Mechanistic studies on protopanaxadiol, Rh2, and ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) extract induced cytotoxicity in intestinal Caco-2 cells

Certain ginsenosides, also known as triterpene glycosides, have been recently reported to have a characteristic effect on cultured intestinal and leukemia cell growth. Ginsenoside aglycones 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PD), 20(S)-protopanaxatriol (PT), and ginsenoside Rh2 have been identified as having a strong effect on reducing cell viability. Furthermore, ginsenoside Rh2 is thought to be a rare ginsenoside not found in all ginseng products. Rather, Rh2 has been recently reported to be a breakdown product of thermal processing of North American ginseng. In this study, pure ginsenosides PD, PT, Rh2 standards and an enriched Rh2 fraction derived from ginseng leaf were tested in cultured Caco-2 cells for relative cytotoxic potency. PD and Rh2 LC50 were similar after 24 to 72 h, whereas a drop in PT LC50 occurred later at 48 and 72 h. Furthermore, PD and Rh2 affected membrane integrity as indicated by LDH secretion earlier than PT and the enriched Rh2 fraction (P < or = 0.05). Ginsenoside Rh2 showed the greatest (P < or = 0.05) build up of necrotic cells (18.3 +/- 0.1%) at the respective LC50 after 24 h and PD (21.3 +/- 0.3%) showed the largest effect after 44 h of exposure. The effect on apoptotic cells at 44 h of treatment were significantly different (P < or = 0.05) for Rh2 (21 +/- 0.4%), PD (14.6 +/- 0.1%), enriched Rh2 leaf fraction (9.9 +/- 0.6%), and PT (2.3 +/- 0.1%) treatments. Caco-2 caspase-3 activity was different between ginsenoside exposure; Rh2 (10.6 +/- 0.3 nM pNA) had the greatest (P < or = 0.05) activity followed by the enriched Rh2 leaf fraction (8.3 +/- 0.2 nM pNA), PT (7.3 +/- 0.3 nM pNA). The PD (4.8 +/- 0.04 nM pNA) treatment was similar to untreated cells (4.3 +/- 0.05 nM pNA) in caspase-3 activity. These results show variable bioactive response in cultured intestinal cell to specific ginsenosides and an enriched Rh2 North American ginseng extract which may be explained on basis of hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance.     

Effect of polyploidy induction on biomass and ginsenoside accumulations in adventitious roots of ginseng

Adventitious roots ofPanax ginseng C.A. Meyer (a natural tetraploid) were treated with 50 or 100 mg L^-1 colchicine for 12, 24,36, 48, or 60 h to induce polyploid (octoploid) roots. The largest number of octoploid roots was obtained with a 100 mg L^-1 colchicine treatment over 60 h. To verify that ginsenoside was being accumulated in the developing tissues, the tetraploid (control) and octoploid roots were cultured for 40 d in Murashige and Skoog media that lacked NH₄NO₃ but was supplemented with 2 mg L^-1 naphthaleneacetic acid and 50 g L_-1 sucrose. Levels of fresh and dry biomass were greater in the octoploid roots. Although total ginsenoside and Rb-group ginsenoside contents were less in the octoploid roots than in the tetraploids, the former had a higher amount of Rg-group ginsenosides (especially Rg1). These results demonstrate the benefit that polyploid adventitious roots provide in enhancing the production of secondary metabolites in ginseng.     

Evaluation of Hexose Monophosphate Shunt Activity in Isolated Murine Lens by Monitoring the Potential of the Ferricyanide–Ferrocyanide System

A method for evaluation of the activity of the hexose monophosphate shunt (HMS) in isolated lens is presented. The measurement of HMS activity is based on continuous monitoring of the potential of the ferricyanide–ferrocyanide system (where ferricyanide is an artificial electron acceptor) in the presence of a lens. The rate of reduction of ferricyanide increased after the addition of methylene blue (MB) or saponin. The ferricyanide reduction rate did not correlate with GSH content in the contralateral lenses of the same mouse in the absence of MB or saponin. Correlations between the ferricyanide reduction rate and GSH content in the lens were 0.67 ( = 0.93) in the presence of MB and 0.82 ( = 0.95) in the presence of saponin. We think that the measured curves of ferricyanide reduction are representative of: 1) normal level of HMS activity (in the absence of methylene blue and saponin); 2) maximal HMS activity (in the presence of methylene blue); 3) the intracellular concentration of reducing equivalents (in the presence of saponin).     

Immunoregulatory effects of a glucogalactan from the root of Panax quinquefolium L.

In this research we purified one homogeneous glucogalactan from the roots of Panax quinquefolium, with a molecular weight of 54 kDa estimated by high-performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC). The monosaccharide composition of PPQ was composed of Glc (glucose) and Gal (galactose) in a molar ratio of 2.1:1, as determined by gas chromatography (GC). In order to evaluate the anti-lung carcinoma and immunoregulatory effects of this glucogalactan in mice, we established a Lewis lung carcinoma model in C57BL/6 mouse. The results showed that PPQ not only could inhibit the growth of lung tumor, but also enhance the thymus and spleen indices, as well as the level of IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-2, indicating PPQ could have a possible cancer therapeutic potential.     

