Flavonol glycosides with free radical-scavenging activity of Saururus chinensis

Two new triterpene glycosides with antiproliferative activities on HepG2 from Phytolacca acinosa fruit fermentation broth

Two new oleanane-type triterpene glycosides, phytolasides A (1) and B (2), and six known ones (3-8), were isolated from Phytolacca acinosa fruit fermentation broth. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS and 1 D- and 2 D-NMR spectroscopic methods. Antiproliferation of compounds 1 and 2 against HepG2 cells was examined by using CCK8 assays.

A Review of Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties of the Genus Saururus

The genus Saururus, belonging to Saururaceae, contains two species, S. cernuus L. and S. chinensis (Lour) Baill. with common utilization in traditional medicine from Asia to North America for the treatment of edema, beriberi, jaundice, leucorrhea, urinary tract infections, hypertension, hepatitis diseases, and tumors. An extensive review of literature was made on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and ethnopharmacology of Saururus using ethno-botanical books, published articles, and electronic databases. The 147 of chemical constituents have been isolated and identified from S. cernuus and S. chinensis, and lignans, flavonoids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, and phenols are the major constituents. Various pharmacological investigations in many in vitro and in vivo models have revealed the potential of the genus Saururus with anti-inflammatory, antitumor, anti-oxidant, hepatoprotective, antimelanogenic, lipid-lowering, and bone protective activities, supporting the rationale behind numerous of its traditional uses. Due to the noteworthy pharmacological properties, Saururus can be a better option for new drug discovery. Data regarding many aspects of this plant such as toxicology, pharmacokinetics, quality-control measures, and the clinical value of the active compounds is still limited which call for additional studies.

Evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activities of chemical constituents of the Saururus chinensis root extracts

Evaluation of antioxidant and anticancer activities were screened by various Saururus chinensis root extracts. Four solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol, ethanol, and water) extracts were investigated for their total flavonoids, phenol contents and their antioxidant activity of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), NO (nitric oxide), H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide), ABTS 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonicacid)diammonium assays, FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) assays and anticancer activity. The total phenolic and flavonoid content of extracts were determined by using FC (Folin–Ciocalteu) and AlCl₃ colorimetric assay method. Total flavonoid content in these plants ranged from 24.7 to 72.1 mg g⁻¹ and amount of free phenolic compounds was between 11.2 and 67.1 mg g⁻¹ extract. The all extracts have significant levels of phenolics and flavonoids content. Anticancer activity was screened for MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Ethanol extract shows significant of antioxidant activity and water extract shows significant of anticancer activity compared with standard (BHT) butylated hydroxy toluene. These ethanol and water extracts could be considered as a natural source for using antioxidant, and anticancer agents compared to commercial available synthetic drugs.

Inhibitory effects of Saururus chinensis and its components on stomach cancer cells

Saururus chinensis (SC) Baill. (Saururaceae), a perennial herb commonly called Chinese lizard's tail or Sam-baekcho in Korea, has been used in the treatment of edema, gonorrhea, jaundice, and inflammatory diseases. Recently, several reports have been commissioned to examine the anti-cancer activities of this plant. In this study, we evaluated the inhibitory activity and mechanism of action on SC and its components against stomach cancer cells. SC extracts displayed cytotoxic effects on AGS cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, SC increased the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies and phosphorylated JNK and p38 in AGS cells. SC also down-regulated anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) genes and up-regulated apoptotic (Bax) genes in AGS cells. We further confirmed that caspase activation plays an important role in SC-induced apoptosis in AGS cells. Furthermore, we examined erythro-Austrobailignan-6 and meso-dihydroguaiaretic acid, major active constituents of SC, which induced apoptosis in both the AGS and NCI-N87 stomach cancer cell lines. Taken together, our data provide the evidence that SC and its components induce apoptosis in stomach cancer cells, making it a potential candidate as a chemotherapeutic drug.

Anti-proliferative neolignans from Saururus chinensis against human cancer cell lines

Activity-guided fractionation of an 80% EtOH extract from the aerial parts of Saururus chinensis led to isolation of three anti-proliferative neolignans (1-3) along with four flavonoids (4-7) and four aristolactams (8-11). Their chemical structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic data. All compounds 1-11 were evaluated for their activities against 28 human cancer cell lines using an in vitro cell proliferation assay. Compounds 1-3 showed potent anti-proliferative activities against cervical (C33a, IC50=0.01 µM for 1; 0.28 µM for 2; 2.80 µM for 3) and lung (NCI-H460, IC50=0.05 µM for 1; 1.37 µM for 2; 6.46 µM for 3) cancer cells without any remarkable cytotoxic effects on human normal lung cells as a control. Taken together, these data demonstrated the identification of anti-proliferative neolignans which are active components of S. chinensis.

