ABSTRACT
In the present study the activity of a 20% methanolic extract of stinging nettle roots (Urtica dioica L., Urticaceae) on the proliferative activity of human prostatic epithelial (LNCaP) and stromal (hPCPs) cells was evaluated using a colorimetric assay. A concentration-dependent and significant (p < 0.05) antiproliferative effect of the extract was observed only on LNCaP cells during 7 days, whereas stromal cell growth remained unaltered. The inhibition was time-dependent with the maximum of growth reduction (30%) at a concentration of 1.0E-6 mg/ml on day 5 compared to the untreated control. On day 4 and 6, the reduction in proliferation of LNCaP cells showed the minimal effective dose at 1.0E-9 mg/ml. No cytotoxic effect of ME-20 on cell proliferation was observed. The antiproliferative effect of ME-20 of stinging nettle roots observed both in an in vivo model and in an in vitro system clearly indicates a biologically relevant effect of compounds present in the extract.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Cell Division/drug effects , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Prostatic Neoplasms/pathology , Cell Line , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Humans , MaleABSTRACT
In Germany, plant extracts are often used in the treatment of early stages of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH). The effects of different concentrations of the polysaccharide fraction of the 20% methanolic extract of stinging nettle roots (POLY-M) on the cellular proliferation of lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cells were determined by measurement of the genomic DNA content of the samples. All concentrations of POLY-M showed an inhibitory effect on the growth of the LNCaP cells during 7 days except the two lowest concentrations. The reduced proliferation of POLY-M treated LNCaP cells was significantly (p < 0.05) different from the untreated control. The inhibition was time- and concentration-dependent with the maximum suppression (50%) on day 6 and at concentrations of 1.0E-9 and 1.0E-11 mg/ml. No cytotoxic effect of POLY-M on cell proliferation was observed. The in vitro results show for the first time an antiproliferative effect of Urtica compounds on human prostatic epithelium and confirm our previous in vivo findings.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Surface , Epithelial Cells/drug effects , Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Prostate/cytology , Biomarkers , Carbohydrates/analysis , Carboxypeptidases/analysis , Carboxypeptidases/metabolism , Cell Division/drug effects , Cell Line , Cell Survival/drug effects , Depression, Chemical , Glutamate Carboxypeptidase II , Humans , Lipopolysaccharides/analysis , Male , Methanol , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Plant Roots/chemistry , Prostate/drug effects , Prostate-Specific Antigen/analysis , Prostate-Specific Antigen/metabolism , Prostatic Hyperplasia/pathologyABSTRACT
Direct implanting of fetal urogenital sinus (UGS) tissue into the ventral prostate gland of adult mice led to a 4-fold weight increase of the manipulated prostatic lobe. The induced growth could be reduced by the polysaccharide fraction (POLY-M) of the 20% methanolic extract of stinging nettle roots by 33.8%.
Subject(s)
Magnoliopsida/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Animals , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Roots/chemistryABSTRACT
Extracts of stinging nettle roots (Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae) are used in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). We established a BPH-model by directly implanting an urogenital sinus (UGS) into the ventral prostate gland of an adult mouse. Five differently prepared stinging nettle root extracts were tested in this model. The 20% methanolic extract was the most effective with a 51.4% inhibition of induced growth.
Subject(s)
Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Plant Roots/chemistry , Plants, Medicinal/chemistry , Prostatic Hyperplasia/drug therapy , Animals , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB CABSTRACT
Bioassay-guided fractionation of the extracts of Zieridium pseudobtusifolium and Acronychia porteri led to the isolation of 5,3'-dihydroxy-3,6,7,8,4'-pentamethoxyflavone [1], which showed activity against (KB) human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (IC50 0.04 micrograms/ml) and inhibited tubulin assembly into microtubules (IC50 12 microM). Two other known flavonols, digicitrin [2] and 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,8,3',4'-hexamethoxyflavone [5], were also isolated together with three new ones, 3-O-demethyldigicitrin [3], 3,5,3'-trihydroxy-6,7,8,4'-tetramethoxyflavone [4], and 3,5-dihydroxy-6,7,8,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone [6]. All of these flavonols showed cytotoxic activity against KB cells.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/isolation & purification , Flavonoids/isolation & purification , Plants/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/pharmacology , Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor , Flavonoids/chemistry , Flavonoids/pharmacology , Humans , KB Cells , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Malaysia , Mass Spectrometry , New Caledonia , Plant Leaves/chemistry , Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet , Tubulin/metabolism , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
No remarkable differences in the cardenolide pattern of the four varieties of DIGITALIS SUBALPINA could be found. Subalpinoside (Oleandrigenin-glucodigitoxoside) is the main cardiac glycoside in all varieties.
ABSTRACT
From the leaves of DIGITALIS SUBALPINA Br.-Bl. var. SUBALPINA an oleandrigenin glycoside was isolated as the main cardiotonic compound besides some known glycosides such as evatromonoside, lanatoside A and B, gitoroside, and others. The structure of this compound was elucidated by spectroscopic methods ( (1)H-, (13)C-, 2D-NMR spectroscopy) as gluco-oleandrigenin digitoxoside. This is the first report of the occurrence of oleandrigenin derivatives in a DIGITALIS species.
