Synthesis,Biological Evaluation,and Docking Study of Ring-Opening Amide Analogs of Matrine as Antitumor Agents

In this article, we designed and synthesized two series of matrine analogs with ring-opening in the lactam portion of the molecule. Our in vitro cytotoxicity study showed that analog N-(3-bromophenyl)-4-[(1R,3aS,10aR,10bS)-decahydro-1H,4H-pyrido[3,2,1-ij][1,6]naphthyridin-1-yl]butanamide ( B11 ) with a meta-bromide on the phenyl ring displayed the best antiproliferative activity. Moreover, B11 induced cell cycle arrest in G1 phase and cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in A549 cells. Molecular modeling revealed that B11 achieved a higher docking score compared to its precursor tert-butyl (1R,3aS,10aR,10bS)-1-[4-(3-bromoanilino)-4-oxobutyl]octahydro-1H,4H-pyrido[3,2,1-ij][1,6]naphthyridine-2(3H)-carboxylate ( A11 , an analog of B11 with a Boc group) and parent compound matrine, possibly because B11 formed a hydrogen bond with SER91 and a halogen bond with GLN320 on the binding site of annexin A2. Overall, we discovered the potential anticancer lead compound B11 , which can be used for further study both in vitro and in vivo.     

肝炎治疗药苦参碱葡萄糖注射液的研制

为研制供临床直接使用的大容量苦参碱葡萄糖注射液,采用苦参碱浓配,葡萄糖先浓配除热原、后稀配混合苦参碱溶液、精滤、灌封、灭菌等制得苦参碱葡萄糖注射液,并建立质量标准。结果表明：试制3批样品均符合质量标准要求,稳定性考察未见明显变化。研制的苦参碱葡萄糖注射液处方及工艺合理可行、质量标准可控、稳定性良好。     

Novel matrine derivative MD-1 attenuates hepatic fibrosis by inhibiting EGFR activation of hepatic stellate cells

Matrine (MT), the effective component of Sophora flavescens Ait, has been shown to have anti-inflammation, immune-suppressive, anti-tumor, and anti-hepatic fibrosis activities. However, the pharmacological effects of MT still need to be strengthened due to its relatively low efficacy and short half-life. In the present study, we report a more effective thio derivative of MT, MD-1, and its inhibitory effects on the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in both cell culture and animal models. Cytological experiments showed that MD-1 can inhibit the proliferation of HSC-T6 cells with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 62 μmol/L. In addition, MD-1 more strongly inhibits the migration of HSC-T6 cells compared to MT and can more effectively induce G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis. Investigating the biological mechanisms underlying anti-hepatic fibrosis in the presence of MD-1, we found that MD-1 can bind the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) on the surface of HSC-T6 cells, which can further inhibit the phosphorylation of EGFR and its downstream protein kinase B (Akt), resulting in decreased expression of cyclin D1 and eventual inhibition of the activation of HSC-T6 cells. Furthermore, in rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-induced hepatic fibrosis, MD-1 slowed the development and progression of hepatic fibrosis, protecting hepatic parenchymal cells and improving hepatic functions. Therefore, MD-1 is a potential drug for anti-hepatic fibrosis.     

