1 was cultured in vitro for 21 days for the establishment of a blood-prostate barrier model, and the transmission of Tan Ⅱ_A and CTS through the barrier model was investigated after administration of Tan E and corresponding single active components. Second, SD rats were administrated with 700 mg·kg~(-1) Tan E, 29 mg·kg~(-1) CTS, and 50 mg·kg~(-1) Tan Ⅱ_A by gavage, and plasma and prostate tissue samples were collected at the time points of 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h. The Tan Ⅱ_A and CTS concentrations in the samples were determined. The results showed that in the cell model, the cumulative transmission amounts of CTS and Tan Ⅱ_A in the extract at each time point were higher than those of the corresponding single active components(P<0.01). In rats, after the administration of Tan E, the concentrations of Tan Ⅱ_A and CTS in rat plasma and prostate were higher than those of the corresponding single active components. This study demonstrated that the coexisting components in Tan E promoted the penetration of its main pharmacological components Tan Ⅱ_A and CTS through the blood-prostate barrier. The findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for the application of Tan E in the clinical treatment of prostate-related diseases.
Male ; Rats ; Humans ; Animals ; Prostate ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Abietanes/pharmacology* ; Permeability

Six new ent-abietane diterpenoids, abientaphlogatones A-F (1-6), along with two undescribed ent-abietane diterpenoid glucosides, abientaphlogasides A-B (7-8) and four known analogs were isolated from the aerial parts ofPhlogacanthus curviflorus (P. curviflorus). The structures of these compounds were determined using high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HR-ESI-MS), one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and quantum chemical calculations. Notably, compounds 5 and 6 represented the first reported instances of ent-norabietane diterpenoids from the genus Phlogacanthus. In the β-hematin formation inhibition assay, compounds 2, 4, 7-10, and 12 displayed antimalarial activity, with IC₅₀ values of 12.97-65.01 μmol·L^-1. Furthermore, compounds 4, 5, 8, and 10 demonstrated neuroprotective activity in PC12 cell injury models induced by H₂O₂ and MPP⁺.
Abietanes/pharmacology* ; Antimalarials ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Biological Assay ; Plant Components, Aerial

OBJECTIVE: Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious respiratory dysfunction caused by pathogen or physical invasion. The strong induced inflammation often causes death. Tanshinone IIA (Tan-IIA) is the major constituent of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge and has been shown to display anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effects of Tan-IIA on ALI. METHODS: A murine model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI was used. The lungs and serum samples of mice were extracted at 3 days after treatment. ALI-induced inflammatory damages were confirmed from cytokine detections and histomorphology observations. Effects of Tan-IIA were investigated using in vivo and in vitro ALI models. Tan-IIA mechanisms were investigated by performing Western blot and flow cytometry experiments. A wound-healing assay was performed to confirm the Tan-IIA function. RESULTS: The cytokine storm induced by LPS treatment was detected at 3 days after LPS treatment, and alveolar epithelial damage and lymphocyte aggregation were observed. Tan-IIA treatment attenuated the LPS-induced inflammation and reduced the levels of inflammatory cytokines released not only by inhibiting neutrophils, but also by macrophage. Moreover, we found that macrophage activation and polarization after LPS treatment were abrogated after applying the Tan-IIA treatment. An in vitro assay also confirmed that including the Tan-IIA supplement increased the relative amount of the M2 subtype and decreased that of M1. Rebalanced macrophages and Tan-IIA inhibited activations of the nuclear factor-κB and hypoxia-inducible factor pathways. Including Tan-IIA and macrophages also improved alveolar epithelial repair by regulating macrophage polarization. CONCLUSION This study found that while an LPS-induced cytokine storm exacerbated ALI, including Tan-IIA could prevent ALI-induced inflammation and improve the alveolar epithelial repair, and do so by regulating macrophage polarization.
Abietanes ; Acute Lung Injury/drug therapy* ; Animals ; Cytokine Release Syndrome ; Cytokines ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity* ; Macrophage Activation ; Macrophages ; Mice ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl/pharmacology*

