Chloroplast Genome Structure of Stemona tuberosa and Phylogenetic Analysis Based on PacBio Sequencing / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo obtain high-quality chloroplast genome information on Stemona tuberosa and clarify its structure， sequence features， and phylogenetic status. MethodThe Illumina NovaSeq 6000 and PacBio RS Ⅱ platforms were used for library construction and sequencing of S. tuberosa， respectively. The data from both sequencing platforms were combined and subjected to bioinformatics analysis for genome assembly and base correction， resulting in a high-quality chloroplast genome. Subsequently， sequence features， repetitive sequences， gene diversity， and phylogeny were analyzed. ResultThe chloroplast genome size of S. tuberosa was determined to be 154 379 bp. The structure of the chloroplast genome followed the typical quadripartite circular form， consisting of a pair of inverted repeat regions （IRs） with a length of 27 074 bp， a small single-copy region （SSC） of 17 924 bp， and a large single-copy region （LSC） of 82 307 bp. The average GC content was 37.86%. A total of 121 genes were annotated， including 30 tRNA genes， four rRNA genes， and 87 protein-coding genes. Among them， six tRNA genes and 12 protein-coding genes contained introns. In the chloroplast genome of S. tuberosa， 49 long repetitive sequences and 59 single-nucleotide simple sequence repeats （SSRs） were identified. Comparative analysis of chloroplast genomes among four Stemona species revealed high diversity in the ycf1 and ndhF genes. The phylogenetic tree constructed based on the chloroplast genome showed consistent classification with the current taxonomic status of S. tuberosa. ConclusionThe high-quality chloroplast genome of S. tuberosa was successfully assembled， providing valuable information on the structure and sequence features of chloroplast genomes in four Stemona species， including S. tuberosa. These findings lay a foundation for the identification， evolution， and phylogenetic studies of medicinal plants in the genus Stemona.

Mechanism of Stemona tuberosa Alkaloids in Inhibiting Proliferation and Inducing Apoptosis of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer NCI-H460 Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo study the effect and underlying mechanism of Stemona tuberosa alkaloids on the proliferation and apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells. MethodNon-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells were divided into a blank group and S. tuberosa alkaloids groups （50， 100， 150， 200， and 250 mg·L-1）. The effect of S. tuberosa alkaloids on the proliferation of human NCI-H460 cells was observed by thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide （MTT） assay and colony formation assay. Cell apoptosis was observed by Hoechst 33258 staining and flow cytometry. Real-time fluorescence-based polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） was used to detect the effect of S. tuberosa alkaloids on the mRNA expression of cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and epidermal growth factor receptor （EGFR）. The protein expression levels of Caspase-3， Bax， Bcl-2， protein kinase B （Akt）， phosphorylated （p-）Akt， EGFR， c-Jun N-terminal kinase （JNK）， p-JNK， p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （p38 MAPK）， and p-p38 MAPK were measured by Western blot. ResultCompared with the blank group， the S. tuberosa alkaloids groups showed increased inhibition rate on cell proliferation （P<0.01）， reduced number of cell clones formed and the rate of cell clonal formation （P<0.05， P<0.01）， and increased karyopyknosis， cytoplasmic aggregation， and cell apoptosis rate （P<0.01）. The S. tuberosa alkaloids groups at 100， 150， 200， and 250 mg·L-1 showed increased Caspase-3 mRNA expression （P<0.05）， decreased EGFR mRNA expression （P<0.05， P<0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of Caspase-3 and p-JNK （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein expression of EGFR and p-Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Additionally， compared with the blank group， the S. tuberosa alkaloids groups showed increased expression of Bax mRNA （P<0.01）， decreased expression of Bcl-2 mRNA （P<0.01）， up-regulated protein expression of Bax and p-p38 MAPK （P<0.01）， and down-regulated protein expression of Bcl-2 （P<0.01）. ConclusionsS. tuberosa alkaloids can inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis of human non-small cell lung cancer NCI-H460 cells， and the mechanism may be related to the inhibition of EGFR protein expression and phosphorylation of Akt protein， as well as the activation of the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Effect of Stemona tuberosa Alkaloids on Apoptosis and PI3K/Akt and JNK/MAPK Signaling Pathways of Human Lung Cancer A549 Cells / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of Stemona tuberosa alkaloids （STA） on apoptosis and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B （PI3K/Akt） and c-Jun N-terminal kinase/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase （JNK/p38 MAPK） signaling pathways in human lung cancer A549 cells. MethodA549 cells were classified into blank group and STA groups （100， 150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L-1）. Thiazole blue （MTT） assay and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the proliferation of A549 cells. Apoptosis was observed based on Hoechst 33258 staining， flow cytometry， and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. Western blot was employed to detect the expression of apoptosis-related proteins cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3 （Caspase-3）， B-cell lymphoma-2 （Bcl-2）-associated X protein （Bax）， and Bcl-2， and the expression of PI3K， phosphorylated （p）-PI3K， Akt， p-Akt， JNK， p-JNK， p38 MAPK， and p-p38 MAPK. ResultCompared with the blank group， STA groups （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L-1） demonstrated the increase in inhibition rate of cell proliferation （P<0.01） and cell clone inhibition rate， and decrease in cell clone formation rate （P<0.01）. In comparison with the blank group， STA groups showed typical characteristics of apoptosis， such as chromatin condensation and enhanced fluorescence reaction. The apoptosis rate of STA groups was significantly higher than that of the blank group （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L-1） significantly up-regulated the protein expression of Caspase-3 and Bax （P<0.05， P<0.01） and down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2 protein （P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA had no significant influence on the total protein expression of PI3K， Akt， JNK， and p38 MAPK. However， STA （150， 200， 250， 300 mg⋅L-1） significantly decreased the levels of p-PI3K and p-Akt （P<0.05， P<0.01） and increased the level of p-p38 MAPK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. Compared with the blank group， STA （200， 250， 300 mg⋅L-1） significantly raised the level of p-JNK （P<0.05， P<0.01）. ConclusionSTA can inhibit the proliferation and induce the apoptosis of A549 cells by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and activating JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.

