Tanshinone IIA, an isolated compound from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, induces apoptosis in HeLa cells through mitotic arrest

AIMS: Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a compound isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). The aim of this study is to investigate the mechanisms of its anti-cancer effect. MAIN METHODS: To clearly delineate the cell cycle-dependent effects of Tan IIA, we used either synchronized cells or single living cell analysis to conduct our studies. Subcellular fractionation, Western blot analysis, immuno-fluorescence staining and FACS analysis were also employed in our study. KEY FINDINGS: We found that Tan IIA could arrest cancer cells in mitosis by disrupting the mitotic spindle and subsequently triggered cells to enter apoptosis through the mitochondria-dependent apoptotic pathway. Thus, Tan IIA could selectively kill mitotic cells over interphase cells. In comparison with other existing anti-cancer drugs that cause mitotic arrest by interfering with the microtubule structure (such as vincristine or taxol), Tan IIA destroyed only the mitotic spindle during the M phase but not the microtubule structure in interphase cells. Furthermore, Tan IIA could trigger the mitotic arrested cells to enter apoptosis faster than vincristine or taxol. SIGNIFICANCE: Since Tan IIA can selectively induce cancer cells to enter apoptosis through mitotic arrest, it has the potential to be developed into an anti-cancer drug.     

Tanshinone IIA isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza elicits the cell death of human endothelial cells

Summary Tanshinone IIA, a major component extracted from the traditional herbal medicine, Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, is known to exhibit potent cytotoxicity against various human carcinoma cells in vitro. However, the mechanism by which tanshinone IIA produces this anti-tumor effect remains unknown. Since anti-neovascularization has generally been regarded as an effective strategy for anti-cancer therapy, we decided to investigate the mechanism underlying tanshinone IIA-mediated death of human endothelial cells. In this study, we demonstrate that tanshinone IIA elicits human endothelial cell death independent of oxidative stress. These events are partially calcium-dependent and actually dependent upon NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) activity. Tanshinone IIA induces an increase in intracellular calcium, which triggers the release of cytochrome c, thus causing loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), resulting in the subsequent activation of caspases. Blocking the induction of Ca²⁺ perturbation with BAPTA-AM partially rescued cells from tanshinone IIA-induced cytotoxicity. Additionally, blocking NQO1 activity with dicoumoral or inhibiting caspase activities with the general caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, prevented cell death induced by tanshinone IIA. Therefore, our results imply that tanshinone IIA-mediated cytotoxicity against human endothelial cells may occur through activation of NQO1, which induces a calcium imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction, thus stimulating caspase activity.These authors contributed equally to this work.     

丹参晚期胚胎蛋白基因SmLEA的克隆及表达分析

对丹参EST序列进行Blast分析,发现一条序列与晚期胚胎丰富蛋白(late embryogenesis abundant)基因有较高的相似性,在此基础上设计引物,分别从cDNA和gDNA水平克隆到该基因的全长(Genbank注册号:AY725206),命名为SmLEA.该序列全长739 bp,无内含子,包含1个长为495 bp的开放阅读框,编码164个氨基酸.序列比对结果显示,该序列与番茄的晚期胚胎丰富蛋白Lemmi9有较高的相似性(69%),推测该编码蛋白属于晚期胚胎蛋白LEA14家族成员.生物信息学显示,SmLEA所编码蛋白SmLEA的相对分子质量为17.34 kD,理论等电点为4.51,富含天冬氨酸及AS、IP、KV、VS、TIP肽段,定位于细胞质中,为稳定类蛋白.实时荧光定量PCR结果显示,该基因在丹参的根、茎、叶中均有表达,为组成型表达基因.     

