A novel peptidoglycan isolated from Semiaquilegia adoxoides inhibits Aß42 production via activating autophagy.

The accumulation of amyloid ß (Aß) containing senile plaques is one of the key histopathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Increasing evidences demonstrated the important role of autophagy in Aß clearance. Recent studies implied that extracts from Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino could ameliorate the memory of D-galactose induced aging mice. However, the bioactive substance and underlying mechanism remains unknown. Thus, the present study sought to explore the effects of a novel homogenous peptidoglycan on Aß42 secretion and the underlying mechanism. Briefly, we extracted a novel peptidoglycan named SA02C using hot water extraction and alcohol precipitation with the Mw of 13.72 kDa. SA02C contains 73.33% carbohydrate and 27.83% protein. The structure characterization revealed that its glycan part might mainly composed of galacturonic acid with minor rhamnose in backbone, and branched with glucose, galactose, arabinose, xylose and galacturonic acid. The protein or peptide moiety in SA02C was bonded to the polysaccharide via threonine. Bioactivities test showed that SA02C could reduce Aß42 production in a dose dependent manner with no obvious cytotoxicity. Mechanism study demonstrated that SA02C could modulate APP processing by upregulating the expression of ADAM10, sAPPα and downregulating BACE1, sAPPß. Furthermore, SA02C also could stimulate autophagy by promoting the expression of the markers of autophagy such as LC3B and ATG5, resulting in the promotion of Aß42 phagocytosis.

A structure defined pectin SA02B from Semiaquilegia adoxoides is metabolized by human gut microbes.

Polysaccharide is one of the major factors for shaping the gut microbiota. However, bioactivity of polysaccharide isolated from Semiaquilegia adoxoides on human gut microbiota remains unclear. Thus, we hypothesize gut microbes may act on it. Herein, pectin SA02B from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides with molecular weight 69.26 kDa was elucidated. The backbone of SA02B was composed of alternate 1, 2-linked α-Rhap and 1, 4-linked α-GalpA, with branches of terminal (T) -, 1, 4-, 1, 3- and 1, 3, 6-linked ß-Galp, T-, 1, 5- and 1, 3, 5-linked α-Araf and T-, 1, 4-linked-ß-Xylp substituted at C-4 of 1, 2, 4-linked α-Rhap. Bioactivity screening showed SA02B promoted the growth of Bacteroides spp. which deconstructed it into monosaccharide. Simultaneously, we observed competition might exist between Bacteroides spp. and probiotics. Besides, we found that both Bacteroides spp. and probiotics could generate SCFAs grown on SA02B. Our findings highlight SA02B may deserve as a prebiotic to be explored to benefit the health gut microbiota.

Protective effects of Semiaquilegia adoxoides n-butanol extract against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells.

Context Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage in the lens epithelium leads to cell death and cataract. Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino (Ranunculaceae), a folk medicine of Hmong (an ethnic group of China), has been traditionally used to treat cataract; however, the underlying molecular mechanism is yet to be uncovered. Objective This study aimed to investigate whether the n-butanol extract of S. adoxoides (nSA) is effective against the H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial (HLE) cells. Materials and methods Human lens epithelial (SRA 01/04) cells were stimulated by H2O2 (250 µM) in the presence or absence of nSA. The antioxidant effects of nSA were determined in terms of cell viability (MTT assay), apoptosis (AnnexinV/PI staining), radical scavenging capability (various enzymatic assays), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Rhodamine 123 staining), expression of apoptotic markers including caspase-3 and caspase-9 and the change of Bcl-2/Bax ratio (western blot) in the HLE cells. Results The results showed that pretreatment of nSA (250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL) markedly reduced H2O2-induced cellular apoptosis and malondialdehyde accumulation, but elevated the activities of total superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase. Thus, the total antioxidative capability was enhanced upon the nSA treatment meanwhile the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential was prevented. Moreover, nSA at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL also significantly suppressed the activation of caspase-3 and -9, and increased the Bcl-2/Bax ratio in the HLE cells. Discussion and conclusion Our findings suggested that nSA is a potential prophylactic agent in the prevention of cataractogeneis.

A study on the inhibitory effect of Radix Semiaquilegiae extract on human hepatoma HEPG-2 and SMMC-7721 cells.

The main objective of this paper was to investigate the extraction process of ethanol extract of Radix Semiaquilegiae, as well as its inhibitory activity on human hepatoma HepG-2 and SMMC-7721 cells, and to compare the inhibitory effects of different concentrations of ethanol extracts against these two hepatoma cells. Ethanol reflux extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction with ethanol at room temperature were used in the extraction process, and MTT assay was mainly used in the activity experiment to perform in-vitro anti HepG-2 and SMMC-7721 cell activity screening of ethanol extract, and to calculate the cell inhibition rates of the extracts. The results showed that among the two types of extracts, ethanol reflux extract had more superior antitumour activity to that of the ultrasonic extract, but all of the extracts obtained had certain anti-cancer activities, and the anti-proliferative activity increased with the increase of concentration.

[Study on correlation between the habits of growing development and the formation of morphology of Semiaquilegia adoxoides].

