Subacute toxicity and chemical analysis of Tibetan medicine Oxytropis falcata / 中国中药杂志

Four different extracts of Oxytropis falcata, including the aerial aqueous extract, and the underground aqueous extract, the aerial lipophilic extract, and the underground lipophilic extract were prepared and then administrated orally to mice at the maximum dose (50 g x kg(-1) x d(-1) calculated by raw material) for fifteen days respectively. Compared with the control group, which was administrated of 1.0% tween-80, the treatment groups did not show significant differences in appearance and behavior. However, the organcoefficient, blood biochemical indicator and pathological section results showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts of O. flacata showed mild injury to the liver of mice, while the aerial and underground aqueous extracts and the underground lipophilic extract showed mild toxicity to the kidney of male mice. Chemical analysis showed that the lipophilic extracts of the aerial and underground parts, especially aerial lipophilic extract, consisted of large amount of flavonoid aglycones with little amount of polysaccharides and proteins, while the aqueous extracts contained much polysaccharides and proteins with almost no flavonoid aglycones detected.

Antitumor effects of two extracts from Oxytropis falcata on hepatocellular carcinoma in vitro and in vivo / 中国天然药物

AIMS@#To investigate the antitumor effects of extracts from Oxytropis falcata on human hepatocellular carcinoma SMMC-7721 cells in vitro and in transplanted murine H22 tumors in vivo.@*METHODS@#Cell proliferation, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells were determined and tumor growth inhibition in H22 tumors was investigated. Cell cycle distribution was analyzed by flow cytometry with propidium iodide (PI) and Annexin V-FITC/ PI double staining.@*RESULTS@#MTT assay revealed that essential oil and flavonoids of O. falcata (named EOOF and FOF) inhibited proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The IC50 value of EOOF and FOF were 0.115 and 0.097 mg·mL(-1), respectively. Cell cycle was arrested at G(1) phase, and induction of apoptosis occurred in SMMC-7721 cells when subjected to FOF. Growth inhibition in H22 solid tumors transplanted mice was significantly pronounced after being treated with FOF, and the inhibition ratio were 56.1% and 70.8% at the concentration of 30 and 60 mg·kg(-1).@*CONCLUSION@#The results suggest that FOF promotes apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells and inhibits H22 tumor growth, resulting in a potential antitumor effect on hepatic cancer.

Influences of Oxytropis falcata on proliferation of SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells and expression of MMP-2 / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the influences of extracts of Oxytropis falcata on proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells and expression of MMP-2 (matrix metalloproteinase-2).</p><p><b>METHOD</b>SMMC-7721 cells were treated for 24 h with five fractions obtained from 0. falcata in different concentrations. Inhibition on proliferation of the SMMC-7721 cells was assessed by MT method. Secretion of MMP-2 was measured by ELISA in the supernatant of SMMC-7721 cells treated with fractions of essential oil and total flavonoids for 24 h. Transcription of mRNA of MMP-2 was detected by Real-time PCR.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>In MT assay, essential oil and total flavonoids showed potential antiproliferative activity on SMMC-7721 in a concentration dependent manner. Data of ELISA showed that fraction of essential oil suppressed secretion of MMP-2 significantly. Results of Real-time PCR indicated that both essential oil and total flavonoids restrained expression of mRNA of MMP-2.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It suggested that essential oil and total flavonoids of O. falcata inhibit proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells through down-regulating secretion and expression of MMP-2 in cells. However, further experiments are necessary to carry out to investigate the potential mechanism.</p>

Study on apoptosis of SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells induced by Oxytropis falcata and its preliminary mechanism / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine apoptosis of SMMC-7721 hepatocarcinoma cells induced by total flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata (TFOF) and its preliminary mechanism.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>SMMC-7721 cells were treated for 24 h with TFOF in different concentrations. Inhibition on proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells was assessed by MTT assay. The morphology of treated SMMC-7721 cells was observed by optical microscope. Effect of TFOF on the nuclear morphology of cells was analyzed using Hoechst 33258 staining by fluorescence microscope. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining and flow cytometric measurement were used for investigating the effect of TFOF on induction of apoptosis in SMMC-7721 cells and cell cycle analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The results of MTT assay showed that TFOF could induce cytotoxicity in SMMC-7721 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Hoechst 33258 staining analysis indicated that TFOF caused typical characteristics of apoptotic programmed cell death, such as cell shrinkage, apoptotic body formation etc. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that TFOF caused a dose-dependent apoptosis of SMMC-7721 cells and arrested cell cycle in G1 phase.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>It suggested that TFOF inhibit proliferation of SMMC-7721 cells by inducing apoptosis of the cells and arresting cell cycle in G1 phase.</p>