OBJECTIVE: To explore the therapeutic mechanism of tanshinone IIA in the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in rats. METHODS: A total of 100 male SD rats were randomized into 5 groups (n=20), and except for those in the control group with saline injection, all the rats were injected with monocrotaline (MCT) on the back of the neck to establish models of pulmonary hypertension. Two weeks after the injection, the rat models received intraperitoneal injections of tanshinone IIA (10 mg/kg), phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor (1 mg/kg), both tanshinone IIA and PI3K inhibitor, or saline (model group) on a daily basis. After 2 weeks of treatment, HE staining and α-SMA immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate the morphology of the pulmonary vessels of the rats. The phosphorylation levels of PI3K, protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the lung tissue were determined with Western blotting; the levels of eNOS and NO were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: The results of HE staining and α-SMA immunofluorescence staining showed that tanshinone IIA effectively inhibited MCT-induced pulmonary artery intimamedia thickening and muscularization of the pulmonary arterioles (P < 0.01). The results of Western blotting showed that treatment with tanshinone IIA significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of PI3K, Akt and eNOS proteins in the lung tissue of PAH rats; ELISA results showed that the levels of eNOS and NO were significantly decreased in the rat models after tanshinone IIA treatment (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION Treatment with tanshinone IIA can improve MCT-induced pulmonary hypertension in rats through the PI3K/Akt-eNOS signaling pathway.
Abietanes ; Animals ; Hypertension, Pulmonary/drug therapy* ; Male ; Monocrotaline/toxicity* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/therapeutic use* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase/pharmacology* ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases/metabolism* ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt/metabolism* ; Pulmonary Artery ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Signal Transduction

Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) catalyzes the first rate-limiting step in converting nicotinamide to NAD(+), essential for a number of enzymes and regulatory proteins involved in a variety of cellular processes, including deacetylation enzyme SIRT1 which modulates several tumor suppressors such as p53 and FOXO. Herein we report that NQO1 substrates Tanshione IIA (TSA) and β-lapachone (β-lap) induced a rapid depletion of NAD(+) pool but adaptively a significant upregulation of NAMPT. NAMPT inhibition by FK866 at a nontoxic dose significantly enhanced NQO1-targeting agent-induced apoptotic cell death. Compared with TSA or β-lap treatment alone, co-treatment with FK866 induced a more dramatic depletion of NAD(+), repression of SIRT1 activity, and thereby the increased accumulation of acetylated FOXO1 and the activation of apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, the results from the present study support that NAMPT inhibition can synergize with NQO1 activation to induce apoptotic cell death, thereby providing a new rationale for the development of combinative therapeutic drugs in combating non-small lung cancer.
Abietanes ; pharmacology ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; drug therapy ; enzymology ; genetics ; physiopathology ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cytokines ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Humans ; NAD ; metabolism ; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) ; genetics ; metabolism ; Naphthoquinones ; pharmacology ; Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase ; antagonists & inhibitors ; genetics ; metabolism

Tanshinone IIA is a pharmacologically active compound isolated from Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza), a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for the management of cardiac diseases and other disorders. But its underlying molecular mechanisms of action are still unclear. The present investigation utilized a data mining approach based on network pharmacology to uncover the potential protein targets of Tanshinone IIA. Network pharmacology, an integrated multidisciplinary study, incorporates systems biology, network analysis, connectivity, redundancy, and pleiotropy, providing powerful new tools and insights into elucidating the fine details of drug-target interactions. In the present study, two separate drug-target networks for Tanshinone IIA were constructed using the Agilent Literature Search (ALS) and STITCH (search tool for interactions of chemicals) methods. Analysis of the ALS-constructed network revealed a target network with a scale-free topology and five top nodes (protein targets) corresponding to Fos, Jun, Src, phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA), and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MAP2K1), whereas analysis of the STITCH-constructed network revealed three top nodes corresponding to cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4), cytochrome P450 A1 (CYP1A1), and nuclear factor kappa B1 (NFκB1). The discrepancies were probably due to the differences in the divergent computer mining tools and databases employed by the two methods. However, it is conceivable that all eight proteins mediate important biological functions of Tanshinone IIA, contributing to its overall drug-target network. In conclusion, the current results may assist in developing a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of in a simple, compact, and visual manner.
Abietanes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Data Mining ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Heart Diseases ; drug therapy ; Humans ; Pharmacology ; Phytotherapy ; Proteins ; metabolism ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry

OBJECTIVE: To observe effects of tanshinone (Tan) IIA on the apoptosis and expressions of p53 and pp53 in brain tissues of rats with Alzheimer's disease (AD).
 METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized into 3 groups: Sham, AD, and Tan IIA groups. The AD models were established by injecting Aβ into the hippocampus of rats. Brain tissues were collected and paraffin sections were prepared to assess pathological changes. The expression of p53 and pp53 was detected by immunohistochemical staining and Western blot. Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL assay.
 RESULTS: There was no Aβ staining in the sham group, and the difference of Aβ staining between the AD group and the Tan IIA group was not significant (P>0.05). The expressions of p53 and pp53 were significantly higher in the AD group than those in the control group (P<0.05). The number of apoptotic cells in the AD group was significantly higher than that in the sham groups (P<0.05). Treatment of Tan IIA for AD rats significantly reduced the numbers of apoptotic cells (P<0.05).
 CONCLUSION Aβ can increase the expression of p53 and pp53, and the number of apoptotic cells. Tan IIA treatment may inhibit apoptosis by down-regulation of p53 and pp53 in rats, and in turn to protect neurons.
Abietanes ; pharmacology ; Alzheimer Disease ; metabolism ; pathology ; Animals ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Brain ; pathology ; Down-Regulation ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; metabolism