OBJECTIVES: To study the characteristics and regular patterns in growing development of Semiaquilegia adoxoides, and their correlation with the characters medicine materials. METHODS: Continuous observation and study was conducted during growth periods, and observation and measuring was adopted on commercially available Semiaquilegia adoxoides samples. RESULTS: Plants germinated from seeds and those in their first or second year since germinating from main roots had only basal leaves, there were no aboveground stems or process of flowering and fruiting. After that, plants would germinate from the top of main roots, flower and bear fruit, and the number of aboveground stem and flowers, the size of roots would increase gradually. The medicinal part of Semiaquilegia adoxoides should be fleshy tap root rather than root tuber. The aboveground plants of Semiaquilegia adoxoides experienced the growing process from autumn, through winter to the next spring. They flowered and bore fruit in spring and lived through summer with fleshy tap roots. There was relatively strong correlation between Semiaquilegia adoxoides's habits of growing development and temperature. The characters of Semiaquilegia adoxoides medicinal materials with various growth years were different, and the formation of Semiaquilegia adoxoides medicinal materials took more than 3 years under the wild state. CONCLUSION: The results provide a reference for cultivation and further utilization of Semiaquilegia adoxoides, and also serve as the basis for identification of Semiaquilegia adoxoides medicinal materials.

Anti-neutrophilic inflammatory secondary metabolites from the traditional Chinese medicine, Tiankuizi.

Through bioassay-guided fractionation, thirteen compounds (1-13) were isolated from the dry root of Semiaquilegia adoxoides, known as Tiankuizi in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Among these, four benzoic acid derivatives (1, 2, 4, 5), one 4,6-dimethoxy-5-methyl-2H-pyran-2-one (10) and one 1,2,3-propanetriol (13) were found for the first time in S. adoxoides. This is the first record of compound 10 from a natural source. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and 3,4-dihyroxybenzoic acid (2) showed selective inhibition against elastase release and superoxide anion generation, with IC50 values of 3.20 and 6.21 microg/mL, respectively. Compound 1 had 7-fold better activity than the positive control against elastase release induced by human neutrophils. Overall, our studies demonstrated Tiankuizi (S. adoxoides) as a potential TCM and isolates 1 and 2 as promising lead compounds for neutrophilic inflammatory diseases.

[Study on the histological anatomy on medicinal parts of Semiaquilegia adoxoides in different developmental stages].

OBJECTIVE: To study the structural characteristics of medicinal parts at different developmental stages of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. METHODS: Observed on sections of medicinal parts of Semiaquilegia adoxoides at various developmental stages during growth periods. RESULTS: There was a great difference between the upper and bottom of the medicinal parts of Semiaquilegia adoxoides: rhizome at the top of root had the structure of rhizome with pith; The upper one third of enlarged root was root-stem transition zone, also with pith; And the other two thirds of enlarged root had the structure of root without pith. The microscopic structures of the medicinal parts of Semiaquilegia adoxoides at various developmental stages presented great disparities, the structures regularly increased as the size of plant increased. It was the first time to find that there were structure of growth rings in xylem of the root and rhizome of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. CONCLUSION: The method of identification of characteristics and histology of medicinal parts of Semiaquilegia adoxoides at different developmental stages is established, and the results provide a basis for identification of Semiaquilegia adoxoides medicinal materials.

New diterpenoids from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Two new ent-kaurane-type diterpenoids, E-semiaquilegin (1) and Z-semiaquilegin (2), together with eight known compounds (3-10) were isolated from the dried roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides (DC.) Makino. The structures of compounds 1 and 2 were elucidated mainly by 2D NMR techniques including 1H-1H COSY, HSQC, HMBC, NOESY as 16alpha-hydroxy-ent-kaurane-17,20-di-(3,4-dihydroxy-E-cinnamoyl) ester and its (Z)-isomer.

Complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR spectral data for a novel diterpenoid from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Semiaquilegoside A (1), a new diterpenoid, was isolated from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides. Its chemical structure was established as 3beta, 11- dihydroxy-12-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-8,11,13-abietatrien-6-one through spectroscopic techniques and chemical analysis.

A nobel cyanogenic glycoside from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

Phytochemical investigation of Semiaquilegia adoxoides was initiated in view of its common usage in traditional Chinese medicine and the scarcity of previous phytochemical studies. Fractionation of an ethanol extract from the roots of this plant led to the isolation and identification of a novel cyanogenic glycoside, 2-(beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-4-hydroxybenzeneacetonitrile (1). The structure of 1 was elucidated on the basis of IR, FAB-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectral analysis.

A new nitroethylphenolic glycoside from Semiaquilegia adoxoides.

The isolation of a new nitroethylphenolic glycoside, 4-hydroxy-1-(2-nitroethyl) benzene 4-O-(6'-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), from the roots of Semiaquilegia adoxoides is reported.

[Medicinal plant resources of Trib. Isopyreae and prospects of exploitation].

There are 17 species of medicinal plants from Trib. Isopyreae Schröd in China. This paper reports their resources, habitats and medicinal properties. On the basis of referring to the native and abroad medical studies on the plants from same Trilbe, their prospects of exploitation were advised.