Extraction and preparative purification of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-speed counter-current chromatography

A method for extraction and preparative separation of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was successfully established in this paper. Tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge were extracted using ethyl acetate as the extractant under reflux. The extracts were then purified by high speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (6:4:6.5:3.5, v/v) as the two phase solvent system. The upper phase was used as the stationary phase and the lower phase as the mobile phase. 8.2mg of dihydrotanshinone I, 5.8 mg of 1,2,15,16-tetrahydrotanshiquinone, 26.3mg of cryptotanshinone, 16.2mg of tanshinone I, 25.6 mg of neo-przewaquinone A, 68.8 mg of tanshinone IIA and 9.3mg of miltirone were obtained from 400mg of extracts from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge in one-step HSCCC separation, with the purity of 97. 6%, 95.1%, 99.0%, 99.1%, 93.2%, 99.3% and 98.7%, respectively, as determined by HPLC area normalization method. Their chemical structures were identified by 1H NMR.     

丹参生物工程的研究与开发

中药材的品质改良是中药现代化进程中的一个重要问题,现代生物工程技术是进行中药材品质改良的可行途径之一。对丹参的组织培养、毛状根诱导培养及基因工程等方面的最新进展作一综述,以期为利用生物工程技术遗传改良丹参品质提供一些参考。     

丹参胁迫诱导基因SmSIP1的表达特征分析

从丹参EST库中筛选到一个胁迫诱导蛋白基因,命名为SmS1P1,其序列全长296bp,编码80个氨基酸。生物信息学预测表明SmS1P1是一个亲水的,不具有跨膜结构域,包含一个N-端信号肽和多个可能的磷酸化位点的蛋白。实时荧光定量PCR分析显示,SmS1P1在根中的表达量高于茎和叶,并且受ABA和干旱的诱导,推测其可能参与根部的胁迫应答反应。     

丹参肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶基因克隆与生物信息学分析

分析丹参转录组数据库,获得一条新的肉桂酰辅酶A还原酶(cinnamoyl-CoA reductase,CCR)基因,命名为SmCCR-2(GenBank注册号为JF784010)。该基因包含一个长为966 bp的完整开放读码框,编码321个氨基酸残基。生物信息学分析显示,SmCCR-2编码的蛋白具有NWYCY基序,属于NABD_Rossmann超家族,相对分子量为35.80 kD;预测SmCCR-2为中性亲水的稳定蛋白,存在跨膜结构域。实时荧光定量PCR结果表明,SmCCR-2基因在丹参各组织都有表达,茎中表达量最高。其表达受到病原菌的影响,表明SmCCR-2基因可能与植物防御反应有关。     

高速逆流色谱法分离纯化丹参并尝试制订中药指纹图谱

用国产高速逆流色谱（HSCCC）分离纯化中草药——丹参,选用正己烷乙醇水体系,固定相保留率达到788%。采用分步洗脱,3个产地丹参各分离得到12个洗脱组分,经高效液相色谱仪和紫外光谱仪检测证明3张HSCCC洗脱图谱中对应洗脱峰为同一组分。HSCCC洗脱图谱不包含非共有峰,并且对应洗脱峰保留时间的相对标准偏差RSD<3%,符合国家标准关于制订指纹图谱方法学考察资料的技术参数。因此,HSCCC作为制订指纹图谱的方法之一具有可行性。     

丹参离体微繁技术研究

以丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge)离体幼茎、叶、叶柄为外植体,对其丛生芽、不定芽的诱导和增殖、生根、移栽等方面进行系统研究,探讨了有关丹参的离体快速微繁技术。试验表明：MS 6-BA1．0mg／L是诱导初代培养的芽产生丛生芽的最佳培养基,其诱导生芽率为100％,丛生芽增殖的最佳培养基为MS 6-BA1．0mg／L NAA0．01mg／L;以叶为外植体,用MS 6-BA 0．5～2．0mg／L诱导不定芽可取得较好效果,其诱导生芽率为100％,不定芽增殖的最佳培养基为MS 6-BA1．0mg／L,其增殖倍数达24倍;诱导生根较好的培养基为1／2MS 0．1mg／L IBA,移栽先水培再土培,成活率可达100％。     

