Ethanolic extract from Sophora moorcroftiana inhibit cell proliferation and alter the mechanical properties of human cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is one of the most common gynecological malignancies. Previous studies have shown that the ethanol extract of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds (EESMS) possesses an antiproliferative effect on several tumors in vitro. Therefore, in this study, we assessed the impact of EESMS on human cervical carcinoma (HeLa) cell proliferation. METHODS: The proliferation and apoptotic effects of HeLa cells treated with EESMS were evaluated using 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay, dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide double staining, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Single-cell level atomic force microscopy (AFM) was conducted to detect the mechanical properties of HeLa cells, and proteomics and bioinformatics methods were used to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of EESMS. RESULTS: EESMS treatment inhibited HeLa cell proliferation by blocking the G0/G1 phase, increasing the expression of Caspase-3 and affecting its mechanical properties, and the EESMS indicated no significant inhibitory effect on mouse fibroblasts L929 cell line. In total, 218 differentially expressed proteins were identified using two-dimensional electrophoresis, and eight differentially expressed proteins were successfully identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The differentially expressed proteins were involved in various cellular and biological processes. CONCLUSION: This study provides a perspective on how cells change through biomechanics and a further theoretical foundation for the future application of Sophora moorcroftiana as a novel low-toxicity chemotherapy medication for treating human cervical cancer.

Mechanisms predictive of Tibetan Medicine Sophora moorcroftiana alkaloids for treatment of lung cancer based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking.

BACKGROUND: Leguminous Sophora moorcroftiana (SM) is a genuine medicinal material in Tibet. Many research results have reveal the Sophora moorcroftiana alkaloids (SMA), as the main active substance, have a wide range of effects, such as antibacterial, antitumor and antiparasitic effects. However, there are few reports on the inhibition of lung cancer (LC) and its inhibitory mechanism, and the pharmacological mechanism of SMA is still unclear, Therefore, exploring its mechanism of action is of great significance. METHODS: The SMA active components were obtained from the literature database. Whereas the corresponding targets were screened from the PubChem and PharmMapper database, UniProt database were conducted the correction and transformation of UniProt ID on the obtained targets. The GeneCards and OMIM databases identified targets associated with LC. Venny tools obtained the intersection targets of SMA and LC. R language and Cytoscape software constructed the visual of SMA - intersection targets - LC disease network. The intersection targets protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were built by the STRING database. The functions and pathways of the common targets of SMA and LC were enriched by gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Subsequently, molecular docking And A549 cells vitro experiment were performed to further validate our finding. RESULTS: We obtained six kinds of alkaloids in SM, 635 potential targets for these compounds, and 1,303 genes related to LC. SMA and LC intersection targets was 33, including ALB, CCND1, ESR1, NOTCH1 and AR. GO enrichment indicated that biological process of SMA was mainly involved in the positive regulation of transcription and nitric oxide biosynthetic process, and DNA-templated, etc. Biological functions were mainly involved in transcription factor binding and enzyme binding, etc. Cell components were mainly involved in protein complexes, extracellular exosome, cytoplasm and nuclear chromatin, etc., Which may be associated with its anti-LC effects. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that main pathways involved in the anti-LC effects of SMA, including pathway in cancer, non small-cell lung cancer, p53, PI3K-Akt and FOXO signaling pathways. Molecular docking analyses revealed that the six active compounds had a good binding activity with the main therapeutic targets 2W96, 2CCH and 1O96. Experiments in vitro proved that SMA inhibited the proliferation of LC A549 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study, we have successfully revealed the SMA compounds had a multi-target and multi-channel regulatory mechanism in treatment LC, These findings provided a solid theoretical reference of SMA in the clinical treatment of LC.

Estimation of morphological variation in seed traits of Sophora moorcroftiana using digital image analysis.