Effect of Stemona tuberosa Alkaloids on Apoptosis of SMMC-7721 Cells and Expression of Bcl-2， Bax， and Cleaved Caspase-3 / 中国实验方剂学杂志

Objective:To investigate the effect of<italic> Stemona tuberosa</italic> alkaloids on the apoptosis of human hepatoma SMMC-7721 cells and the expression of apoptosis-related proteins including B lymphocytoma-2 （Bcl-2）， Bcl-2-associated X protein （Bax）， and cleaved cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease-3 （cleaved Caspase-3）. Method:SMMC-7721 cells were routinely cultured， passaged， and treated with various concentrations （50， 75， 112， 167， and 250 mg·L^-1） of <italic>S. tuberosa </italic>alkaloids， while those in the blank control group were only treated with 10% fetal bovine serum. The cell proliferation was determined by tetrazolium bromide （MTT） colorimetry and colony assay and the cell apoptosis by Hoechst 33258 staining. The protein expression levels of Bcl-2， Bax， and cleaved Caspase-3 were detected by Western blot. Result:<italic>S. tuberosa</italic> alkaloids inhibited the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells， and the inhibition rate was significantly increased in comparison with that in the blank control group （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， with the half maximal inhibitory concentrations （IC₅₀） at 24 h， 48 h， and 72 h being （173.36±8.75）， （112.14±16.50）， and （96.41±2.60）mg·L^-1， respectively. The cell colony-inhibitory activity was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Compared with the blank control group， <italic>S. tuberosa</italic> alkaloids promoted the apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells， manifested as increased number of apoptotic cells and elevated apoptotic rate （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. The typical morphological changes such as brightly blue-fluorescent condensed nuclei， cytoplasmic shrinking， and karyopyknosis were found under the upright fluorescence microscope. As revealed by comparison with the blank control group， the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly down-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）， while the protein expression levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 in the 75， 112， 167， and 250 mg·L^-1 <italic>S. tuberosa</italic> alkaloids groups were significantly up-regulated （<italic>P</italic><0.01）. Conclusion:<italic>S. tuberosa </italic>alkaloids inhibit the proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and promote their apoptosis possibly by inhibiting Bcl-2 protein expression and promoting Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 protein expression.