Renoprotective and antioxidant effects of Saururus chinensis Baill in rats fed a high-fructose diet

This study investigated the preventive effect of Saururus chinensis Baill against renal damage induced by a high-fructose diet in rats. The rats (n = 30) were fed either a cornstarch-based (65%), high-fructose (65%), or high-fructose (64.5%) diet with 0.5% S. chinensis Baill extract for 10 weeks. Twenty-four hour urine collections were obtained and the animals were sacrificed after an overnight fast. Serum urea and creatinine and urine albumin were measured using colorimetric methods, and creatinine clearance was determined. In addition, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), reduced glutathione (GSH), and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the kidney were determined. Kidney samples were also examined histologically. The fructose-fed rats showed renal dysfunction, indicated by decreased creatinine clearance, increased albumin in the urine, and increased urea and creatinine in the serum. These renal function parameters were comparable to control levels in rats that consumed S. chinensis Baill. Fructose consumption increased renal TBARS and reduced GSH and SOD activity, whereas these levels were near-normal in the rats consuming S. chinensis Baill. The kidneys of fructose-fed rats showed glomerular basement membrane thickening, mesangial matrix expansion, and tubule dilation. These pathological changes were not seen in the rats that consumed S. chinensis Baill. Therefore, S. chinensis Baill effectively alleviated fructose-induced renal damage in these rats, at least partially due to antioxidant activity.

A methylene chloride fraction of Saururus chinensis induces apoptosis through the activation of caspase-3 in prostate and breast cancer cells

The aerial parts of Saururus chinensis (SC) have been used for the treatment of edema, fever, jaundice, and inflammatory diseases in Korean folk medicine for centuries. However, the mechanism by which SC exerts these anti-tumorigenic activities in human prostate and breast cancer cells has not yet been fully understood. In this study, we report on the methylene chloride fraction from SC exerting cytotoxicity against prostate and breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Specifically, SC exerted the most potent cytotoxicity in LNCaP and MCF-7 cells. SC was shown to down-regulate various angiogenetic (VEGF), proliferative (Cyclin D₁, anti-apoptotic (Bcl-2) gene products in these cells. SC also increased the number of annexin V-positive apoptotic bodies and the sub-G1 DNA contents of the cell cycle undergoing apoptosis through caspase-3 activation in both LNCaP and MCF-7 cells. We further confirmed that caspase-3 plays an important role in SC-induced apoptosis in LNCaP and MCF-7 cells through the use of the caspase-3 inhibitor. Moreover, we observed that SC potentiated paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells and sauchinone is a major active constituent of SC, which could induce apoptosis in the cells. Taken together, our data provide the evidence that SC induces apoptosis depending on caspase-3 activation and overcomes the natural biological resistance to chemotherapy found in human prostate and breast cancer cells.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities of Saururus chinensis extract

ETHNOPHARMACOLGICAL RELEVANCE: The aerial parts of Saururus chinensis Baill. are used for the treatment of edema and inflammatory diseases in the Oriental folk medicine.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to elucidate anti-inflammatory and related activities of the ethanol extract (SC) of the dried aerial parts of Saururus chinensis Baill.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities of SC were analyzed using the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and acetic acid-induced writhing response, respectively. Anti-inflammatory activity of SC was evaluated using acetic acid-induced vascular permeability, carrageenan-induced air pouch formation and analyses of nitrite content and induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) level in the macrophage cells.

RESULTS

SC dose-dependently displayed a strong inhibition in the CAM angiogenesis. SC showed significant anti-nociceptive activity in the writhing model. The anti-inflammatory activity of SC was also assessed in the two in vivo models, such as vascular permeability and air pouch models in mice. SC suppressed production of nitric oxide and induction of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages.

CONCLUSION

The aerial parts of Saururus chinensis possess potent anti-angiogenic and anti-nociceptive activities in addition to anti-inflammatory activity, which partly supports its therapeutic efficacy.

Antihypertensive, vasorelaxant and inotropic effects of an ethanolic extract of the roots of Saururus chinensis

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study was performed to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of ethanolic extract of the roots of Saururus chinensis (EERSC) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of EERSC on the vascular responses of isolated rat aorta, the cardiac functions in isolated rat heart, and the antihypertensive effects in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) were evaluated.

RESULTS

In isolated rat aortic preparations, EERSC exhibited a potent vasorelaxant effect with EC(50) value of 9.1 microg/ml. This relaxation was significantly inhibited by denudation of endothelial layer or by pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. In addition, the raising extracellular K(+) (45 mM), or pretreatment with tetraethylammonium (10 mM) significantly inhibited EERSC-induced vasorelaxation in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. In isolated rat hearts, EERSC significantly reduced cardiac functions such as left ventricle pressure and heart rate. In an antihypertensive study with SHRs, long-term oral administrations of EERSC decreased blood pressure of SHRs (approximately 20 mmHg).

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that chronic treatment with EERSC exerts an antihypertensive effect in SHRs, and its direct vasorelaxant properties and negative inotropic actions may contribute to reduce the elevated blood pressure.