Objective To observe the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) in kiwi fruit essence-mediated protection of radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) in rats. Methods 96 male healthy Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into normal control group, model group, and kiwi fruit essence treatment group(60 and 240 mg/kg) by the random number table method, with 24 animals in each group. The whole lungs underwent 6 MV X-ray irradiation (18 Gy) to induce RILI animal models in rats of the latter three groups. On the next day after irradiation, rats in the latter two groups were intragastrically administrated with 60 or 240 mg/kg kiwi fruit essence, once a day. The rats in the normal control and model groups were treated with 9 g/L sodium chloride solution. Eight rats in the latter three groups were randomly sacrificed on days 14, 28, and 56, while normal control rats were sacrificed on day 56 as the overall control. Blood samples were collected and separated. Serum concentrations of TNF-α and PDGF-B were detected using ELISA. The lung tissues were isolated for HE and Masson staining to evaluate alveolitis and pulmonary fibrosis (PF). The hydroxyproline (HYP) content in lung tissues was detected. The mRNA and protein expression of pulmonary TNF-α and PDGF-B were determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Results Compared with the model group, treatment with 60 and 240 mg/kg kiwi fruit essence group significantly reduced alveolitis on days 14 and 28 as well as PF lesions on days 28 and 56. Compared with the normal control group, HYP content in the lung tissue of the model group increased on day 28 and day 56, while TNF-α and PDGF-B levels in the serum and lung tissues increased at each time point. Compared with the model group during the same period, 60 and 240 mg/kg kiwi fruit essence element treatment group reported the diminished levels of serum and pulmonary TNF-α on day 14 and day 28. Consistently, the lung tissue HYP content and serum and pulmonary PDGF-B levels on day 28 and day 56 were reduced. In addition, the above indicators in the 240 mg/kg kiwi fruit essence treatment group were lower than those for the 60 mg/kg kiwi fruit essence treatment group. Conclusion Kiwi fruit essence can alleviate RILI in rats, which is related to the down-regulation of TNF-α expression at the early stage and decreased PDGF-B level at the middle and late stages.
Animals ; Male ; Rats ; Fruit/metabolism* ; Lung/radiation effects* ; Lung Injury/prevention & control* ; Oils, Volatile ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-sis/metabolism* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism* ; Actinidia/chemistry*

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a common hypersensitivity reaction characterized by recurrent, well-circumscribed, erythematous patches that arise at the same site as a result of systemic drug exposure. However, fixed food eruption (FFE), a lesion triggered by food ingestion, is a rare allergy that was first defined in 1996. Based on their anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, the fruit and leaves of Actinidia arguta, the hardy kiwi, are widely consumed across Korea, Japan, and China. This report describes the first case of FFE caused by hardy kiwi leaves, known as Daraesun in Korean, confirmed by oral provocation tests and skin biopsy.
Actinidia* ; Biopsy ; China ; Drug Eruptions ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Fruit ; Hypersensitivity ; Japan ; Korea ; Skin

Flavonoids are a large group of phenolic secondary metabolites havinga wide range of biochemical and pharmacological effects. Quantitative analysis of flavonoid profiles in the genus Actinidia, which has not been intensively conducted, is useful to a better understanding of the pattern and distribution of flavonoids. In the present work, a liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed to profile the flavonoids, which was then used to determine the dynamic change of 17 biologically active flavonoids in the leaves of Actinidia valvata at the main growing stages, including glucuronides and acylated di- and triglycosides of flavonoids. The contents of flavonoid triglycosides were significantly higher than other flavonoids. The highest concentrations of kaemperol glycosides were observed in June, while other flavonoids showed highest concentrations in October. On the other hand, the contents of four isorhamnetin glycosides were increased sharply in September to October. The flavonoid profiles seem to be related to temperature, UV-B, and water deficit. Further studies are required to examine the functions of flavonoids in the Actinidia valvata and the underlying molecular mechanisms of actions.
Actinidia ; chemistry ; growth & development ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; chemistry ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Seasons ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods ; Ultraviolet Rays

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of Actinidia chinensis Planch polysaccharide (ACPS) on the growth and apoptosis of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells, and to explore the effect of SGC-7901 cells on p-p38 expression.

METHODSThe inhibition rates at different concentrations of ACPS on SGC-7901 cells at 24, 48, and 72 h were detected using CCK-8 method. Apoptosis ratios in SGC-7901 were determined by flow cytometry after 48-h treatment of different concentrations of ACPS. The expression of pro-caspase-9, PARP, and p-p38 in SGC-7901 cells after treated by different concentrations of ACPS was detected using Western blot. The expression of pro-caspase-9, PARP, and p-p38 was detected after SGC-7901 cells were pre-treated by p38 specific inhibitor.

