Oleanolic acid isolated from ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra induces apoptosis in A375 skin melanoma cells: drug-DNA interaction and signaling cascade / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Oleanolic acid (OA) has been reported to have anticancer effects, but the extent of its cytotoxicity, its ability to interact with nuclear DNA, its action against skin melanoma, as well as the molecular mechanism of its action against cell proliferation and in support of cell death are still unexplored. This led us to examine the efficacy of OA, a bioactive compound isolated from Phytolacca decandra, on these issues in the present investigation.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Studies related to analyses of cell viability, drug-DNA interaction, cell proliferation, cell cycle and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activity were performed. To investigate whether cells undergo apoptosis, studies like fluorescence microscopy, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) degradation, annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide assay, alteration in mitochondrial membrane potential and activity of some relevant signaling proteins were performed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>OA displayed a minimal and negligible cytotoxic effect on normal HaCaT cells (skin keratinocytes) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells but by contrast it reduced A375 cell viability significantly. OA interacted with nuclear DNA quickly after exposure. It acted as an anti-proliferative agent. It suppressed EGFR activity. OA administration led the cells to mitochondria-dependent caspase 3-mediated apoptosis.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>OA interacts with cellular DNA, inhibits proliferation possibly through modulating EGFR activity and induces mitochondria-dependent caspase 3-mediated apoptosis in A375 cells which would qualify it as a potent anticancer agent.</p>

Determination of Cyanogenic Compounds in Edible Plants by Ion Chromatography

Cyanogenic glycosides are HCN-producing phytotoxins; HCN is a powerful and a rapidly acting poison. It is not difficult to find plants containing these compounds in the food supply and/or in medicinal herb collections. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of total cyanide in nine genera (Dolichos, Ginkgo, Hordeum, Linum, Phaseolus, Prunus, Phyllostachys, Phytolacca, and Portulaca) of edible plants and the effect of the processing on cyanide concentration. Total cyanide content was measured by ion chromatography following acid hydrolysis and distillation. Kernels of Prunus genus are used medicinally, but they possess the highest level of total cyanide of up to 2259.81 CN-/g dry weight. Trace amounts of cyanogenic compounds were detected in foodstuffs such as mungbeans and bamboo shoots. Currently, except for the WHO guideline for cassava, there is no global standard for the allowed amount of cyanogenic compounds in foodstuffs. However, our data emphasize the need for the guidelines if plants containing cyanogenic glycosidesare to be developed as dietary supplements.

Four Cases of Phytolacca Esculenta Van Houtte Intoxication due to Misidentification as a Ginseng

Poisoning by Phytolacca esculenta commonly occurs by misidentification as other edible plants. The root of Phytolacca esculenta is similar to other roots, such as kudzu, balloon flower, codonopsis lanceolata, and ginseng. The author experienced four cases of Phytolacca esculenta intoxication due to misidentification as a ginseng. We report on these cases with a review of the literature.

Homeopathic mother tincture of Phytolacca decandra induces apoptosis in skin melanoma cells by activating caspase-mediated signaling via reactive oxygen species elevation / 中西医结合学报

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>Preventive measures against skin melanoma like chemotherapy are useful but suffer from chronic side effects and drug resistance. Ethanolic extract of Phytolacca decandra (PD), used in homeopathy for the treatment of various ailments like chronic rheumatism, regular conjunctivitis, psoriasis, and in some skin diseases was tested for its possible anticancer potential.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Cytotoxicity of the drug was tested by conducting 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay on both normal (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and A375 cells. Fluorescence microscopic study of 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride-stained cells was conducted for DNA fragmentation assay, and changes in cellular morphology, if any, were also recorded. Lactate dehydrogenase activity assay was done to evaluate the percentages of apoptosis and necrosis. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, if any, and expression study of apoptotic genes also were evaluated to pin-point the actual events of apoptosis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Results showed that PD administration caused a remarkable reduction in proliferation of A375 cells, without showing much cytotoxicity on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Generation of ROS and DNA damage, which made the cancer cells prone to apoptosis, were found to be enhanced in PD-treated cells. These results were duly supported by the analytical data on expression of different cellular and nuclear proteins, as for example, by down-regulation of Akt and Bcl-2, up-regulation of p53, Bax and caspase 3, and an increase in number of cell deaths by apoptosis in A375 cells.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Overall results demonstrate anticancer potentials of PD on A375 cells through activation of caspase-mediated signaling and ROS generation.</p>

