ABSTRACT
Aim To explore the effect of beta-sitosterol (BS) on liver fibrosis induced by CCL4 in mice and the mechanisms. Methods Fifty C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into five groups; control group (CG) , carbon tetrachloride group (CTG), low/medium/high dose of BS group ( BS-L/M/H), with 10 mice in each group. The model of hepatic fibrosis was established by injecting CCL4 in peritoneal cavity, the study lasted 30 days, and different doses of BS were given from 1st day to 15 th day. All mice were sacrificed for the observation of morphological changes and the measurement of liver index. Liver collagenous fibers were observed by HE and Masson staining, the changes of serum ( ALT and AST) were assessed by Elisa, the expressions of a-SMA and Collagen I were detected by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, and the changes of TpRl-Smad2/3 and TNF-a-NF∗kB were detected by Elisa and Western blot. Results Compared to control group, different doses of BS markedly inhibited the increase of liver index, A .T, AST, a-SMA and Collagen I in a dose-dependent n an-ner ( P < 0. 05 or P < 0. 01 ). Liver morphology, inflammatory cell infiltration and collagenous fiber irj BS groups were better than those in CCL4 group, meanwhile BS-M decreased the expression of TgKl, Smad2/3, TNF-a and p-NF-KB (P <0. 01). Conclusions BS dose-dependently inhibits mouse liver f bro-sis induced by CCL4, and its mechanism may be related to inhibiting TpRl-Smad2/3 and TNF-a-N •-kB signaling pathways.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the effect and mechanism of autophagy in gastric cancer cells induced by β-sitosterol in vivo and in vitro,providing experimental evidence for antitumor study of β-sitosterol on gastric cancer.Methods Human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells were cultured in vitro.The control group was treated with phosphate buffer (PBS) only,and the experimental group was treated with different concentrations of β-sitosterol.Tetrazolium salt colorimetry (MTT) was used to detect the inhibitory effect of β-sitosterol on gastric cancer cells.Flow cytometry was used to detect the apoptotic effect of β-sitosterol on gastric cancer cells.Green fluorescent protein labeling (GFP) was used to detect the induction of autophagy by β-sitosterol.Western blot was used to detect the expression of signal pathway proteins phosphorylated phosphoinositid 3-kinase (p-PI3K),phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT) and phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR).The nude mice model of gastric cancer was established by SGC-7901 cells.β-sitosterol was injected abdominally once every 3 days for 42 days.The weight and volume of transplanted tumors were observed.The expression of LC3-Ⅱ and LC3-Ⅰ in transplanted tumors was detected by immunohistochemistry.Results β-sitosterol could inhibite the viability and promote the apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells,inducing the autophagy of SGC-7901 cells when its concentration reached 20 μmol/L.The autophagy rate of experimental group was (19.32 ±2.51,32.25 ±3.18,57.45 ±4.02,78.93 ±4.21),which was significantly higher than that in the control group (7.28 ± 2.83,P ＜ 0.05).In the experimental group,the expression of p-PI3K,p-AKT and mTOR was down-regulated by β-sitosterol,which was significantly different from that in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).The inhibition rate of the experimental group was (69.8 ± 3.6) ％,and the weight and volume of the transplanted tumors were significantly reduced compared with those in the control group (P ＜ 0.05).β-sitosterol increased the expression of LC3-Ⅱ,decreased expression of LC3-Ⅰ,leading the rise of ratio of LC3-Ⅱ to LC3-Ⅰ in nude mouse tumor (t =7.28,P =0.008).Conclusions β-sitosterol can inhibite proliferation and promote apoptosis of SGC-7901 cells.The antitumor mechanism may related to the autophagy induced by beta-sitosterol through PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
ABSTRACT
Pumpkins have considerable variation in nutrient contents depending on the cultivation environment, species, or part. In this study, the general chemical compositions and some bioactive components, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and beta-sitosterol, were analyzed in three major species of pumpkin (Cucurbitaceae pepo, C. moschata, and C. maxima) grown in Korea and also in three parts (peel, flesh, and seed) of each pumpkin species. C. maxima had significantly more carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber than C. pepo or C. moschata (P < 0.05). The moisture content as well as the amino acid and arginine contents in all parts of the pumpkin was highest in C. pepo. The major fatty acids in the seeds were palmitic, stearic, oleic, and linoleic acids. C. pepo and C. moschata seeds had significantly more gamma-tocopherol than C. maxima, whose seeds had the highest beta-carotene content. C. pepo seeds had significantly more beta-sitosterol than the others. Nutrient compositions differed considerably among the pumpkin species and parts. These results will be useful in updating the nutrient compositions of pumpkin in the Korean food composition database. Additional analyses of various pumpkins grown in different years and in different areas of Korea are needed.