丹参硫氧还蛋白基因SmTrxh的克隆和生物信息学分析

对丹参EST数据库进行BLAST同源性比对发现,登录号为CV165156的EST序列与硫氧还蛋白基因（Trx）有很高的同源性。进一步用PCR方法从丹参基因组水平上克隆到长1806bp的DNA序列（登录号为FJ217699）,与cDNA序列比对发现,该基因（SmTrxh）含有2个内含子。生物信息学分析表明,SmTrxh所编码蛋白的分子质量为13．4kDa,理论等电点为5．53,无信号肽,属于定位于细胞质中的稳定类蛋白。该蛋白与其他7种植物中的Trx高度同源,同源性介于68％-74％之间。实时定量PCR检测的结果显示,SmTrxh在丹参中为组成型表达基因,在根、茎和叶中都有表达,主要在根部表达,茎中的表达量最低。     

丹参的冠瘿组织培养和丹参酮的产生

用根癌农杆菌感染丹参无菌苗获得冠瘿组织,除菌后的冠瘿组织在无激素的Ms培养基上生长良好。经高压纸电泳检查,冠瘿组织中含有冠痿碱,证实根癌农杆菌的Ti质粒转化成功。冠瘿组织的生长和丹参酮的积累与基本培养基有关,B5和Ms培养基有利于生长．月增殖倍数分别达到102倍和90倍,而67-V和WP培养基则有利于丹参酮的合成,在培养过程中丹参酮能分泌到培养液中。研究表明用冠瘿组织作为培养系统,生产药用植物有效成分具有良好的开发前景。     

丹参晚期胚胎富集蛋白基因SmLEA的表达特征研究

利用DNA walking的方法克隆到了丹参SmLEA基因 5′ 端上游调控序列,约1 038bp。经生物信息学预测分析,该区域含有多种与逆境胁迫、ABA、种子特异表达相关的顺式作用元件。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果表明,100 μmol/L ABA,200mmol/L NaCl,低温（4℃）及脱水处理后,SmLEA基因的表达均得到了明显的提高,与启动子序列分析的结果相符合。表明SmLEA基因可对盐、脱水和低温胁迫以及 ABA做出响应。     

丹参悬浮培养细胞原生质体的制备和活力检测

对丹参悬浮培养细胞原生质体制备条件进行了研究,并利用FDA染色和钙离子荧光探针Fluo-3/AM装载对制备得到的原生质体的活力和功能进行了检测。丹参悬浮培养细胞原生质体的制备条件为:悬浮培养细胞酶解的适宜酶液组合为纤维素酶1.5%、果胶酶0.3%和离析酶0.5%;适宜的甘露醇浓度为0.4 mol/L;酶解时间为12 h;在600 r/min转速下离心5 min收集,纯化得到原生质体,其产量为1.1×106/g FW,FDA检测显示其活力为95%以上,荧光探针Fluo-3/AM可成功装载到原生质体中。     

丹参愈伤组织的诱导及增殖效应

以丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza bunge)的幼叶、茎、叶柄为外植体,接种于附加2,4—D、MM、Kr、Zr、6—BA及其组合的hIs固体培养基上,结果发现单独使用四种植物生长调节物质在一定浓度范围均有愈伤组织产生;最佳组合的诱导培养基为MS 2,4—D0．5mg/L 6—BA1．0mg/L。进一步研究发现,在黑暗和光照培养条件下,愈伤组织增殖呈“S”型,且生长周期均为30天。     

丹参的研究现状与应用前景

本文从丹参的药用资源、化学成分、药理作用和制剂等药物学方面以及丹参的组织培养、有效成分积累的调控、品种改良和选育等开发应用方面对近期有关丹参的研究进行了综述,力图阐述丹参的研究现状和应用前景.     

