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Ethnopharmacological relevance Ecliptae herba, also known as “Mo-Han-Lian”, has long been used in China to nourish Kidney and thereafter strengthen bones. Accumulating evidence indicates that extracts of Ecliptae herba have antiosteoporotic effect. However, the effective compounds and cellular mode of action are still unclear. To investigate the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Ecliptae herba (EAE) and its component wedelolactone on proliferation and differentiation of preosteoclastic RAW264.7 cells as well as proliferation of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSC). Materials and methods RAW264.7 and BMSC were examined for proliferation by a 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) method. Tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity of RAW264.7 was measured by using p -nitrophenyl sodium phosphate (pNPP) assay after the cells were treated with 30 ng/ml receptor activator for nuclear factor-κ B ligand (RANKL) plus various concentrations of EAE, wedelolactone or alendronate. The formation of multinucleated TRAP-positive RAW264.7 cells was observed by using a TRAP-staining kit. Results Treatment of RAW264.7 cells with EAE at high doses (20 µg/ml and 40 µg/ml) or wedelolactone at 10 µg/ml resulted in a decrease in proliferation of RAW264.7 cells. Low doses of EAE (5, 10 µg/ml) and wedelolactone (2.5 µg/ml) inhibited RANKL-induced TRAP activity by 20.3%, 37.9%, and 48.3%. The inhibitory effect of wedelolactone is more potent than that of alendronate, an anti-resorptive drug. Morphological changes revealed that 5 µg/ml EAE and 2.5 µg/ml wedelolactone reduced the number of multinucleated osteoclast-like cells. At the high doses, EAE (20 µg/ml) and wedelolactone (10 µg/ml) inhibited the growth of BMSC. Conclusions EAE and its component wedelolactone inhibited osteoclast RAW264.7 proliferation and differentiation at the low doses, but at the high doses, showed cytotoxic effect on BMSC. These results indicated that EAE and wedelolatone might be potential alternative therapy for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Ethnopharmacological relevance: Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim is used for treating many diseases in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Aim of the study: The present study was designed to evaluate antibacterial, anti-inflammatory activities and toxicity of the total phenylethanoid glycosides from Monochasma savatieri Franch. ex Maxim (TPG). Materials and methods: The antibacterial activity of TPG was checked by MIC and MBC in vitro; survival of mice with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus infection-induced sepsis was investigated to evaluate antibacterial activity of TPG in vivo. Additionally, antibacterial activities of TPG were also investigated in a Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection-induced pneumonia in the mice model. Cotton pellet induced granuloma and xylene induced ear swelling in mice models were used to quantify the anti-inflammatory activity. Results: TPG showed a significant possess bacteriostatic properties against five bacteria strains at a concentration between 0.0625 and 16mg/ml. Moreover, TPG has bactericidal activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus pneumoniae or Escherichia coli. TPG (60, 120, and 180mg/kg) prolonged survival rate of mice with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus infection-induced sepsis. In addition, TPG (180mg/kg) could reduce the bacterial colony-forming units in lung tissue. Furthermore, TPG (60–180mg/kg) had significantly reduced xylene-induced ear edema and granulomat formation induced by cotton pellet at a dose-dependent manner. In addition, administration of TPG (1.5g/kg) for 15 days did not result in toxicities in liver, kidney, spleen and thymus tissue in rats. Conclusion: These results indicated that TPG might be useful for the development of a novel treatment for respiratory infections or pneumonia caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Xiebai San (XBS), a classic Chinese prescription, has been used for the clinical treatment of pneumonia-related diseases for thousands of years. However, the anti-pneumonia pharmacodynamic material basis of XBS and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to comprehensively investigate and verify the anti-pneumonia pharmacodynamic material basis and mechanisms of XBS. This study explored the anti-pneumonia activity and key pneumonia targets of XBS in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced zebrafish and RAW264.7 cells in vivo and in vitro through transcriptomics, western blotting, and reverse transcription–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR). The chemical fingerprint of XBS was established using high-performance liquid chromatography, and the similarities and areas of characteristic peaks of 15 batches of XBS were analyzed. Based on the spectrum–efficacy relationship, the potential anti-inflammatory components were screened according to their peak areas and efficacy using principal component analysis (PCA), bivariate correlation, and partial least squares regression analysis. Active components that bind to core targets were further screened based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The binding mode of proteins and components was simulated via molecular docking, which enabled the identification of the primary active components of XBS, thereby elucidating its anti-pneumonia properties. Finally, the anti-inflammatory activities of these components were verified in vitro. XBS decreased neutrophil aggregation in zebrafish and nitric oxide (NO) secretion in RAW264.7 cells as well as suppressed the release of downstream inflammatory cytokines such as iNOS, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-18, and CXCL10 related to TNF and JAK–STAT signaling pathways. The phosphorylation of IκBα, Akt, and Stat3 was alleviated after XBS in cells. The fingerprint similarities of 15 batches of XBS ranged from 0.381 to 0.994, with a