Miguel Ángel Domínguez-Ortíz

Antilithiasic and Hypolipidaemic Effects of Raphanus sativus L. var. niger on Mice Fed with a Lithogenic Diet

In Mexico, Raphanus sativus L. var. niger (black radish) has uses for the treatment of gallstones and for decreasing lipids serum levels. We evaluate the effect of juice squeezed from black radish root in cholesterol gallstones and serum lipids of mice. The toxicity of juice was analyzed according to the OECD guidelines. We used female C57BL/6 mice fed with a lithogenic diet. We performed histopathological studies of gallbladder and liver, and measured concentrations of cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. The juice can be considered bioactive and non-toxic; the lithogenic diet significantly induced cholesterol gallstones; increased cholesterol and triglycerides levels, and decreased HDL levels; gallbladder wall thickness increased markedly, showing epithelial hyperplasia and increased liver weight. After treatment with juice for 6 days, cholesterol gallstones were eradicated significantly in the gallbladder of mice; cholesterol and triglycerides levels decreased too, and there was also an increase in levels of HDL (P < 0.05). Gallbladder tissue continued to show epithelial hyperplasia and granulocyte infiltration; liver tissue showed vacuolar degeneration. The juice of black radish root has properties for treatment of cholesterol gallstones and for decreasing serum lipids levels; therefore, we confirm in a preclinical study the utility that people give it in traditional medicine.

Raphanus sativus L. var niger as a source of Phytochemicals for the Prevention of Cholesterol Gallstones

Raphanus sativus L. var niger (black radish) is a plant of the cruciferous family with important ethnobotanical uses for the treatment of gallstones in Mexican traditional medicine. It has been established that the juice of black radish decreases cholesterol levels in plasma and dissolves gallstones in mice. Glucosinolates, the main secondary metabolites of black radish, can hydrolyze into its respective isothiocyanates and have already demonstrated antioxidant properties as well as their ability to diminish hepatic cholesterol levels; such therapeutic effects can prevent the formation of cholesterol gallstones. This disease is considered a current problem of public health. In the present review, we analyze and discuss the therapeutic effects of the main glucosinolates of black radish, as well as the effects that this plant has on cholesterol gallstones disease. Copyright

Intestinal and hepatic Niemann-Pick C1L1 proteins: future therapeutic targets for cholesterol gallstones disease?

The formation of cholesterol gallstones is a very complex and polygenic disorder that involves an alteration of the secretion of bile lipids, cholesterol crystallization, important immunological reactions in the gallbladder tissue, formation of biliary sludge composed of mucin, and inadequate gallbladder motility. The search for a therapeutic target is oriented towards decreasing bile secretion and intestinal absorption of cholesterol, in which Niemann-Pick C1L1 (NPC1L1) proteins play an important role. In basic and clinical studies, regulating the expression of these proteins can reduce intestinal, liver, plasma and bile cholesterol levels, a therapeutic effect that would be useful not only for treating the disease, but to prevent it, given the large quantity of risk factors. We discuss these effects in this review and propose NPC1L1 proteins as future therapeutic targets of cholesterol gallstones disease.

The Hypocholesterolemic Effects of Eryngium carlinae F. Delaroche Are Mediated by the Involvement of the Intestinal Transporters ABCG5 and ABCG8

Hypercholesterolemia is a metabolic disorder characterized by a high concentration of cholesterol in the blood. Eryngium carlinae is a medicinal plant used to treat lipid diseases. The goal of this work was to evaluate, in a model of hypercholesterolemia in mice, the hypocholesterolemic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of E. carlinae and its main metabolite, D-mannitol. Biochemical analyses of serum lipids and hepatic enzymes were performed by photocolorimetry. We performed histopathological studies of the liver and the expression of the intestinal cholesterol transporters Abcg5 and Abcg8 was determined by standard western blot method. Our results showed that hydroalcoholic extract at doses of 100 mg/kg and D-mannitol at doses of 10 mg/kg reduced the concentration of both total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, without altering the concentration of HDL cholesterol and without damage to hepatocytes. Treatment with the extract increased Abcg8 intestinal transporter expression, while D-mannitol decreased the expression of the two Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters, compared with the hypercholesterolemic group. Considering that Abcg5/Abcg8 transporters perform cholesterol efflux, our results demonstrate that the lipid-lowering effect of the hydroalcoholic extract may be associated with the increase of Abcg8 expression, but the hypocholesterolemic effect of D-mannitol is independent of overexpression of these intestinal transporters and probably they have another mechanism of action.

Abstract B50: Antiproliferative activity of the polar extract of Justicia spicigera on LNCaP cells

Justicia spicigera is a Mexican plant employed in traditional medicine for treatment of anemia, stomach illness and skin diseases. Furthermore, it has been suggested that this plant has anticancer properties on leukemia patients and in other types of cancer. However, the scientific evidence supporting these properties is not sufficient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Justicia spicigera on proliferation and viability of the androgen-dependent human prostate cancer cell line, LNCaP.A polar extract was obtained by exhaustive maceration with water and ethanol (v/v) of the air parts of the plant. The phytochemical analysis by the color test and thin layer chromatography (TLC) showed the presence of antioxidant compounds like coumarins, flavonoids and anthocyanins, which was corroborated by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (H1 NMR). At the same time, the extract showed the presence of polyphenolic compounds detected by the Folin-Ciocalteu9s reagent. The reducing power and the free radical scavenging capacity, was not too high in comparison with other less polar extracts of this plant, this could be explained by the high rate of glycosylation of the compounds in the sample. In the other hand, the polar extract of Justicia spicigera showed an antiproliferative activity on LNCaP cells since 500 g/ml of extract, measured by the MTT assay and direct cell account. Interestingly, cell morphology was not affected under these conditions. Likewise, the same extract did not show a relevant citotoxic effect (MTT assay) or an affectation on cellular viability (trypan blue assay) of LNCaP cells. Our study showed an antiproliferative effect of the polar extract of Justicia spicigera on LNCaP cells suggesting a potential use as anticancer agent. Further studies should focus on the characterization of compounds responsible of the effects observed on LNCaP cells, as well as in the definition of the mechanisms by which they affect the growth of these cells. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(12 Suppl):B50.