吴茱萸次碱软膏对小鼠尾部鳞片银屑病模型的治疗作用

目的：吴茱萸次碱（Rutaecarpa RUT）是芸香科植物吴茱萸的主要成分,它可激活辣椒素受体促进降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP） 等神经递质的释放来发挥药理作用。本实验的目的为观察吴茱萸次碱软膏对小鼠银屑病模型治疗作用。方法：通过药剂学方法制 成了不同浓度（2%, 5%, 10%）RUT 软膏,在小鼠尾部与背部银屑病模型给药14 天,观察小鼠尾部颗粒层形成的变化,给药结束后 取小鼠背部皮肤组织匀浆后采用放射免疫方法检测CGRP水平变化,并且取小鼠血浆检测CGRP水平变化。结果：不同浓度的吴 茱萸次碱软膏均能促进小鼠尾部颗粒层形成（P<0.05）,并且浓度为5%与10%的RUT 软膏能显著降低小鼠背部CGRP 含量（P<0. 05）,但是其对小鼠血浆的CGRP 没有影响。结论：吴茱萸次碱外用对小鼠银屑病模型有一定的治疗作用,这种作用与其促进小鼠 皮肤CGRP 释放而导致其含量降低有关。     

苦参活性成分的抗肿瘤作用机制研究进展

苦参是中国传统的植物药,具有清热燥湿等多种作用,广泛地应用于抗肿瘤研究,其活性成分能够通过细胞周期阻滞抑制肿瘤细胞的增殖、诱导肿瘤细胞分化、通过细胞周期阻滞、Fas/Fasl和线粒体途径诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡,通过降低VEGF等的表达抑制肿瘤血管生成和内皮细胞增殖,抑制肿瘤侵袭和转移,通过抑制端粒酶活性、逆转多药耐药、调节免疫耐受等辅助治疗肿瘤。通过收集、分析和整理最近几年涉及苦参活性成分抗肿瘤作用的文献,综述其抗肿瘤作用机制,为临床应用苦参治疗肿瘤提供参考。     

间充质干细胞抑制肿瘤细胞增殖机制的研究进展

间充质干细胞(mesenchymal stem cells,MSCs)是能够从多种组织来源的基质细胞分离出来的一种具有分化潜能的干细胞,能够分化为脂肪、成骨和软骨细胞等多种组织细胞。研究表明,MSCs对肿瘤细胞具有抑制作用,其作用机制体现在两方面:一方面是通过直接分泌蛋白和微泡来调节肿瘤细胞信号通路和生长所需的因子的表达;另一方面是作为肿瘤靶向药物运输载体,向肿瘤组织输送多种能够抑制肿瘤生长、促进肿瘤细胞凋亡的基因或药物。该文针对MSCs对肿瘤细胞的直接和间接抑制机制进行了综述。     

PTEN:抑制肿瘤侵袭及转移的新靶点

侵袭与转移是恶性肿瘤的主要生物学特征之一,并影响肿瘤的疗效及预后.其主要通过肿瘤细胞与血管内皮细胞以及细胞基质之间的相互作用,穿透血管内皮细胞、降解细胞外基质,从而向局部及远处转移.多种信号转导分子参与了肿瘤的侵袭、转移过程.PTEN基因表达的蛋白具有蛋白磷酸酶及脂质磷酸酶双重活性,其作为抑癌基因通过对细胞内多种信号转导通路的调控,参与维持细胞的正常生理活动;负调控肿瘤细胞的生长、细胞周期;诱导肿瘤细胞凋亡;抑制肿瘤细胞的侵袭、浸润及转移.本文就PTEN如何参与抑制肿瘤细胞侵袭及转移做一综述.     

欧前胡素的提取分离方法和药理学研究进展

欧前胡素为线型呋喃香豆素类化合物,从白芷、欧前胡等植物中提取分离得到.其提取方法主要有热回流提取法、渗滤法和超临界流体萃取法.欧前胡素具有抑制癫痫发作、扩张血管、抑制心肌肥大、抑制肿瘤细胞增殖、抗微生物、影响药物代谢酶活性等多种药理作用.本文对其基本性质、提取分离方法和药理学等方面的研究进展加以综述,为欧前胡素的开发与研究提供参考.     

