The quality of Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra is evaluated by root thickness, and paeoniflorin serves as a common quality indicator of them. However, the correlation between the content of bioactive compounds and the root size is still unclear. Therefore, this study characterized the distribution patterns and content of seven bioactive compounds including paeoniflorin in different tissues of Paeonia lactiflora roots, analyzed the correlation between the root size and the content of bioactive compounds based on the xylem-to-bark ratio, and further determined the index components for quality assessment. Nine samples of fresh P. lactiflora roots were collected from the genuine cultivation area. The distribution of bioactive compounds in different tissues on the cross-section of the root was firstly analyzed by desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry imaging(DESI-MSI). Subsequently, the content of bioactive compounds was determined in the xylems and barks of the roots by UPLC. The compounds with the largest difference between the xylem and the bark were selected by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis(OPLS-DA). The results indicated that paeoniflorin, benzoylpaeoniflorin, oxypaeoniflorin, gallic acid, and 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloylglucose were significantly accumulated in the xylems, while albiflorin and catechin were mainly distributed in the barks. Paeoniflorin and albiflorin, with the largest differences in the xylem and the bark, had the highest content in the two tissues. The root diameter was positively correlated with paeoniflorin content and negatively correlated with albiflorin content. As isomers with different efficacies, paeoniflorin or albiflorin can be chosen as the quality marker corresponding to specific clinical application to launch quality classification evaluation of multi-functional Chinese medicines.
Bridged-Ring Compounds ; Catechin/analysis* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid/methods* ; Gallic Acid/analysis* ; Monoterpenes/analysis* ; Paeonia/chemistry* ; Plant Roots/chemistry* ; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization

This study established the ultra-performance liquid chromatography(UPLC) fingerprint of Xinnaojian preparations. With epicatechin gallate as the internal reference substance, a quantitative analysis of multi-components by single marker(QAMS) method for determining the content of nine components(gallic acid, epigallocatechin, catechin, caffeine, epicatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and catechin gallate) in Xinnaojian preparations was established. The content determined by the external standard method(ESM) and QAMS method was compared to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of QAMS method. The results showed that the standard curves of nine components had good linear relationship within the test concentration ranges. The average recoveries were 87.57%-107.4%, and the RSD was 1.5%-2.9%. Except epigallocatechin, the other components showed good repeatability under different experimental conditions. Epigallocatechin could meet the requirements in the same instrument and at the same wavelength. The results generally showed no significant difference between QAMS and ESM. The content of 9 components varied between the samples from different manufacturers, while it showed no significant difference between the samples from the same manufacturer. In summary, the UPLC fingerprint combined with QAMS method is feasible and accurate for determining the content of the nine components, which can be used for rapid quality evaluation of Xinnaojian preparations.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/analysis* ; Gallic Acid/analysis* ; Caffeine

Cancer is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide and definitive therapeutics for treating cancer are not yet available despite extensive research efforts. The key challenges include limiting factors connected with traditional chemotherapeutics, primarily drug resistance, low response rates, and adverse side-effects. Therefore, there is a high demand for novel anti-cancer drugs that are both potent and safe for cancer prevention and treatment. Gallic acid (GA), a natural botanic phenolic compound, can mediate various therapeutic properties that are involved in anti-inflammation, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer activities. More recently, GA has been shown to exert anti-cancer activities via several biological pathways that include migration, metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis, and oncogene expression. This review discusses two aspects, one is the anti-cancer potential of GA against different types of cancer and the underlying molecular mechanisms, the other is the bibliometric analysis of GA in cancer and tumor research. The results indicated that lung cancer, prostate cancer, stomach cancer, and colon adenocarcinoma may become a hot topic in further research. Overall, this review provides evidence that GA represents a promising novel, potent, and safe anti-cancer drug candidate for treating cancer.
Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy* ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Gallic Acid/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Male