Subject(s)
Arginine , beta Carotene , Carotenoids , Cucurbita , Fatty Acids , gamma-Tocopherol , Korea , Linoleic Acid , Linoleic Acids , Nutritive Value , Seeds , Sitosterols , TocopherolsABSTRACT
A espécie Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. (Bromeliaceae), conhecida como caraguatá ou gravatá, foi avaliada quanto à sua propriedade hemolítica frente a hemácias de sangue de carneiro. O extrato aquoso dos frutos apresentou atividade hemolítica a partir da diluição de 0,85%, enquanto que o extrato aquoso das folhas apresentou hemólise a partir da diluição de 0,90%. Tal atividade pode estar relacionada à presença de saponinas, uma vez que o estudo químico do extrato metanólico das folhas resultou no isolamento da saponina daucosterol, um fitoesterol glicosilado
The specie Bromelia antiacantha Bertol. (Bromeliaceae), popularly known as caraguatá or gravatá, was evaluated as for its hemolytic property against sheep red blood cells. The aqueous extract of the fruits presented hemolytic activity starting from the dilution of 0,85%, while the aqueous extract of the leaves presented hemolysis starting from the dilution of 0,90%. The activity should be related to the presence of saponins, once the chemical study of the leaves methanolic extract resulted in the isolation of the saponin daucosterol, a glycosylated phytosterol.
Subject(s)
Bromeliaceae , EryngiumABSTRACT
Amongst the different forms of therapy to prevent and cure illnesses, plants have been, undoubtedly, the most utilized ones since the beginning of mankind. Brazil has a great diversity on plants that possess non-researched medicinal potential and are promising sources of therapeutic and pharmacological innovations. The Rubiaceae family is considered the biggest one of the order Gentianales, presenting around 637 genera and 10,700 species. Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud., known popularly as "ervanço", "poaia" or "ipeca-mirim", has ethnopharmacological indications to use as decoction against hemorrhoids and as vermifuge. Aiming at contributing to the chemotaxonomic study of the family Rubiaceae and considering the absence of data in literature about the chemical constitution of the species Richardia grandiflora, the latter was submitted to a phytochemical study to isolate its chemical constituents, through usual chromatographic methods, and after identifying them by means of spectroscopic methods such as ÕH and 13C NMR, with the add of two-dimensional techniques, besides comparison with literature data. Five constituents were isolated through this first phytochemical study with R. grandiflora: a mixture of the steroids beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol, o-hydroxy-benzoic acid, m-methoxy-p-hydroxy-benzoic acid and phaeophitin A, all of them isolated for the first time from the genus Richardia.
Dentre as diversas formas de terapia para a prevenção e cura de doenças, as plantas foram, indubitavelmente, as mais amplamente utilizadas desde o início da humanidade. O Brasil tem grande diversidade de plantas com potenciais medicinais, ainda não pesquisados, e que são promissoras fontes de inovações terapêuticas e farmacológicas. A família Rubiaceae, considerada a maior da ordem Gentianales, possui cerca de 637 gêneros e 10.700 espécies. Richardia grandiflora (Cham. & Schltdl.) Steud., conhecida popularmente como ervanço, poaia ou ipeca-mirim, tem indicações etnofarmacológicas para uso contra hemorróidas e como vermífugo na forma de decocto. Visando a contribuir com o estudo quimiotaxonômico da família Rubiaceae e tendo em vista a ausência de dados na literatura acerca da constituição química de Richardia grandiflora, esta foi submetida a um estudo fitoquímico para o isolamento de seus constituintes químicos, através dos métodos cromatográficos usuais, e posterior identificação estrutural dos mesmos, utilizando-se os métodos espectroscópicos de RMN ÕH e 13C uni e bidimensionais, além de comparações com modelos da literatura. Deste estudo pioneiro com R. grandiflora foram isolados e identificados cinco constituintes: uma mistura dos esteróides beta-sitosterol e estigmasterol, o ácido o-hidroxibenzóico, o ácido m-metoxi-p-hidroxi-benzóico e a feofitina A, todos inéditos no gênero Richardia.
Subject(s)
Stigmasterol/isolation & purification , Stigmasterol/chemistry , Pheophytins/isolation & purification , Pheophytins/chemistry , Hydroxybenzoates , Rubiaceae/chemistryABSTRACT
In a prospective open uncontrolled study, Beta-Sitosterol( cholesterol lowering agent) was investigated in the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction, Forty patients were included in the study. All patients were treated with 60mg of Beta-Sitosterol daily for 3months. Mean maximum and average flow rates were increased significantly. Volume of residual urines were reduced from an initial 52ml to 30ml in the final weeks(p <0.001). The mean intervals of diuria were increased from an initial 1.7 hour to 2.6hour and the frequencies of nocturia were reduced from an initial 2.1times to 1.8times in the final weeks(p<0.001), Other obstructive symptom were subjectively improved. Side effects were minimal. It was concluded that the Beta-Sitosterol at a dose of 20mg tid is a safe and effective therapeutic alternative in patients with benign prostatic obstruction and may be used in patients awaiting surgery and those who unfit for operation.