蛇毒中的降压成分研究进展

目前世界上已知的蛇类有3000余种,其中有毒蛇约占20%。蛇毒是一种由蛋白质、多肽等有机和无机小分子组成的复杂混合物,因其具有多种生化和药理活性,能广泛应用于各个领域。研究表明蛇毒对血压有一定影响,其降压机制主要有蛇毒抗凝血因子Ⅱ通过介导NO的释放降低血压,缓激肽增强肽主要通过抑制血管紧张素转换酶和增加内源性缓激肽的作用而发挥作用,利钠肽通过抑制肾素-血管紧张素和醛固酮系统调控血压,而磷脂酶A_2主要是促进游离脂肪酸(其中最重要的是花生四烯酸)和溶血磷脂的释放起到降低血压的作用。因此,明确蛇毒的降压成分以及作用机制与效果,对降压药物的开发以及高血压的治疗至关重要。     

吴茱萸次碱:一种多靶点天然化合物的药理学作用研究进展

吴茱萸次碱是中药吴茱萸的主要有效成分,具有广泛的药理学效应,如心血管保护作用、改善脑功能、保护胃黏膜、抗炎抗氧化等。在多种疾病模型的研究发现,吴茱萸次碱可作用于辣椒素受体、环氧化酶-2、NADPH氧化酶及乙酰胆碱酯酶等多种药物靶点,从多环节缓解疾病的病理生理过程。本文对近年来吴茱萸次碱作用的靶点及药理学作用及其衍生物的构效关系进行综述,为以吴茱萸次碱为先导化合物开发多靶点药物提供依据。     

间充质干细胞在疾病治疗中的应用潜力

间充质干细胞（mesenchymal stem cell,MSCs）是衍生自中胚层的多能细胞,可产生多种间充质谱系,包括成骨细胞、脂肪细胞、成软骨细胞和肌细胞。MSCs还具有分泌多种细胞因子的能力,可促进血管生成、上皮再生等,在再生医学领域具有巨大的潜力。研究证实,MSCs可通过分化为多种细胞类型促进组织再生,加速伤口愈合;通过分泌细胞因子改善组织纤维化;还可通过携带载体药物诱导肿瘤细胞的凋亡,抑制肿瘤的发展。然而MSCs的成纤维化潜能和促进肿瘤生长的能力降低了MSCs应用于临床治疗的安全性。总结了MSCs在肿瘤、慢性难愈合伤口、纤维化等疾病发展过程中的作用,并进一步讨论了MSCs在临床相关疾病治疗中的潜在应用价值及挑战,以期为间充质干细胞的临床应用提供参考。     

一种新发现的降压活性多肽—肾上腺髓质素（adrenomedullin）

肾上腺髓质素是最近发现的一种新的活性多肽,它广泛分布于机体多种组织中,具有扩张血管、降低血压、抑制内皮素和血管紧张素Ⅱ释放等作用。该活性多肽在正常机体血压调控及高血压发病中的作用正在研究中。     

三羟异黄酮对HER-2/neu高表达乳腺癌细胞血管生成相关因子表达的影响

三羟异黄酮(genistein)是大豆中的一种非营养成分,其结构与黄酮化合物类似,能竞争性地与雌激素受体结合,故称之为植物雌激素(phytoestrogen)。它具有广泛的生物学作用,如抗肿瘤、抗病毒、抗真菌、抗氧化、抗突变、抗高血压、抗增生等,其中genistein抑制肿瘤的血管生成是当前研究的热点之一。肿瘤的血管生成是肿瘤进一步生长转移的基础,该过程受肿瘤细胞和血管内皮细胞分泌的血管生成相关因     

A Drug Screening Method Based on the Autophagy Pathway and Studies of the Mechanism of Evodiamine against Influenza A Virus

In this research, we have established a drug screening method based on the autophagy signal pathway using the bimolecular fluorescence complementation - fluorescence resonance energy transfer (BiFC-FRET) technique to develop novel anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs. We selected Evodia rutaecarpa Benth out of 83 examples of traditional Chinese medicine and explored the mechanisms of evodiamine, the major active component of Evodia rutaecarpa Benth, on anti-IAV activity. Our results showed that evodiamine could significantly inhibit IAV replication, as determined by a plaque inhibition assay, an IAV vRNA promoter luciferase reporter assay and the Sulforhodamine B method using cytopathic effect (CPE) reduction. Additionally, evodiamine could significantly inhibit the accumulation of LC3-II and p62, and the dot-like aggregation of EGFP-LC3. This compound also inhibited the formation of the Atg5-Atg12/Atg16 heterotrimer, the expressions of Atg5, Atg7 and Atg12, and the cytokine release of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 after IAV infection. Evodiamine inhibited IAV-induced autophagy was also dependent on its action on the AMPK/TSC2/mTOR signal pathway. In conclusion, we have established a new drug screening method, and selected evodiamine as a promising anti-IAV compound.     

