Effect of Pyunkang-tang on Inflammatory Aspects of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in a Rat Model

We investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of Pyunkang-tang extract (PGT), a complex herbal extract based on traditional Chinese medicine that is used in Korea for controlling diverse pulmonary diseases, on cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary pathology in a rat model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The constituents of PGT were Lonicerae japonica, Liriope platyphylla, Adenophora triphilla, Xantium strumarinum, Selaginella tamariscina and Rehmannia glutinosa. Rats were exposed by inhalation to a mixture of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and sulfur dioxide for three weeks to induce COPD-like pulmonary inflammation. PGT was administered orally to rats and pathological changes to the pulmonary system were examined in each group of animals through measurement of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) at 21 days post-CSE treatment. The effect of PGT on the hypersecretion of pulmonary mucin in rats was assessed by quantification of the amount of mucus secreted and by examining histopathologic changes in tracheal epithelium. Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with PGT for 30 min and then stimulated with CSE plus PMA (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate), for 24 h. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression was measured by RT-PCR. Production of MUC5AC mucin protein was measured by ELISA. The results were as follows: (1) PGT inhibited CSE-induced pulmonary inflammation as shown by decreased TNF-α and IL-6 levels in BALF; (2) PGT inhibited the hypersecretion of pulmonary mucin and normalized the increased amount of mucosubstances in goblet cells of the CSE-induced COPD rat model; (3) PGT inhibited CSE-induced MUC5AC mucin production and gene expression in vitro in NCI-H292 cells, a human airway epithelial cell line. These results suggest that PGT might regulate the inflammatory aspects of COPD in a rat model.

Biting the hand that feeds you: wedge-billed hummingbird is a nectar robber of a sicklebill-adapted Andean bellflower / Muerde la mano que le da de comer: Colibrí pico cuña el ladrón de néctar de Centropogon granulosus (Campanulaceae)

Informo sobre el comportamiento de robo de néctar del colibrí pico cuña, Schistes geoffroyi (Trochilidae) en la flor campanulada neotropical, Centropogon granulosus (Campanulaceae). Muchas especies de Centropogon se caracterizan por tener una flor tubular curvada de distintas formas y probablemente especializadas para ser polinizadas por los colibríes de pico curvo (Eutoxeres), como es evidente a partir de la curvatura tanto de la flor como del pico. Debido a la exclusividad de este mutualismo, el robo de néctar ha sido ocasionalmente documentado en Centropogon. Aquí amplío el estudio de robo de néctar de Centropogon incluyendo a Schistes geoffroyi. Esta expansión puede ser un indicador de la alta especialización entre el mutualismo de Centropogon y el colibrí de pico curvo, siendo esta más susceptible al robo de néctar de lo que pensaba previamente. Esto genera preguntas acerca de la evolución de la especialización y parasitismo en este grupo tropical, tanto de las campanuladas como de los colibríes.

I report on nectar robbing behavior of the wedge-billed hummingbird, Schistes geoffroyi (Trochilidae) on the Andean bellflower, Centropogon granulosus (Campanulaceae). Many species of Centropogon are characterized by an abruptly curved corolla tube which is likely specialized for pollination by sicklebill hummingbirds (Eutoxeres), as evident from the matching curvature of flower and bill. Nectar robbing has been documented for some Centropogon spp., but not for sicklebill pollinated C. granulosus. Given recent developments and interest in the Centropogon-sicklebill mutualism, it is pertinent to document any natural history observations that may underlie the ecology and evolution of this pollination system. The establishment of wedge-billed hummingbird as a nectar robber of C. granulosus calls for a new assessment of the ecology and evolution of the highly specialized Centropogon-sicklebill mutualism.