Sophora moorcroftiana is a leguminous plant endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It has excellent abiotic stress tolerance and is considered an ideal species for local ecological restoration. However, the lack of genetic diversity in the seed traits of S. moorcroftiana hinders its conservation and utilization on the plateau. Therefore, in this study, genotypic variation and phenotypic correlations were estimated for nine seed traits among 15 accessions of S. moorcroftiana over two years, 2014 and 2019, respectively from 15 sample points. All traits evaluated showed significant (P< 0.05) genotypic variation. In 2014, accession mean repeatability was high for seed perimeter, length, width, and thickness, and 100-seed weight. In 2019, mean repeatability for seed perimeter and thickness, and 100-seed weight were high. The estimates of mean repeatability for seed traits across the two years ranged from 0.382 for seed length to 0.781 for seed thickness. Pattern analysis showed that 100-seed weight was significantly positively correlated with traits such as seed perimeter, length, width, and thickness, and identified populations with breeding pool potential. In the biplot, principal components 1 and 2 explained 55.22% and 26.72% of the total variation in seed traits, respectively. These accessions could produce breeding populations for recurrent selection to develop S. moorcroftiana varieties suitable for restoring the fragile ecological environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

C:N:P stoichiometry in plant, soil and microbe in Sophora moorcroftiana shrubs across three sandy dune types in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River.

The alpine sandy dune ecosystem is highly vulnerable to global climate change. Ecological stoichiometry in plants and soils plays a crucial role in biogeochemical cycles, energy flow and functioning in ecosystems. The alpine sandy dune ecosystem is highly vulnerable to global climate change. However, the stoichiometric changes and correlations of plants and soils among different types of sandy dunes have not been fully explored. Three sandy dune types (moving dune, MD; semifixed dune, SFD; and fixed dune, FD) of the Sophora moorcroftiana shrub in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River were used as the subjects in the current study. Plant community characteristics, soil physicochemical properties, carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) contents of leaves, understorey herbs, litter, and soil microbes were evaluated to explore the C:N:P stoichiometry and its driving factors. Sandy dune type significant affected on the C:N:P stoichiometry in plants and soils. High soil N:P ratio was observed in FD and high plant C:P and N:P ratios in SFD and MD. The C:N ratio decreased with sand dune stabilization compared with other stoichiometric ratios of soil resources. Leaf C:P and N:P ratios in S. moorcroftiana were higher than those in the understorey herb biomass, because of the low P concentrations in leaves. C, N and P contents and stoichiometry of leaves, understorey herbs, litter and microbe were significantly correlated with the soil C, N and P contents and stoichiometry, with a higher correlation for soil N:P ratio. P was the mainly limiting factor for the growth of S. moorcroftiana population in the study area and its demand became increasingly critical with the increase in shrub age. The variation in the C:N:P stoichiometry in plants and soils was mainly modulated by the soil physicochemical properties, mainly for soil moisture, pH, available P and dissolved organic C. These findings provide key information on the nutrient stoichiometry patterns, element distribution and utilization strategies of C, N and P and as well as scrubland restoration and management in alpine valley sand ecosystems.

Geographic population genetic structure and diversity of Sophora moorcroftiana based on genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS).

Sophora moorcroftiana is a perennial leguminous low shrub endemic to the Yarlung Zangbo River basin in Tibet with irreplaceable economic and ecological value. To determine the drivers of evolution in this species, 225 individuals belonging to 15 populations from different geographic locations were sampled, and population genetics was studied using high-throughput genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS). Based on genetic diversity analysis, phylogenetic analysis, principal component analysis, and structure analysis, 15 natural populations were clustered into the following five subgroups: subgroup I (Shigatse subgroup) was located in the upper reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River with a relatively high level of population genetic variation (means for PIC, Shannon and PI were 0.173, 0.326 and 0.0000305, respectively), and gene flow within the subgroup was also high (mean value for Nm was 4.67). Subgroup II (including Pop 7 and Pop 8; means for PIC, Shannon and PI were 0.182, 0.345 and 0.0000321, respectively), located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River had relatively high levels of gene flow with the populations distributed in the upper and lower reaches. The Nm between subgroup II with subgroups I and III was 3.271 and 2.894, respectively. Considering all the genetic diversity indices Pop 8 had relatively high genetic diversity. Subgroup III (the remaining mixed subgroup of Lhasa and Shannan) was located in the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and the means for PIC, Shannon and PI were 0.172, 0.324 and 0.0000303, respectively. Subgroup IV (Nyingchi subgroup), located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River basin, showed a further genetic distance from the other subgroups and the means for PIC, Shannon and PI were 0.147, 0.277 and 0.0000263, respectively. Subgroup V (Nyingchi Gongbu Jiangda subgroup), located in the upper reaches of the Niyang River, had the lowest level of genetic variation (means for PIC, Shannon and PI were 0.106, 0.198 and 0.0000187, respectively) and gene flow with other populations (mean value for Nm was 0.42). According to the comprehensive analysis, the S. moorcroftiana populations generally expanded from upstream to downstream and displayed a high level of genetic differentiation in the populations in the upper and lower reaches. There were high levels of gene exchange between the central populations with upstream and downstream populations, and wind-induced seed dispersal was an important factor in the formation of this gene exchange mode.

Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Constituent and effects of polysaccharides isolated from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds on lifespan, reproduction, stress resistance, and antimicrobial capacity in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds (SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol (4 mg·mL-1). In SMpol (4 mg·mL-1) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.

Extraction and identification of matrine-type alkaloids from Sophora moorcroftiana using double-templated molecularly imprinted polymers with HPLC-MS/MS.

Double-templated molecularly imprinted polymers with specific recognition of three matrine-type alkaloids were prepared using matrine and oxymatrine as the template molecules. An approach based on double-templated molecularly imprinted solid-phase extraction coupled with high-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry was then developed to extract and purify matrine, oxymatrine, and sophocarpine from Sophora moorcroftiana in the Tibetan plateau herbs. The polymers were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Their adsorption characteristics were evaluated using adsorption kinetics, isotherms, selectivity, and recycling experiments. This polymer exhibited excellent molecular recognition ability and good selectivity. The obtained polymers as adsorbent was further used for the determination of three matrine-type alkaloids coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, the recoveries of three matrines spiked at three concentration levels in samples were 73.25-98.42% (n = 5) with a relative standard deviation less than 6.82%. The limits of detection for the method were 9.23-15.42 µg/kg (S/N = 3). This proposed method was assessed to be an effective method for simultaneous extraction, isolation, and identification of matrine, oxymatrine, and sophocarpine from Sophora moorcroftiana.

Anti-proliferation effects of ethanolic extracts from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds on human hepatocarcinoma HepG2 cell line.

Previous studies have shown that the ethanolic extracts from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds (ee-Sms) have in vitro anticancer properties. The anti-proliferation effects of ee-Sms on HepG2 cells were assessed by MTT assay and cell cycle analysis. Total cell proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), and protein spots with more than two-fold difference were analysed by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. MTT assay showed that the anti-proliferation of ee-Sms demonstrates dose- and time dependently. HepG2 cells were treated with ee-Sms at 1.30 mg/mL for 48 h induced cell cycle arrest in S phase. The differentially-expressed proteins were involved in DNA repair, cell proliferation, cell metabolism and immunoreaction. This study sheds new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferation properties of ee-Sms in HepG2 cells.

Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Constituent and effects of polysaccharides isolated from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds on lifespan, reproduction, stress resistance, and antimicrobial capacity in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds (SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol (4 mg·mL). In SMpol (4 mg·mL) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.

Constituent and effects of polysaccharides isolated from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds on lifespan, reproduction, stress resistance, and antimicrobial capacity in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is an endemic leguminous dwarf shrub in Tibet, China. Decoctions of the seeds have been used in Chinese folk medicine for dephlogistication, detoxication, and infectious diseases. The present study aimed to investigate the constituent and biological effects of polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds (SMpol) were extracted with 60% ethanol and constituent was analyzed by GC-MS. SMpol was composed of glucose, galactose and inositol in the molar ratio of 35.7 : 1.3 : 17.0. Synchronized worms were treated with SMpol and then lifespan, motility, reproduction, stress resistance and antimicrobial activity were examined. Compared with the control group, the lifespan was increased to the average of 27.3 days and the number of laying eggs showed a 1.3-fold increase in nematodes treated with SMpol (4 mg·mL). In SMpol (4 mg·mL) treated worms, there was a 1.1-fold increase in 24-h survival of acute heat stress and a 1.6-fold increase in 2-h survival of oxidative stress The colonization of the bacteria in the SMpol treated nematode was significantly lower than that of the untreated group by 68.3%. In vivo studies showed SMpol significantly extended the life span, improved reproduction, increased stress resistance and antimicrobial capacity of C. elegans. In conclusion, those results indicated that the polysaccharides from S. moorcroftiana seeds were involved in a variety of biological activities leading to its modulatory effects on C. elegans which may be developed as a natural supplement agent.

Anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble alkaloid fractions from ethanolic extracts of Sophora moorcroftiana seeds in Caenorhabditis elegans / 中国天然药物

Parasite infections of humans and animals remain a major global health problem, with limited choice of drugs being available to the treatment of parasitosis in the clinic. Sophora moorcroftiana (S. moorcroftiana) is a shrub that grows in Tibet Plateau of China. Decoction of the seeds has been used as a traditional Tibetan medicine to treat parasitosis for years. But the anti-parasitic effects of water-soluble fractions in the seeds need further investigation. In the present study, the water-soluble alkaloid fractions (E2) were obtained from S. moorcroftiana seeds by refluxing extraction with 60% ethanol and low polarity fraction (E2-a) and high polarity fraction (E2-b) were subsequently isolated from E2 using column chromatography. As a parasite model, Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) were treated with different fractions and their survivals were recorded. The results showed that that E2-a induced a lower survival rate in C. elegans than E2-b and E2. The protoscoleces of Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) were cultured in the presence of E2-a. Compared with E2-b and E2, protoscoleces exhibited decreased survival rate following E2-a treatment. Furtherly, the effects of E2-a on the behavior, brood size, and lifespan of the worms were investigated. Body bend frequencies of the worms treated with the high concentration of E2-a were reduced by two-thirds compared with the control group (P < 0.01). Compared with non-E2-a-treated group, exposure of nematodes to E2-a led to a decrease in head thrashes and pharyngeal pumps frequency (P < 0.01). E2-a treatment resulted in a significantly lower brood size (P < 0.01). Additional E2-a treatment induced a significantly shortened lifespan, compared with the control (P < 0.05). These findings indicated that water-soluble fraction E2-a from S. moorcroftiana seeds was a potential helminthic agent.

Phylogeography of Sophora moorcroftiana Supports Wu's Hypothesis on the Origin of Tibetan Alpine Flora.

Wu hypothesized that the Tibetan flora originated mostly from the paleotropical Tertiary flora in the Hengduan Mountains by adapting to the cold and arid environments associated with the strong uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP). Here, we combine the phylogeographic history of Sophora moorcroftiana with that of Sophora davidii to explore the speciation of S. moorcroftiana to test this hypothesis. We collected 151 individuals from 17 populations and sequenced 2 chloroplast fragments and the internal transcribed spacer of rDNA. Five chlorotypes and 9 ribotypes were detected but no significant phylogeographic structure was revealed. The integrated results of phylogeographic studies of these 2 species clearly support the progenitor-derivative relationship between them. We infer that the western peripheral population of S. davidii migrated westwards from the Hengduan Mountains to the middle reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River and differentiated from its ancestor in the process of adaptation to increasingly cold and arid environments with the uplift of the QTP and finally evolved into S. moorcroftiana during the Late Pliocene. In addition, our findings shed light on the idea that natural selection, as imposed by climate differentiation (especially mean diurnal range and precipitation seasonality), directly drove this peripatric speciation event after geographic isolation. The speciation of S. moorcroftiana is a strong case supporting Wu's hypothesis about the origin of Tibet's flora.

Molecular characterisation of a DREB gene from Sophora moorcroftiana, an endemic species of plateau.

Various plant species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau exposed to harsh conditions, such as low oxygen, drought, extremely low temperatures and salinity, have evolved both molecular and physiological adaptation strategies to deal with these multiple stresses. Sophora moorcroftiana (Benth.) Baker (Fabaceae) is a highly drought-resistant endemic Sophora shrub species in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. In our previous study, a drought-induced DREB transcription factor gene was identified and was designated as SmDREB1. SmDREB1-GFP fusion construct was introduced into Arabidopsis protoplast to characterise the function of SmDREB1 in drought resistance. The results showed that SmDREB1 targets the nucleus of Arabidopsis protoplast. Ectopic expression of SmDREB1 in model plant species Arabidopsis was performed. The transgenic lines showed increasing expressions of drought marker genes including AtDHN, AtLEA, AtPIP2 ;2, AtPIP2;3 and AtRD29, increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes and proline contents and increasing light-use efficiency under drought stress as compared with the wild-type plants; SmDREB1 transgenic lines are more resistant to drought than wild-type plants. Therefore, the SmDREB1 is a drought-resistant transcription factor gene of S. moorcroftiana and could be a candidate in genetic engineering to improve drought resistance of plateau plant species.

Life Span and Motility Effects of Ethanolic Extracts from Sophora moorcroftiana Seeds on Caenorhabditis elegans.

