Jin-Gyeong Cho

Standardized flavonoid-rich fraction of Artemisia princeps Pampanini cv. Sajabal induces apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway in human cervical cancer HeLa cells

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Artemisia princeps Pampanini is widely used in Eastern traditional medicine for the treatment of circulatory disorders, such as, dysmenorrhea, hematuria, hemorrhoids, and inflammation, and is also used to treat chronic conditions, such as, cancers, ulcers, and digestive disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a standardized flavonoid-rich fraction of Artemisia princeps Pampanini cv. Sajabal (FRAP) on the induction of apoptosis and the molecular mechanism involved in human cervical cancer HeLa cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human cervical cancer HeLa cells were treated with FRAP and apoptosis was detected by cell morphologic observation, annexin-V-PI staning and western blot analysis on the expression of protein associated with cell death. RESULTS FRAP led to the cleavages of caspase-3, -8, and -9 and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in HeLa cells. Caspase-3 inhibitor (z-DEVD-fmk), caspase-8 inhibitor (z-IETD-fmk), caspase-9 inhibitor (z-LEHD), and broad caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) significantly suppressed the FRAP-induced accumulation of annexin V positive cells. Furthermore, it was found that FRAP caused a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the release of cytochrome c to the cytosol. Furthermore, the overexpression of Bcl-xL significantly prevented FRAP-induced apoptosis, MMP changes, and the activations of caspase-3, -8, and -9. Interestingly, pretreatment with caspase-8 inhibitor significantly reduced the FRAP-induced activation of caspase-3 but not that of caspase-9, whereas the caspase-3 inhibitor, z-DEVD-fmk, markedly attenuated the FRAP-induced activation of caspase-8. In BALB/c(nu/nu) mice bearing a HeLa xenograft, FRAP dosed at 25 or 50mg/kg significantly inhibited tumor growth. CONCLUSION Our results indicate caspase-mediated activation of the mitochondrial death pathway plays a critical role in the FRAP-induced apoptosis of HeLa cells and that FRAP inhibits the in vivo tumor growth of HeLa xenograft mice.

A New flavonolignan from the aerial Parts of Oryza sativa L. inhibits nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells

Fresh and chopped aerial parts of Oryza sativa were extracted in 80% aqueous mehthanol, and the concentrated extract was successively partitioned using n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), nbutanol, and H2O. From the EtOAc fraction, a new flavonolignan (2) and a known flavonolignan, salcolin B (1), were isolated through repeated SiO2 and octadecyl silica gel column chromatography. Based on NMR, mass spectrometer, and IR spectroscopic data, the chemical structure of compound (2) was determined to be tricin-4’-O-[erythro-β-guaiacyl-(7’’-O-methyl)-glyceryl] ether, which has thus far never been reported and was named salcolin C (2). Salcolin B (1) and salcolin C (2) dose-dependently inhibited nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values of 29.8±0.6 and 10.8±1.0 μM, respectively, without visible toxic effect.

Artemisia leaf extract induces apoptosis in human endometriotic cells through regulation of the p38 and NFκB pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Artemisia leaves have long been used for the treatment of gynecological disorders, including infertility and dysmenorrhea, which can be commonly caused by endometriosis. In the present study, we investigated the effect of Artemisia princeps extract (APE) on the cell growth and apoptosis of human endometriotic cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS MTT assays and FACS analysis using PI and Annexin staining were performed to study cell viability, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. We also explored the mechanism of APE-induced effects by evaluating the activation of caspases, Akt, p38, and NFκB. The expressions of XIAP, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL were measured by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. RESULTS APE significantly inhibited the cell viability of 11Z and 12Z human endometriotic epithelial cells. Interestingly, endometriotic cells were more sensitive to APE treatment than immortalized endometrial cells (HES). Treatment with APE induced apoptosis of 11Z cells in a time-dependent manner, as shown by accumulation of sub G1 and apoptotic cell populations. In addition, treatment with APE stimulated the activation of caspase -3, -8, and -9 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, p38 was activated by APE treatment, and the p38 inhibitor SB203580 markedly inhibited APE-induced cell death in 11Z cells. Moreover, treatment with APE suppressed the activation of NFκB and the expressions of anti-apoptotic factors such as XIAP, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL. CONCLUSION These results indicate that APE is a potential anti-endometriotic agent, acting to induce apoptosis of endometrial cells through the modulation of the p38 and NFκB pathways.

