Bornyl acetate extracted from Sharen () inhibits proliferation, invasion and induces apoptosis by suppressing phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling in colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the antitumor effects of bornyl acetate (BA) isolated from Sharen (Fructus Amomi) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: SW480 and HT29 cells were treated with increasing doses of BA in order to determine its antitumor effects in vitro. Cell viability, colony formation, cell cycle, and apoptosis as well as migration and invasion were assessed using various assays. In addition, the in vivo antitumor effects of BA were assessed using a xenograft mouse model. We then assessed the mechanism of action of BA by conducting pathway activator-mediated rescue experiments and assessed the protein levels by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: BA showed anti-CRC tumor activities in vitro by suppressing cell proliferation and colony formation, inducing apoptosis, blocking cell cycle, and inhibiting migration and invasion. These effects were mediated via suppression of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B (PI3K/AKT) pathway. In the tumor xenograft experiment, BA was found to repress tumor growth in vivo with low toxicity. CONCLUSIONS: The results demonstrated that BA exerts antitumor effects by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway, with low toxicity. Thus, BA might be a potential novel therapeutic agent for CRC.

Relationship of Traditional Dai Medicine And All Sorts of Cultures / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

Dai medicine is one of the four major minority medicines in China,which is also an important part of the national minority medicine.This paper introduced the source and development of traditional Dai medicine.It also discussed the relationship of traditional Dai medicine with cultures such as Chinese medicine,Buddhism and Pattraleaf,as well as the cultures of aerial faming,tea and dietary.Thoughts and suggestions on the development of Dai medicine were also given.

Determination of spinosin and total saponins in compound Zaoshen tablet by HPLC and UV / 药学实践杂志

Objective To establish methods for the determination of spinosin and total saponins in compound Zaoshen tablet .Methods The separation of spinosin was performed on Agilent Zorbax SB C18 column (250 mm × 4 .6 mm ,5 μm) at 30℃ with water and acetonitrile as mobile phase for gradient elution at the flow rate of 1 .0 ml/min .The detection wavelength was 335 nm .Determination of total saponins was fulfilled by column chromatography followed by UV spectrometer with vanil-lin glacial acetic acid colorimetry .The detection wavelength was 560 nm .Results Linear range of spinosin was 20-100 μg/ml (r=0 .9990) and total saponins was 40-200 μg/ml (r=1 .0000) .The average recoveries for accuracy tests were 99 .55% and 99 .85% respectively .Conclusion Those methods are accurate and reliable .They can be used for the quality control of com-pound Zaoshen tablet .