A Dominant Gene for Male Sterility in Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge

A natural male sterile mutant of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Labiatae, Sh-B) was found during field survey in 2002. Our objective was to analyze its genetic mechanism for producing F1 hybrid seeds and to develop a molecular marker linked to male sterile gene for selection of a hybrid parent line. The segregation ratios of male sterile plants to fertile plants in the progenies of both testcross and backcross were 1:1 in continuous experiments conducted in 2006–2009. The male sterile Sh-B was heterozygous (Msms). The male sterile plants could capture most pollen (2 granule/cm²·24 h) with row ratio (female : male 2 : 1) within 45-cm distance and harvest the largest amount of 6495 g hybrid seeds per hectare. We also developed DNA markers linked to the male sterile gene in a segregating population using bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) techniques. The segregating population was subjected to BSA-AFLP with 128 primer combinations. One out of fourteen AFLP markers (E11/M4208) was identified as tightly linked to the dominant male sterile gene with a recombination frequency of 6.85% and at a distance of 6.89 cM. This marker could be converted to PCR-based assay for large-scale selection of fertile plants in MAS (marker-assisted selection) at the seedling stage. Blastn analysis indicated that the male sterile gene sequence showed higher identity with nucleotides in Arabidopsis chromosome 1–5, and was more likely to encode S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methyltransferase, in which DNA methylation regulated the development of plant gametogenesis.     

Tanshinone biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza and production in plant tissue cultures

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (Lamiaceae) root, generally called Danshen, is an important herb in Chinese medicine widely used for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Diterpenoid tanshinons are major bioactive constituents of Danshen with notable pharmacological activities and the potential as new drug candidates against some important human diseases. The importance of Danshen for traditional and modern medicines has motivated the research interest over two decades in the biosynthesis and biotechnological production of tanshinones. Although diterpenes in plants are presumably derived from the non-mevalonate (MVA) pathway, tanshinone biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza may also depend on the MVA pathway based on some key enzymes and genes detected in the early steps of these pathways. Plant tissue cultures are the major biotechnological processes for rapid production of tanshinones and other bioactive compounds in the herb. Various in vitro cultures of S. miltiorrhiza have been established, including cell suspension, adventitious root, and hairy root cultures, which can accumulate the major tanshinones as in the plant roots. Tanshinone production in cell and hairy root cultures has been dramatically enhanced with various strategies, including medium optimization, elicitor stimulation, and nutrient feeding operations. This review will summarize the above developments and also provide our views on future trends.     

丹参SRAP反应体系的建立与优化

相关序列扩增多态性(SRAP)是一种新发展起来的分子标记技术.实验以丹参总DNA为模板,对SRAP-PCR反应体系的重要参数设置梯度实验,筛选最佳的SRAP-PCR反应条件.经过大量重复性实验,建立了一套适用于丹参稳定可靠、重复性好、带型清晰的SRAP-PCR反应体系:25μL的反应体系中,模板DNA量40ng、2.5mmol/L Mg2 浓度、0.8μmol/L的上下游引物、200μmol/L的dNTPs以及Taq酶1U.研究结果表明,该体系可应用于丹参植物种质的分类鉴别,并为其地道性及功能基因的研究奠定基础.     

不同生长调节剂对丹参快速繁殖的影响

探讨了丹参(Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge)快速繁殖过程中不同生长调节剂的影响.实验表明:MS 6-BA 2.0mg/L NAA 0.05 mg/L是诱导初代培养的芽产生大量丛生芽的最佳培养基,其诱导生芽率为100%;最佳的丛生芽增殖培养基为MS 6-BA 1.0 mg/L NAA 0.01 mg/L,其增殖倍数为15倍;MS 6-BA 0.5～2.0 mg/L是诱导大量不定芽的最佳培养基,其诱导生芽率为100%,最佳的不定芽增殖培养基为MS 6-BA 1.0 mg/L,其增殖倍数为24倍;诱导生根较好的培养基为1/2MS IBA 0.1 mg/L,生根率为98%,移栽成活率为100%.