Chemical constituents of Stemona tuberosa / 中草药

Objective: To study the chemical constituents of Stemona tuberosa. Methods: The chemical constituents were isolated and purified by chromatography with RP-C18, silica gel, Sephadex LH-20 and semi-preparative HPLC, and their structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data and physicochemical properties as well as relevant references. Results: Ten compounds were isolated from the roots of S. tuberosa, and they were elucidated as 6-methoxy-3-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (1), stilbostemin A (2), stilbostemin K (3), stilbostemin P (4), stilbostemin Q (5), stilbostemin R (6), stilbostemin T (7), stilbostemin W (8), stilbostemin X (9) and stilbostemin Y (10). Conclusion: Compound 1 is the new pyrone derivative named as stemonapyrone A. Compounds 2 and 3 are isolated from the plant of S. tuberosa for the first time.

Protective effects of stemona alkaloids on mice with bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis / 中国药科大学学报

@#This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of total alkaloids(TA)and one of the active components, neotuberostemonine, of Stemona tuberosa on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice and to explore the mechanism by fibroblasts model. The bleomycin-induced mice were orally administered with TA(60 mg/kg)and neotuberostemonine(10, 20 mg/kg), with prednisone(6. 67 mg/kg)as a positive control. The anti-fibrotic effects were assessed by hydroxyproline content, TGF-β1 level, inflammatory score, collagen deposition and the expression of α-SMA in the lung tissues. The results revealed that TA and neotuberostemonine could significantly ameliorate the inflammation and injury, and attenuate the hydroxyproline content and collagen deposition. Moreover, neotuberostemonine treatment markedly down-regulated the α-SMA level and TGF-β1 content in bleomycin-injured mice lungs. The in vitro experiments showed that neotuberostemonine inhibited the expression of α-SMA induced by TGF-β1 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that suppression on differentiation of fibroblasts to myofibroblasts may be one of the mechanisms for neotuberostemonine against pulmonary fibrosis.

ISSR analysis on genetic diversity of traditional medicinal plant Stemona tuberosa / 中草药

Objective To analyze the relationship and genetic diversity of Stemona tuberosa in different populations. Methods ISSR molecular technique was be used to decipher the genetic diversity of S. tuberosa in South of the Yangtze River, The genetic relationships among different populations were analyzed based on software POPGEN32 and the DNA molecular dendrogram was structured according to the software NTSYSpc-2.10E. Results Seventy-four obvious bands of different S. tuberosa populations were amplified with seven suitable ISSR primers, 74 of them were polymorphic sites, and the percentage of polymorphism bands reached to 100%; Effective number of alleles (Ne) is 1.524 4, the average Nei's genetic diversity (He) index is 0.314 6, the average Shannon's information index is 0.478 6, the genetic distance among populations is 0-0.950 2, and the average distance is 0.416 3. Conclusion The study revealed that a relative high genetic diversity occurred in different populations of S. tuberosa, the genetic variation is related to geographical distance in different populations of S. tuberosa. The study will throw light on how to introduce and cultivate traditional Chinese medicinal plant, how to screen peculiar pyrrolidine alkaloids from S. tuberosa, and how to build to scientific standards and theoretical basis for traditional geo-authentic crude drug in China.

Serum pharmacochemistry of honey-fried Stemona tuberosa Lour. by UHPLC-QTOF/MS and MetaboLynx analysis / 药学学报

A high throughput UHPLC-QTOF/MS method was established to analyze and identify the constituents in rat plasma after oral administration of honey-fried Stemona tuberosa Lour. extract. Automated data analysis software MetaboLynx was developed in analysis and identification of the bioactive components and their metabolites in rat plasma following oral administration of honey-fried S. tuberosa Lour. extract. As a result, 40 compounds including 12 prototype components and 28 metabolites were characterized. The constituents absorbed into blood and the possible metabolites which were demonstrated to originate from the active fraction of honey-fried S. tuberosa Lour. were responsible for the observed efficacy. Its serum pharma­cochemistry should be subjected to complete investigation to illuminate the pharmacology and active mechanism of honey-fried S. tuberosa Lour.