AIM: This study was designed to evaluate the anti-cancer actions of tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA, and six derivatives of tanshinone IIA on normal and cancerous colon cells. Structure activity relationship (SAR) analysis was conducted to delineate the significance of the structural modifications of tanshinones for improved anti-cancer action. METHOD: Tanshinone derivatives were designed and synthesized according to the literature. The cytotoxicity of different compounds on colon cancer cells was determined by the MTT assay. Apoptotic activity of the tanshinones was measured by flow cytometry (FCM). RESULTS: Tanshinone I and tanshinone IIA both exhibited significant cytotoxicity on colon cancer cells. They are more effective in p53(+/+) colon cancer cell line. It was also noted that the anti-cancer activity of tanshinone I was more potent and selective. Two of the derivatives of tanshinone IIA (N1 and N2) also exhibited cytotoxicity on colon cancer cells. CONCLUSION The anti-colon cancer activity of tanshinone I was more potent and selective than tanshinone IIA, and is p53 dependent. The derivatives obtained by structural modifications of tanshinone IIA exhibited lower cytotoxicity on both normal and colon cancer cells. From steric and electronic characteristics point of view, it was concluded that structural modifications of ring A and furan or dihydrofuran ring D on the basic structure of tanshinones influences the activity. An increase of the delocalization of the A and B rings could enhance the cytotoxicity of such compounds, while a non-planar and small sized D ring region would provide improved anti-cancer activity.
Abietanes ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Line ; Colon ; drug effects ; Colonic Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; HCT116 Cells ; HT29 Cells ; Humans ; Phytotherapy ; Salvia miltiorrhiza ; chemistry ; Structure-Activity Relationship

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of Tanshinone IIA (TanIIA) on the phosphory-lated NMDA receptor 1 at Serine 897 site (phospho-NR1 S897) and intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in neonatal SD rats with hypoxic ischemic brain damage (HIBD), and to explore the neuroprotective mechanism of TanIIA in HIBD. METHODS: Neonatal SD rats were randomly divided into a normal control, and an HIBD and TanIIA+HIBD group. Rice-Vannucci method was used for HIBD animal model. Time points were: 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after HIBD (n=10 in each group at each time point). TanIIA was intraperitoneally given at 1 μg/g every 12 h. Fura-2AM was used to mark the fluorescent calcium probe and [Ca(2+)](i) was measured by a Hitachi F-4500 Fluorescence Spectrophometer. Fluorescent immunohisotichemical study was used for the expression of phospho-NR1 S897. RESULTS: (1) Compared with the normal control group, both the [Ca(2+)](i) absolute number and ipsi-/contra-lateral ratio were increased at each time point with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with the HIBD group, the [Ca(2+)](i) in the HIBD+ TanIIA group was decreased at each time point. At 24 h after HIBD, the ipsi-/contra-lateral ratio of HIBD+ TanIIA group was 24.9% less than that of HIBD group with statistical significance (P<0.05). (2) In the normal control group, abundant phospho-NR1 S897 positive cells were nicely distributed in the cortex. Compared with the normal control group, at each time point, both the absolute number of phospho-NR1 S897 positive cells and the fluorescent intensity of phospho-NR1 S897 in the ipsilateral cortex of the HIBD group were decreased with statistical significance (P<0.05). Compared with the HIBD group, both the absolute number of phospho-NR1 S897 positive cells and the fluorescent intensity of phospho-NR1 S897 in the ipsilateral cortex of HIBD+ TanIIA were increased. There was significant difference at 3 and 12 h after the HIBD (P<0.05). CONCLUSION TanIIA reduced the HIBD-caused down-regulation of phospho-NR1 S897 and the HIBD-caused [Ca(2+)](i) elevation in the cortex. The neuroprotective effect of TanIIA may be related to influencing NMDA receptor expression and decreasing intracellular free calcium aggregation.
Abietanes ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Female ; Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Male ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phosphorylation ; Random Allocation ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; genetics ; metabolism