RESULTSCompared with the control group, the optical density of SGC-7901 cells decreased after treated by 1, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/mL ACPS (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the longer the acting time, the lower the optic density (P < 0.01). IC50 was 7.43 mg/mL at 24 h; 3.88 mg/mL at 48 h, and 1.32 mg/mL at 72 h respectively. ACPS suppressed the protein expression of pro-caspase-9 (P < 0.01) and up-regulated the expression of PARP (89KD) (both P < 0.01). Further study showed that the protein expression of p-p38 was up-regulated in SGC-7901 cells treated by ACPS of different concentrations at 24 h (P < 0.05). The expression of phosphorylation p38 and the ACPS induced apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells could be inhibited after treated by specific inhibitor for 2 h.

CONCLUSIONSACPS could inhibit the growth of SGC-7901 cells and induce apoptosis. The underlying mechanism of inducing apoptosis was partially due to activating the p38MAPK path and further activating Caspase9 and PARP, finally leading to cell death.

Actinidia ; chemistry ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Caspase 9 ; metabolism ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Poly (ADP-Ribose) Polymerase-1 ; Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases ; metabolism ; Polysaccharides ; pharmacology ; Stomach Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; metabolism

Bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. Actinidiae is one of the most important diseases of kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) and leads to considerable yield losses. In order to obtain transgenic plants with resistance for 'Red Sun' kiwifruit to canker disease, a non-specific lipid transfer protein-like antimicrobial protein gene (LJAMP2) from motherwort (Leonurus japonicus) was introduced into 'Red Sun' kiwifruit through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. After two days of co-cultivation with A. tumefaciens strain LBA4404 harboring 35S:LJAMP2, the transformed explants were transferred to the selection medium containing 25 mg/L kanamycin+3.0 mg/L BA+1.0 mg/L NAA. The regeneration efficiency of kanamycin-resistant shoots reached to 85%. All (100%) of kanamycin-resistant shoots rooted on half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.8 mg/L IBA and a total of 40 regenerated plantlets were obtained. PCR and histochemical GUS activity analysis show that 23 of 40 lines (57.50%) were positive, suggesting that the LJAMP2 gene was integrated into the genome of 'Red Sun' kiwifruit. Taken together, we established an efficient genetic transformation method for 'Red Sun' kiwifruit using A. tumefaciens and the transformation frequency reached 5.11%. This protocol will be useful for the genetic breeding of 'Red Sun' kiwifruit for improvement of disease resistance.
Actinidia ; genetics ; Agrobacterium ; Antigens, Plant ; genetics ; Carrier Proteins ; genetics ; Leonurus ; Plant Proteins ; genetics ; Plants, Genetically Modified ; genetics ; Transformation, Genetic

A high efficient in vitro regeneration protocol was developed from leaf explants of the female 'Red Sun' kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis) and the multiplication coefficient and rooting rate of adventitious buds were also optimized. This method does not require formation of callus tissues which leads to somaclonal variations. The results show that the adventitious buds developing directly from explants tissue were noticed after 30 d of culture. The maximum regeneration frequency of adventitious buds is 100% and 18.67 shoots was observed in each leaf explants when MS medium was supplemented with 3.0 mg/L BA+1.0 mg/L NAA. The optimal culture medium for bud multiplication is MS+2.0 mg/L BA+1.0 mg/L NAA+0.1 mg/L GA3 and the multiplication coefficient reached 8.63. On the rooting medium with 1/2 MS+0.8 mg/L IBA for 15 d, the adventitious plantlets were transferred into matrix perlite supplied with 1/2 MS liquid medium for 15 d and the rooting rate reached 100%. 95 out of 98 plantlets (96.94%) survived acclimatization, producing healthy plants in the greenhouse. Taken together, a highly efficient regeneration method via leaf explants of 'Red Sun' kiwifruit was successfully established. This protocol may be useful for micropropagation and genetic transformation studies of 'Red Sun' kiwifruit.
Actinidia ; growth & development ; Plant Growth Regulators ; pharmacology ; Plant Leaves ; growth & development ; Regeneration ; physiology ; Tissue Culture Techniques ; methods

A highly sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the determination of actinoside E in rat plasma. The analytes were extracted by ethyl acetate and an analogue of actinoside F was used as the internal standard. The mobile phase consisted of methanol-water (50: 50, V/V) containing 0.1% formic acid was delivered at a flow rate of 0.3 mL·min(-1) to a Zorbax SB-C18 column (100 mm × 2.1 mm, 3.5 μm). The detection was performed by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry in the negative multiple reaction monitoring mode with a chromatograph run time of 3.0 min. Calibration curves of actinoside E were linear in the range of 0.5-2 500 ng·mL(-1). In this range, intra- and inter-day precision ranged from 1.7% to 7.5% and 2.0% to 8.9%, respectively. The accuracy ranged from 95.7% to 108.6%, and extraction recovery from 83.2% to 85.5%. This method was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study of actinoside E in rats after intravenous (5 mg·kg(-1)) and oral (100 mg·kg(-1)) administration, and the results showed that actinoside E was poorly absorbed with an absolute bioavailability being approximately 0.27%.
Actinidia ; chemistry ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Glycosides ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Kaempferols ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry ; methods

OBJECTIVETo extract the active component from the root of Actinidia valvata Dunn and to investigate the effects on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro.