Adenophora remotiflora protects human skin keratinocytes against UVB-induced photo-damage by regulating antioxidative activity and MMP-1 expression

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) are commonly involved in the pathogenesis of skin damage by activating the metalloproteinases (MMP) that break down type I collagen. Adenophora remotiflora (AR) is a perennial wild plant that inhabits Korea, China, and Japan. The present study investigated the protective effects of AR against UVB-induced photo-damage in keratinocytes. MATERIALS/METHODS: An in vitro cell-free system was used to examine the scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical and nitric oxide (NO). The effect of AR on ROS formation, antioxidant enzymes, elastase, MMP-1 level, and mRNA expression of MMP-1 were determined in UVB-irradiated human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. RESULTS: AR demonstrated strong DPPH free radical and NO scavenging activity in a cell-free system exhibiting IC50 values of 1.88 mg/mL and 6.77 mg/mL, respectively. AR pretreatment dose-dependently attenuated the production of UVB-induced intracellular ROS, and antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were enhanced in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, pretreatment of AR prevented UVB-induced elastase and collagen degradation by inhibiting the MMP-1 protein level and mRNA expression. Accordingly, AR treatment elevated collagen content in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. CONCLUSION: The present study provides the first evidence of AR inhibiting UVB-induced ROS production and induction of MMP-1 as a result of augmentation of antioxidative activity in HaCaT human keratinocytes. These results suggest that AR might act as an effective inhibitor of UVB-modulated signaling pathways and might serve as a photo-protective agent.

A polysaccharide purified from Radix Adenophorae promotes cell activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in murine RAW264.7 macrophages / 中国天然药物

Radix Adenophorae, a traditional Chinese medicine, has been reported to have a variety of biological functions. In the present study, a polysaccharide component, Radix Adenophorae Polysaccharide (RAPS), was purified from Radix Adenophorae by decoloring with ADS-7 macroporous adsorption resin, DEAE-52 cellulose ion-exchange chromatography, and Sephacryl S-300HR gel chromatography, with the purity of 98.3% and a molecular weight of 1.8 × 10(4) Da. The cell viability assay and microscopic examination revealed that RAPS promoted the proliferation and activation of macrophages. At 400 μg·mL(-1), RAPS stimulated RAW264.7 cell proliferation by 1.91-fold compared with the control. Meanwhile, RAPS significantly increased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in a dose-dependent manner in the supernatant of RAW264.7 cell culture as determined by ELISA. At 400 μg·mL(-1), the production of TNF-iα was 20.8-fold higher than that of the control. Simultaneously, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) were increased in RAW264.7 cells incubated with RAPS, as measured by Griess assay and Western blot analysis. The NO production of cells treated with RAPS (400 μg·mL(-1)) reached 15.8 μmol·L(-1), which was 30.4-fold higher than that of the control (0.53 μmol·L(-1)). These data suggested that RAPS may enhance the immune function and protect against exogenous pathogens by activating macrophages.

Effects of Lupenone, Lupeol, and Taraxerol Derived from Adenophora triphylla on the Gene Expression and Production of Airway MUC5AC Mucin / 결핵및호흡기질환

BACKGROUND: Adenophora triphylla var. japonica is empirically used for controlling airway inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. We evaluated the gene expression and production of mucin from airway epithelial cells in response to lupenone, lupeol and taraxerol derived from Adenophora triphylla var. japonica. METHODS: Confluent NCI-H292 cells were pretreated with lupenone, lupeol or taraxerol for 30 minutes and then stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) for 24 hours. The MUC5AC mucin gene expression and production were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Additionally, we examined whether lupenone, lupeol or taraxerol affects MUC5AC mucin production induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the other 2 stimulators of airway mucin production. RESULTS: Lupenone, lupeol, and taraxerol inhibited the gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin induced by TNF-alpha from NCI-H292 cells, respectively. The 3 compounds inhibited the EGF or PMA-induced production of MUC5AC mucin in NCI-H292 cells. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that lupenone, lupeol and taraxerol derived from Adenophora triphylla var. japonica regulates the production and gene expression of mucin, by directly acting on airway epithelial cells. In addition, the results partly explain the mechanism of of Adenophora triphylla var. japonica as a traditional remedy for diverse inflammatory pulmonary diseases.