Potential neuroprotective flavonoid-based inhibitors of CDK5/p25 from Rhus parviflora

Rhus parviflora (Anacardiaceae) is an indigenous medicinal shrub found in South Asia with flavonoid rich edible fruit. This study examined flavonoid derivatives of R. parviflora fruit with CDK5/p25 inhibition activity. Evaluation by in vitro assay and docking simulations for CDK5/p25 revealed that the aurones, sulfuretin (1) and aureusidin (2), the aurone glycoside, aureusidin-6-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and hovetrichoside C (4), the flavonoid glycoside, quercetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (5), and the biflavonoid, cupressuflavone (6), had the potential to inhibit CDK5/p25, which could be useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimers disease. Compound2 showed the significant in vitro inhibition capacity (IC50 value of 4.81 μM) as well as binding affinity with docking energy of -8.73 (kcal/mol) for active sites CYS83 and GLN130 of CDK5/p25 enzyme in comparison to reference compound R-roscovitine.

Cytotoxic and Neuroprotective Biflavonoids from the Fruit of Rhus parviflora

Six biflavonoids, succedaneaflavanone (1), mesuaferrone B (2), rhusflavanone (3), rhusflavone (4), agathisflavone (5), and cupressuflavone (6), were isolated from the fruits of Rhus parviflora. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined based on NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and IR. Biflavonoid compounds were evaluated for cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines, including human colon carcinoma (HCT-116), human breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and human cervical carcinoma (HeLa). Biflavonoids 2, 3, and 5 showed significant cytotoxicity with IC50 values of 17.25 μM (mesuaferrone B against HCT-116), 17.50 μM (rhusflavone against MCF-7), and 15.20 μM (agathisflavone against HeLa). Compound 5 showed inhibition of β-secretase activity at a 10 μM concentration. Compound 6 showed inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK2 and CDK5) with IC50 values of 18.58 and 9.29 μM, respectively.

Lignans from the fruits of the red pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) and their antioxidant effects

The fruits of Capsicum annuum were extracted using 80% aqueous MeOH, and fractionated using EtOAc and water. Repeated column chromatography using silica gel, octadecyl silica gel, and Sephadex LH-20 for the EtOAc fraction led to the isolation of a new lignan glycoside and a known one, icariside E5. From the results of spectroscopic data, including EIMS, FABMS, UV, IR, 1H and 13C-NMR, DEPT, and 2D-NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC), the chemical structure of the new lignan glycoside was determined as (8R)-isodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4′-O-(6″-vanilloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside named vanilloylicariside E5. All isolated compounds were tested for antioxidant activities using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. Icariside E5 (2) and (8R)-Isodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol (3) exhibited a strong scavenging effect on DPPH (2: IC50=42.1 µM, 3: IC50=4.5 µM).

Flavonoids from the fruits of Nepalese sumac (Rhus parviflora) attenuate glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in HT22 cells

Nepalese sumac (Rhus parviflora) is a wild edible fruit used for the treatment of various ailments including neurological complications and stomach disorders in the traditional medicinal system of south Asia (Ayurveda). Four flavonoids were isolated from ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of Nepalese sumac fruits and their chemical structures were determined on the basis of NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB/MS), and IR. The efficiency of isolated compounds in attenuating glutamateinduced cell death in an immortalized mouse hippocampal cell line (HT-22) and inhibition of cycline dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) were investigated. Among the compounds, flavanols, fustin (1) and taxifolin (2), an aurone, aureusidin (3), and a biflavonoid, agathisflavone (4) were found to have protective effect against glutamate induced oxidative injury in HT22 cells. Aureusidin (3), a Cdk5/p25 inhibitor (IC50 3.5 μM), was the most potent neuroprotector with an EC50 value of 11.90 μM.

Flavonoid glycosides from the fruit of Rhus parviflora and inhibition of cyclin dependent kinases by hyperin

Chrysoeriol-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), luteolin-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), quercetin-3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside (4), and quercetin-3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (5) were isolated for the first time from the fruits of Rhus parviflora. The chemical structures of the compounds were determined using nuclear magnetic resonance, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and infrared spectroscopy. Compound 4 (hyperin) inhibited cyclin dependent kinases (CDK2 and CDK5) in vitro with IC50 values of 21.02 and 10.28 μM, respectively.

New flavonolignan glucoside from the aerial parts of Oryza sativa

A new flavonolignan glucoside, tricin-4′-O-(erythro-β-guaiacylglyceryl)ether 9′′-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9′′-O-glucopyranosyl salcolin B), was isolated from the aerial parts of Oryza sativa L. The structure of the compound was established on the basis of NMR, FAB-MS, and IR spectroscopic data.

Inhibition effect of phenyl compounds from the Oryza sativa roots on melanin production in murine B16-F10 melanoma cells

Five phenyl compounds, vanillin (1), methyl trans-ferulate (2), trans-p-coumaric acid methyl ester (3), N-benzoyltryptamine (4), and N-(trans-cinnamoyl)tryptamine (5), were isolated from the roots of Oryza sativa L. and identified on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 3 and 5 showed strong inhibition effect on melanin production in murine B16-F10 melanoma cells and tyrosinase activity. Also, the quantitative analysis of the compounds was carried out using LC/MS/MS experiment. Compounds 3 and 5 could be used as skin-whitening agents.