Momordica cochinchinensis seed extracts suppress migration and invasion of human breast cancer ZR-75-30 cells via down-regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9.

OBJECTIVE: Metastases and invasion are the main reasons for oncotherapy failure. Momordica cochinchinensis (Mu Bie Zi in Chinese) had been used for a variety of purposes, and shown anti-cancer action. In this article, we focused on effects on regulation of breast cancer cell ZR-75-30 metastases and invasion by extracts of Momordica cochinchinensis seeds (ESMCs). METHODS: Effect of ESMCs on ZR-75-30 human breast cancer cells proliferation were evaluated by MTT assay and on invasion and migration by wound-healing and matrigel invasion chamber assays. Expression and protease activity of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, were analyzed by Western blotting and gelatin zymography, respectively. RESULTS: ESMC revealed strong growth inhibitory effects on ZR-75-30 cells, and effectively inhibited ZR-75-30 cell invasion in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot and gelatin zymography analysis showed that ESMC significantly inhibited the expression and secretion of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in ZR-75-30 cells. CONCLUSIONS: ESMC has the potential to suppress the migration and invasion of ZR-75-30 cancer cells, and it might prove to of interest in the development of novel inhibitors for breast cancer.

Role of store-operated calcium entry in imperatorin-induced vasodilatation of rat small mesenteric artery.

Store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) has recently been proposed to contribute to Ca(2+) influx in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Imperatorin is known for its potent vasodilatory effects as a dietary furanocoumarin. The study was designed to examine the hypothesis that SOCE have a functional role in imperatorin-induced vasodilation. Small mesenteric resistance arteries and mesenteric VSMCs were obtained from rats. Isometric tensions of isolated artery rings were measured by a sensitive myograph system. Laser scanning confocal microscopy was used to determine the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration of fluo-3-loaded VSMCs. Imperatorin (1-100 µM) relaxed artery rings precontracted by phenylephrine in a concentration-dependent manner. In cultured mesenteric VSMCs, passive store depletion by thapsigargin and active store depletion by phenylephrine both induced Ca(2+) influx due to SOCE. Imperatorin didn't inhibit SOCE-mediated increases in cytosolic Ca(2+) levels evoked by the emptying of the stores. In isolated artery rings, imperatorin didn't inhibit SOCE-induced contractions due to store depletion. Our results exclude SOCE mechanism of vasodilatation by imperatorin. But imperatorin is partly similar with nifedipine in vasorelaxation effect.

[Effects of Bai-Chuan capsule on left ventricular hypertrophy and correlative indexes].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Bai-Chuan capsule (BC) on the left ventricular hypertrophy in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). METHODS: Taking SHR and Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) as the model group and the control group respectively, Captopril as positive drug, administered BC 0.3 g/kg, Captopril 3.75 mg/kg or 0.5% CMC-Na to each group by ig for 3 months, and measured the change of blood pressure. The left ventricular mass index was calculated after rats were sacrificed. Left ventricle was used to pathological observations, plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone were measured by radioimmunoassay. CONCLUSION: BC can inhibit left ventricular hypertrophy, plasma level of angiotensin II and aldosterone to some extent in SHR.