Identification of antioxidant activity of two new aromatic ring butyrolactone derivatives from Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz / 中国天然药物

The present study carried out a phytochemical investigation on the root barks of Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz, leading to the isolation and characterization of two new aromatic ring butyrolactone derivatives, dasycarpusphenol acid A (1) and dasycarpusphenol acid B (2). Their structures were elucidated by using spectroscopic techniques and HR-FAB-MS. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited antioxidant activity, with their IC values being 28.95 and 41.76 mg·mL, respectively.

Effect of lupeol on migration and invasion of human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells and its mechanism / 药学学报

In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of lupeol, an extract of Euphorbia fischerana Steud, on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells migration and invasion. Lupeol was found to inhibit the invasion of MDA-MB-231 in the cell adhesion assay, transwell test and wound healing assay. The expression of cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2), matrix metalloproteinase-2(MMP-2), -9(MMP-9) and nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in breast cancer following treatment with different concentrations of lupeol was analyzed with Western blot. Lupeol inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells in a dosedependent manner in vitro (PκB p65 levels was significantly down-regulated. These observations suggest that lupeol can inhibit the abilities of invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells by inhibiting the protein expression of COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Its mechanism may be related to inhibition of the nuclear NF-κB signal pathway.

Effect of ethyl gallate on invasion abilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells / 药学学报

This study is to investigate the effect of ethyl gallate on invasion capabilities and its mechanism of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells. Using cell adhesion and transwell assay, separately, the effects of ethyl gallate on the invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells were measured. The Akt-NF-κB signal pathway protein expressions were analyzed with Western blot. Also, the mRNA levels of MMP-9 and MMP-2 were analyzed by RT-PCR. Ethyl gallate inhibited the abilities of motility, adhesion and invasion of breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro (P<0.05), inhibited the mRNA levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, phosphorylation of AKt and protein expression of NF-κB. It is concluded that ethyl gallate can inhibit the abilities of invasion of breast cancer in vitro by inhibiting the mRNA levels of MMP-9/MMP-2, phosphorylation of Akt and protein expression of NF-κB.

Influence of Radix Astragali on nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in pulmonary tissue in hypoxemic pulmonary hypertension in rats / 中华儿科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the influence of Radix Astragali (RA) on pulmonary tissue endothelin-1 (ET-1) and nitric oxide (NO) in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension rats.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty one healthy male Wistar rats weighing 210-310 g were divided into three group at random with 7 in each. The rats in control group were raised in ordinary room condition; those in hypoxic group were raised in ordinary pressure hypoxic box [concentration of O(2) was (10.0 +/- 0.5)%] for 8 hours a day, for 30 days; those in RA group were raised in the same condition as hypoxic group and treated with an intraperitoneal injection of RA 8 g/kg per day. The rats in the control group and hypoxic group were given the same volume of intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), mean carotid artery pressure (mCAP) were measured via right cardiac catheterization, concentration of NO in pulmonary tissue was measured by radioimmunoassay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>(1) The mPAP (mm Hg) (21.9 +/- 1.6) and ET-1 (pg/ml) (309.1 +/- 58.1) in hypoxemic group were significantly higher than those in RA group (16.2 +/- 0.8, 287.7 +/- 57.5) and control group (15.3 +/- 0.8, 241.1 +/- 52.5) (P < 0.01, < 0.05), but the difference between RA group and control group was not significant. (2) NO (micromol/L) in pulmonary tissue in hypoxemic group (6.5 +/- 0.3) was lower than that in RA group and control group (9.2 +/- 0.9), NO in RA group was higher than that in hypoxic group but lower than that in control group (P < 0.05). (3) There was no significant difference in mCAP among the three groups (P > 0.05). (4) Under electron microscope, the endothelial cells of arterioles of the lung tissue of control group were flat and had normal morphology. However, in the lung tissue of hypoxic group, there were proliferation, hypertrophy and swelling of endothelial cells of pulmonary medium and small arteries and plenty of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticula in cytoplasm.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Chronic hypoxia can result in reconstruction and endothelial lesion in pulmonary arterioles of rats, elevation of mPAP and ET-1 in pulmonary tissue, and decrease of NO. Injection of Radix Astraglai can reverse the reconstruction of pulmonary vessels partially, regulate the concentration of ET-1 and NO in pulmonary tissue, which may have certain therapeutic effects on pulmonary arteriolar changes induced by hypoxia.</p>