Study on mechanism of enhanced HaCaT cellular uptake of tetrahydropalmatine by asarum essential oil and sinapine in Sanfu Patch / 中草药

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the mechanism of enhanced HaCaT cellular uptake of tetrahydropalmatine (THP) by asarum essential oil (AEO) and sinapine thiocyanate (SPT) in Sanfu Patch. Methods Effect of SPT, AEO, and THP on cell viability of HaCaT were determined by MTT. HaCaT cellular uptake of THP and the enhancing effects of AEO and SPT on THP uptake were visualized with confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) based on the green autofluorescence of THP, and the THP uptake content by HaCaT was further determined with HPLC. Moreover, HaCaT cells were labeled with diphenylhexatriene (DPH). After the labeled cells were treated with AEO, SPT, and THP, respectively, the cellular membrane fluidity was determined with fluorescence polarization technology. Results THP fluorescence intensity within HaCaT cells was significantly increased when THP was co-delivered with AEO or SPT respectively, and the THP content with each group within the cells was also significantly higher than that of THP delivered alone. In addition, AEO was superior to SPT in enhancing THP uptake by HaCaT cells. The fluorescence polarization and membrane micro-viscosity of HaCaT cells were significantly decreased after AEO treatment, which indicated that membrane fluidity was increased by the treatment with AEO. However, SPT or THP did not present the character of increasing the membrane fluidity.Conclusion HaCaT cellular uptake of THP can be enhanced by AEO and SPT of Sanfu Patch, in which AEO enhances the cellular uptake of THP through increasing the cellular membrane fluidity, while the mechanism of SPT in enhancing THP cellular uptake remains further clarification.