Study on Extraction Technology of Polysaccharides from Stemona tuberosa by Alkaline Water Ultrasound Method / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE:To optimize extraction technology of polysaccharides from Stemona tuberosa so as to increase the ex-traction rate and efficiency. METHODS:Anthrone-sulfuric acid method was used for detection. With water and alkaline water (NaOH solution)as the solvent respectively,the effects of decocting method,ultrasound method and microwave method on the ex-traction rate of crude polysaccharide were observed respectively. By carrying out single factor and orthogonal tests,with the extrac-tion rate of crude polysaccharide as the index,the effects of the amount of water,NaOH solution concentration,extraction tempera-ture and extraction time on the extraction of crude polysaccharide by alkaline water ultrasound method were observed to optimize the technology parameters,and verification test was conducted. RESULTS:The alkaline water ultrasound method is superior to oth-er extraction methods,where the optimal technology parameters were as follows as 0.3 mol/L NaOH aqueous solution 30 times as much as the amount of crud drug,ultrasonic processing for 70 min at 50 ℃. The verification tests showed that the average extrac-tion rate of crude polysaccharide was 25.76%(RSD=3.51%,n=6). CONCLUSIONS:The optimal alkaline water ultrasound method can better extract crude polysaccharide from S. tuberosa.

Anti-inflammatory activity of methyl ferulate isolated from Stemona tuberosa Lour

OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of methyl ferulate (MF) isolated from the roots of Stemona tuberosa (S. tuberosa) Lour (Stemonaceae) in lipopolysaccharide activated macrophage cells.@*METHODS@#Methanol extracts of a root powder of S. tuberosa were prepared for isolation of a potential anti-inflammatory agent using ultrasound extraction combined with repeated chromatography on silica gel. After the quantitative analyses, anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compound was evaluated by measurement of cytokine release, NO generation, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases including p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase using quantitative kits and Western blotting with specific antibodies.@*RESULTS@#The isolation process yielded a potential anti-inflammatory compound with a purity level of 99% determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The compound was identified as MF by using nuclear magnetic resonance. MF strongly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophages, including IL-6, TNFα, IFNγ, yet it did not affect the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase were clearly reduced in MF-treated macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. cyclooxygenase-2 expression and NO generation by macrophages were also suppressed when the cells were treated with MF.@*CONCLUSIONS@#The data suggested that MF is a possible inhibitor of the mitogen activated phosphor kinase pathway and could be a potential anti-inflammatory agent isolated for the first time in medicinal plant S. tuberosa.

Anti-inflammatory activity of methyl ferulate isolated from Stemona tuberosa Lour

Objective: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of methyl ferulate (MF) isolated from the roots of Stemona tuberosa (S. tuberosa) Lour (Stemonaceae) in lipopolysaccharide activated macrophage cells. Methods: Methanol extracts of a root powder of S. tuberosa were prepared for isolation of a potential anti-inflammatory agent using ultrasound extraction combined with repeated chromatography on silica gel. After the quantitative analyses, anti-inflammatory activity of the isolated compound was evaluated by measurement of cytokine release, NO generation, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and phosphorylation of mitogen activated protein kinases including p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase using quantitative kits and Western blotting with specific antibodies. Results: The isolation process yielded a potential anti-inflammatory compound with a purity level of 99% determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The compound was identified as MF by using nuclear magnetic resonance. MF strongly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from macrophages, including IL-6, TNFα, IFNγ, yet it did not affect the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase were clearly reduced in MF-treated macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. cyclooxygenase-2 expression and NO generation by macrophages were also suppressed when the cells were treated with MF. Conclusions: The data suggested that MF is a possible inhibitor of the mitogen activated phosphor kinase pathway and could be a potential anti-inflammatory agent isolated for the first time in medicinal plant S. tuberosa.

In silico analysis of compounds from Stemona tuberosa as an inhibitor for N1 neuraminidase of H5N1 avian virus

The worldwide spread of H5N1 avian influenza has raised concerns that this virus might acquire the ability to pass readily among humans and cause a pandemic.Two anti-influenza drugs currently being used to treat the infected patients are oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamivir (Relenza), both of which target the neuraminidase enzyme of the virus. Reports of the emergence of drug resistance has made the development of new anti-influenza molecules a priority. Various compounds present in Stemona tuberosa a plant belonging to Stemonaceae family was tested for activity against H5N1 neuraminidase. Eight one molecules including stilbenoids, bibenzyls and various others were selected as probable compounds for lead molecules. These lead molecules were tested for toxicity tests and Lipinski rule in Pre ADMET server. Around 33 compounds cleared all these tests. Validated ligand molecules were docked against H5NI Neuraminidase active site residues using AUTODOCK 4 which showed better results in comparison with zanamivir and oseltamivir, anti- influenza drugs.