Protective effects of evodiamine in experimental paradigm of Alzheimer’s disease

Evodiamine, a major component of Evodia rutaecarpa, has been reported to possess various pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidative stress, and neuroprotective effects. Our previous study has shown that the potential effects of evodiamine on the learning and memory impairments in the transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The present study was designed to investigate neuroprotective mechanism and therapeutic potential of evodiamine against intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ)-induced experimental sporadic Alzheimer’s disease in mice. STZ was injected twice intracerebroventrically (3 mg/kg ICV) on alternate days (day 1 and day 3) in mice. Daily oral administration with evodiamine (50 or 100 mg/kg per day) starting from the first dose of STZ for 21 days showed an improvement in STZ induced cognitive deficits as assessed by novel object recognition and Morris water maze test. Evodiamine significantly decreased STZ induced elevation in acetylcholinesterase activity and malondialdehyde level, and significantly increased STZ induced reduction in glutathione activities and superoxide dismutase activities in the hippocampus compared to control. Furthermore, evodiamine inhibited significantly glial cell activation and neuroinflammation (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels) in the hippocampus. Moreover, evodiamine increased the activity of AKT/GSK-3β signalling pathway and inhibited the activity of nuclear factor κB. In summary, our study suggests that evodiamine can be a novel therapeutic agent for the management of sporadic AD.     

Molecular targets and anticancer potential of evodiamine

The identification of anticancer active ingredients and their molecular targets in traditional Chinese medicine is a great challenge in modern pharmacology research. Evodiamine is one of the bioactive components isolated from the fruit of Wu-Zhu-Yu and displays significant pharmacological activities, especially anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, regulate metabolic syndrome and neuroprotective activity. Evodiamine has attracted great interest recently for its potential anticancer activities, and has also been found to inhibit the proliferation of various cancer cells and arrest cell cycle and cell migration. In recent years, evodiamine has been found to have potential toxic effects, mainly manifested as hepatotoxicity and cardiotoxicity. However, the pharmacological and toxicological mechanism of evodiamine is not clear. In this review, we summarized the anticancer effects of evodiamine and its target molecules in vitro and in vivo, focusing on key molecules such as HIF-1α, NF-κB and STAT3, and proposed that epigenetic modifications (DNA methylation, histone acetylation and microRNA) mediate the regulation of key molecules, which are still being explored and excavate into clinical practice.     

Evodiamine abolishes constitutive and inducible NF-kappaB activation by inhibiting IkappaBalpha kinase activation, thereby suppressing NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic and metastatic gene expression, up-regulating apoptosis, and inhibiting invasion

Evodiamine, an alkaloidal component extracted from the fruit of Evodiae fructus (Evodia rutaecarpa Benth., Rutaceae), exhibits antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and apoptotic activities through a poorly defined mechanism. Because several genes that regulate cellular proliferation, carcinogenesis, metastasis, and survival are regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), we postulated that evodiamine mediates its activity by modulating NF-kappaB activation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of evodiamine on NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression activated by various carcinogens. We demonstrate that evodiamine was a highly potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, and it abrogated both inducible and constitutive NF-kappaB activation. The inhibition corresponded with the sequential suppression of IkappaBalpha kinase activity, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha degradation, p65 phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, and p65 acetylation. Evodiamine also inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced Akt activation and its association with IKK. Suppression of Akt activation was specific, because it had no effect on JNK or p38 MAPK activation. Evodiamine also inhibited the NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF, TNFR1, TRADD, TRAF2, NIK, and IKK but not that activated by the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB. NF-kappaB-regulated gene products such as Cyclin D1, c-Myc, COX-2, MMP-9, ICAM-1, MDR1, Survivin, XIAP, IAP1, IAP2, FLIP, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bfl-1/A1 were all down-regulated by evodiamine. This down-regulation potentiated the apoptosis induced by cytokines and chemotherapeutic agents and suppressed TNF-induced invasive activity. Overall, our results indicated that evodiamine inhibits both constitutive and induced NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression and that this inhibition may provide a molecular basis for the ability of evodiamine to suppress proliferation, induce apoptosis, and inhibit metastasis.     