苦参碱对大鼠乳腺癌细胞荷瘤生长及其炎性因子与免疫功能的影响

目的：探讨苦参碱对大鼠乳腺癌细胞荷瘤大鼠生长及其炎性因子与免疫功能的影响。方法：雌性Wistar大鼠60只,随机分为对照组（n=10）,乳腺癌细胞荷瘤大鼠建模组（n=50）。建模大鼠再随机分为5组（n=10）：模型组、苦参碱低（50 mg/kg）、中（100 mg/kg）、高（200 mg/kg）剂量组和香菇多糖（200 mg/kg）组。除对照组外,每只大鼠右腋皮下接种0.4 ml Walker 256乳腺癌细胞悬液（5×10⁷ cells/ml）。按10 ml/kg的体积腹腔注射给药,2次/日,连续14 d。14 d后麻醉大鼠,腹主动脉取血,取瘤组织称取质量,计算抑瘤率;检测大鼠外周血IL-2、IFN-γ、IL-6、IL-10、TGF-β、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、CD8⁺、IgG、IgM、IgA水平。结果：苦参碱低、中、高剂量组和香菇多糖组大鼠瘤块平均质量分别为（4.99±0.93）g、（4.52±0.92）g、（4.22±1.18）g、（4.52±0.92）g,与模型组（6.62±1.20）g比较均明显降低（P<0.01）。苦参碱各剂量组与香菇多糖组比较,瘤块平均质量无明显差异（P>0.05）。苦参碱低、中、高剂量组和香菇多糖组抑瘤率分别为24.6%、31.7%、36.3%和27.9%,组间无统计学差异。模型组大鼠IL-2、IFN-γ、CD8⁺较对照组明显降低（P<0.01）;而IL-6、IL-10、TGF-β、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、IgG、IgM、IgA较对照组明显升高（P<0.01）。苦参碱低、中、高剂量组和香菇多糖组IL-2、IFN-γ、CD8+较模型组显著升高（P<0.01,P<0.05）;而IL-6、IL-10、TGF-β、CD3⁺、CD4⁺、IgG、IgM、IgA较模型组明显降低（P<0.01,P<0.05）。与香菇多糖组比较,苦参碱低、中剂量组IgM、IgA明显升高（P<0.01,P<0.05）;高剂量组IL-2和IFN-γ、IgA水平明显升高（P<0.01,P<0.05）;低剂量组IFN-γ水平明显降低（P<0.05）;高剂量组IL-10、CD4⁺水平明显降低（P<0.01,P<0.05）。结论：苦参碱具有明显的抑制肿瘤生长的作用,其抑瘤机制与其提高细胞和体液免疫、减轻炎症反应有关。     

Bradyrhizobium arachidis mediated enhancement of (oxy)matrine content in the medicinal legume Sophora flavescens

Effect of rhizobial inoculation and nitrate application on the content of bioactive compounds in legume plants is an interesting aspect for interactions among microbes, plants and chemical fertilizers, as well as for cultivated practice of legumes. In this study, nitrate (0, 5 and 20 mmol l⁻¹) and Bradyrhizobium arachidis strain CCBAU 051107^T were applied, individually or in combination, to the root rhizosphere of the medicinal legume Sophora flavescens Aiton (SFA). Then the plant growth, nodulation and active ingredients including (oxy)matrine of SFA were determined and compared. Rhizobial inoculation alone significantly increased the numbers and fresh weight of root nodules. Nodulation was significantly inhibited due to nitrate (5 and 20 mmol l⁻¹). Only oxymatrine was detected in the control plants without rhizobial inoculation and nitrate supplement, while both oxymatrine and matrine were synthesized in plants treated with inoculation of B. arachidis or supplied with nitrate. The content of oxymatrine was the highest in plants inoculated solely with rhizobia and was not significantly altered by additional application of nitrate. Combinations of B. arachidis inoculation and different concentrations of nitrate did not significantly change the concentrations of (oxy)matrine in the plant. In conclusion, sole rhizobial inoculation was the best approach to increase the contents of key active ingredients oxymatrine and matrine in the medicinal legume SFA.     

Matrine involves in the progression of gastric cancer through inhibiting miR-93-5p and upregulating the expression of target gene AHNAK

Matrine, also known as oxymatrine, is an important active ingredient of traditional Chinese herb Sophora flavescens. Recent studies have found that matrine may inhibit multiple tumors through inhibiting the tumor cell proliferation, inducing cell apoptosis, blocking cell cycle, suppressing cell invasion and migration and assisting in the synergy, and attenuation of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This study mainly investigated the role of matrine in gastric cancer and its possible mechanism. The real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction technique showed that matrine inhibited the proliferation and migration of gastric tumor cells and significantly suppressed the expression of miR-93-5p. The dual-luciferase reporter gene assay indicated that AHNAK was a target gene of miR-93-5p and regulated by miR-93-5p and matrine. The torsion test demonstrated that matrine exerted its role via miR-93-5p while miR-93-5p played a role by targeting AHNAK. Thus, this study found that matrine affected the progression of gastric cancer by inhibiting the function of gastric cancer cells through the possible mechanism of inhibiting miR-93-5p expression to increase the expression level of the downstream target gene AHNAK.     