BACKGROUND: Sophora moorcroftiana is an endemic shrub species with a great value in folk medicine in Tibet, China. In this study, relatively little is known about whether S. moorcroftiana is beneficial in animals' nervous system and life span or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To address this question, under survival normal temperature (25°C), S. moorcroftiana seeds were extracted with 95% ethanol, and Caenorhabditis elegans were exposed to three different extract concentrations (100 mg/L, 200 mg/L, and 400 mg/mL) from S. moorcroftiana seeds. RESULTS: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span and slow aging-related increase in C. elegans and could not obviously influence the motility of C. elegans. CONCLUSION: Given these results by our experiment for life span and motility with 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds in C. elegans, the question whether S. moorcroftiana acts as an anti-aging substance in vivo arises. SUMMARY: The 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds have no effect on the life span in C. elegans when extract concentrations from S. moorcroftiana seeds <400 mg/LThe 400 mg/L 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could increase life span in C. elegansThe 95% ethanolic extracts from S. moorcroftiana seeds could not obviously influence the motility in C. elegans. Abbreviation used: S. moorcroftiana: Sophora moorcroftiana; C. elegan: Caenorhabditis elegan; E. coli OP50: Escherichia coli OP50; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide.

Flavonoids from Sophora moorcroftiana and their synergistic antibacterial effects on MRSA.

Synergy is now a widely recognized approach that has direct applicability for new pharmaceuticals. The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of the herb Sophora moorcroftiana showed significant antibacterial activity against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 8 µg/mL. In a phytochemical study of the extract, five flavonoids were obtained. However, the isolates exhibited antibacterial activity in the range of 32-128 µg/mL, which was weaker than the extract. In combination with antibiotics, the antibacterially inactive compound genistein (1) and diosmetin (4) showed significant synergistic activity against drug-resistant S. aureus. In combination with norfloxacin, genistein (1) reduced the MIC to 16 µg/mL and showed synergy against strain SA1199B with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of 0.38. With the antibiotics norfloxacin, streptomycin and ciprofloxacin, diosmetin (4) showed synergy against SA1199B, RN4220 and EMRSA-15, with FICI values of 0.38, 0.38 and 0.09, respectively. In an efflux experiment to elucidate a plausible mechanism for the observed synergy, genistein showed marginal inhibition of the NorA efflux protein.

Effect of SMSWE Anti-tumor on S180 Sarcoma in Mice / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To study the anti-tumor effect of water extracts from Sophora Moorcroftiana seed(SMSWE) in vivo on mice.Methods S180-bearing mice group were observed.The inhibitory rate of tumor,survival period,indexes of thymus and spleen,the proliferative ability of T lymphocytes were assayed.Results 1.2 and 2.4 g/kg SMSWE could inhibit the growth of S180 tumor in mice and prolonged survival period(P

Therapeutic effects of Sophora moorcroftiana alkaloids in combination with albendazole in mice experimentally infected with protoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus

The objective of the present study was to determine if the combination of alkaloids from Sophora moorcroftiana seeds and albendazole might be effective in the treatment of experimental echinococcosisin female NIH mice (6 weeks old and weighing 18-20 g, N = 8 in each group) infected withprotoscolices of Echinococcus granulosus. Viable protoscolices (N = 6 x 103) were cultured in vitro in 1640 medium and mortality was calculated daily. To determine the in vivo efficacy, mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with viable protoscolices and then treated once daily by gavage for three months with the alkaloids (50 mg kg-1 day-1) and albendazole (50 mg kg-1 day-1), separately and in combination (both alkaloids at 25 mg kg-1 day-1 and albendazole at 25 mg kg-1 day-1). Next, the hydatid cysts collected from the peritoneal cavity of the animals were weighed and serum IL-4, IL-2, and IgE levels were analyzed. Administration of alkaloids to cultured protoscolices showed significant dose- and time-dependent killing effects. The weight of hydatid cysts was significantly decreased upon treatment with each drug (P < 0.01), but the decrease was more prominent and the rate of hydatid cyst growth inhibition was much higher (76.1 percent) in the group receiving the combined treatments (18.3 ± 4.6 mg). IL-4 and total IgE were decreased (939 ± 447 pg/mL and 2.03 ± 0.42 IU/mL, respectively) in serum from mice treated with alkaloids and albendazole compared with the untreated control (1481 ± 619 pg/mL and 3.31 ± 0.37 IU/mL; P < 0.01). These results indicate that S. moorcroftiana alkaloids have protoscolicidal effects and the combination of alkaloids and albendazole has significant additive effects.