Gallic Acid/pharmacology* ; Humans ; Senotherapeutics ; Stem Cells

To investigate the effects of leonurine(Leo) on abdominal aortic constriction(AAC)-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats and its mechanism. A rat model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy was established by AAC method. After 27-d intervention with high-dose(30 mg·kg~(-1)) and low-dose(15 mg·kg~(-1)) Leo or positive control drug losartan(5 mg·kg~(-1)), the cardiac function was evaluated by hemodynamic method, followed by the recording of left ventricular systolic pressure(LVSP), left ventricular end-diastolic pressure(LVESP), as well as the maximum rate of increase and decrease in left ventricular pressure(±dp/dt_(max)). The degree of left ventricular hypertrophy was assessed based on heart weight index(HWI) and left ventricular mass index(LVWI). Myocardial tissue changes and the myocardial cell diameter(MD) were measured after hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining. The contents of angiotensin Ⅱ(AngⅡ) and angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor(AT1 R) in myocardial tissue were detected by ELISA. The level of Ca~(2+) in myocardial tissue was determined by colorimetry. The protein expression levels of phospholipase C(PLC), inositol triphosphate(IP3), AngⅡ, and AT1 R were assayed by Western blot. Real-time quantitative PCR(qRT-PCR) was employed to determine the mRNA expression levels of β-myosin heavy chain(β-MHC), atrial natriuretic factor(ANF), AngⅡ, and AT1 R. Compared with the model group, Leo decreased the LVSP, LVEDP, HWI, LVWI and MD values, but increased ±dp/dt_(max) of the left ventricle. Meanwhile, it improved the pathological morphology of myocardial tissue, reduced cardiac hypertrophy, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased the protein expression levels of PLC, IP3, AngⅡ, AT1 R, as well as the mRNA expression levels of β-MHC, ANF, AngⅡ, AT1 R, c-fos, and c-Myc in myocardial tissue. Leo inhibited AAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy possibly by influencing the RAS system.
Angiotensin II/metabolism* ; Animals ; Cardiomegaly/genetics* ; Gallic Acid/analogs & derivatives* ; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular/pathology* ; Myocardium/pathology* ; Rats

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vascular inflammation is an important feature in the atherosclerotic process. Recent studies report that leaves and branches of Carpinus turczaninowii (C. turczaninowii) have antioxidant capacity and exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, no study has reported the regulatory effect of C. turczaninowii extract on the arterial inflammatory response. This study therefore investigated modulation of the arterial inflammatory response after exposure to C. turczaninowii extract, using human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs). MATERIALS/METHODS: Scavenging activity of free radicals, total phenolic content (TPC), cell viability, mRNA expressions, and secreted levels of cytokines were measured in LPS-stimulated (10 ng/mL) HAoSMCs treated with the C. turczaninowii extract. RESULTS: C. turczaninowii extract contains high amounts of TPC (225.6 ± 21.0 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of the extract), as well as exerts time-and dose-dependent increases in strongly scavenged free radicals (average 14.8 ± 1.97 µg/mL IC50 at 40 min). Cell viabilities after exposure to the extracts (1 and 10 µg/mL) were similar to the viability of non-treated cells. Cytokine mRNA expressions were significantly suppressed by the extracts (1 and 10 µg/mL) at 6 hours (h) after exposure. Interleukin-6 secretion was dose-dependently suppressed 2 h after incubation with the extract, at 1–10 µg/mL in non-stimulated cells, and at 5 and 10 µg/mL in LPS-stimulated cells. Similar patterns were also observed at 24 h after incubation with the extract (at 1–10 µg/mL in non-stimulated cells, and at 10 µg/mL in the LPS-stimulated cells). Soluble intracellular vascular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1) secreted from non-stimulated cells and LPS-stimulated cells were similarly suppressed in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h exposure to the extracts, but not after 2 h. In addition, sICAM-1 concentration after 24 h treatment was positively related to IL-6 levels after 2 h and 24 h exposure (r = 0.418, P = 0.003, and r = 0.524, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that C. turczaninowii modulates the arterial inflammatory response, and indicates the potential to be applied as a therapeutic use for atherosclerosis.
Antioxidants ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Betulaceae ; Cell Survival ; Cytokines ; Free Radicals ; Gallic Acid ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Interleukin-6 ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Phenol ; RNA, Messenger

This paper is aimed to study the commodity specification and grade standard of Galla Chinensis,for standardizing market order and guide the market circulation,and provide a basis for standardization of Galla Chinensis. With 33 samples of Galla Chinensis from market as the object of the research,the herbal textual research and market research were carried out. Then the grading indicator were selected by the descriptive statistics,principal component analysis and cluster analysis,combining with production practice,the commodity specification and grade standard of Galla Chinensis were set out. The data of moisture,ash,gallic acid as the internal index were used to analyze the relationship between the quality difference between grades and the appearance characters and the intrinsic composition. Herbal textual research and market research found that the high quality of Galla Chinensis characterized with large,complete,wall thick,grayish brown characteristics,and Galla Chinensis could be divided into gallnuts and horned gall. Through principal component analysis and cluster analysis,combining actual production and herbal record,screening,the length,diameter,single weight,the number of 500 g were determined as 4 grading indicators,the commodity specification was divided into two: gallnuts and horned gall,the grades was divided into two: selected goods and mixed goods. The result of correlation analysis showed there was no significant correlation between the internal index and the appearance characters of Galla Chinensis. The result of multiple comparison showed that the ash content of the selected goods was smaller than that of the mixed goods,but it did not reach significant. The content of gallic acid of the selected goods and the mixed goods of gallnuts were higher than selected goods of horned gall,and higher than mixed goods of horned galls. Using the length,diameter,single weight,the number of 500 g as the appearance characters index. Combining with the herbal textual research and market research,we have divided two specifications and two grades for the commodity specification and grade standard of Galla Chinensis,which can provide a basis for industry standards and national standards.
Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; standards ; Gallic Acid ; analysis ; Plant Tumors ; Quality Control