Studies on chemical constituents of herbs of Oxytropis microphylla / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Oxytropis microphylla.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The compounds were isolated and purified by various column chromatographic techniques and their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectral analysis (EI-MS, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight compounds were isolated and identified as kaempferol (1), baicalein (2), 5-hydroxy-7, 8, 4'-trimethoxyflavone (3), stigmasterol (4), stigmast-4-en-3beta-ol (5), beta-sitosterol (6), lupenol (7), dehydrocostus lactone (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All compounds were isolated for the first time from this plant, compounds 2, 3, 5, and 8 were isolated for the first time from this genus.</p>

In vivo anti-tumor effect of Oxytropis kansuensis alkaloid fraction and its influence on immune function / 中国中西医结合杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the in vivo anti-tumor effect of Oxytropis kansuensis alkaloid fraction (OKAF) in live cancer cell line H22 and its influence on immune function in KM mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Sixty mice with transplanted mouse originated liver cancer cell line H22 were divided randomly into five groups, the three OKAF groups were administrated with OKAF in low (8 mg/kg), moderate (16 mg/kg) and high (32 mg/kg) dosage, the negative control group was administrated with normal saline 20 mL/kg and the positive control with 5-FU 15 mg/kg, respectively, once a day for 10 successive days. Then the average tumor weight (TW), tumor inhibition rate (TIR), spleen index (SI), and thymus index (TI) in them were calculated, and the spleen cell proliferation rate (SCPR) was measured by MTT assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>TIR of low, moderate and high dosage of OKAF was 23%, 29% and 43% respectively. SI and TI in all the three OKAF groups were higher than those in the negative control group, and the two indexes in the moderate and ligh dosage OKAF groups were higher than those in the positive control group (P < 0.05). SCPR in OKAF groups at 24 h, 48 h and 72 h were higher than those in both two control groups at the same time.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>OKAF shows inhibitory action on liver cancer cell line H22 tumor in KM mice, and it could also enhance the immune function of mice.</p>

Chemical constituents of Oxytropis falcate / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Oxytropis falcate.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The air-dried whole plants of O. falcate were extracted with EtOH (90%) three times at room temperature. The compounds were isolated by silica-gel, polyamide, C-18 and Sphadex LH-20 columns. The structures were identified based on spectral elucidation.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Fourteen compounds were isolated from O. falcate and identified as, (-)-7-methoxy-dihydroflavone (1), (-)-5-hydroxy-7-methyoxy-dihydroflavone (2), (-)-pinocembrin (3), (-)-7-hydroxy-dihydroflavone (4), 4'-methoxy-2'-hydroxy-chalcone (5), 2', 4'-dihydroxy-dihydrochalcone (6), 2',4'-dihydroxy-chalcone (7), (-)-maackiain (8), tetrahydroflemichapparin-B (9), dalbergin (10), N-benzoyl-2-phenylethylamine (11), n-tetracosanol (12), rhamnocitrin-3-O-beta-neohesperidoside (13), beta-sitosterol (14).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the compounds were isolated from O. falcate for the first time.</p>

Chemical constituents of Oxytropis chiliophylla / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the chemical constituents of Oxytropis chiliophylla.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The air-dried whole plants of O. chiliophylla were extracted with EtOH (90%) three times at room temperature. The compounds were isolated by silica-gel, polyamide, C-18 and Sphadex LH -20 columns. The structures were identified based on spectral analysis.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>8 compounds were isolated from O. chiliophylla and identified as azukisapogenol (1), (22E, 24R) -24-methyl-5alpha-cholesta-7, 22-diene-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (2), apigein (3), 3', 4'-dimethoxy-quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (4), 7, 3', 4'-trimethoxy-quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-rhamopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5), (2S, 3S, 4R)-N-[(R)-2'-hydroxytetracosanoyl]-1, 3, 4-trihydroxy-2-amino-octadeca-6-ene (6), beta-sitosterol (7), daucosterol (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All the compounds were isolated from O. chiliophylla for the first time.</p>

Studies on flavonoids of Oxytropis falcata / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the flavonoids of Oxytropisfalcata.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Compounds were isolated by column chromatography using silica gel, Sephadex LH -20 and ODS as the adsorbents. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS spectroscopic data.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Eight compounds were isolated and elucidated as 2', 4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxy chalcone (1), 2', 4'-dihydroxy chalcone (2), 5,7-dihydroxy-4'-methoxy flavonol (3), 7-hydroxy-4'-methoxy flavanones (4), 3', 7-dihydroxy-2',4'-dimethoxy isoflavan (5), 2'-hydroxy-4'-methoxy chalcone (6), 2'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy chalcone (7), 2',4'-dihydroxy dihydrochalcone (8).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All compounds were obtained from O. falcata for the first time.</p>