Evodiamine and rutaecarpine inhibit migration by LIGHT via suppression of NADPH oxidase activation

LIGHT acted as a new player in the atherogenesis. The dried, unripe fruit of Evodia Fructus (EF) has long been used as a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, and is currently widely used for the treatment of headache, abdominal pain, vomiting, colds and reduced blood circulation. Evodiamine and rutaecarpine are active components of EF. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of evodiamine and rutaecarpine on LIGHT‐induced migration in human monocytes. Evodiamine and rutaecarpine decreased the LIGHT‐induced production of ROS, IL‐8, monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 (MCP‐1), TNF‐α, and IL‐6, as well as the expression of chemokine receptor (CCR) 1, CCR2 and ICAM‐1 and the phosphorylation of the ERK 1/2 and p38 MAPK. Furthermore, NADPH oxidase assembly inhibitor, AEBSF, blocked LIGHT‐induced migration and activation of CCR1, CCR2, ICAM‐1, and MAPK such as ERK and p38 in a manner similar to evodiamine and rutaecarpine. These findings indicate that the inhibitory effects of evodiamine and rutaecarpine on LIGHT‐induced migration and the activation of CCR1, CCR2, ICAM‐1, ERK, and p38 MAPK occurs via decreased ROS production and NADPH oxidase activation. Taken together, these results indicate that evodiamine and rutaecarpine have the potential for use as an anti‐atherosclerosis agent. J. Cell. Biochem. 107: 123–133, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Evodiamine Inhibits Insulin-Stimulated mTOR-S6K Activation and IRS1 Serine Phosphorylation in Adipocytes and Improves Glucose Tolerance in Obese/Diabetic Mice

Evodiamine, an alkaloid extracted from the dried unripe fruit of the tree Evodia rutaecarpa Bentham (Rutaceae), reduces obesity and insulin resistance in obese/diabetic mice; however, the mechanism underlying the effect of evodiamine on insulin resistance is unknown. This study investigated the effect of evodiamine on signal transduction relating to insulin resistance using obese/diabetic KK-Ay mice and an in vitro adipocyte culture. There is a significant decrease in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and ribosomal S6 protein kinase (S6K) signaling in white adipose tissue (WAT) in KK-Ay mice treated with evodiamine, in which glucose tolerance is improved. In addition, reduction of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS1) serine phosphorylation, an indicator of insulin resistance, was detected in their WAT, suggesting suppression of the negative feedback loop from S6K to IRS1. As well as the stimulation of IRS1 and Akt serine phosphorylation, insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of mTOR and S6K is time-dependent in 3T3-L1 adipocytes, whereas evodiamine does not affect their phosphorylation except for an inhibitory effect on mTOR phosphorylation. Moreover, evodiamine inhibits the insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of mTOR and S6K, leading to down-regulation of IRS1 serine phosphorylation in the adipocytes. Evodiamine also stimulates phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important regulator of energy metabolism, which may cause down-regulation of mTOR signaling in adipocytes. A similar effect on AMPK, mTOR and IRS1 phosphorylation was found in adipocytes treated with rosiglitazone. These results suggest evodiamine improves glucose tolerance and prevents the progress of insulin resistance associated with obese/diabetic states, at least in part, through inhibition of mTOR-S6K signaling and IRS1 serine phosphorylation in adipocytes.     

Evodiamine inhibits the proliferation of leukemia cell line K562 by regulating peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) pathway

Evodiamine, a quinolone alkaloid, is one of the major bioactive compounds of Evodia rutaecarpa Bentham (Rutaceae). It exhibits excellent biological activities, especially the anticancer activity. This study aims to investigate the effect of evodiamine on the proliferation of leukemia cell line K562 and to explore the underlying mechanism. The effect of evodiamine on K562 cells proliferation was analyzed by trypan blue dye exclusion assay and MTT assay. The expression levels of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), cyclin D1, and p21 were detected by western blot assay. The results demonstrated that evodiamine inhibited the proliferation and decreased the viability of K562 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. 2-Chloro-5-nitro-N-phenylbenzamide (GW9662) and/or PPARγ-siRNA pretreatment alleviated the cell growth suppression triggered by evodiamine. Meanwhile, evodiamine intervention elevated the expression of PPARγ in K562 cells, while pretreatment with GW9662 attenuated the enhanced upregulation of PPARγ expression induced by evodiamine. In addition, GW9662 and PPARγ-siRNA pretreatment also significantly attenuated the downregulation of the cell cycle control protein cyclin D1 and the upregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21 induced by evodiamine. In conclusion, PPARγ signaling pathway may involve in the proliferation inhibition of evodiamine on K562 cells via inhibiting cylcin D1 and stimulating of p21.     