large difference. A total of 15 characteristic peaks were identified, and the relative standard deviation of their peak areas ranged from 24.1% to 70.7%. The results of in vitro anti-inflammatory activities of 15 batches of XBS showed that all samples inhibited the expression levels of NO and nine inflammatory markers. The anti-inflammatory index of 15 batches of XBS was determined to be 0.69–0.96 based on transformation of the anti-inflammatory rate and composite index method via PCA. The spectrum–efficacy relationship model of 15 characteristic peak areas and the anti-inflammatory index showed that 7 main potential active components were related to the anti-inflammatory activity of XBS. Moreover, four components (mulberroside A, isoquercitrin, liquiritigenin, and glycyrrhizic acid) screened based on SPR had different affinities toward TNFR1, Akt1, and Stat3 proteins, and the binding modes were elucidated via molecular docking. Finally, in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, all four active components (at a concentration of 60 μM) significantly inhibited the expression levels of NO and inflammatory markers. Based on the comprehensive strategy of spectrum–efficacy relationship and SPR, mulberroside A, isoquercitrin, liquiritigenin, and glycyrrhizic acid were identified as the primary pharmacodynamic active components involved in the anti-pneumonia activity of XBS and were found to intervene in TNF and JAK–STAT signaling pathways. [Display omitted] • Xiebai San (XBS) relieved inflammation by regulating TNF and JAK-STAT pathways. • Potential active components were explored by spectrum–efficacy relationship. • Target and component interactions were evaluated by surface plasmon resonance. • Four anti-inflammatory components of XBS for three targets were revealed and verified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root of Croton crassifolius has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), called Radix Croton Crassifolius, and commonly known as "Ji Gu Xiang" in Chinese. Its medicinal value has been recorded in several medical books or handbooks, such as "Sheng Cao Yao Xing Bei Yao", "Ben Cao Qiu Yuan" and "Zhong Hua Ben Cao". It has been traditional employed for treating sore throat, stomach-ache, rheumatism and cancer. At present, there are limited studies on the evaluation of low-polarity extracts of roots in C. crassifolius. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor effect of the low-polarity extract of C. crassifolius root. Extracts were obtained by supercritical fluid extraction. The extracts were tested for antitumor effects in vitro on several cancer cell lines. A CCK-8 kit was used for further analysis of cell viability. A flow cytometer and propidium iodide staining were used to evaluate the cell cycle and apoptosis. Hoechst staining, JC-1 staining and the fluorescence probe DCFH-DA were used to evaluate apoptotic cells. Molecular mechanisms of action were analyzed by quantitative RT‒PCR and Western blotting. Immunohistochemistry was used for the evaluation of xenograft tumors in male BALB/c mice. Finally, molecular docking was employed to predict the bond between the desired bioactive compound and molecular targets. Eleven diterpenoids were isolated from low-polarity C. crassifolius root extracts. Among the compounds, chettaphanin II showed the strongest activity (IC 50 = 8.58 μM) against A549 cells. Evaluation of cell viability and the cell cycle showed that Chettaphanin II reduced A549 cell proliferation and induced G2/M-phase arrest. Chttaphanin II significantly induced apoptosis in A549 cells, which was related to the level of apoptosis-related proteins. The growth of tumor tissue was significantly inhibited by chettaphanin II in experiments performed on naked mice. The antitumor mechanism of chettaphanin II is that it can obstruct the mTOR/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in A549 cells. Molecular docking established that chettaphanin II could bind to the active sites of Bcl-2 and Bax. Taken together, the natural diterpenoid chettaphanin II was identified as the major antitumor active component, and its potential for developing anticancer therapies was demonstrated for the first time by antiproliferation evaluation in vitro and in vivo. [Display omitted] • Eleven diterpenoids were obtained from the SFE extract of C. crassifolius roots. • Chettaphanin II showed the strongest antitumor activity against A549 cells. • Chettaphanin II inhibited A549 cell proliferation and arrested cells in G2/M-phase. • Chettaphanin II induced A549 cell apoptosis by inhibiting PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. • Chettaphanin II significantly inhibited the growth of tumor tissue in nude mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The deposition of β-amyloid (Aβ) in neurons and vascular cells of the brain has been characterized in Alzheimer's disease. Ginsenoside Rg1 (Rg1) is an active components in Panax ginseng, a famous traditional Chinese medicines recorded in Compendium of Materia Medica. Present study attempted to evaluate the potential mechanisms of Aβ-mediated insult and the protective effects of Rg1 on human endothelial cells. Rg1 attenuated the Aβ25–35-associated mitochondrial apoptotic events, accompanied by inhibiting HIF-1α expression followed by intracellular reactive nitrogen species generation, and protein nitrotyrosination. These protective effects were abolished by glucocorticoid receptor (GR) antagonist RU486 or p-ERK inhibitor U0126 rather than estrogen receptor α antagonist ICI 82,780. Taken together, our results suggested that Rg1 protected against Aβ25–35-induced apoptosis at least in part by two complementary GR-dependent ERK phosphorylation pathways: (1) down-regulating HIF-1α initiated protein nitrotyrosination, and (2) inhibiting mitochondrial apoptotic cascades. These data provided a novel insight to the mechanisms of Rg1protective effects on Aβ25–35-induced endothelial cells apoptosis, suggesting that GR-ERK signaling pathway might play an important role in it. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]