穿心莲内酯体外抗白念珠菌生物膜作用的初步研究

目的研究穿心莲内酯对体外白念珠菌生物膜的影响。方法采用XTT减低法评价穿心莲内酯对白念珠菌生物膜及其黏附性的影响;镜下观察该药对白念珠菌生物膜的形态学影响;细胞毒性试验检测该药的毒副作用。结果穿心莲内酯对白念珠菌生物膜的SMIC50、SMIC80分别是250、1000μg/ml;1000μg/ml及100μg/ml时对白念珠菌的早期黏附及菌丝生长有抑制作用;对人细胞毒性较弱。结论穿心莲内酯对体外白念珠菌生物膜有显著的抑制作用。     

天然产物活性成分新型结晶纯化技术初探

鉴于天然产物中活性成分含量低,结晶性组分易堵塞管道等问题,本文以30％穿心莲内酯浸膏原料为例,通过超临界CO2萃取结晶技术来提高穿心莲内酯晶体的含量。结果发现：在温度55℃,时间90min,流量15L／min时,当萃取结晶压力超过20MPa后,穿心莲内酯的纯度超过80％,并采用HPLC分析实验结果。新型超临界CO2萃取结晶技术为开发高纯天然产物活性成分提供一条捷径。     

乙酰穿心莲内酯的制备及其抑菌活性和化感作用比较研究

用乙酸酐对穿心莲内酯进行乙酰化,得乙酰穿心莲内酯,比较研究了乙酰穿心莲内酯和穿心莲内酯对部分细菌、霉菌、酵母和植物病原菌的抑菌活性以及对小麦、萝卜、青菜和黄瓜等农作物的化感作用.结果发现:乙酰穿心莲内酯对少数参试菌的抑制活性比穿心莲内酯弱,但对大多数菌的抑制活性比穿心莲内酯强,尤其是在较高浓度下,乙酰穿心莲内酯对枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、黑根霉菌(Rhigopus nigricans)、苹果酵母菌B13(Sour-dough starterB13)和辣椒晚疫病菌(Phytophthora capsici)的抑制活性明显强于穿心莲内酯;两者对参试植物种子萌发及幼苗根长和苗高均表现不同程度的"低促高抑"作用趋势.     

穿心莲内酯类成分积累与生物合成的调控研究进展

穿心莲是我国重要的南药之一,其主要活性成分穿心莲内酯类成分具有清热解毒、抗菌消炎等功效,在抗HIV病毒、抗血栓、保肝等方面具有显著效果。由于其人工合成困难,通过栽培调控或育种方法增强穿心莲体内内酯类成分的生物合成对提升穿心莲药材质量具有重要意义。为给相关研究提供参考,该文综述了穿心莲内酯类成分积累与植物发育的关系,栽培措施和环境因子对穿心莲内酯类成分积累的影响,以及近十年来国内外在穿心莲内酯类成分的生物合成及其分子调控机制等方面取得的研究进展,并提出了未来在以增强穿心莲内酯类成分生物合成和提高穿心莲内酯类成分积累为目标的研究中需重点关注的3个方面:(1)深入解析穿心莲内酯的生物合成通路及关键基因的功能,从分子水平上阐明穿心莲内酯类成分积累的机制;(2)结合分子生物学方法和作物栽培学理论深入研究穿心莲生长发育与产量和质量形成的规律及相互关系;(3)揭示穿心莲内酯生物合成的信号调控网络。     

Andrographolide protects chondrocytes from oxidative stress injury by activation of the Keap1–Nrf2–Are signaling pathway

Recent studies have shown that andrographolide (AP) has the potential to be developed as a drug for therapy for osteoarthritis (OA). However, the role of AP in attenuating the progression of OA is still unknown. We hypothesized that its therapeutic effect may be associated with its antioxidant potential. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effect of AP on chondrocytes injured by H₂O₂ and the association with the oxidation-related signaling pathways through the detection of cell proliferation, cell viability, the expression of oxidative stress-specific genes (Sod1, Cat, and malonaldehyde [Mda]) and proteins (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT]) after a culture period of 3 and 5 days, respectively. Further exploration of the expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) messenger RNA and protein was also performed. The results showed that 0.625 µg/ml and 2.5 µg/ml of AP decreased oxidative stress injury of chondrocytes by increasing cell proliferation reduced by H₂O₂ and antioxidant enzyme activity, including SOD and CAT. Inflammation factors, such as matrix metallopeptidase 13 (Mmp13), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (Timp1), and interleukin-6 (Il6), were downregulated in the H₂O₂ group with AP, demonstrating a decrease in the progression of OA. Pathway analyses identified that the kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1)–Nrf2–antioxidant response element (Are) pathway is an important mediator in AP therapy on H₂O₂-induced OA. This study indicates that AP exerts protection effects on oxidative stress via activation of the Keap1–Nrf2–Are pathway in chondrocytes injured by H₂O₂, which may be promising for the therapy of OA.     