Comparative study on toxicity of extracts from Phytolaccae Radix before and after being processed with vinegar / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To extract and separate toxic components from Phytolaccae Radix, and to comare the changes in toxicity of Phytolaccae Radix before and after being processed with vinegar.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The mucous membrane irritation response, mouse peritoneal inflammation model and in vitro macrophages release NO model were applied to compared the changes in inflammatory toxicity of toxic components from Phytolaccae Radix before and after being processed with vinegar.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Toxic components of Phytolacca Radix had significant inflammatory toxicity, which could cause conjunctival edema in rabbits, and increase of PGE2 and macrophages release NO content in peritoneal exudate in mice. After being processed with vinegar, they showed reduced irritation, which resulted in decrease of PGE2 and macrophages release NO content in peritoneal exudate in mice.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After being processed with vinegar, the toxicity of toxic components from Phytolacca Radix decreased obviously.</p>

Comparative study of mucosa irritation of crude and processed Radix Phytolaccae / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the changes of mucosa irritation of crude and processed Radix Phytolaccae.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Gastrointestinal experiments on rats and mice and the rabbits' eyes irritation experiments were applied to investigate the changes of mucosa irritation of crude and processed Radix Phytolaccae.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The mucosa irritation of processed Radix Phytolaccae decreased obviously compared to crude one.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>After being processed with vinegar, the mucosa irritation on Radix Phytolaccae decreased obviously.</p>

Two Cases of Phytolacca Americana Intoxication with Confusion and Abdominal Cramping

Phytolacca americana poisoning is a benign plant intoxication that causes gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, and gastrointestinal bleeding. Other signs and symptoms include diaphoresis, salivation, visual disturbance, and seizures or mental changes. We report two cases of patients who experienced confusion and abdominal pain, vomiting, and hematemesis after oral ingestion of pokeweed. A 60-year-old female with confusion and a 67-year-old female with abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea were admitted to the emergency department after pokeweed poisoning. After supportive treatment of hydration and gastrointestinal medication, the two patients showed full recovery within 24 h and were discharged from the hospital.

Biotransformation of 6beta-santonin by Phytolacca acinosa cell suspension cultures / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To obtain more valuable derivatives for the further structural modification of 6beta-santonin (1) via biotransformation by using cell suspension cultures of Phytolacca acinosa.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The substrate 1 was incubated with cell suspension cultures of P. acinosa, the products were obtained by chromatography, and identified on the basis of their physical and spectral data (HRMS, 1D NMR, 2D NMR, NOE and IR).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>After incubation with cell suspension cultures of P. acinosa, 1 was converted into five products. Among them, 3 is a new compound.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>6beta-santonin could be selectively reduced and hydroxylated by the cell suspension cultures of P. acinosa, which would provide valuable intermediates for its further structural modification.</p>

