Smilax china L. rhizome extract inhibits nuclear factor-κB and induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells.

OBJECTIVE: To study the antitumor effects and associated mechanisms of extract of the Smilax china L. rhizome (SCR) on ovarian cancer cells. METHODS: Ovarian cancer cells A2780 were treated with different concentrations of SCR extract (SCRE), and compared with controls. Effects on cell growth were evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay; proliferation effects by EdU incorporation assay; cell cycle by propidium iodide staining; apoptosis by annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide; cellular distribution of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by immunofluorescence; protein levels of NF-κB, caspase-3, poly-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose polymerase (PARP), Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP)-1, anti-X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), B-cell lymphoma-extra large (Bcl-XL), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) and AKT by Western blotting; and effects of SCRE combined with cisplatin or adriamycin on A2780 cells by CCK-8 assay. RESULTS: SCRE suppressed A2780 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.05,P<0.01), arrested cells in G2/M phase and induced apoptosis by activating caspase-3, PARP and Bax. SCRE treatment also correlated with inhibition of NF-κB and downregulation of Bcl-2, Bcl-XL, cIAP-1, XIAP and AKT. SCRE can promote chemosensitivity to cisplatin and adriamycin in A2780 cells (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: SCR effectively inhibits NF-κB, induces apoptosis and reduces chemoresistance to cisplatin and adriamycin in ovarian cancer cells, which might be its molecular basis for treating ovarian cancer.

[Research on the application of supercritical fluid extraction of diosgenin of Smilax china].

OBJECTIVE: To Study the optimum extraction conditions of diosgenin by CO2 Supercritical Fluid Extraction ( SFE). METHODS: Uniform design was used to select the technology of CO2 SFE. The pressure, temperature and modifer concentration were discussed to try to find out the best condition. Samples were analyzed with a reverse phase HPLC system to calculate the yield. Data was processed by SPSS statistical analysis software. RESULTS: The best extraction condition in SFE as follows: extraction pressure 25 MPa, temperature 67 degrees C, seperation pressure 10 MPa, modifer concentration 95%. CONCLUSION: CO2 SFE method acquires more yield than that of traditional organic solvent extraction method in pharmacopoeia, providing scientific support on improving the extraction method of diosgenin.