Cytotoxic and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of 3,19-Isopropylidene-/Arylidene-Andrographolide Analogs

A series of 3,19-isopropylidene-/or arylidene-andrographolide analogs were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by NMR spectroscopic methodology. Twenty-five analogs were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against HT-29, HepG2 and LNCaP cancer cell lines based on the sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. Analog 2 f exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activity, with IC₅₀ values of 11.14 and 9.25 μM on HepG2 and LNCaP cancer cell lines, respectively. Esterification of hydroxy functional group at position C-14 in andrographolide analogs, 2 a and 2 b _, showed somewhat higher cytotoxicity than the precursor. In addition, andrographolide analogs ( 2 a – 2 d , 2 f , 3 a , 4 a and 4 h ) were evaluated for the NO inhibitory activity in the LPS stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. The most active analog 2 a significantly reduced nitric oxide (NO) production from LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 0.34±0.02 μM providing encouraging results for anti-inflammatory compound development.     

Small molecule-driven mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition is responsible for the prevention of colitis-associated cancer

Nonresolving inflammation in the intestine predisposes individuals to the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Inflammasomes are thought to mediate intestinal homeostasis, and their dysregulation contributes to inflammatory bowel diseases and CAC. However, few agents have been reported to reduce CAC by targeting inflammasomes. Here we show that the small molecule andrographolide (Andro) protects mice against azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced colon carcinogenesis through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. Administration of Andro significantly attenuated colitis progression and tumor burden. Andro also inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages both in vivo and in vitro, as indicated by reduced expression of cleaved CASP1, disruption of NLRP3-PYCARD-CASP1 complex assembly, and lower IL1B secretion. Importantly, Andro was found to trigger mitophagy in macrophages, leading to a reversed mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, which in turn inactivated the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, downregulation of the PIK3CA-AKT1-MTOR-RPS6KB1 pathway accounted for Andro-induced autophagy. Finally, Andro-driven inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome and amelioration of murine models for colitis and CAC were significantly blocked by BECN1 knockdown, or by various autophagy inhibitors. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by Andro is responsible for the prevention of CAC. Our data may help guide decisions regarding the use of Andro in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, which ultimately reduces the risk of CAC.     

Small molecule-driven mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition is responsible for the prevention of colitis-associated cancer

Nonresolving inflammation in the intestine predisposes individuals to the development of colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Inflammasomes are thought to mediate intestinal homeostasis, and their dysregulation contributes to inflammatory bowel diseases and CAC. However, few agents have been reported to reduce CAC by targeting inflammasomes. Here we show that the small molecule andrographolide (Andro) protects mice against azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium-induced colon carcinogenesis through inhibiting the NLRP3 inflammasome. Administration of Andro significantly attenuated colitis progression and tumor burden. Andro also inhibited NLRP3 inflammasome activation in macrophages both in vivo and in vitro, as indicated by reduced expression of cleaved CASP1, disruption of NLRP3-PYCARD-CASP1 complex assembly, and lower IL1B secretion. Importantly, Andro was found to trigger mitophagy in macrophages, leading to a reversed mitochondrial membrane potential collapse, which in turn inactivated the NLRP3 inflammasome. Moreover, downregulation of the PIK3CA-AKT1-MTOR-RPS6KB1 pathway accounted for Andro-induced autophagy. Finally, Andro-driven inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome and amelioration of murine models for colitis and CAC were significantly blocked by BECN1 knockdown, or by various autophagy inhibitors. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that mitophagy-mediated NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition by Andro is responsible for the prevention of CAC. Our data may help guide decisions regarding the use of Andro in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, which ultimately reduces the risk of CAC.     

Inhibition of cell-cycle progression in human colorectal carcinoma Lovo cells by andrographolide

In recent years, attention has been focused on the anti-cancer properties of pure components, an important role in the prevention of disease. Andrographolide (Andro), the major constituent of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F.) Nees plant, is implicated towards its pharmacological activity. To investigate the mechanism basis for the anti-tumor properties of Andro, Andro was used to examine its effect on cell-cycle progression in human colorectal carcinoma Lovo cells. The data from cell growth experiment showed that Andro exhibited the anti-proliferation effect on Lovo cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. This event was accompanied the arrest of the cells at the G1-S phase by Andro at the tested concentrations of 0-30 microM. Cellular uptake of Andro and Andro was confirmed by capillary electrophoresis analysis and the intracellular accumulation of Andro (0.61+/-0.07 microM/mg protein) was observed when treatment of Lovo cells with Andro for 12h. In addition, an accumulation of the cells in G1 phase (15% increase for 10 microM of Andro) was observed as well as by the association with a marked decrease in the protein expression of Cyclin A, Cyclin D1, Cdk2 and Cdk4. Andro also inducted the content of Cdk inhibitor p21 and p16, and the phosphorylation of p53. Further immunoprecipitation studies found that, in response to the treatment, the formation of Cyclin D1/Cdk4 and Cyclin A/Cdk2 complexes had declined, preventing the phosphorylation of Rb and the subsequent dissociation of Rb/E2F complex. These results suggested Andro can inhibit Lovo cell growth by G1-S phase arrest, and was exerted by inducing the expression of p53, p21 and p16 that, in turn, repressed the activity of Cyclin D1/Cdk4 and/or Cyclin A/Cdk2, as well as Rb phosphorylation.