Evodiamine, a dual catalytic inhibitor of type I and II topoisomerases, exhibits enhanced inhibition against camptothecin resistant cells

DNA topoisomerases are nuclear enzymes that are the targets for several anticancer drugs. In this study we investigated the antiproliferative activity against human leukaemia cell lines and the effects on topoisomerase I and II of evodiamine, which is a quinazolinocarboline alkaloid isolated from the fruit of a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Evodia rutaecarpa. We report here the anti-proliferative activity against human leukaemia cells K562, THP-1, CCRF-CEM and CCRF-CEM/C1 and the inhibitory mechanism on human topoisomerases I and II, important anti-cancer drugs targets, of evodiamine. Evodiamine failed to trap [Topo-DNA] complexes and induce any detectable DNA damage in cells, was unable to bind or intercalate DNA, and arrested cells in the G(2)/M phase. The results suggest evodiamine is a dual catalytic inhibitor of topoisomerases I and II, with IC(50) of 60.74 and 78.81 μM, respectively. The improved toxicity towards camptothecin resistant cells further supports its inhibitory mechanism which is different from camptothecin, and its therapeutic potential.     

Induction of mitotic arrest and apoptosis by evodiamine in human leukemic T-lymphocytes

Leukemias are a heterogenous group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal blood cells of hematopoietic system. Evodiamine, a characteristic alkaloid extracted from Evodia fruits, has been reported to exhibit inhibitory effect on cell proliferation and migration in several types of cancer cells. However, there is no report elucidating the action target and anti-cancer mechanism of this potential natural compound. In this study, we have defined the anti-proliferative and apoptotic mechanisms of evodiamine in human acute leukemia CCRF-CEM cells. According to the MTT assay, the cell viability was inhibited by evodiamine in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 0.57 +/- 0.05 microM. Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptotic cell death proceeded by evodiamine was accompanied with a cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase. Using Wright-Giemsa staining, we observed that evodiamine caused the cells to arrest in mitosis. It also profoundly caused an increase in polymerized tubulin levels and Bcl-2 phosphorylation on serine 70 in these cells. These data imply that the microtubular cytoskeleton appears to be one of the cellular targets in response to evodiamine. Moreover, treatment of CCRF-CEM cells with evodiamine was associated with increased levels of pro-apoptotic protein Bax, activation of caspase-3, and proteolytic cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, an endogenous caspase-3 substrate. Taken together, we demonstrate that evodiamine causes the mitotic arrest and a consequent apoptosis in CCRF-CEM cells through the enhancement of polymerized tubulin levels. Furthermore, several biological events including the Bcl-2 phosphorylation, Bax up-regulation and increase of caspase-3 activity could explain evodiamine-induced cell apoptosis.     

Evodiamine inhibits in vitro angiogenesis: Implication for antitumorgenicity

Evodiamine, the major bioactive compound isolated from Chinese herbal drug named Wu-Chu-Yu, has been reported to exhibit anti-tumor growth and metastasis. However, the effect of evodiamine on angiogenesis remains to be investigated. We used the fresh medium containing evodiamine or human lung adenocarcinoma cell (CL1 cells) derived conditioned media free of evodiamine to test their capability to induce in vitro angiogenesis, i.e., human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) tube formation and invasion. We demonstrated that evodiamine could directly inhibit in vitro HUVECs tube formation and invasion. Locally administered evodiamine also inhibited the in vivo angiogenesis in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. The gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and the p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK, ERK) that correlated with endothelial cells angiogenesis were inhibited by evodiamine. We found that the evodiamine-treated CL1 cells derived conditioned medium showed decreased VEGF release and reduced ability of inducing in vitro tube formation. After the collection of conditioned media, the VEGF expression of remaining CL1 cells were determined by Western analyses and revealed that evodiamine decreased VEGF expression. Moreover, administration of recombinant human VEGF(165) (rhVEGF(165)) induced tube formation and ERK phosphorylation by HUVECs, and partially attenuated inhibitory effect of evodiamine. From these results, we suggested that evodiamine is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. The mechanism might involve at least the inhibition of VEGF expression, probably through repression of ERK phosphorylation.