METHODSTotal saponin was extracted from the root of A. valvata (TSAVD). HCC cells, such as BEL-7402, HepG2, PLC, SMMC-7721, MHCC-97-H, and MHCC-97-L, were treated with TSAVD in 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenytetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. BEL-7402 and MHCC-97-H cells were also treated respectively with TSAVD at different concentrations for 24 h in wound healing and adhesion assays, and the effects of TSAVD on BEL-7402 and MHCC-97-H cells mobility and adhesion abilities were observed. Meanwhile, the effects of TSAVD on invasion and migration of BEL-7402 and MHCC-97-H cells were also investigated by transwell chamber in invasion and migration assays.

RESULTSTSAVD at 1.5 mg/mL inhibited BEL-7402 cell proliferation with inhibition ratios (IRs) of 61.08%, 74.12%, 84.55% at 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. Meanwhile, TSAVD inhibited MHCC-97-H proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner from 1.5 to 0.5 mg/mL, with the IR of 36% at 1.5 mg/mL at 24 h. For SMMC-7721, PLC, and HepG2, the IR was lower than 30% at 1.5 mg/mL at 24 h. In the wound healing assay, mobility abilities of BEL-7402 and MHCC-97-H cells in TSAVD treated groups were significantly weaker than those of the control group. After pretreatment for 24 h with TSAVD, adhesion abilities were reduced in both MHCC-97-H and BEL-7402 cells, with IRs of 48.50%±4.86% and 49.85%±5.25% at 200 μg/mL. The IRs of MHCC-97-H and BEL-7402 cells in the migration assay were 49.13%±2.91% and 79.37%±0.09% at 200 μg/mL. In the invasion assay, IRs were 69.78%±4.88% and 82.48%±0.25% at 200 μg/mL.

CONCLUSIONSOf all HCC cells, the highest inhibition by TSAVD was seen for BEL-7402 proliferation. TSAVD could restrain adhesion, invasion, mobility, and migration abilities of BEL-7402 and MHCC-97-H cells in vitro.

Actinidia ; chemistry ; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Cell Adhesion ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Movement ; drug effects ; Cell Proliferation ; drug effects ; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor ; Humans ; Liver Neoplasms ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Neoplasm Invasiveness ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; drug therapy ; prevention & control ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Saponins ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Wound Healing ; drug effects

OBJECTIVETo observe the inhibitory effect of extract from Actinidia argutaor on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata, and explore its mechanism.

METHODThe in vivo S180 and H22 model were used to observe the effect of A. argutaor on inhibitory rate of carcinomata, organ relative weight of spleen and thymus gland and the release of tumor necrosis factor. A549 cells were exposed to extract from A. argutaor with different concentrations for 24, 48, 72 hours. MTT assay was used to evaluate the inhibiting effects of extract from A. argutaor on the proliferation of the cells. Flow cytometry was applied to detect cell cycle.

RESULTThe inhibitory effects of the extracts on in vivo and in vitro carcinomata were observed, the inhibitory rate for S180 and H22 line was 33.32% and 34.62% respectively. The extracts could inhibit the proliferation of A549 cells during G0-G1 period and significantly decrease the cell ratio of S stage.

CONCLUSIONThe extracts from A. argutaor showed a good antineoplastic activity.

Actinidia ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cell Cycle ; drug effects ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR

BACKGROUND: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic itchy, inflammatory skin disease that usually relapses. Although the etiology of atopic dermatitis remains unclear, it has been shown that both Th1 and Th2 cytokines play pathogenic roles in the generation of atopic dermatitis. DA-9102 is a fraction from the Actinidia species and DA-9102 displays immune modulating activity for allergy related disease. OBJECTIVE: We have developed the atopic dermatitis model of NC/Nga mice using DNCB and we examined whether DA-9102 suppresses the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions on NC/Nga mice. METHODS: NC/Nga mice were challenged with DNCB during 5 weeks to develop atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions. Daily DA-9102 or cyclosporine A or HPMC (control) were then given orally. The efficacy of DA-9102 in NC/Nga mice was judged by measurement of the skin lesion severity (a modified SCORAD score), the serum IgE and IgG2a levels and the cytokine levels (IFN-gamma and IL-4) from spleen cells cultured with ConA. RESULTS: Atopic dermatitis-like lesions were developed on the NC/Nga mice by using topical DNCB. Oral administration of 100 mg/kg DA-9102 significantly suppressed the development of dermatitis, as was analyzed by a modified SCORAD score (p<0.01). The serum IgE level increased gradually with age, but treatment with DA-9102 suppressed the increment of the serum IgE level (p<0.01). The mean values of IFN-gamma in the NC/Nga mice of the DA-9102 group were lower than those of the control mice group (p<0.05). The mean values of IL-4 were undetectable in all the experimental groups. The serum IgG2a level were not significantly different among all the experimental groups. CONCLUSION: We successfully developed an atopic dermatitis model in NC/Nga mice. Based on our in in vitro data, we suggest that DA-9102 can be useful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
Actinidia ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Cyclosporine ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dinitrochlorobenzene ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Interleukin-4 ; Mice ; Recurrence ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Spleen