Increased Humoral Immune Responses of Pigs to Foot‐and‐Mouth Disease Vaccine Supplemented with Ginseng Stem and Leaf Saponins

Vaccination is a conventional approach against foot‐and‐mouth disease (FMD) in pigs. However, failure to elicit an immune response to vaccine has been reported. Our previous investigation showed that ginseng stem and leaf saponins (GSLS) and mineral oil acted synergistically to promote Th1/Th2 immune responses to FMD vaccine in mice. This study was designed to i) find the optimal doses of GSLS in oil‐emulsified FMD vaccines to induce immune responses in mice and pigs and ii) to evaluate the effect of oil‐emulsified FMD vaccine supplemented with GSLS on the immune responses in pigs, by measuring the serum indirect hemagglutination (IHA) titer and IgG and IgG subclass levels. The GSLS‐enhanced immune response to FMD oil‐emulsion vaccine depended on the dose of GSLS added to the vaccine. Addition of GSLS at a dose of 40 μg to 2 ml of FMD oil‐emulsified vaccine significantly enhanced the humoral immune responses in pigs, when compared to the vaccine without GSLS (P<0.05). The increased antibodies included IgG1 and IgG2. Hence, GSLS and oil adjuvant synergistically promoted the immune responses to vaccination against FMD in pigs, and GSLS could be a promising vaccine additive to improve oil‐emulsified veterinary vaccines.     

超滤膜纯化绞股蓝皂苷的工艺

探讨采用超滤膜分离纯化绞股蓝总皂苷的工艺。以固形物得率和绞股蓝总皂苷含量为评价指标进行正交试验,对操作压力、溶液温度和膜的规格等因素进行优选。发现最佳工艺条件为选择截留相对分子质量为3×104的超滤膜,在溶液温度40℃、操作压力2.0×106Pa条件下纯化效果较好;所选择的超滤膜纯化绞股蓝皂苷的工艺操作简单可靠,所得产品纯度高。     

土生曲霉转化三七中药材的研究

从土壤真菌中筛选出直接转化中药材三七化学成分的菌株YM31966,经鉴定该菌株为土生曲霉(Aspergillus terreus).以固态转化方式,结合化学提取分离方法,通过高效液相色谱、核磁共振及质谱等波谱检测,该菌株转化三七产物由三七皂苷nR2 、RX1和人参皂苷Rg1、Rd、Rh1、Rh4构成主体成分,而原三七成分Rb1、Rc、Re和R1、R3,R6等物质被分解.结果表明,土生曲霉是一株能转化中药材三七的微生物,它具有改变原三七化学成分,形成新化合物,以及提高某些原化合物成分含量的作用.     

三七花蕾中黄酮类成分的分离与结构鉴定(英文)

通过硅胶柱层析,制备性薄层色谱分离,从三七花蕾中分离得到2个黄酮化合物,依据理化性质及光谱数据鉴定为山奈酚-3-O-α-L-鼠李糖甙(1)和山奈酚-3-O-(2’’,3’’-二反式对羟基桂皮酰基)-α-L-鼠李糖甙(2)。这两个黄酮均首次从该植物中分离得到。     

竹节参化学成分研究

从竹节参的乙醇提取物分离得到了12个化合物,通过MS和NMR等方法鉴定为:竹节参皂苷Ⅳa(1),楤木皂苷A(2),竹节参皂苷Ⅰb(3),竹节参皂苷Ⅴ(4),尿嘧啶(5),胸嘧啶(6),尿苷(7),鸟苷(8),胸苷(9),腺苷(10),肌苷(11),胞苷(12),其中5 ～ 12为首次从该植物中分离.     

三七总皂甙对低氧大鼠肺动脉压和肺组织ERK1/2表达的影响

目的:观察三七总皂甙(PNS)对慢性低氧大鼠肺动脉压、肺组织细胞外信号调节蛋白激酶(ERK)表达的影响,探讨PNS预防低氧性肺动脉高压(HPH)的作用和机制。方法:将30只健康雄性SD大鼠随机分为3组:对照组、低氧组和低氧+PNS组。以常压低氧法复制肺动脉高压模型,以微导管法测定平均肺动脉压(mPAP),测量右心室(RV)及左心室加室间隔(LV+S)的重量,以RV/(LV+S)代表右心肥厚指数。用Western blot法和逆转录PCR方法分别检测肺组织中磷酸化细胞外信号调节激酶(p-ERK1/2)蛋白和细胞外信号调节激酶1(ERK1)mRNA的表达。结果:与对照组相比,低氧组大鼠mPAP、RV/(LV+S)明显升高,肺组织匀浆pERK及ERK1 mRNA含量显著升高(P<0.01)。低氧+PNS组mPAP、RV/(LV+S)、肺组织匀浆pERK及ERK1 mRNA含量明显低于低氧组(P<0.05)。结论:PNS具有显著预防HPH的作用,其机理可能与其降低ERK1 mRNA的表达有关。