Proteomic analysis of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells treated with platycodin D / 中国天然药物

Platycodin D (PD), a triterpenoid saponin isolated from Platycodonis Radix, is a famous Chinese herbal medicine that has been shown to have anti-proliferative effects in several cancer cell lines. The aim of this study was to determine the changes in cellular proteins after the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells with PD using proteomics approaches. The cell viability was determined using the MTT assay. The proteome was analyzed by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the expression of changed proteins. Our results showed that PD inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 cells in concentration- and time-dependent manners. Sixteen proteins were identified to be up-regulated in PD-treated HepG2 cells, including ATP5H, OXCT1, KRT9, CCDC40, ERP29, RCN1, ZNF175, HNRNPH1, HSP27, PA2G4, PHB, BANF1, TPM3, ECH1, LGALS1, and MYL6. Three proteins (i.e., RPS12, EMG1, and KRT1) decreased in HepG2 cells after treatment with PD. The changes in HSP27 and PHB were further confirmed by Western blotting. In conclusion, our results shed new lights on the mechanisms of action for the anti-cancer activity of PD.

Antinociception Effect and Mechanisms of Campanula Punctata Extract in the Mouse

In the present study, the antinociceptive profiles of Campanula punctata extract were examined in ICR mice. The Campanula punctata contain a large dose of saponin. Campanula punctata extract administered orally (200 mg/kg) showed an antinociceptive effect as measured by the tail-flick and hot-plate tests. In addition, Campanula punctata extract attenuated the writhing numbers in the acetic acid-induced writhing test. Furthermore, the cumulative nociceptive response time for intrathecal (i.t.) injection of substance P (0.7 microgram) was diminished by Campanula punctata extract. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) pretreatment with yohimbine (alpha2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) attenuated antinociceptive effect induced by Campanula punctata extract in the writhing test. However, naloxone (opioid receptor antagonist) or methysergide (5-HT serotonergic receptor antagonist) did not affect antinociception induced by Campanula punctata extract in the writhing test. Our results suggest that Campanula punctata extract shows an antinociceptive property in various pain models. Furthermore, this antinociceptive effect of Campanula punctata extract may be mediated by alpha2-adrenergic receptor, but not opioidergic and serotonergic receptors.

Optimization for extraction technology of polysaccharide in root of Adenophora potaninii from Taibai mountain in China by orthogonal experimental design / 中国中药杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>This study is to develop excellent extraction technology of the polysaccharides in the root of the A. potaninii which live in the Taibai Mountain in China.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Based on the extraction with water, the polysaccharides were deposited with alcohol. With the content of polysaccharides was as the index, extraction conditions were investigated systemly. Employed the solid-liquid ratio, extraction temperature, extraction time and extraction number of times were as levels of single factor, the optimal extraction technology of the polysaccharides from the root of the A. potaninii was determined by L9 (3(4)) orthogonal experimental design L9 (3(4)).</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The optimal technology conditions were that the solid-liquid ratio was 1 : 30, the extracting temperature was 60 degrees C, the extracting time was 3 h and extracting number of times was 3 times.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The optimized extraction technology is simple, reliable and extraction efficiency of polysaccharide is higher.</p>

Effects of Edible and Medicinal Plants Intake on Blood Glucose, Glycogen and Protein Levels in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

The hypoglycemic effects of four edible plants (Angelicae tenuissimae (A. ten.), Pleurospermum kamtschaticum (P. kam.), Adenophora remotiflora (A. rem.) and Zanthoxylum schinifolium (Z. sch.)) in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were investigated. Sprague-Dawley male rats weighing 190-230 g were induced diabetes mellitus by the STZ injection (45 mg/kg) into the tail vein and were divided into six groups ; normal, STZ-control and four edible plant groups (A. ten., P kam., A. rem. and Z. sch. groups). Normal and STZ-control groups were fed a AIN-93 diet and four groups of STZ-induced diabetic rats were fed one of each experimental diets containing 10% of the edible plant powder for 4 weeks. Diabetic rats showed the lower weight gain compared to the normal rats. In experimental groups except P. kam., AST activities were close to normal. A. ten. group were lowered ALT activities slightly. The plasma glucose levels of the diabetic experimental groups were significantly decreased at 4th week. The plasma insulin levels in diabetic experimental groups were not significantly different compared to the STZ-control group. The liver glycogen levels in STZ injected rats were significantly lower in compared to the normal rats. However no significant differences were found in response experimental plants intake in diabetic rats. The muscle glycogen were not significantly different among all the groups.