PURPOSE: This study examined the antioxidant and cancer cell growth inhibitory activities of an ethanol extract and different solvent fractions of Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (ice plant). METHODS: The ice plant was freeze-dried, extracted with 99.9% ethanol, and then fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and water. The total polyphenol content (TPC), total carotenoid content (TCC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging activity (RSA), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured. Assays using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin-diacetate and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide were performed to measure the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cell growth, respectively. Annexin V/propidium iodide staining and cell cycle analysis were performed for the detection of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. RESULTS: TPC, TCC, RSA, and FRAP of the ethanol extract (EE) were 3.7 mg gallic acid equivalent/g, 13.2 µg/g, 21.0% (at a concentration of 5 mg/mL), and 21.0% (at a concentration of 5 mg/mL), respectively. Among the different solvent fractions, the butanol fraction (BF) showed the highest TPC (5.4 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), TCC (86.6 µg/g), RSA (34.9% at 5 mg/mL), and FRAP (80.8% at 5 mg/mL). Treatment of HCT116 human colon cancer cells with EE and BF at concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/mL reduced the levels of intracellular ROS. Concomitantly, EE and BF resulted in the dose-dependent inhibition of cell growth (at the concentrations of 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL for 24 ~ 48 h) and the induction of apoptosis (at the concentrations of 250 and 500 µg/mL for 48 h) in HCT116 cells. An increased G2/M cell population was also found in the BF-treated cells. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that ice plant possesses antioxidant and growth inhibitory activities in colon cancer cells.
Apoptosis ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Cycle Checkpoints ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Ethanol ; Gallic Acid ; HCT116 Cells ; Humans ; Mesembryanthemum ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Water

The root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita caused a serious damage to many plants. The phenolic components of the leaves of Schinus terebinthifolius were investigated as potential nematicidal agents for M. incognita. Nine compounds were isolated and characterized as viz., 1,2,3,4,6-pentagalloyl glucose (1), kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (Afzelin) (2), quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (Quercetrin) (3), myricetin (4), myricetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (Myricetrin) (5), methylgallate (6), protocatechuic acid (7), quercetin (8), and gallic acid (9) using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Compound 1 showed pronounced nematicidal activity compared to Oxamyl as a positive control. It showed the lowest eggs-hatchability (34%) and the highest mortality in nematode population (21% after 72 hours of treatment) at a concentration of 200 µg/mL. It exhibited the best suppressed total nematode population, root galling and number of eggmasses in infected tomato plants. The total carbohydrates and proteins were also significantly induced by 1 with reduction in total phenolics and increase in defense-related proteins. Thus, compound 1 could be a promising, more safe and effective natural nematicidal agent for the control of root-knot nematodes.
Anacardiaceae ; Carbohydrates ; Gallic Acid ; Glucose ; Lycopersicon esculentum ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Mortality ; Phenol ; Quercetin ; Spectrum Analysis ; Tylenchoidea

PURPOSE: Many studies have suggested that neuronal cells protect against oxidative stress-induced apoptotic cell death by polyphenolic compounds. We investigated the neuroprotective effects and the mechanism of action of Momordica charantia ethanol extract (MCE) against H₂O₂-induced cell death of human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells. METHODS: The antioxidant activity of MCE was measured by the quantity of total phenolic acid compounds (TPC), quantity of total flavonoid compounds (TFC), and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Cytotoxicity and cell viability were determined by CCK-8 assay. The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was measured using 2,7-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCF-DA) assay. Antioxidant enzyme (SOD-1,2 and GPx-1) expression was determined by real-time PCR. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) pathway and apoptosis signal expression was measured by Western blotting. RESULTS: The TPC and TFC quantities of MCE were 28.51 mg gallic acid equivalents/extract g and 3.95 mg catechin equivalents/extract g, respectively. The IC₅₀ value for DPPH radical scavenging activity was 506.95 µg/ml for MCE. Pre-treatment with MCE showed protective effects against H₂O₂-induced cell death and inhibited ROS generation by oxidative stress. SOD-1,2 and GPx-1 mRNA expression was recovered by pre-treatment with MCE compared with the presence of H₂O₂. Pre-treatment with MCE inhibited phosphorylation of p38 and the JNK pathway and down-regulated cleaved caspase-3 and cleaved PARP by H₂O₂. CONCLUSION: The neuroprotective effects of MCE in terms of recovery of antioxidant enzyme gene expression, down-regulation of MAPK pathways, and inhibition apoptosis is associated with reduced oxidative stress in SK-N-MC cells.
Apoptosis ; Blotting, Western ; Caspase 3 ; Catechin ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Down-Regulation ; Ethanol ; Gallic Acid ; Gene Expression ; Humans* ; Hydrogen* ; MAP Kinase Signaling System ; Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases ; Momordica charantia* ; Momordica* ; Neuroblastoma* ; Neurons ; Neuroprotective Agents* ; Oxidative Stress ; Phenol ; Phosphorylation ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Sincalide