Matrine promotes apoptosis in SW480 colorectal cancer cells via elevating MIEF1-related mitochondrial division in a manner dependent on LATS2-Hippo pathway

Matrine, an alkaloid compound isolated from Sophora flavescens Ait, has been shown to exert cancer-killing actions in a variety of tumors; however, its anticancer mechanism in colorectal cancer (CRC) is not clear. The goal of our study was to characterize the anticancer effects and molecular mechanisms of matrine in SW480 CRC cells in vitro. Matrine treatment reduced mitochondrial metabolic function and ATP levels, repressed mitochondrial membrane potential, evoked mitochondrial reactive oxygen species accumulation, and promoted cyt-c-related mitochondrial apoptosis activation. In addition, we found that matrine treatment activated mitochondrial fission through upregulating mitochondrial elongation factor 1 (MIEF1); silencing of MIEF1 prevented matrine-mediated mitochondrial damage and reversed the decrease in SW480 cell viability. Moreover, matrine treatment affected MIEF1 expression via the large tumor suppressor-2 (LATS2)-Hippo axis, and LATS2 deficiency suppressed the anticancer actions exerted by matrine on SW480 cancer cells. In summary, we show for the first time that matrine inhibits SW480 cell survival by activating MIEF1-related mitochondrial division via the LATS2-Hippo pathway. These findings explain the anticancer mechanisms of matrine in CRC and also identify the LATS2-MIEF1 signaling pathway as an effective target for the treatment of CRC.     

复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠治疗非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛的临床观察

目的：探讨复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠治疗非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛的临床观察。方法：选取宜昌市中心人民医院2010年3月至2012年3月收治的非小细胞肺癌骨转移患者98例,根据其治疗方式的不同,分为对照组和治疗组。对照组患者采用伊班膦酸钠进行治疗,治疗组患者采用复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠进行治疗,比较2组患者的近期疗效、疼痛缓解、KPS评分改善情况。结果：患者近期疗效比较结果显示,治疗组患者部分缓解的例数（百分比）及总有效率要明显优于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。治疗组Karnofsky评分改善的例数（百分比）要明显多余对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。疼痛缓解情况比较分析显示,治疗组患者完全缓解例（百分比）及总的缓解率要明显优于对照组,且差异有统计学意义（P＜0．05）。2组患者不良反应发生情况差异无统计学意义（P＞0．05）。结论：复方苦参注射液联合伊班膦酸钠对非小细胞肺癌骨转移癌疼痛具有明显的作用,能够有效的减轻患者的疼痛,值得在临床上推广应用。     

苦参碱对肝癌细胞增殖凋亡及stat3、stat5基因的影响

观察苦参碱对SMMC-7721细胞增殖、凋亡及stat3s、tat5基因的影响。用MTT法检测不同浓度苦参碱对SMMC-7721细胞增殖的抑制作用,双荧光染色观察细胞凋亡率,RT-PCR半定量检测stat3s、tat5基因的表达。结果发现苦参碱有抑制细胞增殖促进凋亡的作用,并呈时间剂量依赖性;不同浓度苦参碱作用于SMMC-7721细胞后stat3s、tat5的mRNA水平明显下调(P<0.01),其中高浓度苦参碱的作用更强。苦参碱能显著抑制SMMC-7721细胞增殖、促进其凋亡,其机制可能与下调stat3s、tat5的基因表达有关。     

Matrine reduces the proliferation and invasion of colorectal cancer cells via reducing the activity of p38 signaling pathway

Matrine has been used in anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer therapies for a long time. However, the anti-metastatic effect and related mechanism（s） in colorectal cancer （CRC） are still unclear. In this study, we investigated whether the adminis- tration of matrine could inhibit the proliferation, motility, and invasion of human CRC cells via regulating p38 signal- ing pathway. Results showed that matrine inhibited migration and invasion of CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. Additionally, after being treated with matrine for 24 h, the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2） and MMP-9 as well as proteinase activity in CRC cells were reduced in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, matrine reduced the phosphorylation level of p38 obviously. Combined treatment with p38 inhibitor （SB203580） and matrine resulted in a syn- ergistic reduction of invasion as well as MMP-2/-9 expression in CRC cells. It was also found that matrine inhibited the pro- liferation and metastasis of CRC tumor in vivo. In conclusion, p38 signaling pathway may involve in matrine＇s inhibitory effects on migration and invasion of CRC cells by reducing the expression of MMP-2/-9, suggesting that matrine may be a potential therapeutic agent for CRC.