Preliminary attempt at the speciation of 25-elements in the Chinese medicinal herbs / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To make an attempt at the multi-element speciation in the Chinese medicinal herbs by determining the concentrations of 25 elements in different extraction solutions.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Firstly, five Chinese medicinal herbs (Buddleja officinalis, Dictamnus dasycarpus, Myristica fragrans, Albizia judibrissin and Inula japonica) from the same region of China were treated to obtain water-soluble phase, lipid-soluble phase and non-soluble phase by water extraction, organic solvent extraction and acid digestion, respectively. Secondly, Phytolacca acinosa, a Chinese medicinal herb collected from 9 regions of China, was extracted by 0% EtOH, 50% EtOH, 75% EtOH, 95% EtOH, respectively, referring the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Finally, the concentrations of 25 elements, such as Be, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ge, Sr, Y, Mo, Cd, Tl, Pb and REEs, in the above three phases were determined by ICP-MS.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Under the optimal conditions, all the 25 elements could be determined with detection limits ranged from 0.003 to 0.71 ng x g(-1). The average recoveries of the elements in P. acinosa were 88% approximately 119%, with the relative standard deviations 1.7% approximately 13.3%. It was observed that the determined 25 elements distributed in all the water-soluble, lipid-soluble and non-soluble phases, indicating that the inorganic species, organicspecies, as well as the protein bound species were coexisted in the herbs. Big differences of the element extraction rates could be found by using different ethanol solutions.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>With the aid of the obtained results, we may increase the extraction of necessary elements while decrease that of the toxic elements from the herbs by choosing a suitable solvent during the drug production.</p>

Effect of esculentoside A on cellular adhesion / 药学学报

<p><b>AIM</b>To investigate the anti-inflammatory mechanism of esculentoside A (EsA) and to observe the effects of EsA on cellular adhesion between human umbilical vein endothelial cell (VEC304) and human neutrophil and to further observe the mRNA expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and cluster of differentiation 18(CD18).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The hemocyte counting method was used for assaying the adhesion rate between VEC304 and neutrophil. The RT-PCR method was used for measuring the mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and CD18.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The adhesion rate between VEC304 and neutrophil was increased with treatment of lipopolysaccharide(LPS). EsA (3 - 12 x 10(-6) mumol.L-1) was shown to inhibit the high cellular adhesion induced by LPS. A further investigation of adhesion molecules mRNA expression was undertaken using semi-quantitative reverse transcribed polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results of RT-PCR from VEC304 and human neutrophil treating with LPS showed that ICAM-1 and CD18 mRNA expressions were higher than those of normal cells, while this increased expression of ICAM-1 and CD18 mRNA was remarkably attenuated by the addition of EsA.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>EsA was found to inhibit the increased adhesion rate induced by LPS. Moreover, LPS induced high expression of ICAM-1 and CD18 was inhibited with treatment of EsA. It might be involved in the mechanisms of anti-inflammation of EsA.</p>

Induction and culture of hairy boots in Phytolacca esculenta and its saponin production / 生物工程学报

Hairy roots appeared in vitro 20 days after inoculation of Phytolacca esculenta leaf explants with the strain of Agrobacterium rhizogenes R1601. The frequency of leaf explants transformed by R1601 was up to 70%. Hairy roots can be incited directly from the veins of explants or via callus. Hairy roots induced by R1601 grew rapidly on medium MS without hormone and were 85.6% higher in respiration rate than control roots. Transformation was confirmed by opine detection and the amplification of rol B and rol C genes from the hairy roots of P. esculenta. The total saponin content in hairy roots of P. esculenta was about 1.54 times as much as in natural roots whereas polysaccharides content was about 70% times as much as in the natural roots.

A Case of Acute Renal Failure and Other Symptoms Associated with Phytolacca Radix Poisoning / 대한신장학회잡지

Phytolaccae had been used as a pharmaceutical drug or food But nowadays, due to its toxicity, Phytolaccae is rarely used and cases of patients poisoned with it are seldom reported. The case presented here was of 43 year-old male who after ingesting extract of Phytolacca esculenta suffered from abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, tachycardia, hypotension, pruritus, paresthesia, oliguria and azotemia. Kidney biopsy revealed tubular necrosis and some protein casts in tubular lumens. These findings suggested that acute renal failure was mainly caused by nephrotoxicity of Phytolacca extracts. Through continuous arteriovenous hemofiltration and two times of hemodialysis, he was completely recovered from acute renal failure. Other symptoms also disappeared by symptomatic management, but paresthesia of both lower extremities still remained. So we reported this case with a brief review of literature.